And We’re Back

Just after midnight my “host” got me up and running. In fact things seem to be running much better now than they have in a while, so perhaps this problem was a long time coming. Who knows! Thank’s to Bernie for posting in my absence, so you would all know what had happened!

While I was down and out, I missed you all terribly, and all I could think of was the great stuff I had in my head to share. Like how Anneliese’s belly is getting rounder, how we finally had a thunder storm that watered my yard, and how I made more pickles today! 8 jars!

First Anneliese. I cannot believe how each day, it’s almost like we blow her belly up just a little bit. Even Arnie likes keeping an eye on his little (and ever growing), sister!

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She really is something to behold and I smile every time I look at her!

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Towards the end of the day we had terrible thunder storm and then the sun came out and there it was. A beautiful rainbow. We don’t get them here very often.

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That was right outside my back door. Too bad I couldn’t find the pot of gold! Then it would truly have been perfect!

I’m hoping that the pickles came out well. I think they did, but we shall see. Today I will be attempting to blanch and freeze summer squash and zucchini. I’ve never done that before, and since I have an abundance of squash right now, I thought I would give it a try.

It’s also my day to go and get my teeth cleaned and have my 6 month check-up! I’m a total Denta-Phobe, so please say a few prayers for me!

Once again, I want to thank Bernie for posting during the great “Blog Out” up here in the Northeast. Next time I see you Bernie, we will have Schnitzel and Beer, on me!

One Sick Server

It’s amazing the difference a day makes. Yesterday I wasn’t feeling too well, and today (Monday) Dackel Princess is down and out, at least for some of us. Now here is the funny part. I cannot access the blog, or the entry part, yet my friend, Bernie in Australia can log in as easy as pie! Go figure!

Guest Poster’s note: I am MORE than happy to assist my friend in her time of need… I charge, a fairly nominal fee of Schnitzel and a Stein of beer though…

He has been nice enough to offer to assist me in posting this, so you all will not think I fell off the face of the earth. That is, if you can read the blog!

In the last couple of weeks I have had a little trouble with my “Host”. In fact I am thinking that perhaps I need a new host so that this type of stuff doesn’t keep happening. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Once things are back up and running, I will write and let you all know. In the meantime, thanks for checking in and hopefully there will be some positive news soon!

Friday Fil-Ins

Friday Fill Ins

And…here we go!

1. When it’s quiet _I like to listen to the Loons on the Lake_

2. _Puppies will hopefully arrive_ in what seems like only a month.

3. My heart is _full of love_.

4. _I think it is the height of summer in_ July.

5. In the town where I was born _There are beautiful beaches and plenty of parks to enjoy_.

6. _His ability to cultivate his trees and grow totally awesome fruit_ is something I really love about my significant other / friend.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to _hopefully celebrating Anneliese’s pregnancy_.
Tomorrow my plans include _cleaning my house and making potato salad_
And Sunday, I want to _enjoy the 4th of July with my family and friends_!

Questions provided by my cousin Janet over at Friday Fil-Ins. Join us!


Slimming

I have now stayed faithful to the Weight Watchers Plan for two days. I can tell my clothes are starting to feel big on me! I swear to God they do!

I saw a woman in a store who knows me from class and she tried, in a very nice way, to make me feel less bad about the weight I have gained back. Her smiling face, just made me want to do this even more.

So, we are eating fish tonight for dinner!

I also made up one of my favorite drinks. Lemonade. I make it with Splenda and it just quenches my thirst like nothing else (except a good cold German Beer! Ah, I digress!), and helps me stay on the plan.

I leave for my sister’s home on Friday, and we are taking my Mom out for dinner to celebrate her 81st birthday, I groaned when she told me this, not because I don’t want to go out, but because it is hard for me to stay on plan when I am not in control of the food.

I told her we have to go to a place where they have grilled or broiled fish and salads! I really do not want to jinx myself the first week back. Perhaps, I will take my sister on a couple of walks around her neighborhood and swim in her pool to keep my calorie intake under control!

I will also get to see my nephews and niece, their children and my cousins and their kids as well. It should be a fun summer family reunion!

Cell Phone Madness!

My mission today was to get my cell phone dilemma solved! For the last few weeks, no months, my phone was slowly dying. In fact, have any of you ever tried to call another cell phone and get a busy signal? And do you drop calls all the time? Or experience crackling and then a dead call? Yes, these are all the things I have been putting up with until I could clear some time and drive the 45 miles south to our local Cell Phone Provider.

I didn’t know what to expect…a new phone…high prices…a lot of guff? I was pleasantly surprised by the level of service that I got.

I arrived and was the second person in line for service. My name was called and a very nice young man named Robert helped me. He checked my dropped calls and tested the phone and found that my LG ENV3 was defective. He brought out a new one and programmed it for me, and off I went.

Wow, easy!

However, I am a little paranoid about it. You see I had a succession of LG ENV2’s before they gave up and upgraded me to the ENV3. Five of them to be exact!

I’m starting to think that my electrical weirdness with computers is spilling over to cell phones!

That’s a scary thought!

Friday Fil-ins

Friday Fill Ins

#176

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And…here we go!

1. I just had my first sip of coffee.
2. Love is the answer.
3. The third sentence on the 7th page of the book I’m reading:Traudl Junge entered Hitler’s orbit by chance. (I’m reading the book “Until The Final Hour, Hitler’s Last Secretary”)
4. Puppies, kitties and babies, tickles my fancy.
5. I was walking down the street yesterday when a car drove by and beeped. It was a friend I hadn’t seen in a while.
6. Happiness and good times makes me laugh!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to reading and loading my new MP3 player, tomorrow my plans include reading and grocery shopping and Sunday, I want to re-pot some of my plants!

Random Dozen

Hosted by Linda.

1. Please share one memory of your high school graduation. Pics would be great!

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This is my High School graduation picture. I suppose what I remember most was studying very hard and taking extra classes so I could graduate a year ahead of time. I was crazy in love with my High School sweetheart and we actually married half way through Senior year. And no, I wasn’t pregnant, we just wanted to be together. In fact Mandy was born the day after our first anniversary.

2. What is one “emergency use” item you keep in your vehicle at all times?

Kleenex and my GPS. I have allergies and a very poor sense of direction!

3. In your region, do you celebrate graduation open houses? Addendum: (If so,) how many open houses/bridal showers/weddings are on your upcoming events calendar?

None on the calendar so far. We do have graduation parties when we graduate. One with our family and then one with our friends.

4. Tell me one truth you believe about motherhood.

It is the most awesome experience in life, as you discover that you can love someone so completely!

5. What was the last thing you broke?

The nozzle on my garden hose!

6. On average, how many pieces of junk mail do you receive daily?

Four+ a day. I go bananas! Then there are the few other days that I get none at all!

7. Do you like to shop by catalog?

Not so much now. I do like on-line shopping though.

8. Is lawn maintenance at your house a “his job,” a “her job” or “his/her job” or “that’s why we have teenagers” job?

His job. I do the inside work, he does the outside work! When he was still working full time, I mowed the lawn. Big job!

9. Which room would you like to redecorate in your home?

The family room. I need new furniture and the room needs to be painted.

10. Do you read a newspaper regularly, or do you read most of your news on line?

Mostly on-line, although I still subscribe to a newspaper.

11. Do you believe everything happens for a reason?

I have faith. Yes.

12. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?

Doing the right things.

Randon Dozen

1. What was the last thing about which you procrastinated?

What to cook for dinner. I thought and thought and thought. Finally figured it out.

2. How long does it take you to fall asleep, and do you sleep through the night?

It takes me anywhere from a half an hour to an hour. And no, I don’t stay asleep which explains the exhaustion!

3. Which decade would you choose to exemplify your favorite fashion styles?

I like it now. Although I could see myself in turn of the century clothing. Think “Somewhere In Time”.

4. What is your personal best dish to feed a crowd?

I asked Hubby about his the other day and he said meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans. Probably because he likes them. However, I think my lasagna is pretty good.

5. Are you an impulse shopper? What was the last thing you bought on impulse?

I almost bought a new pocketbook today, but I resisted. It would have been an expensive impulse buy, but I was stronger!

6. What is one wish you have for your own funeral?

That people will laughingly recall the good things about me.

7. If it’s true that joy is found in the simple things in life, what does your joy look like today?

Getting a call from Mandy, and seeing my friends at Weight Watchers succeed! Also the pups and Hubby.

8. What is your favorite type of bread?

Bauernbrot. A nice coarse German bread, that I hope to be eating soon. (hint, hint, Anneliese!)

9. What trait do you fear developing the most? (Laziness, greediness, grumpiness, etc.)

The inability to see the good in the world.

10. What trait would you like most to develop?

The ability to cope with anything.

11. Which room in your house best reflects your personality? Why?

Oh goodness, none of them, or all of them. I’m not really sure. I should ask my husband. Perhaps my little green house. I t is full of dirt and pots and plants. Full of life. I like to think I am full of life too.

12. How do you maintain balance in your life regarding, work, family, church, other organizations and activities, and blogging?

I’m always trying to manage it all. Dogs, Husband, activities and blogging. Sometimes I postpone the housework, but I always put my family first, then the dogs…

I do blog every day though. It was a vow I made when I started Dackel Princess. If I was going to do it, I was going to do it with gusto!

Fax

Our 11 year old fax machine recently bit the dust. We tried so much to revive it, but nothing worked. So after looking into a number of machines, we decided on a nice multi-function Canon. It is well made, feels substantial when you open and close it, or just lift it. It is well built. However, after 11 years of knowing exactly how to use my old Brothers machine, I now have to learn how to program and use a new machine.

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Not only learn how to fax with it, but how to copy, scan, and print. Granted those three things are so much easier than actually setting up the machine to send and receive Faxes. Frankly, I worked in there with it for 2 hours and finally decided I needed a break and will try again tomorrow.

I really like the machine. It’s just getting my brain wrapped around the programming. I know I can do it, but it will just take a little time.

Anyone else have this machine? Do you like it? Any tips on how to make it work for you?

Well, it’s off to bed for me. After a busy Friday, I am ready for an early bedtime!

Happy Saturday!

Spam & Taxes

There are two things that are certain in life. Spam and Taxes! I know you all think the line is death and taxes, but not at the Dackel Princess home!

As you know, it is nearly Tax Day here in the States. Poor Hubby has been locked in the office with all our receipts and documents, working with Turbo Tax to complete the forms.  Deep moans have been heard coming down the hallway. By lunchtime today I was ready to run away from home. Boy do I hate Tax Time!

While he was doing this, I kept getting mail in my Dackel Princess email box. I had 15 Spam emails trying to get posted on the website today. I wonder if the increase in action is due to my recent changeover of servers?

Whatever the case, it made things a bit crazy. You know me and Spam, I have to read it, before deleting it! Don’t know why, just makes me laugh.

By 5 PM Hubby staggered out of the office with the completed document.Thank goodness he made it out alive! He immediately ran for the red wine and a few crackers and cheese!

It is done and now we can sit back and wait until next year to see how much the government will pick our pockets.

I hate Tax Time!

Well, I think I need to go back and read some more Spam Mail. That will pick up my spirits now, won’t it? After all, in my Spam Mail, I am a wonderful, fabulous person, imparting great knowledge to the masses!!!

Not another broke taxpayer!

LOL!