November 2012 – Page 2 – The Dackel Princess

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Turkey-love it or leave it? White meat or dark? What’s your favorite thing to make using leftover turkey?

First, turkey: love it! Second: white meat. Third: favorite thing to make with leftover turkey? The mile high turkey/stuffing/mayo/cranberry sauce sandwich! Oh yeah, that is the best! Hubby likes his warm with gravy, but I just like mine straight!

2. Gotta burn off all those carbs the day after a holiday feast so which would you rather do-run a 10K or climb a mountain?

Don’t do any of those. I walk or watch other people. My comeuppance will be next Wednesday when I return full time to Weight Watchers and their program!

3. Do you feel like social networking has made your relationships better or worse? Explain.

Better. I find that I have found so many people that I had lost track of. Now I keep in touch with my family and friends pretty much daily. I love it.

4. How do you find and express gratitude for the hard things in your life?

Instead of dwelling on the hard things, I have chosen to celebrate them. This birthday I invited my family and friends and celebrated. I let them all know how very much they mean to me.

5. In the US, the day after Thanksgiving has been dubbed ‘Black Friday’. Is most of your holiday shopping done live and in person, or is it done more through the magic of the Internet? How do you feel about stores opening at midnight Thanksgiving night? Will you be out amongst the masses on Friday?

I think it is terrible that the stores are opening Thanksgiving night. I think it is also crazy that people have already camped out in front of them. I will probably spend one day in the mall, but mostly I shop online.

6. Speaking of the color black-which black item in your wardrobe would you say is your favorite?

My dress black pants. I love them! They are from Talbots and I have actually had them a while. But they are comfortable, and look beautiful on.

7. What do you appreciate about your life today?

That I have a wonderful relationship with my daughter, husband and granddaughter!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I can hardly wait for the new coffee maker to arrive. I remember now how bad the old one Hubby used in his commuter pad is. The coffee tastes like crap this morning (Tuesday) and I really LOVE my coffee!

Preparing

Monday dawned and I found myself slowly getting up. I ignored the dackels, and put off getting up until 8:15. Coming out to the kitchen, I turned on the coffee in the old pot, and walked the dogs on the crunchy, frozen, white grass. Winter is coming to Central New Hampshire.

I came inside, and after removing my hat, gloves and coat, raced to the coffee maker for that all important first cup of coffee. We still do not have the new pot. That should arrive tomorrow!

Monday I simply slowed things down. I planned my Thanksgiving menu, and I am starting my grocery list, as we will shop on Tuesday for all our fixings. We have a 13-14 pound fresh turkey waiting for us to come get it!

Hubby needs to get a couple of different apples for the pie, and since my cousin asked, I will make a small pumpkin pie too.

What I most need for Tuesday is to get Hubby up early and to the grocery store at a decent time. As most of you know, after noon in the grocery store on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, life will become crazy!

In other news…

Greta’s leg is nearly healed now. We still have no idea what happened to her. We don’t allow her outside without supervision, so I doubt it was another animal. No, I think this cut was from some object like a metal fence or something like that.

On Monday we cleaned her up again, and it is almost totally closed up. The infection is also just about gone. I am so grateful we saw it before it got too bad!

What I Did This Past Weekend

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

***************

This past Saturday was my birthday, so all weekend was spent either preparing for the event, enjoying the event, and then cleaning up after the event! And every single second, of every minute, of every hour, was absolutely splendid!

I spent the day on Friday doing all sorts of prep work. Baking my cake and pre-frosting it, I baked a Carrot Casserole , and set about getting the dishware, silverware and punch bowl out and ready.

On Saturday I went about like a crazy person touching up the house one last time, and then I jumped into the shower and made it out a mere 10 minutes before my guests arrived.

I had a blast! I did not sit around like a grand Queen. That is just not my style. I served people, and made sure they had drinks, did introductions and stood back and smiled an awful lot of the time! There we all were, my daughter and my granddaughter, my cousin Janet and Dave, and my closest friends! Mandy and Matt gifted me with a wonderful collage of Savannah and me and Mandy! Wonderful! Janet and Dave made the most delicious Seafood Lasagna in a bechemel sauce! Here is a little collage from my day yesterday!

The Seafood Lasagna was to die for! In fact I just finished the last piece, and it was even better the next day! I got flowers and Prosecco. Friends brought appetizers and yummies and I think I smiled all day long! The work involved, didn’t seem like work at all.

Lastly, I got a special card made for me by Dave.

Dave is not only a talented cook, but he is a gifted artist as well! Thank you so much for all you did yesterday to make my day so happy, and for all you do each and every day to bring joy and sunshine into my cousin’s life!

Sunday I got up, and went to the kitchen to turn on the coffee. Then I got my coat on, my gloves and my hat. But oddly, I did not hear the coffee maker whooshing and gurgling. Hmmmm! I went over and I thought I’d forgotten to turn it on. I flipped the switch, and NOTHING!!! I flipped it again! Nothing! Shoot! So I got out the old, smaller pot, that Hubby had in his commuter apartment in New York some 15 years ago, out and fixed the coffee in that. Once I got that going, I walked the dogs!

Now I knew that we would need another pot. A big twelve cup pot, because both Hubby and I are big coffee drinkers. I checked out the prices at the department stores locally and bristled when I saw they wanted close to $90.00 for our coffee make! Then I looked into Amazon.com and found our coffee pot. There it was for $69.00 no shipping!

Now I will tell you that I am an Amazon Prime member. for $79.00 a year I get free shipping on my purchases. However, I also get free videos, both old TV shows and movies. For us, it is a great benefit. I would recommend it for anyone who likes to save money!

I have not been paid for this totally unsolicited opinion of Amazon.com.

Well, once the coffee finally got brewed and I had ordered the new coffee maker, which should be here by Wednesday, I set about doing the last dishes and once Hubby and I finished breakfast, we treated Greta’s leg once again and wrapped it up.

Two days ago we noticed that she had an infected cut on her leg. How she did this we do not know, but the cut is about an inch long. We have been cleaning it twice a day with peroxide and triple antibiotic ointment. Then we wrap it up. Thankfully, she leaves it alone!

Sunday mid-day I got out two of the party plates. I filled one with cake and cookies from the party. The other I filled with meat and cheese and carrot casserole. And I tucked in some nice rolls too. Then off I went to see our neighbor, Frank. Frank will be 95 on December 7th. He served in the military during WW II and was a Prisoner of War. He is such a good man! Now he is shut-in most of the time and I just wanted to share my happiness with him. All I can say is…I am so glad I did!

Sometimes the best parts of our lives are the parts we share with others.

Happy Monday!!!

54 +1 Day

Saturday we celebrated my 54th birthday. I had planned a smallish group of those nearest and dearest to me, and we had a blast! There was plenty of food, plenty of great stories and Miss Savannah Rose!

I’m made my cake and it came out okay, but it’s funny, after so long not eating super sweet things, I found the triple chocolate cake and icing, almost too sweet. I cannot believe I just typed that!

Janet and Dave made the worlds most delicious Seafood Lasagna with Bechemel Sauce. Oh my, it was wonderful!

Mandy and Matt brought rolls and meats and cheeses, and it was wonderful! In fact later in the evening when I needed a little snack, I make myself a mini sandwich.

Others brought banana bread, shrimp cocktail and we also had chips and dips and ice cold punch. A new recipe, that came out really well!

I think the best part was just having everyone here with me. That was just the best!

Nov 17 004

Happy Birthday To Me!

Today I am 54! I’ve never been one of those women who refuses to tell her age. It is, what it is. Actually, considering the rather strange life I have led, the fact that I still roam the earth is a miracle in itself!

This past year I welcomed my first granddaughter! Sweet Savannah Rose! A little Angel!

Despite the bad weather, we did have a crop of peaches, and I made some peach jam. I also made grape jelly, and my first batch ever of Dill Pickles!

Hubby and I are both in fairly good health and enjoying our home and our pets. All four dogs, Fritz, Greta, Arnie and Anneliese continue to give us far more love and comfort, then we could ever give to them!

Yes, turning 54 is not such a bad thing! Now please, sit back and enjoy this short montage of me and my loved ones from birth until now!

Friday Fill-Ins

1. If you sit back and just enjoy the beauty of the life all around you, you will find that happiness is bound to follow!

2. I used to go around singing la la la

3. I have to ask you why is it that some people really freak out admitting to their age? Tomorrow I will be 54.

4. I got rid of one of my worst vices; smoking, as well as biting my nails which was a bad habit.

5. I didn’t have time to enjoy life when I was young. I am so happy that I have discovered happiness in my middle years, and taken the time to enjoy it!

6. Savannah Rose is something I love beyond all reason.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to finishing the final decorating for my birthday party on Saturday, tomorrow my plans include yay! It’s my birthday and I get to eat cake and Sunday, I want to finish cleaning up after the party and plan for act 2…Thanksgiving!

Thursday Thirteen

In two more days it will be my birthday. # 54!
I’m planning a low key family and friends party.
The menu includes a little of this and a little of that!
One of the nice treats is Hubby’s clam dip!
Another is Janet & Dave’s Seafood Lasagna!
I am making my own birthday cake.
All I want is double chocolate cake with butter cream frosting!
I found a great punch recipe made with orange juice, orange sherbet and sprite!
I think I will make an ice ring with lime and orange slices and maraschino cherries.
My sweet Savannah will be coming up with her mommy!
A year from now, when I turn 55, Savannah will actually be able to eat cake and ice cream!
I’ve got a great new shirt to wear! It’s a wild red pattern.
I love parties!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What rule of life should never be broken?

No one should ever take the life of another person. Of course there are exceptions. For instance, if someone is trying to kill you or your family, all bets are off.

I also believe that people should always treat children and animals in a kind and gentle way.

My grandmother told me once to be gentle and compassionate to everyone and everything who are not as smart or have the advantages that I had.

2. What’s your favorite family recipe?

It’s got to be the Sauerbraten Recipe, which can be found HERE. It is one of the best I have ever had.

3. Is the media manipulative?

I have tended not to believe this was true here in the USA, until this past election cycle. A good friend of mine was running for reelection to her State office. She is as honest as the day is long! Well, not only did her opponent lie about her record, the media, which also leaned toward her opponents political side, favor him, but actually spread the untruths! I was so upset and then I realized that we all really cannot trust the news media to report the facts!

4. Hubs and I saw Skyfall last weekend…are you a fan of the Bond films? If so, who’s your favorite Bond?

Not a huge Bond fan, but I like Brosnan, and Connery. Not fond of Daniel Craig. He looks too much like Vladimir Putin!

5. What is one thing you hope people never say about you?

That I was unkind.

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys

6. What’s a nearby tourist attraction you’d like to see, but haven’t gotten around to visiting?

There is a gourmet dinner train that runs in the summer. The chef prepares the meals right there on board, and they serve fine wines to compliment the meal. I think I’m putting it on my Bucket List for next summer.

7. Where’s your favorite tree?

There is a tree on the way to town that literally lights up each October. It’s leaves turn bright coral, and they are just splendid for several weeks.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I went to a church fair last weekend. I remember all those wonderful Christmas fairs at church when I was a child. The church women got together all year long, making items with a Christmas theme. They also baked a ton of Christmas cookies and cakes and it was wonderful! The fair last weekend was odd. No, it was beyond odd! They had some baked goods, but not too much, and then the rest of the hall was filled with tables “rented” by professional artisans, to sell their stuff! Now in the spring and fall, we have street fairs and these same artisans rent booths in the street to sell their wares. I really missed the old fashioned Christmas Fair. It was like growing up all over again and leaving behind something that actually made me smile.

Tell me, would you rather go to a church fair that featured homemade items by the church women, that were sold at a reasonable price, or go to a fair where you are buying from artisans, some of which had items on their tables made in China?

Greta & The Dish

My little Greta is quite a character. She started this when she was a pup, and has continued to do this. Yes, she picks up her dish and carries it around. Some days we come home and find her with Fritz, Arnie, and Anneliese’s dishes in her bed, along with her own.

Today I decided to get at least a little movie of her doing this. Here is what I found. I tossed her bowl into the kitchen, and she chased it like it was a ball! It was the cutest thing!

I hope you get a kick out of watching this short video, of my Greta…a dachshund/ham!

Greta & Her Dish from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

What I Did This Past Weekend

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

***************

This past weekend was a catch up weekend for me. I did tons of laundry, cleaned out the fridge, and went to a Christmas festival, at a local church. Usually I love these fairs because they are full of things the church women have made. This year they had baked goods, but the rest were “professional artisans” who had rented tables, and were selling their work.

Now I love the artisans, really. In the summer when we have our fairs then I have no problem buying from them, but somehow the sanctity of the church felt rather odd.

I did go around and buy Christmas cookies to bring to an elderly shut in neighbor of ours, and then drop them at his home on my way back.

I am still watching a lot of movies. Especially movies I know. This way I can do my work, and listen to the words.

The coming week finds we sprucing up the house for my birthday party on Saturday! I also need to make my cake! Double Chocolate Cake with Butter Creme Frosting!

Have a great week Everyone!