STORYTIME TAPESTRY

March 14, 2005

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 <p> Congratulations goes out to Bob Shaw who has become our newest senior writer!</p>

<p>Animal awareness series endorsed by Shiloh and Hank our mascots; all stories must receive their approval.</p>

<p> Now on to the good stuff..........</p>

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STORY TIME

BY LOREN MOORE AND BOB JOHNSTON

LOREN WRITES;

I WANT TO TELL YOU A STORY. IT DOESN??™T START OUT ???ONCE UPON A TIME??? OR ???ON A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT??? OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE THIS STORY IS ??¦ WELL, ALMOST TRUE.

IT IS ABOUT TWO PEOPLE NAMED BOB AND LOREN. THEY ARE THE BEST OF FRIENDS AND HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME.

NOW PAY ATTENTION WHILE I TELL YOU THIS TALE.

BOB WAS A PILOT AND ONE DAY HE AND LOREN WERE GOING TO GO UP IN BOB??™S AIRPLANE AND FLY TO FISH AND FLY RESORT ON CADDO LAKE. AS THEY GOT OVER THE LAKE LOREN ASKED BOB TO FLY AROUND OVER THE LAKE SOME BEFORE THEY LANDED.

AS THEY ZOOMED LOW OVER THE LAKE LOREN COULD SEE THROUGH THE CYPRESS TREES, SOME OF HIS FAVORITE FISHING AREAS. FINALLY HE SAID, ???OK BOB LETS GO AHEAD AND LAND AT THE RESORT AND HAVE LUNCH.

BOB WRITES;

Bob swung the plane around into the wind and made his approach to the little resort. He put the float plane down lightly on the water and taxied to the mooring dock. Cutting the engine, Bob said, "Loren, why don't you hop out and tie us down.

Loren hopped out and tied the plane to the dock and Bob followed him after he had run through the shutdown checklist.

They gathered their gear from the storage compartment behind the seats, and lugged everything up the hill to the cabin area. They checked in and were assigned their cabin.

Carrying all of their gear into the cabin they would share, Loren said, "Bob, what do ya suppose we've forgotten?"

They decided to take inventory. Clothes for warm weather? Yep. Clothes for cool weather? Yep. Fishing gear? Yep. Camera? Yep.
Film? Oh oh! No film.

Bob asked if Loren thought the bait shop would carry film and Loren said they would have to check it out when they bought bait in the morning.

Loren Writes;

???RIGHT NOW I??™M READY FOR LUNCH. HOW ABOUT YOU BOB????

???YOU BET. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO EAT????

???BOB DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO ASK? WHEN YOU

COME TO CADDO, YOU EAT FISH. WHAT ELSE????

SO THEY WENT OVER TO THE RESTAURANT AND HAD THE RESORTS FAMOUS ALL YOU CAN EAT FISH LUNCH. IT WAS SERVED FAMILY STYLE. FIRST THE WAITRESS BROUGHT A PLATTER OF SLICED ONIONS, TOMATOES, PICKLES, AND LEMONS. THE PLATTER ALSO HAD PEPPERS AND OLIVES ON IT.

NEXT THE WAITRESS BROUGHT A BOWL OF SALAD AND A BOWL OF FRENCH FRIED POTATOES. FINALLY SHE BROUGHT A BIG PLATTER OF FRIED CATFISH. ANY TIME ONE OF THE BOWLS OR PLATTERS WAS EMPTIED SHE WOULD GRAB IT UP AND GO BACK TO THE KITCHEN AND REFILL IT.

WELL BOB AND LOREN SAT THERE AND SCOFFED DOWN ENOUGH FOOD FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR. AFTERWARD THEY WALKED BACK TO THEIR CABIN AND LIKE TWO FAT HOGS WITH A FULL BELLY, FELL ON THEIR BEDS AND TOOK A NAP.

THEY WOKE UP AROUND FIVE O??™CLOCK AND DECIDED TO WALK DOWN AND CHECK ON BOB??™S AIRPLANE. WHEN THEY GOT TO THE DOCK THE PLANE WAS GONE!

BOB WRITES;

"Holy Smokes, what happened to the plane?"

"I don't know. It was here a couple of hours ago."

"Well, I sure didn't hear an engine or anything. Do you think we were sleeping THAT soundly?"

"Nah, I was just dozing. Didn't hear a thing."
"Well then, where could it be? Sure glad it's insured!"

"Does your insurance cover lost planes?"

"Sure Hope so?"

Bob & Loren walked up and down the beach looking to see if it had broken loose, drifted away and ran aground somewhere. No luck. Bob decided that they should call the local sheriff or police or somebody.

"What 'r ya gonna tell em? You forgot where you parked it?"

"Gosh, I don't know. I guess I'll just tell them it was here and then it wasn't. I'll probably sound foolish, but maybe they'll have some ideas or something.

Just as they were about to go find a phone, Loren heard the whine of an overworked outboard motor. They looked out across the lake and, at first, didn't see a thing. Then, as they watched and strained their eyes, they could make out an indefinite shape - way out there.

Loren said, "Bob what is that out there? Looks too big for a boat."

Bob replied, "Yeah, at least too big for this lake"

The shape began to take form. A little boat was towing something. Could that be????

Loren Writes:

THROW TWO OR THREE MORE PIECES OF WOOD ON THE FIRE. IT??™S BEGINNING TO BURN DOWN LOW AND I CAN??™T SEE YOUR FACES. I LIKE TO LOOK AT YOU WHILE I??™M TELLING YOU A STORY. THAT WAY I??™LL KNOW IF YOU??™RE STILL LISTENING TO ME.

BOB SHOUTS, ???HEY THAT??™S MY PLANE HE??™S TOWING!??? IN A LITTLE WHILE THE LITTLE 14 FOOT JON BOAT PULLED THE PLANE UP TO THE DOCK. BOB REACHED OUT AND GRABBED THE TIE ROPE THAT WAS STILL TIED TO THE PONTOON AND TIED IT TO THE CLEAT ON THE DOCK. ???THERE IT WON??™T COME UNTIED NOW??? BOB MUTTERED AS HE STOOD UP. LOREN??™S FACE TURNED RED AS HE TURNED TO WATCH THE MAN IN THE JON BOAT PULL HIS BOAT UP ON THE BANK NEXT TO THE DOCK AND TIE IT TO A POST.

BOB AND LOREN WALKED BACK UP THE DOCK TO WHERE THE MAN WAS STANDING. BOB STUCK OUT HIS HAND AND INTRODUCED HIMSELF AND TOLD THE MAN HE WAS THE OWNER OF THE PLANE AND HE WANTED TO GIVE HIM A REWARD FOR BRING HIS PLANE BACK. HE REACHED INTO HIS HIP POCKET AND TOOK HIS BILLFOLD OUT.

THE MAN TOLD THEM HIS NAME WAS BOUDREAUX AND HE DIDN??™T WANT A REWARD. ???THAT??™S NOT THE WAY WE DO THINGS DOWN HERE ON THE LAKE. IF WE DO A FAVOR FOR SOMEONE WE EXPECT YOU TO DO A FAVOR FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO PAY US BACK.???

BOB TOLD BOUDREAUX HE WOULD CERTAINLY DO THAT. LOREN ASKED MR. BOUDREAUX IF HE WOULD EAT SUPPER WITH THEM AND HE ACCEPTED.

WHILE THEY WERE EATING LOREN SAID, ???MR. BOUDREAUX I SAW A BARREL NET IN YOUR BOAT. ARE YOU A COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN???? ???YES LOREN, I??™M A COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN ON THE LOUISIANA SIDE OF THE LAKE. AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW BARREL NETS ARE NOT LEGAL IN TEXAS.???

BY THE TIME THEY WERE THROUGH EATING IT WAS PLUM DARK. BOB OFFERED TO PAY FOR A ROOM AT THE INN SO BOUDREAUX WOULDN??™T HAVE TO GO BACK ACROSS THE LAKE IN THE DARK. HE TOLD BOB AND LOREN HE HAD BEEN RUNNING THIS LAKE MAN AND BOY, DAY LIGHT AND DARK FOR 40 YEARS. HE WOULDN??™T HAVE ANY TROUBLE FINDING HIS WAY HOME.

THE NEXT MORNING BOB AND LOREN RENTED A 16 FOOT JON BOAT WITH A 15 HORSE JOHNSON OUTBOARD MOTOR ON IT AND TOOK OFF FOR SOME BASS FISHING IN SOME OF LOREN??™S FAVORITE PLACES,

BOB WRITES;

They arrived at the first place where they would begin their quest for Bass. They each inventoried their tackle boxes and selected lures which were supposed to be irresistible to the fish. Bob cast out from one side of the boat up front, and Loren cast to the other side from the back.

They worked their rigs relentlessly for an hour, trying almost everything in the tackle boxes. Loren said "I just don't get it. I've never failed to catch fish here."

Just as they were about to give up and move to another location, Bob said, "Hold it. I've got a bite."

Loren said "ok", and cast his line one more time into the shadows of an overhanging tree. About 3 seconds later, Loren shouted, "Hey, I've got one too!"

They each battled with their mighty bass. As they each got their catch lose to the boat, Loren said, "Who's going to net these guys?"

Bob agreed that he would try to hold his rod in one hand and grab the net with the other. He made a heroic attempt to net Loren's fish, but the boat tipped and Bob lost his balance. He slid off the seat into the bottom of the boat, but Loren's fish had been netted. Unfortunately, Bob lost his rod & reel over the side of the boat. Since the water wasn't too deep, Bob decided to dive in and try to retrieve his equipment.

As he was about to leap over the side, a loud roar could be heard overhead.

Loren Writes:

BUT THEY COULD NOT SEE THE PLANE BECAUSE OF THE CYPRESS TREES WITH ALL THE SPANISH MOSS HANGING OFF THEM. ???LOREN I HOPE THAT??™S NOT MY PLANE.??? ???WELL IF IT IS THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW, BOB.???

SO BOB SLID OVER THE SIDE OF THE BOAT. THE WATER WAS ONLY UP TO HIS CHEST, SO HE DIDN??™T HAVE ANY TROUBLE FINDING HIS ROD. HE HANDED IT TO LOREN AND THEN CLIMBED BACK INTO THE BOAT. LOREN GAVE HIM BACK HIS ROD AND HE STARTED WINDING IN THE LINE.

AS HE GOT ALL THE SLACK OUT OF THE LINE HE REALIZED THE FISH WAS STILL ON HIS LURE. HE MANAGED TO BRING IT UP TO THE BOAT AND LOREN NETTED IT. BOB TOOK OUT HIS ZEBCO DELIAR AND WEIGHED HIS FISH. IT WEIGHED JUST OVER EIGHT POUNDS. THEN BOB WEIGHED LOREN??™S FISH AND IT WEIGHED SIX POUNDS.

NOW THEY HAD TO GO BACK TO THE CABIN SO BOB COULD CHANGE INTO SOME DRY CLOTHES. WHEN THEY GOT BACK THEY SAW BOB??™S PLANE STILLED TIED AT THE END OF THE DOCK WHERE THEY HAD LEFT IT. THERE WAS ANOTHER SMALL PLANE SETTING ON THE GRASS RUN WAY NEXT TO THE RESORT LODGE,

WHEN BOB HAD CHANGED INTO DRY CLOTHES, THEY STEPPED OUT OF THEIR CABIN JUST IN TIME TO SEE TWO SMALL BOYS WALKING OUT ON THE DOCK. THEY BOTH CARRIED A FISHING POLE AND ONE OF THEM HAD A SMALL TACKLE BOX, THE OTHER A STYROFOAM BOX OF WORMS.

AS THEY GOT TO THE END OF THE DOCK WHERE BOB??™S PLANE WAS TIED, THEY PUT DOWN THEIR FISHING GEAR. THEN THEY UNTIED THE ROPE HOLDING BOB??™S PLANE AND GAVE THE PLANE A PUSH. THE PLANE STARTED DRIFTING AWAY FROM THE DOCK.

BOB RAN OUT ON THE DOCK BUT IT WAS TO LATE TO REACH HIS PLANE. BUT HE DID GRAB THE TWO BOYS. LOREN RAN TO THEIR BOAT AND RETRIEVED BOB??™S PLANE. HE PULLED IT BACK TO THE DOCK AND SECURED IT TO THE CLEAT AGAIN.

THE OUT COME OF ALL THIS WAS THAT BOB AND LOREN LEARNED THE TWO BOYS HAD BEEN FISHING FOR BLUE GILL BREAM FROM THE DOCK FOR THREE DAYS BEFORE BOB AND LOREN HAD FLOWN IN. THEY HAD FOUND A SPOT JUST OFF THE END OF THE DOCK WHERE THEY COULD CATCH A BUNCH OF BIG BLUE GILL EVERY TIME THEY THE FISHED THERE.

WHEN THEY FOUND THE PLANE BLOCKING THEIR SPOT, THEY JUST UNTIED IT AND SHOVED IT OUT OF THE WAY. THEN THEY FISHED UNTIL THEY CAUGHT ALL THE BLUE GILL THEY WANTED TO CLEAN FOR THAT TIME.

WELL BOB DECIDED THAT THE BEST THING HE AND LOREN COULD DO WAS TO JUST GO HOME. SO THEY TURNED IN THEIR RENTAL BOAT, PAID THEIR BILL AND LOADED EVERY THING INTO THE PLANE. THEY HAD ENJOYED GOOD FOOD, GOOD FISHING AND GOOD COMPANIONSHIP.
*****
NOW THAT??™S THE END OF THIS STORY. THE FIRE HAS BURNED DOWN TO RED EMBERS AND IT??™S TIME FOR ALL YOU KIDS TO GO TO YOUR TENTS AND CRAWL INTO YOUR SLEEPING BAGS. GOOD NIGHT AND SWEET DREAMS.

I THINK I??™LL SIT HERE UNDER THIS CANOPY OF STARS ON THE BANK OF CADDO LAKE. I??™LL LISTEN TO ALL THE NIGHT SOUNDS OF GODS LAKE AND DREAM OF LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY THINGS. AH TO BE YOUNG AGAIN AND DREAM THE DREAMS OF INNOCENTS,

BUT AN OLD MAN HAS HIS DREAMS ALSO AND ONE DAY WHEN GOD TAKES HIM HOME, HE WILL BE AGELESS AND HAVE HIS OWN CADDO LAKE. FOR I KNOW AS SURE AS I KNOW THAT THERE IS A HEAVEN, THERE WILL BE A CADDO LAKE IN IT.

THE END
Loren Moore

caddo @digitex.net

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<p>Today's Queue Stories</p>
 

 The Jockey

Bob Shaw

Back around the summer of 1948, Grampa had a small string of
racehorses, and had been doing pretty well. A patch of bad luck had
him on the down and out side, and he was looking for a good race to
put him back on top. Milt, an old friend was in town looking for a
ride and came to see him.

He was a little tall for a jockey, but was light as a feather.
Most of his friends kidded him about being able to stand under a
clothes line in a rain storm and stay dry. But he could ride a horse.
Only problem was, he couldn't ride sober. Give him a bottle of 'ol
"who hit John" and he'd ride anything.

Grampa told him he had a good horse and needed a pilot. When he
took a look at Shaw's Pride, he just stared up at him and swallowed
hard. He said that was the biggest horse he'd ever seen. Standing over
16 hands high, he was an impressive sight. Grampa handed him a bottle,
and he went over to the tack room to get his courage up. He came out
with half the bottle, looked at the horse again, and Grampa asked him
if he was ready. Milt took a long look at the Pride, took a deep sigh,
finished the bottle, and said "yup, ready as I'll get".

It took two of them to get him set, and Grampa was wondering if he
was going to have to tie him to the saddle. But once Milt got into the
drivers seat, he took on a whole different personality. He was like a
different person.

From the lead out, to the starting gate, and until the bell went
off, he was rock solid. Through the race, he was totally professional.
No fear what so ever.

When the gate opened, Milt gave out a rebel yell and hung on. He
hooted and hollered all the way around the track. The Pride wasn't
used to this kind of ride, but ran one of his best races. He led the
pack all the way to the finish line. Probably trying to get away from
the maniac on his back.

They were led to the winners circle, Milt staying quiet until the
presentations and pictures were done. Then he looked at Grampa and
said very quietly, Ralph, get me off this thing. They all had a good
laugh, then went to grab a good meal. Poor 'ol Milt quit racing again.
But then, he quit after every race. Sober, he was scared to death of
horses. Hammered, he could ride with the best of them. I'm not sure
what happened to Milt. Like so many of Grampa's friends, they just
kind of filtered in and out. Grampa was one of a kind. He was Grampa,
but he was my friend too. One that I've always treasured, and always will.

By Bob Shaw CapeRabbit @Semo.net

Bob and his wife, Ronni live in the Cape Girardeau, Missouri area.
Bob is an award winning writer, with publishings in Angel Animals,
Warm and Fuzzy Stories, Write 2 the Heart, 2 the Heart, Heartwarmers,
Petwarmers, Storytime Tapestry, and many others.
His stories have also been printed in newspaper columns, featured
on several web sites, and has co-authored four books in the United
States and the Netherlands.

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<p>Writers Feedback</p>     

   I am still smiling after reading the story of the Lifebuoy soap mystery by Loren Moore.  I really enjoy all the stories I read that he writes and really enjoy the sense of humor I seem to feel from his stories about life.  Thanks Loren!  Blessings,

Sharlett Hunt 

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Announcements

Help If You Can ??“ Operation We Care

I'd like to ask if anyone would take the time to write a letter, send a note, or just a card to a soldier in Iraq.

She is the sister of my post master.  She's been deployed for over a month in Iraq.

She's left behind four children.  She misses her family, and she's pulling long hours of duty. 

Her brother is also military and is leaving for a two-year deployment to Germany.  Many of you will recall, his baby was diagnosed with cancer at 6 months and many stepped in to send a card when his life was in total turmoil.  Again, I thank all who helped make his and his wife's life brighter knowing people cared.

If you'd like to write to this solider, would you please email me and I will give you her address.

Thank you,

Sharon

Operation We Care

1946 @bellsouth.net

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<p>Prayer Requests</P>

<P>Dear Prayer Warriors,</p>

Toby is making progress but still needs your prayers.  He has lost 20 lbs and is weak. 

Thank you for all your prayers and please keep them coming for 20 pounds worth!

God is working here, but we need to stand vigilent with our prayers till he is returned

to perfect health.

Love,

Barbara

Note from Toby's mother, Sharon:

Praise God!  Toby has lost 20 pounds and his is weak. It will take a while to gain back that strength and the weight. He was small to begin with. He is having trouble with his sugar, he was diagnosed as hypoglycemic just a few short weeks ago too. So he may have another hurdle to get over. It is unclear just what all his intestinal and gall bladder problems have caused that may change once he is well. All we can do is wait and pray.

Good night and many blessings and prayers to continue,

Sharon 

the doctor told him that ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SENIOR WRITERS

Agee,Vance,  Apted,Violet,  Baker,Kathy,  Batt,Al,  Berry,Nell,

Boda,Ginger,  Bryant,Sharon,  Cassady,B.J.,  Crider,Mark,  Deming,Barb,  Goodier,Steve,  Harris,Kathy Anne,  Hunt, Sharlette,  Jacobson, Gary,  Kiser,Roger

Kerens, Claudia

Dean,  Jenkins,Pamela, Liles,Norma,  Mazzella,Joe,  Moore, Loren,  Ojeigbe,Georgewaters, Shaw,Bob, Sims,Richard, Vaknin,Sam, Walker,Joe,  Whirity,Kathy,  White,Robert

<p>STORYTIME TAPESTRY STAFF

Publisher: Carol Roach-founder

Moderator: Thelma Hartselle-co founder

Chief writer: Loren Moore-co founder,

  Moderator, Publicity Director

Moderator: Clara Westerfer</p>

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