My Life – Page 63 – The Dackel Princess

Thoughts From The End Of The Year

The card table was set up in my bedroom. The movie “The Santa Claus” was put on the VHS player. I started, what would take me about 2 hours of non-stop wrapping before I needed to stop and give up for a while. I’d wrapped almost everything, including dogs toys and treats. Tomorrow I probably have another hour of wrapping to do, but will finish that up then.

On Sunday I want to bake loaves of banana bread, and make up baskets of goodies for two of my neighbors. Then on Monday I will make a Rum Cake to bring down to Mandy’s for our celebration there. It’s been forever since I made a Rum Cake, so I am really looking forward to that.

Tomorrow I need to get all my recipes out for our Christmas dinner, so I can make sure I have all the ingredients. We’re having Prime Rib. What are you all making?

The last present I ordered for Savannah arrived today. Can you believe that FedEx delivers on Saturday? I am so excited about it.

I’m also amazed that here we are December 23rd and soon the year will be over and we will start all over again. How did that happen? A year ago I didn’t even know who Savannah was. Now, I’m learning more and more about her every day. And even though she is a mere six months old, it’s like we’ve always known each other.

What I Did This Past Weekend

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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I finally got to see Savannah before the snow moved in. What a doll she is! And smart as a whip too! And did I mention incredibly beautiful?

6 month old Savannah & Grandma!

Then I told Hubby that it was shopping day or else. I knew that snow was on it’s way, and we desperately needed food and a few gifts.

So off we went on a reconnaissance mission. Three hundred dollars later, we had food for us, food for the four dogs, a few Christmas presents and some gas for the car, before heading home.

We got back 15 minutes after the dogs dinnertime, but somehow they survived, and after feeding them, we worked to put it all away.

Sunday is a quiet day as the snow started about 10:30. It’s light snow and so now six hours later, it is measuring only about an inch. I call this pretty snow!

Have a great Monday, Everyone!!!

What I Did This Past Weekend

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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The past weekend, Hubby and I spent an inordinate amount of time sleeping, watching mindless old movies, and finishing up the Christmas cards. Hubby was a big help with the annual Christmas letter. I did a rough outline, tossing in a few pictures, and he took the letter and put it together, and got it to make sense! Anyway, it’s done for another year….(thank goodness!)…and now I wait to see who I forgot.

Our colds are getting better. We’re definitely quieter, not coughing or sneezing as much, and my fever is gone.Yay!

I’m hoping to get down to Mandy’s place on Friday so I can see her and Savannah, and we can go and Christmas shop! It’s also getting close to Mandy’s birthday and I really want to take her out for lunch some place nice.

I’ve been writing a new blog which is helping me focus on my weight-loss journey. You can go HERE to The Wednesday Morning Losers site and read what I am writing about. It is geared toward the Weight Watchers plan, but anyone who has ever dieted can relate to what I’m saying.

I think this afternoon I will pull the Christmas tree out of the attic today, along with all the decorating boxes. Then I will work on Monday actually putting up the tree. We use an artificial one, as I’m so allergic to pine trees.

And today is the 6th birthday of Arnie and Anneliese! So here is a little montage of their their time with us! It is so special when you keep puppies from the moment they are born and raise them. I’ve never had a relationship with an animal like this before!

Arnie and Anneliese Birthday from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

My Grandma Honey

I was thinking about all the people that I have crossed paths with over the years. Some people, like my grandparents and Aunt and Uncle, were very special. They taught me so much, and made me feel loved and cared about.

When you’re young, you take for granted that people will always be there. Then sadly, one day you wake up and they are gone.

My Grandma Honey was sort of the one who held the family together. She insisted we all gather at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and the 4th of July.

And we all came. Not because we HAD to, but because we wanted to!

Grandma Honey, whose real name was Mary Frances Daniel Prussman, was just a plain nice woman. She loved us all, and although she didn’t say it very ofter, she showed us in so many ways.

Tea time was one of those ways. We all got linen napkins, china tea cups, and usually a few cookies. On a special day, Grandma would a make treat. Cookies, brownies, or lemon squares.

I don’t recall her wearing pants until she was well into her sixties, and then she wore dress up pant suits. The pant suits were a modesty thing. At 65 she had trouble crossing her legs, so it was pant suits to the rescue.

The loved long haired cats, and Boxers, but in later years she opted for mixed mutts. Teddy was a cockapooh, and he was the bane of Papa’s existence! Teddy had terrible allergies and just scratched and scratched and scratched. But since Mary wanted it, he put up with it!

Grandma kept a tight control over her money. Back then telephone calls were very expensive. Grandma kept a 3 minute egg timer next to the phone. She told me once that if you couldn’t say it in 3 minutes then you should write a letter! She did that too.

When I was really young, I would run through the woods to her house and stay there to escape from things at home. Later, I was lucky to live with her and Papa.

She loved to hear me sing, and we loved to sit with our heads together talking. I remember one time I visited her after I got married and we were having tea and talking. She was smiling broadly and I asked what she was smiling about?

“I have missed you talking, and telling me all about your days.” I didn’t realize, but I had missed her too.

It’s been 28 years since she died, and I still miss her, but I like to think of her waiting for me, having a few cookies and sipping her tea.

A Mixed Thirteen

I started off my day by waking up with a fever, cough and a lot of congestion.
I dressed, made my breakfast and went to Weight Watchers.
I had worked the plan very intensely this week.
I lost three and a half pounds!!!!!
After class I got the mail.
I came home and literally jumped into my pajamas.
I got out my fuzzy throw blanket and snuggled down with Greta!
She has been taking good care of me all day.
We started to watch a Documentary on Youtube on our smart TV.
I fell asleep half way through, and slept for two hours.
When I woke I was shaking again with the silly fever!
The last thing I wanted to do was cook, so I took just about every leftover in the fridge and made a meal out of it!
I can hardly wait to go to bed!

What I Did This Past Weekend

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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Although I wasn’t super busy this weekend, we seemed to find that the time slipped by. I did get the electric candles in my windows, and started to write my Christmas Cards.

I did a little laundry, but found I didn’t have to cook too much because we had a fridge full of leftovers.

I did discover that my health insurance has skyrocketed, so that I will now be paying close to $1000.00 per month for it. Thank you President Obama. Since he took over my medical insurance has increased $750.00 per month! And I have less coverage than I did before. I despair to think what it will be like when Obama Care goes in to full effect in 2014.

Hubby is sick with a dreadful cold. He coughs and sneezes and I think I will be putting him in the guest room until he gets well.

I’m thinking that I will pull the Christmas tree out of the attic tomorrow, along with the decorations. Then during the week I will work to get it put up all decorated! I did put up my skaters twirling in front of a snow covered church, that Mandy gave me a few years ago. This always makes me feel all Christmassy!

Have a great Monday Everyone!!!

Pop

Friday morning I was taking a little time trying to figure a few things out on my Kindle Fire. I was set it down on top of the laptop keys and then went to pick it back up and my finger nail clicked the #4 key and it went flying!

That’s right people. I am doomed with laptop computers! I sat there, and fear gripped me!

A new computer shop had opened up, and it is less than a mile from my house. I threw on my clothes and grabbing the computer, and three pieces of the key, off I went to hopefully get that repaired!

First, the two guys were really nice, and yes, they got my key back on and working! Best of all, they are reasonably priced.

I was a little surprised to see the inner workings of my key. Do you realize that most of it is plastic? It was good because, it gave when my finger nail pulled it, still I was amazed that it was fairly simple. I sort of thought it would be more complicated!

In any case the laptop is repaired and I can once again use the number 4 or the $ sign!

I never did figure out the Kindle problem. Perhaps I will do that tonight.

This & That Thursday

I am so tired. I was up for two hours the other night with Anneliese. She was not feeling well at all. Plus she was violently shaking her head. I suspected she had a problem/infection with her ears. They smelled very bad, so after Hubby got up on Tuesday morning (he slept until almost 10 AM!), I called our Vet. No doctor was on call, so I ended up taking Anneliese to the other Vet location.

I saw a lady Vet. Dr. M. She had done Anneliese’s spaying surgery. In any case, I liked her very much, and indeed, Anneliese had a yeast infection in both ears! The doctor cleaned her ears and then put in the medication. She will need to have the drops instilled twice a day.

While I was there I talked with the receptionist. I discovered that their office is open 6 days a week. Since the woman I liked at the other office left her practice, I am not happy that they only have a Vet 2 days a week! So today I moved their records to the Laconia Office, and Dr. M.

So now I am off to an early bed and I promise to be a little more diligent with my blogging.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Which do you prefer-pretty gift wrap with a bow or a pretty gift bag with/without a bow? What percentage of your holiday gifts are currently (as in right this very minute) wrapped in some form or fashion?

I love wrapping paper. The good old fashioned kind! I have my Germany presents wrapped and will mail them off today! Yay me!

2. What is one item on your Christmas list this year?

I want to go out and buy a Barbie Doll and bring it in to the Marine’s pick up area. I’ll be doing this in Katie’s memory.

3. What makes a home?

The love within the four walls. Since Hubby and I are on second marriages, we know that above all, having love is the most important thing of all. Many people feel that things make the difference. However, it is just not true. Trust me on this!

4. Motown founder Berry Gordy celebrates his birthday on Hodgepodge Day-November 28th. Are you a fan of the Motown sound? If so, who’s your favorite Motown artist and/or song? Here’s a list in case you’re stuck.

Some. But I grew up loving the Beatles, The Carpenters, and (I admit), David Cassidy and the Partridge Family!

5. Red or green-which one is more prevalent in your closet?

Red. I really do not look good in green. It causes my skin to look sickly. Ever heard of the saying “Feeling Green”?

6. True or false-bacon makes it better? If you answered true, what’s your favorite dish made with bacon?

Oh gosh, I love bacon, but as I get older, it doesn’t like me! So I tend to use it a lot less. I do love it cooked crisply with over easy eggs! Yum!

7. Share a favorite holiday memory.

My favorite Christmas memory is Christmas 1976. My daughter was born on December 20th.

I had just gotten home from the hospital with my first born baby, Amanda Mae. I remember thinking that I had gotten the greatest gift of my life. This perfect, beautiful, healthy, baby girl Yes, it doesn’t get any better than that.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

To all of you who have been following my closet dilemma, I finally finished cleaning it on Monday! It’s amazing how out of control it had gotten. As I stood in the middle of the closet, prior to starting the cleaning, I felt I was in the middle of my boat after being tossed about in a Nor’easter! It seemed that nothing was where it should have been, and my Christmas count hopelessly lost. Now, the closet contents are folded, stacked and beautiful! How long it will remain this way is anyone’s guess!

Black Friday

The month of November has never been a great one for me, diet wise. I have my birthday (and cake) and then my favorite holiday…Thanksgiving! Need I say more! Nothing is guaranteed to help me gain weight, like a month packed with eating orgies!

On Thanksgiving night, I looked at the pictures taken and I knew. I knew I could not fool myself any longer about the weight I had gained this fall!

Now before I go off the deep end and gain back everything I have lost at Weight Watchers, when I woke on Friday morning, I made a resolution.

Today is the first day back on the Points Plus Plan!

Yes, it is “Black Friday”…Diet Wise!

I was so unhappy with how I looked. And previously, I had made excuses about my weight. Oh, I am big boned. Or (this is my personal favorite) I have a slow metabolism.

The plain fact is, I eat the wrong things, and too much of them. So, this morning I had a single egg, with two slices of diet toast and half a grapefruit.

The hardest part for me is not the first week. Usually I do well at that time. The hardest part is the next week. I find it so hard to follow through. However, I am determined! I will do this!

I will do this for me!