The Dackel Princess

Weight Watchers

Today was Weight Watchers. I got up and did my make-up and hair and dressed in some nice clothes. I even put on jewelry. I looked good.
I got there early, because I always weigh in, in my shorts and a tank top, and then re-dress in my warmer clothes. Tami is always there early and we talk.
Then people started coming in and I talked with them. A little time passed and they asked me if I could lead the group because our leader was delayed in traffic. So I got up and welcomed everyone and did the celebrations part of the meeting. I gave out 5 pound weight loss stars, and I even gave out a 10 % key chain! Oh I was so happy. I spoke for half of the meeting and then the regular leader, Suzanne came in and she finished.
After class she spoke to me for a while encouraging me to become a leader. Also several women at the meeting spoke to me and also said I should do this. One woman, she is very nice and recently started the program came over to me today. I had brought with me my before picture and I showed it to her and then she could see the after. She started to cry. I asked her why, and she said that I gave her hope that she too, could do this. I told her to keep my picture and to let it give her strength. She hugged me.

I think I will go to classes and learn to be a leader. It’s something I realize that I really believe in.

Blah…….

I’ve got one of those 24 hour stomach bugs that makes you just feel plain old blah! I’ve tried to work through it by ignoring it and just doing my usual work, but this darn germ is winning out.

At about 2 o’clock I took my temperature. It was 99.6 (F). Now usually my temperature is 97.5 so this little temperature of 99.6 is a big deal for me.

So I sat down.

I started having chills and then hot flashes. I’ve decided that being menopausal with a fever is a real pain in the neck. I mean, here you are already burning up with a fever, and your cute little menopausal body decides you aren’t hot enough and gives you a “royal flash”!

I’m not feeling too hungry either, but since I like Hubby I made him a nice meal of goulash and mashed potatoes. I think I will probably do something totally exciting, like make myself some cream of wheat and tea.

Hopefully by the morning I will be back on my feet and ready to go to Weight Watchers.

I really dislike feeling this way. Blah is no fun!

Why I Do, What I Do

When I first married Hubby he had a great dog. His name was Rex. I wasn’t his first Mommy. I was his step-mommy. Rex liked people and kids and was a great companion for me when Hubby was off flying.

There was a time when I was working in our orchard selling apples and I had a man threaten me with his movements and Rex placed himself between the man and me and gave him the biggest toothiest growl ever! Good doggy!!!

Anyway, as Rex got older arthritis seemed to be setting in. We had him on medication for that, and at night, when he could no longer walk up the stairs, we made a comfy bed for him.

One night when Hubby was off flying I decided to paint our bedroom. (Can you tell I was a lot younger then?) Anyway, it started to storm with great loud booming thunder. One thing Rex hated more than anything was thunder. As I stood with white paint covering my clothes I looked over at the door and saw that Rex was standing there. That sweet boy had dragged himself up the stairs to be with me during that storm.

Rex’s arthritis seemed to get worse and so Hubby and I took him to the Vet’s to see if there was anything we could do. They x-rayed his hips and then showed us something I didn’t think I would ever see.

Rex had no hip sockets. His bones were just floating in the hip area. No wonder he was in such pain! Hip dysplasia is a terrible thing!

We kept Rex as comfortable as we could until the day arrived that we made the last trip to the Vet’s with him. He had gone into a stream near our house to rest his hips in the cold water. We helped him out and when he could no longer stand, we called to go in.

As we drove to the Vet’s office, I thought about the night of the thunder storm. You see the day Rex left us, there was a terrible thunder and lightening storm.

I held my step-doggy in my arms as the Vet eased him from this world and I promised Rex then that if I ever went on to breed dogs I would do it right, so that they would not have these terrible, painful genetic diseases passed along.

***************

A few years later when I fell hopelessly in love with wire-haired dackels, I realized that there were not too many of them in this country. Also the ones here were in-bred and many had terrible back problems. The more I read the more I knew that I wanted to do things differently.

So after bringing Shubi home and deciding not to breed her due to pedigree restrictions, I started to explore breeding practices. I found what I thought made perfect sense in Germany. So, I went back and I got Greta.

You see the German Breed Clubs are very strict with their breeding practices. In-breeding isn’t allowed and their dogs are in far better health than ours. I decided if I was going to breed the wire-haired dachshunds in this country, I was going to do it right.

I have had all my dogs judged by a German judge. He examines them from top to bottom looking for any disqualifications. I have their eyes examined to make sure they are not passing on a problematic illness called PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy). And when I select a husband for my girls, I make sure that they are not related in any way.

I do this so that no puppy that I bring into this world will suffer from a genetic disease if I can possibly help it.

My dogs are one of the best parts of my life and I want other people to know how wonderful the wire-haired dachshunds are. Happy, healthy and full of fun!

Thank you, Rex. For being a wonderful boy and for teaching me such a valuable lesson.

Anneliese, Arnie & The Dingo Bone

I gave the three dackels dingo bones this morning. They each went off to chew their bones, but Greta wasn’t feeling well so she just sat next to hers. Soon Anneliese stole the bone from her. Greta did not care, but Arnie knew that Anneliese had stolen the bone and he began to follow her all around the house, barking at her.

She decided to drive Arnie crazy. She jumped up into the chair next to me and then she tucked the bone with her two front paws under her chest! Then I swear to you, she stuck that needle nose of hers in the air!

You can just see the bone peeking out between her two paws!

You can see how she tormented her brother, Arnie. Every time he got close she would snarl at him, “Get Away!”.
This lasted for over an hour. Poor Arnie was making us all crazy with his fussing and barking. Then Anneliese heard a truck drive down the street and she leapt to go and see what the noise was and Arnie dove in and stole the bone from her! But he was smart. He quickly ate the bone up and the little game was over!

I just love these dogs!

3 Dackels & Fritz

I had Anneliese out again today, as I try to get her ready for her trip abroad. She hopped into the car, and then I carried her from the car into the Post Office (I wanted to keep her feet clean!) where she greeted many strangers.

She did well and then on our return trip she was happily looking out the windows of the car at everything going by.

She is a happy little thing, and so loving. I’m just hoping when she gets to Germany and meets her German “husband” she will be as sweet to him.

Arnie wanted to get into the act too. As I stood holding Anneliese, he was jumping up wanting to be held. So I picked him up and Hubby snapped this picture.

I was pretty busy doing laundry today too. So I decided to grab Fritz’s toy named “monkey” and wash it. Once it was done I brought it back up and tossed it at him. Before I knew what was happening Greta leapt off the sofa and grabbed the toy in mid-air! Then she climbed up in my chair and dared anyone to just try to get it.

We all decided just to let her have it!
Wouldn’t you?

Another Day

We were up early today and I decided to bite the bullet and try to ski again. I told Hubby I would do this on one condition: that if I needed to stop he would not say one word.

I actually skied well. Four good runs on difficult trails before I stopped. Why did I stop? Well, I got tired. Although the conditions were really much better than they were yesterday, they still required a lot of work on my part and I got tired!

So after the four runs I skied down and told Hubby to ski until he was ready to go. Which he did.

We went for lunch, stopped to get the car washed (the salt is terrible on the roads!) and then came home.

Bright spot of the day was doing something I thought was sort of funny. It went like this.

When I arrived at the ski lodge it was mobbed with middle school kids, who were there for races. I found a couple of seats and started to sit down. This busy body type of lady hurried over and told me that the seat I was in was already taken. I looked at her and then at the hordes of kids mulling around the lodge and I said: “Look, I know I can’t take out all of those kids to get a seat, but I know one thing, I can take out you!”

Poor thing. I think I scared her. I smiled and told her I was just joking. A moment later a woman walked up, a friend of hers and it turned out that I knew the woman! We all talked and there was plenty of room for not just me, but for the woman’s friends and Hubby as well to get our ski gear on.

12 Plus

The weather man says we got 16 inches, but Hubby swears it’s no more than 12. Walking around today I think perhaps the weather man is a little closer.

As you can see we have a good three feet of snow sitting in the back yard. Some of it is from the previous storms, but most of it is from yesterday.

I did finally get Anneliese to pose for me. She’s the cooperative one. You can see how petite she looks next to the snow banks.

Now here are a few pictures of Hubby as he cleared the path for the dackels. I was shocked to see my picnic table. Now that’s all from this past storm!

Hubby works hard, but he tells me that it’s good exercise for him. I bet he will be tired tonight.

This was a small avalanche in front of the green house. Hubby got through it and now the dackels can get to their special place!

I love this one of Hubby, with my neighbor’s house in the background. Yes, that’s a lot of snow.

I went up to go skiing today, but I must confess that the snow was too much for me. I am an average skier, but I like the conditions to be packed and firm. Today was a powder lovers dream and my personal nightmare.

I kept falling and I got more and more afraid, until I just skied to the bottom, took off my skies and said to hell with it! Hubby wasn’t happy with me, but I have to say, when you feel like I did and you are a simple skier, you are much safer in the lodge!

I came home and took a long hot bath and tried to unwind. I don’t think I am calm yet. There is something terribly scary for me when I fall and end up buried in snow that is as deep as my arm.

I’m trying a new Weight Watchers recipe for Scalloped Potatoes. It smells heavenly. Wouldn’t that be a nice way to end the day, with a nice steak, asparagus and scalloped potatoes?

It’s Still Snowing….

As of 8 PM on Wednesday night, it is still snowing. I’m guessing that we are closing in on a foot of snow, but it’s only a guess. All I do know is that when I let Anneliese out about a half an hour ago she went from the shoveled path and jumped into the snow and disappeared! So, yes, it’s deep!

None of the dogs would pose for me. Right now they all run out and run back as quickly as they can. It’s cold and wet and deep snow and they just don’t want any part of it!

As you can see by the doggy foot prints, they do run out to their little zone, and then back.

Hubby is feeling well enough to push along the snow blower so he is out clearing snow.

As you can see he is doing a great job, but I have to tell you, when I took the picture, I scared the heck out of him!

So the snow is continuing, and I think their predictions of 15 inches is probably pretty accurate. I’ll update in the morning when the storm totals are in.

And The Storm Is On It’s Way!

I woke Tuesday morning to news that a fairly large snow storm will be hitting us on Wednesday! We’re talking 12 inches of the white stuff! So while Hubby hit the slopes skiing, I decided it was better for me to go forage for food.

I went and bought a months worth of dog food, and biscuits for the doggies. I also bought toothpaste and a new pair of reading glasses for myself, due to the fact that I forgot my readers at home and needed something to read the labels with at the store.

Next I went to the grocery store, and procured all that we would need for the next week. Yogurt, eggs, bread, vegetables, etc.

I gassed up the Jeep and then I did one thing I didn’t actually need to do, but wanted to do. I got some new Clinique make-up, and a new set of pajamas. All on sale.

I came home and I needed to carry it all up the stairs and into the house. After carrying all the canned dog food up it suddenly dawned on me!

I have too many dogs!

I put everything away, made lunch and raced off to the dentist. No cavities! Yay!

When I got home I put on the local weather and found out that they have upped the forecast for the snow. They say we may now get 12-18 inches of snow!

Well, I have enough food for man and beast, I can miss a few meetings if I have to, and I’ve got plenty of wood for the fireplace. I guess I am ready for the storm. However much snow we end up getting!

Pre-Heat!

Last night when we got home, Arnie was paying attention to Anneliese a little too much. She is not in heat, but in sort of a pre-heat. What this means is that Anneliese is putting out some sort of doggy phemerones that only Arnie can pick up. He is letting me know that Anneliese is going to go into heat soon.

Yippee!!!

So now I have a few things to do. I need to make tentative arrangements with the airline, find out exactly how much it will cost to fly Anneliese over, and make sure I bring down her soft-sided carrier. I want her to get used to being in it. Even if it is just for a nap.

I need to think about what clothing to pack and how I can travel as lightly as possible. Carrying a suitcase and a sixteen pound dog will be a challenge.

Naturally I plan to keep blogging all the while that I am in Germany. Perhaps I will do a little travel piece. As well as news of sex and the single dackel! lol!