My name is Nancy, and I started Cheddar Bay in December of 1999.
I'm married to a wonderful guy named Steve, who is a minister with his own on-line ministry.
We share our lives with our "babies" ... our Australian Shepherd (Shiloh), our Greyhound/Pointer (Tara-Anne), our German Shepherd (Graysie), our Min Pin/Chihuahua (Cocoa), our Miniature Poodle (Vip) and our Boston Terrier (Petunia). We are so proud to be their Forever Family
Getting back to Steve and me ... at our wedding, we shared a special story that we had heard which told how Cortez had insisted on commitment when he landed in Mexico. When he saw his crew's fear about invading this land of the Aztecs, Cortez gathered them all on shore and then set fire to the ships on which they'd come. Now there could be no turning back; they were committed. And so, we had our wedding rings inscribed ... "The Ships are Burning -- July 14, 1990". I also wear my Grandmother's gold wedding band as part of my ring set. After Mamaw Noe passed away, Papaw gave it to me and said that nothing in the world would have made her as happy as to know that one day I would wear her ring. So when Steve & I were married, the ceremony included both my Grandmother's original ring, and Steve's ring to me.
Steve & I are retired now and live in a beautiful section of Ocala, Florida called Silver Springs Shores. I love showing off "kitchen treasures" that I have ... my Grandmother's cookware, and so many priceless family heirlooms that have been given to me by my Grandmother, my Mom and my Aunts. I even have a very old (around 1910) platter that was a wedding gift to my grandparents from my great-grandparents! And a soup tureen that was a gift to my Aunt Frances & Uncle Everett when they got married in 1929. These, and many more family objects, are the dearest things I own.
I enjoy reading mystery novels. And I collect DVDs, mostly of older 1930s and 1940s films (ny favorites being both the Charlie Chan and Mr. Wong series) and Steve collects lighthouses. Together, our hobby is designing webpages and cheering on our Florida Gators in the football and basketball seasons (GO GATORS!). And we both enjoy watching FOX News together.
Cooking is really a "together" hobby for us. Steve & I love cooking together, although I prefer preparing main dishes, while Steve enjoys baking more. I'm proud to say that we were both 1st Place winners in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Hamilton County Fair ... mine for my "Secret Recipe Deviled Eggs", "Strawberry Cinnamon Bread", "Coconut Creams" (cookies) and "Almond Butter Crunch" (candy). And Steve's "Triple Chip Cheesecake" and "Key Lime Cheesecake" (which, by the way, not only won the 1st Place Blue Ribbon, but also the Best in Show rosette! I'm SO proud of him!).
I have been a Diabetic since 1994 and have now been diagnosed in end-stage kidney failure. I to dialysis for around 11 hours every night. And I have neuropathy nerve damage in my legs from the diabetes and now am confined to a wheelchair.
I love animals of all kinds, and have a special place in my heart for alligators (which are our neighbors here in Florida!), river otters, pelicans and all dogs. I couldn't be more involved than I am in the plight of circus elephants. I support the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee. It's really become a main focus for me.
As good as my life is, it is not without some difficulties along the way. In 2011, after years of being a diabetic (since 1994), I was diagnosed as being in end-stage kidney failure. I was immediately put on Dialysis (I do at home PD Dialysis for eleven hours each night). The Diabetis left me with sever nerve damage (neuropathy) in my legs and I am now in a wheelchair. But I'm alive, I'm happy and life goes on!
If you have any compliments, complaints or comments, please e-mail me at ShanghaiBreezes@cheddarbay.com. I'd love to hear from you! And if you're ever looking for a certain recipe, let me know because I have THOUSANDS of recipes and just might have what you're looking for.
And be sure to click on the graphic below to visit my husband's New Jerusalem Ministries ...
