My Life – Page 112 – The Dackel Princess

Family & Dogs

I was off to the great state of Massachusetts to see and take care of my cousin, Janet. She really is doing better than she was, but her recovery will be a long one. Her surgery was on her back, and she has a 4 inch incision. She is on massive amounts of antibiotics, and at this point, needs lots of rest.

On Thursday night I did cook my, “World Famous Chicken”

It was a big hit, and made Janet smile. So, it was totally worth all the work making it and then cleaning it up! As I said yesterday, I need someone who likes to wash dishes after I cook because I tend to use every pot and pan in the kitchen!

This morning the Visiting Nurse came back again to give Janet her antibiotic infusion. Once again, Wolf got all freaked out! Poor guy. I sat him down next to me and tried to calm him.

Eventually he started to relax and respond positively to my calming kisses and snuggles.

I stayed until early afternoon when Janet’s friend Lauren arrived. She was going to stay until Dave got home from work. Then he will be with her all weekend.

Saturday I am off to see my daughter and her boyfriend and I have a dog sitter coming to take care of the pups. Am I the only one you know who gets a baby sitter for their dogs? Just call me a loving dog Mommy!

Weight Watchers, Dresses & Glasses

Wednesday I was running all day long, and here I am at 9 pm, just sitting down to write. Total craziness!

I had Weight Watchers, and did okay. I mean, I stayed the same, so that’s okay. I stayed as long as I could, and then I headed out because I wanted to find a new dress for the Reunion we will be attending in October.

I tried on many dresses and it is amazing how different styles make you look either too fat or just right. After I tried on 6 dresses, I finally found one I like, and at $39.00 I cannot complain at the price. It’s a solid black dress with an A-line skirt. Very pretty. I look very slender!

Then I was off to get my eyes examined and that went okay and I picked out new glasses.

I like these and so I ordered the new ones. They should be here in two weeks.

Our friends from Florida arrived this afternoon for the night. We went to dinner at Canoe and now we are sitting chatting.

Today I will be going to my cousin’s house to take care of her. She is finally home and now it’s time for the TLC! (Tender Loving Care!)

Random Dozen

1. Do you do garage sales? If so, tell me about one great find. If not, tell me why not.

No I don’t. My house is full and really, I should have a yard sale or two. Maybe a dozen!

2. Name the last thing you fixed.

The nightlight in my bathroom. I did it in the dark in the middle of the night.

3. Name your A) Favorite item of makeup OR B) Favorite tool

Favorite tool are pliers! I love my pliers!

4. Which room in your home needs organizing more than any other?

My dining room. Mostly it is a catch all room because we eat in the kitchen. I really need to get in there, organize, cull and clean.

5. Which room could use re-decorating?

The familyroom/kitchen. It’s an open format room and desperately needs painting, new rugs, and new furniture.

6. Share something unique about your town.

I could name some of the events that we have, the the restaurants that we have, but you know what makes my town truly special? The people! I love the people in my town. They have been there for me with a smile or a hug. Yes, for better or worse, I love the people in my little town!

7. If you could send a one-sentence message to your great-grandchild, what would it be?

Always remember, I love you!

8. Do you Facebook?

Oh yeah, big time.

9. Describe your favorite shoes.

Simple slip on black shoes. They are so comfortable.

10. Do you listen to more talk radio or more music radio? What kind of station is it?

I love talk radio, but I am not in the car very much. Usually I listen to the TV while I’m doing stuff. If I am listening to music on my MP3 player it’s easy listening rock type.

11. How far would you travel for a really good (favorite) meal?

I’ve gone all the way down to the coast of my state, 70 miles, and I’ve also gone to another country, Germany! lol!

12. If you were totally honest with yourself (and us) what should you probably be doing right now instead of blogging?

Ironing and doing laundry. And I’ll get to that, I promise!

Living Love

My cousin Janet has been quite ill. In fact she was in the hospital and had to have emergency surgery. She scared the heck out of me! In fact, I think she scared a lot of us that love her.

However, her surgery went well, and she is recovering better than I would have, (I get a splinter and want a morphine drip!) and she will be going home soon. I’ll be leaving Hubby overnight and going down to cook her a meal full of comfort food, and to shower a little tender loving care on her.

You know, I have thought a lot about life recently. How we should really relax and enjoy the good times, maybe appreciate them more, because life is full of those difficult times, the ones that we somehow struggle through, but the ones that challenge our emotions, nonetheless.

Janet’s surgery reminded me that I need to pay better attention to the good things in life. That I need to love my family and friends consistently and let them know.

I think I am going to go and hug Hubby now! I’m feel just a tad emotional!

What I Did This Weekend

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

This was the weekend of cooking! I seem to have spent more time in the kitchen than I usually do. Why is that, you might ask? Well, when I am nervous I cook and my cousin Janet was operated so I was a wreck. Happily, Janet is doing well, and later this week she should be well enough to go home, and then I will go down and help her out.n in an emergency on Saturday morning.

Okay, so here I go with what I did.

Friday I cooked, literally all day long. As you can tell from the previous post, it was literally mnon-stop from morning until the night!

Saturday was a nice day. I didn’t cook too much but I was preparing for our guests and the barbecue we had with our friends. That was so nice and relaxing, that even the dogs had a great time.

On Sunday, Hubby came in with another half a bushel of Macintosh apples and we cored them and cooked them up and made apple sauce.

I also discovered that I can download Kindle books to my computer! This is fabulous because it will mean that I can download books and enlarge the font! Yay!

Happy Monday, everyone!

Short Order Cook

It started with me cooking Hubby breakfast on Friday morning. I asked what he wanted and quickly whipped it up for him. I tidied the kitchen and then began the process of getting some cooking done.

Serious cooking.

Saturday we had friends over for a barbecue, and I needed to get the ribs set so that they could marinate. I was able to get that done pretty quickly, before I tackled the potato salad.

I tossed 5 pounds of potatoes in to boil with a half dozen eggs, and while that all cooked, I chopped the onion, celery for the potato salad as well as peppers and garlic that I needed for the Chili that I was also making.

Chili, you ask? Yes, Since I had all the juice from the tomatoes and I am literally inundated with Spaghetti Sauce, I decided to make a double batch of chili.

Once the vegetables were chopped and the potatoes were cooked, I set them aside to cool. Meanwhile, I started the Chili by sauteing all the vegetables and adding the ground meat. I browned that, added the tomato sauce and spices and set it on a low heat to cook.

I then made the potato salad and no sooner had I gotten all that put together, than it was lunch! I made Hubby a couple of hot-dogs with relish, onions and mustard and chips. Ate a quick lunch myself before working to clean up everything.

I was just finishing up the Chili in the mid afternoon when Hubby suggested that we make apple sauce! So we sliced and cored half a bushel of apples and cooked them down. We put them through the Foley Mill to remove any seeds and skin, and then added a tad of sugar and cinnamon. Yum! I froze eight quarts of sauce and put one container in the fridge.

Then Hubby wanted dinner. That was easy, he got Chili! I literally cooked the entire day on Friday, and I do not plan to cook much at all now over the weekend! Just a few little things. Like grill the ribs, and boil water for the corn on the cob.

I must share with you though, that my freezers are nearly full with all sorts of fruits and vegetables from the garden. Makes me feel kind of proud.

Saturday’s dinner went off without a hitch and we are all happily full tonight. Thanks to my pre-cooking, I was able to enjoy my guests and the food as well!

Random Dozen

1. Describe the best sandwich in the world, according to you.

A Classic New York Reuben!

Rye bread lightly toasted, thousand Island dressing, corned beef, sauer kraut, and swiss cheese. And it’s a mile high! OMG! The best!

2. Which inspires you more: a good conversation, a song, a book or movie?

All of the above, depending on the message.

3. What is your favorite board game?

Scrabble.

4. As you grow older, are you more or less patient with small children?

More patient. Especially because I realize how fleeting time is.

5. Name one item you never let yourself run out of.

Oh dear, Just one? Well it would have to be eggs.

6. Do you agree with Tennyson’s assertion, “‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?”

Are you kidding? Me? The ultimate in romanticists? I absolutely believe this. What is life for if not to have loved?

7. Name one national treasure or monument that you have visited.

I have visited so many, thanks to my curious Hubby. My favorite? Probably Mount Rushmore.

8. Which is more painful, to be disappointed in someone else or to be disappointed in yourself?

Myself, because ultimately it will mean I let someone else down.

9. What makes your kitchen uniquely yours?

We built our house and I designed it. So I would have to say, the layout of the kitchen, and the fact that it is all mine. Are there flaws? Yep! Never again would I deign a corner sink!

10. Are you a crafty person?

I used to be, but I do not think I am now.

11. What is your favorite traditional picnic or bbq (cookout) food?

Ribs, Ribs, Ribs!!!

12. Name one leisurely activity you enjoyed over Labor Day Weekend.

Cooking with Emily. To me, spending time like that with her, is the best!

New/Old Hair

I’ve been growing out my hair for a while now. It’s gotten so much longer and I thought I would like that, but…after a few months of not being able to just scrunch it into place I was going nuts.

So I called Margarita, and went in to get my hair cut! I wanted it all layered up so I can scrunch and go.

Margarita is an amazing stylist. She knew just what I needed and worked quickly and efficiently and I am back to being able to scrunch and go!

Isn’t it amazing how the little things in life can make all the difference?

I also made three quarts of spaghetti sauce! My freezer is getting so full.

Soon I will be making green Tomato Relish also known as “Chow Chow”. Now that will be interesting as I have never made that before!

Oh yes. And best of all, Emily arrives tonight for two days with us and the pups! We’re really looking forward to that!

Gotta Get Up!

Wednesday found me pulling the covers over my head, not wanting to get up and face the day. I hadn’t slept well, and somehow thought if I just stayed in bed, I could avoid any further catastrophes! Lucky for me, Hubby didn’t give up and he smiled and the dackels kissed me and even though I admit to being a little grumpy, I got up.

It was my day to go to Weight Watchers class and weigh in.

**groan**

I made myself a low fat peanut butter and jelly sandwich on diet raisin bread, got my coffee in a thermos and kissed Hubby goodbye. I got in the car, and in no time arrived at the meeting hall.

I really expected nothing. As you know, I’ve done a lot of cooking lately, but I have also been watching my portion sizes. I weigh everything, and I even decided that if I really wanted to eat some potato chips I would get the low fat baked chips. One ounce, which is just the right size, is only one point!

Anyway, I got up on the scale and was talking and not paying attention and Tami announced, “Wow! you did really great this week!”

That got my attention! “I did?” I asked in shocked disbelief. She nodded and replied, “Two pounds!”

I was so excited and happy and wanted to jump up and down with joy!

After that, the minor annoyances of the day seemed slide away and I concentrated only on the positive feeling I had from accomplishing something this important. (Even if I didn’t realize it!) Perhaps sometimes it’s better not to dwell on the change in ones eating and just concentrate on living it!

So now I need to go out and grocery shop for cans of tuna, some eggs and a few other things. I’m incredibly lucky that our fruit has been coming in, and the vegetables too.

It all helps and it is all good.

Random Dozen

1. What insect are you most afraid of?

Snakes and rodents.

2. What is the greenest/most organic thing about you or that you do?

My garden and orchard.

3. Tell me about a recurring dream that haunts you.

Being trapped in a car.

4. Have you ever missed a flight? What were the circumstances?

Since I pass ride, I can safely answer this question with a yes. Pass riders only fly if there is an open seat. Trust me, I have watched many planes take off and fly away with me still in the terminal!

5. What do you consider your best feature?

It used to be my eyes. But not any more. Now I would say it’s my ability to be a good friend. With age comes wisdom.

6. What was the last concert you went to?

I have a real fear of crowds. So I don’t go very often. I think the last concert I went to was at a church in Germany, Kloster Chorin. Volker and Uschi took me.

7. Describe the most embarrassing church moment you ever experienced.

My brother fell asleep during midnight mass and slipped down and under the pew in front of us!

8. Are you a whistler, hummer or singer?

Singer.

9. George Washington Carver said, “I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.” What is God saying to you through nature today, or this very minute?

Make sure you have good air conditioning. It is pretty darn hot here already today!

10. On September, 1, 1752, the Liberty Bell arrived in Philadelphia. What memorable event will take place in your life on September 1, 2010?

Goodness, I go to Weight Watchers!

11. Taco Bell or the Liberty Bell? (You must choose.)

The Liberty Bell.

12. Do you believe men and women can have purely platonic friendships?

Absolutely. You know, a man with honor will treat a woman with true respect. I have many male friends and they are real gentlemen. I am treated like a sister and they do not hit on me for a date or more. If a man comes on to a married woman, then he is no gentleman at all.