An amazing young man....

Wow.  Talk about courage.  Talk about hope.  Talk about faith.  

Be among the first to discover a new blog, written by a former classmate of daughter #2, whom she met in kindergarten.

(Her blog post, Mommy Musings, introduces him to us in "An Important Read".)

He has decided to share his life's journey in order to help others.

That is all I will share.  Christophe will tell you the rest.

If you only have time to read a few lines this weekend, give yourself a gift, and read his blog. 

I promise you, it will change your perspective on life.

http://cklafontant.blogspot.com/

Enjoy the weekend.  Stay cool!

Thursday's thought for the day...

This was on Facebook this morning, posted by Dr. Wayne W Dyer, photo by Reid Tracy.

How beautiful!  

Comparing me to just me.

Taking the time each day, whether through reading, listening to others, or simply praying, to find ways in which I can grow and improve myself.

It's true what they say.  We never do stop learning.

I think that's wonderful!

Creatures great and small....

As the Englishman and I perused the aisles of Lowes yesterday, I came upon this little contraption below.  The color was the first thing which caught my eye.  Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a feeding station for squirrels.  

Ah, the squirrels.  Their population has grown to three in our back garden and they are constantly draining the bird feeder.  Given that, I asked the Englishman if he thought this little chair might be a workable distraction.  He felt it would at least be entertaining, if nothing else.

So far....so good.  A couple of the squirrels are in fact using it, but that hasn't stopped them also hanging upside down on the feeder, gobbling up more seed.  Oh well.  The war goes on.

Truth is, I have a soft spot for all the little animals in the yard.  Some days I fill the feeder twice and try to make sure there is fresh water in the bird bath.  Last week's heat wave was a tough go for many of them.  Not only did the birds actually splash around in the bath to cool off, but I noticed the squirrels dunking their heads in, with hopes of finding some relief.  The Englishman and I, and Little Miss, get such pleasure out of watching all the activity.  Looking after them a bit is the least I can do in return.

While the honeymooners are away relaxing, I agreed to watch their parakeet, Simon.  He's quite an interesting bird.  He has a rather large vocabulary.  I don't always understand him, but the rest of the family seems to be able to make out what he is saying.  Including a few expletives he has picked up!

After dinner, I went and refreshed his water and shifted the seed around in his food dish. As I started to leave, he called out quite clearly, "Thank you."  I swear.  What was also funny, was that without hesitation I responded, "You're welcome, Simon. Have a good night."

I'm pleased to see that good manners in my family extend even to the pets.

Tip for a Tuesday....a

Sew what?

Packing a "go" bag for a myriad of anticipated events has become almost second nature to me.  It began decades ago with diaper bags for short outings and trips to Grandma's. It then grew to include "going to the beach" bags, and lately, a "going to the hospital" bag for trips with my mother.  A "wedding emergency" bag seemed in order, so I packed one last week.

Included in the wedding go bag were: blank place cards with black pen, box of Kleenex for the anticipated tears, safety pins, animal cookies (4 boxes), table seating list, lint brush, scotch tape, movies on old iPhone for Miss M, a sweater, aspirin, and a spare camera for the Englishman.  I thought I had all the bases covered as they say, and then some.

I placed all the items in a canvas bag daughter #2 gave me for Mother's Day.  It has a picture of my sweet granddaughters, making it easy to spot and not likely to be picked up by mistake by anyone else.

What was I missing?  A needle and thread.  What was the one item we suddenly needed before the ceremony?  A needle and thread. 

I thought the scotch tape would be a good substitute.  When I suggested that, I was quickly told "no".  The tiny pins I handed to one of the girls were not adequate for the task.  Now what?

Thankfully, daughter #1 searched through her enormous bag and came up with what was needed.  She sewed a few stitches here and there, and we were back in business.

I'm sure you've guessed by now what my tip is: ALWAYS carry a spare needle with a small packet of thread.

Do you think they would have used duct tape if I had offered that?  Probably not.

Here comes the bride....

Isn't she lovely?

The wedding was, quite simply, wonderful.

We thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the day, from the "before" photo sessions, to the ceremony, the cocktail hour and reception.

Weather was perfect, food was delicious, and we literally danced for hours.

At least I did.  My feet are still throbbing.

(For a peek at the youngest flower girls, check out "Mommy Musings", written by daughter #2, aka Matron of Honor.  Her blog is located on the right, under My Blog List)

Mr. and Mrs. G

Truly, as happy as can be!

(photos courtesy of daughter #1, aka Maid of Honor)

more tomorrow....

Before, then later....

This is a picture of our daughters at the first wedding they ever attended.  They were flower girls in sister's bridal party.  They looked absolutely adorable that day, though they have since moaned about the outfits whenever they look at the photos.  I told them I was going for a Princess Di wedding look for them - very British.  It was the '80's!

As I recall, they behaved like little angels both during the ceremony and afterwards, for the reception.  They certainly got good use out of their satin slipper shoes, for they danced until they were ready to drop.  

Fast forward many years, and daughter #2's wedding.  

The "baby" by this time, had grown taller than both her sisters.  They looked stunning that day too, and quite happy, as you can see from their faces.  It was a wonderful celebration.  And yes, they all behaved liked angels again!

Come Sunday afternoon, we will be getting together again for another wedding.  Same wonderful girls, now wearing different dresses and hair styles, and playing different parts.  But the smiles, the love, and the joy will be the same as it has ever been.

And it's all because the Englishman and I fell in love.....

Thought for a Thursday....

Isn't that lovely?

I felt compelled to share this in light of the wedding of our youngest daughter on Sunday.

I have yet to see the movie, "The Vow" from which this quote is taken.  Having read this on Pinterest, I am looking forward to seeking it out for a viewing.

The vows the Englishman and I exchanged many years ago, are written on a tiny slip of paper and stashed in one of my numerous "saver" boxes.  I'm sure they don't contain phrases such as those above, but as I reread them, I know that we have certainly lived them in our life together.

My wish for E and K this weekend, is that they too will live vows such as these.  

Forgive me if I've already shared this in an earlier blog, but it is worth repeating.  When the Englishman and I were in the planning stages of our wedding, I was becoming very stressed with all the details and decisions my mother came to me with.  After sharing that with him, the Englishman replied, "It's about the being married, not the getting married."  He was so right.  It put it all in perspective.

Daughter #2 felt the same when she married, seven years ago next month.  That wedding was not only a celebration of the life she and her husband were starting together, but also of the safe return of the groom and several friends, as well as a cousin, from the war in Iraq.

E is most looking forward to being married.  

(And to finally have a vacation, after working without more than a few days off here and there the past four years.)

I've no doubt, daughter #1 will follow in her sisters' footsteps when she goes down the aisle someday.

Whether you are married or single, widowed or divorced, I think the lines "To speak when words are needed, and to share the silence when they're not," can be a useful guide to any relationship you may have.

I'm certainly going to use it at the wedding reception! 

We're havin a heat wave....

Good Lord, it's hot!  It isn't even the temperature so much as the humidity.  The Basset Boys and I took it slow this morning on our daily walk, seeking shade at every turn. I wasn't surprised to find Dudley panting as we went along, but when Bentley, who isn't often bothered by it, started to drool, I knew we would have to keep it a short one.

This photo below was posted this morning on Facebook by daughter #2, whose husband served with the Marines in Iraq.  It immediately placed me in a mind frame of gratitude - grateful for our military personnel and grateful I'm not living in a war zone.

So, yes, it is hot.  But how blessed am I to be able to stay indoors, with window air conditioner units.  To not have to work outside in the yard, squeeze into the last car of the commuter trolley in Boston, or be in charge of fifteen whiny nine years old at day camp, but can pace myself in order to stay cool.  All good things.

The weather forecast for the family wedding on Sunday looks to be manageable - sunny, around 84 degrees.  No matter the weather, we all intend to celebrate the union of these two wonderful people and have a terrific time.  Isn't that really what it's all about?

*If you enjoy reading this blog, but sometimes forget to check in, you can sign up to have each new post emailed to you.  Fill in the box marked "FOLLOW BY EMAIL" with your address and it will be sent automatically.  I know it works - I signed myself up just to check it!  Also, if you are feeling brave, please sign up to be a "member".  It makes me feel good to know there are several of you out there following along. Thanks so much for reading!!

Tip for a Tuesday....

Wrap It Up !

Looking to wrap a large or awkward gift?  I highly recommend - plastic tablecloths.

Yes, tablecloths.  They are available in the "Dollar Stores" for only $1 and come in a variety of colors and shapes.  Supermarkets also carry them in their party or paper goods sections.

I purchased two rather large prints for the Englishman for Father's Day, several weeks ago.  After handing over my credit card, the woman in the shop offered to gift wrap them for me.  When I said I would do it myself, her sigh of relief was both loud and heartfelt.  Instead, she put plain brown paper around each of the prints.  As she struggled to seal them up with scotch tape, her co-worker came to her assistance and recommended the ever popular duct tape.  It worked a like a charm.  

The cost of wrapping paper theses days is nearly equal to what my mother used to spend on shoes for me, so I was trying to find a creative, less-expensive way to present my offering to the Englishman.  And then it hit me - tablecloths!  As it happened, I was right next to a Dollar Store when the thought struck.  In I went, found two navy blue tablecloths, two large red bows and "Bob's your uncle" as they say in England, I had the means to wrap these wonderful gifts.


Plastic cuts easily, folds nicely and can be reused.  (That should make all the "Green" people happy.)

Whether for birthdays, graduation or the holidays, a few extra plastic tablecloths in the closet can be the easy answer when trying to figure out, "How do I wrap THIS ?"

Happy Birthday to you ....

Today is my mother's 89th birthday!  

Three years ago this month found her in the hospital with many serious illnesses to battle.  I did not think she would make it through the week.  The fact that she is here today, I think, is a miracle.

I've often thought my mother resembles Queen Elizabeth, pictured above, as a young woman.  My mother's father was from Birmingham, England, so perhaps there is a family connection going back hundreds of years.

My mother had a very difficult childhood, but found "her prince" as she called my father, when she went off to work at the Book-of-the-Month Club.  They had 32 years together before he passed away.  She has shared with me that she misses him dearly right now. They raised three children and were overjoyed with having eight grandchildren.

Daughter #2, her husband, children and I went and spent some time with her at her home this afternoon.  You should have seen the look on Little Miss's face, as I sat on the couch, hugged my mother and said, "This is MY mommy!" She seemed very confused by it all. She knows my mother as "Grandma the Great" or "The Great" as she likes to be called. Hard for a three year old to grasp that her Grandmom has a mommy.

My mother has lived in her home for the past 56 years.  It seemed incredible to me, holding the hands of Baby C as she walked around her living room, that this is also the house where I grew up.  The house where, like me, my girls dunked for apples at Halloween, ate Thanksgiving dinner and had sleepovers. And now here we are, four generations, gathered together to celebrate my mother.  What a gift that is!

Happy Birthday, Mom! I wish you many more years here with us all!

Love you!

Happy Father's Day!

To my handsome Dad, for loving me and supporting me, and driving me to the Tuesday night ballet class, even when "Combat" was on and you knew you would miss part of the episode.

To the Englishman, who turned out to be the most amazing father - so loving, patient and supportive.  And I thought that fact that he looked like "Prince Charming" would be enough!  

My Dad was the first man I ever loved.  My husband will be the last.

I am most sincere when I say I have been truly blessed by these men in my life.  They have made it a life far better than I could have dreamed for myself.

I miss the first one, still, after all these years.  But I feel he is with me.  Thanks for sending the cardinal to the bird feeder today, Dad, as "a sign".

The Englishman is not only my husband, but my best friend, and has been a true partner in the raising of our daughters and the continuing support of them. The girls have always felt lucky he was their Dad.

(photo courtesy of daughter #2.  check out her blog, "Mommy Musings" on the right)

And Happy Father's Day to my Son-in-Law.

S is an incredible Dad!  He has been involved in every aspect of his little girls lives since they were born.  What a joy it is for the Englishman and I to watch him with our granddaughters, to see their faces light up when they see him and to hear their non-stop giggles as they play.

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there.  May you know how much you are remembered, loved and appreciated!

Oh, what a big girl!

Today this beautiful little baby turned one year old and became a toddler!

The Englishman and I have had no trouble in widening our hearts to include this precious little being, our second granddaughter.  The past year has just flown by, as she grew and grew right before our eyes!

C is one of the happiest little babies I have ever known.  She loves to giggle!  Her most recent thrill is to be more mobile these days, as she teeters around on her own two feet.

There are all the signs of a future dancer as C swings her hips, and bounces up and down in perfect time to music.  (Must be genetic, on her mother's and grandmom's side!)

May today be only the first celebration of what will be a very long and healthy life.  May C receive back in kind the love and joy that she has brought to all of her family.

Thought for the day....

“Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend... when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present / love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure / the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience Heaven on earth.”

Sarah Ban Breathnach  Oh so very true - today I choose to focus on all I have.  As they say, all I have is all I need.  Living where my feet are today and finding I have an abundant life, full of love and simple pleasures. Besides the sunshine, what are you grateful for today?

It's a zoo around here....

There is an awful lot of activity in our back garden lately.  The bird feeder needs filling at least once a day, due to the large amounts and varied types of birds coming to partake of my offerings.   The exciting news, is that I saw a hummingbird yesterday morning, for the first time ever in New Jersey.  I have a hummingbird feeder which I had filled a few times about a month ago.  I kept watch closely, but nothing happened.  Till yesterday.  So I quickly refilled it again.  The little darling had been attracted to the lamb's ear bush and it's flowers.  I actually planted that bush with Little Miss in mind, wanting to teach her about the different textures found in the garden.  She loves to stoke the petals and feel their softness.  I've been told that the hummingbirds are attracted to the color red, so the nearby hanging petunias must have also been a draw.

In addition to all the numerous types of birds, we have several squirrels, who I discovered are eating all the strawberries that have spread under our fence from the neighbors yard. They quickly pull them off the stems, barely giving them time to ripen.  At least it keeps them occupied and away from the birds' food. We also have some adorable chipmunks which run along the fencing.  So far, they have been much quicker than the Bassets.

After watching numerous Disney cartoons over the years, I do find I have to remind myself that all these little creatures are in fact wild animals, and that I shouldn't try to "befriend" them.  I can just picture the Englishman's response, were I to get bitten, especially so close to the wedding.  I very much doubt he would pay any attention to the "Keep Calm and Carry On" sign at that point.  Come to think of it, neither would I.

Tip for a Tuesday.....

Start Early!

Today I ordered my Christmas cards.  Yes, I'm aware that it is only June.  An email arrived this morning notifying me that a favorite artist was having a sale on all her items on the Lang website.  In between loads of laundry, I perused the site and found two boxes of cards. In addition, I googled the name of the site and found a 10% off coupon.  Nice!

Two weeks ago, I picked up some items for my girls for Christmas.  I've also "pinned" a couple of ideas for Little Miss for her November birthday.  I picked up the Hallmark ornament catalog yesterday and have chosen which ones I need for my daughters' collections.  Tomorrow, I have a long list of greeting cards to pick out at Hallmark, for which I  have an $8 coupon!

Why do I start so early?  When the Englishman and I were first married and sending gifts to England, I learned very quickly that I needed to get them in the mail early if I wanted them to get there on time, whether it be for Christmas or birthdays.  Seeing the value, i.e. stress reducing, that early and organized shopping could bring me, I carried it over to our family here at home.  It's been working great for several decades now!

I also find that it helps to spread out the cost over a period of months, rather than spend it all in one go.  Traveling or being on vacation can offer a chance to pick up some unique gift items, especially if you have a collector in the house. There are often sales starting as early as June, as retailers want to clear out space for the upcoming holiday season.  Have you noticed how early they start the holiday music in the stores these days?

Afraid you'll forget what you bought?  As I've mentioned before, keep a notebook in which you jot down what you have purchased, for who and where you have hidden it.  The last point is very important.  Can't tell you how many times I had to search the entire house for that one last toy I knew I had, but just couldn't find.  Basset hounds are quite good at sniffing out little creatures, but are useless when it comes to  finding a hidden gift.

If the shoe fits.....

or, in my case, if it doesn't - the search can be frustrating.

I went to purchase MOB (mother of the bride) shoes this past Saturday morning.  Due to previous searching on the Internet, I already knew which pair I wanted, and a big sale at the store I was going to was an added incentive.

Now, my feet and I are not friends.  Haven't been since I donned my first pair of toe shoes when I was in the fifth grade.  While in high school, I also had to have surgery on the backs of the heels of my feet for excess bone.  Who knew such a thing could happen? (Must be genetic - daughter #2 had to have the same operation.)  The podiatrist who did the first surgery didn't take off enough bone on one foot the first time, so a second surgery was required.  The doctor promptly announced he wouldn't charge for the second go round, his mistake, etc.  Little comfort to me - I was the one back up on crutches again! For years, I could predict the weather better than the forecasters based on the throbbing in my heels which preceded every rainstorm.

Anyway, combine all that with high arches, and now tinges of arthritis in a couple of toes, and I dread shoe shopping. Unfortunately, before I even try on a pair, I already convince myself, based on experience, that I won't find anything. Not a good attitude.

So on Saturday I decided to go in with a positive hope that the first pair would be a perfect fit.  I asked the saleswoman about a second pair, just in case.  No good - with either shoe. I then tiptoed around the shoe area seeking anything remotely appealing for the big day.

There were an abundance of what the Englishman describes as "winkle pickers",  You know, those incredibly pointy shoes,  that look like they could do real damage if they were used to kick someone.  I wince just looking at them.  Who wears those?  Who has toes that line up in a triangle form?  Anyone?

After trying about twelve pairs of shoes I gave up.  The saleswoman cheerfully offered to keep at it till we finally found something, but my feet were starting to rebel and my patience, with my feet, had waned. I decided to try again another day.

The Englishman, bless him, offered to accompany me yet again in search of wedding attire. This time we went to a Clarks shoe store.  Again, I found a pair online.  At his suggestion, I called ahead and they set a pair aside for me.  Upon receiving said pair from the salesgirl, I quickly sat down and tried them on.  Right  foot?  Perfect!  Left foot?  Well, it does pinch a little here.......  The Englishman, who worked in a shoe shop back when he was at school in England, inquired if they could stretch that area a little for me.  I laughed as the girl took them to another employee to see if they could.  You see, the Englishman has shared a little secret with the girls and I about how they used to "stretch" the shoes in the back room where he worked. They used a broom handle!  Yes.  A broom handle.  Nothing more exotic or intricate than that.

The "stretching" the young salesman tried didn't really change the feel too much, but after trying on several other pairs, I purchased the first ones.  The Englishman has assured me he will be able to soften them up for me (we have a couple of brooms in the closet) and I will also wear them around the house a bit, perhaps with socks, to loosen them up a little. I'm sure they'll be fine in the end.

Just in case, I've decided I will pop a pair of slippers in my purse for the reception in case my feet go on strike. I absolutely love to dance and nothing is going to interfere with that! And if that doesn't work, I'm not too proud to go right down to bare feet.  Make room on the dance floor people - it's been too long!

Doing battle.

For those of you unfamiliar with the names of various plants in your garden, the above is called a "barberry" bush.  I should like to start a petition to call it the "barbarian" bush.

Working in the garden brings me immense pleasure and satisfaction, especially when pruning.  I exited the front door this morning, with the intention of pulling a few weeds and working on my tan for daughter   #3's wedding, a mere two weeks away.

After twenty minutes of pulling out the unwanteds, I found myself drawn to the rather large burberry bush which had decided to give up the ghost, so to speak, and had become mostly bare branches.  Let me correct that - not totally bare, as in it still retained its tiny, prickly thorns.

Ever start a project and think, well, I'll just do a little for now and leave it for another day? That was my intention. But I couldn't seem to walk away.   The bush had grown taller than I and about four times my width across, so I knew it would take quite a long time to finish.  I kept snipping off branches, filling bucket after bucket, and completely ignoring the scratches that were now starting to spread up and down my arms.

Two hours later, I finally ran out of buckets and strength.  Oh, but what a feeling of complete satisfaction, when I stepped back and surveyed what I had done.  The difference was dramatic and opened up the surrounding space, making it look much more inviting.  It will take a stronger instrument than the hand clippers I used to complete the job.  But that will have to wait now because.....

While eating dinner this evening, the Englishman noticed the bumps and scratches I am now sporting,  He  informed me that I am not allowed to do any more gardening till after the wedding.  Oh dear.  I assured him I was not working anywhere near the poison ivy, which I have been known to have a violent reaction to.  But he pointed out that the current marks on my arms are not attractive, and I would be most upset to have to look back at the photos from the wedding with me looking as though I'd been through the wars.

I hate it when he's right.

So I've put down my gardening gloves and will do as he suggests.  The spindly branches which remain standing will have to stay as they are until I can again take up my shears and go back into battle.

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude."          ~ William James                                                                                                                                                    
A change in my attitude is not always my first response to a situation, but generally my second.  I find it can make all the difference in the world, to change the way I look at someone or something.

There is a sign in the Municipal Building of a nearby town.  It reads:  "Your attitude will be our attitude."  Think on that for a moment.  Isn't that how it usually goes?  If I am patient and friendly, I usually receive that back from the people I'm dealing with.  And if I'm impatient and ready for a fight?  Well, I'm sure you can imagine how well that works out.

Another bonus? Changing my attitude doesn't cost a thing, either.

And then there's this, which I "pinned" from Pinterest.

That works too!

British sense of humour.....

How funny is this?  I couldn't resist posting it today.  For the life of me, I cannot recall where I originally came across it. Must have been floating around the Internet somewhere. Apparently, they do have these posted outside the public restrooms in the city.  Good advice.  Would certainly save one from certain embarrassment should your "knickers" as they call them, be showing.

Between the Queen's Diamond Jubilee coverage, rereading an English novel by Miss Read called Thrush Green, and reading Susan Branch's detailed accounts of her current trip through England, I seem to have a lot of the British English language floating through my head.  I found myself warning the dogs this morning during our walk to "mind the sprinkler" as they tugged me down the sidewalk.

As I've mentioned before, it used to be quite comical when our girls were little and the Englishman would speak to them using phrases familiar only to him.  "Tidy up your room, hang up your jumpers and dressing gown, and put away your rucksack" would cause three tiny heads to whip around in my direction for a translation.  "Clean up your bedroom, hang up your sweaters and bathrobe, and put away your backpack." was the response.

Daughter #1 recently relayed that she used to get the strangest looks and comments from friends when she would say the milk was "off".  "Off where?" one might inquire.  She said she thought that's what every one said.  The milk was off or the meat was off, meaning it was spoiled or gone sour.

There are in fact so many different phrases between the two countries that there are books, written as you would a dictionary, explaining them.  I find it all rather interesting. It also made for some great fun when I would use British phrases when teaching.  And one can get away with the odd British curse word when surrounded solely with Americans.

If you have an interest in virtually visiting England, I urge you to read Susan Branch's blog posts, listed on the right hand side.  Today she took us to Emma Bridgewater's factory in Stoke.  Her products are fabulous - I highly recommend them!

Cheers for now!

Tip for a Tuesday.....

Celebrate!

Whether it be small or large, do a little something to mark as many special occasions as you can with your family.  Bake some cupcakes, use decorated napkins, hang balloons or string some lights.  

An ordinary day can become extraordinary without much effort or cost.  Supermarkets often set up displays as you enter with food items, flowers, or decorations.  The "dollar stores" carry quite a variety of items, most priced at, you guessed it, one dollar!

Our current celebration?  Why, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee!  Due to the Englishman's technological cleverness, we were able to watch the parade of boats live on Saturday and enjoyed the Diamond Jubilee Concert last night as it was happening.  (Sorry, Katie Couric. We've been there, done that.  However, if any one of you wish to see it, it will be on ABC this evening.)

So in honor of the occasion, I baked this cake this morning.  It's called a "Victoria Sandwich", a kind of Victoria sponge cake.  This is my second attempt.  Though it came out much better than the first, the Englishman and I were surprised to find we weren't too keen on it.  So I will be perusing my "British Bake Off" cookbook and seeking something else to try over the weekend.

(photo courtesy of MSNBC - got a little blurred with copying)

The celebrations in Great Britain the past four days have been nothing less than spectacular.  Watching hundreds of boats, large and small, coming down the Thames caused us to imagine what it must have been like during World War II when the local citizenry had to go and rescue the troops stranded on the beaches at Dunkirk.  The fireworks display following the concert was truly the best I've ever seen.  After watching all the festivities, the Englishman has stated, quite unabashedly, how proud he is to be British.  I can certainly see why.

God Save the Queen!

**be sure and check out my daughter's blog, "Mommy Musings" on the right for updates on my granddaughters!!