Velta's Blog

Pausing to reflect a moment ...

veltag@comporium.net (Velta Morris) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:43:48 GMT

Hi Everyone,

Before I get back on track and continue our travels in Lancaster, Pennsylvania - like I promised, and sharing more of our ongoing celebration of our 50^th wedding anniversary, I want to pause for just a minute to reflect on God’s faithfulness. I don't do that often enough. But in recent days I've been challenged personally to rely more on God's grace and power in my life and to reflect on what is important and what is rubbish. Facing uncertain medical issues has a way of doing that, doesn't it?

As many of you know, I often post to my Facebook page the daily words of wisdom from Max Lucado. Today, his quote really reminded me of a truth I needed to let sink in again … and again. Just in case you could use an infusion of this truth as you hurry and scurry about, or as you struggle with uncertainties of one kind or another, I am posting his comments for you to ponder. He has a way of honing in on the truths of God’s Word, and often, just when I need them the most.

May you be blessed and encouraged by them, too. By the way, his daily posts can be found at: http://www.maxlucado.com/articles/category/daily_text/

He’s Faithful by Max Lucado

If we are not faithful, God will still be faithful, because he cannot be false to himself. 2 Timothy 2:13”

"We don’t get it!

Because God’s blessings are dispensed according to the riches of his grace, not according to the depth of our faith.

Why’s that important to know? So you won’t get cynical. Look around you. Aren’t there more mouths than bread? More wounds than physicians? More who need the truth than those who tell it?

So what do we do? Throw up our hands and walk away? Tell the world we can’t help them? No, we don’t give up!

We look up. We trust. We believe.

Christ has proven worthy. He never fails!

That’s what makes God—God. "

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

veltag@comporium.net (Velta Morris) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:51:08 GMT

I'm back! Happy New Year's Eve Everyone,

After being away from my blog for several weeks, I am up and running!

Hope each of you had a terrific Christmas and that your 2012 will be smack
full of love, joy, peace and good health!

We had a very wonderful Christmas. Eating, visiting, eating, opening
presents, eating, hugging, eating, regretting that we ate too much, eating
again. you get my drift? I'm thinking I will take up my same resolution
from last year because I really neglected it in 2011 and I'm sure it is just
waiting for me to give it a second chance! How about the rest of you?
Let me know what worked/'works for you and maybe I will cut and paste it
into my new year's resolutions column! Deal?

I'm trying out some new features on my blog and will get into some serious
blogging in the days to come. Thanks for your interest and encouragement!
I appreciate all the love and prayers on my behalf.

Love you all.

Velta

50TH ANNIVERSARY TRIP - DAY 6 - JUNE 17 - the real day!

veltag@comporium.net (Velta Morris) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 03:27:44 GMT

Good morning, everyone.

Many of you have asked: “When are you going to start blogging again?” So, I hope I can finally say, “Now!” Thank you for your interest and concern for me while I’ve been away from my home base for quite some time. I will save the details of my time away for later blogging, perhaps, but the short reason is that I’ve been away much of the past few months due to the illness and death of my sister, Beatrice Gray Miller, who lived in East Texas.

When I last blogged I was just getting off to a good start on detailing our wonderful 50^th anniversary trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, so that’s where I will pick up today. (There will more to come when I tell you about the fantastic week with the entire family in the mountains of Franklin, North Carolina, a gift from our sons and their families.)

June 17^th finally arrived! It is finally the actual date of our wedding when we tied the knot back in 1961 in Longview, Texas. It is hard to believe that 50 wonderful years have passed, but I suppose the calendar doesn’t tell falsehoods. Nor do the age spots and wrinkles here and there I will admit, though: celebrating 50 years causes one to ask certain psychological questions. I’m supposed to feel old, right? Golden is old, right? Longevity from this point on? Really realizing the real meaning of ‘happily ever after’? Waking up, cooking breakfast, Facebooking, texting! Life hasn’t changed overnight just because I’ve been married 50 years! I’m not feeling older! Earlier that morning a dear friend from home called to see if I wanted to go to an estate sale in her neighborhood. Sure hated to miss that, for sure, but the distance from PA to SC was a little too difficult to master. Now, we got all that old stuff settled, I think I agree with whoever said: Old is in the eyes of the beholder.

This special day brought more exploring of the lovely area of Lancaster, PA. We never ceased to be amazed at the lovely farms of the Amish folks. Well-tended, lush, and not a blade of grass anywhere. Precious children, dressed as their parents were in modest, very basic garments, were all playing and having fun in the well-manicured yards.

We found a Walmart (never far from one!) and selected a matted frame for our photo/puzzle/collage we had worked the night before and hung it right away in our camper! We then enjoyed a light lunch at Arby’s. Max and Sara called us and wished us a happy anniversary! That was special to hear from them.

All day we kept recounting our blessings, marveling at the number of years God has given us together. 50 years sounds like such a long time, but it’s only five 10s or ten 5s. Doesn’t sound so long that way, does it? We wondered aloud: how many more will we have together? So many couples only dream of this milestone. Why are we so blessed?

Completing our day of celebration was a candlelight dinner in a quaint, historic restaurant, “Revere Tavern”. Dating back to 1740, it was one of the better inns along 62 miles stretching from Philadelphia to Lancaster, PA. It had been recommended by several of the locals and we were not disappointed. http://www.reveretavern.com/ While there we did commit a grave transgression! (See photo below) Maybe the calories won’t be in effect when I next visit my sweet doctor, I remember thinking. Somehow I just felt certain that calories did not compute when ingested on one’s 50^th wedding anniversary. Agree?

Adding to the day’s wonder was reading the myriad of sweet wishes and congratulatory Facebook messages from our treasure trove of friends sprinkled over the United States. Beauty surrounded us both in our tranquil setting and in our hearts. A call from Art and Merritt was the perfect ending to a day that we only dreamed about in the past. We are so blessed.

We face the future with hope and confidence, knowing that our remaining years are in His hands – where they’ve always been – and we are grateful. We pledged to each other once more to live each day to its fullest. God blessed us with two sons, two daughters-in-love, two grandsons and two granddaughters, extended family, and an abundance of cherished friends. What more could we ask for? The “rain” in our lives has been a result of our own wrong choices, but these never obliterated our joy of family and the legacy of family that helped to keep our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Celebrating our Anniversary Dinner

Doesn't this just look too yummy for words? Shared decadence!

ANNIVERSARY TRIP DAY 5 - JUNE 16

veltag@comporium.net (Velta Morris) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:54:45 GMT

Another great day! After some necessary housekeeping we left the camper around 10 o’clock and started our day of more exploring.

Our first stop of the day was a quaint little town called Lititz, also known as Lancaster County’s Sweet Spot. Its streets are literally “hugging” homes and small businesses, each separated by scarcely 2-3 feet. The tiny, well-manicured yards had lush greenery, stunning ground covers, and climbing vines and their porches often had exquisite hanging baskets, in full bloom and bursting with variety of colors. I could not help but notice that many of the homes also had a decorative metal star displayed near the front door, or in some other noticeable place, maybe on a brick wall or even hanging inside their windows. At first I thought they were Moravian stars, but when I inquired about them I was told they were barn stars. A brochure said that the barn star originated within the German farming community and that the farmers would often mount a large star-shaped decoration onto their barns. Its significance varied. Some farmers considered the stars good luck; others viewed it simply aesthetic and pleasing to the eye. The tradition of the barn star in America can be traced back to the 1700’s and to at least the 1870’s in Pennsylvania. (Source: Tin’N’ Treasures, Kitchen Kettle Village, Intercourse, PA.) As an aside, while in Texas recently, I saw many of these same stars gracing homes and other structures! But that’s another whole story! I must get them started here! We thoroughly enjoyed our slow drive through this sweet little town and admired its cleanliness and small shops and residences that were very well-maintained. While cruising, we saw a cute sign in one yard:

In case you can't read the wording, it says: To the person who took my A.C.... it was not free for the taking! I would greatly appreciate it if you would return it!

Later we had lots of fun in Intercourse, PA, where we enjoyed a nice lunch and browsed in several shops, most of which had locally made wares, but also offered many other items found in similar “touristy” towns and villages. All of them were set right next to a rolling farm land being tilled by an Amish farmer guiding his team of big, strong horses! What a pastoral view we had! Farm land is abundant in Lancaster County and enjoys prime spaces right in the towns and villages. In fact, a large percentage of farm land must be dedicated to farming, rather than to commercial or industrial use.

Perhaps you might be wondering (nosey?) about the unusual name of Intercourse? It’s an eyebrow-raising name, for sure! Well, I will tell you what I found out:

Formerly known as "Cross Keys", this village was founded in 1754. The name was changed to Intercourse in 1814.

There are several explanations concerning the origin of the name of Intercourse, but none can really be substantiated. The first centers around an old race track which existed just east of town along the Old Philadelphia Pike. The entrance to the race course was known as "Entercourse". Some suggest that "Entercourse" gradually evolved into "Intercourse".

Another theory concerns two major roads that crossed here: the Old King's Highway, which ran from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh (now called the Old Philadelphia Pike), and the road from Wilmington, Delaware to Erie, Pennsylvania. The intersection of these two roads was thought to be the basis for the town of "Cross Keys" or, eventually, "Intercourse".

A final idea comes from the "old english" language which was is use in the early 1800's. It refers to the "fellowship" or social interaction and friendship which was so much a part of an agricultural village and culture at that time. These roots mark the community of faith to this day, and the many evidences of it are experienced by those who care to dig a bit more deeply while visiting this area.

Intercourse is a town full of delightful treasures and friendly shopkeepers, nestled among the scenic Amish farmland. For visitors of any age, there's plenty to do in Intercourse.

So, take your pick about the name. I agree: there’s plenty to do in Intercourse! It is teeming with fun shops, tasty, local cuisine, all in a lovely setting where you can sit on a bench and watch the team of horses do their thing. A wonderful respite!

Couldn't resist this photo op while in Intercourse! This wonderful shop had celebrated 50 years of cannin' & jammin' a few years back and still sported its sign ... and we were doing the same thing - celebratin'! We've had lots of "we can do it!" times in our lives and we've been in and out of a lot of jams!

We were framed in Intercourse!

After more exploring we arrived at the Sight and Sound Theatre to see the performance of “Joseph”. Words fail me to adequately describe this incredibly moving re-enactment of the Biblical account of Joseph. The power of forgiveness was so gripping my eyes welled-up with tears. We were captivated from beginning to end. We would encourage everyone to see this dramatic presentation if at all possible, either at the Lancaster, PA or Branson, MO Sight and Sound Theatres. I won’t even attempt to describe the majesty and excellence of this event. Currently, the cast is working on Jonah. I can only imagine how moving this will be. I'm sure many of you are familiar with this type of presentation, but the scenery and drama literally surrounds you, in front and on the sides of the massive auditorium. The narrator will tell you upfront that certain liberties have been taken for purposes of the drama, but the thrust and overall story line of the presentation is true to the Biblical account. http://www.sight-sound.com/.

We topped off another special day by feasting at Hershey’s Restaurant’s marvelous buffet, and by far the best cuisine we had enjoyed thus far.

Once back home at the camper, we found the surprise package that Merritt had sent by UPS. It contained a very unique and intriguing jigsaw puzzle that had been hinted at earlier in my Mother’s Day gift! I was told then that on “our day” I would receive more clues about the plans they were putting together to celebrate our 50^th wedding anniversary! The puzzle, when assembled, contained photos of Art and Merritt, Max and Sara, Andy and Karen, Luke and Hannah, and Anna and Justin, all holding different signs with various messages. We stayed up until midnight working the puzzle and had a ball! Here is the message when each saying was deciphered: “Happy 50^th Anniversary! You and Daddy Bill and we will spend a week in the mountains of North Carolina. We have rented a house! We’ll go fishing and shopping and enjoy the cool mountain evenings. The trip will be from August 6 – August 13. It is going to be awesome! We love you and can’t wait until we’re all together in Franklin, NC. Hope you’re happy!” Isn’t that the neatest thing you’ve ever heard or seen?

Before calling it a night Bill and I exchanged anniversary cards and affirmed our love, hopes and dreams for many more years of togetherness. God is good and we are blessed with wonderful children and grandchildren, and an abundance of friends. Tomorrow is the REAL anniversary day!

ANNIVERSARY TRIP - DAY FOUR

veltag@comporium.net (Velta Morris) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:15:25 GMT

On day four another invasion of bright sunlight interrupted our slumber! Cool temps had also crept in overnight and I was almost wishing I had packed my Granny gown! Moving around the camper and getting some caffeine took care of the chill!

After a leisurely breakfast, we headed out to the office of GAIN (Global Aid Network) in a nearby town (Mount Joy) to deliver the package of supplies that Kent Jewel, a member of our church here in Lancaster, SC, had asked us to deliver. Kent and Jean have been associated with this wonderful organization for several years and have taken many trips to Russia in connection with its mission work. From its website ( http://www.gainusa.org/):

Global Aid Network is a multi-national network of ministries serving to demonstrate the love of God, through word and deed, to hurting and needy people around the world through relief and development projects.

Our Mission was now accomplished and we were happy to be the transfer agents for such a worthy cause!

Proof of Delivery

Later, we enjoyed a bountiful lunch at the Good and Plenty Restaurant in Smoketown, Pa., a nearby village of sorts. To set the stage, Smoketown is a small farming village in East Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, PA, west of Bird-in-Hand, PA. Population in 2000 was 119! So now you know what we were up against. I'm sure the population has swelled (as well as its tourists) by dining at the Good and Plenty Restaurant. http://www.goodnplenty.com/ Interesting facts from its website state that: When Good 'N Plenty first opened, it sat only 114 people. As word of Good 'N Plenty's delicious and satisfying PA Dutch food spread, hungry customers would sometimes wait up to two hours on a weekend to enjoy the restaurant's food. It didn't take long for the Lapps to realize that they needed to expand!

In 1971, the Dutch Room was added to the rear of the restaurant, making it possible to seat 570 guests. A larger waiting area was added in 1978, and, in the winter of 1994-1995, the restaurant underwent a major facelift and addition. Today, the restaurant can accommodate over 600 guests at one seating. Christ and Dolly Lapp, along with their children and grandchildren, continue to run the restaurant, serving delicious home-cooked food in the Lancaster County tradition. So, please come and enjoy what others have since 1969...Family Style Dining At Its Finest!

Hungry yet? The food was very good, akin to our meat and three establishments, but on a much larger scale! Served family style, the meal accommodated us and another family who joined us – Mom, Dad and 4 children. The appetizers were delicious and also the multiple entrees were tasty and filling! Fried chicken topped the list. Butter noodles seemed to be a local favorite. Just let your imagine run wild here. Trust me: All American cuisine was front and center! Refills on everything were offered throughout the meal.

And, we thoroughly enjoyed sharing our meal with our new Florida friends. (Bill has often said that just give me a few minutes and I will make friends with a stump! Guilty as charged.) The father was a landscaping engineer and owned a contracting company, but the family had a unique hobby. Raising miniature donkeys! Actually, the children were very involved in the care and raising of the donkeys and showing them at various festivals and that type of thing. I just love learning new information! J Now, when I think of Donkeys they have a whole new meaning! Just thought you’d be interested in this tidbit of information.

The Good and Plenty Restaurant was highly advertised in the area, and also recommended by some friends from home who had visited that neck-of-the-woods. So our appetite was duly whetted. I can attest to the fact that it lived up to its name: it was both good and plenty. And I might as well confess right here that we both yielded to great temptation and had dessert on top of all the other questionable carbs! I’m certain Bill must have given me the first taste of shoo-fly pie … the best we good do for the evil apple. J After all, we were celebrating an important event in our lives. Right? (I can usually justify most all of my transgressions! J) The shoo-fly pie was widely touted as an area must try. Every area restaurant seemed to offer this local delicacy. My assessment was that it is basically a pecan pie without the pecans! Or, very similar to an old-fashioned syrup pie that I remember my mother baking. Just a taste did it, because right away I could feel the sugar coursing through my diabetic veins after just a tiny bit! What was I thinking to even let a taste get near my lips! The day after this exhilarating experience may have also been a day that I decided to skip checking my blood sugar! I’m sure there was no good basis for making this decision; it just seemed like a wise thing to do.

Very near the restaurant was a Goodwill! Can you feel the excitement building? Yes! It seems that no matter where we go there is always a Goodwill (my favorite boutique of choice) in our path of travel and the vehicle automatically swerves across lanes or makes a fast exit to the right! A U-turn is sometimes necessary, legal or not. My sweet husband of 50 years was happy to drop me off and later even helped me load the dishes in the truck! Actually, we did have some time to kill ... any excuse will do when needed. And love truly does endure all things! I always gravitate to the dishware section of whatever thrift store I find myself enjoying. Every woman needs a few more dishes, right? I knew you would agree.

From there, we went to the American Music Theatre where we enjoyed a delightful evening of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s music. What a treat! We were spellbound every moment of the performance. The cast and orchestra were all outstanding and the talent was truly amazing! Broadway at its finest. There were many favorites, but Think of Me from Phantom of the Opera was one of the loveliest, in my opinion. If you are interested in upcoming events check out AMT’s website: http://www.amtshows.com/category/events/ You will not be disappointed in the quality of these musical performances.

Afterwards, a drive through rural Amish farms back to our camper completed our day of exploring, eating, shopping, and being entertained by superb performers. So far, we are enjoying every minute of our trip!

ANNIVERSARY TRIP - DAY THREE

veltag@comporium.net (Velta Morris) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 01:16:39 GMT

Good morning!

(After about a month of being away from blogging, I will begin - again - recounting our wonderful 50th anniversary trip to the Amish country in beautiful Pennsylvania. Due to the unexpected illness and subsequent death of my sister, Bea Miller, I spent the month of July in Texas. Later I will publish my tribute to Bea. I miss her terribly.)

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

After a restful night in our RV, we were awakened by a brilliant sunrise. The sun was up very early, long before 6 a.m. We raised our blinds to reveal the most tranquil scenery imaginable! Perfectly manicured farm fields with silos and barns and residences greeted us. The beauty surrounding us was punctuated with an occasional clickety-clack of an Amish farmer's buggy and his horse, loping along the road, a short distance from our RV. We were parked in a prime spot for enjoying the unimaginable scenery and traffic of the locals going about their daily activities. Talk about a room with a view!

Excited is much too bland a word to describe the anticipation of all that awaited us as we set out on our first day to explore and enjoy this part of God's beautiful world. Our first stop was at the Visitor's Center near downtown Lancaster and there we received an abundance of literature about the area attractions and sights to see and enjoy. We decided on a bus tour, and since we were the only guests on the bus, we received all the attention and soaked up the guide's talking points. She was very, very good, and totally knowledgeable of the area and its people. As a native of that part of the country, she was well-versed in its history and culture and patiently answered our many questions.

Along the way, our guide pointed out a one-room school house, noting its outdoor toilet facilities, one each for the boys and girls. She mentioned that all children are educated only through the 8^th grade. Even the teachers only attend 8 years and are mentored by an older person before they begin teaching. She stopped at a covered bridge and let us walk through, viewing the serene Conestoga River below. We viewed many homes of the Amish farmers, homes which were easily identified by their typically dark window treatments which provided both privacy and a certain degree of cooling from the outside sun. We saw cisterns (or holding tanks) which are used to supply water to the homes. A windmill powers the tanks and gravity causes the water to flow into the homes.

Almost every home had one or more clotheslines, proudly show-casing their washed garments, flying high in the air at an angle. The Amish are very predictable and disciplined in all that they do. Even the clothes were hung in an orderly fashion. Dark work clothes dominated the wash, but there were clothing representative of the young children all the way to the grown men. Even intimate feminine apparel was blowing in the wind! The lines were anchored to the house or other nearby structure and then to some taller building - perhaps a barn or tree - and the clothes were raised and lowered by a pulley mechanism. This allowed the clothes to be hoisted very high in the air, permitting horses and tractors or other farm equipment to pass underneath them without soiling the freshly washed clothes. With an average family of seven, every day but Sunday is wash day! Interestingly, clothes washers are powered by gasoline - which is legal - but no electricity is permitted in the home, lest potential for evil influences enter inside! Telephones or other electrical devices are permitted in outside buildings, so there seems to be a bit of legalism to the outsiders trying to grasp an understanding of the practices of the Amish. And, not all clotheslines were hoisted; many lined the front porches or yards, but these were not adjacent to the areas where the farm animals were kept.

Our guide explained the practice of "shunning" in the Amish Church. This is a form of discipline when a member commits a sin or transgression, if you will, against the church. If someone does commit an offense against the church's disciplinary rules, that person is "shunned", even in their own home, to the point of taking meals alone. They are even forbidden to transact business among other Amish folks until they repent and are restored to fellowship. Church gatherings are held in Amish homes on a rotating basis. Benches to accommodate the worshippers are hauled by a "bench trailer", and extra dishes are also transported from home to home for serving the meals. No paper products are permitted, ladies! I'm sure there are enough hands to wash, dry, and store the dishes and utensils before the next gathering.

There is a deep respect and reverence for the Amish folks, and all visitors are encouraged to honor their beliefs, practices, and customs. No photos which show their faces are to be taken except in unusual circumstances where permission is first granted (as in a documentary, for instance). There were still many wonderful photo opportunities, however, which we took advantage of without dishonoring their requests.

Day 3 was fun, informative, relaxing, and just what we needed to get off to a wonderful start in our exploring of Lancaster, Pennsylvania!

Hard at work!

The contrasting stages of the plantings and harvests were eye-catching.

Love that orange triangle! This is a very common sight on all the roads within and without the city.

Doesn't this give you a feeling of contentment?

This particular clothesline was not "hoisted", as you can see.

Love the layers of color! Such great care in tilling the earth.

Flowers alongside the corn!

Can you find the darling little boy in the garden among the onions?

We watched each other!

All in a day's work!

ANNIVERSARY TRIP - DAY TWO

veltag@comporium.net (Velta Morris) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:34:52 GMT

The morning was cool and calm as we began the last half of our journey to Lancaster, PA. We had a very restful night and we were greeted by chirping songbirds as we woke up and prepared to leave. Exiting our campsite, and dodging a huge tree right at our site, took some careful maneuvering on Bill’s part. The camp was quiet, shady, and very adequate. We would definitely return to Natural Bridge, VA!

So Day 2 got off to a great start. All was going well – or so we thought – until we stopped for a brief break at the tourist bureau just inside West Virginia. Bill noticed the left rear wheel-bearing on the travel trailer was leaking fluid and the hub cap was extremely hot – so hot that when he touched it (as he always does when doing his walk-arounds) it actually burned his hand, though not severely. Obviously, this leakage was something very serious which had to be addressed immediately, so we called our roadside assistance folks who directed us to Ray’s Auto Repair shop in nearby Bunker Hill, W. VA. Here we go, hoping we can find the place before anything gets worse.

Finding Ray’s Repair was much like I imagine finding Tobacco Road must have been! Located way at the end of a country lane, we found it! One of the guys was nice enough to back the RV right up next to the garage doors so it would be convenient to do the work. He got us going after a few hours of waiting on parts, etc., including replacing a defective tire on the right side that we did not even know about before this incident. This tire was very near blowing-out, apparently damaged on the road somewhere along the way. It could have caused a really bad wreck and severe damage to the camper had the tire actually blown out. We did not even want to go there in our minds!

God’s hand of protection was all around us. This delay was not programmed into our travel agenda and Bill kept beating up on himself for not have the wheel bearings re-packed before we left on our trip. It was quite an experience, to say the least, including a panoramic view of the classic Old McDonald’s farm! A live production played out right before our eyes as we waited, the cast being a multitude of farm animals and then some! The activity all around the repair shop included crowing roosters and just about every species of chickens imaginable. There were White Leghorns, Dominecker, Rhode Island Reds, and other “brands” that I cannot recall from my days of growing up in the country. Ducks fiercely competed with the chickens as they scratched the earth for a few morsels of feed. I laughed as one White Leghorn hen – well, maybe she was a pullet - literally chased a duck away from the grains. The duck finally escaped to safety by going airborne several yards away! (No, she wasn't a Gamecock, you South Carolina folks. I'm sure.) I suppose the Leghorn got the corn, or whatever it was they were in a war about. And there were too many kitties to count! Dogs lounged lazily and quite comfortably on discarded carpeting that had been tossed from the owner’s mobile home across the road. Never a dull moment around this repair shop, for sure.

Also, there some children around the shop; one in particular was a cute little girl, 4 or 5 years old, who wagged around and cuddled her teeny Chihuahua named Jelly Bean. She graciously offered to let me cuddle Jelly Bean, too. I should have accepted her offer, but I declined. At one point I decided to rest a bit inside the camper as we were waiting. About that time a rooster slipped up very near the camper door and let out an extremely loud crow that scared the willies out of me! It very much resembled the Fox News rooster who crows each morning as Fox and Friends comes on! In fact, I’m sure that rooster had escaped the set in New York and made its way to Ray’s Repair Shop. I tell you, it was a sight to behold around there. But were we grateful for the expertise of the mechanics? You bet we were! If we had not had the wheel bearing issue, who knows when the other defective tire would have been discovered. God is good! We were – and are – thankful.

Sorry I was so busy watching the farm animals I failed to get their picture! Trust me, they were everywhere!
Also, the photo was made before the camper was backed into place at the garage door.

Well, finally we got on the road again, hastening to our campground, and hoping to arrive before the gate closed at 9 p.m. Bill was a little antsy, to say the least. He is a planner and several hours delay was not in his plan! The owner of the campground had told us if we did not register by 9 p.m., the gate would be locked and we would just have to park in the driveway until morning. Not a deal breaker, but definitely not something we wanted to experience our first night in Pennsylvania. With God’s blessing, Bill’s expertise and Garmin guiding us every step of the way to Lancaster, and through a myriad of corn and wheat fields, we were brought right to the campground at 8 o’clock p.m.! One hour to spare! (Bill says I am giving you the sweet, "Miss Velta" version. His version? Not so much!)

Bill relaxing; notice the highway. We would sit and enjoy the horses click-clacking along as the Amish went about their daily activities.

Velta - just outside our camper. The grounds were well- maintained. The countryside view was incredible. Our information said there was a five mile view from the campground.

Meandering through beautiful, lush green landscapes and yielding rights-of-ways to horses and buggies guided by the wonderful Amish folks, we were so thankful to reach our campground without any more surprises! As an aside, I caused us to miss the entrance to the campground – thinking this particular entrance was for other types of campers and thinking there was another entrance just ahead for rigs like ours! Big oops on my part, but to my great relief, there was an area just beyond where Bill could turn the RV around and back track. After a rather exhausting day full of surprises, we happily settled into our “nest” which we would occupy for the next several days!

50th Wedding Anniversary Trip - Day One

veltag@comporium.net (Velta Morris) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:13:27 GMT

After a wonderful several days with family and friends at Myrtle Beach and Mt. Pleasant, SC in late May and early June, Bill and I returned home for a short time to prepare to go to the Pennsylvania Dutch country of Lancaster, PA to celebrate our upcoming 50^th wedding anniversary. For the next few blog entries I invite you to journey along with us as I record a portion of our experiences in the wonderful world of the Amish, as well as some side trips to visit dear friends. For brevity, I will post in several different entries so that you do not become completely exhausted! (Unless you are really bored and have nothing better to do, read on. I am recording our times in this blog so that my children and grandchildren can one day read about this special time in our lives.)

50^th Anniversary Trip – Day One – June 12, 2011

We left Lancaster, SC shortly after 9 a.m. on Sunday morning. Earlier that morning we had a call from Kent Jewell who had just learned that we were traveling to Pennsylvania. Kent asked if we could deliver a package of missions supplies to the headquarters and warehouse of Global Aid Network (G.A.I.N.), a Campus Crusade for Christ ministry that Kent and others in our church faithfully support in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, very near Lancaster, PA. We told him we would be happy to do so, so Kent quickly brought the box of supplies to us before he went to early church; then we were ready to go!

After making some last minute preparations and checking over our 5^th wheel camper again, we were all set and ready to pull out! As always, Bill prayed for us, for our truck, the trailer, and everything concerning our trip, that God would protect us. We had looked forward to this trip for such a long time and were full of joy and gratitude that the Lord had allowed us to reach this milestone in our lives. Bill had planned for weeks, getting our route just right, what we would see and do, and everything was all set. June 17, 1961 was only the beginning! Traveling with us, of course, was our trusted GARMIN, without whom we would have been totally lost on some of the back roads we traveled. Thank you, Art, for this wonderful gizmo.

The day was bright and sunny, and we were excited and full of great anticipation as we made our way out of Forest Hills subdivision, heading to I-77 in Rock Hill, and the first leg (Natural Bridge, VA) of our ultimate destination: Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

We stopped for lunch in the lovely area of Christiansburg, VA. Since a Cracker Barrel usually has adequate parking space for RVs we often stop there (not to mention their consistently good food)! After a nice lunch and stretching a bit, we journeyed on to our first stop - the KOA in Natural Bridge, VA, arriving there around 3:00 p.m. It was a lovely campground, nestled in a shaded, mountainous area of VA, the town well-known for the historic Natural Bridge, which we did not get to see on this trip, due to navigating the camper in uncertain areas, etc. Bill did a terrific job driving, and we were happy to stop at this beautiful place for our first night. The registration area was lovely, with blooming shrubs and an abundance of butterflies flitting here and there on the blooming butterfly bush. The “tepee” type construction of the office was typical of KOAs, which are generally well-maintained, safe and predictable. A youth camp - or something - must have been going on because the swimming pool was teeming with little ones!

Our journey there had taken us through majestic mountains standing guard over lush, green valleys. Patches of brilliant wildflowers provided ample eye candy along our way. Farms, modest homes and steepled churches punctuated the countryside, showcasing abundant crops and mown, baled hay. Rows of tree farms were noted here and there, adding beauty to the landscape. I would say that the interstate was virtually free of any litter. What scenic beauty all along the way, bringing to mind the thought: How Great Is Our God! I love the mountains, ear-popping and all!

By the way, maintaining one’s sense of humor is a necessary element when “RV-ing.” It also helps to have seen the movie “RV”, starring Robin Williams, in which a family experiences the joys and traumas of novice RV-ers, a stage from which we have hopefully graduated!

As background, a few weeks ago the roof of our camper sustained damage – well, actually two burst vent covers which were now sporting large, gaping holes - as a result of a bad hailstorm. Our close friend, Bud Wilson, while we were away one day, climbed on top of the camper and placed duct tape (the all in one fixer, right?) over the rather large holes. He’s just that kind of guy. (Bill had ordered new replacement vent covers, but it required much more time than we had - not a simple fix, in other words.) Bud’s duct tape had held beautifully, even through a couple of rather violent rainstorms. Good. All is well. So, you can imagine our surprise when several hundred miles later, we awoke to find “raindrops were falling our heads.” Somewhere between Lancaster, SC and Natural Bridge, VA, Bud’s duct tape had broken loose and flew away to unknown parts! No biggie! After a brief laugh, Bill taped a trash bag over the vents (see photo below), the rain had stopped, and we were on the road again! Redneck repairs are the best … at least until we find the nearest Camping World!

Our first overnight stop, KOA, Natural Bridge, VA

Lovely blooming butterfly bush at Natural Bridge KOA, VA

Our vent repair! Still holding!

HAIL VS. TOMATOES

veltag@comporium.net (Velta Morris) — Mon, 02 May 2011 13:26:00 GMT

(Note: A few hours before I decided to publish this Blog, last night, May 1, 2011, around 11:00 p.m., EST, President Barack Obama announced to the world that Osama bin Laden had been killed by U. S. Navy Seals In a compound in Pakistan . His body was later buried at sea, lest a shrine to his body be erected. Finally, there is a resolution to THE HUNT that began on September 11, 2001, when 3,000 people perished . May God bless our President, our military, and our intelligence forces.)

Each Springtime, as new growth is exploding all around us with its promised abundance of beauty and sustenance, my memory flashes back to our humble dwelling, deep in the heart of Texas. I think of my godly parents, Claude and Odelle Gray, and a large plot of ground waiting its harvest of soon-to-be tomatoes. The farm was not large, by any means, in comparison to present day Texas farms and ranches, but in my child’s imagination, it loomed large.

A long time before my daddy entrusted his young, tender tomato plants to the large open field, he had already carefully cultivated and nurtured the soil, making straight, mounded rows that resembled soldiers saluting their authority. I’m sure that it wasn’t easy deciding on the right moment to release the plants from their protected “cold frames” to the uncertain elements and/or predators of the open field. No Internet; no radar; no 7-day forecast; no weather.com. The best daddy could do was pore over the most recent Farmer’s Almanac or search the skies for current conditions. At best, no one could accurately predict adverse weather conditions, nor prepare for their often devastating results.

Embedded in my memory is this one spring, probably in the early 1940’s. The tomato plants were thriving beautifully in the open field, laden with good-sized, green tomatoes – well on their way to near perfect maturity. In a short time, they would be ready for harvesting and transporting to the wholesale green-market, with no more than a blush of color - if any - on them. In a few days, they would then magically appear in the local retail markets in the area, showcasing their bright tomato- red color! Daddy was well-known in the area to be among the first to produce such early, mature tomatoes.

Suddenly, this particular spring, a tremendous hailstorm swept across our small farm in East Texas, pounding and wiping out my daddy’s tomato crop, taking with it the bulk of his monetary provision for our family that year. Unrelenting, the hail targeted all of the tomatoes, as I recall, leaving few to survive its onslaught. In my memory, the hail was large, looking like an invasion of frozen snowballs littering the ground.

I don’t remember how, or if, my daddy recovered any of his crop of tomatoes that year. I can say for sure, though, that no insurance adjuster was contacted to assess the damages to his prized beauties, or to our modest home, which no doubt sustained damages, too. Knowing my daddy, he started all over again and somehow provided for our family by his hard work and accepting the loss as it was: simply an act of God, permitted, for some reason, in His wisdom.

In recent days my heart has hurt for the thousands of families whose loved ones were killed and their homes reduced to mere splinters by unspeakable, 500 mph tornadic activity. Not only lives, but cherished photos and letters that once documented precious memories were lost or blown away to who knows where. Devastation that baffles the most seasoned meteorologists, and uncalculated heartache is being suffered, due to the unbelievable havoc across many of our southern states. There is no comparison of my daddy’s tomato crop that was wiped out, only that the lessons learned from these indescribable experiences should bring us to our knees in gratitude for our having being spared. Dare we ask why? If we allow our hearts to hear an answer, how will we show our thankfulness?

In honor of my daddy’s memory, a few weeks ago I set out two tomato plants in a pot on my deck. Bill filled the pot with new soil, a little Miracle-Gro was applied, and they took root and are on their way! The two plants have now intertwined, embracing each other! Bill placed some supportive caging around them and they are standing strong, surviving our recent hail storm! I don’t need the hail to remind me of my daddy, but I think he would be proud to know that I still remember the lessons he taught me, knowing just how to break off those suckers that don’t belong there, and pruning them often, as he would do. He would be proud, too, that if they make it to “picking, tomato-sandwich” time, I will gladly share! Any takers for future orders? Anybody got any watermelons? I’ve always loved bartering!

GARDENING TIPS

veltag@comporium.net (Velta Morris) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:57:00 GMT

A dear friend sent a devotional thought today which contained some very good advice for growing one's spiritual garden. In light of my blog yesterday, I wanted to share part of it: Here goes (and it's not just for Squash!):

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:

1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness

Now, there's a garden we can all grow and everyone reaps the benefits! Have a lovely, sunshine-filled day!

Velta

SQUASH AND THINGS

veltag@comporium.net (Velta Morris) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 18:14:00 GMT

There are seeds, and then there are seeds! Have any of you stopped recently to browse in the garden section of your local big box, nursery, or home improvement retailer? Just a couple of days ago, in a weak moment, I was strolling through my local, favorite retailer – the one to whom my Social Security check is assigned - (deciding to let that be my “walking” for the day), when my eye caught the spectacular display of SEEDS! Talk about overwhelming and confusing! Now, I’ll just be upfront here: Normally, I am one who prefers instant blooms, rather than digging, planting, weeding, watering, spraying bugs, and finally harvesting, if that season ever comes; but still, there is something rewarding about growing your own stuff, they tell me. So why on earth I ended up in that department is anybody’s guess.

Honestly, there must have been at least one trillion choices of every vegetable seed known to woman. Granted, there’s a ways to go before competing with our national debt. The Squash display, however, is the one that caught my eye. I just love ‘em, and actually had a craving flung on me for some roasted or fried down squash - right there in Wally World! Now, if you are wondering what fried down squash is, you wouldn’t understand if I told you. For a fleeting moment, I envisioned that I would be harvesting squash right off the patio; furthermore, I might actually become a candidate for supplying squash to the local farmer’s market. How much is a booth, by the way? And, besides, squash -- is that plural and singular, too? -- are just so cute, colorful, and so prolific! Or, failing that objective, I might at least impress my neighbors with the fruit of my obviously hard work.

As mentioned, there were endless varieties of squash seeds displayed, each packet bearing its picture-perfect photos, but none of them were the old familiar, yellow crook-neck kind I grew up on in Texas. In fact, I was practically a member of AARP before I even attempted to explore some of those fancier varieties of squash, that in my opinion belonged only to those city folks, or those “up north”. Hey, if the plants/vines of our squash didn’t grow a long green stem that also doubled as a whistle, to boot, then I considered them suspect, anyway. Know what I mean? And I won’t even begin to tell you what I thought when I first heard the term Spaghetti Squash! Seriously?

With a little bit of tongue-in-cheek humor going on here, through the years I’ve learned that there are other wonderful varieties of Squash, Zucchini, and such, that are very delicious, and sound oh, so fancy, when used in a recipe or perused on a menu! I mean, doesn’t it just whet your appetite to dream about going out and dining somewhere at one of those elegant restaurants when you hear that they are serving Zucchini Risotto tonight?

Just ruminate a moment on the words Zucchini Risotto: makes you want to dig out that long-tailed black dress, spiff up your closest accomplice, splash on a spray or two of Evening in Paris, wait for twilight, and head out in search of some Zucchini Risotto, doesn't it? Besides, hasn’t it been a while you enjoyed the benefit of valet parking? And, to add to the ambiance of the evening, there’s the glow of candlelight casting its enticing shadows, while waiting for your Zucchini Risotto.

But, if for some unimaginable reason, you are either unable or unwilling to go out on the town, there’s still hope for you. You can still enjoy one of hundreds of other Zucchini delicacies, without all the drama! Read on if you are still with me.

For sure, there’s always a downside to every upside. But still. According to allrecipes.com, their Creamy Zucchini recipe, for instance, uses ingredients you may already have on hand! How thoughtful of them! A sure way to burst your bubble, just when you are all psyched-up to spend a romantic evening in a private, secluded setting, giving thanks that you were seated before you tripped and/or stumbled in the dark. Their website boasts further, that the end result of their Creamy Zucchini is a dish which is lovely, with a light flavor, and is a very filling meal. This does beg the question, though: can anything light ever be good? Still want to cook at home?

As if that weren’t enough, there’s always Chicken Tortellini Soup with Zucchini and Tomatoes. Now, just the mention of tomatoes - I get it. I grew up with them literally growing in my backyard, and beyond. Varieties? You bet! But that’s another whole story. Tomatoes can get mighty fancy and hold their own with the best of ‘em! But Zucchini? No, that was a word that ranked up there with Rhubarb. Those intriguing, mysterious words belonged to the Upper Crust of Society, not to this farmer’s daughter.

In case you aren’t feeling sufficiently overwhelmed yet, try on this bit of good news: there are roughly about 7,410,000 recipes in which to use Zucchini in your very own kitchen, per Mrs. Google (so it must be true, right?). For starters, there are: Fried Zucchini, Grilled Zucchini, Quick and Easy Zucchini, Stuffed Zucchini, Vegetarian Zucchini, Zucchini Appetizers, Zucchini Casserole, Zucchini Dessert, Zucchini Pasta, Zucchini Breads and Muffins! You can dig till your heart’s content into each of these categories and find recipes to last a lifetime. My personal favorites, of course, are nestled among the Muffins and Sweet Breads categories.

It might be noted here that as soon as I dejectedly left the Seeds department, I later found solace in the frozen foods section of WW among their GV brands. (Aren’t steamers just oh, so wonderful?) Just so you know, those initials are code letters for Wally World and Great Value.

I might never master the planting or preparing of Zucchini or other fancies, but I can tell you that you will fall in love with Spaghetti Squash. Don’t be intimidated any longer; go ahead, jump in there, and whatever you do, by all means stay out of the Seeds department! I think I saw the word, W O R K, along with a banner that read: Not Responsible for Results. I always heed appropriate warnings, so I made a quick get-away.

All joking aside, this recipe for Spaghetti Squash looks delicious: http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/spaghetti-squash-i/Detail.aspx. Just so you know what you’re up against - and so you won’t be aghast - according to one reviewer, "The flesh of Spaghetti Squash comes out in long strands, very much resembling the noodles for which it is named. In this recipe, the 'noodles' are tossed with vegetables and feta cheese. You can substitute different vegetables, but be sure to use ones that have contrasting colors." By all means, go for the color. Colors cover a multitude of mistakes!

Now, to the best part of all! 36,418 people have saved this recipe! Doesn’t say what they did after that. I mean, that’s kind of like buying a cookbook, right? It looks pretty on our counter, but somehow the finished product doesn’t appear until someone gets moving in the kitchen. I am so guilty! Somehow, after I’ve read a ton of recipes, Bill says I always end up with Old Faithful: Green Bean Casserole! Reckon Zucchini might be a good substitute for the green beans? I might be on to something here!

Happy gardening, everyone! And relax. I just uncrossed my fingers, and none of the above is even true or believable! But what is totally believable for you local folks: You can dine on the most delectable fresh squash anywhere on this planet, right here at our local Wagon Wheel Restaurant in nearby Fort Lawn, SC; it is widely acclaimed for its fried squash! Truly, it is a MUST, and it is always in season. Plus, you don’t even have to struggle into your black dress to dine there and you won't need reservations – not saying dining there won’t cause you to struggle into your ordinary jeans! While there, you just might hear all the local news – true, and otherwise embellished. And, if you have been in Lancaster County very long, no matter what time you go there, you will run into someone you know at the Wagon Wheel, so be on your best behavior!

A Squash by any other name is still a Squash!

DO NOT DISTURB

veltag@comporium.net (Velta Morris) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 19:23:00 GMT

Earlier this morning, I reached an absolute conclusion. Granted, these days it is hard to find anyone willing to declare that anything is absolute truth, but I am here to say, yes, there are some absolutes! The one I nailed down this morning is this: one should never attempt to clean the area beneath one’s pull-out garbage/trash can in one’s (or anyone else’s) kitchen! Just take my word for it: do not go there. Rush to your nearest motel and confiscate a door hanger that says, “Do Not Disturb”, or better yet, if you are having a rush of creativity, make your own. The urgency here is to get it firmly affixed in the most visible spot possible and respect its warning!

You see, this morning I decided to whip up a dessert. Simple. New recipe. Responded without incident to similar impulses before. Not that we were going to be allowed to touch it in its final form, you understand, but sometimes just whipping one up satisfies that yearning to make something forbidden! So, in doing so, a small amount of cream (subbed with canned milk) was called for – naturally, that left the majority of the milk in the can, just hanging out, enjoying the moment. I, never dreaming that Mrs. Grace would appear out of nowhere and knock the can off the counter, assumed it would rest in fine style right there on the counter until I could store it more appropriately. Not! Hindsight: never assume anything about anything.

As alluded to, in a few moments, someone (FYI, I was the only visible, breathing being in the kitchen) showed up and decided to involuntarily bump the can and it began to spread the joy! The cream began its journey, creeping around on the counter, drizzling down the cabinet, into the cutlery drawer, and on to the final leg of its journey, finally settling down on the floor! Of course, there was plenty left over to adequately moisten the rug in front of the sink and enough left over to make a sufficient pool, as well. Spread the wealth! Oh, yes! No space was spared, or to use a paraphrase of a well-known saying, “No spot was left behind!”

    Further investigating the disaster, I pulled out the drawer that hides/reveals the trash can, and just happened to glance at the bottom of the cabinet floor which is usually covered by the can, right?   And, of course, this area is easily - innocently -overlooked, intentionally overlooked, and ignored, and put off, and considered off-limits at all costs, but this morning before I could blink, there it was - exposed in all its glory! All of a sudden, indescribable debris and other unidentifiable bits of somethings that existed in another life were right there, in my line of vision, and for all to see! For a moment I became a believer in reincarnation! Talk about a Gotcha moment! That blamed milk!

    Of course, I had to remove the trash can entirely from its holding frame, revealing even more treasures, grab some cleaner (with bleach!), wad some paper towels, and assume the position of an accomplished contortionist in order to reach the whatevers that had retreated to the farthest possible corners. Silly things did not want to be disturbed, thank you very much! I persisted, with my broom handle, rolled up paper towels, and armed with my mighty bleach! Let the flexing begin! I might have been wounded, but this is one battle I won! Amazingly, I was even able to get up off the floor, an amazing feat on its own, seeing how I seldom view the world from that posture.   Surely, there was something else I could have done while “down there”, but before rigor mortis set in, I somehow managed to arise and collect my wits.

The moral of this little blog is 3-fold: First and foremost, do not attempt to make, fashion, blend, prepare, or even think about anything that you know is illegal, no matter how appealing it might sound or taste in your imagination; and second, if (when!) disaster strikes, make sure you find a way to blame it on someone else – the dog, the husband, the neighbors (mine are far too nice), the cat, the canary, the gold fish; anything or anyone that you can think of! Third, and perhaps a rival for number one, by all means, never look into, or behind, anything that is none of your business, anyways. If you do, I promise: you will not be disappointed!

I pondered on this little fiasco this morning, after sufficiently beating up on myself for my own clumsiness, and was reminded that perhaps there is a spiritual application here. Once we begin to do some serious spiritual “cleaning and clearing of debris” in the corners and crevices of our hearts and souls, the Lord will reveal more and more of the areas we were sure that we had sealed off a long time ago, exposing those hiding places that we hoped would never be disturbed. Too often, we have plastered a Do Not Disturb sign on those private places, and seldom dare let Him enter there. But when we do, we’ll love that clean, fresh feeling! And this is an absolute truth!

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Ps. 51:10

MY TRIBUTE TO ARLYNE

veltag@comporium.net (Velta Morris) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 03:13:00 GMT

Tonight a very sad and wonderful event took place. Yes, I chose the right words, although they might seem a bit incongruous. You see, tonight a very special niece of mine took her heavenly flight, leaving behind her sick, emaciated shell that once housed her mind, will, spirit, emotions – all the components that make each of us who we are. No longer is Arlyne restricted and caged and bewildered, battling a dreadful malady. Tonight she is free, yes, free at last from the shackles of the wretched disease called Alzheimer’s, which has stolen so much from her; and yet, even when the disease ravaged and raged and intensified without abandon, the essence of her goodness somehow broke through the barriers, and miraculously our spirits connected.

Up until we were no longer able to communicate, I would call her, and she would exclaim, “Aunt Velta!” Such a little thing, but to her it meant so much to be remembered. We would talk and talk, ramble and ramble, reminisce, tell the same old stories that we knew by heart. They were still funny. They will always be funny. Being just a few years apart in age, we banked a lot of precious memories and shared some sad ones along the way. We’d talk about the Lord and how much He loves us; she would tell me what she was doing and where she was going. Sometimes, the events were etched so deeply in her memory that we both believed everything about everything, because that’s where we found comfort. Agreeing with each other – it didn’t matter whether it was reality or not. Mainly, at first, after settling in her new environment, she wanted to go home. Back to her own home, full of her treasures and her memories and her sweet little dogs that brought her so much joy, especially after her husband passed away. Of course, that wasn’t possible. Her family all loved her too much to leave her there alone at a time when she was vulnerable and needed the loving protection and care of others.

So tonight, my heart is heavy because we will all miss Arlyne and there will be a hole in our heart; but, really, she’s been gone for a long time, anyway. And we were helpless. It’s been a long journey toward her ultimate healing, but tonight she arrived at her destination. I wish I could get a glimpse of her glorious welcoming ceremony. I know her mother - my sister, Lou - was among the first to greet her. I'm sure the welcome committee included my mother, her beloved Granny Gray - and Grandpa; her Aunt Opal, her cousin, Butch, who we all loved and for whom we still grieve deeply; and her precious infant daughter, Sara, to whom she gave birth the same day she committed her tiny body to the Lord. How wonderful it will be to see that little baby girl whole and healed and alive!

I don’t know what Heaven is like; at best we can only imagine, as the song says. I only know it is a wonderful place that God has been preparing for His children. What I do know is that tonight at six o’clock in Dallas, Texas, he lovingly reached His hands down and said to Arlyne, “It’s time to come home.”

You really are home now, Arlyne. Goodbye for now. I’ll see you soon. Aunt Velta

Billy Arlyne Bristow Harrison – October 13, 1942 – February 23, 2011
(Photo taken in March 2009 at Grace Presbyterian Home, Dallas, Texas)

SPOTLIGHT ON MAX!

veltag@comporium.net (Velta Morris) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 23:04:00 GMT

Max is the kind of grandson a grandmother dreams of! (Just in case you’re wondering, I am privileged to have two of these!)

From a teeny, tiny little thing he has had us wrapped real tight! We have a bank of funny and sweet stories tucked back, but I'll just share a couple for now.

Before we moved to Lancaster from Greenville (prior to 2004), every now and then we would meet Art and Merritt at some mid-way point and we would have grandparents' weekend visitation. Sometimes we would get both Anna and Max, and other times we would just get one of them and take them home with us for the weekend. On late Sunday afternoons we would meet back at the mid-way point and pass them back to their parents, while shedding a tear or two. Many happy memories were made during those visitation times.

We so looked forward to these happy exchanges, and when we decided to retire and move to Lancaster, we were telling Max – I suppose he was around 7 or 8 - that we might move to Lancaster. He remarked, rather poignantly, “Granny Vee, why would you ever move from Greenville to Lancaster? Why, you have a Sonic and everything!” Good question, Max! It's all about one's perspective, I suppose. Well, I’m happy to report that not too long after that remark, and shortly before we made the final move, Lancaster became the proud new owner of a bright, shiny SONIC Drive-In! That made everything perfect, at least in Max’s opinion.

Sadly, Anna and Max grew up after we moved to Lancaster and things changed, and Anna and Max started driving themselves here and there! Where do the years go?

Of course, the decision to move was made even better (if it can get better than moving close to your children), when a brand new Home Depot, Bill’s favorite place, started taking shape about a mile from where we would live! That sealed it! And the rest is history.

But back to Max: he has always brought us so much joy and happiness. He makes us laugh in unexpected ways, and we always burst with pride when he accomplishes another task or receives another honor. Just today it was announced that he had received a wonderful scholastic honor. Max had applied for, and received, the South Carolina Boys State Scholarship to Anderson University (Anderson, SC), beginning this fall, which will be renewed each year. Although it’s sad to think about Max graduating high school this May and not being around as much, we are so happy for him and for all he has accomplished. His talents at school, at church, in the community, and around the house, make us proud and grateful for him. Max, you make us happy and we love you! Thanks for always being you.

Max, Bella, and a Snowman!
January 2011

Talking Turkey

veltag@comporium.net (Velta Morris) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 12:34:00 GMT

Well, what a beautiful Lord’s Day we have had today! Yes, it has been COLD! But thankfully we have been snug as a bug in a rug and are so thankful for blessings such as warm throws, plenty of food, Sunday naps, and cherished time together.

During the afternoon I caught up with my friend Naomi Tolar in Kentwood, LA and we had a nice long telephone chat about everything from reliving camping memories, to dealing with clutter (avoid it!), health, and quilting! She is the most accomplished quilter that I know of and it was so good to hear that she is once again having some time to pursue one of her favorite hobbies. In recent years her life has been centered around the loving care of her father who is now deceased, and also her husband Jimmy has gone through some rough health issues but is now improving! She's quite a lady!

So, it's been a great day! Great day at church and a great rest of the day at home.

I wanted to share a new recipe that I experimented with yesterday. It’s very similar to lots of other pasta type dishes, but it turned out pretty well. I will warn you: it makes enough to feed a small army of hungry folks, so you might want to know this in advance. I made it in two separate dishes rather than in the long casserole that the recipe called for; I’m sure it would freeze well, too, if you choose to enjoy one now and freeze one for later.

The recipe is for Turkey Tetrazinni. Random, huh? Here's why. One day last week during the snow/ice storm, I baked a turkey. I’ll admit that I did not get enough turkey to my liking during Christmas! You know, there’s a “turkey fix” and if you don’t get it, you’ll never be satisfied until you do. Too much anticipation before Christmas is the culprit, I think. I’ll just be up front with that confession. So, since Wal-Mart still had some in its freezer the other day, I was sure I saw my name on one of them, so I bought myself one, thawed it for several days in the fridge, and decided to bake it while imprisoned and homebound during the blizzard. Little did I know what I was getting into!

Truly, turkey has to be THE gift that just keeps on giving! Even after sharing about half the BIG BIRD with others, we still had turkey and turkey and more turkey! I assure you we were almost gobbling! It would not go away! (I DID get my hunger for turkey satisfied, as you might can tell!) There was plain turkey, turkey salad, turkey sandwiches, and turkey vegetable soup. The possibilities were endless, but those were the ones I chose for starters.

At a loss as to what to do with so much leftover turkey, I had frozen a large bag of chopped turkey and then decided to look for a recipe in which to use it. Now, my very good friend, Dora Magee, is always writing about her Chicken Tetrazinni that she often shares with folks near her. "She done flung a cravin' on me," to paraphrase a Jerry Clower saying. Her's sounded so fancy that I wondered why I could not use my turkey instead and call it Turkey Tetrazinni, right? Seemed like a reasonable assumption to me. Then I might sound like a fancy gourmet cook, too!

There are a bazillion recipes of this nature floating around the Internet, but if you are looking for comfort food on a tight budget, one that is filling, and on the opposite end of difficult in preparation, you might want to try this or a similar one. Especially if you are looking for new ways to disguise the leftover turkey and transform it into an unidentifiable casserole, then you’ve hit a homerun with this one!

A word of advice: next time you have a hankerin’ for turkey, don’t buy a 20-pounder! I almost needed a fork lift to get the bird into/out of the oven! But bless him/her heart! She came through like a champ and kept us well-nurtured and satisfied all through the blizzard – and with a proper amount of tryptophan, I might add. As if we need any help in bringing on an afternoon winter's snooze!

So, as promised, here is the recipe I confiscated from http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/turkey_tetrazzini/

There is also a very similar one for chicken tetrazzini at: http://www.americanprofile.com/recipes/view/21587/chicken-tetrazzini.html

I have tweaked my version just a bit, but if you prefer the unadulterated version just click on the link above or try the American Profile Magazine version of chicken tetrazzini.

Here’s my version, with only minor adjustments based on the ingredients I had on hand, 9such as using a larger package of egg noodles, and increasing the broth since I had more noodles, etc.) You can't miss on this one. Just follow your instinct and go with it – very forgiving recipe:

Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe (TWEAKED BY VELTA)

Ingredients

16 oz egg noodles (I used the medium, “twirly” kind); any pasta will do
2 small cans sliced mushrooms (original called for fresh)
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups of milk
1/4 cup cream
3 cups turkey broth (frozen from turkey hereinabove described)
3 cups coarsely chopped cooked turkey
1 cup small, frozen, green peas
2/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan (divided into 1/3 and 1/3 cups)
(I used the Great Value grated Parmesan in the package)
1/3 cup shredded Swiss cheese (also used Great Value grated)
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 large jar chopped pimientos (added this, not called for in original)
Salt and Pepper
Ground nutmeg (optional)
1/2 - 3/4 cup finely crushed Ritz crackers (in lieu of bread crumbs)
About 4-5 Tablespoons melted butter
Freshly chopped parsley for garnish (optional)

Method

1 Preheat oven to 375°F. Start heating 2 to 3 quarts of water for the pasta. Add 1 teaspoon of salt for each quart of water.

2 Cook the mushrooms in 3 Tbsp of the butter over medium heat, stirring, until all of the liquid the mushrooms give off has evaporated, 5-10 minutes. Set aside.

3 In a large, heavy saucepan, melt 1/4 cup of butter. Stir in the flour, and cook the mixture over low heat, stirring, for 3 minutes.

4 About now, put the pasta into the boiling water you've heated. Follow the package directions and cook until al dente. While the pasta is cooking continue on with the recipe.

5 Into the saucepan with the butter and flour, slowly whisk in the milk, cream, broth. Bring to a simmer and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for about 5 to 8 minutes.

6 When the pasta is ready, drain it. In a very large bowl combine the pasta, the sauce, the mushrooms, the turkey, and the peas. Stir in 1/3 cup of the Parmesan and the 1/3 cup of Swiss cheese. Stir in the lemon juice and the chopped pimientos. Add salt and pepper to taste. Note that if you have been using unsalted butter, and/or unsalted or low sodium stock, you will need to add more salt than you might expect. Just keep sprinkling it in until it is seasoned to your taste. Add a pinch of ground nutmeg if using, again to taste. Transfer the mixture to a buttered 3-quart casserole.

7 In a small bowl combine well the remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan, the Ritz crackers, and the melted butter. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the tetrazzini, and dot the top with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, cut into bits.

8 Bake the Tetrazzini in the middle rack of the oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until it is bubbling and the top is golden.

Garnish individual servings with chopped parsley. I think chopped black olives would be a nice add-in on this one.

Serves 4 to 6. – (this is not true! Would serve 4-6 Goliaths!)

(Below is a fairly good representaiton of how mine turned out.)

DISCLAIMER! This would not be on the Weight Watchers list of approved foods because I'm certain its calculator would implode if it attempted to calculate the points! "Recalculating, recalculating...." Just don't go there.

H-m-m-m-n, do I see Spiral Ham in my future? Ham Tetrazzini, anyone?

How Firm Is Your Foundation?

veltag@comporium.net (Velta Morris) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:14:13 GMT

Today a friend who has a daily devotional ministry wrote about building our lives on things that fade, wash away (i.e., sinking sand), or disintegrate and lose their value. Immediately, I wanted to burst out singing an old familiar song, On Christ, The Solid Rock I Stand, or My Hope is Built, as it is sometimes called. Thankfully, I didn’t burst out singing (causing Bill to wonder what on earth had happened to me), except in my heart.

Such powerful words are in that comforting hymn: On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand. You would think that we would get it, right? But do we? All too often we turn to other “things”, to unreliable sources - all without a compass - and then we are left to wonder what went wrong?

Since it is still January, there is still time to resolve to do a spiritual inventory, don’t you think? No matter our age, or other defining criteria, the ground is level for beginning new beginnings.

Just what will I choose to use as my foundational building blocks on which to build this new year? Will I sink, drowning in my own “all about me” attitude? Or will I launch out in faith to rescue another who is drowning in hurt and heartache? Will I inspire hope and healing? Will I seek out ways to lift a brother or a sister’s burden? More important than all of these, perhaps, is honestly asking myself, Am I grateful for God’s blessings in my life? If I am, I think the answers will be rather easy. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7 I feel fairly certain that Solomon would go along with ... As a woman thinketh in her heart..., etc.

Perhaps you may find youself having a hard time recalling just how you are blessed. Maybe a sinister spirit of ingratitude has crept into your heart. Instead of dwelling on negative thoughts and saying Why me, Lord? try to zero in on the little things that touch and bring meaning to an otherwise dreary day in your life. I have learned that when I do this, I realize how rich I am!

For starters, I’m thankful for nice, caring neighbors. During the winter blizzard of last week, we were blessed with warm, homemade stew delivered to our door. Talk about taking a risk! I’m sure our caring neighbor was blessed by giving, but we were really blessed and warmed in our body and spirit! Thank you, Casey! The stew was great!

And that’s not all: In the midst of the worst part of the snow/ice storm, one afternoon I heard a scraping, crunching sound outside and decided to sneak a peek! There was our grandson, Max, hard at work, clearing a two-lane path in our driveway so that we could ease out, not slide out into the woods, when we made our first attempt to leave the premises.

Another real sweet blessing last week was the opportunity I had to keep a 6-yr. old while the parents were involved with her baby brother’s out-patient surgery. Jocelyn is a precious little girl, very bright and engaging. We did all sorts of things that morning, from reading, coloring, eating in front of the television while we enjoyed Sesame Street, playing in the jewelry box (definite favorite – she’s a girl, right?), and we played post office. She really enjoyed this role. She was the “mail lady”. She loved being by my side at my desk. Scotch tape and a stapler were her favorite friends! She would write pretend letters to me from Bill, and from him to me, and deliver them back and forth, downstairs, upstairs, several times. She would peek around the corner at the door to my office, and ask, “937?” I would say, "Yes, that’s the correct address,” and she would deliver the letter from “Mr. Bill.” This went on for quite some time.

A while later, as Jocelyn and I were on kitchen duty, she said somberly to me, “Mrs. Velta, I have something to tell you.” Perplexed, I said, “What is that, Jocelyn?” She said, very sincerely and with great remorse: “Mr. Bill didn’t really write or send those letters.” I assured her that I understood, that we were really just pretending and it was o.k. I assured her that she had not really committed a grave transgression. She seemed relieved to have gotten rid of that burden! Confession truly is good for the soul.

But Jocelyn’s frank admission spoke to my heart in a greater, more profound way. Are we as sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading when He invades our agenda, our motives, and our perceived intentions? Oh, for the beauty of a child’s heart! Thank you, Jocelyn. You delivered a powerful message, and may your heart always be so transparent before the Lord.

Lastly, in recounting my blessings resulting in gratitude, there was an e-mail from a friend of many years saying that she might get to swing by for an overnight visit or at least meet-for-lunch visit somewhere on her upcoming journey to NC. Jan told us that she would be making a trip by plane from Memphis, TN to Jacksonville, NC to retrieve the vehicle and belongings of her son, Garrett, who had recently lost his life in Afghanistan. No, not lost – he freely gave his life, having always wanting to serve his country as a proud Marine. We were blessed and honored that our friend wanted to see us and exchange some long over-due hugs, however briefly, as she returned home to Memphis, driving her deceased son’s truck, making her own personal grieving pilgrimage. Thank you, Garrett, for giving your all for us.

Thinking about Jan and Garrett, and countless others who have endured the deepest form of grief that I can imagine – losing a child – I realize just how blessed I am. I hope that I can be willing to pour out some love and hope and healing on those whose lives I encounter this year. In short, I pray that I will be grateful; the rest will be easy.

So, as you perhaps reflect on your new year, keep in mind that as a Christian, you are standing on the Rock, the only sure Foundation! And, as the songwriter Edward Mote wrote long ago, we have a strong assurance that...

When darkness seems to hide His face,

I rest on His unchanging grace.

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil!

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand;

All other ground is sinking sand.

Believe it!

Jocelyn, always sweet and pretty, on a previous visit to "Mrs. Velta's" house!

Max, being a blessing to his grandparents!
(Daddy Bill, doing a fine job in his supervisory capacity)

I've got mail!

veltag@comporium.net (Velta Morris) — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 20:29:00 GMT

Hi there!

If you are a frequent reader of my infrequent blogs, you will remember that the last time I blogged I wrote about the fragments of a balloon and attached note that I found on my street a couple of weeks ago. The note was from an elementary student named Clay in Frankfort, Kentucky! He had released his balloon on November 11^thand I found it on November 30.

Well, today, exactly one month after his balloon began its flight and landed on my street, I had a response from Clay Estes, the young man who had released the balloon! And, I promised to let you know when I heard back from my letter to Clay. So, now you will know the rest of the story.

I was so excited when I went to the mailbox and among all the usual advertisements, Christmas cards, etc., there was a letter from Clay! The handwriting was perfect and the message sweet. I was so happy and could hardly wait to open the letter. It was so thoughtful of him to write me back and I appreciated hearing from my newest friend. The letter was neatly printed on the cutest ever hand-painted stationery! As you can see from the picture of the letter, Clay is a fine young man, six years of age, and composed a very thoughtful letter.

The only thing better than hearing from Clay would be getting to meet him in person some day. Who knows, that just might happen one of these days!

Thank you, Clay. It is reassuring to know that some young people are still being encouraged and taught the importance and the art of a handwritten letter. In all of our technical abilities to communicate via the web (as I am very guilty of doing), by telephone, e-mails, Facebook, Twitter – you name it – may we never lose sight of the beauty of a handwritten letter or note that you can hold in your hand, that you can read as many times as you desire. For instance, we still cherish letters that Bill’s dad wrote to Bill’s mother when he was serving in WWII in Europe, and yes, we also cherish our love letters to each other! Just the other day, we came across letters that Art and Andy had written to my mother who died in 1973. You cannot place a value on these treasures. These beautiful memories preserve the past and are not dependent on the digital media that sometimes lets us down when there is a failure for some reason or another. More times than not, as someone has said, we seldom read our electronic communications more than once. Often, we quickly move on to the next quick fix.

So, grab your pen and paper and write someone; perhaps that long overdue thank you, or a word of encouragement, or a note saying I love you and I am proud of you.

Thank you, Clay, for reminding us of the importance of a well-written letter!

MESSAGE ON THE GROUND

veltag@comporium.net (Velta Morris) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 22:19:00 GMT

Well, you never know what will cross your path on a given day! Stay with me, here.

As I sometimes do, I took an early morning walk on the street by my house, accompanied by my trusty “trash picker-upper” (there should be a more dignified name for those things!) and a trash bag. After retrieving a few of the usual items, my eyes fell onto something a little more intriguing. I fetched it with my picker and had almost dropped it into the collection of whatevers, when I decided to examine it a little more closely. Most likely, it is the remains of a birthday party and it got loose from the other party debris, I mused to myself. But, upon careful examination, I realized it actually was a small typed (with water proof ink, obviously) note attached to a white ribbon with fragments of a balloon, once filled with helium, no doubt. All that remained of the balloon was the part where it was tightly secured to the curly ribbon, and an inch or so beyond that.

Well, “Looky here,” I said to myself! The note was from a young man in Frankfort, Kentucky! He said, “My name is Clay E. I released this note on November 11, 2010. If you find my note, please write to me and tell me your name and where you found my balloon. Thank you.”

Why, I never expected to find something like that among the beer and soda cans, fast food wrappers and beverage cups. But there it was, kind of in the yard of a residence on my street, and yet almost in the street; actually, it was on private property, but only slightly. (I recently completed a book on Rationalization in case any of you need help in that area.) Obviously, it had not yet reached its intended recipient, right? All forlorn looking, it appeared to have been languishing there quite some time and I just decided to claim it as my very own, as if I were the addressee. I quickly invoked the “finders keepers” rule and hastened home with it to share this good news with Bill.

Once back home with my special treasure, aka message on the ground (doesn’t have to be in a bottle, does it?), I immediately wrote to that young man, Clay, at his school and told him who I was and where I lived and how far it was to Lancaster, SC from Frankfort, KY, and on and on and on. The on and on and on indicates that I did mention that I was a grandmother and that I loved my grandchildren. J By my calculation, it took 18 days for the winds to carry that balloon and note all the way from Frankfort, Kentucky to Lancaster, South Carolina! Amazing!

In my note I wished Clay a Merry Christmas and told him I hoped he knew Jesus and if he didn’t then the enclosed sheet would tell him exactly how to do that. Oops, I totally forgot that it isn’t proper to mention that sort of thing in school nowadays! Heaven forbid! Too late now. Isn’t there something that says to ask forgiveness is better than to ask permission? Works for me.

So, what’s the lesson here? Keep your eyes open and don’t be too quick to cast off or ignore possible gems that God has placed in your path. Maybe they are in the form of a new friend, a new opportunity, a new way to bless someone, to lift their burden, or just to say I love you and you are on my heart today. They’re lurking everywhere! Just like the balloon on the ribbon, clinging to each other, and finally resting near my house after a long journey. Perhaps these have been placed there by Someone, just waiting for the right someone to discover the hidden secret that might be inside!

As I write this, it is almost December. Tomorrow it will be! I wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas Season and hope that it is full of love, joy and peace. God bless you all! Oh, I'll let you know what I hear from Clay!