The Dackel Princess

It’s All About…

…Getting it done!

I have days when I accomplish so much in a short period of time, that I almost feel like I am young again. Then I run out of gas at about three in the afternoon and take a short nap. Such is life as one approaches the golden age of sixty-five.

My day started at 5 AM. I can do it with the help of a good cup of coffee and a hot shower. I actually blew my hair dry instead of tying it back with a clip. Yes, I was on a roll.

I had my early ladies’ meeting and all went well. Jack got up and I made his breakfast.

Just as he finished the Plumber arrived! I have never been so happy to see a repairman in all my life. I was convinced I had done something dreadful to the drain. I felt truly panic-stricken!

Well, Phil came in, did a few plunges and other tricks of the trade, and got my sink unstopped! I am truly thrilled with this Plumbing Company. They always come through for me in the end.

After he was done, we jumped in the car and I drove Jack to his appointment. Heidi came with us and she was perfect as I waited in the car Jack went in for the doppler scan of his carotid arteries.

We came back, had lunch and now I am ready for a nap. The only thing left on my agenda is supper and dishes. But at least I know I can just put them in the dishwasher!

Yes, this was a good, productive day!

Professions I Should Have Considered

When I was growing up I tried to think of what career path I should follow. Since the start of 2023, I have come up with a few professions I should have studied.

First, I think it would have been grand if I had studied plumbing. I’ve needed work in the guest bathroom, and now my kitchen sink. The kitchen sink has been clogged since Friday night.

I had just finished making a special dinner using every pot, pan, and dish when I noticed the sink was not draining.

I tried my Science Experiment fix, (baking soda, white vinegar, and boiling water). I also plunged. Nothing was working.

I worked all day Saturday, Sunday, and Monday to no avail. Tuesday is the first day after the holiday weekend. I hope I can get a plumber in here soon.

Meanwhile, I am washing dishes in the small bar sink.

The other thing I should have learned about is taking care of my furnace and my water pipes during a couple of -20 degree days!

So, plumbing and heating for sure, and toss in the Automatic garage door opener and I would be all set.

Well, whatever it is, after 23 years it seems like everything is going. I just suppose that is how it goes.

But you know, It’s all done pretty well to last this long.

The Friday Five ~ February 17th

My week was incredibly busy. And on Wednesday, while attempting to juggle too many things, I dropped the ball and missed a doctor’s appointment. Not like me at all. But here goes my list for this week’s craziness.

After surviving the -20 degree winter cold spell, and learning how to keep my pipes from freezing, I called first thing on Monday to order more heating oil. We took well over 160 gallons and once again my bank account took a big hit. I think it was about $750.00+ for the delivery. However, as much as I detest the price of everything, I do not want either Jack or me to have to sit in the cold and get sick.
So I called for a delivery and not more than 15 minutes later the delivery truck arrived. I asked how he got here so fast. Well, they sent him the info on his truck’s TEXT system!
I ordered myself flowers and signed them from Jack. He always tells me to get myself flowers, so I did, and they are lovely.
On Wednesday, my crazy day, I had a Zoom Meeting at 9 AM, then since I ditched DIRECT-TV Satellite and opted to go for DISH, The Installation man arrived at 10 AM. He worked so hard to get the old dish down for me and put the new one up. I mentioned my advancing age, and climbing ladders in snow storms to clear the dish. Scarry for an old lady. The new dish is installed easily and I can reach it while standing on the ground with a broom to clear snow. I must say that my experience with DISH has been A+++ and I would not only recommend them, but heck I would do a commercial for them if they asked. Better picture, better volume, and more of the channels I want to see!
Lastly, on Wednesday, Heidi was sick all day long. I think it was all the craziness of getting the new Satellite system installed, and then each time she goes out, the new dish scares her. Last night she hid in her bed until midnight. Then I went and brought her into bed with me. She slept soundly the rest of the night.

So that is it for the week. I plan a bit of rest for today and Saturday and then I am off to see Savannah and Quinn in their Community Play, “Seussical”. Savi has the lead and I can hardly wait to see her!

The Friday Five February 10th

This week I realized that although I accomplished a lot I learned so much, and I am ready for Winter to be over! So here is this week’s Friday Five.

Heidi had her first-year Vet appointment. She had all her shots and stepped on the scale, tipping it to 27 pounds! So I am cutting down on her treats, and adding in vegetables. Aside from her belly, she is in perfect health.
I had gotten baby Heidi these nice foam steps when she came home. Well, Heidi thought the foam steps were toys! One she chewed and the other is safe so far. I sent away and got some heavy-duty plastic steps for her.She is a little concerned as she learns to use them and acts very much like a gymnast who is going up to the vault!
I needed to get my garage door repaired, and take a load of trash to the recycling center. And all was accomplished with little fuss.
I’m now 14 pounds down and going strong. I feel pretty proud of this.
Lastly, today is laundry day. You know, wash and dry and hopefully fold and put away. The whole enchilada! I just hope that gets done. Then maybe, just maybe, I’ll tackle my closet.

Keep Learning

When I was young, I would sit around my grandmother’s dining room table and talk and drink tea. One thing Grandma always said, was no matter what, always keep learning, and always know that you can accomplish whatever you set out to do.

On Friday the warnings of severe weather had me alert, but I freely admit to having no knowledge of furnaces, thermostats, or frozen pipes.

In the afternoon we were down to -10 outside and by bedtime, it was -20 with a stiff wind.

When the master bedroom temperature fell like a lead balloon, I tried everything I knew to get the heat on. By 6 PM, we had no heat in the Master Bedroom, and the temperature in that room was 52 degrees and one of our sink faucets would not respond.

On Saturday, I was panic-stricken. This would not go well. At 8 AM I attempted to call 14 different Plumbing and Heating businesses. I left messages and did not get one phone call back.

However, on call #15 a nice woman’s voice greeted me. I told her what was going on and she said hold on, and she put me on speakerphone.

Q: What is under your Master Bedroom?

A: A garage. (Design flaw)

Q: Is there any way to warm up the garage?

A: Yes, we have radiant heat in the garage floor.

Instructions: Go down and turn up the heat in the garage to 76 – 80 degrees. Then come up, and turn on the sink faucets in the master bath. Just a trickle mind you, but on. Set the bedroom thermostat to 76 degrees. Leave the door open from the bedroom, and the closets, and cabinets.

I went around the house doing as I was instructed. By dinner, I was too tired to even want to eat. I fell asleep. I woke to the sound of running water in the Master Bath. After that, I didn’t wake up until 12:30 AM when the dogs wanted to go out. So I took them, (It was only -8 F)

By Sunday, the pipes are all thawed. The temperature is currently 23 degrees F outside, and I have learned so many valuable things. Just call me Maribeth the Frozen Pipes Fixer!

Grandma was right. Keep learning, keep believing and there isn’t anything that can’t be accomplished!

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Grandma Honey

February 4th would have been my Grandma Honey’s 125th birthday. It isn’t easy to imagine her at that age. She passed from this world into the next 38 years ago. She was a very important woman in my life and taught me so much. Even now, I miss her like crazy!

Here she is, Mary Frances Daniell the day she married my Papa, Frederick Carl Prussman.

Here is a picture of Mel and me with our much-loved, Grandma Honey, at Goodwill Park.

Grandma Honey and Papa Fred. Theirs was indeed an epic love story! They met when they were less than ten years old. Grandma was friends with Papa’s sister, Kätchen, and spent a lot of time at the house teaching Kätchen to speak English. The family had recently arrived from Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, and aside from the eldest sister, Hedwig, who worked as a Nanny, no one spoke a lot of English.

Anyway, Papa always said he fell in love with her then, and as a teenager, he would chase off any beau that tried to court her. My great-grandfather eventually allowed them to become engaged but insisted that Mary finish college before they married.

They were married until Mary eventually passed from this life to the next. He joined her 8 months later.

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Grandma Honey!

The Friday Five ~ February 3rd

The week sped by. I took Jack for tests, and then Thursday found me going for my six-month check-up. But here’s what else is going on.

I think the best news was finding out my medical insurance will be continuing with the same doctors after I turn 65 and go on Medicare. I had gotten a letter in error and thought I was being kicked to the curb.
My physical went well, and so far I am good to go for another six months.
I do have two stopped-up ears. They’ve been bothering me, and Amie (my Nurse Practitioner) said that my ears are full and not draining. We’re trying some meds to dry it up and drain it, but if we have no luck then it’s off to have tubes put in. Hopefully not.
I really have enjoyed not having any major health problems! Yay! I sure hope that continues!
Lastly, it is freaking cold and only due to get colder. I have plenty of food, the car is gassed up, and I also have all my cold-weather gear out and ready for use when I walk the dogs. Lili is fine with this, but poor Heidi just wants to be inside. I can’t say I blame the little girl!

So that’s it for the week. Here’s hoping that the frigid weather does not last long!

The Friday Five ~ January 27th

I was getting ready to tuck into bed when I realized I had not written my Friday Five. So I got up and here I go.

This week we have had snow and more snow and the snow that turned to mush, and currently, at 10:30 PM everything is ice.
Now the poor pooches have trouble with ice and I actually stomped down a snow bank to make an area for Heidi, who simply gives up on the ice.
Jack has been having a few health problems, so I made sure I got him in to see his Primary Care doctor. There are tests he needs.
So after all the snow, I think we have probably had close to 20 inches! It’s probably the most we have had sort of all at once, in many years.
We are due for more snow over the weekend. Ugh. I am now ready for winter to be over!

Fake Meat

I went out on Wednesday morning to gather the items I would need to get through yet another snowstorm. As I checked the vegetables, meats, and deli products it hit me.

First the jump in the prices of everything, including cabbage and potatoes, which have always been cheap staples. Their cost was sky high.

My dislike also extends to the new fad of “fake Meat”!

I am here to tell you that as much as I enjoy an occasional hot and sour soup with tofu (fake meat!) I don’t like fake meat. I like the real thing.

I love a good, tender, steak. I love Babyback Ribs, and I love chicken and turkey as well. I adore fish. Why should I have to eat fake meat if I think it tastes like crap?

These fake items are gaining places on our grocery shelves. Today I couldn’t get any bologna. The middle case of the meats was filled with fake meat. It got me thinking. I can’t be the only one that feels this way.

I learned that Elisabeth Hagen, Under Secretary for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is in charge of the food supply, All I can say is, it would do us all a lot of good if you did your job better.

Ah well, enough complaining for now. I keep looking to get back to the life we once had and I haven’t been able to do that yet.

The Seasons ~ Winter

As we started 2023 I was hopeful that we would get away with less snow than usual. This would lighten our plowing bill. Alas, this was not to be. The last snowfall was 6-8 inches of weighty snow, and today (Monday) it is snowing again, and in the end, we have 18 inches of new snow. This is the most two-day snowfall we have had in many years.

On the left was this morning and on the right was this afternoon.

It’s pretty, but to get it functional we will need plowing, sanding, and an area to be snow blown for the dogs.

I took Heidi out on the small path I had shoveled, and she felt feisty and leapt into the snow. This would have been fine, but the snow is so deep she disappeared! Just her little black nose stood above the frosty white snow.

I laugh now because it was so funny, to see Heidi’s surprised little snout come to the surface. But the poor little baby did not like that deep, wet, cold, snow!

My work all day was to rake the roof some and keep the satellite dish clear, as well as encourage Heidi to use the snowy yard for all her important needs. I’ll tell you, it is a wet and cold job.

We are supposed to drive to Manchester tomorrow. That will depend on the road conditions. I am not looking forward to that hour-long drive down and back.