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Puzzles-Part 2

5 May

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

 

I’ve written before about puzzles, and how much we enjoy putting together a jigsaw puzzle.  Our Karen and Brian have given us some that we had really enjoyed.  This is a Disney puzzle they gave us.

 

 

Last year it was of a bunch of Norman Rockwell pictures.

 

 

This past Christmas they gave us one that held three Bev Doolittle pictures on it.

I’ve been enthralled by Bev Doolittle’s artistry for many years now.  Some of that interest is because of the subject matter she has – Southwestern/Indian.  Since I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, all of that is interesting to me.  I have some of that same flavor around our house.

Each Christmas in past years, I have requested a Bev Doolittle calendar from one of our daughters, to hang in our home office, where I can see it every day. Those calendars have become more and more difficult to find.  And last December, when checking it out, I found that they have stopped producing Bev Doolittle calendars, much to my sorrow.

So it was a bit of a surprise to find that Karen and Brian gave us the Bev Doolittle puzzle!  As I said, it held three different pictures, one was fairly small – only 100 pieces. (can you find the Indian in the picture?)

 

 

The “middle” one was larger, with 300 pieces.

 

 

And the large one was 500 pieces.

 

 

We were able to get the 100-piece picture together fairly quickly.  And we were quite pleased to find that Brian had put together the “frame” of the 300-piece puzzle when they were here in February for Fred’s surprise birthday party!  That really helped!!  But it took us a VERY long time to get the frame together for the 500 piece puzzle. Brian!  Where are you???  But Fred was finally able to get it together, and we proceeded.

It was fun…it was time consuming…it was frustrating…but we managed to enjoy every minute of working on it.  We took about three months to finish them all, but we finally did.  What an accomplishment!

As I mentioned in the other article I wrote on puzzles:

Fred parents lived in a retirement facility for several years before they passed away.  One of the interesting things about that facility was that puzzles were left out on tables in the hallways.  Any of the residents could come and “pick up” just where the last person had left off, at any time.  I thought it was a wonderful way for them to keep their minds sharp while trying to do the puzzle.  It was also an entertainment for them.

And so, I wish you a joyful time working a puzzle.  It truly is FUN!

 

JUDYJudy 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.
She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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How to look gorgeous all the time

4 May

Walking by Faith, Not by Signt

Janet Perez Eckles

 

Reblogged May 4, 2018
  We all want to look our best. And we do our best to achieve it. And if you’re like me, you’ve tried various products, hoping that the promise on the bottle will prove true. The latest one I tried had this instruction: “The best time to apply skin care products is when you are fresh out of a warm shower or bath. Not only is your skin clean, but it is also thoroughly moist and will better absorb anything you apply to it.”

Instructions followed for the product but not for my life.

I followed this instruction. But blushing a bit, I confess I failed to do the same when it comes to my life. When spots of insecurities appeared, when blotches of worry and blemishes of resentment, past sin, guilt and unfulfilled dreams remained, life wasn’t pretty. A clean-up job was begging. But instead, I covered it with the busyness of life. Hoping no one would notice the blemishes that stained inside.

But God noticed.

He had the washcloth of His unconditional love and the lotion of His grace to wipe away any unsightly blemish in my heart, all the dirty of past mistakes, the nagging regrets and the self-doubt. And when in front of the mirror, I saw it all. I took a deep breath, drew in courage and confessed to Him, “I’m in Your presence as I acknowledge all I see. I will be still for you to clean all that keeps my heart, my attitude, and my thoughts from radiating the beauty You know I should have.” One by one He wiped away, leaving my heart fresh and free. And He added the perfume of His instruction: “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).

Let’s Pray

Father, it’s a pure heart I pursue and it’s a clean life I long for. Help me to be still as You use Your supernatural cleanser that I still need. In Jesus’ name, amen. What needs to be removed to make your life beautiful again? 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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Writing 2

29 Apr

My Take

DiVoran Lites

    When Mother was ninety years old she had to go to an assisted living facility. She wrote and told me she couldn’t write any more letters because she had slipped and hit her head on a dresser. I suppose she felt fogginess descending. I kept writing, and Bill and I went to California to be close to her when my brother and his wife needed a break. Eventually, Mother could no longer manage to talk on the phone. I felt bereft, but I still had God as a correspondent. I journaled daily during my morning devotions. I liked to paraphrase scripture exactly as if God was talking directly to me. Instead of writing: “For God so Loved the World, that He gave His only begotten Son,” I could write “Beloved, I loved the world so much that I gave my dearly beloved son so that you could live a free and blessed life.” It’s what I do privately. I’m not trying to rewrite the Bible or anything like that. I kept two things in mind: 1. Write from the first-personpoint of view as though God is speaking.  2. Cut out the future tenses. For instance,if the Bible says something like, I will comfort you, I simply write I comfort you.That makes it more immediate and it shows me I don’t have to wait and wonder when he will do something because I am His, and He is already doing it. In the morning I take my coffee into my office and turn on soft Christian music. I remain still and meditative to see what I’m to do each morning. Sometimes I feel inspired to draw and paint, sometimes I write down problems, sometimes I free-write what I think God is most likely telling me, I try for everything to chime with the Bible. I choose scriptures that are plainly for a believer who wants to obey God. It can get pretty depressing to read the warnings that are meant for those who ignore him. In other words, it is important for me to stay positive. I run everything together with what He is saying and what is in my heart and brain. When I read it again I feel loved and comforted, and that is how I know God has been talking to me. When I first started I got Peter Lord’s first two books which had tips about knowing God and were made to write in. They asked only for a short amount of time from us. After that,I started buying my own inexpensive spiral notebooks. From there I began to splurge and buy hardcover blank books. Next came spiral sketchbooks with lots of lovely white paper. I have 134 full ones now. They live on my sturdy closet shelves in two bedrooms. Writing in a journal is a habit. I love to get Bible verses from various sources and read different translations. I like the Bible apps that have so many versions, but I like my printed Bibles too.  

Here’s a sample of how some of my journals look in the closet.

  At times I wonder if anyone else will ever read them, but I’m not concerned about it. I’m not saying this method is for everyone. I’m retired and I’ve always liked to write. People can spend time with God in many ways. Problems and questions are solved in these sessions and they make fears and worries flee. Instead of being a navel-gazer, trying to figure out what I did wrong and how to make up for it, I am learning to start singing God’s praises and thanking him for everything, good and bad. Praise comes and joy then appears. The Lord lifts my spirits and gently tells me what to do next. If it’s asking for forgiveness he will show me what to do and when. If I need encouragement to do something I feel He wants me to do, His guidance and power come gently. “The Joy of the Lord is my strength,” or to make it plain and easy I can hear in my heart that He is saying, “My joy is your strength.”    
Author, Poet and Artist
  DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn.  She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”

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Some Random Thoughts-Part 4

28 Apr

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

 

 Each Monday evening, Fred and I have dinner with a couple of friends, Pam and Richard.  We had worked with Pam when we were both working at the church.

 

Then we retired from that, and she went on to another position.  I insisted that we should have dinner together one night each week, just to keep up our “social” times.  We have been doing that for many years now.  It’s one of the highlights of our week.

Recently as we were eating and talking, we all began to reminisce about our “early marriage” days.  They were usually filled with some hardship, but looking back on them, they weren’t all that bad.  And filled with lots of fun and love.

I remember telling them about our first apartment in Fort Worth, Texas.  It was part of a six-plex unit, built like a squared-off “U” shape.

 

 

 

The four units on each side were what we called “efficiency” units – essentially three rooms: a kitchen, a bathroom, and one room that was bedroom/living room combination.  Some had a fold-out/sleeper sofa.  Ours had a bed.  It was furnished, sort of.  It had the bed, a small chest-of-drawers, a love seat and one chair.  There was a small space heater in that room.  The kitchen had the stove, refrigerator, table and four chairs.  We had one window in the livingroom/bedroom and the “front” door.  There was a window in the bathroom, and a window and door in the kitchen.

 

Boy! was I skinny! Shows the front door and window

 

It was a good thing we had two windows, as the place was NOT air conditioned! You must understand – we had come from dry humidity New Mexico to VERY humid Texas!  And so, one of the first purchases we made was a 20″ window fan. We could screw it into the window frame in the kitchen, so that we could close the window behind it.  But it was so hot and humid, even at night, in Fort Worth, that we would turn the fan on “exhaust”, open the front window, and let the exhaust fan draw the breeze through the bedroom to the back window. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked.

Credit Google Search and Sears

 

I worked in air conditioned buildings, and Fred went to school in air conditioned buildings.  So it was pretty difficult to come home to no air conditioning and have any kind of comfort. Consequently, when Fred needed to study, we would usually go over to the Seminary library and he would study there. I would take a book and read.

 

Scarborough Hall, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

 

We managed to exist in that environment for the four years we were there.  It certainly made us appreciate any housing we were able to live in that was air conditioned!

I’ve read that the invention of air conditioned houses has been the downfall of people not knowing their neighbors.  I can see how that would happen.  In days-gone-by, in the heat of the evening, people would sit on their front porch and watch the world go by – and their neighbors.  They would wave, and start a conversation.  That just isn’t done much anymore.

But I surely do enjoy my air conditioned house!!

 

 

 

 

 

JUDYJudy 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.
She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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When God Takes Charge

20 Apr

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight Janet Perez Eckles

    Reblogged April 20, 2019 Self-pity haunted me at night when I first faced the anguish of my 19-year-old son Joe’s death. My world turned upside down with heartache. I sunk in desperation, wondering how I could ever face my tomorrows dragging the heavy chain of sorrow. Would I ever be able to laugh again? Would peace come back? Would God have mercy and fill the void of his absence?

Questions and more questions filled my shattered heart.

But one day, that same broken heart received a glimpse of hope, a ray of comfort and a breakthrough of truth in Christ. He also dragged the cross. He bled his pain. Without complaint, sorrow scraped his heart too. And then nailed on the wood, he tasted the bitterness of betrayal mixed with the hardship of injustice. Why did He not fight? Beg for freedom from the cross? Or curse His fate? The answer echoes through humanity. Because He knew glory awaited Him. He was certain eternity was His. And He counted on heaven.

Jesus knew God’s plan.

God had taken charge. He had a plan. His plan was to make the way for our deepest pain to be nailed on the cross. Each drop of blood He shed washed our sins clean. And through Jesus, God took control by defeating the enemy so we wouldn’t have to. As I faced the other side of sorrow, I embraced that truth. With the celebration of the resurrection of hope, and the rebirth of my joy, came a new beginning—my own Easter Sunday. And while wearing the new outfit of healing, of joy and renewed gusto, I got busy creating a new joy-filled life. That was my life that also was resurrected. Not for my own satisfaction. Not for my comfort. But to be the banner telling the world what God had done, for others to see what happens when we nail our sorrow to the cross and allow God to take charge.

How about you?

Have you reached your own Easter of triumph for others to see? Whether sorrow or serenity, we’re subtly creating a legacy, weaving memories, and painting strokes on our own portrait. And for the Easters to come, the portrait will display the life we lived, the values we held and the conviction that danced in our heart when we answered: No matter what the answer, there is no cross of pain that can hold us down; no suffering that can hold us back because Jesus is alive. And with passionate Love He declares, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Let’s Pray

Father, I thank you for the triumph. And I pray your everlasting love nourishes my desires, goals and dreams. I ask for wisdom to let you take charge so I may leave a legacy that honors you and resonates with my children’s children. In Jesus’ name, amen. Do you have the courage to let God take charge? 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.   Source https://janetperezeckles.com/blog/when-god-takes-charge.html  
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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Seeking Peace- Follow the Correct Instructions

12 Apr

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Yesterday I discovered that the written instructions for my eye care, did not match the instructions I remembered the doctor giving me verbally. The written instructions told me to use twice the amount of drops! Since the drops would elevate my already fickle pressures I was alarmed and placed a call to the surgeon’s office.

A few years ago, I would have been confident that my memory was correct and not placed the call. This whole aging and memory issues are for the birds!

For our physical health, it is important that we follow the correct instructions with our medications and take them faithfully until the health event is cured or the doctor stops them.

How does this correlate with seeking peace in my heart, mind and soul?

For me, I need to spend time alone each morning, reading a devotional, scripture verses and pondering on their words. I need to follow the correct instructions from my healer.

But somedays, I feel too busy or even too complacent. I think to myself, “I’m good today, I will be fine.”

So, I skip a day and if that doesn’t result in a setback I am tempted to skip another, just as we do with medications. It doesn’t end well in either circumstance.

The surgeon’s office returned my call. My memory had been correct…this time.

Love: By spending time with the author of love, I am prepared by His love to face my day.

Joy: The result of being thankful.

Peace: When I am following correct instructions, by verifying them, I have peace.

Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually. Psalm 105:4.


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A Cookie Ministry?

10 Apr

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I underwent a laser procedure on my eye this morning and it wasn’t fun. Imagine 50 pins pricking your eye. So, instead of posting my blog today I have been resting my eye, well except for scrolling through Facebook.

When I saw my church tagged in this picture from the Seafarers, Canaveral Port Ministry, I wanted to share it as a follow up to my Tuesday post about volunteering.

Cookies our church collected to be served to those who work on ships.

Yes, there is a Cookie Ministry and anyone can do it!

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National Volunteer Week April 7-13 2019

9 Apr

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

National Volunteer Week is something to celebrate!

Our church is on the small side, averaging less than 100 each Sunday. This past Sunday the bulletin had an insert thanking the members for their volunteer activities. The insert was front and back listing the many ways the congregation volunteer.

The secretary who put composed the insert shared that the insert began with naming individuals who had volunteered. As the list grew, she realized that almost 100% of the members had volunteered in some form. Do you know how amazing that is?

To make a difference, one doesn’t have to be the head of a committee or lead a ministry. Yes those are necessary, but little acts of service make a difference too. Sunday a week ago, our church had a cookout in a park underneath a pavilion next to the Indian River. During worship service a small group of us went to the park to set up. My husband and I took on the task to wipe the tables, cleaning bird poop from the tops and the seats. Certainly not a presitgious job, but I felt a sense of accomplishment that my friends were able to enjoy their meal without any unpleasant surprises.

In Acts 20:35 Paul wrote: In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “

By this measure, I would say that we are a blessed congregation.


The Wedding

8 Apr

My Take

DiVoran Lites


Our wedding story by Dora Bowers


Downtown Canon City Canon City CO Photo Album

After graduation from High School, Ivan went to Nevada to work, and I stayed in Canon City and clerked at a jewelry store downtown.

Early that spring he came home for a visit, and my boss at the store let me take a break every day at three at the Wildwood Malt Shop on Main Street. In the evenings, we sashayed out to dances, laughed at movies like, “Our Gang,” and climbed WMCA peak west of Skyline Drive. 


Skyline Theater Canon City Photo Album

 Ivan had proposed and I had accepted, but first, he had to go back to Lovelock to make sure he still had his job. I was to join him in a few weeks. He rode back with his uncle Glen and his wife, Lucille. They lived in Reno but had been visiting his family in Canon City. He was only gone a week when I got a telegram saying, “Do nothing definitely STOP have lost my job STOP”. I cried and cried because I thought it meant he had changed his mind and didn’t want to marry me after all. 

I moped for a week or so and then, wonder of wonders another telegram came saying he had found a new job at Safeway (one of the first super market chains in existence.) He had $80.00 in reserve and sent me $20.00 for a wedding ring which I bought at the jewelry store where I worked. It was rose-gold and had three tiny hearts in a row each containing a diamond chip at my request. 

In a flurry of getting ready Mother and I rushed to Pueblo to shop. My wedding dress was a long, white voile with delicate pastel flowers. Mother paid $5.00 for a trunk and I got an ashes-of-roses, flowered rayon dress to wear for best. Because it was such good quality, it cost $3.98. 

The last of my savings from the $8.00 I made each week allowed me to outfit myself for the trip on the first Trailways bus ever to leave Canon City. The bus ticket cost another $20.00 of Ivan’s savings. On the trip, I wore a gray suit, yellow blouse, gray high heeled shoes, and a matching clutch purse. A new Bulova watch circled my wrist. The trip took twelve hours and 53 minutes. I kept the beautiful Rocky Mountain range in sight as long as I could and after that,the scenery gradually turned into a desert. I thought I would never arrive, but eventually,we pulled into the mining town where Ivan worked. As I stepped offthe busand crossed the intersection I saw Ivan and whistled two notes to gain his attention. That particular whistle became our family signal and has been passed down to our children, grandchildren, andgreat-grandchildren. 


Lovelock, NV County Courthouse, Lovelock Photo Album

Since it was Ivan’s lunch hour, we went to, “The Chinaman’s.” I had Pork Noodles with fresh green onions on top. That evening, another $20 went for a round trip ticket to Reno where we stayed with Glen and Lucille in separate bedrooms overnight. 

                  To be continued


Author, Poet and Artist

DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn.  She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”

2018 Florida Road Trip Part 13

3 Apr

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

 

Day 13 Wednesday 10/31/2018

 

After a great breakfast at Denny’s this morning, I headed south on I-95 to visit the Southeast Museum of Photography (which is part of the Daytona State College) located in Daytona Beach.  This museum is best known for its rotating annual series of artistic events and photographic art displays.

 

 

The museum didn’t open until 11:00, so while I was in Daytona Beach, I headed west on U.S.-92 a few miles to visit the Daytona International Speedway Museum.  Because of all the race-day traffic cones and painted lane directions, it took me a while to find the museum. Once I found the museum entrance, I discovered you can’t see the cars in the museum collection unless you are part of one of the museum’s guided tours.  I was fast heading for a time/location crunch, so I said, “No thank you”for today’s museum tour and headed back up I-95 to meet my son for lunch in Ormond Beach.

 

 

Before I started this trip, I knew I would be going right by my son, Bill’s, office there in Ormond Beach on the last day of my trip, and made arrangements with him to meet at a restaurant close to his office.  When I arrived at Bill’s office, he had already made arrangements for us to eat at one of his favorite BBQ Shacks.  We drove over to Colt’s Pig Stand, where I had a “Verity Plate” of some of the most delicious pork sausages.  Outside the restaurant, Colt’s Pig Stand has the absolute largest “mobile BBQ Cooker” I’ve ever seen!  When they say, “We Deliver”they really mean it.

After that delightful lunch with my son, Bill, he went back to work, and I headed south on I-95 and east on U.S. 92 again.  This time I was looking for the Daytona Beach International Airport, so I could visit the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  Embry-Riddle was founded in 1925 as an aircraft dealer and U.S. Mail provider, located in Cincinnati, OH.  During WWII Embry-Riddle operated as an aviation school in Miami, FL.  After the war, in 1965, the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Institute was moved to the Daytona, Beach location.  The school continued to grow and expand over the years, and was renamed Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1970.  I had always wanted to visit the university, thinking they would have a static display of aircraft spanning the years.

 

 

But I was wrong.  This large scale model hanging in the lobby of one of the Aviation Maintenance Sciences buildings was just about it.  The only other airplanes I saw as I drove thru the Engineering campus were the many Cessna 150’s being flown by student pilots. I sat and watched them take off and land for a few minutes, and I estimated there was an airplane taking off at about 1-minute intervals, and one landing about every 2-minutes.  All I can say is, they must have some really good Traffic Controller’s in their tower to keep all those airplanes out of trouble.

 

 

Next I headed south on U.S. -1 and A1A a few miles to visit the Ponce de Leon Lighthouse & Museum located at Ponce Inlet.  The first lighthouse built in this area was a wooden structure in 1835, but it didn’t last. In late 1835, during the Second Seminole War (1835-1842), the natives attacked and set fire to the structure and it collapsed the following year.  It was not until 1887 that another lighthouse (known as the Mosquito Inlet Light) was built on the north side of Mosquito Inlet.  This 175 foot tall lighthouse is the tallest in Florida, and one of the tallest in the U.S.

 

 

In 1927 the name Mosquito Inlet was changed to Ponce de Leon Inlet, and the lighthouse was turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard in 1939.  In 1972 the Coast Guard deeded the lighthouse to the city of Ponce Inlet.   A Lighthouse Preservation Association was formed to restore the lighthouse and three lighthouse keeper dwellings, and they also operate the museum.  In 1982 the lighthouse was restored to active service.

 

 

By now I was only about 50 miles from home, and headed south on U.S.-1 thru the familiar towns of New Smyrna, Edgewater, Oak Hill, and Mims, before reaching the outskirts of Titusville. As I pulled into my driveway, ending another interesting and unusual trip, I was filled with that warm feeling I get when I’ve been away from home for a while, and know I am about to see my lovely wife DiVoran,  and be sleeping in my own bed tonight.  I sure hope you have enjoyed reading about my adventures on this Florida Road Trip as much as I have writing about it.  It’s been fun, reliving the various experiences accompanied by some of the sights and sounds along the way.  That’s it for now folks.  Hope you will join me next time, when I take to the road again, to who knows where and when.

 

 

 

—–The End—–

 

 

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 61 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.

 

Bill

 

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

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