2020 Jan 27, Enjoying a warm winter's day

It was so nice to finally see 👀the sun today, with a nip of cold air still about. I have not been out much because of the cold winter rain. 

I rode to the Rock Pile at TVA Dam hoping to see an eagle and maybe some waterfowl.

I saw a few waterfowl but no eagles. 

I meet  Steve Lovell a great photographer who has a website on Facebook where he posts some of his photographs.

TVA Dam & Waterfowl 

I stopped at the TVAM to view the art on display that was donated by Wanda and Bill Isom. 

Every room was filled with art that they had collected over the years. One room was filled with Japanese block art. 

The hall was filled with the art of birds. 

The Main gallery was full of large lithography of birds. 

In the back room was a variety of art including a Norman Rockwell piece and a Van Gogh piece. 

Loved the displays.

White Muted Swan

Canadian Geese 

Domestic geese

My next stop was Spring Park ( Growing up I spent many hours playing at this park).

Spring Park has a man-made waterfall that is fed by a spring that flows into the pond below. 

Permanent residents are two Muted White Swans.

Other waterfowl that can be found here are Black Muscovy Ducks, White  Muscovy Ducks, Domestic Ducks, Mallard Ducks, Canadian Geese, and others. 

A Great place to get pictures of waterfowl. 

We had a lot of rain this year and Spring Park was flooded. A couple of rides were completely covered in water and are no longer in use.  

My granddaughter-in-law owns a beauty school in Sheffield so I stopped in to visit with her and my great-grandson. Hayne is just a doll, so cute, lovable, and sweet. 

Big Box of Chicken and fixin' from Bojangles

Hubby would be home from work soon so I stopped at Bojangles to pick up a box of chicken and the fixings for supper. 🍗

It was a beautiful day not too hot or not too cold. 

Hope we have more days like today.

2016 Nov 26, Christmas Adventue

A fun day with my sister-in-law.

Our first stop was the Athens Christmas tree trail but they had only decorated one Christmas tree, too early for all the trees to be decorated.

My throat was dry so we stopped at Chick-fil-a where I bought a large Ice tea. 

Our next stop was the Tinsel Trail at Big Spring Park, where we saw a variety of differently decorated trees.

Not sure how many trees but I took over 300 pictures. 

Grover from Sesame Street

The sun was bright but it was cold in the Shade. 

Several times we would come out of the shade into the sun just to warm up. 

We walked through Tinsel Trail twice to make sure we did not miss any trees. 

We watched the ducks and fish swimming in the canal.

On our travels, we rode past Huntsville Hospital and the nearby shops. 

From Governor's Drive, we took I-565, exiting onto Old Madison Pike and stopping at Bridge Street Centre.

I parked near Book-a-million, and we used their restrooms. 

In the restroom, I met a woman from Madison, and we began a conversation.

I told her about touring the Tinsel Trail and all the beautiful Christmas Trees. 

We talked for another 15 minutes after we left the restroom. 

My sister-in-law had never visited Bridge Street Town Centre.

We walked to the large man-made pond to see the Christmas displays and carousels. 

We stopped at Piper & Leaf Artisan Tea booth to taste the four different samples Cherry Christmas, Caramel Apple Pie, Mistle Grove, and Pumpkin Moonshine Tea. 

 Piper & Leaf Artisan Tea booth

At Piper & Leaf Artisan Tea booth I laughed, and said did the Pumpkin have real moonshine in it?

The young man said you can add your own, then we both laughed. 

My favorite sample was the Caramel Apple Pie.

We stopped to see the Large Christmas tree near Monaco Theater.

In front of the Christmas tree was a young girl singing Christmas Carols and children were running along the water edge. 

We listened to a couple of songs and walked back to the car. 

Large Christmas tree near Monaco Theater.

We rode to  Historic Madison to drive past the Christmas Card Trail. Large handmade Cards are displayed in front of historic homes in Madison. 

We were too tired to walk the trail.  I snapped pictures of the Cards as I slowly drove past. 

On our travel home, we stopped at Chick-fil-a in Athens. I ordered a kid's two-piece chicken meal to-go. My sister-in-law had to wait for her food because they were preparing large trays of orders to go. 

We were headed west going home with the sun shining in our eyes. 

The thermometer in my car read 56 degrees. 

Had a great day with my sister-in-law, the traffic was light. 

This was Saturday after Thanksgiving, so I  guess everyone went shopping on Black Friday. Glad we did not go on an adventure yesterday. 

Tinsel Trail at Big Spring Park is located near the YMCA in Huntsville. 

Across the street is the rest of Big Spring Park which is under Construction.

We heard Christmas music playing through loudspeakers overhead as we walked through Tinsel Trail. 

It was a gorgeous day and I needed the long walk in the park, after all the Thanksgiving food. 

It was a bit on the nippy side but as the day progressed it warmed up but still needed a light jacket, especially in the shade. 

Was home by 3:30PM.  November 26, 2016

2017 May 16, Tuesday, Day Trip to Huntsville, Alabama

Hubby and I rode to Tennessee to buy our bi-monthly lottery tickets. Hubby went inside scanned his tickets and came back to the van. 
He said I forgot my wallet do you have any cash? I had enough money to buy the tickets $28
We had an appointment at Champion Chrysler Dodge to get the oil changed in our Town and country in Athens at 11AM.
We had to ride back home to get his wallet.
We stopped in Elgin for B-12 shots and just made our 11AM appointment at Champion.

They finished our van but the oil light was still on. 
Hubby went back inside and told them, they had forgotten to reset the oil. 
The woman came out and tried she said the floor mat was too close to the gas peddle and was not letting it reset. 

Had to sit in the Slingshot sitting in the Showroom 

We rode to Huntsville, and our first stop was the Huntsville Train Depot/Museum.  The park area was open but the museum was closed. 
There was a school group visiting the park and earlier that morning there was a Civil War Re-Enactment there were still tents standing in the open field. 
We walked into the Museum store, Caboose, and Train Engine.
Huntsville Depot Museum Hours
Wednesday -Saturday 10-3PM 
Gates Open 
Monday - Sunday year-round 9-5PM
As we were leaving a train came rattling down the tracks.

The Huntsville Alabama Depot Museum 

Standing in the Engine Room 

Civil War Camps

Passenger Depot
Huntsville Alabama
Built 1860
Memphis and Charleston Railroad Company
Eastern Division headquarters in this passenger Depot,
Adjoining yards and shops were captured by the Union Army on April 11, 1861.
Vital east-west Confederate rial link served, CSA soldiers imprisoned here.
The depot was later used by Federals as a base for gathering supplies for Western Theater
military operations. After the Civil War returned to M & CRR Co
acquired by Southern Railway System in 1898, since1971
preserved by the City of Huntsville. 

The main reason for coming to Huntsville was to see the newly renovated Big Spring Park.
There is a concrete walkway around the reshaped lagoon, where the water flows so it can clean itself. 
There are park benches along the walkway, but no trees, (so it will be hot during the summer).
You can walk right up to the water's edge. We saw children leaning into the pond feeding the goldfish and ducks. 
We walked along the water's edge and the fish and ducks followed us. 
I saw a young man feeding the fish.
I made the comment I was going to buy some food but my hubby did not have any change. 
The young man gave me a quarter, I thanked him and I bought a quarter's worth of seeds. 
The fish and ducks gobbled the food right up.

Goldfish and ducks feeding 

Big Spring Park Oriental Bridge 

Newly reshaped lagoon

Fountain 

Kids feeding fish and ducks

Huntsville Art Center 

We rode south on Whitesburg Drive to Airport Road then onto Parkway stopping at 
Rosie's Mexican Cantina for a late lunch.
We ordered a white chip dip and shared a Chicken Fajita. 
Rosie's Mexican Cantina on South Parkway has a beautiful garden full of blooming flowers.

Rosie's Mexican Cantina Garden 

Rosie's Mexican Cantina Garden 

Rosie's Mexican Cantina Garden 

Rosie's Mexican Cantina Garden (Singing and playing Minstrels 

Parkway South is under construction (turning it into six lanes).

Road Construction on South Parkway 

Road Construction on South Parkway 

Road Construction on South Parkway 

We rode to Ditto Landing and saw a few geese, boats, and bridges.

Gaggle of Geese

Bridge Closed at Ditto Landing 

We rode down Drake Avenue to RSA where we filled up with gas and saw a few geese. 
We were home a little after 5PM
My granddaughter had been texting me all day wanting to know when we were coming home.
My granddaughter, her daughter, and a friend came over around 5:30PM to swim.
I did not get into the pool because I was too tired.

2010 April 11, Sunday, History is fun with Grandkids

Sunday morning I took four of my grandchildren to town. It was a beautiful spring day with flowers blooming every. 
We stopped at Wilson Park, the trees were filled with beautiful full pink flowers. 
Water was spouting into the air while droplets were falling back into the fountain. When the wind blew the water would fall on us. 

Wilson Park Fountain

Granddaughters near the flowering trees

Grandson at the Bank 

We walked across the street to take a picture of the Bank that was built as a replica of the Forks of Cypress. My grandson posed for me as I told them about the history of the Forks of Cypress.

We walked down Mobile Street stopping to look at the display window The House of Heroes, a comic book store. 

The House of Heroes

We continued walking down South Court Street stopping in front of the Courthouse.

Grandsons at Courthouse

We walked up North Court Street stopping to take a picture of the horse sculpture

 horse sculpture

We continued walking up North Court Street stopping to take pictures.

Measuring the width of the tree

Stopping for a picture

Finally, we reached UNA and walked across the bridge just off Pine Street.

Crossing the bridge

The grandkids joined arms together and begin singing Follow the Yellow Brick Road. 

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

We stopped to see the sculptures of Romeo and Juliet.

My grandson with Juliet 

We stopped to see the lions UNA and LEO.

Leo & UNA 

We walked to the entrance of UNA and then walked back to Wilson Park.

The University of North Alabama 

We loaded into the van and rode to Spring Park in Tuscumbia where the grandkids enjoyed feeding the ducks. 

Grandkids feeding the ducks

They played on the playgrounds.

Playing on the equipment on the playgrounds

Grandsons at Stage Coach Stop 

We walked down to the waterfalls so the kids could play in the water and to take a few pictures.

Grandson at the falls

Grandkids playing in the water
We walked up to the Stage Coach Stop at the top of the hill of Spring Park a historic site

View of Spring Park from the top of the hill.I had a wonderful time with the grandkids. We went to Wilson & Spring Parks, we walked in downtown Florence to UNA and back to Wilson Park.
Learning can be fun. 

We went home and I grilled hamburgers. 

2010 October 11, Monday, Jack Daniels Distillery Lynchburg, Tennessee

This was our trip to Lynchburg, TN to the Jack Daniels Distillery. 

My husband slept late and we did not leave until about 9:30 A.M. we arrived in Fayetteville, Tn, at 11 A.M. stopping at Honeys Bar and Grill to eat lunch. 

Honeys Bar and Grill

I ordered a slaw hamburger and my husband ordered a regular hamburger, onion rings and we both ordered ice tea with lemon. 

I took pictures of the Lincoln County Courthouse,CSA markers, two cannons that were brought here from Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay, the war memorial, and the old Lincoln Theater. 

Lincoln Theater. 

Lincoln County Courthouse, CSA markers, two cannons 

We then headed down highway 64 east to Lynchburg, Tennessee. 

We met two couples from Ohio driving a Chrysler town and country just the same color and year model as the one we were driving. The driver laughed and said, “ I hope you guys do not get mixed up in which van you are driving.” I laughed and said, “I sure we would notice that the tag is from Ohio.”

We parted ways and headed to the visitor’s center where we got tickets to go watch a movie about the life of Jack Daniels and the start of Jack Daniel Whiskey.

The movie had already started and the room was pitch black so I sat in the first set that she could fit into. My husband squeezed next to me and I could here his heart beat with every breath he took and the man next to me I leaned over and said I am sorry if I am too close but it is dark in here and I was afraid to move.

After the movie, we were ushered outside into a small bus and were carried to the top of the hill where the tour began.

We were all asked to line up for a group picture, which could be downloaded, from the Internet free of charge a few days later. 

I was telling my husband that years ago you had to actually walk up that hill, and the woman behind me said she remember that. 

The area where we got off the bus was the charcoal area and our tour guide Jesse James ask if anyone wanted whiskey sprayed onto their arm. Several said yes and boy was it strong.

The guide explained about the making of whiskey but I was a too busy taking picture of everything.

We followed him to the spring from where all the water is used in making of the whiskey. The water came from a spring inside the cave. The cave becomes smaller the futher back,  until it becomes a small hole.

Jack Daniels Tour 

Jack Daniels Tour at the spring

Jack Daniels Tour standing next to Jack

Jack Daniels Tour relaxing 

Jack Daniels Tour sitting on the wall

Mr. James took pictures of several people in our group, each with their own cameras.

We were then taken to the old office of Mr. Jack Daniels where we were told the story about the safe.

Jack Daniel got up early one morning and went to his office. Jack needed to get into his safe but forgot the combination. Jack got angry and kicked the safe with his foot, breaking his toe.

His toe got infected, had to be removed, later his foot, then his leg and later he died. 

Jack Daniel was only 5feet 2inches tall, not a very big man.

There were several pictures hanging in the office, and old potbelly stove, and in one room was the grain used in making Jack Daniel Whiskey, Rye, Wheat, and Corn.

We walked to the brewing house where the brewing machines were shut down for the yearly cleaning. 

We went threw several buildings up and down several flights of stairs. 

The last building we went through was the barrelhouse. This is where the whiskey is stored until it is sold. The whiskey that was stored on the bottom was the best whiskey, because it does not get as hot. 

We were told the story about Moore County being a dry county and how Jack got started making whiskey. Jack never married and left his distillery to his favorite nephew Lem Motlow. 

Motlow was the brains behind the making a success of the name Jack Daniels.

Barrel of Jack

Motlow House 

After the tour, we were given a glass of ice-cold lemonade. (Very good)

We toured the museum taking pictures and then we went outside to take some more pictures.

We walked down to a bridge connecting the distillery to the small historic town of Lynchburg, Moore Co., Tennessee. 

I walked across the bridge while my husband stayed behind waiting for me. I walked around the town taking pictures of the courthouse, Moore County marker, veteran’s marker, and several stores. 

As we were leaving, I took a picture of Lem Motlow old home place.

We headed west to Winchester Tennessee where we stopped to take a few pictures.

Driving thru Winchester 

Oldham Theater in Winchester Tennessee

We then headed toward Huntsville the long way. My husband stopped along the highway (Davey Crockett Hwy/64 hwy.) so I could take pictures of John Ruch, Kentuck, Polly Crockett, Jesse Bean, and Falls Mill all in Belvidere, Tennessee.

We then rode through New Market stopping to take pictures of the Skirmish of Limestone Road, The Town of New Market, and Buckhorn Tavern.

2 miles NW on Old Limestone Road during a Skirmish August 5, 1862
Federal General Robert L McCook was killed by men of Capt Frank Gurley's Confederate unit. In retalation the Federal forces burned and pillered the area. 

We stopped at Cheaders in Huntsville to eat supper. I ordered a Caesar salad, taco soup (mostly whole tomatoes) and ice tea. My husband ordered grilled shrimp, ribs, and a couple of sides. 

I was not impressed with the fool. 

We stopped at T&T Grocery to get gas and then home. I uploaded my pictures onto the computer and then to Flickr. 

Ready for my next day trip. Where will it be?