The Dackel Princess

The Anniversary Dinner

Our Anniversary was full of surprises. This year I decided to become a true romantic and I had planned our “Anniversary Date” completely. When I called for reservations at The Woodshed I asked them to have a bottle of chilled champagne at our table. Hubby was pleasantly surprised and we toasted our 20 years together.

For our appetizers we ordered an artichoke dip for me, which was divine and Hubby got French Onion Soup, one of his favorite things to eat.

We talked and laughed and reminisced while we ate, looking back over the last 20 years with laughter and smiles.

Next came our tossed salads with blue cheese dressing. Crisp lettuce greens with a dressing that was equally yummy!

Then our dinners came. I must confess that this is not a meal you would find on any Weight Watchers menus! No I will probably burn in Hell for tonight’s indiscretion! LOL!!! Here is what we had:

We each had Prime Rib of Beef, with a Lobster Tail on top, a twice baked potato, mixed vegetables and horseradish. Also they served their own home-baked bread, which I did have some of, but managed to leave half of on the plate. I also did not eat all of my Prime Rib, and brought it home for a left over treat for Hubby.

As we sat drinking coffee my last surprise arrived, a small chocolate cake with butter-creme frosting and a drizzle of chocolate on the top. We each had a small piece and then we brought the rest home for the neighborhood kids.

It was a splendid celebration, made even more so by the little surprises that I’d planned for my sweetheart!!!

Happy Anniversary, Darling!!!

Twenty Years…..

….and it only gets better!!!

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22 Days & Counting….

…..Or is she or isn’t she?

I called the Vet today and made a (hopefully) prenatal appointment. We will go in on April 30th at 2 pm to see if Greta is pregnant. So now we begin the official count down to “Biscuits In The Oven-2008”.

Greta and Bernie got together 4 different days, and I am hoping that during one of those get togethers, they actually got together enough to make puppies!

I am nervous. I really want this litter, I want to see Greta be a Mommy again. The thought of missing out on this opportunity makes me quite sad. So lets all cross our fingers and send good vibes Greta’s way!

My next challenge will be Anneliese. She isn’t ready to breed, as she is still too young, and does not have her rating (which she will get in September), but she is due to go into heat at any moment and then I have to go through another 21 days of changing doggy diapers.

Ah yes, the thrill of doggy ownership!

At least Arnie handled things pretty well with Greta. There was really only two days that he literally followed her everywhere, with me right behind them. A few times I even put him in his crate for a time out because I just couldn’t take it any more. Then as quickly as his hormonal desire for Greta came on, it disappeared! Don’t get me wrong, I thank the good Lord for that.

Good old Uncle Fritz is totally oblivious to all. Since he is a neutered male he could care less about the Soap Opera that has been taking place in this house.

So now we wait. It’ll go by, quickly I hope, and then we will know.

Why oh why don’t they just have an Early Pregnancy Kit for dogs?

I’m Getting Old!

I was fitted a couple of weeks ago for orthotics for my shoes. This is supposed to help solve my Planter Fasciitis. I waited and finally the pair made specially for my feet arrived. I was advised to go slowly while building up my time in them, and I think I have been pretty good about that, only doing a few hours a day and increasing every other day. Currently I am up to about 7 hours.

They felt wonderful the first day I had them on, but things have slowly been going downhill since. When I awaken in the night to go to the bathroom, and step down on the carpeted floor I want to scream with the pain. Even lying in bed has caused my feet to hurt. And the worst part about breaking these suckers in? My back is aching too. Today I felt it and I knew it was just going to get worse, and it has.

I just have to face the fact that I am getting older. I’m not the limber woman that I was in my twenties. I don’t just moan and groan with aches when I go to bed at night, now I am doing it in the morning too!

Hubby laughs at me because he is older than me, and yet for the most part I think he is in better shape. You know he has skied 51 days so far this year, and should be able to get a few more days in before the ski areas close.

Of course there is something to be said for getting old.

First, it beats the heck out of the alternative.

Second, You have learned from your mistakes (hopefully) and no longer do the stupid things you once did in your youth.

And lastly, you appreciate (hopefully) all you have and are smart enough to thank God, and enjoy every moment you have with your family.

Even if your back is killing you!

Well?

I wish I could give you all a definitive answer as to whether Greta and Bernie accomplished the big one. All I can say is that they did get to know each other in very personal ways, and it’s my hope that June puppies will be forthcoming. I won’t really know for about three weeks. Then I can take her in and the Vet can palpitate her abdomen and feel if there are any babies in there. Oh how I wish there was an Early Pregnancy Test Kit for dogs! You know, I’m just crazy enough to walk around with that little stick trying to get Greta to wee-wee on it!

So, now I sit back and wait. I’ve decided just not to think about it until the end of the month. Still, I will be looking for those small signs that indicate pregnancy. Exhaustion, morning sickness and her desire to be held.

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

Meanwhile, I caught Anneliese snuggling up to my man! Do you all think I should be worried about the competition?

I have to admit that Anneliese is a sweet little girl, and I adore her. She has developed into a truly adorable and loving pup. I am looking forward to getting my yard back after the snow melts, so I can start working Anneliese outside on the leash, getting her ready for the German Dog Show in September. She is the last dog I will have to show to get her a rating. Whew!

Saturday Scavenger Photo Hunt

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~Glass~

This was taken back in the mid 1990’s when we were over in Bavaria. We drove to a monastery on a hill called Andechs and had lunch and these “small” glasses of wonderful German Beer! (LOL!) Of all the beers I tried in Germany, Andechser Spezial Hell was my personal favorite!

A Shelf Revealed

Cathy over at Planet Germany tagged me with this MEME to reveal my bookcase. It’s scary because they are truly a mess. I tend to access things often and I do not always put things back.

The bookcase near my chair in the family room.

The book I was last grabbing. Guess why.

Another book I have been reading like crazy.

We are teaching the twins (our neighbors) to read with the help of good old Dick and Jane.

And lastly, a bookshelf in our living room. The books here are old and somewhat special reads for us.

Books. I window into another world. A book. It can take you from your living room armchair to the South Seas. Books. I love them.

OK… that’s done. Now I have to nominate some other bloggers to show their shelves….

Umm… let me see… I pick…

Janet and Goofy Girl and Renny (only if you want to of course).

I suppose we should all breathe a sigh of relief it was the bookshelves this time, not the deepest depths of the kitchen cupboards…. or the dark recesses of the fridge.

There’s A Reason

There’s a reason they call a female dog a b!tch. They are!!!

Bernie came to the house again today to beg Greta for just a little sweet loving. He was adorable, gentle and patient with my grumpy girl, who seemed intent on thwarting his every attempt at sealing the deal.

Bernie wooing Greta.

Bernie nearly losing his nose when Greta bites at him!
“Stay away!” she snarls!

They did have a productive time this time and although they did not classically “tie”, they did accomplish the act and so there is no real knowing whether the deed has been done or not.

Of course we will know in about three weeks if she is pregnant or not, and in 62 days for certain.

Am I feeling stressed? Yes, a bit. I wish that Greta would just be the sweet compliant girl that she was a year ago, but I think that perhaps the trauma of puppy-birth has forever changed my girl.

We’re planning to give it another try this weekend and hopefully Bernie will score a full scale home-run.

Then, perhaps, I will relax.

Thursday Thirteen #71

Thirteen Things About Me That Start With The Letter F

1. Friends. I am blessed to have friends that I love and with whom I share my life.

2. Faith. I don’t write about it much, but my faith in God gets me through each day of my life.

3. Family. My family is not what you read about in text books, but good and bad they are mine and I love them all.

4. Fruit. Hubby and I grow a lot of fruit here at our home. Apples, Peaches, Cherries, Pears and Grapes. We also really enjoy making things with the “fruits of our labor”!

5. Feast. I love to cook and I think I am happiest when I am creating a feast to share with my friends and family.

6. Fifty. Yes, I will be fifty in November. I still can’t believe it!

7. Fireplace. I love our fireplace and enjoy having fires in it in the evening.

8. Flute. Growing up I played the flute in the school band. Sadly, my ex-husband kept my flute when we divorced. I have not played since.

9. Fragrance. My favorite fragrance is Christian Dior’s “Dune”. However, I can only wear perfume in the winter as I detest bug bites. So in the summer my perfume is “Deep Woods Off”! LOL!!

10. Foreign places. I love to travel, to meet new people, try new things. In a few more years when I am done breeding puppies I will once again travel with Hubby.

11. Free. I am so happy that I live in a country where I am free. I remember my trips into the east block countries at the height of the cold war and I could see that the lack of freedom brought so much unhappiness to people’s lives.

12. Fresh. I love fresh foods, fresh sheets on my bed and fresh flowers!

13. Fortunate. I want to end with the fact that I feel very fortunate in my life. I am loved by an incredible man, and we share a truly wonderful life together, I have a phenomenal daughter whom I love and am so proud of, as well as dear friends whom I love greatly and who love me and the most awesome dogs in the world!

Yes, I am Fortunate!

Pass The Wine

Well the saga of the girl who just said no continues. Once again today, Greta played, frolicked and rolled, but did not allow Bernie….. ahem….. in.

I called my Veterinarian, and took Greta in. Basically he told me to relax, have a glass of wine and let nature take it’s course. He said I should remember that Greta is much smarter than me. She will know when things are right. Okay, I can’t argue with that.

So I have been trying not to think of it. Trying not to dwell on when she will “do it” or when the puppies will arrive.

I made a double batch of Italian Wedding Soup. I made some popcorn and ate it. I did laundry and I worked like crazy keeping Arnie away from his Mom. Oh yeah, that has been fun!

Greta has been quiet since Bernie left. She has done a lot of sleeping except for when the black lab arrived in the yard again, and this time he tried to get in the door. Excitement!

Ah well. I’m not worrying about when she will be ready, I’m just going to sit here with my feet up and the three dachshunds draped all over my lap and relax.

Please pass the wine!