2023 May 6, The Moulton and Cullman Strawberry Festivals

 

Artist paintings at the Cullman Strawberry Festival 

Farmers Market in Cullman 

a gallon of Sweet Strawberries

On Saturday, we rode to Cullman for the Strawberry Festival and arrived at the Warehouse District, where the Farmers Market is located, around 9:00 A.M. There were already many people, and more were arriving. We walked to the Farmers Market, where we bought a gallon of Strawberries. 

We had been at the Farmers Market a few weeks before, and they had sold out of Strawberries.

We bought a gallon of strawberries first, and Hubby took the strawberries to the car. 

After that, we looked at what the vendors had to offer. We listened to several bands. Vendors selling clothing, food, household items, handmade items, etc. (Burger Boys, Funnel Cakes, Icee, burgers, Lemonade, Kettle Corn, etc.

There was a miniature train ride and several children's rides (berry-go-round, Ferris wheel, etc.).

We bought a cup of chocolate-covered strawberries in one of the shops in the Warehouse District. (Sweets by T Chocolate Shop).

Miss Piggy was walking around advertising Barbecue. 

A petting zoo with a sign that said Feed me

Tractor Show 

Car Show 

We then rode to the Strawberry Festival in Moulton. They had a tractor show, a car show, rides for the kids, and a Petting Zoo. 

There were several food vendors. They even brought in a Chick-fil-A. There were different vendors with items to win from a spinning wheel. We bought a bird feeder from a school group that they had made. The day started out cool, but by the time we left Moulton, it was up to 80. 

Grilled Chicken Fingers with baked sweet potato, toast, and dipping sauce at OH!Bryan's 

We rode to Hartselle for lunch at Oh! Bryan's is one of our favorite places to eat when we are in the area. It was getting late, but we stopped at Wheeler Dam, where we saw many Great Blue Herons, a few snake birds, and several Great White Pelicans (most of them on the islands far away). We had a great day, but were worn out from all our adventures. 

Great Blue Heron with its catch of a fish 

2023 April 29, Decatur Historic Homes and Garden Walking Tours

April 29: Garden Tour, led by the Historic Decatur Association 

The public is invited to tour some of the residents' private gardens. The tour begins at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 801 Jackson St, SE.

 We had a large crowd for the Garden Walking tour in Decatur. 

Large Crowd from different towns

Everyone met at Westminster Presbyterian Church, located at 801 Jackson St SE. Decatur.  

Westminster Presbyterian Church 801 Jackson St SE. Decatur.

We learned the history and architectural structure of several different homes.

We finished our walk at Delano Park, where beautiful roses were in bloom.

After the guided tour, everyone was dispersed.

Pink roses at Delano Park 

 

This young girl set up a Lemonade Stand.
 It was a hot day, and we purchased a glass. 

From 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., we tour nine personal gardens. 3 Gardens were on Sherman St., 2 on Gordon Dr, 1 on Jackson St., and 1 on Cherry Street. One on Line St. and one on Oak St. There was someone at each location to greet us and tell us about their gardens.

On the first garden tour, we saw these beautiful red lilies.

Fish Pond 

Beautiful Yellow Flower

This garden was like having a forest in your backyard.
There was a Bird Feeder, a greenhouse, walkways, and more.

There was a story about how this statue came to be in this garden, but I don't remember it. 

After the Garden tour, we enjoyed a lovely lunch at Mellow Mushroom in Decatur. We ordered a small Maui Wowie on Stone Ground Crust Pizza. It was delicious.

A small Maui Wowie on Stone Ground Crust Pizza.

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

The museum features Native American Artifacts, Indian statues, and arrowheads that span thousands of years. 

Pioneer life, early settlers before John Cullmann. Dutch doll, some rockers, a 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 discussed several notable 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, the Roman Catholic Church.

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

The link to read the history of this great church is provided above.

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.

There were no whooping or Sandhill Cranes to be found, and I saw only four other people there. The backyard birds were chirping loudly. On my Merlin app, I heard 27 different bird sounds. It was a nice, quiet walk at the Refuge.

ChimpmunksWheeler Wildlife Refuge

We stopped at Killen Adventure Park, where Hubby and I 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.

Many people played Miniature Golf, had birthday parties, and fed the animals.

It was a beautiful day to be outside.

Killen Adventure Park 

2023 Jan 7, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Event

 Yesterday, Hubby and I visited Wheeler Wildlife Refuge, an event held at Joe Wheeler State Park. 

There, we meet up with a group from Oak Mountain in Birmingham. 

Groups were coming from several other places.

There were so many cars that the park ranger had to direct traffic. Many parked along the side of the road, and many parked across the highway. Next week is the big event for Wheeler Wildlife Refuge, and I'm glad we went today. 

Hubby and I walked to the new observation building, where we saw the five Whooping Cranes with my new scope.

We also saw thousands of Sandhill Cranes, Ducks, and geese. 

Cypress Trees 

Next, we took the Cypress Tree Trail, a walkway across a wooden bridge surrounded by Cypress Trees.

We could loudly hear Blue Jays calling out to each other. We heard White-breasted Nuthatches (what we call upside-down birds). We heard Red-winged Blackbirds, European Starlings, and Eastern Phoebe, and we saw and heard a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

We walked to another observation station and saw no cranes, but we saw several Robins hopping around looking for food.

Hubby returned to the car, and I walked to the two-story Observation building that offers a fantastic enclosed view of our winter surroundings.

View of Sandhill Cranes, Ducks, and Geese from the Observation building

I met several members of a Gatlinburg photo club there. They said they would set up a booth at Gatlinburg's Wildlife Week and told me to look for them if I went that week. 

I saw a small boy enjoying kicking and picking up gravel as his family walked to the Observation building.

We returned to the car and rode across the road to see more cranes.

We only saw a few, but met several women from the Birmingham Area.

They were taking pictures. We did see a couple of white egrets.

Our next stop was a target to pick up a couple of boxes of Skinny Popcorn. 

For lunch, we stopped at Whataburger, where I ordered a #1 Hamburger with tomatoes, lettuce, onions, mustard, and pickles, along with fries.

It was an overcast day with rain hanging in the air.

Later that night, Hubby and I enjoyed dinner with my sisters and brother-in-law. After the meal, the girls and I played UNO and dominoes.

Had a wonderful day.

2022 Nov 13, Clydesdae's Parade in Cullman's Wearhouse District Cullman, AL

It was a bitterly cold morning as we rode to the Warehouse District in Cullman to see the Clydesdale Nov 13, 2022

Budweiser Advertisment 

Budweiser Clydesdales  coming to Alabama Nov 10-13, 2022 

Jingle & Mingle Birmingham Nov 10 

75th Annual Nationa Veterans Day Parade Birmingham Nov 11

Lakeview District Trot Parade Birmingham Nov 12 

Christmas Market Open House Cullman Nov 13. 

since Adams 1937 

We arrived at about 1 P.M. and got in line for the parade, where we could watch the horses being unloaded. 

Each of the eight Clydesdales was taken out of the trailer one at a time, then harnessed with solid brass, patent leather, and stitched with pure linen thread harness, which weighed over 130 pounds. 

One of the Clydesdale horses is being hitched up with its harness 

The Red, White, and Gold beer Wagon must also be removed from the 50-foot tractor-trailer, and the Clydesdale hitched up one at a time. 

Once the horses were hitched to the wagon, the drivers, riders, and Dalmatian dog climbed aboard, and the parade began.

The parade was scheduled to begin at 1 P.M., but it did not start until 2:20 P.M.

The Budweiser wagon, 8 Clydesdale, two drivers, a Dalmatian, and three passengers rode around the Warehouse District three times, stopping once for pictures before heading back to the tractor-trailers to be loaded.

8 Clydesdale drivers, riders, and Dalmatians starting the parade 

Close-up of drivers and a Dalmatian 

Several children were standing next to me. A family with three redheaded children. One of the little boys was very impressed with my camera and wanted me to take his picture, which I did. 

The little boy who wanted me to take his picture.

Thousands of people were waiting to see the horses. We watched the Clydesdale circle a couple of times. 

After Clydesdale's first trip around the district, many people left. At about the same time, we heard the train's whistle blow, and a very long train crossed the tracks, so these people had to wait for the tracks to clear before crossing. 

We would have left after the first round, but since we would have had to wait for the train, we decided to go back and watch the Clydesdale again. I am glad we did because I got a better video of them coming around the corner and getting my picture made near the wagon. 

After the parade, we headed home, stopping at Cracker Barrel in Athens for supper. Hubby ordered a big breakfast, and I ordered pinto beans, fried apples with cornbread, chow chow, and onion.  

We stopped at Murphy's Walmart to fill up with Gas. By the time we arrived home, it was dark. 

It was a cold day, but at least the sun was shining. It got up to 41.

2022 Sep 3, Sugerfest & Historic Buildings Arab, Alabama

 Today, we rode to Arab to stroll through the park, which was filled with over 100 vendors. Tents were lined up as far as the eye could see, selling items from A to Z. 

Vendor Tents

The sweet aroma of baked goods filled the air, making my mouth water. You could almost taste the barbecue, hamburgers, and hot dogs being cooked. There were lines of people at every food truck.

Funnel Cake, Ribbon Fries, and freshly squeezed lemonade were just a few of the food items sold.

Santa Fe Food Truck

There was a petting zoo featuring two large, docile cows, a goat trying to escape its pen, miniature long-haired goats that kids loved to pet, and many other animals.

Petting Zoo

Pony Rides

There was a long line for the pony rides. Kids were climbing walls, playing games, swinging, and sliding.

The splash was open for those who wanted to cool off.

Music was playing in the concert area.

People play cornhole and other games.

But we were more interested in the Historic Village area, which we saw. 

1. The Boyd Homestead
Boyd Homestead 1890-2006

Lola Boyd lived her entire 99 years in the Boyd Homestead.
Her dad, Matthew Boyd, built the home in 1890 on 160 acres of land in Arab. Ms. Lola was born in 1906 and was the youngest of 11 siblings. She graduated from high school in 1929 in Arab and then attended college, earning her teaching degree from George C. Peabody College in Nashville, TN. 
This home was not built with indoor bathrooms or closets. An 
outhouse served as the bathroom, and a well was located outside the home, providing water for the family. The home also did not have electricity until the 1940s. 
Ms. Lola taught school and never married or had children. She helped care for her parents and was given the Homestead after they passed away. After she died in 2006, the home was bequeathed to the Historical Society. The society moved and restored the house to mimic the 1940s era.

The Stage Coach INN @Elvin Light Museum 

2. The Elvin Light Museum

Inside were cubicles filled with different items from:

Hyatt's Boarding House

Dr. Ellis Porch and Dr. Braxton Smith's Office

Arab Infirmary, Dr. Ellis Porch, and Dr. Braxton Smith

The Thompson Family

Russell Rice, General Mdse Est. 1897

People's Drug Store

Reed Pring Shop 

Fleming Barber Shop 

The Stage Coach INN

3. The Ruth Homemaker's Clubhouse
Belonging to the Homemakers of Arab, who hold demonstrations and enjoy activities such as canning, quilting, knitting, and mattress making. 

4. The Phillips Blacksmith

George C. Phillips Blacksmith Shop

Another significant business for the farmers was the blacksmith shop, where they could get their tools sharpened and mules shod. Mr. George Phillips owned his own blacksmith shop in Scottsboro, AL, and was a resident blacksmith for the George C. Phillips Blacksmith shop. Mr. Phillips has since passed away, but his legacy lives on. The Blacksmith Ship is built from vintage wood to mimic a structure from the 1940s era. 

The farmer looked forward to carrying his animals to the Blacksmith shop to be shod. This was important to the well-being of the animals, but it also gave the farm a break and an opportunity to socialize with fellow farmers.

Today, horseshoeing is done by a farrier who goes to the farm every 4 to 6 weeks in a truck equipped with a forge.

Tractors have replaced the Mule. Therefore, the need for local blacksmith shops has diminished.

5. The Winslett Barn - used for weddings and events

6. The Rice Church 
The Rice Church 1910-1950s

This Church building, originally known as Liberty Primitive Baptist Church, was once located in the Rice Community near Arab. It was donated to the Historical Society in 1993 and restored to represent rural churches from the early 1900s. Today, it is used for small weddings, memorial services, and spiritual needs. The church would hold baptisms, weddings, and Christenings, sometimes all on the same day. Farmers who traveled far for the church would bring the church lunch and typically stay all day. 
They took advantage of Sundays, as this was the only day they had time to attend.

Inside sat a woman playing old-time gospel music on the piano. She said the church I now attend had a piano player, but I got sick and could not play, so the church filled in, which was over 20 years ago. She was a retired teacher and had taught music. Her talent was far beyond that of the previous piano player, and the other players didn't want to come back. She played beautifully.

7. The Hunt School House
The Hunt School 1935-1952

This two-room school is typical of the schools in Alabama built during the Great Depression: it features high ceilings, a "cloakroom" for each classroom, and architectural details in the actual Colonial Revival style. The Hunt School operated in a small community south of Arab from 1835 to 1952. When school buses became popular in 1952, students were transported to larger schools by bus. The school year revolved around spring planting and fall harvesting since most students lived on a farm. The school went without electricity for the first ten years. There was no water, cafeteria, indoor bathrooms, or library. Children walked to school and washed their hands in a water-filled pan.

9. The Smith Country Store 

 Inside, it was filled with items of a different era. Behind the coal heater, a group sat singing and playing Bluegrass music in the back. We listened to a couple of songs that I had never heard before.

10. The Smalley Grist Mill 

When a farmer and his family would move to a new area, there were two businesses he would immediately look for.

One was a grist mill where he could grind the corn into cornmeal. Since cornbread was such an important food staple at the Great Depression supper table, the Historic Village needed a Grist Mill. Mr. Jerrell Smally bought the Grist Mill from Arab's old Farmers' Exchange and donated it to the Arab Historical Society. The building was built from vintage lumber to mimic a structure from the 1940s era. 

During the Great Depression, everyone grew corn. A large family consumes approximately 300 pounds of corn annually. 
The farmers would gather a portion of their dried corn during harvest and take it to the local Grist Mill to get shucked, shelled, and ground for cornbread. They would pay for this service by leaving a portion of their corn with the miller.