My Life – Page 127 – The Dackel Princess

Christmas Is Coming

Today is the last day of November. Can you believe that? After today, we have 31 days until the year 2009 is over! At times 2009 has felt like it would never end, and then on days like today, I feel like 2009 has flown by.

I wanted to get our Christmas letter done! Usually Hubby is in charge of that, but this year he has been so busy that he hasn’t had the time. So, what did I do? I wrote a letter, complete with pictures and sent it over to Hubby’s computer.

It did what I’d intended, spurring him into action to correct, organize and add his personal touch to it. I must say, he has a way with words, and the letter is complete! We have 3/4 of them printed up, and if you too want one, send me your complete name and address to: dackelprincess(at)metrocast.net

Printing these out is a bit of a challenge, so I sat doing that and on another computer I put in the movie “27 Dresses” and watched that. It made the time fly by and kept me well entertained. However, the time did go by, and eventually I had to stop to make dinner.

I got the cutest thank you note from my grand-nephew, Luke. He sent me the sweetest picture that he’d drawn to thank me for his birthday gift! I’m putting it up on my wall with Makenna’s picture. I also got school pictures of both of my grand-nephews. Wow, are they adorable! My niece and nephew also sent one of my older grand-nephew, Taft in his football uniform. I put all of these right up on my mantle so I can see them.

I got a text message from my sister, who is on vacation. She is having a great time and enjoying the sunshine.

Well, back to going over my Christmas Card list and checking it twice!

And The Wind Blew…

I woke to the sound of the wind roaring on Saturday morning. When I first came to I heard it, so I pulled the covers over my head and slept just a little longer.

After a bit, I got up with the dogs to let them out and found the 55 mile an hour winds scared the dogs enough so that they ran out, communed with nature and ran in again pretty quickly!

Hubby and I watched the last of the series “The Band of Brothers” and then mostly had a quiet day. I did pull out all the leftover turkey and the soup stock I’d made and put together a turkey soup for our dinner.

I also got out the Christmas Cards, sent Hubby a rough draft of our Christmas Letter, and then lost my energy and so my cards have not gotten even one address written on an envelope. Oh well, there is always tomorrow.

I did have a bright spot in my day! I got this picture of Anneliese’s daughter, Baerbel today with her little girl Eliza!

Now don’t those two look made for each other?

These are the pictures that make my days really good ones!

Tonight I think I will get my warm pajamas on, find a dackel that wants to cuddle and watch some sort of mindless TV movie.

The wind is still blowing and the dogs still just want to be inside with us. That’s actually a very nice thing.

“Come here, Greta! Let’s cuddle!”

Puppy Reports

The day after Thanksgiving often means madness and mayhem for people who want to rush out and get all their Christmas shopping done. I chose not to be crazy, so I slept in, and when I did drag myself out of bed, I leisurely sipped my coffee and read my email.

It was raining hard, and was quite chilly, in fact I had to practically kick the dogs out to get them to commune with nature when they woke up.

Hubby got up and put Anneliese out and then came back to the family room and sat down. I asked if Anneliese was in and he said, no, but that she would bark when she wanted to come in. Greta does that, not Anneliese or Arnie.

Needless to say when I got up and went to the door, there she was, my soaking wet baby! I scooped her up in a towel and dried her off, until the shaking stopped. Hubby still maintains the shaking was caused by my making such a fuss over her wetness!

Later in the morning I decided to call all of my puppy buyers to check on my little grand-puppies. I started with Calvin, whose family just adores him. Their other dog, a female blood hound, has adopted Calvin and he is now her baby! It was a great phone call and I felt happy for Calvin!

Next I called Curt’s new family to see if they’d changed their minds and wanted to bring him back? No chance of that! They are absolutely in love with the little guy and apparently he is very much at home with his new family. There are also dogs there and Curt is having a ball playing with them. I ended the conversation with a big smile on my face!

Then I called to check on Schnapps. I wondered how my little girl was doing. Well, she has taken over the house, stolen every one’s hearts and is quickly learning all sorts of new things. Her new Mommy is training her to sit and lie down and of course the usual house training that all puppies must go through. I was thrilled!

My last call was to Fenway and Wally’s new home to check on them. They are having the best time with the boys. They take them everywhere, play with them and even have Wally trained to bring the ball back when they toss it for them. I could hear how much these boys are loved and it made me feel so happy and warm.

Many of you have asked me how I can give up these furry little bundles with each litter? It’s not easy, because I grow to love them all so much, but…when I see and hear about how much they are loved in their new homes, then I know the work I have done is making someone else’s life better, happier and richer.

Knowing that, makes it all worthwhile for me.

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Once again, if anyone would like to exchange Christmas cards with me, I would just love it. Please send your full name, address to dackelprincess(at)metrocast.net and I will add you to my list!

Happy Thanksgiving

Let the eating begin!

Several people asked me to please post a few of the recipes for my Thanksgiving meal. Since I am a lover of food, and taste is everything I have searched over the course of many years to find these. Hubby has been helping me today with all of the preparation work and tomorrow he will help me with the actual cooking. I’m lucky to have him.

I was so busy today with each of the items you will see below, and now that dinner is done I am just plain beat! I plan to put my feet up watch a tiny bit of TV before heading to bed early. I still need to make my apple pie in the morning and get old Tom Turkey in the oven by 9 AM!

I am doing a Christmas card exchange this year. If anyone would like to join in please email me at: dackelprincess(at)metrocast.net with your full name and address and I will send you mine.

Happy Thanksgiving!

and Happy Anniversary to my sister Melodie and her husband Ron!

Thanksgiving Prep Work

Today Hubby drove me to buy all the fixings for our Thanksgiving meal. It was my first trip out since getting sick. I thought I was ready for it, but by the time we got home an hour and a half later, I was dragging.

But, we did get what we needed, including the freshest turkey that they had. With plump breasts and chubby thighs, our turkey looks like a chefs dream! We also bought the chestnuts for the dressing, the Yukon Gold Potatoes, some Pearl Onions, and fresh cranberries to make the cranberry relish with. Of course we will be eating our home grown butternut squash and an apple pie made with our own apples.

Oh I shiver in anticipation of our Thanksgiving meal! I’m not sure that anyone loves Thanksgiving as much as I do! It is simply the best. It was the first thing I learned to cook and I do cook it often. Of course you cannot always get the chestnuts. They seem to only be available in November and December.

When Nat King Cole sang about “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…” he sure knew what he was singing about!

Wednesday we will do as much of the prep work as we can. Hubby is always such a help with peeling and chopping things. I’m so lucky to have him.

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In other news, I heard from Calvin’s new family and he is being well loved there. He has settled in and has a blood hound sister looking out for him and playing with him. I love it when my puppy buyers write and let me know how the little ones are doing. The house does seem oddly quiet now and we do miss them.

Preparing For Turkey Day!

Recipes have been read, lists have been made and the planning of our Thanksgiving meal is well underway. I’m still undecided about the pies. I am definitely making an apple pie, but I have been craving a pumpkin pie too, so I may make both!

One thing I am planning is our family’s traditional Chestnut Stuffing! Oh how I live for that! I’m not sure I mentioned that a couple of weeks ago I bought a few chestnuts, roasted them in the oven and just ate them. Oh my, they are so good!

I’m also going to make fresh cranberry relish this year. A friend gave me a recipe and will be making that.

Also on our menu will be mashed Yukon Gold potatoes, mashed candied butternut squash, peas, gravy, bread and butter pickles, and some sort of table bread or rolls.

I love cooking and baking and I’m looking forward to doing all of this. Thanksgiving is my favorite meal of the year!

In fact the family legend is that I was born a week early just so I could get my turkey dinner!

That sure sounds like me!

A Thing Of The Past

I woke to absolute quietness, which in turn made me think that something was amiss. After all, the puppies are never this quiet unless they are getting into to something they shouldn’t, like the night they escaped the puppy room.

Sleepily, I pulled on my robe and slippers and headed out to check, and there I saw it…an empty puppy room!

Consciously I knew they were gone, but in those first moments of wakefulness, I had totally forgotten. I smiled a sad smile, and turned and made the coffee.

Later, as I poured my first cup, I looked over at the vacant room, and in my minds eye, I could see those beautiful brown eyed babies watching me.

It’s always like this, the first few days after all the puppies have gone. Hubby and I were growing dangerously close to Curt, and we both admit to missing him quite a bit today.

Meanwhile, I have scrubbed the room, repainted a few spots and late this afternoon returned the table and bench to their rightful places, and rehung our jackets on the wall pegs. I have pretty much erased all the signs of puppies in there.

All of this made me feel tired, so after I finished putting things away, I made some tea and then sat down to relax.

Yes, this granny can relax until next summer when I do it all over again with Anneliese!

Catch-Up

On Monday I visited my cousin Janet to celebrate my birthday. The surprise was on her, as my sister also joined us! It was so great for us three cousins to sit around talking, reminiscing and sharing the day.

Janet had to have some surgery a couple of weeks back, but she is looking fabulous now!

It was also great to see my sister, who I do not get to see very often.

My sister made me a cake for my birthday. A red velvet cake and it was so delicious!

It was a a great visit with two of my favorite people!

Today I received a package from “down under” in Australia. It was a birthday present from my friend, Bernie. He sent a wonderful book of Australian Poetry.

Thank you so much, my friend. I love it! Both the poems and the pictures are fabulous!

And during all the excitement we tried to have Curt out as much as possible. He is such a sweetie, but unfortunately he bugs Anneliese, so we have had to be very careful with him when he is around her. I did take this picture this morning though and I think it shows just how adorable he is!

I’m feeling a little better and I think the antibiotics have taken hold. Good thing. I do not like being sick!

Have a great weekend everyone!

It Came In The Night

I wasn’t going to bring this up, but since I am currently down and out on my chair, I thought it would be best to fill you in.

I had a splendid birthday! I heard from my family, and friends from all over the world wishing me a happy day and letting me know that I am thought about, and loved!

Really, it was just the best birthday a middle aged woman girl like me could have. I thank each and every one of you for making my day so wonderful!

And then it happened. One and a half hours after my birthday ended, I got sick. It’s not the H1N1 Virus, just a little pneumonia! I had been restless all night in bed, and had trouble with my breathing. So, when I got up on Wednesday I knew a visit to the doctor’s was in the cards.

When I arrived at the office I’d been instructed to put on a mask and use the hand sanitizer so I wouldn’t infect anyone. As soon as people see you with the mask, you can just see their eyes widen and their bodies stiffen in fear. I felt pretty lousy before I went into the office, but all those people pulling away from me as if I had the plague! made me feel like a leper!

Once I was seen and unmasked by the doctor, I left with prescriptions in hand and headed home. I gave the prescriptions to Hubby, who took them to our local pharmacy and got them filled.

Since then I have been, quite happily in my pajamas, watching the TV and drinking juice. I have stayed warm, napped often and done nothing whatsoever productive.

Perhaps when you are ill, that’s what you are supposed to do.

It’s My Birthday

I started to write about my feelings of depression at now being officially over the hill. But the last few days I have felt so alive, so vital and so very happy that I do not care in the least what number happens to be attached to my profile. Life! Yes, life is good, my family and friends are well and I am a happy and blessed woman.

Here is a short montage of me with my loved ones as I look back over the last 51 years!