The Dackel Princess

And The Survey Says…

I picked up the latest copy of a magazine that I really enjoy. In fact, I used to subscribe to it because I liked the news and recipes and fashion. As a subscriber, I got a reduced price and a few bonuses along the way.

Anyway, I picked up the latest issue and started to turn page after page after page. There were many nice recipes, new fashions, and of course advertisements. Then I hit page 52 and my world was shattered. The column was about what to eat in your 20s, 30s, & 40s. (No mention of your 50s, 60, 70s, etc)

In your twenties, you should be eating eggs, vegetables, chicken, coconut water, Greek yogurt, and quinoa. In your thirties, you should be eating oatmeal, nuts, tuna, edamame, avocado, and lentils. In your forties, you should be eating ginger, cherries, salmon, kale, extra virgin olive oil, and green tea.

But I’m in my sixties! What am I supposed to be eating? Or is it that after you turn fifty it’s all over anyway, so you might as well give up!

I thought about this for a while and actually started to feel bad, then my phone rang and it was a man doing a survey for our local electric company. Now I love my electric company, they do a good job, (the rates are bad, but heck they are bad everywhere!) and they’re very friendly when I need them. So I answered his survey. At the very end, he asked how old I was. Now, what on earth does my age have to do with the electrical current?

You know, my age never bothered me until I read the article, but today I was actually feeling old. I told him how old I was and why I was feeling bad about it. He laughed and then said, “It’s okay, that’s young! I’m 68!”

After that, I felt better and went about my day.

At least Weight Watchers has helped to give me guidelines to follow about the foods to eat to make you healthy.

But between the magazine and the electric company survey, I sort of felt tremendously over the hill!

The Beginnings

Looking back, May 2005 was when I started writing Dackel Princess. Sometimes I like to go back and read my thoughts. It’s been a lot of fun. We all have my cousin, Janet to blame, as she got me into writing, 15 years ago! And even though I have not been as diligent in the last year, I am going to try to be better about keeping my blog up and running. So, here is what I wrote that first day.

As this is the opening day of The Dackel Princess, I would like to welcome everyone to my site! As I write, spring is upon us here in the mountains of New Hampshire. With temperatures in the high 70’s, my apple trees are starting to blossom and the trees on the hill are starting to leaf out. It is so beautiful!

All three dogs have been running around in the yard this morning. Currently, the two dachsies are taking their second nap of the day, (more like one long, long nap) and Fritz is outside asleep on the patio. His favorite spot to be. Me? I’m sitting in front of my computer trying to figure out a new bit of software. So here’s to the first entry! With many more to come!!!

This is Shubi!

June 29 008

Baby Greta!

Fritz

Shubi was my very first wire-haired dachshund. She was the love of my life, and I was so grateful for each day we shared. She was with me for ten years before going to Rainbow Bridge. Far too short a time here on earth.

Yes, that is Greta as a baby. Greta grew to “marry” her “husband” Bernie and give us 10 beautiful pups. Two of which are my Arnie and Anneliese. But there she is, just two months old. I still miss that girl.

And Fritz. The most wonderful white shepherd that we have ever had. Gentle, kind, and fiercely loyal, who was with us twelve years and left so very quickly to go to Rainbow Bridge. Our Lili is his niece. She looks a lot like her uncle, but there is a somewhat wild side to Lili that Fritz did not have. Both were/are as gentle as you could hope to find in a German Shepherd.

Anyway, the part in Blue was the original entry. This is the rest of the story. Imagine, 15 years writing their stories and my own? It’s been fun!

The Friday Five ~ August 14th

What a great week it was for me. Probably the best I have had since Covid-19 came to call. So without further ado, here is this week’s Friday Five!

1. On Tuesday I got the call I had hoped for. After going through Arnie’s illness, nearly losing him, and the big bill, I was thrilled to learn that the Pharmaceutical Company will be paying for all of Arnie’s care.

Either way, Arnie was getting treatment. In fact, when he got sick, I didn’t realize that the drug companies guarantee their vaccines. It’s a nice gift to my pocketbook.
It has been so hot! I am thankful that we have air conditioning. Even the dogs are not enjoying this heat! They are perfectly happy to chill out and take naps on and off all day long!
I am reading a book written by a former High School Classmate of mine. It deals with his life-altering car accident, his death, and rebirth. It is fascinating to me, as the places he writes about are the places I know because I grew up in that town. The book is called “Pen, Paper, Prayer” written by James P. Holmes. Well done Jim!

4. I think I have pretty much tackled my mouse problem as I have had empty traps these last three days. I will keep setting them out though because mice tend to wander in as the weather gets cold.

5. Cooking this week has been a thrill. We’ve eaten Lobsters and stir-fried vegetables and chicken, and the best avocados! Also wonderful fresh salads and corn on the cob. Summers are great when you have so many fresh foods to choose from!

Lucky Sisters

When I was born many years ago, my mother became quite ill. Her thyroid quit on her and depression set in. Imagine having a brand new baby and being in the throes of depression?

My grandmother came to care for her daughter and the family, but a son-in-law, two other children, and a new baby presented her with a lot to do.

I was a sweet baby, but let’s face it, I was a 9 pound-plus baby who liked to eat, even back then.

Thus, my five and a half-year-old sister became my mother. She changed diapers, fed me my bottle, and cooed at me and lulled me to sleep.

It took my mother a long time to recover, and by the time she was stable on thyroid medication, I had bonded with my sister.

When I would fall and have a boo-boo I wanted Mel. If I woke in the night with a bad dream, I wanted Mel. I think, looking back, it must have been hard for my mother to see that her baby, didn’t come running to her.

But you see, I was very lucky. Melodie was the best thing that ever happened to me.

My Mom suffered from deep depression most of the remainder of her life. The dark moods often came when I would need a mother the most, and for me, Melodie was always there.

I joke with her kids that I was her first child, but in reality, I really was. She would give me baths, read to me, and calm my fears and pains. She even snuck into the hospital to see me, when at age four I had my appendix out.

I have not seen her since Christmas. Although we talk on the phone every day. In fact, if life gets crazy and I don’t call, she worries! And if I don’t hear from her, I also get concerned.

Sometimes if you are lucky, and your birth mother cannot be there for you, due to illness or perhaps they were young and unable to care for you, another woman will step in and fill that role.

For me, it was my sister, Melodie. Young as she was, she stepped up to the plate. She loves with her whole heart and she loves deeply. How fortunate I have been to have her in my life.

I love you, Melodie!

A Really Great Day

Tuesday the 11th was a very full day indeed! And it was all good. After months of mostly bad news in the world, today, in my little corner of the world The good news kept on coming!

I got up and weighed in.

I finally have lost 50 pounds! I have shared with you my battle with my weight and to get to this milestone made my entire day! And that was at 5:45 AM!

Feeling happier than a girl should on a hot and sticky Tuesday, I was sitting in my chair anticipating going to the grocery store and Post Office when the phone rang.

It was my Veterinarian. He wanted to tell me that Arnie’s blood tests had come back showing a rise in his titers four times that of a healthy dog. This test showed that Arnie did have Leptospirosis with no doubts about the diagnosis!

Arnie is better now, thank goodness, I caught it quickly and he got the care that he needed!

The Vet had spoken with the Pharmaceutical Company and they have agreed to pay all of Arnie’s bills for treatment! I faxed the bill to them and hopefully, they will send me a check quickly!

Then I set about changing sheets and doing work around the house. I knew the third part of my day would be upon me soon and I was looking forward to it.

Then this guy came to call. It was so hot here that he simply sat on my patio table for a long time. I grabbed my Olympus Camera and started snapping. Here is the very best shot of the bunch. Isn’t he handsome?

Why Jimmeney Crickett!

(Actually a Grasshopper)

My own picture!

I decreed that I would have a Scotch after I lost the first 25 pounds. Then after I lost 50 pounds I would have another Scotch. So today was the day I got to enjoy 1 fine Glenlivet Scotch. Oh, it tasted so very good!

So Tuesday was a very good day! I am so grateful for all of it. Some days you just feel better about life than others. Today was that day!

Monday, Monday

Monday started quite early. Not in a bad way. I heard Lili at the bedroom door and once she woke me up, other parts of me also woke and I knew it was time to get up!

I jumped into the shower and that just felt so good, my recommended way to start a Monday morning, and then I was off to the kitchen to turn on the coffee and then walk the dogs.

I fed the hounds and then did my least favorite job. I went down to the basement to check the Mouse-Taps. Of the four I lay down, one was sprung. To date, I have gotten 5 mice! Yay!

I am doing this in an environmentally way. I bait the trap with peanut butter and the bodies are returned to the field where our Eagles, Hawks, and other predators come for a snack.

And since the only thing these little “meeces” have eaten is peanut butter, they are safe for all wildlife.

I am happy!

It is terribly hot here today, and from what they say, it will be like this all week. My plan is to have a low key this week and enjoy the air conditioning!

I did venture out to the Post Office to get our mail, as I had an Amazon delivery which included a new dish rack to dry my hand-washed dishes in the sink. My old one (over 35 years old!) finally disintegrated and I was in need. It was not easy to find one that fit inside my twin sinks, but eventually, I did, and it is now installed.

Ah yes. It’s the little things in life that make us happy, isn’t it?

The Weekend Wrap

The Covid-19 life means that none of us see our friends and family too often. I’ve been very careful about where I go and also have been keeping myself masked and gloved and clean. My “bubble” is a small one.

So I was able to go and see my daughter and her family! My darling Savannah and Quinn!

I think that’s been the hardest part of the Pandemic. The isolation. However, when the numbers were very high I didn’t feel safe seeing the kids. I did not want to get them sick!

Seeing their faces when I arrived filled me with such joy. I realized that they had missed me as much as I had missed them!

Friday I had an appointment with my Glaucoma Doctor late in the day. I asked if I could come down to visit, and it was the perfect day for a visit and a swim in the pool! My appointment went well, and so far, my eye pressures are holding steady.

Then it was off to Mandy’s!

Savannah and her Mommy, my daughter, Mandy!

We were in the pool for a couple of hours. It felt so good to relax in the cool, pleasant, water. My second swim of the year!

Mandy made a wonderful dinner, with Matt doing the grilling, and it was so nice not to have to cook or clean up!

Quinn and me, his Oma!
Me with my darling Savannah.

We talked we played and I got to hold my babies. Oh, how wonderful that was! All too soon, I had to go back home, as Papa Jack and the doggies needed me.

Still, Friday and into Saturday was just a great day!

The Friday Five ~ August 7th

The week was a busy one for us. It seemed each day was planned around an activity or two. Some good and some sad. So here goes.

My week started off with me being exactly two-tenths of a pound away from a total weight loss of 50 pounds! It sort of hit me that all my planning and hard work have paid off. I’m just about 20 pounds from my goal weight!
My weekly meeting with my friends was a very good one! We all sort of unofficially drafted Holly to be our Leader. I have to tell you, she is a born leader and she is doing a wonderful job keeping us focused on our weight loss journey! I have known Holly since 2008 and consider her one of my very special friends.
I had to take Arnie and Anneliese in for their re-checks. Arnie had to have blood drawn and it’s been sent away.Arnie has made quite a good recovery from Lepto and he is back to his spunky self!
Anneliese needed her urine checked and again she has another UTI. We’re all at a loss as to why, but Anneliese’s medical history (many UTIs and of course the breast cancer, not to mention being nearly blind), so the Vet and I decided that she will go on antibiotics indefinitely.We will keep her comfortable and do what we can to make her last months on earth really good ones. At nearly 14 we feel so lucky that we have had her all of this time!
And today I am off to see my Glaucoma Doctor. I have not been in since Covid-19 all began, but I need my pressures checked. After that, I will be driving to my daughter’s home to spend the night! I foresee lots of pool time with my two grandchildren!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

TBT: As The Years Go By

I went out today and walked around the cement pad we had poured for the camper. We’d done it the first year we were here.

We put our handprints in the wet cement and our initials.

We had two dogs then. Our old White German Shepherd, Max.

These are his prints.

And the love of our lives, and many others, Shubi.

These are Shubi’s little paw prints.

We loved having their footprints in the cement. It somehow blessed this land that we had decided to call home.

Shubi and Max.

Today, for the first time in many years, I saw their prints, and our hands and remembered all those years ago. I smiled, I cried a little and then was thankful for all that Hubby and I have now, and the three dogs we are blessed to share our life with, but also thankful for the dogs we have known in the past.

Me with my Shubi in the camper.

“And oh how the years go by
And oh how the love brings tears to my eyes
All through the changes the soul never dies
We fight, we laugh, we cry
As the years go by”

Lyrics by: JENNINGS/CLIMIE

Another Busy Day

My Tuesday was rather incredible. Jack had an appointment to be fitted for shoes (After the amputation he needs special shoes) and he asked for me to go with him. After he wanted to see the new Grocery Store.

We were due to get the remains of Tropical Storm Isaias. It was cloudy and humid on our drive over, with a few spits of rain. But nothing heavy.

I sat in the car reading while Jack went in for his exam. As I sat, all of a sudden, the skies opened, and the wind blew, and it was like being caught in the middle of a terrible storm!

I watched people come out of the building, run for their cars, and get soaked to the skin. It made me happy to be sitting in the car reading my book.

Finally, Jack was done, and he came out. Lucky for him the rain had lightened and he did not get drenched!

I think the new super grocery store overwhelmed Jack. He began to seem tired and so I skipped many isles, and just got to a register and checked out. I did not finish my shopping, I just wanted to get him home.

But he had two more stops to make and by the time we got home and put things away and sat down for lunch, it was after 3 PM, and I was deliriously hungry and not able to think clearly.

After eating a small lunch I tried to rest a little, but the house and husband and dogs kept me on my toes. As did the Tropical Storm.

The Storm has been with us now for a bit. Not as bad as some places, but with high winds and rain we have had flickering lights, and outages with our satellite.

I managed to prepare a quick and easy dinner and get it all cleaned up. So, if the lights go out now, I could care less.

As I work hard to lose weight, Jack is having trouble keeping weight on. (If only that were my problem!) So, I bought him a pie at the store and although he insisted he wasn’t hungry at dinner I forced him to eat.

Meanwhile, I hold fast to my goals. This week was a very good week! I lost 2.2 pounds bringing my grand total to 49.8 pounds lost!!! I am a very happy girl!