Holidays – Page 7 – The Dackel Princess

My Birthday & Getting Ready For Turkey Day!

Life has been wonderfully, happily, busy. My birthday was the nicest I have had in a while, as I spent it first with Jack, and then the next day with Mandy, Matt and the children. My cousin’s Janet and David, also came, which just made the day even more special! Mandy and Matt worked really hard to make a lunch of shrimp corn chowder, and grilled chicken and steak tips. Also salads and wonderful, big, baked potatoes! And of course, my favorite chocolate cake with butter cream frosting.

But the best of all, was that I got to spend the day with Mandy, Matt and their kids. Savannah is now five and a half years old and incredibly grown up. I remember thinking that I could hardly wait for her to grow up so we could have real conversations. She tells me wonderful stories about her life and what she likes to do. She just lost her first tooth and proudly smiled all day to show me!

She enjoys dancing, singing and playing. Oh yes, and she likes dressing in dresses every day. She really is a girlie, girl!

Our darling Quinn is growing so fast. He will be 2 in March, and I feel like he is way ahead already. Physically he runs, jumps, and plays with toys that require manual dexterity with his hands. His vocabulary is broadening, and he speaks pretty clearly. And probably the most important thing about Quinn, is that he has a fabulous sense of humor! During dessert, he wanted to feed me my birthday cake. Oh yeah, when this kid smiles and laughs, my heart melts!

Sunday, Jack and I just hung out and did really productive things like take a nap. It’s funny how it goes, but the closer I get to sixty, the more I find that a one hour nap recharges my batteries.

Monday was the day. Shopping for Thanksgiving. We took our time getting things together for our trip to the grocery store, and headed out about 11:30. We entered the grocery store and the first thing we saw was real German Marzipan Stollen! Two boxes immediately flew into my cart and on we went!

They had beautiful fresh turkey’s for 89¢ a pound. We flipped them around until Jack found a 14 pound bird that had nice full breasts! As I am a while meat fan this is crucial! I also got extra turkey necks so I can make my own home-made gravy! I got my chestnuts. Real, uncooked, chestnuts. I will soften the shell, then roast them in the oven and then peel. These little gems will be added to my stuffing!

Vegetables and potatoes jumped into my cart, and before I knew it, I’d filled the grocery trolley with all my Thanksgiving food, while visions of recipes danced in my head.

We drove our car up, around, and behind our house to unload all the food. Neither Jack or I could have handled the number of trips up and down the stairs to unload the car. This worked, and the groceries got put away!

Today I start Physical Therapy on my neck and Wednesday is my cooking day. Pies and stuffing will be made, and potatoes and butternut squash peeled and chopped.

That’ll make Thursday that much easier for the Cook…Me!

Happy Father’s Day!

Here are the five men, who shaped my life. In their own ways, they were my father or a father figure to me. They have all passed from this life to the next, but their memory and the love they gave me, lives on in my heart

My Dad. He was an amazingly talented musician and he passed along his love of music to me. Dad was devoted to our community. He played the organ at both the Congregational Church and the Catholic Church in North Falmouth.

He was the Music Director at Highfield Theater for many years. He also was a summer police officer in our town. And when we went to local parks for cook-outs, Dad was the burger-meister! He has been gone a long time now, but I still think of him often and miss his wry sense of humor.

My Uncle George. He was the father who taught me everything growing up. How to swim, how to dive, how to bowl, how to hike, how to play cards, and how to love unconditionally.

When I was about 7 years old I cut my toe badly at the beach and he carried me all the way home! And helped Mom drive me to the doctor’s office for stitches. He was not a loud man, but in his quiet loving way, I just knew that I was one of his special kids. In fact, when Hubby and I married, Uncle George walked me down the isle. I miss this sweet, loving, wonderful man!

My Uncle Bob. He was fun to be with. But, he required that I act like a mini adult too. That was fine. I adored him and just wanted to spend time, quiet time, with him.

I did a lot of things with him and his wife, Auntie Cynthia. I remember being on his boat, or when they took me to their home in Quincy and to museums. And I recall my Uncle once got a monkey. Cute, but it didn’t last for long.

My Papa Fred. Another quiet man, who was quite old when I lived with him and Grandma. But he showed me something important.

What real love between a man and woman was all about. I would watch Papa and Grandma sitting on their sofa watching Lawrence Welk. Papa would hold Grandma’s feet in his lap and stroke them gently. He simply adored Grandma, and had all of his life. When she died, he no longer had the will to live, and passed eight months later.

My Papa Sam, my Dad’s Dad. I didn’t know him as well, but I remember him taking me to the Prudential Building in the summer to listen to the Barbershop Quartets sing.

I remember sitting on his lap and listening to him sing along. He had such a beautiful voice.

These 5 men helped to shape the woman I grew up to be. Each special in their own way, and now, each greatly missed.

Happy Father’s Day! I remember you all with love and many memories that make me smile!

Memorial Day Thoughts

My husband is a Vietnam Veteran. You know, the unpopular war. Wait, most wars are unpopular, but the Vietnam War found many young Americans treating the returning military abominably. So it was with Hubby.

He served his Country proudly. he made many sacrifices. He was out of the country for over a year. His plane was shot at. He had friends that died. It was a tough time, but he did it because he believes in our Country. As did the men and women, so many of them that did not come home.

I was not married to him then. I was just a wee bairn. I am grateful I did not know him then. I am not sure I could have taken him being there at that time. During the Vietnam War, there was no Skype, just Ham Radio Operators who occasionally put a call through Stateside.

He did come home, to a country of hostile people. But thank you to God, for bringing him back.

Now he is having health problems directly related to his service in Vietnam. The VA is helping with his healthcare, but the toll that the war, so long ago, took on his health, is very sad to see.

My point today is to always appreciate the military that serve our country. They are your fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, mothers, sisters, daughters and aunts.

May this Memorial Day be a day of reflection, when one considers the sacrifices made by these men and women in service to our country.

To those who came home, and to those who did not.

God bless them all.

Mother’s Day

When I think about Mother’s Day, I do think of my own Mom. Ours was a very complicated relationship, but in the end, there is love and for that, I am grateful.

But Mother’s Day also reminds me to thank God for the blessings in my own life that made me a Mom and an Oma (grandmother).

I have been blessed! I gave birth to two beautiful, intelligent, fun, and adventurous daughters. Amanda came first on December 20th, and the feeling of profound joy that I felt with her birth is something I can never fully explain. Looking into her tiny face, knowing that she was made from our love, was amazing!

Next came our Katie, on November 8th. What a surprise she was with her fiery, red hair and green eyes! She was a sweet, loving, child, and her loss is something I will never get over.

Time passed, Mandy grew up, and then on the 31st of May in 2012, my first granddaughter, Savannah Rose came into our world!

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A beautiful, loving, talented, imaginative, girlie girl! I look into her eyes and I see pure love and my heart swells with joy. Every day, I thank God for this blessing.

And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, on the 7th of March, 2016, my grandson, Quinn Wallace arrived!

What a handsome little dude he is! Since I had never had a son, this whole boy thing is new to me, and I am just loving it.

Thank you Lord for all the blessings in this life. For my Children and for my Grandchildren. Life is, so very good!

Easter 2017

My first big outing, since being sick, was to my daughter’s home, yesterday! It was Easter, and Mandy and Matt hosted the holiday dinner.

Mandy has a beautiful home, and she cooked ham, salmon, broccoli, salad, and the best mashed potatoes, ever!

I got to visit with the children again, and I am amazed at how quickly one year old Quinn is growing! Not only is this child very tall, but he is strong, walks and runs well and has a fantastic personality. He flirts like crazy, and eats his dinner with gusto!

Quinn age one.

Savannah is a completely different child. She enjoys entertaining herself as much as helping her Mom. She sat with me in the kitchen while I was talking to Mandy and she participated in the girls only conversation. Once she was finished with talking to us, she went into the family room and after a few minutes, I peeked in and watched her playing make believe with her toys. Such special moments!

Savannah, age almost 5.

My cousin, Janet and her husband, Dave came, as well as Matt’s parent’s Arthur and Mary.

After about two and a half hours, I started to feel very tired. I told Hubby it was time to go home. After all, we live an hour and twenty minutes from Amanda.

By the time we got home, I was totally, happily, exhausted! I had a little of the macaroni and cheese my cousin made from scratch (yummy) and then, at 8:30 PM I went to bed! And I slept until 7:30 this morning!

What a lucky woman I am. I have a beautiful family, we love each other, and we enjoy being together.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Really, is there just one day you should be telling your loves that they are special? I think not!

I am so blessed to have my family. My daughter, two grandchildren, and husband. But lucky me also has my sister, step-daughter, cousins and friends. Yes, all so dear and so loved by me.

Valentine’s Day, a great way to tell them all, you are loved, you are appreciated, and my life is full because of you!

Thank you, I love you all!

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

Just Another New Year

I rung in the New Year on December 31/January 1st watching a marathon showing of “Homeland”. It was a good reminder of how we got to Season 6, which starts on January 15th on Showtime. You can watch it streaming on several different pay per view places, like Hulu, or Amazon Prime. Worth the time. If you already subscribe to Showtime, you can watch on Amazon Prime for free.

At ten o’clock on New Years, I climbed into bed with the dackels and that, my friends, is how I rang in the New Year! Asleep on a three dog night!

Our Sunday was quiet. It was the last day of “Homeland” episodes (season 5), and we enjoyed watching these, as most of the episodes were shot in our much loved Berlin, Germany. Hubby lived there for 11 years and I was lucky enough to live there for 5 months. And of course, my best friend, Uschi, is a Berliner, and when I visit with her, we go all over the place. In any case, it was great to visit Berlin, through the TV show.

Yesterday I also took down all the Christmas decorations. That wasn’t too bad, as we had put up very little, but it had to be done. Until next year, fairy lights….

I also sat down at the computer and put all my healthcare files on a thumb drive. I have my x-rays, and MRI’s on a disc, and a few other things in a file.

Tomorrow I go to Boston to see the spine specialist. Basically, I made it the three weeks, and managed to use meditation, ice and heat to manage the pain. I know tomorrow will not bring instant relief, but at least we will begin to unravel this mess! One step at a time!

Since today is technically a holiday, I think Hubby and I will watch a few episodes of “Parenthood” and get everything ready for the trip tomorrow. After all, Boston is 2+ hours from here.

I sure hope 2017 is a good year!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year

Frohes Neues Jahr!

Christmas & Children 2016

I’ve always loved Christmas, but it is just the best now that we have grandchildren. Savannah is such a girly girl, and my love for Barbie Dolls is one I share with her. She was thrilled with her little Barbie house and dolls and she was even more thrilled with the Barbie clothing that I found for her dolls!

Savi and her dolls and doll house.

Quinn is our little man in motion. It’s hard to believe that he is only 9 months old and toddling all over the house! He is fearless, and when he falls, he gets right back up and walks on! Quinn’s likes are wheels. He loves to sit and spin them. Thus we got him a truck with little mini cars. All with wheels that move. But I must say, mostly he just wanted to walk.

Quinn is really quite the character!

He just loves to be on his feet walking everywhere!

Quinn's First Christmas 2016 from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

We all opened gifts and my favorites are always the yearly pictures of the children, that Mandy has done for every one. I also got the complete set of “Parenthood”! I am so excited about that. I’d seen a few episodes from the first season and loved it, but it’s all Pay Per View now. So, call me happy to have my own set that I can watch when I want, and keep and enjoy!

Category: Holidays