2024 April 20, Courtland Walking Hayride Tour

While waiting for the rain to stop, everyone met at the Courtland Heritage Museum established in 2009.

Courtland Heritage Museum 

Inside we learned about the History of One of the South's first railroads. This railroad ran southward through Courland and linked the Tennessee Valley to Tuscaloosa and lower Alabama. 

There were court records of the early marriages in Lawrence County on display.

We learned about how the Red Rovers were organized at Courtland in 1835 to aid Texas in its struggle for independence. 

We learned that several cotton gins once operated in and around Courtland. 

Once the rain stopped we loaded onto a hay bail wagon  that was pulled by a truck 

Our guide stood at the back of the wagon informing us about Courtland's historic homes and sites. 

We stopped in front of several historic homes. 

Tweedy-Northon-Morris-Thompson House

One of our stops was the Tweedy-Northon-Morris-Thompson House.

Richard Thompson owner of the home, stood on his porch and gave us the history of his fully restored home.

Richard joined our group throughout the tour. 

One of our stops was the Courtland Presbyterian Church built in 1821. Both our guide and Mr Thompson worship there. 

The first church burned in the 1850s. 

Construction of the new church began in 1859 but was not completed unit the end of the Civil War in 1868.

The church represents the mingling of classical and Italian influences.

The town square contains many empty buildings of the Federal Style architecture. A park with several historic markers,  a fountain,  and a gazebo. 

Another home we stopped at was the Harris Simpson House, a good example of the early American "I" house. For its tall, narrow side profile.  This house occupants trace back to the famous James Jackson of the Forks of Cypress Florence, Al. 

Harris-Simpson House 

So much history for such a small town. They had a tiny theater that is now a residence. I said it sure was small. Everyone laughed and our tour guide said it was big enough for their small town. I grew up in the Shoals area with several theaters in Sheffield, Tuscumbia, and Florence. I remember going to most of them including the drive-in.

On our way home we stopped at Lash's Seafood for lunch where hubby and I split a shrimp boil meal that consisted of Shrimp, corn, potatoes, and sausages.

It was delicious.

Lash's Seafood shrimp  boil 

2024 Jan 7, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge

 What a beautiful day for traveling. We rode to the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge in Decatur, where we saw many Sandhill Cranes and several different kinds of ducks at the Visitor's overlook buildings.

The newly remodeled Museum was opened. There we saw Sandhills, & Whooping Cranes, Belted kingfishers, Snakes, Alligators, Geese, ducks, hawks, butterflies, otters, Northern Flickers, and many other animals.

Several empty displays are waiting to be added. We saw several friendly people. I guess they were happy to be outside after this last cold spell. 

Sandhill & Whooping Cranes at the Museum 

Belted Kingfisher at the Museum

We stopped at Logan's Roadhouse for lunch. Hubby ordered a salad, steak, and baked potato. I ordered a chicken salad with Roadhouse dressing.

Steak and baked potato at Logans Roadhouse 

On our way home we saw a Bald Eagle on a Paul Bunyan Power Line near the demolished Paper Mill in Town Creek. 

The eagle made a squawking sound when it saw me. It was letting me know to leave. 

We saw several terns perched on the light poles as we crossed Wheeler Dam. 

Our last stop was Wheeler Dam where we saw a few White Pelicans, terns, and many cormorants.

2023 Dec 23, Early Works Museum Huntsville and Rogersville Christmas Trees in Heritage Park

 Today we rode to Huntsville to take Ava to Early Works. 

Grinch guarding the big Red Door

Warning Trucks entering the Play Area 

It was decorated for Christmas with Christmas trees in every corner. Inside the country store was the Grinch. Before we went inside we saw an inflatable Grinch guarding the big red door. At the Country Store was a sign: The Grinch Cafe has been serving nauseating food since 1966."A cafe can be bad in every way, but the food is worse." 

A meal
 fit for a king

But, Ava and her new friends made a meal fit for a king. One of Ava's friends said the meal was half Thanksgiving and Half Christmas.

Adventures in a Snow Globe at the North Pole 

We ate lunch at 88 Buffet. I ate shrimp, fried Sweet potatoes, chicken, and Rangoon with cream cheese. I did not care much for the fish.

My plate of Shrimp, chicken, fried sweet potatoes,  Sweet rolls, and
Rangoon

Ava ate a plate of fruit, jello, and Ice cream. Ava had been sick and she was not eating much.

We stopped in Rogersville to see Their Christmas Trees. This was our last stop.

Rogersville Tinsel Trail 

Ava and the Toy Soldier in Red Lights

2023 Dec 13, McWane Science Center Museum Birmingham, Toyota Field Dancing Lights

 Today we ate breakfast at Jacks in Cullman. I ordered gravy with sausage and biscuits. Ave ordered sausage and biscuits. Hubby ordered a ham and cheese sandwich. 

McWane Science Center Birmingham, Al 

We traveled to Birmingham stopping at the McWane Science Museum Center. Hubby went to level 3 to see the train display. 

Ava and I went to the second floor to see the dinosaurs, where we saw Super Cell Tank and birds in a tree, Ava was a weather girl, and she rode the Sky High Cycle. 

Sky High Cycle

We walked up to the third floor and Ave rode the train and the Zipline several times.

Ava rode the Train

In the basement was the World of Water Aquarium where Ave petted a shark and ray. 

We saw coral, a variety of fish, and eel.

On the first floor, Ave made large bubbles and experimented with several science objects.  Ava lay on a bed of nails. We went inside the distortion room, on the top corner you were small, and on the bottom corner, you were large. 

Ava on a bed of nails 

distortion room,
"Honey I shrunk the kid"

 We stopped for dinner at Oh! Bryans in Hartselle. Hubby ordered steak, baked potato, and salad bar. I ordered a chicken wrap. Ave ordered chicken nuggets, and fries from McDonalds.

Ava touched a Python before we left McWane Science Center.

Ava with the Blues Brothers 

After dinner, we rode to Toyota Field in Huntsville to see the dancing lights. 

Winter Wonder Land was not open but we did get to see the light show. 

Traffic was horrible in Huntsville. 

It was way after dark when we arrived home. 

Ava spent the night. 

2023 Dec 9, Dickens of Christmas Yall Come!

Making Smores

 We walked downtown Tuscumbia stopping to make smores while we were eating William and his girlfriend came by. 

The carriage being pulled by Clyde's

Took pictures of the carriages being pulled by Clyde’s Horses. We saw several characters from Dickens Christmas Carrol, and Santa Clause. We stopped to pet the Lama, sheep, Zebra, goats, and Camel. 

Dickens Characters

Petting Zoo

We also went to the Tennessee Valley Art Museum Christmas Mart. Lots of beautiful handmade items for sale. Hubby sat in the car while I toured Ivy Green. 

Ivy Green Birth Home of Helen Keller

Christmas at Ivy Green

Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan

I was told the history of Helen Keller and her home Ivy Green.  We also bought some candy(5 packages receep cups) and an upside umbrella for it was raining and we didn't want to get wet.

We finished the day with lunch at Whataburgers. A hamburger with fries and soda. 

Whataburger with french fries. 

2023 Nov 27-Dec 2, The Club Diamond Bus, Myrtle Beach ShowTrip Myrtle Beach South Carolina

We traveled with a group of about 37 in a tour bus from Florence, Al to Myrtle Beach, SC.

We left on Monday, Nov 27, at 8:30 AM.  

At about 10:18AM, we stopped in at Walmart in Gardendale to pick up 4 more passengers and picked up a few items there.

Fried Shrimp, with Pinto Beans, Tarter Sauce, and hush puppies 

Our next stop was Cracker Barrel in Leeds, AL for lunch around 11:22AM.

We went through Atlanta GA traffic around 4 PM. 

Our next stop was Pilot in Braselton, SC. around 5:53PM

Arrived at Holiday Inn Express room 126 in Greenville, SC where we spent the night.

Day 2:

We all ate breakfast at the hotel and began our final journey to Myrtle Beach.'

We stopped at Love's Lugoff, SC around 11:08AM for a restroom break and to fill up with fuel.  

We stopped at McDonald's for lunch in Bishopville, SC at 12:31PM.  

Checked into the hotel with a few minutes to spare before getting ready for dinner. Compass Cove Oceanfront Resort, room 323.

Crab Leggs, Corn on the Cob, Baked potato, Shrimp and tartar sauce 

Dinner tonight is at the Giant Crab Seafood Restaurant arrived a little after 4:37 PM.

Christmas Show at Alabama Theatre

Finished the night with a Christmas show at the Alabama Theatre. 7-9PM

Day 3:

Breakfast at the hotel.

We loaded onto the bus around 9AM heading to Conway, SC to LW Paul Living History Museum. 

After about an hour and a half, we headed to Myrtle Beach Boardwalk.

We walked along the boardwalk that was next to the Atlantic Ocean.

We ate lunch at The Bowery where Alabama the band got their start. 

News Paper article about The Band Alabama 

Alabama Band/Wild Country 
Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry, Randy Owen, & John Vartanian 

The band area was closed but hubby asked the waitress if I could go inside to take pictures. The waitress took us inside and I took a few pictures. They were busy so I did not stay very long. 

We shared a Cheesecake ice cream waffle cone. After several hours of shopping, we headed back to the bus. 

We rode to Walmart to pick up a few items then back to the hotel for a couple of hours. 

We ate dinner at Simple Southern Smokehouse. 

Blues Brothers, Dolly Pardon, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, and Aretha Franklin.

We finished the night with a Christmas Show at the Legends Theatre where we saw the Blues Brothers, Dolly Pardon, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, and Aretha Franklin.

Back to the hotel to rest.

Day 4:

Breakfast at the hotel. 

At 9AM we rode to the Asher Theatre to see A Man of a Thousand Voices James Stephens III.

After his performance, we shopped at Barefoot Beach Boardwalk. We ate lunch at Lulu's and bought some hot sauce and spices. 

We also bought nail polish and 4 rings at De Sol. 

The bus took us back to the hotel to rest.

At 4:40 we rode to Bennetts Calabash Seafood for dinner. 

Caroling Opry

After dinner, we went to see Carolina Opry and were back at the hotel at about 9:30PM.

Packed our bags we are leaving tomorrow after our shopping. 

Day 5: 

Watched the sun come up then walked down to breakfast.

9 AM we rode to Broadway at the Beach to watch, The Jersey Boy sing songs of the 1960s by the Four Seasons and Christmas songs. 

We went shopping at Broadway at the Beach. 

At lunch at Wahlburgers. 

Around 2PM we were headed to our next stop Holiday Inn Express Grovetown, Ga. 

Arrived around 8:30 PM

Day 6: 

Breakfast at the hotel. 

On the road around 8:30 AM 

Stopped at Western Sizzlin Oxford, Al for lunch.

Stopped at Gardendale, Al to drop off passengers and restroom break.

Arrived home around 5PM.

We had a great week with a lot of Christmas Shows, shopping, and eating at Myrtle Beach, SC.

Shows
At the Broadway Theatre, We heard Hot Jersey Nights Myrtle Beach Christmas Show (Frankie Valli and Four Seasons)

At the Alabama Theatre, we saw The South's Greatest Christmas Show.

At Legends Theatre, we saw Legends in Concert (Dolly Pardon, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Retha Franklin & Blues Brothers)

At the Asher Theatre, we saw the man of 1,000 voices. James Stephens III

At the Carolina Opry Theatre, we heard
vocalist Delvin Choice of NBC’s The Voice, national recording artist Brad Long, hip-hop cloggers All That! of NBC’s America’s Got Talent, powerhouse vocalists Christie Templeton, Tangena Church and Chas Croft Sorrells, fiddling champion Trent Wideman and bluegrass virtuoso Gary Brown.

Restaurants
We ate at the Giant Crab Seafood Restaurant in Myrtle Beach
Simply Southern Smokehouse Myrtle Beach 

Bennett's Calabash Seafood Myrtle Beach 
Corn on the cob, cream potatoes, shrimp, and fried green tomatoes

Bennett's Calabash Seafood Myrtle Beach
Lulu's Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach 

Wahlburgers Myrtle Beach 

Wahlburgers Myrtle Beach
Western Sizzlin Leeds, Al

Shopping
We shopped at The Boardwalk, Barefoot Landing, and Myrtle Beach BoardWalk 

1/2 Hamburger and fries at Lulu's Barefoot Landing 

Lulu's
De Sole
The General Store
It's Sweet
Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream

We stayed in a Resort facing the Atlantic Ocean.
Great to be home.

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.