Dackel Princess

Being An Oma!

On Facebook, there has been a Meme to show photos of what it is like in the life of being a Grandmother/Nana/Oma.

I’ve enjoyed digging out pictures of me with the kids and posting them. One thing that sort of dawned on me was how much I enjoy playing with my grandchildren.

Sometimes we act silly and dress up. Sometimes we make funny faces and take pictures. Sometimes we just do goofy stuff. But always, when we are together we have fun.

My grandmothers were much older than me. They were already wearing old lady orthopedic shoes and one of my grandmothers died when I was in the third grade. Sadly, I have very few memories of her.

My other grandmother lived until I was 26, but she was fairly proper. Oh, I adored her, but I never would have asked her to play dolls or dress up with me. She was kind of beyond that.

So with Savi and Quinn, I try to just simply play with them. Make them laugh, or say silly things or make those silly faces.

Oh, what a blessing it is to me to have these two children! They make me smile and laugh and every day I am thankful.

I love being an Oma!

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

On Sunday I decided that since I have not had a fever in a week, it was probably safe for me to go out.

We were forecast to have 8-12 inches of snow starting on Sunday night and spreading out until Tuesday. So, I felt I should stock up on the essentials of bread, vegetables, and eggs, to make it through. I also picked up a carton of eggnog, as it is December and Eggnog is my favorite holiday drink!

I got into the Highlander and drove down to our local grocery store. I went early because I still do not want to see people because I am not convinced I am germ-free.

Oh, it felt so good to be out! I walked the isles and picked up the food we needed. However about halfway through the store, my legs began to feel like jelly! Thank goodness for carriages that one can lean on!

I got the groceries out to the car and came home and put things away. Then I felt totally done in.

Jack and I watched a series of old Christmas movies on TMC and when it was time for dinner, I heated up a few things and we had dinner. Bedtime for me was 8 o’clock!

This morning, (Monday) we have about 3-4 inches of snow with more on the way.

That’s Arnie who helped me crochet yesterday. I imagine he will be helping me again today.

The birds have been at the feeders today getting snacks. It’s so wonderful to see them enjoying the suet, with a snowy background.

I really am starting to get into the Christmas spirit!

Happy Monday!

Welcome December

Saturday morning I was trying to find something to watch on the TV other than the usual news. I’m finally out of my bed, after nearly three weeks of being down and out with the Flu. So, I turned on the family room TV and started looking around.

What I found was that Showtime was showing last year’s episodes of Homeland all day long!

Jack and I have loved Homeland and have seen all the episodes, but I decided that this was a great show to watch on a cold Saturday.

We’ve always enjoyed the show, featuring Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin. The acting is top-notch, the writing superb and when people look back in the years to come, I think this show will be categorized as a classic thriller!

About 15 minutes in Jack got up and he was hooked too. We watched it all the way through until it finished and by then it was time for bed.

Now during the programs, I was able to crochet and I did a lot, plowing through three entire skeins of yarn!

My Flu is on the way out. I was up and out of bed all day yesterday and only had one coughing jag and that was just before bed. I ate normally and although slightly tired, I was feeling so much better.

It’s not lost on me that so many of us that had the Flu Shot (Hello New England Patriots Football team, who have many players out with the Flu!) a large number of people have come down with it. From what I have heard and read, they believe this years shot sort of missed the strain that has been in my area.

It’s the biggest reason I locked myself in my bedroom away from Jack, did not cook his meals or do the dishes. I would come out for a moment, get my food and go back to bed. I would place the tray on the shelf once I was done and he loaded the dishwasher and then put away the dishes after. I really feared he would get this and at his age, it could be fatal.

Now I must prepare because we are due to get a foot of snow starting tonight and going until Tuesday mid-day. Oh well. It’s that time of year!

Goodbye November

Well, here we are. The last day of November. After this, it’s a mad dash to Christmas. Usually, I have nearly all my shopping done and Christmas Cards are written, but I have almost nothing done and the cards are still in the box. Who knows, maybe on Sunday I will break out the cards and start writing.

This year seems to have flown by. So much happened, so much changed. I think I will remember 2019 as being a year full of changes, both good and sad.

The sad is that I lost my best friend, Candy. That just plain broke my heart. I miss her a great deal and think often of her.

The good is the health and happiness of my family. My grandchildren are growing by leaps and bounds and are both wonderful happy kids. And nicest of all is that they are truly kind people.

Mandy and Matt adopted a pup named Freya and also bought the home of their dreams. They are also terrific parents!

Despite changes in my extended family, everyone is doing okay. For this, I am very thankful.

So life is rushing by and I’m trying to grab every moment I can and relish the happiness and the blessings in it.

The Friday Five

For me, it has been a very long week. Almost all of it was spent in bed, except for the last two days. Here is this week’s Friday Five!

I think this is the longest I have ever had the Flu. At least the fever is gone now, and I just have the cough. This makes me crazy, but I am sure it will leave soon.

My nurses, Anneliese and Arnie.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving, and although I canceled most of my plans with my cousins, Jack insisted that we should have a special meal and he really helped out a lot.
I managed to make the stuffing on Wednesday and get it cooked and chilled down so I could stuff the turkey on Thursday. Meanwhile, Jack did almost all the other prep work.
I got the turkey stuffed and in the oven yesterday morning and we ended up having dinner about 2:30 PM. Turkey, chestnut stuffing, mashed potato, gravy, cranberry sauce, butternut squash, and pearl onions. I was able to eat a small serving of each and God Bless Jack, he took care of the dishes while I went back to bed. Apple pie was served in the evening.
Today I was feeling even better, although I still don’t have much of a voice and I still have this dratted cough! But, I was able to change the sheets on my bed, and also chop up veggies and make turkey vegetable soup, which we will have for dinner. I spent a lot of the day up doing things before crashing for a nap.

So there we are. the five things I have been up to this week. It may not sound like much, but after being in bed the entire week last week, this is real progress!

Getting Better

I fell asleep last night at about 8 o’clock and woke at 2 AM coughing. I took the cough syrup and fell back to sleep and made it all the way to 6 AM! This morning I am somewhat better. I still have almost no voice, and the cough is still there, just not as bad.

Because I felt a bit perkier, I took a much-needed shower and put on fresh pajamas. That felt very nice.

I even did my hair. Ever notice that when you have been in bed with a fever your hair gets all twisted and seems to stick out in all directions like you put your finger in a light socket! Yeah, that was me. My hair now looks and feels nice and clean!

So today I need to sit and chop some veggies, make the stuffing, and rest in between doing all of those things.

Jack told me he will peel and cut up the potatoes as well as prepare the pearl onions.

Jack has been really great during my illness. He’s fed the dogs and walked them, cleaned up the kitchen after he cooks a meal for himself and just allowed me to hibernate in my bed until this thing has moved on.

So, gentle readers, I am on the mend and I hope very soon to be back on my feet.

Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels.

The Flu

Today I emerged from under the covers on my bed. My fever is down, which is great. Now if only I could get rid of the cough and the aches from this blasted Flu!

I wandered down to the laundry room and tossed in a load of clothes, and will try very hard to get two loads done.

I was supposed to host Thanksgiving with my cousins but had to cancel. My first thoughts were for them. I would not wish this Flu on anyone. It has totally kicked me in the A$$!

Next, I was not sure I could even cook a big meal. I’m as weak as a kitten and not up for too much.

Yesterday as Jack and I were talking he said we should go out for dinner. Ah, no! I would hate to give this to anyone.

But since our local grocery has turkeys for 39 cents a pound I told him to get a small one, and then he could help me with the preparations. I actually have butternut squash all mashed in my freezer. He can peel potatoes and he can also chop vegetables for the dressing. I actually bought turkey gravy when it was on sale, so I don’t need to think about that. I may have him pick up an apple pie.

I really hate being ill and forced to stay in bed and closed into the bedroom. But my fear that Jack could get this is too real, so I steer clear of him.

I did have the Flu shot, but from what I have been told there are a few strains of Flu that were not covered in this shot. And apparently I was somewhere where someone had this particular strain and I inherited it.

Bah! I hate being sick!

Getting Well

This morning I woke feeling slightly better. I still have a horrendous cough and also a small fever. But it’s a vast improvement from yesterday.

I believe that copious amounts of water have helped, lots of rest with Arnie, and binge watching of HGTV & The COOKING CHANNEL, certainly have kept me in bed.

The shows are such so that if you fall asleep, it’s no big deal. I have kept the window shades up and I have seen beautiful sunrises glowing sunsets. Rain too.

Yesterday a few Chickadees landed on a shrub outside my window. I think they were looking for me.

I am not going to my daughter’s housewarming party today. Not because I don’t want to go, but rather, I do not want to share this Flu with anyone.

The holidays are upon us and it’s important to keep everyone healthy and well.

I have even stayed away from Jack. Closing myself up in the bedroom.

Maybe I will do some online Christmas shopping. Now there’s an idea!

The Friday Five

This week seemed to fly by. Probably because I slept so much of it away. But as we wrap up the week here is this weeks Friday Five.

1. Getting sick is not what I had planned on. But I have caught up on my favorite TV shows and learned how to use Amazon Prime Videos!

2. I also think that I have found a way to lose weight. I have eaten very little since coming down with this virus.

3. A friend in the know suggested that what I have is the Flu. But I have had the flu shot. Turns out you can still contract a different strain of the flu if you are unlucky. Isn’t “unlucky” my middle name.

4. I hope tomorrow to be able to be out of bed more. I am still coughing a lot and I don’t want to get Jack sick.

5. I need to make out my grocery list and my plan for Thanksgiving. I know by then I shall be completely well!

So that’s the week. It can only get better!

What To Do When You Are Sick

One thing that happens when you are ill and forced to stay in bed, is that you can binge-watch certain shows.

I have Amazon Prime plus certain networks and so yesterday while being stuck in bed I watched all sorts of shows.

I watched two BBC shows. One about Queen Victoria’s Grandchildren and the other one was about Princess Alice, the mother of the current Prince Philip of England. I’d read her biography and this show seemed to have been based on the book.

I also love the show “Chopped” where Chefs are given a basket of crazy ingredients.

Items that might be in a basket are like these.

There are four Chefs to start, and after each round, Appetizer, and Main Course a Chef, who did not meet expectations, is chopped. The last round, Dessert, determines who wins the ten thousand dollars, and is The Chopped Champion!

I went all the way back to Season One (there are like 34 or 38 Seasons!). It was fantastic! I love cooking shows and this one is amazing!

I managed tea and toast and some eggs last night, and by midnight my fever had broken and was back to normal.

I plan another quiet day today, with some crocheting, binge-TV-watching, and naps. But I am on the mend, and that is good!