Category: My Kids

Okay. Dog ownership is sometimes not all it’s cracked up to be. It’s sort of like having a baby all of the time. They need to be fed, groomed and put to bed, just like a baby, and even though you can train them to go outside to do their poops, come springtime, when the snow melts, you still need to go out and scoop the poop off the lawn and chuck it in the woods.
I don’t usually worry about such problems. I take care of the indoor stuff, like food, water, pills, when needed, and baths (not my personal favorite, but hey…), and Hubby does the poop scooping. However, as you all know, Hubby is on crutches, and as much as I would like to send him out there with a shovel, I just can’t bring myself to do it.
Yesterday I was out with Greta on the leash and I saw that enough snow had melted that the entire side hill of our lawn was literally, “COVERED” with poop. It was cold and windy and I thought, “Hmmm, not now”, but today it’s going to be a little warmer and so I cannot put off this rather distasteful job any longer. It’s now, or come mud season it will become totally disgusting.
So while all you mother’s with little pooping babies lament poopy pampers, just think of me out there with a bucket and shovel and be glad that when Junior is finally house broken, he/she will know how to “flush” it away!

I’ve decided that when I come back in the next life, I want to come back as my own dog!
I spoil my pups. They get special food, special cookies, nice toys, sleep in my bed under the covers and of course get patted and cuddled continuously!

We are the type of people who don’t treat our dogs like, well, dogs. They are our babies and we treat them like our little children.
Someone once asked me why my dogs were so personable, so sweet, so loving? My answer? It’s easy, they were raised with all the love, gentleness and caring that I have in my heart.

Granted, I’ve made certain accommodations around the house. I cover our sofa with a soft blanket,

I make sure that I vacuum frequently and water dishes are always filled. I’m also never too busy for a cuddle or to open a can of food. For that I am rewarded with unconditional love and affection.
How good is that?

Yesterday I spent the day with my daughter, Mandy.

She lives about and hour and fifteen minutes south of my home. She recently purchased her own condo and yesterday was the first time I’d been down to see it. It’s really lovely, situated up on a hillside with beautiful views. It has over 1700 square feet, which gives my grand kitties (three of them!) plenty of room to frolic and play.
Maestro, Cleo and Ortez greeted me at the door and proceeded to curl up next to me, purr and then play with the Christmas present bows on the packages I brought and Mandy had for me.
I can’t express in words how really proud I am of Mandy. To see how successful she is, and what a good head she has on her shoulders and the home she has made for herself, makes me realize again and again something that I’ve always known, but suspected what just a mother’s bias! Mandy is one heck of a person! Definitely someone I would chose to know even if she wasn’t my daughter!
We sat drinking coffee with one of her friends, who was visiting from Maine. She was getting things together for her trip back when I arrived, but stayed and visited for a while.
After she left we opened our Christmas gifts. Mandy showed how well she knows me with gifts of two sweaters, (next to my purse fetish, I have a sweater thing going too!), and then a T-shirt with a cartoon drawing of dachshunds on them, a dachsie doormat, a dachsie ornament and a dachshund date book!
I gave her an LL Bean tote bag for her car, champagne, a wonderful fluffy scarf, a geode window hanging, and a hand made pottery tray with a salt and pepper, cream and sugar on it. Near my home is a shop that sells items hand made here in New Hampshire. I swear I am one of their best customers. This gift came from that shop. I also got her two Christmas tree ornaments.
Then we headed out to have lunch with her grandmother, (my former mother-in-law). If I had one wish it would have been to have kept her as my mother-in-law and just divorced my ex-husband. I have always loved Alice like a mother and I have missed her a great deal.
We just had the best time at lunch. We talked and talked and talked, sharing stories from the past and both Alice and I looking with pride at our girl Mandy. Before we knew it, 2 1/2 hours had flown by and we had to say good-bye. Alice told me not to be a stranger and to come see her and keep in touch. Something I plan to do. Life is too short not to love the people in your life.
Then I brought Amanda to a European Deli I found near her. They have so many of the wonderful German foods that we love. I bought a lot of things, cheeses, wursts, salami and wonderful Bauernbrot. (German Rye bread!)
Then, in the cold pouring rain, we headed back to her place where I picked up my car and headed home. It rained literally in sheets. There were times I couldn’t even see the road! It scared the heck out of me. It took me two hours to make the trip, but I got home safely and quite happily!

Today, 27 years ago, I gave birth to my second daughter. Kathleen Alynne. She weighed 8 pounds and 10 ounces and was 23 1/2 inches long. The labor was short, 4 1/2 hours and out popped this little being with bright red curls! A total surprise.

She grew into those curls with the greenest of eyes and dimples in both of her chubby cheeks. She had a big heart, an incredible sense of humor and a great love for her family.

I was lucky to share 6 birthdays with her before she was tragically killed at the age of 6 1/2 in a car accident.
I miss her every day, but I know too, that although she is not with me physically, she will always be with me in my heart! So Happy Birthday, my darling Katie!!!

Shubi and Greta have been just delightful today. My attitude hasn’t been the best, and yet, there they are with their little doggie smiles, floppy ears and little feet scrambling after me around the house while I do house work and laundry. How do other people make it? You know, the ones without loving pets? On days when I don’t think I can stand one more thing, all I have to do is look down and see their faces, (Fritz too, although today he was outside a lot) and I feel renewed.
I started the laundry at 8:30 this morning and I have diligently been doing it all day. And guess what? I still have 5 more loads to do! I’m not sure how it all got so out of control, but right now I feel like the laundry has taken over a major role in my life.
Due to the fact that I want to be able to have left overs available for the guys this week, I decided to cook a boneless leg of lamb tonight. I love lamb! Especially with Mint Jelly! That’s my favorite way to have it! We also took a ride over to a local farm yesterday and bought a huge Butternut Squash and that will be our veggie!

Continue reading “Little Feet, Laundry, Lamb, and Life”

So, when everything in the world is going wrong, and you are feeling down who is there for you? When you are sick and laid up in bed and can’t move much who never leaves your side?

Last week I had to stay in bed, flat on my back for two days prior to my surgery. I can’t tell you how boring that is. Lying there, staring at the ceiling, with very little to do, except maybe worry about the upcoming surgery.
My two girls, Shubi, on the top and Greta on the bottom of the picture, hardly left my side. They were there keeping me company, making me feel loved and keeping me entertained.
Now I am in the recovery mode, they are still by my side. Nursing me back to health!