2009 November 7, Saturday, Hiking in the Dismal Canyon

Lora, Marcus, Madison, and I went hiking in Dismal Canyon in Phil Campbell from 12:00-4:4-PM PM.

We ate some snacks before we began our walk into the canyon.

We stopped at the entrance to take pictures, paid to enter the park, and began our journey down into the canyon.

Stopping for Pictures

Dance Hall

There was a sign posted that read:

Dismals Canyon leaves nothing…  Take nothing…

Dismals Canyon is a natural landmark registered with the Department of the Interior $ with a $1,000 fine for the removal or defacement of rocks, plants, or animals.

We started our descent down this wooden ramp and several flights of wooden steps into the canyon. 

Long walk down into the canyon.

Along the way, we saw Rainbow & Phantom Falls, Grotto, Pulpit Rock, Kitchen, Stovepipe, Indian Head Rock, Temple Cave, fishing hole, Champion tree, weeping bluff, Secret Falls, the Chickasaw Indian's for secret rituals used dance hall, Fat Man's Misery, Witches Cavern, and Burr's hideout. 

In 1925, the Girl Scouts built the small pool to your right for drinking water.     

Phantom Falls. There is no waterfall behind you, but the rock picks up the sound of the actual fall250'0’ downstream and throws the echo down to this spot, which is only 10' around.

Weeping Bluff. The water that seeps from this bluff is said to be tears shed by the canyon for the loss of its only true friend, the Chickasaw Indians.

SECRET FALLS: The water creating these falls flows from an underground mountain stream that opens onto the earth's surface about 3/4 of a mile upstream. 

The Chickasaw Indians used DANCE HAL for secret rituals, a well-camouflaged area protected from the sun and the elements. 

A tight squeeze

Witches Cavern is a strange and beautiful labyrinth of moss- and fern-covered boulders, with a large colony of dissimilates residing there.

Fat Man's Misery. The narrow opening, 1" wide", between the two boulders was the original entrance to the canyon floor.

Crossing the creek

We walked about three miles, and we met Steve Meiji (wearing a black Harley Davidson jacket & chaps) and two of his lady friends (one wearing an orange Haley Davidson Jacket and chaps, the other woman wearing a black coat and chaps) 

Steve helped Madison & others across the creek to the Dance Hall.

He gave me his email, and I sent him some pictures. 

We saw several small white mushrooms growing on the side of trees.

We exited the canyon by crossing a swinging bridge.

Crossing the swing bridge

Natchez traces the devil's backbone, a dismal canyon that serves as a hideout for many other infamous outlaws who robbed and murdered travelers.    

When we finished our walk, we stopped in at the museum, where we saw. 

A statue wearing a white, red, and black feather headdress. We saw a tan lamp with a pair of tan boots for a base. We saw a statue of a baker holding a basket with ready-to-eat mac & Cheese on top, and a blackboard sign that read: Specialties: Coffee $1.49, Brownies $2.89, and Brownie bites for 50 cents. We saw a wooden clown, a Totem pole with Indiana faces, a red Coca-Cola machine, and a popcorn machine. There were all kinds of gadgets hanging from the ceiling. 

Indian Headdress, Boot Lamp

Totem Pole

Dismals Store

For supper, Hubby brought home barbecue from Thomas Pitt.

2012 ~ April 22-25, Trip with sisters to Gulf Shores, Alabama

Day 1: Sunday, April 22,  2012

I was out of bed by 5:30 A.M., got dressed, checked my email, updated my laptop computer, and added movies to my iPhone. I broke a fingernail while making the bed, finished packing, ate some chocolate pudding, and was ready to leave by 7:35 A.M.

My sister drove her new Jeep. She picked up her sisters, who arrived at my house at about 8:30 A.M. Teresa used her droid telephone as a navigation system. 

We took US 43 to US 72 to Athens, then I-65 to the Hwy 287 exit 37 toward Gulf Shores Parkway/Bay Minette/Rabun. We turned left onto Rabun Rd for 4.4 miles, then Rabun became Al-59 S. We turned right onto West Beach Blvd (Al-182), and the Condo was on the left at 809 West Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores. 

We travel over 400 miles, taking over seven hours, including stopping for gas and food. 

We stopped for lunch at Subway (258 Interstate Commercial Park Loop, Prattville, AL 36066; (334) 358-4950). 

We filled up with gas at Texaco.
(We were going to eat at the Cracker Barrel location 796 Business Park Drive, Prattville, AL., but there was a long line.) 
We arrived at Meyer Real Estate at 3:30 P.M. to buy a parking pass for Island Royale.

I arrived at Island Royale, a condo at 809 West Beach Blvd, a mile west of Highway 59. It was a Yellow 17-story building, room 1203 (P503). 

We took our luggage up the elevator to room 503 on the 12th floor. It was very windy, so we had to make sure the balcony door was closed before opening the front door.

View of the beach

View from our Room

After getting settled in, we went to Long Horn Steak House, 3810 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores (251-96793480), for supper. We all ordered from the flavorful under-500-calorie menu. We each ordered a 6-oz Renegade Sirloin for $11.99. It came with fresh vegetables or green beans and a garden salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing. 
I ordered unsweetened iced tea with lemon, and everyone else ordered water. With the tip, we each spent $20.00. (My sister and I had leftovers for the next day.)

Longhorn Steakhouse

After dinner, we went to Target, located at 3820 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores, Alabama, in the shopping center behind the Longhorn restaurant. 

Everyone bought food to take back to the condo. I bought a couple of frozen dinners and some Jergens tanning lotion. 

We played dominoes until about 10 P.M. We were all tired from the long trip. 

My sister and I slept in the front bedroom, which was very noisy, with people coming and going and noise from the wind. 

Day 2: Monday, April 23, 2012 

The following day, I ate a granola bar and showered; Paula and  I walked up the beach almost to the pier while Becky and Teresa lay there. It was still very cool and windy. Becky called on the cell phone, said she and Teresa were leaving,

I told Becky to wait for Paula and me, as we were almost back to the condo.  

We all took showers to get the sand off and got ready to go out for supper. 

We went to Lulu's Restaurant at 200 East Twenty-Fifty Avenue, Gulf Shores, AL 36542, just off Al-59 at the Intracoastal Waterway and Homeport Marina.

Teresa and I ordered Lulu's Famous Fish Sandwich, Blackened with Lulu's wow sauce, and chips for $12.95 with iced tea. Becky ordered a grilled chicken quesadilla (jack cheddar cheese, sautéed peppers, and onions served with Lulu's sassy Salads and sour Cream) for $9.95, and Paula ordered a Seafood Platter.

Teresa ordered an appetizer of smoked Tuna Dip for $7.95 (she had never seen the inside of a can) and Lula's Favorite Margarita for $10.00. (The margarita contained Sauza Tres Generaciones organic Tequila, Patron Citronge orange liqueur, and five freshly squeezed limes.)  

Some locals were singing and playing music, which Paula said she did not like.

We looked around in the gift shop; Becky bought Steve a T-shirt. We rode up to Tanger Outlet but did not get out. We then went to Walmart, where I bought some strawberries, Cool Whip, bananas, and cake. 

Paula bought a Yahtzee game, and when we returned to our condo, we played dominoes and Yahtzee until about 10 P.M.

The wind had died, and the neighbors were not quite so noisy.

Lulu's

Day 3: Tuesday, April 24, 2012

We sat around until about lunchtime. I ate leftovers from Lulu's, then we went to the beach.

Becky lay in the sand while Teresa, Paula, and I walked up the beach again, almost to the pier. 

We dressed and rode over to Fort Morgan, stopping to buy gas, which I paid $36.70 for at Chevron. We then rode to the Goodwill Store, where I bought a pair of shorts and a top for $6.00.

Souvenir City of Gulf Shores 

We shopped at Souvenir City in Gulf Shores, located at 217 Gulf Shores Parkway in Gulf Shores, AL 3654,2, 251-948-728., Paula bought a dress. 

Bahamas Bobs Beach Side Café 

We ate at Bahamas Bob Beach Side Café, 601 West Beach Boulevard, Gulf Shores, AL 251-948-2100. 

I ordered Coconut Shrimpfor  $6.00 a coconut-friedd shrimp appetizerwith five large shrimp fried in a coconut batter).

Paula ordered an Island Sampler for everyone, which included two fried cheese sticks, fried mushrooms, and chicken tenders, for $9.99.

Paula also ordered Fried Stripped Pangus with steamed royal reds, which cost $13.99.

Teresa ordered a Char-grilled delight Tuna sandwich for $9.99.

Becky ordered Stanial Cay Chicken Tenders, fried golden brown and served with a delicious dipping sauce, for $6.99. 

We stopped at TCBY, and we ordered Greek Yogurt.

Day 4: Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Today was our last day. 

We cleaned the rooms of any garbage, loaded the dishwasher, put dirty towels in the laundry room, packed bags, I ate a bit of breakfast, loaded the car, locked the door, and put the key back in the key box. 

We left at about 9 A.M., stopping only for gas and lunch at Wendy's in Prattville. We were halfway home.

I ordered a Wendy's hamburger and Frosty, and Becky and Paula ordered a hamburger, fries, and a drink. Teresa did not order anything. 

We arrived home at about 3:30 P.M.
I always have fun with my siblings. 

    

My husband said that while I was gone, the refrigerator ($1,115.00) stopped working, the jacks ($270) stopped working, and we needed new tires for the RV ($3,000), which we decided not to buy.

The motor for the jacks was $270.93 from HWH Corp Motor, which my husband installed.

Added oil to the jacks. (The proper front jack still will not work.) Hose for power Steering busted;, boughta a new hose at Alabama HoProducts forcost $27.47. Bought power steering fluid at Tri Cities Truck parts $88.00. 

Ordered part to fix refrigerator RV Cooling Unit Warehouse $1,115.00. My husband has not fixed it as of (6/2/2012). We had it shipped to Dixie Signs; it had to be shipped to the business.

On May 8, 2012, my husband moved the RV to park in front of the house because we had a concert that cost $1,900, which was paid for with our savings.

From Tuesday, May 8, 2012, to Tuesday, May 15, 2012, I waxed the RV while sitting in front of the house.

During this time, we had no direct TV or Internet; we watched many movies. 

🎄🎄🎄🎄2012 December 8, Saturday, A Dickens of a Christmas in Franklin Tennessee

2012 Saturday, December 8, Franklin, TN

Was it a Dickens of a Christmas in Franklin, Tennessee?

My husband and I ate breakfast of eggs, sausage, and toast. 

We arrive in Franklin, Tennessee, about 10:00 A.M. 

My husband and I walked around taking pictures of costumed characters from Dickens' story"A Christmas Carol.

I rode the horse-drawn carriage around the Public Square for $2.00. 

The carriage had four padded bench seats that would seat up to twelve people of normal size.

It was pulled by a couple of horses, one of which was brown and whit, and the other pitch black.

We saw arts and crafts from the holiday bazaar throughout the public square. 

There were musicians along the streets; we saw violinists, handbell choirs, harpists, and carolers. 

I grabbed a picture of Scrooge, the  Old "Humbug" himself. 

My husband took a picture of me next to the Grim Reaper.

I took several pictures of the Cratchit family, along with Tiny Tim, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, and Bob Cratchit (who are actually Franklin police officers on duty), Father and Mother Christmas.

We sampled peppermint pretzels and watched the Morris Dancers perform a Cornish dance featuring swords and sticks from the mining communities of Cornwall.

It rained for the first part of the morning. We saw many people carrying umbrellas, but the rain did not deter the festival.

We ate lunch at Papa Boudreaux's Cajun Café & Catering Co. and spent $33.15.

The building was painted purple and trimmed in bright yellow, with iron-metal tables and chairs sitting outside. 

Inside, there were long wooden bench tables that could seat up to eight people, and the total occupancy max is 49.

On the outside of the restaurant, on the purple door, was a sign that read," Restrooms are for paying customers ONLY! Sorry, we are a small establishment…….SignedPap's Management.

Scrooge walking the streets of Franklin

Wet Streets of Franklin

I took pictures of many historic markers, including the courthouse. Behind the marker was a sign that read, "Franklin on foot."

What once was the local courthouse is now the Visitors Center in Franklin.

Another sign that Union Headquarters Was Planning for battle was located near a manger scene.

The St. Philip Chaotic Church Marker was in front of the Church.

The Old Factory Store is now a bookstore where several authors were signing books.

We also saw the Masonic Temple, Hiram Lodge No. 7 & building and marker, which was on the Civil War tour number 17.

We saw the Ewen Cameron marker at the Presbyterian Church.

We stopped at Starbucks to use the restroom before we left Franklin.

We passed many war markers as we walked back to the van. We saw the Chickasaw Treaty Council, the Fa Field Hospital caring for the wounded, the Franklin Special School District, the Franklin Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and the Hincheyville Markers.

Christmas Tree in the Center of Town

Lady in Pink

Carriage Rides

Cratchit Family

We rode to Leipers Fork around 1:30 P.M. to watch the Christmas parade, but it was canceled due to the weather. The town was hit by lightning earlier that day. 

The participants of the Christmas Parade had gathered and dispersed after the storm.

Many of them had to travel down Main Street, and we saw many.

We saw a sign that read "Possum Holler Garage Like US on Facebook."

Radio Flayer Wagon 

Possum Holler Garage 

We saw Radio Flayer Wagon atop a Jeep full of riders full of Christmas Cheer.

We saw a Possum Holler Garage tow truck towing an old Plymouth.

We saw an F-150 truck pulling a boat on a wagon, with riders wearing Santa hats.

We saw an Old Chevrolet Truck with the inscription "Posser Holler Garage" pulling an outhouse, the side of which read "Old NO. 7."

There was a round hole cut in the outhouse, and it had a reindeer hanging out of the hole with four legs closed underneath. On the backside of the outhouse was a satellite dish, a sign that read, "Merry Christmas.

A sign that read "Possum Holler est. 2006, "The Other White Meat", "24 Wreck Her Service", "You Bend We Mend 'em".

Behind the signs was Frosty the Snowman, with a couple of reindeer and a sign that read, "  TAY BACK 100 FEET EXPLOSIVE GAS."

Riding in the  1921 Clampett's truck

STAY BACK 100 FEET EXPLOSIVE GAS."

We saw the Hillsboro United Methodist/Bank of Leiper's Fork historic markers located at Old Hwy 96 W.

We walked through the Winters Arts located at the Locke Building.

We went inside Serenity Madison Antiques and Mercantile.

We stopped inside the Laurel Leaf Fashion Store.

We saw the Puckett's grocery restaurant with men sitting outside.

My husband made a picture of me sitting in Clampett's old Ford Truck. It had a homemade wooden bench for sitting.

Inside and hanging along the old truck, I saw a jug of moonshine, a washtub, a trunk, a five-gallon bucket, a frying pan, and a dead opossum lying in a wash pan, hanging under the backside of the truck, just waiting for Granny Clampett to fry.

We saw an outdoor theater inside, with a live Christmas tree adorned with hundreds of colorful bulbs. On either sid,e standing straight and tall were nutcrackers. 

As we wereleavingi, we saw the Church of Christ at Leiper's For,kWhich Meets Here,e EST 1831.

We walked around the many stores but didn't buy anything.

We left around 2:30 P.M., traveling down the Natchez Trace to Lawrenceburg, TN.

We stopped at Kroger's in Lawrenceburg, where we purchased baked chicken, two slices of red velvet cake, chocolate-covered almonds, and rolls. 

We took all that food home to have a feast.

2012 June 19, Tuesday, Trip to Plains, Georgia Home of President Jimmy Carter

Tuesday, Jun 19, 2012

My husband and I were up at 4:30 A.M. We both ate a tomato sandwich for breakfast. (I ate 1/2 of a sandwich.)

We stopped at the rest area in Birmingham, AL, to use the restroom and get snacks of Reese's Pieces and Diet Pepsi. $3.00

We filled up with gas in Alexander City, which cost $50.00. At 8 A.M., we put 15.38 gallons in the van for $ 3.24 per gallon.

After we filled with gas, our GPS went crazy and stopped working. 

We drove through Columbus, Georgia, and we stopped at Carl Gregory Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge Dealership at 2201 Victory Dr., Columbus, Ga.. 

My husband wanted to ask someone in the services department why the GPS was acting the way it was, but they didn't know.

We stopped at the Webster County Courthouse (red brick with four large white columns) to take pictures of the historic markers for Walter F. George (1878-1957), who served as a senator from Georgia for 34 years, and the historic marker for the First Confederate flag that was raised in Georgia and Webster. I took several pictures of the surrounding area. 

Webster County Courthouse

The buildings across the street from the courthouse were Simply Country Thrift and Snack Bar, Mom's Kitchen Restaurant, which had a mural of grilling out in the park, and Jesus with the twelve disciples sitting at the Lord's Supper. 

We arrived in Plains, Georgia. Our first stop was Jimmy Carter's Boyhood Farm. 

After parking, we both walked to the restroom at the front of the parking lot. 

There were several markers along the walkway, "From here to Plains, Jimmy Carter's Boyhood Farm, Jimmy Carter's signature and his hand print in the cement dated Sept 24, 2010, and Always a reckoning.

We saw chickens inside the pen, an outhouse, a garden with fresh vegetables planted, a marker reading "Carter Slept here," a chicken house, money on trees, and a water pump.

Inside Earl and Lillian Carter's home, we saw the kitchen, which had a dough bowl, rolling pin, bowls, cook stove, in the hallway an old talking telephone, Jimmy Carter's bedroom, bathroom, dining room, breakfast room, Earl and Lillian's Bedroom, Gloria and Ruth's bedroom, and the living room. 

I sat in a rocker on the front porch while my husband took my picture.

Jimmy Carter's Boyhood Home 

Jimmy Carter's Boyhood Home 

We walked past the Carter tennis court, the windmill water pump, and the old gas pump next to the store that was owned and run by the Carter Family.

We walked past the Winds of Change marker, the Carter family garden, which grew velvet beans, black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes, collard greens, and peanuts.

The Carters also owned a Blacksmith Shop and a barn.

Jimmy Carter's Boyhood Home & Barn 

 We walked past the marker of Catch the Mules and the next-door neighbors, Cash Crops, Never Far from Home, and Legacy of an Outdoor.

We were greeted by Park Ranger Pierson (Ivan). He told us a little about the farm and walked around the park with us. We asked him about his college, and he said he was going back to get his master's in History, but that he loved what he was doing.

We thanked him, and we rode into the small town of Plains. 

We crossed the railroad tracks and spied the historic marker of President Jimmy Carter.

We stopped at the Train Depot that Carter used as his campaign headquarters when he was running for President.

I took many pictures inside the depot.

Our next stop was the Plains Museum, the former Plains High School.

Jimmy & Roseland Carter

Sitting at a President's desk 

We were greeted at the door and given a paper about the school. We walked through, taking pictures and reading posters inside. 

Bought four postcards and was told that we could get them stamped at the post office.

We asked where a good place to eat was, and we were told that Mama's Kitchen,n 203 Church St, Plain, GA.

We rode over to Americus, GA, and ate lunch at Captain D's on 1305 East Lamar Street, Americus, GA 31709. 

I ordered a 12-butterfly shrimp plate with green beans and a salad. 

My husband ordered a deluxe seafood Platter with baked potato and slaw. 

Next, we rode over to the Charles Lindbergh monument at Souther Field near the airport. 

Next, we rode to the historic downtown of Americus to tour the Best Western Plus Windsor Hotel. 

I took pictures of storefronts, the hotel, and the visitor's center that was inside the hotel.

Inside the hotel was an ice cream shop called Richelle's Bakery, 123 W. Lamar St, Americus, Ga. Richelle's

Bakery

My husband and I share a bowl of vanilla ice cream and two chocolate chip cookies, which cost $5.50.

We rode back to Plains, Georgia, to the Golden Peanut Company, formerly the Carter Warehouse, where we tasted the peanut butter ice cream, bought a basket of tomatoes and a bag of peanuts, and spent $9.76.

We drove to the post office, where I had my four postcards stamped with the seal "Hometown of the 39^th president of the USA" and the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Stamp, which said "Plains, GA Jun 19, 2012 AM 3180." Cost $2.14.

Post Cards

 Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm, Plains, GA. As a young boy, Jimmy Carter lived on a farm in Plains, GA. Smiles from Plains. Pictures are (1) Commissary and Gardens, (2) Jimmy Carter, (3) Barn, (4) Boyhood Farm.

The Smiling Peanut (The Smiling Peanut was made for a Carter Rally in Evansville, Indiana, in 1976 and was later given to Plains in 1977. It is a favorite spot for photographs and a reminder of the importance the peanut played in Jimmy Carter's presidential campaign. Jimmy Carter.

President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia. The Carters returned to their hometown of Plains in 1981 after leaving the White House. 

2008, April 7, Monday, Having fun in the park with grandkids

I picked up Sierra, Montana, and Nevada at their grandmother Clanton's house.

I had packed a picnic lunch of peanut butter sandwiches, bananas, fruit bowls, and Mountain Dews. 

We ate lunch at St Florine Park, and when we finished, we walked the trail.

About midway through the trail was a hill of loose dirt

The kids wanted to climb atop the dirt hill, and I said they could.

They said Grannyncameme up, so I did.

We walked around on top of the dirt pile and up and down several times. 

The kids loved this area. 

We walked around the park and I took pictures. 

I took the kid's picture standing on a bridge next to a statue of an alligator.

Nevada 

Sierra 

Montana

We saw, sitting on a stump, some tin statue-singing frogs, which intrigued the kids. 

Along the walking trail, we saw a face carved into a tree; it had large marble-like eyes.

I took pictures of the kids everywhere in the park. 

When we finished walking, the grandkids played on the playground.
Deibert Park was the next place we went to. 
We walked on the trail, and there were signs everywhere about the animals one might see along the way.

Sculptures in Deibert Park

Sculptures in Deibert Park

The kids and I got very hot, so our next stop was McDonald's for an Oreo McFlurry. 

Next, we went to Loaves and Fishes, a thrift store in Muscle Shoals.
I let the grandkids pick out five books each and two movies. 

We stopped at train Tressel on the Colbert side of the Tennessee River.
We walked to the end and back by the time we finished, and Montana's long curly hair was glistening with sweat.

Our next stop was River Heritage Park, located next to the Marriott Hotel.
The kids played on the castle and the train playground equipment. 

Stopping for a pose

Having fun at River Heritage Park 

I made pictures of the kids playing, and when we were leaving the park, we stopped at the waterfall in front of the Marriott hotel.  

My granddaughter called and said she needed someone to pick her up at school.

For dinner, I baked a potato, and the grandkids dressed it with cheese, bacon bits, and sour cream.

For dessert, I served strawberry pie.

Strawberry pie is Montana's favorite, and he ate pie until he said Granny, my stomach is about to pop.

Hannah and Sierra went outside to ride scooters.
My grandson, Jake, came over to pick up his sister, Hannah. 

He was hungry, so he ate a potato with all the trimmings.
After Jake and Hannah left, I took the other grandkids to Ron's, where they played with Ron's Star Wars Dolls. 

We got home, and later that day, the grandkids' mom came to pick them up.  

I spent the day with grandkids climbing a dirt hill, hiking, picnicking, walking trails, playing in the park, reading signs, and making memories.