2016 July 9, Saturday, Taking pictures around the Shoals Area

Today, I went to Chick-fil-a for a bagel with egg, cheese, and chicken. I also ordered 3 chicken Minnie with a large tea. I ate the three chicken Minnie without the bread. 

Then I rode to UNA to see the lions but they were not out I could hear them roaring. I did see several squirrels scurrying around the campus. They were looking for food and playing.  Crape Myrtles were in full bloom. It was fairly quiet, except for an occasional roar of the lions and the pitter-patter of squirrels, as I walked through the campus taking pictures

squirrels scurrying around the campus

squirrels scurrying around the campus

Top of the fountain 

Crape Myrtles

I  rode to W.C. Handy Home and Museum to take a few pictures outside. Outside the tin, men were playing their musical instruments, and the museum door patiently waiting to be unlocked at 10AM.

Tin men playing music 

WC Handy Museum Opens at 10AM

I next rode to McFarland where I discovered a Gaggle of Geese gathered on the sandy beach and I saw two men sitting quietly in their boat fishing. I could hear in the distance the construction on the O'Neal bridge, and I watched a couple of geese come in for a landing on the Tennessee River. 

Two Men Fishing

A gaggle of geese enjoying the sandy beach of McFarland 

I  stopped at Kangaroo in Sheffield to fill up with gas. 
Then onto the railroad bridge where I took pictures while I walked to the end of the bridge and back. 
My next stop was Rock Pile Park where I saw another Gaggle of Geese, a  lot more geese than at McFarland Park. They began waddling towards me so I went back to the van for the bread left over from my chicken Minnie.

A gaggle of geese at the Rock Pile 

I waited until I was almost at the river before I gave the gaggle of geese the bread.
I then rode down to the Children's Playground area at the Rock Pile. There was a family of three there at the park, and the little girl was having fun playing. She came up to me and said hi, and she also told me by when I left. 

The playground area at the Rock Pile 

The playground area at the Rock Pile & the little girl who was having fun 

I stopped at Visitors Over Look at TVA Dam where I could see the TVA Wilson Dam, the Tennessee River, the Marriott hotel, and the tower.

Tennessee River, Wilson Dam, Tower, and Marriott view from Visitors' Overlook 

I rode across the Wilson Dam Bridge to River Heritage Park where I took a few pictures of Crape Myrtles that were in full bloom. 

Crape Myrtles.

Crape Myrtles.

Crape Myrtles.

My last stop was Aldies to buy a few groceries. They had eggs for $.49 a dozen so I bought four dozen. I came home unloaded the groceries and took a nap

🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️2000 June 24, Saturday, McFarland Swimming

At about mid-morning on Saturday, we loaded into my LS Saturn and rode to McFarland Park.
My grandson Justin, my two granddaughters, Hannah and Madison, and my son Ronald are all important to me.
The kids hadn't planned to get into the water, but it was hot, so they stripped down to their underwear and jumped into the calm Tennessee River, hoping a large bass or catfish wouldn't nibble on their toes.

In water up to their knees. 

Madison wore her hot-pink T-shirt, and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail.
Hannah was wearing a light blue floral top with matching shorts, and Hannah's hair was pulled back into a ponytail.
Ronald was wearing blue jeans, shorts, and a black T-shirt with the sleeves cut out.

Ronalis is in his cool shades. 

They stayed near the edge, not getting in over their heads. They walked along the edge of the lapping Tennessee River, bending over to pick up unusual rocks.

Picking up shells 

Jumping on a boulder

The kids played on the giant Riverers that were dotted along the River. They would jump from one to the other.

Playing in the park 

The kids played on the playground equipment, and we watched several barges float down the River.

Barges on the Tennessee River 

We also saw the Miss Nari, a New Orleans, LA, cruise boat that was docked along the Tennessee River.

Towboat 
Miss Nari New Orleans, La
The historic towboat M/V Miss Nari is named for Mrs. Narcissa "Nari" Conrad, the late wife of Eddy Conrad, the CEO of RiverBarge Excursions Lines. Miss Nari is the only river towboat in America with a twin propulsion 3,000-horsepower Z Peller 360-degree unit, which can completely turn the entire tow in place. The Miss Nari was built in 1951 and started her career in the Delta Cities. If you check your history, on September 13, 1970, the tow of gasoline-filled barges from the Delta Cities broke loose and crashed into the Port Arthur Bridge. The barges, the bridge, and the Delta Cities were engulfed in flames. The Delta Cities suffered severe fire damage and remained out of service for years. She became known as "the Hulk" for some time as she lay dormant. Today, the newly equipped and refurbished Miss Nari still bears the scars of this tragedy, as evidenced by the heat-warped decks. Miss Nari pushes the barges along at speeds of 9 to 10 miles per hou,r although faster speeds can be achieved depending on river currents and conditions.

We could also hear the sounds of the traffic as it crossed the Tennessee River on the O'Neal Bridge.

Busting traffic on O'Neal Bridge 

2008 ~ Monday, April 7, Spending time with Grandkids

I went to Teresa Clanton's to pick up the grandkids, Sierra, Nevada, and Montana. I had packed a picnic lunch because I was taking the grandkids to St. Florian Park.

I made peanut butter sandwiches, each with a banana, a fruit bowl, and a can of Mountain Dew. 

After everyone finished eating, we started walking the trail. About halfway around, the kids spotted several piles of loose dirt and wanted to climb on top, so I said okay.

The kids climbed up and said, "Come on, Granny, you can do it," so I climbed up with the grandkids.

Climbing the dirt pile

We walked on top of the dirt pile and went up and down several times. 

We started walking the trail again, and I took the kids' picture standing on a bridge next to a statue of an alligator.

Nevada and Montana are pointing to the alligator.

We saw some tin statue-singing frogs sitting on a stump, which intrigued the kids. I also had to take their picture there. 

Nevada is pretending to blow a horn like the frogs

We walked a little further down the trail, where we saw a face carved into a tree. It had large marble-like eyes, and the kids loved it. 

I took pictures everywhere in the park with the kids. 

Nevada and Sierra are posing in front of the tree with a face

We stopped at the playground, where the kids played on the equipment.

Taking a break 

Montana is pointing to a frog.

Sierra posting

Nevada is a frog

Montana is standing on a tree stump.

Next, we went to Deibert Park, where they played on the playground, and we walked through the park, reading the signs about the animals and plants.

Reading the park signs

 We stopped along the fence line to take pictures of the metal sculptures.

Nevada and Montana posing at the metal sculptures

Sierra and Montana posing at the metal sculptures

Nevada and Montana posing at the metal sculptures

Nevada, Montana & Granny posing at the metal sculptures

Nevada and Montana posing at the flower gardens

We saw a family of turtles at the pond.

Turtles are walking next to the pond.

I took the grandkids to McDonald's, where we each ordered an Oreo McFlurry.

I took the kids to Loves and Fishes in Muscle Shoals, where I bought each grandkid five books and two movies.

We stopped at the Traintrestl, which is along the Tennessee River on the Sheffield side, where we walked to the end and back. 

It must have been a hot day, because Montana's head was wet with sweat.

Walking down the Train Trestle

Our next stop was at Heritage Park, located next to The Marriott Hotel in Florence, where the kids played inside the castle, on the train, and on all the other playground equipment. 

Nevada and Montana are enjoying the playground equipment at River Heritage Park.

Nevada and Montana are enjoying the playground equipment at River Heritage Park. We stopped at the waterfall next to the Marriott Hotel, where I took pictures of the grandkids.

Montana at the Waterfall at the Marriott Hotel 

Sierra at the Waterfall at the Marriott Hotel 

Nevada at the Waterfall at the Marriott Hotel

Hannah called from school and asked me to pick her up, so I loaded the grandkids into the car and we rode to Roger High School to pick her up. For supper, I made baked potatoes with all the fixings: cheese, bacon bits, and sour cream. I also made a strawberry p.e, and Montana ate his fill of it. 

Hannah and Sierra rode the scooters. 

Jake came over to get Hanna., I made Jake a potato with all the trimmings. 

I took the grandkids to Ronald's, where Nevada and Montana played with Ronald's Star Wars dolls. 

Later that afternoon, Charity came to get the grandkids.