Snow and Ice Makes Me Hungry...

Surely I'm not the only one right?  Every. Single. Time. it snows or ices around here, I'm constantly hungry.  I will blow more money than necessary at the grocery store in preparation.  Toilet paper, candles, batteries, flashlights, water?  Ppsshh...I'm more like, "Doritos, eggs, potatoes, cheese, coffee, snacks, etc.  HAHA!!!!

Tonight was no different.

My daddy had two strokes on July 29th---the same exact day I had sepsis after diverticulitis surgery. He's still unable to walk, but can maneuver around his home and still have his independence.

Today was Day #3 of the Snow/Ice and I couldn't bear to think of staying inside The Doublewide anymore!

I showered, got everything together, Robbie showered, and off we went.  First I took Robbie to eat lunch at our favorite "Sit Down and Let 'Em Cook for You Japanese Restaurant" called Shogun.  It's delicious!!!

Our lunch for the two of us, was $32 with an $8 tip.

Here's what I got at one of my favorite thrift shops:

A Double Flat Vintage Sheet to sell on Ebay
My Cost:  $1.50

Another Double Flat Vintage Sheet to sell on Ebay
My Cost:  $1.50

 I actually found these shoes in the aisle with old school supplies and games.  I couldn't find a size on them but as soon as I picked them up, I noticed how light weight they were.  Lo and Behold they're CROCS and they fit!  The fact that I got them for $3.50 was a BONUS!!!

 After a trip to Wal-Mart, we headed home.  I stopped by to check in on my daddy since he lives across the street from us.  I thought I'd offer to "get him out of the house" for a bit if he was up to it!  He was happy to ride to town so we made his grocery list and headed to Food Lion.  While there, I picked up a few things and knew what would be for supper!  My sister and I take turns making sure daddy has a hot supper.  Since we both work full time, during the day, he can take care of his own breakfast and lunch.  Tonight I made my sister's famous Kielbasa and Taters casserole.   Here's a photo recipe:
Peel, cube and stew some taters:

 Brown 2 pkgs of Polish Kielbasa and 1/2 of a large sweet onion in a little bit of oil

 Sprinkle some Soul Food Seasoning on the Kielbasa and Onion while they cook!
This can be purchased at Dollar General for around $1.  BEST STUFF EVER!!!

When your taters are done, drain them and layer them in the bottom of a large pan.  I use the Deep Dish Baker from Pampered Chef.

 Add One 8 Oz. pkg of shredded cheese of your choice: 

 Cover with Kielbasa and Onion.
Next Layer use the other bag of cheese.
Bake, uncovered at 450 degrees for about 10-15 minutes or long enough to let the cheese melt.  All of your ingredients are cooked, so you just need to melt the cheese:


Serve with a giant hoe-cake:


Be sure to take your daddy a huge plate, making sure to throw in some good field peas and enjoy!!!


Since I can't have popcorn anymore, I decided on another use for my favorite popcorn bowl:
It can hold my candle and pip berries!

 Can't wait to start this soon!!!  I love her books!

 Robbie and I will be using these for an upcoming blog post for Valentine's Day!  Come back soon!!!

I hope you all have enjoyed our little chit-chat!
I'm working on uploading my cooking video to YouTube, but it's taking forever!

Have a great night, or day or morning!!!
See you soon!!!
{Please leave me a comment and let me know you were here!!}  {Thanks!!!}

Where Were We??

Hey Y'all!
Good gravy, feels like it's been forever.
I'm going to get better.  I miss my blog friends and I miss seeing what everyone's up to!

I have to update you all on what's been going on with me...

In February of last year, I went to the emergency room with horrible abdominal pain.  They did some tests and found that I had a bad case of diverticulitis.  After some IV pain meds and some antibiotics, I came home.  I was awfully sore for a few days, but it got much better.

In July, Big Daddy, Robbie and I were out shopping and ended up going through the Drive-Thru at Taco Bell for supper.  I had their Mexican Pizza and one hard shell taco.  The next morning, around 4:00 AM, I woke with the chills and was shaking and jerking uncontrollably.  I was FREEZING!  I went out to my car, turned the heat on high, and sat there until I calmed down.  This was a Saturday morning.  By Monday morning, I was hurting so bad, I ended up back at the ER.  This time, I was admitted and was told my colon had perforated.  I was there for 4 days with antibiotics and pain meds and was released.

Within a week, I was right back and was in the worst pain ever.  They did exploratory surgery and ended up removing 8 inches of my colon ALONG WITH my right ovary.  It had gangrene in it!!!  I had NO idea!
I went in on a Wednesday night and came home on Sunday morning.  All was well, or so I thought.

The following Wednesday morning, I was using the bathroom and felt something pop.  My hands started shaking and I was in the most horrible pain ever.  We rushed back to the ER again and I made Big Daddy take me to the same entrance the ambulances use.  I had horrible chest pains, couldn't breathe, and couldn't stop shaking from pain.

They did more tests again and found that I was suffering from SEPSIS!!  I had emergency "clean-out" surgery that evening.  During surgery, they inserted a breathing tube and put me on a ventilator, in case I needed another surgery to clean out again.  Two days later, I went back into surgery to be cleaned out again. I ended up being on the ventilator for a total of 8 days.  My lungs were too weak and they couldn't wean me off.

Now, I have a colostomy bag.  UGH!  It's been almost 6 months.  I hate it, but I am thankful for it.  It saved my life.

They are hoping that it's temporary.  I go Monday at 1:30 for my colonoscopy.  This is my first time with one of those.  I'll also have a CT scan and a Barium Enema, to see what's left inside.  The doctor who did my surgeries this past summer, has retired.  Before he left, he referred me to a specialist in my area who is actually an expert in this field.

I should know, pretty soon, whether or not this can be reversed!

Hope you're all doing well!  I've truly missed reading about your lives and I look forward to hearing from many of you!!

Well, Well, Well...
Look who's back!

I just wrapped up my 22nd year of teaching and I couldn't be more excited about the official beginning of summer here at The Doublewide!

There are a TON of things on my list to do.  I'm going to just leave it here so that I can be a little more accountable.
1.  Clean out old clothing and donate what's not being used.
2.  Organize and purge my craft room.
3.  Get Robbie's Play Room done.  He really needs his own space to play and have a great time!
4.  Plan our summer vacation to visit the Amish Community in Lancaster, PA again this summer.
5.  Crochet and Sew at least 30 minutes every day!

6.  Get Ebay store back up and running!

Here's a picture of Robbie now.  He just finished the third grade with straight A's and he earned his Accelerated Reader goals every nine weeks.  Super proud of this miracle sweetheart!

Have a great weekend!

Cade's Cove, TN

Good Morning Y'all!

It's Friday!  It's HAPPY FRIDAY to ya!

I'm giving a test today on Genre and Sub-genre so while I'm waiting on my students to get finished, I began thinking of the one single place I'd rather be.  I love being where I am right now, but...IF I could choose another place, I'd pick Cade's Cove.



Cade's Cove is located in The Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.  It's a very old community from the 1800s.  Some houses are still standing.  Some of the old churches are still there and are actually operational at times.

There's a running mill and grist mill as well.


I went there while my husband and I were on our honeymoon way back in 1994.  We visited there again on our "One Year Anniversary" trip in 1995.  We went there on a visit when Robbie was about 2-3 years old.  I could go one time a year and it still wouldn't be enough!

It's a little one lane road that winds all around the community.  You can drive in your vehicle, ride bikes, walk it, whatever.  Just make sure you take it all in while you're there!

It is absolutely beautiful.



There's so much history there that so many people know nothing about.
How many novels or short stories are waiting to be written with this place as it's setting?
Ahhh....what I wouldn't give for some good ol' Mountain Air running through my lungs right about now.

It's ALREADY October!

Hey Y'all!
Long time, no...well you get it.
Just wanted to drop in and let all 2 of my loyal followers know that my love of blogging has now been renewed!
I am in the midst of reading a WONDERFUL novel called, The All You Can Dream Buffet, by Barbara O'Neal.  It is so relaxing and refreshing and it made me miss blogging.  Seriously.
So much so that I am excited about it.  Can't wait to get back into it!
I really suggest that you run to your local "wherever it is you get your books at" store and get your hands on it.  I can't put it down!!
Here's the cover:


Thank you Charlotte,  over at www.yardsalesandcrochet.blogspot.com for always commenting on my blogs that have been very few and far between!!   I hope to be lucky enough to meet you one day.  We only live 30 minutes apart!  Let's MAKE it happen...whadda ya say girl?

Finally, just a quick update on the family if you're interested.
Robbie is now a third grader.  He's absolutely precious and I am constantly amazed at his quick wit and sense of humor.  I am so thankful, every single day, that we were given such an outstanding gift from the Lord.
Here's Robbie with a friend during our hometown's annual Country Fest this past weekend.  He had a great time!!


The rest of us are doing pretty good.
My sister, her husband, and their three year old, Sawyer moved into their new house during late June. We are SO excited for them and are SO happy!  They're right next door to The Doublewide and I love having them so close!
This picture of Robbie and I was taken behind their house this past June on Father's Day.  They still had to lay the cement tiles down for their patio.


Here's a picture of me, my daddy, my sister and my brother.  Love 'em to pieces!


OK....that's enough for now!
Please check back tomorrow.  I have a WONDERFUL idea already rolling around in my mind about my post for tomorrow.
See y'all!!

Wowza!
Again, it's been awhile since I've been here.
We lost mama on March 16th at 11:15 PM.  She left this world holding my hand.
We are learning that life goes on.
We are learning that we are thankful that we did have the time with her to say goodbye and leave nothing left unsaid.
We are learning that we miss her something awful!

Big Daddy, Robbie and myself just got home last night from a week's vacation.  We visited:
Lancaster, PA (and surrounding towns)
Hershey, PA
Warrenton, VA

We had a wonderful time and enjoyed relaxing and spending time with each other.

We enjoyed visiting the Amish and looking at all of the beautiful farms.

I got LOTS of retail therapy in while on vacation too!

Hope to hear from some of you!
Have a great week!

Unexpected Day Off...YAY!

Hey Y'all

I am so excited to share that I got the day off today.

My daddy had some things he needed to get done and since mama needs someone with her at all times, I took the day off.

We have had a pretty good day.

Her Hospice nurse and CNA came out this morning and gave her a bath.  While here, her blood pressure was checked.  It was 106 over 66.  That's a little low for her, but it was good.

I did manage to get about 6-8 bites of applesauce in her AND she took her morning pills.  We've not been giving those to her lately because she isn't doing well swallowing all of the time.

I've sat around and done some crochet, played a few games on Facebook, and enjoyed spending the day with her.

Hope things are well your way!

Updates on Things in My Life

Good Gravy!
It has been FOREVER since I've posted.
Truly, I must get better with this blog.
I love writing.
I love following your blogs and keeping up with you and what's going on in your lives.
I apologize for not being a good little blogger.
It's awful, I know!

I do have a few excuses, but none that would merit your sympathy!  Hee-hee!!

I do have some bad news though.  Some horrible news.  News that has shaken my inner core...rattled it...but NOT destroyed it.
During the end of September, my mama was taken via ambulance to our local hospital.  She was having seizures at work.  She's never had a seizure before.
She had another seizure in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.  They did a CT-Scan and found a mass on her brain.  They weren't sure what it was, so the ER doctors ordered an MRI.  We waited FOREVER for the MRI.  So much so that they went ahead and moved her to a room while we waited.  While we were all in the room with her, she had yet another seizure.  This time they put in a breathing tube and she went immediately to ICU.  This was a Thursday morning.  On Sunday afternoon, we were transferred to CMC-Main.  (Charlotte, NC)  They were better equipped to help see what was going on.
Her employer, we found out later, coded her absences as "Leave of Absence" and they cancelled her insurance.  My parents had the option to get Cobra insurance for $1400 a month.  Neither one of them are working.
My daddy was diagnosed in 2010 with Guillian-Barre Syndrome.  You can see the post I wrote back then by clicking here.  Mama was only working so that they could have insurance coverage.
They did surgery to remove the tumor, but they were unable to get it all due to it's location.
Radiation/Chemo?  She was only able to take 17 treatments.  They had planned for 30, but her brain had an adverse reaction to the combination and it made her suicidal and very depressed.  It was HORRIBLE, so we decided to stop all treatment.
Anyway...we've had a rough go of it lately.
She just met her 5 month mark last week.  There were many times I didn't expect her to make it.
There were many days when I thought it wouldn't be much longer.

God has a perfect plan for all of it!
Please keep her in your prayers.
Please comment if you feel like it!
I'd love to hear from y'all!
Also, I set up a donation website to help my parents out!  Click HERE if you'd like to help.

Hey Y'all!

Good evening everybody!
It's been awhile.  I have good intentions.  Life happens.  Obligations get moved to the top of the list.  Facebook takes over.  School is demanding.  Family time is a PRIORITY.  You know...a million different things that weave our everyday days into LIFE.
Anyway....

Thought I'd share a few things that I'm pretty proud of and that I'm excited about.

Have you read any books by Sarah Jio?  If not, please do.  She's written three.
Her first novel, The Violets of March, was a great read.  I loved it.  It prompted me to do a little online research to find that she'd written another one.

The Bungalow was SO good.  I could NOT put it down.  It ran my life while I was reading it.  All I could do was think of the characters and I simply would go to bed early, just to get to be "there."  It was great!

Her third book, Blackberry Winter had just came out as I was organizing a book club in my area.  I chose that one and we LOVED it!  Sarah Jio herself even liked our Facebook Group Page!  Are you kidding me??!!

Here's our Book Club at our first meeting!

She has a new one coming out May 23rd.  I've already paid for my copy and it will be signed and delivered. YAY!  Can't wait!


Tomorrow night is our next meeting.  We weren't able to meet last month because Robbie had the Flu---second time this year!  It was not pretty, but we made it.
Now...for a little crochet.
Do you crochet?  Don't you just LOVE it?
Here's a link for a free coaster pattern that I found earlier.
 Free Coaster Pattern
Aren't they adorable?  I made one tonight and it literally took me less than five minutes.  I think they're pretty neat!


Well...we are heading to bed.
We have 29 school days left, and we are looking forward to a great summer!!
Hope you're doing well....

Oh Sweet Jesus!  I have been horrible at Blogging!

I have GOT to get better at this....and I say it all of the time!

Maybe one day, right?

Hope things are well with all of you.  I do stop in and check on several of your blogs and what all is going on in your lives.

Lately, I've been working on some crochet stuff and trying to get my craft room organized.

It's taking a LOT of effort and a LOT of time.  Unfortunately, I'm the daughter of a HOARDER and I have inherited a lot of those traits.

Too many irons in the fire...Too much on my plate...

Tickle Me Tuesday!

Welcome to Tickle Me Tuesday!

I want to share things that make me giggle that I've seen online or that I've experienced in real life.

Hope you enjoy today's picks....

#1.  This is the BEST and funniest thing I've read in a long time.  This post has floated around Facebook and Pinterest.
If you've read it, read it again.  It surely won't hurt to laugh again!!!

Click HERE to read about "The Fart that (Almost) Altered My Destiny."

#2.  I have a really good friend who's kindof FAMOUS around here.  His name is Freddie Combs and maybe you saw him on The X Factor's auditions this past season?
Anyway, about 2 years ago, Big Daddy, Robbie and myself were visiting with them in Tennessee and I recorded this video.  Hope you like it.

Finally, I have laughed so hard, so many times at Jack Vale.  Here's my favorite of his videos....The Farting Old Man I and II.

Wishing you a Happy Tuesday and wondering why/how two out of three of my videos ended up being about farts....Oh well!

Most Awesome Ideas Monday!

Hey Y'all!

Gonna try something new...

Starting today, I will run a list of things I think are great, easy, fun, most awesome!

Check out this simple recipe by clicking HERE

Also, I LOVE this Ruffled Tree Skirt!
Run HERE and check it out!!

Also, I participated in a Christmas Bazaar this past weekend.  This was my best seller and I thought I'd share the free pattern with you!!  Click here to get it!

OK!  I guess that's enough for now.
Y'all have a great week!
 Come back tomorrow and see what Tuesday holds!!

Seven Months Ago or So....

WOWZA!
Has is seriously been almost seven months ago since I was here?  Looks that way.
I am so sorry---but---life has happened.

Thought I'd share something I am hooked on right now.
Last Monday, on Veteran's Day I went with my mama and my sister to The Southern Christmas Show in Charlotte.
There was a lady there making bows and things with ribbon.  I was absolutely spellbound and ended up spending way too much at her booth!
Anyway...
Here's one of her quick videos if you're interested in watching!

Hope you'll come back and visit my blog again!  I'll try to get on here more often.

Also, here's how Robbie's doing on one of our Christmas Cantata Songs.....

I am just in love with this sweet boy!!

Bless it!

Hey Y'all!
Hope you're doing well today!
Anything exciting going on your way?
Robbie broke his little foot this past Monday night and is confined to a boot for at least the next two weeks.  After that, we'll go back for another x-ray and see what type of healing is taking place.
Here's a picture of Robbie and our friend Vernon last night at church.  Vernon has broken his big toe and will be having surgery next Tuesday.  Both boys will appreciate all prayers!
6 more school days left!  I think I'm gonna make it!
Y'all have a wonderful evening!

Here's our two week totals:

Ronnie has lost 27 lbs.

and

I have lost 12 lbs.

This is one of the hardest things we have EVER done, but we're doing it TOGETHER and that makes it fun!

Last night we really wanted to walk, but a huge lightening display was taking place.  Thunder was super loud as well, so we stayed inside.  Fortunately there was no monsoon but it was already after nine when the lightning decided to stop.

Hopefully we'll be able to walk after Robbie's last soccer practice of the season tonight!

Weigh-in on Thursday...

Guess what?
Big Daddy and I are on a BIG DIET!  We weighed in yesterday afternoon and I've lost 6lbs. this week and Big Daddy lost 14!  I'm so proud of US!
We'e been walking around my home church's parking lot in the evenings and I've only had a soft drink 3 times in the past week.  I'm drinking LOTS of water and feel like my eyeballs are going to float off my face some days.

Yesterday was Robbie's Adoption Day also!  It's our 5th year anniversary of legally being parents. We enjoyed the afternoon at Monkey Joe's and he wanted CiCi's pizza for supper.  It's hard to only eat 1 piece and a BIG ole salad instead of piling pizza all over the plate.

We'll be ok though....it'll be WAY worth it when we're both around to watch him graduate and then get married someday!

Y'all have a wonderful weekend!

It's a Beautiful Morning....

I took our dog Cookie out to pottie this morning.  Normally Big Daddy does that, but for some reason I did it today.
When I walked down the back porch steps and looked to my right, this is what I saw:

Wasn't it such a beautiful morning behind The Doublewide?  I think so!

Miss Cookie says Howdy!