Birthday Greetings, Linda,Montreal, Canada.

Linda, many good wishes to you on your special day, from far away.

May you have love,laughter,sunshine and happiness today.

9091 miles separate us from each other, but in blog -land, miles are no distance at all.

I do hope you have a great day, and enjoy your flowers,  as you have that early morning  cup of coffee, I will be thinking of you as I enjoy my coffee too.

Quotation of the day, author unknown,

“ In  friendship, the smallest distance can seem so far, and the greatest distance can be bridged so easily.

Miles do not matter,love can fly across the oceans easily.”

Greetings from Jean

At the Petrol Station

My  day began with coffee, and  a cool breeze. One phone call, patient enquiry asked 2 questions, then I was transferred to the ward.

“ Its very early, would you like to talk to your friend? I’ll take the  phone down, this is an exception”. Yes, 8.15 a.m. the ward rounds must have been all over, and we chatted. this might be the very best phone call I have had, and lifted my heart up high.

Then we drove to Hawke Bay on NZ’s North Island East Coast. It was so hot!!! I had worn fleece clothes, and roasted, 24C.  over there!!! Nothing remarkable to photograph, until we stopped for petrol on the way home.

These ducks seemed quite unaware of the danger they were in, cars, bikes and other vehicles all coming in to fill up the petrol tanks. They ambled along, and probably quite sure they were safe, as everyone passed so slowly.   This photo, they were very close to me.

Quotation of the day from Toby Keith ( Every Dog Has Its Day),

“ One moment in the sunshine when your ducks lined up in a row”

Greetings from Jean

A Family Story

 

A friend sent me this link, a story of one family.

Life is fragile, mother’s love can be stretched far and wide, and she has busy days, Luckily the father is there to give a helping hand at meal times.

Soon the family grows old enough to leave home.

I wonder if that MUM felt as  other Mums  do when there is  the    “Empty Nest” as one by one family members become adults and make their own way into the wide world.

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you will need to right click and open the link

 click here

Thank you so much for your caring words, my friend is still in hospital, the patient enquiry tells me “ comfortable”, and I truly hope that is how it is. I grieve too early, with much sadness for a life too short, have many memories that will bring tears or a smile, and a photo to remind me of the bright joy and laughter  that arrived  with each visit.  I  hope for one more visit, to share laughter, love, and hugs together.

Quotation of the day, from Helen Keller

 

"My friends have made the story of my life. 

In a thousand ways they have turned my limitations into beautiful privileges       and  enabled me to walk serene and happy           in the shadow cast by my desperation."

Greetings from Jean

Please send me a Modem!!!

 

 

I have been deprived of all blogs, emails, internet, for 3 days!!! Late Sunday night,  our Belkin Modem Router stopped working. Long story, but suffice to say, we have a new replacement one, from Harvey Norman, they honoured the lifetime warranty, on the box of the old one, luckily I kept the box and docket. Thanks, girls.

A lot of trouble getting both our laptops conformed to new configuration, finally done by 5 p.m. today.

Have I missed anything  important?? Of course I have, all blog news is so important, that  housework, meals, and laundry can wait!!!

Lots of catching up to do, emails to reply, etc.

Meanwhile the garden flowers are blooming, vege seeds growing, lawn is thriving, way too fast, needs cutting every 7 days. A few pics from the garden.

 

  

We have news that a very dear friend is so ill in Wellington Hospital.

My heart sags to depths so deep,  and words are hard to find.

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets,

so love the people who treat you right,

forgive the ones who don’t,

and believe that everything happens for a reason”

Greetings from Jean

More Chores and family visits

 

Life is getting a little easier, pain a little less, sleep still deprived!!! and grass is growing like it always does in the spring. Rain, thunder and lightning last night. The family from Rotorua came to visit, the three guys went off, us three girls did our own shopping, a lovely lunch, and some work around here. All hands on deck to load the trailer with firewood, I was spoilt, Josh did the quad driving, and reversing!!! Many,many thanks, all.

Please do not worry if my comments or words are few, we are OK, Hugh is gradually getting better, slow and steady, and still with crutches most of the day.Pain is less, and food is again important!!! That in itself tells me he is much better!!!

From a UK friend in the Ugly Hedgehog Forum, some pics, Thanks Graham.

 

 

Quotation of the day,  from Albert Einstein

“ Our task must be to free ourselves…..

by widening our circle  of compassion to embrace

all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty”

Greetings from Jean

One More Competition

Courtesy of the email link sent to me ================================================ What's your dream adventure? Share it for a chance to win it. Email not displaying correctly? View in browser. How It Works   Answer the question "How will you GoPro?" in 500 characters or less. Create an original drawing, movie poster, collage or any other visual representation of your idea. Share your entry using the hashtag #iwillgopro. If your idea is chosen as the Grand Prize winner, you and a friend will travel with a GoPro film crew to create a video of your epic adventure. All-expense-paid dream adventure for two (up to $30,000 USD value) accompanied by a GoPro film crew $15,000 USD in cash GoPro Everything We Make prize package (yep, get one of everything GoPro makes) The most creative or original entry each week will win a GoPro Everything We Make prize package. Entries accepted October 1 – December 4

After last week, and the “washer”… then  this week, the  “ Bike Light” ….what will be next?

I get emails from GoPro, and they have the most exciting competition. Lots of dollars to spend to  make my dream adventure  come true. Guess what my entry will be??

“My dream adventure is to travel and meet my wonderful blog friends in North America and Canada…”

I would like your, all of your… permission to use one photo from your blog, as I need to put in words ( 500 limit) of what I would like to do, then I hope to do a photo slide entry, for Step 2.. starting at, naturally, the far North  in Alaska,  down through Yukon, Colorado, Illinois, Nova Scotia, New York, Florida,  and all in- between, with a caption on each photo. Please email me if you are happy to have a pic of yours in my entry, …  I thought maybe scenery or landscape or animals, no faces,  and no personal details at all… and also… please email if you would like to say “No”.

Just think, Hugh and I would meet you all,  bringing  goodies made in NZ with Merino, for those cold winters, cool merino for the warmer south, some woodwork made by Hugh, and lots of memory cards for my own camera.

I have a little time to get it done, but want to do the very best I can.

Quotation of the week, author unknown

“  Make sure you have a dream, if you want to succeed”

Greetings from Jean

Daily Chores and a Purple Framed Prize!!!

 

Life continues at  “ Snail’s Pace” here, Hugh is using crutches all the time, has physio appointments twice a week, continues with pain medication, more prescribed last Thursday.

I still look at the “ RED BEAST” aka Suzuki Quad, in the shed, and try not to be overwhelmed by its size, the narrow gap between it and the sides of the shed,  ( Hugh says I exaggerate!!)  , climb on and start it up!!! Instructions followed to the letter, so careful not to scratch, bump or leave any mark at all, it is his pride and joy.Firewood can be loaded onto the tray, both front and rear, saving me from trying to reverse with the small trailer behind. Those words “ If at first you don’t succeed” do not apply in this case, too many tries needed with no success at all  !!!

I am hoping we get the appointment to see an orthopaedic specialist very soon.

Meantime, daily chores, like laundry, housework, meals, and firewood continue.

Last week  Noel Leeming, a large department store nationwide,  ran a competition, prizes included 2 cameras, one a Nikon , one a Canon, and Samsung whitewear.  (A fridge-Freezer, a dishwasher and a washing machine). You had to send in a photo of your old appliance and a few words about it.

This is  our   spinner, for use when the power is off, we can run it off the generator.You have  to wash the clothes by hand, then put into the bowl, then spin out the dirty water, then rinse in another bucket, by hand, then spin again!!!  It is small, and very old. I entered this for Hugh.

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My own  washing machine,  fill by bucket, empty water into a bucket,  very small  bowl, ( =  very small   loads),  a new one would be a dream come true.

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I took the photo, entered it for Hugh, and  didn’t think about it after that. Next morning, watching the news on TV One, I hear his name, and there is our weather man Sam, announcing that Hugh had won a Samsung front loader washing machine.

Now all I need to do is get the manual, and make sure he knows how to use it!! Many thanks, Noel Leeming, and Breakfast at TVNZ

Here it is, framed in Purple, not sure why, maybe P for Purple matches P for Prize!!!

My dear friend continues to bring “meals on wheels” last night was a delicious roast, all  beautifully arranged on a huge oval platter, cauli, broccoli and peas, roast potato, kumara and pumpkin, pork slices, and gravy in a packet. Heat and Eat!!! Delicious, and nectar for my  soul and tired body.

Other friends phone, email, txt.,  comment,  or send prayers, hugs and loving thoughts, all so appreciated.

If I do not comment on my favourite blogs, I am still reading all your news, I read of your  weather, approaching winter,  first snow falls, quilting news, family updates and more. I will resume my blog and comments when my days are easier.

Quotation of the day, author unknown,

“ You do not miss the water until the well runs dry”

Greetings from Jean