Life – Page 30 – The Dackel Princess

Spring

Friday was an amazingly beautiful spring day (if we had not had the strong winds it would have been perfect!). I watered my little baby plants in the green house, and talked to them for a while. I have never done this before, but I read a book recently, that suggested that this encourages growth. Who knows? It’s worth a try. Maybe they’ll tell me something!

I then set about getting caught up with errands. I needed to register our cars, get the mail, and pay a few bills. Nothing too big, right?

Things started off well. I got to the Post Office, and had to parallel park. Now I’m the type of person who will drive around the block over and over rather than parallel park, but I felt lucky today! I took a deep breath…PERFECT! I couldn’t believe it!

I mailed my Mother’s package, got our mail, came out and went into the Town Hall to register the cars for another year. There was only one problem…I only had one check with me! I needed two! One for the Town and one for the State! Darn!

So I drove back home, grabbed a new check book and paid to register the cars. I am here to say that if anyone asks if we should be taxed for the number of miles that we drive by Uncle Sam, please say NO! We’re already paying taxes to the State and the Town that are high enough.

Uncle Sam, stop spending so much money and instead of your big thinkers, thinking of ways to SPEND our money, maybe they could actually think how to “STOP SPENDING” and CUT our taxes!

Okay, enough preaching about that, but it must be said. The Washington Types have to understand that they represent us, and we don’t want them to keep spending the way that they have.

I’m trying a new recipe for Buffalo Wings. The Lady in the Meat Market told me how to do them from scratch, that would not be bad for my diet. So, I’m going to give it a go.

Have a wonderful Saturday Everyone!!!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Have you ever been served breakfast in bed? Do you enjoy that? If someone were serving you breakfast in bed this coming weekend what would you hope to see on the tray?

I have gotten breakfast in bed. When the kids were young, and then again when my retina’s detached. I love breakfast. I love eggs, pancakes, waffles, etc. My dream breakfast would be this: fresh fruit salad (assortment of melons, papaya, and sweet grapefruit), pecan waffles with real maple syrup, a soft boiled egg, orange juice and coffee!

2. What is one piece of advice you would give a new mother?

Sleep when the baby sleeps, and enjoy every moment of your baby’s life. Dishes will get done later, beds can go unmade. Just snuggle that baby and enjoy every, single, moment!

3. When was the last time you wanted to scream? Explain.

A few weeks ago, I was driving in my car and this person in front of me was driving 20 miles an hour in a 55 mile an hour zone! I couldn’t pass and I WAS GOING NUTS!!!!

4. Can you hula hoop?

I think that at this point, no. I used to do it, but now I think my Hula Hoop days are probably over. I could probably relearn it, but….do I really want to?

5. What is something people do in traffic that really bothers you?

Pick their noses! That is totally gross and I have seen it over and over! Yuck!

6. What do you do when people don’t admit they’re wrong?

It’s not important for me to have the person acknowledge that I am right. If I know I am right, then I can simply demure and allow them to “think” that they are.

7. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word ‘fun’?

Simple fun, is just playing with the hounds! I love playing with the dogs. Big time fun is going on a cruise. That is my ultimate fun. I even dreamed I was planning a cruise last night!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Joanne wrote a complete entry in her blog the other day (click on her name and follow to read her post) and talks about how her rehab is going and when she is hoping to go home. Joanne is such a gift from God, and a blessing.

Happy Birthday to my Dear Hubby!!!

Thoughts

Monday was one of those days where I woke up and had boundless energy! I made all of our meals, caught up on errands I had to do around town, and still managed time to sit down and write a few letters on the computer.

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I admit to watching some of the news channels, until I really got tired, even of that. You see I’m not one of those people who is jumping around celebrating the death of Bin Laden. Not that I liked the man, but, well, here is my reason.

Back after 9/11 they showed women and men in the streets of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq all dancing with happiness that we infidels had been killed in such great numbers. There was this one woman who made hideous noises in her celebration, and I was sickened by it.

So if I felt that today, I would be no better than that woman who enjoyed the deaths of our people. No, I am not going to jump up and down and say yippee! I’m glad he is gone and cannot do any further evil, and that is that.

I feel greatly for the family’s who lost loved ones that day. Does this really bring closure to them? Not sure. Right now I pray for them.

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My seedlings continue to grow, except my butternut squash seedlings. I think they must have been duds. So on Wednesday I want to get some new seeds and plant those. I’ve only lost a week, so that is not too bad.

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Today would have been my brothers 60th birthday. He passed away from cancer when I was just 19 and he 26. It’s been a long time now. We all miss him. Happy Birthday Dickie!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. National Read a Road Map Day falls on April 5th. Would people say you have a good sense of direction?

No. I really don’t. However I know enough to know how to read a map. In fact I like maps!

Do you rely on a GPS when you drive somewhere new? When was the last time you used a map?

Whenever I go anywhere I have a map and my GPS. I take nothing for granted.

2. What’s your favorite cookbook?

Julia Child’s Everyday Cooking. Just a small simple book with normal recipes.

3. What painting would you like to “walk into” and experience? Why?

This is by Claude Monet. I believe it is from his “Water Lily” series. Hubby and I had this print blown up to fit over our jacuzzi! We had it entirely sealed in heavy plastic to save it from moisture. I love to pretend I am floating in a boat through these lovely lilies! It is so relaxing to lie in the tub, and enjoy this print.

4. What annoys you more- misspellings or mispronunciations?

Neither or both! Let me explain. Written, it can happen to everyone. Spell check doesn’t pick up everything and it can see one thing as being correct, when it should sea this as correct.

Since I am the original Mrs Malaprop, I can relate to almost anyone who mispronounces a name or word.

5. What is something your mother or father considered important?

My Grandparents always considered honesty the most important thing. I try to live by that.

6. Do you like or dislike schedules?

I really dislike schedules, and yet, when I am going somewhere or doing something, I crave schedules.

7. Let’s have some fun with National Poetry Month (that would be April)…write your own ending to this poem-

“Roses are Red
Violets are blue…”

Doggies are loving

and so are you!

Incidentally if you’d like to read the history behind that little ditty you’ll find it HERE.

8. Insert your own random thought in this space.

Joanne is doing great. Each and every day finds her working very hard in rehab. We all continue to pray for her recovery, and it is amazing what miracles can be worked!

It’s hoped Joanne will go home in a month. Hopefully, not much renovation will be needed at her home, but her Dad is checking everything out, so that if there are places that need hand rails, they will be installed well before she leaves.

More than anything, Joanne just wants to get home, and God willing, she will be home soon!

Groceries

Friday found Hubby helping me do the shopping. I had so much to get and really needed his help. You see, this wasn’t fun shopping, it was necessary shopping.

We bought dog food and laundry soap and Kleenex and drinks. Bread, milk, eggs and cheese, and the biggest purchase of vegetables and fruit.

We both noted how prices had gone up and tried our best to make good choices in order to keep to our budget, but it wasn’t easy!

I started to think that perhaps I need to plant a bigger vegetable garden this year. I’ll be planting, zucchini, summer squash, butternut squash, tomatoes, two kinds of cucumbers, eggplant, and beans. I also would like to have a little patch of herbs. Specifically Basil, which is my favorite!

We drove home and unpacked our haul, and then sat quietly, and talked before dinner. I was happy that on Friday all I had to do for dinner was warm up a bunch of leftovers.

As I looked outside after dinner I noticed the most beautiful moon that we have seen in a long while.

Now I am tired and so I will say, “Good Night Moon!”

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What would you do if you found a pot of gold? Let’s pretend this pot of gold is worth exactly $1500 (which would actually be more like a cup of gold at current values). Anyway, let’s also pretend you have to spend it as opposed to making a donation someplace. Now tell me what you would do with that cup pot of gold?

I would go on a cruise. I would just hop on the next cruise ship and go. I would lie in the sun and relax!

2. Do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in any way, shape, or form?

I cook traditional corned beef and cabbage, with carrots and potatoes! This year I found the best corned beef called “gray corned beef”. It’s not as salty and it is not made with preservatives!

3. Have you been bitten by the Spring Cleaning bug? What spring cleaning job most needs doing at your house? What spring cleaning job are you most dreading?

Oh I have and it’s a terrible thing! I’ve been doing curtains and windows and mopping floors and dusting like crazy! Most of the rooms are not bad, but the office is still horrible! So I am dreading that.

4. lime-shamrock-sage-forest…your favorite shade of green?

Mint green. I wanted to use it for the font, but it would simply not be seen. I love mint green, it it so pretty. In general I think I do like pastels the best.

5. Thomas Jefferson once said, “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” So…do you believe in luck or do you believe we make our own luck?

I guess I believe more in destiny. I used to believe in luck, but then I keep seeing bad things happen for no reason at all. After a while I started to believe that sometimes things just happen.

6. Monday (3/14) was Pi Day. Get it? Pi =3.14. Those math types are so clever aren’t they? Since I’m not one of them tell me what’s your favorite piE (the edible kind).

Oh my all time favorite pie is banana cream pie. The one I was thinking about was made by a little old Swedish lady, Mrs Anderson, in the town near where Hubby and I lived when we first were married. Oh she made the best banana cream pie ever! The other kind of pie that I LOVE is pumpkin pie. That I can actually make myself and it comes out really well. Oh yeah, I am a pie girl!

7. That same date (3/14) happens to be the birth-date of the late physicist Albert Einstein. I bet he knew the value of Pi. So…what do you think is more important and or valuable in life… intelligence or common sense?

Common sense. I have seen and known many people who are incredibly intelligent, and yet they have no idea how to treat people. How very sad it is for them and those that love them.

I’m a common sense girl, and I can relate to people fairly well. (Although I admit here and now that there have been a few that I have totally not been able to “get”.) Being able to love, comfort, support and empathize with people is so important.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Joanne will being having surgery to replace her skull flap (this was removed after her stroke to relieve pressure) on March 24. She will also be moving to the Rehab Facility she will stay at until she can go home. Things are progressing well for her, and this week her sister even posted a wonderful picture where we got to see Joanne’s beautiful face!

I ask for you all to continue to keep Joanne in your prayers and remember her especially on March 24th.

Gray Day

What can I say, Friday was one of those very cool, gray days. It rained, we had fog and I had no desire to go outside for any reason. I did force myself to walk the dogs, but hurried back in to dry off.

In order to increase my culinary skills, I tried to butterfly a pork loin for the very first time. It came out okay, but really I will need to practice more. I made a fruit stuffing and once I rolled it all up and baked it, it came out pretty well.

Greta wasn’t feeling too well on Friday and I spent a lot of time just sitting holding her. Now she seems back to normal, so I’m thinking I was had! Oh well, I’d do anything for my doggies.

Today is our School Board Meeting. It’s the yearly one, where the three towns that are in our co-operative get together and vote the budget. Last year our town was mugged by the smaller town in the co-op, and our taxes soared. I hope this year there are enough people who are angered over this, and will come to vote down the proposed increases.

Don’t get me wrong. I love my teachers and I respect what they do, but right now, no one is getting a raise, the economy stinks, prices everywhere are going up and I think we all have to work together to keep costs down.

Especially in a co-operative school system where the numbers of enrolled students is going down.

I sure hope that today’s meeting is not the blood bath that last years was.

I’m bringing my knitting and a snack as the meeting is at 10 AM.

Can you tell I am less than thrilled?

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. The season of Lent begins on March 9th this year…do you participate and if so, in what way?

I used to, but since joining Weight Watchers, I sort of feel like I’ve given up most of the things I would ordinarily have given up. Perhaps I will use the time to be contentious with the plan.

2. Traditionally pancakes are eaten on the day known as Shrove Tuesday which is the last day before Lent (March 8th this year). So….butter and syrup? Blueberry? Chocolate chip? ewww, no thanks!! What’s your pleasure when it comes to eating pancakes?

I love pancakes. I love blueberry the best, but with real maple syrup. I also love banana fritters, once again with real maple syrup!

3. Spring is coming. (It is coming, right?) What’s your favorite springtime flower and do you suffer from seasonal allergies? Two questions I know, but they’re lightweights.

I love Lilacs! Also Forsythia! I also love the greening of the trees. Do I have allergies? Oh yes, I certainly do!

4. “Our opinion of people depends less upon what we see in them than upon what they make us see in ourselves.” Author unknown. Agree or Disagree? Why?

I actually don’t agree. I see people as they are. (At least I try to.) I do try to see myself apart from others. Now if I see a characteristic that I like in someone, I may try to determine how to change and incorporate that into my own personality. Likewise, if I see something I do not like, if it is severe enough then I would pass on the friendship. Mostly, (I hope) I am open-minded enough to enjoy all sorts of people.

5. Since it’s “March” and also the season of Mardi Gras….have you ever been in a parade? What’s the best parade you’ve seen?

Yes, I’ve been in many parades, when I was a kid. It was fun. Especially the parades I was in with my High School Band!

6. You would jump up and down and shout for joy right now if someone told you_

I was going on vacation to a warm and wonderful place. Or perhaps over to see my friend in Germany or another friend in Australia.

7. How clean is your car on the outside? Inside? Is there junk in your trunk?

My current car (the old Jeep), is covered with salt right now and looks terrible. I plan to wash it today. The inside is completely clean, even under the seats, as everything went forward Monday after I hit the snow bank. It was amazing all the stuff I found when I got home and was taking everything out of the car.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Joanne continues to amaze us all with her progress, but she has so far to go, and both pain and depression really get her down. Please pray for her to have relief from her pain (it’s a balancing act, because they don’t want to give her too much pain medication, as this will slow her recovery), and peace in her heart, mind and soul, while she recovers.She is such a brave young woman, and she is in the fight of her life!

God Bless you, Joanne!

What I Did This Weekend

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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This was a very strange weekend. I actually accomplished a lot of things, but the things I looked forward to the most, did not happen.

I did get some cleaning done, although not as much as I would have liked. I also watched a movie, but nothing that was new and earth shattering. “From Lark Rise to Candleford” was not on, and on Sunday morning we were in the dark (no power) for about an hour. Hubby went out and got our generator going, so I was able to make our breakfast and we watched TV until the power was restored.

We also did some running around getting groceries. Part one found us taking Arnie with us, and part two found us bringing Anneliese. It was so much fun traveling around with them.

We also saw our unfair fair share of rain. In the last two days we have had so much rain, and warm temperatures that the snow has melted into ponds in our yard. Amazing!

So the weekend was just your average taking care of business kinda weekend!

Saturday Happenings!

Something kind of wonderful happened today, and I can’t really talk about it yet. You will hear about it in the future, but for now, just know that I smiled most of the day with a special secret.

We had a day where our temperatures were high enough to allow for some melting, and the roads were clear. Hubby did some more snow removal in key areas, and once again I watched every cooking show known to man, as I did my house work. It helps to give me ideas for new meals to cook.

For instance, Saturday night I am cooking a meatloaf, made from a recipe I found on the Food Channel. Now I hope this is a good meatloaf, because it took me well over an hour just to chop up all the vegetables that go into this meatloaf. I like to think of this as the “Everything But The Kitchen Sink Meatloaf”! I really hope it is good. If it is, I will post the link to the recipe, as it is a copy write-ed recipe.

I was flipping through TV guide when I noticed that my new favorite TV show, “From Larkrise to Candleford” is not on tonight! What? They are having fund-raising TV crap on instead! I am not happy, as now I must wait until next week for another episode.

Okay, I hope you are all sitting down. Here is the up to date latest. I actually finished all of my laundry! Ha! I knew I could do it if I just set my mind to it!

Some good friends of ours slipped away and tied the knot! The bride and groom both wore flannel shirts and jeans and life is good! Congratulations to Lou and Mary and our wishes for happiness always!

Love is grand!!!