Dear readers,
These are the hardest words I will ever have to write. My husband, Tim Ketchum, died suddenly last week of what was first thought to be an abdominal aneurysm. Doctors now think he may have had a genetic connective tissue disorder that weakened the structure of his aorta.
He was my partner in every sense of the word. He was my best friend, my confidante, my safe place. And oh, he was such an amazing father. He shared the burden of raising our three children with gusto, being present in a way that most dads will never be.
Everyone who ever met Tim loved him. Even people who only met him in passing were charmed by him. Warm, compassionate, loving, thoughtful. And funny as hell! I fell in love with him because he made me laugh. And even as life became more complicated and serious, we never lost that connection, that goofiness and silliness that made every situation easier to bear.
I feel compelled to share here because I am not quite sure what the future looks like. Certainly for the near term, I will be scaling back my time on All Day I Dream About Food so I can focus on my family and my grief. You will still see posts and recipes from me, but I don’t quite know with what frequency. I will be taking the easy route, updating older posts and sharing simple recipes. I have a backlog of some already that I can share over the next few weeks. I also have help with my social media and I am every so grateful to Stephanie, who has taken over my Facebook page completely for now.
Then again, I may decide to lose myself in the process of baking and create some amazing keto cakes. I honestly don’t know what I want or what I need right now. But I ask that you give me grace for not answering your questions in a timely fashion.
How you can help
I am so fortunate to have created an amazing community of readers and followers, some of whom have been with me for over a decade. I know many of you will want to help in some way. And I am grateful for your thoughts and your kindness.
The best thing you can do is keep coming to my website, reading my posts (both new and old), and sharing my posts on social media. Share to groups, share with friends, and pin my recipes to your Pinterest boards. This website has been my family’s source of income for many years now and views will generate much needed ad revenue. I know that ads can be cumbersome, but I ask that you take time to scroll through each post a little bit.
Another great way to help me is to purchase my cookbooks. In particular, pre-order my upcoming book, The Protein Advantage. I will not have much time to promote it now, but it’s something I worked so hard on. I would love to see it succeed and pre-orders make a huge difference to the overall sales of the book. It helps retailers decide how many copies they want to keep on their shelves. And I can assure you, it’s a book worthy of your time.
Thank you for reading. If you are a spiritual person, please send up some thoughts for the wonderful Tim Ketchum. He was a light in the world and touched so many people. I can say confidently that if you had met him, you would have loved him.
Nutritional Disclaimer
Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.
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I am so sorry for your loss, I could not imagine a loss like that.
I will continue to pin your recipes and enjoy your emails.
I will pray for you and your family for peace and comfort during this time
of grief.
I am so sorry for your loss. I’m praying God’s peace for you & your entire family.
Thank you for your incredible recipes.
Dear Carolyn, we have never met, but through your posts, recipes, and the few exchanges we’ve shared, I’ve felt a connection—as if we’ve been friends for a long time. Your creativity and cooking have had a deep impact on my life, and for that, I’m incredibly grateful. Hearing about Tim’s untimely passing was deeply shocking. I can only begin to imagine how life-changing this loss is for you, your children, and all who knew and loved him. While I don’t know your exact pain, I am familiar with the grief and the aching void that comes with losing loved ones especially when it’s sudden. Losing not just a husband, but your best friend and life partner, is a heartbreak that words can hardly touch. There is now a *before* and an *after* a new world you didn’t choose but must now walk through. And while you are not alone, it may often feel that way. I pray that the deep love you and Tim shared continues to surround and sustain you and your children in the days ahead. The road will not be easy, and the pain may feel unbearable at times, but please know that you are in my heart. I will be thinking of you often and sending love and strength from afar from one stranger who cares deeply. With heartfelt sympathy, Lisa
So sorry to learn of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I’m sure Tim’s memory and legacy will not be forgotten. Take all the time you need to figure out what comes next. It is different for everyone; and what you want today may not be what you need next week. Your followers understand and will continue to follow and support you and your delicious recipes.
Oh Carolyn, our hearts go out to you and your family. Thank you for sharing this window into your life, no matter how sad. Your photos show a lovely man.
I don’t know you personally, but I feel I feel like I do since I’ve followed you for so many years. My heartfelt condolences to you and your family and may God ease your pain with his loving hands. 🙏🙏
Carolyn my heart breaks for you and your family. I can’t imagine your pain. Please know I will be praying for you all as you navigate through this difficult time.
Lorie Cooper
I am so very sorry. This will be hard but you will get through it. My husband died 10 months ago and the first 3 months are the very hardest. Just get through one hour at a time.
Prayers & condolences for you & the family.
I am so sorry for your loss, Carolyn. What tragic news. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your kids.
Sincerely, Lindsay
So sorry to hear the news of your husband passing. The loss of someone leaves an emptiness that only you can feel, so please take the time you need to listen to your Heart and know that you were Loved and that he Loved your Family. We leave this world in body but never in Soul. He will be with you forever and forever be your protector. May he fly high and be with God God Bless you and your Family
I am so sorry for your loss!🩵 I will pray for you and your family as you navigate this difficult season! I have loved all your recipes over the years and have most of your cookbooks. I will preorder your new cookbook (thank you for writing it…I’m sure it will be amazing as you but your heart and excellence in all you do).
🩵🙏🩵🙏🩵
Oh Carolyn,
Words can’t express my sympathy for you and your family. Please, take time to grieve, but try and remember all the good times you had together – it may seem trite right now, but remembering the happy times gave me comfort when I was bereaved. Your life will never be the same, but it does get better, eventually.
I am greatly sorry for your loss. Hugs to you, your children and your extended family. This is a devastating loss for you all! Hold tight to the kids and take your time. We’ll still be finding your recipes and pinning them as favorites!
I am so very sorry for your family’s loss. My sincerely condolences.
May God Strengthen, encourage and comfort you during your great loss. Praying for you and your family.