The Dackel Princess

Royal Weddings

Friday morning found me waking at 3:58 AM! I was so excited about the Royal Wedding, and had set the TV up to tape the events the night before, but I just HAD TO get up and watch it in person! I’ve always loved those boys since they were born. I suppose it was because they were very much wanted, and their parents both doted on them. And of course Princess Diana died before she ever got to see her boys grow into fine young men.

I’m also enough of a romantic that I love to see and hear all about the love stories and feel like I am a part of things as well.

So, here I was, up early, with Fritz and Anneliese, making myself a cup of tea and watching the BBC Broadcast of the wedding. I had a box of Kleenex close by, and as I watched I cried like the mother of the bride or groom. Oh silly me!

The Bride was beautiful, in a classic Grace Kelly kind of way,

and Prince William looked at his Bride with such love, why I really think these two are a love match. I simply refuse to believe that this is anything but a love match!

I had baked blueberry scones, and made “faux” clotted cream and had homemade strawberry jelly. I cooked up a couple of eggs to go along, once Hubby got up. There was also plenty of tea! Hubby actually slept in and missed the wedding the “first” time. You see all day long they kept replaying it and so he saw it a time or two then.

By 2 PM I started to feel sleepy, as if it were the middle of the night and I should be in bed! I did not lie down though because I knew if I did I wouldn’t sleep tonight. I’ll simply get to bed at a decent time tonight.

Did you watch the wedding? What was your favorite part? Did you shed a little tear? (Or am I going through menopause and hormonally unbalanced?)

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill-Ins are sponsored by my cousin Janet. Come on and join the fun!

And…here we go!

1. I love to plant a big garden and grow lots of fresh vegetables.

2. A wink and a smile.

3. It’s how you make my world rock. Just by being in it.

4. Chocolate will make me fat, you don’t have to tell me!

5. Well, would you look at that.

6. They’re back, spring peepers.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to some sleep. I’m getting up early for the wedding and I know I will be tired, tomorrow my plans include laundry and housework and Sunday, I want to clean out some closets!

From Mud Season To Spring!

Wednesday the day started, gray, cold and damp. I was off to the local hospital for blood work, and I had an early morning appointment. I was to be there by 7 o’clock to have the blood drawn shortly after. My only problem was I slept in! I woke at 6:35 and like a person discovering a fire on their stove (thinking back to Easter!) I jumped up and raced to my bathroom. I was happy that I had laid out my clothes, my brush and tooth brush and toothpaste the night before, as I simply leapt into my clothes and brushed my teeth before grabbing my jacket and racing out the door.

I drove a normal speed to the hospital, all the while watching the clock, and managed to arrive right on time. I got out of the car and headed to the front door of the hospital, when I saw a man staring at me. His eyes were filled with laughter. I checked to see if my zipper was open or something, and saw that my jacket was inside out!

I stopped to correct my jacket and mumbled something about it being early, before I escaped into the hospital. I had my blood test and then headed over to my Weight Watchers class, but today there was no one there. I was quite surprised. Three other people arrived and we all asked each other the same question. “Is this Wednesday?” Of course it was, and after another half an hour, a substitute woman arrived. She had no keys, no idea what to do to set up and really was not reassuring at all.

We all did our Post-Easter weigh in (we will not ask!) and then about 45 minutes later the class began. I love our teacher, Pam. She is just marvelous! We had our class and then I said good-bye to my friends.

I called Hubby to ask about getting our mail or not, and he told me the doctor had already called with my blood test results. Now that was a surprise! Doctors never call with the results that quickly, but he did, and told me that I needed to adjust my medications.

You know it made me feel good that when I mentioned to my doctor that I wasn’t feeling well, that he’d actually listened to me.

Wednesday afternoon, SPRING arrived at my house with 75 degree (F) temperatures! My little flowers started to bloom

Even the Spygold Apple buds are pushing!

and I swear the grass started to green up! Hubby and I are in a beautiful bright spot on a hill and so when the temperatures outside go up, the air conditioners go into the windows! Wednesday we did our bedroom and the family room.

Viva Spring! I’m ready for you now!!!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What is something that bothers you if it is not done perfectly?

Having my bed made. I like my bed sheets and blanket laid smooth and tucked in properly.

When I had my retinal detachment, Hubby made the bed and he “tried”, but the sheets were not smooth and it drove me nuts! I did appreciate the attempt though.

2. What is one of your best childhood memories.

Being on the beaches in my hometown of Falmouth, Massachusetts. I loved Surf Drive Beach. Swimming, playing in the sand, and also riding my bike all around the town. My sister, my cousin, Aunts, Uncles and family. Summers on Cape Cod were the best!

3. Do you plan to watch the Royal Wedding and when was the last time you wore a hat?

I do plan to watch the Royal Wedding, but I doubt I will wear a hat. Although I did wear a rather British type of hat when I married Hubby.

I wear hats every winter to stay warm and dry!

4. Where do you fall in the birth order in your family? Do you think this has influenced your personality?

I am the baby in the family.

The one who talks like crazy, wants to be older than they are and got left when my brother and sister grew up, got married and left home! After that I think I felt determined to get out into the world quickly. I still am a chatterbox and I still sort of feel older than I am.

5. Where do you think you spend most of your money?

Fuel oil and groceries. Since we heat our home with oil, and also put gal in our cars we spend a lot of money on oil.

Groceries have been going up as well, so our bills there increase each month. Of course taxes too. Sad but I think the government better get themselves under control. The average person won’t be able to afford to live soon.

6. When you need to confront someone would you rather communicate in person, on the phone, by email or by letter? Why?

I’d rather do it in person, unless I plan never to see this person and then a long thought out letter is written, saved and then reread a day or two later.

If I am still feeling like that then I send it.

7. Dodge ball, freeze tag, kickball or jump rope? You have to pick one.

I think I liked freeze tag best. We played that a lot in our back yard when I was a kid. Remember, Mel and Janet?

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Joanne took another trip home with her therapists to see what moderation’s need to be made in the house to accommodate her. Joanne’s Dad has been working hard and so there is actually very little to be done. They are hoping that by the end of the month she will be released and then will have out patient therapy. When I think of how Joanne began her year, I am so thankful that she will soon be home with her girls and her husband once again!

Continue reading “Wednesday Hodgepodge”

Happy Second Birthday to my B-Litter!

Today is the second birthday for Anneliese’s babies, Baron, Bogart, Baerbel and Birgit (aka Ali)! I’m going to show the montage I made last year with their baby pictures, so we can all remember those sweet little babies!

Happy First Birthday Puppies from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

Random Thoughts

In just a week it will be Hubby’s birthday! Okay, what I want to know is how the last year has flown by us so fast? It seems just a year ago I was making Hubby his favorite dinner and toasting to his continued health, and here we are a year later and I have to think of what on earth to make to out do myself? Perhaps I will just go to the old stand-bye, Lobsters. It’s easy, and it’s not only a meal, but a gift that says I love you!
Hubby and I watched “Jesus Christ Superstar” last night. Somehow he had missed seeing that, all those years ago. Of course I was a teenager and really in to it, so as I typed on the computer I sang all the songs!
I will be making Pea Soup today. I saved our Ham Bone and we had a fair amount of meat left, so Pea Soup it is. I love it with carrots, celery and a little potato in it.
How many of you will be watching the “Royal Wedding” on Friday? I plan to get up and watch the coverage, and I have planned an English tea for Hubby and I later in the morning (when he gets up) to celebrate.
I remember watching Princess Diana, and thinking how very nervous I would be. We were close in age and I know she must have been a nervous wreck, with so many people watching her. I still feel sad when I think of how she died.
One of my Green-House windows got all cracked. Hubby calls it crazing. I call it broken. In any case, the workers came today to take the measurements to repair it.
The rest of the week is supposed to be warm. I sure hope so. I want Spring to finally arrive!

What I Did Last Weekend…Easter

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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Easter was a good Day. Why is that? Well, all the food came out as planned, and I didn’t burn my house down! Let me back up to Saturday.

I started working peeling vegetables, making gelatin molds, and a new grape salad, which really made me happy. I started in the morning and by the time I cleaned up on Saturday it was well after dinner and we were just sitting down to watch From Lark Rise to Candleford.

Needless to say, I slept well on Saturday night, and woke on Sunday to the brightest sunshine and warmest weather than we have had in a long time! Ah how wonderful to have such a beautiful Easter morning! I exited the bedroom singing “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today”.

Once again I found myself racing to get everything done for our Easter celebration with my cousin, Janet. She and her Dave and his daughter and two grandsons were due up at 1 to start the celebrations, and they arrived right on time!

I brought out the stuffed eggs and the New England Clam Dip, and we all munched on that until the rest of the meal was cooked, and ready to put on the table.

Now here is where things got a little exciting! Janet had put her delicious rosemary yeast dinner rolls on top of the stove to rise and covered them with a sheet of wax paper. Stupid me, went to turn on the burner in the back and when it clicked on, the flame caught the paper and the next thing I knew the wax paper was burning. I tried to blow it out, but that did not work, so I grabbed the paper and tossed it into the sink!

After that the rest of the meal’s preparation was anti-climactic! All went well and finally about 2:45, we sat down and ate our meal!

After dinner we walked around my yard enjoying the fact that the snow has melted and once again spring is trying to arrive!

Before sitting down and having coffee and cake.

Now I fear I will not be able to eat for a few days! Perhaps that would be a good thing! I know today, my WW diet was ignored through out the entire meal! But oh, those rolls and the cake were just fantastic!

What did you all do to celebrate?

Easter Snow!

Okay folks, it is nearly the end of April and it is Easter. So what happened here yesterday? This:

Yes, that’s right, it snowed! About two and a half sloppy inches of the wet, white, stuff! I simply could not believe it! Hubby worried about clearing the drive, but I simply took the pictures and then went back to preparing the food for Easter. I wanted to get the vegetables peeled, the dips made, the eggs stuffed, and an aspic made. And still it snowed on…

My shrub is okay. The buds are still tight.

The snow even fell and killed my pretty yellow flower!

I am so thankful for this Easter Day! What does it mean? Jesus Christ is risen today! Alleluia! His triumphant Heavenly Day, Alleluia!

I send to you all our best wishes for a happy and healthy Easter. My God Bless you today and every day in the year ahead!

Planting & Ice Out

Yesterday, I was truly amazed at the lake in front of our house. It appeared to have small rivers running between the ice, but when I walked down to the beach to look and take some pictures, this is what I found.

Can you see the ice? There were these really odd icicles in between each chunk of ice. Here is a close up.

It was cold and windy and I didn’t stay out too long. I walked back up the hill to our house, and thought, perhaps I would snap a picture.

Friday the sun was out and it was a much nicer day! I decided to put on my crummy jeans and sweat-shirt and do some spring stuff.

Since there was no snow left in the yard, that meant one thing for me…time to plant my seeds for the garden! So, out to the green house I went, to clean it out, working planting seeds, and then clean it all up again!

Our weather was beautiful and it was actually the perfect day for working in the green house. Our temperatures reached 60 degrees. I so enjoyed the sunshine and watching the effect that it had on our lake. By nightfall we had finally had ice out on our own little lake here in Dackel Princess Land!

Friday Fill-Ins

And…here we go!

1. Pardon me, while I powder my nose.

2. The beautiful leg of ham we have for Easter is a good deal.

3. I was surprised to find that I really like gourmet cooking.

4. Having a barbecue (or cooking outside) is one of my favorite forms of entertainment.

5. Hi, my name is Maribeth and I’m an over-eater. That is what I said three years ago when I went to my first WW meeting.

6. Warm, breezy and peaceful summer afternoons.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to finishing up the laundry and vacuuming, tomorrow my plans include making the tomato aspic, peeling the potatoes and the carrots and also making the stuffed eggs and clam dip and Sunday, I want to cook the ham, get all the parts of the Easter dinner put together, so that I can enjoy everyone who will be coming up and sharing our table!