- Good food, good company, good advice from Grandma

Community Coffee Is Sporting A New Package

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This post is brought to you by Community Coffee.

Community Coffee is big on taste. They sent me a few packages to try out, and I have to tell you it is good coffee. The fact that they match your order and send coffee to US Troops overseas makes it even better. Here is how their Military Match works:

Get your Community Coffee in single serve cups or bagged coffee.

Buy your favorite Military Match set of four 12 oz or 16 oz bagged coffee, or 18 ct single serve cups. Community Coffee will match that order, and will then send all eight packages to the APO/FPO address you provide. They’ll even throw in one of their signature Military Mugs. Send coffee to your family or friend, or even a stranger in the military, is a good way to thank those serving our country for their service.

One of my readers will win a package of Community Coffee to taste it for themselves. The prize pack includes one 12 pack single serve package and two 12 oz. bags of coffee. Use the Giveaway Tools entry form to enter. Good Luck!

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Making Plans For The Garden For Next Spring

Karen · 4 Comments

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Even though we are still in the midst of the fall garden season, I have been thinking ahead to next spring already. This year, I had a small garden in pots that were set upon a makeshift raised bed. While it wasn’t the prettiest garden out there, it fulfilled my needs for working with plants, growing some herbs and tomatoes, and getting my hands dirty. All of that helped to lift my spirits, and those of Fabgrandpa as well. He told me he had not realized how much he missed having green plants around, and working with them. The little garden was a win win for us both.

Next spring, I am hoping to have a real raised bed garden, that will be bigger, and have more space to plant things. I want to have more than two tomato plants, so that I can have fresh vine ripe tomatoes every day. I also want to plant some zucchini, and make a little bit of okra. I love fresh okra stewed with some garlic, tomatoes, and onion. My daughter, Becca, and her husband Ken have tentatively planned to come down to visit from Virginia to build this raised bed for me. I can hardly wait! Getting through winter is going to be hard. I know I am going to be spending some time looking at gardening websites.

I am also thinking I would like to have a little paved patio, maybe beside the porch, or behind the shed. It would be great to have an area where family and friends could sit in the evening, cook out on the grill, have a fire in a patio firepit, and roast marshmallows. Of course, that would mean I would have to get some outdoor furniture. I will be perusing the internet all winter, looking at different online stores, trying to decide which place would be the best to order a patio table and chairs, an outdoor table, a grill, and a firepit.

While all of this is just a dream right now, and it may never happen, I can still get enjoyment out of the planning and window(s) shopping. Whether I get something that is modern and functional, or something that is beautiful and more ornamental, I can take my time and arrange the outdoor space in my head, and dream about it all winter, while I am snug in my bed under mounds of covers. And who knows, it may become a reality in the end.

Rhapsody Kids: The First Music Subscription Service For Kids

Karen · 1 Comment

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This post is brought to you by Rhapsody Kids.
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If you are a parent whose children love to download and listen to music, there is finally a subscription service you can both be happy with. Rhapsody Kids lets your kids play the newest and most popular kids music available including hand-picked playlists. You can feel safe knowing what your kids are listening to with parent-approved playlists and add your own music whenever you want. Each kid’s favorite tunes are automatically downloaded for easy listening wherever you go, even offline. Kids can play their favorite music in an easy, and colorful interface designed specifically for young children.

Right now, you can get 3 months of Rhapsody KIDS for just $1! After 3 months of Rhapsody KIDS for $1, the price is $9.99 per month. Where else can you get a month’s worth of entertainment for your kid for less than $10??

Let your kids be the DJ with Rhapsody Kids!

To introduce their new kids music subscription service, Rhapsody Kids is giving away a $300 Target Gift Card! U.S. residents who are 18 and over are eligible to win. The giveaway runs through October 30. Use the Rafflecopter Entry form to enter. Good Luck!

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Lulu’s Destin: Brandcation #FinalDESTINation15

Karen · 1 Comment

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lulus front — photo courtesy of Lulu’s Destin Website

Lulu’s, in Destin, is owned and operated by Lulu Buffet, sister of the famous Jimmy Buffet. The original Lulu’s Sunset Grill was located at Weeks Bay, Alabama for five years from 1998 until 2003, when the state of Alabama decided not to renew her lease there. Lulu decided to move the entire operation to Gulf Shores on a barge! She opened the doors to the new place there at Homeport Marina on Fat Tuesday in 2004.

Our group of almost 30 bloggers visited Lulu’s Destin for lunch on Saturday, September 12. The menu at Lulu’s Destin is wonderful, filled with delicious appetizers, salads, sandwiches, seafood, and the famous Cheeseburgers In Paradise. There truly is something for everyone, even if you are gluten free, have allergies to shellfish, seafood, soy, dairy or eggs.

Fried Crab Claw appetizers. There was plenty for 4 people to share.

The girls at our table decided to order some Fried Crab Claws and some Fried Green Tomatoes for starters. Both of these, while not gluten free, tasted soooo good! Yes, I did. My entree was a Half and Half platter of Fried Shrimp and Fried Oysters. The seafood was cooked to perfection! The breading was light and fluffy, and it did not overwhelm the shrimp. And oh! my goodness, it tasted like heaven! There were hushpuppies, fries, and slaw to round out the meal.

Fried Shrimp and Fried Oysters at Lulu's Destin — Fried Shrimp and Fried Oysters at Lulu’s Destin

I was a really good girl, and had half sweet iced tea for my drink, but if I had chosen to go for an adult beverage, the Cruzan Infusion Bucket, which is a 32 oz rum drink, would have quenched my thirst all day!

Cruzan Infusion Bucket. photo courtest of Denise Hoyle — Cruzan Infusion Bucket. photo courtesy of Denise Hoyle

Lulu’s Destin is a family restaurant. There is live music every night, and a playground with sand and picnic tables out back. Next time you’re in Destin, make it a point to go there. You will not be disappointed.

Located at 4607 Legendary Marina Drive, Destin, Florida, US. (850) 710-LULU (5858)

Find them online at Facebook Twitter Instagram

#Brandcation #FinalDESTINation15 #Emeraldcoasting

Three Bakers Gluten Free Bread Review

Karen · 1 Comment

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The people over at Three Bakers Gluten Free Bakery asked me if I would like to try some of their bread. Of course, I said yes. I am always ready to try out a new brand of bread. They sent me three loaves of their great bread. Three Bakers was founded in 2008, and exclusively bakes gluten free bread products.

Great Seed Whole Grain and 7 Seed Bread (photo from Three Baker’s Bakery website)

The first one I tried was their Great Seed Whole Grain and & Seed Bread. This bread was sooo good! It has Sunflower Seeds, Sesame Seeds, Chia Seeds, Millet Seeds, Hulled Hemp Seeds, Flax Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds. It was very flavorful and nutty tasting. Toasting it enhanced the nutty flavor. I enjoyed this bread made into sandwiches; toasted with butter; and untoasted with peanut butter. I did take several photos to show how many seeds this bread had in it. However, when my computer crashed a month or so ago, I lost them. I didn’t have any of the bread left to take more pictures, so you’ll just have to trust me when I tell you that it was chock full of seeds and grains.

In addition to several varieties of whole grain gluten free breads, Three Bakers Bakery also produces hamburger and hotdog buns; Hoagie Rolls; three varieties of frozen gluten free pizzas; pizza crusts; and stuffing mix. To find a retailer near you that carries Three Bakers products, go to their Where To Buy page. If you can’t find a retailer near you, print one of their retail request forms and take it to the store manager where you like to shop. Or, you can order online at The Gluten Free Mall. Oh, and right now they have a $2.00 off coupon you can print off of their home page.

Check Out The New LEGO Scooby-Doo Sets and Enter To Win A $200 Gift Card

Karen · 6 Comments

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To introduce the new and amazing Scooby-Doo stop motion videos created using the brand new LEGO Scooby-Doo sets, WB Kids is giving away four (4) $200 Gift Cards, one each from Target, Wal-Mart, Toys R Us & Amazon!! New videos will be uploaded weekly – so be sure to visit ScoobyDoo.com and subscribe to the WB Kids YouTube channel.

Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter the giveaway. Good luck!

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Unicoi Lodge, Helen, Georgia

Karen · 1 Comment

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Fabgrandpa and I recently spent the night at Unicoi Lodge, at Unicoi State Park in Helen, Georgia. In the past, we have camped at Unicoi State Park many times, and spent four winters during our workcamping “career” as volunteer campground hosts. We had never stayed at the lodge before, though.

The lodge has 100 guest rooms, a dining room, and several meeting rooms that you can reserve for your functions like corporate retreats, weddings, or reunions. I once attended a quilting retreat there. I reserved our room online and received a lower rate than I would have if I had called the reservation desk. We went during Oktoberfest, which I had forgot about, so it was a peak demand weekend in the area, but we only paid $176 for a Saturday night in a tourist area.

We were lucky in that we got the last available room. It had two double beds, and was handicap accessible.

There was a desk, a large dresser, a flat screen TV, a chair and a side table. This room was comfortable, as were the beds. There was plenty of room to move around in, and I imagine someone in a wheelchair would have enough room. Wifi and cable TV were both available in the room.

The bathroom is where I really need for a hotel room to be handicap accessible. This one was really great, with a shower that had no barrier: you just walk in. There was a shower seat and grab bars, and a hand held shower head.

The lodge provided plenty of towels and washcloths. The sink area was a bit cramped but functional. Our room was clean, and did not have a smell like some older hotel rooms can have.

Unicoi State Park and Lodge is located at 1788 Highway 356, in Helen, Georgia. There is a buffet restaurant on the premises, and many restaurants nearby in Helen. Visitors to the state park can hike, bird watch, ride bikes, fish for trout, and take part in ranger programs provided by the staff. There are many other attractions located in surrounding areas, including the Appalachian Trail, Brasstown Bald, Babyland General Hospital (the home of the original Cabbage Patch Kids), the Dahlonega Gold Museum, and a Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia in Sautee Nacoochee.

My Mother-In-Law Passed Away

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Nana with my father-in-law and Fabgrandpa in July of 1949

The week before I went to Destin, we got a call from Fabgrandpa’s younger brother telling us that Nana was in the hospital again. He said her kidneys were shutting down, and that it didn’t look good for her. We drove up to Gainesville, Georgia to the hospital, to visit her.

She told me she was ready to go. She did not want any more blood drawn, no more medications given, no more IV’s. She just wanted to go. We talked about how she didn’t think it would be so hard to die. She said she had always thought that when the time came, all she would have to do would be to just tell her body she was ready to go, but it didn’t work like that. Then she laughed a bit, and said she knew it really wasn’t like that but that she was ready.

I told her that she had lived a long, productive, meaningful life. She had raised four sons who were kind, loving, helpful, and respectful to their wives, and who loved her very much. That she had nothing at all to regret, and that while I would miss her and grieve for her, that she had been in pain and had suffered enough. That it was ok to go.

Fabgrandpa and I told Nana we were going to the cafeteria to get some lunch. She said “I won’t be here when you get back.” But she was. We talked a little more, then the doctor came in and gave her a powerful pain med, and she drifted off to sleep. Arrangements were made to move her back home and into hospice care.

I got the call on Saturday morning from Fabgrandpa while I was in Destin. Nana passed away in her sleep at home Cleveland, Georgia. She was ready.

Nana with three of her sons last year at Poppa's Celebration of Life. — Nana with three of her sons last year at Poppa’s Celebration of Life.

It was her wish, the same as Poppa, to not have a funeral. She did want to have a viewing at the funeral home, so we went back up to Cleveland on Tuesday. After the viewing, she was cremated per her wishes. Then, on Saturday, September 19, we all gathered at her home in Cleveland for a Celebration of Life. It was the last time that we will make that journey, to their house, to Cleveland, as a family. I am sad that Nana is gone, and sad that that part of us is gone forever.