Easter Flowers plus Miss Ella and the Goodbye Lie Diaries

Apparently, angels can sleep anywhere ... 
note the angel above on the old rusty fireplace grate

    The Easter lilies are in bloom again.  

     That is a direct ripoff of the calla lilies are in bloom again, Katharine Hepburn's famous line from the 1937 movie, Stage Door.  It may be several weeks past the blessed holiday of Easter, but any time a flower blooms, it is miraculous! And these wonderful lilies bloom annually, with no effort on my part. This is another miracle! - jmm 

***

The Goodbye Lie Diaries
Late 1880s
Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida

Miss Ella Dunnigan

Miss Ella writes: Oh, how lovely, Jane Marie.  In my time, my lilies have already bloomed. Ours are planted by the front steps to Dunnigan Manor.  They are so welcoming during the Easter holiday activities. Every other year, I lift some of the ever-increasing bulbs and give them to neighbors and friends. What a delight it is to take a slow buggy ride around town to witness so many of them in bloom. 
     Your sleeping angel is very precious, indeed.  She tells a tale of silent and safe contentment as she rests beneath the heralding flowers symbolizing purity, hope and the renewing life of spring.  Her placement is perfect.

*****

Miss Ella is matriarch in the Dunnigan family. Featured in each of the novels in Jane Marie Malcolm's  The Goodbye Lie series, she is the backbone of the clan, but don't tell her husband, Michael. 

A Major Award from Peeper!

Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida, a sittin' on the Atlantic Ocean, USA

Late 1880s
     Grandmother Peeper writes:  I am Peeper Clegg. I am one a the favorite stars a readers a Jane Marie Malcolm's old- timey, ta her, Goodbye Lie books.(Jane Marie calls 'em novels in a series.)  They are writ about where I live now and where she lives in the future, the 21st century, sakes alive!  
     So, I must be truthful, here. 'Twas Jane Marie who begun the 3 Second Memory Club 'cause she's always sayin' how she don't recall nothing.  That ain't entirely a fact.  She remembers enough ta write good books.  I'm certain sure she cain't never forget my glorious and very interestin' ways, so that helps her fill up her pages.  
     Anyhow, she told me ta tell folks ta click right where it says Join 3 Second Memory Club  ta find out all about the club, but here is a sample: There are no applications, no rules, no meetings, no dues, just a kindred of like-minded souls with great long term memories and next to zero short term memories. Warning! If you remember the name of the club,  you’re over qualified but you can still read Jane Marie's blogs and books until you lose your memory.  
     Since Jane Marie is oft times busy writin' her next book in the series, she's acallin' it Sand and Sin, and makin' her recipes, many a them she gets from me, I  gave her the guilts by telling her she was lettin' folks down fur not havin' a official proof a membership to the 3 Second Memory Club.  So, whilst the peach cobbler was a-coolin', she slowed down and created her own certificate and had me ta sign it. My friends want ta be members and are askin' for somethin' ta frame and hang on their wall. Once again, ol' JMM came through fur us.  She said ta copy, paste and print the picture below then fill in your own name. Spread the word cause there are lots of us forgetters out there in this century and in Jane Marie's time, too. 
     Now where did I put my sewin' basket?   

Addition to the Fleet

Graciousmobile II

     Gotcha. No, I'm not writing about our U.S. Navy ships, manned by dedicated Americans. I'm writing about my Graciousmobile II. And this is the short version:

     It was a blisteringly hot day in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida.  My original Graciousmobile I, a 2005 silver Chrysler PT Cruiser, was loaded with dog, husband, luggage and granddaughter Ava. The purpose of our trip was to safely return the small child into the waiting arms of her loving parents after a week's worth of hardcore wackiness at our annual Grammy Camp. So, there we were, gas tank full, dog secured in her own personal puppy seat with us all buckled in and the key in the ignition. 
    "Grammy, I'm hot," came Ava's sweet voice from the back, as she pressed her little self into the door, keeping her distance from the sometimes irritable rescued Chihuahua, Abby, with whom she shared the back seat.
     "Hang on, baby girl.  I'm firing up the Cruiser right now.  I turned the key and the engine whirled the way an engine should.  "Crank the windows down and let the heat out till the air conditioning catches up," I directed all, backing us out of the driveway.  That's when I saw Abby's face in my rear view mirror. She was panting and, far too hard, to take a trip to the corner let alone a trip several hours away.  The AC had conked out.  What a time for this to happen. We were on a deadline because Ava had to get home. As an aside:  I had recently taken the elderly Graciousmobile I to the garage to have the AC repaired.  They couldn't find the leak, so put some sort of stop-leak somewhere under the hood.  The mechanic told me it should stay cool long enough to carry us through the summer and well into the fall. He was wrong. 
     Now I could have stood the drive with all the windows down.  Bruce could have, too, but not the small child and certainly not the semi-sweet dog.  So, straight away, we went to the only rental car company on the island, picked up a white car and got Ava home on schedule. 
     A white car?  What kind, you might wonder.  I can't tell you because I don't care about cars, so much so, I don't even remember what brand it was.  I have never had any interest in cars and that is a big part of why I dragged my feet for such a long time when it came to buying another vehicle.  I needed a sign, something to force me to go car shopping.  No air conditioning in the summer was that sign. So, as long as there is a radio and a working air conditioner, I'll drive anything.  It would follow that I don't watch car commercials either. I will admit I do recognize a Jeep, a truck, a bus, a convertible, a station wagon,  a Model T or similar vehicles, a bread truck, a dump truck and a Jaguar.  A Jaguar has round front fenders.  Did James Bond drive one of those?  Oh, and an old Mustang and a '57 Chevy.
     Okay, where do I begin? Fact #1: A new car had to fit inside our one car garage with enough room for me to still exit the vehicle. Fact #2: It needs as much cargo room as my PT Cruiser.      (Bruce went car shopping 11 years ago with my five-foot book rack in hand. The Cruiser  was the only car that would hold my rack.)
      I was on a quest and Google was my friend. I filled three single-spaced legal pad sheets of paper with stats of cross-over/small SUVs, I think they were called. I had no idea how many kinds and styles there were. I was truly shocked.  My four columns per page were  Name/Brand, Width/Length, Cargo Space and Mileage. The winner was this 2019 Honda Fit! (The 2019 was less money than a 2018. Go figure!) It comfortably fits in the garage, gets 33 miles per hour in the city and 40 on the highway and the seats lay down. While the cargo space is less, it's as big inside as I could find. The final plus for me is the brilliant bright red of the machine. The newest Graciousmobile II needs to stand out and show off her Goodbye Lie series signs and, by jingo, she certainly does. I love her! 

P.S. Sometime I'll have to tell you about the time I followed my son-in-law's car. The family is still raggin' me over that one. 

Bible Plants plus Goodbye Lie Diaries - Peeper

Present Day

Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida

    My friend, Donna Lind, loves to garden. She

has shared her efforts with Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida, with plantings mentioned in the Bible. Below, find a few of the photos I took to show you. Situated near the entrance, in a flower box, beneath a large wooden cross, each has a corresponding sign beside it, giving its name and the bible verse where the reference can be found.  Thank you, Donna. With the Internet, the whole world can enjoy this wonderful project of yours. -                                                                Jane Marie

***

Late 1800s

Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida

Peeper

*(Grandmother) Peeper writes: Ooh, sowwie!  I will be adiggin' some holes and puttin' in some Bible plants, too, just ta remind me of the Good Book.  I will plant 'em near the path between our Dunnigan Manor and Duffy Pace sos every time that nasty Aunt Noreena walks over ta get some of  Miss Ella's treats or mine, she will see 'em. If we're lucky, just a mite, she will trip on a root and fall inta one a the prickiest ones. Alright, Lord.  I take that back. But maybe she might shut her mouth and not be so hateful, bein' reminded of the Word and all. 

*Peeper is heavily featured in the Southern Fiction series beginning with The Goodbye Lie, set on Amelia Island in Victorian times. She really doesn't like anyone referring to her as grandmother because she doesn't want to be treated in a delicate fashion.  Read all about the silly interaction between  Peeper and Aunt Noreen, next door. 

A Fernandina Fancy - Amelia Island Kindness

Talk about welcoming - While doing a book signing at Sea Jade's old Florida souvenir shop on Centre Street on Amelia Island, Florida, my eye caught sight of this bench.  Just look at the pillows kindly placed there for the comfort of strangers.  Since the bench is out in front of Corner-Copia gift shop (210 Centre Street), right beside Sea Jade, I assume the nice Corner-Copia proprietors placed them there. No matter who did it, the gesture was pure small town American and I wanted to share the sweetness of it all with you. -jmm

Goodbye Lie Diaries - Miss Ella's Simple Salad

Late 1800s

Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida

    

     Miss Ella Dunnigan writes:  Everyone about town is aware I plan the menus for our Aqua Verde Passenger Line of ships.  My staff and I do our utmost to make our passengers' travels a safe yet exciting sea adventure and that, too, is the case with regard to their taste buds.  Sometimes, easy to prepare food is just as appetizing as elegant.  This is the case with my Simple Tomato Salad.  Four ingredients and you have a healthy delight to serve on board your personal boat or yacht, on a picnic or at your dinner table.

     As is the usual, I want to express my thanks to Jane Marie for photographing her version of my salad. It does look tempting. Find how she made it, below.

Miss Ella's Simple Tomato  Salad

You'll Need: 

(Guestimate the quantities of ingredients as to how many people you'll be serving.)

Tomatoes - chopped or Cherry Tomatoes- halved

Walnuts or Pecans- in pieces

Sharp Cheddar Cheese (jmm used 2% fat), Colby or your favorite cheese- in bite-sized pieces

Salad dressing - (jmm used Avacado Ranch)

Toss all the ingredients and serve chilled.  Individual servings may be prepared by the bowl or salad plate. If tomatoes are out of season where you are, tuck this recipe away or splurge.  (Cherry tomatoes were less expensive here in Florida this time of year.)

This would make an easy Valentine side, too!

***

Miss Ella Dunnigan

     Miss Ella, the Dunnigan family matriarch, and prominently featured player in Amelia Island's Goodbye Lie series, is the nearly perfect mother of  the family. Held in high esteem on Amelia Island, Miss Ella is gentle, loving and a thoughtful soul. She would rather turn and run than get "into it" with nosy, nasty Aunt Noreen who lives next door. But Miss Ella's backbone turns iron when need be. ( PLEASE don't tell Aunt Noreen I wrote this reality about her. )     -jmm



Bear Advice

CareStaf's Mike Bear
is a fine looking bear and
so health conscious, too.

  He's a busy fellow and that includes
posing with his tissue for this shot. 

     'Tis the cold and flu season again.  Take a tip from our friend, Mike, the  Kansas City Carestaf* bear, on how he stays healthy.  His Mama Bear taught him and he listens to his mother like all bearlings, children and adults should.
     P.S. Mike has no medical training, so take or leave his advice.  Your fate is in your paws/hands.  However, we must add that he likes to listen to hearts with his toy stethoscope, so that qualifies him for something. Oh, yes, that qualifies him as a stuffed toy.

Mike Says:

• Don't touch your face.
• Don't rub your eyes.
• Hold your breath when someone coughs or sneezes.
• If necessary, touch elbows in greeting when someone is ill. Don't shake hands.
• Spray disinfectant on door knobs, inside and out.
• Polish television remotes with fresh disinfectant wipes.
• Polish all phones with fresh disinfectant wipes.
• Wash those paws/hands.
• Dry your hands with paper towels, not a community cloth towel.
• Bundle up in layers to go out.
• Wear a hat out in the cold.
• Layer your clothing, inside, too, if your thermostat is set low to save electricity.
• Don't touch your face or lips.  I know I wrote that already, but it's the number one thing Mama Bear says.

     By the way, Mike Bear is friends with our Martha Bear, ursine spokesbear for this blog and Gracious

Martha Bear sitting in her

official Bear Chair

wearing her official uniform

Jane Marie. Martha also makes cameo appearances in Amelia Island's Goodbye Lie series. 

The Goodbye Lie Series

*CareStaf - Dennis and Peggy Brown opened CareStaf in 1991 and still own and operate the company.  Their commitment to high clinical standards has made CareStaf a recognized leader in supplemental staffing and home health care.  (Peggy Brown is my sister, as well, so  please permit me to brag about her and her wonderful hubby, Dennis.  - jmm)

.     

2017 Annual Christmas Letter

Somebody else's Christmas Cactus

     Here is another of our annual appalling          

appealing family Christmas letters.  Hope your year was filled with events and quotes as great as ours!

 

Mother tried out for the community theater production of Little Mermaid.  She will play the coveted role of seaweed.

 

Auntie instructed Son to put up the trellis for the wedding ceremony.  He readily agreed, adding, "What’s a trellis?"

 

Uncle asked, "Who was the last one to brush?"  “Brush what?” came the reply in unison. That happened in May.

 

Father warned: "Don't go in there.  He's got The Crud and he'll take us all down with him."

 

The doorbell rang. "Who ordered this kind of pizza?  I hate mushrooms so I ain't paying.  Granny, it’s for you."

 

"Who wants a white Russian?"  “I don't, but I'll take a furry Frenchman."

 

Uncle Tree-tree talks into the TV clicker and replaces the batteries when he can't change the channels. It keeps him busy and away from the garbage can.

  

It rained so hard the apple pie was good.

 

Father cut the grass and his toe nails, in that order. 

 

Cousin Skin bought a ticket and wore a sneaker.

 

The pool was not cleaned this year.

 

“Anybody got any TUMS?”

 

A feather was on the sidewalk.

 

Ants carried off the cat food.

 

Mother sewed on a button then removed the blood stains with her spit.

 

Brother got a new one.

 

The cat coughed up a pickle.

 

The timer on the sprinkler got reset.

 

The oven burned the chicken. 

 

The repairman made two trips to plug in the toaster.  He wears a uniform and is Father's nephew.

 

Friday's newspaper was thinner than the bacon.

 

Sometimes we didn’t dry the dishes.

 

The stairs still need watering.

 

The chimney smells funny.

 

Merry Christmas
from all the crew and characters at
Gracious Jane Marie and
Amelia Island Novels Blog

Goodbye Lie Diaries - Breelan's Hidden Perfume Tip

Jane Marie's recreation of Breelan's perfume bottle hidey-hole 

Late 1800s
Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida

Breelan writes: I do not have a care if my perfume gives Aunt Noreen the sneezes.  During the day I will often wear a sweet scent. At night, spice is my preference. When I feel the need for instant refreshment and I don't want climb the stairs to my room or haven't the time, I will splash a few drops on the nape of my neck from one of the perfume bottles hidden about the house. Inside the china cabinet,  amongst the books on the shelf and in the pantry, I have several scattered about.  I was afraid my mother, Miss Ella, or Grandmother Peeper might object, having to dust around the bottles, but they understand the importance of always smelling delightful. And I know for a fact, they, too, spritz a scent on their wrists or necks.

**************

Breelan Dunnigan is the heroine in The Goodbye Lie, the first novel in the series by the same name.  Available in e-book and paperback, the stories are set on Amelia Island in north Florida in the late 1800s.

The Goodbye Lie - Mini-Excerpt

The Goodbye Lie series- CLICK HERE for

E-books and Paperbacks

1882 - Amelia Island, Florida

      She stood in the pounding breakers, her heavy wet skirts slapping her legs. With agony beyond endurance, she howled into the night. The insatiable ocean gulped away at her despondency, swallowing all sounds, leaving only its own. At that moment, she hated ...

Mix and Match Crust-less Quiche plus Goodbye Lie Diaries - Marie

Crust-less Quiche

     I am forever trying to save calories.  I figure the more calories I save when I make a dish, the more of it I can eat.  To that end,  here is my Mix and Match Crust-less Quiche recipe.  It's easy and you can serve it warm or cold.

You'll Need:

6 eggs
3/4 cup milk (non-fat optional)
8 ounces non-fat cottage cheese
8 ounces 2% cheddar sharp cheese

Mix and match any of the following, adding in just before baking:
1 small can of chopped mild green chilies
Chopped bacon
Garlic powder
Tuna
Tomatoes, seeded
Pepperoni, nuked a few seconds on a paper towel to remove the grease, then crumbled
Ground beef, lean, browned and drained
Chicken, cooked and chopped
Ham, chopped
Turkey, chopped
Green onions, chopped
Black olives, chopped
Green olives, chopped

For a thinner quiche, pour mixture into a 9 inch x 13 inch pan first treated with non-stick cooking spray. For a thicker quiche, use an 8 inch x 8 inch pan.  You can also use muffin cups.

Bake at 325 degrees for 30 or 35 minutes, generally, checking a knife comes out clean when inserted in the middle. Reduce the muffin cups by at least 10 minutes.  Oven temperatures vary, so don't over-bake.  Serve with a tossed or fruit salad.  Yummo!
                             Enjoy!                                                  -Jane Marie

*********

Late 1800s

Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida

Marie writes:  Jane Marie, you know how I love to

Marie Dunnigan

eat.  Why it is one of God's pure pleasures, isn't it?  I am always on a quest to find easy to make recipes because I would much rather be looking for shark's teeth or flirting with boys. However, I understand the need for a woman to be as capable in the kitchen as she is in the bedroom.  Please don't tell Mama or Aunt Noreen or Peeper I said that. They'd skin me and hang my hide from the barn door if'n they heard such an admission. 

  The Goodbye Lie series

E-books and paperbacks available HERE

     Well, this egg dish sounds wonderful since I can add whatever I want.  Have you tried it with a few seasoned bread crumbs?  Yes, the bread may defeat the purpose of those low-fat ingredients you recommend, but it sounds quite delicious to me.  I bet Peeper will have some ideas of her own to goose up the flavor.  She always has her way of doing things and that makes her about the best cook in the county, next to our mother, Miss Ella. 

      May the reminder of your day be another adventure, as I hope mine will be. Now that I think on it, mayhap my quest for adventure is higher on my happy list than food. My stars, what a realization that is to me.

Marie is the youngest sibling in  historical romance novel, Amelia Island's Mark of a Man, part of the Goodbye Lie series set on Amelia Island, Florida in the late 1800s.  She is free spirited, opinionated and cherished by her family and a particular young man with whom she is acquainted ... 

LIttle Free Library in Fernandina

      I decided to go on a quest to see if Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida had any of those free mini-libraries I have read about.  You know, where you borrow a book and leave a book?  Well, I am delighted to report, after some investigation on Facebook and Google, etc.,  I visited two out of the seven listed in our town. One is near the gazebo in the Amelia Park development off Citrona and one is located at 103 S. 18th Street.  Each has a bit of a design difference, but all are charming, if for no other reason than because they contain books.  Note the blue bird-knob on the front of the Little Library in the picture at the top of this post.
     To find the Little Free Library in your area, go to https://littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/, scroll down to just above the image of the map and insert your zip code in the search box.  Once found, add and/or borrow a book.  If you can't find a library box in your town,  get a call out on social media or your book clubs or library or all of the above and build one or more.  Talk about your small town America.  It's a "better thing,"  as our Martha Bear says.

Martha Bear taking a break from her duties as spokesbear for Gracious Jane Marie

Fernandina Shocker

      May I recount a recent incident for you? Permission or not, I shall. There I am signing my historical romance books, aka, The Goodbye Lie series in e-book and paperback, on Centre Street in our charming downtown Fernandina, Amelia Island. Perched on the deck outside Sea Jade's old Florida souvenir shop, I am introducing my novels to new friends.  This is much fun for me and I hope for them as well. But wait, something tears our attention away from the topic of great literature. What is it that we spy across the street? Oh, cheese and crackers, where are binoculars when we need them? It looks to be some sort of partially clothed pointy faced creature, its appendages  bare.  Bold as I am, I volunteer to chance impact with the automobiles barreling toward me at 15 mph or whatever the excessive speed limit is that the law has set.  Do remember, those tourists can have feet of lead. A rowdy bunch, they even sip water directly from bottles.  What would Aunt Noreen think of such crass behavior? 
     Upon arrival on the sunny side of the street, I, once described as the prattling princess, am left speechless. My discovery is less than life threatening, dare I admit? Yes, I dare. My discovery is, well, comical for it is merely a pig playing a trombone. Good times.
    

The Pig aka Eric Wheeler of the Fernandina High School Band

Aunt Noreen is a sometimes less than beloved player in The Goodbye Lie series set in Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida in the late 1800s.

What Is It? - Goodbye Lie Diaries - Carolena

     What on earth, or off the earth for that matter, could this be?  An underwater scene from an animated horror movie?  Perhaps the landscape of a death star?  While you guess, read an entry in our Goodbye Lie Diaries from Carolena, the heroine from Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow, part of The Goodbye Lie series set in the late 1800s in north Florida in the tiny city of Fernandina.

Late 1880s

Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida

Carolena

     Carolena writes: For anyone who does not know, I am the interior designer for our family's Aqua Verde Passenger Line and Shipyards. Let me clarify.  I draw the plans and add the colors and materials and oversee the creation of our ships and private yachts.  Before discovering my affinity for this,  I feared my career choices were relegated to  teacher, nurse or shop girl. Since I love to draw, always have, I found myself suggesting the silks and brocades, the style of column and layout of cabins and staircases to the men working for our company.  To my happy surprise, they were more than willing to take my suggestions, appreciating my apparent eye for a vision of the finished product.  

     With regard to your picture, Jane Marie, I can only guess it comes from a dark mind, seeking hope, what with the lighter, welcoming shading on the upper left. Is this your imagining of what could be mysterious black ice cycles?  

Present time

Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida
     Jane Marie writes: Perhaps you are correct in thinking you might not be suited for teaching or nursing. Aren't we glad there are others who are.
     With my dark mind, I can see your black ice cycles, Carolena. (I am smiling.) I must say I have enjoyed the variety of comments I've received so far as to what this picture could be. And yes, this is my creation, but only because of a combination of nature and a program we have in our time to alter photographs.  It's generally referred to as photo shop. 

     So what was my original photograph?  It was a shadow of landscape against a white door.  I noticed this shadow, thought it was pretty in its simplicity and took a picture of it.  Then I applied the photo shop program to disguise it and try and fool folks. I can be a little minx, you know. 
     See the original shadow photo below.

Dog Brushes Own Teeth

     Abby is the spokesdog for this blog and just about anything else she wants to talk about because she can bark louder than I can. Well, she has mastered a new skill.  She can brush her own teeth!  Please refer to the photo for details of this feat.
     Being the independent sort, Abs prefers being self-taught vs learning to do the usual doggie tricks.  Oh, she can fetch her blue baby, which is code for her bringing any and every stuffed toy she owns to  me when she wants to play.  She will also come when I call treat! 
     However, this dental hygiene thing was a surprise to me.  Having recently been to the vet for a cleaning, I suppose she wanted her teefus to stay bright and shiny.  To that end, she discovered one of my old toothbrushes I use for cleaning those tiny spots around the house.  And she was off in her efforts to maintain that lovely grin she flashes at strangers to lure them in and then nip at their jeans and shoe laces.  Did I mention that Abby is a rescue doggie?  We don't know her history, but do know she is always up for the challenge we call Bite a Hole Through The Pants game, which, again, she invented.
     She let me shoot this picture to demonstrate her tooth-technique so you can share it with your small dog. I should have taken a photo of her with three toothbrushes in front of her.  I was surprised to learn she is also a part time thief, in this case, somehow retrieving our fresh toothbrushes and claiming them for her own.  
    So next time you come to visit us at Stately Martha (Bear) Manor, fear not.  Should you and your jeans and shoelaces make it past Abby and you find she's confiscated your personal toothbrush, I have begun buying the bristly things by the pound and have extras to spare.  

WARNING: ONLY ALLOW YOUR SMALL DOG TO CHEW ON THE TOOTHBRUSH BECAUSE A BIG DOG MIGHT SNAP IT IN TWO AND CHOKE!!!

From the Author of The Goodbye Lie Series

I now understand the definition of a labor of love. 

Discover-ing the personal-ities of the Irish Dunnigan family, the players in my Goodbye Lie series set on historic Amelia Island, Florida, has been all-enveloping.  As I walk the beach, with the Atlantic Ocean's cool waters washing over my feet, Breelan and Carolina and Pat and Marie, the siblings featured in the novels, whisper their secrets in the passing sea breeze. I can't help but listen as they tell their stories.  Sometimes they call me out for sharing too many of their personal details, but then understand the necessity of it.  Without those details, they would hold far less interest for me or my readers.  Their actions and reactions, their deeds and misdeeds are the result of deep and sometimes dark developments in their lives. I am fascinated, intrigued and just plain curious as to where their whispers will lead me, and in turn, the reader. Please join our band of beloved friends, the Dunnigans of Amelia Island. 
                                    - Jane Marie Malcolm  


#Fernandina, #Fernadinabook, #AmeliaIslandbook, #AmeliaIsland, #Irishdrama, #Irishfamily, #romance, #historical, #smalltown, #mystery, #passion, #comic, #island, #Floridanovel

Breelan's Pear Salad - Goodbye Lie Diaries

Late l800s
Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida

Breelan writes:  If you have read Jane Marie's telling of my life story in her Goodbye Lie  novel, you will understand my feelings about food preparation. Such a thing should be as simple as reading a recipe from a cookbook.  In this regard, at times, my meals have been less than palatable ... 
 

Breelan

    However, the Pear Salad from my mother, Miss Ella, is tasty and presentable enough to be served on board the ships in our Aqua Verdi Cruise Line.
    Only four ingredients are required and they are:

• one large lettuce leaf
• a square of cream cheese rolled in 
• chopped nuts and placed on
• half a pear

     I feel sure you will enjoy the sweet and soft of the pear in combination with the cheese and crunch of the nuts.
     As Jane Marie says, "Enjoy!"

***

Present day

Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida

Jane Marie writes:  Breelan, dear. Your Pear Salad looks delightful and light.  I wanted to be sure what we call cream cheese in our time is the same cheese as you use.  So, I googled it.  Just like the way we communicate in these Goodbye Lie Diaries, through the magic of electronics, we also have the ability to find most any answer instantly on a program we call Google.  There I discovered cream cheese was invented by a Mr. William Lawrence, an American from New York, in 1872.  By 1880, his cheese was available for purchase, wrapped in foil.  That is still how we buy ours today!  Some things should never change and cream cheese is one of them.  

****

The Goodbye Lie, Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow and Amelia Island's Mark of a Man are all part of The Goodbye Lie series.

#Breelan, #GoodbyeLie, #recipe, #salad, #drama, #romantic, #island, #AmeliaIsland,  #series, #Fernandina, #Irish, #pear, #nut