NANA NOTES

SCRAPPING SISTERS RETREAT

 

It's always fun when the "Scrapping Sisters" get together.  We usually go to an organized crop and meet up to scrapbook for a weekend.  This particular trip was organized by one of our own at a beautiful lodge on a lake deep in the woods.  We had eight of the "sisters" and three guests. From the look of the room you would have thought it was a huge event. The only thing lacking was venders!! :) BUT--I'm sure any of us could have come up with enough stuff to cover that!!  In this picture everyone wasn't even set up!! Scrapbookers do love their stuff!!  We carried our food and took turns fixing meals. That wasn't a problem for any of us and the food was wonderful. Another thing scrappers love to do is eat!!  This particular night Pat fixed tomato bisque, tomato tarts and homemade bread.  There were several cakes and goodies to share as well. Let's just say that no one went hungry.  We had no agenda, no directions and no bedtime.  Some people stayed up late and some went to bed early. It was so laid back.  Saturday we took time to have pictures made.  For scrapbookers, pictures are always important!!
This is one of the cabins where a few of the girls stayed and the right is the lodge. We had bunk beds upstairs and the big room downstairs, a great kitchen and serving area with plenty of room---and quiet!!!  Three of the original Scrapping Sisters--me, Pat, and Libby (in purple) with our guest Charlotte.  We are all four cancer survivors!!  Some of us got a little crazy with our polish and flip flops!! How fun!! 

It's amazing how different Libby and I look now that we've lost our hair and gotten it back.  We used to look like twins and our hair came back so different.  Hers is black and mine is totally white. What a sense of humor God has.  But he loves us enough to let us survive!!  The girls in the other picture are going to kill me!!  When I saw the picture my first thought was, "does walking up this hill make my butt look big?" I love you girls!! This reminds me of a verse I used on the calendar for this year from the book of Matthew.  "Sit here while I go over there and pray."  I'm sure in our own time and in our own way, we each had our time with God on this trip.  We were in the perfect place to share God's blessings.  Thanks, Susan and Debbie for arranging this weekend for us.

ALWAYS EXCITEMENT AT COTTON BRANCH!!

There's a website here called "You know you live in Franklin County if".  This is one of those things!!  Ed has had a friend from Virginia here riding bicycles with him getting ready for the Ride the Rockies ride in June.  They have ridden every day and left to go on their ride on Tuesday.  Not to long after they left the phone rang.  Ed said, "we just met this guy at Fenn's riding a bicycle. I'm sending him to the house to take a shower and we're feeding him steaks for supper."  You know the next words out of my mouth!!  He convinced me it was ok and Ryan was here with me so we went to the barn and sure enough, there stood a nice looking young man with a bicycle.  His first words were, "you husband didn't call you."  I said that he did and we introduced ourselves.  We brought him up to the house, he took a shower and came down to visit with Ryan and me.  I asked him how he got here. He was riding from Chicago to Mobile.  My response was, "obviously no wife and no job!" He said, "understanding girlfriend and between jobs." Lawyer by profession he was changing firms and had talked them into a couple of months break. He usually hikes but decided to ride his bike to see if he could do it.  I can't remember his specific route but he had left Nashville and ridden the entire Natchez Trace to Natchez. What a beautiful ride that must have been!!!  He rode by day and camped out by night. He's ridden 50-60 miles a day except for Easter Sunday and one day that it rained all day.  I wonder what he thought when Ed and Jim turned around and asked him if he wanted to come here? He did say that it was an invitation too good to refuse. Matthew John McDonald, lawyer from Chicago and new friend of Cotton Branch!!  Linda got here before Matt left. She is never surprised at what goes on at the "Branch". She watched him pack his gear.  He had a sleeping bag, books, a small cook stove and clothes. He bought food and drinks as he rode. After gearing up Matt was ready to take off. I said my goodbyes and left for wound care. I couldn't watch him leave. He had been fed a great steak dinner, chocolate pie and homemade ice cream, a full Southern breakfast and given a Cotton Branch tshirt to remember us.  His next stop was Bogalusa, LA and then on to Fairhope, AL to see his Godchild that he'd never seen.  Our prayers go with you Matt McDonald!!  Without a step of faith we'd never had you in our life.  What a blessing we would have missed!!  God speed and safe travel!!  I hope we hear from you some day!!

2012 "Furniture Styles" Flower Show

Pine Burr Garden Club had its annual flower show yesterday at the historic building that housed the Franklin Furniture Store for as long as I've lived here.  The girls did an amazing job on getting the building ready.  Since I haven't been able to attend any of the meetings this year I felt a little bit like a fish out of water for a little bit. After a while at the desk, it all came back!!  Wilma Holland wrote the schedule and was chairman of the show. She did an wonderful job!!  She gave us a challenging show to do and as usual the girls rose to the occasion!!  Class 1: Cottage Style-- The blue ribbon winner which happens to be mine. I really lucked out with this one!!  As you can see I had some serious competition!  The other ladies did a great job!!

Class 2: A Collage featuring Modern Styles

Beverly Gabbert's collage won the blue and Dorothy McGehee Award. 

Class 3: Retro-- A very proud moment for our Chairman and Schedule writer!!  Not her first blue ribbon but her first "big" award.  She won the Designer's Choice Award and the Barbara Herring Design Award.  A very happy lady!!  She did a great job on her very first schedule writing and was highly complimented by the judges.  Congratulations, Wilma.

We had 91 pieces of horticulture.  That was nice since we'd had a big rain a few days before.  Carole May won the very first Grower's Choice Award given by our club with her lovely begonia. Congrats to Carole for that award. 

 

Awards of Merit went to Carole May and me

 

And the winners are!!  Great day for these four ladies and all the rest too!  Congratulations to all on the beautiful flower show.

MISSED A WHOLE MONTH OF BLOGGING!!

I can't believe that it's been a month since I blogged. So much has happened yet nothing has been accomplished really.  The end of trapping season for Ed meant the start of him doing training rides for a 500 mile "Ride the Rockies" in June.  He and Josh will be doing this together along with 1998 other people!!  I'll post pictures this summer.

As for me, I finished up with my chemo and was planning on some rest until I started my "maintenance" treatment.  I got to attend a couple of Scrapbook events.  This one in Mandeville started out on a fun note!!  The event hostesses were wearing pink wigs and I fell right into that!!  Ed said, "get it"!

Spring brings the arrival of new babies on the farm.  Here are the four that have been born so far.

Last week one day I was coming home from town and saw something at the Elementary School.  Being the "interested" person I am, I stopped to check it out.  This is what I found.  Jennifer was taking Bunny pictures for the school. She had a dress up bunny and real ones. I was lucky enough to have my picture made with Sam (but I haven't seen it yet!).

A few days after that I spent five days in the hospital with staph infection in my port.  It was removed and now I'm undergoing open wound therapy until it heals.  So far it is doing well but I'm sort of stuck close to home!!

Ryan and Haleigh dropped by and left me a happy.  Cupcakes and cookies~~I love them both.  Here are the cookies. 
So sweet of my grownup grandchildren to do this!!

Update:  Saw the Dr. today; said I was doing well.  See him in two weeks.  Prayers for wound healing are ongoing. I know God hears them.

Happy Easter to everyone!!

END OF TRAPPING SEASON 2012

 

For the last five months Ed has been getting up before the sun and leaving to go set and check his traps. His lifelong friend, Buddy Ruff started trapping with him and they got in cahoots with Elton who was trapping on his own.  The UPS and FedEx people now know us by our first names and are probably missing us at this point. Ed ordered more trapping stuff than I have scrapbooking stuff (joke here!!).  My entertainment was hearing about the day and seeing the pictures.  The part I liked best was that Ed was having so much fun. I don't think I've ever seen him with a hobby that provided him with the excitement and fun that he's had during these months.  I could post lots of pictures of his catches and I think I have put some but here is the final day before taking the furs to the fur trader.  These guys did a good job. The traps are now cleaned and ready for next year and he's ridden off on the bike!! 

Girlfriends Week!

Three weeks ago five of us escaped to the beach. There were three conditions for going--you could only take pajamas and movies and one outfit to wear out to eat for a celebration! The weather kept changing so we didn't know what to take anyway. Piper went with us an we loaded up to go. We left at 10:00 AM and got there in time for the AL/LSU game! Did I mention stopping at every Michaels and Hobby Lobby on the way? It rained all day Tuesday--very hard and then the cold came in. Not a problem for us--remember--pjs and movies! We had wonderful homemade bread, soups and salads--every meal a gourmets delight. In all we watched 12 movies, stayed up late, laughed until we cried and celebrated a birthday. Four of the five are cancer survivors, two have lost their husbands and we are all Christian ladies. Three of us go to the same church and are related (by marriage or by blood); the other two go to church together. Two of us have the same mother--we just don't know which one (figure that one out!!) we are all sisters in love and have a great time together. Until I find my camera I can't show you the girls but I can show you some of the food.  We bought cupcakes on the way down to have for dessert that night for the game.  I will entice you with the names--top to bottom, left to right:  lemon cream, strawberry, red velvet with vanilla buttercream, chocolate with salted caramel, carrot with cream cheese, and pound cake with vanilla buttercream. Good doesn't even begin to describe them!!     This is the wonderful tomato bisque that Pat makes.  The salad is my baby greens with pears, caramalized nuts and sweet tea vinagrette.  We enjoyed turnip green soup and corn bread one night. On Charlotte's birthday we went out to eat and I had Fried Green Tomatoes with crawfish sauce!!   They were better than delicious.  The movie "Joyful Noise" followed that meal and we ended with salad and baked potatoes for dinner.  I will not mention the Black Jack Cherry Frozen Yogurt we had several times during the week!!  Piper took good care of us during the week.  She loved posing in her new PINK halter.  She loves the beach because she gets to ride the elevator.  I still haven't found my camera.  I haven't been back to the beach and have attended two weekend scrapbook events. Talk about moaning!  I really hope it's at the condo!!

The girls had a great time and look forward to going back again soon. I look forward to blogging about my LAST weekly chemo treatment tomorrow!!  Talk to you soon.

 

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!!

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".  :)

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.  

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!!

 

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"!

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!!

BLESSINGS sung by Laura Story

A friend gave me a CD she had made for another friend of ours. This was the first song on the CD. It has unbelievably touched my heart. I hope as you read the words it touches yours too. I pray that it helps our friend as she goes through her "trials".

Blessings

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

ONE BEAUTIFUL DAY!!

There's not enough time or space to write about the wedding. God blessed us with a beautiful day and wonderful family and friends to share the day. It lasted until the wee hours and on into Sunday. The pictures only tell part of the story!! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=576241373#!/media/set/?set=a.10150212179691374.311067.576241373 Click on the link and then click on the first picture. That will make them bigger and you can move through the arrows to see the pictures. Hope you enjoy them.

A VERY BUSY WEEK

I knew it was going to happen. I would have bet money on it! The corn came in and we did 1050 ears in two days. Thank goodness the boys were around and we had a guest along with the regular faithful helpers. I felt sorry for our guest but that's country life. I was just glad it didn't come next week. I didn't get a picture even though Linda reminded me that we "always have a corn picture". Last week also included two doctor's appointments along with regular errands and wedding "to do's". The sprinkler system had some broken heads and I had to have that seen about; the ice maker at the barn went out and I had to make an "executive" decision about that while Ed was out of town--he did call for me to confirm it though. Ben and Sam both had "last" ballgames and I made both of them. I have signs to finish and legs to glue on the cake stand. Haleigh came with her mother and the wedding director and the kinks were worked out--hopefully. Ryan and Haleigh have been moving into their home and getting ready. I'm waiting on some UPS or FedEx deliveries, flower pickup, and tables and chairs. Enough of the work stuff!! Today we had a "Pink Party" for Charlotte, Ed's cousin who is going through breast cancer. Several of us decided to surprise her and we actually pulled it off!! She didn't have a clue. We had a wonderful morning at her daughter-in-law's home with friends. We surrounded her with prayer and fellowship--and don't leave out the wonderful brunch food!! 

charlotte arriving and being totally surprised!!

 

 

 

 

 

A group of us surrounding her to pray for her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the prayer Charlotte released the balloons. The wind carried them up and away!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the balloon release we all went in for a delicious brunch and the opening of gifts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charlotte's favorite thing is "JOY" so there were several things with joy on them.  She got lots of books, lotions, caps, pj's and things to help her through the next few months of getting over her surgery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charlotte (in the middle! with her daughter in law Kristie (left) and her daughter Christy (right). Three beautiful and sweet ladies!

I took lots of pictures of every one there and will fix an album later.  I just wanted to catch you up on the "week before the week" of the wedding!!  Seven days to go!!