My Life – Page 66 – The Dackel Princess

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 have to admit that this past weekend was a really full one. I was busy getting the house clean (it never ends) and the laundry done (that also never ends) and still manage to find some time to spend with my friend, and then escape and give myself some much needed down time.

I’ve been cooking up some great meals. We ate another dinner of rainbow and brook trout that Dave brought to us! Ah my dear David, keep the fish coming!

I noticed that the dackels had some tartar on their canines. So, I broke out the compressed rawhides and they are going to town on those. That usually takes care of any problems that crop up.

I just find it crazy that I get my teeth cleaned and examined for less than $100.00. But the dackels teeth cleaning at the Vet’s Office would be close to $300.00 each! Something is wrong there!

The weather is good, and there are still brightly colored leaves on the trees, but mostly Autumn is past us now.

It was so nice on Sunday morning to go for a walk with the two girls and smell a wood stove burning to take the chill of of my neighbor’s house. I just love that smell.

The week ahead finds me going to the doctor, and hopefully see Mandy and Savannah on Friday!

Happy Monday, Everyone!

My Saturday

Saturday found me feeling rather distracted. My mind was definitely other places, and all day I kept forgetting what I was doing.

For instance I was supposed to buy some media sleeves at the Post Office, and totally forgot that! Going into the Post Office I ran into a friend who had just had back surgery. He’s doing well, but walking very slowly with a cane.

I went to see my friend and that was time well spent! I am so glad I was able to go and just be with her. She needed to talk and to get things out a bit, and for once in my life I was able to really hear someone. (Actually this is a little over stated. I’m really hard on myself, I think.)

We had lunch together and she was able to eat a little. It made me happy to see this. I met her sisters and boy friend, and I feel that what she has planned for her treatment is a good thing.

Then I came home, and forgot to stop at the grocery store. We needed a few items and it wasn’t until I was trying to eat dinner that I realized I forgot the diet soda, bread and Weight Watchers freezer pops. So out I went to get that.

I decided that when I came home I would walk the dogs, and then sit down, do up Dackel Princess, and then read. Escape from myself.

I arrived back, pulled the car into the dark garage, and closed the door. The light was on, but as I opened the door into my laundry room to come upstairs, a large object moved toward me! I screamed!!!!!

Poor Fritz! I’m not sure who was scared more. Me or Fritz!

So off I go now to make myself some herbal tea and grab my Kindle! Nite, Nite!

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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All I can say is WOW! This past weekend was so full, I’m not sure I could have fit in another thing! I’ll start on Friday and go from there.

As you know, I got to go down and visit with Mandy & Savannah. I always love those days because Savannah is just so darn cute, and each time I go down, there is something new to witness. This last time it was her smiling and reaching out for things. I just love to see her smile at me, but most of all, I love to see that special smile that is reserved only for her Mom! Mandy & Savannah just have that certain Mom & Daughter chemistry that is so beautiful to witness!

I loved going to the Pediatrician’s Office with them, and then lunch afterward was great! We had a Caprese Salad and Mandy had Lasagna and I had Gyros! Then we did a little shopping, which is always fun for this Grandma!

The drive home for me was fine. I usually talk to my friend, Gail or to my sister, and that makes the trip go very fast! If they aren’t around, then I turn up the volume and listen to some great music!

Saturday I was up early and got ready to meet my cousin down at the local Craft Fair. She brought her boyfriend, Dave and their Grandson, Ralphie with them. I was worried he would be bored at the Fair, but that 4 year old actually had more energy than I did! What fun!

While they were off taking a foliage train ride, I made a Sauerbraten, with all the fixings, and when they got back we sat down to dinner. We also watched the first Harry Potter movie on the HD TV and even they had to admit how much fun it was to see the movie in High Definition!

On Sunday I decided that like the good Lord, I needed to rest. I had planned to watch some movies, and not do too much. Ah yes. Some lazy me time!

Then the phone rang!

Remember a week ago we had people who had called and wanted to come by and I had a nervous breakdown, because I would never get the house clean in time?

If you have guessed that the phone call was from them, you would be right. They will be here tomorrow for lunch!

So I madly began to clean. I have most of it done, and then I had to decide what to serve for luncheon. Well, that was when I decided I was not going to stress about the cleaning.

So, onto the menu. After much hemming and hawing, we’re serving Baked French Onion Soup, a Caprese Salad, My Potato Salad, Assorted Cold Cuts, Breads, and Hubby’s German Cucumber Salad.

If I am lucky, I will get Hubby help me make an apple pie, but we may run out of time. Not sure.

So, as you can see, my weekend turned into a jam packed wild weekend!

And the week ahead, is going to be just as busy!

The Beginning Of The End

It was a fairly nice day here in New Hampshire, so I decided to go out in the garden and pull the Basil “shrub” that I grew there! Honestly, that thing was about 2 and a half feet high and grew up like a shrub.

Once pulled, I took each leaf off and washed them thoroughly. Then put them in a salad spinner, and then out on clean dish towel to dry. Once they are all dried, put the leaves on a cookie sheet and flash freeze them. After, you wrap the leaves in wax paper, and tuck them into a Ziploc Bag, and return to the freezer.

Soon I will pull the last of the weeds from the garden and then turn the soil once more. Hubby will fertilize it and then the garden is ready to be left for the winter.

I broke out my wool winter sweaters today and have them airing on our screened in porch. They smell a wee bit like cedar, and that scent bothers me, so I hope that the airing will work.

I’ve also gotten together our winter coats, hats and gloves. I would like to get Hubby’s Ski Bag packed for the year as well. There is nothing worse, and more nerve wracking, then trying to get this all ready the night before the first snow!

Now, off to clear out our kitchen freezer and organize it a bit. Really people this cleaning bug had better get lost quickly! I simply do not feel like myself holding a vacuum cleaner in one hand and a dusting cloth in the 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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Well, I think I can safely chalk this weekend up to being one where I cleaned like crazy, expecting guests, only to find that the only ones that are impressed with my hard work are Hubby and me. The guests never called! Ah, that’s okay. At least I am all set, should someone stop in unannounced!

I did not go crazy with cooking, nor did I do a lot of free reading on the Kindle, as I am working to retrain my eyes to track while I read and not get tired.

Let me explain. Do you know that if you do not read for a very long time, your eyes, your mind sort of forgets how to track from one line to the next. It is a little exhausting. I am currently trying to retrain my eyes to do what they are supposed to. In the mean time, I get a little tired and have eye strain after short periods of time reading. It wasn’t anything that the doctors warned me about, as being a side effect of all the surgeries

Meanwhile, the foliage train has started running Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It goes by the house at 11:05 AM and returns at about 3:15 PM. This was Fritz watching the train this morning, holding his blanket in his mouth!

Fritz loves that smelly thing. He is the only German Shepherd that I have ever known that had a security blanket!

Fritz actually loves the train, and when it passes our property below, he will run like a Greyhound back and forth on the upper lawn! Boy, is he fast!

Autumn weather has moved in, bringing with it, cool, crisp, air, while the trees turn a marvelous array of colors! Yes, my favorite month of the year has to be October!

Welcome Autumn!

Not Much, Really!

It was such a weird day here on Saturday. I woke to a foggy start, then it cleared out and I thought for certain we would have a little sunshine, but before I knew it, the grayness returned and with it…the rain!

I’ve been trying to get things accomplished here at the house, and actually, I’m doing pretty well! Much better than I thought!

Actually, I have found myself, doing other little cleaning jobs. Things that no one but me will see. Apparently, the cleaning bug has bitten me.

I was quite wrong about how long it would take me to clean things up. At this point I simply need to change the sheets and I’ll be all set.

I’m amazed at how much I can get done when I apply myself!

Uh-Oh!

I was having a lazy day today, you know, in my pajamas until noon, not doing too much, mostly surfing the Internet, when I decided I really should dress and go to the grocery, mail and the seamstress, who was fixing a pair of corduroy jeans, that I had split! (OK, I know. I really need to concentrate for more than 1 week on my diet!)

So, I got going around 12:15 and did all of the errands, and arrived home in time to get lunch ready for Hubby.

I’d planned the rest of my day. I was going to catch up with a little laundry, and probably read some.

That’s when Hubby remarked that we were going to be having company. Sometime over the next few days!

Company!!! Oh no!!! Not when my “Dust Bunnies” were in the process of multiplying! And the dust! I do not even want to go there! Let’s just say, the dust was so thick you could easily write your last will and testament legibly!

I knew I could not clean everything at once so I divided it up. I washed the slip covers to the sofa, vacuumed and dusted every surface in the family room and kitchen, and started important laundry!

I know, if they come before Monday, I am screwed. I just cannot get it all done. I’m afraid it will have to be love me for myself, not for my ability to clean house. Meanwhile, I am prioritizing. Tomorrow I am washing up the guest room and guest room bath.

In my own defense I must say that I have a huge house well over 2400 sq. feet! I also have four dogs and a husband, and none of them really help out with the house work. I do love my house, but I don’t like cleaning it. My next home will have a lot of closets and basement storage, and be a whole lot smaller upstairs!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. It’s a brand new month…share one thing you’re looking forward to in October.

Cool, crisp, air, with the changing of the leaves!

2. Is chivalry dead? Explain.

Yes and no. Hubby is such a gentleman, and so are most of the men his age or older, but those in their early 30’s or younger, have no idea. Funny you asked about this. The other day I was going into a shop and a man with a walker, rushed to open the door for me! It blew my mind, as most of the time, the younger men, open the door for themselves and then just let the heavy thing shut heavily behind them!

3. On October 2, 1950 the Peanuts comic strip made its debut. Which character is your favorite? Which character is most like you? (Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Shroeder, Snoopy, Woodstock, or Pig Pen)

Snoopy. I love Snoopy! Greta is so much like him in her character, that it is funny! She even carries her dish in her mouth to show she is waiting for her dinner!

4. What’s something you’re competitive about?

I’m really not competitive at all. However, if someone cooks something I think I can cook better I will try it out, over and over, until I perfect it. So yes, I guess I am a competitive cook.

5. October is National Popcorn Popping Month…are you a fan? How do you like your popcorn?

I love popcorn! I love it hot with butter and salt! I could make a meal out of it! Kettle Corn is also good, but movie theater, buttered popcorn is the best!

6. When did you first realize the world is small?

I think when I started to travel around Europe with Hubby. I saw the homes, the families and people going to and from work. I also was on a flight to Frankfurt, Germany and was on my way to the Lavatory, and there sat a man whose children I babysat so long ago!

7. In terms of architecture, what’s the most beautiful building you’ve seen up close and in person?

There was a beautiful church in Bavaria. The Wieskirche located in Steingaden in the Weilheim-Schongau district, Bavaria. You can go HERE and view some of the pictures of this Church. You can also go HERE and learn more about this beautiful church.

There is a little side story here. Our dear friend, Otto, took us on a ride through the countryside despite his failing health. He wanted to share this most beautiful church with us. I’m so happy he got to see this church again, through our eyes, before he died.

So, forever, this church will hold a very special place in my heart!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Tuesday found us going to a Fly-In. It’s a day when retired Pilots and their families get together to share stories and cook-out. It was so much fun, as many of them flew in their own planes to get there.

Oct 02 025A

Here is our friend and his plane. He was just getting ready to take off to return home.

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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It was a nice, albeit wet, weekend. Since it was wet and cold we had our first fire in the hearth! I loved it! The way a fire smells, and the warmth and the look. Yes, I hope that I can have a fireplace where I live for the rest of my life. There is something about it that warms my heart and soul.

We watched movies, and of course The New England Patriots Football Game on Sunday, and now that the normal referees are back and allowing the players to play, (unlike the temporary referees, who tried to micromanage games), the game was actually interesting.

We attending a “Chowder Festival”, and sampled clam chowders from several different restaurants in our area. Then we got to vote for the best one. Naturally, my favorite one, did not win, but oh well.

I enjoyed my visit with Mandy and Savannah on Friday, and despite the rain then too, I managed the drive, and enjoyed every moment.

I will simply be happier when we have a return to cool, crisp and dry weather.

PS: I got no laundry done and I’m still working on the chicken soup. I simply ran out of energy and ambition, so everything can wait until Monday!

Friday Fill-Ins

And…here we go!

1. The tale is told of holidays past.
2. My Sauer Braten recipe is something that always makes me think of my ancestors.
3. To ensure Savannah knows me well, I try to visit as often as possible.
4. Weight Watchers Triple Chocolate ice cream pop is a fine thing.
5. It’s never too late to learn something new.
6. I have often made lists on the back of an old receipt.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to an early bedtime, tomorrow my plans include the weekend laundry and Sunday, I want to go to the Chowder Fest up here!