2023 Oct 28, Pumpkinfest Franklin, TN, and Trick Treat Killen Park with Ava & River

 It's been a hectic day. 

This morning we stopped at Jack's for breakfast they were short-handed so we had to wait longer than usual. 

Then we rode to  Franklin, TN to their Pumpkinfest no parking we had to pay $10 to park.

Very Large Pumpkin 

It was super hot and very crowded so we only stayed a couple of hours.  We walked down Main Street and a couple of side streets. There were several bands playing music. Mums and Pumpkins decorated the street. Food filled the air. Rides and fun for the Children. 

Hubby collected a bag of treats which we gave some to the grandkids.

Williamson County's First Taxi

Our big treat was finding the Williamson County Archives Museum. It had several rows of quilts made by locals. Military Room, History of Williamson County, Civil War Artifacts, Displays of an Old School Room, Doctor's Office, Dress Shop, Barber Shop, Country Store, etc. We saw a horse-drawn carriage by Harry March in Franklin’s First Taxi.

We saw where the body of a headless Col Shy once lay in a busted open casket. An article The Curious Case of Col Shy’s Casket. The headless body was unidentified. 

Outside was a Civil War Canon. 

The Curious Case of  Col. Shy's Casket 

Canon 

We stopped at Publix in Spring Hill to get some chicken wings from their deli and also pick up a few other items.  

We stopped in Lawrenceburg at Long Silvers for a plate of fish and chicken. 

Came home and ate a late lunch. 

Fun Began in Halloween Manor 

Criminals 

Ava, the killer Jason Voorhees, and the Evil Clown Pennywise

Picked up Ava and River around 4:30 and took them to Killen Park for their Trunk n Treat. 

Ava dressed up like Wednesday from the Adams Family and River was a Ninja Turtle. 

We got there a little early so we let them play in the playground area. People started lining up so we got in line. 

It was a long line behind us. We walked through the gate of Halloween Manor that is when the fun began. 

The kids got lots of candy, a fireman’s hat, coloring books, and safety books. They got their pictures taken with Inflatable pumpkins, at the Shriners Hillbilly Jeep, With Hocus Pocus, with Dept of Eye Care,  Jason Voorhees, and Pennywise the Dancing Clown.

Making Slime 

Their Treats end with making Slime. Put in a bag and taken home. 

They did a great job by only letting a few kids at a time go into the park. 

The kids had a great time.

2023 Sep 15-18, Gulf Shores, Fairhope, Daphne, AL. and Pensacola, FL.

Day 1:

I had planned a day trip to Canton, MS the day before. The next morning I asked hubby if he wanted to spend a couple of days in Gulf Shores, Al after we left Canton. He said yes.

He had been talking about going all summer. So we packed our bags for 3 days. We were just going to wing it. 

After spending all morning visiting museums and walking around the town we begin our journey to Gulf Shores. 

Shady Acres Village 

We stopped at Shady Acres Village Restaurant Seminary, MS for a late lunch. I enjoyed a shrimp basket with fries and hubby enjoyed a 49'er Hamburger with onion rings. 

We also bought several items in their General Store. 

It was a four-and-a-half-hour drive to Gulf Shores. 

The sun was setting as we drove through Mobile. We checked into Staybridge Hotel and by the time we were settled in it was dark.

Sunset in Mobile, Al 

We both were too tired for any further adventures so to bed we both went. 

Day 2:

The next morning we rushed to the beach to watch the sun come up but it was cloudy and a storm was brewing so no sunrise. 

Back to the hotel for breakfast and then our adventures began.

Cloudy Sunrise 

We rode to the Outlet Mall to shop. I bought a top and pants at Columbia. At T J Max I bought some spices and a set of Halloween hand towels.

Our next stop was OWA Park Foley. They were having a car show throughout the park. By this time it was very hot. After I finished taking pictures of most of the cars we left. 

This was my favorite Car!

We headed down the coastline towards Pensacola, Florida. 

By the time we arrived in the downtown area, the Arts and Crafts Sales was winding down. 

We had enough time to walk through to see their wear. 

We ate lunch at The Fish House Restaurant on Barracks St. where we enjoyed fried Cod served with creamed potatoes collard greens and a salad. 

Fried Cod, with Collard Greens, Creamed Potatoes 

It was getting late so we began our journey back to the hotel. 

Day 3:

Once again we were up heading to the beach for an early morning sunrise but once again it was cloudy. Sunrise was at 6:35AM

 Came back to the hotel for breakfast scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit, bagel, and juice.

We began our journey up the coast in the opposite direction to Fairhope. 

We stopped at the Municipal Park where they were having an Arts and Crafts Tent Sale.  

We stopped to talk to a couple that were selling spices. (bought one for my son).

They saw the camera I was carrying and we talked about cameras and taking pictures.

The woman was telling me about the Brown Pelicans there at the beach.

Brown Pelicans 

We walked down the long pier and there were several Brown Pelicans and a variety of Gulls. I took several pictures. 

We rode to Daphne stopping to eat lunch at Longhorn Steakhouse.

We enjoyed steak with grilled shrimp, creamed potatoes, and Caesar salad. 

We stopped at the Halloween Store in Daphne where I bought a dress for Halloween. 

We headed back to the hotel but stopped at the Story Walk in Loxley. 

Another long day.

Day 4: 

We headed to the beach (6:35AM) to see the sunrise. Today it was beautiful so I got several pictures.

Sunrise 

Rode back to the hotel ate breakfast, packed our bags, and began our journey home.

The sun was shining right in my face so I napped the first part of the trip home. 

Hubby had wanted to stop at Peach Park in Clanton, Al and when I woke up he said, I think I have passed Peach Park and we had.

We did not turn around we just kept going. 

We eat lunch at Oh"Bryan's in Hartselle, Al (his favorite place)

He always orders a steak, or baked potato and gets their salad bar.

I ordered grilled chicken and a sweet potato.

We were home way before sunset. 

Another great trip in the books. 

2002 Jun 28, Children's Museum of the Shoals Florence, Alabama

Took Hannah to the Children's Museum where she sat in the dentist's chair holding a blue toothbrush as long as her arm would not fit in her mouth. Of course, the teeth she is standing next to would be used by the large blue toothbrush.

Naturally, if you are in the Shoals area you have to visit the birth home of Helen Keller. Of course, hanging next to Helen Keller on the wall are Jessie Price and Stanley Goldstein. Now for a little sitting time in a nook for storytime. Back to the first floor, it is time for a little music, as Hannah enjoys dancing on the musical keyboard with keys that are bigger than her feet. There were also drums, xylophones, and many other musical instruments.

Onto the kitchen where a raccoon was watching as she prepared a meal. After she finished cooking it was time for a quick slide with Miss Piggy. Time for a little construction work with a hammer & nails, Hannah don't forget to put on your construction hard hat. Now it was time to check out the water pump and the flowing creek that was filled with boats floating down the stream.

It was such a beautiful day so we headed outside. Hannah crossed the rocks that were over the babbling brook, making sure she did not get her feet wet. Lying on the ground were construction materials to build a house, she started but did not finish. There was a Green wagon so she climbed aboard for a picture. We walked back inside did a little grocery shopping and once again did a little cooking. Back upstairs for a little karaoke. Hannah dressed up in a white robe with purple trim and sash. Of course, I joined in the karaoke we had fun acting silly.

Next, we visited the X-ray machine to see what she looked like inside. Next, she did a little crafting and tracing the USA map. We had a fun day at the Children's Museum of the Shoals

2020 Nov 11-14, Trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Nov 11, Wednesday Hubby and I stopped at Cracker Barrel in Spring Hill for breakfast. We stopped several times for restroom breaks on our way to Pigeon Forge. We checked into Park Grove Inn in Pigeon Forge. What a view we could see the ferry wheel on the Island from our room.

Ferries Wheel 

Hubby took a shower, lay down, and took a nap. His stomach was giving him a fit and he said I think I have a fever. After his nap, we rode to Applewood Farm House Restaurant for dinner.

Apple Barn 

For an appetizer, they brought apple fritters along with apple sauce and jute. I ordered a bowl of vegetable soup with cornbread. Hubby did not order anything but did eat some of my soup. That night hubby ran a fever and had diarrhea all night.

The Incredible Christmas Store

Nov 12, Thursday The Incredible Christmas Store was just three blocks from our hotel so I walked there while hubby slept. I walked across the Little Pigeon River stopping to take pictures along the way. I bought a chocolate pretzel at the Christmas Candy Shop. When I returned hubby was up so we rode to the Old Mill, where I bought some stone-ground cornmeal and some apple fritter mix. We went to the Disney Store, where I bought Christmas toys for the great-grandkids. We ate lunch at Firehouse Sub and stopped in front of the Dixie stampede for a picture of the tall Christmas tree. We spent the rest of the day at Dollywood 2–9 PM. We rented a cart for hubby; he said he felt too weak to walk. We upgraded our tickets for the next year to $194.20 Our adventures began in the Wildwood Park area for children.

Santa @ Dollywood 

We meet Santa behind glass after we write him a letter and drop it into his mailbox. We watched a couple of shows outside all the inside shows were closed. We rode the train up the mountain there were plastic shields between each seat. We had to get tickets for the last train ride because the virus seats were limited. We stopped at the ice cream shop for some Rockies Road ice cream in a chocolate waffle cone. We returned the cart and walked back to our car.

Eating catfish at Huck Fins

On Nov 13, Friday I ate French toast for breakfast at the hotel. We rode to the Bass Pro Shop in Kodak and then to Katom Restaurant Supplies where I bought two bottle openers and a thermometer. We stopped at Huck Finn's for lunch where I ordered a two-piece catfish dinner with fixings. (Fixings include a bowl of white beans, onion, pickles, coleslaw, and hushpuppies) We took the bypass in Gatlinburg and ordered over the Smoky Mountains. We rode through Cherokee out to I-40 back to Sevierville.

Hotel Pigeon Forge, TN

Nov 15, Saturday We began our travel home stopping to fill up with gas at Flying J. I ate a bagel for breakfast before we left the hotel. We stopped at Five Guys in Spring Hill for a late lunch or early supper. There we both ordered a fully-dressed hamburger and crispy fries. They have the best hamburgers in town. Our last stop was at Krogers in Lawrenceburg to pick up a few groceries. After that long ride home, we were both very tired.

2019 Jan 16-18, 🚙Trip to Gulf Shores , Fairhope, Orange Beach & Foley, Alabama

Jan 16, 2019, Wednesday,

Hubby and I traveled to Gulf Shores stopping at Jack’s Restaurant(1360 Hwy 43 West bypass Russellville) for breakfast. 

We both ordered a sausage and biscuits with strawberry jelly at 8:56AM and spent $7.06.

We ate lunch at KFC Thomasville at @1:17 p.m.

Hubby ordered a fillip box meal and I ordered a three-piece wings meal with biscuits (that I saved for the birds), we spent $13.46.

We stopped for gas at Marathon at Rams Food Mart 19039 43 hwy  Northport and spent $22.08

Arrived Gulf Shores just before sunset  4:45-5:14PM

We rode to the beach before checked-in at the hotel, to see the sunset. 

The moon came up before the sun went down and looked like a ball in the red sky.

Gulf Shores Sunset 

After the sun went down we rode to Staybridge Suites 3947 Gulf Shores Pky Gulf Shores, Al 36542. 

We booked for two nights cost $170,84 for room 114. 

Their computers were down and the night manager said we could join everyone in the dining room for grill night.

In the food bar were grilled hamburgers, hotdogs, potato salad, Cole slaw, baked beans, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. 

I fixed a plate with hamburger potato salad, chips, and a glass of wine.

Dinner hamburger potato salad, chips, and a glass of wine.

There were fountain drinks, tea, and a variety of wines and beers.

We checked into our room 114 ground level and hubby took a long tub bath.

I stretched out on the bed and turned on the Television. My eyes were giving me a fit so I put eye drops in them. My eyes felt like something was in them, they hurt all night.

I must have gotten sand in them it was very windy when we went to the beach the night before.

Jan 17, Thursday, 

Hubby and I dressed and went to breakfast. I ate oatmeal with nuts, & cranberries and drank orange juice.

After breakfast hubby and I rode along hwy 98 scenic highway to Fairhope.

We stopped at Valence & Fairhope Municipal Parks located along the Coastal Highway.

We saw a statue of Maria Johnson, ducks & geese swimming, boats along the pier, blooming flowers, and lots of old trees.

Fairhope’s Municipal Pier, Fairhope’s Pepper Nelson Volunteer Fireman’s Hall, flower gardens, and yellow and white buttercups blooming.

Fairhope’s Pepper Nelson Volunteer Firetruck at Fairhope Museum 

We toured Fairhope’s History Museum outside we saw the People’s Railroad train car, roses in bloom, and a statue of Craig Turner Shelton the first public state artist in Alabama’s history. 

Fairhope’s Museum of History is located at 24 N. Section St Fairhope, Alabama 36532

Inside we saw permanent exhibits such as Fairhope’s founders, the single tax theory, the town jail built in 1868, the old fire department, fire truck, fire hydrant, fire hats, & coats.

Fairhope's historic jail inside the museum 

We saw a miniature, replica of Middle Bay Lighthouse, John Bowen, Maria Howard, Della Nichols, Shuah S. Mann, Clarence Mershon, and James Bellanger people of Fairhope.

We saw old push-mowers hanging from the ceiling.

We picked up some pamphlets from the Welcome Center next door.

We ate lunch at Greers in Fairhope.

We ordered three chicken fingers, corn fritters, green beans, and cornbread.

Our next stop was Daphne at the Little Bethel Baptist Church built in 1867 took a few pictures of the church and a Historic marker nearby.

Our next stop was at the US Sports Academy Walk of Fame Daphne where we sat in the metal of runners, baseball players, football players, basketball players, Swimmers, Weight lifters, Gymnasts, bikers, and golfers.

 US Sports Academy Walk of Fame Daphne  Baseball Player Statue 

We stopped at Daphne’s Gator Walk where we saw a nice wooden boardwalk lined with a marker that said: 

Where are you in the Watershed?

Exploration of Ecosystem

Slowing the flow of Storm Water

The Big Picture of the Ecosystem

It is all about the Alligator 

What is this building for?

Along the Eastern Shore Trail

We did not see any gators along the trail but we did see a few shorebirds.

After that long hot walk, we needed something to cool us down so we stopped at Jubilee Square at Krazy Frozen Treats for a waffle bowl of creamy flavored yogurt around noon.

We chose cheesecake, cookies, and cream.

Krazy Frozen Treats  scoop of Cookies & Cream and Cheesecake

We stopped at the Foley Train Depot to watch men run the miniature trains. (They only run at certain times during the week)

Included in the collection was a Ringling Bros & Barnum Big Top Circus, a mini train carrying circus items, a ferries wheel, (that worked), cloys with balloons, a lion cage, Roadside USA, a man shot out of a canon, a tattooed lady Lulu the farebeater cost fifty cents and elephants.

Ringling Bros & Barnum Big Top Circus

The miniature town consisted of Aqua Blue Drive-in diner that served fries and hamburgers, shakes, and soft drinks.

Advertisement on the windows that said Speeds Car Wash, green & white car sat next to Car Town (new, used, l& ease) Dealership. 

A tow truck sat in front and next to the railroad tracks, (Consoled gas and power), 76 Union Gas Station, two-story homes dogs, people walking, riding scooters, mail carries, a lineman working on the power lines, 

There were bridges factories, train stations, firehouses, and trains traveling in all directions on the many tracks.

We watched the trains until they closed.

We ate dinner at 5:00PM at Bubba’s Seafood House in Orange Beach.

Hubby and I split one CaptainsCaptainsCaptainsCaptains’ combo platter that consisted of Crab legs, grilled shrimp, chargrilled Mahi, Mahi served with corn on the cob, new potatoes, and garlic butter. 

We stopped at Rouses Market where we bought a Coke, Strawberry cream coffee cake, & three large cannolis.

Sitting in a Large Blue Chair outside Bubba’s Seafood House Orange Beach

Jan 19, Friday

The next morning we met Hannah at the Ruby Red Slipper Orange Beach before he headed home.

I ordered a stack of cinnamon toast.

Hubby ordered sausage, eggs potatoes, link sausage, and pancakes.

Hannah ordered bacon, eggs gravy, pancakes & coffee.

We finished breakfast around 8:30AM  and began our long ride home. $44.52

We filled up with gas at Love's $29.78 in Loxley, Al 

We stopped at CVS to get some eyewash my eyes were red, running, and burning.

I washed both eyes out with the eyewash and slept most of the way home.

stack of cinnamon toast

We stopped at Firehouse Subs in Athens we bought a large and medium steak sandwich, with a mushroom on wheat bread. $18.42

We stopped at Aldie in Athens to pick up  a few groceries spent @20.77

We had a great trip, ate breakfast with my granddaughter, and saw many sites.

Got sand in my eyes which burned every time I closed them. 

2018 Jan 31-Feb 5,🚙 Trip to Mobile, Saraland, Alabama and Carnival Fantasy Western Caribbean Cruise Cozumel, Mexico

Day 1 January 31,

We traveled along Highway 43 passing through Russellville, Spruce Pine, Phil Campbell, Bear Creek, Brilliant, Winfield, Fayette, Tuscaloosa, Fosters, Ralph, Knoxville, Eutaw, Forkland, Demopolis, Providence, Linden, Dixons Mills, Thomasville, Fulton, Grover Hill, Jackson, Macintosh, Movico, Axis onto I-65 s to I-10 W to hwy 90, hwy 59, 188, 193 to Dauphin Island.

We stopped in Forkland to take pictures of Jim Bird's Hay Bale Art and Tin Man.  

Tin Man 

At Dolphin Island, we walked along the boardwalk taking pictures:

Living Marsh & Boardwalk 

Marine Debris a Silent Killer 

Marine Debris Timeline

Butterflies of Dauphin Island

Mr. Sand Part I, II, III  

A Real Partnership 

Energy from the Sands of Time 

Where am I? 

Alabama Coastal Connection 

Dune plants survive in a harsh environment

Wetland birds 

The tidal Marshes of Alabama

Barrier Islands shaped by wind & Waters

Invertebrate Trail

Research on Marsh Restoration at Dauphin Island’s Sea Lab

Whether the Weather

The Living Marsh

Dauphin Island 

Rays at Dauphin Island 

We the Fort at Dauphin Island but it was closed and so was Sea Lab.

We drove to the Audubon Sanctuary Nature Interpretive trail looking for the bird. We could hear them but did not see any. 

We did see several turtles. 

It was getting late and we wanted to reach Saraland before dark. 

We arrived at Comfort Inn 1200 SHELTON BEACH RD SARALAND, AL checked into our room, and walked next door to eat dinner at Winzell’s. I ordered a fried shrimp basket with Coleslaw and water with lemon to drink.

My friend ordered the Shrimp Poboy served with lettuce, tomatoes, purple onion, and pickles served out their signature bread served with French fries. 

It had been a long day so we retired to our room for the night.

The Inn where we stayed was being remodeled. 

Shrimp Poboy

Fried shrimp basket with Coleslaw

Day 2: Thursday, February 1

We ate a continental breakfast at the Inn packed our bags and I drove us to the Port of Mobile.

We were a bit early to board Carnival Fantasy Cruise Line so we had to wait in line with several other cars. 

We finally arrived at the parking deck, each had a bag checked and parked on deck two.

We unloaded our carry-on bags walked to the elevators and had to pay for parking.

We went through security and because of my total knee replacement, the alarm went off and I had to be wand down.

We took our bags to our room on level four.

We went up the elevator to the patio pool area behind it are the Buffet Area, Pizza Area, and Guy's Burgers.

We both ordered Guy's burger and Fries.

Went we finished eating we walked around checking out the ship. That night we attended a Hasbro Game Show and were in bed by 9 PM.

Carnival Fantasy 

Guys Burger and Fries

Day 3: Friday 2, Fun Day at Sea

We were up early to see the Sunrise. 

We both ordered a made-to-order omelet and got a couple of pastries and French toast.

For lunch, we both ordered a taco salad with Key Lime pie.

That afternoon we went to a show about what we may see on the Island Adventures.

They gave away several prizes but we did not win.

We are going to a formal dinner so we dressed up. 

I ordered baked fish with rice, & broccoli. 

We both bought tickets for tomorrow's adventures. 

That night we watched a show about Soul Train with impersonators of Temptations and Supremes.

Fresh Rolls for dinner

Grilled fish with rice and broccoli 

Chocolate cake with ice cream 

Day 4: Saturday, Feb 3, 

Watched the sunrise and ate breakfast from the buffet.

Spent the day at Chankanaab National Park in Cozumel.

Landed Cozumel and went ashore around 9 AM. 

I stopped at the World Coral Exhibit to take a few pictures.

Cozumel’s Coral Reef

Reef Systems

Coral & Sponges of Cozumel

Ecosystems Importance

Carnival Corp & Commitment to our Environment

Commercial Threat to Coral Reefs

Coral Reefs

Life of Coral Reefs

We met up with our tour guide (Adolf) and were divided into three groups. 

Loaded into three different vans and was shuttled to Chankanaab National Park.

Several people in the group were going snorkeling.

We watched people swimming with the dolphins at Dolphin Discovery

We walked through the Maya replica ruins.

We walked through the Botanical Gardens at Chankanaab Park where we saw flowers, birds, lizards, and a coral reef. 

We joined the group for lunch and to watch the Sea Lion Show.

 Tequila tasting at 12:50 PM

We were shuttled back to the beach at 1:30 PM and loaded back onto the ship.

Once again we had to go through security and once again my knee set the alarm off and I had to be wand down again.

That night we saw our host dress up like Richard Simmons and do an 89’s trivia show.

For dinner, we both ordered a hot chocolate cake with French sauce. 

My friend ordered a taco and I ordered grilled salmon with carrots and broccoli served with potatoes.

Sea Lion Show.

Coral Reef

Swimming with Dolphins

Day 5: Sunday, Feb 4, 

Fun day at Sea 

We watched the sunrise &  on the Deck, we met a woman from Florida.

We ate brunch in the dining room.

We both ordered the huevos Rancho delicious chicken quesadillas topped with fried eggs,

& Manchebo cheese and orange juice.

huevos Rancho

Sunrise on the Gulf of Mexico 

I wrote in my journal while my friend finished reading her book. 

For dinner, we both ordered green beans, potatoes, and steak. For dessert, we ordered Cheesecake with strawberries and I wanted to try the caramel popcorn cream custard. 

Day 6: Monday, Feb 5, 

We both enjoyed breakfast before embarking on the ship at 9 AM.

We traveled through Mobile stopping at Dollar General for Diet Coke and peanut butter crackers.

I had heartburn and this helps settle my tummy.

We filled up with gas and stopped at Guthries in Haleyville for dinner.

We both ordered chicken fingers with Coleslaw.

Chicken Fingers and Coleslaw 

We arrived at my friend's house around 4 PM.

Hubby came to pick me up.

We stopped at Lawler’s to pick up a barbecue plate for dinner.

Carnival Fantasy Stateroom R18 DECK R MUSTER STATION A

Hotel Comfort Inn and Suite 1200 SHELTON BEACH RD SARALAND, AL