TBT: Being Five

Here I am, at the tender age of five. From my browned skin and blonde hair, you can tell I spent most of my time outside. And from the length of my bangs (fringe) you can tell that my mother was the one who had cut them. For some unknown reason, my mother always cut the bangs too short, and usually, they were crooked!

20210428_174108Looking back, I recall spending most of my time either outside riding my bike, climbing trees, or shut away in my room. At five I still had so much daydreaming imagination.

Being five was fun.

Maribeth Dackel

TBT: My Mom & My Uncle

Mom and Uncle BobThis Throw Back Thursday is a picture of my Mom, Rosamond, and her big brother, Robert. Mom looks to be about 3 or 4 years old and Uncle Bob was 5 years older.

This was taken back in the day when most pictures were in black and white and then colored in. Still, it is a sweet picture.

Mom adored her brother, and quite sadly she lost him when he was fairly young.

 

TBT: Arnie At The Zuchtschau

Arnie was shown twice at a German dog show (Zuchtschau). This was the first time in September 2007. He did very well and was given an Excellent rating. The man with me was a Judge from Switzerland. He was very kind, and he enjoyed all of the dogs.

Sept 21 025The next picture is of Arnie and me as we walked the ring. Arnie was a joy to show.

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Such a sweet dog, with a great personality. People fell in love with him then and still do now.

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TBT: Melodie & Me

I think this was taken when I was in fifth grade. Melodie must have been in High School. Those were two of my favorite dresses ever! Sadly the white one never really fit me well. But that chocolate brown dress with the funky collar I wore over and over until it no longer fit me.

img254It’s about the only time Melodie was taller than me. Shortly after that I went through a growth spurt and left her far behind! In the end, I was 5 feet 8 inches tall and she was 5 feet 3 inches.

Dackel Shopping

TBT: Shubi & Me

SUNSETThis is Shubi and me as we sat on a little bench overlooking our lake at sunset. This was taken the summer we built our house. Shubi was my little sunshine and one of the sweetest dogs ever!

img333Shubi and I traveled all over Europe. She had her own little Doggy Passport and she was simply a wonderful flier and so polite at restaurants and hotels!

shubi and meWe had a motorcoach for a while and drove all over the USA and Canada. Shubi was amazing and spent most of her time riding right in my lap!

HONEY (2)She really was the light in my life. She gave me more than I could ever have given her. She was greatly loved.

Picture from 2002 2003 058Shubi was born on December 1, 1995, in Landshut, Germany. She was my first wirehaired dackel! She lived just ten years and died young due to illness. But I can look back and smile at our wonderful ten years, because of what a great time we had together!

Maribeth Dackel

TBT: Three Month Old Arnie

Arnie ~ March 27, 2007

My Throw Back Thursday is this adorable picture of Arnie. We hadn’t actually planned to keep Arnie, but when his new owner backed out at the very last minute, we knew that “Little Orphan Arnie” would be staying with us.

March 27 002Such a happy, frisky, funny, puppy. Has it really been fourteen years?

He is still such an amazing boy!

 

TBT: Arnie & Me

Since losing his sister last week, Arnie has been very sad, very needy, and very clingy to me. For fourteen years Arnie had his little sister and he’s struggling to find his place in this new world.

Arnie was the only boy in Greta’s first litter. He actually wasn’t supposed to stay. He’s been reserved by a woman in Upstate New York. But at the last minute, she changed her mind. By then, we’d fallen in love with Arnie and he stayed.

Feb. 4 ArnieArnie had all the girls swooning. He is such a sweet and personable doggy and everyone who met him fell in love.

March 20 036Arnie always fit into our household. Besides being born here, he was the dog who always played well with the others. He was the one who actually comforted the other dogs when they were hurt or sick.

And as the others got sick and left us, Arnie has been the one that has comforted me.

June 10 010 copyHe’s such a handsome old boy. At fourteen he has a few gray hairs but his eyes are still bright and he still has that marvelous swagger when he runs outside. I am hoping Arnie will be with us for a very long time. I’m not sure I can imagine a world without him in it!

20200802_170927Arnie age 14.

TBT: Kätchen

When I was growing up my grandparents used to say that I looked like Papa’s sister,  Kätchen. She was one year younger than Papa and they were very close.

Also, when  Kätchen first arrived in Boston from Germany, her first friend was my grandmother. Both girls were 8 years old, and my grandmother, being the little teacher she was, enjoyed teaching  Kätchen to speak English.

My grandfather told me it was love at first sight when he met Grandma Honey (Mary). And lucky for Papa he saw Mary quite frequently when she came over to teach and play with  Kätchen.

Kachen 1 (2)Kätchen

As  Kätchen grew, she blossomed into a strikingly beautiful woman. Her dark brown eyes and hair and fair skin were lovely to look at. She was also a sweet and kind person, and those who knew her adored her.

KachenThe beautiful Kätchen married Raymond on April 8, 1918, in Boston, Massachusetts. She died on January 10, 1919, in Boston, Massachusetts, at the age of 21. She was about to give birth to their first child, but the Spanish Flu epidemic was ravaging Boston. Her husband had been away at WWI and came back. Anxious to see his wife, he snuck in to see her.

Unfortunately, he carried the Flu into her and their unborn child. Kätchen became very ill with the Spanish Flu and a few days later she and her baby passed away.

Her husband Raymond lost the will to live and died in 1925.

Both Grandma Honey and Papa spoke of her often. In many ways, Kätchen had been like a sister to my Grandmother.

It is probably the reason I have been so careful during our current Pandemic. I know how easily a life can end if you are not careful.

I like to remember the good stories that Grandma told me about Kätchen. The games they played and as they grew Kätchen taught Grandma Honey to cook in her family’s kitchen. Two young women sharing their lives as best friends.

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