Archive | February, 2022

Retail Therapy

12 Feb

My Take

Onisha Ellis

Life has been a bit hectic of late with out of town doctor visits and pre-op appointment at a large and confusing hospital followed by surgery for my husband. Then we had to reschedule a previously planned surgery, get new paperwork and fill out online paperwork for the upcoming surgery. On a side note, this facility wanted us to enter all of his medications into a line by line form. I keep a medication list which is easy to copy/paste, but I draw the line at entering it all into their computer.

After a week of wifely post-op duty I was ready for some girl time! Our daughter was unexpectedly off work on Monday and we decided some retail therapy was in order.

After some rainy days, Monday was sunny and beautiful with just the right touch of cool temperature. We decided to drive north to the Outlet center in Daytona Beach. Light traffic made for a pleasant drive and I could feel my stress falling away as we drove north. Of course we didn’t want to be away from our patient too long so we chose to limit our shopping to three stores.

Our first stop was to the Beall’s outlet. We have one in our town, but the one in Daytona is larger and my daughter was looking for something specific. She didn’t find it, but we did each buy a pair of sandals and I bought a fry pan. I bought this same one when we first settled into Florida for the winter and I loved it so much, I wanted one for our home in North Carolina. When I was paying for the sandals and pan, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my account had a birthday credit on it plus Monday shoppers receive a 10% discount. So basically the pan was free. My kind of shopping!

Our next stop was totally practical, Sam’s Warehouse Club. Our local club was out of several items we regularly buy and we were hoping this club would have them. And they did.

Now, don’t laugh but our third planned stop was Buc-ees, a mega gas station with a huge store (and the most elegant restrooms I’ve ever seen) When we stop there for gas, we are in a hurry and with no time to explore. We were headed there when my daughter saw a shop with the funny name of Duck Donuts. My ears perked up. I told my daughter we had to go there and being the sweet person we adore, she drove around the center to get back to Duck Donuts.

Have you ever had them? They are cake donuts made to order. My husband and I discovered them in Asheville, NC. This is their story.

It all began on the sandy beaches of the Outer Banks in Duck, North Carolina. There, Russ DiGilio and his family would enjoy relaxing and fun vacations. But something was missing – there were no fresh donuts! So, they decided to create their own and Duck Donuts was born. Now, you can enjoy the taste of the Outer Banks in your backyard by visiting one of our 100+ locations across the country!

https://www.duckdonuts.com

My daughter had no idea why I was insisting on getting donuts but she isn’t prone to turning one down.

Screen shot: DuckDonuts.com

We both Chose a peanut butter paradise, I chose a bacon in the sun and she chose a raspberry sunrise and I picked out a blueberry pancake to take to the hubby. Let me tell you, they were delicious! Hot yummy goodness. We could only mange to eat one apiece but we forced ourselves to half the peanut butter paradise and it did not disappoint! If you like donuts, you must try them.

Beck on track, we drove over to Buc-ees. We entered from the gas pump side. Typical gas station items like chips, staples etc were on the left with hot foods, beverages to the right. Also to the right was an impressive array of home decor. Think mini Hobby Lobby. We definitely chose to browse right to left.

We browsed from home decor to clothing, jewelry, children’s clothes and toys, jerky, pastries, cheeses, and charcuterie. We ended up at the one section we were familiar with, the smoked brisket. Their brisket is so good! We bought two sandwiches to eat for our lunch but were only able to eat half thanks to our Duck Donut splurge.

With our sweet tooths satisfied and tummies full we headed back home. It was a much needed break. And since i put a roast in the crock pot before leaving home, I didn’t have to answer the eternal question…”what’s for dinner?”

PS: I wrote better descriptions of the items in the store, but my internet crashed and obliterated it.

Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay 

We are excited to announce that our daughter’s third book in the Jessie Cole Trilogy is available for pre-order on Amazon.

Legacies are woven that bind fate or ignite dreams.

Jessie Cole worked hard to rise from humble beginnings to achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut. He didn’t think he’d face a more difficult challenge until he became a father. Now, he must weigh his decisions and endeavor to raise his children with the values of faith, perseverance, and love that shaped his own life.

Mariana Cole has gazed up at the heavens with wonder since infancy. Tales of her father’s trips to space feed her curiosity and drive her to understand why humanity hasn’t traveled beyond our own moon. Will she follow her father’s path or blaze her own trail to change the trajectory of space exploration?

This series is especially dear to our hearts as it is set in our hometown and some of Jessie’s antics came from my husband’s childhood.

I'm a winner

After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

In addition to blogging, I work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  

My 2021 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.

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A Hunting Trip with My Dad-Part 2

9 Feb

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

In this particular year, the pastor who invited us to stay at his home for the “Special Deer Hunt”, raised his own goats and processed their milk into some of the most delicious cheeses.  It was a small family operation, so I was able to watch the many intriguing stages the milk went through to become cheese.  Of course, I had to try at least one sample (maybe more) of cheese at each stage, to know how it tasted.  I believe I may have acquired my love of all types of cheeses from that experience, which has stayed with me to this day.

Photo Credit: https://www.seriouseats.com/goat/cheese/

As I remember it, the hunt that year went well, and the hunting area was close to where were staying.  My dad and I came across a small herd of white-tail doe on the third day out, and we each bagged our deer.  After we got our deer cleaned and transported back to the pastor’s house, we lashed them to the finders of our 1950 Buick, thanked the pastor for his hospitality, and headed home.

Photo Credit: https://gf.nd.gov/magazine/nov/deer-hunting/

 (This was a very familiar scene during hunting season) 

Our problem started as we were making our way out of the mountains.  We had no idea that it had snowed so heavily on the south side of the mountains the night before, and our big 1950 Buick sedan got stuck.  Guess who got the job of putting the chains on, in all that snow and cold weather?  You guessed it.  It took both of us to get the job done, and when we finally got the chains in place, we were both muddy, soaked, and freezing.  With some very careful driving, we finally made it home, and the deer processing procedures began.

Photo Credit: Ages Lites

My dad had a special arrangement with the local butcher, at our neighborhood grocery store.  The butcher would cut our deer meat into every type of cut we wanted, then wrap, and mark each package.  For this service the butcher would receive a small percentage of the meat.  My dad also maintained a large walk-in freezer, at the meat packing plant downtown, where we kept all of our meat products.  As you might guess, we bought very little beef, and pretty much lived on venison during my growing up years at home.

Photo Credit: https://www.masterfile.com/vintage+butcher/

My mom was an excellent cook, and could prepare the most delicious venison steaks, roast, meatloaf, chili, stew, and hamburgers.  I don’t know about the rest of the family, but I never got tired of venison in any form.  Growing up in the Southwest, deer, elk, antelope, and bear meat were pretty much the common item seen on the dining table for hunting families.  Nowadays, the only “wild” meat available in stores (at least in the south) is the occasional listing for Buffalo Burgers or Alligator Tail.

Photo Credit: http://clipart-library.com/mom-cooking-cliparts.html/

I never got the chance to go Antelope, Elk, or Wild Turkey hunting with my dad, but he went every chance he got.  I remember how pleased he was the year he went Elk hunting (I’m not sure where he went for that hunt). We were all happy for him, when he brought home that large 10-point Bull Elk for us to process.  

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

The thing was huge.  Along with a 10-point white-tail deer head, that elk head was one of only two trophy heads my dad ever had mounted.  The whole family took turns having our picture taken with that massive elk head in our back yard.  

Photo Credit: Judy Lites

All the guys I hung out with at the time came over to take a look at the elk and get their picture taken with that massive elk head.  And, my younger sister, Judy, not wanting to get left out, even got in on that photo shoot.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

As I Look back on those days now; what great memories.  I must admit that those were some of the best days of my teenage years.  Because of his traveling, I didn’t get to spend much time with my dad during those years, but the few experiences I had, fishing and hunting with him were great.  As I remember, it was a good thing that the hunting seasons were in the colder months of the year, since those hunting procedures took some time to complete, and the low temperatures preserved the deer, antelope, or elk until we could get them home, hung-up, skinned, processed, and over to the butcher.  And of course, I didn’t mind getting out of school for a week!

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Did you happen to notice my 1955 Harley Davidson Sportster in the background in the picture above?  No, we didn’t take my motorcycle on hunting trips (TOO COLD!) and there was no place to carry the deer.  I just stored it, out of the weather, in our garage, which as you can see was used for other things as well.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

My Dad Loved To Hunt

—–The End—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 64 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is:  John 10:10

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Random Memories of Germany-Aerobics Part 5

6 Feb

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

One time, we had a joint time together, and invited our spouses and children to attend, watch, and dance with us.  It was great fun.  Lots of people attended, and we called it “Celebration.”  Some of my readers might be “old” enough to remember the song “Celebration” by Kool & the Gang.  That was one of our favorite dance routines, and we used it as the “theme” of that evening.  On one of the easier routines, we asked any and all of those attending the celebration, to join us on the floor and dance.  We had quite a few who joined us and attempted to dance. 

I apologize for the quality of this picture

Here I would like to sort-of re-blog something I wrote that is related to my time teaching aerobic dancing in Heidelberg.  It all started in Germany.  I wrote it in 2013…

[...there was one lady in my class who always stood in the front row and to my right (I was facing away from the students). As we conversed, I thought she had a speech impediment.  After we got to know each other a bit better, she told me that she had been born with some hearing loss. She wasn’t totally deaf, but enough so that she couldn’t hear the way most words were sounded. That explained her speech.  But she had hearing aids that helped her so much, and she could understand all the cues I shouted out in the class.

As interesting as all that is – to me anyway – that’s not the end of the story. We returned stateside and began our life in Virginia.  Our oldest daughter had met her future husband while in high school in Heidelberg (his father was our American pastor), and he had returned to the States to attend college – where she was attending, of course. They married a few years later.

One evening, around Thanksgiving time, I received a call from our son-in-law, saying that, on their way to see his parents in South Carolina, our daughter had fallen asleep at the wheel and they had crashed.  I was furious that he would only say that she was “in with the doctor” and wouldn’t give me any more details – like…..is she still alive???!!!

I asked if he wanted us to come and take them back home (they were only about an hour from their apartment).  He agreed.  He then said, “wait, here is the paramedic who will give you directions to the hospital.” This young man came on the phone and gave me the directions – with the very same intonation that my aerobic student had!!  I knew at once that he had hearing loss, and not a speech impediment. And, by God’s grace, I was able to understand every word he said – the first time!  No repeats.  God had prepared me, all those years ago, for that very moment, when I would need my wits about me, and to understand this young man’s instructions.

I could end the story there – that is the main thrust of it – but I want to tell you of God’s gracious hand in all this. You see, when our daughter fell asleep, the car drifted, and our son-in-law looked up and screamed, which woke her, and she drastically over-corrected. That caused the car to roll several times. Amazingly, there were no other cars around them – just down the road a bit – no other cars involved in the crash. There was an off-duty ambulance behind them that stopped, and the paramedics gave aid. They could have rolled off a bridge and crashed onto the road below them – but they didn’t – they just rolled to a stop on an embankment. While the car was totaled, our children only suffered a few cuts and bruises.”

~~~~~~~~~~The End (Perhaps?)~~~~~~~~~~

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Four Ways to Fight Your Fears

5 Feb

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Reblogged February 5, 2022

February 4, 2022

“I’m going to be brutally honest, Mary said in our recent Zoom meeting.

She cleared her throat. “Are Christians lying? Or are some of them faking or covering up the real truth? Even though we’re believers, how can we not feel fear, have moments of doubt and feel like screaming, God, this is enough?”

No one in the group answered. Could it be because we agreed with her?

In silence, we hid those same emotions deep inside. We managed to cover them under the I-have-enough-faith notion.

But who could blame us? We’re humans and although we’re believers in Christ, we’re afraid to open up and admit that yes, sometimes we wake up and wonder what will be next? Other times we can’t even receive God’s Word well enough to face all the ugliness this painful pandemic brought.

But what spreads more subtly than the pandemic is the number of Christians who face that battle between sinking in fear or standing in faith. Peter experienced the same dilemma When the storm came. He should have believed Jesus would protect him and kick fear to the side. But instead, he expressed fear and worry, contagious enough to spread to the other disciples.

We’re all in that same boat, buffeted by that same storm of uncertainty. And while holding on tight hoping we won’t be crushed, we must choose the group to which we belong. The one that will sink in the deep waters of anxiety, swallowed by fear. Or the group who looks to God for His wisdom and has the audacity to look beyond the circumstances and dare to invite confidence. And, even in the middle of the junk, choose joy.

Sounds unrealistic? Not so if we possess the boldness to avoid these four traps.

  1. Avoid following your feelings.

“I feel so out of control,” my neighbor said, “like I’m just floating along and not accomplishing anything. I feel frustrated and anxious, too. This has to end soon.”

She’s walking into the danger zone. If she feels strongly enough, she’s out of control, she will believe it as valid and true and will end up indeed out of control.

So where do those feelings come from? They begin in the mind. Thoughts are like the ingredients for a cake. Blend them all together and put them in the oven of your mind. After a while, you’ll be serving the results. Mixing in thoughts of gloom will serve feelings of discouragement.

Conversely, blending thoughts that align with God’s Word, the feelings of encouragement, of hope and reassurance will dictate a healthy journey.

If Abigail had entertained thoughts of self-pity when her people were threatened, feeling like a victim would have ruled her heart (1 Samuel 25:14-20).

If Joseph allowed thoughts of unfairness while in prison, feelings of failure would have put him in an emotional prison (Genesis 39:19-21).

Had David placed his focus and thoughts on the size of Goliath, his feelings of inadequacy would have brought defeat instead of victory (1 Samuel 17:45-46).

We’re all facing a giant today. Each is unique to our circumstance. And to come out victorious, we must first “Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Prayer: Father, I commit to be obedient, to filter my thinking and to look beyond my feelings and instead bask in the field of truth found in Your Word.

  1. Refuse to remain in fear.

Are Christians lying when they say they don’t fear? Maybe. Fear knocks at every door, nothing wrong with that. It’s when we invite it to come in, offer a seat in our heart and feed it more negative information from news or social media that it becomes a well-fed monster.

But not all fear is destructive. Fear of disobeying God is justified. Conversely, the fear of a pandemic, of a virus, of a low bank account, of illness or even death is unreasonable. And it turns destructive when we remain in it, giving it life, causing it to grow until it paralyzes us.

And when it does, we’re stuck, unable to move forward as we allowed fear to rule us. Inadvertently, we gave it permission to block our wisdom, drain our energy and before we know it, we’re victims, not of the circumstance, but of fear’s claws.

We can escape only if we realize fear is a spirit, lurking around compliments of Satan. He feeds fear with lies, dark news and ever so subtly, from negative comments on social media.

But why do we receive that if “God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7)? For His power at work in us conquers fear. His love pushes back Satan’s hatred. And He gives us the sound mind to recognize irrational fear.

Prayer:  Father, I thank you for helping me reject fear. Moments when doubt and worry try to come in, I count in Your power at work in me to win over them.

  1. Dare to look beyond the circumstance.

It’s in our face, how can we look beyond the mess we’re in? Here’s a test for you. After you read this article, will you ponder and see how it changed you?

Or will you be tempted to dash over and check out the latest post? So many have become members of the addicted-to-social-media club.

The membership requirements are simple—focus on the news, take in comments from social media, keep track of statistics detailing the number of deaths, read the dark prognosis from experts and finally believe all the negative headlines—subtly, the focus is on the circumstance and not in the certainty of the power of God.

We’re not alone. The Israelites also saw nothing beyond the bad that surrounded them. They complained because they saw the lack of food, but missed the power of God at work. They challenged Moses by doubting in his leadership, but forgot God’s divine guidance. They crafted their own idols to pray and trust, but dismissed God’s faithfulness.

As they shuffled on that hot sand, they wished to go back to Egypt. We also wish to go back to the way things were. And as we keep navigating through the COVID-19 desert, God has a message:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:18).

Prayer:  Father, forgive me for keeping my focus on the events around me. Give me the eyesight to look beyond difficulties, problems and obstacles and, instead, help me to see the fresh beginning You prepared.

  1. Stop believing what the world declares.

“Some stores are running out of toilet paper,” a local station reported.

That bit of information exploded in a frenzy to grab as many rolls as would fit in the overflowing shopping cart.

Why did many go into panic dashing from store to store looking for something without knowing the reason? Because, like sheep, we followed others who also heard and believed a news reporter.

In the meantime, God is also telling us we’re running out of something—wisdom. The wisdom to compare what God says, what He instructs, what He promises, how He guides, how He protects and how He provides.

The best news is the shelves of His divine store will never run out of wisdom. In fact, he announces the abundant supply: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind” (James 1:5-6).

Could that be us? Tossed by the wind that blows from the world’s deceptions? Or will we follow the wisdom Habakkuk displayed when he declared: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

When we become as audacious as Habakkuk, defeat turns to determination. And instead of discouragement, we become defiantly brave to declare that if God parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21), He’ll make the way for us too. As He sent manna from heaven (Ex. 16:4-6), He’ll provide what we need. And since He made dried bones come alive (Ezekiel 37:4), He’ll do the impossible for us to–bring back what we lost, take us higher and make us stronger.

Let’s Pray

Father, I pledge my allegiance to Your truth, to Your power and Your path. My heart and mind will not entertain fear, but instead, will increase faith to believe in the victory you promised. In Jesus’ name.

How will you avoid the fear traps?

Janet

______________________________________

Did you know I wrote a book filled with words of encouragement, uplifting thoughts and illustrations of real-life triumph to empower you? Its title, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life. You can get it HERE.

CLICK HERE for a one-minute inspirational video.

Looking for a speaker for your upcoming event? A great speaker makes the difference between a so-so event and one that shines with impact. I invite you to view one of my two-minute videos HERE.

Please share: Feel free to share Janet’s posts with your friends

Janet Eckles Perez

Some say she should be the last person to be dancing. Her life is summarized in this 3-minute video: http://bit.ly/1a8wGJR

Janet Perez Eckles’ story of triumph is marked by her work as an international speaker, #1 best-selling author, radio host, personal success coach and master interpreter. Although blind since 31, her passion is to help you see the best of life.

www.janetperezeckles.com

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The Big Warm up

3 Feb

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Last week here in Florida we were preparing for the “big freeze.” The freeze was freezing! We covered our fragile plants and all but one survived with no damage. We neglected to cover a pot of purple Coleus and it is not looking well. My daughter thinks the roots may be ok and that trimming it back may salvage it. On a positive note, the Crotons did just fine.

Photo Credit: Me!

As i write this on Wednesday night, the air conditioner is running. Thursday and Friday we will have temperatures in the 80s again. Hopefully our northern visitors (Anyone visiting from north of the Florida state line) will be quick to take advantage of the warmth because in true Florida fashion, the temperature will plunge again, though not as far as last week.

Lots of talk and memes for Ground Hog day. Local weather stations have posted some fun memes. I like this one from our Orlando WFTV station.

Photo Credit https://www.wftv.com/weather/

Not to be outdone, a Jacksonville news station went for the beach look.

Photo Credit: https://www.news4jax.com/weather/

I have seen a lot of people posting about snow in Michigan. I went online and found this one. I would never willingly play the game. This Florida raised woman is a total chicken when it comes to snow and ice.

A novel I read this week stated that when well-bred English people don’t know what to say, they talk about the weather. In my not so well-bred American case, when this blogger doesn’t know what to write about, she talks about the weather.

I'm a winner

After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

In addition to blogging, I work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  

My 2021 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.

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A Hunting Trip with My Dad Part 1

2 Feb

A Slice of LIfe

Bill Lites

I grew up at a time, and in a place (the southwest), where hunting was a given.  My folks, having been survivors of the Great Depression era, were hunters out of necessity, so it was only natural that I would grow up to be a hunter too.  Our family needed the meat from their annual deer and antelope hunts to supplement their meager income.  In addition to the yearly deer or antelope hunts, my dad would usually hunt wild turkeys or some type of game birds, when his work schedule permitted.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

When I was younger my dad had taken me on fishing trips in the New Mexico Mountain streams.  I loved the outdoors, the camping out with my dad, the thrill of catching those fighting fish, and then eating the delicious Rainbow Trout he would cook over an open fire that night.  

Photo Credit: https://rove.me/rainbow-trout-fishing/  

As I grew older, my dad taught me how to shoot his deer rifle and how best to stalk white-tailed deer, antelope, and wild turkeys (he made his own turkey callers out of certain turkey bones and taught me how to use them to call the turkeys).

Photo Credit: //www.arkansasonline.com/news/turkey-hunt/

Every year my dad and mother would buy a New Mexico resident deer license ($5.00 each) that was good for any area in the state open to deer hunting.  Many of the farmers and ranchers in our area had to deal with free-range white-tailed deer and antelope roaming their area feeding on their crops. 

Photo Credit: https://theconversation.com/white-tailed-deer/

Most years there was some place in the state where the farmers were being over-run by white-tail deer and ask the state for help.  The state would issue a ‘Special Deer Tag’ which allowed the licensed hunter to take an additional buck or doe in that designed area.  

Sample Deer License Photo Credit: https://new-mexico-hunting-fishing-licenses

My mother was a good hunter and went with my dad as often as she could.  However, because my sister and I were still in school, she ended up being a stay-at-home mom, and wasn’t able to go hunting with my dad as often as she would have liked.

Photo Credit:Bill Lites

The year I was 14, we bought one regular license for my dad, one for my mom, and one for me ($7.50 each by 1954), and one ‘Special Deer Tag’ for each of us.  We were set for a possible 6-deer taking for the year of hunting.  That was the year my dad took me on my first deer hunt in the northern mountains of New Mexico.  To say I was excited, about the prospects of that first deer hunt, would be what I would call an understatement.  I could hardly wait.

Sample “Special” Deer Tag Photo Credit: https://new-mexico-hunting-fishing-licenses/

As it happened, that year, my mother had started a new job and wasn’t able to go with us.  So, I used my mother’s Remington 30-30 caliber pump-action rifle.  It was lighter and I felt more comfortable using it than I did my dad’s converted 30-06 sport rifle.  Besides that, I could fire 3-shots with the pump-action rifle to every one-shot dad could fire with his bolt-action rifle.  I saw that as an advantage, he didn’t.

Photo Credit: https://www.maynards.com/remington/pump-action-rifle/ 

My dad was the State Sunday School Secretary for New Mexico, and traveled a lot, setting up and monitoring Sunday Schools at churches around the state.  He had made a lot of deer hunting friends in most areas of the state over the years.  So, when deer hunting season rolled around, our family was almost always invited to stay at a pastor’s home, in the mountains, somewhere in the state where deer hunting was allowed.  If an invitation did not come, dad always knew of a good mountain area where we could pitch our tent, and rough it, while we hunted.

Photo Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emYgULUkmSM/ 

 

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 64 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is:  John 10:10

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