Life – Page 30 – The Dackel Princess

Wonderful Monday

Monday was the nicest day we have had in New England all summer long! Pleasant temperatures, bright blue skies and low humidity! I mean, how good does it get?

Hubby puttered around in the orchard, we both worked to water the garden and the potted plants on the patio, and I decided to try out the new laundromat, washing my heavy cotton blankets.

What I found at the new laundry, is a clean place, with new and well cared for machines, a family owned business, where someone is always there. And everyone was so nice! Best of all, the prices were reasonable, and since I had errands to do, I didn’t worry about leaving the blankets in the wash with the pleasant gentleman working right next to the machine.

So, I got the blankets done, and brought them home to dry, and then it just seemed that the rest of my day was terrific. The dogs were good, Hubby was in a good mood, my computer worked well….it was all good!

Tonight we’re grilling steak (for Hubby) and chicken (for me) with some baked potatoes and a spinach, strawberry and goat cheese salad, with a raspberry vinaigrette.

Yeah, I guess I do talk about food a lot! lol!

Hot, Hot, Hot!

It was another hot, but beautiful day here in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire on Monday, Memorial Day. I decided that today would be the day I would select my clothes for the Reunion, and the shoes too. I’ve decided that men are far more lucky because Hubby only needs to pack oxford shirts and chino’s and his suit and a couple of funky ties and he is fine. A woman must pack pants, skirts, heels, flats, an evening bag, jewelry and of course, my blow dryer, curling iron and electric rollers!

Yes, it takes a lot more time and far more work for a woman to make herself look glamorous! At least I have most of it done and all I need is to get out the big suitcase and put these neatly stacked piles of clothing and shoes into it!

I also had a little episode that made me think that either I was pregnant or I was suffering from heat exhaustion. I came in and cooled off with the air conditioners, and sat down and drank four glasses of cold soda and sugar free juice. After the fourth glass, I felt like I was floating, but the dizziness had passed!

I love the summer, but not when we have 92 degree heat, with high humidity! Then I totally suffer. I prefer the temperatures to be in the upper 70’s or low 80’s. Then I am a happy girl.

As I go out and check on and water my garden, the dogs have all become great little helpers. They run back and forth around the fence, and play with their toys and each other while I water the plants. This is a departure from previous years when the puppies (Arnie & Anneliese) would run off, causing me to stop and chase them. In fact, this year as they get closer to turning 5, they have become more mature and pretty much abide by the family rules of staying in the yard.

Fritz is good. He just follows wherever you go and then while you are busy, he will lie down and watch you and stay close.

Hope you all had a great long weekend!

Tag

Tag:
I was tagged. By my friend Betty in Paraguay. She and I met some years back on another blog.

Anyway these are the questions I’m supposed to answer.

1. Do you think you’re hot?

I just finished shopping for a dress. It’s almost as bad as shopping for a bathing suit. Do I think I am hot? NO!

2. Upload a picture or wall paper that you are using at the moment.

3. When was the last time you ate chicken?

Tonight. (Friday) I made Buffalo Chicken Burgers!

4. The song/songs you listened to recently.

“Changes” by David Bowie. Makes me think of my High School days.

5. What were you thinking while doing this?

That the black flies really bit the heck out of my ear!

6. Do you have any nicknames? What are they?

Yes. Well, sort of. My best friend Gail, calls me Mari. And I refer to myself as MB to my family, but no one calls me that.

7. Tag eight blogger friends…
This is where I never follow the rules.
I´ll do five because I think that´s enough. But if you like being tagged and would like to play along, feel free and do so. You´re it!
1. Janet
2. San
3. Grace
4. Gattina
5. Michelle

Who’s listed as number one?

My dearest cousin!

Say something about number five?

She is a friend I met and felt instantly close to.

How did you get to know number three?

I met her on a blog. I cannot recall which one. We are now friends and I enjoy that!

How about number four?

I met her on Melli’s blog some time ago. But since then we have become good friends!

Leave a lovey- dovey message for number two?

Dear San, I am so glad we met each other and have shared this friendship for the last few years!

Now join in and have a great weekend!

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?