Life – Page 36 – The Dackel Princess

Puppy Breath

First of all, Happy Mother’s Day to all of you out there that are “Moms”! It’s our day, so kick back and enjoy it.

Saturday found us catching up on the real life chores around the house. Hubby mowed the grass, and trimmed the edges with the trimmer, while I watered our green house plants, and tidied the place, all while doing the laundry and whipping up meals.

It’s funny how four little creatures can so rock a routine. I admit to being forced to sit and stare at them. What you mean, I’m not forced to do that? Well, I like to follow the “life is too short, and we have to stop and smell the puppy breath” life motto, right now. It is so wonderful to hold those chubby little bodies in my hands and have them nuzzle me. How wonderful is that!

Today’s Stars are Birgit!

And Bernie!

Also on Saturday we met the new owners for our last pup, Bernie! He will be going to a great home in Maine with two terrific people! They stopped by to hold him and take pictures. It was so much fun to see them with him.

So for all of you that doubted my ability to say good-bye to all the pups, you will be happy to know that I have found good homes for each and every one of my babies.

It’s a nice feeling.

Getting Ready

Monday was my “go to town and get the errands done” day. I’m trying to get everything ready, so that when Anneliese pops out those puppies, I can just stay home with her.

I was also able to pick up the last items on my puppy list. Some fresh styptic powder, and some new scissors. So now my birthing kit is complete and I am ready to roll.

Last night on National Geographic they had a show called “In The Womb, Dogs”. Wow it was so fabulous to watch it and see the puppies from conception to birth. 62 days! I kept looking at the growing fetal pups and crying.

Yes, I know, I am a big softy!

I also did a big grocery shopping. Hubby is great doing the shopping, but I wanted to prepare as much as I could. Then he will only have to pick up fresh vegetables and juice and eggs while I am at home with Anneliese and the new puppies.

By the time I was driving home, I was already a little tired. My right shoulder started bothering me yesterday and I didn’t sleep too well because of it last night. What did I do to it? Absolutely nothing! I’m just getting old!

Here are two pictures of Anneliese. The first was last fall before she became pregnant. The second one was taken on Sunday. You can see that she is now as big as possible before she literally pops! She sleeps or rests in her little bed in the kitchen most of the time, but does come in to see us when we are having lunch or dinner.

Sleeping at night is tough for her (and me!) and we have been getting up at 5 or 6 AM every day. I am pretty sure I will not get a good night sleep now until the puppies all leave to go to their new homes.

Oh I am so excited right now. The next few days just will not go fast enough for me!

Protest!

I attended my very first protest rally. I’m 50. I was a little too young to protest the establishment, in favor of flower power in the 1960’s and I actually thought that Saddam Hussein needed to get his butt kicked, so no protesting there. However, today, I felt very strongly and despite my migraine, I went out with Hubby and we protested.

What The Tea Parties (Taxed Enough Already-Protests) Are About.

It’s about spending — too much spending, to be specific. Too much taxing. The idea that a business is too big to fail is anti-American; we’ve always been for the underdog, but why should we be bailing out AIG or GM or Ford, etc.?

It’s about putting my family — my children and grandchildren — under $12.8 trillion in debt; all it took was two presidents and six months.

It’s about power — too much power going to federal government.

It’s about corruption — too much corruption, in both parties.

So we went to the State Capital and stood with our fellow New Hampshire-ites to protest the craziness in Washington. I don’t think it matters if you are a Republican or a Democrat.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Today I was an American, who was fed up with what my government is doing, and because I still live in a free country, I protested!

I love my country, but right now, I am not happy with the way it is being run. Come on people, you can do better than this!

Tuesday

It was a cold and rainy day here in New Hampshire on Tuesday. It sort of looked like I felt. I did manage to do a few important things, like cook meals and get dressed, but I was feeling a little bit like I was underachieving, when Hubby asked me if I would help him with a project and then go and visit a friend of ours.

Miracle worker that I am with a VCR, I managed to get our VCR hooked up at the Community Center for tomorrow night’s movie extravaganza. Yay for me!

Then we went to visit our friend. She has colon cancer and is not doing too well. She is one of the really great people I know, and it is breaking my heart to see her so ill.

Anyway, we brought her spring flowers and spent over and hour visiting before we left and came home to our doggies. I hope to get back to visit with her again soon.

The day ended with “hot wings” and celery with blue cheese for dinner. When we got home I really wasn’t into making a big meal. It’s back to cooking healthfully tomorrow. I really owe that to myself and to Hubby.

Tonight is an easy dinner. I am just too tired and too stressed to think about making a big meal. I will do that tomorrow.

What was it that Scarlett O’Hara said in “Gone WIth The Wind”?

“Tomorrow is another day!”

Sunny Saturday

Although the day started off foggy and cold, by noon it had brightened up and warmed up as well. I tried to motivate myself to do more than I did, but at least I got our Tax Documents out, so that when Hubby is feeling like doing it, with the help of Turbo Tax, everything is now ready.

I tried a new creation of stir fried shrimp, with Chinese noodles for dinner. A real easy meal, low points for me and Hubby took extra and was able to fill up.

Anneliese is changing almost daily. She tends to want to nibble on her kibbles more, and her belly is getting rounder every day.

I took these pictures of her lying in the sun. She is quite the model, don’t you think?

Hubby continued to pick up yard debris from the winter pruning sessions, and has been out quite a bit playing with the dogs. Sadly, I think that the snow skiing is nearly at an end for this year.

Beds, Laundry & A Growing Pup

Thursday was a normal day. I changed the sheets on our bed, and worked doing the laundry. I actually got quite a bit accomplished in a short period of time. Including the washing of the sofa cover and Anneliese’s blanket. She is happily lying on it right now.

I also decided to make a chicken pot pie. From scratch. I’d never done that before and it was a bit challenging, but I somehow managed to make something that at least tasted good.

I brought Anneliese to the Vet’s office for her weigh in and since she became pregnant she has now gained 2.4 pounds. In the last week only .2 (two tenths of a pound). She is in splendid shape, for the shape she is in!

Melli asked yesterday to get a picture of Anneliese in the same position as the first. Okay, so here they are. The first picture was last October and the second is today.

The rain started around supper time, and now the dogs and Hubby are all lazing sleepily in front of the TV.

Sounds like a good idea!

Finally, Some Warmth & A Chubby Pooch!

Although the day began with low temperatures, it warmed up quickly and by noon we had 50 degrees (F) here. Yippee!!!

There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and dogs had a good time running around in the slushy snow in the back yard.

Hubby continued to work pruning trees and I did my usual Wednesday drive to my Weight Watchers meeting, and then a little grocery shopping after.

Anneliese was happy to be outside, but also spent a lot of time sleeping today. She is getting bigger. Here are two pictures. The first was taken last Autumn before her pregnancy.

The second was taken tonight as she stretched out on the sofa. I need to bring her in and get her weighed again tomorrow.

Over the next couple of weeks she will be getting pretty chubby! I can hardly wait! I’ll be posting more pictures as the time passes.

Tomorrow we are due for some rain, and hopefully that will help to melt the snow, just a little more.

I’d really like a nice grassy back yard to bring the puppies out in when they are old enough, so snow, snow, go away, puppies will come soon on a spring day!

Dashing Through The Snow…..

Now I am truly ready for spring! Up here in the wilds of Northern New Hampshire, it is still very much winter. Oh, the days are getting longer, yes, but the air is cold and the snow is out there, still deep and not melting. Come on now, Mother Nature, I want some springtime, warm weather and I would truly enjoy seeing my bulbs pop through the ground!

I took the dogs outside this morning and tossed balls all around for them to play with. As I listened to Fritz something became very apparent to me.

The new rabies and town registration tags make an annoying tinkle every time he moves. It was dreadful! However, he must have these tags on, so what was I to do?

I stood thinking, or trying to, as the tinkling noise was making me crazy, when I had an idea!

Both of these tags are blank on the back. I took them and I glued the backs together, making one tag! No more tinkling!!!! Oh praise the Lord! My sanity is safe!

Meanwhile, Anneliese, Arnie and Greta all are having fun running through through the snow chasing the emerging squirrels and chipmunks.

Now picture this: Three little dackels, dashing through the snow, and one middle-aged woman, dressed in her robe and slipper clogs and jacket running after them!

Yes, my neighbors are getting a good show this spring! I sure hope they are enjoying it! lol!

Quiet Day

Sunday was a very strange day. It began with cool sunshine, and by noon the clouds had arrived and the wind had picked up. No sooner had we finished lunch and Hubby had gone outside to prune some trees when we looked across the lake and saw a wall of snow flurries headed our way.

I went to the back door and started to call the dogs, when the snow hit! Hubby and I got them all in and then we started a roaring fire in the hearth. Anneliese came by me and she was shivering a little so I got her sweater out and put it on her. She is now lying in front of the fireplace in her sweater looking as cute as can be!

Albeit, very chubby! That sweater used to be a little big on her and now, well, she fills it out!

Doesn’t she look happy lying there?

Greta is sitting by my side and Arnie too. It’s a nice quiet Sunday.

My Dad

My Dad passed away on Thursday morning at 7:30. His battle with heart disease, leukemia and emphysema finally were over. He passed away with a nurse by his side. Somehow I think he wanted it like this. I don’t think he wanted Mom or Mel, to have to remember him in those last moments.

Today I want to share a few pictures of dad over the years. The first picture is from a newspaper article about our family back in 1966 when Dad did the music for The Sound Of Music and Mel, Mom and I were in the cast. Yes, that is me sitting next to Dad. I was 7 years old.

The next picture is Dad and me when I was about 12 or 13 years old. I was going through a chubby phase.

This is a picture taken on the one and only trip I took alone with my parents. We went to Bermuda to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Notice that Dad always had on a tie. He wore one every day until after he retired from teaching.

This is a picture of Dad with my two girls, Katie and Mandy. Dad didn’t travel much, but he and Mom came one day to visit us in New Hampshire. It was so great to see them.

This picture was taken before I started Weight Watchers. It didn’t matter to Dad. He always loved us no matter how we looked.

And this is the last picture of all of us taken at their 60th wedding anniversary last July.

And this was the invitation to their party. We used what I thought was the nicest picture of my Dad and Mom from their wedding.

My Dad was born in Boston on January 12th 1927. He was the only child of my grandparents, Sam and Elsie.

He met my Mom when they were 13 and 14 years old. Dad was a pianist and Mom was a ballerina. She loved his smile and his musical ability and he loved her dancing and her red sweater!

They married in 1948 in Brighton, Massachusetts. My brother Richard was born in 1951, Mel in 1953 and I came along in 1958.

Dad was the music teacher for the school system we attended on Cape Cod. He also played the organ for church services and for weddings and funerals all over our home town. During the summer he worked on the desk at the local police station.

The end of his life was difficult and painful. We were all so relieved when he went to Hospice because his suffering was finally over and was no longer in pain.

As I stood by his bed on Sunday and held his hand I looked around at my sister and mother and father and realized that this was the last time the four of us would be together. The next chapter of dad’s life would be spent with my brother and daughter, Katie in Heaven.

Rest in peace, Dad. I love you.