Showing posts with label ice cream. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ice cream. Show all posts

Friday, August 14, 2020

2020 Jul 10, Sunflower Fields of Autaugaville, Pratt Park in Prattville and Peach Park Clanton, Alabama

There is nothing hotter than a day in the south in July.
We had been cooped up way too long; hot or not, we were in bad need of a new adventure. 
 I had posted on Facebook a field full of sunflowers and told hubby that I wanted to go. 
 
We rode several hours to a Sunflower Field, which was located at 3301 Hwy 14 West,  Autaugaville, Alabama. 

There were Sunflower haystacks on either side of the drive as we entered the driveway. 
There were already several cars parked and people walking among the sunflowers, and we were directed where to park. 
We got out of the car along with our bucket and pruned shears to cut the sunflowers. 
Sunflowers are $ 1 each or by the bucket.  They were also selling T-shirts and other items. 

We saw a patch of Zinnia and a tractor parked near the sunflower field. There were stacks of hay where you could sit for a picture. 

We began our journey into the field. There were paths that others had treaded, or you could make your own path. 
We did not walk too far because it was HOT, and there were a lot of beautiful sunflowers nearby. 

I chose two large sunflowers for seeds and three small ones for a bouquet. 

We stopped to take a few pictures at the haystack and a couple at the entrance.

Sitting on haystack with Sunflowers
Sunflower Field 


Sunflower Haystack

Sunflower Haystack

Choo-Choo Cuts

Choo-Choo-Cuts 
Beauty shop in Prattville 

Prattville Vegetable Park

Pratt Vegetable Park Prattville, Alabama 

Hubby and I stopped at Pratt Park in Prattville, where we strolled in the community Vegetable Garden that was raised to help people in need. 
It has a variety of vegetables such as strawberries, tomatoes, okra, watermelons, and peppers, as well as sunflowers planted in raised beds surrounded by laid bricks.

There were wired arched ways for climbing vegetables and ten-foot-tall wired walls also for climbing plants, like squash.
There was a concrete walkway through the vegetable garden.
It is a garden's paradise.  

Peach Pie and Ice cream

Hubby and I always stop in Clanton at Peach Park,
 known to have the best peaches in South Alabama. 
Peach Park is more than a park, it is a Farmer's Market with fresh produce and canned goods, 
RV Park to stay overnight.

 There is an ice cream shop, sweets, bakery, gift shop, and lunch counter all rolled into one. 

There is plenty of seating outside and inside. 

Playground for the kids and walking trails for everyone. 

Lunch consisted of 
 Hot Peach Cobbler covered in Peach Ice Cream, 
Fried Green Tomatoes, 
Pulled Pork and fried Onion rings 

Peach Park Clanton
The giant Peach statue, a wooden bridge 
at Peach Park Clanton 


This was our first long-distance day trip since my knee surgery in March 2020.

Thursday, May 23, 2019

✈️✈️✈️2019 Mar 24-30, Trip to Naples, Florida

Sunday, May 24, 2019
Southwest Airlines Flight 1066 
Leaves BNA at 10:15 at Gate C19, boarding group B. Position 3 arriving at FLL at 1:25 AM 
Hubby took me to Nashville airport. We ate dinner at Red Robin Spring Hill we split a hamburger and fries at 6:55 PM.
Monday, March 25, 2019
It was a one-and-a-half-hour drive to Naples, so it was early morning when we arrived at Lora’s apartment. We both slept late.
For breakfast, I ate a slice of raisin bread and a banana. 
Lora had an infusion in Fort Myers that day, so I rode with her. We stopped at Bass Pro Shop just off I-75, address 10040 Gulf Center, Fort Myers.
At Bass Pro Shop, we saw river fish, ocean fish, raccoons, black bears, waterfowl, alligators, and Everglades.
The bartender said I could come inside and take pictures of the tropical fish and coral reefs in the aquarium. Hanging on the walls, we saw Southern Stingrays, Great Hammer Head Shark, Sailfish, yellow tuna, and black-tip sharks.
Outside, we saw an old blue Red Head Pickup and a Great Gray Heron Bench where people could sit.

Red Head Pickup 
coral reef in the aquarium

I bought a pair of sunglasses to block out the sun for my eyes were giving me a fit. 
Lora gave one of her Zyrtecs for allegories and some saline to wash out my eyes. 
She also gave me one of her steroid tablets for infection. 
At lunch, we stopped at Chick-fil-A. Lora and I split a salad, and each ordered a chicken sandwich with water to drink at location 5825 Airport Pulling Rd Naples, FL. 
I was so tired from the day's adventures and not getting enough sleep that I fell asleep on the sofa while Lora and Jackie went shopping.
Tuesday, March 26, 2019 
Lora had an early morning infusion, so I watched TV until she returned. I ate a banana and a slice of raisin bread for breakfast. 
Lora made a ham, cheese, avocado, and spinach sandwich on toasted bread and fruit salad for lunch. 
We rode to Clam Bay Beach 410 Seagate Drive Naples, Fl 34103, where we took the trolley down the walkway to the beach.
Clam Bay Beach 
Pelican at Clam Bay Beach 
The Park consists of 35 acres of mangrove forest, coastal dunes, and 3200 linear feet of beach on the Gulf of Mexico. There is a boardwalk, which provides access to the beach through a mangrove forest. The boardwalk is about three-quarters of a mile long and can be walked, or you can catch a ride on a free tram that runs continuously throughout the day.
We saw several people on the beach, boaters, and people fishing. We saw waterfowl flying overhead and in the water. A dolphin and manatee were spotted.  We saw children playing in the sand. We saw a couple of children fishing and catching fish.
We saw a sign that said Welcome to Clam Pass Park. A sign that read Shells of Paradise Coast, which included worm shells, Calico Scallops, Mon Snail, Olive shells, fighting conch, Sandollar, Lighting Welk, Starfish, and Horse Conch. There was a sign about Palmetto and Fakahatchee grass.http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/fakahatchee.html
All-day parking was $8.

We rode back to the apartment and walked around the lake, where we saw a few birds. 
At 7:30, we rode to Vanderbilt Beach on Pelican Bay to watch an amazing sunset. 
Sunset on Vanderbilt Beach 
Located at 280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples, FL 34102, at the end of Vanderbilt Beach Road, Vanderbilt Beach County Park borders the Gulf of Mexico, near plenty of hotels, shopping, and restaurants. 

We met Jackie and Geo on the beach, along with hundreds of people watching the sun melt into the bay.
What a way to end the day! We ate pizza for supper. Jackie’s boyfriend spent the night.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Lora and I spent the day at Naples Botanical Gardens, 4820 Bayshore Dr, Naples, FL 34112, 1-4:40PM Cost $19.99 each.💐 🌷
We browsed in the Chabraja Visitor Center.
Irma’s Garden was full of charismatic plants such as the screw pines.
Katharine’s Garden was a lush tropical landscape.
LaGrippe Orchid Garden was full of colorful, fragrant orchid species from around the world. 

Botanical Garden 
Orchid Garden
Lea Asian Garden had a Southeast Asia Javanese temple, an ancient blaze landscape filled with Bayan trees, a bamboo grove of established fruits, a lotus pool, and a stepping stone path through the garden that led to the Balinese Shrine.
Kapnick Brazilian Garden was a garden of people of great diversity and color with a very colorful wall.
Kapnick Caribbean garden was full of towering palms, tropical fruit, and vegetables.
Smith Children's Garden was full of vibrant flowers, vegetables, and butterflies, a landscape for children. We saw a bicycle, a hand pump, and a toilet decorated with flowers. We saw Flo and Joe flower people working in the vegetable garden. A large turtle made of seashells. 
Scotts Florida Garden was full of trees, palms, a cascading stream, Lake Topkie, and Deep Lake. Florida was once an ancient seafloor.
There was a 90-acre Nature sanctuary boardwalk, which we did not take.
Water Garden with a lily pool full of lily pads and a boardwalk. 

On exhibit, in the gardens, you will find Reflections on Glass: Frabel in the Garden features diverse and complex sculptures that, at times, mimic the plants within the garden. If you look, you may find parallels between Frabel’s pieces and the natural shapes of plants in forms and towering cube structures, each piece inspires viewers to discover the wonders of our living collection.

For supper, Lora and I split a chicken and shrimp Carbonara, breadsticks, and salad at Olive Garden, 1565 5th Ave S, Naples, FL 34102 we had leftovers. I used my Christmas gift card to pay. $23,37.

That night, Lora and I met several of her friends at the Comedy Club, a two-drink minimum.
I ordered two bottles of glasses of water for @2.50 each. I was too full from supper to drink, so I brought my water home. 
The show was bashing ex-spouses, which I did not think was too funny.
I enjoyed spending time with Lora’s friends.

Thursday, March 28, 2019
I ate leftovers from Olive Garden for breakfast and lunch.
We rode to the Naples Preserve Boardwalk corner of U.S. 41 North and Fleischmann Boulevard, where we walked along the boardwalk looking for box and gopher turtles. We talked with one of the park rangers walking on the bare ground, looking for turtles to make sure they were okay.
Inside the center, we saw signs telling about Naples Botanical Gardens,  Delnor-Wiggins Pass,  Rookery Bay, Collier-Seminole, Shy Wolf (Cardinal, Mocking Birds nests), boat Tailed Crackle nest) Natural Communities of Naples Preserve, Turtle Shells, What's in bloom, butterflies, bugs, Collier County, and Myrtle Oaks.
Tucan Statue
Penguin 
Seal
Our next stop was Naples Zoo, 1590 Goodlette Rd Naples, Florida 34102.
Displayed throughout the zoo was Art to Save the Sea, artwork made completely from garbage collected from beaches. 
The art we saw was Natasha the turtle, Priscilla the Faust Fish, Lidia the Seal, Rufus the Tiger Fish, American Sea Star, Daisy the Polar Bear, Grace the Humpback Whale, Gertrude the Penguin, and Chompers the Shark.
We stood in a long line to ride a slow-moving, tour-guided ferry around Monkey Island.
Very cool, enjoyable, and informative ride about Madagascar Animals
There were signs located under a thatched roof telling about Monkey Island: they were trees like nowhere else, the island of Lemurs, Bigger than any dinosaur egg, the Madagascar Ferna group helps preserve the wonders of a fragile island nation.
We saw signs about Invisible Geckos, Abundant Chameleons, Madagascar burning, and living wonders. 

We saw American Alligators, Giant Anteater, Cotton-top Tamarin, Aldabra Tortoise,  Slender Horned Gazelle, Mt Bongo, Sulcate Tortoise, Gopher Tortoise, Clouded Leopard, and others.
We watched the feeding of the giraffes and alligators. Dr. Henry Nehrling, the founder of the Botanical Garden, Henry Badger, Plains Zebra, Feeding the Alligators, Cheetah, Why the Railroad Trestle? The famous toucan sign, Dead Trees Help the Living, and Marvelous Marsh make for fabulous filters A swamp mystery, planting helps with trees for the future, Shade-grown coffee helps farmers, birds, and the land, and can you find all these birds.

Friday, March 29, 2019 
We stopped at Dollar Tree for sunscreen and snacks to take to Delnor-Wiggins State Park beach.
Located 11135 Gulf Shore Drive Naples, Fl 34108
One of the most popular seaside destinations in Naples, the mile-long stretch of white sugar sand at Delnor-Wiggins has been rated as one of the best beaches in the nation
We saw Gray Pelicans perched, swimming, and flying overhead. 
We saw a Fish Hawk Osprey perched in a tree holding a fish.
We saw seagulls and white egrets waiting for a free fish from a fisherman.
This beach was more secluded than the other beaches that we had visited. 
We rode to Naples Municipal Beach and walked out on the long pier to watch the sunset, with lots of people waiting for the sunset.

 Naples Municipal Beach Sunset
Address 25 12th Av S Naples Florida 34102 
Built in 1888 as a freight and passenger dock, The Naples Pier stands as a community landmark.
We rode to historic downtown Naples, Lora and Michelle waited in a long line of people to order our ice cream at Kilwins 743 5th Ave S, Naples, FL 34102.

Saturday, March 30, 2019
Lora had an infusion that morning, so I spent the morning with Jackie and Geo. We went to North Collier Regional Children’s Park, 15000 Livingston Rd Naples, FL.
North Collier Regional Children’s Park
Geo enjoyed playing at the Can U Dig It state-of-the-art playground that looks like something from the future with a colorful, modern design.  
The sleek look packs a lot of play value. The playground includes slides, swings, and climbing apparatus, but it takes play a step further.  Kids can spin themselves dizzy on squiggly poles, climb on boulders that look like they came from the Monument Valley, or become junior archeologists in the covered fossil dig area.

When we got ready to go, Jackie realized she had locked her keys in her car. She called her boyfriend, and he brought her a spare set.
We rode back to the apartment by this time, Lora had returned. 
Lora, Michelle, and I rode to Fort Lauderdale to spend the rest of the day before my flight. 
We Stopped at Quarterdeck Restaurant, 300 N Beach Rd Dania Beach, FL, where we ate dinner.
Quarterdeck Restaurant
Quarterdeck Restaurant
We ordered three tacos, smoked shrimp, and smoked fish with French fries, and we all drank water with lemon.
We saw British Airways, & Southwest jets fly over, so we knew the airport was close by.
You could see several towering buildings in the downtown area from Dania Pier.

We saw several cruise ships leave, so Fort Lauderdale must be a hub port for cruise ships.
There were a lot of people sitting on the beach, a few in the water. The beaches were full of seagrass, more turbulent, and not as clear as the Naples Beaches.
We watched and waited for a lift bridge to let a sailboat through. The traffic was heavy in the downtown area, so I told Lora to take me to the airport, and they could do some sightseeing.
I boarded the flight at 9:30, traveling Flight 4145, Boarding group B 23, an hour and a half flight.
Arrived in Nashville around 11:30PM. Hubby picked me up, and we rode home.
We stopped at the gas station, picked up some snacks, and rode home we arrived home around 1:30AM. 
Had a great visiting my daughter and all the places we went to,









Monday, July 9, 2018

Food & Drink Factory /MUSEUM Tours South

1. Golden Flake Tour  #1 Golden Flake Drive  Birmingham, Alabama 35205
Company Store Hours M 8-4:30PM Friday 7-2PM Closed Holidays
Phone 1-800-239-2447
Must follow Rules 1-14
Must request and fill out a form for tour date and time
9:30, 11, or 12:30PM
The tour lasts about 45 minutes and is FREE
https://goldenflake.com/tours/

2. Bush's Beans Best 3901 US -411 Dandridge, TN 37725
The Museum Bush's Story
865-509-3077 -FREE
https://www.bushbeans.com/en_US/visitors-center

3. OLIVE and Sinclair Chocolate Company
1628 Fatherland St Nashville, TN 37206
tours are offered on Saturdays only from 10-5PM and last 30-40 minutes.
Tickets are $5 per person and include samples, as well as a complimentary hairnet.
Tickets are sold online with no cash.
https://www.oliveandsinclair.com/factory-tours/

4. Jack Daniel's Distillery Tours 133 Lynchburg Highway  Lynchburg, TN
Tours daily 9AM-4:30PM
A. Dry County Tour 1 hour 10 minutes cost $15.00
b. The Flight of Jack Daniel's Tour 1 hour 30 minutes, where you'll sip a flight of five Jack products for $20
c.The Angel's Share tour 1 hr 30 min costs $25 Tour and Barrelhouse 1-14 and taste whiskey drawn from individual barrels.d. The Taste of Lynch burg two-course experience includes the standard tour and distillery and whiskey tasting and down-home meal at Miss Mary Bobo's. Length 3 hours cost $100 per person
https://www.jackdaniels.com/en-us/visit-distillery

5. George A Dickel Distillery 1950 Cascade Hollow Rd  Normandy, TN 37360
Tours Tuesday-Saturday 9-4PM the last tour starts at 3:30PM
931-857-3124
Learn how George Dickel Tennessee Whisky is Handmade the hard way on this one-hour tour through a fully operational distillery and barrelhouse. Cost $12
https://www.georgedickel.com/distillery-tour-information


6. Mayfield Dairy Farms 4 Mayfield Lane, Athens, TN 37303
1-423-649-2653  
Tour hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday - 9am to 5pm. The first tour is at 10 am, and the last tour is at 4pm. With tours every hour.
Saturday - 9am to 2pm. The first tour is at 10 am, and the last tour is at 1pm. With tours every hour.
Wednesday* - 9am to 5pm (*Ice cream and gift shop only – no tours)
Sunday – Closed
http://www.mayfielddairy.com/about-us/take-a-tour#visit-us-in-athens-tn

7. Bud's Best Little Cookie 2070 Parkway Office Circle Birmingham, Al 205-987-4840
Pardon our Progress….we are working on some exciting projects in our plant so that we can produce more yummy cookies than ever. Please check back with us in the spring to see when we will start booking tours.
http://www.budsbestcookies.com/tours.html

8. Belle Chevre's Creamery 18849 Upper Fort Hampton Rd Elkmont, Al 35620
Tasting Samples at a tasting bar, a 9-minute Documentary film
cost $12 per person
Tour times: Friday 10 and 1PM
Saturday 11m 1 & 3PM
No tours Sunday-Thursday but visit their Cheese Shop and Tasting Room
256-732-4801
http://www.bellechevre.com/creamery-tours-events/tours/


Wednesday, May 23, 2018

2018 May 23, An enjoyable day out Florence & Athens, Alabama

Hubby set off several bug bombs as we were leaving for the day. 
We stopped at the Credit Union for some cash. 

We ate lunch at Trowbridge’s, where we both ordered a BLT, chips, Coke in a glass bottle, and Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream. 
BLT

COKE 
STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE ICE CREAM
TROWBRIDGE'S ICE CREAM MENU

A COUPLE OF SCHOOL KIDS GETTING ICE CREAM 
WAITING FOR MY BLT
We enjoyed listening to Joseph Baldwin in Wilson Park.
We rode to Elgin to get B12 shots. 
We rode to Athens, stopping at Save-A-Lots and Big Lots. 

Both hubby and I had eye appointments in Athens. 

We stopped at UG White Mercantile, where I bought some saltwater taffy and a pair of Kuhl shorts. 
KUHL was born in the Mountains. KUHL is a product-driven company with a passion for the outdoor experience. The Kuhl icon represents this mountain culture.
Salt  Water Taffy 
I asked if this was the only mercantile store, and the cashier said we have another store in Huntsville near Clinton St. 
There was a large selection of Lodge skillets displayed in the mercantile.  
I remarked that hubby and I had toured the Lodge Factory in South Pittsburg during their Cornbread Festival.

I said cornbread is not good unless it is cooked in an Iron Skillet. We stopped at Murphy's for gas, and Aldies was our last stop. 
Hubby and I ate leftover grilled hamburgers for supper.

After supper, hubby fell asleep on the sofa.

Saturday, December 17, 2016

🎄🎄🎄🎄2016 December 12-14, Christmas on the Gulf

Hubby and I traveled over six hours to Theodore Alabama to walk thru the Christmas Lights at Bellingrath Gardens.
We stopped at Durbin's Farm restaurant in Clanton for lunch.
We split a Ham & Cheese Croissant and we split a hot fried peach pie covered in peach ice cream.
We usually stop at Peach Park in Clanton but it was closed.
Hot, fried, peach pie covered in peach ice cream at Peach Park. 
We arrived at 4:09PM purchased our tickets @ Bellingrath Gardens and walked down to the boat dock to watch the sunset. We walked back up the hill into the gardens it was not quite dark enough for the Christmas lights to shine brightly. There was a concession area near the Bellingrath house so we stopped for a box of popcorn and a can of coke while we sat and listened to a local band playing Christmas Carols.
It was now dark enough for the Christmas light to shine and twinkle so we began our walk through the Gardens.
Christmas Trees @ Bellingrath Gardens
The pond before dark 
The pond after dark 
Throughout the garden, we saw Christmas trees, a manger scene, poinsettia, and twinkling lights, around the lake we saw swans, alligators, Santa, toys, and a train.
We had arrived early and had gotten a parking spot near the front but when we left the parking lot was full and it was spilling over into the no-parking areas.
It was still an hour's ride to where we were staying.
Poinsettias @ Bellingrath Gardens
The setting sun and full moon at the boat docks
@ Bellingrath Gardens
We stopped at Zaxby's in Foley for dinner, and we both ordered salads.
By the time we arrived at the hotel, we were both very tired and we both took a hot bath and climbed into bed.
I wish, I could say I slept like a log but I could not because I still had a hacking cough.
I had been dealing with this crud for about a week. I had been taking Muniex and the little Muniex man will not leave me alone.
Rain is in the forecast for later today with lots of fog. The fog settled in on us as we rode back across Mobile Bay.
The next day we took the elevator down to the dining area at 6AM where we ate breakfast. I ate two sausage links, and two french toast and drank two boxes of chocolate milk.
We went back to the room waiting for the fog to lift before we rode to the beach.
Gulf Shores Beach (you can still see the fog)
We stopped at BAM in Gulf Shores to buy "The Night Before Christmas" book. I want my granddaughter, who is graduating with a degree in Elementary Education, to begin a tradition of reading "The Night Before Christmas" when we celebrate our Christmas Family Get-together.

We rode to Heritage Park in Foley. Last year they added the Bell Tower and this year they have added a crossover. (A beautiful walkway with elevators to cross over the highway to the park).
We visited the tiny Santa Village, the Christmas tree lane, the bell tower, the fountain, and the train depot. We watched and listened to a man tell stories about the miniature trains' display, along with a group of children.
CrossWalk @ Foley Park 
There were several school groups throughout the park.
Bell Tower @Foley Park 
miniature train Display (small part)
Miniature Train Display (small part)@ Foley depot
We stopped at Bass Pro Shops in Spanish Fort, & Sam's Club.
In Delphne, we stopped at the Mellow Mushroom.
Mellow Mushroom Statue in Delphne, Al 
A friendly wave from Santa Clause at Bass Pro Shops
We rode to Gulf Shores, walked along the beach, & waited for the sunset. The clouds rolled in so we did not get to see the sunset.
Sunset at Gulf Shores 
It started lighting so we went back to the hotel. It stormed all night.
We ate sausage, eggs, and muffins for breakfast at the hotel.

On our travel home, we stopped at Joe's Crab Shack in Hoover, Alabama for lunch.
We rode to Gadsden stopping at Noccalula Falls, which was almost dried up.
We stopped at the Mary G. Hardin Art Center to see the Christmas Trees created by local schools and the miniature train display.
Finding Nemo Christmas Tree @ Mary G. Hardin Art Center 
Noccalula Falls
We stopped at Chick-fil-A in Athens for dinner and were home by 7:30PM

2024 Christmas Journal Activies

 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year  To all my friends and family Hope this year brought you lots of health and happiness.  Just a recap ...