I get so blown away by the folks who read my column — people I would have never imagined. I had two girls I graduated with from high school who were at the same wedding I was months ago. Both of them, separately, said to me how proud of me they were and have followed Andrea’s Country Home Cookin on social media while also reading my Webb column. Having two girls you went to high school with, that you haven’t seen in years, tell you that means so much. Thank you Sara and Jocelyn!
A few weeks ago, I noticed a new follower on my Andrea’s Country Home Cookin Instagram account. It keeps growing. Every day I notice new followers with the posts and reels I try to keep caught up on. But this name was a name I hadn’t thought about in such a long time. Do you do that? Hear a name you haven’t heard of in over a decade or more and think to yourself, ‘I haven’t thought about that person in so long!’ This kid I knew through, I believe, middle school and then into high school. I messaged him, saying, “How are you doing!?”
We just got to talking, and I found out he lives in the same little town of Linden as me, and I have never seen him around. But my main question was, how did he know that Andrea’s Country Home Cookin was me to follow? Well, you know why? Because he told me he reads my stuff in the Webb! I was blown away. Someone who I hadn’t seen or talked two in two decades found me in the Webb. He was a sweet kid in high school, and we were friends with the same crowd. I didn’t realize it until now, but his name must have stuck with me since my son’s name is Tyler. Ha!
Last week I took Tyler in to see his new school. I knew the secretary Pat from her working with my momma at Sheridan Elementary for years. Always such a sweet, sweet lady. She greeted us as we walked in and asked how my mom was. We got to talking for a few moments, and she told me that her husband enjoys reading my columns. That part always makes my day. The HUSBANDS! How cool to have men reading as well as women? There are guys at my husband’s work who also read, and Jim (who retired this year, and I am sure is still an avid reader) loved when I wrote stuff about my husband so he could tease him at work about whatever I wrote. Probably about his big muscles or something, knowing me! Jim’s daughter is Jocelyn, who I spoke about above and who I graduated with. My heart swells to know there are families out there who read.
Another cool thing happened when my stepmom, Chrissie Perry, was at her church for a gathering. She texted me saying, “Hey honey, I gave one of the ladies in my church your address. She wants to write you. She reads your Webb Weeklies all the time. There was one in particular that you wrote about recently about how to get saved, and you just completely blew her mind. She was so overtaken by your article that she wanted to reach out to you. She didn’t realize you were my daughter until I was teasing her about if you cut a piece of cake, the calories don’t count as much. I said it’s like when my daughter wrote her Webb Weekly about cookies, and she said oh my goodness! Is that Andrea!? Then after that, it was all about you!”
Ellen, thank you for reading!
Just last week, I had over a handful of people tell me they read my column or tell me that their best friend, cousins, or neighbors read. I have so many more stories like this I wish I could share. Why am I telling you this? Because I find out that so many of you read and look forward to it. That it’s part of your weekly routine and puts a smile on your face or makes you feel good.
As I have started to develop more of a relationship with my readers (I’m lookin’ at you, xo), I’ve shared way more beyond-the-food stories. Like little stories about my kids, husband, and family. Or funny stories about how I talk about my husband’s big muscles or something silly that happens during my day. Or serious columns about everyday challenges, the good Lord above, and even things that lay on my heart that I feel I need to write about. Sometimes I’m like, “Did I really just put that in the Webb?” What in the world?
But that’s the thing. I’m real. What you read isn’t a fake me. I am the same person you are reading now as if you met me in person. I’m a fun, loving, crazy woman! I say what’s on my mind and don’t filter. I love it when people I know say, “I can literally hear you saying what you wrote!” I write as I talk. I am sure many of you get a sense of my personality just from reading.
I am grateful. I am thankful. I am blessed. I have the most incredible readers and followers. I am personally thanking each one of you for taking the time out of your busy lives to read not only my column but this incredible paper we have locally. I have to take the time every now and then to thank you for your love and support. I hear the stories of how you read it with your morning coffee. I hear how your husband waits for the mailman to come so he can see what Andrea is up to this week. I hear how you never miss a week. I hear that I can make you smile on a bad day. I am humbled. Thank you. xoxo
Cheesy Broccoli Casserole
Ingredients:
• 1 (10 oz) package of frozen chopped broccoli
• 1 cup of onion, chopped
• 6 Tbsp. butter or margarine
• 1 cup rice (uncooked)
• 1 (10 oz) can cream of celery soup
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup cheez whiz
Directions:
Sauté onions in butter. Mix all ingredients together and place in 2-quart baking dish. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.
