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!

Don't you just love weddings? I attended my niece's wedding today and it was very lovely. Kati and Ray have just graduated from college and off to a wonderful start. Don't you remember those days? I have never forgotten what it was like to be in "first love" and my hubby way back in high school, our wedding, those first years as he finished college and we started our "real life" as man and wife.

Now, the next best thing to being married and finally free of Mom and Dad - is the wedding cake! I absolutely love the original sweet icing on birthday and wedding cakes. Look at this lovely cake that was half almond and half

chocolate with the perfect icing!

I hope my sis brings home lots of leftovers for me! I often dream of this stuff! Yummmmm! So that is my Saturday on a hot summer day. It was worth the getting dressed up in 90+ degree heat and I wish Kati and Ray many happy years!

Delectable Maniacs

As some of you know, I like to knit. I have been looking for a group to knit with. a lovely little yarn shop opened close to my house and I met the manager at my local coffee shop - what could be sweeter than my 2 favorite things so close to me?! I began going to the knit night on Mondays and bonded with about 4 other women. We decided to knit the Great American Afghan. We each bought the yarn and off we started. I was proud to finish my first square by the next class. But alas I started falling further and further behind. I needed more and more needles so I could at least start each square with the class. In the mean time the shop closed (economic times you know). What were we to do? We banded together and decided to meet at our homes. So each Monday 4-5 of us get together. We have fallen into a light meal (after all, we come straight from work and need nourishment to knit). Then we have show N tell or just talk about life, and then we do actually knit! (Usually). I am 53 years old and have never felt as comfortable in a group as I do this one. I have always said I don't really need people and could live alone on an island - but these are my friends, have a common link and then find we have other interests is great. There is even another nurse! So never say never, don't be timid and do reach out to others - you'll be surprised what you will find! For me it is the nicest group of women and some new best friends to add to my other best friends.

Delectable Nature

I think I found out what heaven must be like! Today I had the most delectable sight out my kitchen window. I saw emerald green grass all around as there are large lots around me. I have 2 bird feeders and there were 15 (I counted) gold finches flying in and out, eating on both feeders. Then in came a bright red cardinal to join them. I saw 2 blue birds as bright a Carolina Blue as there is. they are making a nest in my Blue bird house! And on the ground was my Blondie tail squirrel who loves the dropped sun flower seeds, and with him 3 chipmunks! Yes, 3 chipmunks just hanging out eating the seeds. They do know to stay away from Blondie (the squirrel) as he feels this is his territory and will pounce on them. Watching all the colors and activity was simply amazing and it lasted all day. Those finches must have been really hungry. So I decided this is like heaven, brilliant technicolor and lots of friendly animals - sorta like a Disney film. Hope you too can enjoy some nature at your home.

Another Start

This time last year I went back to Weight Watchers. It was successful as long as I was attending the meetings. But life just got too busy and i stopped. I gained some of the weight back over the winter but not all (thank goodness!) So once again I have begun attending meetings - lost 1.4 pounds last week! (yes the .4 counts). So here I go again and hope to lose 10 pounds by my trip to New Orleans - considering that isn't until mid July I should be able to do that!. I am being much more consistent with my walking/strength training so that is a good thing. Wish me luck (again!)!

Another Try

OK - last spring I did pretty well at WW. Held the weight off pretty good through the winter but need to keep pressing forward. My daughter and sister have rejoined WW so I will give it another good try. I bought my pass today and plan to go on Friday. Its a bit hard working it into my schedule at times but will do my best. Perhaps my brand NEW BRIGHT RED VOLVO will keep me motivated - want to look like a star in that car! So here's to all the rest of you with the daily weight struggle - tomorrow is a brand new day!

Delectable Times

Well, lets see. . . Obama is president which I hope is going to make for delectable changes. My daughter and son in law have moved nearby. I have had a few delectable outings with my daughter, or have had her stop by when in town and that is the most delectable time a mother can have. My sister and I walk together each morning which has brought us celectable closer together. I have a job - delectable pay checks! My husband is a wonderful support (has a job too!) and so sweet at times, yet a true "gonna kill that man" at time - delectable love! I could go on and on but just know that I feel blessed. I hope you feel the same. As we say at my church: God is good - all the time. All the time - God is good.

Mid Winter Delectables

It isn't always easy to find something delectable in the mid of winter. The most delectable thing I know right now is that today is my husband's birthday! He is a great man who I love dearly. He is so supportive in all I or the kids do. He is a very strong christian who always finds the fairness in situations, wonderful with children (because he is a true Peter Pan himself) and never ever mentions money to me! So here is to a wonderful 53 years (32 married to me!) and may he have many, many more!

They're Here!

It is so grand to have my daughter and son in law living near by now. They moved back to the south from Philadelphia in Nov. Tonight they stopped by on there way home from errands and it was so nice just to have them pop in and out like that. Lee got a book, Michael and Gus chatted football and they said hi to brother Frank. Left some recycling stuff and off they went. Life is grand and delectably sweet when family is together!