The Dackel Princess

It’s Freezing

On Monday morning when we woke up to an unbelievable minus 13 (f) degrees, I knew that I would spend the morning wrapped in my flannel jammies and long fleece bathrobe! I also knew that I would drink every drop of hot coffee that I could stomach (four) and keep as many dachshunds around me as possible (two).

The day did get a little better as the temperatures soared to +2, and we did have bright sunshine, but for the most part the dogs and I stayed put.

Hubby, being the brave and intrepid skier that he is, went out and skied 8 runs in the bitter cold! I am so proud of his accomplishment! (But personally think he is a little nuts!)

Monday night found the temperatures dropping again. It was already down to minus 2 (f) degrees at 8 o’clock in the evening, and I bet will come close to the low we had on Monday morning when we wake on Tuesday.

All I can say is, “So much for Global Warming!”

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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This weekend was a rather busy one for me and for Hubby. With the forecast on the TV for sub zero temperatures and a heavy snow storm mid-week, Hubby and I decided that we needed to be pro-active and go out and do all food shopping and get the gasoline for the snow blower and any other incidentals, like dog food that we may need.

What a good plan, we thought! However, as we got to the shopping areas, we saw that almost everyone else in the area, had the same idea! The grocery store was so full that there were only a few shopping carts available and people were pushing and shoving, which made me recall a line in the movie “Shirley Valentine” and I found myself giggling all the way through the store.

This is what Shirley Valentine said:

“I think sex is like supermarkets, you know, overrated. Just a lot of pushing and shoving and you still come out with very little at the end.”

That sure made the time in the supermarket go by faster, as I thought about those lines, and laughed and laughed.

Hubby then worked to clear away as much of the snow and ice as he could, while I worked on Sunday cooking a roast beef dinner, much like my Grandma Honey used to do. Grandma’s father was a Butcher, and she always could appreciate a good cut of meat!

Which is funny because although my husband wasn’t a meat cutter, he knows how to select a good cut of meat, and since I embraced Julia Child’s “Mastering The Art of French Cooking” I can cook one heck of a roast!

There was movie watching, football watching and building a fire in the hearth two days for me. I’m getting quite good at it.

Huh, looking at all we got done, I realize how busy we actually were! Well, good. I hate to be bored!

Have a good week every one!

Happiness

Hubby and I took a trip to the city to get supplies. We have heard that more snow may be coming for our little neck of the woods, so we headed out to stock up on the essentials. Milk, bread, eggs, meat, cheese, vegetables and dog food. Yes, by far the last part was the most important. The dogs don’t let us in unless we have their foods!

We also stocked up on light bulbs. The good old fashioned light bulbs! We like those so much more than the newfangled ones they have out there that do not last as long, and cost you when you bring them in to recycle. We’ve decided to stock up on the old fashioned bulbs, in the hope that we can stay ahead of the phase out of these wonderful bulbs. I know, call me light bulb obsessed!

We arrived home and took all the dogs out for a walk in the snow. I just love walking the dachshunds in the snow banks. They have no fear and jump headlong into the deep snow and then dig, dig, dig!

We stopped to have some lunch at a Chinese Restaurant, and I opened my fortune cookie at the end of the meal. It said “Whatever you can do easily, will make you happy”.

Okay, now what the heck does that mean?

I started to ponder what in life is easy? Is there anything that is really truly easy? I thought perhaps loving my husband, but then I realized that even then, the best marriage still is far from perfect., and can be a real challenge. Loving ones children? As much as I love my children, it has not always been easy. Mandy will be the first one to tell you this.

The dogs? Certainly they are my great joy, but then the memories of house breaking, piles of vomit and bed hogs all made me realize that I was barking up the wrong tree there.

As I went down the list of everything in life that I love, I realized, that nothing is easy. Everything that is worthwhile, has a price, and all of the things are not easy.

Then I realized that if everything was easy in our lives, they wouldn’t be valued. It would be taken for granted.

So I think I will stop praying to God to make my life easier, perhaps slightly less challenging would be a better prayer.

For those I love, those I value, you are worth all the ups and downs that we have shared in life…and more.

A Snow Day

Yes, it snowed again. It seems we are suddenly getting a lot of snow. In fact, after a really dry December, January is more than making up for all we didn’t have then. Aside from the snow shoveling, and snow blowing, Hubby is enjoying this boon to the New Hampshire ski areas. My guy just loves to ski. I’ve decided to actually accompany him on Monday and go. If I just sit here waiting to get excited about skiing, well, the season will be over and the chance will have been missed. So, on Monday morning, I will be on the slopes, no matter what!
Friday was so tremendously beautiful. We watched the snow fall all morning, I ventured out and took pictures, and then early afternoon the snow stopped and cleanup began.

That was when we brought the dogs out to play. The first item here is a montage of dogs and snow. Wow, did they have fun.

January Snow Dogs from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

I also took Fritz out earlier to take this little movie of our front yard, so you could see the beauty of the snow, as it fell. Fritz is a good boy, and he stays right with me when I am filming.

My Yard from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

I hear we are in for another big storm next week. I guess Hubby and I need to grocery shop on Sunday and stock up before more snow rolls in.

Friday Fill-Ins

And…here we go!

1. So many of us find happiness where we least expect it.

2. Seek out the best, even in hardship.

3. Those who are accepting of other people’s faults, will be happier in life.

4. A wonderful life is waiting quietly.

5. Light is in both the dawn and the dusk. It is just the clarity of it that is different.

6. By accepting who you are you too can become Queen of all that is ordinary. At least that, is my motto!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to the snow, a fire in the hearth and a good movie, tomorrow my plans include nothing much, just cleaning up after the snow storm and Sunday, I want to read the paper make a nice dinner, and who knows?!

Feeling Good

In the last few days I have been feeling happier. I Know that when I feel happier, things get accomplished easier, and I’m able to get things finished without distraction.

Today I was able to get so much done. Papers sorted, things put away and the dusting! When you have 4 dogs and a big fire place, the dust is terrible!

I was able to move furniture, vacuum the dust and then wipe it down, and then put everything back together. However, it smelled so much better in here and I was really happy!

I tried a new recipe, and although I didn’t really like it, it wasn’t the worst thing I have cooked.

I took the dogs for a walk, and thought I heard a hissing noise coming from our propane tank. I got Hubby to listen and he couldn’t hear anything. However later on, I took the dogs out again and this time I could distinguish the sounds better as it was much quieter.

Rushing water!

The water spigot on the side of the house had opened and during our Autumn shut down, we had somehow missed the inside shut off valve. The water was pouring out!

I dug a path to the valve and Hubby went down stairs to get the valve shut off inside. We both shut the water off, and life is once again good!

We’re preparing for more snow tomorrow. Part of the storm should fall during the day. I love to watch a nice snow storm. Since neither Hubby or I need to go out tomorrow, I say…

let it snow!

Wednesday

I’m skipping Thursday Thirteen this week because Wednesday was such a wild day, and I simply had to share it with you all.

First, on Tuesday we had a heck of a lot of snow here, probably 9 or 10 inches and so the roads were all snowy and icy and really a mess.

I feared that on Wednesday morning, my Weight Watchers meeting would be canceled yet again. Remember, last week we actually had a blizzard on Wednesday and the meeting was canceled.

This week we had our meeting, and I was thrilled. I really wanted this meeting. So once I knew it was on, I dressed, grabbed the food for my breakfast and my mini thermos of coffee. I jumped into the Jeep and slipping it into 4 wheel drive off I went.

Surprisingly, the roads were good and I got to the meeting nice and early. I weighed in…I lost 1.6 pounds, and then made my breakfast in the microwave at the meeting site. Oh, have I ever mentioned that I never eat or drink until I weigh in? Gosh, that might just add an ounce or two.

My friend and fellow Weight Watcher, Carol arrived right after me, and we sat there eating oatmeal and catching up on our lives. Our meeting was small, but wonderful and I left feeling really ready for the week ahead!

After arriving home several things happened that made me feel even better about my day. The local hospital finally found their account error (which I told them they had) and actually found the owed me 37¢!

I then started to go through our mail and I got to the phone bill. I immediately noticed that our local bill was higher than normal, which is impossible, so I started to read through and I found a charge for $14.95 for “Fraud Guard”. Can you believe it? A fraudulent service that’s actually called “Fraud Guard”!

Well, there was no time like the present to call and get it taken care of. The phone company was so nice and took the charge off, and even they were shocked by the name of the Fraudulent company!

It has snowed steadily since noontime and we’ve probably had about 4 or 5 inches. Thursday is supposed to be nice, and then more snow on Friday.

So, Wednesday was a good day. I got a lot of things accomplished and I weighed in as well and lost!

All in all, YAY!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Do you like your name? Were you named after someone? If you have children how did you settle on their names?

I didn’t like my name when I was younger and went by a variety of names. It wasn’t until I married Hubby#2 that I started to love the way he said my name.

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I think I was named after my grandmother Mary and my Aunt Betty (Elizabeth). Or at least I like to believe this, so please family members don’t enlighten me if I am wrong.

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Hubby #1 and I wanted classic names for our kids. Amanda was beautiful and classic. Mandy was also #1 on the charts. My second child was actually going to be named Jessica for a while, but she had that great red hair and green eyes so Kathleen, a great Irish name was classic and perfect for her.

2. How do you define success?

In life? I would define success by the ability to love those around you and to do things for others selflessly.

3. Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy?

Both. But if I had to only watch one, Jeopardy. I’d get tired of watching Vanna looking so thin and trim in her gowns.

4. If you could own any single object that you don’t have now, what would that object be?

I learned a long time ago that “things” mean nothing in life. However, I would like a better cell phone.

5. What is something that inspires you?

When I see people around me who are challenged and yet, they don’t give up. In fact, they are out there leading the way in the community!

6. Meatloaf-yea or nay? If its a yay how do you make yours?

Meatloaf…YAY! You can go HERE for one of my recipes.

7. Which is more admirable-the ability to organize and be methodical or the ability to adapt and make do?

The ability to adapt and make do. I suppose that is because I have had many experiences in life where you just have to fly by the seat of your pants. Like living in a country where I did not speak the language, and yet still needed to cook and find things in the market.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Please keep praying for Joanne.

Your prayers from around the world are working. Her husband and her two young daughters, also need your prayers. You can click on the picture of Joanne for updates and I urge you to go back and read her blog writings. She is a wonderful, gifted, loving, woman.

A Funny Thing Happened

Hubby and I went out the other day in search of a new snow shovel. Hubby likes steel snow shovels, for one very obvious reason, they do not break easily. However, we are getting a bit irritated because everyone is carrying the new fad in snow shovels…plastic.

Hubby wasn’t happy at all, and he searched the entire shop, dragging me all over this do-it-yourself warehouse, as though in this search, he could make a steel shovel instantly appear!

I finally gave up, stopped following him, and just stood near the front door, checking out the seeds for my garden. I decided I need to make a list of what to buy, so I can go back (without Hubby, I think) and buy my seeds.

Finally, Hubby decided that there was no perfect shovel, and we left. We walked out to the car, talking about this “dream shovel”, and when we got into the car, Hubby mentioned that his radar detector was on dim mode, which he didn’t like and could I change it back to bright.

Not a problem. I had the instructions, so why not?

I took the radar detector down, which proved to be a real challenge and I was trying to figure out the buttons, and apparently I pressed too many buttons too many times because the next thing I knew, the radar detector asks me…”Are You Sober Enough To Drive?”

I have never heard a radar detector ask that question before! And it didn’t just ask me that once, but over and over and over again! In my defense I finally shut the bloody thing off so it would stop asking me this question! (I was, after all completely sober, just mechanically challenged!)

I plugged it back in and then carefully did the correct button pressing, and fixed the dim/bright problem, but when I was trying to put the detector back, I bumped the City Mode and thus we had another problem. I spent the remainder of our trip home trying to fix that. I couldn’t.

The silly instructions were so small, I could barely read them anyway, and my frustration level was very high. So, I handed the instructions to Hubby when we were home, and said, “You do it!” and walked away.

Give me a pot and a chicken or a roast and I will cook you a meal, car things are not my bag! Still, looking back now at the entire event, I have to laugh. It was pretty funny!

On Monday Hubby went to another shop, and although he did not find his dream shovel, he did find this one.

It’s good enough for now, and yes, it is partly plastic.

But, for now, it works.

Joanne

In my sidebar you will see a widget about another blogger named Joanne. She is a young wife, mother, and writer, who suffered a serious stroke on January 11, 2011. Her condition is serious and we are asking everyone to pray for her.

You can click on her button and go over to read updates, but I also urge you to go back in her blog and read Joanne’s posts. She is a wonderful, happy, loving, giving, woman. Her writing will make you smile and laugh and look inward.

Currently, she is in a drug induced coma to help her brain to rest. Let us all take a moment to pray for a miracle recovery and return to her family and friends.