May 2026 – The Dackel Princess

Water

I love the comedienne, LeAnne. She is a slightly chubby lady like me. I refer to this as “pleasingly plump”. However, in recent weeks, I’d been unhappy as my cravings for sugar seem to be increasing. Then, I was watching LeAnne’s comedy routine where she talks about going to her High School Reunion. She talks about having 30 pounds to lose before then. She goes on to talk about having a month to do this and going back to Weight Watchers, because that has worked so well for her in the past. Haha!

There was a time when Weight Watchers worked for me. But, not anymore. After COVID, they failed to reopen any local meetings. Meetings online have never worked for me, so I’ve been looking for something to get me going.

I stumbled upon Intermittent Fasting. The more I read, the more I thought, “I can do this!”

The long and short of this is that you limit the hours you are allowed to eat, and push water and herbal teas in between. I have never been a fan of drinking water. Well, at least not since I was a kid and drank water from the hose in our backyard. There was that distinctive flavor that one only finds with a garden hose!

I’ve learned that I am a snacker/grazer. Actually planning meals at certain times and then drinking water or tea seems to be helping me. So far, I’m doing well. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, I leave for Florida in just about a week. I’ll be seeing friends and family and doing a little business. I have the “Puppy Nanny” coming in to take care of Miss Heidi. Thankfully, Nina loves Heidi as much as I do. I am so grateful, as I do not want to leave Heidi in a kennel.

Happy Birthday, Jessica!

Today is my (step-)daughter’s birthday. I met Jessica when she was four years old. She became a playmate to Amanda and Katie. Below are pictures, left to right.

Amanda, Jessica, and Katie. Jessica with her mother, Jan. Apple blossoms bloom around her birthday each year.

Jessica and I in 2024. My (step-)son Jonathan holding newborn Jessica. Jessica and I are cuddling at the White Cliffs of Dover, in England.

We met Jessica and her mother at “Chuck-E-Cheese” in Manchester, New Hampshire. Between bites of pizza, the girls were playing on the rides and at the arcade. By the end of the afternoon, Jessica had obtained our phone number, and the playdates began. Six years later, I became her (step-)mother.

So today, I wish my dearest daughter, Jessica, a very Happy Birthday, along with wishes for many more happy birthdays!

The Friday Five ~ May 15th

I’ve reached a point in my life where day to day, life tosses in many changes, and unfortunately, these changes include the sudden deaths of loved ones. Sometimes you are lucky enough to say your goodbyes, but other times, we are shocked by the loss. So it was with me this week.

A gentleman I have known since we were eight and nine years old passed away, unexpectedly. As kids, Doug and I did things like shoot BB guns, water ski, and ride his dirt bike. He wasn’t a local friend, but was the brother of my sister’s boyfriend, Ron.
Ron and Melodie married young, and Doug and I were the Maid of Honor and Best Man, Godparents to their kids, and Aunt and Uncle as well. We were just young teenagers when our nephew Mike was born, and then our nephew Tim was born. It was a good time.
Through the years, we remained friends. Now he is gone. Quite quickly. I will miss Doug. A friend who shared many of my teenage memories.
Naturally, I have thought a great deal about my own mortality. You know, you read an obituary, and it says, “John Doe passed away of natural causes at the age of 67.” I’m a little nervous about what natural cause may get me in the end.
And lastly, I am trying to put a few things in order. I wonder if you ever reach a point where everything in life is well-organized and you can relax?

Have a great weekend, everyone, and enjoy Springtime!

She’s Here!

I am now the owner of a 2026 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. I will admit to being skeptical about the need for hybrid cars. Back in the days when gasoline was under two dollars a gallon, I preferred to stay with a normal engine.

Flash forward in time, and gasoline has jumped in price to over four dollars a gallon. My Highlander, which I loved, became a gasoline pig! I was getting between 17 and 18 miles per gallon. Every time I was filling up, it broke the bank.

I also live in a part of the country where I heat my home with oil. So, between filling my piggy car and my oil tank, I was going oil-and-gas broke!

That was when I thought I might test drive a hybrid car. I am partial to Toyota and went back to the dealership where I bought the Highlander. The car handled so well, and it fit me (and my pocketbook!) My new car arrived last week, and my love affair with the Rav4 has begun.

I put Heidi’s car seat in and brought Heidi down to the car for her first ride. She got in, recognized her seat, but looked around, as she knew this was not her car! It was the cutest thing!

So I’m settling in with the Rav4. I have not had to visit a gas station yet, and I think it will be a while until I do.

I love the Toyota App that lets me check everything and gives me a readout of when I need to fill up!

The Friday Five ~ May 1st

Well, here we are, and it’s May 1st! I simply cannot believe how quickly this year is going! I think it is safe to say that winter is over and that snow won’t fall until November or December, although we did get clobbered once in October. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. So here is this week’s Friday Five!

I’ve been waiting for a portable air conditioner to arrive. It was due yesterday. Imagine my excitement when Kevin, my UPS man of 27 years, arrived. He shut down the truck, and after a few minutes, he said, “I cannot believe this!” He went to get the box with my air conditioner, and when he lifted it, he discovered the bottom was gone, and the air conditioner was in pieces! He doesn’t always load his truck, and since this item was loaded before he started his shift, he didn’t catch it until he was in my driveway. So it was rejected, and by 8 o’clock last night I’d ordered a new one. Ugh!
I was looking for a document, and since I am a terrible filer, I was having no luck. I looked and looked, dragging out several boxes of papers. Since I had no luck, I stopped by our Town Offices, and they checked their records and discovered that the document I was looking for had been sent to the wrong address. It’s not a problem, except I now have stacks of papers to dispose of. That will be this afternoon.
I did find a few papers that were upsetting. I did what everyone should do in this instance: I threw them away. But it got me thinking, I need to pull out Jack’s computer, clean the outside, and then wipe the hard drive. After all this time, I know there is nothing on that computer I need to see.
I saw my grandchildren last weekend, and that was so much fun. I got to meet their new puppy, Kodi, who is a black German Shepherd. He’s a sweet and beautiful pup.
The white dog is Winter, and they do have an older dog, Freya, who missed being in the pictures. Quinn is now 10, and Savannah will be 14 at the end of the month.
Today I’m going to pick up my new car. A Rav4 Hybrid. With gasoline over $4.00 a gallon, I just had to make the move! I’m excited!

Have a great weekend, everyone!