The Dackel Princess

Chilled!

It is cold! Yep, right now (Saturday afternoon) it is seven degrees (F) and expected to drop down below zero tonight. On Sunday we expect that it will not get any warmer than 9 or 10 degrees (F)! My hands are cold, my toes are cold, and the dackels look at me with disgust when I put them outside to do their business. Poor babies! They really freeze. I think I need to put their little sweaters on.

Fritz, however, loves this! He runs around like a wild deer, and I swear I see a smile on his face! Of course, with that heavy white fur coat on, he probably doesn’t feel the cold at all.

On Saturday I cooked the turkey that was hiding in my deep freezer. It sure smells good in here, as the turkey nears being done. We’ll have a regular turkey dinner tonight, and then I will bone the bird, cook the bones, and then make soup and little pot pies and slices of turkey for sandwiches. Hubby and I are trying to really buckle down and eat economically.

We’re trying….I must say, because after Christmas there was a tremendous jump in food prices around here! I told Hubby we will need to plant a nice bigger garden this year, to help supplement our groceries.

Not too much else happened on Saturday. I think I will ask Hubby to make a fire in the hearth, just to take the chill off the house.

Then we will watch the New England Patriots play the Denver Broncos!

PS: The turkey was great! I think I have discovered a secret. One our mothers and grandmothers already knew. Always use a covered roasting pan for the turkey and the bird will stay nice and moist! For some reason I thought an open roasting pan would be good, but my turkey was coming out dry. Went back to using Hubby’s mother’s roasting pan & cover and the turkey was perfect!

Winter Has Arrived

Thursday we had gotten about 7 inches of fresh snow and I think that spurred Hubby on to get up to the ski slopes. Of course he had to plow the driveway, so we could make it up the hill to the main road.

Friday was another wild day up here. A wintry mix, weather wise. I was up early with Hubby, who was determined to go off and ski. At that point it was snowing and very pretty to watch. Off Hubby went and the dackels and I sat snuggling in my chair while Fritz fussed and whined about his Daddy going off.

It started as snow, then switched to rain, then ice, then sleet, then a little snow, before stopping in the late afternoon, and the sun actually came out! Bizarre!

Hubby reports that he had good skiing, albeit somewhat wet. He called me around noon and asked me if I had been out to get our mail and to the grocery.

You might all recall the skidding accident last year that I had when I hit black ice and the Jeep and I went for a little unplanned trip! I also had a black ice skidding accident 12 tears ago when we first moved into the house. I’d actually gone to get the mail, and when I came back, the driveway was all ice and I skidded off the drive and into the ditch next to it.

Oh yes, I was shaking and crying and just wanted Hubby! I flung open the door, took one step out of the car and fell smack dab on my bottom!

So you might have guessed that by now, I have a healthy respect for snow and ice! Meaning, that Friday I stayed in.

Then I worried about Hubby. He was driving home from skiing, and usually he is back by 12 or 12:30, but on Friday he didn’t get in until 1:30!

Once he was home for the day I relaxed. The weather is set to change on Friday night, as a cold front moves in, dropping our temperatures into the single digits (f).

Ah yes, winter has arrived!

Friday Fill-Ins

Isn’t this a great picture? My cousin Janet took it on Thursday morning.
And…here we go!

1. When I looked out the window this morning we already had three inches of snow and it was still coming down hard.
2. Horrible violence doesn’t make sense to me.
3. Remind me what’s the best small camera I can buy right now with at least 14 megapixels, that doesn’t cost a fortune?.
4. Taking a trip to the Galapagos Islands is something I’d love to do!
5. TP is toilet paper? Really? Um, well TP is really important!.
6. I cleaned the refrigerator recently and I found this is funny, I actually don’t have much in the fridge right now. I need to go to the market.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to a fire in the hearth, tomorrow my plans include cooking a turkey I had in the deep freeze and need to cook and Sunday, I want to make turkey pot pies!

Happy Friendship Day

Today is the eleventh anniversary of my friendship with Uschi. You can go HERE to learn how we met each other. Over the years, we have written to each other almost every day. We aren’t able to speak on the phone like many people, but then, sometimes I think we know each other better because we can write all of our thoughts down and send them off.

When we get together and start talking, it is as if we just saw each other yesterday and we chatter along like two little parakeets!

It still amazes me, that when I least expected to find a friend and sister of my soul, I found one in Uschi!

Happy 11 years to us!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Lake Superior University has once again published a list of words/phrases they think should be banished from the Queen’s English in 2012-

amazing, baby bump, shared sacrifice, occupy, blowback, man cave, the new normal, pet parent, win the future, trickeration, ginormous, and thank you in advance.

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why?

shared sacrifice, occupy, blowback, trickeration

Okay, shared sacrifice, well it’s not definitive enough. Occupy has been used and abused by many people this year in very negative ways. Blowback and trickeration, I have never heard of, so I will add them for the heck of it!

2. Are you easily embarrassed?

I don’t think so, but you would have to ask Hubby. Usually, I just go with the flow and laugh things off.

3. What is your go-to snack?

Lately, fruit, like oranges, or bananas, I also like carrots and celery. In a previous life, it was always cookies or chocolate.

4. Have you ever been to Washington D.C.? If not do you have any desire to go? What site/attraction would you most want to see in that city? If you have been, what’s your favorite site/attraction?

Yes, I have been, several times. I loved it! There is so much to see. I LOVE the National Gallery, as I am an art fan, but I also love the new Air and Space Museum. I tell everyone I know. Go. Spend a few days. Walk around the Mall area, visit all the Monuments. Go to the Museums. Explore!

5. sit ups-planks-lunges-squats…which do you hate the least?

Probably squats. But to me exercise is a four letter word! I really do not like formal exercise. I do like to walk, or swim, but squatting and lunging, yuck!

6. What’s a small act of kindness you were shown that you’ve never forgotten?

The two paramedics who took care of Katie and me immediately after the accident, while we were still trapped in the car. One took care of me, the other took care of Katie. I remember Dave (who took care of me) apologized for having to cut off my clothes in the ambulance. I could have cared less. After it was all over we had lunch together and I was able to thank them properly. But really, how do you ever thank people like that who worked so hard to save our lives?

7. Have you ever been a blood donor?

Yes, and then I passed out. It turns out I am not a good candidate for donation as I am slightly anemic.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Tuesday was the Primary Election here in New Hampshire. I cannot recall there being such publicity up here in little old New Hampshire before! Horrible. Add to that phone calls, day and night! Well, now Mitt Romney has won and the press and campaign staffs will leave us alone until the general election! One note here. We did not receive one call from the Romney campaign. But then, Hubby and I had heard him speak, and really didn’t need to do a meet and greet with him and his wife.

Imagination

When I was a little girl, my parent’s didn’t have a lot of money. Although I do not recall truly being without, I do know that my imagination was able to grow and expand in ways it might not have, if my parents had given me everything I wanted.

I loved my Barbie dolls, and I actually had a few, but my parents could not afford the clothes and the Barbie houses, so early on I learned what to do in order to have beautifully clothed dolls. Just let my imagination run wild!

I moved my bed so it sat just under the window in my room. In those days we had heavy storm windows. So, I would open the regular window, sit in my jeans and a sweater and socks and rest my feet on the heater below and play Barbie. My sister, Melodie, and cousin Janet would join me and in that window sill, we were Mick and Bianca Jagger, or Paul and Linda McCartney, etc.

I would take old pieces of cloth and by cutting them up make my dolls the most glamorous outfits! A tissue could be the most beautiful wedding gown imaginable! Also, by not having the doll houses, and doll clothes, my imagination let me see into another world. Kleenex boxes became beds or sofas, and paper towel rolls could become table bases. It didn’t matter that I didn’t have the real thing, in my mind, I had it all.

Imagination!

What I Did This 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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We live in New Hampshire, and as most of my American readers know, on Tuesday we have the Primary Election to see who will be the Republican candidate to run against President Obama. I have to tell you, we have been getting calls day and night trying to sway our votes one way or another. On Sunday alone we got FIVE Ron Paul calls in the span of 5 hours! What a pain. I wouldn’t vote for him just because of all the silly calls!

The weekend was a busy one, because we were de-Christmasing the house, cleaning and looking for new furniture. The furniture shopping was stressful, right up to the end, when we found exactly what we wanted (see yesterday’s post). It is also sad to put everything from Christmas away for another year.

In fact I was feeling bad about it, until I realized that by Christmas next year there will be a new baby in our lives and at six months old, he’ll/she’ll be smiling at us all! What a joy, and what a blessing!

I took the garlands and tinsel off the tree, next I bid ado to my precious ornaments, then the lights. Then I took the tree apart, which is akin to chopping it down (lol). I stored it in it’s big box. We closed all the boxes, and then I climbed into the attic and Hubby passed about a dozen boxes up to me! All I could say after that was, “Oh, my aching back!” But it is done!

The week ahead is not necessarily a busy one. However, I have decided to spend two hours each day on my New Years Resolution of organizing the house. I admit to enjoying time reading or being on the computer, but I know I need to buckle down and get this work done.

I might also slip away and ski a day or two this week. That was another resolution, to continue to get into shape.

Have a wonderful Monday everyone!

New Things, New Thoughts

When I woke up on Saturday morning, I asked Hubby what he might like to do. He answered that he didn’t have any big plans. Great. In the last few days we’d been talking about replacing my chair, as I have previously mentioned, at 10 years of age, the thing is quite literally falling apart. We also wanted to do two things. Buy local (no chain stores) and buy made in the USA. I really want to support people in this country, their families and the furniture industry.

All that being said, off we went to a store where I’d gotten my “Snuggler” 10 years ago. A “Snuggler” is a chair and a half, thus giving me and the dackels plenty of room to sit together. The store is family owned, and has been in Plymouth, New Hampshire for over 50 years. Unfortunately, after looking at what they had, and pricing things, we left. I really felt bad. I wanted to buy from them!

We went and had lunch at a Chinese Restaurant, and the food was fine, but gave me terrible heartburn. Yes, I am getting old!

Then we were off to the next place. Also a family own business. There was a big sign outside saying that they were having a big sale on ALL their recliners. We walked through, but I saw nothing that even came close to what we both wanted or needed.

So, we left. We took the back roads home, and during the trip I mentioned that we should stop at the furniture store in our town (also family run). Hubby wasn’t too sure, because he has been in there before over the years and not seen anything. I, however, mentioned to Hubby that they were carrying several new lines of reclining furniture.

I guess I was convincing, because Hubby stopped and we went in to look. I knew where they kept the reclining furniture, but we picked up the salesman, and off we went.

I entered the room, walked about ten steps and there it was!

It is a loveseat, but a small one. Both sides do recline, but I doubt that Greta will care. It is made in the USA, and is so comfortable! Tennessee you make a comfortable seat! Since they order everything, I asked if I could get custom material. I am getting a light, leather “look” covering. This materiel is very durable, and should hold up well with the dogs. But this is the style.

Best of all Hubby found a new chair too, and because we bought the furniture together, we got a very good deal!

Hubby’s is a blue color and very nice. In the weave there is the same color as my light brown faux leather, so they do go together. The two chairs should be into our home in about six weeks!

I ended my day feeling happy. I was able to do what I really wanted to do. I bought from local merchants, and I bought items that are made in the USA!

Every day we hear about another factory closing and people losing their jobs. So, I think the next year I will “try to buy” USA made products unless there just isn’t anything offered.

Friday Fill-Ins (a day late!)

And…here we go!

1. Discussions abound for our upcoming trip!.
2. It’s so hard for me to say goodbye.
3. I think it’s time for me to ORGANIZE!.
4. The ultrasound pictures of my grand-baby puts a smile on my face.
5. Maybe sometime I will finally deal with my weight issues permanently.
6. God gives me strength.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to a fire in the hearth, tomorrow my plans include taking down the Christmas tree and putting all the holiday boxes away and Sunday, I want to read, and relax!!

First Day

I am thinking that when you read this, I will be out skiing for the first time this season. No we don’t have any natural snow, but through the miracle of snow making machines, there is enough snow to at least strap on my skis and go and freeze my self to death get my first day of skiing, under my belt!

Hubby is really excited, and if I come home with aching joints, chilled to the bone, then he will be really happy. However, I do want to move more, and I also think it’s a positive thing. You know, get in shape before the cruise. Here is a picture of me last year. All dolled up and hopefully, STAYING WARM!!!

Please note, that I wear full protective gear. I feel everyone out there should. One wrong fall can do serious damage, and I am just an average skier, so I have a lot of respect for the snow and ice!

TGIF!