Tag Archives: #amblogging

Retail Therapy

12 Feb

My Take

Onisha Ellis

Life has been a bit hectic of late with out of town doctor visits and pre-op appointment at a large and confusing hospital followed by surgery for my husband. Then we had to reschedule a previously planned surgery, get new paperwork and fill out online paperwork for the upcoming surgery. On a side note, this facility wanted us to enter all of his medications into a line by line form. I keep a medication list which is easy to copy/paste, but I draw the line at entering it all into their computer.

After a week of wifely post-op duty I was ready for some girl time! Our daughter was unexpectedly off work on Monday and we decided some retail therapy was in order.

After some rainy days, Monday was sunny and beautiful with just the right touch of cool temperature. We decided to drive north to the Outlet center in Daytona Beach. Light traffic made for a pleasant drive and I could feel my stress falling away as we drove north. Of course we didn’t want to be away from our patient too long so we chose to limit our shopping to three stores.

Our first stop was to the Beall’s outlet. We have one in our town, but the one in Daytona is larger and my daughter was looking for something specific. She didn’t find it, but we did each buy a pair of sandals and I bought a fry pan. I bought this same one when we first settled into Florida for the winter and I loved it so much, I wanted one for our home in North Carolina. When I was paying for the sandals and pan, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my account had a birthday credit on it plus Monday shoppers receive a 10% discount. So basically the pan was free. My kind of shopping!

Our next stop was totally practical, Sam’s Warehouse Club. Our local club was out of several items we regularly buy and we were hoping this club would have them. And they did.

Now, don’t laugh but our third planned stop was Buc-ees, a mega gas station with a huge store (and the most elegant restrooms I’ve ever seen) When we stop there for gas, we are in a hurry and with no time to explore. We were headed there when my daughter saw a shop with the funny name of Duck Donuts. My ears perked up. I told my daughter we had to go there and being the sweet person we adore, she drove around the center to get back to Duck Donuts.

Have you ever had them? They are cake donuts made to order. My husband and I discovered them in Asheville, NC. This is their story.

It all began on the sandy beaches of the Outer Banks in Duck, North Carolina. There, Russ DiGilio and his family would enjoy relaxing and fun vacations. But something was missing – there were no fresh donuts! So, they decided to create their own and Duck Donuts was born. Now, you can enjoy the taste of the Outer Banks in your backyard by visiting one of our 100+ locations across the country!

https://www.duckdonuts.com

My daughter had no idea why I was insisting on getting donuts but she isn’t prone to turning one down.

Screen shot: DuckDonuts.com

We both Chose a peanut butter paradise, I chose a bacon in the sun and she chose a raspberry sunrise and I picked out a blueberry pancake to take to the hubby. Let me tell you, they were delicious! Hot yummy goodness. We could only mange to eat one apiece but we forced ourselves to half the peanut butter paradise and it did not disappoint! If you like donuts, you must try them.

Beck on track, we drove over to Buc-ees. We entered from the gas pump side. Typical gas station items like chips, staples etc were on the left with hot foods, beverages to the right. Also to the right was an impressive array of home decor. Think mini Hobby Lobby. We definitely chose to browse right to left.

We browsed from home decor to clothing, jewelry, children’s clothes and toys, jerky, pastries, cheeses, and charcuterie. We ended up at the one section we were familiar with, the smoked brisket. Their brisket is so good! We bought two sandwiches to eat for our lunch but were only able to eat half thanks to our Duck Donut splurge.

With our sweet tooths satisfied and tummies full we headed back home. It was a much needed break. And since i put a roast in the crock pot before leaving home, I didn’t have to answer the eternal question…”what’s for dinner?”

PS: I wrote better descriptions of the items in the store, but my internet crashed and obliterated it.

Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay 

We are excited to announce that our daughter’s third book in the Jessie Cole Trilogy is available for pre-order on Amazon.

Legacies are woven that bind fate or ignite dreams.

Jessie Cole worked hard to rise from humble beginnings to achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut. He didn’t think he’d face a more difficult challenge until he became a father. Now, he must weigh his decisions and endeavor to raise his children with the values of faith, perseverance, and love that shaped his own life.

Mariana Cole has gazed up at the heavens with wonder since infancy. Tales of her father’s trips to space feed her curiosity and drive her to understand why humanity hasn’t traveled beyond our own moon. Will she follow her father’s path or blaze her own trail to change the trajectory of space exploration?

This series is especially dear to our hearts as it is set in our hometown and some of Jessie’s antics came from my husband’s childhood.

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 2021 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.

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Four Ways to Fight Your Fears

5 Feb

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Reblogged February 5, 2022

February 4, 2022

“I’m going to be brutally honest, Mary said in our recent Zoom meeting.

She cleared her throat. “Are Christians lying? Or are some of them faking or covering up the real truth? Even though we’re believers, how can we not feel fear, have moments of doubt and feel like screaming, God, this is enough?”

No one in the group answered. Could it be because we agreed with her?

In silence, we hid those same emotions deep inside. We managed to cover them under the I-have-enough-faith notion.

But who could blame us? We’re humans and although we’re believers in Christ, we’re afraid to open up and admit that yes, sometimes we wake up and wonder what will be next? Other times we can’t even receive God’s Word well enough to face all the ugliness this painful pandemic brought.

But what spreads more subtly than the pandemic is the number of Christians who face that battle between sinking in fear or standing in faith. Peter experienced the same dilemma When the storm came. He should have believed Jesus would protect him and kick fear to the side. But instead, he expressed fear and worry, contagious enough to spread to the other disciples.

We’re all in that same boat, buffeted by that same storm of uncertainty. And while holding on tight hoping we won’t be crushed, we must choose the group to which we belong. The one that will sink in the deep waters of anxiety, swallowed by fear. Or the group who looks to God for His wisdom and has the audacity to look beyond the circumstances and dare to invite confidence. And, even in the middle of the junk, choose joy.

Sounds unrealistic? Not so if we possess the boldness to avoid these four traps.

  1. Avoid following your feelings.

“I feel so out of control,” my neighbor said, “like I’m just floating along and not accomplishing anything. I feel frustrated and anxious, too. This has to end soon.”

She’s walking into the danger zone. If she feels strongly enough, she’s out of control, she will believe it as valid and true and will end up indeed out of control.

So where do those feelings come from? They begin in the mind. Thoughts are like the ingredients for a cake. Blend them all together and put them in the oven of your mind. After a while, you’ll be serving the results. Mixing in thoughts of gloom will serve feelings of discouragement.

Conversely, blending thoughts that align with God’s Word, the feelings of encouragement, of hope and reassurance will dictate a healthy journey.

If Abigail had entertained thoughts of self-pity when her people were threatened, feeling like a victim would have ruled her heart (1 Samuel 25:14-20).

If Joseph allowed thoughts of unfairness while in prison, feelings of failure would have put him in an emotional prison (Genesis 39:19-21).

Had David placed his focus and thoughts on the size of Goliath, his feelings of inadequacy would have brought defeat instead of victory (1 Samuel 17:45-46).

We’re all facing a giant today. Each is unique to our circumstance. And to come out victorious, we must first “Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Prayer: Father, I commit to be obedient, to filter my thinking and to look beyond my feelings and instead bask in the field of truth found in Your Word.

  1. Refuse to remain in fear.

Are Christians lying when they say they don’t fear? Maybe. Fear knocks at every door, nothing wrong with that. It’s when we invite it to come in, offer a seat in our heart and feed it more negative information from news or social media that it becomes a well-fed monster.

But not all fear is destructive. Fear of disobeying God is justified. Conversely, the fear of a pandemic, of a virus, of a low bank account, of illness or even death is unreasonable. And it turns destructive when we remain in it, giving it life, causing it to grow until it paralyzes us.

And when it does, we’re stuck, unable to move forward as we allowed fear to rule us. Inadvertently, we gave it permission to block our wisdom, drain our energy and before we know it, we’re victims, not of the circumstance, but of fear’s claws.

We can escape only if we realize fear is a spirit, lurking around compliments of Satan. He feeds fear with lies, dark news and ever so subtly, from negative comments on social media.

But why do we receive that if “God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7)? For His power at work in us conquers fear. His love pushes back Satan’s hatred. And He gives us the sound mind to recognize irrational fear.

Prayer:  Father, I thank you for helping me reject fear. Moments when doubt and worry try to come in, I count in Your power at work in me to win over them.

  1. Dare to look beyond the circumstance.

It’s in our face, how can we look beyond the mess we’re in? Here’s a test for you. After you read this article, will you ponder and see how it changed you?

Or will you be tempted to dash over and check out the latest post? So many have become members of the addicted-to-social-media club.

The membership requirements are simple—focus on the news, take in comments from social media, keep track of statistics detailing the number of deaths, read the dark prognosis from experts and finally believe all the negative headlines—subtly, the focus is on the circumstance and not in the certainty of the power of God.

We’re not alone. The Israelites also saw nothing beyond the bad that surrounded them. They complained because they saw the lack of food, but missed the power of God at work. They challenged Moses by doubting in his leadership, but forgot God’s divine guidance. They crafted their own idols to pray and trust, but dismissed God’s faithfulness.

As they shuffled on that hot sand, they wished to go back to Egypt. We also wish to go back to the way things were. And as we keep navigating through the COVID-19 desert, God has a message:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:18).

Prayer:  Father, forgive me for keeping my focus on the events around me. Give me the eyesight to look beyond difficulties, problems and obstacles and, instead, help me to see the fresh beginning You prepared.

  1. Stop believing what the world declares.

“Some stores are running out of toilet paper,” a local station reported.

That bit of information exploded in a frenzy to grab as many rolls as would fit in the overflowing shopping cart.

Why did many go into panic dashing from store to store looking for something without knowing the reason? Because, like sheep, we followed others who also heard and believed a news reporter.

In the meantime, God is also telling us we’re running out of something—wisdom. The wisdom to compare what God says, what He instructs, what He promises, how He guides, how He protects and how He provides.

The best news is the shelves of His divine store will never run out of wisdom. In fact, he announces the abundant supply: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind” (James 1:5-6).

Could that be us? Tossed by the wind that blows from the world’s deceptions? Or will we follow the wisdom Habakkuk displayed when he declared: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

When we become as audacious as Habakkuk, defeat turns to determination. And instead of discouragement, we become defiantly brave to declare that if God parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21), He’ll make the way for us too. As He sent manna from heaven (Ex. 16:4-6), He’ll provide what we need. And since He made dried bones come alive (Ezekiel 37:4), He’ll do the impossible for us to–bring back what we lost, take us higher and make us stronger.

Let’s Pray

Father, I pledge my allegiance to Your truth, to Your power and Your path. My heart and mind will not entertain fear, but instead, will increase faith to believe in the victory you promised. In Jesus’ name.

How will you avoid the fear traps?

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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A Hunting Trip with My Dad Part 1

2 Feb

A Slice of LIfe

Bill Lites

I grew up at a time, and in a place (the southwest), where hunting was a given.  My folks, having been survivors of the Great Depression era, were hunters out of necessity, so it was only natural that I would grow up to be a hunter too.  Our family needed the meat from their annual deer and antelope hunts to supplement their meager income.  In addition to the yearly deer or antelope hunts, my dad would usually hunt wild turkeys or some type of game birds, when his work schedule permitted.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

When I was younger my dad had taken me on fishing trips in the New Mexico Mountain streams.  I loved the outdoors, the camping out with my dad, the thrill of catching those fighting fish, and then eating the delicious Rainbow Trout he would cook over an open fire that night.  

Photo Credit: https://rove.me/rainbow-trout-fishing/  

As I grew older, my dad taught me how to shoot his deer rifle and how best to stalk white-tailed deer, antelope, and wild turkeys (he made his own turkey callers out of certain turkey bones and taught me how to use them to call the turkeys).

Photo Credit: //www.arkansasonline.com/news/turkey-hunt/

Every year my dad and mother would buy a New Mexico resident deer license ($5.00 each) that was good for any area in the state open to deer hunting.  Many of the farmers and ranchers in our area had to deal with free-range white-tailed deer and antelope roaming their area feeding on their crops. 

Photo Credit: https://theconversation.com/white-tailed-deer/

Most years there was some place in the state where the farmers were being over-run by white-tail deer and ask the state for help.  The state would issue a ‘Special Deer Tag’ which allowed the licensed hunter to take an additional buck or doe in that designed area.  

Sample Deer License Photo Credit: https://new-mexico-hunting-fishing-licenses

My mother was a good hunter and went with my dad as often as she could.  However, because my sister and I were still in school, she ended up being a stay-at-home mom, and wasn’t able to go hunting with my dad as often as she would have liked.

Photo Credit:Bill Lites

The year I was 14, we bought one regular license for my dad, one for my mom, and one for me ($7.50 each by 1954), and one ‘Special Deer Tag’ for each of us.  We were set for a possible 6-deer taking for the year of hunting.  That was the year my dad took me on my first deer hunt in the northern mountains of New Mexico.  To say I was excited, about the prospects of that first deer hunt, would be what I would call an understatement.  I could hardly wait.

Sample “Special” Deer Tag Photo Credit: https://new-mexico-hunting-fishing-licenses/

As it happened, that year, my mother had started a new job and wasn’t able to go with us.  So, I used my mother’s Remington 30-30 caliber pump-action rifle.  It was lighter and I felt more comfortable using it than I did my dad’s converted 30-06 sport rifle.  Besides that, I could fire 3-shots with the pump-action rifle to every one-shot dad could fire with his bolt-action rifle.  I saw that as an advantage, he didn’t.

Photo Credit: https://www.maynards.com/remington/pump-action-rifle/ 

My dad was the State Sunday School Secretary for New Mexico, and traveled a lot, setting up and monitoring Sunday Schools at churches around the state.  He had made a lot of deer hunting friends in most areas of the state over the years.  So, when deer hunting season rolled around, our family was almost always invited to stay at a pastor’s home, in the mountains, somewhere in the state where deer hunting was allowed.  If an invitation did not come, dad always knew of a good mountain area where we could pitch our tent, and rough it, while we hunted.

Photo Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emYgULUkmSM/ 

 

—–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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Free Verse Battle

31 Jan

My Take

DiVoran Lites

“Get in the box,” poet yelled.

“I don’t fit,” poem snapped.

“You must play by the rules,

Must get it right, 

Must use rhythm and rhyme.”

“I won’t” poem stamped its foot.

“I’ll make you, see if I don’t”

The poet grabbed the poem by its skinny neck.

And stuffed it in the box until it stopped screaming. 

R. I. P poem

Alas, it will return tomorrow.   

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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2021 Mid-Eastern Road Trip Part 17B

26 Jan

A Slice of LIfe

Bill LItes

Day 17 – 7/28/2021 (Continued)

In another 20 miles south on US-17 I visited the Barberville Pioneer Village located on the grounds of the Barberville Central Highschool in Barberville, FL.  This settlement is the culmination of years of work to move a number of restored historic buildings to this location, to help visitors visualize and understand the way pioneers, to this area, lived and worked.  Some of the 11 structures include an 1875 log cabin, an 1885 Post Office, an 1885 Depot, an 1890 church, and an early 1900s country store.

Photo Credit: https://www.hometownnewsvolusia.com/barberville-pioneer/collection/

It was only another 5 miles to the Lake George State Forestry Station located on US-17 at the edge of the Lake George Forest.  At one time in his young life our son, Billy, had wanted to be a Forest Ranger and he was lucky enough to climb one of the Ranger Station towers with a Ranger during a tour of their facility.  After that experience, forestry stations had always interested my too.  I really didn’t want to interrupt the folks at the station, so I just stopped long enough to give my back a rest and to take this photo.  Then I continued south.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

My next stop was just down the road on US-17, to visit one of my favorite family campgrounds, now known as DeLeon Springs State Park located in DeLeon Springs, FL.  From the early 1970s to around 2000 our family fell in love with camping.  Most of our camping took place up and down the central part of Florida at the many fresh-water springs.  One of our favorites was DeLeon Springs campgrounds, with its 1930s Old Sugar Mill Restaurant.  In the 1970s the property was privately owned, and we got to know the owners quite well.  Now every time I pass thru DeLeon Springs, a family camping memory pops into my head.  Oh, what fun we all had camping at the springs!

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

It was another 10 miles south on US-17 & east on US-92 to where I visited the Deland Naval Air Station (DNAS) Museum located on the southern end of the Deland Municipal Airport.  This small museum is housed in the former Chief Master-at-Arms house and is dedicated to the honor of the men and women who have served our country in U.S. Naval Aviation.  The museum displays U.S. Naval military training artifacts and memorabilia dating from 1942, when the Naval Station was in operation.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

I drove around to the north end of the Deland Municipal Airport, where I was hoping to visit the Commemorative Air Force Museum (Florida Wing) and get photos of their restored (flying) AT-6 Texan and restored (flying) T-34 Mentor, and talk airplanes with CAF members that might be there.  However, that part of the airport was closed off and Greta (my Garmin) couldn’t find the hanger.  I had to be satisfied with the photo below.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Now I got back on US-17 and drove 20 miles south to visit the last museum on this road trip.  This last stop was to visit the Florida Postal Museum located in Orange City, FL.  This small museum is housed in the old restored 1876 Heritage Inn, which just happens to be the very same building where the first Orange City Post Office was established in 1876.  Yep, the post office was moved several times over the years, but the museum ended up in the very same building where it had all started.  The museum has a variety of postal artifacts, along with a collection of framed envelopes, lining both sides of a long hallway, with dates from the inception of the U.S. Postal Service to the present.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Now it was finally time to head southeast the last 50 miles on I-4 & SR-46 to my home in Titusville, FL.   I had called DiVoran to let her know about what time I thought I would be home, and she had a great ‘Welcome Home’ meal ready for me when I got to the house.  It was great to eat a home-cooked meal for a change and sleep in my own bed.  As much fun as these road trips are, I always look forward to getting home and relaxing in familiar surroundings with someone I 

love and appreciate.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

I hope you have enjoyed reading about my adventures on this road trip as much as I have writing about them.  Putting these museum visits and traveling experiences into words always brings back visions of all the amazing things I have seen during this trip.  Thank you for riding along with me on this road trip, and I hope you will join me on the next trip for some more new and exciting museum adventures.  Be safe out there!

Photo Credit: https://www.clipartmax.com/cartoon-driver-waving/

—–The End—–

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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Insomnia

24 Jan

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Photo Credit Pixabay

Sudden thoughts glisten and leap, 

Leaving the land where they dream,

Glimmer and sparkle (needing to strive)

Like salmon swimming upstream.

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 Germany-Aerobics Part 3

23 Jan

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Another fun thing was that the high school coach learned that I was teaching aerobic dancing, and asked that I come to several of his classes and demonstrate the program.  Our Karen was NOT impressed!  When I asked why she didn’t want me to do that, she replied, “Mom, you are in your SHORTS!!”  Most embarrassing to a high school student!  But I went anyway.  I was in pretty good shape at that time of my life, and during the demonstration, I mentioned that the kids could still be in good shape, as I was, at age 40!  They were astounded!  Karen later told me that one of her classmates asked her if her mother was 40?  So that classmate had been in one of those classes.  We had one dance that was relatively repetitive, and quite easy to learn.  I had the students line up and we danced it back and forth.  Then I had them dance it turning on each repeat.  Then I had them form a large circle (facing each other) and dance it around.  So much fun!  Later, the coach said that he wished he could get his basketball players to dance like we were doing.  It would give them rhythm and make them lighter on their feet, which some of them needed to be better basketball players.

One thing sort-of related to those classes, was that I had to walk from our apartment (just outside the base gate) to the classes on the base – summer or winter, rain or shine, sometimes in the snow.  And I carried my big boom box with me.  In warm weather, I was in my shorts and T-shirt.  In winter, I wore boots and my heavy coat – all the while, carrying my boom box.

Somewhere along the line, I was asked to demonstrate our program to a joint German/American group.  I thought it would be something that appeal to the Germans.  So when it was my turn, I started with “ich habe nur ein bisschen Deutsch” (I only have a little German).  That brought some laughs – so then I stated that “and so I will speak in English.”  More laughs.  I described our program, our steps, what we were doing was exercise, but was made more fun with the dance.  I then asked for volunteers from the audience to join me on stage and performed our easiest routine.  Later, as I watched a square dancing group,

Credit Bill Lites – Bill and DiVoran on the right, in their square dancing finery

I realized that all the “instruction” was done in German, but the dance calls were in English!   WOW!  Why couldn’t our program reach the German community the same way – instruct the teaching of the steps in German, but “call” the actual dance routines in English.  We left Germany before we could suggest that to the teachers who followed us.  I think it would have been a great connector between the two countries.

Credit Pixabay

We usually had one week off between sessions, to find new music and perhaps some new steps to those songs.  After a few sessions where the dedicated students were bored with my teaching the old, standard steps to the new students, I decided to use those between-session weeks to teach the old steps to the new students.  That way, when the official session began, only any new steps to teach were taught to all the students, and we could proceed with the routines.  That worked out quite well.

~~~~~~~~~~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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Omicron Observations and Making Bread

21 Jan

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I have found the use of masks in my Florida town to be interesting. For those who don’t live here, you may not know that Florida is a mask mandate free zone. You would think that would mean mask wearing would be slight, but from my observations, that is not the case. During our October road trip we traveled in many areas with the mandate. With the exception of the Memphis, Tennessee area, I didn’t observe extensive mask use.

As Omicron began to make its presence felt in our community in early January, mask use ballooned.

Photo by Padli Pradana on Pexels.com

I found that to be curious as during the height of the dreaded Delta, masking while present was not prevalent.

Two weeks later on my weekly shopping trip to Publix supermarket, masking levels seemed back to normal. I pondered this. Then I pondered again mentally collecting data reports and personal stories of infection. But it wasn’t until I factored in the CDC suggestions of quarantining for 5 days then wearing a mask for another 5 days that I reached my conclusion.

Data and personal stories told me that our county had been hit hard with probably Omicron. I think our county for the week ending January 13 was 31% positive. The explosion of mask use in early January may have been due to people coming out of quarantine while following the CDC guidelines.

I’m hoping the numbers for last week will be lower. I think Omicron was active in Florida before it was officially recognized and I am hoping we have summited the curve and are on the way down. Maybe my weekly trip to Publix today will give me a hint.

For the record, I am thankful for my community. To mask or not mask is not an issue for harassment (well except on Facebook and I’m not sure who those people are.)

Now to the bread making. We follow a low carb life style and we have missed good bread. I have made various recipes and they are ok but they weren’t wow. Well, I have discovered wow bread!

I am a member of a paid subscription low carb cooking group. I joined as I want to change up my meals to a slightly higher protein and I need help navigating the change. A month ago the leader of the group posted a recipe for white bread followed by a recipe for cinnamon bread to rave reviews.

I decided to give the recipes a try. My first loaf of the white bread didn’t cook through in the middle even though it appeared done. The rest of the bread was delicious and the closest to conventional bread texture I had eaten. Eventually I figured out that the glass loaf pan I was using was smaller than the suggested metal pan, making the loaf thicker. So far all my loaves have come out perfect since. The cinnamon bread is absolutely delicious and would make a fantastic french toast breakfast casserole.

I have also baked the bread in a muffin top pan to make round sandwich rolls. I didn’t realize how much I enjoyed eating a burger patty on a bun. I need to make more sandwich buns for the weekend I can’t decide if I want to make a full recipe this week and divide it between rolls and mini loaves, or a half recipe of just rolls.

I almost forgot to share this discovery. Last Sunday I put butter and garlic on some bread slices and put them under the broiler to make garlic toast It was ok but not oh my gosh good. We had one piece left over that lingered in the fridge for several days. I found it when I was scrounging for something to tide me over until supper. I heated it in the microwave for about 15 seconds and took a bite, not expecting much flavor. Woohoo! It tasted like I was eating buttery, garlic Texas toast. So good! The time in the fridge marinated the garlic into the bread. I will be marinating some more bread for the weekend!

Disclaimer: Anything Covid related are just my observations and thoughts.

PS… The Space X launch on Tuesday night was beautiful. The moon was full, the sky almost cloudless and the rocket appeared to be heading directly to the moon. My daughter captured this photo with her cell phone which does not do it justice at all.

A local photographer, Richard Gallagher captured some fantastic photos. Wish I could share them but they are copyrighted. Here is a link to his site.

https://www.rpgphotography.art/new-for-2022ew-for-2022

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 2021 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media. You can visit Real Life Books and Media You Tube Channel if you would like to view some of the mini-videos I have created for our church, Gateway Community in Titusville, Fl.

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2021 Mid-Eastern Road Trip-Part 17 A

19 Jan

A Slice of LIfe

Bill Lites

Day 17 – 7/28/2021

After breakfast this morning, I headed south, out of Jacksonville, 20 miles on I-295 & US-17 to visit the Military Museum of North Florida located in the Reynolds Industrial Park, adjacent to the former US Naval Air Station, in Green Cove Springs, FL.  This museum has a large collection of military jeeps, trucks, and amphibious landing craft, as well as military artifacts, weapons, and equipment honoring all U.S Military personnel from WWI to the present.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

To my surprise, the North Florida Railway Museum is also located in the Reynolds Industrial Park, there in Green Cove Springs, so I just checked out that museum while I was there.  The museum displays railroad exhibits, artifacts and memorabilia telling the history of the railroad’s influence on northern Florida dating from the mid-1800s.  They have several pieces of rolling stock which they are restoring, including a GE 44 Tonner locomotive.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Continuing south 25 miles on US-17, I was absently heading for the David Browning Railroad Museum in Palatka, FL when suddenly Greta (My Garmin) said, “In ¼-mile turn right.”  I said out loud, “What?”  

Now let me tell you how it is with Greta.  She normally takes me on the shortest route to my destination.  Sometimes that is not always the best route.  More than once, she has taken me thru back streets or thru residential neighborhoods, finally delivering me to my destination.  Well, this time it was onto a dirt road.  “Why?”  Was my question, but I kept on going.  Then she had me turn onto a well-rutted dirt road.  The next turn was onto a barely visible rutted muddy dirt road.  I said, “Come on Greta, where are you taking me?”  There was nothing around me but a deep pine forest and a muddy dirt track with potholes.  It had been raining and the potholes were full of water.  I was afraid I was going to get stuck!  The next time she said, “Turn left.”   I said, “NO!”  And kept going straight.  I finally came out of that mess onto US-17 (the hiway I had been on before turning off onto the first dirt road) and eventually made it to the museum there in Palatka.  Whooo!  That was not a fun experience.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

At the museum I discovered that it was situated in the old 1908 Florida Coast Line (FCL) Union Depot and displays antique railroad exhibits, artifacts, and memorabilia about the history of the railroad in Palatka and the surrounding Putnum county area dating from the early 1800s to the present.  The museum also houses a large model railroad layout depicting the city of Palatka in its early railroad days.  

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

It was only a few blocks to where I checked out the Mariner’s Museum located on the banks of the St. Johns River there in Palatka.  This large museum was closed, so I took a stroll over to the Riverfront Park to take a short break and watch the river traffic.   The center piece of the park is an impressive 40-foot-high Millennium Clock Tower.  What a relaxing few minute that was. 

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

After my short rest, I continued south, across the St. Johns River, 10 miles on US-17 to check out the Georgia Boys Fish Camp located on the banks of Dunns Creek in Satsuma, FL.  I discovered the camp was off US-17 (their sign didn’t say how many miles), so I decided since I didn’t have time to do any fishing, I’d just be on my way.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

I went 15-miles out of my way to visit the Welaka Maritime Museum located in Welaka, FL.  Greta (my Garmin) took me to the correct internet address, but either the museum was in a boat repair shop at that address (that was closed), or it no longer existed, as there was nothing there but the boat shop.  That turned out to be a big waste of time and gas!

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

So, I found my way back to US-17 and headed another 25 miles south to visit the Barberville Pioneer Settlement.  A few miles down the road the internet had told me there was a Biker Bar in Crescent City, and I had planned to stop for a photo.  When I got to the address, I found that the business had changed hands, and was now The Farmhouse Bar & Grill.  Good thing I wasn’t hungry, as the place was closed.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

—–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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Watching the Kids in the Subdivision on the Way Home from School 

17 Jan

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Walking home, all ages there

Talking easy, not a care.

Six-year-olds through big eleven.

Sunny day, what a Heaven

“I am black. Don’t you see?”

“I am white; you’re you, I’m me.”

“Can I ride the bike a while?”

“You can ride it for a smile.”

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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