Most know fore Lucky and I got married, shoot, datin for that matter…she made me WORK for it. Again, we’d both lost our spouses, but we’d all been good, good friends years back.

Lookin back now, that was my only in. If I hadn’t known that heifer prior, I doubt she’d have even givin me the time a day. She wanted another man in her life bout like I wanted to go see the dentist as a child.

But, eventually I wore her down, and most times now we wonder what we’d ever do without each other.

The other times we just wonder what WE ARE gonna do with each other??

When she finally did say yes though, I’m sure I was grinning like a baked possum. Shortly thereafter, I realized… I REALLY WAS cooked through and through!

Both of us are native Floridians, and man oh man, have we seen this state change through the years. I gotta say though we both are very proud to wear the handle of…bein Southern.

To all our Yankee buddies…

It ain’t all bout the beaches, tourist attractions and golf courses.

No sir-eee!

I ain’t tryin one bit to discourage ya’ll from movin down here either, BUT, there are other things to consider as well.

Mosquitos…we call em skeeters. Them things’ll eat ya alive.

I remember one time as a child, I dunno, I was 24-25 years old, layin there in bed next to my fourth wife, and I heard two of em talkin…

One asked the other…ya wanna eat him here or take him with us?

Then there’s the gators, or as ya’ll call em, alligators. Those guys are in bout every river, stream, pond or lake here in Florida.

Course there’s signs posted everywhere though warnin ya bout em. Without a doubt, the most likely time to be attacked is durin matin season.

It’s during this time of the year the number of signs are usually doubled, possibly even tripled, and give good advice if you’d only take the time to read em.

One example of our signs down here pertainin to this is as follows…

WARNING: Gator Matin Season! If Attacked…

FAKE ORGASM!

One other thing ya must consider if kickin around the idea of movin South is simply…THE HEAT!

If ya ain’t used to hot…forget it!

Lucky and I have sat on the porch many times watchin the birds pullin worms outta the ground wearin pot holders.

Seriously, we have.

One other consideration, then I’m bout done, is drought. It gets awful dry down here.

It was so dry last spring the oak trees were whistlin for the dogs.

I’ve told Lucky before that if you’d stop by the cracks in our pasture caused by the drought, you could smell Chinese cookin comin out a most of em.

It was also just last spring the, “Please Don’t Pee In The Pool” sign was takin down by the city.

One other tidbit, and this for all you SINGLE Yankee men folk who got the idea of comin down and pickin ya out a Southern woman.

There are two things I know that’ll kill ya graveyard dead.

The first…crossin the road without lookin both ways.

The second…crossin your Southern wife!

Okay, okay, I’m in the kitchen fixin to fire off that dern cook stove and gonna shut up…

In a minute!

First, Southerners do love to cook. To us, it is a symbol of our love for each other, our children and our friends, and it actually serves as a time to sit back and share what’s been goin on in our lives.

A good meal, shared with good company, is truly a pleasurable time. We take much delight in it.

Today, as I said, I’ll be sharin some of Lucky’s recipes. She’s no doubt a very good, down home cook.

Personally I’ve eaten tons of grits throughout my lifetime, and Deb and I had done a post on grits before, but I must say…Lucky makes the best pot of grits I’ve ever eaten…bar none.

I’d watch her standin by that dern cook stove, standin on one leg, her other with her foot restin on her knee, just a stirrin the fire outta them grits.

I’d go, “Lucky…what in the world ya doin cookin them grits so long for?”

She’d say, “Bronson, it’s what makes em good.”

Ya know what?

She wasn’t lyin!

I swear to you guys…I can eat her grits right out of the fridge, stone cold. The dern things are flavored so well, to me, it was amazin.

Hopefully, they strike you guys the same way.

If all our Yankee buddies paid no heed to me on my advice bout movin South, I swear, you guys at least outta try these grits. You may be in for one very, very pleasant surprise.

Judi…Brian…ya’ll listenin??

Lucky’s Dern Grits

5 cups water

1 cup grits (yep, just one cup)

½ stick salted butter

Salt to taste

Bring water, salt and butter to hard boil. Take off heat and stir in grits very slowly or they’ll be lumpy. Place back on burner over medium heat and boil lightly for 4-5 minutes. Turn heat down to low and cook an additional 15-20 minutes, uncovered, stirring often.

Havin fish? Just add a little of your favorite cheese to your grits!

Corn Beef Hash

Two cans corned beef

Small onion

8-10 med. sized potatoes

Salt and pepper to taste

Boil potatoes, diced or quartered, just as you would for boiled potatoes, along with the chopped onion and salt and pepper. Cook until done, then drain liquid leaving enough to be a little soupy after adding your two cans of corned beef.

Good stuff, and very easy!

Some Kinda Rice Thing

1 cup of long grain white rice

I- 12 oz. can of beef consommé

1- 12 oz. can of French Onion soup

1 regular can of sliced water chestnuts (drained)

1- small can of sliced mushrooms (drained)

1 stick of salted butter

Dump all ingredients except butter into baking dish. Stir mixture and then slice butter into pieces and drop over mixture. Bake at 350, uncovered for 45 minutes to 1 hour, (depending on oven).

When we make this Lucky usually make a double batch, just by doubling ingredients.

God Bless you and yours, and be sure to keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!

Doug and Lucky

I don’t know what has got into me here lately…postin every 2-3 days?? Usually a month or so between posts. Wonder what’s up with that?

I gotta admit though, I’m pretty sure of the reasonin behind it…

I’m lonely!

Seems since huntin season kicked off, dad-gum if I ain’t become a single guy once again??

Huntin Season

That dern “Lucky” a mine absolutely LOVES to hunt and fish. She’d rather do either than eat! Dang if it ain’t becoming pretty obvious that she’d rather do either than…be around me too!

That heifer!

Course some of it’s my fault too. We bought a 34 foot 5th wheel to take to the camp, that some friends of hers practically gave to us, see, one more reason I call her Lucky, and that was my biggest mistake…takin it to the camp and settin it up!

Course all this reminds me of a joke…

An 80 year old farmer married a 27 year old woman. The old man worked all the time…daylight to dark, and was give slap out when he reached the house each evening.

Bobby Ray says, “Ya know Doc, to start with it worked out great! I’d fire my rifle and here she’d come in a minute or two. Then, huntin season started up and…I ain’t seen her since!”

You guys don’t reckon “ole Lucky…?”

NAW!!

LOL!

Honestly, she does love it though. I’m very proud that she has something like that, that she so thoroughly enjoys.

Doesn’t matter if she kills a nice buck, and I’m here to testify for her, that if she does shoot one, IT IS a good un. But her enjoyment comes from just her love of the outdoors. Sittin in her tree stand, watchin the coons or turkeys, the deer feedin, or even fightin durin the rut, this is what revs her motor.

It’s been a good year for the members so far, there’s eight families I believe that are part of the camp, so it’s not a big club by any means.

The last count I’d heard was 2 seven pointers, 3 eight pointers, 1 nine pointer, and 2 ten pointers.

Me, I love the outdoors as well, but I stopped huntin some years back. I used to love it though. My kick any more is just watchin the wildlife, although I gotta say…if an exceptional one walked out on me, I’d probably be eatin that sucker.

I love though the fellowship of sittin round the fire and just bein out, but, since one of us has got to make a livin, accordin to her…I’m it!!

LOL!

After huntin season, that heifer has got just enough time to clean, grease, and put her guns up, then…

She’s goin fishin!

Now Into Fishin Season

All jokes a side…

That woman can fish! Honestly guys…she can do it!

Fresh water or salt water…she’s da man! Well…

She’s da woman anyway!

She’ll get in her boat, her house is on Lake Marion, bout a mile and a half from ours, go figure…we get married and HER house is on the lake, but now we live in OUR house here on the place???

Anyway…us men folk don’t stand a chance, do we guys? LOL.

But anyway, she’ll get in her boat down at the lake, find them shellcracker bumpin them pads some, and she’s got her hook in the water…

Just her, God, them shellcrackers and a cane pole!

At times she’ll just slaughter em!

Then, in the saltwater, which even though I’m born and raised here in Florida, I never did much saltwater fishin, she’s one of the dern best.

Her, her son Tommy and his wife Judy took me down to Little Gasparilla Island on the west coast, which they have a place on too, by the way (I did good, huh? LOL), and schooled me in saltwater fishin.

We, or better said, THEY, tore the snook and redfish up! I was astounded for a couple reasons.

First, why in the heck I ain’t done more saltwater fishin, then, dern, these guys know their stuff! Again, no question, they were the teachers and I was…the student!

Tickled them to no end too…me bein a rookie.

On top of this, I’ve always called Lucky by her last name, which was Addison, until we married of course. Still call her Addison though, and honestly she calls me by my, or our last name now…Bronson.

While out fishin in the boat with em, I say, “Hey Addison,” and THREE of them answer back…

“What?”

I KNEW IMMEDIATELY I was in trouble! 3 Addison’s in the boat and only ONE me! Had me WAY back in the back water too…just us, and a WHOLE lot a mangrove swamps! I had NO idea how to get back to the dock either!

Right then, at that very moment, my whole outlook changed. I went suddenly from Superman, to meek, mild mannered Clark Kent!

Stayed that way too.

Yes sir, no sir. Yes ma’am, no ma’am.

Shoot, come to think about it…

I ain’t been back down there with em!

She did rub a little salt in my wounds too while we were down there…

Here I was, fishin HARD, and not havin any luck?? Finally, ole Lucky with ANOTHER dern redfish on the end of her pole, says, “Here Bronson…ya wanna reel him in for me?”

Ticked me OFF to no end.

Well…ME bein ME, an ole tough Florida born and bred cracker, I gave her the what for!

“Really,” I asked. “Why sure honey, I’d love to! Thanks a million dear! Dern, I love you!”

Then, to top it off, the three of them had still been pickin at me bout my saltwater fishin skills, or better said, my lack of them, and out of the blue Lucky says,…

“Ya know what Bronson? Your fishin don’t pick up, I can see an ANNULLMENT comin down the road!”

Ya gotta know her though. She was just joshin me…

I think??

You were joshin me, right Lucky?

Ya know, sittin here postin this this morning, with Lucky havin a place on the lake, a place on the island, and a huntin camp 4 miles from OUR (LOL) house…
Ya reckon it just might be me, who’s… “Lucky?”

NAW!!

Me either!

All jokin aside though, God did Bless me with Kathrine, and I’m thankful to Him for it. She was a wonderful friend to Deb for many, many years and you don’t know how much comfort that is. No question Kathrine loved her, and Deb her as well.

This in itself has brought such a peaceful closure to the chapter of Deb and my life we shared together. Only through God’s will in Debs regard, and Kathrine and her husband Ronnie’s as well, could we be in the position we are in today.

Only through our Father’s love for us, His love for you guys out there as well, could Kathrine and I been so fortunate to find that through God having us right where He wanted us, He gave us both once more…

A reason for laughter, a reason for happiness, and the great blessing of having someone alongside you who you know really, really cares about you simply because…you’re you.

God does work in mysterious ways my friends. If anyone out there today who just happened to run across this post and doesn’t know God…give Him a chance in your own life.

If so, I know you’ll soon come to understand…unconditional love!

In closing this out this morning, I’d just like to say God Bless you and yours, and thank you so much to many of you out there who we truly consider…our friends!

Be sure to keep a smile on your face, and one in your hearts!

Oh…

If any of you guys were to run across Lucky out there in them woods somewhere, please tell her I love her, and…I’m down at OUR house, not HER house! LOL!

Also, tell her she’s at least got to come by here AFTER huntin season, cause I gathered up all her fishin tackle, got it locked up and I’m the only one with the key!

Doug and Lucky

Let’s change gears this morning and instead a wastin my breath talkin bout them dad-gum politicians, let’s talk some groceries, and this other thing my Mama and Daddy used to talk with me about…getting older.

For those who have yet to experience this getting older thing, I gotta tell ya…it’s comin! Got here A LOT sooner than I ever thought possible!

Shoot, I’m sailin along in my twenties, then got to them thirties, and all of a sudden, WHAM…I’m tippin forty!

I’ve been forty now for, hmmm, let’s see, well, bout seventeen years now!

Forty plus…that’s me!

Anyway, Lucky and I stopped by a phone store last night. There was an older couple in there and we kinda struck up a conversation with em.

Actually, they really didn’t have a choice cause I’m pretty good at that dern “striking up a conversation” thing.

I talked…and they listened.

The husband was 85, and his wife was 83. I mean, what were they gonna do…run off?

I ain’t bragging or nuthin, but I believe if they’d give me any lip bout my conversin with em…I could of whippin em both!

Seriously though, they were a really, really nice couple. We shot the bull with em, and Lucky and I both enjoyed their company.

The salesman that helped us, Steven, and a great guy, is 25. We’ve seen him twice, and I have to tell you that I was very impressed with his knowledge, his politeness, AND his WORK ethic.

Very, very impressive young man.

I told him so, too. In this day and age it is so good to see a young man or woman, who enjoy their job, and even more…HAVE a dern job!

Anyway, as Lucky and I were finishin up, I was tellin Steven to enjoy his youth…it goes away much faster than you could ever dream.

You know, the work hard Steven, apply yourself, and with your work ethic and personality, you can go far. Only YOU can prevent your own success…nobody else.

I also told him, half-jokingly that lookin at my own life…it was pretty sad.

My reasonin for this…shoot, I’d just spent an hour or two laughin and cutting up with an 85 and 83 year-old and…had ENJOYED IT! LOL!

We left there and stopped by the grocery store to pick up a couple things.

Lucky was pickin up a bunch of bananas when I pulled up with the cart and I hollered, “Uh-uh…don’t buy those green bananas!! Get them dern ripe ones!”

By doin so, I KNOW I can probably get to eat em for something happens to me!

A few other examples of getting older are…

I got up the other morning and went to wash my face and shave. I looked in the mirror and said…
“Dad???”

Then the other day, Lucky and I were up town and this gorgeous woman walks by, and I got to thinkin,
“Dern, I wonder what her MOM looks like???”

A buddy of mine asked me the other day if I remembered Preparation H?
I told him, “Shoot, I’m so old I remember when they come out with…PREPARATION A!”

Ya know, I’d mentioned Lucky and I had stopped by the phone store and met that fine older couple.

They shared with us a few of their abbreviations while textin…

BFF- Best Friend Fainted
BYOT—Bring Your Own Teeth
LMDO—Laughin My Dentures Out
And…
GGPBL- Gotta Go Pacemaker Battery Low

I was readin to Lucky the other night where the Senate was investigatin deceptive practices targetin the elderly, and bilkin them outta their money, and I asked her to guess the worst one…
She asked sincerely… “I dunno, Social Security?”

Had a buddy tell me the other day he knew HE was getting old, when he realized, he had 25 house plants at home and…I can’t smoke any of em!”

Lucky and I were at the Doctor’s office last week when I wasn’t feelin well.

He comes back in and says, “Lucky, your husband’s getting older and needs rest and some quiet time, so here’s some sleepin pills.”
Lucky asked him, “When should I give em to him Doc?”
The Doctor replied, “They’re not for him Lucky, they’re…FOR YOU!”

I love my Doctor!
LMDO!

But ya really know you’re getting old when the candles cost more than your cake!

Now…bout them groceries!

Lucky LOVES to hunt and fish, and to be quite honest, she’s good at both. She’d rather fish or sit in her tree-stand than eat.

She keeps her game camera goin, and last year she got a picture of a Florida panther, which I thought pretty neat. I’d never seen one in the wild before.

I ain’t sure bout the count she gave me, but I think she said her camera had caught on film 37 illegal aliens too.

Jus kiddin.

But you guys did see where the illegals are now claimin “They ain’t gonna take it anymore,” and promise a more radical approach?”

Here illegally, but ain’t gonna take it anymore?? Good night a livin folks, oh yeah…the groceries.

Sorry! (possibly more bout that later??

Anyway, today’s recipes come once more from Kathrine’s cookbook, “Cedar Creek Game Cookbook.”

Sweet and Sour Venison:

2 lbs. venison steaks, ¼”

2 tbsp. lemon juice

1 can beef consume

2 tbsp. brown sugar

1 tsp. savory salt

¼ cup, chopped green onions, tops included

1 clove garlic

1/3 cup soy sauce

Cut steaks ¼” thick, diagonally across the grain. Combine other ingredients, pour over meat strips and marinate in fridge overnight. After draining, broil about 4 inches from heat until tender. Serves 4.

Juanita’s Spanish Rice:

6 slices of bacon

2 bell peppers, sliced

3 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 tsp. garlic salt

1 cup uncooked rice

2 large onions, sliced

5 cups canned tomatoes, or if you have, use fresh tomatoes

Salt and pepper to taste

1 lb. ground beef

Fry bacon slowly until crisp. Remove from pan and pour off the dripping. Brown onions, peppers and ground beef in remainder of bacon drippings. Add seasonings and crumbled bacon.
Add warmed tomatoes or steamed fresh ones, stir in uncooked rice and cook slowly. Stir often or it may stick. If the mixture seems too dry, add more tomatoes or water. Cook until rive is tender, about 45 minutes.

Indian Meal Pudding:

¾ cup corn meal

3 quarts milk

6 cups finely cut apples

3 tsp. salt

3 tsp. ground ginger

1-1/2 cup molasses

Scald milk, add corn meal and cook 30 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and pour into buttered baking dish. Bake on 350 for 1 hour stirring occasionally. Serves 12.

I’d stay and visit a little longer with ya my friends, but GGPBL!

LOL!

You guys have a great day and God bless. Please be sure to, “Keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!”

Doug and Lucky

“Bronson,” she’d say, “I’m happy with my life just as it is, and I don’t need no man screwin it up!”

Shoot, I thought she must have been dropped on her head when she was a baby, cause all jokes aside, I happened to be a pretty good catch, but that’s just my opinion, mind ya.

But eventually, my persistence and good looks won out. Lol!

I’d say, “But dern Addison, you look good, ya got a good heart, you’re a fine Christian lady, ya like to hunt and fish, and even better yet…ya mow grass!”

“Honey, we were MADE for each other!”

She’d always respond… “Bronson, we’ve been goin to dinner ONLY cause we’ve been friends for so long, we’ve both been through the loss of our spouse, and I know it’s tough. I’m only tryin to help you through this.”

I’d respond, “Addison,” I didn’t DARE call her “Lucky” at that point, “I understand all that, BUT…dang if I ain’t startin to have some deeper feelins here than just goin out to dern dinner. Besides that, I’ve eat your cookin before, and you put on a pretty good feed bag when you set a table. You don’t seem to remember…I’ve eaten your groceries before, knothead!”

“You’re a nut Bronson.”

“You’re crazy, Bronson.”

These were my typical responses from her when I’d try to explain how I felt bout her, along with all my fine attributes.

Then one day, she slipped and let it out… “Bronson, I’ve been by myself for so long now…I DON’T even cook anymore!”

WHAT, I thought??? DON’T COOK ANYMORE???

Suddenly, it hit me right between the eyes that you know what??? She may be right on the money…maybe I am crazy, and a dern nut to boot??

What the heck I want with a woman who don’t cook??

That remark, “Bronson, I don’t cook anymore,”was like chunkin a bucket a water on a matchstick!

That fire that I thought was burnin inside me in my feelins towards her…went out like a light!

Gone!

Nada!

I guess she saw immediately that she’d said the wrong thing, cause she knew Bronson liked to eat bout as much as he liked breathin. Shoot, I always thought the two went hand in hand, you eat a mouthful of groceries…then ya take a breath! LOL!

Anyway, it must have struck her that the tables had been turned.

My chasin Kathrine went dead in the water right then, and…her chasin Bronson started up in earnest!

The very next night, I went down to her house and it had started.

I walked in, she was standin in front of her cookstove boilin water, didn’t look none too happy bout it either, but she knew in her heart, she had quite a bit of ground to make up if she was gonna land moi!!

I asked, “What ya cookin Addison,” and she said, “Here’s some water for ya some tea. Chunk in a bag or two, boil it and dump it in that pitcher there, bring it back to a boil once more, then dump it again, fill the pitcher with water, and ya got ya some tea.”

I asked her, “Why didn’t you finish it up yourself,” and she bein quite honest told me… “I didn’t want to mess it up, baby.”

I knew right then…she was mine if I wanted her!

Boilin water for me some tea.

Shoot, ain’t no tellin how long she’d been standin there, lookin out that screen door wonderin when I’d come pullin up!

Then it went on to butter beans, then one night okra and tomatoes stewed down just like I like em, AND then…some kind a dern rice she’d thrown together, and I’m here to tell ya…it was the best I’d ever put in my mouth.

Bar none!

That in itself is a mouthful, cause over the course of my lifetime, I’ve eat me some rice!

Shoot, I’d gotten so big at one point in my life that I had more “Chins” than a Chinese phonebook, and most of that from rice…and LOTS of gravy! LOL.

I guess she’d seen the impression that rice had made on me, and figured she’d better get me while the gettin was good.

It was then that she dropped to one knee and asked me to marry her.

It was maybe the most romantic thing I’d ever seen before, but her timin was off just a tad…

When she proposed, I’d just got me another BIG mouthful of that rice, and when I said “Yes, I’ll marry ya Addison,” I peppered her forehead with rice sayin I do!

Lookin back now, it was exactly the same kind of stuff they make movies out of!

So this morning, I figured we’d put up a couple recipes for you guys to try out, and I figured that rice recipe out ta be one of em!

But…it ain’t!

Ronnie, Kathrine’s husband was a watermelon farmer, and they used to travel all over Georgia growin melons.

One of the landowners, Sam Goolsby, had put together a cookbook, and had given Kathrine a copy. It is titled “Cedar Creek Game Cookbook,” and we’ll share a couple recipes out of it this morning.

With Lucky bein asleep still, I’m always up doin somethin, pickin up the house, makin our coffee (see, she really is Lucky).

So, we’ll now fire off Miz Judi’s Kitchen again!

I thought I’d use a couple recipes Lucky had bookmarked, with the first bein…

Batter Dipped Fish:

2 lbs. fish filets or steaks

1 cup sifted all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

2/3 cup milk

½ tsp. salt

2 eggs

2 tbsp. melted shortening

Sift dry ingredients together and add mixture of milk and eggs. Add shortening. Dip fish, allowing each to drain slightly. Fry in hot shortening in skillet until brown, about 5-6 minutes. Drain and serve.

Yield: 6 servings

Fried Cheese:

2 tbsp. butter or margarine

2 slightly beaten eggs

½ cup flour

1 lb. Mozzarella cheese

½ cup dry bread crumbs, fine.

Dip ¼ inch slices of cheese into flour, then egg, then crumbs and fry about 2 minutes on each side in melted butter. Fry till brown.

Yield: 4-6 servings

Squash Casserole

4 pounds squash (yellow)

2 carrots (grated)

1 small onion (grated)

Salt and pepper to taste

½ stick butter

1 can Cream of Mushroom soup

1 pint sour cream

Pepperidge Farm corn bread dressing

Slice and cook squash in salty water, drain. In a mixing bowl add squash, grated carrots, soup, sour cream, onions, salt and pepper. Melt butter in bottom of casserole dish and sprinkle just enough of the dressing to absorb the butter.

Add squash mixture to this and sprinkle more dressing on the top, dotting it with butter.

Bake on 350 for 30 minutes.

You guys have a great day, God Bless you and yours, and remember to…

“Keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!”

Doug and Lucky

Kathrine had loaned me, quite a while back, a book that was her late husband Ronnie’s, who also was a good, good friend of Deb and myself.

Deb, God bless her soul, got no more enjoyment anywhere that simply aggravatin the fire out of him.

She nicknamed him “Turtle,” after her and I getting behind him in our vehicle one day, with him in his. At first we didn’t know who it was goin SO slow down the highway. Then, once we were able to pass him, there he was, bigger than life sittin up behind that steerin wheel, his windows rolled down, and his hair…NOT EVEN BLOWIN!

The man was on a major highway, here in Central Florida of all places, holdin up the flow of traffic, poking along, with ALL HIS WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN, and…his hair not even movin.

Ronnie had found God the last year to year and a half in his life, and once Ronnie found God, this too was not unlike anything he’s ever done in his life…it was taken very seriously, and he poured himself into studying the Bible and researching any and every thing that he came across.

To have known Ronnie as Deb and I had, then to attend his service and hear his Pastor speak of Ronnie in the way he did was incredible to me.

Pastor Mike spoke of Ronnie calling him often asking, “Okay, I’ve finished these books in the Bible…where do I go next?”

Even telling of his need to roof his house one weekend, and because of this, he’d given Ronnie a little extra to study, with his intent being to “bury” Ronnie in study for a few days, literally…so he could fix his roof.

Well, Pastor Mike then spoke of being on his roof working on Saturday, and hearing the phone ring. His wife brought the phone outside and Pastor Mike asked, “Who is it?”

His wife’s reply… “It’s Ronnie…says he’s finished what you’d given him…wants to know where to go next??”

You know, I’m sure Pastor Mike spun this story just a little, but for all who knew Ronnie…that’s exactly the way he was.

Again, he’d dive headlong into a project, BUT ONLY, after studying how and why were the best ways to attack it.

He was quite a guy, and I think of him quite often to be honest.

I know Kathrine has made the statement a few times where she’d find something, a box of shells, or some fishin tackle she’d need, and state, “Ronnie is still helpin us out.”

I believe that these types of things do happen because…you’ll find something, or see something, or think back of something, and again, I too believe these things happen. I’ve experienced this in Deb’s regard as well.

Anyway, Kathrine had loaned me this book to read, again, of Ronnie’s, and a couple nights back, I started reading it in earnest.

Let me own up that my personal walk with God is filled with trials and tribulations from time to time, and it’s not an “easy” path, and the last few weeks I’d felt I was needing something to again, get me back on the right track.

I started reading this book, and very shortly, I’d gotten up, got a pen and notebook, and I went to scratchin down notes.

I was INTERESTED in what I was getting out of this, and I honestly was layin in bed readin, thinkin to myself, “Dern if ole Turtle ain’t…helpin me out!”

Along with God of course.

But anyway, I find this book very, very helpful, so much in fact, I thought I’d post of it today.

Actually, I’m goin to order 30 copies or so and pass them out to close friends, as it is literally a teaching tool, and thoughts can be shared among friends after reading a chapter or two, maybe once a week.
Basically a fellowship among friends and family.

My dad is on the list for receiving a copy of this book.

Although he and I get along well anymore, there were far TOO MANY years that we didn’t get along very well at all.

Neither of us are too old to get to understand and KNOW each other better.

Also, I’d kinda like to shock him with the mere fact that…I CAN read!

Many of you I know have probably read this book, but for those who haven’t, I literally consider it, a must read.

I’d like to share just a little of it with you guys this morning, if ya don’t mind.

The title…

“The Measure of a Man…(Twenty Attributes of a Godly Man)”

It was written by, Gene A. Getz.

As the title suggests, it lays out twenty attributes taken by the author from Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus, profiling our maturity levels in Christ. (1st Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-10)

PAUL’S MATURITY PROFILE

1- Overall Spiritual Maturity (a well-rounded man)

2- Above Reproach (a man of good repute)

3- The Husband Of One Wife (morally pure)

4- Temperate (balanced in words, and actions)

5-Prudent (wise and humble)

6- Respectable (good role model)

7- Hospitable (unselfish and generous)

8- Able To Teach (communicates sensitively in a non-threatening and non-defensive manner)

9- Not Addicted To Wine (not addicted to substances)

10- Not Self-Willed (not self-centered and controlling)

11- Not Quick-Tempered (void of anger that becomes sinful)

12- Not Pugnacious (not abusive)

13- Gentle (sensitive, loving and kind)

14- Peaceable (non-argumentative and non-divisive)

15- Free From The Love Of Money (non-materialistic)

16- Manages His Own Household Well (a good husband and father)

17- Loving What Is Good (pursues Godly activities)

18- Just (wise, discerning, non-prejudiced and fair)

19- Devout (holy, devoted to God)

20- Self-Controlled (disciplined)

And there they are…

I don’t know about the rest of you guys, but it dawned on me pretty clearly that I was terribly lacking in most all of these.

Ending each chapter of this book, there are a few thoughts to ponder about yourself, and your relationship with God.

These I found most helpful simply because they make you stop and THINK, what areas do I need work…and why?

The book is literally a teaching tool, and should be shared

Examples of this I’ll use from the first chapter, “Becoming A Faithful Man.”

1- Why do some men grow rapidly in their Christian faith once they become believers, and why do others struggle, seemingly taking as many steps backwards as forward? (Think of examples YOU can sensitively share. If you feel free to, share your own personal experiences.)

2- As you look back at Paul’s Maturity Profile, what would you consider your areas of strength?

3- As you look at the same profile, in what one specific area would you like to grow the most? Can you identify the factor or factors that are holding you back?

It then asks for you to set a goal that you’d like to achieve as a result of this study.

Again I feel, at least in my case, that this book is simply an incredible learning and teaching tool, if for no one else…but me.

I know once completing this read, and taking a look back at myself, that this will be a tremendous plus if for no other reason, but understanding more about me, and my own walk with God.

If you feel so inclined, order a copy. If you’ve read it prior, I’d appreciate any feedback of what this book taught you. Possibly, through this, we may touch others, and actually, that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?

Thank you all so very much for droppin in today, and God Bless you and yours.

Why don’t we close this out today with a little humor sent to me from our good friend Gary, over in Salt Springs, Florida.…

Catholic Dog

Muldoon lived alone in the Irish country side with only a pet dog for company. One day the dog died, and Muldoon went to the parish priest and asked, ‘Father, my dog is dead. Could ya’ be saying’ a mass for the poor creature?’

Father Patrick exclaimed, ‘Sweet Mary, Mother of Jesus! Why didn’t ya tell me the dog was Catholic?

Again, you guys have a great day, and God Bless.

Please be sure to, “Keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart.

Dub and “Lucky”

Anyway, life has, or may I say had, been kinda a struggle since Deb passed on. To be the type of guy who had always been able to simply grab the bull by the horns and work through pretty much any type of adversity, this with Deb was in an entirely different league.

Honestly, I didn’t know if I was coming or going, and the worst part is there were so many different times I didn’t even realize I WAS having any type of problem.

But, with God’s help, and many, many good friends concern for me, along with time itself being a sort of healer, life once more is good again.

Let me emphasize one thing this morning, and if you take nothing else away from this post at all, understand this…God will never put more on you than you can tote, or shoulder, and I understand this quite well.

Firsthand.

There are so many examples of God’s love for me since Deb passed away, it’s incredible. I always knew of God, yet found little time, or better said, I never ALLOWED God time in my life.

Without getting long winded on this subject, there are even examples in my own right of total strangers stepping into my life and making a difference in my walk with God.

Sallie Kay, you’re but one example of this, and I have to say this morning, thank you so much for takin the time, AND effort, to share with me your own experience of how God changed your life.

You made a difference, Sallie Kay…a big difference!

So, guys…

If you haven’t experienced His love in your own right, which by the way you do daily, whether you realize it or not, dig into it a little. Pick up a Bible and read it, and I’m sure you’ll begin to understand where I’m coming from.

Now, what’s been happenin in my life?

Well, for starters…I’m getting older!

I stopped quite a while back buyin green bananas at the grocery store. Decided if I was for sure gonna eat the dern things, I just might wanna buy em…already ripe!

Seems logical enough, huh?

I’m also startin up a new endeavor in my life… “Isaiah’s Garden.”

Kinda just really getting into it some.

Isaiah’s Garden was what I’ll call a vision I had. A vision influenced by the Book of Isaiah, chapter 53 primarily.

Isaiah 53 is where Dub finally…GOT IT, when it comes to my really beginning to see clearly the love God has for us.

Anyway, I decided that here on our place I could not only grow vegetables and plants to sell, earn a little income without goin out the gate. Plus, it would provide for me an opportunity to meet people, and share with them the story of the difference God has made in my life.

How can it get any better than that?

Goin to start next week sellin some barbeque. Lookin forward to that part of it as well. Considerin our sign out front declarin…

“You’d have to be a rooster to get a better piece a chicken!” LOL!

Deb always loved that sayin…risqué or not.

Growin a garden, grillin some meat, and runnin my mouth. All rankin very high on my list of likes, right up there with…eatin!

Believe that next July I’ll turn our paving business over to our youngest son, Mark, or Red as I call him.

He’s a very fine young man, who took a whole passle of worry off me after Deb’s passing. Still does.

I can honestly say that there’s not a more deserving young man to take over anything. He’s a working Trojan, a fine communicator, and our customers love him.

He’ll do well.

Last, but not least, there is one other change in my life…

I remarried.

Nope, I didn’t hit the wrong keys, I actually did…remarry.

Met this lady on the internet.

In our first dialogue together, she stated that she loved to hunt, had her own lease to hunt on, and enjoyed fishin too.

She also declared she lived on a lake, had a place on an island here in Florida off the west coast, and had a really nice fishin boat.

My immediate response to her after hearing of this?

Please send me a picture of…

Your boat!! LOL!

No, in all sincerity, Kathrine has made an awfully big difference in turnin my life around as well. I’m very grateful to her for this.

We didn’t meet on the internet, but have known each other for almost 15 years.

Deb loved her, and she loved Deb in return.

Kathrine lost her husband Ronnie, over 5 years ago. There’s an old post about him, in regards to Deb nicknaming him Turtle. I loved him just as Deb and Kathrine loved each other. Literally, they became family to us.

After losing Ronnie, Kathrine never dated, and had decided that she was one and done. After I lost Deb, she took pity upon me, yeah, I have to say she did, and we’d go to dinner…for company.

Seems the more I was around Kathrine, the more I realized she was a woman with high moral standards, she took things seriously, and once she was convicted in her beliefs, she was a hard one to turn.

She was…my exact opposite! They say opposites attract, huh? LOL!

Anyway, I began to feel deeply for her, but was always wonderin…ya reckon I CAN turn her?

She wanted no man in her life, and was content with her life, just as it was. She was exactly where she wanted to be, and as she would always say, “Bronson…I DO NOT want a man in my life! I’m your friend and that’s it! I’m HAPPY!”

Shoot, I knew right then she was fightin it for sure! It was only a matter of time! LOL.

No, honestly, I’ve never worked SO hard for SO little ground gained! Courtin her was about as pleasurable as slidin down a mile long razor blade into a vat of alcohol!

That woman busted my chops ever chance she got. First to simply just run me off, and this bein her WHOLE motive to begin with, runnin me off, but as time passed, she began to derive pleasure, A LOT of pleasure from the trials and tribulations she was putting upon me.

Lookin back now, I firmly believe, it was the pleasure she was deriving from causing me such anxiety, that this eventually became her own downfall.

By enjoyin painin me so much, her guard came down just enough for my own bull-headedness to win out, and because of this she finally saw…

What a fine figure of a man I was! LOL!

Actually, I think I just wore her down, and she finally realized that Bronson wasn’t goin anywhere.

Kinda a, if ya cain’t beat em, join em type of thing??

All joking aside, I have to say that Kathrine is one fine woman. After realizing that we may indeed have some type of relationship brewing, she immediately started layin down the rules. The first of which simply being that we would NOT be seen in public together until Deb’s one year anniversary of her death.

Not just that, but we’d have nothing period, until the one year mark had passed.

She told me many times that she loved Deb so much, she owed Deb that, and to be honest, was one more reason I love Kathrine like I do.

Long story short, Kathrine and I were married after church on June 23rd.

I’m a very happy camper, and believe Kathrine is as well. Matter of fact, I know she is. But guys, Kathrine and I are one more example of how God works in your lives.

Neither of us saw this coming, her especially, but I have to say that there was no way I could have pursued her as I did without some divine intervention. That bein said in only a half jokin way.

I truly believe, and Kathrine too, that God did step in and show us that two people, who had pretty much always been close, had shared the same type of loss, yet who never dreamed that one day WE would share our own lives together as man and wife.

God does work in mysterious ways, and I feel this was His way of Kathrine and I being able to smile again with someone very special in our lives.

A new season, if you will.

I do believe though, in all my heart, that Deb and Ronnie both, are smiling down on us over this turn of events. Part of her once more insuring we have that…smile on our face, and one in our heart!

So, that’s where I’m at with my life now, my friends. You’ll be hearin from me now on a much more regular basis. Thank you all for all your support and concern…you’re all the very best!

God Bless you and yours, and please… “Keep that smile on your face, and one in your heart!”

Dub

You know, I knew a man who really enjoyed going to the dog track. This guy just loved to go and watch those dern dogs run.

When he could find the time, he’d be at the track. He literally loved it.

Anyway, you all probably have little things that trigger you to think, “Dern, I oughta play that number,” or you see something that makes you think, “I oughta play the lotto tonight.”

Even things such as wearin the same shirt to your favorite college football team’s game, time after time, after time.

Why?

Cause in your heart, you feel by doing this…it brings you luck.

You ever done that, or something similar?

Well, back to my buddy’s story. He got up one morning, at 5 am, which was about an hour earlier than his normal wake up time…wide awake.

He decided to go ahead and get ready for work.

He grabs his socks and drawers, both of which were in the fifth drawer of his dresser, walked into his closet and grabbed a shirt, which by chance, happened to be hangin on the fifth hanger from the left.

He went down, took out the egg carton out of the fridge, and lo and behold, there were five eggs missing.

He left for work, and caught the first four lights, but upon approaching it, light number five stayed green, allowing him to keep on truckin.

He gets to work and realizes today is Friday, the fifth day of the work week, and sees that today just happens to be in the fifth month of the year as well.

Well, he begins to see the pattern, and can’t wait for the work day to end at five o’clock, so he can get to the dog track.

He leaves work immediately, gets to the track and unbelievably, you guessed it…he’s the fifth person in line to place his bets, the whole time thinking to himself…I’m playin…NUMBER 5!

He puts 500 hundred bucks on the fifth dog, in the fifth race, and sure enough…

The dog came in FIFTH!

You guys ever had days like that?

You’re going along, bein kicked “through the goalposts of life” bout half the time, struggling to make ends meet, workin your butt off, and suddenly, out of the blue, you feel as if something you see or hear, just clicks with you…

This just has to be an omen of some sort, and by following your instincts, this may just be the opportunity you needed to literally turn your life around, only to find…

You came in fifth???

It happens, doesn’t it?

I know in my own experience there have been many times I have gone through exactly that…comin in fifth.

I gotta tell ya’ll, I HATE to lose. There is NO second place, at least not in my book there ain’t. You win, or just as simply…you lose. That’s my mentality. I cain’t help it.

I have struggled so many times, lookin back now, and I have to tell you, there have been many failures in my life, and from these experiences I too have felt as if…good night, what am I doin wrong here?

Losing Deb, for what seemed like far too long, whatever I attempted, whatever project I started, whatever I tried to help ease the pain over her loss, I kept comin in fifth.

I couldn’t focus on anything.

By now, God had come into my life, but this was all new to me. I could feel His love. I knew without a doubt that this was all good and a major upside was taking place in my life, but dad-gum…it still seemed as if I was stuck in fifth place.

This continued up until just a little over a month or so ago.

This post today, although using Deb’s loss as an example of my inability to focus, is not about Deb.

Today’s post pertains to any circumstance you may find yourself in that literally deals you a bad hand.

The loss of your job, your seeming inability to communicate with your kids, or a friend, or your spouse anymore.

Just anything…

Then one Sunday, “Preacher Charlie” was speaking on trusting God.

He spoke of a simple prayer that he used when things seemed they were taking a turn for the worse, and through this, he was having a major problem focusing on the tasks ahead that would be needed to…turn his life back around.

He shared with us that he’d sat down and spoken with God about this dilemma he was facing and told God that, “Charlie is done Lord. I cannot overcome the adversity in my life without some help…YOUR help.”

“Without you’re taking control of my life, things will only continue to spiral out of control, again, Charlie’s done. So please Lord, step into my life, fill me with the Holy Spirit and let me TRUST YOU in all things. ONLY You, can make this right.”

He couldn’t have hit me over the head with a sledgehammer and made his point any clearer.

Once again, Dub was attempting to grab the bull by the horns, and force things to just…turnaround.

Basically, just a me, me, me attitude. I controlled my life. I made things happen. I had the ability to do any and everything I needed to do, shoot, I’d done it all my life, right?

WRONG!

I understood after listening to “Preacher Charlie,” that I WASN’T the ONE controlling my life…it was GOD. All the good things that take place in your life are from Him…not you or I.

Of course we have that “other fellow” to contend with as well, and boy, oh boy, he’ll test your faith!

Just recently, that guy tested me big time, but you know what, I actually handled it pretty well, and I gotta say, I was quite proud of the way it was handled.

BUT, without God in my life, this would not have happened.

I’m coming to realize, more and more, that if you’d just trust God, and let God run your life, good things happen. I personally can attest to this.

I ask God daily anymore to show me the way. Let me learn to trust You more and more, and in all honesty…my life is really beginning to get back on track.

This is real folks…

I’ve seen God work.

Deb was a fine example of someone walking with God, talking with God, and showing others, myself included, the strength bestowed by God that enables you to face adversity, even a “death sentence,” with a smile on your face, and one in your heart!

But you know, throughout Deb’s journey, she understood that although, and she told me this in our swing, actually the last time we sat in our swing together, the hardest thing she faced…was leaving her family.

This was the only thing that she would regret.

She also told me that she KNEW…she KNEW…where she was going, and that she was ready, if this was God’s wishes. Deb was in reality, ready to begin her life with God…in earnest.

ETERNAL LIFE!

I have to tell you all how very fortunate I was to have been around someone like Deb. A finer example of God being involved in someone’s life I could never imagine.

I’ll always love her…

Acts and Isaiah

There’s a scripture, Acts 20:22-24, that reminds me of Deb, and the faith she exhibited throughout her struggle with cancer, not only to me, but anyone who came into contact with her.

It goes…

“And now I am bound by the spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what waits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead.”
But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus-the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”

Isaiah 12:2 states…

“See, God has come to save me.

I will TRUST in Him and not be afraid.”

I’ve also seen firsthand how God will put people into your lives, and to all my friends out there who cared about an “ole red neck” enough to talk with me about God, and the difference He’s made in their own lives, I’d just like to thank you all one more time.

I’m indebted to each of you!

I’m going to start closing this out by asking you guys a question or two?

Does life seem as if you’re missing out on something?

Do you feel as if you’re trying as hard as you possibly can, but things just seem to not be workin out for you in many instances, or at least not as how you might have imagined?

Does it seem as if no matter what you touch, you always end up… “comin in fifth?”

Then why not ask for God to come into your own lives?

I have a friend who works with us from time to time…

Dale doesn’t believe in God, and would tell you this quite plainly. I mean literally, he does NOT believe in God…or, at least he didn’t. But just here recently this is starting to turn.

He has been around me for a few years now, and has witnessed and experienced Dub…prior to God coming into my life.

He saw Deb throughout her battle with cancer, even near the very end. He heard me describe the morning before her passing, of Deb, after getting to the point where our talks together has ceased, on account of her time drawing to a close, and she’d lost her ability to even turn over in bed, I witnessed something…something very profound.

I SAW, with my own eyes, Deb raise up in bed, reaching out with her arms outstretched, her eyes wide open, which hadn’t been the case for the last couple days, talking excitedly, although inaudible to me, to something that it was quite evident she was seeing.

Our dog Cheyenne, lying at the foot of her bed was just growling so very softly, as if only makin me aware that yes…something WAS in our room.

Deb did this three times that I’m guessing happened in a five minute time span.

I saw this, and I KNEW something was there, but something that only she knew what was actually taking place.

Dale listened intently to this story, and started asking me, and Bob who works with us too, a little about God.

Yesterday, he again brought up the subject of God.

It seems he’d spoken with a lady the night before, and she too had spoken about God to him. It was obvious it had touched him, and perked his interest on this subject once more.

He asked me yesterday morning, “Do you really believe…this is real?”

I replied that yes sir, it undoubtedly IS real, and spoke with him about God a little more.

I see, little by little, God beginning to work in Dale’s life, and to be quite honest with you…it makes me feel good.

God does work in mysterious ways. I too, can vouch for this.

So, finishing up here today, if you too would like for God to come into your life, you only need to ask. I strongly suggest also finding friends or attending a church where you can hear firsthand others testimonial of how God plays a role in their lives.

Read the Bible, this, maybe more than anything else, has helped me in beginning to grasp, if only a little, more and more of what this whole “walk with God” is all about.

Every answer to every question you may have…is there.

After all, it’s God’s Word!

Remember, and this from Isaiah once more, 40:28-31…

“Have you never heard?

They will walk and not faint.”

You guys have a great day, and God Bless!

Please be sure to keep that smile on your face, and one in your heart!

I guarantee you, there’s one very special lady looking down on us all, who enjoys nothing more than seeing exactly that!

Dub and Deb

Heard a story yesterday of a little boy, maybe seven years old, sittin on the street corner tryin to sell a lawnmower.

A man of about 45 came pedaling up on a bike.

The man stopped, looked down at the mower with the handwritten,“4-sale sign,” hangin off it, and asked, “Is this your mower, does it still run, and why ya sellin it?”

The little boy replied yes to the first two, and then said he was sellin the mower to buy a bike.

“Hmmm…” the man thought. “You know, I don’t ride this bike much, and I do NEED a mower…Tell ya what, I’ll swap ya my bike for your mower, and we’ll both have come out ahead here today.”

The little boy agrees immediately, but asks, “Mister, can I take the bike for a test spin?”

The man said, “Yes, of course ya can, and may I start the mower?”

The little boy replied that this would be just fine, hops on the bike and starts circling around the cul-de-sac, happy as a lark!

Meanwhile the man, his face red as a beet, CONTINUES to tug on that mower rope, but the mower hasn’t even attempted to fire off. It’s been a good five minutes or so, and he’s getting a tad aggravated with the dern thing.

He hollers out at the boy, “YOU SURE IT’LL CRANK?”

To which the little boy, who by now is happier than a pig in slob over his stroke of good fortune, hollers back, “Yes sir, she sure will, but ya might have to cuss her just a little.”

“Cuss her a little,” considers the man, then he hollers back out, “Son, I cain’t cuss her a little…I’m a preacher! Shoot, it’s been so long since I have, I don’t even remember… HOW to cuss???”

The little boy shot back, “Just keep tuggin on that rope preacher man…it’ll come back to ya directly!”

Reckon how you’d have reacted?

Myself, I’d just been tuggin on that rope, smiling the whole time, tellin that little feller just how PROUD I was that he was ENJOYIN that bike so well…

Most of my friends, at least the ones who’ve known me for several years, will attest to the fact, that I AM HARD…to get flustered!

NOT!

LOL!

I was reading last night, not really anything on my mind to speak of, and ran across a few things that kinda jumped out at me.

It was talking about a vineyard that had been planned, laid out, and constructed.

This was to be a beautiful vineyard, a vineyard whose vines would never want for anything, and would bear fruit abundantly.

The vineyard grew, and the owner settled in for his harvest of sweet grapes.

The vines though, produced only sour grapes.

Again, the owner had provided any and everything to get this particular vineyard to the point where, down the road, it being a great garden, actually…the “perfect garden!”

Yet, although the vineyard did produce, its fruits were bitter, and not of any type of quality.

The owner was so distraught, so angered by this, that he declared…

“Now let me tell you what I’ll do to my vineyard;

I will command the clouds to drop no rain on it.”

This story of the vineyard is actually a song about “The Lord’s Vineyard,” with the vineyard actually representing…the nation of Israel, God’s chosen nation…

It is told in the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 5.

Israel had turned away from God, stopped doing God’s work, and because of this, was destroyed.

This was God’s punishment for their sins, allowing Assyria to conquer and destroy them.

Also during the prophet Isaiah’s time, Israel was divided into two nations, Israel and Judah.

Judah had been spared for the time, and Isaiah evidently had come as a prophet for mainly Judah, but his word was for Israel also.

This “song,” was to warn Judah of the consequences it faced, and eventually it received from the Assyrians as well…

When people see no distinction between good and evil…

Destruction soon follows.

This statement is so true in so many different ways, yet look around you today.

Do you recognize the Country you grew up in?

Do we still display an outward appearance as a nation with morals, integrity, compassion, patriotism, and strong Christian values?

How bout people coming freely, openly, and LEGALLY, to experience what the United States of America represents…a nation where ya get outta something, what ya put into it?

You work, sacrifice, save, and through this, in your own way live out a dream. A dream to better yourself, and your family.

“The American Dream.”

The dream that let you lay down a foundation acquired through a hard, honest, work ethic that allows your children the opportunity to start their own careers, possibly a rung up the ladder than your start.

This…to be your legacy.

What legacy do far too many leave their children today?

A legacy of what others work for is in fact…yours too.

An e-mail from a good friend today, explains it much better than I.

It simply states….

1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.

2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!

5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.

So, the legacy today we as Americans leave to our children and grandchildren, is a legacy brought about by our government.

A legacy where our Country owes YOU something, not, you owe our Country a debt, simply because of the freedoms it has provided for us…all throughout our history.

Our legacy today is simply…

A legacy of entitlement.

Without getting further off into this particular topic, let me ask you this?

Is our Country today heading down the same path of Israel, and Judah?

Could be.

Parents killing their children. Children killing their parents. Children killing children.

Religious freedom becoming a thing of the past to many.

Leaders of our Country, many whom have never known God.

Dr. Benjamin Carson speaks of “Godless leaders.”

Listen to him…

Christian morals questioned, or even ridiculed.

Looking back on history, does any of this story, the story of Israel and Judah sound familiar?

Could be.

HE will send a signal to distant nations far away and whistle to those at the ends of the earth.

Even the light will be darkened by the clouds.

Could this be possible in regards to our Country, and the path we’re headed down, through reverse racism, political correctness, the destruction of a work ethic, indoctrination of our children through a school system no longer educating…but advocating.

Advocating an agenda where right is wrong, and wrong in fact, is right.

An agenda…of entitlements.

Once more…

When people see no distinction between good and evil, destruction soon happens.

Could this possibly be the end result?

Actually…

It could be…

You guys have a great day, and God bless you, and yours!

Be sure to keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!

Dub and Deb

Well, like I stated last post, I’m bitin at the bit to get this “garden thing” kicked off.

My tomato seeds I planted last week just jumped up last night! The day before, not a sign of a dern tomato, walked in the greenhouse bout noon, looked down and said, “YES!”

The little mutha’s were everywhere!

Just as my luck would have it, the weather’s gonna change…tomorrow?? Around 40 in Tampa through Sunday, with high around 60. This means probably some 30’s here at our place.

Deb, I’m sure, is goin… “You’ll NEVER learn, will ya? Always jumpin the gun!”

My answer now is just the same as it always was back to her…when her back was turned, AND she was out of earshot!

Nope!

And…

YEP!

What can I say??

We started a compost pile a few days back. Actually, not really a compost pile, but literally just some home-made planting soil.

Not only do I “not learn from past mistakes,” and always, “jump the gun,” as my better half used to exclaim, but…I’m a cheapskate, too!

I mean, why buy the dern stuff? We’ll just make our own!

I gotta admit…it’s lookin good already, if I do say so myself. You guys who don’t know me all that well will soon see that I’ll do that pretty often too, which is…DO say so myself! LOL!

I talked about it a little already, but we’re takin cow manure from the pasture and layin it out in a row about 10-12 feet wide, and maybe 40-50 long.

We started off choppin it up with shovels to break it down some. Well…I had Dale doin that originally.

Once I finished up what I’d been doin, I went around there to give Dale a hand in the choppin “goins on.” Bout 10 minutes later, and bout all the choppin I saw I’d wanted to do, a light bulb came on.

I got to thinkin on that 9 wheel traffic roller in the barn. We’re in the pavin business, and Red’s been sealcoating, so, I thought I’d just grab that roller, and bust me up some cow manure!

Worked like a charm, I’m here to tell ya!

Dale was like… “You Da Man!”

I was quick to point out though, that flattery would get him nowhere…at least in regard to Friday’s paycheck!

I believe I’d stated earlier that…I’m a cheapskate, and as soon as I’d explained to Dale that this bright idea of mine had made HIS job SO much easier, I felt it only right…that HE buy the diesel, FOR the roller!

Jus kiddin guys. Honestly, I’m not that bad, but him buyin bout HALF the diesel oughta be bout right, wouldn’t ya say?? LOL!

Just gotta figure out what to tell Red when he sees cow manure ALL over his roller tires???

Not sure just yet what I’ll say, but you CAN bet…Dale will have a BIG part to play in it! LOL!

After we roll the manure, we the take hay and scatter it all over the top of the row, then come behind this with oak leaves. I then take the tiller and stir this all up, and honestly, after 3-4 passes, this stuff IS…

Lookin good! REAL good actually!

Tomorrow we’ll repeat the process once more, to double our quantity. This should insure our having enough to set all our seeds out and plants as well, with this as their starter.

Once I get ready to set out seeds and plants, we’ll then add some regular soil, then some good topsoil, and then, turn this in good to stir everything up together.

I WAS going to use some slow release fertilizer as an additive too, BUT now, I’ll be using something else instead.

Reading through “The Old Farmer’s 2013 Almanac,” I came across something pretty interestin… it states that instead of adding slow release fertilizer, as an example, instead, you can use… “RABBIT FEED!”

YEP, I’ll say it again…RABBIT FEED!

Here’s why…

First off let me say this…

Couple years back, I had some corn on the west end of our garden, out front. This corn was about 1 foot shorter than the rest of the corn, and the discrepancy was increasing. It was obvious the soil this corn was in wasn’t quite as good as what the other was in.

A good friend from Canada (Kunoichi?? Hope I spelled it right!), commented, “Hey Dub, put some grass clippings in,” and I did. The nitrogen from the grass clippings caused this corn to catch the other…I was amazed.

Well, once I got over the initial shock of using rabbit feed as a fertilizer substitute, and I read a little further…it clicked.

Rabbit feed is compressed alfalfa meal pellets, which are nitrogen and phosphorus rich.

I thought, you know, this might work, so, I’m gonna try it and see. I’ll keep you guys informed, unless some of you have already tried this, and if so, let us in on what you’ve found, please?

Alfalfa it seems, also contains large quantities of a hormone called triacontanol, which stimulates cell division and growth in ALL plants.

It also has high quantities of arsenic, which if ya didn’t already know……

NOT REALLY, I’m jerkin your chain about the arsenic! LOL!

They recommend 1 to 2 cups of rabbit feed to cover 16 square feet of garden bed.

So, I’m in, and gonna give it a shot!

That’s what we’re up to so far, so let’s try out a little humor for a change.

Man, I love to laugh, and just here recently, this is coming back into my life once more. Good night…I’ve sure missed it! It feels GOOD to laugh again!

This comes from my Aunt Ann…and is in prayer form.

In church, while reverently preparing for the service, I heard a sweet
little old lady, sitting next to me in the pew, quietly whispering a
prayer. It was so sweet and sincere that I just had to share it with
you.

Amen.

Well…

I THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY!

A closing thought to ponder…

“Are you disappointed with society today? If you are, I challenge you to take the first step. I challenge you…to look at yourself.” Rev. Billy Graham

I have to admit that after reading this, I found it actually right on the money in my regard. The first place I needed to start “doing something about the world we live in today,” WAS…right inside my own home!

You guys have a great day, and God Bless you and yours!

Be sure to keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!

Dub AND Deb

Today’s topic is simply about some things going on today that I find very disturbing. Yep, I’m a “good ole country boy,” whom many across this great Nation of ours find…simple.

In reality, I guess I am. I live simply in my lifestyle. This to me is…my cup of tea. I love being around people, yet, I love being to myself just as much. I enjoy the simple things in life. I like to read a book, grow a garden, cook, work, take a gun out and plink some cans, or, on a fall Saturday afternoon, just kick back in my recliner and watch a little football.

Again, in reality, I guess I am truly…a Simple Man. Not mentally as some may like to suggest, especially after today’s post, but in my choice in how I choose to live MY life.

This is one of the reasons why I love this great Country of ours. It provides each and every one of us with this freedom…the freedom of choice.

Think about that for a moment. Look around worldwide and ponder for a minute or two the other Countries worldwide who enjoy that freedom…the freedom of choice. The freedom of individuality. The freedom to say what you want. The freedom to make something of yourself, and build a foundation for your children to grow from.

Through this, hoping that you’ve provided for them, through your own sweat, desire, financial accountability, and work ethic, an opportunity to be even better…than you were!

Simply put, this is why so many people worldwide have immigrated here. Freedom!

This is what America is about. You notice I didn’t use the term…WAS all about. Yet, today, this is not only just an idle threat, but in actuality, the very road we as a Country are traveling. I find this very, very disturbing, or TICKED!

What am I so ticked about? Keep readin…

First off, at 56 years old, oops, I meant 36, I went to renew my Florida driver’s license. No biggie, right? WRONG!

I went 3 times. Yeah, I finally got em, but it was like pullin teeth!

Quickly, my first trip, I didn’t have my birth certificate. Poor Deb had the dern thing put up, but I STILL have not found it.

I’d heard I needed it, but after pulling up the State of Florida DMV website, it does NOT state this as a requirement. SO, I printed it up and…took it with me!

Here is what’s on the State of Florida DMV site…copied and pasted. Checked this morning, and it still reads this way. Check out the spelling of the word requirements…seems I’m not the only simple man runnin around, huh?

Document requirments include: Primary Identification, Proof of Social Security Number, 2 Proofs of Residential Address…

Primary ID does NOT just mean a birth certificate, I’m sorry. The man behind the desk says…you HAVE TO have a birth certificate!

I showed him the print out, and his remark… “We’ve changed it.” I’m like, “Well CHANGE the dern website!”

The kicker here….I’ve had a FLORIDA DRIVER’S LICENSE for…40 YEARS! Same number on my license, same guy in the photo, BUT, I have to show a birth certificate, to PROVE…I’m the same guy???

“I mean, you plant a tater…ya get a tater, right??”

So, no driver’s license…

It gets worse on my second trip, but, I’ll spare you the details. Again though, I’ve been a resident of Florida for 56 years, I mean 36, I have had a Florida driver’s license for 40 years, YET, I may not be who I say I am…even with my picture on my DL to be renewed???

I DID go to a State Representative’s office here in town, and…showed my rearend! Why…I was ticked!

They took my phone number, and actually they called me back Monday. I’ll call them today to find out what they have to say.

Honestly, if this was all I had to be ticked about…life would be pretty dern good. I could work through that. Sadly today, I stay more ticked than say, “a legless Ethiopian watchin a doughnut roll down a hill!”

Lookin back, I watched the President of the United States of America…bow to a Saudi king?

Durin the last campaign, I saw a Presidential candidate standing on a podium with his hands folded over his crotch, instead of over his heart.

He refused to wear an American Flag pin for the longest time.

He THEN became President??

When talkin about the Vice Presidential nominee of the Republican Party, his opposition, he described her as follows. “You can put lipstick on a pig, but…it’s STILL a pig.” Pretty witty, huh?

In response, we have a sayin here in the South… “ya cain’t polish a turd.” I’m jus sayin.

He also let the media have a field day at Mrs. Palin’s expense, vilifying her children, her intelligence, just about any and everything was fair game. You remember? YET, when any negativity came out about his own wife, this became very personal, and he…wouldn’t stand for it.

This is how the game is played today. As a liberal, you’re allowed to attack, vilify, degrade, name call, or worse. This is all just fine. It matters not that any of it may be lies, because, to the liberally minded this is…politically correct.

THE END, justifies the means. Their “prophet,” Saul Alinsky clearly states this. He also tips his hat to Lucifer, stating that in the end…he won his own kingdom.

Again, down South, we have a sayin… “Don’t argue with an idiot. He’ll drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.”

We had the FORMER Speaker of the House tell us, the American people, that in order to find out what’s in the Health Care Bill, all 2,000 and somethin pages of the dern thing, we need to PASS IT to see. Good night, what have we come to here in our Country?

Have we became so indoctrinated ourselves that if a politician now tells us to go to hell in such a way…that we look forward to the trip? I wonder?

I feel we all need to keep in mind that “politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They both need to be CHANGED regularly…and for the same reason!”

We have a president who refuses to describe our latest embassy attack as terrorism. Do you remember as well, after the Fort Hood shooting, he asked us not to jump to conclusions?

Ah…Mr. President, the gunman was shouting Allah Akbar during the rampage. I wouldn’t really consider our thinkin of this bein a terrorist attack as jumpin to conclusions, huh? But, shoot, I’m just a simple man. What do I know?

You remember the Prof. Gates incident. I mean a college professor, whose house the police were called to, to check out a possible break-in?

The very appreciative Prof. Gates hollered out to the police officer when asked to identify himself… “Your Mama?” This declaration from a highly educated man, teaching at one of our schools of higher learning?

I don’t know about the rest of you guys, but instead of his answer sounding scholarly, or appropriate in regards to the situation, to me…it sounded pretty simple. Maybe Prof. Gates is a closet redneck. I don’t know??

Yet, when first made aware of this incident, our President, ON NATIONAL Television, without knowing ANY of the facts, declared the incident was racially motivated? Maybe it’s just me, but I felt like he JUST MIGHT have been…jumpin to conclusions.

We have a sayin down South… “better to remain silent and thought a fool, than to speak and remove ALL doubt.”

We have a President today that stated years back…we’ll spend our way out of debt.

You ever heard of such a thing? This statement got me to thinkin some in regards to our elected leaders and their constituents. “Crowded elevators probably smell differently to midgets,” wouldn’t ya think?

We have a President who stated worldwide that America is NOT a Christian Nation. That ticks me off too.

Our Declaration of Independence states quite clearly… “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them …”

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…”

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

Today I feel we as American people need to make this very same pledge! “We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”

You may want to reread our Declaration of Independence. Read the very reasons WHY, we declared our Independence. It’s uncanny the similarities in the reasoning for this, and what our very own political leaders are advocating today as law.

Today, political correctness suggests that religion is not only bogus, is for the old or very young, but scientifically the events that God’s Word describes, just couldn’t have happened. I’ll only state that the day is indeed coming when these very same people will realize…they missed the boat.

I’d sure have liked to been a “fly on the wall” when Madeline O’Hare met our Lord and Master, huh?

It’s very confusing to me though that when speaking on the topic of Islam (the religion of peace), how our officials, AND our media tread very, very lightly. You reckon it’s probably because…they KNOW better?

On today’s topic, I could go on, and on, and on, but…I won’t.

I only wanted to kinda take a tongue in cheek approach and look at some things going on that I find baffling. Okay, they ain’t so much baffling to me as they REALLY DO…tick me off!

We could discuss our children, and their education. We could talk about government spending, entitlements, socialism, unions, the media, unemployment, and it in reality is almost unending.

BUT I do want to make perfectly clear one issue that is very, very important in regards to our Nation.

There is the Presidential election coming up in November! You MUST get out and vote! In all honesty, the very framework laid out for us by our Founding Fathers is seriously at risk!

Personally, I’d not like to be remembered by our children and our children’s children, as the generation that DIDN’T pass along the very same freedoms that we ourselves experienced. That in itself, would be a burden almost too great to bear.

Look once more at our debt as a Country piling up. Their solution…borrow more…spend more…print more, and if re-elected, we the working, law abiding, God fearing citizen will be…TAXED MORE!

If we’re not very, very careful, this is going to implode our economy, IF, it’s not already too late for us to recover.

So once more…get out and vote! Do your part. Let’s “WE the People” take back our Country, but we can’t stop there. We HAVE to hold our politicians accountable. THIS IS our right!

We’ve seen what, and where, complacency gets us, have we not? So in closing let’s look at one more piece of advice from a simple man…

“You don’t need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive…TWICE!”

Let’s not make the same mistake that we made in the last election cycle…vote for the American.

You guys have a great day, and God Bless. Please remember Deb’s favorite saying… “Keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!”

Dub and Deb