Dackel Princess

The Weekend Wrap …. June 22nd

I sometimes wonder when/if we will get back to normal life? It’s an odd time for us all right now. If/when we go out, we wear masks, some of us wear gloves. I cannot even recall when the last time I went out to eat was. I suspect it was probably sometime well before Christmas, as I was sick most of November and December.

Right now, I have no desire to go out to any restaurant, although I must tell you when my daughter ordered take-out for me and I got some wonderful Haddock and a salad I didn’t actually have to make, it felt incredibly good!

I’m trying to get back in the swing of things, but there is one big problem! It’s Summer-time and the Summer Residents/Tourists have arrived back in my little town. People from all over our country and some from other countries as well.

My grandmother’s voice rings in my ear, “Don’t touch that kid, you don’t know where that kid has been!” Her words could not be more appropriate at this time.

I even had a Covid-19 dream. I dreamt that my eye pressures were down to 6 and I leaped up and went to hug the technician and she recoiled and yelled “Covid” at me. You see, I cannot escape it, it’s even there in my dreams!

I’ve been watching old movies where people are actually holding each other and (gasp!) kissing! But then yesterday we watched Soccer and The Belmont Stakes, Horse Race and although these were live events, there were no spectators. That was so strange.

We are in day 4 of a heat-wave and even the dogs don’t want to go out. My birds have been hitting the suet pretty hard. This leads me to believe that the fatty suet may be a nice soft liquid in the tiny throats.

And lastly, Today is my cousin Janet’s Birthday. I suspect there would be no me if there had not been a Janet. She is a year and a half older, and I’ve always suspected my mother had an “I want another baby moment” after holding Janet.

We grew up, closer than close, and in some ways, she was more like a sister than a cousin. We may not see each other that much as we live far apart, but in our hearts, we are and will always be there for each other.

So Happy Birthday to my dearest and much-loved cousin!

Janet and me at the Ice Fishing Derby.

Father’s Day

Here are the five men, who shaped my life. In their own ways, they were my father or a father figure to me. They have all passed from this life to the next, but their memory and the love they gave me, lives on in my heart

My Dad. He was an amazingly talented musician and he passed along his love of music to me. Dad was devoted to our community. He played the organ at both the Congregational Church and the Catholic Church in North Falmouth.

He was the Music Director at Highfield Theater for many years. He also was a summer police officer in our town. And when we went to local parks for cook-outs, Dad was the burger-meister! He has been gone a long time now, but I still think of him often and miss his wry sense of humor.

My Uncle George. He was the father who taught me everything growing up. How to swim, how to dive, how to bowl, how to hike, how to play cards, and how to love unconditionally.

When I was about 7 years old I cut my toe badly at the beach and he carried me all the way home! And helped Mom drive me to the doctor’s office for stitches. He was not a loud man, but in his quiet loving way, I just knew that I was one of his special kids.

Uncle George and me at my wedding to Jack.

In fact, when Jack and I married, Uncle George walked me down the aisle. I miss this sweet, loving, wonderful man!

My Uncle Bob. He was fun to be with. But, he required that I act like a mini adult too. That was fine. I adored him and just wanted to spend time, quiet time, with him.

I did a lot of things with him and his wife, Aunt Cynthia. I remember being on his boat, or when they took me to their home in Quincy and to museums. And I recall my Uncle once got a monkey. Cute, but it didn’t last for long.

My Papa Fred. Another quiet man, who was quite old when I lived with him and Grandma. But he showed me something important.

What real love between a man and a woman was all about. I would watch Papa and Grandma sitting on their sofa watching Lawrence Welk. Papa would hold Grandma’s feet in his lap and stroke them gently. He simply adored Grandma and had all of his life. When she died, he no longer had the will to live and passed eight months later.

My Papa Sam, my Dad’s Dad. I didn’t know him as well, but I remember him taking me to the Prudential Building in the summer to listen to the Barbershop Quartets sing.

I remember sitting on his lap and listening to him sing along. He had such a beautiful voice.

These 5 men helped to shape the woman I grew up to become. Each special in their own way, and now, each greatly missed.

Happy Father’s Day! I remember you all with love and many memories that make me smile!

The Friday Five June 19th

The week flew by with many nice and happy things going on. So here we go with this week’s Friday Five!

My darling Anneliese. She looks like her Mama, Greta now. I took the picture and then played around with some filters. I kind of like this.

Tuesday found me meeting up with many of my WW friends. Many more women have asked to join us, and so we expect as time goes on, more will come.
We have had the most beautiful weather. Yes, it has been hot, but the skies have been bright blue with not one cloud! People say we could use the rain, and I guess we could, but I will enjoy the sunshine after the long winter we endured.
All the air conditioning units are installed for the summer. It makes it so much nicer in here during the day.
I need to make a Channel Guide for our Satelite Service. You would think that they would have a printable version. If they do I can’t find one. Most people use the online version, but Jack has trouble with that.
Lastly, I will leave you with this song by Maroon 5. It is called “Memories” and the first time I heard it, it spoke to me. After reading the lyrics, I understood why. So, enjoy and I hope you have a great weekend.

Memories By Marron 5 – Lyrics

Continue reading “The Friday Five June 19th”

TBT: My Dad

It’s fun to look at my Dad in this picture. He was in his late teens before graduation from High School when he signed up in the Navy.

Since Dad was pretty young, my grandfather had to sign papers so Dad could join the Navy. Dad wanted to serve overseas, but he spent most of his time in the service State-side. He did secretarial work and also played the organ for all church services on the base as well as the funerals.

Dad was short a few credits when he returned and he made up the classes he had missed and graduated from High School and was accepted at college.

He and Mom married at about this time. They’d been sweethearts since they were 13 & 14 years old and in the end, they were married over 60 years.

Dad graduated from The New England Conservatory of Music. And after that, they moved to Cape Cod where they lived nearly all of their married life and raised us, three kids.

And yes, the littlest pip-squeak is me with one of my Mom’s horrible hair-cuts.

Dad taught school, music, and he played the organ at several churches in town for Sunday services, weddings and funerals. He also gave lessons, and during our busy summer months, Dad worked as a Police Officer. Mostly he worked on the desk, answering phones, typing reports, and dispatching officers.

Dad was a man in motion really. I recall very few times growing up when Dad wasn’t busy with doing things that helped others.

I’m thinking about him this week because Sunday is Father’s Day. How I miss him, and his corny jokes and wicked sense of humor.

Happy Father’s Day Daddy!

The Wednesday Hodgepodge June 17th

1. Saturday marks the first official day of summer! Whoohoo! Your favorite thing about the season?

Sunshine! Blue skies! Leaves on trees! Flowers! Fresh produce! And long days!

2. Love it! a labor of love, not for love or money, no love lost, love handles, love does, love-hate relationship, misery loves company, tough love, love will find a way…pick one and tell us how it applies to your life right now.

Love it! I’m really enjoying the WW Program! I’m embracing the new way of eating and I feel good about the weight loss! 42.6 lbs! Slow and steady!

3. What’s one thing currently causing you to seethe? One thing currently making you smile?

Well, I am not allowing anything to make me seethe so I pass on that. So much is making me smile. I choose not to allow things to bring me down. I choose to look at the bright side, the Sunnyside parts of life!

4. Of the following to-dos found on a summer checklist which three (I picked 4) would definitely make your personal list of summer want-to-dos?

watch the sunset from a beach, Not this year. I try to get down to my home town each year and sit not at the beach and watch the sunset. But Covid-19 is still making things crazy. Does a Lake count?
catch fireflies, As soon as I see my first one!
stargaze, Every night!
make a summer road trip, I would love too!

Do you make an actual list? Of things to do in the summer? Not really unless it involves a trip!

5. Thursday is National Splurge Day. What might you splurge on in order to celebrate?

Time to go and get more bird suet. I also would like to get a birdbath for them.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

On Tuesday my girls from the back row at WW met at a local park. We had not seen each other since March 11th.

Our meeting has not opened, and honestly, we do not think it will. WW is cutting down the number of meetings they will have. Rural areas like mine, that meet in a Community Center, don’t fit the profile anymore. The closest meeting area will likely be 45 miles away.

In any case, we decided that we all missed each other. We’ve been together since 2008! So we brought our folding lawn chairs and met at the park. We’ll be inviting others as we go forward.

I have to say, it was a wonderful gathering. You see, WW isn’t just the program, it’s the people who attend the meeting too!

Will someone please explain this to Oprah!

All In A Days Work!

During the last few Covid-19 months I have tried to keep up with all the extra things that have been needing attention in our life. But several things went by the wayside or got lost or just plain forgotten.

Feeling a new empowered strength after dealing with the satellite company, I decided that today (Monday) would be a good day to tackle all of it.

This morning I went into my closet to get a shirt and I spied a pair of Merrell Clogs I had purchased a year ago quite cheaply. They are not the prettiest of Clogs, but they fit the bill for use as indoor/outdoor slippers! Problem solved!

Next, I took a deep breath and started with my phone calls. The first was to the local hospital who sent us a bill for Jack’s hand treatment back in February.

Jack is 100% disabled through the VA because of his Agent Orange problems and all of his medical treatments are covered by them. So, when I finally got through to billing, I started the conversation by apologizing for being late with the call to them. After all, this darn Covid-19 had everything off-kilter. At the very start of all of this, I admit I was totally freaked out and only concentrated on keeping Jack safe.

Well, this lovely lady couldn’t have been nicer and in no time at all, it was completely taken care of!

The next thing on my list was to call my Optometrist because I had a balance with them. I met my deductible and it should be completely paid for by my insurance. I gave the secretary the information and she assured me it would all be taken care of.

Next, I wanted to get some advice on the coloring process of my hair. So I called Madison Reed and asked all sorts of questions and the young woman (who kept calling me Ma’am), was so nice and fixed my problem and is sending the kit for me to use to take care of the little problem I have had. Free of charge!

Wow, I was definitely on a roll. I put a nice chicken in the oven to cook for dinner and pared the Asparagus.

So, Monday was a wonderfully productive day and I am on cloud nine. What a great way to start the week!

The Weekend Wrap

Our weekend was a full one. Part frustrating and part wonderful.

The frustrating part was about our TV. Or should I say our satellite coverage?

On June 1st our provider could no longer provide us with the networks from Los Angeles and New York. The Congress in all their wisdom decided that people outside of those viewing areas had no rights to the coverage. Even though we were paying for it and had this service for over 20 years!

Have I mentioned that I think we need term limits in both the Congress and Senate? These jokers make laws with no input from all of us.

I digress.

I had heard from a neighbor that he had the local stations (networks) out of Boston, Massachusetts from our same satellite provider. So on Saturday, I got all our information and called the Provider.

The first woman I reached kept telling me it couldn’t be done. She argued with me, and after a half an hour, I asked to speak to her Supervisor!

She said she didn’t have one, but would put me through to programming.

I will just tell you that this is where I should have landed all along. This nice young woman, had us all signed up for the Boston package and reduced our fee for the next 24 months for everything we’ve been through. Yay!

Problem solved!

Then on Sunday, I was walking around in my favorite Merrell Clogs, which I use as slippers, and the sole came off one of them! These lasted just about 4 years. Ugh.

Now I am online to find a cheap in price, but comfortable Merrell Clogs to replace these as my slippers.

The week ahead finds me meeting up (and social distancing) with a few of my dearest WW friends. We have not seen each other since March 11th. I’m so happy about this.

I hope you all have a great week ahead. I hope this finds you getting your life back to what might be termed as normal.

Maribeth’s Italian Meatballs

I played around and made these for Jack’s dinner. I did not eat them, but I did a quality control taste test and these really are good! If you give it a try, let me know what you think!

Preheat Oven 350 degrees F

Ingredients:
2 slices Italian bread, stale
1/3 cup cold water
1/2-pound ground pork
1/2-pound ground beef chuck
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 medium onion, grated (about 1/4 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large egg, beaten
Freshly ground black pepper
A little olive oil
¼ tsp red pepper flakes.

1.    Break up the bread or pulse into crumbs in a food processor. In a small bowl toss the breadcrumbs with water to re-hydrate.
2.    In a large bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, pork, and beef, Parmesan, parsley, salt, onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, and egg and mix until combined. Season the meat mixture with pepper.
3.    Using your hands, gently form the meat mixture into slightly larger than golf ball-sized balls. (Packing the meat mixture too tightly together will result in tough meatballs). Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
4.    Spray with non-stick spray a glass dish. 8 X 12 and place the meatballs into this.
5.    Cook in oven 30-40 minutes or until meatballs are done.
Serve with spaghetti and a nice sauce over this. A great Saturday night meal!

35 Years

It’s hard for me to believe that it has been thirty-five years since the car accident that took the life of my six-year-old daughter, Katie.

It seems like so long ago, another lifetime. And yet, it also seems like just yesterday and I remember each and every detail.

The accident happened on June 13, 1985, and Katie passed away a few days later on the 19th. I’d prayed she would come back to us and wake from her coma. But, sometimes prayers are not answered.

Each year I have felt such pain. And guilt. Guilt at having been the survivor of this great tragedy. One that was entirely the other driver’s fault.

However this year I have a feeling of lightness. I will try to explain, but I am sure many of you will doubt what I am about to write.

My daughter, Mandy gave me a wonderful Mother’s Day gift. She gave me a psychic reading this Spring. I am a great Doubting Thomas, but this man was amazing and spot on.

Mandy & Katie 1985

I will not go through all he told me, but he did tell me that Katie was telling him that she did not blame me, that it wasn’t my fault, and that she is fine!

There was so much more. He knew things that no one else did, but the healing words he spoke, how it all happened, helped me to finally heal. Finally, I was able to forgive myself.

Me & Katie November 1984

So on this day, the day that changed my life forever, I am able to know that my dearest, sweetest daughter, Katie, is resting in peace.

November 8, 1978 – June 19, 1985

The Friday Five June 12, 2020

This week sped by for me, as I found myself unusually busy. Between the mouse eating our water pipe/hose, the mountains of laundry, and getting ready for my doctor’s appointment today, I was really kind of going here and there all around the house. In any case, here is this week’s, Friday Five.

The leak is fixed and now I just need to get a sheet rocker/plasterer in here to repair the wall. Meanwhile, I need to completely clean my basement laundry room. It’s kind of a disaster. Picture all the sheetrock dust and bits, and my shelves are jammed because I had to stack everything to avoid my valuable paper towel and toilet paper from being ruined.
I was all set to go to my Primary Care Doctor’s appointment today. On Tuesday I called to make sure the appointment was still on? Yes, yes it is. Then on Wednesday, I got a robocall reminding me of the appointment and I confirmed by pushing #1. On Thursday I got a message on my answering machine informing me that they are still not open for appointments! I was not able to reach the office to find out any more but hope to later today.
I refuse to watch the news. I have been watching movies, Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet, The Incredible Dr. Pol, as well as my Air Line Disaster shows. The news upsets me and right now life is upsetting enough. I simply cannot deal with it all.
Jack looked over a few minutes ago and was talking, I pulled out my earphones and told him I will not listen to any news. So, he put on a movie. Nice.
Lastly this week, I am now 42 pounds down. It’s funny because I think the mind plays tricks on you. I still see myself as I was until I do side by side photos. Then I realize, I see how much I have accomplished.

Amazing, isn’t it? And I am still going strong and I know I will make my goal.

Have a great weekend everyone!