🚌📖 🚌📖 🚌📖 🚌📖 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 I boarded the bus for the historic tour.
We visited the Florence Indian Mound and Museum, the Rosenbaum House, rode by WC Handy's Home, and 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.e

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 shared the history of the Rosenbaum Family and how FranLloydyd Wright ended up building the home for the newly married couple.

We rode by the WC  Handy Home, not stopping while Billy told the history of WC Handy.
As we crossed the O'Neal Bridge, Billy Warren mentioned that 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, Missouri.

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

Ivy Green and Several Groups of School Children 

The pump where Helen Keller said "Water" marks the beginning of her education. 

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 the key 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's, Keyding by the pump."Key

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 Krispies bite-sized snack, and iced tea.
At 2  P.M., I watched the Katherine Tucker Windham Tucker Life video at the Florence Library (sitting next to my friends). The woman from Tuscaloos was on the bus tour.

From 3:30–4:15 P.M., 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 one with my friends.

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

Another year has passed, and I am still here, thank God.

It has been a hectic 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. Few people were on the beach except those 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 Day in February by ordering 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

I rode to Huntsville in March 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, Mel's Diner, and The Apple House Restaurant.

Riding the Ferris Wheel

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

Two of my amazing grandsons 

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

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

My daughter and her three exceptional children 

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

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

Rock City in the Lookout Mountains, me in my neon suit

I went to the Decatur hot air balloon show and 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

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

Carmike Theater has a four-dollar summer special 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, and Casey Jones Museum.

Train Depot in Jackson, Tennessee

We also rode to Tullahoma, Tennessee, to tour the George Dickel Distillery, the Science Museum, and the 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, touring 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 to help her move.

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

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

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

The next day, we continued our travel to Fort Myers, arriving at the fully furnished apartment 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, 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 Bridge Street Town Center Christmas fireworks show.

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, 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 for three days and two nights. 

We traveled to Biloxi, MS, to take 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 church members entertain us with their salute to our Lord Jesus Christ.