Today is Savannah’s Second Birthday! Our families are blessed by this wonderful, sweet, child! She is truly the sunshine in our lives!
Month: May 2014
The One About Poop
I did not have a great day today. In fact I am exhausted. So is the life of a new mother! I woke this morning to a pup who had pooped in her crate and was covered in it!
First I had to pick up this poopy mess and carry her outside to wee-wee. Then I brought her in and tossed her in the sink, and gave her a bath. She did not like her bath, but accepted that in the end, she smelled better.
Then I put her crate outside, got the bedding out and in a plastic bag to carry to the laundry room. Cleaned up the poop, and then sprayed down the crate with shower cleaner, and hosed it all off, leaving it in the sun to dry.
The puppy room was mopped up and then the kitchen was cleaned up as well.
The dachshunds watched everything wide eyed! I don’t think their little minds go back that far, to when they were being potty trained. She is still so young, and these things happen.
Lili was upset (I think my gagging during the entire fiasco probably bothered her) as she wee-wee’d a few time today inside. Just a little setback, right?
I have discovered “The Good Wife”. They show it on the Hallmark Channel in the afternoon. Wow, is it good!
I had chicken to use. Not just a little, but enough so that I could make an entire meal, if only I could figure out what to cook. So many items I did not have in my pantry, but so many things I did. In the end I made a chicken soup, with a couple of small dumplings. It was enough and Hubby was happy.
Wednesday Hodgepodge
1. What news story are you following right now?
The problems with the VA. (Veteran’s Administration Hospitals) Hubby is a Vet and gets his care from the VA and currently he is waiting for skin cancer surgery.
2. What’s the last thing you wanted but didn’t get?
A new shower head, although that is still in the mix. I just didn’t get it when I was at Loews. I’m still doing investigations.
3. May 28th is National Hamburger Day…when did you last have a hamburger? Other than your own kitchen or BBQ grill, where is your favorite place to go for a hamburger? And for all you non-meat eaters out there…when you’re invited to a cookout what is the one side dish you hope is on the menu?
Last time I ate a non-home cooked burger? When we were coming back from one of the VA trips. We popped into Burger King and grabbed one there. My favorite burger joint 5 Guys Burger and Fries.
4. How have your priorities changed over time?
I realize that family and close friends are the most important in my life. Things…do not matter but people do.
5. What’s a favorite memory with your grandparents?
Afternoon tea. I loved coming home from school and sitting down with them and having afternoon tea. I would tell them all about my day and how it went, and what I did, and I just loved that! And I really miss it now.
6. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being fantastic!), how good are you at multitasking? Share an example.
I am not. I was in my younger days, but not so much anymore.
7. How would you summarize your highs and lows for the month of May?
Sleep deprivation from puppy care is the low and birthdays for Hubby, Savannah are at the top and Lili herself is also a gem…in training, of course!
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I loved “Dancing With The Stars” this year. I wanted Meryl Davis and her partner to win, and they did! Meryl is half of our Olympic Ice Dancing Team. She and her partner, Charlie Davis, won the Gold medal in Russia. Anyway, Meryl is such an amazing dancer, and she is so graceful! Her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy is from Ukraine. He has smouldering good looks and the two of them danced with so much sex appeal! Each week they danced on the show and were, in my opinion, perfect! I am so happy they won!
A New Chapter
Finally today, I got Lili in her crate by leaving the door open and allowing her to go back and forth at will. At one point, she just went in, got comfortable and took a nap!
Lili is a real spitfire! She is a handful! At times I have found myself with the exhaustion of a new baby parent.
Thankfully, Lili is very smart. I’ve worked with her every single day and she is really coming around. I remind myself that a great dog just doesn’t happen, it takes a lot of work.
I have her Obedience Classes all lined up. She starts on June 16th. I will keep going with her until I feel comfortable that she knows what I want her to do.
I think with Fritz it was about about six months. He did very well, and it made the rest of our life together so very much happier.
So although I am tired, life is good and Lili is doing well. The dackels are adjusting. Life is finding a pace once again. We miss our boy, but honestly, Lili keeps us all on our toes!
Memorial Day
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 evaluating him and I hope they can help with his healthcare.
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.
A Wet Spring
Despite the gray, rainy, day, Lili was able to get outside quite a bit for walks and exercise, and we only had one small accident. Granted, it is me that is trained, as I look for signals that she needs to go outside, and she is getting better at doing this each day.
Today was also the first day I gave her a rawhide braid (made in the USA). As it turned out I gave each dog a braid, and there was a lot of chewing and playing around.
I was pretty busy, yet I feel like I am not getting too much done. Probably because most of my work is running in and outside with Lili.
Of course, eventually she ran out of energy, and so did I. I guess I’m not the youngstrer I once was!
New England Pot Roast
New England Pot Roast
Six generous servings:
1 bone – in piece of chuck roast, (or a brisket) 4- 5 pounds, trimmed of excess fat
Sea salt or kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Vegetable oil, such as canola
4-5 cloves garlic, sliced
1 large carrot, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
2 teaspoons dried thyme or 6 sprigs fresh
2 bay leaves
3 tablespoons flour
3 ½ cups water or half chicken stock, half water. Do not use beef stock.
2 tablespoons tomato paste (I now use imported Italian paste in tubes which have a long shelf life and are of excellent quality)
8 – 10 small pearl onions
5 carrots in 1 -2 inch pieces
1 pound red potatoes or larger white potatoes in chunks or the fingerling potatoes
1 pound large mushrooms, quartered
Over high heat, pour sufficient oil to cover the bottom of a large Dutch oven or other large heavy pot (we use a large French enameled iron pot), generously salt and pepper both sides of the roast and sear meat until well browned on both sides. Remove meat and pour off oil. Return pot to medium heat and add chopped carrot, celery, onion and the garlic. Cook stirring, adding a small amount of oil if necessary, until softened but not browned. Sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir for 2-3 minutes. Return meat, adding water, tomato paste and herbs.
Bring to a simmer on top of the stove, cover (use aluminum foil under cover if it does not fit tightly). Place into preheated 325 degree oven and cook for 2 hours. Check at 1 hour and turn meat if it is not covered by liquid; add additional water if liquid is too thick – it should be the consistency of thin gravy.
At 2 – 2 ¼ hours, add remaining vegetables; the time varies according to size. Cook for a total of 3 hours. If the vegetables are not quite cooked, cover and let sit – cooking will continue using retained heat. Check for seasoning, adding salt or pepper to taste.
Skim excess fat from the liquid, cut meat into serving size pieces, arrange on a heated platter and surround with vegetables. Moisten with some of the liquid, pass the remainder at the table and enjoy a true New England tradition.
Throw Back Thursday
Here is a little collage for Throw Back Thursday. On the left is Fritz at 9 weeks old. On the right is Lili at 9 weeks. It is amazing to see their familial resemblance.
Fritz had a slightly boyish looking face, while Lili is very sweet and feminine.
Right now, we feel pretty good about how Lili is settling in. She is sleeping better and playing with the other dogs now too. And she is growing and changing before our very eyes. Today when I weighed her she was 14 pounds!
Wednesday Hodgepodge
1. Under what circumstances do you do your best thinking?
Complete silence and stillness. No distractions, no one bothering me. Just me, in an empty room with a pen and paper.
2. Are you a risk taker? What’s one big risk you’ve taken?
No, I wouldn’t say I am a big risk taker. I think probably because I have already lost so much in my life, I tend to play things very carefully. Perhaps sometimes too carefully.
3. Some of the most common phobias according to the National Institute for Mental Health are-fear of spiders (arachnaphobia), snakes (ophidiophobia), heights (acrophobia), fear of spaces from which escape is difficult (agoraphobia), fear of thunder and lightening (astrophobia), fear of dogs (cynophobia), injections (trypanophobia), social situations, flying (pteromerhanophobia) and fear of germs and dirt (mysophobia). True phobias affect only about 10% of adults, but of those listed which would you rate as your greatest fear?
Really dislike snakes and heights. I remember going up to the top of the Empire State Building and nearly getting sick. No, heights are not on my list of fun things.
4. Are you settled or do you feel the need to move somewhere new?
Eeventually I would like to move closer to my daughter and granddauughter. But where we are right now, is beautiful and I do love it.
5. What is something you find annoying when dining in a restaurant?
Loud talkers and loud laughers. On our last vacation at the table next to ours was a large group. Every night they laughed loudly (drunkenly) and talked like they were giving speeches in a large convention hall. We asked our waiter for help, but he was in an awkward position, as this was his table too.
6. Daffodil yellow, sunset orange, spring green, or sky blue…your favorite color this time of year?
Deep sky blue!
7. If you were going to take a holiday all by yourself, where would you go?
Hmmmm. Good question. I’d love to go to Paris and just go to museums each day. But then, I love the Carribean, and would love to go there and feel the warmth. Or Alaska and enjoy the majesty. Too many wonderful places in the world!
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Lili Marlene continues to assimilate into our home. The dackels have all been canine good citizens, and although they have not “welcomed” her, they have put up with her clumsey puppy ways. I remind them that one day she will be the big protector dog!
(Yes, new Mommy is tired, but very, very, happy!)
Just a Quickie!
Well, we can call her Lili the Leaper!
I had a 2 foot puppy gate up to keep her from going down the hall, and she leapt the gate! So I put up a full size 3 1/2 foot x-pen as a gate across the opening. She is so disappointed as she cannot jump this one! She has even stopped going over there trying to sneak across the border!
Also in the last 48 hours, she has had just one accident! She also is going to the back door and whining when she needs to potty. Progress!
Here is another thing, I’ve worked on Lili’s recall to me, as well as the “no bite” and she is such a smartie pants. At first she tried to show me who was boss, but by the end of the day she was getting the hang if it all.
Lili, my love, you are growing up!