@NurseJaney
This photo of DH and me was taken on our 50th anniversary, 12/27/08. Both DDs and 2 DGC celebrated with us. DH and I live about 40 miles north of Baltimore, in what WAS rural 40 years ago. We are empty-nesters. Have 2 adult daughters, 2 great SIL, and 3 grandchildren --1 is 22, and 16 year old twins. In September of 2011, we were presented with our first GREAT-grandson ! They all live in PA. and are VERY busy people ! I retired from MANY facets of nursing 12 years ago, and LOVE being in charge of myself ! We had a 4-couple Gourmet Group for so many years, that we ran out of new things and themes. Now we meet at restaurants, to avoid trashing the kitchen as well as the budget. We started with 7 course meals! None of us can DO that anymore !! We have been VERY fortunate to be able to travel more than we ever dreamed !! Have B&B'd in Great Britain many times; visited Italy, Greece, France, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Switzerland, and Iceland (in February !) We would far rather stay in B&B, or self-catering apartment or dwelling, than be on a tour. Our trip in '09, was to 2 small towns in Sicily --Sant'Alfio, on the slope of Mount Etna, in a 15th century, converted winery --and a week on the north coast near Cefalu. Very few spoke English, but everyone was helpful and we managed to communicate, and had a wonderful time ! (Photos in Gallery on website below !) We returned there in Sept. '11, for a 2 week vinyard tour with a small group, led by our local wine store owner - whose family is still in Sicily ! DH is my photographer - (and a website designer) but he insists on set-up time as well as a hot meal ! I should plan ahead for serving appeal, so he can get the best shot. I am now a SIX year survivor of colon cancer, as of 5/11, and four year of thyroid. Angels on my shoulder found both lesions before I even had symptoms ! I strongly encourage screening colonoscopies starting at age 50 -- that is ONE which can be totally avoided ! Was adopted by LMiller,RN Was adopted by RecipeReader Adopted ElaineAnn Was adopted by ANG11002 Adopted *Pixie* Partner - PaulaG l Teamed with PaulaG, CarolAT, and Sonya01 Adopted Kathy!!, DuChick, and Maito Adopted by Shirl(J) Australia/NZ Swap # 16 Partners -Kumquat the Cat's Friend, Red Chef Mama, and Twissis Australia/NZ Swap #17 Teammates - Chickee, Whatcha Cookin' Mom, and MarthaStewartWanabe Australia/NZ Swap #18 Teammates - Jewelies, djmastermum, and mummamills Australia/NZ Swap #19 with joey Teammates- Elmotoo, Heydarl, Baby Kato adopted Joey - Madilayn Australia/NZ Swap #20, Sept/08 Teammates -I'm Pat, Porfavorcorona, pollyw Partner - Connie C. Australia/NZ Swap #21 Teammates - Jewelies, Baby Kato, Lavender Lynn Partner - SrtaMastra Adopted by Slatts Adopted ChamoritaMomma and tonyp063 Australia/NZ Swap #22 Teammates- Sarah_Jayne, busyozmum, mummamills 2 phutukawas and a pukeko in a ponga tree! Teammates - Dotty2 and Sheynath Sent to Sonya01, received from Sarah !. Both in Australia !! #24 Teammates - Chef floWer, Crafty Lady 13 #25 Teammates - The Flying Chef, PaulaG, Heydarl Partner - Chefromheart Partner - Diana #2 Partner - Lynne the Pirate Queen #26 Team =Jewelies, Lauralie41, and LifeIsGood Partner - Becky in Wisconsin img src=http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/MrsTeny/CookbookParticipation.jpg Partner - Chef1MOM img src=http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/jewelies/picwJT0Wr-1.jpg 105/jewelies/picwJT0Wr-1.jpg> Australia/NZ #28 teammates-I'mPat, daisygrl64, and Chef Buggsy Mate Partner - Lauralie41 Partner- Einas Teammates = Chef on the Coast, Chef TraceyMae, and Karen Elizabeth Partner - Chef1Mom #30 Teammates= Lavender Lynn, Lainey6605, and Lauralie41Partner=Jacqueline of KYPartner=Acadia Partner = Shirl (J) Teammates - The Flying Chef, PaulaG, French Tart Partner - Aunt Paula Teammates - ~Leslie~, Wicked cook46, Obag, and Stardustannie Partner - QueenBee49444 -- Partner=Diana #2 #33 Partner=CoffeeLover #34 Teammates - Sharon123, Peter J, and Mom2Rose Partner=Susang Partner - CoffeeLover Partners - Gerry, Sonya01 Received from I'm Pat; sent to katew #36 Teammates=Sharon123, Chickee, and Julie B's Hive partner -- French Tart !!! Partner -BigBadBrenda Partner-Bblondie08 with UT Theta Chef Australia/NZ Swap #37 =Teammates= **Jubes**, and French Bunny Australia/New Zealand Swap #38 Teammates= Seasoned Cook, JanuaryBride, and Chili Spice UVWXYZ Swap - Partner - No Destination Australia/NZ swap #39 --Teammates= Chef floWer, Life is Good, mersaydees Spring Garden swap - Partner= Jociecee Australia/NZ Swap #40--Teammates= JenT, Baby Kato, Kiwi Kathy,and djmastermum Australia/NZ #41 Teammates =PaulaG, Sidney Mike, The Flying Chef Australia/NZ Swap #42 Teammates Noo, French Tart, and Chef TraceyMae My Favorite Things Swap --Partner=CoffeeLover Australia/NA Swap #43 - Teammates - Mom2Rose, Chickee, and Mersaydees