2017 May 19-20, Shoals Front Porch Storytelling Festival

Friday, May 19
8:45-9:00 Opening
9-9:30AM Bil Lep
9:30-10AM Southern Gentleman Tim Lowery told a story about his adventure to the Rattlesnake Saloon.
Break
10:15-10:45 Donald Davis
10:45-12PM Dolores Hydock talked about the USO of WWII
12-2:00PM lunch at the Pie Factory with a friend. I ordered Creamy Tomato Basil dip with bread and Coke
2-2:30PM Don White talked about his teenage daughter
2:30-3:00PM  Bil Lepp
3:00-3:30PM Tim Lowery
3:45-4:15 Donald Davis talked about his camping at the cabin borrowing truck and having fun in the field of milkweeds
4:15-5:00PM Kat Campbell She talked about visiting Ava Mario, Rock City, Lookout Mountain
Supper Break 5-7PM
I ate lunch at Jack
7:7:15PM Bil Lepp talked about his friend Skeeter and the water hoses, condensed steam, Old Faithful, Coal Mines
7:15-7:30PM Don White talked about California and TV

7:30-9:00PM
Mark Narmore sang about Jesse James, What I Like About Sunday's
Kate Campbell sang about her grandfather-in-law's cement boat, burning down Big Mansions
Walt Aldridge sang about the Smell of Rain, Modern Day Bonnie & Clyde
Bobby Horton Speeding, Lord's Supper, Stand a Little Rain, Man of Steel

Saturday, May 20
9:00-9:30AM Don White- Love and Growing Up
9:30-10:00AM Bil Lepp Love my dentist
Break
10:15-10:45AM Donald Davis
10:45-12:15PM Dolores talked about Sally Foster's journal accompanied by Bobby Horton
Lunch at Legends with a friend we both ordered a hamburger with lettuce, tomatoes, and onion with water with lemon to drink.
We saw several of the storytellers at the restaurant.
We walked through Wilson Park looking at all the vendors wearing at Arts Alive
2:00-2:30 Don White talked about his wife
2:30-3:00 Donald Davis talks about his experience in first-grade
3:00-3:30 Tim Lowry talked about finally making it to Disney World after three tries and not losing faith.
My friend and I both left at the 3:30 Break, she was tired and I was getting sick and was sick for almost two weeks,
Had a great time at the Storytelling Festival

2017 May & June Music in Wilson Park with a variety of entertainers

May 3,  

Music in Wilson Park with Joseph Baldwin- Hubby and I ate lunch at Rosie's Mexican Cantina.
Granddaughter played in the fountain and danced to the music

Joseph Baldwin

Granddaughter played in the fountain

Granddaughter, Ava helped hubby work on the fence in front of the swimming pool.
 She would hand him a tool, he would say thank you and she would reply Welcome!

May 10, 

Music in Wilson Park with Shannon Knight - I had an appointment at Bone & Joint to get an X-ray of both knees. The doctor put a Cortisone shot in my right knee. We left music in Wilson Park at 12:45PM

Music in Wilson Park with Shannon Knight

May 17, 

Music in Wilson Park Cadillacs 11:30-1:00PM 1:30-2:30 Listen to Dolores Hydock's storyteller, "Through the back door, the music that bridged the Bayou"

Storytelling with Dolores Hydock

Storytelling with Dolores Hydock

Music in Wilson Park with Cadillacs

May 24, 

Music in Wilson Park with Mitch Mann 11:30-1:00 The park was wet with all the rain so everyone that came sat in the center of the park where there was concrete. Bought pizza from Pizza Hut and took it home to eat.
no pictures

June 7, 

Music in Wilson Park with Drum and Drummer 11:30-1:15PM Hubby and I ate lunch at Taco Bell and then Academy Sports where Hubby bought some Crocs and a large ball (for exercise)

Drum and Drummer 

We missed music in Wilson Park on June 14 and 21.

June 28, 

Hubby and I went to music at the park to listen to Gary Nichols.
 I was feeling great and I went be-bobbing across the street to use the restroom at the library. I popped my right leg down onto the pavement not thinking and I went from feeling like a sixteen-year-old to a one hundred old woman.
I made it across the street and to the restroom.
When I went to wash my hands my right leg would not move. I stretched it several times and had to stop several times before I made it back across the street to the park.
This being said,
you can not always judge a book by its cover. Because if someone looks great, and acts great, it does not mean that there is not something wrong with them. By looking at me earlier yesterday morning I was walking normally and by afternoon I needed a cane.
You don't have to be old to have health problems, and each of us needs to be kinder and more thoughtful to others. I think we tend to forget about these things until it happens to us.
After the music ended we rode to the Co-Op where hubby purchased a new riding lawnmower.
My knee was still giving me a fit so I waited patiently in the van which took over 30 minutes.
The lawnmower was loaded onto the trailer and followed us home. 
I lay on the sofa for the rest of the day.
My knee was much better the next day.

🚌📖 🚌📖 🚌📖 🚌📖 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 Historic 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 hides the key.
Mr. Keller had to get a ladder for Miss Sullivan to climb out a window.
What had she gotten herself into?

Add caption

This young man said, Is this the statue that is in Washington DC?  I said no, it is 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 Ice 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, 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, Ice 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.

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.

2017 May 6, Strawberry Festival Moulton, Alabama 🍓🍓🍓🍓

I took highway 101 crossing Wheeler Dam over into Lawrence County and traveling through Town Creek. At the red light, I crossed Highway 20 traveling staying on 101 until I reached Hwy 157 turning left, and traveling east until I reached hwy 33 which took me to Courthouse Square.
I parked on Big Nance Street and walked a block crossing highway 33 onto Courthouse Square.
The Courthouse sits on a hill so all my walking was up and down the hill which is very hard on the knees.

People filled the streets looking for gifts for mother's day

I saw a yellow and green board called Plinko but never played the game.
It was sponsored by the Moulton Middle School PTO.

The sign read:

Fidget Spinners $7.00 

Score 6 candy 

Score 4 Stuffed Toy

Score 3

Fidget Spinner   

Step up to the board, once you have all of your chips.

Lay a Plinko chip flat against the top of the Plinko board.

Take aim at the prize you want to win by lining up the chip within an area where it can bounce around the board until it lands in the slot.

Release the clip and watch it bounce and travel through the maze until it reaches one of the bottom slots.

If you win a prize and the chip doesn't land on zero, then you can add the amount of the prize to the grand total of winnings.

Repeat Steps 3 through 6 until you've played all of your Plinko chips.

The smell of food filled the air, Little Jimmy's was selling  Italian Ice, Cheese Chaos, Deep Fried Oreos, soft pretzels, Ice tea, Lemonade, & Cheese Nachos

Loud music filled the air with the band that was playing near the courthouse. 

Mosquito Control!
The Neon color should attract the Mosquitos if it doesn't blind them first.
 LOL
I love this neon Green & Yellow color. I
wear this color often
Guess I want to attract mosquitos.  

"Coke Cola Mural" There is nothing more refreshing than a cold Coke Cola in a bottle.

I guess the Hillsboro Fire Fighters were here to help keep the peace, Just in case the crowd got rowdy

Class of 1933  White Buick 

A Johnnie Cash and Elvis Presley Fan was walking near the Fairlane's

This Chevrolet had a sign in the window.
 Look but Please don't Touch it!!

Kool car tag "OLDSKOOL"

This bright orange-trimmed black car had wings. I bet it can fly!!

Nice ride!! SS 350

I stopped to talk to this young man. I said you have some beautiful flowers.
I said that I did not need any more right now, I had just bought several.
He was selling them for The FFA Agricultural Education
Learning to Do, Doing to Learn,
Serving to Live, Living to Serve. 

I had a great time walking around talking to people, smelling the food, and listen to music, and watching the line dancer and tap dancers. 

The Hillbilly's Helping Children Shriners Hospital
RC, Moon Pie, Mountain Dew, and See Rock City were just a few of the signs attached to the Shriner's outhouse. I stopped to talk and donate. I loved their display and told them they should be upfront and not the end of the line.