2010 March 20, Saturday, Big Read & Exploring

I took two grandsons to the Florence Library to kick off the big read.
The boys enjoyed fence painting (Tom Sawyer Fence painting) using yellow, green, red & blue paints. A couple was playing and singing music. 

Tom Sawyer 

Fence Painting

There was a wooden statue with the face hollowed out where the kids could put their faces inside and pretend to be  Tom Sawyer. 

The kids also received a peppermint stick

.

The boys with the dog display

The boys and the elephant display

We walked across the street to Wilson Park and then to Kennedy Douglas Art Center where the boys could explore the outdoor art displays. We saw a dog, a dinosaur, an elephant, and a  spider.

We stopped at Pickett Place a Historic site

Pope's Tavern 

We stopped at Pope's Tavern and walked around the grounds stopping to take a few pictures. 

Teaching the Boys about early cooking 

teaching the boys about the early watering troughs for horses

We continued walking to UNA. We went to see the lions, UNA and LEO. 
We visited Romeo & Juliet Statues, the building that looks like a castle, the UNA bell tower, the area where UNA soldiers are honored, and many other sites. 

Finishing our walkthrough UNA 

Sculptures displayed downtown 

We walked downtown stopping for a picture of the Hulk poster

our last stop with the Presbyterian Church 

I took the boys to Wendy's for frosty and chicken fingers. 

The grandkids learned a lot of history and had fun doing it. 

2010 February 27, Saturday, Hiking on TVA Trails

I parked the car near the TVA Power Station at Birding Site Number 8. 
Where my granddaughter and I began our hike. Before 911 there was a Visitor Center at TVA where visitors could come and see how our power system works. Most of the information is now located at Muscle Shoals Town Hall.

Birding Site 6

The first thing we saw was the TVA Dam and the cascading waterfall. The path was still coved with fallen leaves and most of the trees bare. The best time to hike is in the fall or winter because of snakes.

Walking to the Rock Pile

Walking on the trail 

Rock Pile Trail
Old First Quarters 1.8 miles
Follow White Blazes
A National Recreation Trail 

You are at the Rockpile Recreation
To the east is a scenic waterfall near Wilson Dam
To go to Wilson Dam via the trail follow the road up the hill a short way and turn left onto the stairs
To travel toward the Patton Island Bridge follow the old rail bed until you get to a hill with some cross-tie steps on the left. Follow the trail up those stairs.

We passed the rock pile and we walked along the rail bed up the steps to Patton Island Bridge. 

Following the rail bed

We walked past the Patton Island Bridge and continued up the hill. 
We walked until we reached a gravel road.

Walking on a gravel road

Walking on the sidewalk

We crossed the highway over to the sidewalk and walked back to the car. 
We stopped to read the signs that are posted in a shelter near the TVA Dam Power Station

Gulls Glorious Gulls

Birds of North Alabama 

Exploring the River 

After the long walk, we were hot, tired and hungry. I drove us across the TVA dam and we went to Cracker Barrel to eat lunch.
It was a nice day for hiking not too hot. We did not see any critters along our path. We did cross several bridges and walked up and down several hills. We had to watch our steps for fallen branches. 
I had a great time hiking in the woods on the TVA Trail with my granddaughter. 

2010 April 13, Tuesday, Indian Mound, Train Tressel and Singing River Park

On Tuesday, I took two of my grandsons to the Indian Mound Museum, where we saw a collection of American Indian relics dating back over 10,000 years. There were several display cases full of arrowheads that interested my grandsons. The Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Creek once lived in this area until the Trail of Tears. 
We also watched a short film.

Indian Mound Museum 

The curator said we could walk or take the stairs to the top of the Indian Mound. She said to beware of the snake in the grass. She said it was not poison. 
The cost was two dollars each. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

The Indian Mound Museum closed in 2015. The building was small and dilapidated.
Can you access the mound until the new building is built? 
The new building is due to open in October 2016. The artifacts that were once on display are being filtered through. They are only keeping the most important ones. A sash worn by Chickasaw Chief George Colbert will be on display. I'm eager to see the new one open. 

Historic Marker

There is a historic marker telling information about the mound. 
Prehistoric Mound (Probably Built between 100 B.C and 400 A.D.)
This is the highest domiciliary mound in the Tennessee Valley. It was built between 100 B.C. and 400 A.D. by a prehistoric people of the ancient Woodland Culture. Such mounds served as bases for ceremonial temples or the houses of chiefs. This mound, encircled initially by an earthen wall, contains no burials. It is 43 feet in height. Its base measurements are 310 feet by 230 feet. Its flat top measures 145 feet by 90 feet. Evidence indicates that nearby there were two smaller mounds, villages, and cultivated fields.

Climbing the many steps to the top

Port of Florence

The boys and I climbed the many steps to the top.  To the left, we could see the Tennessee River, O'Neal Bridge, and the old train trestle. To our right, we could see the Port of Florence.
We could see barges being unloaded with palettes of goods being delivered to Florence. 
We saw train cars that were no longer used on the now-disused train tracks that once crossed the Tennessee River. The steps leading to and behind the museum were the Co-Cop.
We waded through the tall grass, hoping not to see the friendly snake. 
After taking a few pictures, we walked back down the steps.

We crossed the Tennessee River and stopped at the location of the old train trestle on the Colbert County side. 

Walking Trail of the Train Tressel

The Tressel is now a walking trail.
My grandsons and I walked to the end of the trestle and back. 

The Gate is locked where once trains traveled across the Tennessee River

We walked to the car and crossed the Singing River Bridge back to Lauderdale County.
We stopped at Singing River Park, which was filled with blooming dogwoods.
This park features a newly built restroom that is open to the public, except during winter months when it is locked. 

Sun Dial 

At the bottom of the park is a concrete slab, almost like a sundial, where you can set and watch the barges go up and down the river. 

My grandsons and I walked down the many steps to the banks of the Tennessee River. It is also handicap accessible. 

Steps and a handicap walkway

There are so many fun things you can do with your children and grandchildren. Teach them to love the history of the area where they live. 

2010 April 11, Sunday, History is fun with Grandkids

Sunday morning I took four of my grandchildren to town. It was a beautiful spring day with flowers blooming every. 
We stopped at Wilson Park, the trees were filled with beautiful full pink flowers. 
Water was spouting into the air while droplets were falling back into the fountain. When the wind blew the water would fall on us. 

Wilson Park Fountain

Granddaughters near the flowering trees

Grandson at the Bank 

We walked across the street to take a picture of the Bank that was built as a replica of the Forks of Cypress. My grandson posed for me as I told them about the history of the Forks of Cypress.

We walked down Mobile Street stopping to look at the display window The House of Heroes, a comic book store. 

The House of Heroes

We continued walking down South Court Street stopping in front of the Courthouse.

Grandsons at Courthouse

We walked up North Court Street stopping to take a picture of the horse sculpture

 horse sculpture

We continued walking up North Court Street stopping to take pictures.

Measuring the width of the tree

Stopping for a picture

Finally, we reached UNA and walked across the bridge just off Pine Street.

Crossing the bridge

The grandkids joined arms together and begin singing Follow the Yellow Brick Road. 

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

We stopped to see the sculptures of Romeo and Juliet.

My grandson with Juliet 

We stopped to see the lions UNA and LEO.

Leo & UNA 

We walked to the entrance of UNA and then walked back to Wilson Park.

The University of North Alabama 

We loaded into the van and rode to Spring Park in Tuscumbia where the grandkids enjoyed feeding the ducks. 

Grandkids feeding the ducks

They played on the playgrounds.

Playing on the equipment on the playgrounds

Grandsons at Stage Coach Stop 

We walked down to the waterfalls so the kids could play in the water and to take a few pictures.

Grandson at the falls

Grandkids playing in the water
We walked up to the Stage Coach Stop at the top of the hill of Spring Park a historic site

View of Spring Park from the top of the hill.I had a wonderful time with the grandkids. We went to Wilson & Spring Parks, we walked in downtown Florence to UNA and back to Wilson Park.
Learning can be fun. 

We went home and I grilled hamburgers. 

2010 ~ Sunday, May 23, Bridge Street Centre with granddaughters

I took off two of my granddaughters, Sierra and Madison, to the Bridge Street Center. 

I parked near the Red Robin Restaurant. 

Bridge Street is beautifully laid out and has a fountain, flower gardens, a variety of stores, a theater, restaurants, a bowling alley, and a hotel. The girls posed for several photos. 

Granddaughters posing for a picture

Granddaughters posing at the fountain 

Standing outside the NASA store was a spacesuit. Each one of us put our faces inside the mask of the space and made pictures. 

We went inside the NASA store, looked around at the displays, and talked to the people there. 

NASA Suit 

The man inside the store said that in August, there will be a day when you can visit NASA.
There were many hands-on displays that the girls enjoyed.

Granddaughter with hands-on displays

We walked to the Apple store and we played on the new IPAD.

We stopped to use the restroom and check out Station No. 2 & The Melting Pot Restaurant.

The girls are playing on the escalator. 

The girls at Station No. 2 & The Melting Pot Restaurant

Standing at the gate of the Westin Hotel 

We walked into the Black and White Store.

We went to Barnes and Noble, where I bought a book to take with me on my trip to California. (The Time Travelers is book one of the Gideon Trilogy.) 

The girls at PF Changs

We went to the Chocolate Crocodile, and we each bought a soda. 

It was over 100 + degrees, so we were all thirsty. 

I gave the girls my last dollar to buy a Truffle. 

Enjoying a soft drink at the Chocolate Crocodile

Walking back to the car

We walked to the car and I drove us to Cracker Barrel in Madison, where we metHubbyy for dinner.

I ordered pinto beans, grilled chicken, cornbread, onion, and relish

Madison ordered shrimp, macaroni, and Cheese, with ice. Sierra ordered fried Chicken fingers, macaroni, Cheese, and a cheeseburger. 

Hubby ate a bacon cheeseburger and fried apples.

Later that day, the girls and I swam in our pool until 8:30 P.M

Both girls spent the night.