Archive by Author

Cuban Tree Frogs in Florida

22 Oct

My Take

 

DiVoran Lites 

I must write something down. I can’t talk until I do.

It’s about Cuban tree frogs.

I have one in my shedlette.

He’s been around for about three years.

Ugly!

I think I know his mom, but she has moved on.

He lived with his sister under the porch eave and would startle when I ran the broom to take down spider webs.

Now he lives in my shedlette.

When I was moving a bag of fertilizer, he leapt down to the next shelf and hid.

I jumped back.

He’s much bigger now, but I think he’s alone.

Cuban tree frogs are exotics and shouldn’t be allowed to exist in Florida.

They eat green tree frogs.

It’s true, you used to see them by the dozens.

I love green tree frogs. Their golden racing stripes are real gold from God.

You’re supposed to kill Cuban tree frogs. The tree huggers say so.

Put them in a plastic bag and shove them in the freezer.

My friend knew that.

My son and I talked about it one day in front of his children, but they kept saying, “No, no, don’t do it”

So the Cuban is still here.

I  couldn’t do it anyway, but I know someone who knows someone who can.

Susan wanted to be a responsible Floridian.

However, she didn’t want her freezer full of Cuban Tree Frogs.

She has about a ga-zillion of them.

She chopped two in half with a hoe.

She felt so bad she decided not to do it ever again.

She says, “I could never kill them all no matter how hard I try.”

They hole up in her garage during hurricanes and they die and dry. “What can you do with a dried Cuban tree frog,” she says, “except make jewelry out of it?” Susan is an artist. She makes lemonade out of lemons.

Anyhow, she’s right. I feel so much better. I only have one Cuban Tree Frog and really—I don’t have to think about killing him anymore. I never was going to anyhow.

Exodus 20:13

 

 

Related articles

 

Tags: , , ,

The Tablecloth

21 Oct

Sunday Memories

 Judy Wills

I love to crochet.  I mean I REALLY LOVE to crochet!

I remember my grandmother crocheting, and my mother, and I loved the “granny square” afghan they made with those multi-colored squares surrounded by black.  But I actually taught myself to crochet.  I took lessons to learn to knit, but nothing fit!  Even if I made a sample gauge, the finished product never fit!  But give me a crochet hook and I was good to go!

I made several “twin” outfits for our daughters that they loved to wear.  I made baby “capes” with hoods for new babies.  I taught international women to crochet, as part of their English Language learning process at our church.  In later years, my favorite thing to crochet was an afghan – shell stitch.  I could do that and watch TV both at the same time.  Didn’t realize they would now call it “multi-tasking.”

My husband is one of four children.  Each married and had two children of their own (one broke mold and had a third child).  When all our children were young, we drew names (families) for giving Christmas presents to each other’s families.  The year we moved from Texas to Florida, it was our turn to give to my husband’s brother and his family.  His wife and I had become good friends and shared many passions.  One was crocheting!  She was a whiz at crochet.  She could whip out a sweater in no time!  But she used large hooks and thick yarn.  I wracked my brain for something to give her.  I knew that anything I made (sewed/crocheted), she could do as well or better.  And then I had an idea!  She would never take the time to crochet a tablecloth for herself, using the thin cotton thread needed for that project.  She had a lovely antique pedestal table with a round top.  Perfect!

So I began my project, knowing it would take a while to complete.  I had a pattern for a pinwheel motif that was just right.

I worked and worked on it, taking it with me everywhere.  On our move that summer, we stopped by their house in Indiana for a few days.  After a while, I ran out of things to work on, and drug out the thread and hook.  When she asked me what I was working on, I told her it was her Christmas present.  She was absolutely overjoyed!

From that point on, it became a labor of love for me…..knowing she would enjoy that adornment for her table…..knowing I made it just for her…..and hopefully enjoying the workmanship that went into it.

I don’t know whether or not she still has that tablecloth, but I made one for myself and enjoy using it.  It looks quite different from a pinwheel when put together, but I like the looks of it, even now.

What do you think?

Romans 8:28

Related articles

Tags: , , ,

Speak Up Saturday-Paint Mine Park

20 Oct

Speak Up Saturday

Patricia Franklin

A few years back we took a ride to northeast Colorado near the small town of Calhan. Someone had told us that there was a beautiful area there called the “Paint Mines.” We were out in the middle of nowhere, when we saw a sign ahead that said “Paint Mine Park,” so we turned off and followed that road. We drove further out into the prairie land which was flat and barren. As we drove along, we saw indications of some ridges and gullies in the landscape.

Our road led to a parking lot, where we parked our car in an almost vacant lot, and started walking along the trail that was indicated there, although we saw nothing and did not know what we were looking for. As we got further along, we saw a couple of crater-like holes in the ground. When we looked into them, there were indications of beautiful rock/dirt formations in different colors. As the trail went on, we came to a curve, where the trail doubled back and went downhill from there, then snaked to the right and further downhill.

When we got to the bottom and looked ahead, we were flabbergasted to see we were in a rock canyon with beautiful spires and rock walls in breathtakingly  different formations and colors. As we walked into the area, we were soon surrounded by these amazingly beautiful formations in bright purples, pinks, mauve, yellows, and stark white. It was absolutely unbelievable to walk into this alien land in the middle of the Colorado prairie. To make it even more eerie and exciting, the area was deathly quiet and no one was around. We almost felt like we had walked into the past. We eventually did run into a few people during our walk. It was strange how you could be alone in the quiet one minute, round a corner and meet up with someone without hearing a sound or seeing anyone until they were right there with you. At other times, you could hear voices, and never find out where they came from.

These rock walls, tunnels and spires were cut in here thousands of years ago by Mother Nature, and the Native Americans used these natural clay deposits for painting and pottery. The trails go along for a few miles of different kinds of formations. They are amazingly alike and amazingly different from each other. At one point, there are rows of large towering ghost-like formations called “hoo doos.”

This is one of the best kept secrets in Colorado. We took pictures, but you will get a better view of the Paint Mines if you just want to Google “Paint Mines, Colorado.”

A NATIVE AMERICAN QUOTE:

“WE DID NOT INHERIT THIS LAND FROM OUR ANCESTORS, BUT BORROWED IT FROM OUR CHILDREN.”

Tags: , , ,

Jane

18 Oct

I am writing this on Sunday night. Monday I am having my third cornea transplant and I just can’t seem to gather my thoughts to write a sensible blog so I am offering you a look into my secret life. Mind you, I am not worried about the surgery, after all, I have done this twice already. My concern is nothing to eat or drink after midnight and I won’t have surgery until at least 11:30! Seriously, I am supposed to go hours in the morning without coffee? 

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

 

My mother always told me “your name goes further than your face,” and she was right. Many times I know of people by name but don’t have a clue what they look like. Have you ever met someone who, when you were introduced would say something like “I am so glad to meet you, Suzy Q has spoken often of you?”

Names are important so why do I use a pseudonym in public?  I have an unusual name and EVERYWHERE I go whether it be a restaurant or Starbucks, I have to spell it. I am not a patient person so after a course of trial and error, I found the perfect “list name”, JANE. The same people who couldn’t spell Ann or Sue have no problem with Jane. I don’t understand it. Please don’t use my idea and choose Jane for your “list name” because I am pretty sure I would have trouble remembering a fake last initial.

Transplant information

http://www.pricevisiongroup.com/sutureless.html

 

All joking aside, I am extremely grateful for the family who chose to restore my sight by donating a loved ones cornea. It is a gift I will receive with both joy and sadness. To lose someone you love is a lifelong sorrow. I have been praying they will feel the comfort of our creator’s peace and rest.

Tags:

Our Trip Across America-Part 2

17 Oct

Last week BIll began a series, Our Trip Across America. He picks up this week with his transition from tent camping to a pop up trailer. Onisha

A Slice of Life

  Bill Lites

The camper was an older 6’x10’ unit I bought from a friend at work.  He told me it was in good shape, but had been sitting in his driveway for a long time.  This was a very basic house shaped square box camper with gas for a stove but no electricity. We had to use Coleman lanterns for lighting and we took a small three burner Coleman stove in case we had a gas stove problem or needed to cook outside for some reason. The camper had a small fresh water tank, but the water had to be pumped into the sink with a hand pump.

Everything had to fit within the camper footprint as the tent portion opened straight up to a peak running fore and aft.  The small gas stove, sink and counter top were on one side, with an office size “ice box” (remember, no electricity) under the counter.  On the other side was a small fold down table with bench seats for four people.   My wife slept on the twin bed that ran across the front with storage under it, and I slept in the other twin bed that ran across the rear with more storage underneath.  A swing-away bunk bed was pinned into each of the fore and aft upright tent supports and that was where the kids slept.  It was a very compact arrangement.  When folded down, everything was flush with the top sides of the camper and a canvas cover over the top, was secured in place with ropes.  This did not allow anything to be carried on top of the camper, so all our clothes and personal items needed for the trip had to fit inside the camper.

I spent many hours on maintenance on the camper and on our 1968 Ford 10-passenger station wagon to make sure all went well during our trip.  Knowing we would be traveling over some mountainous roads, I had installed a transmission cooler for the engine. I had packed tools, spare oil, transmission fluid, and fan belts for the car, and extra jacks and spare wheel bearings for the camper in case we had any emergencies.  The two seats in what we called “the back-back” of the station wagon faced each other, so I built a small wooden table to fit in that space where the kids could sit and read or play games when they got bored with the scenery.

 

 

 

 

 

My wife loaded the camper with all the creature comforts we could think of, including our fresh water tank filled with the best drinking water anywhere.  Finally, all was ready, so we arranged for a neighbor boy to take care of our dog and off we went.

 

 

 

Tags: , ,

“Heaven is a Wonderful Place…”

15 Oct

I am especially pleased with this offering from DiVoran. It made my soul lilt. Today I am blessed to be undergoing a cornea transplant because someone  chose to give a stranger sight. I am humbled and do not take lightly the gift. I pray my donor is enjoying a” wonderful place” and I pray for comfort for their family. Onisha

My Take

DiVoran Lites

“full of glory and grace, I want to see my Savior’s face, ‘cause heaven is a wonderful place.”

When I was about four years old, I lived with my family in Crowley, Colorado, and I played with a little boy next door almost every day. One day when I was going over to his house I saw that the sidewalk continued and became a stairway. My friend’s mother was walking up it away from me. I called out to her, but she didn’t turn around. Sometime in the next day or so Mother told me the lady had died and I thought without emotion of any kind, “Oh, she was going to Heaven.” That’s absolutely all I can tell you except that I have never in my life had a doubt that Heaven exists and that I’m going there. Of course, since then I have been grateful to have an opportunity to take the step, which would guarantee it. When looking for a picture for this blog I saw something like the stairway again. I suppose someone else has seen it too.

Today I read in Streams in the Desert that a Christ Follower, who had a short time to live on this earth, looked at a mountain and said, “I may not see you many more times, but mountain, I shall be alive when you are gone, and river, I shall be alive when you cease running toward the sea.”

Fancy that. Have you ever seen the Rocky Mountains? We will outlive them all.

I’ve done some thinking and reading about Heaven, but unfortunately my imagination balks at the grave. Right or wrong here’s what I believe.

I believe the crystal sea runs down from the throne of God.

I believe the walls are made of precious and semi-precious gems and the gates are made of pearl.

I’ve heard about the mansion next door to Jesus in a song.

I would imagine that if something is special on earth, like love, it will be a million times more wonderful in Heaven.

We could take all the small things that give us happiness and multiply their effects. For instance, I have a calico cat with soft fur and a loud purr crowding me as I write. One day when I sneezed, she even acknowledged it with a prrrt. I thanked her.

Looking at the garden I see lavender plumbago flowers and yellow orange cosmos backlit by the morning sun.

Yesterday Onisha came for tea and we prayed together and spoke in sweet communion. Both our days were better because of that friendly interlude.

I don’t mean to leave out family, I can barely express how much mine means to me, and though there is no marriage in heaven, I believe again you will love each person there a million times more than you could the best spouse and children on earth.

I wonder about projects. What work, what projects will we have in Heaven? We’ll be making music, for sure. Will I have a beautiful singing voice and be able to play the harp without working up calluses? God must store up absorbing and enjoyable tasks for us or he wouldn’t have given us a need for satisfaction through a job well done.

This I do not believe. I don’t think we turn into angels when we die. I don’t think we are reborn as cattle or even humans again, thank God. Hebrews 9:27

It’s probably better that I don’t know what Heaven is like. I might yearn for it too much and miss out on all the joys available to me in the now. I am content to wait, but still, sometimes I wonder.

“Whoever lives and believes in me (Jesus, the incarnation of God) will not ever die.”

John 11:26

Tags: , ,

Kitty

14 Oct

MEMORIES

Judy Wills

My mother-in-law was a gem. She was funny, cute, elegant, classy, down-to-earth, loved to laugh, and welcomed me into the family as a daughter. Of course, it didn’t hurt that I married her first-born.

Her name was Charlotte Emily, but I had never heard anyone call her anything but Kitty. Occasionally a niece would mention “Aunt Charlotte” but that’s about it. She rapidly became a second mother to me, and I loved her.

I was always curious as to where the nickname “Kitty” came from, and found it to be a most interesting and amusing story. In her own words:

“…when I was in 7th or 8th grade, I was given a nick-name, Kitty! This came about in the winter when we were skating on a small lake in Monroe, New York. My sister Eleanor told some friends about an episode when we were living in Windham, New

York. Our Mother and her three daughters were enjoying the evening sitting on our front porch, when a small black and white animal came creeping up the front walk. I began calling, “Kitty, kitty” and started down to pet him or her. As I got up my Mother said, “That’s not a cat – it’s a skunk!” Well, luckily, it turned and ran away without leaving the usual odor we associate with skunks. That winter when we, El and I, were skating, El told this story and from then on everyone on the ice began calling “Here Kitty, Kitty!” And I’ve been called Kitty every since!”

Mystery solved! I’ve heard similar stories before, but not where the name stuck.

Her father was a Scottish Presbyterian minister, who immigrated to the United States from Scotland during the Potato Famine in 1910. I remember her saying that she loved to hear the bagpipes play – it really got her blood up to a good boil!

She was devoted to her husband and their four children. Being a U.S. Air Force wife, she moved and traveled frequently. She had a flair for decorating, and her home was always elegant yet comfortable. I remember the story of how, in 1947 after World War II, her husband was assigned to an installation in Italy. He went over first, and then she made the trip with those four children in tow – ages 8, 4, and 2-year-old twins. She was a brave woman! They lived all over the world – many places in the United States as well as Italy, Japan, and Hawaii.

She was a great cook. She taught me to make turkey stuffing the “New England” way – with bread rather than cornbread. She taught me to make German Springerle Christmas cookies – the best I’ve ever eaten!

She loved to have fun, and was a bit of a cut-up. I will always remember her with me on the beach in northern California, dancing barefoot through the wet sand and kelp.

She left us in 2010, after about 10 years of dealing with Alzheimer’s disease, and so she actually left us many years before that. I miss her, still.

John 14:27

Tags: ,

Speak Up Saturday- Grizzly Encounter

13 Oct

Speak Up Saturday

 Patricia Franklin

 

A couple of years ago our grown family members reminded us we never got to take family vacations when they were little, as we had a business and were always working. So we decided it was time. We coordinated our vacation time and decided to make it a trip to Yellowstone where most of us had never been. We took two cars and off we went.

On our first day into the park, I realized that wherever there was a group of cars stopped there was usually wildlife to see nearby. After a couple of stops behind umpteen cars, we barely got to see anything. Then we were driving along, rounded a curve and saw a group of cars and people standing by the side of the road. We were able to pull off the side of the road and stop.

So we all got out of our cars. I followed my son and said, “Let’s go up to the front of the crowd, as I am too short to ever see anything.” So there we were at the front of a crowd, close to a steep ravine and about 50 feet from the edge. Suddenly a park ranger, who was in the middle of the road to our left, and on the curve of the road directing traffic, started yelling, “Get back in your cars! Everyone back in your cars now!” Well, I did not see anything, but knew something was coming, and I was bound and determined I was not going to miss it this time. So I stayed where I was and actually took a couple of steps forward. Suddenly I saw directly in front of me a grizzly head pop up over the ravine. At that point, I quickly turned around and…. I was the only one there! Everyone had already made it back to their cars. I hightailed it as fast as I could, dodging between cars to get back inside our vehicle before I ever looked back.

In the meantime, my daughter was out on the road near the park ranger and could see what was coming up the ravine. She was in a safe place and close to their car, so she focused in on the bear family. As she brought the image in closer, she saw Mama Grizzly followed by her two small cubs, and at the top of the ravine there I was waiting for them to come over the top. She screamed at me, nearly losing the camera, but did manage to get the two babies and part of the mama bear in the picture (enclosed). After we were all safe and the bears had crossed the road she snapped two more pictures you see here. Mama bear was not concerned about the cars and people all around her that day, but only finding food for her family. I am glad I was not part of that.

It turned out to be a wonderfully exciting trip for all of us, with many adventures, and we were rewarded with the beauty of nature in all its wonders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related articles

Tags: , , ,

Away

11 Oct

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Today is the last day of our cruise. I am sure we have had a good time and have eaten too much. I have been “disconnected” for  four days and hopefully it was not too painful for me. It is odd how attached one can become to their friends on social media.  I know for sure that being able to “talk” with people from all over the world has enriched my life.

Our trip across America-Part 1

10 Oct

A Slice of Life

   Bill Lites

                              

In 1974, I was between jobs and decided it would be a good time to take the cross-country family camping trip I had always wanted to do, to show my family the wonders of America while visiting friends and relatives along the way.  The planned route was from Florida through the Southern states visiting relatives in Louisiana and New Mexico.  Then it would be on to Southern California to show the kids where they were born, visit my wife’s brother and some friends. We would then head up the California coast to Fort Bragg about halfway to the Oregon border, to visit my wife’s folks.  We planned to come back across the middle of the U.S. visiting relatives in Colorado and see the wonders of America’s heartland.

As a little background, we had started our Florida camping experiences years before with friends at the Alexander Springs Campground using two-man pup tents.  As you may know, most pup tents have no floors, and only a drawstring to close the entry flaps.  It didn’t take us long to discover that mosquito netting over our sleeping bags was not the answer to keep from being eaten up by all those many pesky insects.

Then we tried using the 9’x9’ canvas tent and equipment my family had used, to go hunting in New Mexico. (That was when I was a teenager, and in a desert climate where things seem to last forever).  My folks had not used the tent or camping equipment for years and had shipped them to us for our use.

 

Well, after our first camping trip with that equipment, I guess the humidity got to everything, because all the tent stitching rotted, the tent fell apart, and the stove and lantern rusted beyond repair.

So we upgraded to a newer 9’x12’ tent that worked for a while, until after one cold rainy night in the North Carolina mountains, we woke up with the whole tent floor was covered in about 2” of water.  We were up off the ground and dry in our not so comfortable army cots, but nothing else was.  It was not long after that trip, that we decided to buy our first tent camper.

 

Related articles

Tags: , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →