2023 Oct 28, Pumpkinfest Franklin, TN, and Trick Treat Killen Park with Ava & River

 It's been a hectic day. 

This morning we stopped at Jack's for breakfast they were short-handed so we had to wait longer than usual. 

Then we rode to  Franklin, TN to their Pumpkinfest no parking we had to pay $10 to park.

Very Large Pumpkin 

It was super hot and very crowded so we only stayed a couple of hours.  We walked down Main Street and a couple of side streets. There were several bands playing music. Mums and Pumpkins decorated the street. Food filled the air. Rides and fun for the Children. 

Hubby collected a bag of treats which we gave some to the grandkids.

Williamson County's First Taxi

Our big treat was finding the Williamson County Archives Museum. It had several rows of quilts made by locals. Military Room, History of Williamson County, Civil War Artifacts, Displays of an Old School Room, Doctor's Office, Dress Shop, Barber Shop, Country Store, etc. We saw a horse-drawn carriage by Harry March in Franklin’s First Taxi.

We saw where the body of a headless Col Shy once lay in a busted open casket. An article The Curious Case of Col Shy’s Casket. The headless body was unidentified. 

Outside was a Civil War Canon. 

The Curious Case of  Col. Shy's Casket 

Canon 

We stopped at Publix in Spring Hill to get some chicken wings from their deli and also pick up a few other items.  

We stopped in Lawrenceburg at Long Silvers for a plate of fish and chicken. 

Came home and ate a late lunch. 

Fun Began in Halloween Manor 

Criminals 

Ava, the killer Jason Voorhees, and the Evil Clown Pennywise

Picked up Ava and River around 4:30 and took them to Killen Park for their Trunk n Treat. 

Ava dressed up like Wednesday from the Adams Family and River was a Ninja Turtle. 

We got there a little early so we let them play in the playground area. People started lining up so we got in line. 

It was a long line behind us. We walked through the gate of Halloween Manor that is when the fun began. 

The kids got lots of candy, a fireman’s hat, coloring books, and safety books. They got their pictures taken with Inflatable pumpkins, at the Shriners Hillbilly Jeep, With Hocus Pocus, with Dept of Eye Care,  Jason Voorhees, and Pennywise the Dancing Clown.

Making Slime 

Their Treats end with making Slime. Put in a bag and taken home. 

They did a great job by only letting a few kids at a time go into the park. 

The kids had a great time.

2023 April 29, Decatur Historic Homes and Garden Walking Tours

April 29: Garden Tour, led by the Historic Decatur Association 

The public is invited to a peak into some of the residents’ private gardens. The tour begins at Westminster Presbyterian Church, located at 801 Jackson St, SE.

 We had a large crowd for the Garden Walking tour in Decatur. 

Large Crowd from different towns

Everyone met at the Westminster Presbyterian Church 801 Jackson St SE. Decatur.  

Westminster Presbyterian Church 801 Jackson St SE. Decatur.

We learned the history and architectural structure of several different homes.

We finished our walk at Delano Park where there were beautiful roses in bloom.

After the guided tour everyone disbursed.

Pink roses at Delano Park 

 

This young girl set up a Lemonade Stand.
 It was a hot day and we purchased a glass. 

From 11-3PM, we tour 9 personal gardens. 3 Gardens were on Sherman St., 2 on Gordon Dr, 1 on Jackson St., and 1 on Cherry Street. 1 on Line St. and 1 on Oak St. There was someone at each location to greet us and tell us about their garden.

On the first garden tour, we saw these beautiful red lilies.

Fish Pond 

Beautiful Yellow Flower

This garden was like having a forest in your backyard.
There was a Bird Feeder, a greenhouse, walkways and so much more.

There was a story about how this statue came to this garden but I don't remember 

After the Garden tour, we enjoyed a nice lunch at Mellow Mushroom in Decatur. We ordered a small Maui Wowie on Stone Ground Crust Pizza. It was delicious.

A small Maui Wowie on Stone Ground Crust Pizza.

2021 Aug 10, Cheekwood Botanical Gardens Nashville, Tennessee

Hubby and I traveled the backroads to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens in Nashville, TN via Natchez Trace getting off at the Leipers Fork exit. Hubby parked the car near the entrance and showed the girl at the ticket counter our online tickets.

Pink LEGO Dog 

The first thing we saw as we entered the gardens was a big pink dog made out of Lego blocks. We walked down a long winding sidewalk down several sets of steps to the Train Exhibit, inspired by the Little Engine Who Could.

In front of us was a couple with a very independent little girl with a head full of curls, who was about the age of 2 or three years of age. What a magical place as you enter the land of trains and Fairy mushroom villages. The train exhibit was built of rough timbers and five train tracks totaling over 800 feet of track. As we walked through we saw trains going over bridges and through tunnels, we were in a magical land of trains.

We saw beautiful yellow lilies floating in the lily ponds. We saw pink, orange, white, and red roses busted with life in the Rose Study Garden.

Roses

We saw art pieces made of musical notes made of wire. We saw many Yellow and Black swallowtails on the butterfly bushes.

Yellow Swallowtail 

We saw a red lion, a zebra, a blue bear, colorful birds, a red turtle, a green lawnmower, and a man working in the garden, all made out of Legos. Also, LEGO rabbits were spotted throughout the Bradford Robertson Color Garden. We walked around the mansion, but not inside. Workers were repairing the pool in front of the Mansion in the Martain Boxwood Gardens.

Cheekwood Mansion 

There were waterfalls, ponds, and creeks running through the gardens. We did visit the Art Bark exhibit, which was crayon sculptures by Nashville artist Herb Williams. Inside the visitor center were restrooms, drink machines, and a beautiful rose LEGO sculpture. We took a break to cool off, drink a soda, and use the restrooms before beginning our journey home, We did not walk the entire gardens but had a wonderful time. We traveled home along the backroads this time taking a different route. We came out in Columbia, TN. We got a late lunch of fish at Long John Silvers and took it home.

2021 April 3, Florence Cemetery Walking Tour, UNA, McFarland Park, Wilson Dam, & Ava Florence, Alabama

The tour will begin at 705 East College Street led by Harry Wallace. The tour of the Florence Cemetery established in 18181 features many unique headstones and famous gravesites among the rolling hills and towering trees. 

The cemetery contains the graves of many early settlers, two governors, prominent leaders and families, and many unknown CSA soldiers.

Harry Wallace our guide

Blooming Cherry Trees 

McFarland Par 

After the walking tour, I stopped at Wilson Park to see the blooming cherry trees. 

Next, I went to UNA to see the newly remodeled fountain. There were people there taking pictures for Graduation. Leo the lion was basking in the sun and he roared several times. Normally he just lays quietly but today he must have been hungry.

LEO the Lion at UNA

Fountain at UNA 

Ava riding her car 

I rode to McFarland Park and stopped for a few pictures. The River was down compared to what it had been but still was peeking at the banks. One side of the park was closed because of flooding. There were a lot of people at the park, people were parked everywhere even on the banks of the road. 

I stopped at River Heritage Park and walked to see the floodgates at Wilson Dam. The Tennessee River was raging through. 

On my way home I stopped to check on my son Mike he had surgery on his back. He was outside with his brother Andy. Ava came outside and was riding her car. Saw a Yellow Monarch Butterfly landing on the yellow dandelions. 

I had a very interesting day.

2021 April 17, Mooresville Walking Tour and Huntsville Botanical Gardens

It was a great turnout at Mooresville for I had to park along the side of the road and walk several blocks.

 We began at the Post Office which closed at 10 AM so if you wanted to go inside you had to be there by 9:45 AM.

 We saw a couple of churches, a tavern, and several homes, and our guide talked about the history of the small town. 

We saw a beautiful little cottage that is now Lyla’s Little House of Mooresville. “All the sweet that’s fit to eat!”

Stage Coach Stop 

Lyla’s Little House of Mooresville

Brick Church

The brick church had been owned by several different denominations but was now owned by the town and used for weddings and town hall meetings. We walked inside the Brick Church the Post Office and the Tavern. Our guide passed out several booklets on Historic Mooresville's Bicentennial Est 1818 but ran out. It was a nice day for the tour a little cool but warmed up quickly. I left before it ended because I couldn't hold it in any longer. I stopped at Cracker Barrel in Madison to use the restroom. 

 My next stop was the Botanical Gardens. I first went to the Butterfly house and saw one butterfly, a few turtles, and several children. I was so thirsty that I bought an orange crush drink and finished it off before I left the gardens. 

 Walked through the Children's Garden to the newly built Birdwatching building. Meet a man there who was building a new home and was getting ideas for his lawn. (shrubs, flowers, and such). Had a nice relaxing visit to the Huntsville Botanical Gardens?

Field of Wildflowers

Squirrel

I strolled through the wooded area along the paths less taken. I saw several Robin Redbreast, rabbits, and squirrels. As I was walking near the pond I saw lots of turtles sunbathing. Yellow and White Wildflowers were blooming everywhere they were so pretty. I also walked through the herb garden.

 I had a great day but was tired from all that walking and I still had to drive an hour or more home.

2002-2019, Trolley, Strolls and Walking Tours

2002 Jun 3,  Henry Pigeon Key Trolley Express Marathon, Fl 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMiuKeKbIr8

2002 Jun 4,  Old Town Trolley Tour Key West, Fl

2004 May 25, Backlot Tour Disney MGM 

2006 Jul 9,  Scenic Boat Tour Winter Park, Fl

2009

2009 Jun 6,  Walking tour Wood Ave. Florence, AL Lee Freeman

2009 Jun 13, Walking Tour Seminary St Florence, AL with Billy Warren

The North Court Street and Seminary street Tour will feature Rogers Hall, Coby Hall, the Governor O'Neal Home, Connor Place, Wakefield, the Robert Dean Martin Home, the Medical Arts Building Pope's Tavern, two Sears & Roebuck houses, and many other homes.

2009 Jun 20, Walking Tour Florence Cemetery AL.with Harry Wallace

2009 Jun 27, Forks of Cypress Walking Tour Florence, AL Harry Wallace

The Forks of Cypress Plantation was one of the oldest Antebellum mansions in Alabama. It was built in 1822 by James Jackson, one of the first settlers in Lauderdale County and a friend of Andrew Jackson & Jackson Cemetery

2009 Sep 7, Walking Tour with Outlaw Tom Clark Florence, AL with Lee Freeman

2009 Oct 18, Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll Huntsville, AL 

The lives of over 65 notables buried in Maple Hill have been carefully researched, remembered, and told by volunteers. Five governors and soldiers from every war will be remembered, as well as outstanding citizens and those of some notoriety who shaped Huntsville's future.

2009 Oct 25, Ghost Walking Tour Florence, AL Deborah Glass

2009 Nov  7, Hiking in the Dismals Red Bay, Al 

2009 Dec 17, Calvary Fellowship Church Walking Tour Florence, Al

2009 Dec 17, Wood Avenue Church of Christ Walking Tour Florence, Al  

2009 Dec 17, First Presbyterian Church Walking Tour Florence, Al 

2009 Dec 17, First United Methodist Church Walking Tour Florence, Al

2009 Dec 17, Trinity Episcopal Church Walking Tour Florence, Al

2009 Dec 6,  Christmas Mooresville, AL Walking Tour w/Madison, Marcus 

2010 

2010 Mar 22, Walnut Street Walking Tour Florence, AL Billy Warren  The Walnut Street Historic District boasts tree-lined sidewalks, diverse architecture, and elegant homes.

2010 May 10, Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll Huntsville, AL

Favorite characters Tallulah Bankhead and Mollie Teal drew their typical large crowds as Bankhead, the legendary actress, visited her mother's grave and Teal, a madam whose establishment became the first Huntsville Hospital, discussed her life.

Volunteer Jan Dorning also drew a large crowd as Elizabeth Dale Gibbons Flanagan Jeffries High Brown Routt, known as the "Black Widow of Hazel Green." Her second of six husbands is buried in the cemetery.

2010 Jun 5,  Walking Tour of Homes Huntsville, AL 

2010 Jun 12, Delano Walking Tour Decatur, AL 

2010 Aug 12, Historic Edenton, N.C. Trolley Tours

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VUyh8bypwA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkDGLI6aYnM

2010 Oct 10, Maple Cemetery Stroll HUNTSVILLE, AL

2012

2012 Sep 13, Freedom Trail Guided Tour Boston, MA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdJx_nMi5XM

2013

2013 Apr 6,  Walking Tour Tuscumbia, AL 

2013 Apr 13, Walking Tour Homes and Earth Day Sheffield, AL Jimmy Austin 

2013 Apr 20, Walking Tour Walnut Street Florence, AL Billy Warren

2013 Oct 13, Maple Hill Cemetery stroll Huntsville, AL 

Highlights from the Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll presented by the Huntsville Pilgrimage Association and the City of Huntsville. This year's characters highlighted are Maria Howard Weeden, COL Daniel R. Hundley, Thomas Freeman, Sheriff Stephen Neal, Susan Bradley Johnson, and Mammy Chapman. Portrayers include J.W. Kennedy, Jon Stieglitz, Claire Aiello, Dr. Patricia Sims, Linda Wright Riley, and James Henley. The Stroll is the effort of the HPA to restore headstones, monuments, and memories of the historic Maple Hill Cemetery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_EiU-xQlRE

2013 Oct 19, Walking Tour Rogersville, AL 

2013 Nov 16, Walking Tour Civil War Florence, Al (Lee Freeman)

2013 Dec 18, Callaway Gardens Trolley Tour Pine Mountain, Ga

2014

2014 Apr 5,  Walking Tour North Montgomery Sheffield, AL Homes of prominent people of Sheffield. Jimmy Austin 

2014 Jul 20, Walking Tour Lovecraft College Hill Providence, RI

2014 Nov 15, Footsteps of the Blue & Gray Walking Tour Florence, AL (Lee Freeman)

2015

2015 Apr 11, Walking Tour Tuscumbia & Car Show AL

2015 Apr 18, Walking Tour Major Samuel Jones Tuscumbia & Civil War 

Trolley Tour Florence, AL

2015 Apr 25, Walking Tour Tuscumbia Oakwood Cemetery AL

2015 May 9,  Trolley Tour Fame, Music Hall of Fame, 3614 Swamper (Judy Hood)

2015 Jun 27, Tuscumbia Tour & Music Church of Helen Keller

2015 Nov 28, Trolley Tour Biloxi, MS

2016

2016 Apr 9,  Historic Downtown Square Walking Tour Athens, AL

2016 Apr 16, Walking Tour UNA Campus Florence, AL Thomas Hale 

The Historic University of North Alabama campus tour will feature iconic buildings such as Wesleyan Hall which pre-dates the Civil War and the Memorial Amphitheater which is a memorial to UNA students who served in the military during war. A tour of UNA’s campus would not be complete without stopping by to see the impressive habitat of the university’s lion mascots. The tour will be led by Thomas Hale.

2016 Apr 23, Historic Home TROLLEY Tour South Pittsburg, TN (Cornbread festival)

2016 Apr 17, Historic Athens Cemetery Stroll ATHENS, AL The event is presented by the Athens-Limestone County Tourism, Order of the Confederate Rose, and Sons of the Confederate Veterans.

2016 Jun 25, Walking Tour Tuscumbia & Church

2016 July 23, Up From Slavery Trolley Tour with Lee Freeman

This will be an educational and entertaining tour that will include stops at historically African American churches, schools, and local businesses.

2017

2017 Apr 1,  Historic Beaty District Walking Tour Athens, AL with Billy Ward 

2017 Apr 8,  Historic Houston District Walking Tour Athens, AL

2017 Apr 15, Church Walking Tour Decatur, AL  with Phil Wirey

2017 Apr 22, Larimore House Florence, Al Walking Tour with Billy Warren

2017 Apr 23, Athens City Cemetery Stroll Athens, AL The event is presented by the Athens-Limestone County Tourism, Order of the Confederate Rose, and Sons of the Confederate Veterans.

Many local, well-known faces will be partaking in the storytelling during the day’s event including Billy Ward, Dr. Robert Glenn, Karen Middleton, Rebekah Davis, Deborah Kohlase, Glenn Hall, Peggy Allen Towns, Frank Travis, and many more.  Citizens throughout North Alabama have answered the call to bring Limestone County’s history to life.

2017 Apr 29, Historic Bank Street Decatur, Al

2017 Dec 10, Bethlehem Walk Mable Hill Baptist Church Ardmore, Al

Children, and adults, will enjoy the live menagerie of animals and all ages will appreciate the story from the actors who clad themselves in robes, headdresses, armor, and leather who pause to tell the tale to travelers. 

2018 

2018 Apr 7,  Wilson Park, Federal Courtroom, Kennedy-Douglas Walking Tour Florence, Al Billy Warren

2018 Apr 21, Decatur Veterans Dedication at Train Depot Decatur, Al

2018 Apr 28, Walking Tour Athens State University Library, Delmore Museum and Founders Hall Athens, Al

2018 Aug 7,  Trolley Tour Little Rock, Arkansas

2028 Nov 3, Fork of Cypress Tour with Harry Wallace

2018 Nov 4,  Athens City Cemetery Stroll Athens, AL

2019

2019 Apr 6,  Sheffield, AL Walking Tour of Historic Homes Jimmy Austin The free tour begins at 10 a.m. at Sheffield City Hall, 600 N. Montgomery Ave. The 2-hour tour will focus on historic homes along Montgomery Ave. 

2019 Apr 27, Historic Downtown Walking Tour Sheffield, AL Jimmy AustinThe free tour begins at 10 a.m. at Sheffield City Hall, 600 N. Montgomery Ave. The 2-hour tour will focus on historic commercial buildings along Montgomery Ave. 

2019 May 23, Trolley Tour Faith of our Fathers Churches Tuscumbia, Al

2019 May 25, Music Trolley Tour Sheffield with Colbert Tourism "We Rock the World" Muscle Shoals Sound, Cypress Moon, & Earl Montgomery Museum (Colbert Tourism)

2019 Oct 19, Finding Huntsville, AL Walking Tour with Carol Cordori

2021

2021 Apr 3,  Florence, AL Cemetery Walking Tour with Harry Wallace 

The tour of the Florence City Cemetery, established in 1818, features many unique headstones and famous grave sites among the rolling hills and towering trees. Florence City Cemetery contains graves belonging to early settlers, two former governors in the O'Neal family, along with other prominent community leaders and families.  

2021 Apr 10, Sheffield, AL  Downtown Walking Tour Jimmy Austin 

The April 10 and 24 tours will focus on businesses along Montgomery Avenue south of City Hall.

2021 Apr 17, Mooresville, Alabama Walking Tour with Shirley or Susan Mooresville is the oldest town in Alabama with the oldest post office still in operation. Participants can tour the six streets of homes and see the famous 1818 Farm. The entire 1-square-mile town of Mooresville is on the National Historical Registry.

2021 Apr 24, Donnell House Athens, Alabama Tour Built-in 1845, it served as the headquarters for Union Colonel Ivan Turchin during the infamous Sack of Athens in 1862 guide Alice Tiller 

2021 May 31, Wildflower Hike Joe Wheeler with Sam Woodford JWSP

2021 Sep 16, Paw Paw Patch Hike Joe Wheeler JWSP Sam Woodford

2021 Oct 15, Mushroom Hike Joe Wheeler JWSP Sam Woodford

2022

2022 Jan 15, First Day Hike Joe Wheeler Multi-Use Trail JWSP Sam Woodford

2022 Feb 19, Multi-Purpose Hike Joe Wheeler JWSP Sam Woodford

2022 Apr 9,  Moulton, Alabama Walking Tour (Marvin Jackson,  Nita Marlboro led the discussion at Rosenwald School, Lela Reeves at Freeman Tabernacle, Louise Jackson at Byler Road Church of Christ, and Carolyn Fletcher guided the tour to Smith Chapel)

2022 Apr 16, Decatur, AL Cemetery Walking Tour with Phil Wirey

Oakwood Cemetery, locally known as the Decatur City Cemetery, has been the final repository of Decatur’s culture and history since 1855. The approximately fifty-acre burial ground, founded by the Calvin Brown family, a family which has laid to rest five generations of Decatur residents, is the final home of many of Decatur’s most prominent, and interesting, citizens. There are more than two dozen notable burials in the cemetery. The tour begins at the chapel in the cemetery located at 1001 Wilson St. NW.

2022 Apr 23, Madison, AL Historic District Walking Tour with Gerald Clark 

2022 Apr 30, UNA Walking Tour with Billy Warren FLORENCE, AL 

UNA Campus: The tour will begin in front of the Harrison Plaza Fountain and be led by Billy Warren, City Historian at 10:00 a.m.The

The Historic University of North Alabama campus tour will feature iconic buildings such as Wesleyan Hall which pre-dates the Civil War and the Memorial Amphitheater which is a memorial to UNA students who served in the military during the war. 

2022 Apr 30, Town Creek, Alabama Walking Tour 

2022 May 21, Champion Hiking Trail Joe Wheeler JWSP Sam Woodford

2022 June 11, Walnut Street Architecture Walking Tour with BILLY WARREN FLORENCE, AL

2022 Sep 24, Paw Paw Patch Hike JWSP Sam Woodford

2022 Oct 24, Hiking JWSP Sam Woodford

2022 Oct 30, UNA Class of History Tours of Maple, Cypress Hills, and Woodland Homes WITH HARRY WALLACE FLORENCE, AL 

2023

2023 Apr 15, Cullman, AL Walking Tour (Our tour guide was Ben Johnson South(a descendant of Creek Indians). 

2023 Apr 29, Decatur, AL Garden Tour, and Historic Homes Tour led by Historic Decatur Association (The tour begins at Westminster Presbyterian Church, located at 801 Jackson St, SE. )

2023 Oct 22, Historic Trolley Tours Sheffield, Al Jimmy Austin

2023 NOV 4, ALL SAINTS WALKING TOUR FLORENCE, AL with Lee Freeman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9F66rDwjCE

2024

2024 APR 6, WALKING TOUR TWICKENHAM HUNTSVILLE, AL led by  Denise Swain

2023 Apr 20, Courtland Walking Tour Courtland, AL