My Life – Page 130 – The Dackel Princess

A Little Lobster, Anyone?

Sunday, Gail and I decided to do the Outlet Mall. I strapped on my comfortable walking shoes, and easy off and on clothes (quick change for trying on new things) and off we went. It was a cloudy day with a forecast of rain, so the place was mobbed! I found a good spot to park, and off we went. “Jockey”, “Liz Claiborne”, “Jones New York”, and “Easy Spirit” shoe stores. I was careful, thoughtful and got some very good deals!

By noon we were feeling tired and needed a place to sit down, so we went over to a Chinese Restaurant and ordered our meals. They were so yummy, and the green tea, hot and delicious!

After lunch we stopped at one more shop and then drove over to my favorite grocery store. Gail had hinted that she would love to have more Lobster, and when we saw this sign:

(taken with my handy, dandy little Canon Powershot)

I knew we were destined for boiled lobsters for our dinner!

I’m resting up a bit now before I tackle those ferocious beasts! You know it’s is so difficult to wrestle them into the pot! (lol!) I’m also cooking zucchini and summer squash from our garden.

The latest Greta news is, she has cut down on how much she can actually eat at a meal, so I will have to feed her a couple of times a day so she gets all that she needs. Usually Greta is a fierce eater and could devour an entire cow! However, now that she has growing babies there isn’t the room in her stomach.

Have a great week everyone!

The Adventure

Thursday we decided to go out for an adventure. I was a bit reluctant because it was pouring rain and as dark as it is at dusk, but what the heck, we had nothing else to do so….

We hopped into our Jeep. Hubby was driving, Gail sitting in the passenger seat and me in the back. After all, I’d seen this route over the mountains before.

We drove along and all was well. We talked and joked and life was good.

But the rain kept coming down. Hard. We watched the streams rising and the road become flooded with water.

We reached the first wonderful waterfall, and found it gushing with the overflow from the days rain. In the last 8 days we have had 6 inches of rain!

As pretty as it was, it was doing bad things to the road and Hubby had to zigzag down the road to keep away from the giant puddles! Hubby and Gail were fine, but in the back seat I started to feel bad. In fact I grabbed a dog walking (poop) bag and held it, ready to get physically ill at any moment.

We reached the next waterfall and it really was beautiful, but I was dying in the back. I prayed to be released from this torture!

As we got to the end of the mountain pass, we noticed something was wrong with our old Jeep. The temperature gauge went sky high. So Hubby pulled into the first gas station, and as he carefully lifted off the cap to the radiator, out bubbled the scalding water!

Hubby filled it with cold water hoping it was just a leak or something but it turned out that when the water pump failed it ultimately froze up and threw the belt for the power steering and fan, thus making the Jeep un-drivable! We were stuck at the gas station!!!

We called AAA and requested a tow. They told us it would be 30-45 minutes before a tow truck could come and take Hubby and the Jeep to our home. We looked around and saw a pizza restaurant! Eureka!

So we went over, carrying our umbrellas and ordered lunch. I ordered 1/2 an eggplant pizza, Gail got a half a vegetarian pizza and Hubby got a meatball sub.

We no sooner sat down than the tow truck driver arrived and Hubby left to work with him. I got Hubby’s sub, and ran out, carrying my umbrella, and took it to him. Then I returned to have my pizza with Gail.

Oh it was so good!!!

Now once we ate the pizza we needed to fill time. We shopped at a local store, and then did what every other sane individual does, we went for a Latte at Dunkin’ Donuts!

I have to tell you that in the rain, and the cold the hot Lattes were so delicious! We sat talking and sipping until my cell phone rang and it was Hubby. Where were we now? We told him, and before we knew it, he was driving into the parking lot to pick us up.

Dunkin’ Donuts has saved me more than once when I found myself in need of a hot cup of something wonderful!

Once he picked us up, we stopped to buy important things…..Dog Food! Then we drove home and rescued our little lovelies!

Hubby will need to replace the water pump, fan belt and who knows what else. Hopefully, he can get it done soon as this is his off road vehicle, and my winter car.

The day ended with a steak meal, complete with baked potatoes and fresh green beans from our garden. All and all a good meal and a great way to end an adventurous day!

Catching Up

Life has been so full lately that I wanted to quickly catch you up before I get caught up in my next round of activities.

Last weekend I worked at the local Greek Festival. This is my third year working selling goodies there. As I have for the last two years I worked selling Lemon, Fig and Raspberry bars and Apple Turnovers. Previously I have had help with this, but this year it was just me.

Yes I was busier than a one armed wallpaper hanger!

But, I love it and I enjoyed selling all my goodies. They literally flew off of the table. Technically the festival wasn’t due to start until 10 AM, but at 9:15 people were lining up for the Greek and home baked goodies!

Just after the noon hour Hubby and Gail arrived and got in line for the lunch that is served each year. Hubby got an actual luncheon of 1/2 a chicken with Greek spices, a Greek salad and stuffed grape leaves.

I had pastichio, grape leaves, and a Greek salad. I also washed it all down with an ice cold, beer! Oh, did that taste good.

Gail had pretty much what I did. It was a fabulous lunch!

Soon the kids began to do their Greek folk dancing, all dolled up in their Greek costumes. They were so cute and I enjoyed watching them a lot.

What a blast! I can hardly wait until next year!

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Then there was Greta’s appointment with Dr. N. where we found out she was pregnant. Here she is being examined. What a perfect little patient she is!

Me with my friend and their technician, Dori.

I’m so excited about Greta and her litter and I can hardly wait for her puppies to come. Oh well, September 1st will come soon enough!!!

This & That Sunday

Today was spent watching the Harry Potter series of movies. Gail and I decided to do this in preparation for going to see the new Harry Potter film tomorrow.

Now we are all up to date and ready to face “The Half Blood Prince”! It was so much fun watching them all, seeing the kids grow and change, and actually their acting improved. I still miss Richard Harris as Dumbledor, but I enjoy all the other characters so much. (The good ones anyway!)

It was also Fritz’s birthday, and I got him a piece of cake and a candle and sang Happy Birthday. Now here is the funny part. He is so picky that he wouldn’t eat Angel-food Cake! The dackels liked it and ate the piece quickly, but my buddy Fritz turned up his nose.

Then as we sat watching the films (do you still call a DVD a film?) Greta cuddled up to me and with her two paws, held my hand. Isn’t that adorable?

I talked to Baron’s new owner, Mike to check in with him, and Baron is doing well. I hope to hear how Baerbel is soon. Bogey and Ali are great! When I get pictures I will post them for you.

So, Sunday is nearly over and tomorrow brings a movie day and laundry too. Happy Monday everyone!

Friday Happenings

Today, the first post puppy day, we did something wonderful. We made cherry jelly! About 10 days ago we picked the ripe cherries from our trees. We’d eaten a bunch, sold a bunch and had saved a gallon to do something with. Two days ago I cooked the cherries down and made the cherry juice, and today I took the juice, some sugar and pectin and made the jelly. Would it be good? I wasn’t sure.

I followed the recipe in the post below and crossed my fingers.

I needn’t have worried. It turned out really well. We had enough left over to pour into a little dish and set aside for breakfast tomorrow, but we all tasted today and WOW it was awesome.

I heard news that Baerbel had landed at LAX and was now a California girl! I got the cutest picture via my cell phone of Baerbel standing in front of the LAX Welcome sign! Too cute!

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My best friend from childhood, Gail is here visiting. She helped me with the jelly and the dogs also find it quite wonderful that their Auntie Gail is here visiting them. They don’t seem to understand that Auntie Gail is actually here to see me!

Saturday is the local Greekl Festival that I always work at. My neighbor is a member of the church and I like to volunteer and work with her. I’ll take some pictures and post them on Sunday!

Happy Saturday everyone!!!

Ankle Socks & Sneakers

Today was one heck of a day. Hubby and I shopped for food, vacuumed the house, fed, walked and played with our dogs and the puppy, and cooked a gallon of cherries so we could make cherry juice for cherry jelly. Gosh the list doesn’t “look” that long, but trust me, it was.

The day was dark and rainy, so it actually was a perfect day to do all of these things. I didn’t feel like I was missing anything, however, because of the rain the dogs all were feeling stir crazy.

It’s only a week now until we learn for certain if Greta is pregnant. I’m pretty sure she is, but it will be nice to hear, then the planning can begin.

It’s funny. I was looking at the picture I posted the other day of me with my sister, Janet and Larry and Tracy. Now here is the funny part. You will notice that everyone is either in bare feet, or flip-flops and there I am with my white ankle socks and sneakers and in a dress. Why is this funny?

Well possibly because it is how I dress today. Especially the socks and sneakers. I guess some things never change. What a weird kid I was and an equally weird adult!

All I can say is “Help, Clinton and Stacy” from TLC’s “What Not To Wear”. They could be my last hope!

Just A Little Thing

I had to go in for a little procedure today at the hospital. All went well and I am in good shape, but the anesthesia they used just knocked me on my backside! I can’t seem to really wake up. I slept a long time at the hospital, and once I got home and into my pajamas, I kept nodding off in my chair.

Arnie has been my constant companion since I got back and when I curled up in my chair and slept, he climbed up on the footrest of the chair and guarded me. Am I a lucky Mommy or what?

Before I went in I had showered and decided to blow my hair dry straight. So I’m asking which style do you prefer straight or curly?

The puppies behaved for Hubby and the other dogs as well. So I was able to rest and relax. I am glad, however, that this test is over!

So gentle readers, forgive me for the brevity of this post. I promise more pictures tomorrow of Baron and Baerbel.

Lazy Saturday

Saturday was truly a beautiful day. At least the morning was. Sunny skies, warm temperatures and a light breeze. It was just perfect for Hubby to be picking cherries (we have a ton) and for me to drive to Super Wal-Mart and buy dog food. Currently I am buying 4 different dog foods. A normal chopped food for Greta and Arnie. They both need good quality food right now. Poor Arnie lost weight during Greta’s heat because he refused to eat! And now Greta, with the possibility of being pregnant needs great food too. Then there is Fritz, who is the pickiest eater there is. He will only eat “Choice Cuts” and must have 1 entire can per day as he is a large dog and very active. Then there is Anneliese who is struggling to lose the baby weight from her recent pregnancy before the dog show in October. She must have a good quality diet food. Last but not least are the puppies who get special puppy food. I felt very conspicuous with that many cans of different food in my cart, but what can be done? They all must eat, right?

The local rescue shelter was having a “help us” drive. It is a no-kill shelter and they work through donations alone. Today they wanted just donations of food, kitty litter, paper towels, etc. Since I was feeling odd walking past with so many cans of food for my animals, I bought some paper towels for them. This will help with their clean up. I sure can relate to that after the last two months of puppy pandemonium!

I came home in time to get lunch for Hubby and send him off to a Parks & Recreation activity. He asked me to go, but right now I needed a few quiet moments. The puppies were asleep, the dackels resting and Fritz was waiting outside for his daddy to return. 1 entire hour of quiet! How lovely!

The pups went from frolicking crazy pups to passed out sleeping pups. It was very cute and I love it best when I can zoom in and snap pictures of their angelic sleeping faces!

Here is my favorite. Bogart. Asleep on the cool tiles.

And little Baerbel. Stretched out so nicely. I love this one too!

Am I ready to say good-bye? Probably not. Expect tears.

The Day After

The day after the 4th of July found me walking around in a daze. I somehow managed to keep up with the dogs and Hubby, but I wasn’t my usual almost perky self. In fact I guess I looked pretty bad because even Hubby asked me if I was tired. Gosh I remember when I was younger and even after an all night party, I still looked pretty good and could put in a full day’s work!

I made us a nice breakfast and we watched the Men’s Final at Wimbledon. It was exciting to watch this match of two incredible players, playing in 5 sets that almost never ended. In fact I made lunch during the match and we ate that before Roger Federer won. I was really happy that he did. He broke all the old records for most Grand Slam Titles Won!

It was also “bathe the puppy day” in the house and I was amazed that each of the pups really liked sitting in the sink in the warm water. I was able to clean them up and see that their tattoos all came out splendidly!

Makenna came over as promised and helped me! Here we are with Baerbel!

And Bogart

Another one of Bogey.

And here is one of Ali.

They sat in the sun (yes we actually had sunshine today) and even slept outside in the sun. It was such a nice day.

Tonight I am going to get my pajamas on, watch Jeff Dunham and Bill Engvall on Comedy Central and then hit the hay! It’s a great way to end the weekend!

What People Do In The Rain

I decided today to build an ark. I mean, with the rain falling constantly (now close to 2 inches in less than 24 hours!) and the fact that I am living in my rain boots, I figure the safest bet is to just build the darn ark and they will come.

Hubby and I decided to go out today to do our holiday shopping (the USA 4th of July Independence Day), and we brought Arnie with us. He was so glad to get out of his crate, where he has been living since Greta went into heat. He was an angel in the car and when we stopped for Chinese food, I smuggled some chicken out in a napkin to share with my little man. He now wants to go back for egg rolls! lol!

The stores were all mobbed and what normally takes an hour of isle shopping and checking out, took nearly 2 hours! However, we got everything we need and somehow managed to escape the grocery store without serious injury.

Upon arriving home, Hubby and I brought up the first load of bags and who was at our back door? Makenna! She came in to help us, and both she and Hubby stood looking into the puppy room with horrified expressions on their faces! I laughed and said, “Yep, that’s what I get up to every morning of every day! Four squirming pooping puppies!” I cleaned up their room and then Makenna played with them while I put the groceries away.

My sister took her grand kids to a museum today in Connecticut. What did they see? The skeleton of a dachshund! She took this picture for me! Thanks Mel!

I made a quick dinner, fed all the dogs and then soaked in a bath. Ah, I sure love to soak in a hot tub! Now there’s something funny…I complain about the rain and yet I go sit in a tub of water! Go figure!