The Dackel Princess

Happy Halloween!

Well, here we are. The last day of October. Where has the year gone? I know that part of the year was quite stressful as I was worried about the vision in my left eye, but as we race to the end of 2015 things are looking bright. Here are this week’s Friday Five.

1. I have never been a person who putters around. Not my thing. And yet, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday that is exactly what I did. Consequently my shelves are tidy and neat!
2. I overfilled my pajama drawer and it got stuck. I was unsure how to fix it, as I could not get it open. So I Googled it. First I searched and found out that I needed to get the drawer above out and then pinch the two slide mechanisms and gently slide the drawer out. Anyway these drawers weigh a ton, but in the end I was able to do it as well as put everything back. I’m pretty proud of that.
3. I went in today for my first hair shaping in nearly two years.
   
   The good news is that my natural curls are back and my hair will be eaasier to do.
4. I stopped over at George’s Diner for lunch on Thursday. It’s the first time I have been there since Jon and Jose were here.
5. Lastly, My plans this weekend are to keep puttering. I want this place to not only look neat, but actually be neat, even the closets!

Have a great weekend as we welcome in the month of November.

1. I felt pretty sad to hear of Diane Keaton’s death. It seems that 2025 has been full of losses in the entertainment world. I remember talking with my grandmother about loss. But for her, it wasn’t just celebrities; it was people in her own family and peer group. She said that if you live long enough, it happens. Grandma has been gone 40 years, but I still recall our conversations, and I miss her very much.
2. My house shingles are done. I have cedar shakes for my siding, thus proving you can take the girl off of Cape Cod, but you can’t take the Cape Cod out of the girl. It was a big job. Anyone who has had to refinish cedar shakes knows that you need to strip the mold and mildew off the shingles and then use a good product to seal, tint, and finish the seal.
3. I also needed some repair work done to the outside frames of the windows. Anyway, it’s all done now, and I ordered the shutters. Once again, my house is a light, Cape Cod blue/gray.
4. Just when I thought that my health was on an upswing, I got the stomach flu! It hit me like a ton of bricks. So I am taking things slowly, and I hope the flu will be gone quickly.
5. I’ve been playing around with AI. For me, I have used it to look back at what might have been. For anyone who has lost a child, there comes a day when there are no new pictures. For me, it has been forty years. But with AI, I made a little snippet so that it lets me see Katie once again.

Another week has flown by. In a month, we will celebrate Thanksgiving, and after that, Christmas. The older I get, the faster time goes by. So, here is this week’s Friday Five.

1. Well, here we are, October 10th. Today was the day I woke up to freezing temperatures, so I had to turn on the heat. I hated to.I try every year to put it off. However, when Heidi is in a sweater and I’m wearing a turtleneck with a polar fleece jacket, it is time to flip the switch and take the chill out of the air.
2. My Medicare Plus package arrived. For the first time in many years, the cost has remained the same. I have to say, this plan covered me quite well. After all the difficulties with my eye, the issue has been covered.
3.   Heidi has a date with the groomer on Sunday. Madison has been a God-send for Heidi. My Vet prescribed a special shampoo to help soothe Heidi’s allergy. She is also getting her nails clipped because they cause more harm when the itchiness gets her going.
4. I like to sleep in a cool room. I love to sleep under warm blankets and comforters. Nothing I had fit the bill. I saw a winter-weight comforter. I wasn’t paying too much attention, but I just ordered one. A friend told me it was also weighted and might be hard to move under. Last night I used it for the first time. I loved it! I snuggled right down and slept better than I had in a long time.
5. And lastly, this weekend is the Sandwich, NH Fair. I have always loved going, but have missed it for a while.

   But this weekend I will break out my coat, hat, and gloves, and off I will go. As you can see, I get along with old goats pretty well!

I was looking for a theme for this week’s Friday Five, but really couldn’t find one. So here is a mishmash of thoughts from my week.

1. My gutters were in bad shape. In fact, I had portions of my field growing in them. Since we had decided I no longer climb ladders, I called several leaf/gutter companies.  I got quotes, and last week they were installed.
2. On Wednesday, we had torrential rain. It was a dark night, and suddenly I began to hear unfamiliar sounds. I did not sleep well after that. As the day dawned, I could see where the noise was coming from. The new gutters!
3. I have binge-watched an enjoyable show. “Leanne” on Netflix. I have always loved Leanne Morgan, and her TV show does not disappoint!
   
4. Last week, the Class of 1975 from my high school held its 50th Reunion. As I looked through their pictures, I thought about where I will be next year when I have my 50th Reunion. I plan to go back to Cape Cod, rent a small cottage, and reminisce. See my classmates, walk the beaches near my childhood home, and lay flowers on the graves of many of my loved ones.
5. I’ve decided that before attending the reunion, I will have my hair and makeup done professionally.  Life has not been kind to my body or my face.  I will also shop for a cute outfit.

Well, that wraps it up for the last Friday of September 2025. I think 2025 has raced by.

Have a great weekend!

This week was full, full, full. I even had to set the alarm so I was up and dressed when crews arrived.  So here goes, on what happened.

1. 1. A representative from Leaf Filter came by and provided me with a quote. I liked their product, and my gutters were in dire need of repair.
   2. The quote was good, and they could start the job on Thursday. All this was perfect!
   3. On Wednesday, I took Heidi to the Veterinarian.  She has an eye infection, and I am concerned about her rear legs. She seems to rock her legs, not moving normally, more like a cowboy who has been too long in the saddle.
   4. She has Luxating Patellae. At least there is a fix for this. Surgical. But dogs usually handle it all well.
   5. And lastly, today is my mammogram day. Oh, joy!

Well, here we are, the first week of September. The last few days have been a bit gloomy, with no appreciable rain.

1. The lawns are crunchy and brown, which reminds me of our trip through San Diego.  Poor Max (Our White German Shepherd at the time) had lapped up some ocean water, and on our way to the campsite, Max became ill. We pulled into a parking lot, and there was no grass to be found. Alas, Max had to use the crunchy brown stuff to be sick on.
2. Tuesday, I go back to see my doctor. I sure hope the pressure in my left eye has gone down. Anything under 34 would be fantastic. Even though my vision is good, the pressure will be the next thing to conquer!
3. My car was detailed, and it once again looks brand new. It’s a 2023 Highlander with 6949 miles on it.

   My Toyota Dealer says he knows I will not be a frequent buyer. True. Unless something goes wrong, DACKEL and I will be riding together for a long time.

4. Miss Heidi is happy that I can drive short distances. She’s a real beauty, and she is so good to her mommy.

   I want to get her a safety car seat so I can get her in securely and booster her up a bit to look outside.

5. In the last week, I have had many people drop in. They all say the same thing. “Your driveway is beautiful!”

Have a great weekend!