My Life – Page 119 – The Dackel Princess

Paperwork

Currently I have done the preparation needed in the house and in my suitcase and Anneliese’s bag to prepare for the journey. Now, I must attend to the paperwork. I have all my documents, and I will drive the 103 miles down to the Federal Veterinarian to get Anneliese’s travel documents stamped.

Then I will drive 103 miles home, hopefully getting back in time to prepare Hubby a nice meal, and retiring early enough to get a good night sleep. I tend to be nervous the night before I travel, but I am going to really try NOT to do that this time.

Anneliese really needs to be bred soon, and I am thinking that Saturday may be the great reunion between Isegrim and his lady love! The weather is due to be sunny and warm that day, Could springtime love be in the air? I certainly hope so.

Meanwhile I am keeping my eyes on the paperwork to be completed, and have packed the car for my trip, loading it with CD’s and a nice mug of hot coffee in the morning will help.

Planting

Sunday was a hard work day for me. Hubby helped early on to turn the soil in the garden and then I raked and set about planting all my enormous seedlings in the garden. Zucchini, summer squash, pickling cucumbers, regular cucumbers, green peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, brussel sprouts, peas and green and purple beans!

Betty asked me if we eat all the vegetables that we grow. Yes and no. We cook a lot of them, and we also preserve them by canning them. Our fruit trees yield so much more than we actually eat, so we sell what we can to a local farm stand. But the vegetables are pretty much just for us.

I did plant twice as many pickling cucumbers this year because I made bread and butter pickles last year and they were a real treat! I only made one batch, and they got eaten far too quickly! So I am hoping to make two or three batches this year!

I had a lot of help planting the garden too. Fritz stood guard, along with his favorite ball.

And I had Anneliese out with me so she could stretch her legs and enjoy the day. I did use a leash with her though, as I am a tad nervous with her in an impregnable condition!

All in all the six hours I spent, along with Hubby part of the time, planting were nice. The weather is warm, although it was a bit windy. I slathered on sunscreen and later in the day actually put on a light weight turtleneck to protect my shoulders and neck.

Sunday night found me watching the Family Channel’s Harry Potter Marathon. I never get tired of that! Monday is laundry, ironing and packing day, and Tuesday I finish up Anneliese’s paperwork by getting her documents stamped!

It’s getting very close now!

Memorial Day Celebrations!

You all know I am crazy about Lobster. I’ve written about this several times. Today my friend Dave, who is my cousin Janet’s boyfriend, brought Lobster and Steamers (clams) to my home. I’d made potato salad and gotten the corn on the cob, and butter and we set about preparing the meal.

While we waited for the water to come to a boil to cook everything, we kind of played around with the lobsters.

Here is a close up of my Lobster “before”!

Here I am juggling them! (Not really)

One got rather amorous with me!

Yes, it was love at first sight!

Even the dackels wanted to check them out!

After a while the water boiled and fighting back tears, I plunged them into the water and put the lid on tightly. Before we knew it, everything was done and our luncheon feast was ready!

And here is my lobster! He cooked up very prettily, don’t you think?

We ate outside on the patio and the day was just perfect for that!

After eating, we cleaned up and headed into town. Today was a Crafts Festival in our downtown area, and we wanted to check it all out. I live about a 10 minute walk from the center of town, so we walked off all the lobster and clams that we had been eating.

There were a lot of Craft Booths set up and many people were out looking, but I didn’t see a lot of people buying. About the most popular booth was the Kettle Popcorn Booth that also sold Lemon-aid! Janet and I split a lemon-aid and it was so good!

We walked around for an hour and a half and then walked back to my house. What a wonderful day it was all around. I thank Dave and Janet for bringing the wonderful main course for our meal. Those Lobsters were so fresh and sweet, and so were the clams!

Happy Memorial Day!

Anneliese & Me

The planning begins. Now that Anneliese is definitely in heat I am planning our trip. I have made my reservation and now just need to list Anneliese on the flight and all will be set.

Talk about being excited! Last time I took Anneliese to Germany I was VERY excited! After all, it was the first time, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. This time, I know Isegrim, I know his owners and I am even more excited.

Anneliese & Me.

I’m also excited because I get to spend time with my best friend, Uschi! I want to take long walks with her, sit curled up on her sofa, talking until we both fall asleep, and enjoying every moment!

So now I pack, for myself and for Anneliese. I need to find someone to come and walk the dogs during the day when Hubby is working, and I am gone. Aside from that one minor detail, I am good to go!

Woo-Hoo!!!

Random Dozen

1. Would you rather host a party or simply attend a party?

Oh I love giving parties! I love the preparation, the cooking, the fellowship! Yes, I love giving parties!

2. Tell us about the most memorable party you’ve been to.

I think last year’s 4th of July. I hosted the party and I had all four of Anneliese’s 10 week old puppies running around. It was so great!

3. What is one thing you hope for in the after-life?

I hope the be reunited with my daughter and have the time with her in Heaven that I did not have with her here on earth. I also hope that one can eat anything and everything and not gain weight!

4. What do you enjoy most about sunshine?

The warmth, the happiness, and the promise of another wonderful day!

5. When you attend a bridal/baby shower, do you prefer to bring your own gift or chip in with others to buy a larger gift?

I love to try to buy a unique gift. If it is a bridal shower, I try to find something handmade from my area, like pottery or glassware. Something special, that the bride and groom might not buy for themselves. For a baby shower I love to buy clothes in assorted sizes, diapers and toys and put it all in a decorated wicker laundry basket. This does, of course vary at times.

6. Would you rather have a FREE week of having your house cleaned or all of your meals cooked for you and your family?

Any one who knows me, knows I would take the free cleaning in a heart beat! Since I love to cook, but hate to clean, that makes perfect sense.

7. What song describes your mood today?

Mother Nature’s Son (daughter)

Born a poor young country boy–Mother Nature’s son
All day long I’m sitting singing songs for everyone.

Sit beside a mountain stream–see her waters rise
Listen to the pretty sound of music as she flies.

Find me in my field of grass–Mother Nature’s son
Swaying daises sing a lazy song beneath the sun.

Mother Nature’s son.

8. What is something you received for your own bridal shower/wedding that you still own or use? (If you are not married, feel free to sub a gift you received a long time ago.)

Hmmmm. First marriage ended in divorce, and I have nothing left from that. So nothing there. I got a great set of beer mugs for my second wedding present and I still have those and we use them occasionally because you can put them in the freezer and then have a real frosty brew!

9. Your favorite flavor of ice cream is?

Vanilla, with big chunks of dark chocolate, and dark chocolate syrup on top!

10. When was the last time you felt “tested?”

Tuesday morning when I had to drive my husbands big, standard shift truck to the repair shop! I did just fine, but that truck is a bear and a real challenge to drive!

11. “[Roasted Eggplant] is a food that once I start eating I find really hard to stop.”

12. “The mirror” is the best motivation for me to lose weight.

Hope & Happiness

What a nice Sunday Saturday we had. My cousin Janet, came up for a visit with her boyfriend, Dave. We were celebrating Janet’s good health reports! We cooked chicken breasts outside on the grill, and ate salad, potato salad, and corn on the cob! Since the day was warm and sunny, we spent the entire time outside sitting and eating at our patio table. For dessert I made strawberry shortcakes, and we all devoured them!

After that I re-potted a tomato plant and then we put up the cages around the tomato plants to keep them nice and steady. I still have several more tomato plants that I am going to put into the garden, as well as a few eggplants. Usually I put them into large patio pots, but this year I think it will be easier to have just a few patio pots and the rest in the regular garden.

I’m also thinking that this week I will plant all my grown up seedlings into the garden. I am thinking that we are past the time when frost will kill my garden, but I will wait a day or two before planting. I am so pleased with this years seedlings! They have grown to a huge size and are truly ready to be transplanted into the ground where they can grow and flourish!

So many wonderful things happening this spring! It makes me so happy and fills me with hope! Now if only Anneliese would do her part, then I would be even happier, if that is possible!

Friday Fil-Ins

And…here we go!

1. Fantastic News_ never fails to make me smile.
2. I’m looking forward to celebrating with my cousin soon_.
3. CSI_ is what I’m listening to right now.
4. Potato salad must have _eggs in it!
5. _Roasted eggplant_ was the best thing I ate today.
6. Today was _A really GREAT day.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to a new episode of “Say Yes To The Dress”_, tomorrow my plans include a visit from my cousin and her boyfriend_ and Sunday, I want to get ready for my Germany trip. I’m hoping to pack. One day Anneliese has to go into heat_!

My Wednesday

Rain, clouds, laundry, ironing, cooking.

Boring.

Not even the television provided a good escape. The dogs slept, lest I toss them out into the rain, Hubby worked and I finally, in self defense, got out a DVD to pass the time.

Last night I attended an scholarship banquet. Since I am new to this women’s group I was not too sure what the scholarships would be. I soon learned that these scholarships were for women going back to college! It is women helping women!

My club gave out several scholarships to some wonderful, marvelous women and I am thrilled to be a part of this.I sat with one of the recipients, a young mother of two, going to college to get her Nursing Degree!

The dinner was fine. I chose baked haddock with vegetables, and I drank water and coffee, I resisted a wine or beer for fear of ruining my latest attempts to get back on the Weight Watchers Band Wagon! This week it didn’t make a lot of difference, but I don’t let it get me down. After all, eating this way is something I will be doing for the rest of my life.

I am looking forward to my trip to Germany. (Do you hear that Anneliese?) I will eat as I wish, enjoy the best bread and beer in the entire world, and then come home and really get back to the Weight Watchers basics!

Meanwhile, until Anneliese goes into heat, I need to keep myself busy, and perhaps get the house cleaned just a little better than it is right now.

Random Dozen

1. What is one really fast, know-by-heart “go-to” meal to fix in a pinch?

Meatloaf, Mashed potatoes and peas.

2. What is one item you won’t leave home without. (Purse and license do not count.)

My inhaler, for obvious reasons.

3. Where is one place you never tire of visiting?

Germany! Natürlich!

4. Share one factoid of your family’s history.

My grandfather arrived on Ellis Island from Germany, when he was only 9 years old. After clearing customs, he and his father traveled to Boston to join other family members. He met my grandmother when they were children, and knew right away that she was going to be his wife!

Frederick & Mary, my grandparents. They were married for well over 60 years!

5. Complete this sentence:

“Once upon a time I ….was a little girl growing up in Falmouth, Massachusetts. My sister and I would wash dishes after each meal, with me standing on a chair to wash or dry them. We always took turns. Melodie would tell me stories while we worked, and I would say to her ‘Don’t start the story by saying Once Upon A Time’, and she would say okay, and then she would start the story saying “Once Upon A Time”!!! And we would both laugh and laugh!!!”

6. If you could win a one year’s supply of anything, what would it be?

Real Costa Rican, Pea Bean Coffee! I could never tire of that!

7. “One quirky thing you may not know about me is ….”

This is a hard one. I think I am pretty much an open book. Perhaps, that I like to get into my pajamas as soon as I get the dinner dishes done, even if it is really early!

I just like to be comfortable!

8. You have one dollar in your pocket. What will you buy?

There is a place nearby that has $1.00 ice cream cones.

The flavors are yummy and the 1 scoop is more than enough!

9. “One thing that always makes me laugh is ….”

The dackels. They really are something else.

Whether it is my three or their puppies, or even other wire-haired dackels I have known in life. I call the wires the “Clowns of the Dog World”!

10. What is one thing you could do today to help yourself reach a personal goal?

Stay true to the WW Plan when I go to an Awards Banquet tonight. I know I can eat fish, a salad and vegetables, but I need to avoid the dessert…Cannoli!

11. What is one thing you could do today to bless someone else?

I would hope that perhaps a nice word, or a kind gesture would help.

12. What is one thing you’re looking forward to soon?

Going to Germany with Anneliese to breed her to Isegrim!

I will also have the added bonus of staying with my best friend, Uschi and her family and spending many hours visiting with her.

Sunsets

I was amazingly busy today. In fact between all my running around doing errands and Hubby working, we didn’t actually meet to catch up with each other until early evening. Since Hubby retired back in 1998 I have gotten used to the sameness of our days. Meals made at certain times, errands run together, so it is quite odd to be back in a relationship where he is working full time and I am keeping the home fires burning.

It feels strange and at times a little lonely. Lonely until I look around and realize I am surrounded by 4 happy and healthy dogs.

Today was also a beautiful day. The temperatures soared to the upper 70’s and the sun shone and there was almost no wind at all. Just perfect.

Hubby got home and I served up the dinner, and after we ate I looked out the front window and saw this.

The pictures help to convey the beauty, but really it is hard to get the bright colors, isn’t it? Still, the sun continued to go down and the sunset just got prettier and prettier.

Until finally, the brightest fiery red blazed across the sky.

May 17 10 005

It somehow seemed the perfect way to end this day