Tag Archives: Family Memories

The Seamstresses in My House-Part 3

20 Mar

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

While I lived a lot of my growing-up years in fiesta dresses, that was not the only type of clothing I wore.  I have pictures of myself in many dresses and outfits other than the fiesta dresses, but have no memory of whether they were store-bought, or made by my grandmother or mother.  Many of the play clothes I wore, I am sure were made from cotton.  Since sun dresses for a small girl’s body were fairly simple to make, I’m convinced they were home-made. 

1943 – Bill (5) and Judy (2) in Granny’s backyard, San Antonio, Texas

1945 – we had just moved to Albuquerque – I was nearly 4 years old

Since polyester had not been perfected yet as a type of fabric, I’m sure cotton was the way to go.  Here are a few examples. 

1949 – Albuquerque – Bill (11) and Judy (8) – clowning around

1950 – Albuquerque – Judy (9) and my best friend Shirley (9)

1950 – Albuquerque – Judy (9) holding Boots

Again, I’m not sure whether they were store-bought, or whether my grandmother or mother made them.  Most of these were before I had learned to handle the sewing machine.

Here is a white velvet dress that was made for me.  Apparently I was to be a “Junior Bride” in a wedding, and my dress mirrored the bride’s dress.  I was five years old at the time.

1946 – Albuquerque

One reason I think more of my clothes were store-bought, is the ruffles and trim that I see on some of these dresses.  I know, from experience, that those “touches” are not easy to put on a garment.  I remember making dresses for our Karen when she was just a small child.  First of all, she was not happy having to “model” the dress/outfit as I was making it.  Second, I found I could purchase adorable outfits for her from J.C. Penney’s or Sears, with all the trim and ruffles, for less cost than if I purchased the fabric and spent my time attempting to make the garment.

1970 – Wiesbaden, Germany – Karen is 2½

1970 – Albuquerque – Karen (2½) with Oma

As I grew older, many of my more dressy clothes were made from other-than-cotton fabrics.  I’m not exactly sure just what type of fabric was used.  I do know that, like in this picture, it was perhaps a taffeta-type of fabric.  It was a shiny fabric, for sure.  

1950 – Albuquerque – Judy at the old upright piano

1952 – Some kind of iridescent fabric, but softer than taffeta 

I’m not sure just what the occasion was for me to be wearing this dress and holding a candle – perhaps I was in a wedding, and would be lighting the candles?  I seem to be awfully young for handling a lit candle, however.  Not sure what fabric the dress was made of.  I was 11 years old at the time.

1952 – Albuquerque

I actually remember the vest I have on in this picture.  I believe it was a heavier weight cotton, perhaps twill,  and I would wear it most seasons of the year.  It was quite comfortable over a sweater, or over a cotton shirt.  I believe my mother made it for me.

1953 – Albuquerque – the Lites family

I remember that the “Poodle skirt” was the “in” thing at that time.

Credit Google Search and Grace Opulanza

I remember coming home from school one day, and finding that my Mother had made me one – it was draped across the second twin bed in my room! 

1955 – Albuquerque – the “Poodle Skirt”

I was ecstatic!  It was cotton, of course, and made in “gores.”  While it wasn’t exactly that current “type” of poodle skirt, I really liked mine.  I think the design (poodles) was pre-printed on the fabric:  just cut it out and stitch it up.  We made up the blouse to match the color, and I wore a scarf around my neck along with the outfit.  That was a fun thing to wear, for sure!

~~~~~~~~~~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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A Hunting Trip with My Dad-Part 2

9 Feb

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

In this particular year, the pastor who invited us to stay at his home for the “Special Deer Hunt”, raised his own goats and processed their milk into some of the most delicious cheeses.  It was a small family operation, so I was able to watch the many intriguing stages the milk went through to become cheese.  Of course, I had to try at least one sample (maybe more) of cheese at each stage, to know how it tasted.  I believe I may have acquired my love of all types of cheeses from that experience, which has stayed with me to this day.

Photo Credit: https://www.seriouseats.com/goat/cheese/

As I remember it, the hunt that year went well, and the hunting area was close to where were staying.  My dad and I came across a small herd of white-tail doe on the third day out, and we each bagged our deer.  After we got our deer cleaned and transported back to the pastor’s house, we lashed them to the finders of our 1950 Buick, thanked the pastor for his hospitality, and headed home.

Photo Credit: https://gf.nd.gov/magazine/nov/deer-hunting/

 (This was a very familiar scene during hunting season) 

Our problem started as we were making our way out of the mountains.  We had no idea that it had snowed so heavily on the south side of the mountains the night before, and our big 1950 Buick sedan got stuck.  Guess who got the job of putting the chains on, in all that snow and cold weather?  You guessed it.  It took both of us to get the job done, and when we finally got the chains in place, we were both muddy, soaked, and freezing.  With some very careful driving, we finally made it home, and the deer processing procedures began.

Photo Credit: Ages Lites

My dad had a special arrangement with the local butcher, at our neighborhood grocery store.  The butcher would cut our deer meat into every type of cut we wanted, then wrap, and mark each package.  For this service the butcher would receive a small percentage of the meat.  My dad also maintained a large walk-in freezer, at the meat packing plant downtown, where we kept all of our meat products.  As you might guess, we bought very little beef, and pretty much lived on venison during my growing up years at home.

Photo Credit: https://www.masterfile.com/vintage+butcher/

My mom was an excellent cook, and could prepare the most delicious venison steaks, roast, meatloaf, chili, stew, and hamburgers.  I don’t know about the rest of the family, but I never got tired of venison in any form.  Growing up in the Southwest, deer, elk, antelope, and bear meat were pretty much the common item seen on the dining table for hunting families.  Nowadays, the only “wild” meat available in stores (at least in the south) is the occasional listing for Buffalo Burgers or Alligator Tail.

Photo Credit: http://clipart-library.com/mom-cooking-cliparts.html/

I never got the chance to go Antelope, Elk, or Wild Turkey hunting with my dad, but he went every chance he got.  I remember how pleased he was the year he went Elk hunting (I’m not sure where he went for that hunt). We were all happy for him, when he brought home that large 10-point Bull Elk for us to process.  

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

The thing was huge.  Along with a 10-point white-tail deer head, that elk head was one of only two trophy heads my dad ever had mounted.  The whole family took turns having our picture taken with that massive elk head in our back yard.  

Photo Credit: Judy Lites

All the guys I hung out with at the time came over to take a look at the elk and get their picture taken with that massive elk head.  And, my younger sister, Judy, not wanting to get left out, even got in on that photo shoot.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

As I Look back on those days now; what great memories.  I must admit that those were some of the best days of my teenage years.  Because of his traveling, I didn’t get to spend much time with my dad during those years, but the few experiences I had, fishing and hunting with him were great.  As I remember, it was a good thing that the hunting seasons were in the colder months of the year, since those hunting procedures took some time to complete, and the low temperatures preserved the deer, antelope, or elk until we could get them home, hung-up, skinned, processed, and over to the butcher.  And of course, I didn’t mind getting out of school for a week!

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Did you happen to notice my 1955 Harley Davidson Sportster in the background in the picture above?  No, we didn’t take my motorcycle on hunting trips (TOO COLD!) and there was no place to carry the deer.  I just stored it, out of the weather, in our garage, which as you can see was used for other things as well.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

My Dad Loved To Hunt

—–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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Letters from Mother Part 16

13 Sep

My Take

DiVoran Lites

September 21, 1983

Last week we went to Dave’s on Wednesday to get the boat and motor on its way home. Lowell and Helen came here on Saturday and spent the weekend with us. She is a nice lady, and we enjoyed her. I was kind of tired, though. It seems like we had been with folks and doing things for a long time.

Ivan and Lowell, Brothers as young men 

Helen has been a widow for twenty-two years, making her living and socializing with other businesswomen. She says this is a whole new life for her. She’s trying hard to please Lowell, waits on him, worries about him, and even hopes to make him look better with a diet. She would marry him in a minute, I think, but he’s running scared and peeks out like a little rabbit, as Dad says. My neighbor, Ruth, said they should live together for a year because people change after six months of living together. Ruth is divorced, while Lowell lost his wife to cancer. 

I hope he goes slow. They both have a lot of adjusting to do. 

Baking a Cake-Photo credit Pixabay

                                                                                            

I’ve gotten myself in trouble a couple of times lately. Ruth brought me a gift-it was a chain cake-I think that’s what it is called. You take some sourdough or raised dough starter, something like that, in a bowl and the recipe and give it to a friend. It rises for seven days, during which time you add sugar and stuff. On the last day, you bake it for forty-five minutes in a Bundt pan, and it’s like a fruit cake. I told her I didn’t want it because I couldn’t remember to do all that stuff for seven days. (Besides, what if I got a cake from everyone? Ha! Ha!). She was surprised at my refusal, but we’re still friends.

Photo credit Pixabay

                                                                    

Then yesterday, I helped with the opportunity table at the Church Woman’s Association luncheon, and when I saw two idols on the table, bells went off in my head; I got goosebumps and went to the leader I was working with. I said, “Those idols have got to go; we can’t have them for sale at a church bazaar. Who do you suppose brought them in?”

 Well, she whisked them into a shoebox and placed it face down on a bench. It seems her husband had brought them to her from Korea years ago, and she had wanted to get rid of them ever since. That’s the way it is with Christians because our guide, the Bible, says not to worship idols, and we take that to mean not to have them around.  The devil loves them. We don’t.  

Last week, when we went to David’s to get the boat and trailer, it had fallen, and it took the men twenty-two hours of labor and one hundred dollars worth of parts to get the boat and motor on its way home. 


That’s all for now, folks.

Love,

Mom

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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Letters from Mother 14

30 Aug

My Take

DiVoran Lites

September 12, 1983

Dear ones,

We’re sitting in the master bedroom where the air conditioner is. I’ve been paying bills, and that once lovely balance is beginning to look like a grain silo with a slow leak. We have our tax estimates to pay and car insurance. No problem, it’s done. Just that we did well by renting out the house while we traveled, now it’s time to catch up.

 I’m including a photo of the four pictures that I painted up in Washington State. The two on the right were from Elsie Delp, the teacher in Hadlock. The two on the left came from Liz Duval’s workshops. She has taught for 25 years. (Pictures lost.)

  Before we got back to Los Angeles, we had a hard time keeping the truck running as we drove up over the high range of mountains.  Your Dad thought it might be the high altitude affecting the carburetor. Then it was an hour and a half of bumper-to-bumper driving getting through L.A. Dad got tired, and so did I. and Susan came to the house Saturday, and Dave and Dad took the carburetor off and cleaned it, then the truck ran fine. 

Dad’s not sure it’s o. k. but he wants to go to Salton Sea to get the boat. The trailer is broken down, and Dave was to weld it. But your Dad was worried about how the truck would pull the boat over the Sierras to Salton Sea.  I think I would prefer to stay home. If it’s between 90 and 100 degrees here, it’s bound to be sweltering in the desert. 

Photo Credit Pixabay

Dave sold his dune buggy and got a 13 ft boat with a 15 H.P. motor for duck hunting in Mexico. 

Christ and Jen have an assortment of plastic, heeled shoes in various colors for school. Have you seen that kind of shoe in Florida? They look like they will wear a long time if they don’t get scratched. 

Thanks for having letters here when we got home. It sounds like you are encouraged with your writing. I pray you will have great pleasure with it and some income too. My prayer is not limited. I only ask that you might publish something like Gone with the Wind.

I saw the movie “Tammy Tell Me True”  T. V. I guess I like it as well as you like, “The Wizard of Oz.” It reminded me of a night when grandson Dab was just a little shaver, and I took him to a drive-in movie. He discovered the full moon that night. I shed a few tears, remembering.

Well, I have a chicken in the refrigerator, and someone has to cook it. Guess who? 

Love you Lots

Mother and Dad

Dave and Susan each made the same remark about my paintings. They individually said, “I’m impressed.”  

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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Letters from Mother 9

26 Jul

My Take

DiVoran Lites

August 1, 1983

Dear Ones,

Well now, I don’t know when I wrote to you last. It’s a cloudy day here after a weekend of hot sunny days. Waunita and I wear short pants and sleeveless shirts to try and stay cool. Description: Hiking, People, Sea, Relaxation, Women, Holiday, Walk

Photo credit Pixabay

We went to the beach on Saturday and Sunday. Sister Judy is here with us now. It has been a long time since she has seen our brother Smithy. He was almost grown-up when she was born. I prayed for a baby sister, and the Lord answered my prayer, but Smithy being a young man, didn’t seem to take much interest in her.

Photo credit Pixabay

The first day, we went down the trail through the trees and the ferns. The bank at the water’s edge had worn away some. As we came out to the water, we had to hold onto the smaller trees while we carefully made our way down what was left of the bank. 

Photo credit Pixabay

 We stopped at my rock, the black one about the size of a Volkswagen flattened out. It was looking smooth, warm, and clean, showing a purple-black color. We sat on it for a while. I caressed its smooth warmth.  We walked in the wet but more solid sand up to the battery at the park coming out just north of the pier. Along the way, we looked up from gathering white stones just in time to see an eagle glide by. He had a white head and tail. Shortly after that, we saw two blue herons flying over the water together. It reminded me of seeing them on the river at Mendocino.

Photo credit Pixabay
Photo credit Pixabay

The second day at the beach, we went down the same way and turned south toward East Beach. After a leisurely fifteen-minute walk, we came to a humungous old tree trunk with its roots lying on the sand. It was at least four feet around, and if you included the tree itself and the root system, you could see that it might fill a 10-foot square room. We wondered if it would be there for a while or if the tides would take it away.

Photo credit Pixabay

LDescription: Beach, Ocean, Driftwood, Sand, Nature, Paradise

As we turned back to the opening, we saw a young doe who had come out on the same trail. She froze into the background and stayed a long time as we continued to walk toward her. Then our dog Misty saw her, and she saw Misty about the same time, so she ran. I was puzzled about why she weaved so when running until I realized that she was up near the driftwood running on the soft, damp sand. Her tracks were quite deep. I hope she found her way back to the opening by supper time. The deer swim from one island to the next in search of food. The lettuce green seaweed is good for deer to snack on, but she would eventually need something other than the salty water of the straights to drink.

The park was almost full for the sunny weekend, and we enjoyed seeing children running around. They never seemed to walk. We watched an Asian group. They had a momma and poppa tent and a tent for 5 or 10 boys about nine years old. (It just looked like ten boys the way they ran around in circles.)

I went to church again yesterday. That young pastor is so happy he makes everyone else feel happy. 

I’m at Fort Flagler washing clothes. We had to shut the door to the laundromat. Even with my yellow sweater on, It’s cold. As we look out the big window, we can see that the water looks as gray as the sky moving softly. There are no ships or boats this morning. 

Photo credit Pixabay

Dad’s hand healed up fine. He’s getting ready to pull his crab traps.

Love,

Mother and Dad 

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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Our Trip to St. Kitts Part 2

21 Jul

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

On the next day of our trip to St. Kitts we took a long stroll along the beach, picked up a few shells, and did some exploring of some of the old ruins not too far from the hotel.  We learned that St. Kitts has the oldest written history of any island in the Caribbean, and that Sir Christopher Columbus was the first European to see the islands and the Island Caribs (natives) during his second voyage (1493) to this area.  He named St. Kitts San Jorge (Saint George) and Nevis San Martin (St. Martin) and claimed the islands for Spain (see Wikipedia for island name changes).  We stopped to take a picture beside a small submersible of some kind that was just sitting there on the beach.  There was no one around, to ask what it was used for and why it was just sitting there.  Later that day we visited the hotel’s garden area and ran into some of the other folks from our group and went to dinner with them.

Photo by DiVoran Lites

The next day we rented a car and took a drive around the island.  It only took us about two hours to do the whole island, and we were amazed at the difference between the resort area where we were staying, and the way the island people lived.  At the time, the majority of the island was devoted to the raising and processing of sugar cane.  There were cane fields everywhere we looked, and the method for harvesting all that sugar cane seemed very primitive.  

Photo by Bill Lites

The road was very narrow and cluttered with all manner of animals, children, and trash.  We saw open communal toilets alongside the road, and people carrying water jugs to collect (what we assumed was) drinking water running from a pipe that came out of the side of the hill, right there on the side of the road.

Photo by Bill Lites

Once we left town, we were not sure we had made the right choice to drive around the island by ourselves.  We didn’t have a map and were concerned about what we might run into if we got off the main road.  However, all the locals we encountered during our little trip were friendly and willing to help us whenever we took a wrong turn.  

Photo by DiVoran Lites

Back at the hotel we had a nap and then walked the hotel property, collecting a few more souvenirs, before heading back to the hotel for dinner.  I’m sure we did more relaxing and pleasurable things on that trip, but the details escape me now.  Overall, we enjoyed the restful atmosphere, and it was a memorable trip.  The flight back to Orlando was uneventful and after we got home and unpacking we were ready to head back to work on Monday. That trip to St. Kitts was one of the most enjoyable adventures we had experienced in some time, and it left us with some wonderful lifelong memories. 

Photo by DiVoran Lites

Epilog:  My creative artist wife, DiVoran, took many of the souvenirs we collected, during our trip to St. Kitts, and arranged them in a beautiful collage that hangs in our studio to continually remind us of our one and only ‘Caribbean Island Adventure’ all those many years ago.

Collage & paintings by DiVoran Lites

—–The End—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 63 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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Letter from Mother-7

12 Jul

My Take

DiVoran Lites

July 20, 1983

Dear DiVoran, Bill, Renie, and Billy:

Thank you, thank you, for the nice long letter. Don’t expect me to answer it all today. It is enough that I take my pen in hand. I’m having a very lazy day. The sun is out now, and I am at loose ends. It would be a good time to go down to the beach and sit on my rock. I wonder if the tide is right.

Photo credit Pixabay

Well, we had a nice weekend trip to Concord. We left at 6:30, caught the 8:30 ferry, and got to Sea-Tac a couple of hours before departure. They wouldn’t take money for tickets at the gate because a United Flight had canceled, and they were putting that planeload on our flight. Dad had to walk back to the ticket counter at the last minute and pay due to a mix-up. Anyway, we were the last two to board.

Photo credit Pixabay Description: The Golden Gate Bridge

Susan and John met us in San Francisco. They had gone to Tracy on Friday. Then we drove the rented car and picked up Dave at the Oakland airport. We all got to the party at three. It started at two, and there were 18 of Ray’s closest friends there. He had a remarkable day of wit and charm and enjoyed the whole thing. They served a buffet lunch to all. The guests were there from 2 to 9. Some left about seven or so. I moved about from table to table and visited with all their friends. Kay and I talked about her being fourth-generation San Francisco and about how ladies used to wear hats and gloves all the time, and about our first jobs. Ann brought a lovely box of cookies that she specialized in making. Susan brought marble-sized, liqueur-filled chocolates. Now that would be the way to become a liqueur chocoholic.

We got up early on Monday. Helen took us to Walnut Creek, where we met Alice, who took us to the San Francisco airport. A half-hour delay for fog, and we were on our way. Saw the mountains-just the tops-on the way home and got home about three.

Helen and Ray put their Concord house up for sale and sold it for $59,000 in 21 days, so they are looking, with the help of Alice, for a place in Walnut Creek and will have until August 27 to move. We plan to help them put up shelves and pictures, etc., after their move in September. 

Alice, Susan’s mother, is going on a 31-day trip to Europe, England, Wales, Scotland, and maybe Holland. She’ll travel with Linda’s first mother-in-law. Grandmother of her children. They will visit that grandmother’s relatives. 

Photo credit Pixabay

Chris and Jen will be coming home, probably tomorrow. Susan went to get them Wednesday the 20th or Thursday the 21st. Last I heard, Jen was having a ball, and Chis wanted to come home. She had hurt her derriere on a water slide.

Tomorrow is painting. I haven’t painted this week, but I have read some in my books about how to.  No inspiration today-hope to be talented tomorrow because we are to paint a mass of big buildings tomorrow. I particularly noticed the skyscrapers in Seattle, and they are so massive and strangely different from each other. We took the route through town up that steepest hill to Highway 5 and had to stop at each cross street. That frightens me a little, afraid of rolling back. Saw a strange young man, head down, walking ten steps forward and ten steps back at the alleyway. I think he was on drugs. The newspapers were blowing all over the street. I guess some of the derelicts failed to make their beds. 

We picked a box of beautiful apricots from our trees today, the largest I have seen. We put them in the box with the remainder of 20-pound bags of Bing cherries. At 39 cents a pound for cherries at the store, wouldn’t you like to get into our box?

Loved your long letter and will try to answer sometime soon. As for now, if you’re to get this hot off the press, I’d better make tracks to the mailbox; it’s time for the mailman.

Dad says my salutation is too long. He suggested Dear People.

Love to everybody.

Mother and Dad

Dad absorbed every bit of your letter. I’ve read it twice so far, no rejection from us.

I heard a song on the Christian station. It had words in it like; “I will surrender,” “need you,” “Lord above,’ it had the same music as “Now is the Hour.” That one came out around WWII. 

Photo credit Pixabay

I forgot to comment on your hair being in a bun. Be careful that it doesn’t make you feel old. I remember you as a carrot top when we went to Westcliffe. I’ve seen the bun style some since you mentioned it.

Please forgive my small writing on the other page. I thought it would take care of all I had to say, but it didn’t.

Love, Mother

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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The Engine Overhaul Part 2

7 Jul

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

The Engine Overhaul Part 2

By Bill Lites

Note: 

 At this point I need to remind you that this story takes place around 1972, and I was working on an original 1960 Chevy 6-cylinder 235 CID engine.  With my memory what it is today, I may stray with some of the exact details from time to time, so please bear with me. 

Photo: http://topclassiccarsforsale.com/chevrolet/171302-beautiful-1960-chevy-bel-air-4dr-two-tone-biscayne-impala.html

That said, and with my car in my garage, I researched my handy Chilton’s Auto Repair Manual, and discovered that this engine had a ‘timing gear’ instead of a ‘timing chain’.  So, when I removed the timing gear cover, I saw that some of the teeth on the phenolic timing gear had sheared off (why would anyone design a phenolic gear to mesh with a metal gear?)  The timing gear was pressed onto the end of the cam shaft, and the only way to remove the cam shaft was to remove the engine; or to disassemble the grill and remove the radiator to provide straight-on access to the cam shaft.  I had no provisions in my garage for removing the engine, so the latter option was really the only way I could go. 

Photo: https://www.amazon.com/Chiltons-Auto-Repair-Manual-1968/dp/B000JZUKFG

However, in order to remove the cam shaft, I would also need to disassemble the top-end of the engine for access to the pushrods and hydraulic lifters. Then there was always the possibility that when the timing gear teeth sheared, with the engine running at high RPM (the loud clattering noise I heard) for the instant before I could get my foot on the clutch, there might have been some damage to internal parts of the engine.  If so, I would need to remove the oil pan to check for metal particles.  That normally simple task, on this car, required raising the front of the engine enough for the oil pan to clear the cross member under the front of the pan.  Are you beginning to get an idea of where this story is headed?  It seems that most of my simple ‘Do It Yourself’ (DIY) projects turn out to be major undertakings before they are over. 

Photo: http://victorylibrary.com/235BK.htm

So, I bit the bullet, and waded into the project with both hands.  It took time but I finally got everything disassembled without too much trouble.  Then I removed the camshaft, with the help of my wife, DiVoran, (that extra pair of hands).  I had to take the cam shaft to a friend who had a press to remove the damaged timing gear and install a new one for me.  When I got the oil pan off and checked, there were no signs of damaged engine parts in the bottom of the pan.  That was a big relief!  I have always found that it is a lot easier to disassemble something, than it is to reassemble that same something.  This timing gear replacement project was no different.

Image: https://www.facebook.com/ShadeTreeMobileMechanic/

After cleaning and inspecting all the removed parts, I reassembled the engine, again, with a lot of help from Mr. Chilton’s wonderful book and from DiVoran, who didn’t like handling car parts, especially when leaning over the fender of the car.  Then I reinstalled the radiator and reassembled the grill, and topped off the water and oil.  I held my breath as I turned the engine over for the first time, but there was no hesitation.  The engine fired right up and settled into a quiet purr.  The car was ready for the road again.  As amazing as it might sound, that 1960 Chevy served us and others for many years after that incident.

I’m sorry to have to say, they don’t build cars like that anymore.

Photo by Bill Lites

—–The End—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 63 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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Letters from Mother 5

28 Jun

My Take

DiVoran Lites

May 20, 1983

 Dear Ones:

Just a quicky, Dad’s home from fishing. I’ve put things away. His young friends wanted to work. He always fixes their bicycles when they break down. 

Photo credit Pixabay

 Dad had about four big buckets of carrots and lots of red, yellow, and white onions that we gleaned along the highway where the vegetable trucks go. They fall off the big trucks when they go around corners and people are allowed to pick them up and take them home. We distributed them among the neighbors.

Photo credit Pixabay

Your Bill called yesterday, and we had a good visit. He felt that he should stay close to his job at Edward’s Air Force Base for the weekend. He’s there to help prepare the Space-Shuttle for return to Florida.  It was nice talking to him.

I finally mailed the package. You should receive it by UPS, and I do hope everything will be in good shape. The longer I waited to mail it, the less excited I was about it. I hope you will enjoy it anyway. Please don’t feel obligated to keep any of the things for a lifetime. I have given them to you, and they are yours for as long or as little a time as you wish to keep them. 

Grandmother has been feeling poorly. She didn’t want us to know and didn’t want to go to the Dr. If you have a little time, send her a letter or card, please.

 I love your long letters these days. I’ll answer the latest one more carefully next week. As for now, I’ve been cleaning out drawers and getting stuff ready for the trip to my brother’s campground on Marrowstone Island. The fishing is good there, and the weather is cool. It’s good to spend some time with Smithy and Waunita.  

This is all for now. Maybe I’ll write more in the morning. Let me know what condition things were in when the package arrived. The throw I mention isn’t there because Mrs. Stiffel’s daughter wanted it and got it just before I offered to buy it from the lady of the quilts at the Salton Sea. Dad’s doing the extra watering, and I’m doing up a load of laundry; I must get some breakfast food and milk soon.

Got this new pen in the mail. We entered a sweepstake with a chance at $50,000, but the pen was all we won.

It’s fascinating that you got to see guns being made in Williamsburg. Dad dabbled in that in Westcliffe. He never formed the barrel, but he worked the stock. (Do you remember seeing him do that?)   

Photo credit Pixabayc

Bet you loved the bookmaking at Williamsburg. Your description is interesting about the leather and all. We have an old book with a torn page that was repaired with needle and thread. 

Can you get a book like those made in Williamsburg? Bill said they would only make 10,000 at a time. How much do you think one might be if you were a collector?

Dave and Susan also enjoyed your journal. Touring with Bill must be great since he takes time to enjoy. We fly by places at the speed of a roller coaster.

Photo credit Pixabay

It sounds as if Bill’s sister Judy is a well-trained teacher of aerobic dancing. I’m glad they suggested an alternative place. (Slimnastics?) The big church out here got into tax trouble when they built a nativity scene. That’s Robert Schuler’s church in Glendale, the Glass Cathedral. 

Your Cutlass Oldsmobile sounds neat, and Bill seemed proud to have you driving it. When he asked if he could marry you, we gave him one condition he must always see that you had a car to drive.   

Grandmother Marie is hopeful of getting a new picture of each great-grandchild. 

Love, Mother, and Dad

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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Camping Can Be Fun Part 1

9 Jun

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

My wife, DiVoran, and I were born and raised in the desert southwest and were used to clear and dry type weather.  When we first moved to Florida in 1965 for me to work on America’s Manned Lunar Landing Mission, we would never have imagined ever going camping anywhere in the jungle that surrounded us.  It was hot and humid all the time and we were inundated with frogs, lizards, spiders and mosquitos day and night.  It was all I could manage was to go from my air-conditioned house to my air-conditioned car and drive to my air-conditioned office.  Did I mention that my air-conditioned office in the Vertical Assembly Building (VAB) was located in the middle of a National Wildlife Refuge, which was full of all manner of slithering things, such as alligators and snakes?  

Photo credit https://fas.org/irp/imint/10061385.htm

I had camped with my family as a teenager in New Mexico on deer hunting trips, and DiVoran had camped with her dad on fishing trips in Colorado when she was younger.  But the climate and weather experiences of those camping trips, during our youths, were so much different.  When some friends from church and work suggested a weekend family camping trip to one of the Central Florida freshwater springs, we were skeptical, but our friends assured us that it would be a lot of fun.  They painted a ‘Florida Paradise’ picture for us.  

Photo: https://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/things-to-do/arts-history/native-american-heritage-alexander-springs.html

Our friends furnished the small two-man pup-tents (open on the bottom and no way to secure the front opening) and mosquito netting that we thought would protect us from the insects.  Well, as it turned out, the blankets we were sleeping on (no air mattresses) did not keep us from being poked by rocks and sticks.  But worst of all, we had no way to support the mosquito netting above us, so as it lay on top of us the  mosquitos jabbed us right thru the mesh.  The fact that this trip was happening in the middle of the summer was aggravated by the Florida heat and humidity.  All in all, it was a couple of miserable nights.

Photo: https://www.pinterest.de/pin/97249673187141267/

I must admit the swimming and tubing was great.  The water was clear and cool, and in spite of the problems, we were hooked on spending time at the Florida freshwater springs.  We discovered that there were other freshwater springs down the middle of the state, and we set our sights on visiting as many of them as we could.  But the first thing we needed to do was get some decent camping equipment.  I called my mother, at home, in Albuquerque, NM and asked her if she still had the family camping equipment.  She said she did, and she was not using any of it.  She packed up the four-man tent, army cots, propane stove and lantern and shipped them by Greyhound bus to us.  I was amazed that everything was in perfect condition after all those years in that dry desert climate.

Photo: https://wildernesstoday.com/best-family-tent/

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 63 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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