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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It was a strange weekend. One that brought me back to thinking about High School and how I had once had to write certain things. Back then, I really had no idea what I was doing, but through this blog, and all of you, I have learned to write.

I spent time organizing my thoughts, and then I put it down on paper. Then I went back and  organized it all. By the end, I looked back and actually felt proud at what I had done. It may have taken the better part of the weekend, but it was so worth it!

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A few weeks ago I noticed that my darling Greta had a small growth in her ear. I reacted, as I always do, I panicked! I called to Hubby, tears in my eyes, already picturing Greta minus her ear!

Hubby calmed me and told me that we would simply watch it for a while. Sure. That’s like telling me to watch the bacon cook. Poor Greta. I’m afraid I was flipping her ear over several times a day to check on that little white “growth”.

Well, time did pass, and fortunately for Greta, I have been busy. I forgot about her ear until Sunday morning. I flipped it over and guess what? It’s completely gone!

My question here is…can dogs have acne?

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I have a new cleaner that I discovered. It’s “Fantastic”! I tried it out in the kitchen on my stove, my cabinets, the screen over the stove and guess what? It cut all the grease! I could not believe it! Best cleaner I have found in years!

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It’s been raining most of the weekend, so outside things just aren’t happening. Thank goodness we got the garden fenced before the rain came. As it is now, they are forecasting 5 days straight of rain! (**groan**) I hope the rain is gone by Saturday as we have a Town wide Yard Sale next weekend!

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Well, that is about it for my weekend wrap up!

Have a great week everyone!!!

About A Girl

It’s been a long time since I felt this strange pressure about writing a report. It isn’t necessarily a bad pressure, just that I need to get it done, and I need it to be good. So, I have been working three days on it, taking a few hours off, here and there, and then back to the computer I go.

You know, it’ll be 35 years this summer since I graduated from High School. In High School my favorite classes were Chorus and Band, so you can guess that I was not a natural student.

My mother, for some reason I have never been able to fathom, used to tell people that I was both incredibly smart and a natural student. I used to look around for this child of hers, because it sure wasn’t me!

I’ve gone back in my mind to think, what would I have done, if my life had taken a different turn. What could I have been? I loved children, so perhaps an Elementary School Teacher, or a Child Psychologist. Something where I could have helped little kids.

However, I was not necessarily a natural student and I really did find it difficult to learn. Honest to goodness, I never got Algebra! I have somehow gone through life and now, here I am at 52 and I am a Secretary, taking notes and writing reports.

Oh, how I wish I had paid more attention in stenography and typing class!

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill Ins

1.  I know that love is the most important thing in life.

2.  I need to find a new cocktail dress for Hubby’s College Reunion if at all possible.
3.  This weather has been great for germinating and planting my seedlings int he green house!
4.  High gasoline prices are a problem
5.  I’m really happy I have the ability to enjoy living in the present and loving my Husband, and my family!
6.  I’m making fajitas tonight for dinner, or something to that effect.

7.  And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to working on my report, tomorrow my plans include watching “From Lark Rise to Candleford” and Sunday, I want to finish my report and prepare for my week ahead

Thursday Thirteen

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Things I Did Yesterday & Today!

  1. I went to Weight Watchers and lost half a pound! I was very pleased because it was a hard week to stay on plan, due to 4 meals at restaurants.
  2. I realized once I weighed in, that I am a bit of a control freak, and that I do like eating at home where I can control all things that I put into my mouth.
  3. Bought the cutest little flat of Parsley Plants! I would like to get a few more herb plants and then find some place in the yard to have an Herb garden.
  4. Picked up two days worth of mail. Which amounted to 4 catalogs. I joked with the Post Master, and asked if there was any good mail I could steal away! lol!
  5. Came home to start laundry and do some house work.
  6. That’s when I got this great idea for a dinner meal for tonight.
  7. I made a wonderful lemon chicken, with a very light sauce. It was very easy and very lean, because you poach the chicken!
  8. Next I made Hubby Bratkartoffeln, which is German fried potatoes with onions and bacon! He is a happy man!
  9. For our vegetable we had mashed Butternut Squash! Oh, it was total yumminess!
  10. More laundry was done and of course, all the dishes from dinner.
  11. Today I am going to get my hair done. I seriously need a shaping of my hair. I find it very difficult to do anything with it!
  12. I have a big report to write later on today. I’ve got good notes, but I expect it will be at least 4 or 5 pages long.
  13. By the end of Thursday I will be tired, no doubt, but happy to have accomplished so much!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Hodgepodgebutton

1. How many times in your life have you moved house?

Too many. I lived in three houses when I was a girl in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Then I moved so many times with my first husband it wasn’t funny. Since marrying Hubby #2 I’ve lived in three homes.

2. What subject would you study if you had a year to devote to it?

German. I have always wanted to learn to speak and read German. I would love to move to Germany and go to a college there to learn.
3. What in this world breaks your heart?
The loss of my child…
4. What is one item that symbolizes the times in which we live? Why?
The cell phone. Almost everyone has one and they have become a must have tool for calls, GPS and restaurant rating, movie show times, etc.
5. Share a favorite bumper sticker or t-shirt slogan.

“Just Hand Over The Chocolate And No One Will Get Hurt”
6. How do you like your spaghetti?

Cooked. I do not like it al dente.
7. What is one piece of advice you would give a recent, or soon to be recent, graduate?

High School? I would say, go to college and work hard to attain your dreams. A college Grad? Okay, go for it, and don’t be disappointed if you fail the first few times. It will get easier.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Joanne is going home on Friday. Family and friends have been working to plant flowers, build ramps, install railings and clean house. All to get things read for the happy return on this beautiful woman. What a blessing it has been to watch Joanne’s recovery and now the return to Toben, her husband and her two lovely daughters, Audrey and Emma. God Bless you all!!!

Conference

Monday I attended a Conference for Library Trustees. Wow! What a wonderful event it was. I signed up for 4 seminars, not knowing, quite what to expect.

The first was a speaker, Marilyn Johnson, who I think was meant to energize us and make us laugh. She was quite good, and I did find her amusing.

Next we broke off into small groups for different classes. My first class was to learn who is responsible for various things within the Library and outside of the Library, but pertaining to us. The biggest thing I learned is how blessed we are in my little Town. All of our departments get along pretty well, and work together for the benefit of the Library.

My second class was Conflict Resolution. I think this was my favorite class. I found this intriguing. The man who presented the class truly knew his stuff. He went through various scenarios, that could be used at work and in your real like.

Next we broke for lunch, where I met up with two other Trustees and our Library Director, and enjoyed a light meal. They were as pleased as I was with what we were learning.

In the afternoon we had one more class. Mine was for Trustee Secretaries, Treasurers and Chairpersons. As the Library Trustee Secretary I had a lot of questions and I finally got a lot of answers! It was truly fabulous!

So it was a learning day and one I really enjoyed and I am so happy I went. In fact I can hardly wait until next year!

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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On Friday I tried a recipe for Hot Wings (Buffalo Wings). It was pretty good. The only thing I might do differently next time I make them is to marinate the chicken wings for an hour or two before cooking them, instead of just brushing on the hot sauce. All I can say is, YUM!

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On Saturday I re-potted my tomatoes and eggplants. The peppers were not quite ready for that, so I thought I would wait until the end of the week for that. It was fun to play in the dirt and to get those lovely plants in their new pots!

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On Sunday, we drove south to meet up with my daughter, Mandy and her boy friend and his parents to celebrate Mother’s Day. We met at The Common Man in Merrimack, NH. We had a delicious meal, served by one of the nicest and most efficient waitresses that we’ve had in a while. Hubby and I had mussels and scallops and salads and fabulous and decadent desserts. Hubby had Key Lime Pie and Mandy and I shared a chocolate chip cookie ala mode. Matt and his parents had beef meals and Matt had this wonderful (and oh so gooey) chocolate lava cake!

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Mandy and Me.

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Matt and his Mom.

We had a great time, and before we knew it, our meals were over and everyone needed to go their separate ways. As we left Mandy and Matt gave each mother a beautiful vase of flowers. I love the flowers, but I think I love the vase even more. It’s beautiful!

So I send a big thank you to Mandy and Matt for one of the nicest Mother’s Days ever!!!

Happy Mother’s Day

Growing up, while many of my friends were planning futures where they would become, doctors, lawyers, nurses, models, pop stars or whatever, I planned my life for one thing. I wanted, more than anything to have children.  I loved children, and although for a while I was told that I might never have them (endometriosis) I proved the doctors wrong and gave birth to my first daughter 1 year and 1 day after I married her father.

Twenty-three months later, her sister, Katie was born, and I was officially the Mommy of two beautiful girls! I was happier than ever, and I love my girls like nothing I can ever describe. It’s truly awe inspiring. I look at Mandy and all I can see is the beauty in her face, her heart, her mind and her soul!

I miss my Katie. I guess I will never really recover from her loss, so early in her life, but, I look back at the times when we were all together and life was good, and I smile.

Here is a very short video montage of me and my girls.

My Mother’s Day from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill Ins

And…here we go!

1. NCIS is my favorite TV show (or movie) because year after year, episode after episode, they have maintained quality writing and acting.

2. Go to page 45 of the book you’re reading or of the book closest to you; go to the 6th paragraph and make a sentence out of 7 words from it: Grape skins make dye for meat stamps.

3. I am happy to have purchased my flats of tomatoes, Ischiban eggplants and green peppers today The garden is growing, Agway has good plants and good prices.

4. The best long walks are the walks I used to take along the shore at the beach.

5. Take some time to enjoy your day.

6. The dackels all need a bit of stripping and combing and nail trimming today.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to making Emeril’s Buffalo Wings, tomorrow my plans include cooking shrimp in a new way (haven’t decided yet) and repot the tomatoes, green peppers and eggplants and Sunday, I want to enjoy Mother’s Day with my daughter, Mandy, her boyfriend, M. his parents and Hubby for brunch!

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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Okay, so we all know where we were, and what we were doing on Friday morning. Wasn’t that a great wedding? One of the things I noted, when the Father of the Bride was at the alter with Kate and William, was, the expression on his face, as it was full of love for the two of them. Later, I noticed his form as he sang “God Save The Queen”. I think Kate’s Dad is wonderful, and I admire him. I do not think he would have allowed his daughter to marry for any other reason, than for love.

I know, hopeless romantic!

I loved Kate’s gown, her tiara, veil and how she presented herself. She is who she is and carried herself with pride. William appeared to be totally taken with her. What a grand beginning for their life together!

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On Saturday I tackled the laundry. I had accumulated quite a bit, towels, bed linens, etc. and I really needed to pay attention. So I did and got a lot accomplished there, including two of Hubby’s heavy winter coats. I tossed some ribs in the crock pot and then cleared out the fridge of leftovers for dinner, after which we settled in and watched two episodes of “From Lark Rise to Candleford”. That is such a wonderful show, filled with life lessons. I really do love that show!

I also watched some “William and Kate” specials on the satellite, and certainly enjoyed day-dreaming about a lovely girl finding her Prince and becoming a Princess!

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Sunday found Hubby and I giving all the dogs their Heart-worm and Flea and Tick medications, and enjoying another lovely sunny day. All of our fruit trees have tight buds, and in another week or so will start blooming. My plants in the greenhouse are pushing nicely, and I am a happy gardener!

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Hubby’s birthday is coming up this week on Wednesday, and I have plans for that too. They’re a surprise right now, but I will let you in on them later this week.

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Happy Monday Everyone!!!