Tag Archives: Friends

Escape from the Mice.

13 Jun

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I mentioned last week that we were blessed with an unexpected beach vacation opportunity.

This came about while we were in the midst of the mice debacle. I was determined that the pesky mice would not deter us from the beach. Besides that we were experiencing mice fatigue.

How the vacation came about.

At the end of April, a friend texted and asked if we would like to join them for a week at a condo in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Ironically, I had just been looking at the calendar and was pleased to see that we had an entire month with no doctor appointments. (If you are old, you know)

I told here we were available and she gave me the details.

Her friend had booked the condo but decided after the cancellation date to not use it. She offered the unit to my friend and since it had two bedrooms she invited us to spend the week with them.

We were still dealing with the mice invasion, our closets were emptied and the contents scattered. I debated for about 5 seconds whether we should go or stay and root out the vermin. We set out traps, packed our suitcase and left.

The condo was on the beach and we had a lovely beach view by day, and the lights at the pool area were beautiful and soothing in the evening;

Morning coffee on the balcony was a perfect start to the day. We spent time in the evenings chatting on the balcony while the men were glued to their devices.

One day we ventured out to find a seafood restaurant a friend had suggested in Murrell’s Inlet south of Myrtle Beach. I had looked them up online and their menu was enticing and the prices weren’t awful. Trusting the GPS we drove south. We weren’t sure what the restaurant looked like and we almost passed it by.

The food was delicious, each of us chose something different. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and ordered shrimp quesadillas. I was not disappointed. It was delicious!

Another day we visited a shopping and amusement area, Broadway at the Beach. It is laid out around a body of water and to walk around it is two miles. Fortunately motor scooter rentals were available and each of the men rented one. We women walked with a few rest stops. I was proud of us.

My husband loves hats and he enjoyed browsing but he didn’t buy anything. My friend adores purple and there was a purple shop. It was fun to see the variety, everything purple. Of course I had to browse the candy store.

There were a lot of shops to browse and Interesting restaurants. I wanted to have lunch at the Grumpy Monk, but the others weren’t enthusiastic about it.

On check out morning, we weren’t able to score a luggage cart. But the resort had very sturdy shopping carts and my husband grabbed one. It worked really well. Steered better than a luggage cart too.

It was a laid back beach week and exactly what we needed.

We had made plans to go from Myrtle Beach to visit with family in North Carolina.

But plans can change in a moment. A phone call from our daughter in Florida sent us driving south rather than north. More on that next time.

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’m a general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  

My 2025 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.

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’m a general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  

My 2025 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.

A Fun Day and a Scary Day

16 May

On the Porch

Onisha Eiils

Last Friday was a fun day and a scary day.

We have precious friends from way back in time who live in a different city. Since we live in a small rural area, we have to drive to find good healthcare. Meeting up with friends on doctor visit days would inject some fun into the chore, So, we chose doctors in their city.

Recently we got the wild idea to get together without seeing a doctor. We met at their home, enjoyed a leisurely coffee with a pre-lunch treat of decadent cupcakes from Publix grocery, then went out to lunch.

After lunch we went plant shopping at what I call the “flower man”. It isn’t a nursery exactly. It is in the backyard of a man’s home. It’s a big yard and he has several greenhouses. The plants I buy from him seem to survive and thrive better than the commercial ones. Plus, I simply enjoy walking around with a friend and enjoying all of the color. (i’m big into geraniums and coleus this year.)

Photo Credit:Soileau Greenhouse Anderson, SC

When we went out to lunch we drove one car. We both needed to go to Sam’s Club Warehouse after lunch but would drive our own cars because we had a cooler for the cold items.

My husband had been quiet after lunch but he tires easily so I put it down to an energy slump. But on the drive to Sam’s he began experiencing shortness of breath and complained of pain in his lung area. Our fun day became a scary day.

He used his inhaler while I was suggesting we detour to the emergency room. We were both concerned about a pneumothorax. My husband has a strong dislike of emergency rooms and when he didn’t rule out a visit I began mentally planning the fastest route to the hospital.

I think his distaste of an ER visit must have opened up his lungs. The pain subsided and he wanted to continue with our plans. I suggested that he wait for me in the snack cafe while I shopped but he wanted to walk with me. He did ok but looked tired so I suggested we go to the cafe and get a drink and some ice cream before driving home. I texted our friends who were checking out and they joined us. And surprise, surprise, his very berry ice cream sundae settled his breathing!

Photo Credit: Sams Club

Saturday he was a little slow moving. I kept busy around the house while he did his morning breathing treatment. The chilly morning warmed nicely with a gentle cool breeze. I suggested coffee on the porch. We sat sipping our coffee, talking and observing the birds coming to the feeders. When I finished my coffee I began to think of the house chores I needed to complete. I looked over at my husband and decided “forget the chores, savor the time.”

The afternoon slipped sweetly away. Last Saturday was a very good day.

This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice an be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

I asked A.I. to create a picture of Jesus walking next to water holding a child’s hand. I had no idea it would do such an amazing job.

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’m a general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  

My 2023 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.

The Last Prayer

24 Apr

My Take

DiVoran Lites


My prayer was on the last page of one of my journals from 2005

Lord, I realize the people I most admire have flaws. Only You are wonderful through and through, with no ugly edges. People, even at their best, cannot meet our deepest needs; they sometimes misunderstand, disappoint, expect too much, or can’t be available when I need them. 

This makes me glad to have You as my best friend, Lord, my Wonderful Counselor,  my Ever-present Help in trouble, immediately available around the clock, seven days a week. How wonderful that I belong to you, the, unpolluted Source from which all downstream flow. When I stop to listen to you, my life is restored. 

So I delight in people here on earth, but first and last, I come to You, the only perfect Person, the only ideal Person, the only One whose love is flawless, the only one who is worthy of my highest praise. Oh God, who is like you? There is none to compare with You! 

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.”

Reach Out

3 Nov

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

 

author of Window Wonders

 

 

Lord, thank you for friends.
They warm our heart and lift our spirit every day
Our thoughts are lifted to you, Lord
You are The Truth, The Light, The Way

 

The joy of creating, of touching another soul.
That is the reward of reaching out.
Lord, in You we are all made whole.

 

Knowing God has a plan for our life
is important, don’t you see-
Faith in God’s plan allows us to trust
that the events in our life are meant to be.

 

The joy of creativity,
of touching another’s soul
That is the reward of “reaching out”
The reward will make you whole.

 

You Can Be Alone- Without Feeling Lonely

7 Apr

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

 

 

People need people-
It’s embedded in our soul.
But to be contented when by yourself
Is a God-given role.

 

” My peace I give to you”,
proclaims the Lord of Glory”.
Christ is our sufficiency.
It’s an oft-repeated story.

 

Christ advises, “To have friends,
show yourself friendly.”
Who can resist a smile?
And look at the person straight in the eye.
It will be worth your while.

 

 

Thanks Giving

26 Nov

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I'm a winner

I would like to wish all of our readers a blessed Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter and joy.

In Janet’s blog this week she included a recipe for Thanks Giving. A few weeks ago, DiVoran created a photo that she titled, A Fresh Journal Page. I joined them together. I plan to  incorporate this recipe into my life this holiday season. Will you join me?

A Thanks Giving Recipe

Every day I am thankful for my friends and fellow bloggers on Old Things Are New!

Love you!

Old Things R New  Family

The Book Barn of Beulah Colorado

12 Aug

Sometimes a letter or email turns into a great blog. Today’s post is one of those.-Onisha

 

Loved this letter from my friend, Patricia Franklin, who lives in Colorado. I thought you’d like it too, so we got permission to share. It’s a book lover’s joy-DiVoran
Hi DiVoran,
Just had to tell you about our  Sunday afternoon drive today.  We drove up to the little  mountain town of Beulah in the foothills of the Wet Mountains. It has one main street that is about two blocks long with a coffee shop and a general store. We went into the general store and went to the lower level which is a little antique store. We wandered beulah General Storethrough there looking at all the things I remember as a child, and also hoping to find a couple of items to replace some that we broke, but still were using up until that time. Ha!  Not finding anything, we had a nice conversation with the owner.
We were also looking for an old book for a friend of ours.  She did not have it, but told us to go to the Book Barn, which was just this side of the Coffee Shop. She said “People leave their used books there and the proceeds go to the school… hard backs 50 cents and paperbacks are 25 cents. You just put the money in the knothole.”  I was intrigued by that comment and we drove on up the street to the Coffee Shop .
There were a couple old gents sitting out front of the Coffee Shop.  We stopped and asked them where the Book Barn was.  One of them said, “It is right behind you.”  I looked at a little old shed behind me by the side of the road and said “Is that it?”  He said, “That’s it.”  … and something to the effect of “You might not both fit in there at the same time.”  We backed our car up and parked right beside the colorful little shed that had the door wide open.  We both got out of the car and walked into the 6′ x 8′ shed. No one was in attendance. All sides were lined with bookshelves to the ceiling, which were filled with books of all kinds… not in any particular order, with boxes of books on the floor.  Being the book lover that I am, we both looked through the books, having  to squeeze past each other in the aisle.  We did not find the book we were looking for.  I saw some great books, but I have so many right now, that I did not get any, although I wanted to just to put the money in the old knothole by the side of the door.  I immediately thought of you and said to myself “DiVoran would love this little Book Barn.”  So I had to tell you about it as soon as I got home.
Need to get dinner on!
   Love, P
The book they were looking for was Colorado Wildflowers, Volumn 2, The Mountain flowers by Guennel. It is on the Internet, but it’s beyond the price the friend can pay. If you have a copy you don’t want or need let us know and we’ll see that they get it.
DiVoran