Dackel Princess

Anneliese

I woke early on Friday morning. The day before I noticed that Anneliese was going down-hill fast, with, what I suspected was another urinary tract infection.

I’d prepared her little pan to catch her urine, and was ready to go as soon as they could fit me in.

At 9:15 I carried Anneliese to the car and off we went. It was a beautiful day, sunny, warm but not humid. The sort of summer day one always wishes for.

The trip took no time and soon I was in the parking area of their office. As I sat out bounded a beautiful White German Shepherd! This dog could have been Lili’s twin! Of course, I had to meet them. I jumped out of the car (putting on my mask) and spoke to the husband and wife. Soon their other dog was brought out. Two amazing White Shepherds!

Beautiful White German Shepherd boys!

Next, it was Anneliese’s turn. She was just burning up with a fever of 104 and she is a very sick little girl.

I knew she was. I hoped she wasn’t. There are moments that I find myself almost holding my breath with the thought of losing her.

I knew Anneliese before she was even born. I recalled the moment of her birth. She was the last one out, the littlest of her litter, Greta’s first litter, and when she came into this world she came out kicking and screaming. So unlike her brother Arnie and her three sisters.

She was a scrappy little thing and I admit she stole my heart at that very minute although, I recall saying, “We sure aren’t going to keep that one!” Famous last words! She might be loud, but quite early on she let us know she had a heart of gold.

Anneliese and me.

That was thirteen and a half years ago!

Thursday night I dreamt of my Vet. He came to me in the dream and told me that I needed to prepare myself as Anneliese wasn’t long for this world.

Needless to say, I woke with a start and couldn’t get back to sleep. Later when I told my Vet about the dream, he said he tries never to say that to his patient’s families, but that yes, Anneliese is slowly moving toward the end of her life. I’m glad he validated my feelings. Now I have to enjoy Anneliese, while I mentally prepare for her loss.

That will not be a good day.

The Friday Five

Well, this was just the nicest week! Probably one of the best since the Covid-19 lock-down. So, here we go. Why this week was so darn nice!

As I wrote on Thursday, I got together with my friends in a safe way. We got to catch up with each other and share our lives once again. The best!
During my visit with the girls, they reminded me that a new Grocery store had opened. It is 13 miles from my home. I used to go to their sister-store which is 22 miles away, but after going to the new “Super Store” which is closer, I doubt I will go back to the other!
The new store was filled with everything one needs to live. As soon as a person would take things from a shelf, a clerk would be right there filling the shelves back up! The store is immaculately clean and well designed. And I am in love! Best of all, I was able to get Jack’s favorite soups which he has had to do without during this lock-down.
Jack mentioned he would love some of my homemade potato salad. They had beautiful new white potatoes in the new market, so I bought a bag and made him a batch. It came out very well.

We’re hoping for rain over the weekend. We are currently in a drought and desperately need rain! My grass is looking parched and crunchy. We have had amazing sunrises and sunsets! Here is one of the sunsets from this past week!

So that was my very happy week. I hope you all have a wonderful, happy, and fun-filled weekend!!!

Why Tuesday Is The Best Day Of My Week

During this horrid Covid-19 lock-down there were not too many days I would have termed as my good days. It was a very narrowly lived life. I fixed three meals a day and would go out once a week to collect mail and groceries, before racing home and jumping into the shower to de-germ myself.

My State has been doing very well. We have been on the way down with new cases, with only 15 new patients on Monday and Tuesday. Best of all, there have been no deaths in a few days!

Last Tuesday my back row group of WW Attendees, my pals, my gals, my friends, all met up at a local park in my town. We get there early and bring our own lawn chair to sit on. We share the Big Lake (Lake Winnipesaukee) with the ducks and geese and the Ultra-Lite Planes, and we sit there talking and smiling at each other, while we enjoy being together once again.

Most of us have been devoted friends since 2008. We gathered a few more into our group and we share our ups and downs and struggles, and best of all, when the chips are down for one of us, the others are there!

In fact, after my Staph Infection, I quit WW. I told the girls I wasn’t coming back. I was miserable, depressed, and in pain, both physically and emotionally.

My girls arranged a lunch with me and took me out. They encouraged me, with their love and concern to come back. I realized I didn’t just need my Class, I needed them. So I went back.

From 2017 until 2019 I didn’t do too well in Class. But I never missed one meeting unless I was sick. Wednesday Morning = WW Class.

I wonder if WW will reopen our Class? I’m thinking that they may not. It isn’t that the Class wasn’t big enough, we were 50-75 people strong year-round. But the one strike against us is that we are all middle-aged women, and we do not fit WW’s new Branding. Too bad because there are a lot of us 60+-year-olds who have been loyal members for years.

Anyway, We’re going to keep meeting at the Lake for the Summer, and will figure out what to do in the Autumn when things begin getting colder around here. But, for now, we have each other once again!

The Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. This time last year where were you?

Just back from my vacation and trying to get caught up with my life.

I was also really getting into my birds.

2. In honor of National Pink Day (June 23rd) tell us your favorite pink food or beverage. Was it on the menu at your house yesterday? Do you like to wear the color pink? If we came to visit would we find this color in your home decor? Blush-Fuschia-salmon-raspberry-your favorite shade of pink?

I used to love pink and various shades of pink, but in recent years I have become a blue lady. I am not wearing any pink today.

3. Stop and smell the roses, looking through rose-colored glasses, a rose by any other name, not all moonlight and roses, no rose without a thorn…which rosy saying currently fits your life in some way? Explain.

Stop and smell the roses. I am trying each and every day to remember to look around me and find things that are beautiful and good and lovely. There is too much in the world that is bleak and bad. No, we should all, Stop and Smell the Roses!

4. Are you a ‘reader’? Do you tend to read lighter books in the summer months? Do you have a summer reading list? If so, give us a title or two.

I used to devour books. That was before all my eye surgeries. Now my eyes become very tired, very easily. I do like light reading when I do read. Romance, the simple family reads. I do not like horror or murder mysteries. I LOVE reading to Savannah and Quinn!

5. Share with us one rose and one thorn from your weekend.

My three roses.

Anneliese.

Arnie.

Lili.

And my THORN!

I am not happy with this week’s weight loss. I am sure in the grand scheme of things there is some cosmic reason for the crappy weight loss, but it really ticks me off! I do not eat the way I once did and you would think it would show more than -.4! I know the grand total is good, but I really like it when I lose more than a pound a week. Errrrr!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Since the numbers on the scale were not kind to me this week, I will double down and try even harder. Hopefully, I will do better next week!

Turkey Scallopini

Turkey Scallopini

This is a quick-cooking meal made with turkey breast slices. This recipe is a winner when you only have a few minutes to fix a satisfying meal. Instead of the flour/egg/bread crumb combo (featured below the recipe), I use Extra Crispy Shake & Bake.

Ingredients:

package (17.6 ounces) turkey breast cutlets
1 package Extra Crispy Shake & Bake
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
PAM
2 tbs Olive Oil
Minced fresh parsley
Lemon Wedges

Directions:

Flatten turkey to 1/4-in. thickness.
Mix package of Shake & Bake and Parmesan Cheese in a bowl and mix well.
Then Place on a shallow plate.
Cover each Turkey Cutlet with the Shake & Bake and Parmesan mix.
Chill for half an hour.
Spray a large skillet with PAM and heat olive oil over medium-high heat;
Cook turkey for 2-3 minutes on each side or until meat is no longer pink and the coating is golden brown.
Sprinkle with parsley & lemon wedges.

Note: I like using my cast iron skillet and when I do that I just use the olive oil.

Alternate Mix:

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 large egg
2 tablespoons water
1 cup soft bread crumbs

In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, salt, and pepper.
In another bowl, beat egg and water.
In a third shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs and cheese.
Dredge turkey in flour mixture, then dip in the egg mixture and coat with crumbs.
Let stand for 5 minutes.

*Follow the cooking directions above.*

The Weekend Wrap …. June 22nd

I sometimes wonder when/if we will get back to normal life? It’s an odd time for us all right now. If/when we go out, we wear masks, some of us wear gloves. I cannot even recall when the last time I went out to eat was. I suspect it was probably sometime well before Christmas, as I was sick most of November and December.

Right now, I have no desire to go out to any restaurant, although I must tell you when my daughter ordered take-out for me and I got some wonderful Haddock and a salad I didn’t actually have to make, it felt incredibly good!

I’m trying to get back in the swing of things, but there is one big problem! It’s Summer-time and the Summer Residents/Tourists have arrived back in my little town. People from all over our country and some from other countries as well.

My grandmother’s voice rings in my ear, “Don’t touch that kid, you don’t know where that kid has been!” Her words could not be more appropriate at this time.

I even had a Covid-19 dream. I dreamt that my eye pressures were down to 6 and I leaped up and went to hug the technician and she recoiled and yelled “Covid” at me. You see, I cannot escape it, it’s even there in my dreams!

I’ve been watching old movies where people are actually holding each other and (gasp!) kissing! But then yesterday we watched Soccer and The Belmont Stakes, Horse Race and although these were live events, there were no spectators. That was so strange.

We are in day 4 of a heat-wave and even the dogs don’t want to go out. My birds have been hitting the suet pretty hard. This leads me to believe that the fatty suet may be a nice soft liquid in the tiny throats.

And lastly, Today is my cousin Janet’s Birthday. I suspect there would be no me if there had not been a Janet. She is a year and a half older, and I’ve always suspected my mother had an “I want another baby moment” after holding Janet.

We grew up, closer than close, and in some ways, she was more like a sister than a cousin. We may not see each other that much as we live far apart, but in our hearts, we are and will always be there for each other.

So Happy Birthday to my dearest and much-loved cousin!

Janet and me at the Ice Fishing Derby.

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.

Uncle George and me at my wedding to Jack.

In fact, when Jack and I married, Uncle George walked me down the aisle. 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, Aunt 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 a 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 become. 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!

The Friday Five June 19th

The week flew by with many nice and happy things going on. So here we go with this week’s Friday Five!

My darling Anneliese. She looks like her Mama, Greta now. I took the picture and then played around with some filters. I kind of like this.

Tuesday found me meeting up with many of my WW friends. Many more women have asked to join us, and so we expect as time goes on, more will come.
We have had the most beautiful weather. Yes, it has been hot, but the skies have been bright blue with not one cloud! People say we could use the rain, and I guess we could, but I will enjoy the sunshine after the long winter we endured.
All the air conditioning units are installed for the summer. It makes it so much nicer in here during the day.
I need to make a Channel Guide for our Satelite Service. You would think that they would have a printable version. If they do I can’t find one. Most people use the online version, but Jack has trouble with that.
Lastly, I will leave you with this song by Maroon 5. It is called “Memories” and the first time I heard it, it spoke to me. After reading the lyrics, I understood why. So, enjoy and I hope you have a great weekend.

Memories By Marron 5 – Lyrics

Continue reading “The Friday Five June 19th”

TBT: My Dad

It’s fun to look at my Dad in this picture. He was in his late teens before graduation from High School when he signed up in the Navy.

Since Dad was pretty young, my grandfather had to sign papers so Dad could join the Navy. Dad wanted to serve overseas, but he spent most of his time in the service State-side. He did secretarial work and also played the organ for all church services on the base as well as the funerals.

Dad was short a few credits when he returned and he made up the classes he had missed and graduated from High School and was accepted at college.

He and Mom married at about this time. They’d been sweethearts since they were 13 & 14 years old and in the end, they were married over 60 years.

Dad graduated from The New England Conservatory of Music. And after that, they moved to Cape Cod where they lived nearly all of their married life and raised us, three kids.

And yes, the littlest pip-squeak is me with one of my Mom’s horrible hair-cuts.

Dad taught school, music, and he played the organ at several churches in town for Sunday services, weddings and funerals. He also gave lessons, and during our busy summer months, Dad worked as a Police Officer. Mostly he worked on the desk, answering phones, typing reports, and dispatching officers.

Dad was a man in motion really. I recall very few times growing up when Dad wasn’t busy with doing things that helped others.

I’m thinking about him this week because Sunday is Father’s Day. How I miss him, and his corny jokes and wicked sense of humor.

Happy Father’s Day Daddy!

The Wednesday Hodgepodge June 17th

1. Saturday marks the first official day of summer! Whoohoo! Your favorite thing about the season?

Sunshine! Blue skies! Leaves on trees! Flowers! Fresh produce! And long days!

2. Love it! a labor of love, not for love or money, no love lost, love handles, love does, love-hate relationship, misery loves company, tough love, love will find a way…pick one and tell us how it applies to your life right now.

Love it! I’m really enjoying the WW Program! I’m embracing the new way of eating and I feel good about the weight loss! 42.6 lbs! Slow and steady!

3. What’s one thing currently causing you to seethe? One thing currently making you smile?

Well, I am not allowing anything to make me seethe so I pass on that. So much is making me smile. I choose not to allow things to bring me down. I choose to look at the bright side, the Sunnyside parts of life!

4. Of the following to-dos found on a summer checklist which three (I picked 4) would definitely make your personal list of summer want-to-dos?

watch the sunset from a beach, Not this year. I try to get down to my home town each year and sit not at the beach and watch the sunset. But Covid-19 is still making things crazy. Does a Lake count?
catch fireflies, As soon as I see my first one!
stargaze, Every night!
make a summer road trip, I would love too!

Do you make an actual list? Of things to do in the summer? Not really unless it involves a trip!

5. Thursday is National Splurge Day. What might you splurge on in order to celebrate?

Time to go and get more bird suet. I also would like to get a birdbath for them.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

On Tuesday my girls from the back row at WW met at a local park. We had not seen each other since March 11th.

Our meeting has not opened, and honestly, we do not think it will. WW is cutting down the number of meetings they will have. Rural areas like mine, that meet in a Community Center, don’t fit the profile anymore. The closest meeting area will likely be 45 miles away.

In any case, we decided that we all missed each other. We’ve been together since 2008! So we brought our folding lawn chairs and met at the park. We’ll be inviting others as we go forward.

I have to say, it was a wonderful gathering. You see, WW isn’t just the program, it’s the people who attend the meeting too!

Will someone please explain this to Oprah!