The Dackel Princess

Time To Plant The Seeds!

Today I will have Hubby set me up at a table with a spade, my seeds, and the cups for planting the seeds.

Yes, today will be seed starting day!

I am determined to get these seeds started now, so that around June the first I can plant the plants in the garden.

This year I got disease resistant seeds for the zucchini and summer squash and cucumbers. The last couple of years I have had a little problem with powdery mildew and then leaf curl.

I’ll be buying my tomato plants and my eggplant plants. Now doesn’t that sound funny?

I was peaking outside today and noticed that the lilacs and forsythia are starting to open their buds.

The next week we will have temperatures in the 60’s, so I am thinking that the shrubs will start to really blossom out!

Oh, I just love spring in New England!

A young friend of mine was out shopping recently and saw “the cutest puppy ever” in a pet store window. I know how that is. I’ve seen the dogs too, and so wanted to throw caution to the wind and buy the dog on the spot and become a pet owner.

In the past, what stopped me was the crazy prices that these stores charged and the fact that I was very poor,

But as I grew older and learned more, I learned all about puppy mills, sick animals and broken hearts.

So back to my friend, who fell in love with a puppy, bought him on the spot and two days later was dealing with a very sick puppy, whose chances of survival are not good.

My friend went back to the store and naturally they do not want to refund the money for the dog, or for the money spent on the Veterinary. The best bet in this case is Legal Aid and the Attorney General’s Office for Consumer Affairs.

I’m taking this time to remind you all to stay away from Pet Stores. They primarily deal with puppy mills and the animals are rarely in good condition.

There are actually a few ways to go when you make up your mind to adopt a doggy into your home.

First, the local Humane Society have dogs all the time. Puppies even, desperately needing homes. They are mixed up jumbles of DNA, who more than likely will have fewer genetic problems than that Pet Store Puppy will.

The other good thing about shelters is that they have Vet’s that come in and make sure that these animals are in good health, and they spay and neuter them.

If you are really set about having a certain breed of dog in your life, then let Mr. Google help you out. Type in the search box say, “Dachshund Rescue and your state” and you will find that almost every state in the country have rescue groups with pups ready for a place to call home and people to love.

Pet ownership is expensive enough these days without falling in love with a pup that will drain your pocketbook in the first few days you have them, just because of the horrible puppy mill people who breed them.

Happy Birthday Puppies!

4 years old!

Today Anneliese’s puppies are four years old. He is a short montage looking back as well as a few new ones,

Plastics

It has been a hard recovery for me this time. I’ve had more pain than the last time and quite honestly, this makes me pretty hesitant about the next surgery.

Yes, there will be another one in the next few weeks. It seems, things did not come out quite right.

So on May 1st I go back to see the plastic surgeon, my dermatologist and gynecologist. All at this one medical center an hour and fifteen minutes away. With that, I am actually happy. At least I got all three appointments on one day!

My face looks so much better than it did before the surgery, but under the graft on my nose it too much flesh and blood. Also on the forehead, that also needs to be cleaned up as it also did not come through the way the doctor wanted.

One thing I have come to learn is that plastic surgery, after this type of damage, often goes in stages.

So I was exhausted last night and fell asleep long before I wrote Dackel Princess.

I’m hoping to get back to my usual self soon, and get writing more often.

Have a great Thursday Everyone!!!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. April showers bring May flowers…what have you been showered with this month?

Computer peripherals. My high speed internet modem and my router. I replaced the modem, and then (fortunately) took the router out of the box and got it hooked up!

2. What is the nature of compassion? Is it learned or innate? Can compassion be learned? If you’re a parent is this something you’ve purposely sought to instill in your children, and if so how?

I think this is a tough question. Some people have never been taught, of have the innate quality of compassion. I tried to teach my girls compassion by doing clothing drives for the poor, as well as having them go through their toys to donate to a woman’s shelter. I think it worked because Mandy is so very thoughtful and compassionate.

3. Do you prefer to watch romantic comedy or romantic drama…or are you rolling your eyes saying bring on the action flicks?

I like romantic comedy, and I also love action flicks, but not horrific ones. I love Bruce Willis, and his action movies always make me sit on the edge of my seat and sometimes laugh.

4. It’s April which means baseball season is officially upon us here in the US of A. Humphrey Bogart is quoted as saying “A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz.” Agree or Disagree?

Oh yeah! There is nothing like a hot-dog and beer at the ballpark!

5. What’s something in your community or city that needs fixing or improving?

Apparently, the park trails now that it is spring. Hubby is going this weekend to help clear the trails!

6. Share a song you enjoy that mentions flowers or a specific flower in its title.

7. April 22nd is Earth Day…do you believe there’s life on other planets? That wasn’t the question you were expecting was it?

I’d like too. How exciting!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Taken this morning on the left. Here is my after on the right!

Twas The Day Before Surgery…

My Monday began much like any other day. Walking the dogs, making the coffee…and then my day turned upside down.

I had no Internet connection! I went and rebooted my router as I’ve been having a lot of trouble with that, but no, it didn’t work. So, as I got my second cup of coffee, I called my Internet Service Provider.

She tested the modem and it was determined that the modem was indeed dead.

So after breakfast, off Hubby and I went to exchange the modem, get the light bulb I talked about yesterday and food for our picky eater, Fritz.

As we roamed the isles of Walmart a little girl took one look at me and then followed me for several isles. Her eyes were wide with wonder and her mouth agape! Oh yes, I can hardly wait for my surgery!

Upon our arrival home, I hooked up the new modem and after another round with tech support, we got the modem running.

But then the router up and completely died! I sat down thinking. We already have our new, replacement router, but I was a little afraid to get it online.

I opened the box, read the almost non-existent instructions, where they actually said, “If you have any questions see us at www://……….

Now how the heck can you go online if the router isn’t working?

After several hours (I kid you not!) I finally got the router up and running. There are still tweaks to be done, but we can at least access the Internet! Yay!

I got the call for my surgery today. I must be at the hospital by 11:30 for a 1:00 pm surgery.

Folks, this nightmare is nearly over, and soon I will have my face back!

Savannah took her first steps!

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how happy I am about that! Oh, how I can hardly wait to see her in person!!!

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So off to bed I go and I’ll report in on Wednesday and let you know how it all went!

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!

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Well this past weekend was the weekend I prepared in earnest for all that is to come. The really weird part is, I’m actually ready both here at home and in my head.

I look around my home and I see a certain amount of organization. Why I even cleaned my refrigerator today and discovered a burned out light bulb in the bottom, so we’ll take care of that on Monday.

There are several things I am looking forward to after the surgery!

I’m looking forward to being able to sleep freely. Right now I have to sleep on my back and after a night of sleeping like this, I wake up so stiff and achy.
I’m looking forward to showers where I can allow the water to splash in my face! Currently I can only shower with my nose covered and with my back to the water!

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I’m looking forward to being able to go outside and feel the wind on my face without pain, much like a cavitie, on my poor raw nose!
I’m looking forward to being able to go out and not have people stare at me and wonder…
I’m looking forward to going for a nice walk in the sunshine!
I am looking forward to wearing my glasses again! I never thought I would say that, after complaining about wearing them for years! Just call me vain!!!
I am looking forward to living life to the fullest! Spending time with Hubby, Mandy and Savannah! I haven’t seen my girls in a few weeks now and I sure miss them!

So you see, I have so much life to live and things to be grateful for. Right now it is just getting through the next week and I bet I will be good as new!

Green Grass

Friday found spring coming to New Hampshire. Temperatures soared into the 70’s and the sun shined down upon us!

Hubby has gotten the garden fertilized and also plowed the soil. I decided that despite the surgery I will still plant a garden! We will pick up our starter soil either today or tomorrow.

Once I am home from the hospital I will have Hubby set me up with a table, chairs, the soil, planters and seeds and I will get my plants going. As long as I have the plants going by the end of the month I’ll be okay.

So I went to bed last night and shortly after I did the rain began to fall and we had our first thunder storm. I lay there listening to the rain, thinking how nice it sounded after a winter of snow.

When I got up on Saturday morning, I looked outside and our previously winter brown grass had turned green! Yes, spring is here!

After watching nearly nonstop TV coverage of the terrorism suspects, on Saturday I used streaming TV to watch Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations” and “Love it or List It”. I simply need to get away from all the distressing news.

So, life is settling in to it’s usual pattern, and Hubby and I are enjoying the first hours of spring.

I Got A Friend

I was sitting here today, thinking about the weeks to come. The surgery, the recovery, and how my nose might look. As I sat in silence, I looked down, and this is what I saw:

No matter how I feel, or what I am thinking, Anneliese is always by my side. She loves me, snuggles with me, and with her I know, I am never alone.

It started when she was really young. I think she was about 6 weeks old when I fell in love with her and she with me.

I mean, look at that face! How could you not fall in love with her?

As the years have passed, this little dog has learned to cuddle and comfort me, always be by my side, and despite the fact that she can be a real mischief, she is also as gentle as can be.

And now, as I near my surgery, Anneliese has literally glued herself to my side. She truly lets me know, that no matter what, I have a friend!

Hope

A month ago when I saw myself after my initial plastic surgery, I was convinced I would be forever deformed. Looking at the swollen face, the draining incisions was not an easy thing to do on a day to day basis.

But then today, I looked at the pictures I’d taken and I noticed that I look so much better!

The picture on the left was taken the day of my first plastic surgery. The picture on the right was taken today, a month later.

Seeing the improvement made me feel so happy! I actually feel like I have a chance of getting my face back!

I have hope! Yes, HOPE!!!