Category: My Life

Hubby and I went out the other day in search of a new snow shovel. Hubby likes steel snow shovels, for one very obvious reason, they do not break easily. However, we are getting a bit irritated because everyone is carrying the new fad in snow shovels…plastic.

Hubby wasn’t happy at all, and he searched the entire shop, dragging me all over this do-it-yourself warehouse, as though in this search, he could make a steel shovel instantly appear!

I finally gave up, stopped following him, and just stood near the front door, checking out the seeds for my garden. I decided I need to make a list of what to buy, so I can go back (without Hubby, I think) and buy my seeds.

Finally, Hubby decided that there was no perfect shovel, and we left. We walked out to the car, talking about this “dream shovel”, and when we got into the car, Hubby mentioned that his radar detector was on dim mode, which he didn’t like and could I change it back to bright.

Not a problem. I had the instructions, so why not?

I took the radar detector down, which proved to be a real challenge and I was trying to figure out the buttons, and apparently I pressed too many buttons too many times because the next thing I knew, the radar detector asks me…”Are You Sober Enough To Drive?”

I have never heard a radar detector ask that question before! And it didn’t just ask me that once, but over and over and over again! In my defense I finally shut the bloody thing off so it would stop asking me this question! (I was, after all completely sober, just mechanically challenged!)

I plugged it back in and then carefully did the correct button pressing, and fixed the dim/bright problem, but when I was trying to put the detector back, I bumped the City Mode and thus we had another problem. I spent the remainder of our trip home trying to fix that. I couldn’t.

The silly instructions were so small, I could barely read them anyway, and my frustration level was very high. So, I handed the instructions to Hubby when we were home, and said, “You do it!” and walked away.

Give me a pot and a chicken or a roast and I will cook you a meal, car things are not my bag! Still, looking back now at the entire event, I have to laugh. It was pretty funny!

On Monday Hubby went to another shop, and although he did not find his dream shovel, he did find this one.

It’s good enough for now, and yes, it is partly plastic.

But, for now, it works.

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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It was an off weekend for me, this past weekend. I did a fair amount of cooking, which also means cleaning up, and with getting my hands wet so much, all of a sudden the skin just started to crack.

Yes. I am old.

To help, I have purchased several pairs of rubber gloves to protect my hands while I am cooking/cleaning and chopping food. It is amazing to me just how wet your hands get when you are in the kitchen.

I never did get my Christmas boxes up in the attic, however, I resolve to do that on Monday, no matter what I do!

I did some laundry, played with the dogs in the snow (yes we had more), and even went to see a movie, “The Fighter”.

All I will say about “The Fighter” is this,  Christian Bale is fantastic. I simply cannot believe what a fabulous actor he is!

He WAS Ricky! They announce the Oscar nominations on January 25th. I hope he is among them.

Oh jeeze, I just heard that The Golden Globe went to Christian Bale, for  “The Fighter.” for Best Supporting Actor! I told you he was phenomenal!

The week ahead finds me expecting more snow, going to several meetings, and getting my teeth cleaned. All important things.

Have a great week everyone!

I finally got my much wished for snow!

January Snow 2011 from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

Here are the 13 things I love about fresh snow.

1.   The clean bright surface it gives my otherwise plain yard in the winter.

2.   How pretty it is to watch during the day, when it is falling.

3.   The way it can swirl and blow around looking so full of energy and yet so easily falling to the ground.

4.   Snowmen.

5.   The quiet of fresh snow. Before the plows get out, when the ground is completely covered, there is a quiet that is describable. I love that silence.

6.   Rides in the Jeep after the roads have been cleared to see the beauty of the snowfall.

7.   The birds that come out looking for a morsel of food.

8.   The way the dogs run, hither and yon, through the snow like little kids!

9.   Seeing only the heartiest of souls out at the Post Office picking up their mail today. It’s funny, but there were more than you might think.

10. Seeing neighbors help neighbors.

11. Pink cheeks after shoveling snow.

12. Watching the radar on my computer to track the storm.

13. The way Hubby and the dogs come in and curl up for naps after being outside in the snow.

Yes, I’ve now had a nice big snow fall, and all is right in my world. I’m a happy little New Englander. It’s quite funny, but my sister, who lives in an area not known for large amounts of snow, got the most snow in all of the New England area! We got considerably less, but I am still quite happy!

1. Every January 1st since 1976 Lake Superior University has published a list of words they’d like to see banished from the Queen’s English. Words may be banished due to mis-use, over-use or just general uselessness and they receive over 1000 nominations. Here are the fourteen words/phrases they’d like to see banished in 2011-viral, epic, fail, wow factor, a-ha moment, back story, BFF, man up, refudiate, Mama Grizzlies, The American People, facebook/google when used as verbs, I’m just sayin’, and Live life to the fullest.

What word or phrase would you like to see banished from our everyday vocabulary in 2011? You can choose one from the ‘official list’ or you can get creative and come up with your own.

Those words don’t bother me so much as the number of times people say, “huh” or “ya know?” or “eh?”

2. Do you consider opportunity something that comes to you or something you create for yourself?

I think some people have to go looking for it, while others are lucky enough to just sort of have it happen. So both.

3. Since we’re all eating healthy this month, ahem, what’s included in your favorite salad? Is there dressing?

My salads are like this: mixed greens, cucumber, and grape tomatoes, 2 ounces of low fat cheese and and ounce of two of chicken. Then I take two ounces of southwestern tortilla strips on top with a zesty low fat orange dressing on the side.

4. The fourth Monday in January is said to be Blue Monday…aka the most depressing day of the year. The date was calculated using many factors including weather, debt level, time since Christmas, time since we’ve failed at our new year resolutions, low motivation and feeling a need to take action. Do you get the blues this time of year and if so what is something you do to lift your spirits?

No, I don’t usually get the blues in January. Usually my blues happen in June.

5. Do you wear a watch? Any other everyday jewelry essentials?

I never wear a watch. I kill all watches. Don’t ask me why. My cell phone is the way I tell time. My essential jewelry consist of, stud earrings, wedding ring, and the cross my friend Gail gave me for my 50th birthday.

6. What is something useful you learned in high school?

It wasn’t anything I learned while “in” High School, but 35 years later, the men and women I shared that time with have grown, developed into amazing people. Through facebook and email, I have learned so much about life through what they have been through. High School is so unrealistic. There are clicks and when people are 16, a person’s looks matter so much, and no one is looking past that to see what is inside of people. There is such beauty inside of a person. High Schoolers don’t get that!

So aside from the basics, I can’t really say I learned a whole lot. The important things, I learned afterward in life.

7. Do you use an accountant when completing and filing your income tax returns or do you attempt to muddle through all by yourself?

Nope, Hubby is my accountant!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

As I sit here filling this out it is Tuesday 1/11/11. (weird) The weathermen are forecasting snow for 1/12/11. Let us hope that they are right!

I decided today to make a lovely meal for Hubby. He’s a good guy, and he really enjoys my cooking, so since I had gotten a small roast beef recently, I would roast that up especially for him.

Now you know, I can eat 3 ounces of this roast beef, which is really great, because it smells simply heavenly as it is cooking! How did I prime the roast? I frosted it with Poupon Mustard, sprinkled it with Thyme and Rosemary, and then sliced up an onion and using toothpicks, I attached these slices to the roast. They will brown up and get a bit crunchy, but they will be totally yummy, on the plate next to the slices of beef.

As I was sitting here thinking about this, I suddenly burst into great laughter! Why? Well, I may be a member of Weight Watchers now, but the truth of it is…I will always be a member!

You see, I love food. I love to cook it. I love to eat it. I love writing about it and talking about it! Oh yes, I will always be a member of Weight Watchers or I fear I will end up right back where I started three years ago.

I think when I reached goal before and was celebrated as “Lifetime” I somehow thought I’d recovered from having a weight problem. The truth of it is, I will always be a recovering over-eater. I’m just lucky that we have Weight Watchers and that this program works for me.

I guess it’s all about balance, isn’t it?

1. It’s 2011; I am starting a new year feeling happy and positive.

2. My Moonglow pickles. YUM!

3. Thankfully I have my trusty snuggy to keep me warm.

4. Love is the best thing in life.

5. I am so blessed in my life.

6. A bowl of fruit is a good thing these days.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to cooking a roast beef for Hubby and me, and a fire in the hearth, tomorrow my plans include watching it snow (hope, hope) and Sunday, I want to make a list for grocery shopping, get ready for skiing on Monday and enjoy my little human and fur family!

I still have this silly old cold and it is not showing any sign that it is on it’s way out of town. In fact today, I actually fell asleep, under two blankets in my chair, with a dackel on top! I slept like that for two hours and when I woke to find Arnie sitting on me, I almost had to laugh. You know, I’m not sure if he was trying to heal me or hatch me!

I poured juices and teas down my aching throat and managed to make my meals during the day. Hubby was off skiing, and in some ways this was better. It was quiet and I was able to just relax.

Besides the usual aches, and pains and stuffiness of the cold, I have had the added bonus of feeling really exhausted. My legs feel like jello and ears keep popping.

Oh I know, I am totally whining here, and I promise today is the last day I will do that! I can honestly say I haven’t had a really tough cold like this in a couple of years. So I guess that’s why it’s getting me down!