Joy and I are very excited to share our friend, Cathy Brown Smith with you. She’s also know as BabyGranny is well known in four state area for her desserts, photos, grandchildren, and her blog. We invited her to do a question and answer so you can get to know her better. She’s from our part of the world and we really do love her blog.
RVW: We have so many questions for you because you are so talented! First, let’s talk about your blog, Babygranny.blog.com. Why did you decide to write a blog?
BG: One of my professors at Texas A&M has been bugging me to write SOMETHING…ANYTHING for years…Dr. Charles McDonald.
So, I decided to do the blog. I still wanted to cook…and create…and get feedback But I didn’t want it to come across that I was full of myself…I wanted it light hearted…but I wanted to get across the point that I kinda knew what I was doing…that is why I said my blog and projects/recipes were kinda like Martha Stewart…but with more hijinks and less jail.
A blog is not a book…but it is better than nothing…when he rears his head in an email that says, “YOU PUBLISHED YET?” I can throw the latest blog out there.
RVW: We are super impressed with your photography. You live in Arkansas and have such a beautiful landscape as your back yard. It looks postcard perfect.
BG: I am not a photographer…I am a granny with a camera. Though…cue the theme song from the Jeffersons… ♫ movin’ on up ♫ …. I did graduate from a 64 dollar Olympus that I got at Walgreen’s off a rack and it was in one of those hard plastic packages that it takes a nuclear bomb to open…to a $108 Kodak
RVW: Your famous desserts is really your claim to fame. I know you recently sold out of all of your homemade treats at your booth at the Christmas Parade. What can you tell us about yourself as BabyGranny the chef?
BG: people showed me so much support at the Christmas parade…I was overwhelmed with the…LOVE!!!
OK. The cooking. I have always loved cooking. And have been a perfectionist about it ALWAYS. But I am quick to point out that I am not a chef…my spiel is, “I am not a chef. I have no formal culinary training. I am just a fat girl who can cook”
And I sort of cook backwards. Many times I will get an idea about how something should look…and then tailor the recipe to the look.
RVW: Speaking of looks, you and Joy share the blessing of being a redhead. Words of wisdom on that topic of which I’m excluded?
BG: Red hair…red hair is part of who I am. If I am in a crowded room…and Joy can back this up…and I spot another red head…we make eye contact…and WE KNOW… We know being a red head is like being a member of a secret society…our red hair is our secret handshake.
We know about the little old men who come up to you at the check out stand at Walmart and tell you at length about the little red haired girl in the first grade that he was madly in love with. Let me tell you…you have heard of the Horse Whisperer??? Red heads are the Little Old Man Whisperer….they are bewitched by a woman with red hair.
We know about pale skin that never, ever, ever, ever tans even when the freckles start running together.
We know about the jokes about having a hot temper.
We know about being careful to not wear clothes that clash with our hair.
WE KNOW THE CARPETS MATCH THE DRAPES.
RVW: I feel very left out, but moving on. One of your taglines is about “being made with love”. Your family seems to be your inspiration. How do they feel about the blog?
BG: My grandkids LOVE IT!!! My daughters, Kelly and Wendy, are very proud. My husband mainly wants to know when I am through taking pictures of the food so he can eat it!!!
And that brings me full circle…it is all about the LOVE…and I know that sounds corny…but if you don’t put the LOVE into everything you do…it just doesn’t turn out right.
When I was a lowly secretary at Collom and Carney Clinic…I had this poster…AUTOGRAPH YOUR WORK WITH EXCELLENCE. And I try…if something is not good enough to sign my name to…it’s not good enough.
RVW: We love your dedication to your family and work. We really love your sense of humor about life.
BG: I have learned this…if you can’t laugh at yourself…you’re gonna have a rough row to hoe.
Great words of wisdom. If you want to meet Cathy, she will be at the Mardi Gras this weekend in Texarkana. She’s got a booth and will have delicious treats. Don’t stalk her, just meet and buy food!
Joy and I are very excited to share our friend, Cathy Brown Smith with you. She’s also know as BabyGranny and is well known in the four state area for her desserts, photos, grandchildren, and her blog. We invited her to do a question and answer so you can get to know her better. She’s from our part of the world and we really do love her blog.
Snagged from BabyGranny's FB
RVW: We have so many questions for you because you are so talented! First, let’s talk about your blog. Why did you decide to write a blog?
BG: One of my professors at Texas A&M has been bugging me to write SOMETHING…ANYTHING for years…Dr. Charles McDonald.
So, I decided to do the blog. I still wanted to cook…and create…and get feedback But I didn’t want it to come across that I was full of myself…I wanted it light hearted…but I wanted to get across the point that I kinda knew what I was doing…that is why I said my blog and projects/recipes were kinda like Martha Stewart…but with more hijinks and less jail.
A blog is not a book…but it is better than nothing…when he rears his head in an email that says, “YOU PUBLISHED YET?” I can throw the latest blog out there.
RVW: We are super impressed with your photography. You live in Arkansas and have such a beautiful landscape as your back yard. It looks postcard perfect.
Credit: BabyGranny
BG: I am not a photographer…I am a granny with a camera. Though…cue the theme song from the Jeffersons… ♫ movin’ on up ♫ …. I did graduate from a 64 dollar Olympus that I got at Walgreen’s off a rack and it was in one of those hard plastic packages that it takes a nuclear bomb to open…to a $108 Kodak
Credit: BabyGranny
RVW: Your famous desserts is really your claim to fame. I know you recently sold out of all of your homemade treats at your booth at the Christmas Parade. What can you tell us about yourself as BabyGranny the chef?
BG: people showed me so much support at the Christmas parade…I was overwhelmed with the…LOVE!!!
OK. The cooking. I have always loved cooking. And have been a perfectionist about it ALWAYS. But I am quick to point out that I am not a chef…my spiel is, “I am not a chef. I have no formal culinary training. I am just a fat girl who can cook”
And I sort of cook backwards. Many times I will get an idea about how something should look…and then tailor the recipe to the look.
RVW: Speaking of looks, you and Joy share the blessing of being a redhead. Words of wisdom on that topic of which I’m excluded?
BG: Red hair…red hair is part of who I am. If I am in a crowded room…and Joy can back this up…and I spot another red head…we make eye contact…and WE KNOW… We know being a red head is like being a member of a secret society…our red hair is our secret handshake.
We know about the little old men who come up to you at the check out stand at Walmart and tell you at length about the little red haired girl in the first grade that he was madly in love with. Let me tell you…you have heard of the Horse Whisperer??? Red heads are the Little Old Man Whisperer….they are bewitched by a woman with red hair.
We know about pale skin that never, ever, ever, ever tans even when the freckles start running together.
We know about the jokes about having a hot temper.
We know about being careful to not wear clothes that clash with our hair.
RVW: I feel very left out, but moving on. One of your taglines is about “being made with love”. Your family seems to be your inspiration. How do they feel about the blog?
BG: My grandkids LOVE IT!!! My daughters, Kelly and Wendy, are very proud. My husband mainly wants to know when I am through taking pictures of the food so he can eat it!!!
And that brings me full circle…it is all about the LOVE…and I know that sounds corny…but if you don’t put the LOVE into everything you do…it just doesn’t turn out right.
When I was a lowly secretary at Collom and Carney Clinic…I had this poster…AUTOGRAPH YOUR WORK WITH EXCELLENCE. And I try…if something is not good enough to sign my name to…it’s not good enough.
RVW: We love your dedication to your family and work. We really love your sense of humor about life.
BG: I have learned this…if you can’t laugh at yourself…you’re gonna have a rough row to hoe.
Great words of wisdom. If you want to meet Cathy, she will be at the Mardi Gras this weekend in Texarkana. She’s got a booth and will have delicious treats. Don’t stalk her, just meet and buy food!
Wednesday, January 30th, 2013, 8:43 pm | 
Well Seasoned | 
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January 30, 2013 at 9:00 pm
I’ve know CBS, Baby Granny, since first grade. We go way back. She’s the real deal. Thanks for spreading the love.
January 30, 2013 at 9:19 pm
I adore this!!! Thank you!!
January 30, 2013 at 9:27 pm
Such a treasure. Wish I could share her with everyone!
January 30, 2013 at 9:36 pm
Lol cool my grandma is famous. Way to go Mawma.. Er I mean baby granny!
January 31, 2013 at 4:40 pm
So very proud of Cathy. She makes our hometown proud!!