My Life – Page 107 – The Dackel Princess

Christmas Prep Work

We woke to Snowy/icy/rainy weather on Friday. Hubby was excited because the ski area he wanted to go to was finally open for the first day!He filled his coffee thermos and off he went, leaving me and the pups with a blank slate for the day.

Originally I planned to read, relax and make turkey soup, but as I sat here watching “The Santa Clause”, I began to get the Christmas spirit, and I climbed up into the attic and took down the box with the electric window candles. I’ll just put them in the windows and life will be good, I thought!

Except that when I got to the windows in the bedroom and family room, I found I had a big cleaning job to do first! Two hours later the windows were clean and the candles were up in every room.

The turkey soup got made and it came out well, although I think it will be better tomorrow when I can skim off the fat. It just tasted slightly too rich for my taste.

Later in the evening I got a tag on Facebook with the link below. I sat listening, and felt tears well up inside of me. This is probably one of my favorite musical pieces!

Enjoy!!!

Friday Fill-Ins

So…here we go!

1. Three things I must have on my Thanksgiving table: Chestnut Dressing, Cranberry/Orange Relish and mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes.

2. Today, after I make the turkey soup, I want to gather the dachshunds and get sacked out on the couch.

3. This is a weird day, with ice and snow and white gray skies.

4. I am longing to decorate the house for Christmas.

5. Oh, man, thankfully it’s a day where I can stay in.

6. I would like to perfect the art of delicious cooking.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to reading my book, tomorrow my plans include getting our tree down and start to decorate it and Sunday, I want to Finish decorating the tree and put the candles in our windows!

Friday Fill-Ins are sponsored by my cousin Janet. Come on and join the fun!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. If you had known what they knew then, would you have boarded the Mayflower?

I would hope I would be that brave. I’d like to think so.

2. How far have you traveled on a boat and how do you feel about boats in general?

Hubby and I had a sailboat when we first married and we sailed from Miami, Florida to Maine and then back to Miami, Florida. We’ve also cruised from Puerto Rico through the Panama Canal to Mexico, and gone from Seattle to Alaska and back. We love the water, or at least Hubby does and I do when I have my seasickness patch on.

3. What traditions have you kept, acquired thru marriage, and/or tossed? If you’re single what are some of your family’s favorite Thanksgiving traditions?

Since we were older when we got married and I was already set in my ways, as far as what I cook and how I cook it, we pretty much just have had what I have always made. Hubby’s Mom did love her sage and summer savory dressing, so I do add those herbs to my stuffing so Hubby will feel comfortable with it, but…the main ingredient are the roasted chestnuts that is a family tradition of mine!

4. What time is dinner and how many will be round your table? And what is the one side dish you cannot do without on Thanksgiving day?

We usually eat about 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Chestnut dressing is the side dish that I MUST have or it just doesn’t feel like Thanksgiving. The other one is butternut squash prepared with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon.

This year it is just me and my Hubby for dinner. I still have gotten everything for a traditional turkey dinner, as I believe in being thankful for all that we have. Also, a Thanksgiving meal is my favorite!

Yes, I know it goes against all I believe in to ask for ‘just one’, but I made up for it by asking three questions here.

5. Have you ever used a fire extinguisher? Do tell….

No. So far I have never started a kitchen fire.

6. Tell about a situation that caused you dreadful trepidation and feet dragging, only to realize later it was a true blessing.

I am one of those people who tends to jump in feet first, so I haven’t had a lot of those moments. Perhaps it was going to my first Weight Watchers meeting three years ago. I just dreaded it so much. When I weighed in, I cried. However, Weight Watchers has been so good for me. It has taught me to control my food, that I am not the only one out there struggling and the beautiful, wonderful, people I have met have blessed my my life!

7. Baked, sweet, mashed, hash browned or french fried…which one’s your favorite?

Mashed Yukon Gold potatoes. The best hands down, and that is on our Thanksgiving menu too!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

As our Thanksgiving Day draws near in the USA, I am ever so grateful for a loving family, good friends and the sweetest dogs on earth. My life is not exactly as I had dreamed it would be, when I was a little girl, but I am blessed.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What I Did This Weekend

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend!

The weekend seemed to fly by. I still had Bogart for part of Saturday until his Mommy came to collect him. We all kissed his little face good-bye, and off he went.

Arnie and Greta settled down for a nap, and Hubby was busy doing some computer work. Fritz lay by his side. Soon Anneliese demanded to go outside, so I opened the door and off she flew! I grabbed my jacket, but she had disappeared! I called and called, I even got out the cookie bone can, but nothing.

My heart was in my throat, beating wildly and I started running around the house. As I got to the front yard, there she was, down our neighbors driveway near the ROAD!

I called to her and she looked at me, as if asking, “Where is my son, Bogart?”

I got her inside and gave her a rawhide bone to take her mind off of things. This did help, although she was checking out the crate where Bogey slept at night. It just broke my heart. To think, it has been a year and a half since he left, but she still knows that this is her baby!

On Sunday, I worked some more on Christmas Cards, and composing the annual Christmas Letter. The cards are going well, but Hubby and I are disagreeing on the composition of the letter and which pictures to include!

Fritz came in from his morning walk quite lame. I think he re-injured his ankle, the one that the horse stepped on. I have wrapped it with an ace bandage and we have kept him quiet all day.

Sunday night I have no plans at all with the exception of perhaps soaking in a tub. I’m tired and in need of a little quiet time.

Friday Fill-Ins

So…here we go!

1. Why does Christmas come so close to Thanksgiving? I mean, these great eating holidays are murder on my diet.

2.Before I die I want to see the world.

3. Thank you for all the blessings in my life, dear Lord.

4. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because I love cooking all of my favorite dishes.

5. I am SO thankful that there is a God in Heaven.

6. I think we can be what ever or do what ever and become whom ever we make up our minds to be.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to putting up my feet and relaxing, tomorrow my plans include a trip to the grocery shop and Sunday, I want to read the newspaper and make my grocery list for Thanksgiving. It will only be Hubby and me, but I still plan to cook a full meal for the two of us, with all the trimmings!!

Friday Fill-Ins are sponsored by my cousin Janet. Come on and join the fun!

Post Birthday…

1. Birthdays are fun so long as you can forget the visual age and just enjoy the age that you feel that you are.

2. I spent my birthday enjoying, friends, family and fury friends.

3. Lobster is Gods perfect food!

4. I found so many people remembered my birthday and wished me well. I cannot begin to tell you how happy it made me!

5. I got some fabulous corduroys and a bright red sweater for my birthday!

6. I also got a snugly for my birthday! Guess the dachshunds and I will be warm this winter!

7. Did I mention that Lobster is the perfect food?

8. I also got my Christmas Lebkuchen!

9. Champagne is bubbly and wonderful.

10. I got “The “Ugly Dachshund” movie for my birthday. It is a really funny film! I’ve had both Great Danes and Dachshunds, and well, I can really relate!

11. I love Jones New York clothing!

12. Being loved is something very special!!

13. Birthdays are great!

It’s That Time Again!

Yes, today is my birthday! I’m 52 years old! Isn’t that amazing? I remember thinking that anyone in their 50’s was “really old” when I was in my teens. After all, weren’t Edith and Archie Bunker in their 50’s?

Now, here I am in the midpoint of my life (Yes, I see myself as living to be a very old lady) and I still feel very young, very vital, and very full of life!

I was born at 12:01 pm on November 17th, 1958. I weighed in at a whopping 9 pounds and one ounce. I was 23 inches long! Yep, that’s one big baby!

I was the youngest of three children, born long after the other two were planned and born. I always wished for a younger sister, but it was not to be. I’ll forever be the baby in my family.

So here is a short montage of me from birth to the present day. It’s just a little way of me sharing who I am with all of you!

Maribeth’s Birthday from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What is the most amazing weather you’ve ever seen?

I’ve seen a lot. From blizzards with a couple of feet of snow, that dropped in 24 hours; to rain so heavy that the skies shed 18 inches in less than 24 hours (when I lived in FL); to rain that fell so quickly here in New Hampshire, 4 1/2 inches in 35 minutes, thus washing out roads, dropping hail (which ruined our fruit crop) and took out the railroad tracks as well!

2. What is a sound or noise you love?

The tapping of dackel feet on the floor above, when I get out of my car in the garage below, when I come home.

3. Do you like seafood? What’s your favorite seafood dish?

Oh yeah! LOBSTER!!! MAINE LOBSTER!!! I‘ll be cooking up a couple tonight for my birthday dinner!

4. What part of your day requires the most patience?

The morning, when I need to walk dogs, make breakfast, do dishes and find a few minutes to actually shower.

5. What’s your favorite shade of blue?

To my eyes, sky blue. To wear, a nice navy.

6. Do people underestimate you?

I don’t know, do you?

7. When was the last time you had butterflies in your stomach?

At Candidates Night, last March, when I was in a position that people could have asked me questions. I was running for Library Trustee. Oh I was so nervous! Luckily, no one asked and I won the town wide election!

8. Insert your own random thought here, and remember…I have a wooden spoon and I’m not afraid to use it.

Today is my 52nd birthday! All I can saw is WOW! I’m quite lucky to be loved by family, friends and doggies alike. So there is my random thought!

Menopause Brain

I discovered that I can get busy and actually forget something! Totally unheard of for me. My mind is like a steal trap! I’ve always prided myself in that.

Monday, not so much.

I had a doctor’s appointment that I’d made some time ago. I’d written it down, and even got a reminder call last Friday. I was all ready for this appointment on Monday at 2 PM.

However, Monday found me slightly tired, with a scratchy eye, and actually puttering around getting things accomplished at home (like laundry, cooking and dog playing), and I totally forgot the doctor’s appointment!

He called me personally! He said in the 11 years that he has known me, I’ve never done that. This is true! I take being prompt and prepared very seriously. I apologized like crazy and I was embarrassed. How could I do that?

I’ve decided that it is menopause brain. Yep, I am going to blame that. For you youngsters out there, I swear there is something that happens when you are in the throws of menopause that causes your brain to freeze up.

Shockingly, mine did that on Monday.

I glanced at my calendar (after his call), and I now know I need to be prepared today and tomorrow for several appointments.

It’s odd. I think I will be very happy when the menopause bug passes and my brain returns. Won’t that be a happy day!

What I Did This Weekend

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend!

Since we have our little grand-puppy, Bogart with us, our weekend was consumed with playing little dackel games. Hubby did go off to a friend’s home to help him with some tree cutting, and log splitting, but true to my promise of being the best dackel granny, I was home, running around the yard, taking walks and tossing toys.

Bogart and Anneliese Playing from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

He has the best personality, and is such a love, quite an amazing little boy. He’s a year and a half old now, and full of life! He is smart, thoughtful and learns new things very quickly!

Besides playing with the doggies, I also cooked Julia’s Boeuf Bourguignon for Hubby! I have trimmed down the recipe a bit so the calories aren’t quite as bad, and the taste is…out of this world!

It’s been quiet otherwise, and as November works it’s way toward the winter months, I’m again reminded that I truly do like this time of year, just for that reason. It’s quiet.

Ahhhhh yes, quiet!!!