2010 March 27, Saturday, Grandkid discovering the Natural Resources of Florence

I took three of my grandchildren to the Hall Memorial Native Plant Garden at TVA.
Where we saw the Iris Crostata, Jacob's Ladder, Bloodroot, Solidago caesia, Sessile Leaf Bellwort, Oakleaf Hydrangea, Ohio Spiderwort, Wild Columbine, Purple Phacelia & others. 
The grandchildren listen patiently as Mr. Rose told them about all the wildflowers. 
We left the garden and went deeper into the woods to see more wildflowers. 
The grandkids love walking in the woods. I am sure some of the information stayed in their heads.

A group picture at the end of the hike. 

Walking deeper into the woods looking for wildflowers

The grandkids wanted to explore the cascading waterfall at TVA. As we were walking along the banks of the Tennessee River we saw many birds. We could see the TVA Dam,  the Marriott Hotel River Heritage Park, and The tower 380 Degrees Restaurant. 

Standing on the banks of the river

the backdrop of the Waterfall 

We stopped at Domino for a pizza and we took the pizza to Deibert Park. 

After we finished eating we walked the trail where we could learn more about our environment. We stopped at the pond to watch the turtles pop their heads up out of the water. 

Watching the turtles

Watching for the Turtles

We walked deeper into the woods where we saw signs that listed the different creatures, plants, and trees that we might see.

Some of the signs that we saw were: muskrat, loblolly pine, Rufous-sided Towhee, Caroline Wren, ticks, Great Blue Heron, black cherry tree, dogwood tree, bluebirds, sweet pepper bush, cardinal, gray squirrel, and many others. 

The grandkids discovered some of the metal art that was displayed in the park, to bring a bit of culture into the park. 

Discovering Art 

The grandkids enjoyed playing on the train, monkey bars, swings, horses, tire swing, and seesaw.

We stopped at my dad's to wish him a Happy Birthday. It had been a full day for all of us. 

Riding the train 

Swinging 

  

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. 

2008 ~ Monday, April 7, Spending time with Grandkids

I went to Teresa Clanton’s to pickup the grandkids, Sierra, Nevada and Montana, I had packed a picnic lunch for I was taking the grandkids to St Florian Park.

I made peanut butter sandwiches, each a bananas, a fruit bowl and each a can mountain dews. 

When everyone finished eating, we started walking the trail when we were about half way round the kids spied several piles of loose dirt and wanted to climb on top and I said ok.

The kids climbed on top and said come on granny you can do it, so I climbed to the top with the grandkids.

Climbing the dirt pile

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

We again started walking the trail, I took the kids picture standing on a bridge next to a statue of an alligator.

Nevada and Montana pointing to the alligator

We saw sitting on a stump some tin statue-singing frogs, which intrigued the kids, I also had to take their picture there. 

Nevada pretending to blow a horn like the frogs

We walked a little further down the trail where we saw a face carved into a tree, it had large marble like eyes and the kids loved this. 

I took pictures everywhere in the park with the kids. 

Nevada and Sierra posing in front of the tree with a face

We stopped at the playground area where the kids played on the playground equipment.

Taking a break 

Montana pointing to a frog

Sierra posting

Nevada being a frog

Montana Standing on tree stump

Next we went to Deibert park where they played on the playground and we walked in the park reading the animal and plant signs.

Reading the park signs

 We stopped along the fence line to take pictures of the metal sculptures.

Nevada and Montana posing at the metal sculptures

Sierra and Montana posing at the metal sculptures

Nevada and Montana posing at the metal sculptures

Nevada, Montana & Granny posing at the metal sculptures

Nevada and Montana posing at the flower gardens

We saw a family of turtles at the pond.

Turtles walking next to the pond

I took the grandkids to McDonald’s where we each ordered a Oreo McFlurry.

I took the kids to Loves and Fishes in Muscle Shoals where I bought the grandkids five books each and two movies.

We stopped at the Train Tressell, which is along the Tennessee River on the Sheffield side, were we walked to the end and back. 

It must have been a hot day because Montana’s head was wet from sweating.

Walking down the Train Trestle

Our next stop was at Heritage Park located next to The Marriott Hotel in Florence where the kids played inside the castle, on the train and all the other playground equipment. 

Nevada and Montana having fun on the playground equipement at River Heritage park 

Nevada and Montana having fun on the playground equipement at River Heritage park

We stopped in front of the waterfall next to the Marriott Hotel where I made pictures of the grandkids

Montana at the Waterfall at the Marriott Hotel 

Sierra at the Waterfall at the Marriott Hotel 

Nevada at the Waterfall at the Marriott Hotel

Hannah called from school and wanted me to pick her up so I loaded the grandkids into the car and we rode to Roger High School to pick up Hannah.

For supper I made baked potatoes and all the fixings of cheese, bacon bits, sour cream and I made a strawberry pie, Montana ate his fill of strawberry pie. 

Hannah and Sierra rode the scoters. 

Jake came over to get Hannah, I made Jake a potato with all the trimmings. 

I took the grandkids to Ronald’s where Nevada and Montana played with Ronald’s star wars dolls. 

Later that afternoon Charity came to get the grandkids.