Chocolate Table- Goodbye Lie Diaries, Nora

Pictured on the right is a chocolate table. Also known as a tea table, note the removable serving tray on top. Owned by my friend, Emmie Noble, she's placed her hot chocolate cup, saucer and chocolate pot set inside.

I discovered some information online by Fay Spencer of Spencer's Antiques in Waynesville, Ohio.  She explained these were especially popular from 1800 to 1850.  I also found most interesting that during our American Revolution, hot chocolate was served instead of tea as a way of protesting the British and their tea tax.

Thank you to Emmie Noble and Spencer Antiques. For more about Spencer's, call 513-897-7775, 274 S Main St., Waynesville, Ohio 45068

*****

Goodbye Lie Diaries
1880s
Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida

Nora Duffy

Nora Duffy writes: My mother, you know her as Aunt Noreen, or Noreena, as Peeper calls her when she wants to irritate her, has a chocolate table in the parlor of our Duffy Place.  You can't know how many times my brother, Warren Lowell, my father, Clabe, my mother and I sit in that room, carefully sipping our chocolate treat.  Except when the milk was scorched, Mother blamed it on the stove, or that time Father burned his lip and spilled his cup onto the handwoven rug, I have wonderful memories.  I am most pleased to see such a lovely piece of furniture has survived the rigors of time to be appreciated in your century. (Jane Marie - I tried to sound somewhat dignified in my diary entry.  You know the true me and how Breelan and I can get into trouble far too easily to suit our families.  I have some ideas about what we'll do next ...)  

Nora, Aunt Noreen, Warren Lowell and Clabe Duffy live right next door to the Dunnigans on Amelia Island, Florida. Breelan Dunnigan and Nora are first cousins and quite the conspirators in their The Goodbye Lie series.

What a Surprise Plus The Goodbye Lie Diaries-Aunt Noreen

Present Day

Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida

Jane Marie types:  Have a look at the pictures to see what I saw as I pulled into the driveway of our humble home.  Not only was the bird sitting on our roof massive, but it held its outstretched wing in this position for at least five minutes.  It was plenty enough time for me to exit the car, grab my phone and snap these pictures. When it didn't fold its wing, I thought, perhaps, it was injured. I was happy to figure out the separated and ruffled feathers on its wing and head indicated it was all wet and now drying those feathers in the heat of the Florida sun. Finally, it shook itself and flew away.  While I've seen different birds in our time on Amelia Island, including my first Eastern Blue Bird the day before, this creature was remarkable with regard to its size and location, on the top of my house!   As to what kind of bird it was, the mailman said it was a buzzard. Whatever it was, I'll never forget it!  

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

Late 1880s
Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida
 

Aunt Noreen

Aunt Noreen writes: You may have seen a buzzard one time on top of your house, Jane Marie, but our family has a pet buzzard living next door to me.  We have named it Peeper! Having studied this particular species in depth because it eats with us as well as hovers inside and outside Dunnigan Manor, the vegetable garden, church, and the entire town, for that manner, it is difficult to escape its presence.  I warn all. Beware of the buzzards within. We all have them in our midst. 

*Aunt Noreen and Grandmother Peeper are featured and forever fighting characters in The Goodbye Lie historical romance series.  

 PURCHASE The Goodbye Lie Series HERE 

available in e-book and paperback

Peeper's Fruit Elixir-Fixer Recipe & Goodbye Lie Excerpt

 Goodbye Lie series INFO HERE

If you know Peeper, the grandmother in my Goodbye Lie series, who adopted the Dunnigan family living on Amelia Island, Florida in the late 1880s, you know she has a remedy for just about anything.  She calls them her elixir-fixers.  With her permission, of course, she proudly lets me share another of her recipes with readers of her stories. (Peeper likes to call The Goodbye Lie series HER stories because without her, she points out, "There'd be nothin' but lots a mystery and romancin'.  If it tweren't fer me, and my special way of worryin' Aunt Noreen like I do with my neddlin', well how else would ya be gettin' folks ta laugh whilst they's areadin' all them words ya wrote, Jane Marie?")  

PEACH ELIXIR-FIXER

Peeper's Peach Elixer-Fixer

  (Again, with Peeper's permission, I have changed the sugar to natural sweetener, her fresh fruit to frozen, if fresh is not available, and, for easier measuring, her chopped ice to ice cubes. -jmm)

BLUEBERRY ELIXIR-FIXER

You'll need:

1 cup peeled peaches, blue berries, strawberries or raspberries

7 ice cubes

1 cup all natural non-fat strained plain yogurt (Fage brand)

1/2 cup water

3-4 packets of Truvia natural sweetener, to taste

PEEPER

Beat in blender until smooth.  Makes 3 cups. This makes a meal in itself or a great snack, too. (If you don't like yogurt, fear not.  The natural Truvia sweetens it up so you won't know you're drinking anything healthy.  The kids won't know either.  Or your mate, for that matter!)

The Goodbe Lie- an excerpt

     "Grammy? Peeper? It's me. You both all right?" Breelan called out as she pulled open the screen door that formerly possessed wooden scrollwork in diagonal corners. Now, it sagged on its hinges, plain and broken.

     Grammy was hastily drying the tears on her cheeks, and Peeper was sprinkling wood ash on the bristles of her toothbrush.

     "How often do I have to tell you, Peeper?" scolded Grammy, "If you don't stop brushing your teeth every time you get nervous, you'll polish the enamel clear off of them."

GRAMMY

BREELAN

     "Quit pesterin' me. I don't get nervous and a girl's teeth can never be too white," the old woman responded, unconsciously forgetting she was up in years. Turning to Breelan, Peeper answered, "Yes, child. We're fine. We're just a little tuckered is all, except for this big toe a mine. It's all swole-up like a poison pup." Setting aside the dentifrice, she said, "Think I'll be a needin' one a my elixir-fixers afore long. Gram, I know we got plenty a borax and bran for a foot soak, but did I see ya use up the last of the iodine?"

     "You know well and good I did. I poured it across that scratch you got from the chicken wire. Although it wasn't much of a scratch," Grammy explained to Breelan, "Peeper insisted I use all that was left in the bottle. If she'd have let Clover mend the cage when he wanted to, she wouldn’t have gotten hurt in the first place." Turning back to Peeper, "And you can't remember anything from one minute to the next. You'll be asking me what your name is any second."

     Breelan watched Peeper reach for her clay pipe as she pulled one knee toward her ample chest to caress her aching appendage. It amazed the girl that a person of seventy-two years was capable of such physical agility. Peeper was the family's resident character, a true hypochondriac enjoying some fifty years of bad health.   

     "I forgit sometimes and so do you," Peep defended. "Just the little things. I remember what's important. Don't be telling me I don't."

     Breelan ran to Peeper, encircling as much of the dear woman's large girth as she could reach in a hearty hug.

     Breaking away, she crossed the small kitchen to embrace her grandmother. "You okay, too, Grammy?"

     "Yes, dear. I'm too tough to let a little old twister get me down."

     Breelan knew her grandmother well though, and realized this last episode had scared the pea waddin' out of her. "Everyone's fine up at the big house."

     "Praise the Lord and amen," prayed Peeper.

    "Daddy has a cut to his forehead," continued Breelan. Alarm tensed the elderly faces and she wished she'd said nothing about it. "But Mama's tending him and he'll be fine."

     "All the same, I best be for goin' up and aiding your ma," insisted Peeper. "My treatments is knowed for miles, ain't they, Bree?"

     "Yes'm."   

     Peeper unfolded herself and waddled over to the animal regally perched on the second shelf beside the store of canned tomatoes. Monstrose, the playfully malevolent, no-tailed marmalade cat was grooming himself in a most undignified position. Teetering on her good foot, Peep picked him up cautiously, since it was not his idea, and carried him to Grammy for petting.

     "It's nigh onto dark now, Bree, so wait 'till tomorra ta run over to your cousin's," Peeper told her. "If'n their place is a shambles, won't do no good ya seeing it tonight. All I can say is that it's a good thing your Aunt Noreen and the family is out a town in Savannah or else we'd be alistenin' to her wailin' all night long. I could turn a deaf ear ta her silly sufferin', but I don’t like it none when somethin' worries your Uncle Clabe and the children. He's a good man. Smart, too. I even like that handyman, Joey, he hired last winter. Joey don't take no guff off'n your aunt. Heck, he'll have their place back in shape afore ya know it. Anyhow, go check on our animals and help Clover if'n he needs it."

     "And invite that sod-soaked fellow waiting outside to supper," Grammy suggested. "He looks as if he could do with some of your mother's cooking."  

     At Breelan's hesitation, Peeper urged, "Go on. Do as we're atellin' ya. I'll look after Grammy. We'll be up ta the big house shortly."

     "The devil you say!" Grammy fired back. "No one need watch over me. Why, the way you two hover, you'd think I was some wild phlox and you were a couple of humming birds. Now git, Bree! And get out of those wet clothes quick as you can or Peeper'll be spreading one of her fiery mustard plasters on you, and then you'll know it!" counseled Grammy. 

     Monstrose let lose a soft suffer-sound, not appreciating a second disturbance when Grammy stood up and he landed on the floor. Grammy went to the unbroken front window, lifting it for air. When the sash slammed down, she fetched a wooden spoon to prop it up.

     "Make room for me, too, old lady," whined Peeper as she elbowed her way beside Grammy. Then two curious faces peered out of the opening after Breelan and Breelan's companion.

The Goodbye Lie Diaries-Aunt Noreen

1880s
Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida

Aunt Noreen Duffy

Aunt Noreen writes:  It is rare that I hear from my older brother, John, up in cold Pennsylvania. I had to write him first and he actually replied, but that reply was less than gracious, I must say.  All I did was tell him how Fernandina had a very rare occurrence. We had a hard freeze.  I just got his letter containing only one word:
AMATEURS.  He thinks he's very funny, I'm sure.
 

Aunt Noreen is a featured trouble-maker in each of the romantic historical novels of Amelia Island's Goodbye Lie Trilogy set in the 1880s on Amelia Island, Florida.  (Available in paperback and ebook form at book sources everywhere.)

And the Editor Says

My editor for Amelia Island's Mark of a Man, the third novel in my Goodbye Lie series, offered some interesting and flattering thoughts she has allowed me to share with you. 

http://www.amazon.com/Amelia-Islands-MARK-OF-MAN-ebook/dp/B00R1N4FVY/ref=dp_kinw_strp_exp_5_1

Here are a few of her favorite lines from the book.  I have removed character names to keep readers guessing who said what.:

• He was fun loving, free loving and frequent loving.
• ... willing, wanting and welcoming trouble.
• His words fell to the floor with a silent thud.
• Her emotions flashed between gray and a dark, deepening black... An all-consuming love for the child, loathing for the foe who'd violated her family, ... so much internal turmoil, she ...
• I adore you, Nugget, but if you don't quit pulling the weights on our grandfather clock and messing it up, I'll throttle you!
• What will become of me and what will I become?
• I can't know that word. ( Editor adds: All my kids said it that way, too. I can still hear baby voices saying it when I read that sentence.)

Editors says:

• "Awwww. Martha Bear has made it to another generation of Dunnigans."
• "I really love the way you worked in the shamrocks and what they represent into the story. Very nice."
• "What a foolish, foolish girl."
• "HaHaHa!! I DO LOVE PEEPER!! I just adore her.  Everyone should have a Peeper in their life."
• "Oh no!  Miss Ella left Peeper and Aunt Noreen on their own?  They will destroy each other!"
• "My gosh ...You have my heart palpitating.  You certainly have a way with painting a tense scene!"

Amelia Island's Mark of a Man is available in paperback and e-book form at book sources everywhere. http://www.amazon.com/Amelia-Islands-MARK-OF-MAN-ebook/dp/B00R1N4FVY/ref=dp_kinw_strp_exp_5_1

Honey Walnut Ice Cream- Peeper Writes



Here is an easy dessert is vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt drizzled with honey and sprinkled with walnuts.  This treat is featured in my upcoming novel, Amelia Island's Mark of a Man, set in 1898 and served at the Crusty Anchor Pub.

Excerpt:

Pat winked as he returned to his table in time for a beefy waiter to deliver steaming bowls of their ordered beef stew. Uncle John, giving nary an acknowledgement of the incident, sliced the loaf of accompanying beer bread and slathered each piece with butter before passing the first portion to Jency, who still smiled in relief that there was no altercation. They ended their meal, appreciating their vanilla ice cream drizzled with honey and walnuts.

 



The Goodbye Lie Diaries:

Fernandina, Florida
1898

Grandmother Peeper writes:  Shoot. I betcha they paid a pretty penny fur that goodie.  Come on down ta my house and I won't charge ya nothin'.  Well, I think I'd have ta send Aunt Noreena a bill, just ta be mean.

Florida Fall & Goodbye Lie Diaries

Fernandina on Amelia Island
present day

4 o'clocks- A friend gave me the huge bulbs years ago and they smell delightful, too!

Jane Marie writes:
Mama Nature is wonderful in so many way.  One of them is her perennials.  You know, those plants that come up from bulbs or the ones that bloom every year. Yes, fertilizing, dead heading, cutting them back, etc., all the things gardeners should do will make for a bigger display of blossoms. But, for anyone who hasn't the time to bestow much TLC upon these garden gems, well, be grateful they don't need you very much.  The photos are proof of that since I can't be in my cottage garden as often as I'd like to be. 
 

seven  sisters roses


 

white mums from a pot that decorated the altar one
 Easter Sunday morning



yellow mums

Wild red Florida roses-very bug resistant,
and they bloom a couple of times a year.





miniature oleander bush

 


orange tree



pink mums


Gerbera daisy is an annual.  I looked it up,
 but our Florida winter has been mild enough that it survived. 
 I think this plant is at least 4 years old.

******

Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida
1880's

Aunt Noreen writes:
If you are trying to show off, Jane Marie, you are doing a masterful job of it.  It's not that you don't have some very lovely specimens, but it sounds as though you are neglecting your garden and depending upon the good Lord to make your flowers grow.  I'm sure He would appreciate you lending a hand and spending a few hours a week in your garden.  Don't be so lazy!

Aunt Noreen

The ladies in my orchid society realize how hard I work to produce the show-stoppers I do and so  I am proud to say I won second place for what I call my Emerald Eye.  The only reason I did not win first place was that Mrs. Wiseflicker tripped over a tree root when she was visiting her husband's grave and landed in a patch of poison ivy.  They judges felt sorry for her when she appeared in front of them with her hands, arms, left foot and right ear wrapped in bandages, balancing her orchid pot on her hip. The people who get their way by feigning illness ... I would never think of doing anything like that.  It's not in my nature.

Aunt Noreen is a featured player in Amelia Island's Goodbye Lie series set in the 1880s.  She is less that popular within her family and even less in the small seaside town of Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida. 

Mark of a Man Excerpt + Aunt Noreen's Potpourri Recipe

Amelia Island's Mark of a Man is the upcoming novel in my historical suspense/romance Goodbye Lie series.  Set in 1898 on Amelia Island, Florida, Aunt Noreen and her daughter, Nora, are having a lovely time at the John Philip Sousa concert, which unexpectedly is presented in Fernandina, the small town on the island. Yes, a lovely time, that is,  until Aunt Noreen starts her stuff. 

Excerpt:

   Casually standing and stifling a yawn, Noreen added, "By the way, daughter, I don't mean to hurt your feelings, but did you speak to Austin about his pigs and their smell?"
   Nora sprang to her feet.
   "I am aware your father gave him permission to corral his animals out back of your house, but the odor …  You know how I hate to complain …"
   Nora was proud of herself for not choking since her mother was the queen of queens when it came to belly aching.
   "And I've been so patient in not saying much about it, yet I must alert you to the disagreeable situation. Since Clabe brought Abby home, I can't seem to catch my breath in my own house. Why else would I relegate that dog to live with Justice in his cabin most of the time?  I admit, she has made me smile once or twice when she's not tearing up the newspaper or tracking sand inside or leaving her fur on my rugs, but she smells like the animal she is. My tender constitution requires open windows as weather permits to keep the house fresh. When the wind blows, it blows Abby's odor out and then it is quickly replaced by all that pig stink. There are times Duffy Place smells as bad inside as it does out! Oh, how I dread rainy days like today or cold days when we have to button up everything and that nasty odor gets trapped indoors.  Should Mr. Sousa smell it, I would die of embarrassment on the spot! On the spot! By way of a natural perfume, I have instructed Winnie that she is to steam apples, cinnamon sticks, cloves and orange peels at the first sign of a cloud."
   Unable to keep her patience, Nora sniped back at her mother, ever the hypochondriac. "Tender constitution?" 
   Remembering her daughter was still young and had yet to appreciate the depth of her physical and mental suffering over the years, Noreen said, "We will save the discussion about me for later. Now we are talking about your husband's offensive pig farming occupation.  How you can stand to be touched by a man in such a line of work?"
   "How dare you. How dare you!" Nora spit in anger and none-too softly. "Austin is a fine, honest, loving husband to me. You knew when we married he was a pig farmer and a volunteer fireman. I don't ever hear you saying a prayer for his safety when it comes to risking his life to save others or their homes. All you do is carry on and find the negative in everything. When you and father suggested we build our house behind Duffy Place like Breelan and Carolena did behind Dunnigan Manor when they wed, it was explained how Austin's animals needed to be close by for him to care for them. We built on the back of your property, as far from your house as possible with the pigpens behind that. We could have just as easily gotten a piece of land somewhere else, but you insisted we stay near to you.  You assured us you'd have no problem with this. Besides, Austin keeps the pens in pristine condition. Like most of your problems, this one is all in your head. The only foul smell in your house is when you burn the beans! And my husband bathes twice a day, if you must know!"
   Noreen crossed her arms over her ample bosom, tightened her lips and tried to close off her hearing, as was her usual when she was admonished.
   "You pretend that if you preface your comments with an 'I don't mean to hurt your feelings, but--,'  it takes away the sting in what you say.  You know it doesn't! Who made you Lord High Executioner anyhow, dear mother?"

Aunt Noreen's Potpourri Recipe

quarter  2 apples

3 to 6 cinnamon sticks broken in half 

small handful of cloves

peel of 2 to 3 oranges- chopped into 1 inch pieces

water to cover

Simmer above ingredients, uncovered, to refresh and deodorize your home.



Joke Telling Dog + Goodbye Lie Diaries - Aunt Noreen

Abby, the sometimes Talking, sometimes Singing, and now the Joke Telling Dog, once again delights her fans and tickles their giggle spots with a direct quote from the upcoming Amelia Island's Mark of a Man.  Turn up the volume, click on the picture and smile! 

If you can't quite understand what Abby is saying because of her canine accent, listen again, or read her words below and then laugh out loud:

"Ooo!  A bug!  You step on it, Aunt Noreen.  You have the biggest feet!"

***
1880s
Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida

Aunt Noreen writes:  Honestly, Jane Marie.  Sometimes I think you

Aunt Noreen

deliberately encourage your dog to make fun of me. Just because Abby read Peeper's insulting quote in the manuscript of your next book, is no reason for you to put it on this blog, as you call it, for the whole world to hear and see. Peeper has already told  the ladies at our monthly bunco game what she said and they tittered at me behind their fans. And you call yourself gracious? Anyone would guess you are blood-kin to Peeper because you both are so much alike. Do not assume I mean that as a compliment.

(Aunt Noreen and Peeper are featured players in Mark of a Man. They fuss, they fight, they're funny and always, always suffering at the hands of the other.)

A Gift - B for Breelan

    Mary Jo W. from Sacramento, California,  surprised me with this handmade and very, very pretty letter B representing Breelan Dunnigan, the heroine in The Goodbye Lie! 

    "Your Breelan touched the deepest part of my heart with her self-sacrifice and devotion," writes Mary. "I wanted to do something to honor her.  Nothing fancy, nothing that Leona Visper, her rival, would appreciate, just something simple and sweet. It is a craft they might have made back in 1882, as well.  Clover could have cut out the letter and then Breelan or Carolena or Nora would crinkle the pretty paper and glue it on.  Thank you, Jane Marie, for bringing Breelan Dunnigan to life for me and all those others in the world who have come to love her, too.  And it is always great fun to read about her and the Dunnigan family, including Aunt Noreen and Peeper, in your Goodbye Lie Diaries."

 

 

Dear Mary,

   When I hear from a reader who "gets" our Goodbye Lie world, it makes me smile. The fact that you took time from your life to make this for me, well, I will treat it like the treasure it is.  I think I will hang it in my Story Central office.  Each time my eyes fall upon it, I will be reminded of my new friend, Mary Jo, who clearly has a gentle and generous spirit, just like Breelan.  I thank you for your kindness.

                                                                Jane Marie

Goodbye Lie Diaries- Breelan's 5:01 Club

Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida
1880s

Breelan Dunnigan

Breelan Dunnigan writes:  Miss Becky's mother broke three toes on her left foot when she dropped a full jar of canned tomatoes on it. Grandmother Peeper has a swelling in her thumb joints.  Mrs. Branson is having severe headaches which Doctor Tackett is unable to remedy and Miss Juniata's sister lost her baby early. Because there has been such illness and sadness in our Aqua Verdi Passenger Line office, I thought it might be a good idea that some of us gather to say prayers, asking God for help. Others must have been feeling the need, too, because anywhere from three to seven of us now meet regularly at one minute after five o'clock, five being the hour when the office is officially closed.  We go into Miss Ella's office and  pull the shades, hold hands and offer up our thanks and praises.  The prayer session lasts only a few minutes, but we all leave to go home and feed our families with smiles on our lips and comfort in our hearts. We have been doing this now for several months and it seems it will become a tradition. Peeper and Aunt Noreen join us, as well.  It is a fine day when the two of them bow their heads side by side.  It pleases me and I hope what we now call our 5:01 Club pleases the Lord.

*******
Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida
Present Day

Jane Marie writes:  What a wonderful idea.  I know several people who may be interested in something like that.  After a hard day of work, be it in an office or outside in the field, saying prayers for needs of family and friends would certainly sooth the people saying them and anyone overhearing. Where there are two or more gathered in His name... Thank you, Bree.

Breelan Dunnigan is the featured player in Amelia Island's Goodbye Lie, a Victorian romantic drama, part of Amelia Island's Trilogy by Jane Marie Malcolm.

Goodbye Lie Diaries: Small Town USA

Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida

2014

 

Jane Marie writes:

 

   We love living on a small island in a small town.  The island part is wonderful for obvious reasons, like we’re located at the edge of the world on the Atlantic Ocean, for goodness sake!  The small town part is inviting and offers charm, friendliness, trust, easy access to every basic item we need, no traffic jams and it’s just plain homey. 

   One mini-event I witnessed is the perfect example of friendliness and trust.  I was at a local hardware store.  As I waited in line beside another customer, the customer said, “Put it on my bill.”

   The clerk replied, “Sure thing.”

   It was then I unintentionally noticed the clerk had made out the invoice to Henry, no last name, just Henry.  Where else but small town American?  Hopefully, lots of places around the world.  Hopefully …

 

   By the way, have you ever heard this?  The nice part about living in a small town is when you don’t know what you’re doing, someone else always does. -Anonymous

 

***

 

Aunt Noreen

Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida

1880s

 

Aunt Noreen writes:

 

   I am so glad to hear that our little Fernandina continues to be a fine place to live in your time, Miss Jane. I am proud to call myself  a Fernandiner.  However, when I think back to  Friday last and Mrs. Clapsaddle telling me at the park how Mrs. Ickles was talking about the widow Mrs. Misseldine who was seen at the grocery purchasing, not one, not two, but three watermelons, why I do not want to think what manner of men she may be entertaining.  Mrs. Fishpatcher said she was certain Mrs. Misseldine was donating them to the school, but I have my doubts.  Someone should find out if this is the case or not. If this activity is less than seemly, I will take it upon myself to lead a movement to shun, spurn and exclude Mrs. Misseldine from polite society.  It is women like myself who must keep our island a haven of decency for future generations.

 

 

Aunt Noreen is a featured player in Amelia Island's Goodbye Lie Trilogy, historical romance series set on Amelia Island, Florida in Victorian 1880s.

Mark of a Man- Peeper's Root Beer Punch

working cover of Amelia Island's Mark of  Man by Jane Marie Malcolm

Amelia Island's Mark of a Man, part of Amelia Island's Goodbye Lie series--
It is 1898 in the north Florida island town of Fernandina...
 
Peeper's bunions are hurting her today so she's stayed at Dunnigan Manor, missing Breelan and Carolena's suffragette rally.  She's attending in spirit, though.  The ladies of the movement insisted her Root Beer Punch be served in her honor. Now if they can keep Aunt Noreen from refilling her teacup too many times, there just might be enough to go around!
 


Grandmother Peeper

Below is Peeper's recipe, just as she wrote it out for them:

Peeper's Best Root Beer Punch

 
"Be sure and follow my formula close-like," Peeper writes, "sos it don't taste different from the intended flavor.

In any large bowl, pretty or chipped, it makes no nevermind, lessin yur atryin' ta put on the dog to impress folks, such as that Aunt Noreen is always doin'. 
 
Ingredients you'll be aneedin':
 
Root beer
Vanilla ice cream
 
Pour yur root beer in the bowl and add lots a scoops a 'nilla ice cream. Ladle inta  cups or jelly jars.  Now, don't be adrinkin' too much or ya might catch a chill.

Goodbye Lie Diaries- Miss Ella and Spring

Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida

Late 1800s

 

Miss Ella

Miss Ella writes:  I so love spring.  The windows are open and the curtains are dancing.  The birds are happy, too, and singing so loudly outside my office, they are distracting me from my ciphering.  The proof of that is I’m writing in my diary.  I think Aqua Verdi Passenger Line will survive while I  take I few minutes to myself.  I can see the daffodils out by the Talkin’ Tree.  I love bulbs.  One day there is nothing and the next time you look, there they are, their pretty flower faces seemingly looking right at you.  I don’t know if my girls will find as much pleasure as I do gardening.   When they were children, we planted pansies together on either side of the front steps. As they are getting older, they are so busy, Breelan with her writing, Carolina with her designs and Marie—I don’t know what Marie is busy with, now that I think on it.  She is very often with Sophie Belle and I’m afraid the two of them might get into trouble the way Breelan and Nora did. Well, more Breelan, really.  Nora always seems to land on her feet. In spite of her mother, she is such a lovely young lady.   Sorry Lord, it is not for me to judge, but You have Your hands full with Aunt Noreen alone!  Bless her heart.   

 

 

Here is a photograph of my daffodil, Miss Ella. 

 I suspect it looks very much like yours! 

Jane Marie, 2014

 

__________________________________________________________________________________

The Goodbye Lie Diaries are communications between the fictional Dunnigan characters from historic suspense Goodbye Lie series set in the 1880s and present day.  We share the same Amelia Island, Florida, same town of Fernandina, same Atlantic Ocean, same Amelia River, same weather, same growing conditions, same buildings on downtown Centre Street, well over 100 years apart ... jmm