My Life – Page 161 – The Dackel Princess

A Little Prep Work

I’ve started the final countdown. You know, where you spend time deep cleaning, arranging things and putting things away knowing that this is your last chance before an operation. I want the house to be ship shape, the closets relatively clean, and enough frozen meals so that Hubby doesn’t starve.

The “Puppy Nanny” is set to come in to help, I have shown her and Hubby how much food each dog gets, and explained the time table. Puppies eat twice a day, Greta and Fritz at 5 pm. Their crunchie bowls should always be full, as should their water dish.

I have set up the puppy pen out in the back yard so that when Hubby is working on his fruit trees he can put the pups in there and not worry that they will roam.

And the puppy room is now open a bit more with two crates for the babies. They were really interested in the big crate when I put it in there today, as this is the one I used with the 5 puppies when they were small. I wonder if it still smells like their siblings?

Tomorrow I do more laundry, a little ironing and some floor washing. I think by the time I have the surgery next week, I will be really exhausted and actually need a rest.

Wonderful Day

This was such a great day! We had 70 degree weather with bright blue skies and almost no wind. The lakes are slowly melting and soon will be completely open. Arnie is doing so much better with his potty training and Hubby spent part of the day planting new fruit trees, while my cousin Janet came up and went to a Craft Fair with me.

Janet and I had a girls day. I left Hubby in charge of the puppies, and I spent time at the Fair, TJ Maxx and had lunch. It was so relaxing for me, and although I only bought socks and some dips and a present for a certain someone (who shall remain nameless) I just enjoyed the day with my cousin talking and spending time just being together.

All my life, Janet and I have been, not only cousins, but really good friends. We can just sit in the same room and read, or write or watch a movie and feel totally comfortable not saying a word. Then, of course, there are times we talk and talk and talk!

We also stopped by a local Mill to watch the water coming from one lake into the next via the waterfall. Needless to say, Pictures, lots of them, were taken.

Janet also brought up a book she knew I would like.

I am a huge Beatles fan and devour everything I can. I also have a wonderful collection of CD’s now and DVD’s of their two movies, plus Anthology. Yeah, just call me a Beatles Babe!

I did stop briefly to get a new toy for the kids and a ball for Fritz. The two pups just loved the toy Chipmunk.

As you can see, Greta was supervising.

The day ended with Arnie actually asking to go out for important things, and the two pups falling asleep in my chair.

Some days are just so very good!

The Worst Is Over & Other Exciting Things

The worst is over and Hubby and I are on the mend. We both actually ate “real” food today, and started to regain our health. I went out and got my hair done, picked up the mail and Hubby actually got out of bed and put on clothes. He even took care of the puppies while I was gone. Of course he had the help of Fritz and Greta with the puppies so he wasn’t completely alone.

I arrived back from my “dip in the fountain of youth” to find a hungry Hubby and four hungry dogs. I put on my apron and “whipped” up an easy meal for Hubby and then fed all four dogs. Then the fun began as I tried to get the two puppies to do all their business outside.

Anneliese is pretty easy, in that when you bring her out she knows why she is there and will usually perform. Although she will often not perform all her business during one outing. Two, I can handle. Arnie on the other hand is still a bit of a dumb bunny. He will head for the newspapers in the puppy room and I will call to him. I’ll race outside with him and he will then stand there looking at me like I am the one who should be doing something. So we come back in and two seconds later he runs out toward the puppy room. I race after him, and run outside (grabbing my coat, hat and gloves) only to have him stare at me blankly again. I bring him back in and just as my fanny is hitting the seat he runs back to the puppy room.

I jump up as if shot out of a cannon, and race outside with him again. This time I forget my hat and gloves but I have the flashlight and can walk further out into the doggie poop mine field with my puppy. I finally help him find just the right spot and he goes! Woo-hoo!!! Then there are Milk Bones given all around in celebration.

I worry that I am truly insane trying to raise two pups at the same time. Then I look down in my lap at the two faces of the pups sleeping there and I realize that I wouldn’t have it any other way.

News From The Sick House

It’s been quiet here at the Dackel Princess House. Hubby and I are still under the weather with this stomach flu, and I ascertained today that this is not one of the 24 hour types but more like a week. I’m prepared to go the distance, as I don’t have a lot of choice in the matter.

Meanwhile the dogs have been wonderful. The puppies have actually been asking to go out and when I pass out on the sofa to sleep, they tend to climb up and go to sleep with me. I swear that their TLC is what is getting me through all of this.

I personally want to thank Coca Cola and Ginger Ale for keeping us hydrated, and Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup for at least sitting well in my tummy.

I’m actually due to go have my hair done tomorrow, and if I am feeling better, I will. If not I will postpone the appointment for a week.

I have heard from 2 of my puppy buyers and the other babies are doing great. I am so pleased to know that the babies have all gone to such good homes.

The Rain Came Tumbling Down And Other Things

Our big snow storm of Sunday night, turned into rain while I slept. 3 or 4 or 5 inches of rain! It has washed away all of the snow and created giant puddles in our yard. Puddles so deep that Anneliese and Arnie hate to go outside as the rain water touches their bellies!

I was listening to the news and heard that a mud slide had happened in the southern part of the state, very near my daughter’s condo. My daughter’s home is on a HILL! I called her to make sure she was fine and also her home. She is, and so is her home, although there will be a detour for her to use to get home for a while.

Meanwhile, it rained here all day. The wind blew, the rains poured down and each time I took Anneliese and Arnie out I got soaked. I actually changed my clothes three times before finally giving up on staying dry.

My flu returned and I started to run a fever just as Hubby’s fever broke. I have warned him to stay away from me so we do not keep passing this thing back and forth. We did have a little appetite tonight and had french toast for dinner. (**A short note here, we never eat breakfast for dinner. It’s against Hubby’s religion or something, so this was a first. Me? I could eat breakfast at every meal. I LOVE breakfast!**)

Our little Anneliese is feeling the pains of being the smallest member of our family. I’m not letting her dwell on it and I am encouraging her to see herself as a big dog!

Of course she will, always be, my little baby girl!

Nor’easters, Stomach Flu’s And Pups

Okay, so Hubby and I are just about dead this weekend. Apparently the flu shot we got in October didn’t cover the stomach flu that has spread across New England. Since I am the one without a raging fever, I was sent to the store for the important items like Coca Cola, Ginger Ale, chicken broth, beef broth, bread for cinnamon toast and saltine crackers.

We both have lived on Pepto Bismol tablets and as I also have the incredible good luck of having a migraine, I have been taking Tylenol. I’ve got to tell you that I truly have had better days.

To top off all this “wonderfulness”, we are in the middle of a classic New England Nor’easter! Yes, the snow is coming down heavily, and sticking and well, just making a terrible mess! Nothing like a big snow storm to make you feel good when you have the flu!

This is the great State of New Hampshire. The blue you can see on this radar image is SNOW! The darker the blue the heavier the snow.

My own back yard.

Just when I had given up hope of feeling at all well today, Fritz and the puppies started playing and I was able to snap a few good pictures. You can see how much he loves the puppies and how much they love him.

Anneliese, Fritz and Arnie

Anneliese and Fritz

Arnie, Fritz and Anneliese

Arnie,Anneliese and Fritz

So now I will crawl under a blanket and try to stay warm and get well.

Wish me luck.

Cars, Cookies And Fortunes

We had to go and get our car at the dealership where we bought it today, after it took a week for them to troubleshoot the problem. Don’t get me wrong here. I think they did amazingly well fixing this electrical problem. After all, in today’s cars, everything is electric and just because a wire goes here or there doesn’t mean it actually gets it’s power directly from the battery. It may go through a few other places before it actually goes to the battery.

Anyway, our battery kept going dead, despite the fact that the battery was a good battery. So we brought it in (still under warranty) and told them to keep it until they were sure that it was fixed. I also mentioned that the drivers side seat wasn’t heating up and could they perhaps fix that too? (I hate it when my bottom gets cold in the winter!) Well the electrical problem stumped them too, but true to their word a week later they called to tell us that the car was fixed. It turns out that the problem with the seat heater actually led them to the short in the electrical system. I think I must be clairvoyant!

So after we drove down in Hubby’s car, we parted so Hubby could get his license renewed and I could go grocery shopping. I stopped to get the doggies some of their favorite cookies and then proceeded to the grocery store.

It was there that my cell phone rang and it was Hubby inviting me to lunch. Sure! There is a nice Chinese restaurant in the plaza and once Hubby arrived we had a nice lunch. He had Moo Goo Gai Pan and I had Crispy Shrimp and vegetables. Then our check arrived with our fortune cookies. I love those things!

I opened mine and, well today was my lucky day! Three fortunes!

“Find Release From Your Cares And Have A Good Time”

Well, I was having a wonderful lunch with my sweetie and didn’t have to clean up after!

“You Are An Exciting And Inspiring Person”

I did help that sweet little old lady reach the yogurt she wanted on the top shelf and she was so happy and told me how nice I was (and tall!). I think my handing her the yogurt made her happy and inspired?

“Share Your Joys And Sorrows With Your Family”

Well, I had spoken to my sister and we shared our joys and sorrows with each other. So I was three for three.

Then Hubby opened his. Just one lone fortune, and it said it all.

“You Should Be Able To Undertake And Complete Anything”

And this is true, he did our taxes yesterday got completely done only to have the machine lock up and swallow all his work! So now, he will be “undertaking and completing” our taxes yet again.

And whoever said that fortune cookies were never right?

Nineteen Years

Today is our 19th wedding anniversary. I have spent countless hours trying to put into words how I feel about my loving husband. Then I stumbled across this wonderful poem by Sharon MacFadyen, and her words said everything I was feeling in my heart.

Happy Anniversary, Honey!

A Gift Of Love

Author: Sharon MacFadyen

My gift to you is my love
Given from deep within my heart
It is the best I have to offer
And its yours until this earth we depart

You have captured a part of me
A part so very fragile that I am in fear
For it is my heart I have lost
To you my love, the one I hold most dear

I chose to love you now
With all that I have and all that I am
And I pray that God follows us
To guide our steps as we cross this land

For it is with His blessings
We will live most at peace with each other
For He is the reason after all
We found one another …….. I Love You!

Fish Sticks & French Fries

Last night I made fish sticks, french fries and spinach for dinner. It was so excellent! I have to say, I really like a good fish stick. It brings back all those wonderful memories of lunchtime on Fridays during grade school. You know me, I was the kid who never complained about the lunch menu.

Sloppy Joes, meatloaf and mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese with a hot dog or that old standby, American Chop Suey! Looking back I don’t think I ever complained until my mother forced me to switch to a bag lunch. Then I was forced to eat tuna sandwiches or worse yet, a cheese sandwich. Yes, plain cheese. American cheese with no butter or mayonnaise.

So there I was with my fish sticks, with lots of tartar sauce, fries with ketchup and the vegetable portion, which I forced myself to eat because, well I’m an adult, after all, right? I was savoring each and every bite when Hubby says something about this being the worst fish and chips he’s ever had. Well, they’re not supposed to be fish and chips, mate they’re fish sticks.

Apparently Hubby doesn’t have the same attachment to his Elementary School cafeteria that I do. I swear, he actually looks at food for it’s nutritional value! Me? I get butterflies in my stomach when I so much as come near an Elementary School cafeteria and smell the wonders of my past. Even a little carton of milk brings a tear to my eye.

Oh the memories!

Lap Dogs

I’m finding that I have less and less time to write. Why? Well, it isn’t because I am running around all the time after the puppies, it’s more because they have now learned to climb the little doggy stairs I got for a very pregnant Greta a while back, and they now monopolize my lap. Why, I’m lucky if I can put my feet up in the recliner anymore.

I have to sneak in these little sessions on the computer. Like right now. I have tossed rawhide bones onto the floor, and gotten them playing together.

I don’t mind this, really. I just miss my “thinking” time. You see when I write for Dackel Princess I sit with my laptop in my lap and think, watch TV, think some more, watch a little more TV and then put down my thoughts. Now, I have to quickly write without watching TV. Shoot. Some of my best entries have been inspired by “All My Children”, “Everybody Loves Raymond” or perhaps even “House”.

I almost just put on another video of the dogs. However, I decided not to take the easy way out and actually use my mind. I hope this was okay.

If not let me know and I’ll post the video. (It’s really cute!)