November 2020

Hoopla November 2020

The Blackwood Quartet to perform at North Side

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Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+

November 2020

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Artists of the Month

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The Weatherford Art Association continues to support local artists with demonstrations, juried competitions, and Artist of the Month celebrations. During September the Artist of the Month for 1st place was Colleen Petosa with her watercolor titled ‘Cast A Shadow’ hanging with additional works of hers at the Doss. Marla Grey Sheft won second place with her watercolor titled ‘CZAR’ and is hanging at The First National Bank in Weatherford. Patricia Siewert won third place with her watercolor ‘Little Red Hen’ which is hanging at the Fort Worth Community Credit Union.

Hoopla November 2020 Volume 4, Issue 10

© 2020 Hoopla. All rights reserved.

Hoopla is published monthly and available at more than 45 locations in Parker County. For a complete list of distribution points, go to our website at www.hooplamagazine.com. We no longer offer home delivery. You can contact us at Hoopla, P.O. Box 305, Weatherford, Texas 76086.

817-894-1822

seniors@hooplamagazine.com

Publisher

Cynthia Henry

Contributors

Lara Cook • James Carroll Martin Rick Mauch • Neil Sperry

Copy Editor

Jean Henderson

November 2020

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+

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Producing What’s in the Heart Mark Blackwood returns with timeless gospel quartet

by Erin McEndree Hoopla Correspondent Many people say, “Follow your heart,” but Mark Blackwood is doing so much more. He is extracting the hearts of artists and crafting music that touches the soul.

Whether it is gospel, jazz or country, Mark can arrange the pieces perfectly to create a sound his clients and their fans love. He not only oversees and arranges a musical composition,

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The Fabulous Blackwood Quartet returns to Weatherford in December. he produces what’s in the heart.

Musical talent goes back several generations in Mark’s genealogy. In 1934, Mark’s grandfather formed The Blackwood Brothers with two of his

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Bill Shaw, James Blackwood, Cecil Blackwood and J.D. Sumner

brothers and a nephew. Their gospel music has been inspiring people for decades from the microphones of The Barbara Mandrell Show, the Grand Ole Opry, the Billy Graham Crusades and even the Presidential Prayer Breakfast, to name a few. They have performed in over 47 countries and won numerous Grammys and Dove awards.

The longevity of the group continues because the members are fluid.

After the tragic death of two members in 1954, Mark’s father, Cecil, began singing in the group.

Elvis Presley loved gospel music and enjoyed a spur-of-the-moment song now and then. The Blackwood Brothers even sang at Elvis’ mother’s funeral in 1958.

Over the years The Blackwood Brothers have seen many talented singers come and go, but the mission to share the message of Christ has stayed the same.

Mark began singing with the group in 1986, alongside his dad. Mark developed a love for creating the sounds as well. He produced on some of the 200 albums that were cut.

“When I was 19 years old my father, Cecil, said, ‘You are going to run a recording studio.’ He gave me the tools and contacts to learn the business.”

Mark learned from talented producers like Tony Brown, a record producer and pianist. Tony produced works for well-known country artist like Reba McEntire, Vince Gill and George Strait. Tony also enjoyed producing southern gospel. Mark learned important lessons while working with Tony.

Mark’s passion for production began to grow and his mission became to bring out the best in every artist he had the pleasure to work with. He realized he could bring their talent to See BLACKWOOD, P. 4

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Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+

BLACKWOOD From Page 3

the surface by crafting the right pieces together to complement the musician’s unique style.

Mark became very good at finding the right artist, the right tune, the right drummer, the right guitarist to complement his client’s style.

“Eighty percent of production is finding all the right pieces to put together,” Mark said. “I will book the drums, book the pianist, book the gui-

November 2020

tarist. I will send recordings to each one to rehearse before we all come together to record.” By controlling the environment, the final piece produced in the studio always comes out great. “I love to bring out the best in the artists I work with.”

Thinking back, Mark fondly remembers winning two Grammys for production, working with Willie Nelson on seven Farm Aid Festivals and having Elvis Presley know his name when he was 17, but most of all, “Jesus See BLACKWOOD, P. 5

October 2020 Give the gift that means everything,

TO THE PERSON WHO HAS EVERYTHING.

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The quartet having fun on the road.

SUDOKU nDifficulty: Sudoku (Puzzle solution is on P. 15.)

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November 2020

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+

BLACKWOOD

SEWING WORLD

From Page 4

inspires me. He gave me my life, my wife and my family,” Mark said.

Mark was born in Memphis, Tennessee but lives in Knoxville now.

“I met a girl and fell in love. We filled our home with children and love it. It is peaceful,” Mark said. “I feel like we live in a bedroom community of Nashville.” Mark and his wife, Jennifer, have a son (19) and twin girls who are 12.

Jennifer enjoys acting and has been seen as an extra in shows like “Stranger Things.” All five of them were recently in a Christmas movie.

“We have a creative family,” Mark said. “But I like being behind the cameras in production the most.”

All the new regulations related to COVID-19 has not slowed production for Mark. While performers cannot tour, they can produce. Many people have been in Mark’s studio actively working on their individual pieces. Mark said he recorded 14 songs in one day for different artist.

“The earth will heal itself. Merchandise will sell again. Artists are creating a lot of what they will be performing when touring starts again,” Mark explained. “During this time of rest, the great ones are getting ready because they know there will be time later to tour. Sadly, some have retired.”

Mark is taking advantage of the artist downtime and finishing projects.He plans to finish producing projects for Dan Wagner, Spoken For, Willie Nelson’s gospel album and possibly creating a mobile production unit. He also has plans to come to Weatherford with The Blackwood Quartet.

“I enjoy singing, but my first love is production that my father taught me,” Mark said.

Mark produces many cover tunes (remakes) from someone other than the original artist. However, he admitted he loves helping artists develop original songs in their heart. He takes the time to help them manifest

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Mark Blackwood learned how to impress a crowd at an early age. their unique and special sound.

“Mark had an amazing ability to pull out the best in me,” Weatherford’s own Debra Camp said. “He stretched me and made me realize that I had so much more inside me to give vocally and musically.”

Debra met Mark in Granbury after one of his concerts. They continued talking and Debra booked The Blackwood Quartet at the Texas Opry in Weatherford, where Debra produced Christian shows. She mentioned she was about to cut an album. Mark said, “Why don’t you come to Nashville and let me produce you?” Debra was eager and excited to oblige.

“He is truly an amazing producer,” Debra said. She booked The Blackwood Quartet, Andy Browning, Gary Wood, The Northside Boys and others to perform at North Side Baptist Church on December 12th for a Gospel Music Spectacular.

Debra will also be preforming songs from her new album, “Down In My Soul,” to celebrate its release, produced, of course, by Mark Blackwood.

Debra is especially excited about her single, “His Blood Bleeds,” that she wrote in an hour when “God downloaded it into my heart,” Debra said.

Tickets for the concert at Northside Baptist Church can be purchased at www.debracamp.com. You can also call 817-235-0940.

Personal Customer Service

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Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+

November 2020

Finding Thanksgiving during difficult times Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of expressing gratitude. Thank God and praise Him for what He has God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 done, even the hard things. Tell your loved ones how much they mean to you and call a friend to Finally the end of this weird year is approaching let them know you care. and most of us are glad to see it coming to an end.

If you need to, dig a little deepWe have spent most of this year adjusting to change after change, and the holidays will be a little different er or look in another direction as well. Celebrations may be different, and some may this year to find what you are really thankful for. be cancelled. Some traditions may have to change, Looking at our circumstances will not foster a but thankfulness is still thankfulness - it has not changed.

The definition of thankful, feeling or expressing gratitude; appreciative, is not dependent on circumstances. There are blessings to be found all around us, even this year. Some of the biggest blessings have come in the inconvenience and the interruption of our lives. Our schedules changed or were erased. We began to find joy in the everyday things we had taken for granted like taking a walk, playing with our kids, or just good ole rest.

It has been a hard year, but when we can find value in the hard things in our lives, we will find we can be thankful for those things too. They are not the things we like the most, and they might even be the things we pray for God to take away or to fix. These things are the things that shape us and help us to grow into the person God planned for us to be. He will use the hard places in our lives to help other people in similar hard places.

People have suffered setbacks that will take months or years to overcome. Some have lost loved ones, and still others may have loved ones (or themselves) who are still suffering from the aftereffects of coronavirus. We could get all bent out of shape because things are not like they used to be, but instead, what if we can just be thankful for what is now? We can be thankful in all circumstances, even if we are not thankful for the circumstances. This is where trust and faith come in, and then true thanksgiving.

Maybe this season has quickly brought to light what was really important to you and what is not. A crisis has a way of doing that. Perhaps you learned some things about yourself - some things you are thankful for now that you used to take for granted.

We need to be intentional in this season of Thanksgiving to look for the blessings, because God has blessed us and been faithful to us. It may not have looked like a blessing to begin with, but some of life’s greatest blessings sometimes come disguised as trials.

Equally as important as looking for the blessings is

spirit of Thanksgiving but having a grateful heart in tough times helps restore faith and hope and reminds us of the love

by Lara Cook our Heavenly Father has for us.

North Side He loves us and has given us Baptist Church good things!

Everyday this season look for things you are grateful for and give Him thanks for all He has done, is doing, and what lies ahead.

Life in Grace

November 2020

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+ 7

Running commentary I run five miles a day, but those who have observed me in action question the use of the word “run” and even the word “action.” The baby steps I take — as opposed to a long athletic stride — have resulted in some significant mocking. I now wonder whether my plan to win the Mini Marathon should be removed from my bucket list.

This form of exercise is actually new to me. Here is how I viewed it in previous years:

door always pull up next to me in their car and ask how many steps I’ve completed so far that day. I appreciate the question, but I don’t like it when Paul puts “steps” in air quotes.

Then there’s Eric and Yok. When I

by Dick Wolfsie see them first thing in the morning, I Humorist tell them that I plan to run around the block three times (about two miles). “I hope you are bringing a box lunch,” Eric says. Ha ha. Very funny.

Meg and Rahul who live in our cul de sac have an adorable baby, about 11 months old. When they see me jogging, they steer the stroller so I am no longer in their son’s view. He will be walking soon and they want to avoid any poor role models.

I was tired of all the kidding, so I decided to google the difference between running, jogging and fast walking. One site outlined the distinction, noting that jogging is often they slowest of the three, ranging from 3.5 mph to 5 mph. I showed the reference to Mary Ellen and she didn’t find the information helpful for defining my gait. She suggested that for a better idea of what I do every day I should google “running in place.”

By the way, for me, the difference between 3.5 mph and 5 mph is the difference between breathing hard and passing out on the sidewalk.

A final note: a housefly (the kind you miss with your swatter 9 times out of 10) flies at exactly the same speed I walk. I know this because it was part of a TED Talk I listened to while jogging from my front door to my mailbox. Ten minutes well spent.

Carry On

2015: Jogging had not occurred to me 2016: Didn’t jog once 2017 Hated the idea of jogging 2018: Last thing on my mind 2019: Just not gonna jog This is a running joke.

Last winter, I joined a nearby gym.

My friend Bob took a video of me on the running track and showed it to his wife, Cathy, who commented on how tiny my steps were. She also said I looked like I was tip-toeing through the tulips. Hence my new nickname: Tiny Tim. My wife is now also on my case. Every time I announce that I am going for a little run around the block, she corrects me. “Dick, you are not running. No one would consider what you do running.”

“Okay, okay, I’m jogging.”

“Even that’s a stretch, Dick, although I hate to put the word “stretch” in any conversation about how your legs move when you circle the block.”

My friends Paul and Karen next

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Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+

Q&A

November 2020

Valerie Meador discusses this year’s breakfast honoring veterans and first responders Hoopla: The Twentieth Century Club is hosting its 4th annual Veterans’ Breakfast this year. Can you tell us a little about how it got started and what it means to you to honor those who have served?

Valerie: In 2016, our club voted to do a float for the parade. To do a float, we had to borrow a shop for a month to keep the float in ship we decorated it.

In 2017, instead of doing another vote, I thought we could serve donuts and pastries with coffeee, milk and orange juice to all veterans. This was good.

In 2018, I wanted to do more than 2017. More food choices and to include first responders. With the help of all of the ladies of the club, we added biscuits and gravy, plus breakfast casseroles.

It’s an honor to serve those that serve us. This one day a year that we serve breakfast is such a small way to say thank you to those who serve us locally, to those who go overseas. and, I will say, my heart and love goes out to them.

Hoopla: For those who have not attended in previous years, what should they expect?

Valerie: This year, we will have two waffle makers for our guests to make

n Annual Veterans/First Responders Breakfast

Saturday, November 14 7 to 10 a.m.

321 S. Main St. Weatherford Hosted by Twentieth Century Club of Weatherford

themselves waffles. Our menu now consists of biscuits, gravy, sausage, bacon, eggs, breakfast casserole, fresh fruit, donuts, pastries, coffee, milk, orange juice, canned drinks, bottled water, margarines, jellies and hot chocolate.

Last year, we had approximately 75 veterans and first responders. We hope we have all of them and more this year.

The fellowship is great, too. The breakfast is right before the parade.

We start serving at 7 a.m. and serve until they stop coming.

We set chairs outside for ones who want to watch the parade.

Hoopla: What changes are being made due to Covid-19 this year?

Valerie: This year, we will have tables and chairs set up for social distancing. There will be tables outside also. since our guests will serve

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Valerie Meador themselves, we ask that face coverings be worn while going through the food line.

Hoopla: What other service projects are lined up for this fall and winter?

Valerie: Our November project is Purses for freedom House.

This is our second year to do thee

purses, which will include small toiletries, facial issues, hand lotion, notepad and pen, toothbrush and paste, hair brush, anything a woman can use. Last year we collected about 50 from our club members. We were told the purses and contents were much appreciated. We plan to make this an annual project.

November 2020

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Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+

November 2020

Fill a shoebox, change a life “You must have a lot of grandchildren,” said the cashier as she rang up dozens of toys, school supplies and clothing items.

“I do,” said Shirley Riebe, “but these are gifts for the shoeboxes I am packing for Operation Christmas Child.”

Tears filled the cashier’s eyes, as she recalled two times when, as a child in the Philippines, she had been the recipient of a Christmas shoebox.

Prayer and miracles are part of each box packed for Operation Christmas Child, and Shirley Riebe has heard many heartwarming stories over the years.

OCC is an off-shoot of Samaritan’s Purse, a non-denominational organization run by Franklin Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham, which delivers the boxes to children around the world who have no expectation of receiving a gift at Christmas or any other time.

Founded in 1993, Operation Christmas Child delivers shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies, hygiene articles, sports equipment and a book about Jesus Christ in their own language to children who live in areas that have suffered war, famine, or natural disasters such as earth-

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quakes, hurricanes, floods.

Empty boxes are available at North Side Baptist Church. Simpy fill it with treasures for a deserving child and return the box between November 16-23. From there, the boxes are packed into large trailer trucks that will take the Weatherford area donations to a processing and collection center in the Metroplex from where the boxes will continue their journey.

Weatherford is one of thousands of collection centers working with Operation Christmas Child.

Each year the number of shoeboxes grows. But North Side is not the only donor in this endeavor. Other churches and organizations in the area send their shoeboxes to the collection center at North Side. There are also collection centers all over the world.

Many lives are touched by a filled shoebox, especially those lives that originally pack the little cartons.

n Find The Frog Ruby Peacock found him. Did you?

The frog was enjoying a painting on page 2 of last month’s issue.

To enter this month’s contest, submit your name, address, phone number, and a brief description of where you find the hidden frog (not the frog on this page) to Hoopla, P.O. Box 305, Weatherford, Texas

76086 or e-mail seniors@hooplamagazine.com.

Contestants will be entered into a drawing for one of three $25 gift certificates.

Read next month’s issue to see if you’ve won. Winners must contact Hoopla within 90 days to claim their prize.

November 2020

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Adults 55+

Crossword

The Kammers celebrate 39 years For him, it was love at first sight. He knew she was the one. But Kenneth and Doreen Kammer have overcome many obstacles during their 39 years together.

One was a language barrier. He was born and raised in Texas, and she was from England. They could not always understand what the other was saying. Still, the two had a wonderful time on their first date at Mr. J’s Private Club, just outside the city limits of Weatherford.

After a few months, Doreen stumbled upon the next challenge – getting Kenneth on an airplane. He had never traveled the friendly skies but would have to endure a 10-hour flight to England to meet her family.

He proposed five months into their courtship and has since taken many flights to England.

They each brought three children into the marriage. Each had two girls and one boy.

They are Vicki Ramos, Weatherford, Texas; Terri Smith, Weatherford, Texas; Roy Sapp, Ft. Worth, Texas; Tonya Null, Ft. Worth, Texas; Kenneth Kammer, West Palm Beach Florida and the late Lorri Garst.

Together, they have 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

In the 39 years of marriage there has been a lot of love, patience, respect and laughter. That is what it takes to hold it all together.

(Puzzle solution is on P. 15)

11

by Margie E. Burke

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ACROSS 1 Give and take? 14 15 16 5 Drilling grp.

17 18 19 9 Express gratitude to 20 21 22 23 14 Hit the road 24 25 15 Tennis whiz 16 Spine-tingling 26 27 28 29 30 31 17 Mythical ship 18 Ration 32 33 34 35 36 19 Wrinkled plum 37 38 39 40 20 Cranky complainer 42 43 44 41 22 Don Juan, e.g.

46 47 24 Eagle's nest, alt. 45 25 Chilling, say 48 49 50 51 52 26 _____ of limita53 54 55 56 57 tions 28 "On the double!" 58 59 60 61 32 Treated badly 62 63 64 35 Cry loudly 36 Pool member 65 66 67 37 Kerr of "The King and I" Copyright 2020 by The Puzzle Syndicate 39 "Eat Pray Love" star 62 Up to 8 One who's 32 Combines 41 Forest forager 63 Top spot owed 33 Car alarm?

42 Personal take, 64 Who follower 9 Plains dwelling 34 Lyft rival for short 65 Short-tempered 10 The lady's 38 Rowdy youth 44 Even though 66 Can't do without 11 Lily variety 40 Sanction 45 Agile 67 Cousin of a gull 12 One of three in 43 Chemical bond46 Glass raiser 1492 ing number 48 Cotillion honoree 13 Razor-sharp 47 Kind of oil 49 Type of pitch DOWN 21 One of the 48 Snake's 53 Shakespeare 1 Old West Fondas underside specialties transport 23 Arctic vessel 50 Shove off 57 Candle feature 2 Fret 27 Made into a 51 "Door's open!"

58 Pertaining to the 3 Prophesy movie, say 52 Hard-nosed ear 4 Kind of note 28 18-34, for 53 Lacking slack 59 Chew (on) 5 Ewe's mate example 54 Ancient letter 61 She played 6 Spotted wildcat 29 Withered 55 Star anagram Sabrina in the 7 Bacterial infec30 "Nay" sayer 56 Horse's walk '70s tion 31 Annoyance 60 Tie the knot

12

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+

Vote for a solid investment strategy Election Day is little more than a week away. to achieve them.

At least once each year, review your portAs a citizen, you may feel the results will affect many aspects of life in this country. But as an folio carefully to make sure your investments investor, your situation probably won’t change are aligned with your goals, whether they are after the votes are counted. short-term (a new car, a long No matter who wins, the vacation and so on) or longfinancial markets may well term (such as college for show some politically drivyour children or a comforten volatility, but that often

by Mary H. McDow able retirement). Periodicalhappens around elections, ly, depending on what’s hapEdward Jones Adviser and it typically doesn’t last pening in your life and the long. But what about the progress of your investment portfolio, you may longer term? How might changes in policy and need to evaluate your goals to ensure they’re new legislation affect your investment outprioritized appropriately to help keep you on look? track toward achieving what’s most important To begin, keep in mind that many campaign to you. promises remain just that – promises. And Over time, your goals may change, too. even when some of them are enacted, any ulPerhaps you’ve decided that instead of retirtimate legislation may be quite different from ing early and traveling around the world, you what was proposed on the campaign trail. now want to turn your hobby into a business.

Still, sometime in the future, we could see Changing this goal may require a different inelection-related changes that could affect your vestment strategy. Or you might change your investment strategy. For example, over the mind about where you want to live – instead years, we’ve seen many adjustments in the tax of staying in your home, as originally planned, rates of capital gains and stock dividends, and you might downsize and move to a different it’s likely these rates will change again one day. area. Your goals may change in many ways, all When that happens, you may need to look at of which may warrant updating your investthe equities portion of your portfolio to see if ment strategies. you want to make some adjustments.

Here’s the key point: You’re the one electing Many other changes, though, are hard to to make these changes. No matter what happredict. It’s possible that future legislation pens in this or any other election, be sure to could affect specific industries, either posi“vote” for the strategies that have the potential tively or negatively. Such moves could also for a winning outcome. influence the way you look at certain investments, but if you have a diversified portfolio that contains a broad mix of stocks, bonds and other securities, any actions affecting one particular industry probably won’t cause you to significantly adjust holdings invested in other sectors.

In any case, while it may be a good idea This article was written by Edward Jones for to keep an eye open for things like tax rate use by your local Edward Jones Financial Adchanges or how new policies may affect difviser, Mary H. McDow, 102 Houston Ave., Suite ferent market segments, your main emphasis, 203, 817-598-0882. Member SPIC in terms of your investment decisions, should remain on your goals and what you need to do

Money Matters

November 2020

n Neighbors We’ll Miss n Mary Jo Lyon October 19 n Phillip John Barnett October 18 n Sadie Bates Martin October 13 n Jean Bryan October 12 n Jerry Winston Reese October 12 n Joyce LaVelle Rodgers October 11 n Rob Jay Aanenson October 11 n Archie William Brawner October 10 n Martha Jane Gagnon October 8 n Richard Wayne Pointer October 7 n Patsy Jane Davis October 7 n Cary Ann Hardin October 5 n Harold Glenn Armstrong October 4 n Daisy Nail October 4 n Michael Paul Davis October 1 n Frances Ann Speagle October 1 n Floyd Austin Woolsey October 1 n Hellen Marie Day Smith September 30 n Dr. Charles William George September 30 n Bonnie Maudine True Reach September 29 n Glenda June Campbell September 28 n Robin Suzette Jones September 26 n Otta Adelle Morton September 26

November 2020

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Adults 55+

13

The Sunday Meetin’

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I tied Knothead up to the hitching rail and unloosened the cinch a mite, then headed out to the corral. As I walked, I saw Christie bent over putting more wood under the wash kettle.

She must have sensed my presence.

“Well Mister Travers, it’s good to know your eyes appear to be in excellent condition.”

“Yes, ma’am, uh, no ma’am. I mean yes ma’am, I reckon they are. Now if you’ll excuse me, I do believe, I have some work to attend to.”

Her eyes danced with laughter at my uncomfortable situation.

Ashamed of my thoughts, I decided that since tomorrow was Sunday, instead of going to church services in Weatherford or Martin’s Fort, I’d hold the services under the big live oak tree.

I spent the rest of the afternoon going over a “sins of the flesh,” sermon in my mind since I figured that’s what I needed the most.

Just before dark, a fight broke out between a sharecropper and an ex-Confederate soldier. After firing the one starting the trouble, I decided I’d best preach a sermon on getting along.

The next morning, I firmly grasped our family Bible and walked past the small crowd to a makeshift podium. I was terribly nervous as I looked out at all them eyes staring at me while anxiously awaiting my sermon: “Lord God, we come before you today as your children and we know, we are all equal in your love. We ask that you bestow your eternal blessings upon all us. Amen.

We are all here as children of God, and he wants us to love each other. It doesn’t make any difference to Him whether we are white folks or black folks, we are still God’s children and He loves us equally.

Since we are working together to build new lives for ourselves, doesn’t it

make sense that our goals will come to us faster if all get along and help each other out?

A long time ago, Jesus spoke of helping each other out. He was speaking to a large group of people telling them about their sinful ways.

He spoke of a feller going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. He met up with some outlaws, who both stripped him and beat him, leavby James ing him half dead.

Carroll Martin Well, a preacher comes along. When he saw the man lying there naked and badly hurt, he passed on by the feller without trying to help him a bit.

Then one o’ them Levite fellers came along and saw the beaten man, but he too just passed him on by.

But then a Samaritan feller came along. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, and he went to the beaten feller and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.

The Samaritan put the beaten man on his donkey an’ brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day, when the Samaritan left, he gave some coins to the innkeeper an’ said to him; ‘Take care of him. Whatever it will cost beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’

Jesus looked out at the crowd surrounding Him and asked, ‘Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to the feller who was robbed and beaten by outlaws?’

The answer was the man who showed mercy on him. And Jesus said we should do likewise.”

We bowed our heads and said another prayer, then Christie sang a beautiful hymn. We sang a couple more and concluded the service.

On the way back to the house, Christie dropped her handkerchief and bent over to pick it up. I knew right then my “sins of the flesh,” sermon wouldn’t have done me a bit of good!

Campfire Stories

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Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+

November 2020

n FAQ

Plant those pansies It’s that remarkable time of transition – beautiful, cool and crisp fall weather one day, and a cold, blue norther the next. It’s gotta be Texas!

Plant: • Pansies, violas, pinks, snapdragons and ornamental cabbage and kale for cool-season color.

Less-hardy plants that could also be planted in pots in protected spots (and brought into protection in extreme cold) include petunias, stocks, larkspurs, calendulas, sweet alyssum, wallflowers, English daisies, Swiss chard varieties Rhubarb and Bright Lights, cyclamen, Iceland poppies and other frost-hardy plants.

• Trees, shrubs as nurseries finish out their end-of-season sales. As mentioned in last month’s Hoopla, this is an absolutely fine time to plant woody landscape plants.

Prune: • Houseplants to reshape them as you move them indoors for the winter.

• Erratic growth from evergreen shrubs, but save major pruning and reshaping for later this winter.

• Dead stubble from perennial gardens to tidy them up before winter.

Fertilize: • Pansies and other winter color annuals with high-nitrogen, watersoluble fertilizer each time that you water them. That’s especially important for plants you’re growing in pots, since nutrients drain away quickly.

• Winter grasses (ryegrass and fescue) with all-nitrogen lawn food during this, their most active period of growth. In the case of ryegrass that has been over-seeded into an existing lawn of St. Augustine or bermuda, apply the fertiliz-

Timely Tips

by Neil Sperry Gardening Expert

er at half to two-thirds the recommended rate.

On the Lookout: • Monitor houseplants for insects that may have come indoors with them. Watch especially for spider mites, scales and mealybugs. Take the plants outdoors to treat, but keep them out of direct sunlight and wind.

• Have frost cloth pre-cut and ready to pull over tender plants for protection from extreme cold should it roll in. If you have tender plants in containers, move them into the garage, an entryway or up against the house for added protection when it gets really cold.

You lose 20 degrees of winter hardiness when plants’ roots are above ground.

• Keep plants watered deeply when temperatures are likely to drop below freezing.

Plant of the Month – Ginkgo: Our part of North Central Texas isn’t especially well known for fall color. But here’s a tree that will bring home the gold every year without fail, and it’s been doing so for millennia.

Ginkgoes are historic trees unlike any others. They’re preserved in fossil remains from the United States, Europe and Greenland.

The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University says they can be traced back 180 million years, meaning they shared the earth with the dinosaurs. (That makes a fine story for a parent or grandparent to tell as a youngster helps plant a new

NEIL SPERRY

An 8-year-old ginkgo in the Sperrys’ backyard. tree in the yard.)

Ginkgoes are old favorites in Asia. The Arnold Arboretum reports one specimen in Korea can be traced back more than 1,100 years. A ginkgo at the entrance to a Tokyo temple is more than 700 years old and more than 9 feet in diameter.

All that, and ginkgoes still didn’t make their way to America until William Hamilton brought them to his Philadelphia garden in 1784.

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright was fond of the tree, enough so that he designed his studios in the early 1900s around a young (4-inch diameter) ginkgo that still stands in the east courtyard.

Ginkgoes grow to be 30 to 40 feet

“Is it a good idea to leave fallen tree leaves on the grass over the winter? I noticed that the grass stays green when I don’t pick them up.”

You do not want to leave fallen leaves in place any longer than you have to. They trap warmth and moisture beneath them. Added together, those two things can result in turf disease problems such as brown patch. When wind carries the leaves away eventually, it can cause freeze damage you would not have experienced otherwise.

tall and wide (much larger farther north), so they need to be planted away from power lines. If you want your tree to attain full size and form, plant it in full sun, where it can grow unencumbered by other trees nearby. Be sure you choose a male, grafted specimen such as ‘Autumn Gold’ so your tree will be fruitless. Female ginkgo trees bear fruit that has a putrid aroma when ripe.

Your ginkgo won’t grow rapidly.

Give it good care and attention, and it will progress at roughly the same pace as magnolias. Insects and diseases seem to leave ginkgoes completely alone. I’ve had my older tree for almost 40 years, and I’ve never seen any problem.

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November 2020

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Adults 55+

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Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+

November 2020