Today we literally wrestled throngs of crowds. The beloved Her Majesty’ Queen Elizabeth II lay in state in Westminister Hall and thousands and thousands came to pay their respects. While many were able to pass her coffin, droves and droves could only pine for the loss to never see her again.
We were able a glimpse of William and Harry in the late afternoon as it was said the grandchildren were there to pay respects .
There will be many stories coming when the internet situation works better.
Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch died September 8, 2022. Millions from around the world loved her and had fond memories of her reign. There are many who only knew her as the head of the British Commonwealth. Many wish to share their thoughts.
You can have a message held in the Royal Archives for posterity. Visit the Royal . UK and scroll down to take time and offer a brief message to the royal family. This message will be forward to them and will be held in the Royal Archives for posterity.
When living life, its important to say “Lord willing” because we never know so, I say “Lord willing and the Flights go right”, Jacksonville Blogger will be in London to see the Queen’s events regarding her passing.
PA graphic
For so long, many even in Jacksonville such as myself have known only Queen Elizabeth as the “Her Majesty, the Queen of England”. With fondness, we have followed her life and the lives of her husband, children and children’s children.
Jacksonville Blogger will be there to celebrate her life the week of her funeral and events before and after. Stay tuned….
For over seventy years, Queen Elizabeth II has had the hearts of so many. She has endeared herself to the masses over the years of her long reign. In her own right, she surpassed Queen Victoria for the longest living monarch and all over the world has been an icon and living Christian in her walk. On September 8, 2022, she is said to have died peacefully in her home.
Q E II-Resale Photo
Over the years she has stood strong in “defending the faith”, standing for what is right and in her own personal life and having had no scandal to tarnish her personal self. While her children and grandchildren have had concerns in their lives, she has been strong and projected a life “lived well”, as her son, the new King Charles III said in his first speech as King. Let’s just hope he is a defender of the Christian faith as was his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Honors to the Queen for her service.
According to the Virginia Governor Glen Younkin’s order the flags were to be flown at half-staff over the state Capitol and other state and federal buildings until the date of Queen Elizabeth’s interment, WY Daily reported.
Queen Elizabeth II (Ramey)
The Queen had visited Virginia on two occasions dating back to 1957 with a royal visit to Jamestown and Williamsburg.
In 2007, Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Phillip visited Colonial Williamsburg including William and Mary College, being a part of the commemoration of the 400 Anniversary of the relationship of Britain to America.
Queen Elizabeth died September 8th at the age of 96. She was the longest reigning monarch surpassing Queen Victoria.
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom has died. Her son, Charles III is now king. Here is his statement:
“The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.
Royal Photo of King Charles and QEII
We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.
During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.”
Many in the United Kingdom have only known a woman as the “Defender of the Faith” and now comes King Charles III, her son as King.
We, in Jacksonville mourn Her Majesty the Queen’s loss too.
As reported by the Royal website and The New York Times-
“I speak to you today with feelings of profound sorrow.
King Charles III-Royal Photo
Throughout her life, Her Majesty The Queen — my beloved Mother — was an inspiration and example to me and to all my family, and we owe her the most heartfelt debt any family can owe to their mother; for her love, affection, guidance, understanding and example.
Queen Elizabeth’s was a life well lived; a promise with destiny kept and she is mourned most deeply in her passing. That promise of lifelong service I renew to you all today. Alongside the personal grief that all my family are feeling, we also share with so many of you in the United Kingdom, in all the countries where the queen was head of state, in the Commonwealth and across the world, a deep sense of gratitude for the more than seventy years in which my mother, as queen, served the people of so many nations.
In 1947, on her 21st birthday, she pledged in a broadcast from Cape Town to the Commonwealth to devote her life, whether it be short or long, to the service of her peoples. That was more than a promise: it was a profound personal commitment which defined her whole life.She made sacrifices for duty. Her dedication and devotion as Sovereign never wavered, through times of change and progress, through times of joy and celebration, and through times of sadness and loss. In her life of service we saw that abiding love of tradition, together with that fearless embrace of progress, which make us great as Nations. The affection, admiration and respect she inspired became the hallmark of her reign. And, as every member of my family can testify, she combined these qualities with warmth, humor and an unerring ability always to see the best in people.
I pay tribute to my Mother’s memory and I honor her life of service. I know that her death brings great sadness to so many of you, and I share that sense of loss, beyond measure, with you all.”
Queen Elizabeth’s son, now King Charles III- September, 2022
The Royal Family announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, “Published 8 September 2022”. She was the longest living Monarch ever at 70 years and 214 days.
Royal Photo Press Release
“The following announcement has been issued by Royal Communications: The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to Long tomorrow”.
Somehow, many feel as if we knew Queen Elizabeth II, even those who live in Jacksonville. God Bless her legacy for it will live on into Eternity.
“It is true that the world has had to confront moments of darkness this year, but the Gospel of John contains a verse of great hope, often read at Christmas carol services: ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’… Despite being displaced and persecuted throughout his short life, Christ’s unchanging message was not one of revenge or violence but simply that we should love one another.” (Queen Elizabeth II, Christmas message, 2015)
We had no dryer. We had the clothesline, the sunshine and our clothes smelled like summer breeze.
Simply put, we had no real money. There was a daily struggle to build the house, live life and put food on the table. Looking back, the financial struggle was real. As a kid, I had no idea though. Our lives were rich and full. We were happy doing what we could do and Mama would say all of the time, “We’ll just make do”. Daddy was creative in all that he did regarding fixing up the someplace. He did all he could to fix and take care of the home goods while saving money. When we cleared the land years after their home-going, we found a lawn mower spark plug used as a plug for the water system. Mama could be seen in the bent-can aisle of Solomon’s trying to get a “deal”. Mama was a stay-at-home Mom and Daddy worked a civil service job with the Navy on Cecil Field. When at home, they both tried to be smart saving money by the do-it-yourself plan.
By the time I was in high school, we had a complete washer and dryer area but up until that time, we used the good ole’ fresh air to dry clothes.
clothesline-wikipedia
While clearing out places on the property recently, one of the two clothes lines that we had was exposed. It brought back many memories. The clothes would be washed in the washer, place in a wooden basket and walked out to the line. There was a bag of clothes pins hanging at the end of the line which had a wire used to whisk it up and down the line for ease. The clothespins were used to attach the clothing at the top or bottom to the line for drying.
Mama said it was best to put like pieces together so as to be able to fold them together but sometimes pants, shirts, or underclothes might be hung all on the same wire side by side.
We had two clotheslines. One was on the right back side of the property behind the house. The other was on the east side of the swimming pool. Both were used over time to hang our wet clothes out to dry. It would take a few hours to dry clothes on a full sun day.
The upside to drying clothes outside was the fresh air smell. The downside to drying clothes outside was the stiffness of the clothes after they dried. If you were to forget them on the line, the would have a very different feel and smell from the fresh one day line dry. If it rained and they got wet by rain there was even a more odd smell and feel which would mean another wash and dry before wearing them.
When I drive onto the property owned by my parents, Alec and Geneva Vaughan, I always look for the chickens. Generally, they will hear my truck and come out from beneath the azaleas. The area has been a rural place in the country for years and years. Being rural, chickens can free-range and roam the land only worrying about the hawks and racoons. Now-a-days it has become more populated with city-folk, neighbourhoods, people and cars zooming up the long road.
My parents, who bought the Westside property in the 1960’s, have been gone for some time now but there are still chickens on the property. I bought a 50 lb bag of corn and when I come, the chickens get a nice meal. For a time there was a group of chickens, then a handful and finally just one lone hen.
When the lone hen began to nest, I went to a neighbour on the south end of Milson, a dirt road and bought 4 fertilized eggs for $5.00. They were exchanged for the unfertilized eggs under her. In twenty-one days, she hatched three of the four eggs. They were tiny yellow birds that turned brown over time. She is white and she was one happy mama.
For a time I would see her and the babies in the front yard but for at least a month I would drive in and there was no sign of them until yesterday. All three of the babies were with her and what a happy sight it was. They look like teenagers now, bigger and darker brown. Of course, they were fed a nice meal.
Hopefully they will free-range nearby in the coming days. The concern now, is more than hawks and racoons getting them but cars, and trucks. ‘Hoping for the best.
