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 May 6, The Moulton and Cullman Strawberry Festivals

 

Artist paintings at Cullman Strawberry Festival 

Farmers Market in Cullman 

a gallon of Sweet Strawberries

Saturday we rode to Cullman to the Strawberry Festival and arrived around 9AM at the Warehouse District where the Farmers Market is located. There were already lots of people and more pouring in. 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 thing and Hubby took the strawberries to the car. 

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

There was a small train ride and several children's rides. (berry-go-round, Ferries 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 to eat lunch at Oh! Bryan's. One of our favorite places to eat when were are in the area. It was getting late but we did stop at Wheeler Dam where we saw lots of Great Blue Herons, a few snake birds, and several Great White Pelicans (most of them were on the islands far away). We had a great day but were worn out from all our adventures. 

Great Blue Heron with his catch a fish 

🎢Visiting Theme Parks

Dollywood Theme Park 

Map of Opryland Theme Park we visited this park at least twice a year until it closed.

Riding the Ferries Wheel at Wild Adventures Theme Park Georgia 

One of my favorite rides at Wild Adventure Theme Park 

Epcot with grandkids 2004

Disney Studios 2011

The Animal Kingdom with group cheerleaders

Universal Studios Hollywood,  CA with cousins

Silver Dollar City Branson, Mo 

Magic Kingdom1989

Universal Studios Orlando, Fl with hubby

Island of Adventure Orlando Fl 

Bush Gardens Tampa with daughter
Bush Gardens Virginia with sisters no pictures

🍉🍉🍉2016 Friday, August 19, Watermelon Festival Russellville

We arrived at the Watermelon Festival in Russellville a little before 6:00PM 
We parked on the street behind the main street and walked one block entering the Watermelon Festival.  
As we walked up Main Street we saw Daddy's Roasted Sweet Corn which was positioned near the Roxy Theater.  
Posted on the Marquees was "Welcome to the 36th Annual Watermelon Festival." 

Main Street was crowded with vendors on both sides, with many people buying the vendor's wear. It was a struggle just to walk up the street because it was so crowded.
It was a little breeze blowing but, not enough to take away the humidity. The sky was filled with dark, heavy clouds, ready to burst into rain. 

We could hear the Kerry Gilbert Band beginning to play.

We could hear the Kerry Gilbert Band as they began to play. We walked in the direction of the sound of the music. 
When we arrived, in the area of the band, the sun was beaming down right into my eyes, so we had to find a shaded area, where we could watch the band. 

We had brought chairs to set in but left them in the van so, we ended up sitting on the concrete curb near the tables filled with juicy, red, slices of watermelon, free for the taking. 

We sat and watched the band play while the watermelons behind me were saying come to get a slice. 
So, I walked to the table that was full of sliced melons and picked out a slice, making sure that I had plenty of napkins.

Free slices of red juicy watermelons! Make sure you grab enough paper towels!

I listen to music while eating the melon, with juice dripping down my arm. 
I savored every bite until nothing was left but the rind. 
I found only a few seeds in the watermelon slice, which I spit onto the ground. I found a garbage can to dispose of the rind and I wiped my face and hands of all that red, sweet, juice, from the melon.

Slices of the red juicy watermelon slices were going fast. 

Kerry encouraged the crowd to clap 

Kerry is an Elvis Presley fan and he sang one of Elvis's songs, Suspicious Mind.  Kerry gets way down on the base, with the song Way Down. 
Kerry, Hugh Banks, Terry Frank, Randy Kimbrough, Alyssa Ashley, Mitch Curtis, and Wendell Dean did an Acappella of the gospel song, Sweet Sweet Spirit.
Alyssa Ashley and Mitch Curtis performed a Dotty West Song, Two Worlds Collide. 

There were several women and a man that got up and danced, while others clapped, and stomped their feet to the beat of the music. 

SWEET TREE Productions controlled the sound system and provided the stage for the bands.

When the band ended we walked back into the crowded streets. 

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade YUM!!!

We saw Smoothies and Tropical Treats by Dixie Concessions.
We saw Corn Dogs, Chicken tenders, Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, French Fries, and Ribbon Fries, Philly Cheese sticks, Polish Sausages, and Funnel Cakes. 

We saw on the Roxy Theater Marquees facing down Main Street: Whiskey Tree Guest Kendra Hope, Travis Wammack, and Snake Band Saturday, August 27, 6:30PM

We saw Captain Marvel and Spiderman

We saw Protect and Serve Police Officers. 

We saw Protect and Serve Police Officers. 

We saw Mickey and Minnie Mouse and children getting their pictures made with them 

We saw U.DO. IT Chill Factory, Alabama's Best Fresh Made Ice Cream, Tharptown Wildcats Cheerleaders, Boy Scouts, Italian Ice, & Dipping Dots Ice Cream.

We walked to the carnival rides where we saw Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy's Bouncing house. We saw children buckled into the Reckless ride. We saw children loading into Pirates Revenge Ride. 

Swings, Mind Winder

Monster Truck 

Reckless and Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy's Bouncing house

We saw a giant Monster Truck called Mayhem inflatable and a large inflatable slide. We saw children being slung around on the swings. 
The last ride we saw was the Mind Winder.

Standing in Silence watching the Festival for the last 36 years is this Historic Home 

Facing one another at the end of the festival, stood in silence two Old Historic Homes.
On the right was a house built of red brick with two chimneys. To the left was a white siding three-story home with a red slate, a triangle roof, a rounded dome room on the third level, and a covered front porch. 

We started back up the street where we saw a young boy riding the bull, he stayed on for 48 seconds. As we walked past, I said to myself, not me, that bull can buck someone else off. 

I ain't afraid of no GHOST!

As we walked up Main Street we saw a man from Ghost Busters.
Not yet dark enough for any ghosts. 
Yet, there may be ghosts lurking in the two houses just beyond the festival or ghosts walking among us.!  

👩‍🍳👩‍🍳👩‍🍳👩‍🍳2016 April 23, Saturday Cornbread Festival South Pittsburg Tennessee

We traveled hwy 72 to Athens and took I-65 to I-565 through Huntsville. We took hwy 72 E, and we passed through several small towns: Brownsboro, Paint Rock, Woodville, Scottsboro, Hollywood, Fackler, Stevenson & Bridge Port Alabama.

Driving to South Pittsburg

We crossed the state line into Tennessee to South Pittsburg.
We arrived around 10:00AM and there was already a crowd of people. We waited in line with many other vehicles to get a parking spot.
We started walking to the downtown area where the Cornbread Festival was located. 
I spied a school bus that was being used to shuttle people downtown.
We loaded onto the school bus and got off the bus at the second drop-off. 

Cornbread Festival 

We paid the five-dollar admission to enter the festival. We proceeded to the area where we purchased tickets to take the Historic bus tour at 11:00AM which cost seven dollars each.

We were given brochures with the time stamped on them for our tickets.
The 10:00 AM bus had just left the historic City Hall.

We walked through the American Legion Hall (under restoration)
that house the quilt show.

One of the quilts on display

Next, we view some of the old cars that were on display.

Car Show

We went to the theater to listen to Blues Music for about ten minutes and to use the restrooms. 

Inside the Prince Theater

We walked past some of the vendors and walked back to the City Hall building to wait for the bus.
When the tour bus returned our guide got off the bus and said that she was going to give a talk before everyone loaded onto the bus.
Our guide began by telling the history of  City Hall, Marion Lodge, and American Legion Hall buildings
City Hall was built in 1887 the former First National Bank had terra cotta trim with decorative brick.

City Hall was built in 1887 

The building across the street now empty was the former Marion Lodge E& AM No 515.

Marion Lodge E& AM No 515

American Legion Hall housed the quilt show.
Everyone loaded on the air-conditioned bus, but there were not enough seats for everyone standing in line.
Everyone was asked to check their ticket to make sure that it had 11:00AM stamped on it. 
There were about six tourists that had a later date stamped on their tickets and they were asked to get off the bus and come back at the time that was stamped on their tickets.

South Pittsburg Tennessee Historic Tour ticket

We then began our tour through the crowded narrow streets of South Pittsburg. We had a great driver, he managed to back up and turn around without hitting a single car and there were lots of marks along the sides of the road.

We saw on the third street at Holly The Christ Church Episcopal completed in 1884.
At 217 Magnolia we saw the home originally built by Joseph Lodge in 1878.
At 310 Magnolia the home of Avery and Kate McCuiston, they owned the Bargain Store on Cedar Avenue. 
At fourth at Magnolia was saw a house built by the Old English company about 1877.
At 401 Oak House was built by City Company in 1890.
At 316 Oak House was built for the Headquarters of the Old English company and was used as guest quarters, not a home. 
At 504 Oak we saw a house owned by ST Haskew, sold and used as a boarding house.
At 518 Laurel we saw the house that James Scott a Texan who ran a dry goods store.
At 500 Laurel we saw the AA Cook home he sold to MM Allison in 1898 who was mayor and judge.
At 401 Laurel we saw the house built for Dr. TW Johnston a physician for the Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railway Company.
At 414 Holly we saw a house built for Luther B Sartan.
At 518 Holly a house purchased in 1887 by Thomas Richardson a druggist.
At 610 Holly we saw the home built in 1909 by Walter Denham.
At eight at Elm, we saw the Chapel on the Hill built by Angus Macrae, a native of Scotland.
The tour bus dropped everyone that wanted to tour the Lodge Factory at the sixth street at the railroad. 

People going into the Lodge Factory

The Lodge Pans display the Lodge was founded in 1896 by Joseph Lodge, the original plant was located on the north side of town. The foundry operates two molding machines and produces over 20,000 pieces of cast iron a day.

Touring the plant

After we finished touring the plant we walked back to the festival, stopping to look at the tractors on display. 
Vendors were cooking all kinds of food.
Vendors were selling all kinds of wear.
There were rides of all kinds.

Carnival Rides 

We were getting hungry so we looked for a local restaurant stopping at Harvey's Pirate Restaurant for a hamburger and fries. 

Harvey's Pirate Restaurant 

We went to the cars that were on display there were three times more cars than earlier. 
We walked through looking at some of the vendors. I bought four postcards and we bought a bee catcher. 
We stopped at the Lodge Store and began our walk back to the van.

The Lodge Store

A nice young man offered to take us to our car in his golf cart. 
People were still coming into the downtown area and they had to park along the highway.
It had been a long day, we were getting hot and tired and still had a two-hour drive home.