Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. I’m joining my daughter1 in the 101 in 1001 challenge. Essentially you create a list of 101 things you hope to do or accomplish in the next 1001 days. What’s one thing you’d put on your list?

We’re talking about my office again. Really it is just terrible. It’s on the other side of my house, and I avoid looking in at all costs. The other thing is my closet. I desperately need to clean it out and get things together to donate.

2. How many remote controls do you have in your house? What’s one item in your home you wish could be operated by remote control?

Five. Just for our family room TV/DVD/VHS/Satellite. Then two in our bedroom and two in the guest room and then 3 remotes for the air conditioner and one for the sun awning. I’m the only one who knows which ones work on what, and how to operate them. One thing I wish worked on remote? The door to let the dogs in and out!

3. What does having it all mean to you? Is it attainable?

Some people are pretty screwed up about this. Having it all to me means, sharing life with the ones I love. Good health and happiness. The rest will take care of itself.

4. What’s your favorite movie soundtrack?

It’s got to be The Sound of Music! What beautiful songs! Second favorite….The Lake House. No sung words, but beautiful themes.

5. Describe the best view you’ve seen from a rooftop.

I think it was when we went to the top of the Empire State Building in New York. It was a nice day and the view of the city was beautiful! But, I tend to dislike heights, so I don’t go up that high too often.

6. What’s your least favorite thing about summer?

When it gets too hot. You can only take off so many clothes. I much prefer winter, as you can always add another layer.

7. Our weekly Hodgepodge falls on the first day of August. In ten words or less sum up your July.

Crazy. Root canal. Beautiful Savannah. Vegetables. Dill Pickles. Greek Festival.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Savannah Rose is now 2 months old! Can you believe that? It’s gone so fast, and yet, it always seems like she has been here, and always that I have known her!

Savannah 2 months

What I Did This Past Weekend

Miss Marple 2

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, this was a crazy weekend. The highlight was the Greek Festival, where so much happiness and merriment was had. The Olympics began and after a little bit of frustration about not being able to watch things live on NBC and their affiliates, I discovered I could watch many of the events live on the internet! Yay!

On Sunday morning I watched the Women’s Preliminary All Around Gymnastics, from beginning to end! The only problem with this is that watching non-stop feeds, leaves no time for bathroom breaks! LOL!

One of our Gymnasts, a young girl named Gabrielle Douglas, is amazing!

Gabby

They nicknamed her the Flying Squirrel because, she truly does fly! She is young, graceful and if she doesn’t get a Gold Medal this time, I think in 4 years she will be a seasoned veteran and ready for the intense pressure these kids must feel.

Meanwhile on the home front, I ended up with 10 pounds of ripe pickling cucumbers! What to do, what to do! I have plenty of bread and butter pickles, Plenty of the Moon Glow Pickles, so what do I do? I looked at Hubby and asked, “Well, how about we try to make Dill Pickles?”

Off I went to the grocery to buy some fresh Dill Weed. I also had a package to pick up at the Pharmacy, so I got that first then went into the grocery. I picked up the Dill and headed to the cash registers. That’s when the sky opened and the rain began to come down so hard, that suddenly the roads looked like ponds!

Of course, I had no umbrella, so I took my bags and ran to the car as fast as I could. Apparently I am not as fast as I once was, because I got soaked to the skin! When I got home and came inside, I looked like a drowned rat!

After putting on dry clothes, I proceeded to make lunch, and afterward we worked on Dill-ing the cucumbers! That done, we must wait for three weeks before we can can them! Stay tuned…

Happy Monday Everyone!

Zucchini & Eggplants & Cucumbers, Oh My!

Remember a few weeks ago, I was lamenting the fact that the little chipmunk was eating my garden out from under me, and I would not have anything to eat or can? Well, I was wrong. In the last few days, all of a sudden, the garden is overflowing with wonderful vegetables!

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I started cooking about noon, preparing a spaghetti sauce for the freezer. I also used a small amount in my stuffed zucchini for tonight’s meal. But I have to tell you, I had forgotten how much work went into making the sauce, making the stuffed zucchini, and then the worst part, cleaning it all up!

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The sauce is a wonderful thing. I freeze it, and then in the winter when I do not feel like cooking, out comes a container of sauce, we boil up spaghetti and there is dinner!

Hubby made his German Cucumber Salad and used up about 4-5 cucumbers. Bless him! I am not a fan of that salad (cucumbers & onions sliced very thin, oil and red wine vinegar and salt, pepper and dill), but I am grateful he is using up the cukes!

TonightI am feeling pretty tired. Call me an old lady! But all the cooking and cleaning, has me looking at the clock just waiting for bedtime!

Worst thing about it all….I have to do more of it tomorrow! Oh well, at least the eggplant are coming in and I can have those sweet delicious goodies for lunch!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. The Summer Olympics officially begin this Friday night…will you be watching? If you could see just one event in person which one would you pick?

I would go to the “All Around Women’s Gymnastics”. I think in the Summer Games, the Gymnastics are my favorite.

2.Do lazy days make you feel rested or unproductive?

Unproductive. Lately I feel like I should be doing more.

3. July 25th is ‘officially’ Threading the Needle Day…can you sew? On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being not at all and 10 being Betsy Ross-like, how would you rate your skill with a needle and thread?

I’m a 2. I can do simple repairs, but not much else. I recently bought a new “Smart Machine” and it makes doing things so much easier! I repaired Hubby’s shorts, with a really cute stitch. I was so proud how it came out.

4. ‘Threading the Needle’ can also mean to walk a fine line between two things or issues (think awkward social situation). When was the last time you had to ‘thread the needle’, figuratively speaking?

Recently I resigned from being a Library Trustee. I did this because I was really tired of “walking the fine line”. Goodness, this isn’t even a job I got paid for. And politically I was apposed to much of what was being said and done.

5. Kidney, pinto, black, or navy…your favorite bean?

Purple Beans! They grow deep dark purple, and then as you cook them they turn green.

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The thing is, they really taste better, almost nuttier than regular green beans.

6. Have you ever hosted a garage sale? Was it more success or bust?

No, but I really should. Mostly, I give things away to the Salvation Army or St. Vincent Du-Paul.

7. What makes you roll your eyes?

When people tell me that they can’t do things, or make it through things, etc. After my daughter passed away people would say, “Oh I don’t know how you are doing this. I would just die if I lost my child”. Well, you don’t. It’s a crappy situation, but you somehow learn to survive.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

This is my 3000-th post on Dackel Princess! When I went to write this morning I noticed and it made me think, when I started this I had exactly three readers, and two of them I was related to. Now I get hits from all over the world! I feel so blessed to have made so many Blog Friends!

Friday Fill-Ins

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And…here we go!

1. Staying active will keep you young and healthy.
2. Painless dentistry well, that would be nice!
3. The very thought of my family, brings such happiness into my heart and soul.
4. Savannah is so beautiful.

6 weeks old 3

5. I grew up in Falmouth, Massachusetts and I love the ocean and the beaches there.
6. A Wiener Schnitzel had I in Vienna, was my most memorable meal. It was the best Schnitzel ever!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to being quiet and resting my jaw, tomorrow my plans include the usual laundry and weekend house work and Sunday, I want to do a little cooking, not sure what yet.!

In The Hot Summertime

I was wondering what to make for dinner on Wednesday and Hubby had all sorts of ideas. You see, suddenly the garden has exploded with 4 zucchini and 5 summer squash! So I cooked up 2 summer squash and 1 zucchini, along with onions, garlic, basil, and a fresh green pepper from my garden. The result was a delicious saute of vegetables.

I also made a meatloaf, and potato salad.  It was easy, and we enjoyed every bite of it.

We’re still having very hot and humid weather, despite the thunder storms that moved through last night. I woke at 1:30 AM and the lightening was so vivid, I could see while I walked around the house unplugging things, like the TV and computers.

The dogs seem to know I have a sore tooth. Greta has been hanging very close to me all day, as well as Arnie and Anneliese. I sure am a lucky pup-mom!

One more day until I get my tooth fixed. So it is just a matter of grinning (?) and bearing it! (lol)

Teeth

This is day three of my tooth ache. Or should I say teeth ache? The teeth on the left side of my mouth just plain hurt!

I used a little Brandy last night to get some sleep, but it wasn’t enough. I wound up waking at 3 AM, with throbbing in my face!

My dentist is in on Tuesday, so I will call right at 8:30 and get an appointment. I just hope that I do not need a root canal, or anything else.

Saturday was another incredibly hot day. In fact, at this point I think we are well into a drought. I cannot remember when we had any substantial rain. Our grass is brown and crunchy and we have to actually water the fruit trees as well as the garden.

So I am doing a rain dance, and hoping for some better weather. Light rain at night, and moderate temperatures during the day.

Friday Fill-Ins

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And…here we go!

1. For the first time I saw Savannah smile at me!

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2. Becoming a Grandmother is one of my best memories of the summer so far.

6 weeks

3. My recipe for Sauer Braten is one of my favorites because it makes me think of my own Grandmother.

4. I look forward to watching my daughter with her own daughter for years to come.

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5. It starts with a smile and then you are truly, deeply, in love.

6. Allergies make it impossible for me to enjoy candles. So I have no fragrance I enjoy most in a candle.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to Staying cool with Hubby and the doggies, tomorrow my plans include staying cool and trying to keep the garden hydrated and Sunday, I want to read the newspaper, watch a movie or two and once again, stay cool!

Thursday Thirteen

Thursday Thirteen Random Thoughts

  1. As you read, I am on my way to visit with Mandy and Savannah! Yay! My cold is gone and now I can see and hold Savannah again!
  2. We’re eating our very first of the year garden tomatoes! They are very yummy!
  3. I got together with my girlfriend, and we went and had lunch. Quiche and salad! What fun!
  4. I’m making baked Bluefish again tonight! Many people do not like Bluefish, but it is one of my favorites!
  5. There is a new Outlet Mall near Mandy. If the weather cooperates, we’ll go walking there with the baby.
  6. The weathermen are forecasting brutally hot temperatures for the weekend! I sure dislike that kind of heat!
  7. After visiting with Mandy tomorrow, I need to do an extensive grocery shopping.
  8. I’ve got to remember my list and my grocery bags!
  9. I’m hoping they have lobster at the grocery store on Thursday.
  10. If they do, we will happily eat lobster for dinner!
  11. Maybe some corn on the cob too!
  12. Oh, I do hope the store is well stocked!
  13. After all, this weekend, is the Auto Racing at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway!!!

What I Did This Past Weekend

Miss Marple 2

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!

***************

This weekend was my work in the garden weekend. The weather was great, and I was able to be outside both days to pull weeds in the big garden.

Hubby used to do all the weeding in the garden, but this year, I have taken over the duties of being the chief garden weeder!

Is it my favorite thing to do? Not really, but when I look back over all that I accomplished, there is a sense of pride in all I have done! Trust me here! There were tons of  weeds, and it took a long time, but I am extremely proud! It looks beautiful!

Now I know, by Wednesday, a fair amount will have grown back, but for today, it looks simply marvelous!

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I also cooked some brook trout that my cousin’s boyfriend had caught and saved for us. It tasted wonderful!

We also watched the Men’s Final at Wimbledon. I was so happy to see Roger Federer win again. I’ve always enjoyed watching him play. He is such a master on the court, and also a gentleman.

He beat Andy Murray, and when I listened to Andy speak after the match, his voice breaking with emotion, I wanted to cry too. Andy is British, and he really wanted to win for his country.