NANA NOTES

THANKFUL THANKSGIVING

I'm going to have to steal Victoria's pictures because I didn't even have my camera on Thanksgiving day!!  We had a wonderful day with family and friends all day long.  The food was delicious and bountiful!  The guys hunted in the afternoon and four of us girls went to the "Meadville Mall" for a little retail therapy--our idea of Black Friday Eve shopping!!  What a blessed day we had and so thankful for everything!!

SAM'S READING FAIR

 

I got to do something fun today. Sam had his Reading Fair Project and I was part of it. His book was Red Riding Hood and I was the grandmother. Imagine that!!!  He worked hard on his project board and it looked great.  I sat there while he told the judges about the book and answered what they asked him.  He used his "big bad wolf" mask he made while he talked.  He did a great job and called me this afternoon to tell me that he won 1st place in the third grade in the family category (where a family member comes to participate in the project).  He thanked me for coming to the school.  So sweet!!  Congratulations Sam!!

FED US PHEASANT!!

Ed and Jody went to South Dakota several weeks ago on a pheasant hunt.  You can see that they did well.  Jody had cooked some before and told us how to cook them.  Ed went shopping for all the supplies and fixed them for the Herring Bicycle Team.  Being prepped for the grill.  Peppers, onions, tomatoes, bacon, pheasant, pepperjack cheese and Italian dressing. Finished dish!!  They were "Phabulous"!!  None left to snack on the next day!!

Footnote:

Dr's visit went well.  Counts were up a little and CAT scan is planned for Monday. Dr. visit on Tuesday.  He considers me to be "stable". When we see the results of the CAT scan, he will decide on treatment changes if any.  I get next week off--yea!!

Please pray for Libby's mom, Eunice Norton.  She will be having hip replacement surgery on Wednesday of next week.  She is one of my "other mothers".  :)

AN UPDATE FOR FAR AWAY FAMILY. . .

 

Today I had treatment and was dressed to go. I asked Linda to take my picture because Ididn't have one of "this time". She was sweet enough to do it for me. Since I'd just had the side entrance fixed for a get together, we decided to make it there.  The pink pumpkin is one of two I painted and "blinged" for Halloween.  Totally doesn't go with Halloween, but goes with my way of thinking these days.  I'm wearing more hats than caps and am enjoying them.  Libby and I have shared all our bandanas, etc.  We've had enough of this sharing things we don't want to be wearing!!  BUT, we are grateful to be able to do it for each other.  I can still stand and so far have not lost of gained any weight.  That to me is a good thing. My CA 27-29 went down a month ago nearly 20 points so next week I am looking forward to hearing another drop.  My white count is up and that means I don't miss treatment. Haven't made any lasting friends at chemo this time. The mother of a friend of mine at church who passed away takes treatment but we've only hit twice on the same day.  She's a sweetie.  I guess the point of this post is to tell you "far away family" that I am fine. I still need your prayers and I love you and miss you and hope to see you soon.

A little addition:  We've had two deer since late June.  They are up to 15 gallons of milk a week. I am ready for them to leave.  They are eating well on their own and are fat and healthy.  Ed let them out today but they won't go.  I took these pictures when I got home from treatment. 

This is LuLu (aka Morgan).

This is Lacy.

They have a wonderful place to go (providing they haven't eaten my new pansies and my gerber daisies in the morning!!)  It's full of corn and acorns and deer for them to buddy up with. There's no hunting in this area so they will be fine and be able to produce babies.  They have a good home.

For the last few days we've been driving in the mountains sightseeing and enjoying the wonderful colors of the leaves.  All of a sudden we've gone from short sleeves and flip flops to sweaters, coats and uggs!! Rain and cold weather moved in fast. We wished for a fire place and some wood!  Of course that was the day we chose to shop.  We drove to a lovely little shopping area in Pigeon Forge.  The most interesting shop for me was one with a 30 year old embroidery machine that a man used to do monograms by hand.  It was amazing to stand there and watch him form the letters freehand since I just program my machine and it creates the letters for me.  It doesn't take much to entertain me I guess. In this picture he was monogramming "Nana" on my watermelon colored sweatshirt. I love it!  We came back to the Apple Barn and had a late lunch and went to find apples.  We met a very sweet man on the side of the road who was selling apples out of the back of his truck. He said they were picked that morning. The apples are delicious and we bought a lot!! He grew the apples in his orchard. They still had leaves on them.  Don't these just look delicious??? I'm thinking fried apple pies!!  This was made the morning before we left for home.  We made one more round of shopping to see if we needed anything else to fill the car! Notice that I did not mention how many times we stopped for fudge or show pictures of dessert.  In the whole time we were gone we only had dessert twice--because we had fudge everyday!!  Ask us if we like the pumpkin!! Three crazy ladies turned loose in the Smokies; we had a wonderful, memorable, terrific time together. I am so blessed to have sweet friends.

2011 GATLINBURG TRIP CONTINUED

 

We left off at Cades Cove and I don't think we went to be any night before midnight.  I had to watch an episode of "Chopped" in order to get to sleep!! :)  The following day we drove up to Clingmans Dome. The colors were just as beautiful or maybe more so.  I haven't enhanced these photos either!!

The mountains were beautiful but I loved driving through the roads looking at the trees and streams.  We still had short sleeve weather on this day. The rain was supposed to come in the next day. I saw evidence of bears but because of some people's sensitivity I will refrain from putting that picture up!! :) Yes, I took a picture!  During one of our outings we were "sort of" lost in the mountains. We rounded a curve and at least 20 turkeys were feeding on the side of the road.  I started screaming, "stop, stop, I've got to take a picture." People were honking for us to move so we did, but I got one on my phone so I could send it to Ed and a couple with my camera.  You know how I love my turkeys!! 





Every time we drove through Pigeon Forge I kept telling Ed I saw the Titanic. He'd say, "Barbara, the Titanic can't be there, it sank." (That's a joke with us--when the movie came out--long story.) Finally, I got pictures.

Tomorrow--rain and cold weather moves in. To be continued---

2011 TRIP TO GATLINBURG WITH THE GIRLS

I don't think I've ever been away from home for ten days without family!!  Deb invited Libby and me to go to Gatlinburg to stay in her family's timeshare there.  I think it was even before I got sick--I immediately said "yes"!!  It's been a very long time since I've been to the mountains.  We left last Thursday and just got back tonight.  We all took our computers but something was wrong with the internet connections there and we couldn't get online. Did I mention withdrawals??  I mostly wanted to blog each day since I hadn't been doing any blogs lately.  I finally had something to blog about and couldn't.  Ed took our picture the afternoon we left. He bought us these hats in Orange Beach. We truly are the "Joyful ladies".  We drove to Tuscaloosa and spent the night. Then on to Gatlinburg. This was the front of the building and by the entrance to our room.   

 

 

                The next morning we walked down the street and had pancakes!! 
The pancakes were wonderful.  We ate in the "SEC" section!! 

My black walnut pancakes were delicious. I have to say that I ate every bite!! I am not ashamed!! I have now confessed!!  After breakfast it was off to the Craft Fair at the convention center.  We enjoyed that.  The next day it was off to Cades Cove where the leaves were beautiful.  We visited the Cades Cove Primitive Baptist Church where the tombstones in the cemetery dated back to the late 1700's. Neither Libby nor I got a picture of the church.  I sent Ed a picture made with my phone of me sitting on a boulder in the middle of a beautiful stream like this. Glad I didn't fall in.  Libby was so sweet to drive most of the time. Ed had told them not to let me drive and make me rest. This is where I spent my time in the car.  I have to say that I could get used to it--I actually let someone help me.
This is going on way too long--so I'll write some more tomorrow.  You can't do a ten day trip in one blog!  to be continued.....................................

THE SWEETEST GIFT!!!

 

I received a call today saying that someone had baked me something and wanted to bring it to me. When I heard who it was, I said, "I'm not eating it."  You have to know the story and the relationship to appreciate that statement! The person who baked it was Mary Lou Webb!  She doesn't even know where her kitchen is!! And--that was said with pure love!!  Mary Lou and I have always had our "kitchen jokes" and she always offers to "bring something" when needed.  I have never been touched so much to find out that she was concerned about me being sick and wanted to do something for me. That is the ultimate gift--doing something you don't ordinarily do.  She had it in a cute basket with tissue and ribbon.  I promise you, I've never been so deeply touched.  She and Rose sat and visited and we laughed and talked for about an hour. All of a sudden I realized this was a Monday and she had taken the day off.  I had a thought that maybe she's thinking of retirement with a new job in her sights--Mary Lou's Cooking School. Let me be the first to sign up!!  The banana bread is delicious and so appreciated.  In fact, I think I need a snack!!  Thank you, Mary Lou!!  I love the banana bread and I love you.

WHAT FRIENDS WILL DO

 

Karen and I have been friends for probably 45 years.  She introduced me to Ed and I was in her wedding.  She is a cancer survivor too.  She is also an avid golfer after retiring several years ago. It's funny how our lives have intermingled over the years.  She's the first person I called when I had breast cancer the first time. She was out of town at a meeting and I called her until I found her.  She knew.  This weekend she played in a benefit golf tournament and sponsored a hole in my honor. That's what friends will do.  Cards, calls, happies, prayers--that's what friends will do. God uses friends as angels cause He has so many of us to cover! Yes, that's what friends do.  

HOW SWEET CAN HE BE?

 

Well, it's chapter 3 in the same book. I started my treatment on Wednesday and it was a "Murphy's Law" day. My port didn't want to cooperate so I went to the hospital for a dye scan which showed that the port worked perfectly! Back to the clinic where the meds refused to flow unless I jiggled the bag or rubbed my arm. Finally the flow just stopped all together. An IV was inserted and the meds finished. What should have taken 1 1/2 hours took 5 hours.  My BFF was with me and we went to eat lunch. On the way home, Ed called to ask what he could do for me.  Libby said for him to turn my bed down and lay out my pj's.  I told him not worry that I was fine. When I went into the bedroom this is what I found:  He even had honey candy on my pillow that helped my cough!!  I crawled into that bed as fast as I could and stayed there until the next morning--didn't sleep much due to steroids but stayed in my bed none the less. It's a good thing. I am very blessed to have so many people looking after me.

PAINTIN' NIGHT WITH THE SISTERS

I'm going to do this and then check; I have the feeling I've already done this post!! CRS has set in!  Last Thursday Sharon, Libby and I went to the Open class in Brookhaven and had a fun time. Of course, we always have a fun time when we're together! Lots of laughs and talk. Painting is incidental--but fun with the Paintin' Sisters.

We look forward to more paint classes with more of our "sisters"!! Fun, Fun, Fun!!

2011 ANNUAL DOVE HUNT WEEKEND

Our family has gotten so large that we pretty much keep our dove hunt weekend for family. Ed's cousin and his wife from Texas, our friends from TN, Ed's brother from TN and my brother and his wife from Petal along with our children and grandchildren and in-laws began arriving on Friday.  Even with having such a big house, it sure filled up fast!!  There was constant chatter and laughter and of course plenty of food.  Some of us went out on Friday night and had Mexican. That was a treat. On Saturday morning it was up early and out to the dove field for the men. Never mind that it was raining.  "Some of our best hunts have been in the rain." Famous saying!!  About 10:00 am when the hunters came in soaking wet and hungry this was waiting for them--a pile of bacon, hot grits, homemade cinnamon rolls, orange coffee cake and fresh fruit with juice, milk and coffee.  They needed some nutrition because after all, they had more work to do. The shishkabobs had to be prepared!

Since the beans, potato salad, desserts and appetizers had been prepared earlier, the ladies got to sit and visit!!  We certainly enjoyed that.  Of course, there was some ballgame watching!

    

We signed Kelsey's cast.  To bad she's getting it off soon. She won't be able to carry around Ed's art very long!

 

Sam spent the night with us and we went to church.  We filled a whole pew.

Vin and Cathleen from Houston, Texas.

  Vivian and Sam from Riceville, TN.

Ed and me--our first picture together in a while.
After a wonderful church service with communion, a delicious Sunday lunch and a short last visit, our house emptied and Ed and I took a nap.  A great Labor Day Dove Hunt weekend with friends and loved ones--family--all of them.  And what a welcomed addition--soft, sweet rain!!

 

TIME GOES BY SO FAST!

Here it is almost September and I've only blogged once in August.  That's terrible.  Surely I've done something worthy of posting. The time seems to get by me so fast these days.  Having a new puppy and raising two deer take a lot of my time.

Lulu (aka Morgan) is on the left; Lacy is in the house.  They have grown considerably since this picture was taken. 

Ms Piper has learned to climb the stairs and today she climbed down them--with a little coaxing from Graham and me. She will be 3 months old on the 30th.

We took a few days off to the beach and had a good time doing almost nothing.  We did take the boat out one day; first time in a long time. Had a good time and went to LULU's for appetizers.

Ed was our Captain!!  Deb, Libby and I enjoyed the trip.  Good food and great atmosphere!

I have been doing some things for the Toad House. Really need to get busy but my "idea well" is a little dry.  I have these note pads in there now. They are inexpensive and make a cute happy for someone.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is an apron I finished for Jennifer today. I learned that I don't do ruffles!!  Hope she likes it! The picture was made with my phone . 

JOLLY JINGLES JOURNEY

 

On Saturday a group of friends wandered down to Gonzales, LA to a shopping market called Jolly Jingles.  It was a very small version of Handworks or Mistletoe and we had a fun time. After shopping we had lunch and made a stop at our next best friend--Hobby Lobby.  It was a nice change of pace to spend time with the girlfriends.  We missed having Libby with us. Maybe next time. Lunch at Mike Andersons was delicious!! Was that a huge crawfish or what???  Always keep your girlfriends close!!  They can lift you up when no one else can! I thank God for my "sister girls"!

A RAINY SUNDAY AFTERNOON

 

I can't remember when it hasn't rained in the afternoon! I'm quite ready for some sunshine!! Papa and Piper were watching tv and I noticed that one of her ears is standing up. She has grown a lot in the 11 days we've had her.  She's got a serious attitude problem. Her favorite past time is fighting. I guess that's due to the face that Papa likes to fight with her toys with her. She thinks she owns us. She's typical.  Boy, it's going to take her a while to train us!! 
See how she has one ear up and one ear down?  She thinks she's something now.  When the other one stands up--watch out world!! 

Meet the newest member of our family

Little Miss Piper has come to live with us!!  Her grandfather was a champion Scottie from England.  Long story short, Ed found her and the lady who owned the dogs insisted that she meet us and approve of us before letting us get the puppy!!  Quite frankly I think Piper has hit paydirt here!!  She's the lucky one! Before she even got here she had a new "Martha Stewart" bed and toys with a new collar. On the way home she got a new harness and name tags. Who's spoiled???  She will never replace Dooley or Sadie but she will have her own place in our hearts!  And like them both, she has an attitude!! 

This is Ms Diane with Fiona, Piper's mother. Fiona wasn't sure she wanted to let Piper go with Ed.

These two are part of Ms Diane's family of Scotties.  She has 13 grown dogs. I would be guessing if I told you who they were. They looked so sweet as they sat together. 

Ms Piper sleeping in her new bed in the floorboard of the car (where my feet should have been!). She had it made.  * right now she is laid out between me and Ed on the bed sound asleep!!  Lucky girl!

2011 Summer Crop Connection

 

I can't believe that Summer Crop Connection has come and gone.  We've waited six months for the weekend and it went so fast!!  We had 14 "Scrapping Sisters" (missing two) to attend and we had a great time.  The Crop Connection girls treat us royally and we literally go three days with little or no sleep and have a "scrapping good time"!  There were several "newbies" with us who were awesome scrapbookers.  It was fun seeing friends from other towns and meeting new friends.  We really got noticed in our orange shirts. Michael's gave us a discount and a totebag!! That was because we bought out the store!! 

Birds of a feather crop together!  That was the theme of the weekend. Isn't this arrangement cute?  There were birds everywhere!!  There are four cancer survivors in our group. Three of us were there.  You can see who the clowns are!!  Pat and Sharon with me in our green shirts!!  We're always looking for a photo op!! 
LeighBeth, SallieCat and Jessica-three of our newbies!!

Andrea, Nadine and Deanna are the ladies behind Crop Connection.  They plan and work for months to give us the wonderful weekend we enjoy so much.  Thank you beautiful ladies for the great Summer Crop Connection!!

2011 Honey Harvest Part 2

I left you yesterday saying that we have new plastic bottles with new labels. Sam and Ed finished them up today.  They look great and will be much easier to use--less messy and a little cheaper too! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New label !!

New bottle!!

Awesome honey!!

2011 HONEY HARVEST

After a very busy and hectic week my afternoon was spent at the back barn bottling honey!!  I guess honey is kind of like corn--"when it's ready, it's ready". And a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do! Ed and the farm guys had worked so hard all morning, and after a lunch of grilled burgers, chocolate cobbler and homemade ice cream Sam and I went up to help.  Our job was putting the honey in the new plastic squeeze bottles.  Doing honey is a very messy job, but we got it done and it's rewarding to look at all those beautiful bottles of liquid gold!! 

This is Sam helping Papa empty the spinner.

 

 

 

 

Filling the jars is a tricky job! Your timing has to be just so.

 

 

All that's left to do is the labeling. We have our own label for the front and a nutrition label for the back along with one that says "I Love Honey". I'll post that when we finish.  We ended up with over 300 bottles.  Ryan said they would be showing up at the "Frog Pond" soon.  I will be taking some to the TOAD HOUSE for my booth!!  Get those biscuits ready!!

BIRTHDAY MONTH

A friend of mine told me a long time ago that she no longer has birthdays--she has a "gift month". I've decided now that I've hit the last number before I can "get a check" that I will do the same. The only thing is that I probably won't "get a check"!! :) Usually we have a birthday Sunday lunch but since I'm the one who plans them I didn't do that for me. We had a normal lunch on the 22nd and the usual crew was here. Papa showed up with flowers and a gorilla that sings--he knows I love those animals in the stores that you punch their hands or feet and they do something!! I got cards in the mail and phone calls. My Facebook was overrun with birthday wishes and I was awed by that. Jennifer came by with a wonderful rustic frame (to hold a wedding picture!) and windchime from all the Cowarts. Josh brought chocolates from Laura's in New Orleans. The Smitherrings sent an Amazon gift card which I used right away. Loved it!! A lemon ice box cake also showed up with Jennifer so we had birthday cake! An ordinary day turned into a wonderful one and now I will have great memories of the last birthday. Remember, from now on it's "gift month"!!