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’m so sorry. A few years ago I had an abdominal aneurysm rupture. I was very lucky I made it to the hospital in time. again, I’m so sorry for your loss.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m praying that you can receive peace and strength through this time of grief and upheaval.
I am so very sorry to hear of the loss of your husband.
Praying comfort and strength for you and your family.
I have been in Washington State for over a month with my daughter and small grandson as my so -in-law took his life. My daughter and grandson will move home with me to Wisconsin in a few weeks.
Oh Caroyln, there are clearly no words that can come close to helping with such a loss, but know that we are here with you and would like to wrap you in loving arms through this long process. Be kind to yourself, allow yourself to feel all the emotions and we will be here with you when you are ready to share more, if ever. We know how strong you are, and will be thinking of you and praying for you and the family.
Take all the time you need. Everyone greaves then heals at their own pace. I’m sure me and the other readers here will continue to support you
Oh Carolyn,
My heart is breaking for you and your family. I am praying for peace for all, eventually, as you cherish the beautiful memories of the life you built together.
May God’s grace hold you,
Barb Berger
Carolyn, this is devastating news and I cannot begin to imagine…. I am so sorry and will be praying that our Lord and Savior will be with you and your family with His love and comfort.
Carolyn, I’m so sorry to read your heartbreaking news. I will continue to support your blog, and I will send love to you every time I cook one of your amazing suppers or cakes – which is often. Thank you.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this heartbreaking time. 🙏 I preordered your Protein Advantage cookbook when I first heard about it and am thankful to offer support in this small way, now more than ever.
Praying for you, Carolyn, and your family. :'(
I am so so sorry to learn this about your wonderful husband and will keep you all in my prayers. I already pre-ordered your new book, and planning to support your social media posts and help keep it going until you are ready to come back. Please do keep us informed if you need anything.
Oh my, I am so sorry for your loss of your husband. I’ll surely keep you & your family in my prayers, while continuing to follow you as I do enjoy your emails, recipes & blog. Hugs Dear Friend,
Kathy
Dear Carolyn,
I am heartbroken to hear of your husband’s passing. Though we’ve never met, I’ve followed your culinary posts and felt the warmth of the home you’ve created. Please know that many hearts are quietly holding yours right now.
I lost my own husband, so I know how profound and disorienting this grief can be. There are no perfect words—just the quiet truth that you’re not alone. Grief comes in waves, and some days will feel impossible, but little by little, love finds ways to remain.
Be gentle with yourself. Let the smallest comforts count. And when you can, lean into the memory of all you built together—it will steady you more than you know.
With deepest sympathy and shared sorrow,
Pat Patten
Carolyn, I am so very sorry to hear this. I don’t think any of us are prepared to lose our soul mate so unexpectedly, Know you have a lot of people out here who have followed you for years and will still be here when you are ready to pick up your baking again. I pray for you and your children as you navigate the way forward.
I am so very sorry for your loss. Praying God gives you peace, strength & wisdom.
Carolyn, I’m so so sorry. Will continue to support your blog – you are always my go to for deliciousness. I have all your cookbooks and am excited for the new one. Take your time, we will be here… 💕