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Christmas is Coming-Part 2

10 Dec

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

I mentioned last time that I would like to describe Christmas decorations – both around the neighborhood, in our house (and others houses we’ve visited), and some of the decorations from years past at our growing-up house and our Aunt Jessie’s house in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the decorations that our church does each year.

I started last week with the decorations my Mother did around our house, and then what our Aunt Jessie did at her house.

This week I would like to share some of the decorating I did for our house(s) that we’ve lived in.

The first four years of our marriage I don’t think I decorated at all – probably didn’t have either the funds for purchasing anything, or knowledge of how to apply what I saw in the stores and around the area.  Seems like I remember taking a small magazine – Readers Digest size – and folding each page a couple of times in a certain way (I’ve forgotten now how I did it) to make it stand upright, then spray painting the whole thing green. I would then add very small ornaments on it, and call it a Christmas tree!  Unfortunately, I have no pictures of that – only the memory.

So the first pictures I have of anything we did for decorations was when we were in Wiesbaden, West Germany.  The building we lived in had a “competition” with other government buildings for decorations.  This is our building in 1968 – everyone in our building had the same “form” and we added what we wanted in the middle.  I made “Silver Bells” – cardboard bell shapes wrapped in aluminum foil.  Kinda cute.  Our apartment was the top left – at the end of the building.

This second picture is also in Wiesbaden, the following year, 1969 – our last Christmas in Wiesbaden.  It’s a bit difficult to make out the window decoration, but it was a very simple design – sort of a star burst.  I think the center was a paper doily, with “spokes” emanating from the center, with another paper doily at the end of each spoke and some “diamonds” between.  Simple, but we liked it.

Here are another couple of pictures of Christmas morning in our apartment in 1969.  Karen was just three years old here.  You will see our little tree in the background on an end-table.  And then another picture of the small gingerbread house we had.  I don’t remember whether or not I made it or we bought it.  But Karen thought it was a delight!

I don’t seem to have any pictures of decorations until 10 years later – 1979 – when we were in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  I only have a few from there, but here they are.  The six-plex we lived in was built on a hill, so we have a true “split level” house – lots of stairs, three bedrooms, two and one-half baths.  Not too bad, but they were built very cheaply and were quite noisy and cold.  In any case, here are some of the decorations we did there.

~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~

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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Christmas is Coming

3 Dec

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

I concentrated on Thanksgiving during the month of November 2023.  Now it is December 2023, and I would like to concentrate on Christmas.  I would like to describe decorations – both around the neighborhood, in our house (and others houses we’ve visited), and some of the decorations from years past at our growing-up house and our Aunt Jessie’s house in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the decorations that our church does each year.

For those about our church, I want to explain that within our congregation are a few people who were animators for Disney here in Orlando.  Consequently, the ideas they put forth are quite elegant and beautiful. Please keep that in mind when I describe and show pictures of some of those decorations.  

I think I want to start with what our Mother did for our house in Albuquerque.  This one from 1952 is the earliest I have of any decorations – that’s me, with the fireplace mantle decorations, and all the Christmas cards Mom and Dad received taped to the side windows.

 And here’s one from 1958 that shows the “corner” of the living room with the tree and all. 

Another one from 1958 – the decoration Mom put on the mirror above the mantle.  They didn’t have “clings” back in those days – it was probably the “spray-on-snow” that is so difficult to remove – at least I don’t remember Mom doing that any other year.

This one from 1964 shows Mom, Dad and me, and the way Mom taped the Christmas cards onto the front door.

 And this one from 1966 shows my Granny and the decorations Mom placed on the shelf under the side window.

Moving on from the house I grew up in, to my Aunt Jessie’s house.  She and Granny lived about 10 minutes away from us, and had a neat house that DiVoran called “Art Deco” style.  I loved that house almost as much as my own.  

It wasn’t huge, but had some unique features to it – including a basement.  Here are some of the decorations Jessie did:

I remember her making Christmas “candles” by pouring melted paraffin wax into those old (cleaned out) square milk cartons.  The paraffin had melted crayons in them, to make different colors of the candles.  She would then take some of the melted paraffin (no color) and whip it up with her electric mixer to make a “foam” or frosting-like that she spread on the outside of the candle when it  had cooled.  Here is a picture of her holding one of her candles.  This was sometime in the 1950’s

And here is Jessie, Granny and a good friend of theirs that we called “Aunt Clarkie” in Jessie’s house at Christmas time.  You can see the candles Jessie made on the stair-step room divider from the dining room into the living room.  This picture was taken in 1960.

And here is a table arrangement that Jessie did in 1963.  She had really elegant  taste in the way she decorated.

Here is the decoration she did by the fireplace and mantle in 1963.  Loved those stockings!

And here’s a front door decoration she did in 1964.  I have another picture of a front-door decoration she did, but the picture is not good quality.

This concludes the pictures from my childhood – both our house and our Aunt Jessie’s house.  Next time will be the decorations we did with our house.  Unfortunately, I don’t have either my Mother’s or Aunt Jessie’s good taste in decorations – but we like what we do!

~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~

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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After Thanksgiving

26 Nov

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Well, Thanksgiving 2023 has come and gone.  It’s amazing to me how fast that happens!  You gear up for it, then POOF!  It’s over.

So what do you do now?  Well, Christmas is on its way now, and there is soooo much to do to get ready for that.  However…there’s still some turkey left over.  Okay…more than a little turkey left over.  What to do?  Well, there’s always turkey sandwiches…made on a hoagie roll with thin slices (or thick if you like) of turkey, lettuce leaves, tomato slices, sliced onions, pickles and any condiments you like (mustard? Mayonnaise? Oil and vinegar? Some kind of salad dressing?).  Cheese of course.  Warmed in the toaster oven perhaps? Or just eaten cold.  Subway…eat your heart out!

But our very, very favorite way to eat up that leftover turkey is by picking the turkey carcass clean of all the meat (light and dark) and cubing it up in about 1″ or smaller pieces, and making my Mother’s recipe of Turkey Tetrazinni.  Fred says it is his favorite part of the turkey!  I’ve included the recipe below.  I cook it in either a 9″x13″ glass pan, or a 10″x10″ Corning Ware dish.  It works well with either.

This recipe makes quite a bit, and with just the two of us eating it, it takes a couple of days to finish it off.  But we manage to do just that!  We really enjoy this dish.  I’ve never tried to freeze any leftovers, so i don’t know how it would work.

I hope you will try this – and enjoy it as much as we do.  It’s a GREAT way to finish up the turkey!

TURKEY TETRAZINNI

By Agnes Lites Yearout

1 cup cooked rice**                                                             2 Tbsp flour

2 sticks diced celery                                                            2 cups (total) broth and milk**

½  onion, chopped                                                               Salt & Pepper to taste

1 small can mushrooms with juice                                    1 tsp Worchestershire Sauce

¼  lb. butter (1 stick)**                                                         ¼ lb. grated cheddar cheese

                                                                                                Cooked turkey, cubed

Cook celery and onion in butter until transparent.  Combine vegetable mixture, flour, broth, mushrooms and juice, and seasoning to make the sauce.  Add turkey and most of the grated cheese to the sauce.  Cook until cheese is melted and mixed in with the sauce.

Put cooked rice in a greased casserole and cover with the turkey sauce.  Top with remaining cheese.

Bake in a 350º oven for about 20 minutes.

**SOME NOTES:  

  1.    Instead of butter you can substitute ½ cup Olive Oil
  2.    For the “broth and milk” – if you have any turkey gravy left over, use that and top it off with milk to make the two cups.  If no broth or gravy, use chicken bouillon and milk.
  3.    This is really good over cooked thin spaghetti or Vermicelli (we like Angel Hair pasta the best).  We like the pasta better than rice.  We’ve not tried it over Couscous, but I think it would be good, as well.  Cook the Couscous in chicken bouillon.  I’ve also made it with egg noodles and that is good.
  4.    I like sliced mushrooms, but stems and pieces can be used as well.
  5.    I am usually more generous with the cheese – we like cheese!

Enjoy!!

Photo Credit by Google Search and Betty Crocker website

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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Happy Thanksgiving

19 Nov

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

I have many and varied memories of Thanksgivings throughout my lifetime – all of them happy times with family.  I don’t remember making my own turkey or dressing until Fred and I had been married for five or six years, and had moved to Wiesbaden, West Germany with the U.S. Air Force.  Then I was sort-of forced to try my hand at cooking a turkey, whether I wanted to or not!  I did find that it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it might be.  

I have to say here, that neither I nor my brother, Bill, can remember what kind of dressing (or stuffing) our mother made!  I suspect it was cornbread dressing, since Daddy grew up in Louisiana and that’s more likely what was made there.  I never tried to make cornbread dressing, as it isn’t Fred’s favorite.  However, his mother, who grew up in New England, taught me how to make bread dressing, New England style.  So that’s what I’ve made ever since.  It’s what our girls grew up eating, and they – and we – love it!  

All that to say that I do remember some things about Thanksgivings along the way.  I remember the cranberry/orange/pecan relish in gelatin that my mother made in small forms that were placed on leaves of lettuce.

1955 – Albuquerque – Granny, Daddy, Mother, Bill

Dessert time at the Lites Thanksgiving table

Mother’s cranberry relish dish on lettuce leaves on the table (red)

1956 – Albuquerque – Thanksgiving meal

DiVoran, Bill, Judy, David Bowers (DiVoran’s brother) Daddy, Granny, Dora Bowers (DiVoran and David’s mother) my Mother

I remember the sweet potato dish she made.  And of course there were always mashed white potatoes and lots of turkey gravy.  Pumpkin pies with whipped cream was the dessert.  I don’t remember any other kinds of desserts.

Since our girls are grown and gone to their own families for Thanksgivings now, Fred and I have fallen in the habit of going to Cracker Barrel for Thanksgiving meal – usually lunch.  We can get a wonderful meal of turkey and ham, sweet potato casserole, another vegetable of our choice, mashed potatoes and gravy.  Along with pumpkin pie with whipped cream for dessert.  All for one low price – and I don’t have to cook it or clean it up, either!! 

Photo Credit Google Search and Cracker Barrel website

However, this year will be different.  We have some very good friends in town that we have dinner with once each week – standing date.  Across the street from where they live is another couple that we are all very good friends with, as well.  We have a meal with them once each month.  Usually for Easter or close to Thanksgiving, they will have a meal for a bunch of people, and we  are invited.  Easter brings certain types of foods.  Thanksgiving brings the turkey and ham, etc., and I ALWAYS bring my bread dressing.  This year, they are holding the meal actually on Thanksgiving Day.  So we get to celebrate that wonderful time of family and friendship on the Day itself.  We are blest.  And my bread dressing will be on the table, with probably none left at the end of the meal.

Since we live in a community called Hunter’s Creek here in Orlando, we receive a monthly magazine called “Life at Hunter’s Creek.”  Last year, this was the cover of that magazine.  Since I like to bake and make cookies, this really caught my eye.  I would like to show it here to wish one and all a very

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

JUDY’S TURKEY STUFFING

For an 8 pound turkey:

   (Allow one cup stuffing for each pound poultry)

½ – ¾ cup chopped onion

½ – ¾ cup chopped celery

1 cup butter (or ½ cup butter and ½ cup olive oil)

2 quarts dry bread slices, torn into pieces

1 tsp salt

½ tsp ground pepper

1 Tbsp poultry seasoning

1 cup hot water.

Sauté onion and celery in butter.  Mix in salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning.  Pour over dry bread pieces.

Add hot water and mix with your hands to get all the bread wet.  Be sure to get to the bottom of the pan.  If necessary, add more hot water and mix.  Don’t saturate the bread, or it will get too soggy.

Place stuffing in a covered dish in the oven, about 30 minutes.

I prefer the Durkee Poultry Seasoning combination, but use whatever seasoning you like.  

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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Thanksgiving in Virginia

12 Nov

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Reblog from 2019

I wrote this for Thanksgiving 2019.  Since November is Thanksgiving “month,” I would like to present it again.

In previous musings, I mentioned that in 1983 we left Heidelberg, West Germany, and rotated back to the United States.  Fred’s next assignment was to be at Langley AFB, in Hampton, Virginia.  We looked at lots of houses before settling on a house in the “woods” of Seaford, Virginia.  It was about 13 miles from Langley, but Fred didn’t mind the drive, and the schools in York County were top-notch.

Our house in the “woods” of Seaford

We soon joined the local Southern Baptist Church – Seaford Baptist Church, and began our time there, not expecting our time to be longer than the usual three-year tour.  But God had other plans for us, and we stayed there nearly 13 years.

1991 – Seaford Baptist Church – old sanctuary (far left), classrooms, new sanctuary (right)

As the first Thanksgiving arrived, we were pleased to find that Seaford Baptist Church had a Thanksgiving tradition with Zion United Methodist Church, also in Seaford.  That tradition started years before we arrived on the scene.  

Zion United Methodist Church, Seaford, VA 

Credit Google Search and Zion United Methodist website

On the Wednesday evening before each Thanksgiving Day, there was a trade-off.  If the joint services were held in the Baptist church, then the pastor of the Methodist church gave the Thanksgiving message.  The Baptists hosted the service, the Baptist ladies furnished the after-service desserts, and the Baptist church choir sang the special music. 

The following year, the services were held in the Methodist church and the Baptist pastor gave the message.  The Methodist ladies furnished the after-service desserts, and the Methodist choir sang the special music.  It was a wonderful time – and the shared messages and fellowship time gave us opportunities to meet our Seaford neighbors, and worship together.  That’s the way I believe God intends us to do.

We’ve been away from Virginia these 25+ years, so we aren’t sure whether or not this tradition has continued.  We only hope it has.  It was a wonderful tradition.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Fred and I wish you all the very best of Thanksgiving this year – and the blessing of thanks-giving to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Credit Pixabay

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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November

5 Nov

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Photo Credit Google Search

Well well well – November is upon us again.  It’s time to pack away the Halloween things for another year.

We don’t decorate much for Halloween – not like our neighbors do.  But that’s okay.  I grew up doing “Trick or Treat” around our neighborhood, and never thought anything about it, except how much fun my friends and I were having.  There are many people today who are totally and completely against Halloween.  I’m not opposed to it, and some fellow Christians will question how that can be when I am a professing believer.  But there it is – it is a personal choice.  I don’t go beyond just having a good time costuming up and enjoying time with my friends.

In any case, about the only decorating we do is this little “witch” that I found in Cracker Barrel some years ago, and I thought was cute.

I’m not exactly sure what should go on top of her, but I put this happy pumpkin head that has a small light bulb inside.  I like the entire look that it has, and have had several people comment on how they like it.

When September and Fall arrives, I usually change out my flag wreath on the front door for this Fall wreath.  It’s not terribly elaborate, but that’s okay…we like it.

However, now that November is here, it’s time to think about Thanksgiving.  And so I will change out my Fall wreath for my Pilgrim, and he will stay all month.  I really enjoy this guy.

I saw the following statement on facebook recently, and agree with it completely.  It’s a shame that we have to remind ourselves that we need to take time to be thankful – for just everything.  God is so very good and gracious and giving and loving and…..I can’t even begin to think of all the wonderful things God has done for/given to us.  That shames me.  And so I try to be sure and thank my God every day for His glorious mercy and grace and generosity to me and my family.

Credit Google Search and facebook

I’ve seen some friends on facebook who are doing a “31 days of thankfulness” – posting something different they are thankful for each day.  Sounds like a great thing to do.  It also reminds us to be thankful in all things.

And that brings up another point – being thankful in all things – no matter what the situation.  Some friends and we were recently discussing the fact that “no matter what our situation, or think our situation is – someone is ALWAYS worse off than we are.”  Tends to make me not want to complain about my aches and pains!  And so…Thanks be to God – I am so much better off than I think I am.

…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus

1 Thessalonians 5:18

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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Meals with the Family-Part 3

22 Oct

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills                            

Karen’s Brian loves to surprise people.  We surprised Fred on his 80th birthday with both girls and their families (minus Forrest and his family) at Cracker Barrel for breakfast.

Photo credit Google Search and Cracker Barrel website

The remainder of the day included the St. John’s River Cruise with a meal cooked right on the ship, then supper at Bonefish Grill.

Photo Credit Google Search and Bonefish Grill website

Please see my posts of March 3, 2019 and March 10, 2019 for that special day and surprise.

They surprised me (belated) for my 75th birthday.  Please see my post of September 18, 2016 for that special surprise.

They also all surprised me on MY 80th birthday with the girls and their families (minus Forrest and his family) at Dixie Crossroads. 

Credit photo Google Search and Dixie Crossroads website; Steve Hunsader

That included both of Bill’s children and their spouses.  We hadn’t visited with either of them for quite a while.  It was wonderful.  Unfortunately, Bill was on one of his trips and wasn’t able to be there.  

There was one time there was a “family” meal together, but unfortunately, Bill and his family were not available.  Both of our girls and their families were here, as well as my BFF and her husband.  Sue and Bud were visiting us for a few days and got in on that meal.  After we finished our meal, we just all sat around the table and talked.  We told stories of our lives and what was going on.  I don’t remember that Sue or Bud said very much, but they listened.  She said later that Bud thoroughly enjoyed the meal as well as the conversation.  Apparently their family doesn’t do that.  Of course, they all live close to each other, so if they have a meal together, there isn’t too much need to “catch up” on their lives…they are living their lives together.  Sue said Bud hadn’t enjoyed a time like that in, well, forever.  Made my heart glad.

I really love family – and meals with my family!

~~~~~~~~~~The End~~~~~~~~~~

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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Meals with the Family-Part 2

15 Oct

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

  As the children got older, schedules were more difficult to manage for family dinners, so it has essentially dwindled down to just once-a-month with Bill, DiVoran, Fred and me.  We take turns where to meet:  one month Fred and I go to Titusville, and the next month Bill and DiVoran come to Orlando.  We usually meet about 10:00 a.m. at the house for some time to just visit and chat – catch up on our lives.  About 11:30 we head to a restaurant for a lunch meal together.

Bill and DiVoran’s house

Our house

In Titusville, that usually means Dixie Crossroads.  YAY!  Love that place and the Rock Shrimp they serve! 

Credit photo Google Search and Dixie Crossroads website; Steve Hunsader

There used to be a restaurant in Titusville called Portofino’s that we enjoyed, but they aren’t in business any more.  Another was Pumpernickle’s, which served authentic German food.  Fred and I really loved that restaurant, since we lived in Germany for six years.  But, unfortunately, they aren’t in business any more, either.  Shucks!  There is still a good Mexican/Cuban restaurant where we go occasionally called El Leoncito which is excellent.

Photo credit Google Search, El Leoncito website; Herve Andrieu

When Bill and DiVoran come to Orlando, we have quite a wide variety of restaurants to pick from.  Recently we went to Cracker Barrel, since they have such a wide variety on their menu.

Photo credit Google Search and Cracker Barrel Website

We described the salmon at Longhorn Steakhouse, and DiVoran decided the next time they come here she would like to try that! 

Another time they came over to Orlando, we all met at Columbia House in Celebration.  It is a “traditional Spanish” restaurant, and the food is excellent. 

Photo credit Google Search and Columbia House website

For those who don’t know, Celebration is a housing development built by Disney, located not too far from Disney World. 

This is the symbol of Celebration

Photo credit Google Search and Celebration website

It is essentially a self-contained community which includes shopping, schools (reported to be state-of-the-art), and a hospital (also reported to be state-of-the-art).  I’ve been a patient in that hospital, and it is quite good.

We’ve eaten at Azteca Mexican Restaurant, Cheddar’s Home Kitchen.  We’ve taken them to 4 Rivers BBQ, and The Catfish Place in St. Cloud.  We’ve eaten at IHOP as well as Red Lobser and Olive Garden.  So we really have our choice of eateries here.  That keeps it interesting.

~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~

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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Our Trip to Maui-Part 7

1 Oct

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

We decided that our last day in Maui would be an easy one, since we had been “on the go” the rest of the time.  So we drove up the coastline to Kapalua.  Kapalua is a rather expensive “plantation” resort, and home to the PGA tour’s, the Hyundai Tournament of Champions every year.  If you are into golf – that’s the course to play, and the tournament to watch. 

The drive up the coastline was breathtaking.  We stopped quite a few times, just to get some pictures.  Fred found some catamarans in a little bay, that was literally “picture perfect.”

We found what we think are some coral beds.

We saw swimmers on the beach as well as in the water.

Blue, blue water.  Really gorgeous.

We drove down to Lahaina again, and had lunch at the Aloha Mixed Plate again.

The remainder of the day was spent just resting and packing for our return flight to the mainland the next day.  And then we just spent time visiting with Fred’s Dad.  It was a quiet and very precious time for us.  

We decided to have one last meal of that delicious Ono fish, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.  

The next day, on our way to the airport, we stopped and took a picture of the island of Molokai – the only one we have without clouds covering the top of the island.  Lovely!

We had a short hop from Maui to Honolulu, and then from there to Seattle.  We were late arriving, so we stayed the night in a hotel before driving the next day back to Shelton.

Our Maui trip was over – so fast!  We are just so grateful that God allowed us to have this wonderful vacation time – and time with Dad, and for him to rest.  

And then, home sweet home – our bed felt soooooo good that night!

The End

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.

Our Trip to Maui-Part 6

24 Sep

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Reblogged

Our next adventure took us on “The Road to Hana.”  Never heard of it?  Neither had we until this trip.  I guess it’s fairly famous in Maui terms.  We were up early – on the road by 7:00 a.m.  The “road” is only 52 miles from Kahului to Hana – but it takes four hours to drive it – each way!!  It has 59 one-lane bridges to go over.  So it was to be an all-day trip for us.  As one advertisement told us – “On the Hana Highway – The Journey is the Adventure.”  And so it was.

Hana itself was on the complete opposite side of Maui from Napili, where we were staying, and there is no through-way to get there.  Of course, the Haleakala Crater is right across the pathway, so that explains the round-about way we had to drive.  

The road is almost completely filled with hairpin or serpentine curves.  And I don’t mean just those little squiggly curves – this road sign is VERY descriptive!

In any case, we thoroughly enjoyed the ride, stopping along the way to see some gorgeous scenery.  Waterfalls everywhere.

We saw sugar cane fields in abundance.  A note from the historical side – “Before WW2, Hana was a busy sugar port.  After the war, cane fields gave way to pasture for beef cattle, and the town developed into a trade center for surrounding ranches.”  Interesting.

Miles and miles of eucalyptus trees – the fragrance was incredible!  And we saw a rooster walking down the middle of the road, just daring us to hit it!  We didn’t.

On the way up, we stopped at the Wai’anapanapa State Park and Cave.  This area completely fascinated me – the sand is BLACK! 

It’s actually the small Honokalani Black Sand Beach and is composed of small, smooth lava pebbles.  The volcanic rock must be good soil, as the area is quite lush with greenery.  One of the most fascinating sights to me was the “arch” – the volcanic rock worn away by the ocean, leaving the arch.

I’m assuming that some day it will be worn enough to collapse.   And there is a legend about the caves, but too lengthy to share here.

Again, since we are so directionally challenged, we missed the town of Hana!  However, we were headed to a restaurant that was recommended to us by the AAA travel book and other people.  It was Mama’s Fish House in Kuau Cove. 

The food was excellent, but the advertised low price was not!  It was one of the most expensive meals we had while on Maui!  So be warned!

We finally made it home for a quiet evening together.  It was a long and exhausting day – for the driver and the riders.  But we enjoyed everything we saw!

~~~~~More to come~~~~~

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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