Dackel Princess

Happy Birthday, Katie

Each year I remember Katie on her birthday. When you lose a child so very young, (Katie was 6 and a half years old) the harsh reality is, that she is frozen in time.

The pictures I have are the only ones I will ever have. Taken with cheap cameras, because back then, there was no such thing as a digital camera or cell phones that actually took pictures. You had to buy film, pose a shot and then hope upon hope that when your pictures came back you captured something good. One never really knew.

These are the best pictures of Katie with her Dad, sister, Mandy and me.

What a neat kid she was. Usually happy and cheerful, she loved music, art, and dancing. She adored animals and was quite a gentle soul.

The day she was born, found me waking very early for her 5:30 AM debut. She was a little smaller than Mandy at birth but had her very original wisps of curly red hair. My baby.

I miss her a great deal. It’s actually hard to describe. It’s the hardest thing I have ever had to go through. Not wanting to, but having no choice.

I learned to go on, but always and forever, there is a piece of me missing.

Happy Birthday to my darling, youngest daughter in Heaven. Some day, one day, I will see you again.

TBT: Anneliese & Arnie

I have had these two since before they were born. Their Mama Greta was huge when she was delivered of 5 healthy puppies. And from the moment they all drew breath, I knew that my life was blessed. I just didn’t realize how much.

Here they are at about 7 weeks old. Side by side as they have been from the very start.

Anneliese on the left and Arnie on the right.

And here they are now. Still best friends and still side by side. On December 10th they will be 13 years old!

Arnie on the left and Anneliese on the right.

What a blessing it has been to have these two sweet pups in my life. How special it has been to have enjoyed every moment of their lives since before they drew their first breath!

And how comforting it has been to have Greta’s babies with me after she left for Rainbow Bridge.

Yes, I am so lucky to have these two very special puppy friends.

Cooking & Snow?

I decided this morning to make Julia Child’s Beef Bourguignon. I went to the store and got everything I needed and came home and worked so hard on it. The entire house still smells like it, which is simply yummy! Most of the time I enjoy it when a good meal lingers unless of course, it is fish!

I read some and went through the mail. Our little no heat problem last week cost us a mere $124.00! That is a very good price for what the nice man did for us, and he responded so quickly.

Now that I finished one craft project I decided to do another. I already have most of the material, and will get the rest tomorrow and then begin.

And lastly, they are forecasting our first snow for Thursday! Wait! I am not ready for this!

This & That

It was a beautiful day here, although quite cold. I do not think our temperatures went above 50 degrees.

The drive over to Anneliese’s Veterinarian’s Office was such a pleasant one. I took Arnie with us as well. He just loves to go for a ride!

There is good news about Anneliese. It is a simple urinary tract infection and vaginitis. Antibiotics were prescribed and she is home and happy.

I finished one craft project and will be starting the next one this week. I find crocheting so relaxing.

I’m cooking a nice dinner. Summer Squash and Zucchini sauteed with onions and peppers and mushrooms! Baked potatoes and grilled chicken breasts!

The Weekend Wrap

Well as much as I wanted, Sunday was not a quiet day. It started nicely enough, as I listened to music and crocheted.

“An Affair To Remember” came on TCM, and I enjoyed watching that for the millionth time! I always sit here are ask myself if Deborah Kerr’s last name is pronounced Car or Ker? Jack says it is Car. Anyway, I cried like a baby at the end, as I always do.

Then Jack got sick and I was busy with all of that. I still do not know how I raised two children. I do not handle cleaning up after a sick person well. But such is life. I somehow managed.

I need to call the Vet at 8:30 as Anneliese is having a problem. I’m not sure what it is, but I fear it is more to do with her breast cancer problem spreading.

Happy Monday!

It’s All About…

…De-stressing

Yesterday I decided that I needed to chill. Quite honestly, I have been stressed about things that I have no control over. I needed to try to relax and find my tranquility.

So I made a couple of nice meals during the day, went out and did a few errands, which included a short trip to the Recycling Center to bring our old cracked patio chair in, and I stopped at the local grocery store.

I’m actually in this smaller Hannaford’s quite a bit. So much so that I know a lot of the people who work there. People say hello and smile at me and even joke with me and that is such a great feeling.

Yesterday the manager had a small bag of M&M’s and it was a mystery flavor. She had the crew at the grocery check out all trying to guess what flavor it was. She looked at me and asked if I wanted to join the fun? I did, so I tried a piece. Hmmm. I could taste a malted chocolate taste, but also a creamy rich filling. “Candy Corn” I pronounced! And I was right!

I came back home and worked on crafts for the rest of the afternoon. I put on two movies. “She’s Having a Baby” with Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern, from 1988 and “When Harry Met Sally” with Billy Cyrstal and Meg Ryan from 1989.

Both I have seen a number of times, so it was nice and easy for me to “watch” while I crafted.

My day ended with me going around and clock adjusting, as our time changed. We all fell back an hour. Now it will be a little more light in the morning, but darkness will fall much faster in the afternoon.

Today, I plan almost a repeat of yesterday, with the exception of not needing to go to the grocery store.

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Fall Back!

Today was one of those days where I found myself pondering life. Never really a good thing for me because I have always been a half-empty glass, type of gal. Although I really try not to be.

Still, as the winds blew and the leaves fell, and the trees returned to their winter skeletal form, I began feeling a bit melancholy.

I put on some music, and got out my crocheting, and tried not to dwell, but my brain would not kick-off, and I felt a heaviness in my heart.

So, I called my sister and talked for a while and that seemed to help. But I think the shorter days, the fact we have had a lot of rain (not much sun!) and there has been so much going on, has me out of sorts.

It’s time to “Fall Back” time-wise so don’t forget!

The Friday Five

Well, here we are. November first! It’s hard to believe that in a couple of weeks I will be 61, and in just over a month Arnie and Anneliese will be 13!

The year has flown by and I am not quite sure I am ready to leap into the year 2020. But leap I will and somehow, I hope and pray that 2020 is a better year.

So, here is this week’s Friday Five.

I came back home on Monday after helping my daughter get ready to move. We’ve had nothing but wet weather and I’ve been holing my breath that they could get the move completed under sunny skies.
Well, quite happily, the clouds cleared and the skies brightened on Wednesday and Mandy, Matt and the kids made their move under dry skies.
I decided to try a new recipe. It’s a WW recipe for banana bread. And an entire mini loaf has just 2 points! It was fabulous. (Recipe Below)
I was late getting out the suet feeders today and as I walked outside there was my Downy Woodpecker ~~scolding me~~ vocalizing at me for being late! Despite today’s rain, the birds have been out at the feeders.
Today my plans include laundry, a little cooking, and some Christmas Craftwork.

Here is:

WW Banana Bread Recipe

Preheat oven 400 degrees (F)

Mini Loaf pan 5 x 3 x 1

Ingredients:

1 large banana.
1 egg
1/4 cup Kodiak Flapjack Mix (buttermilk flavor)
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp Splenda

In medium bowl mash banana with a fork.
Add egg and beat together and until well blended
Add the rest of the ingredients, mixing until thoroughly blended
Spray a loaf pan with non-stick spray and then pour batter into pan.
Bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

2 Smart points for the entire mini loaf

TBT: The Cousins

Family

This picture was taken back in 2011.

This is my family. In green, my cousin, Janet. In yellow, my sister, Melodie, In lavender, my cousin Rikki and in blue, me. We’re New England’s version of Steel Magnolias.

We have all been through so much in our lives, but we are a tough bunch and never give up!

We have a cousin (not pictured) and he is the only man in our little group. He is dearly loved, although he was not with us on this day.

This & That On A Wednesday!

Tuesday was a pretty nice day. I’d gotten some chestnuts at the grocery the other day and I decided to make a little Thanksgiving preview for our dinner tonight.

I roasted the chestnuts and each and every one of them was perfect! The shells all but fell away. I chopped onions and celery and put in some Summer Savory, Sage, and a little salt and pepper, and after the vegetables had cooked I added the bread crumbs, and the chestnuts and a little broth until the stuffing was the right consistency.

I put the stuffing in the bottom of a glass dish, and then put two turkey breast tenderloins on top. Currently, everything is cooking for dinner and WOW does it smell wonderful!

I also worked this morning making a new blanket cushion for the center of Anneliese’s bed. I measured and pinned it and then sewed it up.

I am actually not a clever person with crafts. I would like to be, but when something that I make comes out this good, I am simply thrilled!

Not only did the little blanket cushion in the middle come out well, but Anneliese LOVES it! Yahoo! Score!

My birds were around all day, despite the fact that it was misting and rainy most of the day. I sat during lunch, just watching my Cardinal and a family of Chickadees as well as the Downey and Hairy Woodpecker who all swooped in for a snack!

Watching them all filled me with great happiness!