NANA NOTES

SECOND RIDE THE ROCKIES

I'm skipping several posts to start giving you updates on Ed and Josh. They are riding the 500 mile "Ride the Rockies" this week while I'm at soggy OB.  It rained 4 inches yesterday and is still raining. Hopefully they are having better weather.  Their flight left NO at 6:30 AM on Friday and was direct to Denver where they picked up a gorgeous motor home that sleeps 10.  There are eight guys going together.  I'm supposed to get updates from them regularly.  Today was the first ride. Last night they stayed at the Palisades Senior Citizens RV Park.  They let Josh in because he had three senior citizens with him!  When Ed called he said they were going out to eat.  I told him to be sure and ask for the senior citizen discount!! :)  

The guys survived the ride and had a great time. They all finished and made it home safely.  I made a scrapbook for Ed commemorating his trip and he loved it.

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!!

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.

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.

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!!

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

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!!

AUCTION ITEMS FOR RELAY FOR LIFE

My friend at the Bank of Franklin called and asked if I would donate something for the Relay for Life silent auction. Of course I would!!  Here's what I did. 

                                   
    Towel wraps are so much fun to wear after your bath or at the beach.  The pink one has a rose and pink ribbon on it.  The green one has a smiley face with ric rac "rays".  Love them both!!

Good luck to those who bid--and bid lots!!  It's for the Cause!!

MY "HONEY" WITH HIS HONEY!!

 And I'm not talking about Exal!!  Today they extracted the hives and got lots of honey.  They still have more to do and we have to bottle it all.  I get to help with that part.  Doesn't that look wonderful?  The combs were so full.

Ed's using a warm "decapping" knife to remove the honey from the frame. I don't know how many frames he did but there were boxes full.  Seems his "hobby" has turned into a JOB!!  We will enjoy the fruits of his labors though. The bottling process should be fun. :)   "I can't stand it when it's sticky!"

 

A FISH HOOK WHERE????

 

 I got up to let Sadie out this afternoon and someone said, "Ms Barbara". Casey was sitting there with Sam in a chair with a HUGE fish hook in his foot!  He wasn't crying and was very calm. I called Jennifer and she sent Shelly to get him. Shelly and I took off for the hospital. They saw him instantly and a very nice plastics resident looked over the situation.  He was from New York and said he didn't have much experience with fish hooks! At first he wanted to xray Sam's foot and make a small incision to remove the hook.  The barb was nearly through the skin so I suggested that after he deadened it that he push it on through and cut the barb with wire cutters and pull the hook out from the end.  He thought about it and said, "that might be easier on his foot."  Shelly got his wire cutters out of his tool box ( probably not the most sanitary thing to do, but the doctor did clean them) and everything went smoothly. Sam did cry a little when the Dr. gave him the first deadening shot but was a real trooper through the whole ordeal. He came home with us and is spending the night and tomorrow.  He even has an excuse for school that says, "please excuse Sam from school because he had a fish hook removed from his left foot."  There will be NO MORE FISHING WITHOUT SHOES!!  He got a tetanus shot so he's good for five years.  Hopefully nothing else will happen to him that he needs it.  Just to let you know Casey: I'm glad he was with you! Nobody else would have carried him all the way from the pond like you did!!

 

 

 

BFF's LAST CHEMO! YEA!!

Monday was a celebration day! Libby had her last chemotherapy treatment. Our lives have been consumed for the last two years with trips to the doctor.  We only know how to get there and back!!  We went with each other when we could and were always there to lean on. She's held on like a trooper and made it with a smile on her face.  We look forward to hair-growing, eyelashes and trips to anywhere-as long as it's not a doctor!!  The final injection.

 Tiffany is a wonderful chemotherapy nurse. She told us she never wanted to see us in that room again!  We both agreed--at least not as patients!!

GOOD FRIDAY GARDEN!!

Every good country gardener knows that Good Friday is the day to plant the garden. Ed had this uncontrollable urge to "get it done" yesterday. He got the raised beds cleaned out and prepared. I helped him tack down the "garden paper" and he was off. Exal helped him plant and they somehow had more space than plants.  This morning he got me up to go get more plants.  We now have tomatoes, squash, peppers, eggplant and cucumbers standing upright and healthy in our raised beds. We even said a prayer over our garden knowing that God would bless our efforts.  We only lost a couple of fruit trees during the very cold weather this year. Ed's already replaced those.  They are blooming and smelling so good.

Tomatoes and cucumbers. I love the wire fence for the cucumbers--I'm hoping they will be easier to pick--less hidden cukes!!

 
Eggplant, peppers and squash.

 

 
 Eggplant and squash.  We should have lots of good veggies in the summer.

We keep thinking we've forgotten something!  What would that be???

Maybe more eggplant!!!

 

Ed's orange tree looks great and smells soooo good!  Hope it produces lots of oranges!

THE VIEW FROM MY PERSPECTIVE!!

The Franklin County Bicentennial Celebration was this past weekend. I got to do the Fun Run/Walk and see the parade and listen to some of the music.  This was what I saw of the race!!  And I did not finish last. It wasn't a timed race; it was done just for fun.  We laughed and walked and had a good time.

The parade took forever [can you believe a parade in Meadville took forever???]! This is my sweet friend Mary Bryan riding with my other sweet friend Jimmy in his favorite car!!

I stayed and heard the CoLin Stage Band and High Road! Couldn't miss my girls.  They played again at 6:00 but didn't get to go back and hear that. I'll soon have to have another "private concert" cause they have a new CD coming out!!  Stay tuned for that.

I hope to post my pictures to an album but if you are impatient and can't wait check out the Facebook walls of Mandy Wilson, Pat Jones, Cookie Stroud and of course mine.  We all have Bicentennial Albums on there.
 

NOVEMBER GARDEN CLUB

I was lucky enough to get invited to Brandon Garden Club's Tablescapes Luncheon this year.  It was so fantastic that I wanted to share it with my club members. My longtime friend Karen is in the club and I asked her if one of their members would do a program for us. Charla, her mother and Karen came down and not only did the program but had lunch with Ed and me and toured the farm.  We had a wonderful day!  [I shared the Tablescapes pictures with you back in February.]   

 

LADIES, THINK FOR YOURSELVES! LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!

Those of you who really know me know that I CAN get on a soapbox when I need to.  This is one of those times.  How dare someone tell us as women that we don't need medical tests regularly!  I am a two time breast cancer survivor and know lots of women who have had or have breast cancer.  Some of those women would not be here if they hadn't had the necessary medical tests to diagnose the problem at an early stage--including me!  The LiveSTRONG Foundation came out with the following statement:

“We at LIVESTRONG fear that as a result of these new guidelines, more women will be lost to breast cancer.

Since the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued these reversals, LIVESTRONG and our partners at the American Cancer Society have heard from legions of women under 50 who are breast cancer survivors and many more whose lives were saved as a result of a routine self-exam. The work that has saved their lives must be sustained, not discarded.

We must break down the barriers to screening and early detection, not create new ones.  We must empower women to be well-informed about their health, not send them conflicting signals. And we must foster greater cooperation among the trusted voices in the fight against cancer to create clear guidance.

Many women feel confused by these dramatic changes. We urge them to talk to their doctors about making the best possible choices for their health and to seek medical attention if they feel something is amiss, regardless of their age.”

Please pay attention to the last paragraph and do what's best for YOU!!

 

 

I WAS ASKED TO POST THIS AGAIN--PLEASE VOTE!!

Tomorrow is the last day!!  Please, please vote!!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO VOTE EACH DAY. WE HAVE DROPPED TO #4 AND NEED YOUR VOTES TO PICK US BACK UP. YOU KNOW YOU WANT OUR KIDS TO GET THE GAMEROOM MAKEOVER!!

Gameroom Giveaway

Source: xbox.childrensmiraclenetwork.org

Microsoft has partnered with Children’s Miracle Network to provide three Children’s Miracle Network pediatric hospitals an Ultimate Gameroom experience - YOU could win an Xbox 360 as well!

MESSAGE FROM STEPHANIE SLAUGHTER--VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!!!

"Hello everyone!! Just a friendly reminder that this is the LAST week of voting for the gameroom giveaway! Voting ends Next Friday the 16. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE remember to vote everyday....We are getting so close! Also, many of you are concerned that we are not in the number 1 spot.  Remember that the TOP 3 hospitals will win the gameroom so we are still in the game!!! Once again thank you for your support of the children and families of Batson!!"

http://xbox.childrensmiraclenetwork.org

Remember you can vote 10 times at once--every day!!