The Dackel Princess

Happy New Year

Yesterday’s post was my wacky thoughts about life in general. Today’s Post is about my New Years Resolutions. Most people will make them, or have made them in the past, including yours truly. Of all the resolutions I have made, my quitting smoking 11 years ago, and my joining Weight Watchers, which you can read about here, are the ones I am most proud of.

I did reach my weight loss goal three years ago, I was so proud that day. I went to class and I had reached my goal. I was on cloud nine and jumped around like a little kid!

Of course, I found staying at my goal weight a bit more of a challenge than I had thought it would be, especially after the last egg dropped and I was in the throws of menopause. Then my metabolism totally betrayed me, and I put on some of the weight.

I kept going to class though. There were weeks I gained weight, and weeks I have lost only two tenths of a pound, but I kept going, and I still do.

Weight Watchers has started a new program. I don’t know enough about it yet to know if this will be the answer to my dietary prayers, but I certainly hope it will be. I’m learning about it, and I hope that I can once again be successful

So, that’s my New Years Resolution. To once again work on my health, my weight and get myself back in shape. I have not given myself a deadline. Oh, didn’t we all do that as a teenager? I want to be thin by bikini season? I just want to work the weight off, and then LEARN to keep it off!

So, what’s your New Years Resolution?

(Remember, you can do it, if you really want to!)

Thursday 13

Here we are, the end of another year. This one seemed to race by, although I am noticing that the older I get the faster they go by! Today’s Thursday 13 are my end of the year thoughts.

1. Life is good.

2. Mostly people are also good.

3. Dogs are great! (Cats too!)

4. I love traveling.

5. I love Christmas lights & decorations.

6. Seeing people happy always makes me feel good!

7. I can’t wait to see what 2011 will be like!

8. I’m hoping it will be full of many happy and wonderful things!

9. I need to start planning my 2011 vegetable garden.

10. This year I would like to try and grow European cucumbers.

11. I would like to learn to cook low-fat, lo-cal gourmet!

12. I’m looking forward to learning the new WW plan.

13. I would like to get back to my goal weight and also in shape by this summer.

After a ‘Good’ Storm

Tuesday found Hubby continuing to dig us out, after our snow fall on Sunday. He’d really wanted to go skiing today, but when we woke we found that the 50 mile an hour wind gusts had taken all the snow from our front yard and moved it onto the porch behind our house. No kidding, 20 inches just sitting there! The dackels looked Hubby in the eye and demanded a pathway!

Looking out my back door at Arnie.

This is the patio that got all the blowing snow!

While the coffee brewed and I made breakfast, Hubby shoveled a path for the dogs. Then he came in, ate a great breakfast, and off he went to use the snow blower to clear the driveway (again!).

He was pretty much done by lunch time, and came in for a bit, but then went back out to clear the steepest part of the drive, right down to the tar, so he can get out tomorrow to go and ski. As you can see, our driveway is long, about 500 feet. It is also all down hill, because….we like a challenge! lol!

At least we finally have some beautiful, wonderful, white, fluffy snow! It’s about time!

Snow, Snow, Snow

We woke to the Blizzard of 2010. It arrived just a few days before the end of the year, so technically made it in under the wire. We had 48 mile an hour winds and about a foot of snow! The wind was so fierce that the dackels did not want to go outside. At one point, I simply picked them up, one by one and tossed them into the snow. They quickly did their business, and ran back in the house.

Snow in December from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

.After I took the video, I took some still pictures, and then linked them together in a short montage. Fritz shows up so much better in still pictures. He almost disappears in the video, above.

Dogs in the Snow from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

Hubby then began his serious work, plowing the 500 + foot driveway. I’m thinking he will have to do it again tomorrow because the 48 mile an hour winds, have blown the snow back across the driveway and the patio. However, Hubby says no matter what, he is going to go skiing today! All this snow is more than he can stand to ignore.

My plans include starting to go through my Christmas boxes and decide what I can get rid of and what I want to keep. Trust me when I say that over the years, if you are at all like me, you’ve collected a lot of useless holiday crap. My goal is to sort through and determine what is useful or useless.

It’s pretty and once the wind dies down it will be even better. Then I can go out with the doggies and play in the snow with them.

But….at least we finally have some!

What Did I Do 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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This past weekend was Christmas! The day that the world seems to stop and celebrate the love we have for our families and friends.

On Friday Hubby and I went out to get the last few things we might need for the big day. We picked up our mail, and then came home.

Later in the afternoon I prepared a few appetizers and we sat talking about Christmases past. We eventually ate the Fondue, which was fun and watched “It’s A Wonderful Life”, as is my usual Christmas Eve ritual.

Saturday morning dawned bright and beautiful and after sipping coffee and starting breakfast, I turned on the TV and put on “A Christmas Story” to watch while we ate and afterward, when we were lounging in our pajamas. (Well, Hubby had gotten dressed, but I was still in my jammies!)

About 11 AM I showered and dressed and started getting the house ready for Mandy and Matt’s arrival. It’s amazing how, in between doing the housework stuff, I also managed to surf the NET, and you know what I found? I was about the only one crazy enough to be online.

I seriously need to get a life!

Mandy and Matt arrived about 2:15 and our celebration began. I described it in yesterday’s post, so I won’t bore you with it again, but we did have a great time, and when they left to go home I felt quite emotional. I love my daughter so much, I really hope in the year ahead, we get to see each other more.

Sunday was a quiet day for me. I needed a day to recover, but Hubby went skiing. We had our roast beef dinner again for lunch (LOVE LEFTOVERS) and Sunday night will be a pick up meal. Anything that we can pick up!

Meanwhile a Blizzard is bearing down on us, and I will report in on Tuesday the total snowfall in my back yard!

Lastly, somehow, dear Readers, I managed to get the Surround Sound going on the new TV/Speakers! Call this a Christmas Miracle!!!

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Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010 found us waking to a bright sunshine filled day. We munched on a lovely breakfast of bacon, scrambles eggs, German Stollen bread, coffee juice and grapefruit. It was yummy!

We had a chance to lounge around after breakfast and sip our coffee, and watch “A Christmas Story” once again. Boy, I just never get tired of watching Ralphi lust after that ‘Red Rider BB Gun’!

Mandy and Matt arrived about 2:30 and our Christmas celebrations began. I had a bunch of appetizers ready to go, and we stood around the kitchen sipping champagne and munching cheese, crackers, chips and dips.

We settled in taking a few pictures and talking while the roasts cooked.

It was fun to fool around and be a little silly too. I think we all need to be able to do that in our lives. Take a vacation from being overly serious, just to feel the happiness all around us.

Just before dinner we started to open presents. Amanda needed a little help, and so Greta was right by her side. Greta is like that! Helpful! LOL

Christmas 2010 from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

We had our dinner and dessert and truly, we were all stuffed! After a bit Mandy and Matt left for home and we finished washing up the dishes.

The dogs are in bed now, and I am right behind them. Goodnight all!

Merry Christmas!

From our house to yours,

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Friday Fill-Ins

1. These are a few moments in time I will always cherish!.

2. I’m cooking a hopefully delicious holiday dinner.

3. What’s that I hear the sound of church bells ringing.

4. The peace of the season makes me feel grounded in the quiet, quiet.

5. Some of my favorite holiday memories include time spent with my Aunts, Uncles and cousins. Janet in particular. We always were together. Like Frick and Frack. Lucky me.

6. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to sipping champagne, tomorrow my plans include enjoying the peace of the day with Hubby, Mandy and M. and Sunday, I want to enjoy some time with Janet and Dave!

I Skied

On Thursday Hubby and I got up early and headed to the County Ski Area. I’d never been to this one before, but I had decided that this year I would buy my season pass there, as we are County Residents, and get a break with the cost. I’ve also heard that this area has some nice, easy, skiing and beautiful views. Today I discovered this Mountain, so very close to my home.

It was cold and snowing when we arrived, but it didn’t last too long. About half an hour after we started to ski, the sun broke out and we were able to get these pictures.

Hubby took this on the lift up to the mid way point. The top of the mountain is still not open due to the fact that this is all man made snow!

In the back ground is Lake Winnipesaukee. It’s New Hampshire’s grand lake. It is starting to freeze over now. In February, they will have the Annual Fishing Derby out there!

I did pretty well with my return to skiing. I was doing so well on my last run down when I caught an edge on my ski and went down, face first, into the snow! All my dignity was lost!

I am feeling a tad sore tonight (Thursday), but not too bad. It’s really just a matter of slowly getting myself back into the skiing habit and back into shape!

Thursday Thirteen

The Skiing Edition

1. I have not been skiing in two years. Today I go for the first time. Call me nervous!

2. I decided that this year I would get a season ticket at our county ski area.

3. It’s known for the most beautiful views in the area.

4. It also has lovely Intermediate trails. Just my speed, next to the Bunny slopes!

5. My skis are quite old. 9 or 10 years. I never worry that anyone will steal them.

6. My ski poles are 24 years old! Ha! No one will take those either.

7. I have a fabulously beautiful ski parka that I bought about three years ago. It’s a soft lilac color and I feel very pretty in it.

8. I have conned Hubby into taking me out for lunch after, as we have grocery shopping to do in the afternoon.

9. I love my boots. I got them at a ski swap and they were all broken in. Perfect for me!

10. I was so reluctant to go skiing again, but Hubby would not let me say no.

11. I had a ski accident 4 years ago and hurt myself. That really scared me.

12. I hope to overcome my fears this year.

13. Wish me luck!