The Dackel Princess

Just Look At That Face

Yes, Lili is settling in, eating better and getting into a routine. The biggest routine is that I literally leap out of bed in the morning and rush to her crate, grab her and off we go for our morning walk! She loves that and frankly, I’m getting to enjoy it too.

She wasn’t eating too well at first, but I have some ground puppy food that I am mixing with her crunchy food, and now she just gobbles it up. Good think. Seeing as she is a big dog, in her puppy years she really needs the calories.

I remind myself that she is just a baby, even though at times she does act much older. Then she will do something like every other puppy, and I have to laugh and figure out how to modify this new behaviour!

She really is a doll and we adore her.

Happy Friday!!!

The lovely Lili

Lili is starting to settle in. She has now won over Greta and Anneliese (well sort of, but it is close!) but Arnie is still a little reluctant to have much to do with her. Mostly I think, the pack of hounds assimilation is going well!

On Tuesday we had Lili to the Vets for her first check up and shots. She handled it like a pro. In fact, she has made a new friend. We also stopped by our mechanics to swap out cars for inspection, and Pete fell in love with her!

Right now Lili does mostly sleeping and wee-weeing, With an occasional food and walk thrown in. It’s the wee-weeing that I am really working on. Getting her to the door fast enough is the key.

After all at 8 weeks she is really not house trained yet, but I sure am!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. It’s still May, right? When were you last in the middle of something that might be described as mayhem?

You mean before the madness and mayhem of a new puppy? lol! Actually this is a little bit of a challenge, but puppy-hood lasts such a short time.

2. When did you last feel dismayed?

When I woke up with a sore throat yesterday. I am totally angry about this. Time for Halls Cough drops and lots of fluids!

3. What’s a food combination you like, but other people may find strange?

Liver, onions, mashed potato, peas but no gravy.

4. “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” Do you think that’s true? Why or why not?

Sometimes things do pass you by. I wanted to be the best mother ever, but when Katie passed, I’m afraid I was not the best mother to Mandy. I just lost my mind for a long time. I’m 55 years old now, and that part of my life is over. Now I am focusing on being the best Oma ever!

5. US News and World Report listed the best historic destinations in the US as follows-Washington D.C, Philadelphia PA, Williamsburg VA, Charleston SC, Boston MA, Richmond VA, Savannah, GA, Santa Fe NM, Yellowstone, San Antonio TX, San Francisco CA, New Orleans LA, and Charlottesville VA.

Of those listed how many have you seen in person? Which two sites on the list would you most like to see in person?

I have not been to New Orleans or San Antonio, Texas. I would love to go back to Santa Fe and Savannah. They are wonderful cities.

6. May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. If you had to participate in a single fitness activity for the next half hour, which activity would you choose?

Right now it is walking Lili. About a gazillion times a day! (lol) This is how I house train. As soon as she wakes up. After breakfast. After a good play time. And then about every hour on the hour.

7. What did you like best about the city, town, or neighborhood where you grew up?

Back in the day, Falmouth, Massachusetts was a small seaside town. Everyone knew everyone else and neighbors could be counted on to help out in an emergency. Sadly, Falmouth is really built up now and not a place that feels like home. I love my hometown now, Meredith, NH, as it is small and has all the same qualities that Falmouth had.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Precious Puppy!

Lili’s first full day at home was a big one. It started at 5:30 AM and had me running in and out all day long to make sure she pottied correctly in the correct spot. She did amazingly well, with just one accident all day long.

Greta has decided to adopt her, while Arnie and Anneliese seem to be threatened a bit. There have been no fights, but they watch her like a hawk. Hubby and I have spent nice times with the other dogs while Lili slept.

Lili’s bed is in the puppy room and although I know she would love to sleep with us, that will not happen until she is absolutely potty trained. And then she will sleep on the floor next to the bed.

I was able to contact Fritz’s former trainer and she is still not just working as a Veterinary Technician, but she continues to train dogs. It will be wonderful to see her again. She uses wonderful positive reinforcement to train, and Fritz did so well. I think this will be a special time for Lili.

My little baby is pretty tired out tonight. I’ll keep her up until 10 and then hopefully she will let me sleep in the morning.

If not, then I get to walk around my yard in the early morning dew!

Princess Lili Marlene of Noblewood

What a whirl wind of a weekend! And in the end, I am a new Mommy to my sweet Princess Lili Marlene of Noblewood! Yes, that is her official name and she is every bit as stunning and regal as I knew she would be!

A very big hug and thanks go out to my cousin, Janet, who did the lions share of the driving. I am not a big city driver, and she not only is a good driver, but she actually enjoys doing it!

The first part of our trip down to my sister’s house, was really crazy. We had dark stormy skies and then torrential downpours! Finally we stopped in at Rein’s Deli where we enjoyed chopped liver and rye bread, blintz’s with strawberries, a deli meat platter, and some banana bread. We shared everything, and it was still more than we could eat. If you are ever on route 84 near Vernon, CT, make plans to stop in.

We arrived at my sister’s house later than I thought. It was already 9 o’clock int he evening, and by that time all us 50 and 60 somethings were getting tired. By 10:30 we were asleep!

The excitement was building and I was awake by 6:30 in Sunday morning. Janet and I got ready and packed up the car and by quarter to eight, we were on the road.

We arrived just at 9:30 and did all the requisite paper work, and then we piled into the car and off we went.

Thank’s Janet for these pictures!

That was when Princess Lili started to cry. She was scared. Fortunately I had a crate in the back seat and I tucked her away into the swaddling blankets and the toy from her biological family home, and she settled right in.

We stopped to drop off my cousin at her home, then onto Savannah’s house and then home to Daddy and the scary dackels. They are not quite sure what to make of this fury white creature. We’ve had some growling, a lot of sniffing, but so far all is good.

So, a new chapter has started in our home. I’m a new mother, and like all new mother’s I’m just a wee bit tired. Oh yes, and the report on the house breaking is that she is doing remarkably well. Just one use of the puppy pads, and aside from that, she has been going outside!

New Day Dawns

The car is packed and I am ready to go on Saturday morning to see my daughter, Mandy and my granddaughter, Savannah. I’ll pick up my cousin, Janet, stopping at a great Deli for dinner. Then, continuing on to my sister’s house for an overnight. On Sunday morning, we will go to pick up Lili Marlene!

I am so excited and so happy to be bringing her home. A new day dawns and a new life with Lili begins!

Setting Up

Today I need to clean up the puppy room, set up a crate with blankets and bring the puppy piddle pads up from the basement. I also had a piece of wood that I can put across the hallway to block off the rest of the house from Miss Lili.

Hubby is preparing the yard, and he is really looking forward to the new pups arrival. I have puppy classes to line up, and lots of wonderful house breaking puppy work to do!

I’ve got to pack the car, and get down the smaller crate for Lili. My cousin, Janet and I will be the ones driving down. We love these road trips together. We’ve really enjoyed being the Thelma & Louise of our family!

I picked up a few plants today as my seeds just aren’t germinating. I am quite disappointed. But I will fill in the garden with store bought plants if I must.

Happy Friday, Happy Springtime!!!

Lili Marlene

After our darling boy Fritz passed from this life to the next, we both sank into despair. Fritz was such a special boy and after the shock wore off, we both began to feel deep sadness and depression.

Not one to sit around and not do something, I began searching the Internet for “White German Shepherd Puppies”.

I was feeling like we might not find something close by, nor did I think we would be able to find a nice short coated shepherd.

Then I happened upon a web site where the breeder’s female had just whelped ten happy, healthy, puppies! Three boys and seven girls.

I went through the pedigree while speaking to the owner and I was shocked! Winnie…mother of the puppies. Check. Ariel, mother of Winnie. Check. Polka Dot mother of Ariel and……Fritz! Our Fritz! Ariel and Fritz were half siblings. Same mom and different daddies.

I watched over the weeks and my favorite puppy seemed to change every week. We had hoped to get a boy, but it just didn’t seem to work out. Then about week four we noticed a sweet female. She just happened to be the smallest puppy in the litter, and was a beautiful short haired pup.

We arranged with the owner to go down last weekend and visit with the babies. It was wonderful to meet all the adult dogs as well as those wonderful ten puppies.

I know you aren’t supposed to but I really fell in love hard with one of the girls. I knew the owner needed to do temperament testing, but I told her that if it all worked out I would love to bring home THAT pup.

And today, we got the nod that in fact, our little girl will be coming home with me on Sunday!

We have decided to name her after a very old song “Lili Marlene”. Here are the words to the song.

“Lili Marlene” was written by Schultze, Norbert / Leip, Hans.

Underneath the lantern by the barrack gate
Darling I remember the way you used to wait
Twas there that you whispered tenderly
That you loved me
You’d always be
My Lili of the lamplight
My own Lili Marlene

Time would come for roll call
Time for us to part
Darling I’d caress you and press you to my heart
And there ‘neath that far off lantern light
I’d hold you tight
We’d kiss good-night
My Lili of the lamplight
My own Lili Marlene

Orders came for sailing somewhere over there
All confined to barracks was more than I could bear
I knew you were waiting in the street
I heard your feet
But could not meet
My Lili of the lamplight
My own Lili Marlene

Resting in a billet just behind the line
Even tho’ we’re parted your lips are close to mine
You wait where that lantern softly gleams
Your sweet face seems to haunt my dreams
My Lili of the lamplight
My own Lili Marlene

When we are marching in the mud and cold,
And when my pack seems more than I can hold
My love for you renews my might
I’m warm again
My pack is light
It’s you Lili Marlene
It’s you Lili Marlene

And now, here we go, introducing for the first time on Dackel Princess, Lili Marlene!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Share something you appreciate (or something you appreciated as you were growing up) about your mother.

That Mom wasn’t perfect, but I think she did the best she could. Not much was known about depression back in the 50’s and 60’s and Mom really suffered. Still, she made birthdays, holidays, and family parties the best ever.

2. A quote most commonly ascribed to Plato reads “Necessity is the mother of invention.” When did this last play out in your own experience?

During a long car trip with Hubby. The GPS was not acting friendly, and I had to reprogram it several times. I even had to fake program it, in order to get it to do what I wanted it to do. We made it to our destination, but I think it’s time for a new machine!

3. Share one of the earliest memories you have from childhood.

I’m honestly not sure. I have vivid memories of my grandparents house in Brighton, Massachusetts, but I’m not sure when they are from. I do know I was not quite four when my appendix ruptured and I remember that very vividly!

4. When did you last ‘hit the mother lode’? What was it?

Just last week. We went to a rally and they were handing out free three season jackets, umbrellas, tote bags, hot dogs and hamburgers, and bug spray and hand sanitizer! It was all logo-ed, but who cares!

5. What is/was your favorite dish mom made? Do you make that dish for your family/friends now that you’re all grown up?

My mom was a great cook, so it is hard to pick out just one thing. She made a wonderful Sauerbraten (German Pot Roast) which was a family recipe, literally from the old country and brought here by our family when they came in the early 1900’s.

6. Mother May I? was at one time a popular children’s game. It required no equipment or parts to play. What was your favorite childhood game where you could just turn up and play-no gear needed?

I was a tree climber and a bike rider. I climbed many a tree in my day, pretending to live in them, and I would tie a rope on my handlebars and pretend my bike was a horse.

7. Which TV mom (past or present) is your favorite, and why?

Mary Cooper is Sheldon Cooper’s mother, (On the Big Bang Theory) a devout born-again Christian from East Texas. She has two other children, Sheldon’s fraternal twin sister, Missy, as well as an older son named George Jr.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Surprises coming soon!

A New Lifestyle Change

I made it through day one of my diet healthy lifestyle eating plan. Oh goodness, I did fine until about 7 o’clock, in the evening and then all I wanted to do was eat! Thankfully it was Monday, and I watch “Dancing With The Stars” in bed (Hubby dislikes this show) and I actually had trouble staying awake until the end!

Excitement continues in our house hold, but I still cannot share this news. And for those of you that already know, please don’t say anything just yet. Just know it is wonderful and happy!

I’ll be seeing my daughter this weekend as she is having a Thirty-one Party. I shall report in. I’ve never been to one before, but it is a bag/pocketbook/tote party. Like the days of Tupperware!

Yesterday I stopped in at the shoe store and bought myself a new pair of walking shoes. They are cute slip-ons, with great support, and my orthotics actually slip right on in. They are also blue jeans color.

Happy Tuesday!