2023 OCT 5, Trip to Mobile, Kathryn Tucker Winham Museum & the Clarke County Museum

 Day 1: Thursday

On our way to Mobile, we made several stops.

We stopped in Thomasville to tour the Kathryn Tucker Museum (Storyteller). The curator walked us through the museum, telling us some of the history of Mrs. Windham.

Mrs. Windham was famous for her ghost stories about "Jeffery the ghost," who took up residence in Mrs. Windham's home.

Kathryn Tucker Windham T-shirt with Jeffrey's Ghost on the Front. 

The story about how Kathryn got her first camera!

A sculpture of Kathryn by her good friend
 "Charlie Lucas"

Kathryn's life story is told in a quilt.

Reserved for Ghost Jeffery 

We thanked our guide, and she said if we liked the museum, we should stop at Clarke County Museum Grover Hill, Al.

Clarke County Historical Museum with Pioneer Village in back.

The museum was having some issues with the inside of the building, so many of the displays were in disarray on the ground level. 

French Bed 

We walked upstairs to see a bedroom with a French Bed, this bed was made about 1825 and was constructed from French walnut. It came from the plantation of Samuel Barnes, which was located in the once-thriving town of Suggsville in eastern Clarke County. The bed posts are hollow so that a canopy could be added. The bed was donated by Mrs Donald Mills of Montgomery. Barne's great-granddaughter.

Josiah and Lucy Martin Matthew Cabin 
This structure was donated to the Clarke Co Historical Society to its present site. 
Restored in 2008.

We learned that Clarke County was home to 3 salt works during the Civil War.  These Springs were also used by the Native Americans. 

We also learned that during the Civil War, prices of Salt escalated so high that the workers were paid in salt. Prices rose from $1.25 per bushel of 50 pounds in 1861 to $50 by the end of the Civil War. 

When the rumor circulated that Mobile was captured, everyone scattered, ending the widespread use of the works.  

Salt-making kettle 

Pioneer Day for 2023 will be October 28, 9-3, at the Clarke County Museum. 

Pies, cakes, and other homemade baked goods will be available. The famous Gee's Bend quilters will be demonstrating quilting and will be selling some of their beautiful handiwork. Winky Hicks and friends will be playing bluegrass music, and storyteller Deborah Rankins will be on hand to tell local tales.

We thanked our curator and began our final journey to Mobile. 

We will be staying at the Battle House Renaissance Hotel, room 5242, another historic site. 

The hotel is connected to the completely new and impressive RSA Battle House Tower. The RSA Hotel is the tallest building in the state it is 40 stories tall. 

Original opened in 1852. The Franklin Hotel was on this site before burning down in 1829.

Andrew Jackson set up headquarters in 1812. The first Mardi Gras Ball was held in the Crystal Ballroom in 1852.

Elvis Presley stayed the night he was kicked off of the fairgrounds for doing the "Shake" in 1952.

It has a Whispering Arch, the Six Flags of Mobile.

1702-1763 French Flag

1763-1780 British Flag

1780-1813 Spanish Flag

1813 -1861 1st US Flag 

1851-1861- Antebellum Period 

1861-1864 - Alabama Confederate Flag 

1964-present 2nd US Flag 

In the whispering arch ceiling area, you can see Louis XIV, George Washington, Ferdinand V, and George III.

Whispering Arches

The Grand Ballroom 

We walked up the street to Loda Bier Garten for dinner but were stopped by two men from Chanel 10 Fox News. One with a camera and the other with a microphone. He asked us if we were going on the Cruise ship out of Mobile, and we said yes. So he interviewed us, and we were on TV that night. 

I had several people on the Carnival Cruise Ship Spirit who said they saw me on TV. 

This was the first ship out of Mobile for over a year. The bay had to be drugged so bigger ships could dock.

We continued our journey to the Bier Garten, where we enjoyed a hamburger, fries, and fried mushrooms. 

It had been a long day, so we returned to the hotel, took a hot shower, and climbed into bed. 

We wanted to be rested before we began our journey on the Carnival Spirit Cruise Ship to the Bahamas. 

Fried Mushroom at Lola's Bier Garten in Mobile 

2023 July 8, Day Trip Franklin, Brentwood, TN. and Huntsville, AL.

We started the day by eating Gravy and Biscuits at Jack, then Birding in McFarland Park. We could see the rain coming down the river, so we loaded into the car.

Then, we rode to Best Buy in Huntsville to buy a Canon EOS R6 Camera and stopped at Sam's Club for fuel. 

We had no luck at Best Buy, so we decided to ride to Best Buy Brentwood, Tennessee. 

Hubby was going to take a shortcut but ended up taking a long way. We rode to Maradinville and stopped at Ardmore Welcome Center on I-65. 

Ardmore Welcome Center 

We stopped at Best Buy, where we purchased the Canon EOS R6 camera. 

It was way after lunch, so we stopped at Mellow Mushroom in Franklin. We ordered a small Pacific Rim Pizza. (Mellow red sauce with Mozzarella, ham, bacon, caramelized onions, pineapple, and Jalapeños.)

Pacific Rim Pizza 

Mellow Mushroom Franklin, TN

We headed back home I reached into my purse to play video games on the way home, but my phone was not in my purse. 

I took hubby's phone and called mine. The manager at Mellow Mushroom answered. I told him who I was, and we were on our way back to get my phone. 

When we arrived, hubby could not find a parking place, so he let me out and circled around. I went inside and told the hostess who I was and was there to pick up my cell phone. 

I thanked them for finding it and putting it in a safe place. 

It had begun to rain when hubby picked me up, and it stormed all the way home. 

I am so glad I noticed my phone missing before we got home. It is about 2 hours to Franklin. 

✈️✈️✈️1993 ~ May 12-16, Trip to Cancun Mexico

Day 1: Wednesday, May 12, 1993 

We walked through the three gardens at the Opryland/Gaylord Hotel to kill a couple of hours before heading to the Nashville Airport. 

I took pictures in three acclaimed indoor gardens: The Conservatory, The Cascades, and The Delta. 

 Information about the Gardens: I got from the Internet”

“The Conservatory covers two acres and is devoted solely to tropical plants. The Cascades also covers two acres and features waterfalls cascading into a 12,500-square-foot indoor lake. The Delta covers 4.5 acres and features restaurants, shops, and a fountain that sends out jets of water 85 feet into the air. A breathtaking river runs through it with passenger-carrying boats. Opryland Hotel is now known as Gaylord Hotel.”

The time for our departure flight was getting near.

We left the Opryland/Gaylord Hotel and drove to the Nashville Airport. 

We parked the car in the long-term parking area.

We grabbed our luggage and headed for the ticket counter.  

I almost forgot!  

A new birth certificate! 

There was an error in the original birth certificate.

We had the birth certificate sent overnight to our house because I needed a copy for our trip to Mexico.

US citizens may use one of the following for entry into Mexico, A Passport, or a birth certificate. Entering Mexico, our first stop was a Mexican Immigration where proof of citizenship was inspected and tourist cards were validated. Visitors choose to either declare or not declare that they are importing items beyond their allowance. 

We flew from Nashville, Tennessee to Cancun Mexico.

When we arrived we had to go through customs then we took a bus to the hotel. 

All drivers in Mexico add color and memories to your vacation. Do not drink the water! Buy bottled water and be careful what you eat! Know the exchange rate before you go! Mexico operates in the rise and fall of the Peso! 

The  Oasis Hotel where we stayed was being remodeled

We had an awesome room that overlooked the Gulf of Mexico. From our balcony, we could see the sunrise and the sunset. 

Lizards, Lizards they were everywhere!

We had a refrigerator full of items to buy. 

We bought all our snacks at a local grocery store.

We unpacked our bags and we took a long walk on the beach. 

We ate lunch in the hotel and then went back to our room to relax.

Cancun Beach

Day 2: Thursday, May 13, 1993

The next day we walked to the bus stop, I was frightened by lizards that jumped out of the bushes while we waited for the bus, that we were going to take into the city. 

Oh, my gosh, the driving in Mexico is crazy! 

There is no control over how to drive in Mexico.

The driving is worse than our worst major city in the USA.

We went to all the American malls to shop.

A man was playing the piano near one of the bars in the mall.

In the bar we each ordered margaritas.

The Mexican Margaritas are stronger than I was used to and it made me a bit tipsy. 

In the mall, my husband bought me a black stone necklace with matching earrings.

Shopping Mall in Cancun 

Hard Rock Cafe

Shopping in Cancun

Day 3: Friday, May 14, 1993

Some of the places that we ate while in Cancun were McDonald's, Hooters, the Oasis Hotel Restaurant, and local Mexican restaurants.

We strolled along white sandy beaches watching the warm incredible blue waters flow, it was very calming. 

Where we stayed had great restaurants, and modern shopping facilities and was a semi-peaceful diversion to all of the glitz and hype.

We went to a disco club and recorded some of the dancers with our new video camera. 

In the Oasis Hotel Lobby, I  ran into an old co-worker.

Vince, he was on his honeymoon. 

He said I am glad to see a familiar face. It was their last day and he and his wife were going home the next day.

My  middle son said before we left home, “ Mom, everywhere you go you see someone you know.”  How ironic!

Home of the Mardi Gras

Day 5: Monday, May 16,  1993 

We had a great trip, lots of food, lots of fun, and lots of sun.

We flew from Cancun Mexico landing in New Orleans, La.

What an awesome view of the clouds, they looked like white pillows floating and I took several pictures. 

In the airport in New Orleans, we saw a sign that read: “Welcome to New Orleans, Home of the Mardi Gras.” 

We went through customs and rushed to catch the next plane to Nashville, Tennessee.

After we landed in Nashville, we had to drive another two hours home.

What a trip! Ready for my next adventure.

May 12-16, 1993 Cancan Mexico

Leave Nashville International Airport (BNA)

Arrive Cancan International Airport (CUN) 

Leave Cancan International Airport (CUN)

Arrive New Orleans International Airport (MSY)

Leave New Orleans International Airport (MSY)

Arrive Nashville International Airport (BNA)

---

🎄🎄🎄🎄2014, Saturday, Dec 13, Idiot with TWO Cameras

People can benefit by using their brains 

and not act like idiots by shouting out 

only the B letter of the alphabet during a parade.

I was standing in line during a Christmas Parade next

to a man with two very nice cameras.

A telephoto lens, both looked very expensive

but did he use them to take great pictures?

I think not!

What did it benefit him to stand there calling out

bomb this boy!!

He was shouting out to the participants in the

Parade..............

Bomb this boy repeatedly!!!

Every once in a while he would take up one of his cameras and

snap a picture.

What an idiot with two cameras hanging around his neck

calling out bomb this boy!!!

I think B was the only alphabet letter he knew. (BOMB)

A very rude person, pushing Hubby so he could 

get closer to the parade.

I told Hubby TO just get behind me and he did.

I stood my ground not moving an inch.

For I was there to take pictures and he was not getting in front of me!

Christmas Parades are for pure enjoyment.

Some of the letters of the alphabet animals that were in the parade

H - horse

D - dog

G -Goat

C -Cow

P -People

The idiot that only knew the letter B of the alphabet,

who did not benefit from two very expensive cameras,

finally moved on.

We did have a great time at the parade.

I took 177 pictures with my cell phone

and 250 pictures with my Nikon camera.

I hope when I attend the next parade I do not

meet another idiot who could benefit 

by using his brain with more letters of the alphabet.