2023 July 12, Popes Tavern, Indian Mound Museums Florence, AL.

 Today we took  Ava to see UNA's mascot LEO but he was sleeping. 

Leo is getting old and since his mate died he has not been as active. 

I took her around the campus showing her the Smith Bell Tower, the president's home "Wesleyan Hall, constructed in 1856, is one of the oldest structures on the University of North Alabama campus." The building looks like a castle. 

Wesleyan Hall (Castle Building)

Smith Bell Tower 

Lion Cubs 

The campus fountain was turned off because of a leak. 

We next stopped at Pope's Tavern where Ava learned about how the tavern was used as a hospital during the Civil War. Early cooking tools, furniture from the Forks of Cypress, and Civil War artifacts. 

Ava asks the curator several questions about the articles in the museum. 

We also visited the building that held information about the processing of cotton. 

Cotton Balls 

Our next stop was the Indian Mound. 

She and I both walked to the top of the mound. Lots of steps!

43 feet Earthen Mound was built about 500 BCE. 

Inside the museum, Ava learned about the timeline of the Native Americans during the Paleo-Indian Period, the Archaic Period, the Woodland Period, and the Mississippian and Historic Periods. 

We saw arrowheads and many American Indian artifacts. 

On the way home we stopped at McDonalds to get Ava a kids chicken nugget meal. 

We stopped at Smokin Jalapeño for tacos. 

We took our food home to eat. 

2008, April 7, Monday, Having fun in the park with grandkids

I picked up Sierra, Montana, and Nevada at their grandmother Clanton’s house.

I had packed a picnic lunch of peanut butter sandwiches, bananas, fruit bowls, and mountain dews. 

We ate lunch at St Florine Park and when we finished we walked the trail.

About mid-way of the trail was a hill of loose dirt

The kids wanted to climb atop the dirt hill and I said they could.

They said granny come up, so I did.

We walked around on top of the dirt pile, we walked up and down several times. 

The kids loved this area. 

We walked around the park and I took pictures. 

I took the kid's picture standing on a bridge next to a statue of an alligator.

Nevada 

Sierra 

Montana

We saw sitting on a stump some tin statue-singing frogs, which intrigued the kids. 

Along the walking trail, we saw a face carved into a tree, it had large marble-like eyes.

I took pictures everywhere in the park of the kids. 

When we finished walking the grandkids played on the playground.
Deibert Park was the next place we went to. 
We walked on the trail there were signs everywhere along the trail about the animals that they one might see along the trail.

Sculptures in Deibert Park

Sculptures in Deibert Park

The kids and I got very hot and so our next stop was McDonald’s for an Oreo’s McFlurry. 

Next, we went to Loaves and Fishes a thrift store in Muscle Shoals.
I let the grandkids pick out five books each and two movies. 

We stopped at train Tressel on the Colbert side of the Tennessee River.
We walked to the end and back by the time we finished  Montana's long curly hair was ringing wet with sweat.

Our next stop was River Heritage Park located next to the Marriott Hotel.
The kids played on the castle and the train playground equipment. 

Stopping for a poise

Having fun at River Heritage Park 

I made pictures of the kids playing and when we were leaving the park we stopped at the waterfall in front of the Marriott hotel.  

My granddaughter called said she needed someone to pick her up at school.

For dinner, I baked potato and the grandkids dressed their potato with cheese, bacon bits and sour cream.

For dessert, I served strawberry pie.

Strawberry pie is Montana's favorite and he ate pie until he said Granny my stomach is about to pop.

Hannah and Sierra went outside to ride scooters.
My grandson Jake came over to pick up his sister Hannah. 

He was hungry so he ate a potato with all the trimmings.
After Jake and Hannah left, I took the other grandkids to Ron's where they played with Ron's Star Wars Dolls. 

We came back home and later that day the grandkids mom came to get them.  

I spent the day with grandkids climbing a dirt hill, hiking, picnicking, walking trails, playing in the park, reading signs and making memories. 

2010 ~September 25, -27 Hermitage, Dollywood, Tennessee Aquarium

Day 1: Saturday, September 25, 2010

Trip to Hermitage Tennessee and Pigeon Forges, and Chattanooga Tennessee.

We left at 6:30 A.M. Saturday morning we were on our way to visit the Hermitage in Hermitage, Tennessee. 

We traveled through Lawrenceburg on Highway 43 through Spring Hill Tennessee stopping at Rippavilla Plantation and the Mule Museum to take pictures.

Rippavilla Plantation 

Rippavilla Plantation 

We stopped in Columbia Tennessee at Mcdonald's where I ordered a cinnamon melt and a diet coke. 

After leaving Spring Hill, we entered onto interstate I-65 north toward Nashville, Tennessee. We stopped in Franklin Tennessee to get gas and we stopped at Hardies where my husband ordered a breakfast sandwich. 

We arrived at 8:30 A.M. just as the museum opened. 

The tickets to visit the home, grounds, and museum were free, but to take the wagon tour it cost $10.

Andrew Jackson and his wife 

Andrew Jackson Carriage

Upon entering the museum, we were ushered into a movie theater where the life of Andrew Jackson was shown. After the show, we entered into the hallway of the life of Andrew Jackson where I began taking pictures. We walked through not taking time to read or listen to a tape. We walked over to the Jackson Mansion stopping along the way to take pictures of the landscape and the historic markers. We walked through the gardens and the family cemetery where Andrew Jackson and his family were buried.  Jackson and his wife had a large tombstone. Andrew Jackson’s faithful slave was buried in a small grave near the family cemetery.

Standing in front of the tree

Andrew Jackson Tomb 

The Hermitage

We went to the restrooms.
My husband sat down to rest for a while  I walked to the old spring where I took several pictures. I took pictures of the wagon and the horses.
Our wagon ride was at 10:15 A.M.
The wagon ride carried us past a log cabin, which was the first home of Jackson, after he built his new home he gave the cabin to his slaves to live in.

A log Cabin was the first home of the Jackson 

The cabin was a two-story building but later was converted into a one story, because slaves could not live in a two-story building. We went further onto the grounds to visit the slave homes, spring, and see other historic markers. 

Waiting to take the wagon ride

the wagon ride

We met several people on the wagon ride, a couple from Ohio, several people from Alabama, and several Alabama fans who ragged the Ohio Couple about their ball players. 

The Hermitage was preparing for an upcoming wedding in the building next to the spring.
Several buildings have been added to the Jackson plantation that were not part of the original plantation, they are used for school training, weddings, and other functions.

We walked to the Mansion where we had to wait in line to go inside.

We were given a tour of the home along with several other people, which took about 20 to 30 minutes. 

We walked back to the gift shop where I bought several postcards, and we finished in the museum.

There was a long line of people waiting to get into the Museum and they were told that once they got inside they would have to wait in line again to tour the mansion. 

The tour took us three hours but it did not seem that long.

We left the mansion and took  I-40 toward Knoxville, Tennessee to Pigeon Forge we have a room at The Inn at Christmas our check-in time is 4 P.M.

We were warmly greeted at The Inn at Christmas, then we took our luggage to room 213.
We decided to ride around town to see the sites, and one of my husband's friends said we should eat at Huck Finn's Restaurant.
So we stopped there for dinner, where I ordered the special of all-you-can-eat white beans, hush puppies, onion, potatoes, and slaw with iced tea to drink. My husband ordered the Catfish plate and I ate a piece of the fish it was very good.  

 Huck Finns Restaurant

We rode through the town of Gatlinburg then over the mountains. We stopped alongside the road so I could take pictures of the timeless mountains.
Darkness and fog had fallen on the mountaintop it was getting hard to see where we were going,  so we headed back down the mountain.
We rode to Sevierville to Auto Zone to purchase a blinker bulb.
We rode back to The Christmas Inn for Santa's reading but it was too late it was at 9:00PM we did not get back until 10:00PM.

Inn at Christmas 

Inn at Christmas 

My husband’s back was hurting from all the driving so we went downstairs to the swimming pool where he changed into his swimsuit, I had already put mine on and had slipped my cover-up over it. 

The hot tub was full, so my husband went outside; I slipped into the hot tub and stayed there for about 10 minutes. 

I went outside where my husband was sitting watching the kids slide down the waterslide. 

I jumped into the swimming pool and swam across to the other side several times. The water was nice, it was not too cold or too hot. We went back inside, my husband slipped into the hot tub, and I got in the regular pool. 

We changed clothes in the restrooms and went back upstairs.

I download my pictures and upload them to the Internet. My husband was tired so he went to sleep. I went to bed at about 12 P.M. 

Day 2: Sunday, September 26, 2010

The next morning we dressed and went down to the first floor where they were serving breakfast. My husband ate scrambled eggs, ham, sausage, gravy, and biscuits. I ate waffles with heated syrup and orange juice.
It was raining outside so we went to Walmart to purchase a couple of raincoats or ponchos to wear at  Dollywood when it opens at 10am

My husband picked out a blue raincoat and I picked a yellow raincoat. 

yellow raincoat

blue raincoat

My husband parked the car in Dollywood's parking lot, we then rode the trolley over to Dollywood we were let out at the gift shop.
Everyone went through the gates at 9:30AM but nothing opened up until 10 AM.

We rode the simulator of one of Dollywood's creations.
Our next stop was to watch the Kingdom Heirs perform.
We had front-row seats.
One of the members of the band asked us several questions. He said where are you from?

Kingdom Heirs 

Is this your first time seeing the Show? In addition, he asks many other questions.

We raised our hands for being the first time to see the show and he asked where are you from and we replied Alabama. 

He had asked earlier who was Alabama Fans. 

This was our second time in Dollywood and we had never seen Kingdom Heirs perform. 

He said we are always there and why had you not seen our show. 

Somehow we had always missed their show.

He picked at us for a few minutes and then went on to pick at another guest. After the show, we walked around until time for the next show, which was SHA-KON-HEY, which was an outstanding show. 

 SHA-KON-HEY

I took several pictures while the show was going on. The blue smoke, the actors singing, flying, and bouncing off the walls. They were in treetops, flying over the audience and dancing on the stage. It was an awesome performance. After the show, we stopped at Apple Jacks Restaurant for lunch where I ordered a bread chilies bowl with coke.
My husband ordered a sandwich. I could not eat my entire chilies bowl so I gave it to my husband. While he finished eating, I walked over to Dolly’s family reunion show where my husband later joined me.
We walked around the park looking at the areas that we had not seen.
After we rode the train we walked to the back of the park to see the new optical course. We stopped along the way back to take pictures of the tombstones with funny sayings.

It was getting late, we were both tired from walking and wet from the drizzling rain, so we decided to call it a day.
On our way out we stopped at the Spotlight Bakery to get a  piece of Carrot Cake. 

Dollywood Coffin 

Dollywood Coffin 

We ate dinner at Long John Silvers, I ordered lobster tails with iced tea and my husband ordered a meal.
We also shared a slice of carrot cake.
Back at the Inn, I took a hot shower, dressed for the night, and then uploaded my pictures to the computer when I had finished, I crawled into my warm bed and fell asleep. 

Day 3: Monday, September 27, 2010

The next morning we slept later than usual because we were both tired from all the traveling and walking from the day before.

We ate breakfast but I did not get a waffle because the dining room was full of older people. They had brought in a couple of busses of older people for some kind of convention. 

After breakfast we went back to the room and finished watching the movie Death Becomes Her. 

We checked out of the hotel and rode to Chattanooga. We stopped at Wendy's for lunch and after lunch, we went to the River and salt-water aquarium, where we spent several hours there.
It was a home-school day at the aquarium. 

Tennessee Aquarium

Tennessee Aquarium

Tennessee Aquarium

We rode to Bridge Street Mall in Huntsville at Victoria’s Secret to make a purchase.
I had a coupon to get eight pairs of panties for $25.00 but got five for $25.

We stopped at Zaxby’s in Athens where I ordered three chicken fingers with a salad.
My husband ordered hot wings, chicken fingers, and fries. 

It was very late when we arrived home.
I uploaded a few pictures and went to bed.
Another great adventure!
What will my next adventure be?
Will I go to Orlando or the mountains?

🚗2000 ~July 14-17, Trip to St Louis, Missouri

Day 1: Friday, July 14, 2000 

On Friday, July 14, I drove to Saint Louis Missouri traveling through Illinois my granddaughter was traveling with me.

It took us around six hours, my husband said when you arrive in Fenton look for the pink elephant.
We had not traveled far enough to see the elephant so I called my husband on a payphone and said we are in Fenton where do I go next.
I was just a few miles from where he was living but the directions he gave me had me going in circles.
So I called him back and he met me at the gas station where I called him from. I followed him to the RV park with no problems and I never saw a Pink elephant.

Day 2: Saturday, July 15, 2000

It was time to get the oil changed in my husband's Saturn so my granddaughter and I went with him to get the oil changed at Saturn of South County 11157 Lindberg Business Ct St.Louis, Missouri.
While sitting in the lobby waiting to get the oil changed I saw a beautiful blackberry Saturn sitting in the showcase and fell in love with it.
I ask the salesperson Linda if I could test drive the Saturn and she went to get the keys.
I traded my Firebird for a Blackberry LS1Saturn.
I signed all the paperwork but could not officially take the car back home until Monday so I could order the title from the bank.

Later that day we went to the St Louis Arch, we did not go up the elevator to the top of the arch.
We visited the Museum of Westward Expansion that took on a journey into the past where we saw tools, guns, animals, wagons of the explorers, pioneers, cowboys, and Native Americans. 

St Louis Arch

There were animated figures that told the story of Peace Medal diplomacy in the US during the nineteenth century with William Clark, Red Cloud, Chief Oglala, Sergeant Banks, & Charles Barber.

In the interactive Museum, we saw the life of the Cowboys.

We saw the Tipi Plain Indians the nomadic hunters of the buffalo.

We saw the sod house of the earlier pioneers.

We saw the Appaloosa that was a symbol of transportation into the West.

We saw the longhorn steer cattle drive toward the West.

We saw the bison that was hunted and killed for food, clothing, and shelter.

We saw the bear and beaver that was also important during the migration into the West.

For lunch, we ordered hamburgers, french-fried and soda to drink from McDonald's.
McDonald's is located on the Missouri River aboard a boat with a Ronald McDonald statue, smoke pipes and the golden arch M is located on what looks like a wheel.
We parked in the pier parking lot and walked down a ramp onto the boat. The boat was stationed to the pier and we could feel the movement of the boat as we sat and ate.

Mcdonald's Floating on the Missouri River 

Day 3: Sunday, July 16, 2000

On Sunday we all visited Grant's Farm, the former home of the Bush Family, a 281 area farm, a landmark in Grant Wood Village, MO.
In 1800s Ulysses S. Grant farmed part of the land.
We paid twelve dollars to park and were told that we would have to stand in line to ride the tram over to the farm.

We boarded the tram which took about fifteen minutes. On the ride to the park, we saw Axis Deer, American Bison, Aoudads, Black Buck Antelope, Galloway, Highland Cows, Pere David Deer, Red Deer, Wapiti, Watusi, and Zebra.

When we disembarked from the tram we walked to the Bauernhof, a German word for the farmstead, which was a nineteenth Century Bavarian farm, stables, and carriage house.

At the Brat Haus, they were serving Bratwurst, Pretzels, and Chicken Strips.

A Bauernhof

It was very hot and when Hannah spotted the mist spray she could wait to get wet and we followed her.

Mist to cool off

Hannah standing in the mist to cool off

Hannah next to Carriage

We are standing next to the carriage

Caution Horses might bite

We stopped to see the corralled 35 mares, stallions and folds Clydesdales.

Clydesdale are18 feet high and weight 2,000 to 2,300 pounds. They are bay in color, with a blaze of white faces; they have a black mane and tail. Their legs and feet are white featherings on all four legs and feet.

Hannah at Grants Farm 

Camels at Grants Farm 

Day 4: Monday, July 17, 2000
On Monday I finalized the paperwork on my new Saturn so I could drive it six hours home.

My granddaughter and I had a great trip, we toured the St. Louis Arch, we toured Grants Farm, and we ate lunch on the Floating McDonald's and I bought a Saturn.