The Dackel Princess

Happy 13th Birthday, Anneliese and Arnie!

Thirteen years ago, in the early morning hours, Greta went into labor. I was so excited to welcome her first litter of puppies, and I sat with her as she began the long journey to motherhood.

A few hours later, Arnie, Anneliese and three of their sisters made their debut.

This was the start of something neither Jack or I had ever experienced. Having two pups, brother and sister, from the moment of their birth, for their entire life.

It’s pretty amazing. Watching these two grow and emerge as two sweet, yet very different pups.

We knew we were keeping Anneliese. I loved the look of her and felt that she would carry on the Dackel Princess line, in her time. She had a great nose (scent wise), and such personality and spunk!

Arnie, who is so sweet, loving and laid back. Here he is at a month old. A handsome boy then and now.

Arnie was actually sold to a woman from New York State. On the day she was due to pick him up, she called and canceled as her life was falling apart. She explained it all to me on the phone. I listened and gently told her she needed this dog. But she said no.

Arnie was 12 weeks old and I was really crazy about him. So was Jack and so was our young neighbor Emily. He was due to leave on that Saturday and by Monday morning we knew that Arnie was staying with us.

Here they are the first year of their life together. Best friends always.

Below is a short montage of their life together, with us. I feel so blessed to have had these two pups in my life every single day of their life. In many ways, although Greta was their biological Mom, I have been their forever Mom all these years. And now that Greta has passed away, her children help me to not miss her too much.

They both are one of my life’s greatest blessings. The years of faithful love and companionship are truly priceless.

Christmas Past

Recently, I read a story a man had written where he fussed and fumed about his father never buying him any good Christmas gift. Well, I shook my head in disbelief.

You see, my Dad was a really busy man. He taught school 5 days a week, he taught piano after school to so many of the kids I went to school with. He also played the organ at the local Congregational Church, was the director of the Senior and Junior Choirs and also directed the Handbell Choir. Each year Dad directed a Christmas Carol sing on our town’s Village Green. Not to mention playing the organ for many weddings and funerals.

So each year Dad would go down to the local Pharmacy or 7/11 Grocery Store, whichever was open on Christmas morning and did his Christmas Shopping for us.

Here I am, at the age of 12, on Christmas Morning with the gifts that Dad got for me. Notecards, a horoscope book, hat and gloves, a little kitty and two dolls.

I wish I could sit down with that man who complained and tell him how lucky I feel that my Dad went out before I woke on Christmas to get these things for me. He did it every year. Sometimes I got life-saver candies, sometimes some Christmas candy. Sometimes chapsticks. Sometimes a teen magazine. But he shopped on his own and bought these things for me all by himself.

My Dad did the very best he could, all on his own, and I feel like I was pretty lucky!

Mom did the big shopping. And it was pretty good too. Mom also cooked the best Christmas breakfasts and Christmas dinners. She was a traditional Mum.

But all in all, looking back now, I think I was pretty blessed all around. I didn’t have to have my Dad buy me the world to show me that he loved me. His Christmas Day shopping sprees mean more to me now than he will ever know.

Score One For Me!

On Saturday I was keeping busy finishing up a few Christmas things, and I was planning dinner from early in the day.

Jack had purchased a wonderful roast beef and I decided to make a Herb Crusted Roast Beef. I’d found this recipe way back in 2006 and I’ve been cooking roasts like this ever since.

Well, I’m still moving slowly and I took care to follow the recipe exactly and I also tossed some potatoes in a roasting dish into the oven at the same time, and in the end, I had the perfect roast and fabulous roasted potatoes!

Well, not only did Jack and I enjoy the meal, but all three dogs were going crazy!

It made me feel good to have a cooking triumph after burning the taco’s the other day!

Chamomille Tea

On Thursday I decided to drown this darn cough. I started in the morning gargling saltwater and then began drinking copious amounts of Chamomille Tea with honey.

I woke on Friday feeling a little better and so I started the regimen again. Saltwater gargling, and then Chamomille Tea with honey. All-day long.

I think it must be working because I am finally starting to sound like myself.

I did a little laundry, and then vacuumed the kitchen. Then I began washing down countertops. I love Clorox Wipes that are Coconut scented.

I worked for a while, and then when I started to feel a little tired I sat down and drank another cup of tea.

So I am slowly getting back to the land of the living!

The Friday Five

I know I say this often, but where the heck is the time going? Here we are on the first Friday of December, we’ve had our first big snowstorm, and Christmas shopping has begun. AT least Cyber-Shopping for me! Crazy isn’t it? Well, here are this week’s Friday Five.

Although I am feeling so much better I have Laryngitis and still have a cough. I am so sick of not being 100%. There is so much I want to do and places I want to go! Be gone throat illness!
I am back to making most meals. even though I don’t have much of an appetite. I burnt the taco shells tonight, so something tells me my cooking skills are rusty!
I needed to go out today to get the mail and some groceries, and the two dachshunds wanted to go. Well it was chilly and they both acted cold, so I put their little sweaters on. Goodness, they looked adorable. They also enjoyed their car ride.
I have not seen the kids since my birthday due to this dratted flu! The last time I was down Savi came into my room in the morning and we had the nicest cuddle!
I can hardly wait to see Savi and Quinn again!
This weekend I really need to do some housework! It’s been a while since I ran the vacuum around and mopped a floor. I also need to disinfect every shelf I can. It sounds like fun! Not!

Have a great weekend everyone!

TBT: Grandchildren

Christmas is nearly here. It’s funny, but now I almost forget what the holidays were like before my grandchildren!

Here are Savannah and me. Savi was six months old.

Here is Quinn at his first Christmas. Nine months old and running all around!

It’s wonderful to watch them and celebrate with them and share in their joy! I really do love Christmas!

Being An Oma!

On Facebook, there has been a Meme to show photos of what it is like in the life of being a Grandmother/Nana/Oma.

I’ve enjoyed digging out pictures of me with the kids and posting them. One thing that sort of dawned on me was how much I enjoy playing with my grandchildren.

Sometimes we act silly and dress up. Sometimes we make funny faces and take pictures. Sometimes we just do goofy stuff. But always, when we are together we have fun.

My grandmothers were much older than me. They were already wearing old lady orthopedic shoes and one of my grandmothers died when I was in the third grade. Sadly, I have very few memories of her.

My other grandmother lived until I was 26, but she was fairly proper. Oh, I adored her, but I never would have asked her to play dolls or dress up with me. She was kind of beyond that.

So with Savi and Quinn, I try to just simply play with them. Make them laugh, or say silly things or make those silly faces.

Oh, what a blessing it is to me to have these two children! They make me smile and laugh and every day I am thankful.

I love being an Oma!

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

On Sunday I decided that since I have not had a fever in a week, it was probably safe for me to go out.

We were forecast to have 8-12 inches of snow starting on Sunday night and spreading out until Tuesday. So, I felt I should stock up on the essentials of bread, vegetables, and eggs, to make it through. I also picked up a carton of eggnog, as it is December and Eggnog is my favorite holiday drink!

I got into the Highlander and drove down to our local grocery store. I went early because I still do not want to see people because I am not convinced I am germ-free.

Oh, it felt so good to be out! I walked the isles and picked up the food we needed. However about halfway through the store, my legs began to feel like jelly! Thank goodness for carriages that one can lean on!

I got the groceries out to the car and came home and put things away. Then I felt totally done in.

Jack and I watched a series of old Christmas movies on TMC and when it was time for dinner, I heated up a few things and we had dinner. Bedtime for me was 8 o’clock!

This morning, (Monday) we have about 3-4 inches of snow with more on the way.

That’s Arnie who helped me crochet yesterday. I imagine he will be helping me again today.

The birds have been at the feeders today getting snacks. It’s so wonderful to see them enjoying the suet, with a snowy background.

I really am starting to get into the Christmas spirit!

Happy Monday!

Welcome December

Saturday morning I was trying to find something to watch on the TV other than the usual news. I’m finally out of my bed, after nearly three weeks of being down and out with the Flu. So, I turned on the family room TV and started looking around.

What I found was that Showtime was showing last year’s episodes of Homeland all day long!

Jack and I have loved Homeland and have seen all the episodes, but I decided that this was a great show to watch on a cold Saturday.

We’ve always enjoyed the show, featuring Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin. The acting is top-notch, the writing superb and when people look back in the years to come, I think this show will be categorized as a classic thriller!

About 15 minutes in Jack got up and he was hooked too. We watched it all the way through until it finished and by then it was time for bed.

Now during the programs, I was able to crochet and I did a lot, plowing through three entire skeins of yarn!

My Flu is on the way out. I was up and out of bed all day yesterday and only had one coughing jag and that was just before bed. I ate normally and although slightly tired, I was feeling so much better.

It’s not lost on me that so many of us that had the Flu Shot (Hello New England Patriots Football team, who have many players out with the Flu!) a large number of people have come down with it. From what I have heard and read, they believe this years shot sort of missed the strain that has been in my area.

It’s the biggest reason I locked myself in my bedroom away from Jack, did not cook his meals or do the dishes. I would come out for a moment, get my food and go back to bed. I would place the tray on the shelf once I was done and he loaded the dishwasher and then put away the dishes after. I really feared he would get this and at his age, it could be fatal.

Now I must prepare because we are due to get a foot of snow starting tonight and going until Tuesday mid-day. Oh well. It’s that time of year!

Goodbye November

Well, here we are. The last day of November. After this, it’s a mad dash to Christmas. Usually, I have nearly all my shopping done and Christmas Cards are written, but I have almost nothing done and the cards are still in the box. Who knows, maybe on Sunday I will break out the cards and start writing.

This year seems to have flown by. So much happened, so much changed. I think I will remember 2019 as being a year full of changes, both good and sad.

The sad is that I lost my best friend, Candy. That just plain broke my heart. I miss her a great deal and think often of her.

The good is the health and happiness of my family. My grandchildren are growing by leaps and bounds and are both wonderful happy kids. And nicest of all is that they are truly kind people.

Mandy and Matt adopted a pup named Freya and also bought the home of their dreams. They are also terrific parents!

Despite changes in my extended family, everyone is doing okay. For this, I am very thankful.

So life is rushing by and I’m trying to grab every moment I can and relish the happiness and the blessings in it.