My Life – The Dackel Princess

The Nose Knows

Once again I am down and out with a winter cold. This one is all in my head, making me stuffy, feverish, and very tired. I’ve spent two days in bed, only getting up to prepare meals for the dogs and for us. And even then it’s minimal.

The TV drones on and mostly I sleep through it. I’m glad I stocked up on soups and crackers.

Arnie is a very good nurse. He never leaves my side. I’m a lucky girl. Until I am better I suspect my blogging will be minimal.

Stay safe, stay healthy, and have a good week!

No Smoking!

Oh my goodness, Saturday was really cold! It wasn’t just the actual temperature outside, but the wind brought the windchill down to the single digits! In fact, it was so cold, I broke out Arnie’s sweater as he was shaking like a leaf!

It brought to mind the fact that during the winter of 1999-2000, I was standing outside, with four feet of snow around me, smoking a cigarette. I had just a few left in the pack when I was overcome by good common sense. I came in, broke the cigarettes in half, and covered them with Dawn Dish Liquid.

Jack asked me what I was doing and I told him I was quitting cold turkey! He looked at me, with a concerned look of disbelief, and shook his head.

I told myself that I could never smoke another cigarette or I was done. I would be a smoker until the day I died.

But I never did start again. I never even caught myself sniffing the smoke when people were smoking near me. In fact, I really detest the smell of smoke now, unless it is in a fire-pit.

So tonight, as the wind blows, and the temperatures drop, I am so grateful that I am no longer a smoker!

Weekend Happenings

I am having trouble with my shoulder again. It makes me quite angry because I feel like an old lady. I will be doing something easy, like scooping out a can of dog food for Lili, and suddenly pain grips my shoulder and I do things like drop the can or spill something.

I was actually supposed to get it x-rayed this week, but my doctor is out because she is sick. So I have to wait a bit for the x-ray. Meanwhile, I am living on Advil and Tylenol and I am hoping for the best.

It’s funny, you know, it’s not like I have done anything to injure it. The pain simply arrived one day and it seems to be getting worse. Old age, I am sure.

Meanwhile, this weekend I got caught up on laundry, read more of my book, and actually watched several episodes of a British comedy, “As Time Goes By”, as well as a movie, “The Queen”.

On Sunday I would like to put away my Christmas Stuff. Whether or not I actually do, who knows.

I love the lights and right now the little Christmas tree all lit up makes me happy.

Never Wordless

A few bloggers I know do a Wordless Wednesday Meme each week. I knew that this wasn’t one for me. Since the day I was born I haven’t been wordless. In fact, my parents considered naming me Chatty Kathy.

All through my childhood, I was one of those kids who just talked. I drove my sister crazy. We would be lying in bed at night and I would start talking and asking her questions and I would go on and on and on. She would kindly tell me, “Good Night”, and I’d reply, “Good Night”, only to go right back to chatting all over again.

As the years passed I moved in with my Grandparents. I would sit and talk to my Grandmother for hours. I would tell her about school, about my day, and go on and on.

She once told me, after I had married and left home, that the worst part of my moving out was the silence. The one and only time anyone has said this to me.

A few years ago a friend of Jack’s’ was driving me across Florida to meet Jack at another airport. We were driving along and I was doing my usual chatting, hardly taking a breath. Finally, he interrupted me and said, “I bet you can’t shut up for 10 minutes”.

Ten minutes? Not a problem. We started the clock. One second, two seconds, three seconds…It was the longest ten minutes of my life! I did, however, make it, although I felt slightly queasy afterward. My reward? A dinner of fresh Blue Crabs at the Crab House!

I don’t think I talk as much as I once did. At least I try not to. In my “Golden Years” I have learned that it is best to listen, more than to talk.

Although sometimes if I am nervous or self-conscious, my motor mouth starts and I admit to being upset afterward that perhaps I’ve said the wrong thing.

Still, there is a lot of beauty in words, and I can appreciate that. I just need to remember to keep my mouth closed and my ears wide open!

Back In The Saddle

After several weeks of madness and mayhem with my eating, I reigned myself in on New Year’s Eve. I planned my meals, started to weigh and measure things, and removed all sugary things from my diet.

The first couple of days were hairy, but I am back in the groove again and this week I lost 4 pounds. Now I am sure most of that is water weight, but I will take it.

My goal this year is to get to my goal weight and stay there.

It is so hard to admit that you are not only a sugar addict, but that the things you love to eat are laden with sauces, breading, and are calorie and carbohydrate filled.

So yes, I am a sugar addict and a carboholic! I need to become a bunny rabbit who eats their leafy greens! Or an eagle that swoops down and grabs a fresh fish for its meal!

How did you all do over the holiday? Did Santa leave you with more pounds than gifts?

Next year I do not plan to indulge the way I did this year. I will limit my celebrations to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. That really is enough.

So for now, on this 5th day of January, I am Back In The Saddle Again!

Weight Watchers ~ Day 2

Yesterday was Day 1 of my going back onto the WW Plan. I think the first week is probably the hardest. You want sugar, fries, bread, chips…..but you also know that you need to set those all aside and eat healthfully.

After eating my yogurt and berries for breakfast, I made a huge salad, and also prepared some roasted eggplant for my lunch. I had fish thawing for dinner and apples to fill in those hours where you just want something to crunch!

I have 30 ounce Tervis Tumblers (they keep your drinks hot), which I keep full of first green tea and then chamomile.

But it doesn’t make me stop missing all those wicked good foods, that somehow pack on the pounds when I eat them.

I sort of wonder how skinny people, who eat the way I wish I could, stay so slim? It doesn’t seem fair, does it? I bet you it’s because they aren’t good cooks, right?

So, here I am, Day 2! I have my day’s menu planned and then I just keep going forward.

It’s not easy, but seldom are the things that are most important in life! I am determined though, so let the tea-drinking begin!

A Big Sigh of Relief!

Tuesday was a really pleasant day. Arnie and I had slept well the night before, and upon getting up, I decided right then and there that I needed a day off from the stresses of the sick!

Fortunately for me, both Arnie and Anneliese were responding well to their antibiotics and pain meds. Both were comfortable and Anneliese was no longer crying!

I kicked back and watched a few comedy shows on Amazon Prime, and a few episodes of “The Incredible Dr. Pol”.

You know I have learned so much from that show! Things I wouldn’t have considered before immediately come to mind when my three pups become ill.

Meals were easy. I have leftovers from Christmas and the weekend, so tonight (Tuesday) I asked Jack, “Which leftover do you want?”

Easy. Seafood Lasagna.Yum!

I did some paperwork, a load of dog laundry, and just sort of hung out. It felt good to relax and rest up a little.

I have great hopes for the New Year! I have faith we will find a way back to good health, happiness, and hugs!

Monday, Monday…

My Monday was stressful! What else can I say? Nothing was as I had thought it would be, but somehow, somehow I got through the day. But it’s a good thing I have naturally low blood pressure because much of the day found me feeling pretty frustrated.

So in order not to get lost in the minutia, I will simply bullet list my days’ events!

Jack and I had spoken and decided to bring Arnie in on Monday to our Vet. This skin problem is something we are both very concerned about and we wanted to be sure he knew about the latest events and saw it in person.
I happen to notice that both Arnie and Anneliese were due for their yearly shots. So when I made the appointment for Arnie to be seen, we planned to give both dogs their vaccines.
But as I drove out to the Vet’s Office I was thinking about Anneliese and all her fussing. I started to wonder if she had another UTI.
Upon my arrival at their office, I called them and explained my hunch. They brought out a small bowl and we walked Anneliese until the magic moment.
Arnie went in first, was checked out, and brought back after his shots.
Next Anneliese went in, had her exam and shots, and then she was returned to the car.
The Vet came out and we spoke about Arnie and the plan of attack for his recovery. A spray was included to help with the healing.
Then the subject came to my little girl. Yes indeed, she does have another UTI!
She was prescribed another antibiotic and then we were off.
At about this time, heavy snow began to fall! It was incredibly pretty, but fairly quickly, the roads became slick. Thankfully, by the time I reached our hometown, the snow had stopped and all was good.
I dropped them off at home and then went and did our grocery shopping. I stopped to get the mail, as I knew that Anneliese’s pain medication was there. But once again the US Postal Service let me down.
It actually arrived here on December 26th at 12:01 PM. Of course, that was too late to be delivered to be on a Saturday. But surely today, Monday, the package would be there! Ah no. Not sorted.
I told the Postal Worker I would be coming back. This package was very important to my pups!
Once I unloaded the groceries, had a quick lunch, I returned to the Post Office with my Tracking number. The Worker was not thrilled about finding this box, but I wasn’t leaving without it!
Let’s just say that I am one very determined woman, especially where my pups are concerned.
The box was found and I was able to give them their medication with their dinner!
I also had a weird thing happen with Lili. She’d gone out and was in the yard for a bit, and I called her to come in. She looked almost skittish like something had scared her. I went out and called to her again and she finally came in.
Dinner was made and cleaned up and it’s finally 8:15 on Monday night and I am able to sit down! Going to bed will be next and very soon!

Yes, it was a very long day!

Christmas Happenings 2020

This year, after a year of isolating and being cut off from so many of my friends and family, I prayed for one thing. I just wanted to spend Christmas Even and morning with my two grandchildren.

Well, I was blessed because I got to be with grandchildren on Christmas Eve, make cookies, play and visit and share, and then wake up on Christmas Morning and see their wide eyes as they surveyed all that Santa had brought to their home!

Stockings were opened and enjoyed! My former husband made us all breakfast and the friendship between us, his wonderful life partner, Rachel, and I made the entire event feel like life in this crazy world, we were all family! Bob’s son was also with us and his daughter was there via Zoom!

Family. Blended and working. I am ever so grateful for this!

After breakfast, we began the herculean task of opening Christmas gifts! So much fun and so much shared happiness and joy!

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Then I called Jack at home to say Merry Christmas and he told me that there was something wrong with Arnie. He wasn’t eating, or drinking, and it seemed his skin infection had returned.

Try as I might to not let this concern me too much, I was overcome and I said my goodbyes quickly, packed what I could in my car, and in almost record-breaking time I was home!

I grabbed my doggy thermometer and Arnie was feverish. He also wasn’t moving much, although I got a little tail wag with happiness upon my arrival.

I called the Emergency Clinic, which is just down the street, and brought Arnie right in. Because of Covid, I had to wait in the car, while they took him in.

Yes, bad fever and infection are on his back. (skin) He was also dehydrated and needed an IV and antibiotics. We decided he needed to be admitted for the night at least.

The next morning I went to pick him up, and although he is better, he is hardly well. I’ve been sitting with him, also doing laundry and feeding him, and making sure he is drinking.

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So, Christmas was full of blessings and a lot of love and in the end, it seemed I was right where I was supposed to be when I was supposed to be there.

Maribeth

It’s All In A Days Work

Tuesday found me excelling at my house-work. Almost as soon as I got up I was using our roof rake to take off some of the snow that was up there.

I will say this, I’ve never done roof raking before, and after three separate times outside doing this, parts of my body began to object.

So, I decided to come in and make the Seafood Lasagna, which I will cook for Jack’s Christmas Dinner.

Now I will say that I used just about every pot in my kitchen in the preparation of this lasagna! No kidding, I filled the dishwasher when I was done!

That took me two hours to do, and once this was done, I started the laundry, went to the Post Office, and then came home and had to figure out what to make for dinner. Using the leftover lasagna pasta, I made a small Italian Lasagna.

I finally finished with dinner dishes, walked the dogs, and now I am just waiting to put the last laundry load into the dryer. Then I will be done for the day.

I am quite happy with all that I got done, But I am sure in the morning, when this old body gets out of bed, I will be one hurtin’ pup!