Min’s Cafe-Part 5

22 Aug

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Animals

Free photos of Horse

I was six years old when Dad came home from WWII, and we bought Min’s Café in Westcliffe. Dad wanted my brother and me to have a horse, so he bought us a part Shetland pony, a small horse breed. We called him Yankee. At first, Dad would help me into the saddle, but the minute he let go of the reigns, Yankee took off for the corral where he and the other town horses lived. The small horse was the master until Dad showed us how to rule over him when we rode. 

We soon outgrew Yankee and Dad got bigger horses. We were free to gallop on dirt roads when no cars or tractors were there. But not on the prairie, where there were many Prairie-Dog holes for the horses to step into and break their legs. We went out to the rodeo grounds and played with the horses, with my brother changing from one to the other. 

Photo Credit:Pixabay

Another time we played with the horses by having them step over the treated logs that would soon be supporting street lights at the end of Mainstreet. My horse stumbled, and I flew off his back. It knocked the breath out of me, but I got up and mounted again, which Daddy had always told us to do. Otherwise, if we walked away, we would grow afraid and never get on a horse again. 

Photo Credit:Pixabay

We had Brownie the dog, a tiger cat, two family horses, and later two donkeys for packing on a fishing trip. Yes, many donkeys are indeed as stubborn as three-year-olds. My brother and I never got them to do anything we wanted. Each of us was given a calf, but mine died. It was the first real heartache I had ever experienced. Why did she have to die so young?

The train station was built during the silver rush in Silvercliff, now a tiny town. It was a toss-up whether Denver or Silvercliff would become the capital of Colorado. The train station’s history now includes the story of why the tracks that ran on the side of a mountain were taken out. In wintertime, heavy snow piling up pushed the tracks off the mountainside, and the line had to be constantly repaired. 

Needing a bigger place to live and a place to accommodate paying guests, Dad bought the old train depot, and he and Mother renovated it.

Of course, the building had a wooden walk, and Dad had to take it out. It was spring, and baby rabbits ran everywhere. Dad gave me a soft baby rabbit and sent me upstairs to pet it. There were too many rabbits in the valley to keep as they harmed the terrain. Naturally, we had to “get rid” of them. It was like living in the Old West. The mountains always soothed me, though. I knew God had made them, and they were our fortress.

Photo Credit:Pixabay

In this place, I first became aware of the sound of coyotes in the night. I wasn’t afraid because I knew they were God’s coyotes, and he wouldn’t let them hurt me. 

Photo Credit:Pixabay

 We lived in Westcliffe until it was time to move on. I was twelve years old. Then we moved to Los Alamos, the heart of the Atomic Bomb, where Dad became a gate guard, and later, after we moved to Albuquerque, a courier for carrying bombs in a big semi. 

To be continued, but still in Westcliffe

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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A Good Belly Laugh

21 Aug

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

They say…”Laughter is the best medicine.”  I love to hear children laughing – that sweet, innocent gurgle is adorable.  I love to hear and see adults laughing so hard that tears run down their cheeks.    I have a picture here of my mother, her sister, and their mother all laughing at something – they were having a good belly laugh.  It’s one of my favorite pictures of them.

1953 – L-R – Aunt Jessie, Granny, Mother

I’ve mentioned in previous musings that I am on facebook a lot.  I get really amused at some of the pictures posted there.  Here are some of my favorites:

While I didn’t grow up in the era of the “Road Runner and Coyote,” our daughters did, and so we watched those cartoons with them.  And, being from New Mexico, these two critters touched home with me.  The person who managed his wreckage in this way had a great sense of humor.

Credit Google/FaceBook/Truck Warrior

Remember the “toy truck” I posed recently.  The creativity this took brought a chucked to my husband and me.

Credit Google/Facebook

I saw this one of the owls recently and was tickled by it.  I can just imagine my mother looking at me that way if I had said a curse word when I was young!

Credit Google/Facebook/Mary Balogh

Have you heard of the heat in Texas this summer?  It’s probably the worst heat Texas has had in a long time.  Glad I’m not there!  However, this picture – from Texas – showed up on facebook, and I got a real chuckle out of it.  It certainly made me wonder if those cookies would really cook in that heat!  What’s you guess?  If nothing else, the fragrance in the car would be absolutely delicious after working all day!

Credit Google, FaceBook and Litle Sunny Kitchen

Did I mention how hot it is in Texas this summer?  This one hits the spot!

Credit Google/Facebook/Angie Ward

And here’s a cute one for our fishermen:

Credit Google/FaceBookKippi At Home

This one always makes me laugh:

Credit Google/FaceBook/Truck Warrior

Nothing like a good laugh to cheer up your spirits.  These have helped me – and I hope my readers as well.

Have an enjoyable week – and look for the funny things in life!

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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2022 Road Trip-Part 1

17 Aug

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Day 1 (5/16/2022)

Leaving my home in Titusville, FL this morning, I headed west 15 miles on SR-50 to visit the Fort Christmas Historical Park located on the west side of CR-420 in Christmas, FL. The fort is a full-scale replica of the original fort, one of 200 forts built (between 1835 and 1847), during the Second Seminole War, to protect settlers in the central Florida area during the 1820s, 1830s, and 1840s.  The fixed garrison originally consisted of 2000 U.S. Army Alabama Volunteers.  

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

A historical museum is located within the walls of the fort and display Seminole Indian and pioneer artifacts dating from the Seminole War period.  Some of the items included are Indian and pioneer weapons, clothing, tools, household goods and other items dating from the early 1800a.  The park has been in the process, over the years, of relocating many early 1800s structures around their 25-acre park, and restoring them to their original conditions.  The houses are furnished with period household items and are open for viewing.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Heading west another 40 miles on US-50, I took SR-408 to by-pass the downtown Orlando traffic, to visit the Central Florida Railroad Museum located in Winter Garden, FL.  This museum is located in the former 1913 Tavares & Gulf Railroad depot, that replaced the original 1899 T&G depot.  The museum is loaded with antique railroad artifacts and memorabilia.  The T&G railroad changed names a couple of times over the years and the depot served the Winter Garden area until 1978, when service on this portion of the Seaboard Coast Line (SCL) track was terminated.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Next, I headed west another 15 miles on SR-50 to checkout the Citrus Tower in Clermont, FL.  This famous Florida landmark was opened in 1956, and at the time, claimed to be the highest point in Florida (543 feet above sea level).  The view from the observation deck allows a person to see 35 miles to the horizon (on a clear day) which includes 8 Florida counties and 2000 sq. miles of surrounding land.  Back in that day all a person could see was orange groves, but today several winter freezes and Florida growth have turned most of that land into homes and businesses.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Now I headed northwest on US-27 about 25 miles to where I visited the Paquette’s Historical Tractor Museum located in Leesburg, FL.  This museum is situated on 50-acres, which includes three buildings displaying some 150+ beautifully restored International Harvester and Farmall tractors and farming equipment, and retro memorabilia dating from 1923.  I was glad to be able to view this amazing collection before the museum closes in July.  I am always sorry to hear about a museum of any kind closing, and this is especially true of the Paquette Tractor Museum.  It will be sad for “Stew” to see his many beautifully restored antiques go on the auction block later this year.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

To the next museum I used SR-44 and I-75 northwest 25 miles to visit the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing located just south of Ocala, FL.  I had visited this museum once before on another road trip, but just wanted to get another look at some of the fastest dragsters to run on a drag racing strip.  The museum gives the history of drag racing icon “Big Daddy” Don Garlits and the many machines he used over the many years of his amazing career.  There are over 175 dragsters of all types and sizes in one building, plus almost 100 antique cars in another building, in Don’s Antique Car Collection dating from 1909.  Wow, what a car buff’s dream museum that is!

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

As I was leaving the museum, I snapped a photo of the A-7 Corsair II Gate Guard.  I know you can’t read it in the photo below, but the name of the pilot printed under the canopy is Captain “Lites” Leenhouts.  I was surprised to see the “call sign” for this pilot.  I found it interesting that the “call sign” was “Lites” and not “Lee” or “Hoot” and that it was spelled “Lites” and not “Lights” as is usually the case.  It’s becoming a smaller world out there, and you never know what form of personal association you might run into, with another person, in your travels.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

After that wonderful experience at the “Big Daddy” Drag Racing Museum, there wasn’t a lot to see for the next 60 miles, as I traveled northwest skirting west of Ocala on I-75, and passed thru the towns of Friendship, Williston, and Bronson on US-27 before arriving at the Levy County Quilt Museum located just outside Chiefland, FL.  The museum was closed, but their website informs me that it was originally known as the Log Cabin Quilters and was formed by 8-local ladies in 1983 to show and sell their handywork.

Photo Credit: https://www.scenicpathways.com/quilt-museum

I gave Greta (my Garmin) the motel address there in Chiefland and she took me right to it.  After I got checked, and got my things moved into the room, I ask the desk clerk for restaurant recommedations, and he told me he liked the food at the  “19/98 Grill” so I tried it.  I ordered Liver & Onions (one of my favorites) and they served me a huge plate of some of the best Liver & Onions I have ever eaten.  Yummm!  i had enough left over for dinner tomorrow night.

Photo Credit: www.yelp.com/biz/19-98-grill-and-country-store

—–To Be Continued—–

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

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

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Counting One’s Interests

16 Aug

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

Reblogged from March 29, 2013

“One should never count the years–one should count one’s interests. I have kept young
trying never to lose my childhood sense of wonderment. I am glad I still have a vivid curiosity
about the world I live in.”

Helen Keller, 1880-1968
Blind and Deaf American Writer and Scholar

The writer of that beautiful philosophy
expressed my sentiments so eloquently-
But I humbly acknowledge my advantage-
I can hear! And I can see!

But did she hear more clearly than I?
And did she see through the Master's eye?
Oh, how blessed to have the Master's touch-
to live to serve-to give so much.

May I never take for granted
the blessings of each day-
A kind word, a noble deed,
encouragement along the way.

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Min’s Cafe-Part 4

15 Aug

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Photo Credit:Pixabay

At one time, Colorado had many Tuberculosis patients. The Department of Health required the sick people to go to the pure mountain air for its high, dry effect on healing lungs. When David and I washed the dishes (by hand), we were required to put a pink powder into the rinse water to sterilize the dinnerware.  

The cool sweet water that came down from the mountains and into our faucets was the purest in the world. We also had it hot and cold. We pulled each dish out of the hot, pink rinse the government insisted on for restaurants and put them into the drainer to air dry. We pretended we were building a fairy castle as we piled the dishes in a drainer. When the stack got so high that the dishes fell to the floor, there was nothing else to do but pick them up and set them on the stainless steel counter because we couldn’t reach the cupboards. 

We had a restaurant-sized grill for hamburgers, sausage, pancakes, bacon, and eggs. I was pleased and proud when Dad let me cook a hamburger for him to serve to a customer. Min had a reputation, too, for the best pancakes in town. Each day she put a fresh bowl of batter in the big refrigerator, so we would be ready to serve pancakes night and day.

Photo Credit:Pixabay

Beef dishes were plentiful, but I was already looking for a way to avoid eating meat. Dad hunted, fished, and then hung the carcasses  in the big shed to season. The last straw for me on eating meat was when I saw the movie “Bambi,” and Bambi’s mother died. 

The roast beef was the special every day, and our parents wanted us to eat what they thought was a wonderful meal. A row of hand-made wooden booths ran along the east wall where we were. We ate our meals in the center booth. We were always happy when someone put a dime in the jute box, and we could have a dinnertime concert.  

A painting of Custer’s Last Stand with horses going down dead and people being scalped hung above the middle booth. For some reason, we chose to make it our booth. Maybe it was because of the painting; paintings were in our lives, but who needed paintings when they had such a wonderful view of God’s mountains.  After I ate my mashed potatoes and gravy, I wrapped my roast beef in a paper napkin and dropped it into the hole the builder had left at the top of the booth. 

Photo Credit:Pixabay

We had a small pantry off the kitchen where many things happened. That’s where Brownie had to stay because it was against the law for dogs to be in restaurants. Sometimes Mother tried to get the knots out of my hair there.

I recall spending a whole fourth-grade class sitting at my desk tugging at my hair with a comb while the other children listened to the teacher. She was a woman with no children of her own and one of the sweetest, kindest teachers I ever had. As an aside, an old building had been designated our new school in Silvercliff. Each class now had its room. It was the beginning of gathering all the children in the valley attending the one-room schoolhouses. They called it consolidation. Our sweet teacher let me finish unsnarling my hair, and I was finished by recess. 

Mother had always tried to rake out the tangles when she had time before I left for school. One day, however, she decided to cut it short. She got half of it cut with me wiggling and trying to get away, and finally, I broke away and ran the two blocks home with Brownie running along. When I got there, I looked in the mirror and knew I had to go back and let her cut the other half.

The library was directly across the street from the restaurant at the back of the town hall. I loved to read Judy Bolton mysteries and fairy tales. The librarian had assured me it was all right for a young lady to like fairy tales still. She liked them too. Once I got my book, I went back across the street to Min’s, sat in the bar’s back booth, and ate potato chips to my heart’s content.  

 To Be Continued

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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Worry

14 Aug

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

REBLOGGED FROM 2015

[In today’s world, this is very timely – 

please note that this was written in December – and now it is August]

Worry………..worry……………worry…………

Are you a worry-wart?  That’s a good old-fashioned phrase that my Mother used to say.

And what better time of year to be a worry-wart than December?  It always hits me in the face on December 1st that it is DECEMBER……and I don’t have a single THING purchased or made for ANYONE in the family!  Worry……worry….worry………what will I get everyone, and when will I have to mail the packages…..

And how will I EVER get the house decorated in time for it to be worthwhile?

And how will I EVER get all the Christmas cards done and in the mail before Christmas Eve?

And then there are the Christmas cookies to make…..

And how will I EVER …………   Well, you get the picture.

I found this cartoon (credit Charles Schultz) on facebook recently, and it made me realize just how worthless all that worry is.  See what you think.

And then, there is the directive from the scriptures that really just says it all:

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Matthew 6:27 

And here is the kicker:

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:34

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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How to Get Rid of Anxiety

13 Aug

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Reblogged August 1, 2022

August 12, 2022

In this story, could these camels be wanting to get rid of anxiety and confusion?

A baby camel looked up to his mother, “Mommy, why do we have these long eyelashes, these big hooves and a hump on our back?”

She turned to him. “God made us that way for a very special reason,” she explained. “Our large feet are to keep us from sinking into the sand.”

“Why the big eyelashes?” he asked.

“It’s to protect our eyes from the sand.”

“Why the big humps?”

“That is to store fat and have enough energy to go long distances in the hot desert!”

“I see!” The baby camel stretched his neck and looked up at his mother. “The large feet are to keep us from sinking into the sand, the long eyelashes are to keep the sand out of our eyes, and the humps are to store energy to travel…then what are we doing in this cage in the middle of a zoo?”

I asked the same question. Like the camel, I was equipped to face life. I had desires, dreams, and plans to reach heights.

But instead, at the age of 30, my eyesight closed in completely. I sat inside a sorry cage called anxiety. The bars that trapped me in were called lies: without sight, I’d be unproductive; I’d be unlovable, unworthy and ugly.

Those were the destructive lies that kept me bound back then until Christ Jesus brought the key to my freedom.

But today, different kind of lies keep many imprisoned: the economy will bring us down, inflation will be the end of us, our future is dark, and our security is at risk.

That’s what the world feeds us while we sit on the floor of that cage of restlessness. But the only way to get rid of that anxiety is through God’s truth, In His reassuring promises and in the proven ways He sets us free.

Here are five ways we can take action toward that freedom.

  1. Remain steady. Just because we don’t see God in action, doesn’t mean He’s not at work. Just because His help isn’t immediate doesn’t mean it’s not coming. When attacks come from all sides, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). His help is ever-present to showcase the truth that He’s God, almighty and powerful enough to correct the wrong, bring down opposition and remove evil.
  2. Be confident as His promise has the word never. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5).
  3. Declare with boldness your unwavering belief that His plans are at work. What we see in the world is temporary, feeble and weak. His plans and power weren’t altered by any pandemic, virus or economy setback. God’s up to something, something great and amazing because through the ages, “…he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” (Psalm 33:9-11)
  4. Brush away the enemy’s lie that says the world can steal our freedom. He may try, but Jesus overpowered his efforts: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
  5. Back away from trusting in your own wisdom, in your abilities or your ways to figure things out. Instead, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

We get rid of anxiety when we trust in Him. Not halfway, but with all our heart, with all our faith and all our passion. We’ll never understand the world’s upside-down craziness. We’ll never comprehend how we got here or why. But obedience is the key—to recognize God is at work, He has the answer and His timing is flawless. He will direct our path right out of that cage by dismantling those bars of lies with His truth.

And similar to those camels, we’ll be out of the zoo of confusion. We’ll be free to declare a new beginning, strong enough to endure any setback. To believe in His triumph. To count on His ways and relish in a brand-new freedom.

Let’s Pray

Father, I’ve been in this cage for too long. Thank You for showing me how to follow You and walk out to my freedom. Thank you for my new life. In Jesus’ name.

What keeps you trapped these days?

Janet

______________________________________

I invite you to dance with me—celebrating one of my books, “Contagious Courage: A 30-Day Journey to Overcoming Stress and Anxiety.” Get your copy HERE and tell your friends, too.

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.

Let’s connect:

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2022 Road Trip

10 Aug

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Prelog 

This year’s driving road trip is really a substitute for the trip to the northwestern U.S. & western Canada trip that I have had planned, but have had to postpone, for two years now because of Covid.  I hope the Canadian tourist restrictions for Americans entering into their country will be lifted by next year so I can visit that part of northwest America and parts of western Canada.  The main motivations for this road trip were to visit friends in Lester, AL and to visit The Arch in St. Louis.  I missed a visit to The Arch last time I was in St. Louis because of Arch construction, and I really wanted to visit that Iconic structure.  The other motivation for this trip was a visit the Museum of Transportation, also in St. Louis, the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, TN and The Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY.  I have been told by many friends The Ark Encounter is a must-see attraction.  The map below will give you an idea of the approximate route I have laid out for myself during this road trip.

Image Credit: https://mountainhighmaps.com/products/usa-eastern

The idea was to travel mostly on rural roads rather than Interstates to enable me to see more of each state I was passing thru.  I had been in parts of most of the states I would be passing thru on this trip, during previous road trips, but this route would allow me to see new and different parts of the states I wanted to see.   As I was finishing up my packing, our cat, Thea, came in and checked out what I was doing.  Then she jumped into my suitcase and gave me a look that I took to say, “OK, I’m ready to go.  When do we leave?”  I told her she had to stay home and take care of DiVoran while I was gone, so she wouldn’t get lonely.  I guess she was okay with that, as she jumped out of the suitcase and went to search for DiVoran (or a treat that I didn’t have for her).

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

I’m driving my 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan again this year on the trip instead of renting a car, because it served me well on last year’s trip and is so much more comfortable.  Of course, after all these years, I fit the van, and I like sitting up a little higher for better traffic viewing.  I don’t get quite the milage in the van a new rental car would give me, but if the route weather is as cool as predicted I should be able to keep the A/C turned off for better milage than is usual here in Florida.

So, I’m looking forward to starting this road trip tomorrow, when I’ll beSee the source image‘On the Road Again’.5in x 4in Black Double Eighth Note Sticker   I will keep you up-to-date on the many and varied experiences I encounter along the way.

                  Image Credit: on the road again clipart – Bing images

—–To Be Continued—–

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

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

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Metamorphosis

9 Aug

 From the Heart of Louise Gibson

Reblogged from March 15, 2013

 
 

Metamorphosis

 

The struggles in life are many

In those times we begin to grow.

As the caterpillar becomes a butterfly,

Our metamorphosis is tedious and slow.

When God strips us of all vanity,

And we truly search our soul

We ultimately find it is He that we need

The One who can make us whole.

Others may fail us, oft no fault of their own

But if we trust our Savior,

We’ll not walk alone.

 

 
 

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Min’s Cafe 🍽 Part 3

8 Aug

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Going to The Jones 

The turquoise marque on your right is our local theater  

In Westcliffe, we had a small movie theater called “The Jones,” where we saw all the newest movies after they had traveled America before they got to other small towns like Westcliffe.

From Min’s Café, we could look sidewise out the big plate glass window to see when the new and so beautiful Neon lights went on. The show was open on Friday and Saturday, and that was it. No Sunday night shows because everybody had to get up early in the town and at the ranches on Monday. We could only go to the movies in the summertime. If we had tried to go in the winter, we would have frozen because the theater had no heat.

There was a low counter where we got our tickets and a bag of popcorn. 

For the tickets, we paid twenty-five cents, and the popcorn was ten cents. It came from a popcorn maker that wafted a wonderful fragrance into the room. We went through heavy red curtains to get inside the show.   

Everything was in black and white, as are the pictures above. Looking at the faces, I see Laurel and Hardy in the middle at the far right. This movie was made in 1937, one year before I was born, but the Laurel and Hardy movies were so funny that they amused their audience for many years.

Once, when my friend Patience went with me to a scary show, she was so frightened that she started fiddling with the buttons on my coat (yes, we still had to wear our coats because even in the summer, the theater was chilly). By the time the movie was over, all the buttons were on the floor. I picked them up and tucked them into the pockets, and Mother sewed them on the next morning. 

I don’t think my brother David liked going to the movies, so when he grew older, he must have stayed at the restaurant or the house with Brownie until the movie ended.

To be Continued 

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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