2018 March 17, & 2016, 2015 My thoughts

March 17, 2018 Today I went to the Florence Lauderdale Visitor Center where I saw this little Bird (Killdeer), and the little Killdeer's feathers flared out as I started walking past her I took my cell phone and took a couple of pictures I noticed 4 eggs were laying on the ground near her. She had made a nest in the grass near the sidewalk at the visitors center That was why there was an orange cone sitting there I hope she guards them well.

Killdeer 

March 17, 2016 Today was a beautiful day the sunset was awesome. I did a little work outside this afternoon. I sat looking out my window watching all the varieties of birds eat from the four feeders. My husband said to look and we saw a long-eared rabbit sitting in front of the tractor eating grass. I looked out the window on the other side of our RV and saw a groundhog come waddling down the field looking for his dinner of fresh clover. Well, I lay on the sofa watching Wheel of Fortune (we watch it every night)when it ended I went to work on my computer. Every evening I check to see what color the sunset is and tonight it was awesome. I will post some pictures later. While taking pictures of the sunset I turned around looked behind me and saw a herd of deer (doe) I counted at least eight. They just stood there while I snapped their picture. I was careful not to make any sudden moves. I have not seen any deer for some time. I think this warm weather has brought out all the animals and climate change has caused us to have such an awesome sunset.

Rabbit 

March 17, 2015, was such a beautiful day, the sun was shining, no rain, snow, or sleet. I enjoyed it very much, we did not go anywhere just worked a little in the yard. The older that I get the less I want to do any manual labor for it makes me hurt all over, I guess that is old Arthritis working in my bones.

2021 Mar 9, Day trip Oak Mountain State Park Pelham, Alabama

Today we rode to Pelham via hwy 43 through Russellville, ending on I-22 going into Birmingham. We filled up with gas at Loves Gas in Jasper and restroom break. We traveled through Birmingham I-65 to Pelham. We stopped at the Interpretive Center and Treetop Nature Trail, where we saw a Eurasian Eagle-Owl, and Shelby the Bald Eagle. Most of the Interpretative Center was closed for renovations. We also saw several hawks and owls in another area.

Bald Eagle 

owl 

As we were coming back inside the center we met a Park Ranger with a Red Tail Hawk that was blind in one eye. We talked to her for several minutes and watched while she fed the hawk. She said that its food comes to them frozen so they just thaw it out for them. She was returning the hawk back to its cage. We thanked her for taking the time to show us and tell us about the habits of the red-tail hawk.

Red-tail Hawk 

We began our journey back home we had not eaten any dinner and both agreed that we would like to stop at O'Bryan's in Hartselle. I ordered a petite Sirloin steak with a sweet potato. Hubby ordered a Delmonico Steak, baked potato, and salad bar. After we ate we took pictures of the Blues Brothers statue and other memorabilia at the steak house.

O'Brien's Hartselle

We stopped at Krogers in Hartselle and headed for home. We traveled from Hartselle to Decatur taking Hwy 20 alt 72 to Wheeler Dam. The sun was going down as we were near home.

Sunset

We had a great day both wore out from all the traveling.

2021 Feb 8, Day Trip to Huntsville, Alabama

Hubby and I rode to Huntsville today for my Opthomologist appointment. You know the drill by now. Stay, in your car, and call the office to let them know you are there; they will call you back when you can come inside. Once inside the building, they take your temperature; you are given a sticker to place on your shirt or blouse that says you are okay to enter the building. Once inside, I checked in; after a short wait was called back to the waiting room. The pressure in both my eyes was checked both registered 15 and The optic nerve in both eyes was checked nothing changed. I had taken my big camera with me; I wanted to get a few pictures of the waterfowl and colorful fish that swam at Big Spring Park, so that was our next stop. On our way to Huntsville, the thermometer on the car read 35 and showed snow; but it turned out to be a beautiful day. The sun was shining; not much wind with a little chill in the air. I took my coat but never had to put it on.

Canadian Geese 

We then rode to Braham Spring Park where we saw Canadian Geese, Mallard Ducks, and a few starlings eating and swimming at the park. I said it's such a beautiful day let's go to the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge in Decatur so we entered I-565 and not far past the airport the traffic was bumper to bumper because they were working on the road and were merging into one lane. We then turned onto I-65 only to find out they were working on the interstate and were also merging into one lane. We finally made it to our turn off and hubby said what do you think about getting lunch at Libby's in Priceville. I said that sounds good for I love me some good old fried catfish. I was not disappointed; I ordered one piece of fillet with coleslaw, hush puppies, onion, baked potato, and iced tea. I could not eat it also got a to-go box.

Catfish plate @Libby's in Priceville, Alabama

We then rode to Wheeler Wildlife Refuge to see what was left of the Sandhill Cranes to my disappointment they were just a few. The visitor center was closed and so was the observation building. There was a wooden wall with holes cut out to view the fields but no birds. We stopped at Jack's in Decatur for a diet Coke and two strawberry Cheesecake pies. Our last stop was a Wheeler Dam to see the waterfowl. Saw a few White Pelicans so we didn't stop. When we got home I went outside and filled both bird feeders and saw more birds at home than I did at all the places where we had stopped. We have Cardinals, Wrens, Finch, Tuff Titmouse, Mourning Doves, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and Downy Woodpeckers just to name a few of our backyard birds.

2021 Feb 2, Day trip to Guntersville, Alabama & Ground Hog Day

Hubby and I rode to Guntersville via Hartselle. We were in Muscle Shoals so we took 72 to 157 through Moulton turning onto 36 into Hartselle. We saw Oh! Bryans is my hubby's favorite place to eat. We had planned to eat at Libby's in Priceville but since we had taken a different route and would not go past Libby's we decided to stop in Hartselle. The food was great at a reasonable price. We like to take the back roads when traveling because you never know what treasures you may find. I loved the way that they had decorated Oh! Bryans. At the front where you check out was the front of an old car(57' Chevy) and not far away was the backend of two other cars used for waiting benches. If you ever are ever in Hartselle you need to check out OH! Bryans.

 O'Bryan's Hartselle 

Eating steak, sweet potato, and toast

Salad Bar food

I ordered the sirloin steak with sweet potato and a glass of water with lemon. Hubby ordered a Delmonico steak and baked potato with salad. After lunch, we rode to Guntersville State Park where we saw several deer. Stopped at the pier in Guntersville where we saw hundreds of Double-crested Comomorants and Sea Gulls. We stopped at Ollie's in Madison and bought a couple scissors. We stopped at Russell Stovers in Athens where hubby and I both ordered a small waffle cone with ice cream. (Rockie Road). Then on to Aldi for a few groceries then home. The sun came out but the temperature hung around 42 degrees all day. After a long cold outing, I was ready to warm up so I climbed into my warm bed and fell asleep.

flock of birds

Deer

2021 Jan 14, Day trip to Gadsden and Covered Bridges of Alabama

Today the hubby and I traveled US 72 to I-65 to 67 east to Priceville stopping at Morgan County Memorial Park where they had a Hurley helicopter, a T-34Mentor Plane-on loan from Pensacola, FL, and an M60A1 Tank. There were several tall war plaques representing soldiers who had to give their lives. For our country.

 Morgan County Memorial Park Priceville, Alabama 

We stopped at Jack's in Blountsville for lunch. Ordered a kid’s chicken finger meal and a blueberry cream cheese pie. Saw a carved statue in the trees outside Jack's.

Swann Covered Bridge

We traveled to Swann Covered Bridge built in 1933, located, at Swann Bridge Road Cleveland which crosses over the Locust Fork River.

 Easley Bridge

Our next stop was the Easley-covered bridge built in 1927. It was located at Easley Bridge Road Oneonta. We met a couple the man was in the car the woman taking pictures. I asked them if they had been to the Swann Covered Bridge they said not today. We rode to Horton Mill Covered Bridge built in 1934, which crossed over the Calvert Prong Little Warrior River.

Noccalula falls

Horton Covered Bridge 

We filled up with gas at Love's in Sneed. Then we rode another thirty minutes to Noccalula Falls in Gadsden, where we met a man on a motorcycle I asked him if he knew where the covered bridges were at the park. He said you are asking the wrong person I am from New York and I am enjoying this warm weather but I said it gets cold here in north Alabama. He said enjoy your day and rode off. We walked around taking pictures of the roaring falls. The water was too rough for any waterfowl. We started for home the sun was going down and staring us right in the face which didn’t last long. Before we knew I it was dark. We came home through Decatur and the traffic was Heavy. It had been a beautiful day for traveling.

Traveling home

2020 Nov 28-Dec 1, Trip to Smoky Mountains with Sherry and Bobby (4 days)

November 28-Dec 1, Trip to Sevierville TN with Sherry and Bobby On Nov 28, Saturday, Hubby and I ate breakfast at Jack's in Elgin. I ordered a sausage and biscuit and, hubby ordered a big breakfast. We ordered Bobby a sausage and biscuit to go. We meet them at the Hensley barbecue in Town Creek. We stopped at Jack's in Decatur for a restroom break; I bought three strawberry cheesecake pies for the three of us. We stopped at a couple of rest areas for restroom breaks. We filled up with gas at the new Wiggles in Sevierville and we all ordered a sub sandwich from Wiggles. It had been a beautiful day for traveling. We checked into condo number 2514 Wyndham condos

Wyndham condos

Nov. 29, Sunday Cloudy Today we went to Shoe Carnival and Lees. We ate lunch at Huck Fins; they don't have a lunch special on Sundays you have to pay the full price of $15.88 a plate. We all ordered a three-piece fried catfish meal with fixings of white beans, hush puppies, pickles, onions, and coleslaw. We each got a takeaway box enough for supper. We stopped at Walmart where I bought a small red radio flyer wagon for Haynes' upcoming birthday; I also bought a bag of peppermint bark.

Firehouse Sub in Sevierville

Nov 30, Monday Today we went to Hammers in Sevierville, there I bought some warm gloves; and hubby a shirt. We stopped at Firehouse Sub in Sevierville on Middle Creek Road for lunch. I ordered a six-inch meatball sub, chips, and coke. My cousin ordered a sub but they messed up her order and she complained they gave her a free sub and a brownie. We spent the afternoon watching Hallmark Christmas movies. That night it snowed. Dec 1, Tuesday Went outside there was snow on the ground and it was cold, but the roads were clear. We were on our way home by 9 AM after checking out. We stopped at McDonald's in Lauden, Tennessee for breakfast. I ordered a sausage muffin and coke.

Smoky Mountains

When we arrived in Town Creek hubby was waiting for me at Hensley Barbecue. After a bittersweet goodbye with my relatives, we began our journey. Hubby and I stopped for lunch at Cracker Barrel in Athens.

Cracker Barrel Madison, Alabama 

For lunch, I ordered chicken and dumplings with Lima beans and cornbread. At Cracker Barrel I bought three summer tops that were marked down. I knew we were not going to many places and the weather was not agreeable for outdoor activities so I left my big camera at home. We spent the majority of our vacation watching Hallmark Movies, shopping, eating out, and reminiscing.

2020 Nov 11-14, Trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (4 days)

Nov 11, Wednesday Hubby and I stopped at Cracker Barrel in Spring Hill for breakfast. We stopped several times for restroom breaks on our way to Pigeon Forge. We checked into Park Grove Inn in Pigeon Forge. What a view we could see the ferry wheel on the Island from our room.

Ferries Wheel 

Hubby took a shower, lay down, and took a nap. His stomach was giving him a fit and he said I think I have a fever. After his nap, we rode to Applewood Farm House Restaurant for dinner.

Apple Barn 

For an appetizer, they brought apple fritters along with apple sauce and jute. I ordered a bowl of vegetable soup with cornbread. Hubby did not order anything but did eat some of my soup. That night hubby ran a fever and had diarrhea all night.

The Incredible Christmas Store

Nov 12, Thursday The Incredible Christmas Store was just three blocks from our hotel so I walked there while hubby slept. I walked across the Little Pigeon River stopping to take pictures along the way. I bought a chocolate pretzel at the Christmas Candy Shop. When I returned hubby was up so we rode to the Old Mill, where I bought some stone-ground cornmeal and some apple fritter mix. We went to the Disney Store, where I bought Christmas toys for the great-grandkids. We ate lunch at Firehouse Sub and stopped in front of the Dixie stampede for a picture of the tall Christmas tree. We spent the rest of the day at Dollywood 2–9 PM. We rented a cart for hubby; he said he felt too weak to walk. We upgraded our tickets for the next year to $194.20 Our adventures began in the Wildwood Park area for children.

Santa @ Dollywood 

We meet Santa behind glass after we write him a letter and drop it into his mailbox. We watched a couple of shows outside all the inside shows were closed. We rode the train up the mountain there were plastic shields between each seat. We had to get tickets for the last train ride because the virus seats were limited. We stopped at the ice cream shop for some Rockies Road ice cream in a chocolate waffle cone. We returned the cart and walked back to our car.

Eating catfish at Huck Fins

On Nov 13, Friday I ate French toast for breakfast at the hotel. We rode to the Bass Pro Shop in Kodak and then to Katom Restaurant Supplies where I bought two bottle openers and a thermometer. We stopped at Huck Finn's for lunch where I ordered a two-piece catfish dinner with fixings. (Fixings include a bowl of white beans, onion, pickles, coleslaw, and hushpuppies) We took the bypass in Gatlinburg and ordered over the Smoky Mountains. We rode through Cherokee out to I-40 back to Sevierville.

Hotel Pigeon Forge, TN

Nov 15, Saturday We began our travel home stopping to fill up with gas at Flying J. I ate a bagel for breakfast before we left the hotel. We stopped at Five Guys in Spring Hill for a late lunch or early supper. There we both ordered a fully-dressed hamburger and crispy fries. They have the best hamburgers in town. Our last stop was at Krogers in Lawrenceburg to pick up a few groceries. After that long ride home, we were both very tired.