2022 Nov 13, Clydesdae's Parade in Cullman's Wearhouse District Cullman, AL

It was a bitterly cold morning as we rode to the Warehouse District in Cullman to see the Clydesdale Nov 13, 2022

Budweiser Advertisment 

Budweiser Clydesdales  coming to Alabama Nov 10-13, 2022 

Jingle & Mingle Birmingham Nov 10 

75th Annual Nationa Veterans day parade Birmingham Nov 11

Lakeview District Trot Parade Birmingham Nov 12 

Christmas Market Open House Cullman Nov 13. 

since Adams 1937 

We arrived at about 1PM and got in line for the parade where we could watch the horses being unloaded. 

Each of the eight Clydesdale was taken out of the trailer one at a time then harnessed with solid brass, patent leather, and stitched with pure linen thread harness which weighed over 130 pounds. 

One of the Clydesdale being hitched up with its harness 

The Red, White, and Gold beer Wagon also has to be taken out of the 50-foot tractor-trailer and the Clydesdale hitched up one at a time. 

Once the horses were hitched to the Wagon, the drivers, riders, and Dalmatian dog climbed aboard the wagon and the parade began.

The parade was scheduled to begin at 1PM but it did not start until 2:20 PM.

The Budweiser wagon, 8 Clydesdale, two drivers,  Dalmatian, and three passengers rode around the Warehouse District 3 times, stopping once for pictures before heading back to the tractor trailers to be loaded up.

8 Clydesdale, drivers, riders, and Dalmatians starting the parade 

Close-up of drivers and Dalmatian 

There were several children standing next to me. A family with three redheaded children. One of the little boys was very impressed with my camera and wanted me to take his picture which I did. 

The little boy who wanted me to take his picture.

There were thousands of people waiting to see the horses. We watched the Clydesdale go around a couple of times. 

After Clydesdale's first trip around the district, many people left. At about the same time we heard the train's whistle blow and a very long train crossed the tracks so these people had to wait for the tracks to be clear to cross. 

We were going to leave after the first round but since we were going to have to wait on the train we decided to go back and watch the Clydesdale one more time. I am glad we did because I got a better video of them coming around the corner and getting my picture made near the wagon. 

After the parade, we headed home stopping at Cracker Barrel in Athens for supper. Hubby ordered a big breakfast and I ordered pinto beans, fried apples with cornbread, chow chow, and onion.  

We stopped at Murphy's Walmart to fill up with Gas. It was dark by the time we arrived home. 

It was a cold day but at least the sun was shining. I think it got up to 41.

2018 Dec 15, Leipers Fork Christmas Parade Leipers Fork, Tennessee

Hubby and I rode to Leipers Fork to attend the Christmas Parade, it was one of the biggest crowds I had ever seen.

The crowd at Leipers Fork Parade 

John Snider(Bo Duke) from Dukes of Hazzard was the Grand Marshal. John rode atop a replica of the Bright Orange General Lee #1 from the Dukes of Hazzard Show (1979-85).
Followed by the Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane's Police Car.

John Snider Grand Marshal 

Kid Rock came riding in a White Car that had a bull horn on the front grill, packing guns on both sides of the car. The backside on the tire covering was Hank Jr. Kick Rocks & Michigan Plates 64 Nudie. With shotgun, horses, and horseshoes on the trunk, fenders, and bumper.
The kid was dressed in White trimmed in gold wearing a black hat drinking a Coolers Light beer.
The guy from American Pickers came riding in the parade in a Polaris Jeep.

Kid Rock and his granddaughter

We saw a Grinch 

Cindy Lou-Who 

Santa Clause in his sleigh with Reindeer 

Hubby and I stopped at Jack's Restaurant in Lawrenceburg for breakfast. I ordered a sausage and cheese biscuit.
Hubby ordered a big breakfast.
We arrived at Leipers Fork around 11:00 AM set up our chairs and walked around taking pictures and talking to local shop owners.

Christmas Ball hanging from the ceiling at one of the local stores also in the attic area was a Manger Scene 

People already had a chair set up in front of Pucketts Grocery a local restaurant 

fireplace a warm cozy spot 

Cowboy boot Sign

There were several portlets set up but not near enough for the crowd.
Where we sat were a couple of firepits with marshmallows and gram crackers to make smores.
It was nice to sit by the fire it was an overcast day with temperatures around 50+ degrees with some sun.
At the portlets, I met a woman who was building a house in the Leipers Fork area. She said we have 2 dogs and 2 cats and they were renting in the Nashville area but were originally from Atlanta, GA.
I also met a woman wearing a Mad Hatter hat, she was covered in Christmas rope, bells, and balls.
She gave me and the woman next to me a bell. I tied my bell on my tennis shoe and everywhere I went I would hear bells, I forgot it was me that was ringing.
I met a family from near Dickson, TN, she said she was an artist and he was a landscaper (from Nashville until he married). They had two children and they had never been to the Leipers Fork Parade. I told them they were in for a treat. They were waiting to eat at a local restaurant and when the parade began they came and stood nearby. The man said after they ate that the kids rode horses in the fields and there they saw Kid Rock.
The little girl said she wanted one of the bears that were going to be thrown out during the parade. Both she and her brother caught two each.
They left after the bears were thrown out.
Hubby and I both made smores but they sure were messy. The parade began around 2:30PM  and lasted until about 4 or a little after the sun was setting and it was beginning to get dark. The cleanup crew began to clean up all the debris left from the parade and the crowd. Hubby and I sat by the fire pit as we watched a steady stream of cars leave the grass-filled parking area.
A young man stoked the fire and we warmed our hands and bodies.
A man with his daughter was warming up at the fire pit. We were talking about the Shoals area that we were from and the man said that he had a friend that played in a band that played at the Shoals Marriott.
We finally braved the traffic and began our travel home.
At 5:22 PM we stopped at Panda Express in Sring Hill.

End of the parade and the sun was setting 

We ordered broccoli and beef, honey walnut shrimp, orange chicken, chow mein, egg roll, and 3 creams cheese Rangoon.

We ordered broccoli and beef, honey walnut shrimp, orange chicken, chow mein, egg roll, and 3 creams cheese Rangoon.

At 7PM we stopped at Big Lots in Lawrenceburg for some bread and Archway gingerbread cookies.

(I love me some gingerbread cookies) we bought three bags and a bag of Archway gingersnaps. 

We were home around 7:30, took a hot shower, put on my pajamas, crawled into my warm bed, turned on the TV, and were asleep in no time.
Hubby had a great day, it was a little on the cool side, overcast, and the sun tried to sneak out a time or two. Saw John Snider, Kid Rock, and the guy from American Pickers. Made a few new friends, ate some good food, and had a safe trip home.

🍉🍉🍉2016 Friday, August 19, Watermelon Festival Russellville

We arrived at the Watermelon Festival in Russellville a little before 6:00PM 
We parked on the street behind the main street and walked one block entering the Watermelon Festival.  
As we walked up Main Street we saw Daddy's Roasted Sweet Corn which was positioned near the Roxy Theater.  
Posted on the Marquees was "Welcome to the 36th Annual Watermelon Festival." 

Main Street was crowded with vendors on both sides, with many people buying the vendor's wear. It was a struggle just to walk up the street because it was so crowded.
It was a little breeze blowing but, not enough to take away the humidity. The sky was filled with dark, heavy clouds, ready to burst into rain. 

We could hear the Kerry Gilbert Band beginning to play.

We could hear the Kerry Gilbert Band as they began to play. We walked in the direction of the sound of the music. 
When we arrived, in the area of the band, the sun was beaming down right into my eyes, so we had to find a shaded area, where we could watch the band. 

We had brought chairs to set in but left them in the van so, we ended up sitting on the concrete curb near the tables filled with juicy, red, slices of watermelon, free for the taking. 

We sat and watched the band play while the watermelons behind me were saying come to get a slice. 
So, I walked to the table that was full of sliced melons and picked out a slice, making sure that I had plenty of napkins.

Free slices of red juicy watermelons! Make sure you grab enough paper towels!

I listen to music while eating the melon, with juice dripping down my arm. 
I savored every bite until nothing was left but the rind. 
I found only a few seeds in the watermelon slice, which I spit onto the ground. I found a garbage can to dispose of the rind and I wiped my face and hands of all that red, sweet, juice, from the melon.

Slices of the red juicy watermelon slices were going fast. 

Kerry encouraged the crowd to clap 

Kerry is an Elvis Presley fan and he sang one of Elvis's songs, Suspicious Mind.  Kerry gets way down on the base, with the song Way Down. 
Kerry, Hugh Banks, Terry Frank, Randy Kimbrough, Alyssa Ashley, Mitch Curtis, and Wendell Dean did an Acappella of the gospel song, Sweet Sweet Spirit.
Alyssa Ashley and Mitch Curtis performed a Dotty West Song, Two Worlds Collide. 

There were several women and a man that got up and danced, while others clapped, and stomped their feet to the beat of the music. 

SWEET TREE Productions controlled the sound system and provided the stage for the bands.

When the band ended we walked back into the crowded streets. 

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade YUM!!!

We saw Smoothies and Tropical Treats by Dixie Concessions.
We saw Corn Dogs, Chicken tenders, Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, French Fries, and Ribbon Fries, Philly Cheese sticks, Polish Sausages, and Funnel Cakes. 

We saw on the Roxy Theater Marquees facing down Main Street: Whiskey Tree Guest Kendra Hope, Travis Wammack, and Snake Band Saturday, August 27, 6:30PM

We saw Captain Marvel and Spiderman

We saw Protect and Serve Police Officers. 

We saw Protect and Serve Police Officers. 

We saw Mickey and Minnie Mouse and children getting their pictures made with them 

We saw U.DO. IT Chill Factory, Alabama's Best Fresh Made Ice Cream, Tharptown Wildcats Cheerleaders, Boy Scouts, Italian Ice, & Dipping Dots Ice Cream.

We walked to the carnival rides where we saw Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy's Bouncing house. We saw children buckled into the Reckless ride. We saw children loading into Pirates Revenge Ride. 

Swings, Mind Winder

Monster Truck 

Reckless and Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy's Bouncing house

We saw a giant Monster Truck called Mayhem inflatable and a large inflatable slide. We saw children being slung around on the swings. 
The last ride we saw was the Mind Winder.

Standing in Silence watching the Festival for the last 36 years is this Historic Home 

Facing one another at the end of the festival, stood in silence two Old Historic Homes.
On the right was a house built of red brick with two chimneys. To the left was a white siding three-story home with a red slate, a triangle roof, a rounded dome room on the third level, and a covered front porch. 

We started back up the street where we saw a young boy riding the bull, he stayed on for 48 seconds. As we walked past, I said to myself, not me, that bull can buck someone else off. 

I ain't afraid of no GHOST!

As we walked up Main Street we saw a man from Ghost Busters.
Not yet dark enough for any ghosts. 
Yet, there may be ghosts lurking in the two houses just beyond the festival or ghosts walking among us.!  

🎈🎈🎈2015 ~ Saturday May 23, Hot Air Balloon Festival Point Mallard Decatur

I got up early this morning and drove to Decatur for the Hot Air Balloon & Tractor Festival.

I was greeted by this beautiful sunrise!

I arrived around 6:45-7:00 and was trying to find a park when the balloons started to ascend into the air, so I pulled alongside a curb got out, and started taking pictures.
Someone pulled out of a parking spot right in front of me so I pulled into it and continued taking pictures a total of 157 just on my big camera.

This one almost did not make it. They had to land and try again right before the grove of trees behind them.

Lots of Hot Air Balloons 

I took a couple of videos on my cell phone.
After all the balloons disappeared into oblivion I walked over to the park and started taking pictures of the crowd, the vendors, and tractors.

People standing in line for breakfast at the Little Red Lunch Box 

Maggie Moos is not open but as the day wears on she will be flooded with people!

I started my trip home and realized that I had not eaten breakfast, so I started thinking about what would be good.
I decided I-Hop!
I pulled into I-Hop and was seated all by myself but that was ok.
I ordered a Belgian Waffle with fresh cream, blueberries, and strawberries.
It was delicious but I could not finish it.

Belgian Waffle with creamy strawberries and blueberries 

They have four different types of syrup Original, Butter Pecan, Blueberry, and strawberry.
I did not use any syrup because my waffle was delicious without it.

Next, I stopped at Office Depot to have a book bound. The employee had a hard time pulling out the staples and getting the paper straight for the book but he did it! I had put the book together with three staples each and four books went into this one.

Next, I went in search of Mt Dews that might be on sale, but the only sodas that were on sale were cokes.
My first stop was Publix, bought several items but no Mt Dew.

Next, I went to Kroger's to buy chicken legs to make chicken stew for Memorial Day but, again no MT Dews.

Should have brought this Mt Dew home with me!

And this Pepsi would have been enough for everyone on Memorial Day!

Even Jammin Jeff was enjoying a Mt Dew and Pepsi (see sitting on his table)

The crowd was enjoying the view of a large Mt Dew and Pepsi.

Called hubby and he said they had Mt Dews on sale at the Dollar General Store, all that was on sale was cokes, two twelve packs for $5.00 so I bought two.

I drove home, I was so sleepy that I almost did not make it, almost hit a big dog, and had to put on my brakes. I cannot stand running over any animal.

Went home and unloaded the groceries that were perishable from my van.
I stretched out on the futon went to sleep and was awakened by a pounding on the door.
It was on the television it was loud so, I got up drank some Pepsi uploaded my pictures to the computer, and started supper.

I cooked corn and corn fritters with fresh vegetables for a salad.
It had been a very trying day trying to find Mt. Dews on sale!