Dackel Princess

Happy New Year!

Can it be New Years already?

Here is how I spent New Year’s Eve!

We went driving through the snow on Tuesday, December 31st. We both had appointments with the Dermatologist for skin cancer checks. The roads were really bad up here in my little town. This Officer was on his way to a crash we saw.

Jack call roads that have been plowed some, and then had dirt and salt tossed on them “Greased Owl Poop”. Slippery as all get out.

It’s always tough to get these appointments so, despite the snow, we soldiered on and made the usually 1-hour trip in 90 minutes.

I went first and had a small area removed. Nothing major or worrisome. Jack was fine and passed his check with flying colors. Recheck in six months.

I did ask for a referral because I have painful scar tissue from the surgeries I had 7 years ago. Not to worry.

We had lunch and then came home in time to meet up with our Snowplow Man. He is such a nice young man and I am glad we made it home in time as I had Peach Jam for him as a Christmas/New Year gift!

I have steaks, potatoes, and broccoli for our dinner and apple tartlets for dessert. Champagne has been purchased!

So I wish you all, my dear, gentle, readers, A Very Happy and Healthy New Year!

Winter

And it keeps on snowing, sleeting and icing!

Monday found us waking to about 6 plus inches of snow, with pellets of ice shooting down. Unbeknownst to be, we had icefall in the night leaving a layer of snow, a layer of ice and then more snow on top and then more ice.

I had nowhere to go on Monday, so we waited for our plow guy to come. He arrived just before noon and I sat in the window watching him plow through this slop.

I am always impressed by how these guys can move their blades around for a really good close plow. (Very much like a man shaves.)

Then it happened. As the plowman pushed the sloppy mess forward in the yard, he got stuck. He tried rocking it, but the wheels would not grip. Oh, I had so much sympathy for him, as I had done something similar when Jack and I were first married. He still mentions it.

His boss (brother) arrived and after finishing our drive, he got out his chain and pulled his brother out. The drove off.

But here we are on Monday night and it is still snow/sleeting out! I’m rather worried as I have a doctor’s appointment some 60 miles away. And unless we are totally snowed in, we will go tomorrow. It’s my annual skin cancer screening.

Oh, I do hope the precipitation stops.

Keeping Busy

I was not feeling strong. I was not feeling ambitious. That being said, I knew I had to vacuum and wipe down counters, if for no other reason than to keep the Department of Health from condemning my home!

All this being said, I will tell you that I had to take breaks during this cleaning frenzy, and once I finished that and changed my sheets, I was done for the day. At least with the heavy stuff.

It’s been three years since I did a major overhaul of my Address-book. So I sat down with my computer, all my Christmas card return envelopes, and notations that I had made in the book I have currently.

I made sure my alphabetizing was correct and organized with the last name first. I will wait a day or two before printing it up. So, if I do not have a current address for you, please PM or Email me.

The sad part of my day was deleting the names of loved ones who have now passed. And then I would remember a happy memory and smile.

We’re due for bad weather tomorrow and Tuesday so I think I will get into another project that will consume me.

It’s almost New Year’s Eve! Get ready to say good-bye to 2019. I hope that 2020 will be a really wonderful year!

Plans

Well, yesterday I just plain felt lazy about writing. We went out to dinner with my sister and brother in law, and when I looked at the pictures of my sister and me, well, I cried.

You see, on Christmas, a few pictures were taken and I looked terrible. How come some people get sick and lose ten pounds and I get sick and gain?

My face is puffy and swollen and I look like Porky Pig’s sister. It made me pretty upset and also angry with myself.

Now I’ve been reading all the information on the new WW programs. I know I have to crack down and get serious, so day one of my rededication to losing weight is January 1st.

But I’m not happy with myself, and I want to run away and hide. I keep talking to myself, trying to be gentle and give myself all the encouragement that I need.

I want 2020 to be the year I actually make losing weight a priority!

Twas The Day After Christmas!

Christmas is over, and what does one do after a full day of celebrating and merriment? They go shopping!

At least I go shopping for the big day after sales for Christmas Wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows! Some people toss a present into a bag and shove it under a tree. Not me. I’m a wrapper.

I use tissue paper and boxes to delicately layout the present and then I tenderly wrap the present in paper and ribbon and make crazy bows.

But before I can go any further I have a confession. I am a Christmas Wrapping Paper hoarder! You should see my stash. There is something about wrapping things for the big day that simply fills me with joy!

Today Jack and I will celebrate a little bit more. I’m making him a Shrimp Cocktail, Special Tenderloin Steaks, Baked Stuffed Potatoes, and Butternut Squash. We also have Apple Pie for dessert. Adult beverages will be consumed!

I’m slowly getting some laundry done, and maybe by this weekend, I can run the vacuum.

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and that all your dreams came true!

Merry Christmas!

All my love,

Maribeth & the Dackels

Merry Christmas Eve!

Well, here we are, Christmas Eve 2019. The end of a decade and what blows my mind is how fast it came!

Yesterday I w=saw my doctor and she thinks I am doing better but reminded me that it takes weeks to fully recover from pneumonia. That being said, she repeated the chest x-ray to check on my lungs.

After my appointment, Jack and I went to the grocery store to pick up the last items for Christmas eating. The stores were mobbed, with germy, hacking, people, so I wore the surgical mask I have all through the store. Toward the end, Jack started to feel ill and so I sent him to the car. He was okay, just exhausted.

By the time we got home, both of us had bad backs and we were pretty darn tired. I went to bed at 7 PM! I slept until 6:30 AM! Yeah, I guess you could say I was pretty tired!

Today is my cooking day. I have three things to make, all pretty easy, and just a few things to wrap. After that, I need to tidy my house just a little for my sister’s visit.

So, tomorrow is Christmas and I am so excited. My house sitter is coming to spend the day with the dogs and we will head out to Mandy and Matt’s house to spend the day with our families.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

New Moon

I woke up this morning and as I opened the door for the dogs to go outside, there was the most beautiful new moon! Ah, what beauty is around us, if only we take the time to look!

I poured my coffee and then coughed and coughed, making me glad that I have a doctor’s appointment today. Although I am doing so much better, there are certain parts of this illness I cannot shake! The cough is one part for sure.

So, since I am still coughing a lot and don’t have a lot of stamina, Jack offered to drive me. I’ll report in tomorrow with Dr. M’s findings.

Meanwhile…Have a wonderful day, filled with holiday cheer!

Christmas Is Coming!

On Saturday I decided I needed to venture out. Once again I bundled up, covered my face, and steered clear of people!

I got three packages in the mail and several Christmas cards. We popped over to the grocery store. I purchased a container of Eggnog as during the holiday season I enjoy eggnog mixed with Spiced Rum. And right now, I am allowing myself some holiday comfort foods as I recover.

I worked a little more at wrapping gifts. I do a few and then take a break. This means that my packages actually look good!

I was pretty much done with my shopping and then today I saw two gifts that I had to buy! They will be here on Tuesday. Now I am done!

I go to my Primary Care Doctor on Monday to get rechecked. I’m glad I am going because I want to make sure that this germ is really and truly going away.

I wish you all a wonderful Sunday and as the days leading up to Christmas pass remember to take a little time and enjoy all the beauty around us.

Grateful

Yesterday I went out for the first time since I was struck down with this blasted pneumonia. It felt good to be in the land of the living, but I admit to being paranoid by every coughing or sneezing person. So much so, that I had a surgical mask with me that I wore while I was out. And since it was only in the single digits temperature-wise, I had on my warm coat, a scarf, and my favorite hat.

Not me but a reasonable facsimile!

Since Jack had been wanting to go out to finish up some Christmas shopping, he asked if I felt up to going to the Liquor Outlet to buy gifts there too. Well, yes, yes I did! I cannot even begin to tell you how wonderful it felt to be out and about once again!

Arnie, wrapped up in his sweater, came with us. He looked adorable and a woman who works at the store is crazy in love with Arnie and she keeps cookies there just for him!

We arrived home in time for lunch, and afterward, I began the wrapping process. I wrapped four gifts yesterday. What I did was wrap the gift, then stop to drink my tea and honey.

So today I plan to wrap a few more gifts and make some banana bread. But I have learned that I need to do one thing and then rest. Then do another thing, and then rest. It seems to be working.

So, have a wonderful weekend before Christmas! Enjoy!