WHAT DO YOU COLLECT?!

       Janine and I have been big bird enthusiasts over the years.  Above is a picture of some figurines that we have had on a shelf for many years.  I am also glad that I have a huge collection in a display unit to remember the shared love we have had for our feathered friends. You can see a picture of this collection in an earlier post - BIRD FIGURINE COLLECTION.  I remember how happy we always were when we got another figurine. Some were bought and some came from  relatives, friends and pen-pals. As a matter of fact some travelled many miles to get to us!:)  Are you an avid collector of any item?  I would be interested to hear about it!

INSPIRATIONAL WALL HANGINGS!

         Over the years Janine and I have had several wall hangings in our home. We especially liked those that carried an inspirational message. Below are close up pictures of the messages on two of our favourites. 

A MACARONI & CHEESE DELIGHT

       
    Over the years Macaroni and cheese was always a favourite dish of Janine and me. Recently I decided to have a go at a Macaroni and Cheese Casserole that I saw on a HILO box.  It turned out delicious!


DIRECTIONS


1. Stir Macaroni into 6 cups of boiling water (1 tsp. Salt) 
2. Boil rapidly for 7 to 10 minutes until macaroni is tender
3. Drain macaroni
4. Add 1/4 cup butter of margarine, 1/4 cup milk and contents of cheese packet
5. Stir until smooth and creamy over very low heat.


MACARONI AND CHEESE CASSEROLE


1 package Macaroni & Cheese
1 can 170g ( 6 oz.) tuna fish (drained)
1 can 284g (10oz.) cream of mushroom soup
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup chopped onions
1/2 tsp. salt


1. Prepare Macaroni  & Cheese as directed.
2. Add tuna fish, soup, milk, onions and salt, mix well.
3. Bake at 177oC (350oF) for 30 to 35 minutes or until thoroughly heated.


VARIATIONS


Substitute 1 cup chopped chicken, turkey, beef, pork, ham, sausages or 4 hard boiled eggs in place of tuna fish or add other vegetables.
As one can see from the picture above I went with one of the variations, the sausages. I also put some paprika on the top!:)

OH! I AM FEELING SO-O-O GOOD!

        I would like to say thanks a million to Wendy of  Pickle Jars and Pears for giving me the KREATIV BLOGGER AWARD!  It has certainly lifted my spirit. I am truly grateful that I have met her and so many other wonderful persons in the Blogging World. As a recipient of this award  the rule is that I have to thank the person who sent me this award.  I  then have to write 7 things about myself  and then nominate 7 Blogs for this award. Here goes:


7 THINGS ABOUT ME:


 1.  I am a strong person with a strong Christian faith.  I am amazed at the strength that I have at times.  I am relieved about this as my life has been on a roller coaster ride since my twin's death in 2008.  It demands a lot of strength on this journey. I am depending on this inner strength to help me face another anniversary of her death on October 16 and what should have been a very special birthday for us this coming November 4.
2. I like to help others and can spread cheer to others even during my lowest moments.
3. I believe in genuine friendship. No matter how busy I am I find time for others.  I do not think that friendship should be taken for granted.
4.  My favourite pets have always been dogs and at this time I have 2.
5. I am a big bird enthusiast and over 10 years ago my twin and I started a collection of bird figurines. It now stands as a memorial to the shared love we have had for our feathered friends.  
6.I am a very family conscious person and have many nice relatives on both my mom and father's side of the family.
7. My interests are many - writing, reading, listening to music, watching music shows on television, learning to cook and bake a variety of food items, watching sports and I could go on and on! 
      
Now it is time to give this award to 7 other Blogs:-


            1. I.R.E.N.E. 
            2. Clairejustineoxox
            3.ME AND MY TADPOLE
            4.MISS ACIDIC
            5.Reflexions
            6.Gumdrop Pass
            7.Where Nothing Good Comes Easy


I would also like to pass on the LIEBSTER AWARD which I got recently. I have already passed in on to 3 Blogs but would like to pass it on to 2 more.

   This award is supposed to be passed on to favourite Blogs that do not have over 200 Followers.  Liebster in German means favourite. The person who receives this award can pass it on to other favourites who have not yet had 200 Followers.
                               1.BLOGGING is MY NEW HOBBY
                               2.Southern Belle

TRIBUTE TO A SPECIAL FATHER

     My late father Harold Haughton-James was born on September 23. Below is a repost - 'SHORT STAY - SPECIAL FATHER' which I wrote for last Father's Day. I have made a few changes.
      

JAN(LEFT) DAD & JUD ( RIGHT)
LAST PICTURE TAKEN BEFORE HIS DEATH - JAN. 1975

       My father passed away when he was 56. At that time Janine and I were only 13 but I will treasure those years as during that time we learnt some important life lessons.


       He was a jovial father and a politician who had no time to consume himself with hate. I admired the ease with which he had friends from the opposition party and how he treated people equally regardless of their political affiliation. The tribalistic attitude of our politics at that time could not change him.


       He started his political career when a Councillor was not a paid official but showed dedication to service. He was a shining example that one does not have to be paid in order to carry out his duties well.  So much so was his commitment that even when he had his first stroke in 1970 and was hospitalized he kept asking questions concerning his duties as a Parish Councillor.


       At times he took us to and from school. On our way home some evenings it was like a Geography lesson titled 'GETTING TO KNOW YOUR PARISH.' We enjoyed his traversing here and there as we got to know several areas in St. Mary - Belfield, Islington, Oxford, Free Hill, Bailey's Vale and Hampstead, to name a few.


       Early in the morning on August 14, 1975, he sat with us on the veranda and we had a good time chatting and laughing.  I can still remember as we drove out with our aunt-in-law that morning she said "Oh, I forgot to tell Harry good morning."  We turned around and saw him as he stepped back into the house. A few hours later he collapsed and died at the Parish Council meeting. As fate would have it he died serving people.


       He was a real church man and served as a member of the Church Committee for many years.  He was also a Justice of the Peace and would sign documents for persons who came to his house at various times of the day from Sunday to Saturday.


       The words on his tombstone tell the story of his life "I have fought the good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith" - 2 Timothy 4:7


       Having lost my identical twin sister in 2008 I have become more and more curious about death. I have read several books including 'Healing Grief' by James Van Praagh. I am here hoping that Janine and my father have already met each other in the afterlife.  I still wonder how coincidental it was that they both died on a Thursday, just before noon and a few weeks before they would have celebrated their birthdays. Dad and Janine are at peace and I know we will all meet again some day.

SEPTEMBER - A TIME TO REMEMBER

        The month of September is fast coming to an end but it has always been a very special month for our family. Mom was born on September 1, our parents got married on September 8 and our father's birthday was September 23.


        Above are pictures of our mother and father as well as their wedding picture. Mom has never failed to remind us that she was told that after our father met her he went home and told his family that he met his wife today!:) Thank God they managed to have 27 years together until our father's sudden death on August 14, 1975. The wonderul memories live on and my next post will be a tribute to him. 

EARRINGS - A BIG FAVOURITE!

         Over the years earrings have been a big favourite of Janine and me. We never missed an opportunity to buy a pair whenever possible and we received many as gifts. Above are 5 of our favourites. Now you can just imagine how thrilled I was this past weekend when I got the wonderful news that I had won my first giveaway and it was a pair of earrings!  A special thanks to Erin who has the Blog Indiana Coupon Savings who gave me this opportunity. The giveaway was open to persons worldwide. I can't wait for the earrings to arrive!  I will be sure to share a picture of them here.

MY SPECIAL NOTEBOOK IS ON THE WAY!

     First of all I would like to to say a special thank you to all of you who gave comments on my previous post. I have taken into consideration your suggestions and will make this book have in a little of everything. In that I have many special albums with pictures of Janine I decided to place 2 pictures on the first page. 

I then decided to write what the letters of her name bring to mind:-


Jolly and a joy to have had around.
Always ready to greet you with a bright smile.
Never would want me to be sad and blue.
Identical twin and wonderful friend.
Nice and friendly human being.
Eager to be around family and friends.


I will include some favourite Bible verses. The top  3 are 
"Let not your heart be troubled." - John 14:1


"In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also." - John 14: 2-3


"I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live. - John 11:25


        Favourite quotations will definitely be included. These will include several that I have already shared in posts here and will share in future posts.


        I will also write down the wonderful memories of the good times we had on our birthday, Christmas, going places, the hobbies we shared, fun times, the career we pursued and so much more. I  think it is also important that I include the first post that I wrote on this Blog - BEING TWINS - A POEM IN TRIBUTE TO MY DEPARTED TWIN SISTER

WHAT SHOULD I DO?!

        This is the question that I am asking myself as I look at this beautiful notebook that my twin sister Janine recieved from her Australian pen-pal Carolyn some years ago.  It was safely packed away to be used just at the right time.


         About 1 year after her death I came across it as I went through some of our things. Again I have seen it as I approach the 3rd anniversary of her death next month.  I am contemplating some choices - inspirational quotations, Bible verses, special memories of the things she said etc. It is not a big notebook but I want it to be a special book. The cover has on two of our favourite things  - birds and flowers.


         If you came across this notebook left behind by a departed loved one, what would you do with it?! 

THOSE JIGSAW DAYS!

By Judy Haughton-James

       For many years I enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles.  It would take a lot of my attention whenever I was working on one as every free chance I got I would run to go and see if I could place some more pieces.  Janine was never that eager to do them but from time to time she would pass by and try and find a few pieces.  I do not think she had the patience and determination that I had to keep going until it was finished.


        I have done puzzles in a variety of sizes but never one with more than 1,000 pieces. I really admire persons who have been able to do even bigger ones.


        Janine and I loved beautiful pictures so the minute a jigsaw puzzle was finished we would be armed with all that is needed to paste it together so that we could have it framed.  Above are two of our favourites over the years - Mount Fuji in Japan with a snow covered peak and a breathtaking scene with a river. These pictures grace the walls of our living-room.


       Oh, how I would love to be seated where trees boast such a beautiful autumn scene. I am someone who finds peace amidst nature.