Community

 It's All About Community

Community is the word that came to mind for my blog post this week.  Let me explain. 

Mike and I enjoy going to car shows. Through the activity, we’ve met a lot of people and made many new friends. 

A local restaurant in our community, The Diner, hosts a pretty nice car show. They have five to six shows a year during the winter months.

Welcome to the Diner

Mike and I have been to that particular show several times. The food at the restaurant is excellent. The conversation is great. And the cars? There is a bit of everything present. Every car, old and new. Every color of car, from bright white to pitch black with everything in between. 

But what I appreciate most about the car shows at The Diner are the people.

I’ll start with the people who work at the restaurant itself. Service is great, yes. The food is excellent. But, moreover, this is a community minded group. If someone in the area has a need, they all pitch in to help. When local students need school supplies, the folks at The Diner make sure that happens. 

You see, the owner, Kim Speckner, cares about people. 

This past week they collected toys so children in Floral City can have a nice Christmas.

There is an old yellow pick-up truck parked in front of the restaurant. The goal was to fill the back of that truck with toys for children in need. The “car community” responded. 

I asked Kim about the old, bright yellow truck. It doesn’t run. Never has since the day she purchased it. She bought it and set it up as and eye catcher. It works. 

Yes, I know there are other organizations who work to collect toys all over the nation. But for the folks at The Diner, this is personal. It is a “We take care of our own” kind of place. 

Of course, The Diner has a secret weapon. Don Garlits.

Don Garlits with Kim at The Diner

Yep, Big Daddy Don Garlits, NHRA champion and owner of the Don Garlits Museum of Racing in Ocala, Florida is a frequent customer and supporter of our little local restaurant, The Diner.

 

He came to the show. People bought his book or took a picture with him. He gave his autograph to anyone asking. But Don Garlits didn’t do that because he’s famous and wanted the flock of fans around him. 

 

He did it to help the cause. You see, Don Garlits cares about people, too.

A “good” car show at the venue may have thirty cars or so. This one? Ninety cars. 

Yes…nine-zero…90. 

There were cars of every make and model…Old cars still carrying their scars of long-time duty and others that had been restored. There were new cars of interest and every sort of car in between. 

And that old yellow pick-up truck? Let’s just say, there are some local children who will have a good Christmas morning this year. Thanks to The Diner and all of us who appreciate good food, new friends, old cars, and people who care.

Community: A group of people who CARE.

 

 

 

Cowboy Country Festival

 Cowboy Country Festival

Howdy, Y’all!

This past week, we attended the Cowboy Country Festival in Brooksville, Florida. The event was sponsored by our church, Stable Faith Cowboy Church. Now isn’t that a great name for a cowboy church? Stable Faith. Mike and I have been attending this church since moving to our home in Inverness.

We like it there. Not simply because it is a Cowboy Church, complete with all the western flair…including a lot of cowboy boot clad members, wagon wheels, saddles and such. No, we like the church because it is a place where the Gospel…Good News…of Jesus Christ is taught. Shared. Breathed.

So, when our church sponsored a Cowboy Festival for the community, we donned our cowpoke clothes and attended. There were vendors, events, and activities for everyone. 

Of course Santa wears
Cowboy Boots and a Cowboy hat!

Children could get their faces painted, learn to rope a steer, participate in a Stick Pony barrel race, and sit on Santa’s lap. 

Okay, adults could visit Santa as well. 

I wonder what
Mike asked Santa.

There were hayrides, a cornhole tournament, a tractor expo…well, you get the idea.

Why would a church do this? Because the church isn’t a building. A church isn’t built of brick and mortar or planks of wood. The church is made of people. Believers. We are not simply a “come to us” church. We are part of a community. And Stable Faith Cowboy Church looks for ways to invite the community to be a part of our church family.

You can read about our first visit to Stable Faith HERE.

    A few more pics to enjoy from the weekend.

Jellies and Preserves

Cowboy Stuff

 

Hand Stitched Cowboy Hat

Cakes, desserts, Yum!

Y

Everyone had a great time!

 Judy Blume. 

You may have heard of her. 

She is the author of more than twenty-six novels including Tales of Fourth Grade Nothing, Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, and Superfudge, …to name a few of her children’s and young adult titles. 

She has also written some adult fiction. But now? Now in her eighties, Judy Blume is living her dream.

I know. She told me. 

Yep, that's me with Judy Blume.

A couple of weeks ago, Mike and I headed to Key West to catch a ferry to the Dry Tortugas. If you missed that post, CLICK HERE.

The day before our venture, we took in some of the sites and enjoyed some great food on Mallory Square, but the biggie for me that day was visiting Books and Books at the Studios of Key West, a local bookstore. 

I had done my research. Books and Books is owned by Judy Blume and her husband. I also learned she spends much of her time in the store. 

We parked the car and headed down Eaton Street. And there, right on the corner was Books and Books. It was lunchtime. Mike and I poked around the store a few minutes. They had a bit of everything.

I have to admit I haven’t liked all of Blume’s books, but I admire her tenacity, her willingness to tackle tough subjects, and her ability to ask questions others ignore.

A few minutes later, as I was speaking with one of the clerks, Judy Blume walked in and headed to the back room to hang up her windbreaker. The clerk went over to her and motioned for me to come to them. 

We talked about writing for differing audiences. She asked about my books. Her only words of wisdom were to “keep writing.”

And then she surprised me.

“I love books,” she said. She went on to say she was now living her dream.  It wasn’t writing. It wasn’t being an award-winning author. 

She drew in a deep breath, looked around and simply said with a chuckle, “I’ve always wanted to own a bookstore.” 

 

Thankful for a Summer Date with Mike... 

in November

When I mapped out my blog posts through the end of the year, I simply wrote “Thankful” on my calendar for this week. I even considered reposting one of my Thanksgiving memories from years past. 

I have much for which to be thankful. 

Mostly, I am thankful God came to earth to die on a cross for ME. Well, for you, too, if you accept His gracious offering. 

And I am thankful for my family here and away. I am thankful for…the list could exceed my word count, so I’ll get right to business.

This holiday I want to share with my readers how thankful I am for a man named Mike. My husband. I have often shared Mike is a good man. It’s true. 

Last week, Mike and I took a little day trip south of Tampa. It was initially to be an errand but turned into a date. I love those kinds of moments. 

Manatee Viewing Center
at TECO's Big Bend Station
in Apollo Beach, FL

Our errand took us near the plant where Mike was a supervisor. Mike worked at the Tampa Electric Company (TECO) for “43 years, 6 months, and 48 days.” (Mike’s standard answer.) 

The Tampa Electric Company (TECO) uses the colder water from Tampa Bay as a coolant then pumps the clean, now warmer water into the bay, making a safe haven for manatees when outside temperatures drop. 

A Couple of Manatees

The company established a viewing area for the large but graceful critters.

It is a beautiful place. The days have been warm so we weren’t sure we’d see any of the manatee population. 

It tuned out a few manatees were there, but we also were able to see huge tarpon swimming along, some black and white striped fish Mike called Sergeant Majors, and several sharks. It was fascinating. 

Tarpon Near the Walkway

I had heard of Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center but the area was so much more than I expected with long docks for walking and observing, educational information on ocean life, a place on site where you can touch a stingray, and an observation tower. The volunteers working there were both knowledgeable and helpful.

We stood on one of the decks looking across the water at the electric company where Mike spent much of his adult life. He pointed to the building that housed his office. He pointed out the coal field and explained how everything worked. 

MIke's Office Building.

And, as often happens, someone there knew someone Mike knew. Mike knows everybody.   

A date with my husband. A beautiful sunshiny summer day. In November. You can’t beat that.

If you want to learn more about this hidden treasure, click here: https://www.tampaelectric.com/manatee/ 

And one more thing...

We ended the day with a delicious meal at Ford's Garage. It doesn't get any better than that! 

 

 

One Off The Bucket List

 Check One Off the Bucket List…Sort Of…

Last week I shared that Mike and I were scratching something off our “Bucket List.” If you read that post you know we already addressed our desire to relive our teen years by eating at the original Frisch’s Big Boy Restaurant.

There were a few more items on that list, including 

·      Visiting the Corvette Museum in Kentucky

·      Taking in the Kentucky Horse Park, also in Kentucky

·      Visiting the Dry Tortugas about 70 miles off of Key West

·      Taking a Trip to Alaska

Well, we did it! We checked off one of those items and loved it!

We visited Fort Jefferson located in the Dry Tortugas. AND IT WAS WONDERFUL.

Fort Jefferson was established as a fort, a point of protection, yes, but served as a prison during the Civil War. I first became intrigued with the history of the place when I encountered the story of Dr. Samuel Mudd.

Samuel Mudd was the doctor who treated John Wilkes Booth for a broken leg. Booth broke his leg jumping from the balcony after shooting President Abraham Lincoln. Emotions ran high. Though Dr. Mudd asserted he knew nothing of the conspiracy, he was found guilty as a conspirator for the act of treating Booth’s broken leg. 

Many of the conspirators were hanged. Dr. Mudd was sentenced to life imprisonment in the federal prison, Fort Jefferson, located in the Dry Tortugas.

While there, an epidemic of Yellow Fever broke out. Dr. Mudd is credited for his work to save prisoners, civilians, and soldiers, alike. Over 200 soldiers signed a petition for his release. Dr. Mudd was pardoned after serving four years of his sentence.

If you’ve read the account of Queen Esther in the Bible, you know that she, a Jew, was made the Queen of Persia. When the Jewish nation was in threat of being destroyed, Queen Esther was in the unique position to save her people.

There’s a line in the book of Esther in the Old Testament where Mordecai tells her that perhaps she is Queen “For such a time as this.”

That story came to mind as I read the account of Dr. Mudd. He was sentenced to a remote federal prison where he was able to serve and save many.  “For such a time as this.”

A View of the Ft. Jefferson Parade Ground

It would be interesting to explore what happened to those survivors. 

The two-and-a-half-hour ferry boat ride out and back was a bit rough, but worth it. We were on Garden Key for four hours and didn’t see everything.

So, though we may have checked it off the bucket list…we’re putting it back up. Anyone in?

Celebrate November

 Celebrate November with a Bit of Adventure

When Mike and I started dating, we talked about items on our respective bucket lists. We’ve both traveled a bit. We’ve both been out of the country, but there is a lot of this country we haven’t seen. 

I had a list of places in Ohio to show Mike. He had places in Florida I’d never seen. And there was a lot to see in between. We pretty much decided without saying a word, that our life together would be fun. Adventurous.

In Ohio, we lunched at the original Frisch’s restaurant. That was a treat. Don’t laugh. Frisch’s was a big part of our teen life. We not only lunched there but also had a long conversation with our hostess who started working for the company as a car hop back in the day. 

Between Ohio and Florida is

the Kentucky Horse Park and

the Corvette Museum. Both made the list.

“I’ve always wanted to see Alaska,” he told me.

“Me too!”

We chatted about what we knew of such a trip and shared information we’d gleaned from friends who’d been there. I have a friend who worked for a cruise line in Alaska. She worked in their gift shop located portside. I shared the information I gleaned from her. 

Mike and I talked about the best times to go, what to see, and what we’d heard about traveling by ship or train. Or both. It was a fun conversation. A shared dream.

Another item on both of our lists was about as far from Alaska as you can get and still be in the USA. The Dry Tortugas. We’ve both been to Key West, which has a marker as the southernmost point in the nation, but the Dry Tortugas has a fascination all its own. It is the home to Fort Jefferson.  Though now a national park, Ft. Jefferson's history as a prison is interesting, including shall we say, its “clientele”? 

This week, my husband and I are checking off something we both had on our respective lists. Can you guess where we are? What we will see? What we will do?

·      Kentucky Horse Park?

·      The Corvette Museum?

·      Both? (Since they are both in Kentucky)

·      Alaska?

·      The Dry Tortugas?

I’m not telling. Not yet. But when we return, I hope to post pictures and stories from our adventure. Stay tuned.

By the way, I am out of town. I appreciate anyone who might repost this while I'm uh...unavailable. Thanks!

Six Gun Territory Revisited

 Six Gun Territory Revisited

Some of my Florida friends and family remember Six Gun Territory in Ocala. The popular tourist attraction featured a western town complete with typical wild west storefronts and gunfights in the street. This was before Disney seemingly took over the theme park venture in the Sunshine State.

Sheriff at Six Gun

As a teen, I had the opportunity to visit Six Gun Territory many times. When friends or family came to town, I would go with them to enjoy the wild west experience. 

I remember the day I was there with two younger cousins. We stood in line to get the autograph of Tommy Norden who played “Bud Ricks” on the popular show, Flipper. Tommy…or Bud, as I knew him on television, was a year older than me. We were both in our teens. He signed a photo of him with Flipper for each of us. 

Then…he asked me if I wanted to get a cola with him. There were only a couple of people left in line. I know I grinned. Though most of the teens I knew had a crush on Luke Halpin, who played Bud’s older brother, I must admit Bud…uh, Tommy, was pretty good looking and very sweet. 

The temptation to say yes to his offer was strong, but my responsibility to my cousins was stronger. I held onto that picture for a long time.

In 1984, Six Gun Territory closed its doors after over twenty years in operation.

Eventually, the Kirby family bought the props, train, and whatever they could from what was left of the Ocala venue. They are working to renew the experience and honor the memory of the popular park. 

But they do more than that. Kirby Family Farms recreates the wild west on the property one weekend a year with the proceeds used for programs for at-risk and special needs children. All of the actors are volunteers. I love that.

This time, I wasn’t on the lookout for a cute boy. I already have Mike. 

There's more...

When we read the description of who would be there, I came across the name of Mary Badham. Mary Badham was cast as Scout, the daughter of Atticus Finch, in the movie To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus Finch was played by Gregory Peck. 

With...Mary Badham

The book by Harper Lee remains a classic. Mary Badham, as Scout, was nominated for an Academy Award. She was, at the time, the youngest nominee ever. She didn’t win. Patty Duke won with her portrayal of Helen Keller. Still…

We packed a lot in while we were there. We walked around, ate lunch, and took the train ride. The experience was different from the original park, but it was good. The children watching the shows, talking to the cowboys, and waving from the train were all smiles. Those kiddos never knew the original Six Gun Territory. They will have their own memories of a day in the old west.

As for me? I was pleased to meet Mary Badham, to hear her stories, and to enjoy the warm November sunshine. 

P.S. Mary Badham confirmed that she and Gregory Peck remained close friends until his death in 2003. He still called her "Scout." 

Log House Pic
taken from the Train