2013 ~May 25-31, Lee County's High School Graduation, Universal Studios & Sea World

Day 1: Friday, May 24, 2013

At 5:30 A.M., I drove hubby to Foodland to catch his ride to work in Huntsville.

I went to ECM Hospital to visit my dad; he had Gallbladder surgery the day before. When I got to the parking deck at ECM I programmed my GPS for our trip to Columbus, Georgia. I stayed with my dad until about 9:00 A.M. 

I picked up hubby at Mapco in Huntsville, Al near NASA at 10:30A.M.

We ate brunch at Cracker Barrel Store number 51 in Cullman, Al.

I ordered a kids plate of grilled chicken fingers, carrots, with an of glass water cost ($4.69)

Hubby ordered a bacon cheeseburger plate with onion rings $10.58 and a diet coke $1.99 for total $23.11. (We shared a dark mallow cup $1.19.)

We stopped at Peach Park in Clanton, Al where we shared a bowl of peach ice cream & a fried peach pie. We walked around the park and I took pictures.  

Holding up a peach at Peach Park 

Riding a horse

Peach Ice cream and fried Peach Pie, YUM!

Hubby at Peach Park 

Peach Park 

We arrived at Country Inns & Suites 1720 Fountain Court Columbus Ga at 5:30 P.M. Room 108-confirmation number 73984065.  Total cost $95.12 for one night. (706) 660-1880

Hubby took a shower and I changed clothes. Graduation was at Smith Station Middle School Stadium Smith Station Alabama. 

We arrived early, we sat in the front row of the bleachers.

I started talking to the woman next to me, she was a friend of Justin’s mom (Stacy), who was sitting next to me. 

She leaned over and said I think that is Justin’s grandmother. Justin’s dad (Josh) and brother (Andrew) came later. Josh and hubby started talking about electrical work for both were IBEW brothers. I was told that Justin had joined the ARMY he was to leave for camp in August. He signed up before he had told his mom or dad.

There were 394 students to graduate from Smith Station in Lee County AL, the graduation lasted from 8 P.M. to 10:00 P.M.

After the graduation we made several pictures, we said our good-byes. We told Justin and his family that we would be back through May 29 to pick him up.

Justin 

Justin, Josh, Stacy, and Andrew 

Justin, me and Hubby

Justin 

After the graduation most restaurants were closed, we found a Taco Bell that was open located at 7330 Veterans Parkway Columbus Georgia  31906 at 10:39 P.M. we spent $9.27. 

I bought lottery tickets at the connecting store. 

Back at the hotel, we climbed into bed for it had been a long day. 

Day 2: Saturday, May 25, 2013

We both got up took showers, packed, ate waffles with fruit and fruit juice for breakfast then loaded the van and started our journal to Orlando Florida. We filled up with gas at the Summit in Columbus Georgia $60.50.

Along the way, we stopped at Marks Melon Patch in Dawson Georgia for hubby wanted some boiled peanuts. I took out my camera, I started taking pictures. I saw an outhouse next to the fruit stand I opened the door.

It startled me when the dummies inside started to speak, hubby laughed. The owner said it gets them every time.

Outhouse

Dummie in outhouse

We stopped at some of the historic sites in Dawson Georgia. I took pictures of Terrell County Historic Marker, Confederate Gun Shop Marker, World War II Marker, James Mathews Griggs Historic Marker, Terrell Courthouse, old homes, and churches. 

While I was taking pictures, I met the great-grandson of James Mathew Griggs. He told me that the marker of his great-grandfather had been moved to the courthouse lawn.

The marker read: 

To the memory of James Mathew Griggs who represented with conspicuous ability and fidelity the 2nd district of Georgia in Congress from March 4, 1897, to the dated of his death January 5, 1910. This memorial is erected in his hometown by the people of the district. 

He loved and honored the people they loved and honored him.

James Mathew Griggs

Terrell County Courthouse

Next, we stopped in the historic town of Sylvester, where I took pictures of Worth County Historic marker, the courthouse, War Markers, and a hundred-year-old train engine.

The Train engine was enclosed with a gate, it had a roof over it, it was located next to the main highway.

While I was taking pictures of the train, I heard a laugh.

I thought to myself someone thinks it is funny that I am taking pictures of the train. 

I looked around to see who was laughing, and to my surprise, it was a goat! 

The goat was on a trailer behind a truck that was stopped at the red light.

The goat laughed and laughed as the truck pulled away. LOL! Needless to say, he was not laughing at me but I sure thought he was. I walked back to the van and told hubby about the incident and he laughed.

A hundred-year-old train engine in Sylvester

The Laughing Goat 

We ate lunch at Texas Road House 3830 SW Archer Rd Gainsville, Fl for lunch. I ordered sirloin steak with potato and water. Hubby ordered hamburgers and fries at 2:46 P.M. we ate at table 44 and our server was Rachel. Total cost for the meal $26.76. 

When we arrived in Orlando we had to drive through several tolls cost $5.25 to get to Country Inn & Suites 5440 Forbes Place Orlando, Fl (407)856-8896 room 112. 

We took our luggage to the room, changes clothes and rode to the Island of Adventure.

 At the Island of Adventure, we watched Poison Adventure, we walked to the back of the park to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to ride the Forbidden Journey of Harry Potter. 

The Island of Adventure

The Island of Adventure

We left the Island of Adventure, we went to City Walk, I had talked to Lora, she was to meet us there. As always she was late.

We decided to eat supper at Hard Rock Café, we insisted on eating outside, they said that we would have to wait, we said that was okay, we were not in a hurry.

It is funny now, but we thought that their tables outside were downstairs.

We were lead to a balcony overlooking City Walk, which had a gorgeous view, but a bit briskly.

Being so high up, it caught the breeze of the parks.

Hard Rock Cafe in City Walk Orlando

Hard Rock Cafe in City Walk Orlando 

The balcony at Hard Rock Cafe in City Walk

We ordered boneless chicken tenders, water and coke cost $19.91. We sat there for as long as we could wait for Lora and her friend. 

We paid our bill and left. 

We met Lora and her friend at Bubba Gumps. There were people outside of Bubba Gumps jumping rope and Hula, Hula  Hooping. It had been a long day, we said good-bye, we rode back to the hotel. 

We stopped at Race Trac store 522 at 1875 McCoy Rd Belle Isle Fl 32089 to get fuel at pump one for 15.215 gallons at $3.549 per gallon it was 5:37P.M.

Day 3:  Sunday, May 26, 2013

We slept late, we ate breakfast about 9:30 A.M. after breakfast we rode to Universal Studios. 

We rode ET, Doctor Seuss Ride, Spider-Man, The Minions, we watched Fear Factor, the Animal show. We walked to City Walk, at 4:12 P.M. we ordered lunch at Bubba Gumps, our server was Eric and we sat at table 62. 

We ordered the Shrimper’s Heaven and two glasses of water cost $25.51. 

We walked to Universal Studios, we waited one hour and fifteen minutes to ride despicable me, which was a great disappointment. 

We exited Universal Studios, we went to the Island of Adventure where we bought a Choro cost $3.00 at Neeps Cart at 18:28P.M. Hubby bought a Lemon Slush cost $4.25 at the Poe Lemon. 

We bought a large coke for $2.99 at Market Café at 21:39 P.M. We stopped at Taco Bell ordered one burrito supreme $2.49, three Dorito loco supremes $5.07 for a total of $8.05, at 10:58 P.M. 

Are we having fun yet? 

It must be Sunday... We're in Color!

The Island of Adventure

Day 4: Monday, May 27, 2014

Hubby was very tired from the day before, so he slept in, while I wrote in my journal about the events of the day before. For breakfast, we ate eggs, sausage, bagels in the hotel.

At lunch, we went to Wendy's where we ordered  hamburgers and frosty’s paid cash $10.00

We arrived at Sea World at 1:14 P.M., paid $15.00 to park 

The shows that we watched were:

Pets Ahoy at Seaport Theater at 1:45P.M.

One Ocean Shame Stadium at 2:30 P.M. (Killer Whale)

A’Lure the call of the Ocean at Nautilus Theater at 3:30 P.M

Blue Horizons at Dolphin theater at 5:00 PM

Clyde and Seamore Take Pirates Island at Sea Lion & Otter Theater at 5:45 P.M

For the remainder of the day, we saw at dolphins at Dolphins cove, the Stingrays at Stingray Lagoon.

We walked through the Manatee Aquarium 

Ate chicken nuggets and corn at Expedition café. Spent $9.25.

We stopped at Taco Bell on Mccoy Road where we ordered one burrito supreme $2.49, two Dorito Loco supreme at $2.78, one Nachos Bell Grande $2.99 and spent $10.07, at 8:08P.M.

One Ocean Shame 

One Ocean Shame 

A’Lure the call of the Ocean at Nautilus Theater 

Sea World

Blue Horizons at Dolphin

Blue Horizons at Dolphin

Sea World Entrance Antarctica

Sea World Entrance 

Day 5: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 

We ate breakfast at the hotel of bagels, sausage, cream cheese and orange juice.

I called Majorie Goodrich to see if she was at home and if she would like for us to come for a visit. We stayed a couple of hours at Majorie's trailer. She wanted to walk the nature trail near her home. After walking the trail, we said good-bye.

We stopped at Golden Corral in Clermont Fl for a lunch buffet at $6.99 each for a total of $14.96.

We drove to Downtown Disney where we walked around stopping at some of the souvenir shops. We stopped at Ghirardelli for some vanilla and strawberry ice cream cost $5.91.

 Ghirardelli at Downtown Disney

 Ghirardelli at Downtown Disney

We stopped in DTD Bridge where hubby bought a diet coke for $2.76. We stopped in at Trex where I purchased a Trixie Trecerator for $19.17. (like a build-a-bear).

We bought gas at Racetrack for $33.00 9.431 gallons for $3.499 per gallon at 18:30PM.

  Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney

Day 6: Wednesday, May 29, 2012 

Paid hotel bill of $300.05 for four days, we loaded luggage into our van and started home.

We ate breakfast at the hotel.

We stopped at Mark’s Melon Patch in Albany Ga at 13:38 P.M. for boiled peanuts and onions.

We stopped at Pilot in Tifton Ga for fuel 12.73 gallons at $3.299 per gallon $42.00.

We picked up Justin in Phenix City and started home.

We stopped in Calera Alabama at Cracker Barrel to eat supper, Justin ordered chicken finger plate, I ordered a kids chicken finger plate and hubby ordered Bacon Cheese Burger plate, we spent $34.10. We bought gas at Murphy’s USA in Calera for 12.609 gallons at $3.569 per gallon for $45.00

We drove home stopping to drop Justin off at Shana's.

She greeted us at the gate, I helped Justin unload his luggage. We said goodbye and rode home.

Hubby had to work the next day, after all that driving he dropped into bed.

2013 ~ Tuesday, September 17, Day Trip to Birmingham, Alabama

On 2013 September 17, we drove to Birmingham Alabama stopping to eat lunch at Cracker Barrel in Gardendale Alabama. 

I ordered my usual children’s plate of grilled chicken, green beans, cornbread, onion and their homemade relish.  

Back on the road headed into Birmingham, which is a little over a two-hour drive. 

We arrived at Vulcan Park at 12:52 P.M. purchasing tickets at a cost of $13.20. 

There were several historical Markers along the walkway leading up to the Vulcan and Museum.

List of the markers that we saw was:

1. Describing the designing of Vulcan Park: The Formal design, a park for people, Naturalistic features. 

2. The Iron Man: Vulcan The giant, cast iron statue you see towering above you is Vulcan, the Roman god of metalwork and forge. The 56-foot   tall statue was commissioned by Birmingham leaders to represent they're new, growing city at the 1904 St Louis World’s Fair. After a smashing success at the fair, he was brought home to Birmingham. 

3. Mineral Railroad Trestle, the railroad trestle support wall across the road is a remnant of L& N’s 156-mile Mineral railroad, the backbone of the local industry.

4. Before Birmingham: Jones Valley: Native American presence, Early settlement & Toward an iron industry

5. A New City  Building early Birmingham

6. Industry: Iron and Steel Manufacturing

7. The Lone Pine Mine: you are standing in front of the entrance to the Lone Pine Mine Number 3.

8. The Works Progress Administration

9. Birmingham district Minerals

10. Restoring Vulcan Park, visiting the park & building the park

11. The Cascade

12. South: Mountain Brook and Hollywood

13. Vulcan Park & Tower on Wall

14. In Memory of Giuseppe Moretti on wall

15. Vulcan, God of Fire and Metal

Working of the Vulcan

A statue of the Vulcan’s foot 

Inside the museum was Recipe for a city. When state geologists mapped the Birmingham District’s mineral resources in the mid-1800’s, they found great quantities of the three ingredients necessary for the manufacturing of foundry iron: coal, limestone, and iron ore. The availability of these three ingredients and the ability to recruit a large and inexpensive pool of labor made Birmingham’s industry possible. 

Some of the workers that made Birmingham, Clyde Love, Will Battle, James Knox and James Purdue.

Example of the country store was displayed, sacks of potatoes, potbelly stove and Old radio. Pictures were displayed about the building of Birmingham, the promoters, investors, and entrepreneurs.

The making of the Vulcan from scratch was displayed from Iron Casting to sand mold, plaster cast, and plaster mold to clay mold. Their much information displayed about Moretti the builder of the Vulcan.

A statue of the Vulcan’s foot was on display and a room full of,  A place of our own the fourth avenue district, Civil Rights, and the Rise of Birmingham’s Black Middle Class.

VULCAN

We exited the museum and headed to the glass elevator, which led up to the foot of the Vulcan.

It was a magnificent view of the city, you could see for miles. The only problem was when you looked down. The footing on which I was standing had holes which you could see the bottom or ground level, which frighten me. 

I stayed as close to the building as I could, but I still did not like being able to see the ground when I looked down. 

I was determined to overcome my fear so, I walked around the top of the Vulcan two times taking pictures, but I was ready to leave after that.

I did not mind the elevator, even though it had glass windows which had a different view of Birmingham.

Standing on the grate around the Vulcan 

Standing on the grate around the Vulcan 

View of the City of Birmingham from atop the Vulcan

the Vulcan Museum

View of the Vulcan from parking lot

When we got to the bottom I was glad and told that to the guard who was sitting in a chair below. 

He said I have seen many come down frightened, but one time I had a customer come down and kiss the ground when he walked out of the elevator.

Sorry, but I was glad to have my feet planted on solid ground. 

We exited the park and headed to the Birmingham Zoo. 

Tuesday is the half-price day so we got in for $15.40.

The Birmingham Zoo is your passport to trails of Africa that was what the entrance sign said.

We first saw some birds, Radiated & Aldabra, Tortoise, several different types of small cats, Red Panda, Zebra, Giraffe, a couple of elephants, a gorilla, couple of otters, few Batman characters set up for Boo at the Zoo, we went inside the birdhouse where you could feed the birds, a couple of sea lions, some snakes, and lizards. 

I was very disappointed not seeing more animals? 

We left the zoo and went to the Botanical gardens.

That morning when we started to Birmingham it was cool but by the time we got to the Botanical Gardens the heat was unbearable so we did not stay

We did go to the gift shop where I bought an ice cream cone to help cool me off.

Batman at the Zoo

Petting the Elephant

Petting the Giraffe

Walking thru the zoo

At the Entrance of the Zoo

For supper, we stopped in Cullman Alabama at Captain D’s spent $17.92.

Filled up with gas at Flying J’s cost $51.50. We were home by 7:30P.M.

We had a wonderful drive to Birmingham and the sun was setting on the drive home.

I tried to capture all the beauty with my camera.

Traveling thru Birmingham 

Road Construction in Birmingham 

Beautiful Sunset

We drove through the Birmingham work traffic & construction but once we got past Birmingham, the traffic was not too bad. 

After supper was taking our time getting home, it was relaxing.  

It was a wonderful way to end the day. 

I am waiting for my next adventure. 

2013 ~Saturday, October 19,Spending the Day with Sierra & Madison

I sent both Madison and Sierra a text to ask them if they wanted to go to a fall festival at my sisters & to Rogersville’s Heritage Days.

I said if you want to go be ready by 11:00 A.M.

I picked up the girls and we head to Rogersville for Heritage Days.

We could hear music playing and people singing as I parked the car in Fordland’s parking lot.

We walked to Heritage Park where they were having a chili cook-off that started at eleven A.M. We arrived at the park around eleven thirty and the pots of chili were almost empty.

We ask where are your cups for the chili and was directed to a table full of women selling tickets for $2.00. 

I only had $5 in the pocket so, I paid the girl behind the table the five dollars and Madison and Sierra hurried back to the van to get some more money.

When the girls got back, Madison said, “ Granny I am a vegetarian," so the woman gave me back $1.00 and Madison took it and bought her a coke.

Sierra and I had our 4-ounce cups filled from all the different, delicious, pots of chili.

Each vendor had them on special receipt and it was hard to vote for the best.

I was beginning to get full of chili; the last pot of chili that I tried was made with sausage.

That was my favorite. 

The car show had Mustangs, Cameo’s, Trucks, Chevrolet Blair, & Fairland and many other cars were lined along the streets for people to view

The car that stood out the most to us was a Dodge Charger called the General Lee-01. 

Dodge Charger called the General Lee-01

Next was the quilt show, I was not sure where it was located so I ask a woman that was walking along the street if she knew the location of the quilt show. 

She pointed toward the north of town, so the girls and I started walked that way.

Then I heard the woman holler and say the quilt show is not that direction but east. 

So the girls and I turned around and started walking down Lee Street. We walked past Rogersville Presbyterian Church in the USA it was located at the corner of Lee Street and Dement Street. This church was over one hundred years old, which dated back to 1889, and this church holds the distinction of being the last surviving church in Rogersville, Alabama

We kept walking and we thought we saw the Methodist church where they were having the quilt show, but to our amazement, it was a yard sale. 

Walking around in Rogersville with granddaughters

Walking around in Rogersville with granddaughters

So, we turned around and walked back to the van. We then rode almost 3 more miles to the quilt show that was located at Rogersville Methodist Church 701 Turner Lindsey Rd Rogersville. 

As we entered the church we were handed gloves because they did not want you to touch their quilts with the naked hand.

Hanging on display were many different types, sizes, textures, designs, thickness, all created either by hand or machine.

Some of the names describing the quilts were: A Flag Quilt, Alabama Quilt, He is Risen Quilt, Log Cabin Quilt, Giant Dahlia Quilt, Crazy Quilt, Exploring the Stars Quilt, I could go on, and on; they were just beautiful.

Quilting is an art!

Quilts at the Quilt show

Quilts at the Quilt show

Quilts at the Quilt show

We stopped at Foodland in Killen and I bought a sweet potato pie to take to the fall festival at my sister's.

An October festival is a yearly activity that my sister and brother-in-law have every year. 

They put a lot of time and money to make this a place for friends and family to come and enjoy.

They have built a large shelter, which houses about 12 picnic tables that can seat over a hundred people and at the end of the shelter is a large fireplace. They have also built a building that housed a toilet.

October can be warm or it can be cold and on this particular day, it was a bit breezy.

A Cozy fire was burning in the fireplace and there were many people huddled next to the fire trying to keep warm. 

Vicki had gone to her house and brought back several jackets for people to wear to keep warm. 

In the distance, you could see a large garden of turnip greens growing, which had an electric fence to keep out critters.

When we got out of our van, we could smell food cooking.

There was chicken stew boiling on an open fire, sweet potatoes baking, there were lots of green beans, lots of peas, lots of turnip greens and hot dogs on the grill. 

There were three tables filled with desserts, paper plates, cups, spoons, forks, dip, chips, bread, and drinks. It was hard to decide what to put on your plate first because there was such a variety of food, so you just start filling it.

There were people eating, talking, kids playing, other still cooking, and everyone having a great time.

One of the fun things that we do every year is taking a hayride deep into the woods. 

The kids really enjoy this, we have to duck many times to avoid the low branches, and brawler that we pass.

Another fun thing that we do is to bob for apples. The kids enjoy this very much and get very wet doing it. 

Another fun thing we do is a sack race, the kids are falling down and getting up trying to be the first to the finish line.

After getting our bellies full, having a fun time on the hayride, and saying good-bye we head back to the van.

It has been a lovely October day a bit breezy and to spend it with two of my beautiful granddaughters.

The girls look at me and say, thanks, granny we had a wonderful time with you today.

That just touched my heart, to know that they still have fun with granny.