F A M I L Y

Hi All just a little story and a little laughter Tonight

I ran into a stranger as he passed by,

"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.

He said, "Please excuse me too; I wasn't watching for you."

We were very polite, this stranger and I.

We went on our way and we said goodbye.

But at home a different story is told,

How we treat our loved ones, young and old.

Later that day, cooking the evening meal,

My son stood beside me very still.

When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.

"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.

He walked away, his little heart broken.

I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.

While I lay awake in bed,

God's still small voice came to me and said,

"While dealing with a stranger,

common courtesy you use,

but the family you love, you seem to abuse.

Go and look on the kitchen floor,

You'll find some flowers there by the door.

Those are the flowers he brought for you.

He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.

He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,

you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."

By this time, I felt very small,

And now my tears began to fall.

I quietly went and knelt by his bed;

"Wake up, little one, wake up,

" I said. "Are these the flowers you picked for me?

" He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.

I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.

I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."

I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;

I shouldn't have yelled at you that way.

" He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay.

I love you anyway.

" I said, "Son, I love you too,

and I do like the flowers, especially the blue.

" FAMILY Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family we left behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than into our own family, an unwise investment indeed, don't you think? So what is behind the story? Do you know what the word FAMILY means? FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU
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Here is a chicken recipe that also includes the use of popcorn as a stuffing - imagine that! When I found this recipe I thought it was perfect for people like me who just are not sure how to tell when poultry is thoroughly cooked but not dried out. Give this a try .
1 Large Chicken
1 cup melted butter
1 cup stuffing1 cup of uncooked popcorn
salt and pepper to taste.
Preheat oven to 220C
Brush chicken well with melted butter,
salt and pepper.

Fill cavity with stuffing and popcorn.Place in baking pan with the neck end towards the back of the oven. Listen to the popping sounds.When the chicken's arse blows the oven door open and the chicken flies across the room, it is done. And you thought I couldn't cook!!!
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WRIGLEY'S CHEWING GUM!
An Australian man was having a coffee and croissants with butter and
jam
in a cafe when an American tourist, chewing gum, sat down next to him.
The Australian politely ignored the American, who, nevertheless started
up a conversation.
The American snapped his gum and said, "You Australian folk eat the
whole bread?"
The Australian frowned, annoyed with being bothered during his
breakfast, and replied, "of course."
The American blew a huge bubble. "We don't. In the States, we only eat
what's inside. The crusts we collect in a container, recycle them
transform them into croissants and sell them to Australia ."
The American had a smirk on his face. The Australian listened in
silence.
The American persisted, "D'ya eat jam with your bread?"
Sighing, the Australian replied, "of course."
Cracking his gum between his teeth, the American said, "we don't. In
the States, we eat fresh fruit for breakfast, then we put all the peels,
seeds and the leftovers in containers, recycle them,
transform them into jam and sell it to Australia .

The Australian then asked, "Do you have sex in the States?"
The American smiled and said "Why of course we do."
The Australian leaned closer to him and asked, "And what do you do with
the condoms once you've used them?"
"We throw them away, of course!"
Now it was the Australian's turn to smile.
"We don't. In Australia , we put them in a container, recycle them,
melt them down into chewing gum and sell them to the United States .

Why do you think it's called Wrigley's?"

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IF MY BODY WERE A CAR

If my body were a car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a newer model. I've got bumps and dents and scratches in my finish and my paint job is getting a little dull ...
But that's not the worst of it.
My headlights are out of focus and it's especially hard to see things up close.My traction is not as graceful as it once was.I slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather. My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins.
It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed.
My fuel rate burns inefficiently.
But here's the worst of it --
Almost every time I sneeze, cough or sputter.....either my radiator leaks or my exhaust backfires!

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Fools are like other folks as long as they are silent. - Danish (on foolishness)

Fools rush in where wise men fear to tread. - Alexander Pope (1688-1744)

For every bow there is an arrow. (For everyone there is someone.) - unknown

For news of the heart, ask the face.- Guinean (on life and living)

Forgive and forget. - unknown

Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. - Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

Forethought is easy, repentance is hard. - Chinese (on discretion)

Forewarn'd, forearm'd. - Ben Franklin (1706-1790)

Fire in the heart sends smoke into the head. - German Proverb

First come, first served. - unknown

First food, then religion. - Afghan (on practicality)

First things first. - G. Jackson (1894)

Fish don't get caught in deep water. - Malay (on caution and care)

Fishing without a net is merely bathing. - Hausa (West African) (on authenticity)

Focus on what's right in your world instead of what's wrong. - unknown

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Visit from Cazz

Hi Everybody, Last Weekend I had a lovely visit from My Daughter Carol, she arrived friday Evening, we stayed up chatting all night,and Carol showing me a few new games to play on the computer, getting to bed approx 4.30am. how time fly's when your having fun. Of course we had a sleep in.

Saturday off to the local Chicken shop were Carol bought heaps of fresh chicken, Kievs, Kebabs, Schnitzels, stir fry, etc. to restock her freezer.Then to Donna's to put it in her freezer of course it didnt all fit as Donna had hers well stocked., then back to try mine but of course mines well stocked also, . so most of the chicken ended up in my next door neighbours freezer.

With all the chicken packed away, it was off to Gwens for our saturday girls get together were Gwens friend and two of my daughters joined us.

we had a great afternoon which turned into evening with few drinks consumed fun was had by all..Sunday Carol gave me breakfast in bed and waited on me all day, then Carol went around to spend a couple of hours with Donna and her family before returning home early evening...

Carol of course (Click to enlarge )

At Gwen's. L/R.: Gwen's Friend Paula, My Sister Pauline, Myself, Gwen, and two of My daughters Donna and Carol,

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To End with a few Friendship quotes

"My friends are my estate."- Emily Dickinson

If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance .George Bernard Shaw:

The family is one of nature's masterpieces. George Santayana:

"A House Is Made of Bricks and Stone; A Home Is Made of Love Alone

"To be depressed is to be lonely; to have a friend is to be happy..." - Guido

"It's the friends you can call up at 4am that matter." - Marlene Dietrick

"A friend is a gift you give yourself." - Robert Louis Stevenson,

My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me." - Henry Ford

"The best way to keep your friends is not to give them away." - Wilson Mizner

"Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with." - Mark Twain

A Luncheon date

Hi everyone, hope all's well in your part of the world,Today we took Merle out to lunch to the R.S.L (Returned Servicemen League) Shepparton. Then after lunch was over we ventured over to Ardmona's outlet for discounted goods in Mooroopna were we all purchased bottled fruit and other goodies,before going back to Merle's.

This is the Entrance to the Club

L-R. Myself, Pauline, Merle And Gwen.Enjoying our main course,

Myself and Pauline had Garlic Prawns, Gwen had Roast pork and Vegetables and Merle LemonChicken and Rice.

Merle dipping her finger to try the decoration out surrounding her Pavlova.

L-R Myself, Pauline, Merle and Gwen Enjoying our dessert, Three of us Had Banana fritters and icecream and Merle Of course had Pavlova .

Gwen helping Merle into my car

Back at Merles were we enjoyed A light afternoon tea before

Leaving Merle's for home after a very pleasant day.

A Letter

Hi everyone, hope your all feeling on top of the world were ever you maybe.Summer has come a few weeks early, Been getting high temps for a few weeks now, today forecast 41c =103f. Ahhh well have to get used to it going to be hot for the next few months, Thank heavens for Air con.

Sorry im a bit slow visiting you all as my backs playing up and I cant sit too long but I will get around to visiting you all very soon.
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So today ill give you all a rest from my Photo's,

I recieved this from a friend in the US and thought it too nice not to share .But be warned its a tear Jerker
This is one of the kindest things I've ever experienced. I have no way to know who sent it, but there is a kind soul Working in the dead letter office of the US postal service.
Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month.
The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey.She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven.

I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her You will know that she is my dog.

I really miss her.Love, Meredith.

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it.
Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven.

That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letterYet. I told her that I thought He had.Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed,

"To Meredith" in an unfamiliar hand.

Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, "When a Pet Dies." Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope.

On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith

,Abbey arrived safely in heaven.Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn't sick anymore.
Her spirit is here with me just like it stays In your heart. Abbey loved being your dog.
Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in,

so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have.

I picked her especially for you.I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.By the way, I am wherever there is love.Love,

God

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Now to add a little laughter:
LITTLE JOHNNY ON... PHILOSOPHY:
A Teacher asks her class, "If there are 5 birds sitting on a fence and you shoot one of them, how many will be left?" He replies, "None, they will all fly away with the first gun shot." The teacher replies, "The correct answer is 4, but I like your thinking."
Then little Johnny says "I have a question for YOU. There are Three women sitting on a bench having ice cream: One is delicately licking the sides of the triple scoop of ice cream. The second is gobbling down the top and sucking the cone. The third is biting off the top of the ice cream. Which one is married?" The teacher, blushing a great deal, replied, "Well, I suppose the one that's gobbled down the top and sucked the cone."
To which Little Johnny replied, "The correct answer is 'the one with the wedding ring on', but I like your thinking."

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Bob's in trouble...

.Bob works hard at the plant and spends two nights each week bowling and plays golf every Saturday.
His wife thinks he's pushing himself too hard, so for his birthday she takes him to a local strip club.
The doorman at the club greets them and says, "Hey, Bob! How ya doin?"His wife is puzzled and asks if he's been to this club before.
"Oh no,"says Bob. "He's on my bowling team.
When they are seated, a waitress asks Bob if he'd like his usual and brings over a Budweiser.
His wife is becoming increasingly uncomfortable and says, "How did she know that you drink Budweiser?""I recognize her, she's the waitress from the golf club.
I always have a Bud at the end of the 1st nine, honey.
"A stripper then comes over to their table, throws her arms around Bob, starts to rub herself all over him and says, "Hi Bobby.
Want your usual table dance, big boy?Bob's wife, now furious, grabs her purse and storms out of the club.
Bob follows and spots her getting into a cab.Before she can slam the door, he jumps in beside her.
Bob tries desperately to explain how the stripper must have mistaken him for someone else, but his wife is having none of it.
She is screaming at him at the top of her lungs, calling him every 4 letter word in the book.

The cabby turns around and says, "Geez Bob, you picked up a real bitch this time."
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AN OUTSTANDING STUDENT
A blond girl comes back from school one evening. She runs to her mum and says: "Mummy today at school we learnt how to count. Well, all the other girls only counted to 5, but listen to me: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10! It's good, innit?"
"Yes darling, very good."
"Is that because I'm blond?"
"Yes darling, it's because you're blond."
Next day, the little girl comes back from school and says: "Mummy, today at school we learnt the alphabet. All the other girls only went as far as D, but listen to me: A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K ! It's good "innit?"
"Yes darling, very good.""Is that because I'm blond, mummy?"
"Yes darling it's because you're blond.
Next Day, she returns from school and cries: "Mummy, today we went swimming. Well, all the other girls have no breasts, but look at me!" She proceeds to flash her impressive 36 D's at her mummy. "Is that because I'm blond, mummy?"
"No darling, it's because you're 25."

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May your spirit keep the freedom of a butterfly in spring

And your heart be filled with the joys of simple things.

May your essence claim the freshness of the new laid morning dew.

And may the beauty of a new day bring happiness to you.

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A little more of my backyard

Hi everyone, my good friends Ron and Irene have now gone home after spending a week with me,while they were here Ron got stuck into my back over grown fernery pulled weeds, dead pot plants(lack of water) hidden by over grown Arum lillies, all dug up, now a few empty pots to re plant. Thats all for now ill be around to visit you all soon as I can

Now a few photo's of Ron and Irene in the garden.. Click to enlarge photo's

Ron's first job

this is the stag Ron is hosing

First job of the day

this stag about 5 years old and my 1st attempt at planting a stag using a hanging basket to form a ball, took the three of us to rehang,it was hanging from a well worn chain ,Ron and Irene lifted it while I put a new hook into basket then was all able to lift to hook over beam preparing to start this section of the fernery
Ron hard at work
and again
end result

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THE POSITIVE SIDE OF LIFE:

Living on Earth is expensive,
but it does include a free trip
around the sun every year.

=============

How long a minute is
depends on what side of the
bathroom door you're on.
Birthdays are good for you;
the more you have,
the longer you live.
=============
Happiness comes through doors you
didn't even know you left open.
====================
Ever notice that the people who are late
are often much jollier
than the people who have to wait for them?
==============

A truly happy person is one who
can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
================

Orchids and Roses

Hi everyone,hope alls well were ever you maybe.I have had a quiet few days, then yesterday Wednesday I went bowling, after bowls Gwen called to in to see me after she went home I went and put my dinner on then went out to feed the dog when the phone rang it was my sister saying were are you,(lol)I forgot Pauline invited me round for dinner so I swiftley turned mine off put it in the fridge and went around to a lovely meal of roast pork with lots of veg thank you Sis. Today the pest man come to spray the house for spiders and insects I get this done every year just before summer, then went and had my hair cut and did a little shopping . Tomorrow my good friends Ron and Irene from Melbourne are comming to spend a week with me which im looking forward too.

Now to end with a few more photo's from my garden..Click to enlarge ,..

My white native orchid with many blooms
A little mauve rock orchid

this one has been blooming for a couple of months and in need of repotting, another job when it finishes flowering
this one also in need of a repot
A very pale scented lemon ive had these orchids so long ive lost the labels
another that blooms forever

my favorite rose "Blue Moon"

"Just Joey"

" Impressions"cream tipped in pale pink

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A little patch in my Garden

Hi everybody. hope your all well were ever you maybe,It rained yesterday and a little during the night Yippeeee! enough to water the garden but we need a lot more rain with summer on its way,as I look out the window the sun is shinning again, showers forecast today but will wait and see.

.So thought I share a small patch of my garden with you all

Looking out from my dinning room glass sliding door

then a closer look at the plants.

1 of the Hare's paw hanging on the post. Theres another on the trellis and also another growing out the bottom of the stag horn.

My Calibrachoa Cabaret Purple.

Lord Byron Fuchsia
a close up of "Lord Byron"

this one Has survived getting dropped and broken while taking it down to repot into larger basket I will cut it back after flowering so will bush up again. Its called Harbour Bridge.

This is Cotton Candy white

Pink Chiffon Looks so delicate I think its my favorite

This one is called R.a.f Double Fuchsia its smothered in Bud

Weary Dunlop

Hi everybody, at last my computer is home and Joe and his wife Robyn from the computer shop Bundoora came up today and spent the afternoon fine tuning it. Thank you Joe.

So here are a few photo's as promised,taken on our trip home after leaving computer in Melbourne. Click on Photo's to enlarge.

This is the entrance to "Weary's" Monument situated In Benalla Rose gardens Victoria one hour from home

Gwen and Myself ( Jen) admiring "Weary"

SIR EDWARD 'WEARY' DUNLOP(1907-1993)

Sir Edward Weary Dunlop was a surgeon in the Australian Army during World War Two.

He is legendary for his care of soldiers taken prisoner by the Japanese.

His nickname might have been Weary but his nature certainly wasn't.

Even in the most horrific conditions Weary found energy to fight for the well being and often, the lives of these men.

Weary grew up on farms in country Victoria.

He loved adventures and he liked to prove he was tougher than the rest." I used to walk down barefoot and jump on top of my favourite riding horse and round up the horses - it was quite an impressive cavalcade."Weary was a natural athlete and at school in Benalla, he preferred to play sport than to study.

When he left school Weary took a job in a pharmacy.But he grew bored with small town life and headed for Melbourne in 1927.

Here Weary took a new career path, and began studying medicine at Melbourne University.He also played with Australia's national rugby team, The Wallabies, and was a champion boxer.

Soon after graduating Weary took a job as a ship's surgeon and sailed to London.The next year World War Two broke out.Weary knew his skills were needed closer to the action.

These are two of the Plaque's at the Entrance of the park

The Bridge we crossed after visiting "Weary" heading for home

This is the Benalla art Gallery looking across From the bridge in same park .