2019 Mar 16, 🚎Miracle Ride: Helen Keller in Living History Tuscumbia, Alabama

It was in the 40s this morning, cloudy and windy, so I grabbed my big coat and winter boots and joined a group of locals and out-of-towners. 

Everyone met at Coldwater Books and began boarding the trolley at 9:30AM 

The trolley was taking a group on a “Miracle Ride: Helen Keller in Living History 

Our guide told a fantastic story of Helen Keller and her great-niece, Keller Johnson Thompson.

On the steps of Ivy Green, Mrs. Thompson told amazing stories of her great-aunt as we waited for a large group to finish their tour.

We toured the home and the many collections of Helen, her status, and the key she locked Annie Sullivan inside a closet. 

Helen Keller, a girl who learned to communicate (WATER)

Older Helen Keller 

Outside the Keller Museum, we could see Cherry Trees were in full bloom and the gardens aglow with spring colors.

Cherry Trees @ Ivy Green in full bloom 

Tuscumbia’s Bicentennial Commission, Trolley Tour, and "Miracle Ride: Helen Keller in Living History" were awesome.

After the tour, I enjoyed soup, a lunch sandwich, and a slice of mile-high cheesecake. 

Mile high cheesecake 
Cream cheese, pure vanilla, butter baked on a pecan & graham cracker crust! to die for!

An eating bowl full of Crawfish bisque 
1/2 turkey with smoked cheddar melted cheese and a tall glass of iced tea

I had a wonderful day, a bit cold, but I finished the day off with a hot bowl of Crawfish bisque.

2019 Mar 23, 🚎Faith of our Fathers Trolley Tour of Tuscumbia, Alabama

March 23, 2019 

Everyone met at Coldwater Books and began boarding the trolley at 9:30AM.

Lt. Col. Arthur Graves talking to a couple of tourists

The trolley was taking a group on a “Tour of the Faith of our Fathers” Historic Churches of Tuscumbia.

Ron Hudson said that the Georgian Gothic-style First Presbyterian Church was Alabama's oldest house of continual worship and where the Keller Family worshiped for over a century.
Helen Keller was a Baptist here.
Notable Tuscumbians that attended her were Brig. Gen. James Deshler, CSA; Alabama Governor Robert Burns Lindsay; Judge John Anthony Steele, delegate to the State Secession Convention; and Thomas Limerick, first mayor of Tuscumbia and original trustee of the church. 

We explored the architecture and history of the First Presbyterian Church, Lesley Temple, and First Baptist Church, three of Tuscumbia’s oldest churches, and how the faith of our fathers impacted the growth of Tuscumbia. 

Lesley Temple (built around a log cabin, the original building)
Mr. Graves is a devoted member of Lesley Temple C.M.E. Church, where he is proudly the oldest male member of the church.  He serves on the Steward Board and is a Sunday school teacher.  He is also the host of his Sunday morning radio program on WZZA.

Lesley Temple (original light fixture from Presbyterian Church 

Our tour guides were Ron Hudson and Lt. Col. Arthur Graves, the oldest member of Lesley Temple, very knowledgeable about the history of Tuscumbia.

2019 Jan 16-18, 🚙Trip to Gulf Shores , Fairhope, Orange Beach & Foley, Alabama ( 3days)

Jan 16, 2019, Wednesday,

Hubby and I traveled to Gulf Shores, stopping at Jack’s Restaurant(1360 Hwy 43 West bypass Russellville) for breakfast. 

We both ordered a sausage and biscuits with strawberry jelly at 8:56AM and spent $7.06.

We ate lunch at KFC Thomasville at @1:17 p.m.

Hubby ordered a fillip box meal, and I ordered a three-piece wings meal with biscuits (that I saved for the birds), we spent $13.46.

We stopped for gas at Marathon at Rams Food Mart 19039 43 hwy  Northport and spent $22.08

Arrived Gulf Shores just before sunset  4:45-5:14PM

We rode to the beach before checking in at the hotel to see the sunset. 

The moon came up before the sun went down and looked like a ball in the red sky.

Gulf Shores Sunset 

After the sun went down, we rode to Staybridge Suites 3947 Gulf Shores, Pky Gulf Shores, and Al 36542. 

We booked for two nights, which cost $170,84 for room 114. 

Their computers were down, and the night manager said we could join everyone in the dining room for grill night.

In the food bar were grilled hamburgers, hotdogs, potato salad, Cole slaw, baked beans, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. 

I fixed a plate with hamburger potato salad, chips, and a glass of wine.

Dinner: hamburger potato salad, chips, and a glass of wine.

There were fountain drinks, tea, and a variety of wines and beers.

We checked into room 114, ground level, and hubby took a long tub bath.

I stretched out on the bed and turned on the Television. My eyes were giving me a fit, so I put eye drops in them. My eyes felt like something was in them, they hurt all night.

I must have gotten sand in them it was very windy when we went to the beach the night before.

Jan 17, Thursday, 

Hubby and I dressed and went to breakfast. I ate oatmeal with nuts, & cranberries and drank orange juice.

After breakfast, hubby and I rode along hwy 98 scenic highway to Fairhope.

We stopped at Valence & Fairhope Municipal Parks, located along the Coastal Highway.

We saw a statue of Maria Johnson, ducks & geese swimming, boats along the pier, blooming flowers, and lots of old trees.

Fairhope’s Municipal Pier, Fairhope’s Pepper Nelson Volunteer Fireman’s Hall, flower gardens, and yellow and white buttercups blooming.

Fairhope’s Pepper Nelson Volunteer Firetruck at Fairhope Museum 

We toured Fairhope’s History Museum outside, we saw the People’s Railroad train car, roses in bloom, and a statue of Craig Turner Shelton, the first public state artist in Alabama’s history. 

Fairhope’s Museum of History is located at 24 N. Section St, Fairhope, Alabama 36532

Inside, we saw permanent exhibits such as Fairhope’s founders, the single tax theory, the town jail built in 1868, the old fire department, a fire truck, a fire hydrant, fire hats, & coats.

Fairhope's historic jail inside the museum 

We saw a miniature replica of Middle Bay Lighthouse, John Bowen, Maria Howard, Della Nichols, Shuah S. Mann, Clarence Mershon, and James Bellanger, the people of Fairhope.

We saw old push-mowers hanging from the ceiling.

We picked up some pamphlets from the Welcome Center next door.

We ate lunch at Greers in Fairhope.

We ordered three chicken fingers, corn fritters, green beans, and cornbread.

Our next stop was Daphne at the Little Bethel Baptist Church, built in 1867. We took a few pictures of the church and a Historic marker nearby.

Our next stop was at the US Sports Academy Walk of Fame Daphne, where we sat in the metal of runners, baseball players, football players, basketball players, Swimmers, Weight lifters, Gymnasts, bikers, and golfers.

 US Sports Academy Walk of Fame Daphne  Baseball Player Statue 

We stopped at Daphne’s Gator Walk, where we saw a nice wooden boardwalk lined with a marker that said: 

Where are you in the Watershed?

Exploration of Ecosystem

Slowing the flow of Storm Water

The Big Picture of the Ecosystem

It is all about the Alligator 

What is this building for?

Along the Eastern Shore Trail

We did not see any gators along the trail, but we did see a few shorebirds.

After that long, hot walk, we needed something to cool us down, so we stopped at Jubilee Square at Krazy Frozen Treats for a waffle bowl of creamy-flavored yogurt around noon.

We chose cheesecake, cookies, and cream.

Krazy Frozen Treats  scoop of Cookies & Cream and Cheesecake

We stopped at the Foley Train Depot to watch men run the miniature trains. (They only run at certain times during the week)

Included in the collection were a Ringling Bros & Barnum Big Top Circus, a mini train carrying circus items, a ferries wheel (that worked), cloys with balloons, a lion cage, Roadside USA, a man shot out of a canon, a tattooed lady Lulu the farebeater cost fifty cents and elephants.

Ringling Bros & Barnum Big Top Circus

The miniature town consisted of Aqua Blue Drive-in diner that served fries and hamburgers, shakes, and soft drinks.

Advertisement on the windows that said Speeds Car Wash, green & white car sat next to Car Town (new, used, l& ease) Dealership. 

A tow truck sat in front, and next to the railroad tracks (Consoled gas and power), 76 Union Gas Station, two-story homes, dogs, people walking, riding scooters, mail carries, a lineman working on the power lines, 

There were bridges, factories, train stations, firehouses, and trains traveling in all directions on the many tracks.

We watched the trains until they closed.

We ate dinner at 5:00PM at Bubba’s Seafood House in Orange Beach.

Hubby and I split one CaptainsCaptainsCaptainsCaptains’ combo platter that consisted of Crab legs, grilled shrimp, chargrilled Mahi, Mahi served with corn on the cob, new potatoes, and garlic butter. 

We stopped at Rouses Market, where we bought a Coke, Strawberry cream coffee cake, & three large cannolis.

Sitting in a Large Blue Chair outside Bubba’s Seafood House Orange Beach

Jan 19, Friday

The next morning, we met Hannah at the Ruby Red Slipper Orange Beach before he headed home.

I ordered a stack of cinnamon toast.

Hubby ordered sausage, eggs, potatoes, link sausage, and pancakes.

Hannah ordered bacon, eggs, gravy, pancakes & coffee.

We finished breakfast around 8:30AM  and began our long ride home. $44.52

We filled up with gas at Love's $29.78 in Loxley, Al 

We stopped at CVS to get some eyewash my eyes were red, running, and burning.

I washed both eyes out with the eyewash and slept most of the way home.

Stack of cinnamon toast

We stopped at Firehouse Subs in Athens, and we bought a large and medium steak sandwich with a mushroom on wheat bread. $18.42

We stopped at Aldie in Athens to pick up  a few groceries spent @20.77

We had a great trip, ate breakfast with my granddaughter, and saw many sites.

Got sand in my eyes, which burned every time I closed them. 

2019 Jun 4, 💐 🌷Trip to Atlanta Botanical Gardens and the Imaginary World of Alice's Wonderland

Today started out in the upper 60s and cloudy it was a great day for traveling. We were up before the sun and on our way by 5:30AM for a 4 1/2 drive to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. 

We took the scenic route through Huntsville, Scottsboro, and several small towns to Atlanta Ga taking I-75 into downtown. 

 Veteran's Memorial Park Chattooga County Georgia "Dick Dowdy's Park" Summerville, GA
is where we stopped to take pictures of the War Memorials of Chattooga County, Couey's Log Cabin, Summerville's Train Depot, and the turntable.

Veteran's Memorial Park Chattooga County, Georgia 

Couey's Log Cabin

Train Turntable

Summersville's Train Depot 

We spent several hours strolling through the botanical gardens, looking at all the breathtaking plants and Alice in Wonderland Characters.

We ate breakfast at McDonald's in Scottsboro and dinner at Red Lobster in Oxford, Alabama. 

Admiral's Feast 

We also took the scenic route home. From Cullman, we took I-65 to Athens, then 72.
We did stop at Wendy's for a chocolate frost.

Hubby did not want a frosty, so we stopped at Dairy Queen for a creamsicle. 

We were home by 8:30PM.

We were halfway to Atlanta when I realized I had forgotten to bring my cell phone and my sunglasses at Red Lobster. 
(Valley Head, Alabama, where we stopped to take a picture of Valley Head Drug Mural, is where I realized I had left my cell phone at home)
I had to use hubby's cell phone to take pictures and airdrop them when I got home. I did go back to get my glasses before we left the restaurant. 

I had a great day.

Imaginary World of Alice's Wonderland 
We were greeted at the Admissions desk, paid our fee, were given a garden map, walked through the double doors, and began our whimsical journey looking for treasures.
We were looking for eleven characters from the Imaginary World of Alice's Wonderland.

Our first encounter was with PEGASUS, the flying winged horse, a child of Olympians & Poseidon.

Pegasus was covered in brown plants, and his wings, tail, and mane were covered in green plants. He appeared to be in a slow Trott.

Pegasus 

At the Kendeda Canopy Walk, hidden by a canopy of trees and shrubs, was the Mammoth.

The Mammoth was covered in Greenery, except for his white tusk, which helped keep him hidden from view.

Mammoth 

Earth Goddess was nestled in the Cascade Gardens next to the cascading waterfall.

The Earth Goddess's face and hand were comprised of green plants.

Her hair, covered in multi-color plants, flowed down her head onto the ground.

Her eyes were closed, and water flowed through her fingers as the serenity of it all touched her soul. 

Earth Goddess 

The Giant Phoenix was perched along the wall of the Astor Overlook. His body was covered in brown plants. The tip of his feathers was covered in green plants, and his wings spread wide.

Eyes of an eagle, hungry enough to eat a man.

Giant Phoenix 

Sea Maid (Mermaid)

Sitting in the fountain near the Rose Garden, we saw a beautiful mermaid.
The sea-maid was covered in green plants, and her brown(plant) hair flowed down to her waist, her tail folded beneath her.

A trio of camels lined the Anne Cox Chamber Flower Walk.
They were composed of brown bushy plants with a little greenery on their faces. The mats/blankets upon their backs were covered in multi-colors of green plants.
On one of the camels sat a rider his upper body was covered in greenery, his pants a reddish-brown, and his boots matched the matt. 
The baskets the camels were carrying were covered in red, green, and brown plants.

Camels 

The camels were covered with green mats carrying baskets of red, purple, green, and brown.
Stepping carefully along the flower walk.

Dragon

We saw the larger-than-life, fire-eating dragon standing guard over the plants in the Rock Garden, ready to breathe fire on offenders. 
The dragon was covered in a mixture of greens, &  browns with brown spikes down his back. His upper wings were brown, the underside green. A fierce creature to behold. 

the White Rabbit

The not-so-white rabbit's body was covered in green plants, his ears and nose in pink plants, and his boat was covered in reddish-brown plants. Atop the cane in his hand was his tall green hat.

Floating in the pond among the greenery sat the not-so-white rabbit. It was the rabbit that Alice had followed down the rabbit hole.

The Queen of Hearts Chess Game

Within sight of the not-so-white rabbit stood the Three of Hearts, the Ace of Hearts, the chess players on a green and white chessboard lined with heart-shaped green and brown trees waiting to capture Alice, but Alice was asleep in the nearby garden. 

The Shaggy Dog is sitting at the Garden House, waiting for someone to stroke his long green fur.

Cheshire Cat and Sleeping by Alice 

The Cheshire cat was sitting in the tree watching Alice sleep.
Alice's dress was covered in blue flowers, her hair in yellow flowers that surrounded her face as she lay sleeping in a bed of flowers, grass, and red, yellow, and white mushrooms.
Her face, socks, and belt were covered in green plants.
The Cheshire cat was covered in multi-greens with pink inner ears, big blue/green eyes, and a wide, mischievous grin that showed his white teeth.

At the Botanical Gardens 

We saw Picture plants Although pretty on the outside, the interior of a pitcher plant is quite sinister for visiting bugs. Once lured into a cup (a pitcher) by sweet-smelling nectars and flashy colors, the insect is greeted with downward-pointing hairs. Insects are captured by slipping and falling off the hairs and into a liquid at the bottom of the pitcher. They die by drowning in this liquid. Acids and enzymes then break down the insect into a soup, which is used by the plant for nutrition.

Picture Plant 

We saw Water lilies, Roses, Catci, tropical plants, and eatable plants. Plants inside hothouses, in a dry climate, in humid climates.

We saw turtles, male California quails, and blue, green, and yellow poison dart frogs. 

We saw trees of different species and sizes, fountains, and several eating places closed except for one.

Chihuly Glass Art

Orchids

Water Lilies 

A couple of pieces of Chihuly Glass Art, one hanging in the great hall(greenish-yellow tubular glass shapes) and another atop a fountain (blue swirling glass) in the Rose Garden.

The garden's directions were easy to follow, and the foliage & flowers were breathtaking. It was a trip worth taking. 
I took hundreds of pictures and still could not capture all of its beauty.