Dackel Princess

Skiing For The Elderly

We went skiing yesterday at Waterville Valley. My goodness, it was such a beautiful day. Bright sunshine, perfect conditions and low numbers of skiers. When I got up I was a little reluctant to go as it was a mere 8 degrees here and I thought I would freeze to death, and as we drove there and got to the Valley the temperature sign read 1!!! So I thought, man am I going to freeze! Hubby and I bundled up, face masks, extra sweaters, glove liners, etc. and off we went. As we headed to the mountain top on the high speed quad I felt really over dressed and that was odd. As we neared the peak I looked at the statistics board and I saw why I felt hot and sweaty. There was a temperature inversion and at the top of the mountain it was 22 degrees!
We skied on perfect surfaces and I felt like Suzy Chapstick as I glided down the mountain. We did two runs on moderately tough slopes and then decided to head over to a very difficult trail called Gema. It had been groomed and was fabulous and I zipped down. On the lift ride back up we decided to do it again. I zipped down to the trail head and then started my decent. Turn, turn, turn, slip fall, slide, slide, slide and then finally stop.
Hubby was long gone and I thought I was alone. My ankle was twisted in the wrong direction, but once I moved it back to the correct direction it felt okay. Maybe no one saw me and I can escape embarrassment. Just as I started to push myself up, a voice behind me says, “Are you okay?”
There stands a tall, young, handsome ski patrol. He’d witnessed my entire fall. As a friend of mine loves to say, “Nerts!”
“Yes, I’m fine just my ego taking some lumps this morning” I smiled weakly as I brushed off the snow.
Then I knew. He was going to wait for me to ski off so he could watch me the rest of the way.
My ankle was a little sore and yet I knew I had to ski like Suzy Chapstick down to the lift. So I bit the inside of my cheek and off I went, trying to look carefree.
I got down to the lift and Hubby looked at me as asked, “Where have you been?”
“Oh just getting to know the Ski Patrol.”

This morning I feel every one of my 47 years. Everything aches and I can feel a small bruise on my hip. No, skiing isn’t for the faint at heart!

Getting Greta Lucky

You know you have too much time on your hands when you start writing letters to find a boyfriend for your dog.

Greta will be 2 in March and she is really beautiful. Her pedigree is great, and her parents are both German National Champions. She should have babies!
I wrote to a breeder in New York State who also imports dogs from Germany. They wrote right back and seemed very interested in breeding Greta to one of their males, and then picking a puppy out after.
Then this morning, I got a letter back. I’m not exactly sure if they are rejecting Greta or if they just think this other breeder they suggested, (who is closer to us) may need to expand their gene pool with the spawn of my pup. I will need to call them today and speak with them.
So in the night I was trying to get back to sleep after reading their e-mail, with thoughts of breeding dogs in my head.

I simply must get a life!

This Is War

I stepped on the scale this morning! Eeeeeek! Let’s just say it was a very Merry Christmas!
I knew yesterday when I slipped (pulled on using cooking oil) my skiing pants. I zipped them up and could feel the threads all pulling against me. At one point I had to unzip so I could tuck in my shirt and I swear I heard the zipper heave a huge sigh of relief!
I guess I did overdue with my eating. (understatement) It’s just that I love all those foods that seem only to appear during the holidays. Eggnog, (it’s not just for breakfast anymore) chocolates, cookies, and desserts at every meal, snack and tea time.
I’m frustrated. This weight gain means one thing. War! I’ve got to pull out the heavy artillery. Chicken, turkey, fish, and lots of salads, and the big guns. Yes EXERCISE! I just hate that!
It’s not so much that I actually hate to move around, but what I really hate is the sweat! That cold trickle of wetness that covers your whole body, I just hate that, but at this point, there is nothing left for me to do.
Celery anyone?

Apres’ Ski

When I woke up this morning the first thing that hit me was a stinging pain in my left eye. I got up and rinsed it out and then got Hubby up and we got ready to go skiing. It was cloudy and cold, but we thought what the heck, might as well go. So, I threw in a pack of cold cuts and cheese for me and off we went. We stopped briefly at McDonald’s so Hubby could get a breakfast, and then headed to Waterville Valley.
Usually on a Monday morning it is pretty quiet, but because it was a holiday, the parking lots were full! We found a spot to park and headed into the lodge to get ready.
Today was the first day I wore my ski helmet. It’s comfortable, but there is this odd thing. The wind whistles around the ear openings on the helmet making a strange noise. It was sort of funny.
Now here is my great news of the day. First I really detest impolite skiers. You know, the ones who ski way too close to you and nearly knock you down? There were plenty of them there today. I observed these three snow boarders nearly knock someone over then they skied up to a closed trail and skied under the rope. Just then a ski cat came up, a man jumped out of the drivers seat and apprehended them. HA! Finally Divine Justice!
We skied over to one of the most challenging slopes called Gema and I was about half way down when I started sweating, shaking and not thinking straight. I knew immediately it was low blood sugar from me not eating a correct breakfast. I got down and met up with Hubby and told him how I was feeling. We skied down to the lodge where he got me a regular hot chocolate and peanut butter crackers to stabilize the blood sugar. Then as I lamented about feeling shaky on the slopes he joked, “So what else is new?”
We skied a little more after that, but I was feeling tired and the slopes were so crowded that we gave up after 7 runs and came home.
My eye is still sore, and I’ve put some gel into it to coat the surface. I made myself a nice chef salad and so that is helping to make me feel more like myself.
Now it’s time to take down the Christmas decorations and get the boxes packed again for another year.

Off To Ski

Off to Waterville Valley to ski. I’ll report in this afternoon!

Happy New Years!

Our celebration last night was a good one. Filled with lots of food, drink and chatting. It started with chips and dips and proceeded to a Lobster dinner.

We had sparkling cider, champagne and apple crisp for dessert!
We saw Dick Clark and though it saddened us to see how severe his stroke had been, we all were proud of his courage and all the work he has done in the last year to return to his viewing audiance.
This morning it’s some German Stollen bread, and eggs and sausages, with lots and lots of coffee!!

New Years Eve

It’s New Years Eve and I’m thinking of the year that has passed and the year ahead. It’s funny how quickly 2005 went. For a while last summer I felt like the year was going to go on and on, but with the blink of an eye, here we are, the last day of the year.
Many wonderful things happened this year. At the top of the list is the deepening love and friendship that I am enjoying with my daughter. It is just so much fun to be part of her “grown up” world!
My husband is a wonder too. I’m not sure how he puts up with me, but somehow he does and we have a blast together! Life is good and we are blessed.
It’s wonderful to watch my grandnephews and grandniece grow. This year I feel really close to my family, especially my sister and cousin, Janet. Thank you Verizon for the ability to keep in touch for free with these two and my daughter as well.
I am thankful also for the many wonderful friends I have both close to home and around the world. They make my days special in their own ways. Thank you!
On a very personal and selfish level, the return of my health has been quite a gift. My eye is healed and well, my medications are finally balanced and I am feeling happy and healthy. A great way to end 2005 and begin 2006!
I’ve met so many wonderful Bloggers this year, and I really enjoy reading their words as well as writing my own to share. Sometimes serious, sometimes funny, but every day as we learn more and more about each other, we can see the humor in life, and the wonder, despite the pain that it sometimes brings.

I lost my beloved Aunt this year, and the sadness I feel is still very raw. She was such a big and good part of my life and I will miss her as long as I live.

All My Life
By the Beatles

There are places I’ll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I’ve loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more

Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In my life I love you more

Carrot Casserole

3 Eggs
1/2 cup sugar or (1/2 cup Splenda sugar blend)
1 stick butter
1 tbs. baking powder
2 tbs. flour
1 cup milk
1/4-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 cups hot cooked carrots

Place all ingredients into blender and puree. Pour into buttered (or Pam) casserole dish (8 X 11) and bake at 350* for about 30 minutes or until set.
This is good either warm or cold.

7 Layer Mexican Dip

1) 1 can refried beans
2) 8 ounce container of sour cream
3) 16 ounce container medium salsa
4) An 8 ounce package shredded Mexican cheese mix (or shredded Jack cheese)
5) 4-5 plum tomatoes chopped
6) 6 ounce can sliced black olives
7) 5-6 scallions sliced thinly

Starting with #1 spread each layer in a shallow 9X9 pan. Chill for an hour, then serve with bowl of nacho chips

I’m making this for New Years Eve munchies!

A Day With My Daughter

Yesterday I spent the day with my daughter, Mandy.

She lives about and hour and fifteen minutes south of my home. She recently purchased her own condo and yesterday was the first time I’d been down to see it. It’s really lovely, situated up on a hillside with beautiful views. It has over 1700 square feet, which gives my grand kitties (three of them!) plenty of room to frolic and play.
Maestro, Cleo and Ortez greeted me at the door and proceeded to curl up next to me, purr and then play with the Christmas present bows on the packages I brought and Mandy had for me.
I can’t express in words how really proud I am of Mandy. To see how successful she is, and what a good head she has on her shoulders and the home she has made for herself, makes me realize again and again something that I’ve always known, but suspected what just a mother’s bias! Mandy is one heck of a person! Definitely someone I would chose to know even if she wasn’t my daughter!
We sat drinking coffee with one of her friends, who was visiting from Maine. She was getting things together for her trip back when I arrived, but stayed and visited for a while.
After she left we opened our Christmas gifts. Mandy showed how well she knows me with gifts of two sweaters, (next to my purse fetish, I have a sweater thing going too!), and then a T-shirt with a cartoon drawing of dachshunds on them, a dachsie doormat, a dachsie ornament and a dachshund date book!
I gave her an LL Bean tote bag for her car, champagne, a wonderful fluffy scarf, a geode window hanging, and a hand made pottery tray with a salt and pepper, cream and sugar on it. Near my home is a shop that sells items hand made here in New Hampshire. I swear I am one of their best customers. This gift came from that shop. I also got her two Christmas tree ornaments.
Then we headed out to have lunch with her grandmother, (my former mother-in-law). If I had one wish it would have been to have kept her as my mother-in-law and just divorced my ex-husband. I have always loved Alice like a mother and I have missed her a great deal.
We just had the best time at lunch. We talked and talked and talked, sharing stories from the past and both Alice and I looking with pride at our girl Mandy. Before we knew it, 2 1/2 hours had flown by and we had to say good-bye. Alice told me not to be a stranger and to come see her and keep in touch. Something I plan to do. Life is too short not to love the people in your life.
Then I brought Amanda to a European Deli I found near her. They have so many of the wonderful German foods that we love. I bought a lot of things, cheeses, wursts, salami and wonderful Bauernbrot. (German Rye bread!)
Then, in the cold pouring rain, we headed back to her place where I picked up my car and headed home. It rained literally in sheets. There were times I couldn’t even see the road! It scared the heck out of me. It took me two hours to make the trip, but I got home safely and quite happily!