Throw Back Thursday: Our Love Was Once In Tents

Hubby and Sparky

In 1979, we were newly wed, full of the moxie of youth, bright eyed with great hopes for the future. Gainful employment was easy back then. Jobs where plentiful. The future was bright. We weren't rich but we weren't broke either. Whatever life was to throw at us, it didn't matter, we where ready. And, ultimately, loves conquers all.

Our first trip together was on a shoe string budget, so, we planned for a location close to home in western North Carolina. This trip we spent a lot of time camping and hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville and all parts in between.

Hubby brought a vivid blue two man pup tent into the marriage. This was the start of a long love affair for me with camping. Soon after this trip, we 'moved up' to a 6 man Hillary canvas cabin tent sold by Sears. It gave us many years of faithful service and happy memories. Many years later, tired of sleeping on the ground, we bought a towable Recreational Vehicle. Now that we live in the woods, an RV was no longer exciting. I really miss being outdoors on our trips, though, but Hubby grew weary of all the work. Can't say that I blame him.

Above is the dear man during his salad days sitting by a stream on the Blue Ridge. I fell in love with that charming smile the first time we met. I am happy to report that he is still that wonderful guy and more.

Thank you LORD Jesus for all our wonderful years together.

 "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh." Ephesians 5:31

Throw Back Thursday: Constitution Day

Today we Americans celebrate, even if only in our hearts, the 228th Constitution Day.

Remember how the government was once divided into three branches in order to ensure a more perfect union? That was back when there was liberty for all free thinking people's at our shores. Sure, it wasn't perfect. No man made thing is. But at least we had the ability to achieve freedom is so desired. Apparently though, after 100 plus years of chopping at the tree, it does not exist anymore. Our country has gone black and it may never go back.

We The People need to be especially careful about who the next President will be. Pray, and seek His guidance I humbly implore.

Throwback Thursday: Early 1980's

Sparky and  the original Sam

Early 1980's

Yep, that's me hamming it up on my parent's sofa in Titusville, Florida. The original Sam (Miniature Schnauzer) sleeps beneath the coffee table. He was a sweet dog. The photo was snapped by then new husband. This past August 11th we've been together for 36 years. Bless him, he always is my biggest fan.

In the beginning it seemed like we where broke most of the time. Thank goodness we where young and full of energy! And thanks to a booming economy with President Reagan, hard work, frugal living and God's blessings, prosperity graced our home. Even with all the work the world was still fun though. I have memories of dinner parties with friends, SCUBA diving, motorcycling, dancing, traveling, fishing, hunting, and so forth. Life is quieter now but I wouldn't trade a day of any of it for all the money in Fort Knox.

Throw Back Thursday: 1973 Titusville Florida

May 1973

Astronaut High School Junior-Senior Prom

This is a scanned image of an old, worn polaroid of your's truly and my first boyfriend, Bill Anderson, in Titusville, Florida. I don't remember the dance but I'm sure it was enjoyable. The early '70s where still a time of innocence for America. It was also a time of fantastic music that still lives on today. Anyway, I remember Bill as a gentle, kind hearted, jolly, generous fellow. The following year we went our separate ways but I always think fondly of our time together. Time has obscured the reasons for the split. We both went on to marry good, loving people and have productive happy lives.

My step-mom, Myra, made the dress. She made almost all my clothes. Myra was so talented, she could have been a professional seamstress. I learned a lot about sewing from her for which I am eternally grateful.

Hope your day is blessed.

Hawaii, Hawaii, Hawaii #tbt

"Hawaii, Hawaii, Hawaii". Remember when Arthur Godfrey used to say that on his show? I know, I'm dating myself. *giggle*

In 2008, my husband, me and three other couples that are friends/former coworkers, traveled from here in the Southeast to Hawaii. We spent 5 very long boring days on a cruise through Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL), island hopping all along the way.

Sparky And Da Man

Why am I smiling? Because the Cruise is almost over!

More Photos Here

NCL's cruise are, or where, notorious, which we didn't know at the time. The ship was dirty, the crew surly & lazy, there wasn't enough food, the entertainment lacking and the itinerary was badly done. Upon disembarking at the end of the cruise, NCL forced us to give that worthless crew a tip on our bill from our credit card! (Don't worry, I pitched a Sparky fit worthy of YouTube.) We seemed to spend all our time trying to get from one place to another rather than enjoy the scenery. I will N-E-V-E-R go on a cruise again. Neither of us where greatly enamored by the Islands or their culture any way. But some of it was happy memories too. Like the one above of us at a luau. It was different. One of the days the whole group also lunched at a quirky restaurant, can't remember it's name, where we had huge sandwiches and local beer. The rest of the afternoon was more pleasant. *wink*

All-in-all it was an expensive lesson to learn that we have it really good here in the States. (Personally, I don't consider Hawaii America, just my never-to-be-humble opinion.)

And I plan to stick to two wheels for any future vacations.

Throwback Thursday ~ Ghosts Of Birthdays Past #tbt #birthday

For some reason, I have birthday's on my mind. Wonder why? *wink* So, I thought for Throwback Thursday this week I would show a couple of my old photos from past birth celebrations.

Three years old. That's the kitchen in our old concrete block house in Titusville, Florida, where I lived for 18 years. It's when the world was still young. Before anything hurt. When "old" was anyone over 10, and a wrinkle was not a concern.

Now it's a heavy task getting up from the sofa, fourscore and ten is not so distant, and wrinkles ... hey, I'm not even going there!

2005. It wasn't that long ago ... was it? But, in a way, I guess it was. Many long, twisty, scary, bumpy roads later the pot holes are starting to show up. I'm crumbling at the edges and there's grass growing where it shouldn't. The frame is still good, though. I only lost one bone in the last surgery. Hallelujah for that. It's a good thing I'm being renewed daily in Christ or there wouldn't be anything left to have surgery on in a few years. *lol*

And while we're on the subject of the day of my origin, warmest THANK YOU's to all my wonderful friends for the warm wishes, the e-mails, e-cards, etc. I had a very pleasant birthday. I'm deeply humbled at the kindness shown. You helped make my day extra special. Also, I opted to stay home, so, my husband cooked two scrumptious meals (lunch and supper) that I will not soon forget. I swear that man is a cordon bleu chef! Then he gifted me a Givi tank bag for the Suzuki V-Strom, which was truly needed. He is such a dear man. So, all in all it was a memorable day.

I hope your day was wonderful too. And thank you again!

"Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. "

- Isaiah 40:30-31

Our First Home #tbt #florida

Today for Throw Back Thursday, I have chosen to share a couple of photos of our first house. I was in my 20's then, freshly married, living in Jacksonville, Florida, when we bought the already old house in October 1981 for around $38,000.

The original owners had painted it

white with battleship gray trim.

No curb appeal at all.

I researched the history a bit after purchase, and the whole neighborhood was built around 1955. It was older than me! That poor house was just about a total wreck from neglect when we first moved in. There were roaches everywhere, cracks and fist-sized holes in the stucco walls, no doors on the bedrooms, the yard had been ignored since forever, no central heat or air, window panes as thin as paper, etc. The yard was more of a sand pit and only slightly larger than a postage stamp (65 x 120). It had only one very small 6' by 6' bathroom. But, we where young and, oh, so happy to have a place all our own. Through the years the house became The Ongoing Project (nice name for Wallet Sucker). Most of our spare money, which there wasn't much of then, went into the maintenance and upkeep of said abode. And the government calls a house an asset! "Asset" my big toe! *lol*

First thing on the agenda, after bug bombing the stew poopie outta the place, was repaint the house, inside and out. The outside became Hudson Brown (no lie! that was the name at Sherwin Williams) with dark brown trim. It looked rather classy, I thought. Then, it was time to tackle the yard.

Now that's curb appeal!

[click to enlarge]

I think it was worth the effort. I became accustomed to having strangers stop and talk while I worked outside. They would say such flowery, honey laced comments about how much better the place looked it fairly made my head swell. *blush* Ok, ok, I relished it. *giggle*

Then we moved to Southeast Georgia in 1993 to our current custom built home. I don't miss the old neighborhood but I do miss our lovely neighbors. We all kept up with each other for a long time until some began to die off and others move away. It was a fun place to live for awhile but I am exceedingly grateful to be living in the country now.

Throw Back Thursday: Canon City, Colorado In June 1984 #tbt

In June of 1984 we where still living in Jacksonville, Florida. It was one year before becoming landed property owners in Southeast Georgia. We where both still fit at the respective ages of 28 and 36 but poor of pocket, but we both had gainful employment and hungered for a little adventure that summer. Rather than staying in expensive hotels hubby had the grand idea to rent a Coleman Pop Up Tent Camper. So, with our nice new Sable Brown 98 Oldsmobile, the Pop Up was pulled across country to Cañon City, Colorado, for two weeks of fun and frivolity.

There we stayed at a nice campground called Indian Springs Ranch. It was a working ranch owned by the kindly and generous gentleman Bennie "Pop" Thorson, Sr. He took in strays (as he called it): young men down on their luck and coming dangerously close to being jailed. The Judge would recommend certain fellows that needed guidance and he gave them honorable work with pay and they came out of it real men with direction in their lives.

Since it was a working ranch, we got to see the day-to-day operations involved in running such an enormous place. One "chore" that we city slickers really enjoyed was "punching cows".

This is my husband riding an appaloosa aptly named "Appy". I remember, my horse's moniker was "Little Buddy". For some reason, our horses did not like each other! Every time I'd pull up beside my husband to talk they would nip and bite at each other. Sometimes it would get a little heated. I had to maintain a safe distance from Appy so Little Buddy wouldn't start the argument all over again. In recollections it was quite funny but at the time at bit annoying.

The Ranch has the appearance of old, scrubby Bad Lands but is actually rich in ancient fossil beds. Some dated to at least over 450 million years old. The beds displayed microscopic fish eggs, dinosaurs, and ancient fish. The Royal Gorge is also nearby. We rode the Route Railroad through the passes, drove a few scary narrow canyon roads, visited museums, where entertained by the horde of Broad-tailed Hummingbirds at the campground feeders every evening, and even had an old timey photo taken that reposes on a bedroom wall. It was a wonderfully memorable trip.

On the return we over-nighted at Fort Mountain State Park in Chatsworth, Georgia, near Dalton. By then, we where road weary. But I have only happy memories. I feel so grateful to be married to such an adventurous man. I hope we have many more years to explore our lovely, always fascinatingly diverse United States.

Ride Safe,

Throwback Thursday: 2004 Kawasaki Vulcan 750 #tbt #motorcycle

This week I'm featuring my old 2004 Kawasaki Vulcan 750.

04 June 2005

GA Highway 94

Columbia County, Florida

These where the Cruiser Years in the Sparky household. That was before I discovered Adventure or Dual Purpose Bikes. My husband calls cruisers Butt Jewelry. Men! *lol* He's right, though, because it's similar to changing from riding ponies to race horses. Adventure Bikes are a whole new ball game.

I was "bikeless" (horrors!) for the many years we lived in the Big City. I bought this cruiser style motorcycle shortly after moving to the Georgia countryside. It was easy to ride in a straight line, but it was a bear in the corners. The advanced fork rake made it hard to handle and it always felt like it was going to tip over. At least I had strong arms back then. Anyway, I thought it looked cool. I kept this little gem until it was traded for the 2006 Kawasaki 900 Vulcan LT Classic. 

Ride Safe,

Throwback Thursday: 1973 BMW R75/5 #tbt #motorcycle

I'm going to be lazy today (feeling a little bit down and exhausted) so have asked my husband to post about his beloved 1973 BMW for Throwback Thursday. He has such enjoyable memories of his first street legal motorcycle.

1973 BMW R75/5

In the spring of 1973, I got my first big street bike, a BMW R75/5. Before, I had ridden dirt bikes mostly and my regular commuter was a Honda 350. The BMW was a real step up. I now owned a bike that I could jump on and ride to California, if so inclined. It was a beautiful green with hand painted pin stripes on the tank and fenders. The tank sported a large chrome panel that looked somewhat like a common kitchen appliance and earned the name "Toaster Tank" by motorcycle enthusiasts. I had the dealer install a Vetter fairing and later, a larger 6 gallon tank for more range. It had a shaft drive like a car rather than a chain, a rarity 40 years ago.

A "mom & pop" store in Western North Carolina

That's the owner of the store (now deceased) in the photo.

A few months later I sold my car and the BMW became my only source of transportation. I commuted to work, grocery shopped, dated and vacation traveled on the bike. I became expert at dealing with adverse weather conditions from torrential rain to sub freezing cold. It was my trustworthy traveling companion and, if it was possible to love a machine, I fell hard for this one. I never tired of finding a reason to ride and at work's end on Friday would often leave for the weekend with no particular destination in mind and nothing but my tent, sleeping bag and a change of clothes strapped to the back of the seat. These travels most often ranged to the mountains of Georgia or North Carolina where the cooler weather, lovely scenery and challenging roads made riding such a joy. My "Bimmer" never let me down and was totally reliable for all the years I owned it; never needing anything other than routine maintenance. 

In a moment of lust for new scuba diving gear, I sold the bike. Watching the new owner ride away filled me with regret as though I had betrayed a friend. 

Many bikes have come and gone since but none have ever left a mark like the "Bimmer" did.

Ride Safe,

Throwback Thursday: Arizona And Utah, November 1979 #tbt

Grand Canyon

South Rim

November 1979: Gosh, look how young we were! And still freshly married from the hurriedly planned August ceremony. (No, I wasn't pregnant just didn't want to live in sin. *smile*) I was 23 and still working as an accounting clerk for a small branch office with Mutual Of New York. Hubby was working Cable Repair at BellSouth. Short on time, limited on funds and but full of big dreams, husband suggested we strive for a one week honeymoon in Arizona and Utah a few months after the hitching.

Now, bear in mind, I'm a born and bred Floridian. I had never been "out West". Ever. At the time I was only familiar with patches of sand, scrub brush, salt water and almost year round greenery. Western Mountains and snow where something in pictures that other people got to see. You should have seen my face the first time I saw anything taller than a small skyscraper. I think my exact words where, "Ohhhhhh Woooooow!" I said that a lot that week. Hubby said my eyes stayed big as saucers the whole time. All I know is I felt like I was in my element.

Zion National Park

Arizona and, especially the part of Utah around Zion National Park, where absolutely stunning that season. The people where friendly, the food superb and the scenery awe inspiring. Everything went right that trip. There was only one hotel near the park with the small town of Springdale nearby, so, we ate all our meals at the only restaurant in town, the Bumbleberry Inn.

Now I wanna go back! 'Course I want to have another motorcycle. One must set priorities, you know. *giggle*

I do suggest a vacation to this area, if one is able. It is well worth the trip. There are many more photos here.

Ride Safe,

Throw Back Thursday: 1962-1963 First Grade #tbt #florida

This week for Throwback Thursday, I'm featuring my First Grade group photo from Whispering Hills Elementary School in Titusville, Florida. I'm not sure if the school is still in operation but there may be some history listed here.

I don't remember any of my classmates or, sadly, where they are. Their names are not listed on the back. And I won't ask if you can guess which one is me since for most of my dear viewers, my face is a mystery. Ok, I'm the one grinning like someone said "Anyone want chocolate?!" [extreme right row, third grin back]

Isn't it nice to see children all clean and not wearing offensive t-shirts or torn jeans? *sigh* And notice the little sailor suit imitation with shoes and socks?! One thing I remember of my first year in Junior High (7th grade) is I was warned to not wear socks or I would be kidded unmercifully. So I was sans socks from Day One in Junior High. That was about 1969.

By the way, all this reminiscing got me to thinking about the old home I grew up in. So, I researched the address on the Brevard County Property Appraiser website. It's in foreclosure! Poor things. I am grieved to hear of their misfortune. And, no, I don't want to live there again. Not ever. No way. Nuh huh! I like where I'm at. However, it was interesting to look up the old place. It looks neglected now. [If the link doesn't work, I can post a captured photo later or search for 55 North Holiday Lane.] When Myra and Dad owned it, our home was a show place.

Have a happy day everyone!

Ride Safe,

Throwback Thursday: Titusville, Florida 1953

Below is an old news clipping from 1953 of my adopted father, Donald Willard Ackman, and the Line Crew with Florida Power & Light, Co. in Titusville, Florida. Don is the one with the heart graphic.

(Click to Enlarge)

Fresh from the western Pennsylvania / West Virginia coal mines, Dad had started with FP&L this very same year.  Being also newly married for about 5 years, I imagine he was concerned about supporting the wife on a coal miners wages. I can't imagine a life that hard and austere.

It was a pleasure to be acquainted with most of the fellows on the crew. Sammy Hendrix is one crew member that frequented our home. I also remember a "Blacky" (Blackmore) but can't recall his full name. We where also good friends with Chuck Roof (standing, left hand side). Chuck's three children and I kinda grew up together. They lived way out near the even smaller community of Mims and Chuck is the one that taught me how to drive a tractor at an early age. I had my first taste of fried squirrel at their home. I had one of my first crush's on their son and their daughters and I sang, danced and dreamed to The Monkees and other popular groups. I was also under their care for a short time in 1966-68 after my mother died. It was fun growing up there in the 50's and 60's. I left Titusville in 1974 for better economic prospects.

Notice the cigarette in Dad's right hand? That man smoked like a chimney. He always had cigarettes, cigars, pipes and anything that would stay rolled long enough for him to light. He said he started smoking in his early teen's. Dad died in January 2006 of kidney failure from taking statin drugs to control his cholesterol.

Ride safe,

PS: How do you like my new signature graphic? I created most of it in Corel Paint Shop Pro X2. For bonus points, tell me if you recognize the "S" symbol. *lol*

Throwback Thursday: Titusville, Florida in November 1962

I grew up in a sleepy little central Florida town of Titusville. It's a metropolis now but in the 1960’s many of our roads where still dirt. Garden Street was a cow path when I was a tot. My adopted parents owned about one acre of land planted with Orange Trees, Kumquats, Grapefruit and the like. When they left western Pennsylvania, they really went native.

 

This Polaroid was snapped in our mini orange grove during November of 1962. They are my adopted father’s grandparents, Charles Edward Ackman and Edna Bella Ehle Ackman, affectionately known by the family respectfully as “Da Da” and “Mum Mum”. I don't know how they got those titles, but it stuck all their lives.

My memories of “Da Da” are sporadic since he died within months of me losing my mother. I do remember fishing with Grandad in Florida. All my memories are of him with a fishing pole in his hand. In fact, he died pulling in a really big fish on the Indian River in December of 1966. Da Da let me taste my first beer when I was 8. He took me in my first, and only, parade ride on the volunteer fire truck and seemed a genuinely content sort of fellow. 

“Mum Mum” lived until April 1981 to the ripe old age of 84. Mum Mum was a real sweetheart. On Sunday’s, she made sure I attended the local Lutheran church, read the Bible with me, taught me how to crochet, and always treated me like family. She had a very quiet, gentle, "take life as it comes" demeanor. Everybody loved Mum Mum. She was a fine Christian woman and I miss her the most.

On a funny note, this is not a “throwback” but my husband shared this with me this evening and thought it would be good for a giggle. He found it at his Honda CB1100 Forum.

Aren't those Aussie's a hoot?! Or, as they call themselves, The Land of Oz. (How they came up with "Oz", I have no idea.) They have that typical English humor but act like Americans.

Have a great day folks!

Throwback Thursday: My 1979 Kawasaki KZ650

Welcome to my first attempt at Throwback Thursday.

Above is a photo of my sweet Hubby and me from the early 1980's. I was only 24 and Hubby was 32. I wish I was still that skinny! This is my first street legal motorcycle. It was a 1979 Kawasaki KZ 650 set up for touring with a Vetter Fairing, Bates Box, and King and Queen seats. It even had a homemade cruise control, of sorts. Since we both liked to ride, and neither cared to be a passenger, we would take turns up front. Because female riders where a rarity in the '80s, we sure got some amazed looks!

We had a lot of adventures on this bike. "They" say hindsight's 20/20 but I wish I could have kept it. I sold the bike when we bought our first house in October 1981.

This photo was snapped somewhere between Titusville and Jacksonville, Florida, along the I-95 corridor. We where freshly married and had been down to visit my Dad and step-mother in Titusville for the day. It is about a two hour trip one way, so, about half way back we had stopped at one of the rest areas to refresh ourselves. A kindly by-stander, now long forgotten, took the picture for us. I'm forever grateful to that man. Because of his kindness we still have a very happy memory memorialized forever on film.