Delectale Winter

I am glad we finally got some snow! It was a wonderful weekend spending 2 days with my husband, who had a birthday on the 30th. We stayed in and watched a movie, took a walk in the snow and had our son over for dinner. Sunday we slept in as church was canceled. We took a 2 mile walk to get the newspaper, slipping and sliding all the way! We finally ventured out in the car for a bit - just love a quiet snowy day. I hope we get more of the same, although I do know many have to get out to work. Happy Winter to All!

End of 2009

It's hard to believe 2009 has come and gone. I wonder where it went, if I did all I should have or could I have done more to be a better person? I guess we can only move forward! Here are a few pics of how my December went - geocaching in Banner Elk, knitting some fingerless mittens, Christmas flood and with the family.

Now it's on to a new year, a new me, a new you and ongoing life, love, fun, work, hardships and what ever life brings us! Happy new year every one!

Delectable December

Gus and I took a day from work and went to Banner Elk this weekend. We stayed 3 nights at Blue Ridge Village, our favorite time share condo. On Friday we found our first geocache - Gus found most of them but I did find one all by myself. It was a bit dirtier than we first realized but sure did get us out and walking! The temperature kept dropping and sure enough we woke up to snow Saturday! We picked out our Christmas tree and it has been blessed with snow! This is a family tradition we have honored for 32 years - since our first Christmas together when we cut a tree in the dark cause we had no money to buy one! We love going to the mountains in hope of getting one that has been snowed on. We did a wine tasting at Banner Elk Wine - a beautiful place to go to if you ever get the chance. We watched Appalachian beat Richmond with our feet up by the fireside - go Apps! So it has been a great weekend and I hate it has to end (along with the snow). Now to get ready for Christmas. Hope you will be enjoying your Christmas season too.

Delectable Family Ties!

I am now a great aunt X 2. My niece Betsy Mauney had a little girl this morning. All are doing well, and she is so cute already. Her name is Elise Jeanette. Her big brother Issac is so excited! It's nice having family close by and I must make more time to visit these little ones.

Delectably Delinquent

Delinquent in writing anything, that is. Just a busy time in the summer! I have been to New Orleans working with the national youth Gathering - 36,000 high schoolers in one city! It was hot and humid and lots of fun. I found the music of Amanda Shaw - 19 year old violinist/fiddler with her own band and has a wonderful voice too. She fiddles mostly in the band, when not singing that is. I hope she makes another CD soon. I have been flying various places with my work, seeing the sick and hoping to make them feel a bit better. I have been walking in the mornings when I can, but today had to go in the evening cause it is now dark at 6 am. And dark at 8:30 pm too! I will miss my delectable summer time, I am just not a winter person. The fall is OK as I like walking in the cool air. I have signed up to walk in an 8K event in September - all for Ovarian Cancer research. Come and join me and hear me talk of more delectable moments in my life.

Delectable Gardening

When I can see progress in a garden I feel proud, I feel like the world is spinning around as it should be, with seasons and ups and downs and all is right with the world. My husband made a tiered garden this year using cement blocks. We have tomatoes, squash, peppers, herbs, stevia zinnias and sunflowers. It has done quite well due to the spring rains, but now it is up to us to water. I have cooked a squash casserole using fresh squash and we ate our first tomato last night! Nothing is wrong in the world with a home grown tomato in your mouth! I will have to research how to use my stevia - just put a leaf in my tea? Come on by an pick a few grape tomatoes to pop in your mouth. Sit a spell and watch it grow another inch. Your worries will all melt away ( as you melt in the summer southern sun!)

Sad Times

Kretschmer's King George

July 1998 - June 2009

Some things are just not delectable - they are just sad. Sunday our family dog, George, a bassett hound, got very sick. He actually had not been feeling well for a few weeks and we were hoping the medicine he was taking was helping. He had cancer in his paw and it was just not shrinking. So we had to make a decision to put him to sleep forever, and not let him suffer anymore.

I have worked in hospice for several years and this was just as hard a decision as working with adults, including my mom. We all loved George for his saggy face, long ears, sweet eyes. He had a wonderful personality and loved each of us as well. George slept on his own twin bed and even had free use of any chair (did I mention how stubborn Bassetts are?).

George would have been 11 years old in July. We will miss you, we are saddened by our loss and we know dogs truly are human's best friends.

THANK YOU GEORGE, FOR ALL OUR FUN YEARS AND THE LOVE YOU GAVE US!