The Dackel Princess

The Weekend Wrap

The weekend was a good one here in New Hampshire. We had temperatures in the mid 50’s which helped to melt a lot of the ice and snow. Oh, we still have snow on the grassy areas of the yard. However, the driveway and walkways are free and clear of ice and snow!

We watched another full season of Homeland as we prepare for February 9th debut of Season 8 of the series.

This is the last season for Homeland and I will miss it. That being said, I must tell you that as I have rewatched this show, I am finding all sorts of little things that I had simply missed the first time around.

I also did some crocheting, laundry, and the usual cooking. I discovered something new. Turkey Cutlets. They were in our meat case at the Supermarket and they were easy to prepare. I love it when I find something new.

This is a big week ahead. I have two doctors appointments for me and one for Anneliese. Best of all, one of the appointments is for my eyes. It’s been a while since I had my eyes checked and quite honestly, although I like these frames, I have never felt that the prescription was correct. So, goodbye Lens Crafters and Hello Dr. M.

Me with my current flames.

At least with all the driving, I will be doing I don’t have to worry about snow.

7 Things I Love ~ January 12 2020

My homemade Peach Jam. It’s an old recipe from Jack’s mother that I have made my own.

Apples. There is nothing like going outside in your back yard and picking a fresh apple off of the tree. I love apples!

A brilliant sunset over my lake in the summer. One thing about living above a lake is that you experience all sorts of beauty. Sunsets are really amazing here!

Snow on a tulip in early spring. Every once in awhile, Mother Nature sends us snow, even after our Spring flowers have bloomed. Still, there is beauty in it.

This Noah’s Ark was my grandfather’s. He brought it from Germany to the USA in 1906 when his family emigrated. He and his father came through Ellis Island in New York and they were greeted by my great Uncle Albert. The entire family came here a few at a time, as they saved the money for the ship fare.

As a child, I was allowed to play with this at my grandmother’s home in Brighton, Massachusetts. I had to play quietly and carefully and I was filled with pride that I was trusted. Years later my Mom asked me if I wanted this? Absolutely! I cherish it!

Mother Greta with two of her children. Left to right, Arnie, Anneliese, & Greta. I have always loved this picture. I had the privilege to watch Greta give birth. And then I have had the joy to have shared with her the raising of these two pups. Now she is gone and I have her two children to comfort me.

7.
Autumn on my lake. I mean, does it get any more beautiful than this? Each day during the month of October I just love the changing leaves and the cool crisp air of Autumn. It’s what makes my little corner of New England so very special!

Yep, I’m Doing It!

I am now over a week back on WW. I feel like I am doing well, although I do have my moments of feeling slight hunger pangs.

I am hoping my stomach shrinks as I eat less and less.

Don’t get me wrong. I am eating normal types of meals, but I am limiting the portion size.

That’s really my problem you know. I have problems with portion size. I simply cannot look at a steak, or chicken meat and know the right size to eat. And other items like bread, potatoes, and chips, well I’m a goner! And we won’t even mention cake!

I have been weighing and measuring everything that goes into my mouth and tracking it all. I will keep up the good work. Weigh-in is next Wednesday!

The Friday Five

Another week has gone by and here I sit thinking of all that has been happening. There is so much going on worldwide, but for simplicity, I will just keep my list to things that are happening here.

Anneliese seems to be getting better. After months of having itchy skin, it seems the anti-fungal is healing her skin up! Yay!
However, Anneliese’s vision is getting worse. I don’t think she sees much any more. She still smiles and cuddles and I am very lucky.
At night, however, she startles easily if it is too dark, and she walks about slowly. I came out of the bathroom and walked toward her and scared her as she didn’t see me in the dark. She gave out a little yelp and I felt quite bad. I immediately bent down and stroked her and told her it was okay.
The other day the wonderful weatherman said we would have flurries. Well, 5+ inches later, it finally stopped. Having flurries means light snow that doesn’t amount to more than an inch or so. It snowed so hard that we even had a weather alert sound on my phone from the National Weather Service!
Two days later, we got three inches more. This is all adding up and make things messy as far as getting around. Tomorrow we are due to have warmer weather and this will me huge puddles.
I am still looking for good winter boots. Oh, I have seen beautiful leather boots, but I would never wear anything like that into the snow. Meanwhile, until I find a pair that meets my specifications, I am wearing a very old pair of “snow-sneakers”. They’ll do, I guess.
After a very long time, both Jack and I found some things we needed for the house. Jack found new shop lights for the basement and kitchen, and I found four new area rugs for the kitchen. He is installing the lights now and the rugs will be here later this afternoon.

So that’s it for now. I plan some crocheting this weekend and of course the usual laundry. I’m planning my meals and enjoying them. I will make this diet work…I will.

I hope you all have a great weekend and enjoy the weather, wherever you are!

Throw Back Thursday

Harry & Meghan

Since it was announced last night that Harry & Meghan are basically quitting the Royal Family I thought I would take a look back at the beginning of their life together.

Oh, it was all sweetness and light when Harry & Meghan made their “love” public and announced their engagement. Call me a cynic, but an actress who had been previously married and had several live-in relationships just didn’t seem like the kinda gal that would settle down with Harry and pop off the expected Royal kids.

Meghan just never really seemed to want to do the requisite charity work. Oh, she loves her title, but basically wanted to sit back and be served.

Eventually, little Archie was born and even that was weird. No showing off the baby and then not showing the baby with his Godparents. Well, it was just strange.

In Africa, Meghan was all for using little Archie for a photoshoot with Desmond Tutu. That was also when she was crying over being mistreated as a Royal!

Now I am sorry. You are given a mansion, completely redecorated, you have servants waiting on you (when they are not quitting to get away from you) and you have more money and things than most of us could ever dream of.

This includes private jet planes to vacation spots, a trip to New York to watch her friend play tennis, (without the baby) and then another weekend where she left her son with Nannies so she and Harry could go to a destination wedding.

They made a documentary in Africa and said how sad she is, how hard her life is, and that no one cares about her? Yeah, just didn’t sit well with me.

Now they are leaving the Royal Family and moving to Canada and hopefully, they will find a way to make enough money to live. (That cracked me up)

Sorry, Canada. Looks like you are getting these two ingrates.

Back To WW

Today I return to WW after a two-month hiatus due to pneumonia, I am ready to return to class. I am so excited to see my friends and to work on myself with the new program.

I actually started back eating the WW Program on January 1st. It’s my New Year’s Resolution and I am hopeful that I can do this.

I take time each day to plan my meals and cook them and I feel pretty positive about it all.

I feel like this is as good a time as any to pay attention and just do it. I shall update as I go along.

Strange Dreams & Cooking

Lately, I feel like I have been accomplishing a lot. I wake up with steely determination and I set about a task and get it done.

Monday I woke up after a very weird dream. Anyone who knows me and has visited our home, knows we have a challenging driveway. It is very steep more so in front of the house.

In the dream, I was looking out our bedroom window and there was a large box van truck in our driveway. It had turned around and was trying to head up the driveway, but it kept slipping down! And then after a few attempts, the truck slid into my house and I could feel the house moving under me. I tried to run but the house began to fall away. Then I woke up. Does anyone want to guess what that dream was all about?

I decided to make a big pot of spaghetti sauce for Jack. Oddly enough I am really not a spaghetti fan, I make great sauce and Jack loves it. So I tend to make big pots of the sauce and then divide them for freezing for future meals. Thus, there was a lot of chopping and sauteing and this is what Jack will be eating for dinner. I think I’m going to do chicken.

Our Christmas tree came down and is put away for another year. It’s so sad because the lights are no longer glowing in the family room. Now I need to pack up my wrapping paper and Christmas cards and wait another year.

Jack Ryan

People have been telling me for some time that I should binge-watch Amazon’s “Jack Ryan“. Since I have enjoyed all the Hollywood movies to do with Tom Clancy’s hero Jack Ryan, I decided to take the plunge.

I asked Jack if he’d be interested and he said that he would. So starting on Saturday and ending the first season binge-fest on Sunday. We both thought that it was really well done. The script was awesome and interesting, the acting was superb and I would recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed Tom Clancy’s books.

John Krasinski as John Ryan was really an excellent casting. He is bold, likable and thoughtful. It’s interesting to see how Jack evolved, met his wife and, well, became the unstoppable Jack Ryan!

If you haven’t watched, give it a try!

7 Things I Love ~ January 5

I was driving around town this morning on the way to get our mail, and I began thinking of all the little things that bring me joy. So, I thought I would start a new meme. I will jot down a few things each Sunday and hope that perhaps, these are some of your favorite things as well.

Puppies! Here are Arnie and Anneliese. They were the sweetest puppies ever! But I do love puppies and dogs and feel the purity of their love.

Lobster! Need I say more!

Fresh summer Butter & Sugar Corn on the Cob!

Walks in the Bavarian forests.

This is me with a dear friend. He is no longer with us, but I think of him so often and the walks we took in the forest and also going to hunt mushrooms!

Sunset on my Lake Waukewan.

A phone call from someone I love.

Beer. German Beer!

My favorite German beer is Andechs! That is what I am drinking in this stein.

Stay tuned each Saturday for new loves and pictures. Have a wonderful weekend!

Saturday This & That

I started to de-Christmas the house. That’s probably my least favorite thing to do. I didn’t decorate a lot, but the house did look a little merry and bright. I am dragging my feet about taking down our little tree because I love Christmas tree lights. Sometimes I sit in the morning darkness with only the tree lights on. There is something so peaceful when I do that.

Soon I will take my little tree, engulf it in a giant plastic trashbag and store it for another year. One day I will have a big tree again, but while we have “Leaping Lili”, I just cannot take the chance.

Anneliese did not have the kind of day I’d wanted for her. She was fussing and not comfortable. So, I am hoping that Saturday will bring her relief!

My daughter sent me this picture of my grandchildren. When I look at those beautiful happy faces, I smile and I can just feel the love.

Happy Saturday, Everyone!

The handsome Mr. Arnie.