Dackel Princess

And Just Like That…

People have often told me that I have the weirdest things happen to me. I tend to agree, as many of the things that have happened to me (healthwise) are beyond what most people would see in their lifetime.

Over the weekend, I started having double vision in my left eye. This was odd, as it came on suddenly. I am always sensitive about my eyes because I have not only had cataracts removed from both eyes but also surgery to reattach the retinas in both eyes. So on Saturday, I was quite frantic when the vision in my left eye became too distorted.

The retinal surgeon who had performed all of my surgeries on my retina has returned to my area. I got a quick appointment on Monday to see him, fearing another retinal detachment.

You can call me surprised when they discovered that the implanted lens from my cataract surgery had folded in half. This has caused all the visual problems.

Now I will be facing surgery to replace the lens.

An implanted intraocular lens (IOL) can be replaced if it dislocates or folds over. This is a rare but manageable situation, often requiring a secondary surgical procedure called an IOL exchange.

Lens Folding:

Sometimes, the IOL itself may fold or wrinkle, affecting vision.
Causes:

Dislocation can be caused by factors during the original surgery, trauma to the eye, or diseases affecting the eye’s structures.
IOL Exchange:

If the lens is dislocated or severely damaged, it can be surgically removed and replaced with a new one.
Prompt Treatment:

It’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention if you suspect any issues with your IOL, as untreated dislocation can lead to vision loss and other complications.

So, now I need to get the surgery lined up and all planned. The Puppy Nanny is set up to care for Heidi and will stay with me if necessary. But getting from New Hampshire to Boston concerns me the most.

If all of this isn’t enough, I got a call. Yes, folks, today they will start digging up my driveway!

Life was settling into a routine, and just like that…everything changed!

And Just Like That…

I am constantly amazed at how quickly time flies by us. With my enforced slowdown, due to the vertigo, I sit, and it’s like being in a tornado in The Wizard of Oz. Everything is spinning around me. (No pun intended with the vertigo!)

We have had a lot of rain, wind, and cold. However, we expect warmer and drier weather this week. It’s June, after all!

Now, back to my reflections on Life.

Two years ago, I bought a new phone, a Galaxy S23. At first, it seemed incredible. But within a month, I knew this phone was a mistake!

Fast-forward to 2025. During Memorial Day Weekend, my Galaxy 23 received an update that wreaked havoc on the phone. I walked into Verizon, and I was not happy about the phone.

They were very kind, and once they looked up my phone, they found that I was suitable for an upgrade! I have used Samsung forever, but I was so unhappy that I thought perhaps I would switch to an Apple. But after looking at the new Samsung S25 Ultra and the newest Apple, I decided to stay with the Galaxy.

The guys were invaluable in moving my things from one phone to another and teaching me how to download my files onto my laptop. I took all the games off the phone, and now it is pristine!

I was sitting here this morning when Heidi came up and sat down. I immediately smelled something. I checked her left ear. That was fine. But when I flipped her right ear… eww! She has a yeasty ear!

Lili got one a year before she died, and they tried a new FDA medication. It worked wonders for a dog who had long suffered from the problem.

Betamethasone acetate is a glucocorticosteroid with anti-inflammatory activity.

The otic gel dissolves in earwax and is slowly eliminated from the ear. It also fights yeast infections for up to 45 days. I will call and get her in tomorrow.

During my vertigo (it’s been over two months now), Heidi has been the very best thing that could have happened to me. What a sweet, faithful dog. Just by being with me each day, she puts a smile on my face.

Heidi’s breeder sure knows how to raise the sweetest pups. Heidi is among the best dogs I have ever had.

Happy Birthday, Savannah!

Today, my sweet Savannah Rose turns 13! Wow, I can’t believe how quickly she has grown and changed. I can’t believe how quickly the last 13 years have gone, and in many ways, I feel like I have always known Savi as if she has always been a part of my world.

I’m holding Savi the day she was born!

As she has grown and changed, I have marveled at her kindness, gentleness, and caring nature, and Matt and Mandy have done an excellent job as her parents.

Happy Birthday, my darling Savannah!

Happiness

Many things have been happening in the last few weeks, keeping me on my toes. I’m still slightly wobbly, but I’m going forward nonetheless.

My daughter gets the award for going above and beyond. Savi was in a musical play in Derry. Right now, I am not driving too far. The vertigo won’t allow it.

Mandy and Savi!

So Amanda drove from Windham, NH, to Meredith, NH, and picked me up. Then we went to Derry for the play, and afterward she drove me home again. It was a long day and a lot of driving for my girl, but it was worth it. Savi was great, and I really enjoyed the entire day!

Savi and her Oma!

Not only did I see Savi, but I got to see Quinn and their three dogs.

Quinn!

I’ve been doing PT for my vertigo. It hasn’t done much, but since the MRI was good, I must wait until I can see an Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist.

My sister and brother-in-law came up, and we worked on clearing the house again. We are close to being done, but I need to work on my closets, which have become slightly disorganized. (Melodie, do not tell Ron!)

My cousins, Janet and Dave, came up on Saturday, and we went to T-Bones for dinner. We all had a great meal. I love it there! Janet had a fusion salad. Dave had wings and ribs. I asked if I could get warm plain lobster served with butter. It was spectacular!

After that, we saw Juston McInney at the Colonial Theater in Laconia. He is a New England boy, and he was wicked funny. His routine was all about the stuff we think about and that happens. He is a nice guy.

The next morning, we dropped Heidi off with her groomer, Madison, and had breakfast at George’s. Needless to say, when Heidi returned, she was beautiful!

After weeks of rain and cloudy skies, we finally have sunshine! It is also supposed to be over 70 degrees today!

After watching my driveway deteriorate this spring, I have signed a contract to have the entire thing redone. After 25 years, it is time!

Boulders are coming up.

My very own San Andreas Fault!

After all, this is the Granite State! Life goes on.

Happy Birthday, Jessica! See You Soon, Savi!

Today is my British daughter’s birthday. I spent time with her last year and hope to return soon. Happy Birthday, Jessica!

Jessica and I.

But today, my daughter, Amanda, is going above and beyond, so I can see Savannah in her community play.

Since I am not driving these days, she is driving up from Windham, NH, picking me up here in Meredith, NH, driving me down to see the play, and then driving me home. It’s a lot of work for her, and I cannot express how grateful I am that she is doing this.

I can hardly wait!

The Weekend Wrap

I’ve been relatively quiet recently. I had hoped to have answers to all my questions, but so far, there are more questions than answers.

It all began over six weeks ago. I got up in the night, and my head was spinning. I managed to return to bed, but there was a terrible feeling like the world was spinning.

I have had brief episodes of Vertigo before and expected the feeling to disappear. But it did not.

I went to the doctor and we tried several medications, but nothing worked. Later this week, I’ll go to the Physical Therapist for an evaluation, and next week, an MRI.

I’m trying to stay positive, but being as wobbly as I am is a little tricky.

Meanwhile…

My four-year-old laptop started to fall apart—literally. The frame split. The upside was that I had a laptop that just needed the hard drive wiped and reprogrammed. Since I had plenty of time and reprogramming was something I could do sitting down, I went to work.

I never thought I could do the entire thing, but I did. The laptop is programmed, the email is working, and I even got the lighted keyboard working.

Although I am challenged in some ways, I have gotten a lot done, so it’s almost all good.

Oh yes. God bless Heidi. She has taken such good care of me.

The Friday Five ~ April 25th

I was minding my own business, then all of a sudden, 1975 was 50 years ago. I was seventeen then, and now I have entered my golden years!

With this in mind, here is this week’s Friday Five.

1. I had held onto a glass, hand-blown German Shepherd. I inherited it when I married Jack and moved into the farmhouse he had shared with his first wife. I also inherited their White Shepherd, Rex. He was a sweet old boy whom I fell in love with.
2. I had watched over this piece for 35 years. I was talking to my step-son, and he was happily surprised that the glass dog was still around. I told him that it was his. I’ve enjoyed it all this time, but the dog was made for him by this glassblower. I tucked it away to protect it until Jon came for a visit.
3. Yesterday, I started looking for it. I thought I had tucked it into my china closet. It wasn’t there. I tried looking in all the other places I put things to keep them protected. No go. I prayed to Saint Anthony for help, but even my prayers didn’t help me find what I was looking for.
4. So I looked in a place I had never put anything. I opened the drawer and noticed a Ziploc bag that held Katie’s blanket. I opened the bag and carefully felt inside the blanket. Yes, there it was. How it got into that bag wrapped in Katie’s blanket, I will never know.
5. What this proves is that at 66 years of age, I can now hide my own Easter Eggs!

The Friday Five ~ April 11th

It’s been a crazy two weeks. I finally went in to see my Nurse Practitioner, whom I have been seeing for a few years. Here’s what’s going on.

1. I’ve been hit with terrible vertigo. It’s been going on for over two weeks. I’ve tried all my usual remedies, but nothing has worked.
2. She found an awful lot of fluid behind both eardrums. Frankly, it’s been like this for a while; only the vertigo is new and quite debilitating.
3. I’m on all sorts of antihistamines and decongestants. I feel sleepy, but in many ways, I think extra sleep may be what I need.
4. My exciting news is that my A1C level is down to 5.3 from 9.3. Thank you, Ozempic!
5. Another brisk wind and Lake Waukewan will be ice out. A Sure Sign of Spring.

Julia’s Roasted Chicken

Before the snow started, I decided to go to the grocery store and get a chicken. I wondered if my COVID-19-damaged taste buds were causing me a problem.

Then I thought longer and realized I was attempting to make some rather elaborate dishes. I decided to go back to basics.

Several years ago, I learned to make Julia Child’s roasted chicken. After bringing the chicken, I season it and then rub it with butter.

I am cooking it in the oven with a Yukon Gold potato for my dinner. It smells wonderful. I just hope it tastes good when the time comes!

Here is the recipe:

1 (3 1/2 to 4 pound or larger. Adjust the timing) chicken
* 1 small yellow onion, quartered
* 1 lemon, thinly sliced
* Salt and black pepper
* Butter
Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Wash the chicken in water and dry thoroughly. Season the cavity with salt and black pepper and stuff it with onion and lemon. Rub the chicken lightly with softened butter and season with salt and pepper. Tie the drumstick ends together and set the chicken breast side up on an oiled V-shaped rack or an oiled roasting pan in the oven.

Roast for 15 minutes at 425 degrees F, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees, baste the chicken, and roast for 15 minutes. Continue roasting the chicken until the juices run clear, for 45 – 50 minutes, plus an additional 7 minutes for each pound. (In other words, a 3 1/2 pound chicken would take 70 minutes or 1 hour and 10 minutes of cooking time.)

I set my kitchen alarm and basted the bird and the potato every 15 minutes.

Now look and see how pretty this is! Tasted good, too.

Crockpot Fail

I started the weekend looking forward to making my pot roast. Oh, how I was looking forward to that. I sat at the table, cutting vegetables and tossing them all in my crockpot.

I added all the other ingredients and then became distracted. That’s my only defense, and not even a good one.

An hour later, I went to check the pot. I had not plugged in the machine and turned it on.

I turned it all on and reset the timer. I came into the family room just furious with myself.

Six hours later, the meat was done and tender, but the flavor was all wrong.

Since my episodes of Covid, I have lost my taste buds, and they have never returned. Also, things that made my tastebuds sing no longer appeal.

I need to get out my old recipe files and make the simple and appealing ones.

Meanwhile, I’ve been listening to music to ease my soul. Previously, I had put together a playlist with the Beatles and each member separately. Oh yes. I doubt we will ever have another group of men change the landscape of the music world!

Me in Liverpool!