Jeannette's Jottings

Subject: My Own Little Desert
Time: 15:41:32 o'clock BST
Author:  jeanno43

Our greenhouse had become something of a white Elephant.

I had always grown tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers in there but last year, for obvious reasons, nothing got done.  The year before that all the cucumbers developed mildew and the tomatoes got the blight.

The year before that we had such a bumper crop we were up to our knees in them, we had so many we could not even give them away in the finish.  This year we decided, no more.

When there are just two of you, gluts of veg/fruit are more trouble than they are worth.  We had some shelving in there though and my cacti were all in little pots, apart from two which were in enormous pots and stood outside during the better months. 

How all these plants survived I do not know.  Even cacti need to be watered in the summer and they also like a regular feed, the type you would use with tomatoes.  They were the last thing on my mind last year and I did not even remember to remind Mike to look after them.

So there they sat, no water at all, no food and baking in the sun under glass.  But they are hardy plants, used to these conditions and we only lost a couple of the more tender ones.

The inevitable happened.  As the greenhouse was not being used it became a depository for all sorts of rubbish.  The cry of "bung it in the greenhouse" was a familiar sound in our home.

Last week I took a look at it.  It was horrible.  So I had a brainwave.  With him indoors doing most of the donkeywork, it was all cleaned out.  The ground was dug over well, lots of sharp sand was added along with some gravel.  Then one by one, my surviving cacti were planted into the ground, given a good watering and then a thick layer of gravel on the top.

It is amazing how, in just a week, they are starting to really thrive.  They must be so relieved to be out of constricting pots.  Of course, we shall have to insulate well in the winter and there will be no watering whatsoever from October until next March.  Hopefully they will survive and flourish. Two have already burst into bloom.

So now I have my own little piece of desert, here in the South East corner of Essex (which as a matter of interest for you is classified as being a desert anyway, having the least rainfall in the country normally).

 

A few larger pebbles scattered around for some contrast and a couple of  pieces of bogwood from an old aquarium and it looks quite impressive.

Long may it thrive.

Could I remind you all to go  to Magic Smoke and cast your vote for the Nice Matters award logo.  Thank you.

AOL Journals: Magic Smoke

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Subject: SILENT KEYBOARDS - J-Land Angels 2 now open.
Time: 10:27:08 o'clock BST
Author:  jeanno43

I have notified as many as I can but for any readers of my journal who do not know, the new version of Angels is now open and Chuck has been added.

Here is the link

SILENT KEYBOARDS - J-LAND ANGELS 2

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Subject: IMPORTANT - J-LAND ANGELS.
Time: 22:09:13 o'clock BST
Author:  jeanno43

Hello my friends,

It has proved extremely difficult to update our original J-Land Angels journal in memory of our writer friends who have gone on before.

After consultation with Sunny, I have her blessing to start over with a brand new version  

I already have it set up.  My intention was to copy and paste all your original entries from the old one into the new.  However this has proved to be problematical.  After copying and pasting several entries, they all came out in my name.   Also I found it was impossible to copy and paste the comments.

So, after further consultation with Sunny it has been decided that the old J-Land Angels will be left as it is but no further posts will be added to it and I will not be copying and pasting from it. 

I have the pictures ready to add and the journal links. As soon as I have added those and the sidebar graphics, I will open it up.

Chuck Ferris has not been added to the old one but he will be added to the new.

Of course, although the pictures and journal links of our departed friends will be on there, there will  obviously be no comments and little in the way of postings.  I hope somebody will write something about Chuck as I did not know him very well.  It will be an open journal where you can post your memories.  Some of you might like to copy and paste your original entry from the old journal.  That is entirely up to you. 

As I said, I have Sunny's permission  and blessing to do this but I wanted to let you all know what is happening as many of you will have the original J-Land Angels on your alerts.    The new journal should be open very shortly.

Thank you.

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Subject: Thank You And A Blog Plug
Time: 11:43:03 o'clock BST
Author:  jeanno43

Just a quick entry.  I would like to thank you all for the lovely comments on my previous entry about my four year journal anniversary.

Also I would like to mention a new journal that I have set up.  Many of you will already know about it but I do get readers here who are not in my address book and I could only notify those who are.

I would be grateful if you could pass the link on to your journal friends, perhaps in an e-mail.  That way the word is spread around and people get to know that it exists.  This is an open journal and any of you can post in memory of a loved one be it family, friend or even a good neighbour.  Here is the link:-

THESE WE HAVE LOVED

Also, if you would like a memorial tag to be placed on the sidebar, our dear friend Sugar has kindly offered to make them.  Just either e-mail myself or Sugar with your request and details of what you would like.

Thank you so much.

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Subject: Anniversary!!!!
Time: 00:03:13 o'clock BST
Author:  jeanno43

 

Yes, today, the 19th July,  is the fourth anniversary of my journal. It seems incredible that so much time has passed. What is even more incredible is that I have been able to keep it going so long.

Admittedly, I do not post as often these days. That is to be expected. I posted so much in the first couple of years and as time passes memories get used up and you find yourself with less to say.

To think I started the journal as a little something different, never expecting it to last more than a couple of months, if that. I just happened to see “blogs” listed on the main page and after having read an example, thought I would give it a go myself.

I never dreamed that four years down the line I would still be writing, nor did I dream of the friends I would make or the lovely people that I would come to know.

So much has happened over these last years. Our first Grandson was less than three weeks old when my journal was born.

The first photo I ever posted.

You shared his babyhood with me and also the birth of our second Grandson. Now Nathan starts school in September and Daniel will be three next month. You have watched them grow.

You learned of my Grandmother, her house and her friends, how my parents met, my feelings on my late brother, my schooldays, some of my working life, ghost stories and historical tales and some of my adventures in tracing my family tree. You have read some of my poetry, shared our photographs and so much more.

On a larger scale we are experiencing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and have shared together the loss of our troops, the tragedy of the London bombings. We have seen the departure of Tony Blair and now rocketing food and fuel prices. Earthquakes, fires, the dreadful Tsunami, the flooding in New Orleans. So much has happened in the world that it is impossible to name everything.

You shared with us the loss of our beloved Pip and our joy in the arrival of Jack and then Leo.

More recently you walked with me through my diagnosis and treatment and shared our joy that I have been given my first year all-clear. Also Daniel’s treatment and operation.

During the last four years I have seen many good journals disappear. Some without apparent reason and with no word of goodbye.  Some regular readers have come and gone also. We have lost dear friends whose journals still remain as a testament to their friendship and their bravery.

We have shared together joys and sadness, worries and hope, faith and despair, we have lifted each other, supported each other, cared for each other.

So, I wish my own journal a happy fourth birthday. I shall continue to write, when I have something to write about or an idea springs to mind. I hope to still be part of our wonderful J-Land community in another four years time.

Finally, I could not have done it without you,  my dear friends and readers. No matter how much effort you put into a journal it means little unless you get comments, unless you get people who like to read what you have to say, unless you get regular followers.  I have been so lucky in having quite a few people who have stuck with me since the very beginning and many more have joined in along the way.

So my heartfelt thanks and love to you all. You have made “Jeannette’s Jottings” something I can be proud of. God bless you all now and always.

Many thanks to Sugar and Donna for the beautiful graphics both in this entry and on my sidebar.

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Subject: Photos etc.
Time: 12:58:54 o'clock BST
Author:  jeanno43

Well, to be honest, more like summer monsoon here.   A couple of days ago we had a month's rain fall in one day, it just never stopped for over twenty four hours. Yesterday was showery and today is very windy.  The forecast is supposed to be a little better for the weekend before..............more rain next week.  So far I have not been able to enjoy the garden much at all.  Some of the plants have been flattened and the ground is like a marsh.

The family have headed off on a ten day holiday to the British seaside and we can only hope that the above graphic will not apply to Nathan and Daniel.  They will  all make the best of it I know, whatever the weather and there are some exciting things to do where they are going.  We will miss not having them here next week but they will have so much to chatter about when they return.

Nathan had his last day at pre-school yesterday.  He starts full-time school in Septemer.  He has already paid a couple of visits there, knows the name of his teacher etc. so we do hope he settles in quickly.  Going to be a bit of a shock to him realizing he is going to be there all day every day and not just mornings. I just cannot believe he is starting school already.

I did promise to post some pictures of Nathan's birthday which was on the 29th June and I have at last managed to sort out a few.  He had a lovely time.  I lost count of how many times we had to sing Happy Birthday.

His parents got him a child's digital camera and he just loves it, wants to take it everywhere with him and no doubt he will be snapping away on holiday.  It does all sorts of fun things which make him laugh.

He loves to cook both in real life and  pretend.  We have a toy cooker for him here and lots of plastic vegetables and fruit, burgers and ham etc. etc. not to mention plates and cups and eating utensils.  He spends hours playing with that each time he visits.  It must run in the blood as his Daddy was a Chef many years ago.  So, what else could we buy him except a Chef's outfit:-

We did give him some other gifts but he could not wait to get into this. 

Of course, Daniel had to get in on the act and try it on but the trousers were far too big so he just had the top and the hat.  Never mind, he will get his own one day.

Daddy made Nathan a lovely cake:-

Daniel could not get the cake inside fast enough!

I mentioned that Nathan was given a camera by his parents.  Of course it does not take the quality pictures you would expect of a normal digital but as I stated it can do little tricks. 

You remember the Elvis song - Devil In Disguise?

You'r the devil in disguise
Oh yes you are
The devil in disguise.

 

So now you know and you thought I was such a quiet person didn't you?  I shall be giving you all a prod with my pitchfork later on so look out lol.

Lastly, a photo of Mike and myself

I really do not have much else to write about at the moment.  I have had a bad back for a few days after pulling it just bending over to get something out of a drawer, so I am not spending as much time on the computer.

I am hoping to be able to sit in the garden for a while over the next couple of days.  Fingers crossed.

Wishing you all , dear friends and readers, a very happy weekend

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Subject: Happy 4th
Time: 13:58:16 o'clock BST
Author:  jeanno43

Wishing all my American friends and their familes a very Happy 4th July. 

I know many of you will be spending it with loved ones, some will have "cook-outs", some may go out to dinner.  You will all celebrate in your own way.  I wish you all happiness and long may the bonds between our two countries continue to grow stronger and stronger.

On a more sombre note, I was very sad to hear of the passing of Clive Hornby who played Jack Sugden in "Emmerdale" for 28 years.  I had watched this programme when it was first called "Emmerdale Farm" and the stories then very much revolved around Jack, his younger brother Joe and their Mother and Grandfather.

Over the years the soap evolved and there have been very many explosive story lines.  In February, the last time Clive appeared as Jack, he had recently split from his on-screen wife, Diane.

It was announced at the beginning of the year that he would be taking a break from the soap because of health problems but he expected to be back as soon as he could.

Sadly, he died last night at the age of 63.

I know he will be greatly missed by the whole cast and crew.  He brought pleasure to so many viewers over the years.  Mike and I have been just two of them.  May he rest in peace.

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Subject: Two Things
Time: 11:03:04 o'clock BST
Author:  jeanno43

Firstly, I want to thank all those of you who added a hug to my doll (previous entry).  It was so lovely to see all the names and read all the messages.

However, I do want to make it clear that I did not put my link on in order to induce people to go there.  I was using my link purely as an example of what these dolls look like and what can be done with them.  You make the doll yourself and there are many different phrases which you can add.

I wanted to feature the site because I think it is a brilliant idea,  that you can create something special for a loved one, friend or neighbour whilst also donating to charity through the sponsor of the site.

Anyway, I was touched by all those of you who went to my doll and left a message.  I do hope that those of you who know someone who has had bc or has been diagnosed will use the site to make them something special.

Secondly, I would like to point out an important change.  Many of you will know that Chuck passed away  - he wrote in J-Land for four years and was very popular.  Because of this I contacted our dear friend Sugar and asked if his name could be added to the J-Land Remembers graphic that she created for me just last week.   Sugar had to change the colour slightly and then added Chuck's name.

So I deleted the old graphic from my sidebar and put on the new one which now bears Chuck's name.

Please feel free to snag this new, updated tribute from my sidebar or, if you prefer, I can send it to you.  Do not forget to save it to your computer as a gif file so that the animation is not lost.

I have also added a posting on J-Land Angels (link on my sidebar under favourite sites).

Thank you.

P.S.  If any of you have not been getting alerts for my postings please let me know.  I have already taken the matter up with journals editor and the team have checked and said alerts are working on my journal yet I am still getting people telling me they did not receive an alert.  If you are not getting them please let me know and I can forward this information on.

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Subject: Celebration Chain
Time: 11:51:45 o'clock BST
Author:  jeanno43
Mood:  Wanted

Have you heard of the Celebration Chain?  No?  Neither had I until yesterday when I received an e-mail informing me that Michael had made  a "celebration" of me!

I went to the link and was so touched and very happy to see that my lovely Mike had created something special for me, my own celebration doll.   I sent the link to a couple of friends so that they could see and to my surprise, I found later last night that Sandra of Sandra's Scribbles had added a hug to it and then, this morning, that Jean had done the same thing.  My friends, that means a lot to me. There is nothing like a hug and the good wishes of your friends.

This is such a wonderful idea that I decided to give it publicity.

Some of you will have been touched by bc yourselves and many of you will have a relative or friend who has.  I thought maybe you would like to create a "doll" for them. You see, for every doll created money is donated to charity and the person concerned gets something very personal by way of  their own celebration.

So far over 8,700 women have had dolls created for them.

So you can see exactly what I am talking about, here is the link to my doll:-

Celebration Chain

If you would like to create a doll for someone that you know and care about then go to this next link, scan right down to the bottom of the page and there it is - the celebration chain. Just follow the instructions which are very easy.  Here is the link:-

BC site

It is such a great idea that I felt  prompted to write about it for all  those  of you who, like me, did not know that this existed. Remember, you will also be donating to charity.

Love,

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Subject: Thank You From Nathan
Time: 16:52:22 o'clock BST
Author:  jeanno43

We saw the boys again today.  Nathan was full of what happened at pre-school this morning.  They had a cake and all  the other children and staff sang Happy Birthday to him so he told me he has two birthdays now!

His mother read him all the messages that you left yesterday and Nathan has asked me to thank you for them, so that is exactly what I am doing. Big hugs from him to you.

We did take quite a few pictures yesterday and I shall be showing some on my journal when I have had a chance to sort them all out.

In the meantime, a couple of entries ago I did mention that I had some new photographs of the boys to show you, they are really great and we have them framed and hanging on our wall.

Firstly, both of them together

Now Daniel on his own

Lastly, Nathan

I think we have two very handsome Grandsons, but I know we are biased.

It was too hot to sit in the garden today but we enjoyed all being together and just talking and laughing.  I just cannot believe where today has gone, it has just flown past and I have got nothing done.  Never mind, it will still be there tomorrow.  Family is more important.

P.S. Rosemary of    Inspiration   needs help from anyone who has ever received or given a Nice Matters award.  Many of you have.  She has requested that the link be passed on.  I am happy to do so. You can find out more by visiting her journal.  Thank you.

AOL Journals: Magic Smoke#Entry3328#Entry3328

 

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