A Time of Prayer

I believe in the power of prayer.

For many reasons, many of my family & friends have need of prayer. 

Please join with me today in thought & prayers for those around us that are in need.  

My heartfelt thanks to you for your consideration of prayers, Tami

 

Memorial Day 2012

 My father, Roy Lee Jeffery - 1945 Navy

  Let us keep in our hearts those individuals that have
served to encourage freedom and peace in our world

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields, Sleep sweet - to rise anew! We caught the torch you threw And holding high, we keep the Faith With All who died.

We cherish, too, the poppy red That grows on fields where valor led; It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies, But lends a lustre to the red Of the flower that blooms above the dead In Flanders Fields.

And now the Torch and Poppy Red We wear in honor of our dead. Fear not that ye have died for naught; We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought In Flanders Fields. In Flanders Fields we fought

 Moina Michael

  
 

Empty Nest

Today has been filled with bittersweet emotions for me.  Our last child to move out and

'fly the nest' did so today.

 

My heart is a bit overwhelmed, my emotions are raw... Both my parents are gone and I can no longer reach out to them... Our sons are wonderfully grown and now living on their own... My husband retires in 17 work days after 32 years of service... Whether I feel it or not, all these events in my life tell me I am growing older... Where did the time go?

I am thankful of the blessings and trials God has allowed me to experience in my life.  

Like a good novel, each chapter is good to the very end, so I joyfully await the next chapter in my life.

Hum, I wonder what is in the next chapter?

   

Remembering England & France 2010 - The Final Leg of Our Vacation

 To regress a few days  - I mentioned on Day 2 about meeting Nancy at the Port de Vanves flea market and said I would mention more later.... Well, we knew there would be other Americans attending FIBULE in Paris, but not sure who they were.  Tara & I were browsing at the market and noticed a lady bent down looking into a basket of buttons.  The lady stood up facing the opposite direction of us.  Tara began asking me questions about the buttons and this lady slightly turned and spoke about the buttons.  As she turned towards us we realized it was Nancy, the Show Chairman for the USA National Button Society.  Pretty awesome to run into someone you know 4000 miles away from home in a flea market!

The last leg our our journey...

A beautiful pyramid-shaped memorial holds the wine glass still smudged with (Princess) Diana's lipstick from her last dinner as well as the engagement ring Dodi al-Fayed had purchased for her the day before their tragic accident - display at Harrods.  

Within walking distance from Tara's family was The Warrington Pub & Restaurant owned by Gordon Ramsey Holdings.  We walked there for drinks.

Abbey Road Studio 

It is said this wall is frequently repainted

Familiar?

Abbey Road -

I walked the crosswalk where the Beatles walked. I wanted to remove my shoes for the photo, but felt it wasn't safe.  The road is rather narrow and busy with traffic.  It took me several attempts dodging vehicles for Tara to snap this photo of me.

The entrance to the amazing Victoria & Albert museum - known as the greatest museum of art and design.  Worth the visit!

"This stone was laid by the Majesty Queen Victoria, Empress of India..." click to enlarge photo

Stunning crystal chandeliers and mosaic walls inside the cafe at the V & A museum

The famous Portobello Road flea market located in Notting Hill, London - where the movie Notting Hill was filmed

We arrived early before most vendors were open.  We walked the length of the market.  On one end were the tag/garage sale vendors, then new item vendors, then scrumptious food vendors and finally antique & vintage item vendors.


It did not take long for the crowds to arrive.  At times the crowds were so massive you simply moved like cog wheels.

OK, do you think I a lot that day???

St. Paul's Covent Church 
Sometimes the Pearly Kings & Queens meet here

The Pearly Kings & Queens of England

Yes, those are pearl buttons sewn as designs on their clothes, why? Who are the Pearly Kings & Queens?

 1960s reproduction postcard I purchased in the gift shop of the Victoria & Albert Museum - The Pearly King & Queen of London in the 1960s and years later in 2010

The Pearly King & Queen of London in 2010

This probably once-in-a-lifetime trip for me was unbelievable... I really enjoyed time with my dear friend Tara as we visited with family & friends & gallivanted across Briare, Paris & London.  We saw the Eiffel Tower - We saw history - The weather was nearly perfect - We attended FIBULE - We met the Pearly Kings & Queens - We shopped till we dropped at Clignancourt, Port de Vanves, Kempton & Portobello flea markets - I crossed Abbey Road just like the Beatles - Shopped and ate at Harrods - Visited the amazing Victoria & Albert Museum and..... I got to dig in the Briare button dump!!

A truly incredible vacation!

Thanks for taking the journey down memory lane with us.

Remembering England & France 2010 - London Days

On Day 7 we returned from Briare, France to Paris and then took the Chunnel back to London for the remainder of our vacation.

While waiting for our train to London, Tara treated me with a belated Birthday goodie...

Can you say yum?

In London we stayed with Tara's son Aaron, his wife Anya & grandson Riley.  Thank you guys for your tremendous hospitality!

Grandma Tara & Riley

The bus & Tube transportation systems make getting around both Paris & London easy "Mind the Gap"

 

We still did a lot of walking - easily 5 - 12 miles daily.

Here's the first half of our London visit... 

Tami & Tara ready for a boat ride in

Little Venice, London
 

Beautiful bronze horse sculpture at the 

Camden Stable Market 

At the end of our Little Venice boat ride was the Camden Stable Market.  It is a unique open air market of 700 shops and restaurants.

In Victorian days, the Camden Stable was a horse stable & hospital for work horses that pulled barges down the canals to bring merchandise into London.

 This tribute to The Women of WWII was in the middle of a busy street - that's one way to get it noticed!
 

We were walking down a sidewalk and I just happened to look up and see this building plaque - once the home of Charles Dickens

Neither the horse or man twitched a muscle - well trained

Classic photo: phone booth, double decker bus and Big Ben

Big Ben

Tara & Tami in front of Parliament and Big Ben

London Eye

We walked 'The Queen's Walk' - I am holding a snap together button I found on the sidewalk in front of The Queen's Walk statute.  The Queen gave me a button!

Tower Bridge

The Tower of London

Front gates to Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace

The Union Jack is flying - the Queen is home

The Button Queen 

Tara & son Aaron at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Rebuilt 1667 restaurant.  This building burnt down in the 1666 Great London fire.  It was rebuilt in 1667 and still stands today as a restaurant.  

Well are you tired yet?  These photos spanned over a couple of days... we were tired, but not willing to give into exhaustion yet.

Join us tomorrow as we remember the last leg of our London journey.