Category: My Life

1. Do you believe, somewhere deep inside, that blonds do indeed have more fun? That they are “dumber” than brunettes or redheads? Be honest!

Nope. I used to work in a beauty salon. I’ve seen what many “blonds” go through each month and guess what? No fun. I think it matters not what color hair you have, but the person you are inside!

2. Which animal would you most like to observe in its wild habitat?

Owls. I’ve been watching the Owlets online, but would love to be able to watch them up close.

3. This week the U.N. announced that Dr. Mazlan Othman has been appointed the official “Alien Ambassador,” should any extraterrestrials contact us. Have you, or has anyone you know, ever seen a UFO?

Nope. And my husband was a pilot in the military, and then an airline pilot, so he was in the sky a lot. Wait! Maybe “he” is the alien! lol!

4. Name your favorite Hitchcock film.

“North By Northwest”

5. Would you rather spend time at the library, the mall, a craft store or home?

Home.

6. Which Disney princess is your favorite? (Or Disney character, if you are a guy)

Cinderella

7. What kind of art is your favorite?

Impressionist. I love Monet! In fact I have several Monet poster prints framed around my home. I find impressionism relaxing.

8. How do you feel about viral videos, that is, videos made by amateurs that end up on Youtube receiving thousands of hits?

Some are funny, but they really don’t do much for me.

9. Where do you buy your jeans?

It depends. Usually LLBean or Liz Claibourne.

10. Tell me about your first automobile accident.

It was a very tragic accident. I was hit by an impaired (stoned) drive as I was stopped at a red light. My 6 year old daughter was killed. It wasn’t my fault, but this accident, changed my life forever.

11. Have you ever been honest when you knew you would benefit more if you would be dishonest?

Not really. A year ago I discovered that a local store had sold me two kiddie pools instead of one and I went back and paid for the second one. So I guess I’m kind of honest that way. It’s all about Karma.

12. If you were appointed “Ambassador to Aliens,” what would you show and tell first about life on Earth? What would be the most difficult thing to explain?

I would show them the beauty of our planet. Since they have the fancy space ship I would zoom them all over the planet so they could see it.

The hardest to explain? The EVIL on our planet, because there is so much.

There are days that you wake up, go through your entire day and find you have absolutely nothing to write about. Monday was that day for me!

It rained off and on all day. It was cold and the most interesting thing happening here was that I had a pot of turkey bones simmering for the second day. After nearly 24 hours of simmering, and the fact that my whole house smelled like Thanksgiving, the broth that I will use tomorrow to make our turkey soup simmered to perfection.

I did work grooming Arnie for over an hour. At first he fought this, but eventually he just curled up and slept while I stripped his fur.

Fritz had his nails clipped, and Greta struggled against me, while I tried to groom her. Anneliese is, of course, perfect and just needed a light brushing.

I scanned some pictures of Hubby when he was a kid for him, and then heated up the leftover Sauerbraten for our dinner.

Well I think that today I need to go off and have an adventure so I can write something interesting tomorrow.

Wish me luck!

Okay, I know that Saturday was supposed to be my busy cooking day, but I needed to make a run to the big city and then I got a bit frustrated because all the plans Hubby and I made for the big city seemed to get thwarted.

We arrived back at home at 3 PM and we changed clothes and Hubby went out to mow the lawn and I went into the kitchen to cook.

Now, before we left I put a roast I had been marinating, in my crock pot on the lowest setting to make my favorite German meal, Sauerbraten! I have the old family recipe that came with my Great-grandparents  from Germany and was passed down through the generations until it came to me. I love it, and of course my Hubby loves it too. In fact Hubby LOVES German food and I think he believes he was lucky to marry someone who enjoys cooking German delicacies!

While the Sauerbraten cooked I made the spaghetti sauce. A triple batch this time! I’m just waiting for it to cool so I can put it in containers to freeze. This is the last batch I will make. After this I think I may try to make salsa.

The Sauerbraten came out even better than usual! Even Hubby was amazed at how good it tasted! There is enough for one more meal.

For now, I am sitting with Anneliese as I wait for the spaghetti sauce to cool.She tells me I should mention that all four dogs thought the Sauerbraten was good too! Yes, they all got a little taste, because I am a soft touch!

Tomorrow? Oh I do hope I can have a quiet day. Aren’t Sundays supposed to be quiet days? Oh wait…I’m cooking the turkey tomorrow! Not so quiet after all.

The new glasses arrived and Hubby drove me down to the shop to pick them up. For those of you who wear glasses, you will understand how I felt. I put on the new glasses, with the new prescription and for the first few minutes I couldn’t see anything well.

Then slowly, my eyes adjusted and I am happy to report a real improvement in my overall vision! Since the doctor told me that I will not require surgery for a while, my goal is to have the best possible vision that I can.

We shopped and came home and I made a new recipe.  Chicken and sausage with vegetables. It sounded great, but when I sat down to eat it, I didn’t like it! Now this doesn’t usually happen, thus my lifetime membership at Weight Watchers! I simply love almost all food!!! However this chicken and sausage recipe just didn’t do anything for me, and after three bites, I pushed the dish away.

I did, however, eat all of my beets!

Hubby liked the recipe. He ate well and when I asked he said that he enjoys stews. So I wondered what it was that turned my taste-buds off? I am not sure. All of the ingredients were things that I liked, but together, well….

Tomorrow I am making two steaks. I may have Hubby fire up the grill and cook them outside. I have a real hankering for a good grilled steak!

Happy Friday everyone!

On Wednesday night, I seemed to toss and turn all night long. Finally about 4 AM I settled in, and fell into a deep sleep. Apparently, I’d kept the dogs awake too because they slept deeply as well, and right past their usual wake-up time of 7 AM.It was now 8 o’clock and both Hubby and I needed to be out the door in just a few minutes.

What did this mean? It meant that I grabbed my clothes and ran to the kitchen while trying to put them on. In my sleep I attempted to make the coffee and ended up putting the coffee grounds into the water filler! Of course I did not have my glasses on, so I ran back in the bedroom, grabbed my glasses, went back into the kitchen, and cleaned the coffee maker out and then set the coffee to brew.

Teeth were brushed, dogs were walked, thermoses were filled and we both made it out of the house, only slightly later than we should have.

Time.

After my class, I came home to three happy doggies. One was missing! Yes, Fritz went off with his Daddy for a day in the woods.

I picked the last of my Ichiban Eggplant and made an eggplant parmesan for our dinner. It came out pretty well, and I managed to eat a little before racing off to my meeting.

I finally came home and for the first time all day I am not racing around. I’ve put up my feet and gotten my pajamas on and I’m enjoying the quiet.

1. Have you, or has someone close to you, ever won an award for anything?

• Hubby was awarded the Air Medal when he served in Vietnam.

2. Who is the nearest relative to you who has served in the US Military?

• My husband was an Army Aviator.

3. Share something that stirs the patriotic spirit in you.

• We’re going to an Army Aviator’s Reunion soon and seeing all those men and knowing how they sacrificed to serve their country always makes me misty. I have been able to visit cemeteries in England and Washington, DC (Arlington National Cemetery) and seeing all those headstones also brings tears to my eyes.

4. Where are you in the birth order in your family? Do you think your “placement” made a difference in your personality?

• I‘m the baby of my family. I was the last one in, not terribly wanted by my parents, but totally loved by my sister!

5. Name one trait you hope you carry that was evidenced in your parents or grandparents.

• My grandparents are the example that I tried to follow. I have tried to be honest, loving, and giving.

6. If female, do you prefer wearing a skirt or pants? If male, shirt and tie or polo?

• I live in New Hampshire, and we have a lot of cold weather. So, I like pants!

7. Approximately how many times do you wake during the night? What do you do to go back to sleep?

• I’m up 2-3 times at night. Big babies gave me a small bladder! Usually I fall back to sleep quickly, but if not, I have learned to put myself back to sleep through relaxation techniques.

8. Share a favorite movie quote.

Since I have several, I will share my favorites.

• “You must make your own life amongst the living and, whether you meet fair winds or foul, find your own way to harbor in the end. ” The Ghost & Mrs Muir

• “May the Force be with you.” Star Wars

• “I’ll have what she’s having.” When Harry Met Sally

• “After all, tomorrow is another day!” Gone With The Wind

9. What is your favorite Fall candle scent?

• Pumpkin Pie

10. What is one Fall activity you’re looking forward to?

• Making Applesauce.

11. Tell us about a pleasant surprise that happened to you recently.

• I went to a movie, expecting not to like it at all. We saw “The Town” with Ben Affleck and I loved it!!!

12. What was it like when you first met your in-laws-to-be?

• My first in-laws were wonderful and I loved them dearly. Sadly, that marriage didn’t work out. My second in-laws were quite elderly and didn’t really accept our marriage and so the relationship was strained.

I was watching Kathie Lee and Hoda

this morning and they were talking about age. You know, if you are honest about your age, or your weight and the numbers that define us.

You all know that in November I will be turning 52 years old. I’ve never been uncomfortable talking about my age. In fact, I’m quite proud that I even survived my twenties, so arriving in my 50’s two years ago, felt good. I feel young inside my head, even if various parts of my body are now heading south, or totally rusting up and falling off.

They asked people on the street how old they were and I was amazed at how many people  didn’t want to answer. Am I the only person on the face of the earth that feels pride at being their age? Do you tell the truth about your age, fudge the numbers or simply not answer?

Now weight is a totally different thing. I shall be 129 pounds until the day I die. No matter the hour, day or year.

(And the fact that I haven’t weighed 129 pounds since I was 26 years old won’t stop me either!  Just look at my drivers license! 129 pounds!)

Of course, back in my head again, I am 129 pounds, and my body resembles the firm and toned body I had when I was 16 and doing gymnastics! Even my 28 year old body wasn’t too bad, although not quite as good.

I’d just like to think that when I do die and hopefully go to Heaven that slim and perky body will be restored.

One can hope…

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

My weekend was actually quite full. On Friday I was on my way home from my cousin’s home after caring for her overnight. I was tired and a bit on the cranky side, but when I arrived and was greeted by my very own four doggies, I felt a lot better. Oh yes, and Hubby was also glad to see me!

Saturday I worked around the house, cleaning and doing some computer work before I showered and got ready to go to Mandy’s house for dinner.

My daughter lives about an hour south of us in a town next to where Hubby and I lived when we were first married. The roads are familiar and it was nice to drive down.

Mandy made the most delicious spinach lasagna and garlic toast! I brought a garden salad and her boyfriend’s mother brought a fruit salad. We all sat on their deck drinking wine and beer, and talking in the cool Autumn sunshine.

Time with my daughter is always too short, and before I knew it, we had to leave to come home.

Sunday was Dackel Dog Bath Day! All three of them were put in the shower and washed from the tops of their heads to the tips of their tails! Fritz was off with Hubby, and escaped being bathed again!

I’ve started making “chow-chow” relish. It’s a tomato recipe that calls for you to do half one day, let it sit overnight and then do the rest the next day. I sure hope this relish comes out well. I will keep you posted.

The week ahead is another busy one for me. Tuesday, and Wednesday I have meetings, but Thursday may find me on the road again.

Have a great week, everyone!