The Dackel Princess

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What’s one thing you learned in September?

How truly loved I am. Going through my mother’s death and funeral, I found my family surrounding me with love and support. Even my little Savannah knows who I am, and shows me so much love. And since I have been sick, Hubby has stepped up and taken very good care of me.

2. Acorn squash, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, yellow squash, zucchini squash, or blech! hold the squash… what’s your favorite squash? What’s your favorite way to prepare your favorite squash?

Butternut squash. I peel it, cut it into cubes, boil until tender, drain, mash with butter, brown sugar and a little cinnamon. Yum!

3. The older I get the__more sleep I need.

4. What’s your favorite television theme song ever?

5. What do you wish you’d spent more time doing five years ago?

Paying attention to keeping my weight off. Unfortunately, I didn’t and now I am back to where I was! (**groan**)

6. What item do you most need (or want) to add to your wardrobe this fall?

A comfortable pain of jeans.

7. On October 2, 1950 the Peanuts cartoon was introduced to the world. What was your favorite cartoon when you were a kid?

Always has been snoopy!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Well folks we are coming in on three weeks that I have been sick. I think I am a little better today…finally…but I sure have a long way to go!

I was thinking about things that are creepy crawly this morning. A friend had written about the fact that down under in Australia, as they begin having their spring, snakes are starting to emerge from their winter hiding places.

Now I don’t mind spiders or bugs. A fly swatter or rag in my hand is simple death to any of those unlucky suckers that think they are going to make my house their home! I can even deal with moles who are ruining my lawn, by grabbing a shovel and…well…putting them out of their misery!

But snakes? Well, no. I do not do snakes. In fact poisonous or not, I am simply terrified of them. I’m not sure why, but when I see them I am frozen with fear, as I scream my lungs out!

Looking back, their was a time I worked on an apple farm and I was out in the orchard putting fertilizer around the trees. Hubby’s white German shepherd, Britta was playing around the trees while I worked.

Well this good size snake slithered across my work boot and I froze and started to scream! Britta came running, grabbed the snake, snapped it’s neck, killing it instantly, before laying it at my feet!

I swear she was smiling, as she wagged her tail! I patted her and told her what a good doggy she was.

Years later I found a snake in our yard here in the Lakes Region. It was Easter, and I came right in and got my camera and Greta, as she loves snakes.

Unfortunately the snake was camera shy, but that didn’t stop Greta!

Happy Birthday, Uschi

Today is the birthday of my best friend, Uschi! Oh how I wish she lived just down the street and I could bake her a special cake and bring it over, with a bottle of champagne, and celebrate the day of her birth!

Friendship

There’s a miracle of Friendship
that dwells within the heart,
And you don’t know how it happens
or where it gets its start…
But the happiness it brings you
always gives a special lift,
And you realize that Friendship
Is God’s most perfect gift.
-Jean Kyler McManus-

So Happy Birthday, my dearest friend and sister!

Autumn Is Here

At ten past eleven this morning, the whistles blew and the first foliage train of year went by our house! From now until the first of November, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and some Mondays, the foliage train comes past our house, and then returns three hours later.

Today there were six cars full of happy tourists, who had traveled far and wide, to see New England at it’s finest and brightest.

Today was a perfect day for it! We had bright sunshine and clear skies, and our leaves are turning those marvelous colors of reds, oranges, yellow, and flaming coral.

Well the dackels love to get in the window and bark their little doggy brains out! I make sure to never have them outside when the trains come. The dackels are silly creatures who would want to chase the train! Fritz on the other-hand is happy to run back and forth in the yard, happily frolicking as the train goes past.

So Autumn is here and hopefully the weather will remain nice, so the leaves will last. They are just so beautiful and seeing them makes me smile!

Greta

On Friday morning while we sat drinking our coffee, Greta began shaking her head. It’s almost like a tremble, and I remember when she first did it I thought perhaps she was having a seizure.

After x-rays and exams, a few years ago, it was determined that she has a weird disc in her neck. I’ve seen it many times, but Hubby never had, until Friday.

I made sure he was able to watch her for a minute, and I could see the fear immediately come into his eyes.

I explained that what you need to do if this happens is carefully pick her up and put her gently down, and have her walk. Then the head shaking disappears.

He was pleasantly surprised to see the entire scenario. It’s sort of funny because Greta will be 10 years old in March, but Hubby has never seen her do this.

Of course she didn’t develop the weird neck disc until she was about 5 years old and slipped off the sofa.

But now he knows what it is, and what to do should it occur on his watch.

Hubby remarked that he believes that Greta knows what is happening and that she understands that I am making her well when I pick her up and get her walking. I would love to believe that this is the case.

There are times I would love it if I could have conversations with the dogs where they actually answer me back. How cool would that be!

Bulleting My Thoughts

I’ll be off to the doctor today at one o’clock. I woke on Thursday sick all over again. And quite frankly, I am sick of being sick! This has got to end!
Hubby got me one of my favorite vegetables yesterday and I am cooking it for dinner Thursday night. It is rutabaga! How many of you know this vegetable and like it?

I cook mine by peeling it, cutting into cubes and boiling until soft, then mashing with salt, pepper and butter!
It’s been a while since I have had any because the price was a dollar a pound! Crazy. This week it was on sale for 59 cents a pound.
I have started wearing my turtlenecks again. Autumn is here!
I have started a new book. “The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty. It is quite gripping and I am only in the first chapter!
I go back to the Plastic Surgeon on Monday. I can see where I still need work done, but we will see what he says.
Please pray for my recovery before then!
Hubby is picking apples now every day. Oh, they sure do taste good!
I think this weekend I will clean my closet out leaving just a few short sleeve shirts inside and packing up the rest for next year.
I need to break out some of my sweaters and get ready for cooler temperatures!
Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Poor Hubby

Hubby went off to a doctor’s appointment today and he offered to do the grocery shopping on his way home. So, I prepared a typed, detailed list, complete with coupons, of everything we needed.

Living up here in the wilds of New Hampshire, means our closest discounted grocery store is about 30 miles from our home. Getting reasonably priced groceries is not that easy.

He called at 4 pm and told me he was done with the doctors, and on his way back. Not too much time passed before I got another call and he told me he was just arriving at the grocery store.

I started to calculate when he would get home, I guessed probably about 6:30 pm. 7 o’clock arrived, then 7:30 and no Hubby. I wanted to call, but I worried about calling his cell phone when he is driving in the dark.

Finally at 8 o’clock he called. I figured he was on his way home by then, but he was still in the last store.

What a long day for him, and I am so grateful. Although I am so much better I’m still not up to being out and about in the world.

I have leftover lasagna for his dinner, or almost anything else he could want (except a steak). At this time of the night I’ll be putting away the groceries and then going to bed!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What’s one thing that’s still the same about you as when you were young?

I thought about this for a long time. My hair is gray under the color job I get. My eyes have both been operated on. My nose no longer resembles the one I had. Even my appendix scar is ‘larger’ than it was at age 3-3/4. But, I still love The Beatles music! Almost any one of their songs can put a smile on my face!

2. What’s more important-history or science? Why?

Oh tough question. Both are incredibly important. Without History we are doomed to repeat our mistakes. But without Science there will not be cures for illnesses, new drugs to treat medical conditions nor will we have advances in cell phone, TVs, or other products.

So I guess in the end, Science. (Although, as I said BOTH are still important!)

3. Lima, kidney, string, garbanzo, black or pinto-your favorite bean?

Purple Beans! Ha! They grow a deep aubergine color in your garden. When you cook them they turn a dark green. Their taste is a lot more nutty than a normal bean. But they are delicious!

Our elderly neighbor came down one day as I was setting out my garden, 5 years ago. He handed me a container of dried bean seeds. He told me to grow them. Well I did, and I have been planting them ever since!

4. What’s something people come to your town to do?

Leaf Peep, Boat, Camp, Dine. Fish. Ice Fish. We have so many thing you can do here, all year long. I think that is what makes it so much fun.

5. When was the last time you were in a meeting? Sum it up for us in five words or less.

Two months.

6. What special event would you like a VIP pass to attend?

New Years Eve in Sydney Australia. They have one of the best firework shows and the city is simply one big party!

7. What’s one piece of advice you’d give a writer?

Allow your hero or heroine to be human. They will be far more interesting, and people will be able to relate to them.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Well, I am still struggling with this virus. I think last night was the hardest. I coughed and coughed and coughed until I almost couldn’t breath. I hope that last night was the turning point.

2013 vs 2014

Ever have one of those years? You know, the ones where you sort of feel challenged all year long?

Eighth grade was like that for me. I mean all those new classes, and the fact that my body developed and I started having all those wild and crazy feelings about boys, brought on by hormones!

Wait! Looking back now, that was a good year compared to 2013! This year has been really…well…challenging!

I’m actually looking forward to New Years this year. I am planning a big celebration with Hubby, as we ring out 2013 and ring in 2014!

I just have a feeling that 2014 is going to be so much better!

A few times during the year I sat myself down and did the old pep talk. “Life is good!”, “Happiness is just around the corner!”, “The glass is half full!”. But then, it seems like no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t run fast enough to get away from all the stuff descending on me this year.

Woops, before I start to fuss and whine, let me just say that I was doing really well until this virus hit and then I just said, “Forget about it!” I just give up!

I am going to try to slide through the rest of 2013 unscathed. And yes, I’m starting today to plan that New Years party!

Come on 2014!

Concord Grape Jelly

Concord Grape Jelly

3-3 ½ Concord Grapes

Discard stems, and place grapes in large kettle. Crush and add ½ cup of water.

Bring this mixture to a boil and cook for ten minutes, until the grapes have softened.

Put juice through nylon jelly bag to remove seeds and skins and allow to rest overnight. Pour juice through clean jelly bag again to remove crystals.

Measure:

4 cups of Grape Juice (you can add water if necessary)
7 cups sugar

1 pouch Certo Liquid Pectin

Mix Grape juice and 1 teaspoon of butter and the sugar in a large heavy pot. On high heat, bring to a full rolling boil, that cannot be stirred down.

Quickly add Pectin and bring to a full rolling boil again and cook exactly 1 minute.

Ladle into hot sterilized jelly jars, seal. Process jars for 10 minutes in boiling water bath.

Makes 7 (½) pints