Snow, Ice & Bratkartoffeln

It is snowing…again. Just light, fluffy snow, which they claim will be easy to move around. That’s probably true, but I know that the snow is hiding ICE! So even though the snow is pretty, walking around can be hazardous to one’s health!

The dackels cam in today from their morning constitutional, and Anneliese’s paws were a little red and raw looking between the toe pads. I looked at Fritz and his is even worse. It’s the darn ice.

I made a simple meal today of Bratkartoffeln with steak and beets. You can go Here for the recipe for Bratkartoffeln. It is easy and very delicious!

I have big plans for the weekend, so I am hoping for decent weather. I’m meeting up with Mandy and Matt for lunch on Saturday! So we can celebrate the baby girl news!!! Maybe we can toss around names?

I am getting addicted to Pinterest! Anyone else? I love all the ideas they have there. Especially the ones for newborn infant posing and photographing.

Now clap you hand, because we made reservation to go to a concert in February. It is a Bluegrass Music concert. Now what is so special about that? Well, I hate crowds, so going to this with the crowds in me try to overcome my fears.

So, TGIF Everyone!!!

Thursday Thirteen

Aug 1 002

Here is what I am thinking right now.

  1. I am thrilled that Mandy and her baby girl are in good health.
  2. Oh, I can hardly wait to see Mandy get big and full with this baby girl!
  3. And then, I can hardly wait to meet her and hold her for the first time.
  4. I would love to rush out to the store and buy little dresses, bows and mary-jane shoes!
  5. Soft silky pink blankets!
  6. I’m studying some photography so I can learn about posing newborns.
  7. Plenty of pictures of this baby, I can tell you!
  8. Less than five months to go!
  9. Mandy and I are just about counting the days.
  10. Matt too. I can tell he is going be a great Daddy to this little girl!
  11. So much love surrounding this baby!!!
  12. Isn’t that wonderful?
  13. A child, simply, can never have too much love!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. A new Miss America was crowned on Saturday night-did you watch? If you were a contestant what would your talent be?

I didn’t watch. I was watching the Patriot’s game. Now what would my talent be? Well back when I was a young girl, I sang beautifully. So I think that would be it. After all, no one has ever cooked for their talent, and really, that would be mine!

2. Do you have houseplants? Real or fake?

I have two plants. A Christmas Cactus, and a Poinsettia. The Cactus is alive and well, but the Poinsettia is nearly dead. I have a green thumb in my garden and a black thumb in the house!

3. When you were in school did you speak up or were you more of the hide your face, avoid eye contact, and pray the teacher didn’t call on you type of student?

Definitely the latter. I wasn’t a great student and I just hoped and prayed they didn’t notice me.

4. Next Monday marks the Chinese New Year…what do you order when someone suggests Chinese food?

We go to a Buffet near our home and I always have Egg Foo Yong, Pea Pods and Stir Fry Shrimp and Vegetables.

5. How would you define a miracle? What would it take for you to consider something a miracle?

God causes miracles every day. They are all around us. Right now the biggest miracle in my family’s lives are the little baby, growing in Mandy’s tummy. We will find out later on today what the baby is. Boy or Girl!

6. What’s your favorite Disney song?

Feed The Birds, from Mary Poppins. I love that movie and still watch it.

7. I should have done the grocery shopping yesterday.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

And on Tuesday we learned that Mandy is going to have a baby girl! My heart is full and Hubby and I and the rest of Mandy’s family are walking on air!

Baby January 17 2012

So for your viewing pleasure, my granddaughter!!!

Friday Fill-Ins

5373882303_53faf43d42

Isn’t this a great picture? My cousin Janet took it on Thursday morning.
And…here we go!

1. When I looked out the window this morning we already had three inches of snow and it was still coming down hard.
2. Horrible violence doesn’t make sense to me.
3. Remind me what’s the best small camera I can buy right now with at least 14 megapixels, that doesn’t cost a fortune?.
4. Taking a trip to the Galapagos Islands is something I’d love to do!
5. TP is toilet paper? Really? Um, well TP is really important!.
6. I cleaned the refrigerator recently and I found this is funny, I actually don’t have much in the fridge right now. I need to go to the market.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to a fire in the hearth, tomorrow my plans include cooking a turkey I had in the deep freeze and need to cook and Sunday, I want to make turkey pot pies!

Happy Friendship Day

Today is the eleventh anniversary of my friendship with Uschi. You can go HERE to learn how we met each other. Over the years, we have written to each other almost every day. We aren’t able to speak on the phone like many people, but then, sometimes I think we know each other better because we can write all of our thoughts down and send them off.

When we get together and start talking, it is as if we just saw each other yesterday and we chatter along like two little parakeets!

It still amazes me, that when I least expected to find a friend and sister of my soul, I found one in Uschi!

Happy 11 years to us!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Lake Superior University has once again published a list of words/phrases they think should be banished from the Queen’s English in 2012-

amazing, baby bump, shared sacrifice, occupy, blowback, man cave, the new normal, pet parent, win the future, trickeration, ginormous, and thank you in advance.

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why?

shared sacrifice, occupy, blowback, trickeration

Okay, shared sacrifice, well it’s not definitive enough. Occupy has been used and abused by many people this year in very negative ways. Blowback and trickeration, I have never heard of, so I will add them for the heck of it!

2. Are you easily embarrassed?

I don’t think so, but you would have to ask Hubby. Usually, I just go with the flow and laugh things off.

3. What is your go-to snack?

Lately, fruit, like oranges, or bananas, I also like carrots and celery. In a previous life, it was always cookies or chocolate.

4. Have you ever been to Washington D.C.? If not do you have any desire to go? What site/attraction would you most want to see in that city? If you have been, what’s your favorite site/attraction?

Yes, I have been, several times. I loved it! There is so much to see. I LOVE the National Gallery, as I am an art fan, but I also love the new Air and Space Museum. I tell everyone I know. Go. Spend a few days. Walk around the Mall area, visit all the Monuments. Go to the Museums. Explore!

5. sit ups-planks-lunges-squats…which do you hate the least?

Probably squats. But to me exercise is a four letter word! I really do not like formal exercise. I do like to walk, or swim, but squatting and lunging, yuck!

6. What’s a small act of kindness you were shown that you’ve never forgotten?

The two paramedics who took care of Katie and me immediately after the accident, while we were still trapped in the car. One took care of me, the other took care of Katie. I remember Dave (who took care of me) apologized for having to cut off my clothes in the ambulance. I could have cared less. After it was all over we had lunch together and I was able to thank them properly. But really, how do you ever thank people like that who worked so hard to save our lives?

7. Have you ever been a blood donor?

Yes, and then I passed out. It turns out I am not a good candidate for donation as I am slightly anemic.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Tuesday was the Primary Election here in New Hampshire. I cannot recall there being such publicity up here in little old New Hampshire before! Horrible. Add to that phone calls, day and night! Well, now Mitt Romney has won and the press and campaign staffs will leave us alone until the general election! One note here. We did not receive one call from the Romney campaign. But then, Hubby and I had heard him speak, and really didn’t need to do a meet and greet with him and his wife.

What I Did This 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!

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

We live in New Hampshire, and as most of my American readers know, on Tuesday we have the Primary Election to see who will be the Republican candidate to run against President Obama. I have to tell you, we have been getting calls day and night trying to sway our votes one way or another. On Sunday alone we got FIVE Ron Paul calls in the span of 5 hours! What a pain. I wouldn’t vote for him just because of all the silly calls!

The weekend was a busy one, because we were de-Christmasing the house, cleaning and looking for new furniture. The furniture shopping was stressful, right up to the end, when we found exactly what we wanted (see yesterday’s post). It is also sad to put everything from Christmas away for another year.

In fact I was feeling bad about it, until I realized that by Christmas next year there will be a new baby in our lives and at six months old, he’ll/she’ll be smiling at us all! What a joy, and what a blessing!

I took the garlands and tinsel off the tree, next I bid ado to my precious ornaments, then the lights. Then I took the tree apart, which is akin to chopping it down (lol). I stored it in it’s big box. We closed all the boxes, and then I climbed into the attic and Hubby passed about a dozen boxes up to me! All I could say after that was, “Oh, my aching back!” But it is done!

The week ahead is not necessarily a busy one. However, I have decided to spend two hours each day on my New Years Resolution of organizing the house. I admit to enjoying time reading or being on the computer, but I know I need to buckle down and get this work done.

I might also slip away and ski a day or two this week. That was another resolution, to continue to get into shape.

Have a wonderful Monday everyone!

First Day

I am thinking that when you read this, I will be out skiing for the first time this season. No we don’t have any natural snow, but through the miracle of snow making machines, there is enough snow to at least strap on my skis and go and freeze my self to death get my first day of skiing, under my belt!

Hubby is really excited, and if I come home with aching joints, chilled to the bone, then he will be really happy. However, I do want to move more, and I also think it’s a positive thing. You know, get in shape before the cruise. Here is a picture of me last year. All dolled up and hopefully, STAYING WARM!!!

Nov. 30 029

Please note, that I wear full protective gear. I feel everyone out there should. One wrong fall can do serious damage, and I am just an average skier, so I have a lot of respect for the snow and ice!

TGIF!

Thursday Thirteen

Nov 24 015

Today’s Thursday Thirteen, will be things I love about cruising.

First to get you into the mood, this classic song!

  1. Once I step on board the ship, I become a Pampered Princess! No dogs to walk!
  2. Each morning when I wake, there is coffee at my door.
  3. As I go through my day, people smile at me, and offer coffee, tea, or anything else my heart desires.
  4. I love having tea each afternoon. The servers all wear white gloves and it reminds me of days gone by with my grandmother.
  5. I love the sun. Even though I have to wear a ton of sunscreen and a hat. It’s okay.
  6. Swimming. I love the big pools. It’s so soothing.
  7. The movies on the Jumbo-tron screens! Fun! Movies under the stars.
  8. Someone to cook my breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  9. And then to clean it all up!
  10. Someone makes my bed too, and brings me clean towels several times a day!
  11. Sitting out on my own balcony sipping a cool beverage!
  12. The shore tours we take. Those are so interesting.
  13. But best of all, I love cruising with Hubby. He makes it all wonderful and special!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What are three words you would use to describe your 2011?

Happy, Fruitful, Loving.

2. Do you like shrimp? What’s your favorite way to have it prepared?

I love shrimp. I don’t think I really have a favorite way to eat it, but I do know that Shrimp Fra Diavolo and I do not agree, but almost any other way is terrific!

3. Is your house de-Christmased? If so when did you tackle that job? If not, when will the decorations come down?

Not yet, but by the end of the week, I will have taken it all down. My tree is a big job. Since I use an artificial tree, I have to take it down, section by section. First the tinsel and garlands, (I reuse tinsel), then the ornaments, then the lights then the sections of the tree. It’s a big job!

4. Do you like to watch scary movies?

Nope, not at all. Real life is scary enough!

5. ice skating~sledding~skiing~snowboarding~of the four listed which wintertime activity do you most enjoy?

I have enjoyed all but snowboarding, in my life. At different times, of course. I skated and sledded as a child, and now snow ski.

6. Did you have a childhood hideout? Describe it.

Up until I turned 10, I could hide in the upper branches of a tree in our yard. I often hid there to escape. We moved and after that I would take off to my Grandma’s house. I always felt safe hiding there.

7. What’s a place or space that motivates you?

The kitchen. I love cooking and trying new things, so when I am in there, I simply love it! Just call me Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray or even…Julia Child!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Well, the New Year has begun and now I need to pack away the Christmas things, and attack my home with my resolution to clean and organize! Since the house has swallowed a few things, I am determined to get it all organized and ‘find’ these things. After all, if I don’t, no one else will.