Year-Round Patriotic Tree

      We should celebrate America every day, so why not put up a patriotic tree?  You can leave this decorated gem out year round.  I have posted pictures of other themed trees, Christmas, Valentine, St. Patrick, Easter/Spring and now we are enjoying this red, white and blue delight and it's easy to create.  The whole family can participate, which makes it all the better.  From the Spring tree, I removed anything that was not red, white and blue.  There are round Christmas balls, flowers, Dollar Tree U, S and A, letters (all on one banner which I cut apart), ribbon, lace, cut out paper stars I down-loaded free from the internet, silver ice-cycles to add extra sparkle along with the twinkling white lights and three large flags surrounding the top hat made from a coffee can. Scroll down to see the top hat tree topper photo. The only expense was one dollar for the USA sign and two more dollars for some extra flowers.  I was short on the red and blue.  Any-who, I love how it turned out.  Consider doing your own and God bless America!

The tree topper is made with red and white checked fabric covering a coffee can.  A painted cardboard brim, computer printed paper stars, a recycled bow with added ribbon, the white plastic coffee can lid, an embroidered star from an actual American flag and glitter complete the hat.

Precious Perfection

     These beautiful robin eggs were discovered by my brother, Bob Harkins, a retired Navy Chief. (I'm very proud of him, as you might guess.) They are in a rose bush, of all places.  Pity the poor critter who tries to snatch them...smart mama bird. Well, as soon as he sent me this photo, I knew I had to share. Thank you, Bob.  Thank you, Lord, even more!

Ain't It the Truth

It's New and Improved!

(What's better?)

It's Old and Still Working.  

                                                                             -jmm

The Reader's Motto

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

+

  

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC

 Bookworms

 Aerate 

The Mind 

     -jmm  

2019 Annual Letter

Hello to all our fine and semi-fine friends out there,

     Yes, it’s time for our annual Gracious Jane Marie newsletter, where we dispense the always elegant and dignified events of our past year. We thought we might highlight some random conversations for you. Let us begin. 

Daughter to Mother first thing Thanksgiving morning as they prepared what was a delightfully delicious meal:  Where is that 2-cup glass measuring cup of yours?

Mother to Daughter:  Found it.  Your father’s teeth are floating in it.

Mother-in-Law to Son-in-Law:  Did you sleep well?

Son-in-Law to Mother-in-Law:  Yes, ma’am, except for the cat viciously guarding the front bathroom in the middle of the night, making me have to pee outside, all was well. But our visit here isn’t over yet.

Uncle Tree Bark:  Nothing better than an outdoor wee.  It’s good for the soul.

Uncle Crumb:  Keep them bulletins coming

Granddaughter:  Ooh!  What is that noise?

Grandmother:  That’s the sound of the cat vomiting.  Remember House Rule #27 which clearly states the following:  He who hears it, finds it or steps in it, must clean it up. 

Mother to Father:  Did you eat the last of the Cool Whip?  I was saving that.

Father: For what?  There was only enough to cover a gnat’s kneecap. Besides, the dog needed a new water bowl because he chewed that hold in the old one. So, there you go.  Thank you very much.

Brother at breakfast:  Where’s the toaster?

Sister:   We’ll be serving pop tarts from the floor.  If you’d ever lift a finger to help in the kitchen, you’d know we ran out of counter space.

Brother: Hey, I took the trash out last Christmas, so I don’t wanna hear it.

Grandmother:  Well, when I was in first grade, the little boy next door used to eat worms.  I thought that was a bit strange back then.
Granddaughter to Grandmother:  That’s still strange, Gramma.  

Mother: Aunt Flags used to eat dog biscuits, but only when they were buy one, get one free.  She didn’t want to deprive her animals, so she had her own box.

Aunt Flags: Yes, my preference was the Milkbone brand.

Son: Sister’s boyfriend in third grade licked rocks.  I saw him.

Father: That was then. Your sister broke up with him. I pride myself on the good  sense my children inherited from me.  Now, please pass the horseradish and Tabasco.  Badly burning my tongue and sinuses is all part of my newly devised diet plan.

Mother to Daughter: Please help hold the dog while I clean his fur. I don't know what he ate, but it upset his tum-tum and he has some stinky on him.
Daughter to Mother: No way!  I don't want to get that nasty stuff on my shirt. 
Mother to Daughter: Well then, would you at least take your freshly washed white comforter we got you, you spoiled small child, and put it in the dryer?
Daughter to Mother: Oh, alright. MOM!!!! My comforter is ruined. It's pink!  And there's Brother's red sweatshirt in the bottom of the washer!  He did that on purpose.
Mother to Daughter:  I don't know that he's bright enough to realize the red shirt would bleed.  He just wanted to wash his new shirt, same as you did your new comforter. You know that thing about what goes around, ...? Enjoy your new pink comforter.  Love you, honey.

And that's just a small sample of what went on at our house this past year.

Discovered the morning after our family reunion

We hope your year was as exhilarating as ours!

Much love and caring from Gracious Jane Marie and her Characters and Critters on Amelia Island, Florida (then, now and the time to come)

Meet Bagatha

     My companion at every book signing, Bagatha is  hardworking, attractive  and always at the ready 
when I need her assistance.  Who is this creature with the most unusual name?  It is my 12 inch tall, give or take, doll who wears a white cotton cap and colorful floral patterned dress.  After a busy day, her full skirts are slender. Why? Because inside those skirts she holds our bags by which we can offer free gift wrapping to any who want to protect their Goodbye Lie series novels from the elements.  By free gift wrapping, we mean those plastic bags meant for recycling.  Try though we might to always take our own cloth totes to the stores, we still end up with the plastic bags. Folks always chuckle over this complimentary bonus.  You know me, chuckling is almost as good as guffawing.
     When trying to think of a name for the dolly, I asked my granddaughter, Ava, for her suggestions. With nary a blink, Ava replied "Bagatha." Perfect and clever!                                                                Please join us and our fictional Dunnigan family characters in Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida in the Goodbye Lie novels, set in the late 1880s.  Let them create long lasting memories for you. They certainly have for me.                 
                                        -jmm                 
      

God Never Fails to Impress plus Goodbye Lie Diaries - Peeper

Dancing Girls

(Impatiens Bequaertii)

Laughing Bumble Bee Orchid

(Ophrysbbomyblifora)

Swaddled Babies

(AnguloaUniflora)

Parrot Flower

(Impatiens Psittacina)

Flying Duck Orchid

(Caleana Major)

An orchid that looks remarkably

like a tiger

Happy Alien

(Calceolaria Uniflora)

And his friends…

Angel Orchid

(Habenaria Grandifloriformis  )

Dove Orchid Or Holy Ghost Orchid

(Peristeria Elata)

White Egret Orchid

(Habenaria Radiata)

The Darth Vader

(Aristolochia Salvadorensis)

An Orchid That Looks Like A Ballerina

Monkey Face Orchid

(Dracula Simia)

Hooker’s Lips

(Psychotria Elata)

Moth Orchid

(Phalaenopsis)

What a wonderful world!

A friend sent these beautiful photos to me by email and I had to share. If anyone knows who created this email, please tell me at graciousjanemarie@yahoo
 and I will happilycredit them. 👍

***********

The Goodbye Lie Diaries

Peeper

Late 1800s

Fernandina on Amelia Island

Florida

Grandmother Peeper writes:   Them is some perty flowers there, Jane Marie. I hope whoever made them pictures steps forward sos they get the high praise they deserve.  Aunt Noreena, next door, keeps ordering them orchid flowers from somewheres about once ta year and once ta year she kills 'em dead.  She needs ta stick to plantin' weeds.  They will grow - even fur her.

(Peeper and Aunt Noreen, aka Noreena to Peeper, are recurring characters in my Goodbye Lie series.  Their constant, and often funny, squabbling has gone on for so long, nobody can remember who began the fussing. -jmm

A Brother's Gift

     Just look at the very cool T-shirt my sweet brother, retired Navy Chief Bob Harkins, sent me for my birthday.  He knows me so well!  (Insert big smile here!) Thank you,  Bobby!

Lazy Gardener's Lush Flowers

Some may call this simple idea lazy.

Others may praise me for my economy of time.  I like the instant gratification of it plus the beauty.  You have curb appeal and you never have to use a shovel or gloves or get your hands dirty! 

What is it? Go to the garden shop and buy a flat of, in this case begonias, which are annuals.  Without counting, I think there are 24 plants in one of three flats I took home and perched on my front landscape timber. My method? Leaving each flat intact, place one or all in a location according to the required light instructions on the growing card which comes with the flowers, remember to water them and there you have your instant flower garden!  I heard once there is fertilizer in the container dirt already, so no need to pay for that.  Naturally, you can dig a hole and insert each plant into the earth, like *Miss Ella and **Peeper do.  After all, this is still America.  But if you haven’t the time or you don’t want to strain your back,  try my easy and tested method of gardening.  The pictures prove it works.  This is two months worth of growth, by the way.  Should the plants get too leggy, I may be forced  

to bring out the scissors and give them a haircut.  Even this lazy gardener will make that effort, if necessary.

In addition, I bought some moss roses (not pictured here), also known as portulacas or purslanes.  I think there are six to a flat. I cut them into 3s and placed them at the base of a rose bush and another section on a large yard rock.  I love moss roses because they don’t require much water at all in this Florida heat.  They will get leggy, but either pinch them back or cut them back, saving the pieces.  Toss the pieces on dirt/sand and they often will root on their own, making a patch of brilliant ground cover for you.  Happy flowering!  

****************
*Miss Ella and **Peeper are prime characters in The Goodbye Lie series set on Amelia Island, Florida. Miss Ella is a respected rosarian in town and Peep likes her hydrangea bush aka her door step plant. Catching Aunt Noreen clipping a stem to root makes Peeper happy because Noreena couldn't grow a weed if she smothered it in manure and spit tobacco juice on it.

Diaper Drop plus The Goodbye Lie Diaries - Breelan Dunnigan

Here is an easy and oh so useful idea for the office, business, house of worship or anywhere people gather.  It's called a Diaper Drop and Prince of Peach Lutheran Church on Amelia Island, Florida is doing this collection for charity.  Diapers are  one thing necessary the first years of a baby's life.  For anyone watching their pennies, and who isn't, especially young couples, diapers are the perfect item to help them out.  If you watch the BOGO (Buy One Get One Free) sales, you might even double-donate.  Grab a cardboard box, make a sign and you're ready to start gathering for a good cause! 
   The same goes for a Sox Box or Tee (Shirt) Treasures, Dental Delights (toothpaste, etc.), Pasta Presents, etc. 

 

***

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

Breelan writes:  What a wonderful idea, Jane Marie.  We do not have packages of diapers as your photograph shows, but we can purchase or

Breelan

cut fresh cotton cloth diapers to donate.  I have to go to the Florida Mirror newspaper office this afternoon to turn in my copy for the advertisement our Aqua Verde Passenger Line will run next week.  I will suggest to Major Fairbanks, the editor, that he does this very thing and, mayhap,  your Sox Box, as well. There are so many needleworkers in Fernandina who could knit or crochet a pair or two of socks or some sort of simple booties, I am certain they will contribute. Socks could be purchased, too, of course. In my short career, first as a cub reporter and now in charge of advertising for our cruising company, I have learned how most folks are giving

Get The Goodbye Lie series HERE in E-book and paperback

. Part of God's plan is to help others and this is a lovely way in which to do that. Maybe Major Fairbanks will put a small notice in his newspaper, showcasing this matter. Meanwhile, I will  tell everyone I see.  Even better, I'll mention it to Aunt Noreen and word will spread faster than a pig eats waffles as Peeper would say. At least, Auntie will be telling a worthwhile tale for once. 

Breelan is the second oldest daughter in the Dunnigan family on Amelia Island. She is unaware of her allure and that invites danger on too many levels ... Grandmother Peeper adopted the Dunnigan household when Michael, the patriarch, was gone to war and his wife, Miss Ella, was by herself with just her two little girls, Breelan and Carolena.  Everyone loves Peep.  Aunt Noreen, who lives next door, not so much. 

A Goodbye Lie Excerpt - Rival Romance On Board The Gentle Comfort

The Gentle Comfort

      An alarming commotion on the main deck and running footsteps could be heard clear inside Nora's room.

     "Cap'n Taylor! Cap'n Taylor!" shouted Wally, the new cabin boy. 

     Stepping into the passageway, "Has Miss Dunnigan awakened?"

     "No, sir. I ran down lookin' for ya in your stateroom. Farley told me where to find ya, sir. A man's demandin' ta see ya and right now! He's real threatening about it, too, sir."

Get E-book and Paperback HERE

   "Do you know who he is?"

     "No, sir. Just that he seems pretty riled already."

     "Thank you, Wally. I'll see to it. You go on about to your duties." 

     "Aye, sir."

    "Pardon me, Miss Nora. I have a seemingly disagreeable matter to attend," and he turned, taking large quick steps away from her. Curiosity forced Nora to follow. Uncontrolled ravings could be heard as they mounted the stairs to the main deck. 

     "Where is she? I'll give that sonofabitch one more minute before I go and get her myself. He can't keep me from her." The man shouting looked at his watch, counting the last seconds aloud. 

     Reaching the cause of the disturbance, Waite challenged, "You bastard! So you are alive!"   

     Nora was relieved to see a well-groomed Trip in his crisp uniform standing before the captain. She didn't understand the captain's intense anger at Trip. Surely, he had grounds for leaving Bree alone. The ship's highest officer was being purposely unreasonable. Trip would explain if just given the chance.

     Waite scoped the length of his rival, assessing little damage had been done him the last few hours. Clelland merely appeared to have a set of beady blood shot eyes. The captain readied himself to hear an inadequate explanation.

     As passengers gathered, "I demand to see Breelan at once," Trip shouted. The confrontation added to the exhilaration of the travelers' voyage.

     "She's resting."

     "Your boy says in your cabin." 

     "Yes, in my cabin. All other staterooms were occupied."

     "How convenient for you." 

     Waite mentally winced at the implication for Breelan's sake. Still, he would not retaliate because he knew the suggestion of improper conduct was true.

     Waite charged, "How did she come to ride here unaccompanied? Journeying for who knows how long and in the darkness? She's been dead asleep for hours." That is, all but for a moment, he remembered with pleasing satisfaction. 

     Dismissing the captain's question, Trip insisted, "Show me to her, or I'll call the law and have you arrested."

     "This is my ship and I am the law, or did you forget that fact? Besides, what would you have me charged with? Aiding a woman who purposely sought my help? You're a fool."

     "No, Captain. You're the fool. Apparently, you haven't been informed of the entire story." Covering each word in proud poison, Trip said, "..."

*****

Ebooks and Paperbacks in The Goodbye Lie series available at:

The Goodbye Lie 

Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow


Amelia Island's Mark of a Man

Hollywood Hearts - It's May!

It's May!  It's May! Those are the opening lyrics from Camelot's The Lusty Month of May, a cleverly written tune by Alan Jay Lerner (1918-1986).  There are many versions of this wonderful song from the popular Broadway musical on YouTube, including a recording by Julie Andrews, but this link below is from the  1967 movie with Vanessa Redgrave singing.  Enjoy! 

Camelot's The Lusty Month of May

Gone With The Wind

Television screen shot taken with my phone explains the poor quality

   I was watching Gone With The Wind with my twenty year old niece.  She had never seen it before and thoroughly enjoyed it. But, for as many times as I've watched that movie and even attended two GWTW costume balls in Atlanta and consider myself a Windie, that night was the first time I noticed the writing, arched over the front door of the church which reads: Peace be Within Thy Walls. As I've learned from my research, a church and its pews were/are sometimes used as beds for make-shift hospitals in times of war and crisis. How perfect to find these words in a house of love. Yet, it's very ironic that peace is so far away, during that gruesome and very sad time in our country. 

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.