Category: Holidays

The day did dawn bright and sunny and warm. I was thrilled with the prospect of a day spent eating appetizers, chatting with friends and family and the barbecuing ribs and chicken breasts.

We set up everything outside and as everyone arrived we sat down and enjoyed the goodies.

But as the afternoon wore on the clouds came and I got a bit concerned that the rain would fall. I set up tables on our screened in porch and moved the party inside. Thank goodness I did. No sooner had we settled down with our food than the rain began to fall, and it is still falling, canceling our fireworks! However, the meal went off without a hitch, and everyone remained wonderfully dry.

The day is now ending minus our fireworks, but happy that it all went off without a hitch.

The Fourth of July is a federal holiday celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from Great Britain.

Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, picnics, baseball games, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Fireworks have been associated with the Fourth of July since 1777.

I’m posting this picture with the hope that today will be bright and beautiful and the day will end with a sunset just this nice. Happy 4th of July to you all and may you enjoy the warmth of your family and friends and enjoy the day.

I got this from my daughter, Mandy! Isn’t it beautiful? The funny thing was, on Saturday night about 9:30 the delivery woman arrived at the house. Very strange, but what the heck, I was still awake! LOL

Hubby took me out for dinner and we went to Canoe where I had Lobster Ravioli. What a great meal! Hubby had Prime Rib and naturally we brought home a “doggy bag” for the four pooches.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers out there!

Ah my dear readers A Happy New Year to you all! I hope you spent your nights celebrating with good food, good drink, and good friends!

Now that we have hit 2007, I must confess that I have several New Years resolutions. I am counting on you all to keep me in line. So, in no particular order, here are my resolutions.

1. To lose the weight I have gained back. I won’t shock you by divulging the actual numbers, let’s just say it’s more than 5 pounds and much less than 100. LOL!

2. To get myself into shape. I can’t even come close to claiming I am in shape at all. You see, back in the day when I was 22 (you know yesterday), I could not exercise for weeks on end and then go out and do a long hike and not feel it at all. I will tell you that at the age of (gasp) 48 it is not possible to do this any more! I will be going to the health club with Hubby starting on January 2nd when they open.

3. To continue to grow out my hair. I have not had any real length to my hair since 1984. I decided that I wanted to grow it out one more time before I am too old.

4. To over come my fear of crowds and show the puppy I keep in AKC sanctioned shows, and not be upset when or if she doesn’t do well.

5. To successfully house train this puppy that I keep in record time! LOL

Lest I overwhelm myself with too much, I will stop here.

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The day dawn with a fresh dusting of heavy slushy snow. Poor Hubby was dispatched to clear the drive, while I prepared the house for my daughter’s visit. I was so excited about it and I could hardly wait to show her the puppies. Today their little eyes opened wide for the very first time. Little Anya, picked her head up and looked me square in the eye, and I had to laugh, as she looks so much like Greta when she does this.

I finished getting packages wrapped and lunch ready, when Mandy arrived. We all sat down for Fondue and then we opened presents. I got so many wonderful things from a dachshunds calendar, to a couple of new turtlenecks, to a singing snowman set, to an electric lighted church with skaters out in front. It plays a series of Christmas carols in a beautiful music box fashion.

I love this and I can see it becoming the centerpiece of my Christmas decorations for many years to come! Mandy also made me the most awesome gift basket with Christmas tree ornaments, stocking holders, The singing Snowmen and potpourri.

After we finished opening gifts, we played with the puppies! Mandy really fell for them and if I turned around and I couldn’t find her, all I had to do was look and she was in with the pups!

The puppies really love to be held, and now that their eyes are open they are so interested in who has them. Of course they are still small so their awake time isn’t too long and then they are back asleep.

Our dinner meal was fresh Maine Lobster, corn on the cob and boiled potatoes, with a Yule Log for dessert. Yum!

The day ended all too soon, and Mandy packed up her car, and hit the road. What a great day. I really enjoyed having her here and look forward to her coming back.

I hope everyone had a great, happy and healthy Christmas. I hope your food was good, the presents great and the company you celebrated with even better!

It was just Hubby and me with our pups today and this was nice. Quiet and calm. I made a recipe for herb crusted prime rib of beef, with twice baked potatoes, butternut squash and boiled onions. I am waiting for that to digest before I attempt to eat dessert.

Meanwhile, I must tell you all about my favorite gift. My dearest friend Uschi, sent me a book from Germany. It is by my favorite artist Martin Blank. He draws pictures and write books about wire-haired dachshunds. His drawings make me think of my Greta and of course my old girl, Shubi.

If you have a chance, go on over and take a look at his web page. It is in German, but click around and you will see some of the best drawings and I know they will tickle your heart!

The day is dying now, as the sun sets and the temperatures drop. I think it’s time for Hubby to lay a fire in the hearth and get ready for that New England Pumpkin Pie.

Along with my faithful friend, Emily, I prepared a Christmas Eve meal for our two families! What fun we had sharing Fondue!
After the meal we exchanged gifts and the two girls played with the puppies!

More about Christmas with the puppies later!

Hubby and I went Christmas shopping today. He literally had to pull me out of the house, because with Greta so close to popping out those puppies, I did not want to leave!

Enter Emily, our wonderful dog sitter! She came over early this morning and took care of the two+ pooches so we could shop and relax a little.

So off we went to capture a few sales, replace our broken coffee maker and go to the Euro Deli and get some of our favorite foods.

First we went to Macy’s because the sales were good, I had an awesome coupon to use all day there, plus we had substantial gift cards!

Emily called and asked if Fritz was supposed to be in the whelping box? I told her no, but before she shooed him out, she took his picture.

Back to shopping. The stores were mobbed, but the people there were in good spirits, so time really flew.

Now I must interject an observation here. Ladies, when you go shopping during the holidays, please refrain from dousing yourselves with perfume. I know you love your scent, but there are some of us who are A) allergic to almost all scents, and B) hate the taste of perfume in our mouths (which occurs if you are near anyone who has bathed in their scent!).

The store employees were all very helpful, and schmoozed me just enough to make me want to go back. Why one sweet woman actually looked at frumpy old me and exclaimed that I was simply too young looking to have a daughter who will turn 30 in three weeks! (she knew this because I was bragging about my daughter as I bought her gifts!) I think the movie “Pretty Woman” has a lot to do with the schmoozing. In any case, I liked it and I send each of those wonderful clerks a big smooch back!

We then went to the Euro Deli and bought a ton of German food. Gold Medal Leberwurst, Leberkäse, gypsy wurst, Nurnberger Bratwurst, Tilsiter cheese, and different Christmas specialties. I was thrilled. I also left off a picture of Greta and a small write up about her litter. I hope a few people will see this and perhaps want a puppy. Think how wonderful it would be to have some of my grand puppies in New Hampshire!

We had lunch at a Chinese Buffet, and then went to LL Bean to shop. Lucky me found some slippers, a shirt, and a Christmas gift for an unnamed member of my family.

Then I went to Petco and got the last few items on my list for puppy delivery. I also bought a toy for the babies. I should get a few more, but I know Hubby can handle that errand for me.

Greta is huge! We took this picture of her tonight because I think, if those babies don’t get born soon, she might simply pop!

So I am now in for the night and probably for the foreseeable future. I simply don’t want to leave my girl until the pups are here, and have their eyes open. Call me a nervous Nellie!

The interesting part of Thanksgiving in America is that, the day after everyone eats like crazy for one holiday, they start planning the next one.

I always thought I was immune from this until today. My cousin Janet came up, Emily came over and we all went to a wonderful Christmas fair, out to lunch and then on to the Outlet Mall where we literally hit every store, searching for gifts.

I was rather productive with my shopping, finding gifts for my daughter and one for my friend. I also found some new pants and a shirt for myself. Janet got a few things, but the best buy was a cute pair of jeans that Emily got for ten bucks!

However, the fact that I was standing in incredibly long lines, simply boggled my mind. At one point in the Jockey store I wanted to buy myself some new bloomers, but the lines were 5 deep and simply not moving. I can wait another month or so for new knickers, so I put the packages back and left the store.

Most people were in a good mood for shopping. People laughed and smiled and were polite. All, but the one woman who wanted to steal the parking place we had been patiently waiting for. She made certain hand gestures that proved she was simply not a lady!

Tonight I sit here, exhausted but happily so. I’ve pulled my Christmas boxes down from the attic, and tomorrow I may just start finding places to put out a Santa Claus doll or two!