The Dackel Princess

Okay, Enough With The Heat

We’ve just returned from Canada, where the average temperature during the day was 90+ degrees. It was also humid. The only saving grace there was the stiff sea breeze that seemed always to help cool things down. Thank God for the sea breeze!

We are home now. Back in central New Hampshire, where we are known for our moderate summers. So what have we returned to? Hot! Humid! And Hazy!

This sort of weather is why I left Florida and returned to New England. I just couldn’t take the heat. Everyone said that my “blood would thin” and I would be fine in the heat. I want to tell you all, it never happened. Hot is hot and you never really get used to it, you just get better air conditioning.

So I have one more month (August) to go before we (hopefully) will start to cool off, and I want to say just one thing here!

Enough with the heat!!!

Home From Canada!

We were up early on Sunday, had showers and breakfast and packed up the car. The doggies said goodbye to the Super 8 Motel and off we went back to Digby, Nova Scotia to catch the ferry to St. John, New Brunswick. It was very warm and rainy when we left, but by the time we reached Digby two hours later, the rain had stopped and a thin layer of fog sat out over the water.

We waited in line for the ship and eventually we were loaded on the upper ramp in the ships belly. That was quite interesting. We put the pups in their crate and went up to have lunch in the ships cafeteria. Hubby had stuffed scrod and I had the fisherman’s platter. Yum! All my favorites!

Then we found seats in the lounge and I got to read Harry Potter. The first good read I have had since I left last Wednesday. Oh it is sooooo good and now I am about 100 pages from the end and I am reading very slowly so I can enjoy every bit of this book!

Once we docked we drove to St. Stephen, New Brunswick, where you cross back into the USA. We waited in line for about half an hour and then crossed with no difficulty.

After that it was a long trip across Maine and back to New Hampshire. Before our trip we had gotten a talking GPS and for the most part “she” workedgreat. Although we could not get her to work in Nova Scotia. However, in New Brunswick and Maine and New Hampshire she did very well. Before our next trip in September I will have to think of a good name for her.

Hubby did all the driving on this trip, and I did all the cuddling of puppies. They did very well, not only in the car, but in the motel, at the family reunion and meeting all the strange people in Hubby’s family! (LOL)

We arrived back at the house at 10:25 last night and we were greeted by two very happy doggies! Fritz and Greta were so happy to see us and Fritz, more than Greta, was happy to see the puppies.

Today will be laundry and unpacking day. And perhaps, if I am lucky, I will be able to finally finish Harry Potter!

It is so good to be home!

Family Reunion Day 3

In the morning on Saturday we met with some friends who also have wire-haired dachshunds. We visited with them and their handsome boy Odin. The dogs eyed each other carefully and we were invited to lunch at their home. It was such a nice time that I hated to see it end but we had to get ready for the party.

The party was Saturday night and everything was so nice. We all met before hand at the homestead for pictures and to joke and talk some more.

Hubby with his cousins.

Me with some of the spouses.

Afterward, we put the pups in their crate and then headed to the community hall for the dinner. It was a roast beef dinner with mashed potatoes and peas and carrots. For dessert, fresh strawberry shortcake! Mmmmm! My favorite.

After dinner we all seemed to empty into the parking lot as he temperatures inside the hall were high. Have I mentioned that they are having a heat wave up here in Nova Scotia? It’s been in the 90’s each day with no rain!

We leave Sunday in the morning for the return trip to New Hampshire. We will get the 1 PM ferry in Digby to St. John, New Brunswick, and our estimated time of arrival at home is about midnight.

It’s been wonderful coming up here and we look forward to our next trip up.

Ramily Reunion Day 2

The Relaxed Family Shindig

After sleeping in a bit this morning, we had a leisurely breakfast in our motel room. The dogs were up and playing and Hubby and I watched the TV and drank our coffee.

At noon, we headed over to the homestead

where we sat around, shooting the breeze, watching the dogs play and taking countless pictures.

Cousins from all across Canada arrived and we shared a nice casual meal that seemed to last all day. I call it familial grazing!

The pups are now familiar with the house and the yard and we were able to take them outside and allow them to play in the yard.

Hubby and Arnie

Anneliese and Arnie

Soon the sunset,

and the band arrived, and bluegrass music was played.

Poor Anneliese had a little bit of a nervous breakdown when she saw the musicians arrive with all their instruments, and suddenly our group of about 20-25 people nearly doubled.

We stayed for about an hour listening to the music before we left to come back to the motel. Saturday is our formal banquet and a dance. It should be a lot of fun!

Family Reunion Day 1

A Walk In The Mud

We arrived over at the family homestead just after lunchtime. The ride over was beautiful, as we drove through the little towns of Nova Scotia. The homestead is on the Bay Of Fundy in a spot where the tides are so great they literally go completely out and leave only wet mud flats in their wake.

The two puppies trotted out and I picked up Anneliese. I didn’t want her frightened by all the new people. This was the right thing to do, as she wasn’t at all freaked out and in the end, the two pups had a wonderful time.

The cousins all hugged and kissed and laughed and pictures were taken and beers were hoisted.

Shalena, Hubby and Barbara.

After we had all munched some goodies, Hubby’s cousin Billy decided that since the tide was out this would be a great time to go walking on the mud flats. Hubby immediately said yes, and I was horror stricken. I remembered the mud, the sticky mud from years past and I also worried about his knees. But he wouldn’t listen and off he went with a team of 11 of his cousins.

Heading toward the bay.

Down the ladder they go.

Right into all the thigh deep mud! What saved Hubby was his incredibly long legs, otherwise he would have been a complete muddy mess like the rest of them.

Eventually they made it out to the flats where they walked for a few miles. Never let it be said that a Canadian is not prepared. Here you will see his cousin carrying a cooler with beer for all!

Eventually they found a swimming area to play in and enjoyed that.

But when they returned I was ready with my camera to catch their muddiness! They all needed to shower off before we would allow them back in the house. Then I told Hubby all that I had planned to do to him had he fallen and really gotten messed up. Or worse yet, destroyed my good camera, which he insisted on taking with him!

The evening was spent eating a great dinner of Sea Bass and Deer steaks along with a salad and some fresh bread.

The two dogs continued to be sweet,

but around 8 o’clock we noticed them sprawled across the deck asleep. So we picked them up and headed back to the motel. I was pretty tired myself, and so I crawled into bed and fell almost instantly asleep, leaving my writing of Dackel Princess to this morning!

We head back to the homestead at noontime and will have a big party with the cousins who are already in town tonight, complete with some bluegrass music. Then Saturday night is the banquet and dance.

Off to have my coffee!

We made it!

I was at my wits end! I opened my notebook last night as soon as we got settled into our motel room. And NOTHING! I couldn’t connect. I tried everything, even invoking the powers of Harry Potter, and nothing!

I asked for help at the front desk. The lovely girl was no help at all. She uses Windows Vista and has never used an XP machine before.

Finally this morning I hard wired the machine in and voila! I got it going. So…

Here we are in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada. What a beautiful place this is. Nova Scotia, in general, reminds me of Cape Cod.

Our journey began at 6 AM yesterday with Arnie and Anneliese. Arnie was so easy in the car. He loves to look around and cuddle in your lap. But my poor baby Anneliese was afraid, and shook for the first half an hour. Now that we have traveled all the way here, including a three hour ferry ride, she is a seasoned traveler. In fact this morning when I went out to the car she came with me and hopped right in!

But I digress.

We drove from 6 AM until 2:30 to St John, New Brunswick where we sat waiting for the ferry. We were early and so we were first in line. The puppies moved from their crate in the back seat to the front seat and they were very busy checking everything out.

The pups in the car.

Anneliese with her Dad.

We got on the ferry and off we went. The first hour or so I sat reading Harry Potter while Hubby roamed the ship. The pups were safely in their crate below decks and so I was able to simply relax and read.

Our ferry.

Soon Hubby came back with a couple from Alberta Province and we all sat around talking for the rest of the trip. Another young man, who works for the government in Veteran’s Affairs joined us and it was so interesting to hear their views.

Coming into Digby

Once we got to Digby, Nova Scotia, then it was just a matter of time until we got to our motel. It’s a new, nice Super 8 and now that I actually have my Internet hookup I am very happy!

Today we will head over to the family homestead and catch up with the cousins who are already here.

Housework, Harry Potter & Insurance

I’ve been running around like crazy getting ready for our trip. Tuesday saw me doing all sorts of last minute housework, and laundry and of course meal preparation so that has not left me much time for Harry, Hermione and Ron.

I know tomorrow I won’t get too much reading done either because I can’t read in the car, and if I am lucky I will be able to find a few moments on the ferry taking us across to Digby, Nova Scotia. I’m thinking I may be the last person to finish the new Harry Potter book.

Hubby and I have everything planned and I thought I was doing great until about 2:30 on Tuesday when I remembered that we needed an insurance form for the car for the Canadian border. I was sure we had one and I looked and looked and looked and FINALLY found it. It was, of course, in the last place I looked! (LOL)

So off we go on our first trip with the “terror twins”. Stay tuned for updates from the road…

Health Certificates and Suitcases

I took the puppies to the Vets on Monday for their Health Certificates. This way they can go to Canada and come back across the border. It was kind of exciting taking them back to the place where they were born. It seems like just yesterday that I held those tiny pups in my hand for the very first time, and now they are proper doggies. Large, (Arnie weighs 17 pounds and Anneliese is 14 pounds) able to walk around and make friends and sit and stay when told to do so. Okay, they’re still learning about that, but they’re trying.

The car ride was uneventful, which was good because Canada is a very long ride from here. We are leaving at 6 AM and do not expect to get to our motel until 9 or 10 PM. Yep, long day for puppies and humans!

I came home and got out the suitcases and we started to pack. All the puppy things are packed. The suitcases are on our bed and most of the clothing we plan to bring is folded neatly inside them.

That’s when I noticed one very big thing.

Greta.

Poor Greta knows we are leaving and she is not happy about it at all. She is sulking and giving us the cold doggy shoulder already. She knows. Fritz? Not so much. I know he will be a little upset when we go, but nothing like Greta. She really gets her nose out of joint!

Getting Ready for Canada

Sunday morning I began searching for the outfit to wear to the family reunion. It’s a casual event, so I don’t need to dress up, but my usual dress mode of jeans and t-shirts must be set aside for something a little more glamorous.

I started out trying on pants for Hubby to view. I came out of our bedroom, pirouetted and asked, “Do these make me look fat?”

Nothing like putting poor Hubby in the hot seat with that question. He handled it well.

“Ah, I can see your panty-line”.

Okay, so maybe those were a little tight. You know I’ve been on my diet two whole weeks and you would think that I could have at least dropped a clothing size by now! In reality I’ve lost 6 pounds and that has only given me more room in my socks!

I tried on several more pairs of pants before we decided on two that didn’t look horrible, and I’ll bring along my jeans skirt in case I totally freak out and decide that I really do look “that fat”!

Meanwhile, I continue reading “Harry Potter”. I read a chapter or two and then stop and walk the puppies or change the laundry or cook. My cousin Janet has already finished reading it!

Monday morning is puppy health certificate time and then we’re on to packing. I’ll be writing along the way as our motel has high speed Internet access. After all, can’t be cut off from you all.

And today is my sister’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Mel! Love you!!!

The Holy Grail

Saturday morning, I drove to get our mail at the Post Office. The streets were pretty much deserted. In my mind I’d envisioned customers of Amazon.com waiting in line to pick up their copy of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”.

Perhaps I live in the wrong community. There was no such line. In fact the place was empty.

I hadn’t ordered a copy of the book thinking I would get one eventually, but all the hype in the last 24 hours was working on me. It seemed to be all I could think of. I left the Post Office and hopped in my car and drove down the hill to our local book shop. Once again I expected a long line of customers to buy “the book”, but no one was there.

Instead I found a huge stack of books with a nice woman patiently waiting for the crowds to come and surround her and the books. I asked if these were all reserved copies?

“No” she replied and handed me a copy.

My hands shook as I took the book in them. I walked quickly to the cashier and paid for my book and clutching it tightly to me, walked to my car.

When I got home Hubby asked what I had in my hands?

I explained it was the “Holy Grail”, and he was not to tease me about getting a copy and devouring it.

So I am reading. I did have to stop in the afternoon and take a nap as I still have this silly summer cold, but I intend to read, read and read some more. It’s one very long book!