Sunday, December 31, 2017

Leoma, Tennessee a book about growing up, by Martha Rose Woodward



     With the help of my cousin, LaShawn Baxter, editor of the Lawrence County Advocate Newspaper, I have completed a book about my home town of Leoma, Tennessee. It is a humorous look at the culture and people in rural America. Church, family, and school were the focus from 1948 until present.

Friday, October 27, 2017

Egg plate to add to my collection

I have collected egg plates for years, but rarely find a new one I truly want. This was the first one I have seen specifically for Xmas. I didn't pay $3.98, as it was on sale for 50% off. YAY

Friday, October 6, 2017

Why I THRIFT SHOP!!!!!!!!!

    Why do I go to yard sales?  Well, here's why. Today I bought all of these items for $13. After totaling what these items would cost retail (many of them are new), I came up with $165.85.
                    Savings of $132.85...

Monday, September 25, 2017

Chess sets mailed to Fab Sanneh in Gambia, West Africa 9-21-17

   11 boards and enough sets of pieces for 10 games mailed to Fab Sanneh in Gambia, West Africa on 9-21-17. Sets paid for by me, plus $40 shipping and remainder of shipping paid for by Sid Gwyn to the tune of $250. YAY for Republicans who get the job done.

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Gary Taubes The Case Against Sugar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyFs6KSTSPM

PLEASE stop feeding your children sugar.

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Davy Crockett lived in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee

It was not until I moved to Knoxville, TN that I understood that several areas of Tennessee claim Davy Crockett as a hometown hero. This statue stands in the center of Lawrenceburg, TN. My brothers and I used to play around it. There was a courthouse where the gazebo now stands.

Map of Historic Leoma, Tennessee


Wednesday, July 26, 2017

My dad's family: Etha Bell, his mother, Jim/James Woodward, his father, James Roy Slug Woodward (my dad), Elbert Woodward, Allen Woodward, Vernon Woodward, Hilda Jane Woodward, her baby brother David Woodward, and Glen Woodward


Need Help With Book about Leoma, Tennessee



 Although I was the sort of student at Elementary School (1954-1962) who clapped when the teacher gave a written assignment, I did not enter the profession of writing until after I retired as a school teacher in 1999. Before that time my need to create and record information was met daily through my numerous tasks in the classroom. I was also hired on several occasions to write units of study, newsletters, and lesson plans. All this was done along with written preparations and term papers assigned for the three college degrees I completed. This also served to meet my needs while leaving little time for other kinds of writing.
  It was on a fluke that I responded to a small ad for a writer in a local newspaper in 2007. I was hired on the spot after the editor looked at samples of my writing. I went on to work for the Knoxville Journal Newspaper until it closed in 2014.
  Along the way, I also wrote ten books. Most are local history. Two are sizzling novels. After the newspaper closed, area writers began hiring me to help edit their manuscripts—a job I still do on occasions.
  My grandmother used to say, “It is not bragging if you are stating facts.” My books have sold all around the world in many countries and on six continents. One of my books, “Watermelon for Everyone,” was judged as the “Best Cookbook in the World About Watermelon” in 2014 from Gourmand Magazine in Madrid, Spain. According to my blog, most of my fans live in France, England and Spain.
  It was during a visit with my second cousin (by marriage) LaShawn Baxter that the thought popped into my mind that we should record the history of Leoma. She readily agreed and we took off on this journey and have not looked back.
 The writer’s approach to how a book or story is written is known as “The Voice.” For a writer, figuring out which voice to use in order to tell your story is a huge part of the book and can make it or break it.
   The Voice can be third person, meaning an omnipotent, Magic Man or Woman in the Sky, who knows not only all the actions, but also the thoughts and motives of each person in the story. This method is frequently used by those writing mysteries or dramas and also by those writing history.

   An autobiographical approach is also used by many writers who set out to tell the events he/she witnessed. In this approach, the history of the place and events surrounding it, is told through the eyes of a person who lived it. Many say this is the best kind of history, but even those of us who attended the same event will come away with a different version of what happened. History can be confusing. This autobiographical approach was the one used by Cenith Freemon, a writer who recorded a history of Leoma, as she saw history through the lives of her relatives. It is a typical and quite useful writing method.
  Simply assembling maps, photos, post cards, letters, newspaper articles, and other historic documents in some kind of chronological order is another way to approach the task of accurately recording history. This method is expected as most folks think. “A picture is worth a thousand words.”
  For our history book about Leoma, we are using both the assembling and the autobiographical methods.  We are telling history through images and the written work of others while including memories of our families.
  As our manuscript grows we have found that we need help with specific data. We are asking for anyone who might have documents or photos for any of the topics on the following list to please contact LaShawn Baxter at the Lawrence County Advocate or stop by the Lawrence County Archives and Kathy Neidergeses will scan your copies and return to you.
   Martha Rose Woodward  e mail Sunspherebook@aol.com
We need:
Family photos; group school photos,  photos of Leoma Elementary School from 1950s to 1970s.
Photos of any and all former buildings located in Leoma and historic homes in Leoma.
Photos of any churches, inside and out, located in Leoma.


Monday, July 24, 2017

Leoma Elementary School class photo 1953-54

39 students in grade 1 (one is shown 2 x)
 Mrs. Bea Marston in left corner

Writing a book about my home town Leoma, Tennessee

   I apologize to my viewers for not posting sooner. I have been completely absorbed in this new project. My second cousin, who is also an editor of my home county newspaper, and I are working on a history book. She is assembling historic documents, finding photos, and doing interviews as she lives in Leoma. I am writing, adding photos that are coming to us online and working hours into the night.

  I'll be posting vintage photos for the next few weeks, as these are just too good to not share.

  So many memories of times gone by...

                                                 Dorene Smith Luna and her parents 1947.

Saturday, June 24, 2017

I have kept the 73 pounds I lost OFF for 10 months. YAY

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Tumbler pattern; each piece is 6 ".

This quilt turned out to have mostly greens and reds; not planned.

Finished 2 quilts I've been working on.

Pattern is Star of Bethlehem variation

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Thursday, May 25, 2017

42 ft. statue of Goddess Athena in the middle of the Parthenon in Nashville, TN


Had a great trip and visit at Leoma Elementary School


         Cousin Lisa Roberts Jagod, my cousin, is a teacher at Leoma Elementary School. I am so very proud of her.

Folks always ask me what I ate in order to lose 73 pounds and keep it off for 8 months (so far).

  I used the No Sugar: No Starch Diet also called Ketogenic Diet.

  It worked for me.

  All diet plans do not work for each person. You have to find out what works for you.

  Please read page 4. It contains what NOT to eat, and rules to follow.

  Good luck.

  Remember, follow as closely as possible. Do not starve and do not quit.

Page 4 of No sugar: No Starch Diet


Visited Nashville's Parthenon Saturday, May 20


Monday, May 1, 2017

Questions from Newbies

People are constantly asking me about the Ketogenic Food Plan.

Please use Youtube and search any video from these folks: Dr. Eric Westman, Dr. Eric Berg, Professor Tim Noakes, Dr. Robert Lustig and Gary Taubes. Spend some time learning what these experts have to say and you will stop believing the old way of dieting. You probably will NOT lose weight if you diet and exercise. You have to fix your allergy to carbohydrates in order to lose weight and keep it off. Exercise only serves to make you more hungry and causes you to retain water in your sore muscles. You'd be better off to take a nap than go to the gym or club. IF diet and exercise worked everyone would be at a perfect weight. Think about it. Also, please stop drinking so much damned water. ONLY drink when you are thirsty. Who wants you to drink more water? The people who sell bottled water, that's who. Stop falling for fake news and fake opinions. Do you think your ancestors drank 100 ounces of water per day? Hell no.....read the new way and stop believing the fake suggestions from people who want to sell you something.

Saturday, March 25, 2017

Many thanks to everyone who views this blog. Between 1,000 to 1,200 are viewing daily.

I hope you will go to Tennessee Thrifter Youtube and SUBSCRIBE to my channel. It is free. Please help.

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Keto Friendly Sugar Free Gelatin Desserts

YUMMY!!!!!!!!!  Keto Friendly Dessert

                                      Pudding or Ice Cream

3/4 cup REAL whipping cream
3/4 cup sour cream
sweetener to your taste  (6 to 8 pkgs.)
1 8 oz. package of softened cream cheese
l/2 cup MELTED coconut oil
l box sugar free gelatin any flavor

You can add l/2 cup unsweetened coconut if you like it

Can also top with pecans, walnuts or almonds after pudding is in the dish

Put ingredients in deep bowl, mix well; add gelatin last

Use any flavor sugar free gelatin. Our favorites are lemon, lime and cherry.

Should make 4 to 5 l/2 cup servings; can place in molds and make into ice cream bars, too.

You can figure your carbs according to the packages you used. To be safe, only eat l/2 cup serving per day, but if you do eat 2 servings, it won't hurt you; mostly fat. LOL



Saturday, March 18, 2017

Six months of success at maintsining 74 pound weight loss. Ketogenic Food Plan Works. Thrift Shopping Rocks.

Photo made March 17, 2017. Six months of successful weight loss. 
My hobby of thrift shopping is still fun, too.
Hat $2  at Goodwill; Boots 90 cents at store that went out of business.
Black hose .99 cents at Goodwill.
Blue scarf .50 cents at yard sale.
Dress and black scarf FREE--given to me by a pal.
Necklace a Xmas gift
Entire outfit: $4.39.

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Crocheted watermelon purse


  Still need to add the seeds (will do today; lost my needle, but found it). I used a pattern for a smaller purse and increased it to this size so I could use it as my regular purse. Lined this purse in white silk. The purse is made from two matching sides. Love it.

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Keto Onion Rings----very tasty

My son found a new way to make onion rings Keto-style. They were yummy.

Use any kind of onion you like (we prefer purple ones). Cut into slices and make into rings.

Use pork rinds that have been ground up in food processor until a fine "flour-like" consistency.

Sprinkle Parmesan cheese in with pork rinds.

Beat one egg and add about l/2 cup mayonnaise to make a dipping mixture.

Dip onions in mixture, place on wax paper and bake from 20 to 30 minutes at 350.

photo from www.ibreatheimhungry.com

We do not have a photo of the ones he made; ate 'um.


papier mache watermelon bowl

I've been working with papier mache this week. Made a bowl to look
like a watermelon. Fun. 

Thursday, February 23, 2017

I'll be making a crocheted skirt this week from a recycled granny square afghan

 Planning to sew skirt and shorts from recycled granny squares. Coming soon.


Monday, February 20, 2017

Weight loss maintained 6 months


They say that maintaining weight loss is harder than losing. I am celebrating 6 months of success this week. I've kept over 70 pounds off for 6 months. The dress and jacket are size 8. I found the boots in a garbage can in the neighborhood (was not looking, just saw them and hauled home). All the boots needed was soap and water and some scrubbing. They are a size too large, but I like it that I can wear socks inside. These boots are real Australian sheep skin and wool. YAYAY  Dress and jacket were also free. Jacket came from Talbot's; cost over $60 new. Life is a bowl of cherries and I am having a blast.

Crocheted and hand quilted items to donate to needy babies this season.




Each year I make or buy between 10 to 12 baby quilts or crocheted baby blankets to donate to a local Catholic Church for their Layette Program. When needy people come to the food bank, if they have a new baby, the church provides clothes, diapers, etc. and they enjoy also giving a quilt or blanket. This year I was able to make/purchase 11 items plus a bag of gently used clothing that should work for anyone. I'll be delivering my donations this week.