The Dackel Princess

A Weekend Of Mixed Emotions

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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The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even for ever more.

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My weekend was full with a wide variety of things both marvelously happy and heartbreakingly sad.

With the birth of dearest Savannah, our world is now full of a sweet bright light! She is a gentle soul, a good sleeper, and the apple of her parent’s eyes, as well as her grandparent’s! Mandy is a natural mother and so good and calm with the baby. Matt is a good Papa Bear and very protective. I think the most heart warming thing was watching Mandy’s grandmother hold her only great-grandchild in her arms! That was true beauty!

Everyone is so happy to see her that we have banded together to fill her world with love! It’s a wonderful thing!

But just as our Savannah entered the world, our friends called to let us know that their 48 year old daughter has died from ovarian cancer. A wonderful young woman, with two small children, and a church filled with loving family and friends to say farewell.

I saw the face of her mother, my friend, and my heart broke for her. Her father, also looked terribly stricken as he tried to keep the family together, and my heart ached for him as well.

You see, this week and weekend was the best of times and some quite sad times too.

Bye-Bye

I’ve heard it said that grandchildren are the very best. That it is different from having your own children, but in so many ways, even better.

How is it possible, to open ones eyes one day and see a little bundle of joy, your daughter’s child, and absolutely, positively, fall in love!

Savannah Rose is an amazing, beautiful, sweet, perfect little girl! I look into her eyes and see the start of a wonderful life for her, and for her parents! Also for us, her grandparents.

Of course, all too soon, it was time for me to drive home, and get back to Hubby and to my puppy dogs. I must say, they were all happy to see me and this also made me feel good. However, I admit to feeling a real twinge of unhappiness when I had to say my good-byes to Mandy and Savannah.

The Day After

Today I spent the day with my daughter and her daughter! Doesn’t that have a nice ring to it? Mandy is a natural. I know that she is still a bit under the weather from her c-section, but I am so proud of her! She just knew everything she needed to do, and didn’t need anyone telling her what to do.

I loved watching them, and oh, I tried so hard to be quiet and just watch, but I’m afraid I took too many pictures!

I couldn’t help myself! She is a real beauty and I just wanted to document her beauty!

By the end of the day, both Mandy and Savannah were exhausted. Looking back, I think they both could have used a good long nap in the late morning or early afternoon. Tomorrow is my last visit, and I will keep it brief. But I sure will miss both of them and Matt!

Welcome Sweet Savannah Rose!

On May 31st, at 2:32 PM, my first grand-daughter, Savannah Rose took her first breaths and cries as her parents welcomed her into the world.

She was three weeks early, and weighed in at 7 pounds and 15 ounces, and was 19 1/2 inches long. Her Mom and Dad were together in the delivery room, as Mandy had a cesarean section.

All of them are well now and you can see the proud Papa holding his girl!

Mandy needed her rest after the big event, so I promised no pictures until she gets some sleep. But for now, I must say, holding my little grand-daughter made me feel like life just doesn’t get any better than this!

Friday Fill-Ins

And…here we go!

1. Hallelujah! Savannah is Here!!!!
2. Right now, holding my grand-daughter is where I wanna be!
3. When I was walking the dog this morning, I saw a handful of goose feathers in the road and I thought uh-oh, no pate (lol).
4. The sun came up and that’s how I knew it was time to head south to be there for Savannah’s birth.
5. What were once vices are now little gems..
6. A fried egg sandwich is what I’ve been having for breakfast lately.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to visiting with my daughter and then my cousin, tomorrow my plans include more baby time and then home to Hubby and Sunday, I want to collapse!

Thursday Thirteen

The Garden Edition

On Saturday Hubby told me the time had come to do the planting of our garden.
Gah! That is hard, hot work!
My cousin, Janet saved me, by coming up to go to the local Craft Fair!
Upon my return from that I was tired. Or so I thought!
The next day Hubby dragged me outside and we planned what we were going to do.
We put up the fences, around the garden. And hung the lines for the pea plants.
We raked the dirt to get rid of the weeds. I planted the peas.
I then came into the house and soaked in a hot tub. (Despite a little sunburn on my shoulders!)
Monday we brought all of the plants out to the garden.
Hubby raked all the hills for me and I got down on my stool and planted them
My bottom started to ache like I’d been riding a bike.
But after 5 hours, the garden was done and I came back in and soaked once again.
The Garden 2012 is now planted! And my body is in one piece! If not a bit sore!

Okay, I promise not to mention my aching back, legs and shoulders for another year. One thing planting this garden has shown me is that I simply have to work out more!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What can the average citizen do to honor a military veteran and/or those currently serving?

My husband is a Veteran and I am so thankful that he came home from the War in Vietnam. No one honored him at the time. In fact they called him names and the men that served so bravely, were spit upon.

Several years ago I started doing something that was hard for me at first because I was always close to tears. When I saw a man or woman in fatigues flying home or having a casual meal with their comrades, I would go over and thank them for their service to our country. I have seen elderly men who served in WW II with their battle ship’s cap on and I also will go over to them and thank them. With each handshake, each smile, it got easier for me not to cry. I cannot even begin to tell you how happy and surprised these men and women are.

One man asked why I was doing this. I stopped mid shake and responded, “You see that man over there? That’s my husband. When he came home from Vietnam, no one said Thank-You.”

The young man turned and walked over to Hubby and shook his hand and thanked him! Hubby was so touched.

2. Besides a flag what is something you own that is red, white and blue?

A dish set that my cousin Janet gave me a few years ago.

3. Does love really conquer all?

No. But it sure helps a lot.

4. Strawberry shortcake or blueberry pie?

Strawberry Shortcake!

5. Do you share personal stuff with your hairdresser?

Oh yes, we are very good friends. I have gone in on bad days and cried my eyes out, and even called her to share good news!

6. Does money lead to selfishness?

It can, if one is not grounded.

7. What piece of furniture in your home most needs replacing or refinishing?

My mattress! It is older than it should be and lumpier than all get out. The next thing to get replaced is that silly, lumpy, thing!

8. Insert your own random here.

June is nearly here, and with that, time to spend with Mandy, the arrival of my granddaughter, and tending to the garden, Hubby and the pooches!

The Garden!

I am happy to announce that the garden is completely planted! Yay for us. We are both sore and tired, but the garden is planted and looks great!

I couldn’t have done it without Hubby! He helped me to turn the soil and then rake the dirt into hills, and then set out the plants. Although, I must say I planted each and every one of those blasted plants!

After which, Hubby got out the hose and watered down the entire garden. He is my Prince! Fritz and Greta kept us company too, but I had to put the two pups inside as they are no help at all!

So this is the garden 2012. We will have to see how it does this year! I sure hope it is as prolific as it has been during previous years! By the way…one of our tomato plants already has two little tomatoes!

Let the growing begin!

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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It was a big weekend here in the States. It was Memorial Day Weekend, during which time we remember all those men and women who have given their lives for our freedom. There are parades and flags are put out at the graves of Military men and women.

Memorial Day is also the unofficial start to the summer season here in New England. Our temperatures have warmed, and the ground has thawed and many people, like me, plant their gardens.

I somehow don’t recall it being this difficult to rake the dirt, set up the little fence and prepare the garden for planting. In the past I have gotten in there, and planted and not thought much about it. This year, I can feel it in several key areas of my body.

Knee, Shoulder, and Back!

Now what does this tell me? That at 53, I am not 23 any longer, and things will ache when used in ways that I do not normally use them.

I have now gotten the pea lines tied, and the peas actually planted and tomorrow Hubby will help me do the actual planting of vegetables. Then I am done.

Until the first weeding!

Meanwhile, I went to the Craft Fair, that I wrote about yesterday and had a great time. I got some infused balsamic vinegar (lemon) and I have my chicken breasts marinating for tonight. I hope they are terrific!

My daughter’s due date for Savannah Rose is approaching, and we are all on pins and needles! I now sleep with my cell phone so I can get the call which will find me on the road to the hospital!

One Jury Duty I was released from because they settled the matter out of court. My next Jury Duty will be heard after June 1st and I am hopeful that it will be settled out of court.

Greta was outside with me for most of the afternoon and she was so good. She used to roam away, but in her old age, she stays close and often brings her ball to play with me, while I work.

Lastly, a friend of mine from High School passed away. He was a fun, warm and wonderful man. In High School he made me laugh and we exchanged wicked jokes! He had an older son and grandchild a lovely wife, and two younger children. I feel so sad for them all. It wasn’t fair to any of them, to lose this wonderful man. I just hate Cancer!

Craft Fairs

Saturday was the Annual Memorial Day Fair. My cousin Janet came up, as she nearly always does, weather permitting, and we walked down town to the Fair, all around it and enjoyed the crafts, food and even the clothing displayed there.

During our walk to the town we came upon the most beautiful little garden filled with poppies. I simply had to get a picture, as it was so pretty.

Once we got to the Fair we went from stall to stall. Several stalls of food had samples! We tried various mustards and dips and sauces. One place had various jams and jellies, and even infused Balsamic Vinegars. I bought a 4 pack of different flavors.

Janet had a great time as well, and we even splurged and had our once a year hot-dog and Ben&Jerry ice cream cone!

There were a lot of dogs there. Most of them did will with the other dogs. Except the smallest of small. A mini Yorkie. That dog just barked and barked! I knew that if I had brought any of the dackels, they too would have barked up a storm.

This booth cracked me up with all of their funny signs. A few years ago, I got one that says “The Lake House” I love it for my screened porch.

Then as we got ready to walk home, we passed this waterfall. It takes the water from Lake Waukewan and dumps it into Lake Winnipesaukee. Some years, if it is dry, the falls slow to a mere trickle. Of course other years when we have a lot of rain, it comes through so fast that it literally sprays you!

The Craft Fair happens on Memorial Day Weekend and then again on Labor Day Weekend. Oh, what fun!