The Dackel Princess

The Weekend Wrap ~ April 19th

The weekend was fairly quiet for me. I’d planned this because on Saturday I got my second Moderna Covid Vaccine. The last time I got it, I actually felt like I had the flu and ended up in bed.

I am pleased to say, aside from a headache, a few muscle aches, and a sore arm, I am just fine! No fever, no congestion, and I actually have an appetite.

Saturday was also the funeral for Prince Philip. I’d wanted to see this as it happened, but my appointment for the shot would not have gotten me home in time.

Because I will not be thwarted, from getting my vaccine and seeing the funeral, I set my alarm, got up early, and drove to get my shot one and a half hours early! Best of all, when I arrived at the facility to get my shot, no one said a word and everyone was very nice.

After my watched time ended, I hopped in my car and headed home. My girlfriend in Delaware talked me through the first part, as the troops lined up and the casket was moved onto the somewhat unusual hearse.

When I got home, I raced up the stairs in time to watch the funeral procession to the church. Jack had it on the TV, live via BBC News, and I sat down and watched and listened to the beautiful music.

The readings were some I have done in the past and the songs were so familiar, I felt I was back at my mother’s funeral, and the tears fell.

After the service, which ended with the Bagpipes being played, I watched the Royal Family walking up the hill to Windsor Castle. And I think I smiled just a little when I saw Prince William and Prince Harry speaking to each other. No matter how different they may see the world, I hope they can at least keep in touch with each other.

Princess Diana sacrificed a lot for her two sons. It would not please her to see, all that she had sacrificed for torn asunder by opportunists.

On Sunday I was just feeling tired, so I just went about making our meals (read: very easy eats!) and watching a few of my favorite shows on Discovery+.

I love the New Hampshire editions of “Northwoods Law“. The Fish & Game Wardens all work in parts of New Hampshire that I know and love. I must say, I live in one of the most beautiful states in America.

I also love “No Reservations” and “What Not To Wear“. I also watch “The Great British Baking Show” on PBS.

Now as my Sunday is winding down, I’m thinking a nap may be in order. I hope all of you had a great weekend!

The Friday Five ~ April 16th

It’s been a busy week for me. I found myself in bed early each night and actually sleeping in until 6:30 each morning. Here’s what’s happening in my world.

The best piece of news is that my God-son is doing much better after getting Remdecivere. The hope is that he will be well enough to go home very soon!
My new crown arrived and it’s a great match to the rest of my teeth. I have an incredible amount of dental work in my head. My goal is to keep my teeth until I die. After that? Well, I have no opinion!
I did a big shopping after getting “Crowned”. We have a weird forecast for rain/ice/snow and I felt I needed to be prepared. So, we are all set.
I go tomorrow to get my second Moderna Covid Vaccine. I still plan to wear masks when out, to practice proper handwashing, and basically not change too much of what I am doing.
Lastly, I have no plans for the weekend. After Shot#1 I felt unwell for several days, SO I have actually planned to rest and take care of myself after this next shot. My hope is that the booster we all will have to take won’t cause the reactions I have had.

Have a great weekend!

TBT: My Mom & My Uncle

This Throw Back Thursday is a picture of my Mom, Rosamond, and her big brother, Robert. Mom looks to be about 3 or 4 years old and Uncle Bob was 5 years older.

This was taken back in the day when most pictures were in black and white and then colored in. Still, it is a sweet picture.

Mom adored her brother, and quite sadly she lost him when he was fairly young.

Never Wordless…Ever

A few bloggers I know do a Wordless Wednesday Meme each week. I knew that this wasn’t one for me. Since the day I was born I haven’t been wordless. In fact, my parents considered naming me Chatty Kathy.

All through my childhood, I was one of those kids who just talked. I drove my sister crazy. We would be lying in bed at night and I would start talking and asking her questions and I would go on and on and on. She would kindly tell me, “Good Night”, and I’d reply, “Good Night”, only to go right back to chatting all over again.

As the years passed I moved in with my Grandparents. I would sit and talk to my Grandmother for hours. I would tell her about school, about my day, and go on and on.

She once told me, after I had married and left home, that the worst part of my moving out was the silence. The one and only time anyone has said this to me.

A few years ago a friend of Jack’s was driving me across Florida to meet Jack at another airport. We were driving along and I was doing my usual chatting, hardly taking a breath. Finally, he interrupted me and said, “I bet you can’t shut up for 10 minutes”.

Ten minutes? Not a problem. We started the clock. One second, two seconds, three seconds…It was the longest ten minutes of my life! I did, however, make it, although I felt slightly queasy afterward.

I don’t think I talk as much as I once did. At least I try not to.
What’s that?
Jack is now laughing hysterically.
Well, I am trying!

Spring Cleaning

I hate Spring cleaning. You know you get out the heavy-duty cleaners, usually containing bleach, and by the time you get done, all you can smell is bleach! Jack says he can’t smell anything, but to me, it is all I can smell! Ugh!

I did manage to get four loads of laundry done, clean the fridge and walk the dogs several times. Wait! Let me check and see if I have a fever! I am simply never this productive in one day!

At least dinner was easy. I took all sorts of leftovers out of the fridge, heated them up and that was dinner. So no real cooking for me. And tomorrow is the same. I am all for quick and easy meals.

My second shot is on Saturday. I am planning to be quiet and feel crappy like I did last time. This way, if I feel good after, it’s a win-win!

Well, a very Happy Tuesday to you all!

The Weekend Wrap ~ April 12th

The weekend really did fly by for me. I had planned a lot of downtimes so I could rest my eyes, and I will admit to sleeping a great deal on Saturday. On Sunday I was still experiencing sensitivity to light, so I walked around wearing my winter hat and sunglasses, thus shielding my left eye.

My God-son is holding his own. He was due to get his shot this week, but unfortunately, the Covid Virus got him first. His family is also ill, and they have all been so careful social distancing and wearing masks.

I know many of you think that Covid is not real. But it is very real to me. Not just my God-son and family have been hit with it, but one of my closest friends and her family were also stricken.

The weather here has been lovely. It reminds me that Spring is on its way! I am so ready.

I feel quite sad about Prince Philip of England. It’s not so much sad at his death, more, I think at a loss in my own life. You see, all of my life Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have been the head of the British Monarchy. All of my 62 years. It just seems very sad that things are now changing. I am not one that handles change well anyway. Now Queen Elizabeth is without her Consort. Change.

I guess this is about all from me. Being quiet means sleep and perhaps a movie or two. But not much else.

This & That ~ April 10th

So much has happened on Friday that I decided a This & That was probably the way to go. So, here we go.

First, my deepest condolences go out to Queen Elizabeth and the entire Royal Family after the passing of 99-year-old Prince Philip. I was thinking that Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have been prominent in my entire life. God Bless and let him rest in peace.

Friday was my eye surgery and it seems that all went well. I am just a little achy tonight and an early bedtime is planned.

My God-son is in the hospital with Covid. He is quite ill. So many people have told me that Covid is not real. Sorry people, Covid is real and affecting someone I love very much. He is young and wonderful and I am quite frantic. Please pray a little for my God-son.

For our anniversary we ate frozen lasagna made by Stouffers. I simply had no desire to cook today. Off to bed, I go.

Happy 33rd Anniversary to Us

Today, Jack and I celebrate 33 years of marriage. It doesn’t seem possible that it has been that long. In the grand scheme of things, 33 years is like forever in a Hollywood marriage. And at my age (62) it certainly is a large chunk of time.

In our thirty-three years of marriage, we have had 4 White German Shepherds, Rex, Max, Fritz, and Lili. Four Wire-haired Dackels, Shubi, Greta, Arnie, and Anneliese, and lived in four homes. One was a farm in Lyndeborough, NH; a very beautiful ranch home in Punta Gorda, FL; in a motorcoach here in Meredith, NH for 9 long months; while we built our current home, and lastly, this beautiful house, that Jack and I designed.

We had four children, between us. Three are living, and they have grown up to be really good people. We also have two of the most beautiful, and wonderful grandchildren on the face of the earth!

Marriage is never easy, even if you are married to your best friend. There are days you want to murder each other, but lucky for us, those days were few and far between.

Forgiveness is so important when you live with someone this long. People do stupid things, and if you can’t forgive them, then you are with the wrong person. I am the Queen of stupid things and I am married to the King of stupid things. So it’s a good thing we forgive and forget.

You will also find during a long-term marriage (or relationship) that there will be those days when your significant other just makes you crazy. Whether it’s how they are chewing their food, or even sipping their soup, you will sit there and wonder how you never noticed this before!

But then, there are those times when a little look, the warmth of a hug, or a gentle squeeze of your hand, will make you feel loved and safe. During my illness in 2017, when I felt like I was dying, I was so scared, and Jack just kept the home fires burning, cooked my meals, did the laundry, and did not allow me to believe that I was leaving this earth.

Likewise, not even six months after that, when he got the infection in his foot that led to the amputation of his toe, I made sure I was at the hospital each day. I brought him goodies to eat, stayed to speak with each doctor, and informed Jack, he wasn’t leaving me yet.

No, marriage isn’t easy, but the pros far outweigh the cons, and life would be, so lonely, without my Jack.

Even after all these years, Jack is still the first person I want to speak to in the morning, and the last person I want to speak to at night.

I made up a short montage of our life together using one of our favorite songs. I hope you enjoy it!

Happy Anniversary Jack!

“No Reservations”

On Valentine’s Day, I gave myself a present. One Year’s subscription to Discovery Plus. I can watch all kinds of shows from cooking to veterinary care, I can watch it all. And best of all? It’s commercial-free!

I’ve been enjoying so many shows, and once I finish binge-watching one show I move on.

A few days ago I held my breath and put on Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations”. I wasn’t sure I could deal with it.

You see, Tony died a few years back, by his own hand. In the end, his great depression, which was masked by a quick wit, got the best of him.

In Tony’s show, he went all over the world telling us about the local foods and customs. His humor made us laugh and it also helped us think about how we might fit-in in these various places.

But since that day, in 2018, when Tony died, I haven’t been able to watch a show of his. However, there they were. All of his shows, commercial-free.

So I pulled myself up by my boot-straps and put on the first episode. Before I knew it, I was giggling and smiling and remembering how Tony made us all feel like we were a part of everything.

Oh, Tony. How very much you were cared about and how much you are missed.

I’m watching the long series of shows he left us. And for a moment, Tony is back once again.

Rest in peace, dear friend.

Seven Things I Love ~ April 6th

I haven’t written a 7 love list in a while, so since things are starting out a little slowly this week, it’s the perfect time to write a “Love List”

I am totally loving the fact that Spring has finally arrived. I saw my first Redwing Blackbird today. They migrate to the South in the winter, but today both Mr. and Mrs. Redwing Blackbirds were at the feeder. I also noted that the suet blocks are getting well picked over. They’re getting more action as more birds are coming back to my yard for the summer.
The ice is out on my lake, Lake Waukewan. So we once again have a living, breathing, moving lake. And just before sitting down to write this, I heard that Lake Winnipesaukee (the big lake) is also iced out! Spring is here in full force and I relish the beauty all around me.
After watching The British Baking Show, I was more than ready to whip up a turkey pie for our dinner. Jack was not thrilled, but I told him when one gets an 11+ pound turkey for less than $5.00 then one eats a lot of turkey! I love turkey so it isn’t hard for me to eat turkey in various ways.
I was thinking today just how much I love my family. In the last year, I have not left the State of New Hampshire. Being safe, wearing a mask and getting vaccinated is my way of showing Love for my family!
I love it when the sun shines down on me now. In April the sun is so much closer and it simply warms my body and my soul!
Leggings. I have literally been wearing leggings every day now. I know I need to get back to wearing real clothes again, but my leggings are just so comfy!
And the last thing on my Love list today are my flowers in the dish garden. They smell so good and really brighten up my family room!