Thursday Thirteen

Aug 1 002

Wednesday was a busy day. Here’s what I was up to.

  1. I went to Weight Watchers and I have lost 2 pounds. Now I just have to keep up the momentum!
  2. I brought one car in to be inspected, while picking up the first one. We have one more to go. Our seldom used winter Jeep.
  3. I deposited our tax refund check, such as it was…
  4. Made Hubby lunch with the luscious bread I got at the King Arthur Baking Center.
  5. I also had a sandwich. Peanut-butter and banana, my favorite!
  6. I watered my plants and spent some time talking to them. Finally my butternut squash seeds are sprouting!
  7. I finally have my medical records from my surgeries moving toward the doctor I will see in Boston. You do not know what I had to do to get the hospital to cough them up!
  8. I decided that it was time to free up my computer, download my pictures to an external drive, and then get rid of extra unused stuff and do the ultimate.
  9. Yes, I defragged!
  10. A couple months ago we bought these pre-seasoned baby-back ribs and they were awful. Because it was a large package we’d only cooked half, which meant we still had half a pack. I knew I needed to use them!
  11. So after I thawed them out, I rinsed off the yucky rub and sauced them, put them in my dutch oven and cooked them slowly.
  12. Surprisingly, they came out well.
  13. I finally have relief from my allergies. Chlortrimeton and Sudefed. I finally feel human again!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. May is National Blood Pressure Month…what sends yours soaring, either literally or figuratively? What calms you down? When did you last have your bp checked?

Since I have incedibly low blood pressure, not much makes it go higher, even when I am upset. However, I totally get angry when someone is careless in their own life, and it could affect me. A good example of this was yesterday. I was driving my car down to the mechanics and I was waiting to pull out into traffic. I waited, timing my entrance into traffic and then just as I started to pull out the man in the right lane turned left onto my road without using his directional signal. The bad part was that coming toward me was a large truck, pulling a tractor. I came very close to losing the car vs truck battle. It really scared me!

2. You just found $1-what do you spend it on? How about 10$ 100?

Lately I’ve been saving for a rainy day. Even a dollar can ad up to something wonderful!

3. Mandatory labeling of genetically engineered (GE) food has been proposed, but not enacted in the US. How much attention do you give food labels before you buy? Are you in favor of labeling if it means an increase in food prices? Is this an issue you’ve been following and feel strongly about, or is this the first you’ve heard of the controversy?

I am pleased with calories, fiber, and ingredients. I don’t mind too much about the whole GE thing. After all many seeds are genetically engineered so that crops last longer and for me, my curbit vegetables don’t die from disease.

4. May 15th marks the birth-date of Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz. At this point in time, are you more in need of brains, courage, heart, or a trip back home? Explain.

I think I need both courage and heart. The last few months of my life has left me feeling frail and in need of both those things.

5. “There’s no place like home” is an oft repeated line from Baum’s book. When was the last time you felt the truth of that statement?

After my surgeries. Especially the second one. I just wanted to come home and be here. And I have hidden here quite a bit.

6. Steak…yes please or no thank you? What cut do you prefer and how do you like yours cooked? Sauce or no sauce? Besides your own kitchen, where’s a place you like to go to get a great steak?

Steak, yes. Love steak. Matt made steak tips last weekend on the grill and they were fabulous. Since I would rather cook than go out for a steak, I can’t really say. I did have a great Prime Rib at the wedding we went to last month. I like mine rare, very rare!

7. When was the last time you were in a genuine hurry?

We were on the way to the hospital for my second surgery and I was a wreck. We were late, late, late, and I was already nervous!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I went to the King Arthur Four Museum, gift shop and cafe on Tuesday. It was terrific!

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This picture I borrowed from their web site.

They had all sorts of baking and cooking items and an area where you could watch them bake their own bread!

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It was so exciting to watch, as long ago in a galaxy far, far away, I used to bake all my own bread! And I used King Arthur Flour!We lunched, and talked and then went to a gift shop that specialized in children’s gifts!

Allergy season is upon us and this is the worst I can remember. I’ve been sneezing, coughing and sniffling all day. I want rain. A good long, hard, rain to wash down the pollen count!

Monday’s Happenings!

Monday found me trying to catch up with stuff around the house, as well as begin my ultimate plans of selling our pick-up truck and motor coach. The pick-up truck was a breeze. It’s sold and will be picked up on Monday.

However, the same deal gave me a rather insulting lowball offer on the motor coach, so now I am planning to advertize on a web site and Craigs List. Perhaps Ebay as well.

Since Hubby’s stroke a few years back, we have not used the motor coach and it is time to get it….gone.

When we were in there today I noticed a few things need to be done. I need to vacuum and wash done things, and also remove all of our stuff and have clean, clear shelves.

I want it ready so that if someone buys it, they can take it the same day if they want to. So cleaning of the motor coach comes very soon.

Meanwhile, I made a quick dinner of meatloaf and mashed potatoes and carrots. Easy.

Tuesday I am off to The King Arthur Museum! I shall report in tomorrow!

What I Did This Past Weekend

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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!

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On Friday Hubby and I went out to a concert. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was playing near our home, and since we both love blue grass/country music, I’d gotten us tickets when they first announced the show a few months back.

We’d seen them a year ago and enjoyed the concert a great deal. This year there was a big change. We both felt a real soul filled concert filled with a spirituality.

The group now consists of Jeff Hanna and John McEuen.

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As well as Jimmie Faddon,

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and Bob Carpenter on keyboards.

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During the encore they called the warm up band on stage and the all jammed together for about 15-20 minutes.

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It was so amazing and when we left I had a feeling that we had just witnessed something very special.

I am not one of those people who go to a lot of concerts like this, but I am so happy that we went and had such an awesome time!

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Saturday we went to Mandy and Matt’s home and spent the day with them, Savannah and Matt’s parents. It was such a nice fun day. Savannah is starting to walk and I enjoyed getting down on the floor with her and watching her toddle along!

Have a great week everyone!

Happy Mother’s Day

My favorite picture of Mandy and Me. Yesterday she made a beautiful meal to celebrate Mother’s Day.

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And here are some new ones of our darling Savannah!
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She will be a year old in just a couple of weeks!

My daughter is the best mother. Savannah is sweet and happy and I know it is because she has such a wonderful mother.

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She is taking her first few steps and eating everything. She loves angel cake and whipped cream!


I got right down there on the floor and had a blast playing with her!

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Best of all, she loves me so matter what I look like. That is such a wonderful feeling!

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This was the best Mother’s Day ever!

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Happy 8th Blogaversary To Me!

Here we are eight years down the road and I am still writing Dackel Princess. I started writing back then, thinking no one would read me, and that blogging would be something I didn’t do for very long.

I’d promised myself that if I was paying to blog, I would blog each day. It was incentive for me. So despite surgeries, vacations and births and deaths, I have written every day for the last eight years.

Oh sometimes it was fluff, you know question and answer stuff, but many times I actually sat down and poured my heart out to you all. I’ve shared my happiness and sadness, and my fear. And you have been so wonderfully supportive of me.

I have no idea how long I will blog, but I would like to think that I will be sharing myself with my little part of the world for a long time.

So, Happy Blogaversary to me!

It’s Late

We just got in from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Concert, and it was fantastic, but it is late and we have to be up early in the morning, so I am going to say good night for now and I promise I will write all about this event tomorrow.

I will say that I spent an entire evening smiling and just feeling good! It’s been a while! Oh how very nice that was!

Friday, Fritz and Savannah Rose

Fritz was off to the Vet on Thursday for his shots. I decided to try a new Vet. A real country doc. who works out of her house. We really liked her and so did Fritz. Best of all, she realizes that people love their animals but shouldn’t have to chose between caring for their pets or buying food. He had his exam done and his shots, and the total was $77.00!

Right now New Hampshire is in full bloom. Going over to the new Vets office afforded us the opportunity to enjoy the forsythia, the dogwood, and all the fruit trees as well.What a splendid ride!

Usually Autumn is my favorite time of year, but for some reason, this spring has been wonderful!

Perhaps it is because in just a couple of weeks Miss Savannah Rose will be a year old!

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What a joy she is in my life. A real blessing!

By The Numbers

  1. I returned to Weight Watchers today. I have not been since this whole cancer problem started. The weigh in was not as bad as it could have been.
  2. I came home and Hubby and I talked and I’ve decided to get another opinion on my face. I do not like how my nose is healing. The graft looks like someone stuck a chicklet (candy) under the skin on my nose!)
  3. I have a good friend who has had plastic work done on her face after cancer removal and she looks beautiful!
  4. So we will drive to Boston and see her doctor, and get another opinion.
  5. If I like this doctor and feel confident then I will have him finish the surgeries.
  6. I went out today for a girlie luncheon! I had a wonderful mushroom quiche and salad. It was perfect and I did not break my WW eating plan.
  7. I came home and watched the end of the Jodie Arias murder trial. Thank goodness she was found guilty. I watched quite a bit of the trial, and it really sickened me.
  8. I stopped at our local farm stand. Can we say “Asparagus Season”? Yay!!!
  9. The friend who gave me the Boston Plastic Surgeon’s name and phone asked me to lunch next week. I’m excited because we are taking a road trip to the King Arthur Flour Museum and Cafe in Vermont!
  10. We take Mr. Fritz in to the Vet today. I hope it will all be good news.
  11. I’ll be going to see Mandy, Matt and Savannah on Saturday to celebrate Mother’s Day a little early. Matt’s parent’s will be there and it will be great to see them.
  12. Do you all realize that Savannah will be one year old in two weeks?
  13. I still have hope!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. When the children of today grow up, what do you think they’ll say about this period in time? What do you most hope they remember?

I hope that like all children in time they will remember the love of their families. I was just thinking about Savannah and how she is such a happy child.

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My daughter is a fantastic mother, and Savannah is one of the happiest children that I know.

2. National Teacher’s Day is celebrated in the US of A on the first Tuesday in May, this year May 7th…share how a particular teacher positively impacted you.

Miss Norris, my second grade teacher. She was wonderful and warm, and made me want to learn.

3. What’s a dish your mama made, that if set in front of you today would whisk you right back to childhood?

My mom’s Sauerbraten. I make a fair Sauerbraten myself, but I always think of her when I make it.

4. Mother May I was a game we played when I was growing up…no pieces, parts, or plugs required. What games from childhood do you remember loving that were also pieces, parts, and plug-free?

I loved my Barbie dolls, and made clothes for them out of scrap material. But if we are taking about games, we did used to ride our bikes pretending they were horses, and climb trees, and doing flips and cartwheels and splits on the lawn.

5. Besides your own mother, tell us about a woman who influenced you as a child?

My Grandmother, Mary Francis Daniel Prussman.

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She was a ladies, lady and taught me so much.

6. Mamma Mia! What’s the best play or musical you’ve ever seen?

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Probably not THE best, but I loved it nonetheless! I love the ABBA music and I thought Meryl Streep was awesome! I also love The Sound of Music! Probably because I played Gretel in our community theater when I was a child!

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Yes, that is me age 8 years old playing Gretel.

7. What are three smells that make you feel nostalgic?

Bread baking in the oven, lilacs and baking chocolate chip cookies. As you can see, food smells really dominate my pleasure centers.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I’m still struggling with my face.
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I’ve never been a patient person, and yet it appears I will have to be. Meanwhile, I am returning to Weight Watchers today and plan to get myself physically back in shape!