2024 June 15, 17,18,19, 20 with Ava

2024 June 15, Saturday 

Atlas Birthday Party @ Launch Pad Elgin

 I picked up Ava, and we rode to the Elgin LaunchPad. 

Atlas is turning 4! Calling all cowboys, cowgirls, and space rangers 

June 15, at 12–2 P.M.

Don't forget your jumping socks. 

We were served pizza, chips, and birthday cake 

The kids had fun on the launchpad 

We watched Atlas blow out his 4 candles.

I bought Hazel a birthday present because we will be out of town on her birthday, June 29. 

Hazel was having a bad day 

So I gave her her present, a very colorful doll

She wouldn't put it down

I gave Atlas a soccer ball and an Adventure Force Clash Force Combo Auto Advanced with four guns and 20 bullets.

2024 June 17, Monday, Ava & River 

Today, I rode to Andy's to see River and Ava 

They were still in bed, but not sleeping 

They quickly jumped into the swimming pool and played 

River said she was hungry and wanted McDonald's 

So I told Ask Pawpaw

They dressed, and we headed to McDonald's 

River ordered a cheeseburger with only cheese, bread, and meat (which he called ham)

Ava ordered 6 pieces of chicken nuggets with fries 

I ordered filet fish with fries

The kids enjoyed their meal while playing with their meal toy 

Inside Out 2: toy play and score toy

I bought Hubby 2 McDoubles and 2 small fries 

We came back to my house, and the kids enjoyed playing in the playroom until 1:30

Then we took them back to Andy's 

River's mom was on her way to pick up River.

They have a long drive home. 

2024 June 18, Tuesday, Ava & River 

River and Ava came over while Andy went to work. 

The kids played in the playroom.

I rode them on the gator.

River loved the ride. He was pretending he was in one of his video games

They ate hot dogs, no bread

Fruit, candy, and snacks all day

They watched TV 

River's parents came by around 2 P.M. They had spent the day in 

Memphis 

They slept late 

A long ride home, about 5 to 6 hours 

Andy came for Ava later 

I went to bed early. I was tired 

2024, June 19, Wednesday, AVA

Today, we rode to town.

My two big toes have fungus, so I went to Doctor McCutchens, who prescribed medication to heal them.

We stopped at Ollie's and bought some body wash and oatmeal raisin cookies. 

We took Ava to McFarland Park to play

She wanted to go to a museum, but she settled for the park 

She had fun with several other kids 

I did some birding and took pictures 

We ate lunch at Chick-fil-A 

We stopped at Foodland and talked to Ronald. He gave Ava some mints 

We picked up my prescription at Killen Drugs 

We rode up to Greenhill and bought some peaches and a watermelon 

Had a fun day 

Afternoon visit near Muscle Shoals Reservation Trail

Today, Thursday, June 20, we rode to Rockpile TVA 

Ava and I walked to the waterfalls

Stopping to take pictures 

We saw a red-bellied Woodpecker at the top of a rotten tree

We saw a red-tailed hawk and a couple of Great Blue Herons, and we heard several different bird sounds 

Ava played on the playground, but it was too hot, and no other kids were there 

We rode to McFarland Park. There were lots of kids, but none on the playground 

So we walked up the path to a couple of large boulders, where I took several photos 

We rode to Panda Express for lunch 

We ordered a large plate 

Ava ate the noodles 

I ate the walnut shrimp 

Hubby's orange chicken and broccoli with beef 

Hubby went next to get a haircut 

While Ava and I stayed at Panda Express 

We came home, and Ava and Hubby watched SpongeBob 

2023 Oct 28, Pumpkinfest Franklin, TN, and Trick Treat Killen Park with Ava & River

 It's been a hectic day. 

This morning, we stopped at Jack's for breakfast. They were shorthanded, so we had to wait longer than usual. 

Then we rode to Franklin, TN, to their Pumpkinfest. There was no parking, so we had to pay $10 to park.

Very Large Pumpkin 

It was extremely hot and crowded, so we only stayed for a short time. We walked down Main Street and a couple of side streets. Several bands were playing music. Mums and Pumpkins decorated the street. Food filled the air. There were rides and fun for the Children. 

Hubby collected a bag of treats, which we gave to the grandkids.

Williamson County's First Taxi

Our big treat was finding the Williamson County Archives Museum. It featured several rows of quilts made by locals, a Military Room, a Display of Williamson County's history, Civil War Artifacts, an Old Schoolroom, a Doctor's Office, a Dress Shop, a Barber Shop, a Country Store, and more. We also saw a horse-drawn carriage by Harry March in Franklin's First Taxi.

We saw where the body of a headless Col Shy once lay in a busted open casket. An article, The Curious Case of Col Shy's Casket. The headless body was unidentified. 

Outside was a Civil War cannon. 

The Curious Case of  Col. Shy's Casket 

Canon 

We stopped at Publix in Spring Hill to get some chicken wings from their deli and pick up a few other items.  

We stopped in Lawrenceburg at Long Silvers for a plate of fish and chicken. 

Came home and ate a late lunch. 

Fun Began in Halloween Manor 

Criminals 

Ava, the killer Jason Voorhees, and the Evil Clown Pennywise

Picked up Ava and River around 4:30 and took them to Killen Park for their Trunk n Treat. 

Ava dressed up like Wednesday from the Adams Family, and River was a Ninja Turtle. 

We arrived early, so we let them play in the playground area. When people started lining up, we got in line. 

There was a long line behind us. We walked through the gate of Halloween Manor, and that is when the fun began. 

The kids received lots of candy, a fireman's hat, coloring books, and safety books. They got their pictures taken with Inflatable pumpkins, at the Shriners Hillbilly Jeep, with Hocus Pocus, with the Department of Eye Care, Jason Voorhees, and Pennywise the Dancing Clown.

Making Slime 

Their Treats end with making Slime. Put in a bag and taken home. 

They did a great job by allowing only a few kids at a time to enter the park. 

The kids had a great time.

2023 April 1, Mule Day Parada Columbia and Mount Pleasant, TN. Grill & Museum

 Hubby and I had an excellent April 1st (April Fools' Day). We stopped at Jack's in Lawrenceburg for breakfast. I ordered their single gravy, sausage, and biscuits, and Hubby ordered their big breakfast with pancakes.

We rode to Columbia to watch the Mule Day Parade. We arrived a little early and found a place to sit. Thousands of people attended the parade and other events. The parade began at 11:00 A.M. and concluded a little after 12:00. The Grand Marshal was Mike Wolfe from America's Pickers.

At the end of the parade were a couple of big sweeper trucks to clean up all the horse and Mule poop.

Grand Marshall Mike Wolfe 

An unusual float, the Solo Cup 

Mules and Horses 

We left Columbia and drove through Mt Pleasant, stopping at Mt Pleasant Grill. It didn't appear much, but we decided to try it. It was a lot bigger on the inside and very friendly. The food was excellent. It was a bit spicy and cooked differently, but tender, fresh, and delicious. We definitely will eat there again. 

Fried Catfish, Fried Okra, Cole Slaw 

We asked about the museum next door, and one of the waitresses said it was worth seeing. So we toured the museum. It was filled with lots of memorabilia about the town. You would see things such as medical equipment, war artifacts, gowns, dresses, furniture, and much more.

doctor office

I bought several note cards featuring Hamilton Place, St. John's Episcopal Church, Walnut Grove, Rippavilla, and Fountain Creek Mills (historic homes, churches, and mills). The curator tried to sell us a 2023 Farmers' Almanac; she told us about some of the things she had read in it. 

Walked outside to the nearby park, where I saw those beautiful tin flowers and 2 blooming dogwood trees. The perfect time of the year to be blooming. We had a great time except for the 30 MPH winds. We saw hats, trash, and cotton candy flying everywhere. One bag blew off the vendor's rack and spooked several horses. All in all, it was a great day.

Dogwood Trees

2017 July 22, Events of the W. C. Handy Festival Saturday

I went to the Visitor Center to listen to Tom McDonald talk about three of the books that he wrote and had for sale. 

1. Promises to Keep

2. Dirt Road Memories 

3. When Memories Come Calling

I should have bought one. 

I stopped to talk to Tom for a few minutes about growing up in East Florence. 

Tom said that he grew up on Sweetwater Avenue.

I live in East Florence, but our paths never crossed. 

Tom went to Brandon School from the first to the sixth grades.

When we moved to Florence, I had already passed the sixth grade.

Tom's family moved to the Central area around the time we moved to East Florence. 

We talked about Sweet Water Creek and walking along the old railroad tracks down by the canal on the bank of the Tennessee River. 

When we lived in East Florence, my sisters and I would walk to McFarland Park to swim in the Tennessee River.

We also swam in the canal, which was not far from our home. 

Tom once said he had tried floating down the Sweet Water Creek in a washtub, hoping to reach the Tennessee River. However, it turned over, and he never made it. 

What sweet childhood memories we both could recall.

Then I went to the Florence Library to read Watermelon Wine, the Poetry of American Music. 

I listened to Anne E. DeChant sing and play her guitar on some of her storytelling songs (she was perfect).

 I left the Library and rode to Jack's for a meal. There, I ordered a kids' Chicken Finger Meal, which consisted of two Chicken fingers, green beans, Rice, Kirby, and a Diet Coke. I also ordered an Apple Pie. 
I still had time to kill before returning to the Visitor Center, so I went back to the Library.
There was a car show library about to end, so I stopped to take a few pictures. It was going to be a long walk, so I just took several long-distance pictures. I walked back through the Library and saw Anne DeChant, a Gilard, standing at the counter. I walked up to her and told her that I loved her singing and playing, and that her music reminded me of the storyteller and singer Tom T. Hall. 
She thanked me and said she appreciated the compliment. 
They were getting directions to Legends, where they were going to eat lunch. I said they have good food. 

 Then, back to the visitors center for Swampfest Songwriter showcase series #2 to listen to Buzz Cason and Russell Medford sing and play. 
The audience sang along with Buzz in a couple of his songs. "Hank Williams Christian songs. One way I saw the light. Russell talked about meeting a couple of songwriters at Killen Diner (which has since burned down) to write a song. 
The fun show ended around 3:30 P.M.

I rode to Taco Bell to get supper, and there was a line of cars all the way to the stop sign. 
When I got up to the window, I said, You have been busy today. The girl at the window said we have been like this since 11 A.M. today because four people called in. What a bummer!!

After my busy day, all I wanted to do was eat my Taco Salad,  prop my feet up, and watch TV.