Where Did I Go? No posts for three years! Time Does Indeed Fly!

My life must have been much busier than I thought. My last post was in 2011! 

Quick update list.

Years 2009 to January of 2013 we spent time in Arizona. We were snowbirds. My husband worked at an RV park in the town we used to call home, Yuma. Two of those years we spent eight months in Arizona and 4 here. (I, however, only spend a month and a half here one year and two months one year-another story). We lived there nearly 30 years before buying this place in 2004.

Just traveling back and forth made life hectic but then family tragedy came our way.

my sister at 3 years

One tragedy began in the spring of 2011 my sister, who never married, had one baby who was still born, and lived in Phoenix by herself found out she had colon and pancreatic cancer - she passed away November 11, 2012. She went into the hospital the 22nd of June, transferred to a rehab hospital in July and never came home. It was, as you can imagine, or as you may know from your own experiences, a bitter sweet time with her. 

I thank God every day I was able to be with her and I ask him everyday why don't I feel as if I did enough. I won't tell anymore here. While going thru all the above I did tell my family and friends on Facebook. They helped carry the burden and did more for me than they know. But it's enough talk about it now.

my sister and Hairy, her dog

That brings us to January, 2013 when we sold out in Arizona and left maybe to never return. We'll see.

Since then we have been home in Tennessee working on our house. There were several things that happened to the place while it sat empty and those things needed to be fixed.

For some reason I got the idea I could make a Bed and Breakfast in this house. My husband was helpful in that he did many remodel jobs but the entire time we worked on this project it seemed it was going to be MY job. Since he was here and working on the rooms I thought it could work out. 

the Old Apple Tree B & B

We picked a name, got a business license, got a tax ID number, and checked the zoning. I made an email account for the B&B, opened a bank account. I continued: painted a sign for the corner, and one for the outside of the house, created a Twitter account, bought sheets and blankets and mattress and pillow covers, painted used furniture purchased at thrift stores, we put in direct TV, added flat screen TVs, added electric fireplaces, decorated, made sure each room had a desk and chair, and an extra seat besides the bed, made separate entrances to each bedroom from the outside, added patio furniture so guests could eat their breakfast outside on the front or back decks, made business cards, brochures, rearranged lots of stuff in the guest bathrooms and placed personal items in our master bedroom and away from guest spaces. I made a blog for the B&B. I made a page for an online rental agency and had it up and running. We had three inquiries.

I researched recipes and practiced recipes. Hubby loved that part. Blew my Weight Watcher's weigh ins more than once.

About two months ago now my husband got up one day and he could barely lift his arms, and he could barely walk because his muscles in his legs were all cramping and locking up. Hum. We headed to the doctor. Tests, and tests were done. He doesn't have cancer. We didn't know they were checking for cancer! 

He has a pinched nerve, carpel-tunnel in both hands, a torn rotatory cuff (?) and not sure what's going on with his legs, maybe a bulgng disk against a nerve.

My right knee has begun to hurt worse than it ever has.

We gave up the Bed and Breakfast idea!!

I removed the online ad, deleted the Twitter account, re-routed the email, tore down the signs, turned the business cards over for notes, pitched the other things I'd made on the computer, and deleted that blog!

So here we are. Our family who stay now will want for nothing in their rooms! I can cook even more rich foods than before, and the Mr and I are free to have surgeries or whatever. I guess so long as one of us can still drive the other one to the doctor we are good!

How have your last three years gone?

I will edit some of the posts from the B&B blog for posting on this one now. I hope to find some followers again. I have recipes to share!

Lesson learned: I haven't a clue and I need a nap.

Janet Toney