Family & Friends – Page 11 – The Dackel Princess

Friday Fill-Ins

This picture was drawn by Dave, my cousin Janet’s boyfriend , and then she photographed it, and then did the photo-editing to put in the text! When I saw it, I just knew it was perfect for this weeks Friday Fill-In! Dave, this really is fabulous, and Janet, you took a super picture!

And…here we go!

1. Old me would eat to alleviate the pain; new me would find some way to get through the emotional pain. Cup of tea anyone?.

2. It is not easy, but it is so important to step up and take responsibility.

3. So…in a way even though I sometimes think that I’ve really messed up, as long as I learn something along the way, then it it not a wasted experience.

4. Are you all right?

5. The big difference now is that I do not have the vision acute enough to read normal books. I sure wish that more publishers would print books on Kindle, then I could actually justify buying one!

6. Rest and relaxation makes me happy.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to watching the entire George Harrison Documentary, tomorrow my plans include I’m not sure, perhaps working out in the garden getting it ready for the winter and Sunday, I want to make butternut squash soup!

Thursday Thirteen

This weeks Thursday Thirteen will be a miscellaneous group of thoughts. I’ve been so busy lately that there is so much to write about.

The drive to my sister’s home was a long one. It usually takes me 4 hours, but I had to add another half an hour due to a road closure after Tropical Storm Irene blew through. I’d figured this would be the case, but still, what a long trip!
I got to see my grandniece practice for baseball, and both of my grandnephews practice their football. They are all three really good and I enjoyed watching them!
My brother in-law and sister remember how much I love eggplant pizza and they ordered one for dinner while I was there! Oh, it was so good.
I am totally an eggplant fiend! I love it every way it is cooked and served. I guess we all have things like that which we love, for no apparent reason. For me, it is eggplant!
I’ve made up a new recipe for eggplant and tomato casserole. OMG! It is so delicious! When I make it this week, I will have Hubby photograph me doing this, then include the recipe.
Our gasoline here in New Hampshire (at least where I am) is $3.46 a gallon. South of here the gas was selling for $3.79 a gallon. Needless to say, I tried to only buy gas at home.
I went shopping with my sister and help her to find a totally adorable top! She wasn’t sure about it, but it looked as if it were made for her! What do you think?

I ate pretty much what I wanted during my trip. My sister was great at providing salads, and her daughter, Jinny (pictured above), makes a great salad. Now it is time to get back on the plan.
One morning I got up and picked up coffee for my mother and me and then got breakfasts at Friendly’s to bring to her apartment. She really enjoyed that.
The Rehearsal Dinner was also a lot of fun. I got to meet Karan’s family, and we all ate and joked and enjoyed watching the young couple. (Note to self: Don’t keep eating delicious Italian food like that!)
My sister had her hair done at a salon for the wedding. I figured I could arrange mine, but I am becoming increasingly frustrated with it. I am totally ready for a shorter layering of my hair, so it is easier to do. I spent well over an hour with a curling iron, and it still looked lousy!
The wedding was so beautiful, and I got all misty from the show of love. The atmosphere was so happy and watching the bride and groom dance the night away, thrilled me beyond words.

The next day, I drove home, and made it in better time. When I walked in the door I was met by Hubby and the four dogs! They were all thrilled to see me and showered me with love and kisses!

What I Did This Past Weedend

Seldom have I been able to feel so much a part of a wedding. Certainly I have gone to many over the years, but this wedding made me feel so very included.

The wedding was for my nephew/Godson, Michael and his bride Karan. They met a couple of years ago and she has become a loving member of the family. Especially, she has become a very caring and loving step-mom to Mike’s daughter, Abby, who you learned about in last Thursday Thirteen.

Anyway, I drove to Connecticut and helped in small ways to get ready for the wedding. I did help with driving and I did Mel’s make-up, and then I was valued just for being part of the family.

The wedding took place at a country club and it was a beautiful setting.

I never cry at weddings, but I got very misty at this one. Perhaps it is because I could feel the love and happiness between these two people.

Mike, Abby and Karan!

Mike and Karan cutting the wedding cake.

My cousin Janet, my mother and me.

Melodie and me.

mel and mb

The reception was wonderful, pictures were taken and food was eaten! They planned things so nicely! Now it is back to real life, but I keep flipping through the pictures, looking at all of those happy faces!

Left to right, Ian, boyfriend of my niece, Jin (next to him) Abby, my grandnephews Taft and Luke, and their Dad, my nephew Tim. Back row, Left to right, Ron, (father of the groom) Mike (my nephew), Karan, Melodie, my sister, Maria, (my nephew Tim’s wife).

A Little Video To Tempt You!

Here is a very short video of the bride and groom dancing their first dance.

The Dance from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things About Abby

Family Party June 26, 2010 082

1. Abby Elizabeth was born in Connecticut on March 25, 2003.

2. Abby’s brother weighed more than she did at birth. He weighed 9 lbs 12 oz.

3. Abby has been playing softball for 4 years.

4. She plays all the different positions in her baseball team

5. Her favorite dinner is spaghetti with tomato sauce and cheese.

6. Her favorite dessert is fudge bars.

7. Her favorite subject in school is science!

8. She has blond hair and bright blue eyes!

9. Abby loves to swim and jump into the pool.

10. She also loves to boogie board.

11. She also loves the computer.

12. She has two cats and a dog and fish as pets.

13. She will be a flower girl on Saturday in her Daddy’s wedding to her new Step Mom!

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’s amazing how much of the weekend was spent getting ready for the Hurricane that never was. On Friday I went to the grocery store and picked up the last few things that we might need, and on Saturday I was looking forward to the calm before the storm, attending the Craft Fair.

Now I have to say, I understand why so many people stayed away, both Vendors and Tourists, but it was disappointing none the less.

Sunday the dogs let us sleep in. I was a little perplexed about it, until I got up and found that the rain was simply pouring down! In fact, the dogs did not want to go out at all! They stuck their noses by the door and ran in the opposite direction!

So I took each one of them and brought them to the door and gave them a little encouragement. They quickly ran out, did their business and ran in. Fritz, God love him, was resolute, and I was proud. The rain was coming down that hard!

We lost our power for the blink of an eye. Just enough to have me resetting clocks all around the house! However, we only had 25 mile an hour winds, and got 5.1 inches of rain. A fair amount, for sure, but nothing that damaged the fruit.

One thing Hubby and I noticed was that with the enforced isolation in the house, by the end of the day, we were driving each other crazy. Hubby is used to being out in the yard with the fruit trees, and I am used to time alone.

The day ended with a nice dinner, a friend calling to let us know that he is okay, and me switching pocketbooks for what seemed like the millionth time this month. After all I am three days away from my trip to see my sister and enjoy my Nephew/Godson’s wedding!

Happy Birthday Melodie

I put a few of my favorite pictures together of my sister. By next year I hope to have a few more scanned in. But for now, here is a short montage to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the best sister ever!!!

Happy Birthday Melodie from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

When You Grow Up At The Beach

Monday was a day that found me feeling a bit nostalgic. I was thinking about my brother and sister and growing up, the youngest in my family, on Cape Cod.

We lived a 5 minute walk from the beach and each sunny day in the summer we would walk down to the beach with my mother, her beach chair, a cooler/picnic and my mother’s book. Mom would sit and read her books, and my sister would watch me, making sure I did not try to swim to Martha’s Vineyard. My brother would swim as well, although he didn’t really want to do too much with his baby sister. (I was younger than him by 7 years.)

I loved the beach. I loved the smell of the salt water, the warm sand beneath my feet and the sun on my face. My cousins would come, usually in August and then we would all go to the beach. This was even better because Janet was there, and she and I played in a world, all our own!

Mom loved the beach so much. As did Janet’s parent’s, my Aunt Betty and Uncle George. In fact my Uncle George taught me to dive, and swim distances and most importantly, what to do if I got tired in the water…float.

Uncle George was also sort of my Hero.

You see, one day I was playing at the edge of the surf, when I stepped down and had one of my toes nearly cut off! I stood there crying watching the blood flow! My Uncle picked me up, wrapped a towel around my foot and carried me home, then drove me to the emergency room where I had 4 stitches to sew my toe back on.

The picture below was taken when I was five years old. That is my late brother, Dickie, my sister, Melodie and the scrawny little thing at the end is me.

I’m feeling very nostalgic because in 2 weeks, Janet and I will be going back to Cape Cod for my High School Reunion. Hubby is staying home, to care for the dogs, and once again it will be Janet and me going all over town, remembering…

Family!

I woke up feeling pretty bad again with the sinus problem. During breakfast I mentioned this to Hubby, and since we found this lesion on his stomach over the weekend, I called our doctor, and we both went in to see him together.

Yes, I still have the sinus infection. He has prescribed 2 weeks of a different antibiotic and a nasal mist. On the bright side, my blood pressure is back to normal and my weight…terrific!

Hubby had his lesion removed and it has been sent off for a biopsy. Our doctor was reassuring, but I have had a bad feeling about that thing for a while, and I am so glad Hubby has finally gone in and had it removed.

Now, a little more about Sunday. I cannot even begin to tell you how special the day was. Seeing my cousins and my sister and brother in-law was great! We sat around the dinner table sharing memories and joking and I felt instantly at home with them all.

It’s an off thing. We do not always get together, but when we do, it’s like we just saw each other the day before. My cousin’s daughter has three wonderful children, whom I found delightful. The eldest has a European Hedgehog named Olivia!

Olivia really likes peanut-butter.

The men did the grilling!

And I got a little carried away with dessert!

I told everyone that we must do this again very soon. I’m thinking that we should maybe rent a beach house in Falmouth for a week or something and anyone that could come, could come!

This year, Janet and I are going and I know we will enjoy going to our old haunts.

I thank my sister and my cousin Janet for the pictures.

Wedding!!!

Usually on Friday afternoons, Hubby and I are not terribly busy. We do our chores, and have fish and watch mindless TV. However this past Friday we were invited to a wedding on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, at an Inn/Spa in town. Have you ever noticed that then you live in a town you quite often never go to the special places in them? This was the case for Hubby and me.

We arrived early for the event as I wanted to walk around and view the area before the service started. This spot, with the backdrop of the town that we live in behind, is so beautiful for a wedding. A tent was set up and chairs too. A string quartet was playing classical music as we walked around, before other people began to filter in.

The Inn is so pretty and overlooks the Lake.

The gardens were well tended and in full bloom.

Our friend, and the Father of the Bride, had gotten his Justice of the Peace License so he could perform the ceremony. It was so special to watch him do this. The Mother of the Groom read a poem, as did his brother. Then the Groom took out his Ipad and read his vows, passed the Ipad to the Bride and she read her vows! And since you all know what a techno junkie I am I thought that it was absolutely perfect!

The couple were pronounced husband and wife, and we all clapped! Then in an instant the string quartet vanished, a jazz band set up and our chairs were magically turned into tables and chairs for a cocktail hour!

The food was incredible! There was jumbo shrimp, oysters on the half shell, crab claws, and these wonderful canapes made with a small piece of toast, chopped up and sauteed mushrooms with melted Gruyere cheese. Oh yes, I thought, kill me now! I was very careful only to have a few items, all the while waiting for the Weight Watcher Police to leap out of the bushes and arrest me!

Little mini egg rolls came by and I tried a couple of those, equally as yummy! And then it happened…a woman came out carrying a fully try of tiny French cut baby lamb chops! Oh yeah, talk about the best appetizer I could ever have imagined! I also tried a wine (Pinot Noir) I had not had before and really enjoyed it. Everyone was talking and laughing and the atmosphere was perfect for this delightful wedding!

Soon we moved inside for the dinner! Yes, more food! Hubby and I both had the roast beef and it was so tender you could have cut it with a fork! They also served roasted potatoes, and zucchini and summer squash. I ate some of my dinner but I asked if I might take the second slice of roast beef home to share with my pups. (I did and boy were they thrilled!)

The Bride and Groom cut their chocolate and vanilla confection, and then very gently fed each other cake. I just loved the fact that they didn’t smear cake into each others faces. I simply hate it when couples do that!

Then the dancing began! Hubby danced with me twice. He is not a dancing fan. After our two great dances, I got up and danced with others or just alone. Didn’t matter. I love to dance to good music, and this was a lot of fun!

Here the Bride dances with her Dad! What a great things to see when parents and their kids can enjoy partying with each other.

We stayed until about 9:30 and then walked to our car and came home. The dogs initially gave us the cold shoulder, but when I offered them some roast beef, they suddenly forgave us!