2024 Aug 6, Day trip to Shiloh, TN and Iuka, MS. Took our granddaughter AVA

Today, we rode up Savannah Highway 20 to Savannah. 

They were working on the road when we crossed into Tennessee. 

They were also spraying along the bridges and gated areas. 

We rode through Savannah and Crump, turning left towards Shiloh. 

We arrived At the Shiloh Visitor Center National Park. 

Took a few pictures outside.

Ava at the Shiloh Visitor Center

A park ranger greeted us. 

She told us about the museum and said there were some unfinished displays. 

Several were interactive displays. 

She also gave us directions to the Indian mounds. 

AVA Sitting in front of Hagy's Restaurant 

We stopped at Hagy's Restaurant for lunch. 

Hubby and I split a catfish fillet meal.

He ate the salad, baked potato, and a piece of catfish.

I ate a piece of catfish and several hush puppies. 

Ava ordered chicken fingers and fries. 

She ate all her fries and a couple of bites of her chicken. 

We got a Togo plate. 

We rode to Pickwick Dam.

Crossing the Tennessee River, we rode through the park at Pickwick. 

We took the highway going to Iuka, Mississippi. 

A road I had never been on before. 

Lots of marines and boats. 

We rode through the downtown area of Iuka. 

We stopped to see the retired red caboose and red fire truck. 

AVA on the back of old fire truck Iuka, MS

We stopped at Lowe's to get some lumber, but their cutting machine was broken. 

We rode to Home Depot, where Hubby bought lumber and pavers, and I purchased three succulent plants. 

Andy met us at Home Depot, and we dropped off Ava.

I came home, my Hubby painted the wood, and I watered my plants.

I loaded my pictures. 

2024 May 20, 21, 29, Sites we took AVA

Ava in a Space Suite 

 2024 May 20, Monday, Trip to Space and Rocket Center 

Today, we rode to Huntsville to the Space and Rocket Center 

We took Ava, and she loves museums.

We saw Science on Orbit and Space Craze. Your mission begins here, Huntsville, Rocket City, Home of the USA's Redstone Arsenal. There were games to play, rides, a space shuttle, rockets, helicopters, planes, and pictures of every astronaut who has flown in a rocket or shuttle. There was a lot of construction, and many visitors were not allowed to enter the area.

Ava got inside one of the modules, where you had to lie down with your feet propped above your head. We looked inside "Ch-47D Chinook Helicopter. Two soldiers were guarding the shuttle(they were statues)

We saw Saturn's Brain and steering. Several school groups were present, and we met a family from Sweden.  

 

We ate lunch at Culvert in Madison.

We were going to Cracker Barrel but got caught by a train, so we turned around and went to Culvert. 

My Hubby and I shared a three-piece, hand-cut, hand-battered fried cod meal with onion rings and Coleslaw. We also have the yogurt Snickers swirl, which is the day's flavor.

We ordered a kid's chicken fingers meal with fries and a drink for Ava.

She also ordered one scoop of chocolate yogurt, but was brought the Snickers Swirl, which she would not try.

So, Hubby ate hers, and we bought her a chocolate yogurt 

They also forgot that our coleslaw was out of stock, and we had to go to the counter to get one. They were out of coleslaw 

I guess they didn't want to go back to find more

They had a new employee. Everyone was ready for bed that night. 

Ava and the Space Shuttle 

2024 May 21, today we took Ava to the Muscle Shoals Municipal Court Building, Spring Park, and the Tuscumbia Train Depot  

To see the TVA display and learn about Muscle Shoals.

We saw cicadas covering all the Crapes Myrtle trees.

Inside, I met a city worker from Muscle Shoals, and we discussed the area's history. He told me there were graves of American Indians with stone markers, and you cannot read the names. He said there were graves all over the shoals that were unclaimed and destroyed. He said I had worked here for years before I took the time to read all the history here. He said I didn't care much for history growing up, but he knew a great deal about the area. He said he and another worker had to fix the sewage off the cliffs he supervised once. Someone else went over the cliffs. He said that he found old bottles dating back to the 1800s. He gave one to him and said I am going back to collect the rest.

Upon entering the Municipal building, you will see a Chandler four or five-arched gateway leading to and inside the museum area. 

Inside the Museum, we saw Welcome to "Pathways…A Walk through the History of Muscle Shoals."

Explore these exhibits and discover a city rich in history.

See original artifacts from the real estate boom when Henry Ford said he would "employ one million workers and build a city 75 miles wide," to when Muscle Shoals was known as "The Hit Recording Capital of the World."

Muscle Shoals has become one of the most progressive cities in Alabama, a place where thousands call home.

Ava and Hubby at  Muscle Shoals Municipal Court Building

History of FAME Recording Studios and its owner, Rick Hall. 

A light pole with street signs of Wilson Dam Highway and Sheridan Avenue. 

Cases full of the History of Muscle Shoals, the first Mayor of Muscle Shoals, George Lewis McBride, and his wife, Susie. 

Pictures of President Roosevelt and Eleanor hang on the walls.  

There was a lot of information about the TVA Wilson Dam building. We walked outside, and the Crape Myrtles were covered in Cicadas. 

Ava in the Little Red Caboose 

After we left Muscle Shoals, we went to the Tuscumbia Train Depot. 

Paid five dollars each to go inside 

The curator shared the history of the depot with us.

They had the original carriage that Helen Keller rode in as a child 

We walked around outside, looking at all the train cars. 

Next, we rode to Spring Park. 

The water was turned off going to the waterfall

So there was no fresh water entering the spring 

There were a few ducks and geese in the water 

It was lunchtime, so we rode back to Florence and ate lunch at Cracker Barrel.

Ava ordered Confetti pancakes with bacon.

Ava ordered confetti pancakes with bacon and a doctor pepper to drink 

I ordered grilled chicken fingers with pinto beans, a slice of onion, cornbread, chow chow, and iced tea 

Hubby ordered steak, eggs, and hash browns with biscuits and iced tea to drink

Hubby bought two large chocolate chunk candy bars 

2024 May 29, Wednesday, McFarland Park took AVA 

Today, we rode to McFarland Park to let Ava play on the playground 

I listen to bird sounds 

We got our B12 shots and paid the utilities 

We rode to Sheffield to pick up our monthly check

We rode to Champy's for lunch

Hubby and I split a Catfish meal

Of the 4 pieces of Catfish fries, Hush Puppies, and coleslaw, I ordered 2 chicken finger meals with fries. 

We rode to Aldies for a few groceries 

Then we headed home 

Catfish, fries, slaw, onion, and Hushpuppy

Ava at Champy's 

2024 May 4, Moulton & Cullman Strawberry Festivals (Day Trip)

 Today, we rode to Moulton for the Strawberry Festival. 

It had rained a lot, and the park was muddy and wet

They had planks you could walk on in the wet area 

They had carriage rides for two dollars 

Rides for kiddos 

Vendors with all sorts of different stuff that you could buy 

A petting zoo and a few strawberries for sale

We did not stay long 

Fried Chicken Fingers with sweet potato and toast, Oh! Bryan's Hartselle, AL 

We took the old Decatur-Moulton highway into Decatur 

Then on to Hartselle, stopping at Oh Bryan's for lunch

I ordered chicken tenders with sweet potatoes, and Hubby ordered steak and potatoes 

We then rode to Cullman for their Strawberry Festival 

We walked around. They also had rides for kiddos 

Lots of vendors and food, of course, live music, arts, and crafts 

There was a dog contest called Doggy Pageant

The song that was playing was Who Let the Dogs Out 

We walked through several shops 

Took several pictures 

They had several strawberry-themed murals and a row of snapdragons in full bloom. 

Strawberry Festival Moulton 

Strawberry Festival Moulton 
Snap Dragons 

T-Mobile was taking pictures for free and sending them to your phone, so we had ours taken. 

It got so hot and humid that my head hurt, so we left.

2024 Apr 27, Car & Tractor Show, Tee-Ball Game, Art Museum and Sisters

My husband and I rode to Killen Park for the Killen Log 877 Classic Car Show, which featured a mix of bikes, jeeps, classic cars, and new cars.

Cahaba Shrine Hillbillies truck at Car show 

We parked alongside the park. Many cars and people were present, including those attending the farmers' market, soccer games, Vendors, and Car and Tractor Shows.

It has been several months since I last visited the park. Many new buildings are being constructed, and disc golf courses are now installed.

There was also a tractor show featuring several old and new John Deere tractors, as well as others.

1929 John Deere Tractor 

We strolled through the farmers market, stopping to buy stone-ground cornmeal and fresh strawberries. 

Ripe home-grown strawberries

We stopped at home so Hubby could grill steaks, and I fixed creamed potatoes and corn on the cob for lunch. 

After lunch, we rode to Lexington Park to watch our great-grandson Atlas play Tee-ball. 

After the tee-ball game, we rode to TVAM, where a display and crafts were set up for bird lovers. We talked through the Tennessee Valley Art Museum (which was free today). 

On display was the art of the print: 500 years of printmaking.

What the Night Tells the Day by Douglas Baulos.

We rode back home, where I took a short nap. My daughter called while I was preparing dinner at my sister's house.

I ended the day by going to my sister's to play cards (spades and various UNO games). I liked the reverse UNO game.

Sisters Vicki, Becky, and Teresia, along with great-niece Emmalee and her friend, played these games.

Teresia had cooked a lovely meal of Black-eyed peas, cornbread, a broccoli casserole with chicken, brats with kraut, sweet potatoes, and a batch of chocolate chip cookies. 

My sister loaded me down with leftovers for Hubby.

She also gave me a bouquet of peonies from her garden.

Pink Peony 

I got home after 10 last night.

2024 April 19, Visitor Center, Kennedy Douglas Art Museum, Coffee Cemetery with AVA

 Today, we rode into town to pick up Hubby's medicine at Walgreens. 

We rode to the Blue The Blue Door Thrift Store/SCOPE 310 and bought AVA a game. 

Ate lunch at Culverts. 

Hubby and I split a plate of shrimp, fries, cole Slaw, and Chocolate moose yogurt.  

We bought an AVA hamburger, fries, and chocolate yogurt.

We stopped at the nearby Walmart to pick up a few items. Then, Ava and I walked across the street to the Coffee and Slave Cemeteries. 

A  large old tree at Coffee Cemetery

Ava wanted to visit a museum, so we rode to the Kennedy-Douglass Art Center. There, we saw AROY Artistic Rendering of Youth, featuring artwork created by students from 7th through 12th grade at 15 schools. Outside, we stopped to take pictures of the statues. 

AVA and the outdoor art

We walked across the street to Wilson Park, and the mist from the fountain seemed to reach the clouds.

Overflowing Fountain at Wilson Park 

Color is the music of light. 
Frank Lloyd Wright 
(This marker is on the sidewalk at Wilson Park.)

We watched a barge go up the Tennessee River 
men fishing 

Ava enjoyed the playground area at McFarland Park. Our last stop was the Visitor Center, where they saw several displays. 

Large and small-mouth bass
Bass fishing & tournaments are significant on the Tennessee River in Florence
Ava enjoyed the one with the big and small-mouth fish. 

WC Handy Statue in Wilson Park 
WC Handy 
Father of the Blues 
1873- 1958 
Born in Florence, Alabama 

Display of WC Handy's music at Florence-Lauderdale Visitor Center.
Handy played the Cornet (pictured here) 
Handy's first hit was "The Memphis Blues".

The W. C. Handy Music Festival is held annually in Florence, Alabama, sponsored by the Music Preservation Society, Inc., in honor of Florence native W. C. Handy, the "Father of the Blues." The non-profit Music Preservation Society was formed in 1982 with the mission to preserve, present, and promote the musical heritage of Northwest Alabama.

The 2024 Handy Festival will take place from Wednesday to Saturday, June 12-15, in Florence, Alabama.