2023 April 15, Cullman Walking Tour, Killen Adventure Park and Wheeler Wildlife Refuge

Our tour guide was Ben Johnson South(a descendant of Creek Indians). We began our tour inside the Cullman Museum. The museum is a replica of the home of John Cullmann, who founded a colony of German immigrants. It has a narrow front porch with gingerbread trim and twin towers.

Cullman Museum 

Statue of John Cullmann

Inside the museum are Native American Artifacts, Indian statues, and arrowheads spanning thousands of years. 

Pioneer life, early settlers before John Cullmann. Dutch doll, a couple of rockers, butter churn, and kitchen articles. 

Civil War: A house divided,  Music and Pictures, Our home town: growing up in Cullman, and History of Johann Gottfried Cullmann.

We walked outside to see the statue of Johann Gottfried Cullmann and learn about his history.

We walked up the street, and our guide talked about several different buildings. 

Inside the  Sacred Heart Church of Jesus Roman Catholic Church.

Our treat was going through and learning the history of the Sacred Heart Church of Jesus Roman Catholic Church.

https://uploads.weconnect.com/mce/a5b1d7e217aa227d5b2b8a84920780cf637960e2/HomePageItems/SacredHeartHistory/New%20SHC%20History.pdf 

Above is the link to read the history of this great church.

We ended the walk at the Cullman's Farmer's Market
to buy some fresh strawberries, but they had sold out.

It was getting near lunchtime, so we rode to OH! Bryan's for lunch.

Sirloin steak, sweet potato, and toast 

After lunch, we rode to Wheeler Wildlife Refuge. I walked to both view areas and along the swamp boardwalk. 

I saw lots of small birds.

I saw several turtles, three chipmunks, a squirrel, Canada geese, White Egret, and a snake swimming in the water.

Saw lots of wildflowers blooming.

No Whooping or Sandhill Cranes to be found. Saw only 4 other people there. The backyard birds were chirping loudly. I heard 27 different bird sounds on my Merlin App. It was a nice, quiet walk at the Refuge.

ChimpmunksWheeler Wildlife Refuge

We stopped at Killen Adventure Park, where hubby and I both ordered a waffle cone.

I ordered Rocky Road ice cream, and he ordered Cheesecake ice cream.

We fed the animals (ducks, turtles, fish, and peacocks) while eating our ice cream.

There were lots of people playing Miniature Golf, having birthday parties, and feeding the animals.

It was a beautiful day to be outside.

Killen Adventure Park 

2021 Aug 10, Cheekwood Botanical Gardens Nashville, Tennessee

Hubby and I traveled the backroads to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens in Nashville, TN, via Natchez Trace, getting off at the Leipers Fork exit. Hubby parked the car near the entrance and showed the girl at the ticket counter our online tickets.

Pink LEGO Dog 

The first thing we saw as we entered the gardens was a big pink dog made out of Lego blocks. We walked down a long winding sidewalk down several sets of steps to the Train Exhibit, inspired by the Little Engine Who Could.

In front of us was a couple with a very independent little girl with a head full of curls who was about the age of 2 or three years of age. What a magical place as you enter the land of trains and Fairy mushroom villages. The train exhibit was built of rough timbers and five train tracks totaling over 800 feet of track. As we walked through, we saw trains going over bridges and through tunnels, we were in a magical land of trains.

We saw beautiful yellow lilies floating in the lily ponds. We saw pink, orange, white, and red roses busted with life in the Rose Study Garden.

Roses

We saw art pieces made of musical notes made of wire. We saw many Yellow and Black swallowtails on the butterfly bushes.

Yellow Swallowtail 

We saw a red lion, a zebra, a blue bear, colorful birds, a red turtle, a green lawnmower, and a man working in the garden, all made out of Legos. Also, LEGO rabbits were spotted throughout the Bradford Robertson Color Garden. We walked around the mansion, but not inside. Workers were repairing the pool in front of the Mansion in the Martain Boxwood Gardens.

Cheekwood Mansion 

There were waterfalls, ponds, and creeks running through the gardens. We did visit the Art Bark exhibit, which was crayon sculptures by Nashville artist Herb Williams. Inside the visitor center were restrooms, drink machines, and a beautiful rose LEGO sculpture. We took a break to cool off, drink a soda, and use the restrooms before beginning our journey home, We did not walk the entire gardens but had a wonderful time. We traveled home along the backroads, this time taking a different route. We came out in Columbia, TN. We got a late lunch of fish at Long John Silvers and took it home.

2016 September 5, Saturday, Sweet Tater Festival @Smith Lake & Labor Day Actives

Started the morning with a call out to work with hubby. It only took about fifteen minutes to reset the alarm. 
While at Red Stone Arsenal we stopped at a couple of new buildings so I could take pictures. 
The first building was glass and the entrance had a metal winding staircase that led upstairs to the top level, with high ceilings. 
On display in the lobby were rockets, the Space Shuttle, the mini Apollo Lunar Module, globed Sea of Tranquility July 1969, and a table made from a rocket exhaust nozzle.

Tabletop
Base made from Rocket Exhaust Nozzle

Table made from Rocket Exhaust Nozzle 

Space Shuttle

The next building held The Space Launch Systems.
It had a life-size space suit, an Orion Space Craft, and a mini NASA building, with a launch area.
There was a half-circle orange bench where people could set not very comfortably. 

There was a life-size model of the Space Launch System (SLS) 1.25 scale.
The Space Launch System is going to Mars. 

Lifesize Space suit with an arm around a woman 

Space Launch System will be the next rocket in space going to  MARS

Smith Lake at the Sweet Tater Festival was our next destination which took a little over an hour.
As we got closer to the park we saw signs that said, This way to tater festival, have money ready. The entrance fee was three dollars per person, and children 5 free.

There was plenty of parking with no one directing traffic, we found a nice close spot and parked. 
I took my camera with me and started taking pictures. 
I think we picked the hottest time of the day to visit the festival, the sun was blazing hot,
and sweat was already pouring down the back of my shirt.
The aroma of barbecue, hamburgers, & french fries filled the air.
There was a lemonade stand for the thirsty. 
I could see Smith Lake in the distance, I wanted to take my shoes off and wade in the lake. 
The sound of music filled the air coming from a staging area.
There were people with their children and many with their dogs. 

They had carriage rides for five dollars, I wanted to ride but it was too hot.

Smith Lake 

Carriage Rides

Inflatables for kids

Band

Mechanical Bull riding

Food Vendors 

Several people brought their dogs

In the wooded area was the Hot Rod Car Show.

We saw Corvettes, Fords, Chevys, Mustangs, Camaro, Trans-Am, Firebirds, Cadillacs.

Thunderbird

Ralph Lane st 1927 Rat Farm 

Most of the car show was in the shade

Cadillac

Corvette

Oldsmobile 

Orange Ford truck Hemi Powered

the red car 

Two hours was more than enough fun in the hot sun.
We exited the park, and took I-65N, to Cullman.
We stopped at Logan's Roadhouse for a late lunch.
I was still wearing an orange wristband when I went to the restroom at Logan's. There I meet a family also still wearing their orange wristbands. I ask them if they had been to the festival? They said yes.
When we were leaving we met a man carrying a large camera case and he also was wearing an orange wristband. I ask if he had been to the festival? He replied yes. I laughed and said that Logan's must be the stopping-off place for many people that had been to the festival.

We ordered 1/2 rack of ribs, fried apples, broccoli, salmon, and rolls.
For dessert, we order three bucks of sweets pies.
One peanut butter, and two strawberry cheesecakes.

A bucket full of strawberry cheesecake

Arrived home around 4:00PM
At 5:30PM we rode to Tennessee for lottery tickets.
Stopping at Roger High in Greenhill to watch our grandson play football.

The first team lost Rogers 0, and Lauderdale County 28.
When the first team played the sun was still blazing down and I could nearly see the boys play. By the time the next team played the sun had gone down and it had cool down enough to enjoy the football games.
The boys took several cool-down breaks which they needed, several looked very hot.
The next team won 27 Rogers, Lauderdale County 17.

There was plenty of activity going on in the bleachers with our great-granddaughter.
Had a full fun day.

1999 November 5, Friday, Trip to St Louis Mo

My husband and I rode to Saint Louis so he could sign the IBEW book for a job and while there we visited the 630-foot monument Saint Louis Gateway Arch.
The arch is clad in stainless steel and built in the form of an inverted weighted catenary arch.

St Louis Arch and Park 

St Louis Arch 

We walked to the Gateway Arch a stainless steel structure 630 feet high with and 60-foot foundation and a catenary curve swaying half-inch 20 mph wind. 

We rode the two-passenger tram to the observation room at the top of the Museum.  

We could hear a click, click of the tram as we ascended to the top of the arch.

From the observation room, we could see The Old Courthouse 11 N. Fourth St, & The Bush Stadium 250 Stadium Plaza, where the St. Louis Cardinals play, & the American Center and Dome Stadium 701 Convention Plaza north of downtown east of I-70 where the St. Louis Rams football team plays. 

Downtown St Louis 

The Old Courthouse

Bush Stadium 

To the East, we saw floating on the Mississippi River the St Louis Il Noise Casino, the McDonald's floating restaurant, & the Admiral Casino.

Admiral Casino 

Floating Casinos and McDonald's on the mighty Mississippi River 

I took several pictures but we did not stay too long because I could feel the swaying of the arch which made me feel sick.

So we once again loaded into the small enclosed tram and we went click, click, click, back down to the lobby.

In the basement of the arch, we visited the Levee mercantile general store and the visitor center. 

IBEW Worker installing Christmas Lights. 

We walked past the IBEW workers putting up the Christmas Lights around the brewery.
The entrance to the historic architecture of Anheuser Bush Brewery is located at 12th and Lynch Streets.

A group of students graduated in 2000 entering Anheuser Bush Brewery.

Historic Brewery House built in 1892 

Petting the Anheuser Bush Dalmatian.

We met Wallace and Brookdale two of Anheuser Bush Clydesdales

Anheuser Bush horse harness

The address to the Brewery is 1127 Pestalozzi Street but not the touring entrance.
We entered the brewery with a group of students that will graduate in 2000.
Once inside the brewery, we saw the Clydesdale and their stables.
We were greeted by a friendly bark and the wagging tail of the Anheuser Bush Dalmatian dog.
We were guided through the bottling and beer-making (Brewery) areas.

Once inside the brewery, we were not allowed to take pictures.
Our tour ended in the tasting room where we were given two samples of tap beer.

Posing in front of the Budweiser Big Red Wagon

Our final stop was the Budweiser Clydesdale that was outside grazing.

Clydesdale grazing. 

We had a full day with signing the books at Local #1.
Take the tram up to the top of the Arch to view St Louis both on the east and west sides.
Walking through the Anheuser Bush Brewery, sampling the beer on tap, petting the Dalmatian dog, and viewing the Clydesdale.
It was getting late and we still had a six-hour ride home.
This would be one of our many adventures in St Louis.

2009 ~ Thursday, July 30, LaGrange College Site, Barton Civil War Skirmish & Coon Dog Cemetery

Hubby had surgery on his stomach (a tare in his stomach from a fall) on July 20. Today was a recheck to make sure the incision was healing. After the doctor visit, we decided to ride to Ford City to eat lunch at Stanfield's it is one of our favorite places to eat.

Hubby usually orderers steak, baked potato and gets the salad bar.

I usually order as small shrimp plate, which includes shrimp, Texas toast, slaw and baked potato.

On our way to Stanfield's, we rode passed the Weeden Heights historic marker that was located next to the Broadway Rec Center.
Crape Myrtles were in full bloom and they were several pinks ones behind the marker.

Weeden Heights early 1900s

This Twentieth-century business and residential area were developed by John D. Weeden Jr during the building of Wilson Dam and the World War I Defense Plants. Weeden Heights was carved from 3,800-acre Sweetwater Plantation, the former home of his grandfather, Governor Robert M. Patton. The slave village, with its 23 small cabins facing a community square, was located north of the Broadway Recreation Center. An unmarked slave cemetery is nearby. In 1871 the Patton's gifted a 25-acre farm in this area to a former slave. 

Edmund Patton

"In consideration of his faithfulness and fidelity"

After we left Stanfield's, we stopped at Southern Railroad in Muscle Shoals, where I took a picture of the red caboose and the Jerry Scott memorial marker.

Red Caboose

In Memory of Jerry H Scott and unforgettable friend whose humor loyalty and safe dedicated service left us all a lasting inspiration.

We rode to the LaGrange Park, none of the buildings were open because no activity was going on. So we strolled in the park, stopping to take pictures of the park, a country store, a church, a cabin, & the historical marker telling about the history of LaGrange 

Entrance to LaGrange College Site 

Hubby relaxing at Log Cabin

LaGrange College Site Park 

County Store/Post Office 

Blacksmith Shop

LaGrange College Park 

This is the site of

LaGrange College

Chartered in 1830 by act of

the Legislature of Alabama

An Institution of High Order for men

attended chiefly by students

from the southern states.

The college was burned April 28, 1863

by Federal Cavalry Commanded by

Colonel Florence M. Cornyn

under General Granville Dodge

Presidents

Bishop Robert Paine 1830-1846

Dr. Edward Wadsworth 1846-1852

James W. Hardy 1852-1853

Rev. Smith Moore 3 months 1853

Dr. R. H. Rivers 1854-1855

Rev. Felix Johnson 1855-1858

Col. J. W. Robertson 1858-1862

 We stopped in Barton to see the Barton Cemetery and the Civil War Skirmish at Barton Cemetery

Barton Cemetery 

Bullet-marked tombstones in this cemetery show evidence of a brisk skirmish here Oct. 26, 1863, when Gen. P. J. Osterhaut's first division of Sherman's Corps came under fire from Gen. S. D. Lee's Confederate troops. CSA artillery on a hill near a frame church (Zion No. 1) opened fire at dawn and Union artillery replied from the cemetery. CSA forces retreated to Little Bear Creek. USA forces briefly occupied Tuscumbia, then retreated to Cherokee and abandoned the attempt to advance along the railroad.  

Civil War Skirmishes at Barton

In 1862~63, Confederate forces fought several sharp skirmishes near Barton as they sought to repeal or delay Union expeditions invading the Tennessee Valley from the Federal stronghold at Corinth, Mississippi.

Dec. 12, 1862, ~~~ Col. T.W. Sweeny, USA vs Col. P.D. Roddey, CSA

Apr. 17, 1863 ~~~Gen. G.M. Dodge, USA vs Col. P.D. Roddey, CS

Oct. 20, 1863~~~ Gen. P.J. Osterhaus, USA vs Col. Jeff Forrest, CSA

Oct. 26, 1863 ~~~Gen. P.J. Osterhaus, USA vs Gen. S.D. Lee, CSA

Barton Church 

Tomb of Robert Craig Garner

Our last stop was the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard a resting place for hunting hounds. The cemetery is well kept, with an outhouse, and a shelter where coon dog previous owners gather to remember their coon dogs.

Only Cemetery of its kind in the world only coonhounds are allowed to be buried. Troop First Dog laid to rest here Sept 4, 1937

Grave sites of many coon dogs

Grave sites of many coon dogs

Coon Dog Cemetery 

Troop First Dog laid to rest here Sept 4, 1937
The troop is surrounded by a fence with barrier top to protect his grave and tombstone.