🚌📖 🚌📖 🚌📖 🚌📖 2017 May 18, Events leading up to the Shoals Front Porch Storytelling Festival

Two buses were waiting at the Florence Visitor Center for passengers to board. One bus takes a group of people on a Historical Tour(guide Billy Warren) and the other bus takes a Music Tour (guide Walt Aldridge).
A couple from Toronto Canada, a couple from Louisiana, a woman from Tuscaloosa, our driver, our guide Billy Warren and myself loaded onto the bus taking the historic tour.
We visited the Florence Indian Mound and Museum, the Rosenbaum House, rode by WC Handy's Home and we visited the Ivy Green Home of Helen Keller.

Our first stop was the Newly-built Indian Mound Museum. We were led into the sitting area where we listened to the curator tell the history of the museum and mound, starting with the Paleo Indians, Transitional, Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian and ending with the Native American age

Late Archaic Period

Middle Archaic Period

Early Archaic Period 

Once again, we loaded onto the bus, our next stop was the Rosenbaum House, where we were met by a curator who told the history of the Rosenbaum Family and how Frank Loyd Wright ended up building the newly married couple's home.

We rode by the WC  Handy Home, not stopping while Billy told the history of WC Handy.
As we cross the O'Neal Bridge, Billy Warren said the bridge was named after two governors from Florence (father and son).
Billy was asked about the Train Bridge and why it went only halfway across the river, Billy said that the lift part of the bridge was sold to a company in St Louis, Mo.

Our last stop was Ivy Green, the home of Helen Keller. As we approached the home, we could see a large group of schoolchildren.

Ivy Green and Several Groups of School Children 

The pump where Helen Keller said "Water" is where her education began. 

The curator came outside and gave us a little history of the Keller family.
One story the curator told us was about Annie Sullivan.
Helen locked Miss Sullivan in her room, and she hid the key.
Mr. Keller had to get a ladder for Miss Sullivan to climb out a window.
What had she gotten herself into?

Add caption

This young man said, Is this the statue that is in Washington DC?  I said no, it was one of Helen standing by the pump.

The Key used to Lock Miss Sullivan in her room.

Ivy Green as we were leaving (notice no school Children)

Once again, we loaded into the bus and rode back to the Visitor Center. Since it was such a small group, we got to know a little about one another.

I grabbed a bite of lunch at Jack's (kids' chicken fingers, green beans, Rice Krispy bit-size snack, and iced tea.
At 2PM, I watched the Katherine Tucker Windham Tucker Life video at the Florence Library (sat next to my friends). The woman from Tuscaloosa, from the bus tour.

From 3:30-4:15PM, at Florence Library, I listened to Dolores Hydock's talks about "It Could Happen! Stories of Hope and Possibility.
Funny, sweet stories of hope, possibilities, and the little things in life that make hope possible.

Stopped to talk to my writing friends before heading home.
At Rick's Barbecue, I bought some pulled pork, Cole Slaw, iced tea, and Texas toast for supper.

Had a wonderful day, made a few new friends, visited several museums, watched a video about a great storyteller, and listened to a great storyteller with my friends.

2017 May 16, Tuesday, Day Trip to Huntsville, Alabama

Hubby and I rode to Tennessee to buy our bi-monthly lottery tickets. Hubby went inside scanned his tickets and came back to the van. 
He said I forgot my wallet do you have any cash? I had enough money to buy the tickets $28
We had an appointment at Champion Chrysler Dodge to get the oil changed in our Town and country in Athens at 11AM.
We had to ride back home to get his wallet.
We stopped in Elgin for B-12 shots and just made our 11AM appointment at Champion.

They finished our van but the oil light was still on. 
Hubby went back inside and told them, they had forgotten to reset the oil. 
The woman came out and tried she said the floor mat was too close to the gas peddle and was not letting it reset. 

Had to sit in the Slingshot sitting in the Showroom 

We rode to Huntsville, and our first stop was the Huntsville Train Depot/Museum.  The park area was open but the museum was closed. 
There was a school group visiting the park and earlier that morning there was a Civil War Re-Enactment there were still tents standing in the open field. 
We walked into the Museum store, Caboose, and Train Engine.
Huntsville Depot Museum Hours
Wednesday -Saturday 10-3PM 
Gates Open 
Monday - Sunday year-round 9-5PM
As we were leaving a train came rattling down the tracks.

The Huntsville Alabama Depot Museum 

Standing in the Engine Room 

Civil War Camps

Passenger Depot
Huntsville Alabama
Built 1860
Memphis and Charleston Railroad Company
Eastern Division headquarters in this passenger Depot,
Adjoining yards and shops were captured by the Union Army on April 11, 1861.
Vital east-west Confederate rial link served, CSA soldiers imprisoned here.
The depot was later used by Federals as a base for gathering supplies for Western Theater
military operations. After the Civil War returned to M & CRR Co
acquired by Southern Railway System in 1898, since1971
preserved by the City of Huntsville. 

The main reason for coming to Huntsville was to see the newly renovated Big Spring Park.
There is a concrete walkway around the reshaped lagoon, where the water flows so it can clean itself. 
There are park benches along the walkway, but no trees, (so it will be hot during the summer).
You can walk right up to the water's edge. We saw children leaning into the pond feeding the goldfish and ducks. 
We walked along the water's edge and the fish and ducks followed us. 
I saw a young man feeding the fish.
I made the comment I was going to buy some food but my hubby did not have any change. 
The young man gave me a quarter, I thanked him and I bought a quarter's worth of seeds. 
The fish and ducks gobbled the food right up.

Goldfish and ducks feeding 

Big Spring Park Oriental Bridge 

Newly reshaped lagoon

Fountain 

Kids feeding fish and ducks

Huntsville Art Center 

We rode south on Whitesburg Drive to Airport Road then onto Parkway stopping at 
Rosie's Mexican Cantina for a late lunch.
We ordered a white chip dip and shared a Chicken Fajita. 
Rosie's Mexican Cantina on South Parkway has a beautiful garden full of blooming flowers.

Rosie's Mexican Cantina Garden 

Rosie's Mexican Cantina Garden 

Rosie's Mexican Cantina Garden 

Rosie's Mexican Cantina Garden (Singing and playing Minstrels 

Parkway South is under construction (turning it into six lanes).

Road Construction on South Parkway 

Road Construction on South Parkway 

Road Construction on South Parkway 

We rode to Ditto Landing and saw a few geese, boats, and bridges.

Gaggle of Geese

Bridge Closed at Ditto Landing 

We rode down Drake Avenue to RSA where we filled up with gas and saw a few geese. 
We were home a little after 5PM
My granddaughter had been texting me all day wanting to know when we were coming home.
My granddaughter, her daughter, and a friend came over around 5:30PM to swim.
I did not get into the pool because I was too tired.

2017 May 6, Strawberry Festival Moulton, Alabama 🍓🍓🍓🍓

I took Highway 101 crossing Wheeler Dam over into Lawrence County and traveling through Town Creek. At the red light, I crossed Highway 20 staying on 101 until I reached Hwy 157 turning left, and traveling east until I reached hwy 33 which took me to Courthouse Square.
I parked on Big Nance Street and walked a block crossing Highway 33 onto Courthouse Square.
The Courthouse sits on a hill so all my walking was up and down the hill which is very hard on the knees.

People filled the streets looking for gifts for Mother's day

I saw a yellow and green board called Plinko but never played the game.
It was sponsored by the Moulton Middle School PTO.

The sign read:

Fidget Spinners $7.00 

Score 6 candy 

Score 4 Stuffed Toy

Score 3

Fidget Spinner   

Step up to the board, once you have all of your chips.

Lay a Plinko chip flat against the top of the Plinko board.

Take aim at the prize you want to win by lining up the chip within an area where it can bounce around the board until it lands in the slot.

Release the clip and watch it bounce and travel through the maze until it reaches one of the bottom slots.

If you win a prize and the chip doesn't land on zero, then you can add the amount of the prize to the grand total of winnings.

Repeat Steps 3 through 6 until you've played all of your Plinko chips.

The smell of food filled the air, Little Jimmy's was selling  Italian Ice, Cheese Chaos, deep-fried Oreos, soft pretzels, Iced tea, Lemonade, & Cheese Nachos.

Loud music filled the air with the band that was playing near the courthouse. 

Mosquito Control!
The Neon color should attract the Mosquitoes if it doesn't blind them first.
 LOL
I love this neon Green & Yellow color. I
wear this color often
Guess I want to attract mosquitos.  

"Coke Cola Mural" There is nothing more refreshing than a cold Coke Cola in a bottle.

I guess the Hillsboro Fire Fighters were here to help keep the peace, Just in case the crowd got rowdy

Class of 1933  White Buick 

A Johnnie Cash and Elvis Presley Fan was walking near the Fairlane's

This Chevrolet had a sign in the window.
 Look but Please don't Touch it!!

Kool car tag "OLDSKOOL"

This bright orange-trimmed black car had wings. I bet it can fly!!

Nice ride!! SS 350

I stopped to talk to this young man. I said you have some beautiful flowers.
I said that I did not need any more right now, I had just bought several.
He was selling them for The FFA Agricultural Education
Learning to Do, Doing to Learn,
Serving to Live, Living to Serve. 

I had a great time walking around talking to people, smelling the food, listening to music, and watching the line dancers and tap dancers. 

The Hillbilly's Helping Children Shriners Hospital
RC, Moon Pie, Mountain Dew, and See Rock City were just a few of the signs attached to the Shriner's outhouse. I stopped to talk and donate. I loved their display and told them they should be front and not the end of the line.

2017 April 22, Saturday, Touring the Lairmore House Florence, Alabama Tour guide Billy Warren

One of the sites to tour during the Florence Walking tour was the Larimore House led by Billy Warren a retired school teacher.

The front side of Larimore and the tour group 

Home of T.B. and Esther Gresham Larimore
Mars Hill Academy, 1871-1887

Backside Larimore House

The Gothic-style house was built by Theiphilus Brown Larimore and his wife Esther Gresham Larimore located near the site of a foundry and arsenal of War between the states.
It served as a school from 1871-1887 to train ministers and Christian workers of the Church of Christ.
It was used in 1947-68 for classes at Mars Hill Bible School.

Theiphilus Brown Larimore was born July 10, 1843, and died March 18, 1929.
Brother Larimore began preaching soon after he was baptized and preached when an opportunity was given to him. He taught school at Mars Hill and preached three times sometimes on Sunday.
He preached all over the USA, Canada, Mexico, and Cuba.
Larimore died & is buried in Orange County California at Fairhaven Memorial Park Cemetery.
His second wife Susan Emma Page Larimore is buried next to her husband Mr. Larimore.
Susan wrote a column for the Gospel Advocate, Children's Corner, and several books.

His first wife was Julia Esther Gresham Larimore July 11, 1845, died March 4, 1907

Inscribed on her tombstone 

Went home Mar 5, 1907

A dutiful daughter, a loyal helpful hopeful wife, a model mother, a sweet singer, a truly conscientious consistent Christian, always consecrated Christian, always consecrated, and true to Christ and his cause, she was perfectly prepared for that sweet home where sorrows and said separations are unknown "where life is eternal and a treasure sublime. Farewell, sweet wife-by grace divine. We'll meet you "over there." your lonely husband. 

They had six children:

Mary Delilah Larimore George 1869-1959

Grandville Lipscomb Larimore 1871-1925

Theiphilus Brown Larimore 1872-1903

William Herschell Larimore 1874-1928

Julia Esther Larimore White 1876-1960

Andrew Virgil Larimore 1879-1972

Article from the Gospel Advocate 1870 Advertising the Mars Hill Academy
For males and females
This Institution situated four miles Northeast of Florence, Alabama on the highway leading from Florence to the justly celebrated "Bailey Springs, " will be ready for the reception of pupils by the first of January 1871.
The location is free from all temptation to extravagance and health and convenience cannot be excelled.
Boarding, washing, lights, and fuel $75.00
Tuition $20
The contingent fee is $5.00

Piano from the family collection

Mantel inside the Larimore Home

Family photos line the wall along the staircase leading upstairs

Billy Warren gave a speech about the Larimore House & several Larimore family members were touring the house for the first time, there to learn more about the history of their families. 

I joined several for a meal in the basement.
We were served pork, green beans, and sweet potato casserole with iced tea. 

I walked outside and took pictures of the Rose bushes in full bloom. 

On July 20, 2018, the Larimore Home caught fire and was badly burned not sure if it is repairable.
Power to the house was previously cut due to another small fire about ten days before the one in July.