…So since the puppies are asleep for 5 seconds I’ll do this.
Author: Dackel Princess
20 Weeks!
Can you believe the pups are 20 weeks old? I was watching them today, as they frolicked and played and I realized how grown up they’ve gotten. Arnie is 14 1/2 pounds now and Anneliese is 11 1/2 pounds. Anneliese is 99.9% house broken now, and Arnie is 75%. Yes, he is a little slow, but we still love him. He is 100% paper trained, so even if I don’t get him outside for the big event, he will run into the puppy room and use the papers. Not perfect, but it has saved me a lot of time cleaning my carpets with the big green clean machine.
(Arnie)
or stretch out in the sunshine
(Anneliese)
and just be close.
(Arnie (blue) Anneliese (red))
Greta still watches over them, but in many ways she keeps her distance too. Although today she played a wicked chasing game with the puppies until I thought they might tear up the rug! But it was so much fun to watch
(Anneliese)
The Puppy Nanny
Saturday saw Hubby and I off for the day…alone. The “Puppy Nanny”, also known as Emily, came over and puppy sat for us. I can’t begin to tell you how much this was appreciated. We could actually go off and not worry about how long we were gone, and worry about the small bladders of both big and little doggies!
All four dogs just love Emily and she loves them too. The puppies, of course, have known her from day one and so she is very special to them. When she arrives at our house they run to greet her and they can hardly wait to snuggle down with her.
So, while the “Puppy Nanny” was here we shopped. We bought ourselves a new set a stainless flatware. Woo-hoo! The set we have used since we got married was Hubby’s before and is probably 30-35 years old. It was simply not doing well and yes, it even showed some signs of rusting. The set we got was a Henckel’s set and we like it very much. The pattern is called Provence.
I also got two blouses in patterns.
Now this is probably a bigger miracle than us actually spending money on buying a new set of flatware. You see I am the original plain color dresser. I don’t like patterns and I tend to dress in plain blues or whites or blacks. I know, not original, but I simply worry about dressing too loud. Oh dear, someone might notice me! After these purchases I feel like I am living on the edge!
We also went to our favorite German Deli and loaded up on all sorts of yummy German foods. Our favorite being a Hungarian Gypsy Wurst and Tilsiter cheese. Amanda had given Hubby a gift certificate for Christmas, but since we don’t get down that way too often (It is 70 miles from here), this was our first chance to use it. We used the whole thing!
Emily called us to report on the puppies and Greta, who was quite depressed at our departure, and we called her to let her know when we would be home. Upon our return we were greeted by all the pups in a wild frenzy that assured us that we had, in fact, been missed.
Saturday Scavenger Photo
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RARE
A tulip, the first burst of spring, with the last remnants of a late winter snow.
Shorts, Spring And Sneezes
I got up today with the intention of getting a lot done. I guess in some ways I did. I got the ironing done, got the winter clothes out of my closet and Hubby’s and got the summer clothes down out of the attic, and upon seeing this stuff realized that I need some new shorts. Ah shoot. Shorts fall into the same category as pants as far as enjoyable shopping…not!
But I didn’t leave the house to go up town the way I’d planned, and I only got one load of laundry done and for dinner, I just heated up a packet of Fondue.
Of course I was running around after puppies all day, including at least two dozen trips to the great out of doors for their “business” meetings at what I now call “the mine field”! There was also a mad dash up the hill when Greta and the two pups took off when they saw my neighbor drive in.
I confess I am still not up to running fast, and uphill, forget it, I can barely hobble. Thank goodness Emily was here to do most of the racing. At twelve years old, she is fast.
I also noticed to today that my nose was dripping all day long. I was also sneezing and coughing like crazy. A cold? I think not. Allergies! I also noticed that Hubby was sneezing and coughing. Dual allergy sufferers, that’s us!
So we’re a fun group. Four adorably fast running doggies and two sneezing, dripping adults. We are such a fun family!
Shopping For ???
I love to shop but I hate to shop for pants for myself. And this, gentle reader, was my task for today.
I needed to shop for some soft cottony, comfy pants to wear the day of my surgery. There is nothing worse than having anesthesia and trying to dress oneself in complicated clothing afterwards. So I wanted to find slip on pants and a top large enough in the neck to slide easily over my bandaged eye. I also did not want to spend a lot of money.
I started at the Liz Claiborne Outlet center and tried on several items. Although I found one outfit that was “okay”, in that it fit most of my criteria, the outfit simply wasn’t “special” enough for me to spend $65.00. It was cute though, but as I am a power shopper, after deciding that it just wasn’t quite right, I left, drove down the road to Kohls, and started looking in there.
Kohls is now my new favorite place to shop. Not only did I find an outfit that was comfy and uncomplicated and cottony, but it was so inexpensive, that I bought another one in a different color. Best of all, these comfy cottony bottoms fit my ginormous hips and I actually feel pretty in them. I got light sky blue and lavender colors and in many ways I think I can say that these sets flatter me more than the Liz Claiborne ones did.
I came home and was met by all my Dackels and Fritz at the door. Oh, and Hubby too. What a good day!
The Puppy Playpen
Since the days have been sunny and warm I have arranged a playpen for the two puppies. This works out so well when I am busy and can’t keep my eyes on them. I just leave the door open and they can run in and out and have a good time.
Today hey spent a lot of the day just sleeping. I am thinking that they are going through another growth spurt. I weighed Arnie and he is just a fraction under 14 pounds. Anneliese is exactly 11 pounds. She is such a little squirt, but she has a mighty spirit! You should see her play out back with Arnie! She can literally roll him down the hill!
I’m having a good time with these two. They really brighten up my day. I really love watching them play with each other, as well as Greta and Fritz. And I just love, love, love the way they both cuddle up with me.
Chocolate & Wine = Heaven
Lately it seems that the movie channels have been replaying the same movies over and over again. And since regular TV has started it’s rerun season somewhat early, this means I am watching the same “chick flicks” over and over again.
Now for the most part, I don’t mind. I have found that there are certain movies that are like old friends. You know, “Father of The Bride” (Steve Martin edition), “As Good As It Gets”, “Legally Blond” and “Somethings Gotta Give”.
But I recently have added a few new ones to the list. “The Lake House” with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, “What Dreams May Come” with Robin Williams and Cuba Gooding, and “The Parent Trap” (Lindsey Lohan edition).
I like these movies for various reasons. Some I like because they are funny, light and familiar. Others, like the Robin Williams movie “What Dreams…” because it reminds me of what I hope is true.
There is a line in that film where the daughter asks where her dog will go when she dies. The mother replies, “Where we all go, Heaven”.
I like the idea that my dogs will all follow me to my little slice of Heaven (that is, should I get there). Can’t you just see me in a large field with all my doggies around me?
I can. I can see me with the laughter and the smiles and the wet face from all the kisses they will shower me with, and the tears I will shed after I am reunited with them.
I’ve also decided what I would like my little slice of Heaven to look like.
It will have a field on the side of a mountain with wild flowers and lovely shade trees. It will overlook a large ocean that will go on for as far as the eyes can see. I’ll have a large Indian blanket to sit on (no ticks or bug will be allowed in my slice of Heaven) and I will have the best picnic one can imagine with all my favorite foods (especially dark chocolate). I will sip Tokaj (A fine Hungarian wine), and the sun will shine warmly on my face, and it will feel really good.
All the people I love will be there, and all my animals as well. Life beyond will be even better than anyone could ever imagine.
I like movies about love, whether they make me laugh or they make me cry.
Love is what it’s all about, right?
Could It Be Spring?
We had ice out on our little lake here today. It’s always an amazing thing to witness. One day the ice turns very dark, almost black then slowly you begin to see small ripples of water, and before you know it the ice is just gone. For me, “ice out”, means the real beginning of spring. It seems after that, no matter if we have a cold snap, spring is here!
I have gotten my potting soil, and my seeds so I can begin my seedlings for the garden. I’m doing cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, eggplant, corn, tomatoes, butternut squash, summer squash and zucchini. My cousin Janet thinks I should also plant peas. I probably will. But we shall see.
The temperatures climbed into the upper 70’s today and they say we may actually reach 80 degrees tomorrow. Is it time to put the air conditioners into the windows for the summer? I’m thinking pretty hard about that. I really don’t like to feel suffocated by the heat.
I think there is simply no pleasing us New Englanders. We complain when it is cold and snowy and then when it is hot and steamy. Oh well, summertime, bring it on!!!
Wonderful Day
This was such a great day! We had 70 degree weather with bright blue skies and almost no wind. The lakes are slowly melting and soon will be completely open. Arnie is doing so much better with his potty training and Hubby spent part of the day planting new fruit trees, while my cousin Janet came up and went to a Craft Fair with me.
Janet and I had a girls day. I left Hubby in charge of the puppies, and I spent time at the Fair, TJ Maxx and had lunch. It was so relaxing for me, and although I only bought socks and some dips and a present for a certain someone (who shall remain nameless) I just enjoyed the day with my cousin talking and spending time just being together.
All my life, Janet and I have been, not only cousins, but really good friends. We can just sit in the same room and read, or write or watch a movie and feel totally comfortable not saying a word. Then, of course, there are times we talk and talk and talk!
We also stopped by a local Mill to watch the water coming from one lake into the next via the waterfall. Needless to say, Pictures, lots of them, were taken.
I am a huge Beatles fan and devour everything I can. I also have a wonderful collection of CD’s now and DVD’s of their two movies, plus Anthology. Yeah, just call me a Beatles Babe!
I did stop briefly to get a new toy for the kids and a ball for Fritz. The two pups just loved the toy Chipmunk.
As you can see, Greta was supervising.
The day ended with Arnie actually asking to go out for important things, and the two pups falling asleep in my chair.
Some days are just so very good!