Dackel Princess

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!

Happy Birthday Mandy

My daughter, Amanda has her birthday today. She is such an amazing woman and I am proud to be her mother.

Mandy with Savannah and Quinn back in 2016.

You see, Mandy is really a self-made woman. She had ideas about what she wanted to do in life, and she worked hard to get where she is.

Me and my girl!

Not only is she a success as a career woman, but most importantly, she is the best mother I have ever seen. She is devoted to her kids and loves them completely in such a beautiful way.
I am so lucky to have her as my daughter, and on this very special day, I just want her to know, how much she is loved!

Happy Birthday, Mandy!

TBT: Christmas, Amanda

The best Christmas gift I have ever gotten was when my daughter Amanda was born. She arrived just 5 days before Christmas. It was such a joyous first Christmas with our baby girl. Beautiful and healthy, we were truly blessed.

A year later we had the fun of sharing Christmas with our year old little girl. She was bright and energetic and running all around. She always had a smile on her face, and even now as a grown woman, she is such a warm and loving person.

I see so much of Mandy in her two children. They are bright, loving and kind little people. She and Matt are doing a great job as parents.

I am so lucky to have Mandy and her children. They all brighten my life!

Pretty Snow

On Tuesday we got more snow. Now all of the previously fallen snow had melted, so this frosting of 4+ inches is pretty, but also makes the roads slick.

The good news here is that the long-range forecast shows no snow from now until well after Christmas. Perfect! A few years back we had gotten quite a bit of snow on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. God bless Jack who drove us handily down to Mandy and Matt’s house safely. There were many cars off the road that day, but slowly we soldiered on!

So now I need to sit at the kitchen table and wrap the gifts I have. I just need a couple of boxes and I will be all set!

Tonight (Tuesday) I am feeling a little bit better. I wonder if this super antibiotic is working. I think I will know more in the morning.

I’m feeling a little hopeful tonight that I am finally on the road to recovery. My fingers are crossed!

Cough, Hack, Wheeze!

Well, folks, I returned to the doctor because this pneumonia is not leaving me. After another full evaluation, the antibiotics were changed and I was put back on the pill for my cough. But I have to tell you, after 5 weeks I am really tired.

My only stop was at the Pharmacy to get the new prescriptions and then I came home to regroup.

While waiting for my prescriptions I wandered around the grocery store and picked up a few things. One thing was a chicken which I thought about cooking tonight (Monday) but it looks like I will be cooking it tomorrow as it is late and I have no appetite.

Despite not wanting to do much of anything, I had to wash the comforter on my bed. Anneliese wasn’t feeling well last night and well, laundry needed to be done!

I managed two loads of laundry and it is my hope that tomorrow I might get two more loads washed. Baby steps.

Just a little picture of my favorite Christmas ornament. A Chipmonk playing with a nutcracker. I am not sure why I like it so much. Just a wee bit of whimsy!