Granny Joyce passed away this morning at 4:30 AM. I got the call at 5:00 AM. We spent half the day te Gash Memorial Chapel, here in Lawrenceburg, to finish everything. Granny had everything paid for, and picked out a casket exactly like papaws. I am glad she isn't suffering anymore. I am extremely tired, so going to lay down.

I wanted to update all of my blog buddies about granny. She has slept all day, as she is getting IV Morphine every hour. The doctor said today that he has never seen anyone be so strong like she is, as I found out today, that she started renal failure 13 days ago, due to the tumor on her liver. Her sister hasn't been able to be there, but she is coming tomorrow. The doctor thinks that, when she comes, granny will be able to let go and rest in sleep, until Christ comes again. I have cried all night, on the way home, and I'm clinging to my mom, and I think I am because granny was like a mom to me, as I lived with her while in high school for awhile. I told God I was able to finally let go tonight, but half of my half is gone, and will never return.

I have been at The University of Kentucky Medical Center all day, and will be back there early tomorrow morning. My granny, Joyce, isn't doing well. Her kidneys and liver shut down yesterday, and they are just keeping her comforatble with hourly Morphine via IV pump. The doctor said that she wouldn't make it past tomorrow. I had to come home, to call my side of the family, and send emails to those whom don't have landlines, but have work email. I'm so sad.

I had the opportunity to visit Tandoor, an Indian restaurant in nearby Lexington, Kentucky. The new manager and Executive Chef fixed me my own flatbread right before my eyes. They are cooked in the Tandoor Ovens. They make the dough from scratch, form them into nice-sized balls, then cover them with saran wrap until they are cooked. I love the lightly-sweetened dessert, Savoy, that they serve hot on the lunch buffet.

I went to The Raggedy Ann Festival today. It took my mind off granny's illness, but I later got dizzy- from being outside too long, as the pollen is very high right now. I met Terry, who is related to the inventor of Raggedy Ann.


Pictured above is Terry, who is related to the inventor of Raggedy Ann. He is also an orthodonist in Florence.


There were lots of booths set up with everything, from homemade strawberry lemonade soap to antique Raggedy Ann dolls.


You could even take a camel ride...of course, I wasn't that courageous.

I met a woman, Sharon Fryman, who walked sixty miles in three days for a cure for breast cancer. She herself is a breast cancer survivor.


They had a live band playing, too. They harmonized real well.

I am back from my trip to Vevay and Florence, Indiana. I stayed at Belterra again. This time I remembered to take some photos of some of my plates from the buffet. It was yummy, as usual.

OK, I felt like cooking a treat today, so I pulled out my recipe collection from my 2009 Christmas cookbook, "An Amish Christmas." It is an Amish Strawberry-chocolate Oat Pie with shortbread crust. I also made some shortbread cookies. I am feeling much better. Have only had a little pain today, so I feel very so blessed to not be sitting in the ER, hurting, like last night.

I am writing a newsletter right now, so had lunch at home. We had our Easter dinner last night. I took my stepdad and mom their baskets. I always make them baskets. Mom liked the china doll that I got her more than the candy.
I made my own lunch today and cleaned the refrigerator out. I have been trying to do better about not wasting, but it is so hard when I travel for weeks at a time. I made oversized Tuna Tea Sandwiches and had some tortilla chips and fresh fruit for my lunch. I am drinking a bottled spring water, too, trying to not get sick again, due to excessive soda consumption. I will be staying at Belterra Resort and Spa Monday thru Wednesday, so will eat there. I will also have pictures from my mini-vacation. I will be visiting the Amish Goods Store in Vevay, where they sell my cookbooks. I like Vevay and Madison, for they are such quaint little towns. I'll be dropping a signed cookbook off at the library in Bedford, too.

One of the things I do several times a day is thank God for everything, and I realize how blessed I am. I spent the night and early morning in ER, so I am very thankful to be able to work today. I had promised some of my accounts that I would help them stock for Easter, so I'm headed out. I had a burning sensation in my toes, and, being a former trauma RN, tried to provide my own diagnosis. Well, I was a bit off, and the doctor thinks it was where I drive all the time and spend so much time on the computer. And the shoes I had on had to go,for he thought they were irritating my feet.
I actually cooked oatmeal and had some fruit in it for breakfast. Now I am taking spring water with me to work. I slept a couple of hours, with my feet elevated, and they feel much better. I am off to work. I will be back on when I come back...but probably not for long.

OK, I have to admit that mom cooks better than I, and I can't turn down her homemade cooking. She called me again and said, "I'm cooking!" So what do I do? I say, "I'll be right there!"
She cooked broccoli, peas, homemade biscuits and pork steak. I like veggie steak, but everything else was great. I played with Snowball while I was there. He is my white fluffy cat, and, although he is mine, he stays at moms, as he is quite attached to dad and mom. It is a good thing, as I travel a lot. I am fixing to go to bed, as I don't feel very well. Up the upside, Meijer's had strawberries 3/$4.00 and eggs for .88, so I bought some and will fix me a homemade shortcake for breakfast. Tomorrow I am working in Louisville.

Michelle was at mom's and called to ask me to come see the baby. I told them I would be right there, for I was finishing my taxes. Well... I soon realized that I forgot to add up my gas receipts, so I didn't make it to mom's until about an hour later. Michelle had already left, but mom assured me that they were coming back for dinner. It is now 9:03 PM, and they aren't there yet. I wanted to hold him so badly. He is so cute. I am headed to mom's to eat some mashed potatoes and greens. She also fixed pork chops, but I don't eat pork chops.