Paw Paws Place

Pat and I just celebrated our 50th year of marriage. We were married August 2nd 1962 in Bradenton Florida.(The love of my life) We spent three days in New York City and had a wonderful time. We saw two Broadway plays and visited Ground Zero. We also visited Ellis Island, I was able to get all the info on my dad. When we returned we had another celebration with our family. My oldest daughter Sandy and her husband James came down from Georgia. Darenda and Sandy planned a dinner cruise for us on Marina Jacks. So for the first time in a long time we had our entire family together. Pat, me, Sandy, James, Darenda, Doug, Tyler and Luke. We had a very nice evening on the cruise and it was a memorable time for Pat and I. My life has been Blessed and I hope yours has also. “I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.” - Psalm 119:14

I wanted to share this typical Florida day with you and also the words of a song that should hit home. The picture was taken in front of our home looking east in the afternoon.... Yesterday when I was young the taste of life was sweet as rain upon my tongue. I teased at life as if it were a foolish game, the way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame. The thousand dreams I dreamed, the splendid things I planned I always built alas on weak and shifting sand. I lived by night and shunned the naked light of the day and only now I see how the years ran away. Yesterday when I was young so many drinking songs were waiting to be sung, so many wayward pleasures lay in store for me and so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see. I ran so fast that time and youth at last ran out, I never stopped to think what life was all about and every conversation I can now recall concerned itself with me and nothing else at all. Yesterday the moon was blue and every cra...

Fishing was the name of the game this week. Sandy and James visited us for the fourth of July. We had a great time, we visited Thomas Edison's home in Ft. Myers. Of course we went to the Bass Pro Shop while we were down there and had a great lunch there. We also went fishing a couple of days and had a great time, and caught fish. We finally ate supper at Jose's Cuban restaurant on Cortez Road. We could not get in there this winter but it was worth the wait. Thursday Pat,Sandy and Darenda had lunch together over in Palmetto. James has a great time at "one Eyed jacks", I went one night with him and enjoyed it very much. That is my yearly visit and it went well for "One Eyed Jacks". This is one on Edison's Labs. This is "Ole Edison" himself, he still watches over the place. Either his friend Henry Ford or his car.  jack fish, one of many that were caught .  James caught this lady fish, it gave him a real batt...

We knew that Tropical storm Debby was coming and we knew that Lake Okeechobee would get some of the weather. But my buddy Wil Newsome and I had planned a fishing trip and no girl storm was going to stop us. After church this past Sunday we headed for the lake. We fished that evening and caught fish. As you can see we caught some nice bass and we fished every morning and evening. We fished in the rain, we fish is 40 mile per hour winds, you name it. I did mention to Wil that this was the first time that I have been on the lake alone. We did not see a soul in a boat until late Tuesday afternoon. What do you think that tells us...ha ha. We were checked by the Fresh Game Warden, his first question was..." what the heck are you guys doing out in the lake"? We always have a great time and this trip was no different, well maybe....check out the video. Please excuse the poor video taking but after watching you will understand. Let the video run for atleast 30 seconds befo...

I remember my dad in many different ways, Father, Family Leader, Mentor and someone who would discipline you. My dad was born August 27 th 1906 in Sicily; his given name was Ignatius Diecidue. He came to the USA in 1921 to go to school at Columbia University. At 15 yrs. of age he had graduated from high school and wanted to go to college in the USA. He arrived on Ellis Island in 1921, he could not speak English. He was frightened and looking for relatives which he found. For two years he worked to make money for college and went to school to learn English. During that time he assisted his parents to come to America also. He did attend Columbia University and was a graduate of the school of Pharmacy. He was 27 years old when he met my mom (who was 18) at a prearranged supper by their families. It was that night that my mom was told, “this is who you are going to marry”, which she did. They owned their own drug store on Brooklyn NY on Mayberry St. They lost their store during...

Coach Doug coached his first team in the Anna Marie Youth league. Yep' you guessed it, they were the Champions with only one loss. The first picture of course is his son, my grandson Luke receiving his Trophy. The middle picture is "The Coach" and his team waiting to be called up. The next picture is his team, starting from the left; Franklin, Luke, Jack, Jackie and Ava. One player Antonio was hurt and could not be there. Great season for the kids. we all enjoyed them playing. May all of you have a Blessed week! “[Psalm 19] For the director of music. A psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.” - Psalm 19:1-2

This past memorial day we visited my daughter Sandy and her husband James. They live in this beautiful town in Georgia (Newnan), the elevation in their driveway is 900 ft Above sea level.   This was a fun work week for all of us. James and I tore up the flooring and railing on their deck. We did get the floor down and the post up prior to our leaving to head back home. We also did some electrical wiring for the installation of a new Kilm, it took a 220 circuit for it to run. Pat and Sandy worked in Sandy's beautiful yard. They planted plants, pulled weeds and kept James and I well fed. Sandy made the best meat loaf that I have ever eaten, I hope next time she makes two and puts one in the freezer for me. Look at how beautiful her back yard looks, part of the woods belongs to them. I have built them a deer feeder to put corn in and James buys a mineral block. Every night you see Gods beautiful animals come and feed. When we got home "farmer Pat" che...