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!!

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!!

TWO WEEKS LEFT!!

Two weeks from yesterday we are getting a granddaughter-in-law. It's not like something new is about to happen, Haleigh has been around for three or four years and is already a part of our family. The day Ryan told us they were engaged, I was totally shocked. No one knew it was happening except for her Dad. I don't know why we were all so surprised. That was over a year ago and the time has flown by. I've enjoyed helping Haleigh with the planning of the wedding. I've had time to work on things while she went to school and worked. We've spent many hours upstairs on Thursday afternoons. I know Ryan is my grandson and not my son. But---we kept him for four years before he started kindergarden and have seen him practically every day of his life. I haven't missed a day (almost) of talking to him. Our bond is strong. I know the old saying, " a daughter is a daughter all of her life, but a son is a son until he takes a wife". Maybe a grandson is your grandson forever!!  I'm looking forward to June 11, 2011 because I get my fourth granddaughter and a whole new chapter starts at Cotton Branch!!

A VERY NICE DAY!!

Melody invited me to attend a meeting of the Garden Club of Jackson to see Sharon McGukin of Carrollton,GA.  She was doing a design program based on her book Flowers of the Heart (a bride's guide to choosing flowers for her wedding). Since we're having a wedding this summer and I love flower design I was delighted to be invited.  I saw several garden club friends and others that I knew.  We enjoyed a delightful lunch and then went to Fresh Market for a few purchases. Here are some pictures of the program.

 

 Lovely yellow lilies, orange roses and pussy willow in a silver container.

 

 

 

  

Roses and orchids with fern.

 

 This arrangement was done on the OUTSIDE of the container. Just a few pieces of greenery were inside.  Very interesting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The yellow roses, purple iris, English dogwood and phlox are in a simple container and were picked from the "yard"--very simple and beautiful. 

This is the finished product with the orange roses and pussy willow. She used bells of Ireland, pink stock and white orchids.  The pussy willow formed a cage of sorts in the middle.

 

 









Limbs with yellow lilies, roses and ealyagnus--simple yet pretty.

























White lilies, orange gerbers, flowered branches in the coolest container.  A little "messy" for me but I love the container!

                                                                                                      

This is the finished design using the pussy willow and orange roses. She added yellow lilies and protea. 

The flower show judge came out in me because I thought some of her designs were too large for her containers--but I had to remember that I was there as an observer and it was for entertainment and for home use!!

The program was delightful and I thank Melody for inviting me.  You can never get too much of God's beauty!!

 





 

MUMC SHOWER FOR HALEIGH AND RYAN

Meadville UMC Celebration Committee hosted a lovely shower for Haleigh and Ryan on April 3. Look on the blog albums for the 2011 Shower for Haleigh and Ryan and click on it.  You can see all the pictures. Click on them to see them larger. Thank you wonderful church family for loving our children.

SPRING BREAK WEEK 2011

This has been an interesting week.  The boys have been power washing and painting the fence around the pasture and house. They've worked very hard and the fence is looking great. I didn't get pictures but take my word for it. They've done a wonderful job. I got to go with Haleigh to get her dress fitted. I did take pictures but I can't show you. I want to live to go to the wedding!!  :) I went trapping with Ed on Thursday morning and we got three coons.  He says I'm his good luck charm.  Nothing would do but Linda take our picture.    We have had company (very long time friends!) from TN here since Thursday.  They've been turkey hunting and we've been visiting every spare minute.  We've shared some good meals and had a wonderful time. 
Sam and Vivian have three grown boys so they were comfortable with our boys hanging out all week.  Having a table full of boys all week long at lunch was fun!  The conversation was always lively.

Graham and Sam showed up Saturday afternoon wanting to show me something "big"!  I had a feeling that it was a camera moment. I took the camera out and this is what we saw. 
Graham will be taking drivers ed this summer and here's his ride!  I hear that Sam was driving it around the farm this afternoon with Shelly!!  Haven't heard what Jennifer thinks about it yet!!  I just started a new prayer chain!!

Finished off the day with a nice dinner in Brookhaven and am looking forward to a good breakfast and church tomorrow. We're blessed beyond measure--and have you seen that moon?? 
 

BEN'S FIRST TURKEY!!

Thanks to a friend of ours who loves to hunt and fish with the boys Ben got to go hunting for the Youth Turkey Hunt weekend.  It was raining like crazy but they went anyway.  I got a call early (for me on a Saturday) and he told me he'd killed a turkey.  Naturally I had to take pictures.  After all, that's a proud moment in a kids life!!   
The gobbler had about a nine inch beard and some pretty good looking spurs.  Casey was going to do a tail mount for him.  Looks like we have another "hunting addict" in the family!!  Awesome Ben! 

 

2011 CROP CELEBRATION IN HAMMOND

This past weekend nine of our "Scrapping Sisters" group traveled to Hammond, LA to a Scrapbook event to benefit the Restoration House--sort of a Crisis Pregnancy Center.  We started out by donating diapers, formula and baby outfits for this cause. It felt good to be having fun and all the proceeds to go a worthy cause!!  Every penny made this weekend went to the Restoration House. We left early on Friday (Pat, Libby and me) with the Scrapping Sisters trailer and after a stop at PJ's coffee headed south to Hammond.  Immanuel Baptist Church was the host for the crop and we had lots of space and good lighting--real pluses for croppers!!  Regina (one of the girls putting on the crop) had her mother and father in law there preparing the meals.  Talk about awesome!!  For a nominal fee we were fed like queens and didn't have to leave the building!!  Most of our group won a door prize and two of us won raffle prizes.  Several won auction items and everyone came away pleased.  Everyone worked on their own projects and we all took classes and "make and takes" at our leisure.  It was a wonderful weekend.  Here are some pictures of our group.  
Beth, Susan, Debbie, Sharon, Tammy on the back row.  Libby, Melanie, Pat and Barbara on the front row.   
Our sweet friends from Alabama--Gina and Lenore from GiGi's Scrapbooking.  We've been friends for several years and always enjoy seeing them.  

 

Another sweet friend Melanie with her daughter Bailey and one of the girls (I'm sorry I don't have her name.) who helped "put on" the event.

Laura and Ginger who were "Stampin Up" ladies. We did "make and takes" and took a class with them.  Love the 8 x 8 class!!

 

Several of us took the "Close to my Heart" make and take with Connie Arceneaux.  The picture frame was cute and easy to do.     

 

The project I'm most proud of is one that I've been wanting to do since January.  It was for a friend's birthday. I found just the right paper and embellishments thanks to Pat and Gigi.  I hope you like it Charlotte!

 I painted letters for my booth most of the weekend and we laughed that I would paint a letter and take a class; paint a letter and do a make and take; paint a letter--well you get the idea.  Anyway, it worked and I enjoyed myself.  It's always fun to be with the "sisters" and laugh and talk.  We can't wait till we can get together again.