Category: My Life

Sunday morning I began searching for the outfit to wear to the family reunion. It’s a casual event, so I don’t need to dress up, but my usual dress mode of jeans and t-shirts must be set aside for something a little more glamorous.

I started out trying on pants for Hubby to view. I came out of our bedroom, pirouetted and asked, “Do these make me look fat?”

Nothing like putting poor Hubby in the hot seat with that question. He handled it well.

“Ah, I can see your panty-line”.

Okay, so maybe those were a little tight. You know I’ve been on my diet two whole weeks and you would think that I could have at least dropped a clothing size by now! In reality I’ve lost 6 pounds and that has only given me more room in my socks!

I tried on several more pairs of pants before we decided on two that didn’t look horrible, and I’ll bring along my jeans skirt in case I totally freak out and decide that I really do look “that fat”!

Meanwhile, I continue reading “Harry Potter”. I read a chapter or two and then stop and walk the puppies or change the laundry or cook. My cousin Janet has already finished reading it!

Monday morning is puppy health certificate time and then we’re on to packing. I’ll be writing along the way as our motel has high speed Internet access. After all, can’t be cut off from you all.

And today is my sister’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Mel! Love you!!!

I now have a pony tail. Yes, a year and a half after the worst haircut of my life, I can now pull my hair into a pony tail. Okay, so it’s a short one, but a pony tail nonetheless!

Now why is this so important? Well, after getting a haircut that left me with literally one inch of hair all over my head (and made me look like a monkey) I was forced by time, to renew my passport. For the next 10 years I must look at that awful haircut and remember how my heart ached (and my ears stuck out).

So, I’ve been growing it. Through the good and the bad. My new hairdresser is a wonderful woman and when I get frustrated with it as it grows and ask her to cut it all off, she refuses! And because I adore her, I listen and then I open my passport and I remember and let another day go by.

How long will I let it grow? I’m not really sure. Perhaps I shall grow it as long as Lady Godiva! I can ride a horse through the streets of my town with my long hair suggestively covering my body.

Hmmmmm. Now that is almost as scary a picture as me with short hair!

My fever broke yesterday! Yippee! Although I still feel somewhat down and out with the cold, I am doing better. Thus proving that the old saying of “three days coming, three days with and three days going” is probably true.

For my first week back on my diet I lost 5 pounds. Now I am sure I will not lose this much each week, but it was a good boost for my moral. At least I know I am doing the right things to get the weight off.

This may be the biggest piece of news yet. ARNIE BARKED TO GO OUTSIDE TO POOP! Yes you read it right. Our beloved boy is house broken and now goes to the door and barks! I have survived house breaking!

I took Greta in today to have her nails clipped at our Vet’s. She is so difficult to do, and she simply won’t let us do them, so we bring her in for her very own “Pet-i-cure”!

We have a new house sitter! She works for our Vet during the day and freelances at night. Since we live only a stones throw from our Vets office it will be easy for her to run over and walk the dogs while we are away next week at Hubby’s family reunion in Nova Scotia. She will also be living here. We are so happy to have found her!

The reunion in Nova Scotia is with the fun side of Hubby’s family. These are the cousins I get along well with and the ones I enjoy. We’ll be gone 5 days to a truly beautiful part of Canada.

I have tons of tomatoes growing on my plants, some actual summer squash, which I think we can pick in a day or two, and I saw several cucumbers coming along! My garden is growing!

The two puppies climbed into bed with us two nights ago and have made themselves right at home. Call it a family bed! Of course is Fritz decides to join us we may have to move out and leave the king size bed to the animals!

I woke up in the night with shaking chills. Oh darn it! A summertime cold. I put on my winter bathrobe and pulled the comforter tightly to my chin and climbed back into bed. I have a high fever and I’m all congested and coughing.

But the good news is, I have three wonderful nurses! Greta, Arnie and Anneliese! They have been by my side, in my lap, or on my chest, but always comforting me. It’s amazing to me how these little creatures know when you aren’t feeling well and they seem to find you and provide a great deal of comfort.

Hubby has been taking care of me too. Getting me drinks and some chicken broth. I know I need to force the fluids, even though my throat is sore. I don’t have much of an appetite. (This is good for my diet, yes?)

So I am kicking back and taking this easily and hopefully I will feel better very soon.

Thirteen Things That Make Me Smile

1. The sound of children playing on the beach below our home.
2. The feel of puppy breath on my hand when they have fallen asleep in my lap.
3. Watching the two puppies and Greta chase each other around the house.
4. A good home cooked meal.
5. Walking hand in hand with the one I love.
6. A beautiful sunset.
7. A light misty rain.
8. Dark chocolate. (I know, you already knew that!)
9. A warm fire after a day of snow skiing.
10. The colorful leaves in the fall.
11. The first cool crisp morning in the Autumn.
12. The first flowers in the spring.
13. The love of my family and friends.

Tuesday was my appointment with the dentist. I have hated going to the dentist since I was a little child and went to a real jerk, who seemed to delight in making small children cry. For many years I would go, but have anxiety attacks about the appointments.

Then I decided that if I was to maintain my teeth in a good and healthful manner, I would simply tell the dentist right away that I am afraid of them and that worst of all, I BITE! (LOL)

Surprisingly, I have discovered that there are a lot of people my age who have had experiences like mine. I call myself a “Dental Chicken“. In any case, there are now bright young dentists who want to make us happy and not cause us any pain at all.

Since finding Dr. T. I have become a model patient. I make my appointments in advance, I use an electric toothbrush, and I floss. I even keep floss in my pocketbook for use after very chewy meals.

Today Dr. T. gave me, not just a clean bill of dental health, but he told me that my teeth actually look better than they have in a long time. I told him I am sure that it is due to the electric toothbrush.

I left after a very short visit and felt so happy and carefree on my drive home.

Yay! No cavities and clean teeth!!!

Monday was grocery shopping day. Now usually I don’t enjoy days like this, all the running around trying to get everything done in a short period of time, but on Monday, I really did enjoy it. Why, you ask? Because Monday we bought two Maine Lobsters for our dinner. They were on sale, (the first thing that made my day!) and they were about 1 1/3 pounds each (just enough to make you smile, but not too much to make you feel like you are eating more than you should).

Due to the fact that I have started my diet and did not want to fall off the diet wagon too soon, we loaded up the shopping cart with fresh fruit and vegetables.

Storms blew through New Hampshire today with thunder, lightening, strong winds and heavy rain. We were happy to have gotten our shopping done in between storms and somehow I also managed to avoid having to go outside in the rain with a puppy or two.

So all in all, Monday was, a very good day!

I love Sundays. It’s the one day of the week that I tend to kick off my shoes and relax. I can sit down with the Sunday newspaper, a cup of freshly brewed coffee and catch up on everything I have missed over the week.

At least on most Sundays.

This Sunday was the one after a major holiday. I did 8 loads of laundry, spent time putting my serving dishes away and found time, between raindrops to bring the puppies outside and toss their toy balls around. Oh yes, and I managed to work on grooming Arnie some more.

Still, despite that long list of chores, I felt fairly relaxed on Sunday night and not over worked. In fact I wanted to try something new and I made french fries using plain potatoes (not frozen pre-made fries) and cooked them in the deep fryer. The results were just okay. I think I would slice the fries thinner next time.

The week ahead finds me grocery shopping, going to the dentist and starting yet another diet. I know, I know. Since I started this blog 2+ years ago, I have started a gazillion diets. Oh well, at least I never give up.

Anneliese, Arnie,and Greta with me.

Have a great week everyone!

I have post party exhaustion. I was doing really well until about noon on Thursday and then it hit me. I wanted nothing more than to lie down and take a long nap. Of course this wasn’t to be as there was still a lot of cleaning up and laundry to do. So in between changing the laundry and putting the serving dishes away, I sat quietly with my coffee and relaxed.

I’d hoped to just sit outside some on Thursday, but it was very hot and very humid here and the few times I ventured outside, this did not help my headache.

Oh listen to me, what a fuss budget I am! LOL

Actually, when I look back over the last 24 hours and I see what a great time we had and how well things went, I can only be pleased. It was a great mix of people who all got along well together, and best of all there was not only good talking done, but a lot of laughing too.

Thursday night there were fireworks here in town and I enjoyed every moment of them. Oh, how I love the bright lights, and even the sound of the rockets that shoot them off! Just like a child, I guess.

My dear old friend and neighbor, who enjoyed the puppy visits, is back in the hospital and not doing well. It saddens me, but I think, at 83 we must expect this. Still, when I get to be 83, I want to still be dancing under the stars and dreaming dreams of dackels in my future,

until one day I lie down and wake up with God. I pray this will be the case.