Oh My! AI

29 Jun

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I noticed the AI option as I was uploading Bill’s blog for Wednesday. Technology fascinates me and I had to play with it by using the contents of an email I sent to a friend this week. There are a good many options under the AI tab, and I chose change the tone. I chose humorous. It was fun but I think AI has a way to go.

Hello my precious friend!

Well, well, well…look who finally decided to make an appearance! I mean, I’ve been planning to write you a letter for days and days, but who’s counting, right? Time flies when you’re having fun and apparently it just keeps on slipping away.

Alright, let me dust off my comedian hat and give it a shot: “So, life’s been pretty slow lately, huh? Other than our thrilling adventures to Anderson to see the doc, and catch up with our buds, we haven’t really been living on the edge. Although, come to think of it, I did try out my inner Picasso at the VBS craft corner – let me tell ya, that was wild! Don’t mess with me and my pipe cleaners, folks.”

Well, well, well… Looks like someone’s been hitting the gym! Mike’s been feeling like a superhero for the past six weeks, and let me tell you, it’s been quite the ride. We’ve been running around trying to make up for all the things we’ve left unfinished, but we’ve also made sure to take some time to just chill on the porch and soak up each other’s awesomeness.

Ahoy there matey! Me thinks that planning an Alaska cruise be quite the adventure! Ye be not alone in yer struggle, many a weary traveler hath struggled with the ins and outs of public transportation and pesky suitcase sizes. But fear not, for I shall help ye navigate these treacherous waters and pack yer sea bags with aplomb! So hoist the anchor and let’s set sail for a jolly good time on ye Alaska cruise, arrr!

Well hello there, my dear green-thumbed friend! I must say, I am thoroughly enjoying our petunias this year- the pops of pink and yellow in our hanging basket are simply divine! Although, I must confess, it seems our yellow petunias aren’t quite the shining stars they were last year. What’s up with that, am I right? And don’t even get me started on our snapdragons, they’ve been struggling just like the rest of us during this pandemic. Although, I do have some good news- one group of our snapdragons has finally started to thrive! I guess all they needed was a little extra love. I suppose the culprit behind our flora woes could simply be the mild temperatures we’ve been experiencing lately. Who knows, maybe we’ll be hit with a heatwave and our precious plants will perk right up!

So, I went a little wild and decided to buy a hot pink plant. It was love at first sight, I must say. But little did I know, this plant was quite high-maintenance and would throw tantrums if it didn’t get just the right amount of sun and water. Despite all the drama it brings, I’m still enamored by its beauty. But let’s just say that next year, I’ll be searching for a plant that’s a little more low-key.\

Oh boy, oh boy! I can barely hear the sound of my own thoughts with all the noise out there. That’s why I do what any sane person would do: I bury my face in books! Lately, I’ve been obsessively reading two gems: Faith’s Checkbook by Charles Spurgeon and My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. It’s my everyday dose of sanity!

Our boy, Matt is getting up there! Today marks the day he officially exits his mid-40s. I gave him a call to congratulate him on surviving another year, and surprisingly, he didn’t sound too depressed about it. It feels good to keep up, especially when they’re getting to the age where they start forgetting things.

I am so excited to see Beck’s Ollie again! I am eagerly counting down the days until we can play together before our upcoming cruise. I am thrilled to share that we will be driving down to Florida and boarding a plane to the cruise port.

Oh, boy! Mike is on cloud nine, heading towards Alaska. Trust me when I say I’ve never seen him this ecstatic before. His suitcase is all smug and satisfied, packed to the brim, while I’m here scratching my head, trying to figure out what to bring along.

The author added a bird feeder and a hummingbird feeder outside their front windows and can now admire the birds from inside. The view is stunning and

Hey you! Yes, you. Are you still stuck in a world without books? Have you ever heard of Miss Julia’s adventures in the lovely North Carolina mountains outside Asheville? Trust me, these stories are pure gold! I’ve got my hands on some of them in audio format, and I’m rationing them like my life depends on it. I already feel sad at the thought of finishing them all. Don’t miss out on the fun, join the Miss Julia fan club now!

Oh dear, it seems like you’re a bit of FOMO( fear of missing out.) sufferer! Don’t worry, I won’t judge. So, spill the tea! Are the church services still as exciting as ever? How are Renie and Billy holding up? And of course, I bet you’re still feeling the absence of dear old Dr. Z.

“Oh darling, our chats were like sweet cinnamon rolls – perfectly delightful and oh so satisfying. But now, my heart aches and my pillow is drenched in tears as I reminisce about the golden times we shared.”

If you would like to share your thoughts on AI and writing, I would enjoy reading your thoughts.

I'm a winner

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

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

My 2022 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.

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My Favorite Breakfast-Part 3

28 Jun

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

My son, Billy, tells me that he and his wife, Lisa, like a variety of things for their breakfast.  Billy seems to be taking after me with his daily ‘healthy’ breakfast of a bowl of sliced fruit, like mango, strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries, with milk and his own blend of coffee.  Billy has always liked hot and spicy food.  So, I wasn’t surprised when he told me that his favorite restaurant breakfast is a Western Omelette (like the Colorado Omelette he can get from IHOP).  He adds a splash of one of their hot sauces and tops off the meal with a cup of ‘Redeye’ or ‘Blackeye’ coffee (He had to explain what those are to me).

Photo Credit: www.ihop.com/colorado-omelette

He says sometimes he likes to add a side of New York Cheesecake Pancakes topped with raspberries or strawberries and lots of whipped cream.  He always tops his favorite breakfast with a cup of steaming hot ‘Redeye’ or ‘Blackeye’ coffee as mentioned before.  That is WAY TOO MUCH food for me, and I think he actually takes half of the Omelette home in a doggy bag, I know I would.

Photo Credit: www.ihop.com/new-york-cheesecake-pancakes

One of Lisa’s favorite breakfasts is a stack of Buckwheat Pancakes with lots of butter and molasses that she tops off with a cup of her favorite blend of coffee.  When I heard that she liked molasses, it reminded me that my dad was raised on ‘good-old’ sorghum molasses in southern Louisiana.  Of course, as a youngster, I was introduced to sorghum molasses and ended up acquiring quite a taste for that sweet syrup.  But DiVoran and our kids didn’t care for it and over the years its use has been lost in the drive for healthy substitutes. Bummer!

Photo Credit: https://yahoo.com/buckwheat+pancakes+with+molasses+and+coffee

Our daughter, Renie, and her husband, Ron, also have their own favorite breakfast treats.  Ron was introduced to his favorite breakfast when he was an Eagle Scout by a Brevard County Deputy Sheriff he was riding on rounds with.  They stopped for breakfast at a IHOP and he ordered what the deputy did and that’s been his favorite ever since.  He likes a chili-cheese omelette with hashbrown potatoes grilled to a golden brown.  This tasty combination of ingredients is all mixed together to create his number one favorite breakfast with coffee.

Photo Credit: https://yahoo.com/chilecheese+omelette+with+hahsbrowns

His backup favorite is a two-egg and bacon sandwich made with Chicago Italian or Cuban bread that is buttered and toasted in a pan.    He enjoys more than one cup of coffee and water with all of his favorite breakfast plates.

Photo Credit: https://images.search.yahoo.com/bacon+and+egg+sandwisch

Renie likes her one egg, with the yellow broken but not scrambled.  She flips it over, adds a splash of salsa sauce, and cooks it in olive oil.  Then the egg is folded in half with some cubed avocado, seasoned with pepper and garlic powder, inside.  She likes a cup of hot coffee with cream and sugar and water to drink with her favorite breakfast.  

Photo Credit: https://yahoo.com/search/imagesfried+egg+folded+with+avocado

Well, it seems that everyone has their favorite combination of items they like for their breakfast, and that it may change from time to time.  However, I do think most people who eat breakfast take the time to really enjoy what they eat.  I’ve also been told that taking the time to eat and enjoy your breakfast, as with any meal, is much better for a person’s health than rushing through your meal.  Of course, that’s easy for me to say, since I am retired and usually don’t have a job or an appointment to go to that rushes my breakfast.  I just found it really interesting to find out how the different members of my family put together and enjoy their favorite breakfast meal.  It seems they are all very enthusiastic about their breakfast each morning and look forward to it.  How about you?

A picture containing coffee cup, drawing, mug, cup Description automatically generated

Photo Credit: https://yahoo.com/breakfast/clipart

—–The End—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 65 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

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

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Revelation

26 Jun

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Ps. 119:33-40

Give me revelation about the meaning of your ways so I can enjoy the reward of following them fully.

Give me an understanding heart to know and passionately obey your truth.

Guide me into the paths that please you, for I delight in all you say. 

Cause my heart to bow before your words of wisdom and not to the wealth of this world.

Help me turn my eyes away from illusions so that I pursue only that which is true;

Drench my soul with life as I walk in your paths.

Reassure me of your promises, for I am your beloved,

Your servant who bows before you. 

Defend me from being criticised because I keep your beautiful words.

See how I long with cravings for more of your ways? 

Let your righteousness revive my spirit!

Photo Credit: Pixabay

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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Random Memories of Virginia-Part 4

25 Jun

MEMORIES

RANDOM MEMORIES OF VIRGINIA – Part 4

8.   Driving out of Seaford and approaching U.S. 17 again, we saw many landmarks that were there when we lived there.

      Pop’s Drive-in. – a greasy-spoon diner that had been there longer that we had.  We learned just this trip that it has finally closed, just this month!  Wow!  

Credit Google Search

      The Red Barn gas station – right near Pop’s and where we would fill-up the car quite often.  It was fairly close to the Newport News Airport, so we would fill the gas tank on our rental car and drive to the airport with a full tank to turn the car in.  Still in business.

Credit Google Search

      Bill’s Seaford House – a favorite of ours for a long time.  The owner was a member of our church.  Wonderful seafood, and the restaurant was closed on Sundays.  Bill sold it to one of his managers, who essentially turned it into a bar.  Not sure it is still there even (just checked Google Search, and it is permanently closed).  

Credit Google Search

9.   There were a couple of “bases” we remembered as we drove along the Colonial Parkway and Interstate 64.  They were – and I suppose still are – shrouded in mystery.  Camp Peary was one, and the rumor was that it was a CIA training ground.  It was said to be a “body farm.”  True?  According to Wikipedia, it is true. Wikipedia explains it quite well:

A body farm is a research facility where decomposition of humans and other animals can be studied in a variety of settings. The initial facility was conceived by anthropologist William M. Bass in 1981 at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee, where Bass was interested in studying the decomposition of a human corpse from the time of death to the time of decay. The aim was to gain a better understanding of the decomposition process, permitting the development of techniques for extracting information such as the timing and circumstances of death from human remains. Body farm research is of particular interest in forensic anthropology and related disciplines, and has applications in the fields of law enforcement and forensic science. By placing the bodies outside to face the elements, researchers are able to get a better understanding of the decomposition process.

I find it fascinating that such a place exists.  Wikipedia also states that there are seven such body farms throughout the United States.  Amazing.

The other “shrouded in mystery” base was Cheatham Annex (pronounced  Cheat’ – um).  Turns out it isn’t a mystery at all!   Wikipedia states:   Cheatham Annex is a Naval Base, located near Williamsburg, Virginia on the York River approximately 35 miles northwest of Norfolk in the heart of the famous Jamestown–Williamsburg–Yorktown “Historic Triangle.” Although Cheatham Annex was not commissioned until June 1943, the land on which the base is located can claim the unique distinction of having been associated with every conflict involving the United States freedom and independence. The mission of Cheatham Annex includes supplying Atlantic Fleet ships and providing recreational opportunities to military and civilian personnel.

And:   The Navy Morale Welfare and Recreation (NMWR) runs a cabin and recreation facility on Cheatham Annex. Cheatham Annex (CAX).

CAX is home to the largest Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Outdoor Recreation facility on the East Coast. Active duty, Reservists and military retirees and their dependents can take advantage of a wide range of facilities, including 54 cabins, 50 RV parking spots, 20 primitive campsites and more than 10 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Along with fishing on two lakes and the York River, swimming pool and an 18-hole golf course, the MWR Outdoor Recreation is ideal for military families looking for a chance to relax. 

While that solves the mystery, Cheatham Annex was never even mentioned to us as a resort and recreation area for the military while we lived in Virginia.  Hmmmm…

Well, folks, that’s the end of “Random Memories of Virginia.”  There may be more in the future, as Fred and I recall our times in Virginia.  Thanks for letting me ramble, and I hope you enjoyed the ride – we certainly did!

~~~~~~~~~~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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My Favorite Breakfast-Part 2

21 Jun

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

As I grew older, I finally came around to enjoy what my folks liked for their breakfast.  By then, their taste had changed to scrambled eggs, bacon or ham, and toast with coffee. Of course, I was still drinking milk with my breakfast and didn’t pick up the taste for coffee until much later in life.  This breakfast usually supercharged me for most of the morning but made me sleepy during my late-afternoon classes at school.

Photo Credit: https://www.juddscatering.com/breakfast.html

After leaving home for a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy (at shore stations and onboard several ships), my breakfast usually consisted of scrambled eggs (powdered), sausage patties (from canned war surplus, some dated 1943), home fried potatoes, and milk (powdered).   The alternative was commonly known as ‘SOS’ (anyone associated with the military will know what that acronym stands for).  Neither one of the above-mentioned breakfasts is the most appetizing breakfast, but since I didn’t have much of a choice and I didn’t want to starve, I learned to tolerate them.  Your guess is as good as mine about some of the items shown in the photo below.  I believe I recognize the eggs and maybe one of those gray blobs is beef-gravy (?) and the toast, but  the other, you got me.  

Photo Credit: navy-tales-life-and-food-aboard-an-aircraft-carrier/

After my tour with the Navy was done, and during my college years my wife, DiVoran and I were living on a very tight budget and my breakfast consisted mainly of a stop at “Randy’s Big Donut” for three or four freshly baked French donuts ($.10 each back then) and a half-pint carton of milk.  I usually didn’t have time to eat the donuts there in the donut shop, so I mostly ended up eating them on my way to class once I got to school.  

Photo Credit: https://images.search.yahoo.com/randys+big+donut

That was a quick and easy breakfast for me at that time because that was about all I could afford on my meager part-time job. The chocolate covered French donuts were my favorite.  Many of my breakfast choices changed for the better once I landed that full-time job and my schooling shifted to evening classes.

Photo Credit: https://www.google.com/search?q=french+donuts

After finishing college, our family moved to Florida where I worked at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on NASA’s Manned Space Programs for many years.  My breakfast during those hectic years reverted back to my childhood, usually consisting of cold cereal, with milk, and maybe coffee, if I got up early enough and had the time for any breakfast at all before heading off to work. 

Photo Credit: https://images.search.yahoo.com/breakfast/cereal/coffee

My sister, Judy, tells me that she and her husband, Fred, now enjoy scrambled eggs with Canadian bacon, buttered toast, and hot English Breakfast Tea for breakfast.  That sounds a lot like a left-over family tradition from their college days when Fred lived with our folks for a year before he and Judy got married.  She tells me that when they were stationed in Germany, with the U.S. Air Force, they enjoyed Sara Lee Pecan Coffee Cake and hot English Breakfast tea.  After moving back to the U.S. their favorite changed to Sara Lee Butter Flavored Streusel Coffee Cakes with their hot tea.

Photo Credit: https://images.yahoo.com/sara+lee+coffee+cake+butter+streusel

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 65 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

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

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King Priest

19 Jun

My Take

DiVoran Lites

He understands humanity, for as a Man, our magnificent King-Priest was tempted in every way just as we are and conquered sin. So now we come freely and boldly to where love is enthroned to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness. 

Photo Credit:Pixabay

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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Father’s Day 2023

18 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Re-post I would like to re-post this from 2017 – It’s still relevant today

Another Father’s Day dawns this morning.  As someone recently said, it’s such a pity that in today’s world of TV and comedy, fathers are portrayed as clueless and laughable.  How are our boys and young men going to grow up to be the strong men of God that we want them to be, when that is their example?  I am so glad that my father, my brother, and my husband grew up in times when men were, indeed, strong men of God, and spiritual leaders in their household.

And how are our girls and young women going to grow up, thinking that all the boys/men in their lives are luckless creatures – only to be tolerated?  In watching the TV programs that are out there now – unfortunately including some of the current Disney programs – adults in general, and men in particular –  are portrayed as stupid and ignorant, while their teenagers – and younger – are the “smart” ones.  It just ain’t so, folks!

And since that was a rather depressing way to begin this post, let me get back to the men in my life who were strong believers in God and Jesus Christ, and were able to be strong, safe, places for me.

Let me tell you about my own father.

Mother, Father, Bill and me – 1952

I’ve written other posts about my father (June 16, 2013; June 15, 2014; September 28, 2014) and the influence he had in my life.  He was gone quite a bit – traveling around the state – but I always knew he loved me, and I looked up to him.

Daddy getting ready for one of his trips – 1959

He was, indeed, the spiritual leader in our household.   He always took us to church with him, and our family life revolved around church and our belief in God.

Daddy, me, Mother, Bill – 1956

Fred’s father – a second father to me after Fred and I married – was dedicated to God and His work in this world.

Charles Wills – Chaplain – 1951

Charles Wills – Base Chaplain, Tyndall AFB, FL – 1951-1955

He was a pastor for a while, but then most of his life was doing God’s work as a military chaplain.  And yet, with all that work, he was devoted to his family.  He, too, was the spiritual leader in his family.

Charles and Kitty Wills – 1950’s

Fred and I both look back on our lives, and are so grateful that each of our fathers-in-law treated us like their son or daughter.  I never felt out of place in Fred’s family, and Fred has said so many times that my father enjoyed him as if he were another son of his.  We were so blest to have that in our lives.

And because of that, Fred grew up in a household that showered him with love – family love and God’s love.  He grew to be a self-assured man that I am proud to call my husband.  He taught our girls what a true man – a gentleman – is like, and what they should expect from their spouses.

Fred, me, Karen and Janet – 1976

And my brother, Bill, grew up in a household that taught him how to be a true man of God, as well.  He gave his children God’s word, and the strength to be what God wants them to be. 

Bill, DiVoran, Billy, Charlene – 1985

Both of our girls have married men who are strong personalities, and are dedicated to the Lord.  We pray for each member of their families, as they begin to have families of their own.

Brian,Savannah, Forrest, and Karen

On our 50th wedding anniversary cruise to Bermuda May 2011

Hannah, Janet, Tom and Connor – October 2022

There is a scripture that helps with this:

Start children off on the way they should go,

and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6 

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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My Favorite Breakfast-Part 1

14 Jun

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

What is your favorite breakfast? To keep healthy, my daily breakfast is a mix of 3 or 4 cut-up strawberries, ¼-cup of blueberries, 1/8th-cup of chopped walnuts, 1-cup of plain yogurt sweetened with Swerve, into which I stir in two packets of (Immnicol) Glutathione power.  This is not the most delightful tasting combination, but health wise, my health coordinator wife, DiVoran, tells me it’s the best I can do for my own particular body needs right now.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

For pure pleasure, when I go out to eat, my favorite breakfast is two eggs (over medium), a couple of pork sausage links (maple flavored), the bacon is optional (only if it come with the order), hash-brown potatoes (grilled to a golden brown), and a steaming cup of hot Earl Grey tea.  I can take my wife, DiVoran, out to one of our favorite restaurants for this delightful meal or I can order the same thing at most any restaurant of my choosing on one of my road trips (I know I fudged on the eggs in the photo).

Photo Credit: https://nextdoor.com/bob-evans/

DiVoran tells me her favorite breakfast is two poached eggs with one (thin) slice of buttered Sourdough toast, and homemade jellies, when it is available.  She is a coffee drinker and a cup of her favorite home-made brew (half full caffeinated & half decaffeinated) is always a part of her breakfast.  Of course, she is also an avid reader, so, some sort of daily devotional is an important part of her breakfast time.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

I remember my mother and dad‘s favorite breakfast was pecan waffles with a strip of bacon grilled into the waffle.  As I grew older, I learned to enjoy pecan waffles, but I never developed the taste for the bacon in them. Of course, their alternate to the pecan waffles was scrambled eggs, with Canadian bacon and fresh baked bread and butter with Granny’s homemade peach preserves.  I got in on that type of delicious breakfast once-in-a-while as I grew older and wanted something other than cold cereal and milk.

Photo Credit: https://images.search.yahoo.com/Waffle+with+bacon+inside

As youngsters, my little sister, Judy, and I began most of our days with cold cereal with milk.  As we grew older, we became Aunt Jemima pancake lovers, with lots of butter and maple syrup.  After our mother had used all of the pancake batter for our pancakes, we were allowed (under her supervision) to make tiny ‘one-drop’ or ‘two-drop’ sized pancakes, in the big cast iron skillet. Sometimes there was enough batter left to make a small ‘heart-shaped’ pancake, which we were thrilled to create.

Photo Credit: https://yahoo.com/search/images;_pancake-clipart

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 65 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

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

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God Gives Us Faith

12 Jun

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Hebrews 11:1-4

Faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation to acquire what we long for. 

Faith is all that is required to prove what is still unseen.

This testimony of faith is what previous generations were commended for. 

Faith empowers us to see that the universe was created and beautifully coordinated by the power of God’s words!

He spoke, and the invisible realm gave birth to all that is seen. 

Love Lifted Me

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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Random Memories of Virginia-Part 3

11 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

6.    Every time we go to Virginia to visit, we always like to drive by our old house.

Photo Credit Judy Wills

We lived in that house nearly 13 years, and really loved it.  We notice changes that were made from when we lived there.  When we purchased the house, it had brown shutters (for looks only) on the windows.  After Fred found decay and critters in the shutters, he removed them. There are now forest green shutters on all the windows.  Looks nice, and we don’t have to care for them.  There were evergreen trees just beside the front door that are now gone, and only small shrubs are all across the front of the house now.

Credit Google Search and Zillow

When we lived there, someone before us had made a patio in the back of the house out of slate stones.  

Photo Credit Judy Wills

I could stretch a line across from a tree to the trellis there, and hang clothes and sheets on that line to dry.  I now saw that a deck had been built over that patio, that looked quite nice. But no hanging clothes there now!  They had also added a shed in the backyard.  We did have a nice, large backyard with lots of trees – almost 1/2 acre of land for the house and yard.

We purchased this house in Seaford, Virginia in 1983.  Wikipedia states:   Seaford is an unincorporated community in York County, Virginia, United States, on the Virginia Peninsula. As of the 2010 Census, the Seaford postal area (ZIP Code 23696) had a population of 3,669.

And Wikipedia also states:  Seaford is mostly a rural area and includes Seaford Road and the roads attached to it. There are different neighborhoods within Seaford, some of these include Port Meyers, Sommerville, and Cheadle Loop. Seaford is located on multiple creeks including Chisman Creek and Back Creek, both of which lead out to the York River, which eventually takes you to the Chesapeake Bay. Most people in Seaford work in the surrounding areas such as, Newport News, Hampton, and Williamsburg.

We lived in the neighborhood off Cheadle Loop.

As we drove through Seaford, we reminisced about people we had known who lived in Seaford and what house they had lived in.  We remembered the first pastor of our church in Seaford when we arrived in 1983 – Jim Weston.  He was a single man at that time.  But he eventually married and he and his wife had children, and he built a house along the water in Seaford.  Literally built that house himself!  It was a bit of an odd-shaped building, but was more unique than weird!  The man who was Fred’s dentist at the time also lived in a house near the water in Seaford.  We wondered whether or not he was still there and living in the house that was his.  His children would be grown by this time.  He and his family came to our church.

7.   Driving around Seaford we noticed some new sub-communities within the small community of Seaford itself.  I can just hear the Seafordites now:  we don’t want Seaford to grow more!  We want it to be kept small!  (We heard these types of comments when we lived there)  Well cupcake, times change, and growth is inevitable.  And Seaford has to grow as well.

And that reminds me that, while we were living there, a Vietnamese family had purchased a house in Seaford and essentially turned it into a restaurant.  They served really good food in that little house, and we enjoyed eating there many times.  There was a local newspaper from Yorktown, called The Yorktown Crier, that published a story on this family and their eatery in Seaford.  That story increased their business so much that they moved from Seaford into Newport News – and the business failed.  We were sorry to see that happen to them.  We just wished they had stuck it out in Seaford, but they didn’t.

~~~~~~~~~~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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