NANA NOTES

TIME TO CLOSE IT UP!

All good things come to an end and I feel this is the time. Each time I try to write my creative juices freeze and the words won't come. Life is crazy and I don't know why. There's never enough time and I get nothing done. There's a song that speaks of this but at this time I can't recall the words. I'm sure Pat could tell me. Who knows, I may decide to start a fresh, new blog about new things. Life changes and mine seems to be trying to. God bless you all and thanks for reading Nananotes for the last eight years. "Eight years"! OMG!!  It is time to stop!!!

AUNT KATHERINE'S SUNSHINE BASKET TRADITION

Ed's Aunt Katherine had a tradition of making Sunshine Baskets filled with small gifts that she carried to friends and family to cheer them up.  Pat (Ed's cousin and my sister in heart and love) called to make sure I would be home and up to a visit by her two sisters and her nieces on March 16th.  I told her that there was nothing that would keep me from feeling like a visit from those sweet, funny girls!!  I couldn't wait!! Now on with the story.  That afternoon Pat, Carolyn, Vana, Diana, Zoe, Sallie Kat and LeighBeth all showed up with a huge green basket all decorated with bows and flowers!!  Now the story is that Aunt Katherine says that you're supposed to open one gift a day so the happiness will last a long time. Carolyn said that was a steadfast rule!! Vana said "open them all at one time if you want to. That's what I'd do! Do what ever you want to do." Pat and the girls were kind of "on the fence".  I chose to "one a day" it--except for one Sunday when I thought I needed more!!  There were 22 gifts and 19 days so that's worked out pretty much right.  You can see that there was a tremendous number of wonderful gifts!! I kept a list of what the gifts were so I could remember in the first place and so I could put the in the blog (cause I knew I would do this!!). Here goes:  Jesus Today book, plant stake letter "H", Sweet Panda gift card, white lace scrapbook border, Joshua magnet, Christian Journal, Jeremiah bag, Burts Bees lip balm, cards, Rejoice notepad in a felt bag with flowers, Rose note pad,  Hope tablet, black and white shopping list, Jelly Bean pills, Rhodan and Fields hand treatment, scripture magnets, travel Scentsy, goats milk soap, gummie bunnies (yum), Gail Pittman Hope bowl, and a beautiful picture of Sallie Kat and LeighBeth. The picture was the only one that made me cry, except when they brought in the basket!!  Isn't that a wonderful thing??  I so loved it and will never forget it!!  I'm already thinking of someone I can do one for.  Thank you my sweet sisters in heart for the wonderful visit and time spent together.  You each will get a note for the tremendous gifts!!  I love you!!

SATURDAY DRIVE AROUND THE FARM

I've been staying in a lot lately; mostly because of fatigue but a lot to stay away from germs so I don't catch something because of low immunity. Ed came in and got me Saturday to ride around and see the new horse babies. That called for a camera opportunity!  Our first stop was to check on the baby chickens.  They're cute at this age and they are beautiful when they're grown. Like all creatures, they will go through the teenage stage! Henry always comes to the gate for a handout. Saturday was no different.  He loves scratching and talking and a little horse feed never hurts.  He just loves to be loved!!  Piper had to have her photo made too.  She always poses!  And we can't leave out the big chickens!!  They always get a big helping of feed when anyone goes to the barn.  They provide big brown eggs for us.  Now on to the new baby!!  Our stud Esay threw another blue roan! I love the one white stocking!!  Now on to the baby calves.  It took me years to convince Ed that the motley babies were what we needed around here. Those red cows with white spotted faces are just beautiful.  Finally, when we start to have a good stand, he and Ryan have decided to go full Santa Gertrudis again! Darn it!!  Can't win around here.  And who's your daddy?????   Couldn't be one of Shelly's roping bulls, could it??   I'd better enjoy these beautiful babies. When these are gone, they're gone. Unless I can convince them again. . .








                     

NEW SCHOOL YEAR 2012/2013

The summer passed way to quickly. I know I didn't get to do all I wanted to do. Things got in the way.  We woke up one day and it was time for school to start! Way too soon for all of us!  The Cowarts spent the first part of the summer playing baseball.  They got in several beach trips and did some rodeos. Graham will be a sophomore, Ben in the eighth grade and Sam is the only one left at the elementary.

The "Smitherrings" spent their time in the road (as usual) ! Beach, fishing, various trips and probably some ball playing.  I can't believe that Emily will be a senior, Abbey a junior and Shelby in the eighth grade. Bryden is in the seventh and Hayden is in the sixth.  I think I have that right. They are growing up right in front of us!!  I didn't get a picture of Bryden and Hayden on their first day but Jody had a good picture of them fishing with him which is something they both love to do.   Left to right:  Emily, Shelby, Abbey

Hayden and Bryden

Jennifer worked on her room from her computer all summer.  She would post things for me to see and they were wonderful.  I volunteered to make a bulletin board (you know I love that crafty stuff!). 

It seems I started a tradition and didn't really realize it.  For several years I sent her a plant for her room.  One year I forgot-maybe the year I was sick.  Anyway, later in the year she mentioned that she didn't get a plant. I don't think I've forgotten since.  My prayer for all of them is that they will have a wonderful school year; that they will learn as much as possible; be safe in their travels to and from school and be happy.

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.

Saturday Ride on Cotton Branch

Taking a ride on Cotton Branch is a normal activity. Seeing two Cowart boys on tractors is not.  Today we saw Ryan and Ben fluffing and baling hay. That was a good sight.  Both boys worked hard today. The fields with hay bales always look good to me. 

This is Ryan on the baler. He knows just how to do it right.  Ben on the fluffer. He can really drive that tractor and keep those rows straight!  The two of them working together warms my heart!!  Gotta love those hard working guys!!

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!!

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.

 

attitudes

I found this in a knitting package I bought in a store in Gatlinburg. I have been wanting to put it on the blog for several days. Today I read the first devotional in a new book given to me by one of my "sisters".  What a God thing.  It's about the same subject.

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, that what other people think or say or do.  It is more important than appearances, giftedness, or skill.  It will make or break a company..a church..a home.  The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we embrace for that day.  We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people act in a certain way.  We cannot change the inevitable.  The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our ATTITUDES. 

Author of "Attitude"; Chuck Swindoll 

I;ve always tried to be cheerful to checkers at a store. You never know their story and some of them are not friendly. I have rarely left one that doesn't eventually laugh or smile after some off the wall comment I make.  I tell them that a long time ago I chose to be happy on this day and that's the way it's going to be. I am the one who makes me happy and no one can take that away.  I've seen the coldest hearts melt and have made friends.  I've prayed out loud right there in the store. I refuse to let a day go by that someone doesn't smile. A day without laughter is wasted. That's my attitude!!  What's yours??

CHRISTMAS SEASON

 

The time is flying by and I haven't even thought about blogging. I guess going to Natchez once a week and all the other things that go on around here my blogging has fallen on the list.  Most of the time has been spent with choir practice and we had our program last Sunday night.  I wish you could have heard it. It was beautiful.  We have such talent in our church and it blesses us all.  The house got decorated with the help of a friend and Linda.  Ben and I started the tree and Linda finished it for us.  The mantles were done by a friend and I think they are beautiful.  I wish I could leave them up all the time!!  The one in the den looks like this one but with Santas in it.  That picture didn't turn out very good.  Linda surprised me with the upstairs banister!!  It's beautiful.  The tree in the library has all my glass ornaments on it.  It usually goes in the sunroom but since Ms Piper barks at it, we decided to move it.  Don't want to upset Ms Piper!!  I've been making candy and baking cookies when I could. The tradition of delivering "goodie trays" has begun and it's the Christmas season at Cotton Branch.  We're blessed and thankful that on that wonderful night in a stable with a manger our Savior was born.

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.

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.  

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!

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!!

WHEN NANA'S AWAY THE BOYS WILL PLAY!

One afternoon recently I was gone somewhere and when I returned Ed said he had something to show me.  He handed me his phone.  This is what I saw. 

He and Sam had built another bluebird house and it looked so good. 

 
Sam even used the cordless drill to hang it on the fence post.  He loves the bluebirds just like we do and loves the power tools just as much.  Thanks guys, for building another house for our birds! 

RYAN AND SAM DO IT AGAIN!!!

It took Sam a while to decide he wanted to pull the trigger on a gun. But, boy when he did----the gun powder is smokin'! Today it was freezing cold and all the guys went hunting after lunch.  My brother and his family came and we ate and had Christmas with them. Then it was off to the deer stands.  After discussions of "where are you going?" they headed out while the girls bedded down by the fire to watch a movie.  We got a call to get the camera ready that Ryan had killed a deer.  Then another call--Sam had one down.  They showed up at the house for pictures and I fed them homemade soup to warm them up.  Here are the pictures:   Ryan's deer weighed 230 pounds and had a beautiful rack.   Josh guessed the weight exactly! 

Sam's deer was a nice 8 point rack and weighed 165. This was his second nice rack.  Once he decided he could do it he hasn't let up.

Their Uncle Jody is a little upset! He's the "Great White Hunter" and the boys are beating him.  Pressure is on!!  He's taught them his tricks--Outwit, Outsmart, Outplay!!  Way to go, Ryan and Sam! 
 
Christmas pictures will come later! The boys came first.