The Dackel Princess

Wednesday Hodgepodge #100

Congratulations to Joyce, for 100 weeks of Wednesday Hodgepodge!

1. What creeps you out?

Bugs. I hate bugs. Not that I am afraid of them, but they just creep me out! If I see a tick on the dog, once I remove it and kill it, I go through hours of feeling like they are crawling all over me! Yeah, that kind of stuff creeps me out!

2. What’s your least favorite candy?

Least favorite candy? Surely you jest? No, kidding. Actually, I don’t like licorice. I never have. It tastes so licorice-y. Yuck!

3. Are you a fan of scary movies? What’s the scariest movie you’ve ever seen?

No, I don’t like scary movies either. I did see The Exorcist, but must say, in general, I would rather watch chick flicks or happier movies. Supernatural scary movies gross me out!

4. What part of life confuses you the most?

How people can go through their lives and be totally oblivious to what is really important. It isn’t the money you make (although that is nice), but it is the love you have in your life.

5. Pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, poppy…what’s your favorite seed?

Actually, I get down right giddy when I have my new seeds for planting in the spring. I’m not really a seed eater, but when I am handling those seeds that I will plant in my garden, I get such a thrill!

6. Imagine your life ten years from today…what’s changed?

Savannah will be 10 years old! She may or may not have a sibling. I hope to be still living in my home, with a dackel or two, and my garden and fruit trees. I have learned from bitter experience, not to count my chickens before they hatch!

7. What do you a) love the most and b) like the least about the Hodgepodge?

I love the different questions each week. What do I like the least? Well, sometimes the questions ask more than I want to share, so I tend to gloss over those!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

We went through nearly 24 hours with no cable or Internet! I thought during that time, that I really should have a “Smart Phone”. But then the Internet came back, and now I can catch up. It’s amazing how attached we become to our computers!

Hurricanes & Baking!

I’m going to quickly write this, as our lights keep flickering. You see Hurricane Sandy is south of us, but her winds and rain are messing up our lives.

Because I get crazy and nervous about things like this, I am baking. I made a pumpkin pie, and butternut squash, and ham and au gratin potatoes.

I’m literally holing my breath because, as I said the lights are flickering, and I want everything to cook before we lose power.

It’s not too tragic, because we do have a generator, but it would be a big production.

Yesterday I tried on clothes and consequently I had to keep unhooking my heart monitor. This morning, the tech told me to redo the leads and take a reading to check on the accuracy. It’s back to working again, thankfully.

Oh, and don’t worry. I’m fine, just a little electrical problem. I already had the big test done, and my heart is in fine shape. Beats well, and it has no blockages! Yay!

Back to the clothes…I found two pairs of slacks and a nice blouse. Hubby got two pairs of slacks right off the rack! That almost never happens! He is 6 foot 4 inches tall and all legs!

Well, I’m going to set this up to post and will update things tomorrow, if we have power.

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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I was totally unproductive, and yet, I did not get much relaxing time either! We did go out to shop for clothes, and Hubby got two pair of pants and I got two as well.

We prepared for the approaching storm, but I still fail to see how it will affect us here in Central New Hampshire.

We’ve been through heavy rain and high winds. So, I’m simply not worried.

Have a great Monday, Everyone!

Happy Sunday

Saturday Hubby and I started preparing for the “storm”. I doubt we will be getting more than rain and wind, nothing tropical or hurricane like, but we know we are in an area where we often get high winds.

So Hubby picked the last of the apples, and I cleared the last of my vegetable pots of the patio. I took my little green peppers and stuffed them, and they’re now in the freezer. My Basil has also been harvested, and I made up mini containers of basil and olive oil to use in my cooking throughout the year.

I got very little relaxing done, and no reading. It was just one very busy day. I had hoped Sunday would be a slow day, but that’s just not going to happen.

I was watching “Love Actually” today while I was cooking and I was once again amazed at the wonder of that movie. So many positive messages, in one movie! I also love the music!

I also revisited “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 1”. By re-watching movies I think you get things that you may have missed the first or even second time.

Well, time for bed. This girl is one tired chick! Happy Sunday!

Blessings

On Friday I drove down early to see Mandy and Savannah. I left really early, because Mandy wanted to take Savannah into her work to introduce her. Mandy had her all dressed up in the cutest pink dress and ballerina tights for her debut!

Then we went off to do some shopping. Both of us needed a few things, and this time Macy’s came through with a few deals. We also walked through the mall, and I was able to pick up a cheap copy of “Love Actually”! I was so happy.

We stopped for lunch, and there we were in a noisy restaurant, and Savannah slept through it all. I know I could not do that. I need either silent rooms, or the low white noise of the TV. But slept, she did.

We visited Trader Joes, and I learned that the Christmas Stollen (Fruit Bread), and the Lebkuchen (cookies) from Germany won’t be in until mid November.

Then we headed back to Mandy’s place and began snapping pictures. If you ever have trouble getting a picture of a baby or young child, use the paparazzi setting on your camera. It works so well.

Savannah and Mandy.

Pulling her Mom’s hair.

Savannah and Grandma!

I can’t believe how fast she is growing up! She loves to sit up now and actively reaches and plays with her toys. She talks to Mandy and to her toys.

And I as her Grandma, am amazed!

Friday Fill-Ins

And…here we go!

1. Oh, that husband of mine! Just when I think he can not surprise me, he does or says something that makes me feel so loved and cherished.
2. It’s a sure sign of late Autumn when there is frost on the pumpkin.
3. Are we having chicken again??!.
4. My heart beats fast and I feel like it will pop out of my chest.
5. Do you believe in Angels? I sure do!
6. I’m a grandma who loves her Savannah.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to a little rest, tomorrow my plans include the washing, drying and ironing of shirts (ugh!) and Sunday, I want to relax and maybe take a nap!

Thursday Thirteen

This and that this week!

I had to say good bye to a dear friend, as she moves south. I hope it won’t be for too long. I will really miss her!
We grocery shopped on Tuesday and I could not believe the prices in the stores. They were so much higher than 10 days ago.
We had a weird thing happen at Walmart. I went to pay for our purchase with my Amex Credit Card, and it was rejected!
I was so puzzled, but I used my Visa card and all went well.
Today I picked up the mail, and we got new Amex cards sent to us. I was puzzled as they had the same expiration dates!
So, I called my American Express provider and asked what was going on.
It turns out that our data had been compromised and that a whole block of us had to be issued new cards.
So far I have not had any bad charges show up. They must have caught it it time.
Meanwhile, Hubby and I spent the morning changing the numbers on all of our pre-paid accounts.
This made me slightly crazy as my Facebook account was hacked yesterday and I had to fix all of that.
I really hate the thought of malicious little hackers trying to rock my world…in a bad way!
Friday is a girls day with Mandy and Savannah! Yay!!!
We’re planning a Mall visit, as well as a trip to Trader Joes!

Wednesday Hodgepodge #99

1. So, do you like beer?

I sure do! But specific beer. Not just any old beer. I love German beer. My favorite being Andechs! Although I also love Warsteiner. Yum! When we lived for a summer in West Berlin, I gained 25 pounds! Between the great beer, the fabulous bread and the cakes, I’m afraid it was too much for my waistline!

I also love English Bitter (a form of beer), but I have not been there for a while, so forget the specific name. I also like Green Kings Abbot Ale and McEwan’s Ale in England. Not a fan of American beer. To me it tastes like dishwater.

2. What’s your least favorite repetitive task?

Washing counter tops. It seems that I do this over and over and over again. And yet, between grease and dust and dogs, I am always washing surfaces. I really dislike grease, so the kitchen is my least favorite place to wash down.

3. When was the last time you rode a bus? Where was it headed?

I think two years ago when we were at an Army Reunion and went from Columbus Georgia to Warm Springs Georgia to see Roosevelt’s Little White House. The grounds were lovely, and the group stopped at a good old southern restaurant and had a great meal!

4. What song from your childhood or from your own children’s childhood could make a parent’s nerves stand on end?

I’m not sure there is one. My daughter has similar musical tastes and I was never a wild child. So I have to say….none.

5. The US Presidential election cycle is drawing to a close (can I get an AMEN??), and the third and final debate was held last night…what was the last thing you ‘debated about’?

I recently asked people I know on Facebook, “Is it possible to be friends with people you don’t agree with politically?” Most said yes, with the exception of a few people who didn’t answer. I knew that they wouldn’t because a few people have actually written that they would defriend anyone suspected of voting for “the other man”. I sure will be glad when the election is over!

6. Can a person make too much money? How much is too much?

The only people I really gripe about are the Hollywood types. I think they are grossly overpaid! I mean, really! Ashton Kutcher gets $700,000 per episode! Come on, really? That’s for about 20 minutes of work, considering the rest is for commercial breaks. So, yes, Hollywood is crazy!

7. Pop-soda-coke-something else…what’s it called where you live?

Soda or Soda-pop! I have never been a big soda drinker. When I drink it, I always get the hiccups! Must be the bubbles!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

The last week has been kind of crazy. People I love have been getting sick, some seriously, and others with bad things like pneumonia. I myself am having a health problem right now, and must undergo some tests. I am hoping for a karma shift in my world, so that we all feel better soon!

Hand Sanitizers & Mice

Monday was a weird sort of day. I woke early to bright skies, but cool temperatures. I wore my winter robe, and my coat, and my hat and my gloves when I walked the dogs. Still, I froze. Guess I better toughen up, the winter in nearly upon us.

Hubby slept in until 9:15! I was so glad when he finally got up because I was pretty hungry. I made our breakfast, and then got ready to go to my doctor’s appointment.

I had two errands to run before I went. One to the Post Office, and the other to Walmart. I got to the Post Office to mail some things, and I reached into my bag only to find my hand sanitizer bottle had opened! Inside my purse it was soaked. Most especially my wallet.

Well, I have heard that money is about the most dirty item that one can come in contact with. Not the money in my bag! It is thoroughly sanitized!

I finished the errands and made my doctor’s appointment. I even got to his office a tad early and got to read. I have to have a few tests later this week and go back to see him in two weeks.

On my way home I learned that my computer mouse had arrived at the Post Office, so I swung by and picked it up. I love my mouse so very much!

Happy Tuesday!

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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I have to admit that this past weekend was a really full one. I was busy getting the house clean (it never ends) and the laundry done (that also never ends) and still manage to find some time to spend with my friend, and then escape and give myself some much needed down time.

I’ve been cooking up some great meals. We ate another dinner of rainbow and brook trout that Dave brought to us! Ah my dear David, keep the fish coming!

I noticed that the dackels had some tartar on their canines. So, I broke out the compressed rawhides and they are going to town on those. That usually takes care of any problems that crop up.

I just find it crazy that I get my teeth cleaned and examined for less than $100.00. But the dackels teeth cleaning at the Vet’s Office would be close to $300.00 each! Something is wrong there!

The weather is good, and there are still brightly colored leaves on the trees, but mostly Autumn is past us now.

It was so nice on Sunday morning to go for a walk with the two girls and smell a wood stove burning to take the chill of of my neighbor’s house. I just love that smell.

The week ahead finds me going to the doctor, and hopefully see Mandy and Savannah on Friday!

Happy Monday, Everyone!