By Sheri Hopkins
Lifestyle Contributor
Hello everyone! It’s a rainy day here in Arkansas. I will gladly take rain over ice any day. You know you’re getting old when you talk about the weather and your joints hurt.
Most of ya’ll know I’m raising my three grandchildren, Ethan, Evan, and Ella. I call them the three E’s. Ethan is in his second year of college and he is very, very smart. But…sometimes not a lick of common sense. Bless his heart, he is so sweet. He worries about his Nana. He checks on me and works part-time at the college. Every Sunday morning at church he leans over and says “what’s for lunch, Nana?” Every evening when we get to church, he leans over and asks “what’s for dinner, Nana?” Never misses a time. The kid has a hollow leg.
Evan, the middle E has had a bad cough for two weeks and I have given him over-the-counter meds and they haven’t helped at all. Friday I called Megan, the school nurse, and she took him to the clinic. They couldn’t find anything wrong, so they ordered a chest x-ray. Ethan comes to me and asks, as seriously as can be, “Nana does Evan have tuberculosis?” How does Ethan even know what that is, was my first thought. No, Ethan, your brother does not have tuberculosis. Crazy kid.
One time when Ethan first started driving and hadn’t driven anywhere but Mansfield. They were all getting haircuts at Symber’s in Greenwood. I had him and the other two followed me over there. I had to be back in Mansfield at a certain time for a city council meeting. I told Ethan how to get back to Mansfield and told him “ya’ll will have to drive back on your own because I have to leave.” He assured me he could do it with no problem. I have my phone on silent during the meeting. It vibrates, so I look to see and it’s a message from Ethan “we are home now and everything is fine, I will tell you when you get home.” My mind is racing wondering what in the world could have happened between Greenwood and Mansfield. When I got home, the stories began. I got lost in the City of Greenwood. I mean completely lost. I have no clue where they were but Ella said they ran over a trash bag and they went to Springdale. I know they couldn’t have gone to Springdale, there was not enough time for all that. I will never know where all they went and how they got home. I’m not sure if they will keep me young or make me crazy.
This week’s recipe is from a sweet lady named Matilda Oxford. I got acquainted with her at the diet club that we attended in Hartford. The Hartford think thin, AKA, the fat farm. As you all can tell it works. We have had lots of laughs and good times over there. Matilda was an excellent cook.
QUICK JELLO SALAD
1 regular can of fruit cocktail
1 small box of Jello (any flavor you like)
1 cup of coconut
1 cup sour cream
1 cup miniature marshmallows
1 regular tub of Cool Whip
Chopped nuts (optional)
Add dry Jello to the fruit cocktail, mix well and let it set for 15 minutes. Add coconut, sour cream, and marshmallows. Fold in Cool Whip gently. Keep refrigerated. This is great for something quick, to take to a church dinner, or if company shows up unexpectedly! Enjoy and have a great week!
