🚌📖 🚌📖 🚌📖 🚌📖 2017 May 18, Events leading up to the Shoals Front Porch Storytelling Festival

Two buses were waiting at the Florence Visitor Center for passengers to board. One bus takes a group of people on a Historical Tour(guide Billy Warren) and the other bus takes a Music Tour (guide Walt Aldridge).
A couple from Toronto Canada, a couple from Louisiana, a woman from Tuscaloosa, our driver, our guide Billy Warren and myself loaded onto the bus taking the historic tour.
We visited the Florence Indian Mound and Museum, the Rosenbaum House, rode by WC Handy's Home and we visited the Ivy Green Home of Helen Keller.

Our first stop was the Newly-built Indian Mound Museum. We were led into the sitting area where we listened to the curator tell the history of the museum and mound, starting with the Paleo Indians, Transitional, Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian and ending with the Native American age

Late Archaic Period

Middle Archaic Period

Early Archaic Period 

Once again, we loaded onto the bus, our next stop was the Rosenbaum House, where we were met by a curator who told the history of the Rosenbaum Family and how Frank Loyd Wright ended up building the newly married couple's home.

We rode by the WC  Handy Home, not stopping while Billy told the history of WC Handy.
As we cross the O'Neal Bridge, Billy Warren said the bridge was named after two governors from Florence (father and son).
Billy was asked about the Train Bridge and why it went only halfway across the river, Billy said that the lift part of the bridge was sold to a company in St Louis, Mo.

Our last stop was Ivy Green, the home of Helen Keller. As we approached the home, we could see a large group of schoolchildren.

Ivy Green and Several Groups of School Children 

The pump where Helen Keller said "Water" is where her education began. 

The curator came outside and gave us a little history of the Keller family.
One story the curator told us was about Annie Sullivan.
Helen locked Miss Sullivan in her room, and she hid the key.
Mr. Keller had to get a ladder for Miss Sullivan to climb out a window.
What had she gotten herself into?

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This young man said, Is this the statue that is in Washington DC?  I said no, it was one of Helen standing by the pump.

The Key used to Lock Miss Sullivan in her room.

Ivy Green as we were leaving (notice no school Children)

Once again, we loaded into the bus and rode back to the Visitor Center. Since it was such a small group, we got to know a little about one another.

I grabbed a bite of lunch at Jack's (kids' chicken fingers, green beans, Rice Krispy bit-size snack, and iced tea.
At 2PM, I watched the Katherine Tucker Windham Tucker Life video at the Florence Library (sat next to my friends). The woman from Tuscaloosa, from the bus tour.

From 3:30-4:15PM, at Florence Library, I listened to Dolores Hydock's talks about "It Could Happen! Stories of Hope and Possibility.
Funny, sweet stories of hope, possibilities, and the little things in life that make hope possible.

Stopped to talk to my writing friends before heading home.
At Rick's Barbecue, I bought some pulled pork, Cole Slaw, iced tea, and Texas toast for supper.

Had a wonderful day, made a few new friends, visited several museums, watched a video about a great storyteller, and listened to a great storyteller with my friends.

🎄🎄🎄🎄Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2015🎄🎅🏻

Another year has come and gone and I am still here, Thank God.

It has been a very busy year.

My husband and I started the year off right in January. We took an overnight trip to Gulf Shores.

The beach is a great place to go in the winter months, not a lot of people on the beach except the ones there to watch the sunset, which was awesome. 

We stayed at Staybridge Suites for half price (a full kitchen) just like living in an apartment. We enjoyed a delicious seafood meal at Lula’s (my husband had never eaten there).

Gulf Shores sunset 

We celebrated Valentine's in February by ordering a pizza from a new place called The Rising Crust, the pizza was delicious.

The Rising Crust Pizza 

My granddaughter had her first child and our first great-grandchild, Ava Grace.

Ava Grace

In March I rode to Huntsville to attend the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. (I had never been to a Saint Patrick’s Day Parade) It was fun and I took lots of pictures.

Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

Toward the end of March, I was invited to spend the weekend with my friend and her husband in Pigeon Forge, TN. My sister went with me. We had a great time. We went to a quilt show, rode the Ferris wheel, ate at Margaritaville, ate at  Mel’s Diner, and at The Apple House Restaurant.

Riding the Ferries Wheel

My husband and I took two of the grandsons to the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge, to the Wheeler Dam Birding Trail, and that same day Hubby bought a 2007 Silver Honda. 

Two of my amazing grandsons 

In April I spent the day at the Birmingham Zoo with my daughter and grandchildren.

Early that morning we watched the setting of the third Blood Moon, which was amazing.

My daughter and her three amazing children 

In April, I did several walking tours, The Civil War, Tuscumbia, and the Oakwood Cemetery. I took a Civil War trolley tour in Florence.

In May, Hubby and I went to Rock City in Lookout Mountains. 

Rock City in Lookout Mountains me in my neon suit

I went to the hot air balloon show in Decatur and to a Dennis Family Reunion. (to meet relatives I never knew)

Sierra, my granddaughter graduated from high school and her brother graduated from sixth grade.

Sierra 

Montana

In June, my husband and I toured the Rosenbaum home/museum.

Rosenbaum home/museum

Every Thursday in June, July, and the first two Thursdays in August I took several of my grandchildren to the movies. 

Carmike Theater has a summer special for four dollars where you can get a small Coke, a small popcorn, and a movie. We have been doing this for several years.

In June my husband and I took a day trip to Hurricane Mills, Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, Museum, RV Park, and Grist Mill. 

Loretta Lynn’s Ranch/Museum

In July we took several day trips.

We rode to Jackson Tennessee stopping at the Train Depot, Rock-A-Billy Museum, Casey Jones Museum, and Train Depot.

Train Depot in Jackson Tennessee

We also rode to Tullahoma Tennessee to tour the George Dickel Distillery, the Science Museum, and Beechcraft Air Museum

Beechcraft Air Museum.

In August Hubby and I rode to Birmingham, Alabama to visit the Iron Works Historical State Park. 

Iron Works Historical State Park

We rode to Pulaski, Tennessee where we toured the Milky Way Farms. (The farm built by the candy giant of Milky Way Candy 

Milky Way Farms 

We also rode to Murfreesboro, Tennessee where we toured the Stones River National Battlefield, Oaklands Historic House/Museum, and Cannonsburg Village.

Cannonsburg Village Murfreesboro, TN

My daughter decided to leave Rhode Island and move to Fort Myers to work, so at the end of September, I flew to Rhode Island so I could help her move to Fort Myers.

We spent the first day on the road stopping in Columbia, South Carolina to spend the night with one of my daughter's friends.

The next day, back on the road stopping in Frampton Visitor Center in South Carolina. The Frampton was an old plantation home. We stopped at Savannah National Refuge and Museum in Hardeeville, Ga.

Our next stop was the waterfront in Savannah, GA, and ended the day at my cousin, Marjorie Goodrich. We spent the evening catching up on family and we spent the night.

The next day we continued our travel to Fort Myers, arriving at the fully furnished apartment that my daughter had rented.

Some of the places that we visited while I was in Florida were Sanibel Island, Fort Myers River Walk, Big Cypress National Preserve, Ochopee Smallest Post Office, Everglade Museum and boat ride, Mound House at Estero Island, Edison/Ford’s winter homes, Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, Manatee Park, Shell factory, Lakes Park, Slough Preserve. We attended a Pirates Festival, Zombie Festival, and Oktoberfest. 

Mother and Daughter in Fort Myers Florida

In November my husband and I rode to Meridian, MS, and toured the Jimmy Rodgers Museum, grave, and Blues Trail.

Jimmy Rodger Statue

I attended the wedding & shower of Chase Wanner.

My husband and I enjoyed watching the Christmas fireworks show at Bridge Street Town Centre.

I spent three days beside my middle son who was in the hospital for three days with mini strokes. 

We rode to Nashville, Tennessee where we toured A Country Christmas at the Opryland Hotel which was beautifully decorated for the holidays.

We walked through the Nutcracker’s magical & colorful carved Ice Sculptures.

Manger Scene in Carved Ice Sculptures

Pier on Beach in Biloxi, MS

My husband and I traveled to Gulf Shores where we spent two nights and three days. 

We traveled to Biloxi, MS, where we took a trolley tour of the historic downtown area.

We traveled to Pensacola, FL where we toured the Historic Village of Pensacola. 

We had an eventful ride home watching people dart in and out of traffic. We saw several wrecks, and traffic backed up for miles.

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We watch my niece and other members of our church entertain us with their salute to our Lord Jesus Christ.