2024 May 4, Moulton & Cullman Strawberry Festivals

 Today, we rode to Moulton for the Strawberry Festival. 

It had rained a lot, and the park was muddy and wet

They had planks you could walk on in the wet area 

They had carriage rides for two dollars 

Rides for kiddos 

Vendors with all sorts of different stuff that you could buy 

A petting zoo and a few strawberries for sale

We did not stay long 

Fried Chicken Fingers with sweet potato and toast Oh! Bryan's Hartselle, Al 

We took the old Decatur Moulton highway into Decatur 

Then on to Hartselle, stopping at Oh Bryan’s for lunch

I ordered chicken tenders with sweet potatoes, and hubby ordered steak and potatoes 

We then rode to Cullman to their Strawberry Festival 

We walked around they also had rides for kiddos 

Lots of vendors and food, of course, live music, arts and crafts 

There was a dog contest called Doggy Pageant

The song that was playing was Who Let the Dogs Out 

We walked through several shops 

Took several pictures 

They had several strawberry-themed murals and a row of snapdragons in full bloom. 

Strawberry Festival Moulton 

Strawberry Festival Moulton 
Snap Dragons 

T-Mobile was taking pictures for free and sending them to your phone, so we had ours taken. 

It got so hot and humid that my head started hurting, so we left.

2019 Oct 19, Finding Huntsville Walking Tour with Carol Cordori & loosing my keyless remote

I traveled to Huntsville for the Finding Huntsville Walking Tour with Carol Cordori. 

I parked in front of the Constitution Village, stopping at their public restroom after my long ride to Huntsville. 

Meet up with a group of people at Harrison Brothers who were interested in the History of Huntsville. 

We began our tour a little after 11 AM, with guide Carol Cordori, after we were all given a 12-page Finding Huntsville Field Guide.

Harrison Brothers Bank Vault, where records were kept 

Building 1: Commercial Architecture of Harrison Brothers 

Built-in the 19th century with large glass display windows that had a recessed front door, long rows of transom windows above the display windows, and bricks that projected beyond the walls.  

Building 2: First National Bank of Huntsville 

Built about 1837 1840 in the Greek Revival Style

Built with a pitch roof and triangle front supported by Columns made up of a base, a shaft, and a capital. 

Local builder George Steel drew up the plans for the bank.

Greek Revival "First National Bank of Huntsville"

Building 3: Madison County Courthouse was built in the International Style. 

Built with a flat roof, tall columns that support a large porch, and no attached decorations, it is often built with glass, steel, and concrete. Built 1966 by Northington, Smith, Krannert & Associates, “Space Built”

International Style Huntsville Courthouse (backside)

Building 4: Romanesque Revival Schiffman building built in 1845 and remodeled by George Thompson in 1895.

Owned by the Schiffman family for more than 100 years.

It was built of rush stone with carved leaves or flowers, bow windows, and a recessed front under an arch.

Building 5: Gothic Revival Style(used to teach Christianity) Church of Nativity was built in 1859 by Wills and Dudley. 

Trefoil represents the Trinity(God, Christ & Holy Spirit), and quatrefoil represents the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

The Lancet arches, tracery, and engaged buttress point up toward Heaven. 

We were greeted by the Minister and given a tour of the temple.

Stained glass window notice at the top that the three-point clover represents the Trinity, and the bottom 4 points clover the Gospels of the Bible 

Gothic Style Church of Nativity
Notice the steeple and windows, all pointing toward heaven. 

Inside the Church of Nativity

We finished our tour on the sunken sidewalk in front of the old J. C. Penny building on the Square.

Welcome back, Sunken Sidewalk
In the mid-1800s, masons sculpted local clay into these bricks and created the sidewalks. What once served as a humble walkway for farmers, merchants, and pedestrians now links you to Huntsville's past and to all those who trod where you are standing.

I walked around Huntsville Square, taking pictures of the art.

Red Ball Art on Square

Small Bull  Art 

Space Art

I shopped at Harrison Brothers Mercantile.

I stopped once again at the Constitution Village Public restroom.

I took a few pictures of the beautiful blooming mums in Constitution Park.

Mums at Constitution Village

I walked to my car and tried to open the door, but it would not open. (Keyless Remote)

I had put my remote in my back pocket, but it was not there. 

I walked back to the restroom, thinking I may have dropped them on the floor or even in the toilet.

The keys were not there! Before I retrace my steps, I walked to the Constitution Village Museum Store.

I ask if anyone has found a keyless remote

I was dreading telling  hubby I had lost my keyless remote 

Someone had turned it in, God was looking out for me.

The young woman behind the counter began by telling me about her episode of lost keys.

Said she cranked her car (Keyless remote) but had to go back inside.  She forgot her key, got in her car, and left. She stopped for gas, filled her car, and went to crank it, but it would not crank, for she had no key. She had to call her husband and had to tell him to bring her the keyless remote. 

Sometimes Technology is not so great!

In today's world, we get lost in the daily hustle and Bussell.

Did some shopping at Kohles in Madison, I was looking for an Ugly doll for Ava Grace. 

Stopped at Wendy’s in Athens for a hot bowl of chili, a chocolate frosty, and Coke. 

Arrived at about 3:45 PM at the East Lauderdale Quilt Show at Rogersville United Methodist Church.

They were giving out awards and getting ready to close. 

What a day! Walked in the drizzling rain, with the wind whipping around the buildings, while listening to our guide describe the art of five historic buildings in Huntsville.

The minister of the Church of Nativity took the group on a guided tour.

Had my picture taken with the group?

Lost my keyless remote in the Constitution Village Public Restroom. 

Did a little shopping in Madison, ate a late lunch in Athens, and saw a quilt display in Rogersville. I was home around 4:30 PM, a little before hubby arrived home from work. 

2018 Aug 6-8, Metro Streetcar Ride in Little Rock, Arkansas (3 days)

Hubby and I had an enjoyable visit to Little Rock, Arkansas
The people were friendly, and the food was good.
We stayed two nights at the Wyndham Hotel in North Little Rock, which included breakfast.
Our room was ground level, with a good view of the downtown area and the Arkansas River bridges. 

The first day after we checked in, we rode to the downtown area to find somewhere to eat lunch. David's Burger was closing for the day, so we walked down the block to Big Whiskey's.

Big Whiskey's, where I enjoyed a plate of Hot wings

We walked around the downtown area, stopping at Arkansas Studies Institute, where we stopped to talk to the curator.
The building had a vault, which in its heyday was used to store spices.
Our next stop was the Arkansas Historical Museum, where we saw a collection of Bowie knives, a children's gallery, and contemporary art.
The Pioneer Village had closed up shop for the day.

Bowie Knives

We stopped at General McArthur's Park, where we saw several war markers.
The museum was closed.
We rode behind the museum, where we saw several families of ducklings.

Duckings

We rode to Arkansas Capitol Grounds, where we saw the Vietnam Memorials, the Purpleheart recipients plaques, a Civil War memorial, and the Firefighters Memorial.
It was getting late as the sun slowly drifted out of sight.
I don't think I could walk another step after all the sightseeing.
We stopped at Wendy's for a quick bite and retired for the day.

Little Rock's Capitol Building 

On the first day, we drove everywhere, and it cost $1.50 for one-hour parking, so we bought a Metro Streetcar pass for $2.00 each to ride the Metro Streetcar all day. (we bought the tickets at the Historic Arkansas Museum)

To catch the Streetcar, we had to walk a couple blocks.  
The drivers were knowledgeable about the area, the Metro Streetcar was air-conditioned, and the Metro Streetcar ran every twenty minutes.

Metro Streetcar

Our first stop was the William J. Clinton Presidential Library, where we saw his 1993 Cadillac Fleetwood limousine, the life-size replica of the Oval Office and Cabinet Room as they looked during Clinton's tenure. 

Oval Office

We stopped outside of the Clinton School of Public Service to take a few pictures, and then we walked to the nearby Heifer International Building. 

We were greeted at the door by a curator at the Heifner building.
The curator gave us a brief description of the Heifer company and how it got started with just a cup of milk.
At the Heifer International village and farm, we saw their vegetable garden and farm animals. 
At Cafe Heifer, we ordered oatmeal raisins,  macadamia cookies, and water.
We saw several turtles in the wetlands, and the gardeners were pulling up plants that no longer were bearing vegetables. 

Heifer Garden 

We took the Metro Streetcar to the 1836 Old State House Museum, at no charge, which has three levels of artifacts, hand-stitched African quilts, and American Indian relics. 

Old State House

We took the Metro Streetcar to the River Market District, got off, and walked to David's Burgers, where we enjoyed a dressed hamburger and all the fries you can eat for lunch. (They are only open for lunch).

River Market 

Just a few blocks away was the Museum of Discovery, where we experienced the physics and chemistry of the natural phenomenon of Little Rock's 1999 twister in Tornado Alley.

Little Rock 1999 Twister in Tornado Alley.

On the Streetcar, we met an older man treating four of his eleven grandchildren to a Metro Streetcar ride.
It was super hot, so it was nice to just hop on a nice cool Metro Streetcar instead of a hot car.
Storms were a brew all through Arkansas in the late evening, and we even got some rain. 

Storm Clouds over Arkansas River 

Woke to thunder and rain this morning.
I hope we miss the bad weather traveling home.

Engulfed by Darkness

 Jonah was swallowed by a whale for disobedience.
I was engulfed in darkness, heavy traffic, and blinding rain.

I loaded up my grandson, Justin (age five), and my granddaughter, Hannah (age seven), and we began our journey to Pell City.
We traveled I-65 South all the way to Birmingham.
In Birmingham, we took the I-20 to Pell City, which took us about two and a half hours.

I did not have the exact address of my grandson, he had moved from his old address.
Now, I was depending on a five-year-old to get us to his new address.

We rode up and down the same highway for over an hour before I could get in touch with his dad.

By the time we left for home, it was getting dark, and it had started to rain.
On the Interstate, we got behind a large truck, and I could not see around him, so we missed our turn.

All I remember was we were headed north on a very rough highway. (79)
Several times, I almost stopped because I thought my tires were going flat, but I was afraid because it was very dark and not much traffic.

Thank God I had a cell phone that worked, so I called Hubby, who was working in St Louis at that time.
I told him what happened, and he said, what highway are you on? This was before we had GPS on our phones or our vehicles.

Hubby said I will call you back when I locate you on the map.
Hubby called and said you will have to go over the mountain to get back to I-65.

The darkness and rain did not help to see along the winding roads we took over the mountains.

We almost rammed into a stalled car on a dark bridge.
It took us twice as long to get home, but we made it safe and sound.

God was in control in both cases.

🎄🎄🎄🎄2012 December 8, Saturday, A Dickens of a Christmas in Franklin Tennessee

2012 Saturday, December 8, Franklin, TN

It was A Dickens of a Christmas in Franklin Tennessee?

My husband and I ate  breakfast of eggs, sausage, and toast. 

We arrive in Franklin Tennessee about 10:00 a.m. 

My husband and I walked around taking pictures of costumed characters from Dickens story “A Christmas Carol.

I rode the horse drawn carriage around the Public Square cost $2.00. 

The carriage had four  patted bench seats that would seat up to twelve people of normal size.

It was pulled by a couple of  horses, one was brown and white and the other pitch black.

We saw holiday bazaar arts and crafts throughout the public square. 

There were musicians along the streets; we saw violinists, hand bell choirs, harpists, and carolers. 

I grabbed a picture of Scrooge, the  Old “Humbug” himself. 

My husband took a picture of me next to the Grim Reaper.

I took several pictures of the Cratchit family along with Tiny Tim, The Ghost of Christmas Past, Future, and Bobbies (who are actually Franklin police officers on duty) Father and Mother Christmas.

We sampled peppermint pretzels, and we watched the Morris Dancers perform a Cornish dance with swords and sticks from the mining communities of Cornwall.

It rained the first part of the morning, we saw many people carrying umbrellas, the rain did not detain the festival.

We ate lunch at Papa Boudreaux Cajun Café & Catering Co., we spent $33.15.

The building was painted purple and trimmed in a bright yellow with iron-metal Iron tables and chairs sitting outside. 

Inside there were long wooden bench tables that could set up to eight people, and total occupancy max is 49.

On the outside of the restaurant on the purple door was a sign that read,” Restrooms are for paying customers ONLY! Sorry, we are a small establishment…….Signed Pap’s Management.

Scrooge walking the streets of Franklin

Wet Streets of Franklin

I took pictures of many historic markers: Courthouse, behind the marker was a sign that read “Franklin on foot” .

What once was the local courthouse is now the Visitors Center in Franklin.

Another sign Union Headquarters Planning for battle, John H. Eaton was located near a manger scene.

St Philip Chaotic Church Marker in was in front of the Church.

The Old Factory Store is now a bookstore where, there was several authors were singing book.

We also saw the Masonic Temple, Hiram Lodge No 7 & building and marker which was in the Civil War tour number 17.

We saw the Ewen Cameron marker, The Presbyterian church marker.

We stopped inside the Starbucks Coffee store to use the restroom before we left Franklin.

We passed many war markers as we walked back to the van. We saw the Chickasaw Treaty Council, Field Hospital caring for the wounded, Franklin Special School District, Franklin Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Hincheyville Markers.

Christmas Tree in Center of Town

Lady in Pink

Carriage Rides

Cratchit Family

We rode to Leipers Fork about 1:30 P.m. to watch the Christmas parade, but the parade was canceled because of the weather. The town was hit by lighting earlier that day. 

The participants of the Christmas Parade had gathered and dis-pursed after the storm.

So many of them had to travel down main street and we saw many.

We saw a sign that read “Possum Holler Garage Like US on Facebook.”

Radio Flayer Wagon 

Possum Holler Garage 

We saw Radio Flayer Wagon atop a Jeep full of riders full of Christmas Cheer.

We saw Possum Holler Garage Sawdust tow-truck pulling and old Plymouth car behind it.

We saw F 150 Truck pulling boat on-top of wagon with riders wearing Santa hats.

We saw Old Chevrolet Truck with the inscription Posser Holler Garage pulling an outhouse inscribed on the side was “Old NO. 7.”

There was a round hole cut in the outhouse and it  had a reindeer hanging out of the hole with 4-closed underneath. On the backside of the outhouse was a satellite dish, sign that read, “Merry Christmas.

A sign that read “Possum Holler est. 2006, “The other White Meat”, “24 Wreck Her Service”, “You Bend We Mend ’em”.

Beneith the signs was Frosty the Snowman, with a couple of reindeer and a sign that read,”STAY BACK 100 FEET EXPLOSIVE GAS.”

Riding in the  1921 Clampetts truck

STAY BACK 100 FEET EXPLOSIVE GAS.”

We saw Hillsboro United Methodist/Bank of Leiper’s Fork historic markers located at Old Hwy 96 W.

We walked through the Winters Arts located at Locke Building.

We went inside the Serenity Madison antiques, &  mercantile store.

We stopped inside the Laurel Leaf Fashion Store.

We saw the Puckett’s grocery restaurant with men sitting outside.

My husband made my picture sitting in the Clampet’s Old Ford Truck. It had a homemade wooden bench to set upon.

Inside and hanging along the old truck I saw,  a jug of moonshine, a washtub, a trunk, a five gallon bucket, a frying pan and a dead opossum lying in a wash pan, hanging under the backside of the truck, just waiting for Granny Clampet to fry.

We saw an outdoor theater that was located inside was a live Christmas tree that had  hundreds of colorful bulbs strung around it. On either side standing straight and tall were nutcrackers. 

As we were leaving we saw the Church of Christ at Leiper’s Fork Meets Here EST 1831.

We walked around the many stores and did not buy anything.

We left around 2:30 p.m. traveling down the Natchez Trace to Lawrenceburg, Tn

We stopped at Kroger’s in Lawrenceburg at Kroger’s where we bought a  baked chicken, two slices of red velvet cake, chocolate covered almonds and rolls. 

We took all that food home to have a  feast.

2016 ~ February 15 Monday, Taking Classes at the Apple Store

2016 ~ February 15, Spent day at Apple Store taking Classes

Taking five classes at the Apple Store

8-9 AM dentist Appointment 

We went through the drive through at McDonald's for breakfast. 

I ordered egg, sausage, cheese burritos

My husband ordered egg, bacon, bagel.

We arrived a little after 10AM to begin my classes

I had five one hour classes

My husband dropped me off and he went to see the Ophthalmology

10-11 AM Workshop Appointment: Stay Connected 

11-12 PM Workshop Appointment: Sketch, Draw, and Paint with iPad

I ate lunch at Barnes & Noble of Taco Soup, oyster crackers and cookie.

12:45-1:45PM Workshop Appointment: Create Great-Looking Documents with Pages for iPhone and iPad

2:45-3:45 PM Workshop Appointment: Explore Apple TV

3:45-4:45 PM Workshop Appointment: Perfect Your Photos on Mac

We stopped at Cracker Barrel in Athens for Dinner.

I ordered Pinto beans, turnip greens, onion, chow-chow, cornbread & ice tea.

My husband ordered a big breakfast. 

We came home dressed for bed and was watching the X-Files on TV when my husband got a call-out at work around 8:30PM.

   

At work two of the pumps were not doing the job. Three plumbers were called in to fix the problem. 

I did my CBS, while I waited for my husband to finish the job

We stopped for gas on the way home.
We arrived home around 12:00 by that time the rain had moved out.