Valentine Poem You are an Angle from Heaven ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Fotoons at Disney 

Daughters are the angels from heaven 

They have this fairy light 

They end the darkness in your life. 

Making everything oh-so-bright 

You bought that light in my life 

You are the reason why I strive

My only blessings for you on this day

Is that you stay happy all the way 

That grace on your face is true

Lucky to have a loving daughter like you 

I love you with all my might 

You make my world so bright

Smoky Mts

Taking the Ferry to Boston 

Happy Valentines
to a great mother and a great father.
You are so sweet of love fleet but the best you could do is let me kiss you.
Lora❤️❤️

I love you, my mom, ️❤️

Sunny days
bring happy thoughts to everyone when they glommie.
Anyway, mommies make my day.
Roses are red violets are blue, sugar is sweet and so are you.
Mommies are sweet,
mommies don't stink,
mommies always think.
When you glommie and fill Lonnie just take a break and shake.
Exercise, always try never ever cry.
 I wish you a very happy day.
If you wish when you are sick, you may just get the wish.
Purple, blue, green, pink, black, brown, gray, no color is prettier than Mother.
From
Lora ❤️❤️

Lora❤️❤️

Lora❤️❤️

2012 ~ April 22-25, Trip with sisters to Gulf Shores, Alabama

Day 1: Sunday, April 22 ,  2012

Was out of the bed by 5:30 A.M. I got dressed, checked my email, updated my laptop computer, added movies to my Iphone, I broke a fingernail while making the bed, finished packing, I ate some chocolate pudding and I was ready to leave by 7:35 A.M.

My sister drove her new Jeep; she picked up sisters and they arriving at my house about 8:30 A.M. Teresa was using her droid telephone as a navigation system. 

We took US 43 to US 72 to Athens, then I-65 all the way to Hwy 287 exit 37 toward Gulf Shores Parkway/Bay Minette/Rabun, we turned left onto Rabun Rd for 4.4 miles then Rabun becomes Al-59 S, we turned right onto West Beach Blvd Al-182 and Condo was on left at 809 West Beach Blvd., Gulf Shores. 

We travel over 400 miles taking over seven hours including stopping for gas and food. 

We stopped at Subway(258 Interstate Commercial Park Loop Prattville, AL 36066(334) 358-4950 for lunch. 

We filled-up with gas at Texaco.
(We were going to eat at Cracker Barrel location 796 businesses Park Drive Prattville; Al., but it was a long line.) 
We arrived at Meyer Real Estate at 3:30 P.M. to buy parking pass for Island Royale.

Arrived at Condo called Island Royale located at 809 West Beach Blvd a mile west of hwy 59, it was a Yellow 17 story building room 1203 (P503). 

We took our luggage up the elevator to our room 503 on the 12th floor. It was very windy and we had to make sure that the balcony door was closed before opening the front door, because of the wind draft.

View of the beach

View from our Room

After getting settled in, we went to Long Horn Steak House 3810 Gulf Shores Parkway Gulf Shores (251-96793480) for supper. We all ordered from the flavorful under 500 calories menu. We each ordered Renegade Sirloin 6 oz at $11.99 it came with fresh vegetables or green beans and a garden salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing. 
I ordered unsweetened ice tea with lemon, everyone else ordered water. With tip, we each spent $20.00. (My sister and I had leftovers for the next day.)

Long Horn Steak House

After dinner, we went to Target, which was in the shopping center behind Long Horn restaurant. Located at 3820 Gulf Shores Parkway Gulf Shores Al. 

Everyone bought something to eat to take back to the condo. I bought couple frozen dinners, some Jergens tanning lotion. 

We played dominos until about 10 P.M. we were all tired from the long trip. 

My sister and I slept in the front bedroom, which was very noisy, people coming, going, and noisy from the wind. 

Day 2: Monday, April 23, 2012 

The next morning I ate a granola bar, took a shower, Paula, and  I walked up the beach almost to the pier while Becky, and Teresa lay on the beach. It was still very cool, and windy. Becky called on the cell phone, said she and Teresa was leaving,

I told Becky to wait for  Paula and I for we were almost back to the condo.  

We all took shower to get the sand off and we got ready to go out for supper. 

We went to Lulu’s Restaurant located at 200 east twenty-fifty avenue Gulf Shores Al 36542, located just off Al-59 at the intercostals Waterway and Homeport Marina.

Teresa and I ordered Lulu’s Famous Fish Sandwich Blacken with Lulu’s wow sauce and chips $12.95 with ice tea. Becky ordered grilled chicken quesadilla (jack cheddar cheese and sautéed peppers and onions served with Lulu’s sassy Salas and sour Cream) for $9.95 and Paula ordered Seafood Platter.

Teresa ordered appetizer of smoked Tuna Dip $7.95 (never seen the inside of a can) and she ordered Lula’s Favorite Margarita $10.00. (The margarita contained Sauza Tres Generaciones organic Tequila, patron Citronge orange liqueur, and five freshly squeezed limes.)  

Some local was singing and playing music, which Paula said she did not like.

We looked around in the gift shop; Becky bought Steve a tee shirt. We rode up to Tanger Outlet but did not get out. We then went to Wal-mart where I bought some strawberries, cool whip, bananas, and cake. 

Paula bought a Yahtzee game and when we arrived back to our condo, we played dominos and Yahtzee until about 10 P.M.

The wind had died down some and the neighbors were not quite so noisy.

Lulu's

Day 3: Tuesday, April 24, 2012

We sat around until about lunchtime. I ate leftovers from Lulu’s then we went to the beach.

Becky lay in the sand while Teresa, Paula, and I walked up the beach again almost to the pier. 

We dressed and rode over to Fort Morgan stopping to buy gas, which I paid for 36.70 at Chevron. We rode to the Goodwill Store where I bought a pair shorts and a top for $6.00.

Souvenir City of Gulf Shores 

We shopped at Souvenir City of Gulf Shores located at 217 Gulf Shores Parkway Gulf Shores, Al 36542 251-948-7280, Paula bought a dress. 

Bahamas Bobs Beach Side Café 

We at ate Bahamas Bobs Beach Side Café 601 West Beach Boulevard, Gulf Shores, and Al 251-948-2100. 

I ordered Coconut Shrimp $6.00 (Coconut fried shrimp appetizer five large shrimp fried in a coconut batter).

Paula ordered Island Sampler for everyone which included a combination of two fried cheese sticks, fried mushrooms and chicken tenders at a cost of $9.99.

Paula also order Fried Stripped Pangus, with steamed royal reds cost $13.99.

Teresa ordered a Char-grilled delight Tuna sandwich $9.99.

Becky ordered Stanial Cay Chicken Tenders fried golden brown and served with a delicious dipping sauce cost $6.99. 

We stopped at TCBY and we each ordered a Greek Yogurt.

Day 4: Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Today was our last day. 

We cleaned the rooms of any garbage, loaded the dishwasher, put dirty towels into laundry room, packed bags, I ate a bit of breakfast, loaded the car, locked room and put key back into key box. 

We left at about 9 A.M. stopping only for gas and to eat lunch at Wendy’s in Prattville, we were half way home.

I ordered Wendy’s hamburger and frosty, Becky and Paula ordered hamburger, fries, and drink. Teresa did not order anything. 

We arrived home about 3:30 P.M.
I always have fun with my siblings. 

    

My husband said that while I was gone the refrigerator ($1,115.00) stop working, the jacks stop working (270) and we needed new tires for RV (3,000) which we decided not to buy.

Cost for motor for jacks was $270.93 from HWH Corp Motor, which My husband installed.

Added oil into jacks. (Right front jack still will not work.) Hose for power Steering busted bought new hose at Alabama Hose products cost $27.47. Bought power steering fluid at Tri Cities Truck parts $88.00. 

Ordered part to fix refrigerator RV Cooling Unit Warehouse $1,115.00 that My husband has not fixed as of (6/2/2012) we had it shipped to Dixie Signs had to be shipped to business.

May 8, 2012, My husband moved RV to drive in front of house because we had concert poured cost $1,900 took from savings.

While sitting in front of house from Tuesday, May 8, 2012, to May Tuesday, May 15, 2012, I waxed the RV.

During this time, we had no direct TV or Internet; we watched a lot of movies. 

Growing up

Growing up 

We grew up in the country and two of my siblings and I went to a country school.

When we moved to the city, my siblings attended Brandon Elementary School and some attended the free Maud Lindsey Kindergarten.

My first and second-grade teacher was Mrs. Jones

She would start every morning by having the class recite the pledge of allegiance to the flag and then we would say a prayer.

Mrs. Jones had a word wheel that was full of beginner words that we practiced every day.

Our first readers were the Dick, Jane, and Sally Series.

Look, Dick, look, look, see Spot run.

Help, help, said Sally.

The best time of the school day was when our teacher released us to go outside, that is when all that built-up energy exploded into fun.

We would jump, run, hop, skip, and swing, no matter what the weather, hot, cold, snowing, raining, or even when the sun was shining brightly.

When the teacher called us to return inside, our energy was still boiling.

We would come running, all the while the teacher would be saying, DON’T RUN!

I can still remember that tragic day when my best friend and I came running into the building after being told to not run.

We were the last ones in line at the water fountain, and I can still remember how great, that cold water tasted.

The water only slowed us down for a few seconds, as down the hall we ran.

I was suddenly stopped, not by a teacher, but by a door, for I had run straight into the latch of the lunchroom door.

The next thing I knew I was on the floor blood running down my face.

I was taken to the first aid room, where a bandage was applied to a gash, which was above my left eyebrow.

You would have thought that an accident would have slowed me down, but think again.

  

As children growing up in the country, we had to make our own fun, and we had a very vivid imagination, our horses were made of sticks, and our boyfriends, were characters from the television shows that we watched.

A big screen tubed television set in a wooden cabinet, playing the black and white shows was our first.

We watched many westerns Gun Smoke, Bonanza, Have Gun Will Travel, and Maverick. My favorite show, which was not a western, was Adventures in Paradise.

Everyone detested the nights we had to watch the president make his speech because he was on every channel.

To get better reception, my dad had brought home a power line pole that he put our antenna on.

The Power pole had spikes staggering up it, which allowed him to walk up to the top.

My dad had to use a ladder to get to the first set of spikes, not sure if this was to keep us from climbing to the top or not.

When we were not watching television, we were outside, which was most of the time.

There were just a few neighborhood kids that lived nearby, that were close to our ages.

My friend, who was an only child, lived down the road from us with her parents, her grandparents lived next door, and her grandmother was Cherokee Indian.

My friend's parents had several detached buildings scattered around their home.

One of those buildings contained a variety of discarded bags of clothes, hats, purses, and shoes. 

We would go inside this building and dig through each bag, trying on different dresses, shoes, and hats, to find just the right one, that we would wear that day.

Our imaginations would take us to faraway places.

As, I would find myself, aboard a large schooner with Gardner McKay, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

A storm would be brewing, and our boat would be rocking back and forth, as the waves tossed us to and fore, which did not matter because I was standing to next a dark-skinned, browned-eyed, the man with his brown hair blowing in the wind.

We could always smell food cooking, coming from my friend's grandmother’s kitchen, and when she opened that screen door holding a plate of sugar cookies, we knew it was time for a break.

Her grandmother would call us and say, I have hot cookies and some fresh milk, and we would come running.

The older we got the more adventurous we became.

We played all the time in the forest but were told not to go near HORSESHOE BLUFF.

For some reason, we did not listen, and off we would go, walking along the cliffs and climbing down very tall trees to get to the base of the bluff.

We loved to watch the cascading waterfall, as we walked into the inclining bluff.

Such an enticing, dangerous place, where creatures could hide.

We could pretend to be cowgirls or Indian girls, that we're free to play wherever their hearts desired.

My imagination never stopped!

I would be swinging my legs back and forth pumping that swing higher and higher, stretching my legs upward towards the sky, and hoping just by chance maybe to touch the clouds. 

I would belt out a song that I had learned in church, while I was swinging. 

I felt like a bird as the words flew out of my mouth.

The big oak tree, held tight to the long cabled rope, as I twisted the rope tight as a tick and when the tension was released around I would go, getting drunk as a skunk.

What fun and I would do it repeatedly.

My dad was very inventive for he made us a go-cart. 

He used a wagon frame, a lawnmower motor, and a rope to make it work.

You would crank the Go-cart by pulling the string that was attached to the motor, but to turn it off, the spark plugs had to pull out.

There were more than enough hickory nuts to feed the forest animals and us.

We would grab several large paper sacks that were used to bring our groceries home, and take the grocery sacks into the woods, where we would fill them full, with hickory nuts of every size, kind, and variety that we could find.

We would return home with our nuts and find a good spot to crack them open, but first, we had to find two rocks, one to place the nut on, and another rock to hit the nut with.

We would retrieve one of the mother's large mixing bowls and fill the bowl full of cracked open nuts,

Then we would take the bowl full of nuts inside and pick the goodies out with the edge of a bobby pin.

In the early spring, when we knew we were going into town, we would get several paper sacks and fill them full with Polk salad and sell them in town.

Our house was built along the side of a hill; from our kitchen and bedroom windows, we could see for miles the forest.

In the distance, we could see a very large power line that looked like the kind that is used by Radio Station to pick up radio wave frequencies.

Our house was built by the sweat and brow of my parents, which took many years and was never completely finished, during the ten years that I lived there.

I can still see and feel the inside of our quaint spot on earth; which we called home, where we felt safe from the environment that surrounded us.

Our home began with just three rooms, but grew as we grew, from one bedroom into three.

Some of our walls were covered with sheetrock, while we walked on plank floors.

Our kitchen was filled with a long kitchen table, with just enough chairs for each of us to set in.

There was a stove, a refrigerator, a very large sink with cold water piped inside to our kitchen, and a very large bar for storage below and above.

The only plumbing inside our home was in the kitchen sink and that is where we would get our bathwater.

The water had to be boiled and poured into a very large tub, along with cold water which every child shared for a bath.

I remember once, sharing the tub with my bride doll, and after putting her head underwater, all her hair fell out. She no longer looked like a bride.

I guess raising eight children was not easy, especially when you put them to bed, only to be awakened by laughter and talking.

Very few cars drove by our house, so at night the only things that we could hear were the sounds outside.

We could hear the crickets rubbing their legs together, crooking of frogs, Junebugs, July-flies, owls hooting, wolfs howling, and sometimes we would hear the sound of a woman screaming, this was our mountain lion.

No curtains hang on our windows that face the forest; there was no need, what forest animal was going to peek inside?

Every now and then, the moon would peek inside; sometimes she would blink her eyes when the clouds covered them.

The fireflies could be seen throughout the forest as the night filled the sky.

2007 ~February 6-10 Working at the Rental Trade Show Atlanta, Georgia with siblings

2007, February 6-10 Atlanta, Georgia

Day 1: Tuesday, February 6, 2007

We left my house at 9:00 A.M. and we are traveling to Atlanta, Georgia. 

We took highway 72 to Athens, turned on to I-65 south toward Birmingham. 

We stopped at Burger King for lunch in Pell City just off I-20.

I ordered chicken strips, fries, and a coke; Becky and Teresa both ordered salads.

We got back on I-20 east headed to Atlanta for 139 miles. 

In Atlanta, we took exit 57 I-85, I-75 towards Chattanooga, Greenville for about 6 miles.

We were supposed to take GA-400 Buckhead, Cummings but we missed our turn off.

Spring Hill Suites Atlanta Buckhead 3459 Buckhead Loop NE Atlanta Georgia 30326 USA

We arrived at Spring Hill Suites hotel in Buckhead Cummings where we were staying.

We checked into the hotel, unpacked our luggage and went to eat dinner at On The Border Mexican Grill Restaurant, located at one Buckhead Loop NE Atlanta, GA 30326(404) 816-3171. The restaurant was located across the street from Spring Hill Suites (3459 Buckhead Loop NE Atlanta, GA 30326 1 404-844-4800). 

For dinner we split two Citrus Chipotle Chicken Salads; cheese dip, salsa chips, and each had lemon water to drink. 

On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina

Citrus Chipotle Chicken Salad consists of the following:

Pulled chicken breast tossed in fat-free mango citrus vinaigrette with peppers, red onions, tomatoes, corn, queso fresco, and crunchy jicama. 

Served atop fresh mixed greens. 

http://www.ontheborder.com/menu/appetizers

After we finished eating dinner, we all went back to our room, put on our swimsuits, and went down to the first floor where we all got into the hot tub for about 10 minutes, then we each walked on the treadmill for about 20 minutes.

We went back to our room, took a shower, and fell asleep watching the television.

Day 2: Wednesday, February 7, 2007

We went to the Georgia World Congress Center to set up at the Rental Trade Show, booth number 566.

We had to go to the yellow parking area to get a parking permit before we could unload the van and we were told that we had thirty minutes to unload the van. 

(The GWCC is located in downtown Atlanta at 285 Andrew Young International Blvd. NW, it is adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park, the Georgia Dome, CNN Center, and the Philips Arena. 

Georgia World Congress Center

Public transportation is serviced by the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center MARTA station).

I pulled the rolling display and Becky and Teresa carried the boxes of pens, pads, brochures, packets, etc. 

Teresa stayed with the booth while Becky and I went to fill the van up with gas. 

Becky pumps the gas but the machine does not give her a receipt so I walked inside where I got the receipt and three bottles of water and three bags of peanuts.

Becky and I return to the Rental Show and help Teresa finish setting up the booth. 

Then we walked up to the first level of the Conference Center to get badges and tickets for the uptown down-home, Atlanta at the Marriott Marquis, for tonight at 6:30 to 9:30 A.M.

Atlanta Marriott Marquis

Two tickets came with the cost of the booth and any additional tickets were $25.00 each and we needed one more ticket. 

Teresa had rented a vendor scanner and it had to be picked up at the Freeman Center.

Our booth was on the fourth level in the Party section. 

We finished setting up the booth and Teresa drove us back to Spring Hill Suites.

We dressed for the UPTOWN, DOWN HOME ATLANTA event, which was at the Marriott Marquis.  

We rode the bus, which took us an hour and a half to get downtown because of an accident and the work traffic. 

The bus driver carried us on a scenic route of downtown Atlanta to bypass the backed up traffic on the interstate. 

He pointed out Elton Johns’ and Janet Jacksons’ homes. 

He pointed out the tallest building in Atlanta, which was the Bank of America building, he also pointed out the coca-cola building and the largest Preservation Church in the US. (Cathedral of St Philip’s built-in 1846 located at Buckhead & North 2744 Peachtree RD NW.)

the Cathedral of St Philip

We arrived at the Marriott Marquis downtown Atlanta around 7:30 p.m. 

There were several different all you can eat food bars and a drink bar. 

I had two glasses of white zinfandel wine, and two glasses of coke. From the salad bar, I had a salad and a pecan bar with whipped cream and strawberries.  

A disk jockey was over the entertainment, who kept the excitement in the air and the audience was enchanted, even the small children were dancing.  

He came out dressed in women’s clothing, he had a big roll of tissue, which he started wrapping around the crowd of dancers and Teresa and I joined the crowd of dancers. 

We arrived back at the hotel at about 10:30 p.m., where I took a shower.

Day 3: Thursday, February 8, 2007 

We ate breakfast at Spring Hill Suites.  For breakfast, I ordered waffles with strawberry syrup, almonds, and raisins.

We took the bus downtown to the Georgia World Congress Center to the Rental Tradeshow and opened for business. 

We opened our booth number 5660 and we were ready for business.

Becky and I walked around to see what the other vendors had on display in the Party Show Rental area. 

At 1:30, Becky and Teresa went to pass out product information in the Heavy and Light Equipment Rental area. 

Instead of getting lunch, we snacked. 

I ate a small carrot cake for one point, and a small box of popcorn.

We met a couple from Iowa, Loren, and Jackie;  their booth was next to the restrooms.  

We had to rush upstairs to purchase tickets for the Aquarium before 5:00 pm where we each paid  $40.00 for our tickets and each of us was given a tote bag. 

We rode the bus back to Spring Hill Suites walked across the street to On The Border Mexican Grill Restaurant where we ate dinner.

We walked back to the hotel, took a shower, and went to bed.

Day 4: Friday, February 9, 2007 

In the hotel, I ate breakfast which was a muffin with an egg, sausage and drank water.

We rode the bus to the Rental Show downtown Atlanta and opened for business. 

We had about sixty people come by our boot and Teresa records their information with her Freeman scanner. 

We once again eat a snack for lunch of bagels, muffins, bananas, and apples.

At the end of the day, we took the Marta underground train back to Spring Hill Suites and 

Jackie, Loren, rode the Marta with us.

Atlanta Marta Train Transportation System

We had never taken the Marta and were unsure of the correct directions, we met a nice young man, who was going in the same direction as us, and he was kind enough to direct us where to get on and off the Marta. 

He was from New York so he was familiar with the subway systems.

We took the Marta to the first stop which was at Five Points, we got off and headed north to Spring Hill.

We had to walk up one level of stairs to get to the street.

Loren called the hotel for them to send a van, but our van had already come and gone.

Loren called the hotel again and we had to wait another fifteen minutes for the van to pick us up. The wind was blowing very hard and it was very cold.

We did not save any time riding Marta because we saw the bus go by, so traveling by the Marta was no better than traveling by bus.

We had time for a short rest break, and then we got ready to go downtown to the Georgia Aquarium where we will eat dinner and walk through the museum.

The first bus will run at 7:15 which we plan to take. 

This is a Semi-formal event and there will be several different buffets to choose from. 

We filled our plates two times with pasta, salads, chicken, garlic bread and a small dessert.  We walked through the Museum with our friends Loren and Jackie.  

Georgia Aquarium

We saw the Georgia Explorer, River Scout, coldwater Quest, Ocean Voyager, Tropical Diver, and the Depoe’s 3 D. 

The wonder show was closed and so was the gift shop. 

We walked through The Coldwater Quest where we saw Africa Penguins, Beluga Whales, sea otters, and sea lions. 

In the Ocean Voyager, we saw Whale Sharks and hammerhead sharks.

In the Georgia Explorer, we put our hands in the touch pools that were filled with a wall of fish and turtles. 

In the Tropical Diver area, we saw coral reefs and jellyfish. 

Day 5: Saturday, February 10, 2007

The next morning we loaded up the van with all our luggage and headed to the Rental Show for our final day of displaying. 

Teresa ate a sandwich for lunch and Becky and I ate snacks.

I went to the heavy and light equipment area to pass out ink pens, notepads, and business cards. 

Becky stayed to condense down our boxes and she began loading the van. 

We had everything loaded and left the parking lot by 2:20 P.M. 

We took interstate I-85 south to I-20 out of Georgia. 

We stopped in Pell City at Burger King where I order a whopper junior, fries, and coke. 

Hubby was waiting at McDonald's in Killen, Al to pick me up, we arrive at 6:15 pm.

Teresa drops Becky off at her house and she drives home, to meet her husband and family for they are going out to eat dinner.         

1960 ~ Trip to the Brimingham Zoo with my siblings Summer

Teresa was the baby of the family, about six months old with red curly hair that becomes very unruly when she gets too hot. 

While we were walking through the zoo, I remember hearing a woman saying to my mother, what a cute redheaded, baby girl you have.

I remember that being a very hot summer and we were all dressed in our shorts and short sleeve tops. 

My siblings ranged from the age of 10 years to six months. 

The Birmingham zoological park opened in 1955 it had 50 acres with six exhibits. 

“Monkey Island,” was filled with monkeys of all kinds, climbing, on rocks, swinging in trees, and just having fun. 

We spent several hours just watching the monkeys play.

There was an elephant house, a bear moat, a birdhouse, a snake pit, and a sealed pool.  

http://www.birminghamzoo.com

When we left the zoo, we stopped at a country store to buy lunch that was our dining out.

Dad would find a country store that carried stick bologna. 

He would have the store clerk slice just enough bologna for each of us kids to have a sandwich. 

He would also buy bread, potato chips, and sodas for our picnic.

Then we would search for a rest area that had picnic tables that were in the shade and that is where we would eat.

We did not have cell phones, Nintendo DS, or any handheld game to play.

Our games were made-up games.

We would read car tags, to see what state they were from. 

When we were growing up all tags looked the same except for the ID number; each state had its own unique color and motto.

Today many people own specialty car tags and when you see them you have no idea what county, state, or even country they are from.

Billboard watching and repeating the jingles of the advertisement was a fun game.

We did not fuss, fight, or complain while traveling as children do today because if we did our dad would stop the car break a limb off a tree, and whip us.

Teresa age 6

 my baby sister a few years later