The Dackel Princess

Washington, DC

You all have heard that I am a country girl. I like grass under my feet, wide open spaces and trees all around me. Oh yes, and little doggies playing at my feet. However the last few days I have driven down the east coast of the US from New Hampshire, to Washington, DC. We have seen a lot of lovely places in the states in between, but we have also gotten stuck in traffic jams and on swaying buses that have left me feeling less than my normal perky self. The places we have been, the things we have seen, make the 10 ½ hour journey here, all worth it.

We arrived at our truly glitzy hotel, complete with a sumptuous suite, only to find that they nickel and dime you for every little thing. The reason, dear reader, that you have not heard from me is that I am simply too cheap to pay $12.00 a day for Internet service for my laptop. I will, however, bite the bullet tomorrow and pay for a connection so I can access my Flickr account and put this on my blog.

We have been site seeing in DC. Having been here before we have skipped some of the usual spots, like the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Monument (my favorite) and the Washington Mall (A large grassy area around all the Federal Buildings and Monuments.

Instead we did something I have not done since I was six years old. We went on a White House tour. Although the White House is beautiful, and I was truly impressed with the artistic masterpieces, I felt badly that there is not longer a Park Service Guide to show you around, and when I asked for a child’s Guide to the White House, they refused my request! We did see Marine One take off with the President. Obviously he had heard I had come to see his place!

No sooner had we returned from that tour then we headed out to the Dulles National Air and Space Museum. All I can say about that is WOW!!!!! We toured with a Docent for three hours and saw every sort of air plane imaginable, including a Pan Am Boeing Strato Cruiser, and a Concorde! Of course we also saw early airplanes and the ones used during the first and second world wars.

Dinner was wonderful. We went to a restaurant at the top of the hotel where we feasted. Hubby had Steak that was mouth wateringly delicious, and I had Lump Crab Cakes! The view of Washington at night, as the planes flew into and out of Ronald Reagan National Airport, was really something.

Washington is a beautiful city, and the government makes sure that it is kept tidy and clean. The grass is green and mowed and there are still flowers in bloom. Thanks to all who work here, to keep our Nations Capital beautiful.

You can see I paid the fee so I could drop in and say hello. Miss you all and will write more later!!!

Thursday Thirteen #53

As we are currently on our way to Washington, DC I thought today’s Thursday Thirteen should be called:

The Travel Edition

1. Packed our suitcase with all the non-hanging clothes.
2. Found my travel size shampoo and conditioner, and got our soap in the bag.
3. Went through and decided which shirts and pants to wear on the trip and got them in a suit bag.
4. Got the suits in a bag too.
5. Got our medications in a travel tote.
6. Put a blanket and pillow in the back seat.
7. Have a bag with our lunch and drinks.
8. Have another bag with our cell phones, phone chargers and satellite Navigation system.
9. Have my laptop bag all ready to go.
10. Changed the sheets on our bed.
11. Finished up our laundry.
12. Had our house sitter over for dinner and went over all the directions for the trip.
13. Turned out the lights, locked the door and crossed my fingers and left.

I’m just a week bit nervous about leaving the puppies for the first time. I’m sure they will be fine, but what can I say? I’m their Mommy and I will miss them and worry about them.

Packing & Riding

Today we started getting ready for our trip to Washington, DC. We pulled out the suit cases, decided which clothes to wear, shoes, etc. I finished up the laundry, then went and had my hair stylist tidy up my hair.

I raced home and cooked dinner for Emily and our house sitter, Dori. The two of them will take care of the dogs and stay here while we are gone.

Everything is pretty much set now. All that’s left is to pack the car and actually drive the 10 hours to get there. A lot of people don’t like long car rides, but I actually do. It’s funny. When Hubby and I go on these long road trips we bring all sorts of music to listen to, but in the end, we seem to talk the entire way.

Twenty years together and we still have so much to say to each other. I hope that never ends!

We’re staying at a nice hotel, attending Hubby’s Army Reunion where we laugh, tell funny stories and jokes and see people we enjoy, but only get to see once a year.

Our visit will include a White House tour, a tour of the new Air and Space Museum and just some relaxing down time alone. We’ll be there for 5 days before heading back home.

Of course I am bringing my laptop so I can stay in touch with you all. I’m afraid I fall into the category of the Internet Addicted.

Yep, time to pack and ride!

9/11

Can you hear the voices? The voices of all those who were lost to us on September 11th, 2001. I think for a moment in time their pain must have screamed through the universe before they were forever silenced. Men, women and children. Innocent lives. Just people on their way to work, or flying off to see their families or in their final moments saying good-bye into a cell phone to their loved ones.

I sat in my family room that day in shock and filled with horror. What these terrorists did was not spectacular or wonderful. It was sick, and cowardly.

I called all my family that day to make sure they were alright. I cried.

Please go here to learn more about this day. I wrote a longer entry last year for the 5th anniversary of this terrible day. I can’t believe that another year has gone by us.

I hope that, like Pearl Harbor, we never forget all who died for their country, on September 11, 2001 or in the war against terror, since then.

Plum Kuchen

Since I have a wonderful Plum tree that supplied us with an abundance of plums, I was given a delightful recipe for Plum Kuchen. Serve it with ice cream or whipped cream, which ever you prefer, but try it. You will love it!

Plum Kuchen

Pastry:

1 ½ cups flour
½ tsp salt
1 ½ tsp sugar
5 tbs butter
½ cup sour cream
extra flour for dusting

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease an 11-12 inch tart pan with a removable bottom.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the sour cream and continue cutting into the mixture. I used my Kitchen Aid mixer with a dough hook. Either turn out on board and kneed by hand or allow your mixer to do it for you, until the dough takes shape.
Dust the dough lightly with flour and form into a flat round cake. Press the dough into the tart pan, pressing the dough up to the top of the fluted rim.

Filling:

1 pound of plums
½ cup brown sugar
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
2 tbs butter
2 tbs sugar

Cut the plums into flower shapes as follows: Beginning at the stem end, make a lengthwise slice ¾ of the way down each side of the pit. Cut the “back” seam so the plum halves remain connected on the bottom. Slit the top of each half so that the plum forms a flower shape, making four pettles connected at the round bottom.
Arrange the plums on the pastry, skin side down, forming concentric rows.

Combine the brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and butter, and sprinkle that over fruit.

Bake tart for 25 minutes or until the pastry is set and the fruit is tender. Cool, remove from tart pan and slide onto platter. Cut into wedges and serve with softly whipped cream.

Pant Suits & Blouses

Have I mentioned that I love my Hubby lately?

Well, I’ll tell you, today he took me shopping, at a one day sale at Macy’s, and he found for me a really gorgeous light gray suit with powder blue lining and a matching shirt. The gray suit has the thinest thread of the same powder blue running through to form a pinstripe! It is so beautiful! Best of all, it flatters my figure and I feel comfortable in it.

Hubby has great taste in clothes for me. When he picks something out, most of the time I feel like a million dollars in it. Probably because he likes it too. He wanted to get a second blouse to go with it, and we stopped in at Coldwater Creek, where I got a pretty white blouse there.

All of this shopping was done in the 90+ degree heat and I was so glad when we were done and got to come home to the air conditioning.

So, I never did find a dress. I’m not sure I liked any that I tried on. So many of them show too much skin or are tents that make me look extremely fat, or worse yet, pregnant!

You know a few years ago, I was going through a plump phase. A little rounder than I am right now. Anyway, I found, what I thought was the cutest pant suit to wear to a reunion. I modeled it for Hubby, who said the color was nice, but he didn’t think it flattered my figure.

Oh I thought he was being so mean. So I brought it with us, and one evening I put it on and wore it to the cocktail party.

One of the men we know well came up to us smiling broadly and took my hand and shook it and said, “Oh dear this is wonderful! You look great, when is the baby due?”

I wanted to die, right there. But of course what do you say?

I smiled sweetly and said, “I’m not pregnant, I’m just fat!” And then I smiled some more.

Since then, I never wear anything until Hubby gives me his honest appraisal.

I always felt bad for that man, but I bet he has never done that to any other woman either! LOL

Saturday Scavenger Photo

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MUSIC

When I was four years old I tried out for a part in the community production of “The King and I”. Much to everyone’s surprise I was given a part. That of the King’s youngest child, the one that slides in at the last second near his feet going the wrong way. The King lovingly picks up the bowing child and turns her around and places her in line with all the others. I sang, and I got all made up with thick pancake make-up and hair color spray to make me look like a Siamese child. I can still recall showering after and watching all that brown make-up wash down the drain.

But my best memories are of all the singing we did with the woman who played Anna. Her name was Fuzzy and she loved all of us kids, or at least we thought she did, and it made every performance that much more fun.

This first picture was taken during rehearsal. I just love those little girl curls of mine!

The second is at the end of the performance. I am the first child in the first row, on the right, looking at the King and Anna. Even though I was only four I remember so much of this first performance in my community theater.

Fritz

I took Fritz in to the Vets today for his yearly exam and shots. All went well with his health, but OH MY GOD, the ride over and back was a real trip.

You see Fritz hates to be in the car, even though he loves to go for a ride. He just can’t sit still and he is 73 pounds worth of moving fur! I rolled the passenger side window down and let him stick his nose outside, which does seem to calm him, but then I found I was getting whacked by his tail!

He walked into the Vet’s office calmly and was actually pretty nice while he was weighed and had his heart listened to. But once his shots were done, and the exam over, I returned him to the car to wait for me.

I paid the bill and got into the car to go home. We stopped at the Post Office, and Fritz didn’t like that either. I patted him, told him I would be right back, and ran in to the Post Office, grabbed my mail and went back out.

There he was, sitting in the driver’s seat as though he intended to drive off without me! It made me laugh!

We got back home before lunch and Fritz was so happy to get out of the car and come in and see the dachshunds and Hubby!

Thursday Thirteen #52

Thirteen Things I Love About September

1. The cooler air temperatures.
2. The drier air.
3. The first frost is usually during this month.
4. The leaves begin to turn color. Red, orange, yellow, russet. All beautiful and bright.
5. The smell of wood fires burning in the hearth.
6. Fresh apple cider.
7. Apples for eating and for baking!
8. The kids go back to school and the neighborhood is quiet during the day. Then they come home and I look forward to that too!
9. The tourists leave our area and life slows down.
10. My best friends birthday is this month, as well as her grandson’s.
11. The German Dog show is this month.
12. We’re going to DC for an Army Reunion.
13. The last of the produce comes in. Pumpkins, butternut squash and the pears.

Lucky Lady

I was up early, made a quick breakfast and then hopped in my car and headed off to spend the day with my daughter. Do you all know how much fun it is to have a grown up daughter? For those of you who do, isn’t it great? For those of you whose kids are still growing, just wait! It gets really good!!!

I arrived at her place about 9:30, patted my grand kitties, and then we dropped her car off for service. Next, we headed to the mall. Neither one of us had been to this particular mall in years, and aside from Macy’s and Starbucks (yes, I was brave enough to go inside and get a cup of coffee!) the mall was a real disappointment.

However, I got a few tops at Macy’s on sale for $9.99 each and a dress, as well as a cute skirt.

Then we were off to the LL Bean Outlet, where I got the cutest blouse, and then decided I should look for some new hiking boots. So, I went back to the shoe section and began hunting for some comfortable boots. The first and second pair felt horrible and quickly went back on the shelf, but the third pair fit perfectly and felt like bedroom slippers! I looked at the price and it read:

$9999.99!!!!

Now that is some hefty price for hiking boots! I Took them up to the check out counter and asked the girl if this was the real price? And if it was, was it perhaps because they were magical boots? LOL!

Yes, it was a tremendous mistake that took several minutes to figure out. In the end they were $81.99, a much more manageable price! They came home with me too.

The best part part of my day though, was sitting at Bugaboo Creek having lunch with my daughter. For that hour it was just us talking, and enjoying each other. I really am a lucky lady.

I dropped her off to get her car and then headed home late in the afternoon. My ride didn’t seem so long because my friend Gail and I got a chance to talk on our cell phones and play catch up on life. Gail and I have been best friends since we were 13 years old! We met at summer camp. This is our 35th year of friendship!

When I arrived home, Hubby and the pups were all so happy to see me. Greta even sang me a sweet doggy song, then Hubby took me out for fish and chips. That was great too.

Now I am ending my day, in my pajamas with Greta by my side, thinking I am one very lucky lady.