The Dackel Princess

Christmas Is Coming!

On Saturday I decided I needed to venture out. Once again I bundled up, covered my face, and steered clear of people!

I got three packages in the mail and several Christmas cards. We popped over to the grocery store. I purchased a container of Eggnog as during the holiday season I enjoy eggnog mixed with Spiced Rum. And right now, I am allowing myself some holiday comfort foods as I recover.

I worked a little more at wrapping gifts. I do a few and then take a break. This means that my packages actually look good!

I was pretty much done with my shopping and then today I saw two gifts that I had to buy! They will be here on Tuesday. Now I am done!

I go to my Primary Care Doctor on Monday to get rechecked. I’m glad I am going because I want to make sure that this germ is really and truly going away.

I wish you all a wonderful Sunday and as the days leading up to Christmas pass remember to take a little time and enjoy all the beauty around us.

Grateful

Yesterday I went out for the first time since I was struck down with this blasted pneumonia. It felt good to be in the land of the living, but I admit to being paranoid by every coughing or sneezing person. So much so, that I had a surgical mask with me that I wore while I was out. And since it was only in the single digits temperature-wise, I had on my warm coat, a scarf, and my favorite hat.

Not me but a reasonable facsimile!

Since Jack had been wanting to go out to finish up some Christmas shopping, he asked if I felt up to going to the Liquor Outlet to buy gifts there too. Well, yes, yes I did! I cannot even begin to tell you how wonderful it felt to be out and about once again!

Arnie, wrapped up in his sweater, came with us. He looked adorable and a woman who works at the store is crazy in love with Arnie and she keeps cookies there just for him!

We arrived home in time for lunch, and afterward, I began the wrapping process. I wrapped four gifts yesterday. What I did was wrap the gift, then stop to drink my tea and honey.

So today I plan to wrap a few more gifts and make some banana bread. But I have learned that I need to do one thing and then rest. Then do another thing, and then rest. It seems to be working.

So, have a wonderful weekend before Christmas! Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Mandy

My daughter, Amanda has her birthday today. She is such an amazing woman and I am proud to be her mother.

Mandy with Savannah and Quinn back in 2016.

You see, Mandy is really a self-made woman. She had ideas about what she wanted to do in life, and she worked hard to get where she is.

Me and my girl!

Not only is she a success as a career woman, but most importantly, she is the best mother I have ever seen. She is devoted to her kids and loves them completely in such a beautiful way.
I am so lucky to have her as my daughter, and on this very special day, I just want her to know, how much she is loved!

Happy Birthday, Mandy!

TBT: Christmas, Amanda

The best Christmas gift I have ever gotten was when my daughter Amanda was born. She arrived just 5 days before Christmas. It was such a joyous first Christmas with our baby girl. Beautiful and healthy, we were truly blessed.

A year later we had the fun of sharing Christmas with our year old little girl. She was bright and energetic and running all around. She always had a smile on her face, and even now as a grown woman, she is such a warm and loving person.

I see so much of Mandy in her two children. They are bright, loving and kind little people. She and Matt are doing a great job as parents.

I am so lucky to have Mandy and her children. They all brighten my life!

Pretty Snow

On Tuesday we got more snow. Now all of the previously fallen snow had melted, so this frosting of 4+ inches is pretty, but also makes the roads slick.

The good news here is that the long-range forecast shows no snow from now until well after Christmas. Perfect! A few years back we had gotten quite a bit of snow on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. God bless Jack who drove us handily down to Mandy and Matt’s house safely. There were many cars off the road that day, but slowly we soldiered on!

So now I need to sit at the kitchen table and wrap the gifts I have. I just need a couple of boxes and I will be all set!

Tonight (Tuesday) I am feeling a little bit better. I wonder if this super antibiotic is working. I think I will know more in the morning.

I’m feeling a little hopeful tonight that I am finally on the road to recovery. My fingers are crossed!

Cough, Hack, Wheeze!

Well, folks, I returned to the doctor because this pneumonia is not leaving me. After another full evaluation, the antibiotics were changed and I was put back on the pill for my cough. But I have to tell you, after 5 weeks I am really tired.

My only stop was at the Pharmacy to get the new prescriptions and then I came home to regroup.

While waiting for my prescriptions I wandered around the grocery store and picked up a few things. One thing was a chicken which I thought about cooking tonight (Monday) but it looks like I will be cooking it tomorrow as it is late and I have no appetite.

Despite not wanting to do much of anything, I had to wash the comforter on my bed. Anneliese wasn’t feeling well last night and well, laundry needed to be done!

I managed two loads of laundry and it is my hope that tomorrow I might get two more loads washed. Baby steps.

Just a little picture of my favorite Christmas ornament. A Chipmonk playing with a nutcracker. I am not sure why I like it so much. Just a wee bit of whimsy!

Rain

Saturday is rained here as if it were Spring. Not even the dogs wanted to be out. The early morning it rained on top of the ice and there were many car accidents on the roads around us.

Our driveway, which is never good in the winter, was no exception. Our neighbor had difficulty getting out, so Jack and I opted to have him stay in.

I’m not going out at all right now. It’s just better for me to stay in and stay warm and stay away from anyone who might be sick. Fortunately, Jack has stayed well, and so he can get groceries or mail.

So that’s what’s happening in New Hampshire! Happy Sunday everyone!

The Friday Five

Usually, I begin writing the Friday Five lamenting on how fast time is slipping by. This week I will start by saying that I am once again in the land of the living! After 4 weeks of illness, I am on the mend thanks to antibiotics, an inhaler and a cough pill that has helped me control the cough while my lungs got rid of the congestion. So without further ado, here is this week’s Friday Five.

Before going to the doctor I was fretting about Christmas. Gifts especially. So I sat down with my laptop computer and watched the deals and sales and found just the right things for everyone. Aside from one small gift, I am done with my shopping. I have missed going out and being immersed in Christmas music, but actually I think this is much healthier for me in the long run!
During my convalescence, certain things began to nag at me. Case in point, a kitchen cabinet hinge that was broken and the door was literally hanging there. It made me crazy. So since I was cruising Amazon.com, I went looking for our cabinet door hinge. And I found it! It arrived and the cabinet hinge was replaced and now once again, works correctly! Yes, I am proud of my do-it-yourself skills!
I refuse to go out to any store shopping right now. I have never really been a germaphobe, but being so sick for so long has me cringing in terror every time I hear someone cough or sneeze! So shopping online has been my thing.

My daughter’s back yard lighted tree in the snow they got last week. I borrowed her picture! Thanks, Mandy!
I have pretty much finished writing Christmas cards and now the biggest thing on my list is to wrap all the gifts that have been arriving via USPS and UPS. Fortunately, I am a Christmas Wrapping Paper hoarder, so all I need to do is sit down and wrap!
One good thing about shopping at Amazon is that I have gotten credits to use in the Music Download store. Can we all say Christmas Carols? I have been able to find my favorite songs by Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, and The Carpenters. And a few others as well. And because of these credits, the music has been free! Merry Christmas to me!

So gentle readers, I hope this weekend finds you enjoying the season and having a warm and wonderful time!

Heath & Happiness

On Wednesday I woke up feeling a little better! Thank you antibiotics! After breakfast, I grabbed a box in the attic and brought it down. Inside was our completely decorated and lit Christmas tree from last year. It’s only a small one, but the glowing lights make me feel happy!

I have an artificial wreath for the front door and that went up too. I won’t be doing a lot of decorating, but at least I have a few things up.

It’s nice to be feeling better, finally, and to see the beautiful lights from my tree.

Happy Thursday!

Not So Good News

Well, on Monday I was so ill that I broke down and drove myself to the doctor. Since I am worried about passing this along to Jack, I left him at home and drove myself.

The doctor did a full exam and Xrays and pronounced me a bit crazy to have stayed home sick for 4 weeks before getting in to see him.

The diagnosis is that although he’s sure it probably started as the flu, I now have Pneumonia. Yes, and a pretty bad case of it.

I was chastised and sent home with three prescriptions. An antibiotic, a pill for the cough, and an inhaler.

I was so exhausted after my trip out, that I came home and went almost immediately to bed.

I can tell all the medications are trying to work, but I am wiped out and coughing up a lung or two.

So, I will keep warm, keep drinking my tea and hopefully, I will be on my feet again soon. Meanwhile, almost all my Christmas shopping has been done online! I am really happy about that!