The Dackel Princess

November 1st

Here we are. It’s November first and before you know it, 2021 will be over. I am still astounded at how we actually got to November so quickly. For me, this year has simply sped by!

On Friday I went into my hairstylist’s salon and had a morning of beauty. I had my first manicure in years, and she revived my hair and by the time I left, I felt wonderfully renewed! I am always grateful when I can take a few hours and get spoiled like this! And I thank my stylist, Rebecca. She always makes me feel spoilt!

After that, I took off to go and see Mandy, Matt, and the kids! It had been a while, and I’d missed them a lot.

Savi & Oma

The kids showed me their games and we talked a lot. And after dinner, and a movie the kids and I crashed while their parents had a date night.

Oma & Quinn

I do admit to falling asleep during the movie. It seems lately I am just not getting enough sleep. So when a cartoon movie comes on, it is “snore city” for me!

The next day I left as the kids were getting ready for their Karate Class, as I needed to go and get gas ($308. a gallon) and get some food items at a cheaper, and better-stocked grocery store.

Of course, this was all done in the pouring rain, but I look at it like this, at least I got my car clean!

Of course, the next day was Halloween and the kids had so much fun dressing up and going out to Trick or Treat with their friends.

Savi & Quinn in their ghoulish costumes!

Ghostly Savannah Skeleton Ghoul!

Ninja Monster Ghoul Quinn!

Once again, we had no trick or treaters at our house. With a 600 ft. driveway, which is pitch black at night, none of the kids dare come down to see us. Jack insisted we get candy “just in case”, so I bought his Reeces Peanut Butter Cups. We had no trick or treaters once again! So Jack gets lucky and has his favorite candy.

So, November is starting on a happy note and for that I am thankful! Here’s wishing you all a wonderful and joyous November!

The Friday Five ~ October 29th

I know I begin my Friday Five each week talking about how fast it has gone, but this week I am not exaggerating! Each day there was a plan of action to get me working on the house. This was actually very good for me, as I heal from the loss of my boy, Arnie.

I decided that I needed to clean and sterilize all the dog equipment I have. It is now accomplished and set aside waiting to be used once again.
I actually have not had the heart to put away the dog steps and ramps. I choose to believe that one day, a dackel will come to me and I will be completely ready.
I love the new floor wet/dry vac that I purchased recently. I feel so great about the ease of use and the fresh scent in my home. Wonderful!
I have now lost seven pounds since returning to my healthy eating lifestyle. What I am learning is control of portions. I have also pretty much kicked the carbohydrates in my diet, as I simply eat them and then they turn into fat!
Lastly, I am going to see my grandchildren today! I am thrilled. I so wish we could sell this house and move closer. That would be perfect!

So, that’s it for now. I hope you all have a great weekend!

TBT: Some Dog Pictures & Me!

This is a picture of me with Baby-Dog, the Beagle, and Lorelai, our German Shepherd. I’m thinking I was about 12 or 13 years old.

Below: This was Greta’s first litter. My favorite thing to do at that time in the pups life was to sit in the puppy room and let them crawl all over me! Both Arnie & Anneliese are in there, but I can’t see collar colors, so I’m not sure who is who. Good times!

Anneliese was such a little dog. Here she is next to Arnie who was already way ahead of her. It didn’t matter. They were devoted littermates.

And here I am with Greta. She was an amazing dog and friend!

It’s All About…

Kindness & Love

Recently, there was a question on Facebook that I am positively sure no one was really thinking about when they answered. The question?

“If you could get rid of one thing in the World, what would it be?”

Well, most people named their least favorite politician. Some named their ex-spouses. While others named obscure and little-known rock singers.

But as I sat here thinking about that question, I came up with the only legitimate answer.

Hate

I chose Hate because if it did not exist problems throughout the world would end.

Wars would not be fought. Divorces would be settled in a kind and positive way. Children would be raised in an atmosphere of total love instead of ammunition between mother and father.

People would smile more and accept people for who they are. Kindness would prevail!

If Hate ceased to exist, people would respect each other. They would work for positive outcomes, instead of destroying what people think or have, they would work together to make things better.

Each day I turn on the TV and I hear average people, politicians, and even children spewing Hate-filled speeches.

Our TV commercials here in New Hampshire are filled with political ads and the ads are filled with Hate.

So, I subscribed to a few streaming services so that I can avoid the bleak pictures being painted of our world.

Politicians, school board members, and town officials beware. If you are preaching Hate, you’re not getting my vote.

I vote for kindness and love.

For The Love Of My Dackels

Back in 1996 when I brought home my first wirehaired dackel, I didn’t realize how much these little creatures would change me and the world I lived in.

Baby Shubi.

Shubi was my first wirehaired dackel and honest to God, she changed my life. She was my little Army. When I listened to Jamie Reagan and Eddie Janko say their wedding vows on Blue Bloods, it made me think about Shubi and how she saved me from depression.

“I will always have your back. If you fall behind I will wait up.
I will earn your respect and pay you respect every day we have.
I’ll be your scout, your night watchman, your cavalry.
Your medic, your chaplain in our army of two.
No retreat, no surrender. You can count on me.”

Shubi came into my life at just the right time. I was quite lost after the death of my six-year-old daughter. I was going down and there was very little I cared about.

But when darling Shubi came she was just 3 months old. She needed to be fed several times a day, walked, and we even went to doggy school so she could train me.

Walking with Shubi and a friend in Bavaria.

After so much sadness, Shubi gave me a reason to get up each day, and soon I was not only working my way out of the depression, but I was starting to enjoy life once again.

Shubi was an only dackel-child for 8 years before Greta joined us. We flew to Germany and went to the breeder’s home and picked up our girl. I was sure that no dackel could be as wonderful as Shubi, but I was so wrong. Where Shubi was a Beaty Queen, Greta was fierce and unafraid. I still recall the Easter afternoon when Greta cornered a garter snake (not poisonous) and barked loudly to protect me from it. Remembering that moment still makes me laugh!

Sadly Shubi left us shortly after her tenth birthday. She had contracted a very rare illness GME (granulomatous meningo-encephalomyelitis). That was a very difficult goodbye. Shubi was so special.

My darling, Greta.

I did not have time to grieve as Greta went to her first German Dog Show, was rated Excellent and a boyfriend was found for her who was from German stock. Ten months later, Greta gave birth to her first litter and my love grew with the addition of Arnie and Anneliese.

Baby Anneliese and Baby Arnie.

We were so lucky to have had Greta for 14 and a half years, Anneliese for 14 years and one month, and Arnie for 14 and three-quarter years.

Anneliese and Arnie.

Right now I am alone. Well, I have Lili I know, but as sweet as she is, she isn’t a cuddler and she is very much a protector of the home and hearth. This is funny because there is not a mean bone in Lili’s body, yet when we did have that daytime break-in back in January of 2019, fierce Lili was the heroine of the day.

Lili.

But I was puttering around the house today and I had to go down to the basement and I said “I’ll be right back Arnie” and then I realized he wasn’t here and I stopped and a sob caught in my throat.

I hope to find a new dackel-baby soon. I am just one of those people who has found the breed of dog that is perfect for them, and the wirehaired dackel is it for me!

The Friday Five ~ October 22nd

It’s Friday once again. This week started out quietly, but then I got on a roll and got an awful lot done. I still have a few things to do, but I’m making progress. So, without further ado, here is this week’s Friday Five!

Are you having shortages of grocery items where you are? I am finding things like non-perishable items are disappearing from the shelves. I stocked up on canned soups and vegetables, and we have already filled the freezer with meats and poultry so we are good. I even have a turkey!
Then there was the laundry. I thought that Thursday was supposed to be a nice dry day, so I washed three loads of laundry and hung out almost two loads. Then it started to rain! Fortunately, I have clotheslines on my screen porch, which also has a roof. So, I was saved.
This week I was adjusting to being back on the WW diet. I changed a lot of things this time. I’ve given up coffee creamer and I am watching my portion size. It’s working. I lost 5 pounds in one week! Call me happy!
Our leaves are nearly all either turning a dead brown or have fallen from the trees. Yes, although we have warmer temperatures, we did not really have a super color-filled Autumn.
The weekend will be spent clearing out some room to store Christmas gifts. I had a rather large Amazon box next to my bed and when I was coming back to bed in the night I tripped on it and I swear my Guardian Angel caught me. So, time to organize!

What are you doing this weekend? Have you started Christmas shopping? I hope wherever you are, your weekend will be a good one!

TBT: Anneliese & Isegrim

I was getting out the three collars of Greta, Anneliese, and Arnie, to wash before I place them forever in a memories box filled with pictures, dried flowers, and of course their collars. As I opened my dackel bag I saw a newspaper. And there I was, holding Anneliese’s husband, Isegrim. He was the German father of Anneliese’s puppies.

I’d forgotten this article. But there it was. Reminding me of a great time in my life. A time I was doing something I truly believed in and also enjoyed more than words could ever say.

Oh, how wonderful those 12 weeks were. Imagine having your own little pack of 4 puppies to play with, teach things to, and snuggle. Simply the most wonderful time ever!

I need to get my scanner up and going and carefully scan this in. After all, the paper will eventually wear away. So, I need to scan and protect.

What a perfect day to find this. I really needed something to make me smile!

The collars are in the wash, and I am working to preserve the memories of my Dackel Princess pups!

In the back, Greta and Arnie. In the front, Anneliese.

Quiet

The last couple of days I have been quiet. I needed the quiet. I think there are times you find that keeping busy helps to take your mind off of the things that are bothering you. Then the thoughts come up and hit you and you begin to feel it all again.

Life is very quiet since Arnie has passed. In the last months of his life, he was quite vocal, and now there is silence.

Lili will follow me around some, but she is the guard dog of our house and most often is on the floor next to the door. Occasionally she will come in and sleep on the sofa, but mostly she is on duty.

Anyway, I decided to do a few things to get ready for Christmas, and fortunately, I can shop online. I’ve actually made quite a dent in the shopping!

While having my quiet time I have also wiped my hard drive and reloaded things. Things are in better order than they were.

The weather has also been rather fierce reminding me that we have now entered Autumn. The wind has been blowing so hard that it makes loud noises outside. The lovely leaves are blowing down and very soon our trees will resemble skeletons.

Autumn may be late this year, but it is finally here and I actually broke out the warm nightgown last night.

Stay warm and snuggly in your home and enjoy the last days of Autumn as they blow by.

All In A Day’s Work!

I thought I would sit down and write about my new wet/dry cleaner for my hard floors (wood or tile). I had done the tiled bathrooms, but I was looking forward to doing the kitchen floor. As I said yesterday, my kitchen is huge and is a high-traffic area.

I was all set to do this in the morning, but since it was Saturday and I had to get our mail by noon, along with a recycling center run and pick up a few groceries, I had to put off my floor washing until after lunch.

It worked like a gem! It was easy on my back/neck and it made my floor sparkle! I’ve been washing floors for years and they have never looked this good. Never!

It did take a while. I admit that by the time I was done about 3:30 (this included loading the machine, using it, and then cleaning the machine after) I was really a wee bit tired. But heck, I’m an old lady!

However, every time I go out to the kitchen for anything, I smile at how wonderful my floor looks!

I would definitely give my cleaner 5 stars!

I made an easy dinner for Jack, a nice easy diet dinner for me, and then hit the shower afterward.

Oddly enough, I did not sleep well. Perhaps it was the rain or all the work I’d done. But after tossing and turning all night I gave up and got out of bed at 4:45! Ugh!

Here’s an interesting note about our weather. It is October 17th and we still have not had the first frost. This is unusual. Our first frost usually happens by the end of September. Right now we don’t see a hard frost on our horizon.

I hope this has been a good weekend for you all.

Friday Was a Good Day!

On Friday I made good use of my time. I had a three o’clock Glaucoma Eye Doctor appointment, so I left late morning and stopped at various places along the way.

I shopped for canned goods, and various storable food items went to our local Outlet Mall (an outdoor mall) and bought two Christmas presents. I masked up and didn’t get close to anyone, and I also washed my hands and used sanitizer.

I stayed on my healthy eating plan, getting a small container of cottage cheese and some fruit for my lunch. I also stopped at BJ’s for gas and tanked up for $2.97 a gallon. (I felt good about that!)

Traffic was heavy on my way to Manchester. People were simply driving crazy. It was a relief to get to her office in one piece!

My exam showed eye pressures of 14 in my right eye and 15 in my left. Better than they were a year ago, but still not where we want them to be. I will go back in two months and if they are the same or higher I may need further laser surgery.

It is a relief to have a doctor I feel totally confident with. She is amazingly good and I feel well taken care of.

After my appointment, I got back on the highway for my trip home. The traffic was really bad then and when I got to the Capitol of New Hampshire, Concord, it was literally “stop and go”.

I made it home in time to feed Lili and Jack and prepare a nice meal of zucchini and summer squash sauteed with a turkey burger. Actually, not too bad.

So that was my Friday. Today I plan to get out my new floor cleaner and do the kitchen floor. I imagine that will take me a while as I have a huge kitchen. For anyone looking for a wet/dry cleaner for your hard floors, this machine is really good and it is on sale at BJ’s until November 3rd.

Have a great weekend!