2017 January 16, Monday, Birding Trail Sites #7, #11, #16

Hubby and I traveled to Waterloo in hopes of seeing a Bald Eagle. We met a couple from Hartsell at birding site number 11, they had binoculars and a camera with a large telephoto lens.
We sighted at least two Bald Eagles, soaring high in the sky, not close enough to get a good picture.

Bald Eagle

We did see a lot of small black ducks and a few cranes.

We traveled back to Florence stopping at Dairy Queen (for the $5 deal) for hamburgers, fries, coke, and ice cream.
I substituted a side salad for the fries and I ordered a banana ice cream with real slices of bananas.
When we finished we rode to the Rock-pile Recreation Area birding site number 7 on the northeast loop which is located at the base of Wilson Dam.

Waterfall

At the Rockpile I walked to the nearby waterfall. Several families and couples were visiting the waterfall.
Near Wilson Dam and along the locks I saw thousands of small white birds.
We saw several families with their children on the nearby playground.

We rode through Muscle Shoals turning left onto the old hwy 20, which took us through Leighton.

William Leigh founder of Leighton 

William Leigh founder of Leighton 

We stopped at the historic marker of William Leigh the founder of Leighton and his gravesite.
The founder of Leighton was named in honor of the Reverend William Leigh, son, and grandson of Revolutionary War veterans. He was born in Amelia County Virginia, Oct 4, 1790, and moved to Alabama in about 1823.
Leigh settled nearby at Jeffers Cross Roads and became a large landowner, pioneer merchant, postmaster, and La Grange College trustee. He was a charter member of Leighton Masonic Lodge No. 43 and served as Grand Master of the Alabama Masons (1833-1835). Leigh was a Missionary Baptist preacher for 63 years and served as pastor and leader in the Muscle Shoals Baptist Association. In 1836, he donated land and helped build a brick meeting house in Leighton for joint use by the Masons. Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Cumberland Presbyterians, and others.
William Leigh was the first postmaster of Leighton (1824-1847) and with William Gregg, operated a storehouse at the crossroads under the firm name of William Leigh & Company. He ran unsuccessfully for the state legislature on the Whig ticket in 1840. In 1847 Leigh sold his store, 1800-acre plantation, livestock, and 30 slaves and moved to Kentucky. He soon returned to Alabama, living in Moulton for a few years before moving to Florence where his wife served as a matron at the Florence Synodical College. Leigh died there in Florence, on July 31, 1873, and was buried here in the Leigh family graveyard. The Masons erected a monument at his unmarked grave in 1931. The old brick church that he helped build a century earlier was razed in 1948. 

We rode through several small towns on our way to the Wildlife Refuge in Decatur. Bird Site #16.
We walked down to the view area from the visitor center, where we saw thousands of Sandhill Cranes, and thousands of ducks but only one White Whopping Crane.

Thousands Sandhill Cranes

I was hoping there was an open area to view the cranes but the viewing area was enclosed so all the pictures I took of the cranes and ducks were behind glass.
We walked to the swamp area where we crossed over on a wooden bridge.
We walked to an open field where we watched several Sandhill Cranes fly away into the distance and I took several pictures.

Sandhill Cranes

The sun was setting as we walked back to the visitor center. Inside we stopped to ask questions and to view the animals. (nonliving)
The sun was beginning to fade when we left the visitor center and was dark before we arrived home.

We spent the day traveling from Florence to Waterloo, back to Florence, to Muscle Shoals, to Leighton, Town Creek, Decatur, Athens, and back home. We visited three birding trails where we saw a variety of birds. It was a very enjoyable day, perfect weather and we did not rush.

Neither of us wanted to stop for a meal, so we came home and I put on a pot of oatmeal.

🎄🎄🎄🎄2016 December 12-14, Christmas on the Gulf

Hubby and I traveled over six hours to Theodore Alabama to walk thru the Christmas Lights at Bellingrath Gardens.
We stopped at Durbin's Farm restaurant in Clanton for lunch.
We split a Ham & Cheese Croissant and we split a hot fried peach pie covered in peach ice cream.
We usually stop at Peach Park in Clanton but it was closed.

Hot, fried, peach pie covered in peach ice cream at Peach Park. 

We arrived at 4:09PM purchased our tickets @ Bellingrath Gardens and walked down to the boat dock to watch the sunset. We walked back up the hill into the gardens it was not quite dark enough for the Christmas lights to shine brightly. There was a concession area near the Bellingrath house so we stopped for a box of popcorn and a can of coke while we sat and listened to a local band playing Christmas Carols.
It was now dark enough for the Christmas light to shine and twinkle so we began our walk through the Gardens.

Christmas Trees @ Bellingrath Gardens

The pond before dark 

The pond after dark 

Throughout the garden, we saw Christmas trees, a manger scene, poinsettia, and twinkling lights, around the lake we saw swans, alligators, Santa, toys, and a train.
We had arrived early and had gotten a parking spot near the front but when we left the parking lot was full and it was spilling over into the no-parking areas.
It was still an hour's ride to where we were staying.

Poinsettias @ Bellingrath Gardens

The setting sun and full moon at the boat docks
@ Bellingrath Gardens

We stopped at Zaxby's in Foley for dinner, and we both ordered salads.
By the time we arrived at the hotel, we were both very tired and we both took a hot bath and climbed into bed.
I wish, I could say I slept like a log but I could not because I still had a hacking cough.
I had been dealing with this crud for about a week. I had been taking Muniex and the little Muniex man will not leave me alone.
Rain is in the forecast for later today with lots of fog. The fog settled in on us as we rode back across Mobile Bay.
The next day we took the elevator down to the dining area at 6AM where we ate breakfast. I ate two sausage links, and two french toast and drank two boxes of chocolate milk.
We went back to the room waiting for the fog to lift before we rode to the beach.

Gulf Shores Beach (you can still see the fog)

We stopped at BAM in Gulf Shores to buy "The Night Before Christmas" book. I want my granddaughter, who is graduating with a degree in Elementary Education, to begin a tradition of reading "The Night Before Christmas" when we celebrate our Christmas Family Get-together.

We rode to Heritage Park in Foley. Last year they added the Bell Tower and this year they have added a crossover. (A beautiful walkway with elevators to cross over the highway to the park).
We visited the tiny Santa Village, the Christmas tree lane, the bell tower, the fountain, and the train depot. We watched and listened to a man tell stories about the miniature trains' display, along with a group of children.

CrossWalk @ Foley Park 

There were several school groups throughout the park.

Bell Tower @Foley Park 

miniature train Display (small part)

Miniature Train Display (small part)@ Foley depot

We stopped at Bass Pro Shops in Spanish Fort, & Sam's Club.
In Delphne, we stopped at the Mellow Mushroom.

Mellow Mushroom Statue in Delphne, Al 

A friendly wave from Santa Clause at Bass Pro Shops

We rode to Gulf Shores, walked along the beach, & waited for the sunset. The clouds rolled in so we did not get to see the sunset.

Sunset at Gulf Shores 

It started lighting so we went back to the hotel. It stormed all night.
We ate sausage, eggs, and muffins for breakfast at the hotel.

On our travel home, we stopped at Joe's Crab Shack in Hoover, Alabama for lunch.
We rode to Gadsden stopping at Noccalula Falls, which was almost dried up.
We stopped at the Mary G. Hardin Art Center to see the Christmas Trees created by local schools and the miniature train display.

Finding Nemo Christmas Tree @ Mary G. Hardin Art Center 

Noccalula Falls

We stopped at Chick-fil-A in Athens for dinner and were home by 7:30PM

🎄🎄🎄🎄2016 December 10, Saturday Christmas Adventures🎄🎅🏻

I grabbed my purse, camera bag, a blanket, a box of Kleenex, and gloves before I walked outside into the brisk cold. 
Our windshield was covered with star-shaped ice and the leather seats were freezing cold. 
I spread a fuzzy warm blank over my seat while I waited for it to warm up which did not take too long because of the heated seats. 
I had dressed in layers with thermals, jeans, two thermal shirts, a coat, and boots. I was one big bundle of warmth.
I coughed and hacked all the way to Walgreens in Lawrenceburg, where we purchased a bottle of Mucinex Fast-Max Clear and Cool for cold, flu, and sore throat. 
I felt like that Mucinex man had been following me for the last two days. 
I took my first dose which burned my raw throat. We also bought two bags of Ricola Cough suppressants a bag of Swiss Cherry and a bag of Cherry Honey from Switzerland.
We stopped in Spring Hill to fill up at Murphy Gas and Burger King for three French sticks, a piece of sausage, and a cinnamon roll. 

We saw a group of young fiddlers playing Christmas Carols, they were dressed in full-length, white, blue, brown, pink, & red dresses.
Bonnets, caps, or hats covered their heads, and scarves were wrapped around their necks. 
We walked back in time to a Victorian Christmas and as we strolled the streets we met many different characters. We meet Santa Claus, A Victorian Father and Mother Christmas, Ebenezer Scrooge, The Grim Reaper, the Nut Cracker, Bob Emily & Tiny Tim Cratchit, and Jacob Marley.

Victorian Father and Mother Christmas

Santa Clause

Old Hum Bum himself "Ebenezer Scrooge"
He said I don't like people and I don't like pictures as he posed for his picture. 

Dickens of Christmas Characters

The Nut Cracker and the Frisky Little Mouse 

Group of Dickens Characters

Bob Emily & Tiny Tim Cratchit

Father Christmas

About seventy-five vendors in white tents filled Main Street.

Their booths were filled with heritage crafts, holiday items, and specialty gifts. 

Vendors were encouraged to dress in period dresses to bring out the ambiance.

We saw a horse-drawn carriage, carolers, Charles Dickens characters strolling the streets, and the smell of Victorian food.

One booth was giving free cups of hot apple cider which felt good to my sore throat. 

We saw Booties, Whimsy Wonderland, Country Wood, Boudrcaux Bro Kitchen & Catering, Heritage Foundation Booth, bell ringers for Salvation Army, a sign that said "Franklin Rotary Breakfast will match your donation", Mix 97, Ace's Kettle Corn, Cinnamon Roasted Nuts, Almonds, Cashews, Pecans, locally owned and made Walker Creek Confections, Tennessee Glass Stains, Mix 92.9, Gracy's Farm Fresh Honey, Kaleidoscope Frames, Chocolate Moonshine of Tennessee, Franklin Fudge Factory, Unique Funnel Cake House, Artist drawing a reindeer, Stoney Creek Farm, a blacksmith, a bookbinder, a sock netter, Imagine-box Emporium  Peach-skin Sheets, Colorado Wassail Company, a man playing glasses full of water, Puckett's Trolley, White Mercantile,  The statue guy, & large black furry poodle.

The Thirty-second Annual Dickens of a Christmas Heritage Foundation was a bandstand where groups performed.

The last character we saw was the tormented ghost, damned to wander the earth forevermore as a punishment for his greed, Jacob Marley.

Jacob Marley

As we exited downtown Franklin we felt like we were leaving behind a Victorian Christmas.
Even the Old Hum Bum himself "Ebenezer Scrooge" could not ruin our Christmas. 

🎄🎄🎄🎄2016 Friday December 2 & Saturday December 3, Events "Christmas"

Yesterday, hubby and I joined in a group gathering at 6:00PM for Every Light a prayer for peace at Pope's Tavern.

"We, Angels and Mortals, Believers and Non-Believers,

Look heavenward and speak the word aloud.

Peace. We look at our world and speak the word aloud.

Peace. We look at each other, then into ourselves

And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation.

Peace, My Brother.

Peace, My Sister.

Peace, My Soul.”

-- "Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem" by Dr. Maya Angelou

We walked through the lower level of Pope's Tavern where we saw signs of an Old Fashion Christmas. 

We saw a cedar tree, whose top branches reached the ceiling, it was covered with stringed popcorn, stuffed animals, snowflakes, Christmas balls, and a rope made of construction paper. All the ornaments were hand-made. 

The dining room was decorated with fresh pine needles, and apples and topped with a pineapple.

Refreshment was served after the program.

We were welcomed by Margie Anderton, a devotional led by Stan Dean. 
American Legion Post 11 presented the Honor Guard Flags. 
Legacy Christmas Academy Choir entertained us with Christmas Carols. 

Legacy Christmas Academy Choir

Our mayor Steve Holt greeted the audience
Wayne Higgins told some of the histories of Pope's Tavern.
Taps were played by Honor Guards.

Honor Guard

There was a special dedication to the memory of Christine Glover.
Christine's granddaughter lit the Christmas Tree.
Stan Dean ended the program with a prayer.
We walked to Wilson Park to listen to a group of children sing Christmas Carols.
We saw the lighting of the Christmas Tree in Wilson Park. 

Children sing Christmas Carols

Christmas Tree Wilson Park 

We walked downtown to check out First Friday. We saw snow, Frosty, Santa Claus, and people in Medieval customs. We saw Bobbies on horses and Segates and we saw a live manger scene.

Manger Scene 

Frosty and Snow 

Today, I went to the Visitors Center to listen to the Natchez Trace Park Ranger, Emily Smithey. She was very informative about the history of George Colbert's activity on the Natchez Trace in its infancy.
She talked about the Importance of safe river crossing, trade, and transition of the Chickasaw society. She also told us about the new pictures that are being posted in a kiosk along the Natchez Trace about its history.
There was a Q&A after her talk.
There were descendants of George Colbert attending the meeting. 

Christmas Tree at the Visitor Center

I went to Kennedy Douglas Arts Center, to Christmas in the Renaissance City Authors Crawl, with Glen Wills, on Forgotten Alabama and Angela Broyles Blue-Water Publications.
I talked to a descendant of George Colbert from Oklahoma. He was doing a book signing.
I introduced myself and we talked on many different topics. 

Books from various authors were for sale from 10:30-3:30PM at Kennedy Douglas.

🎄🎄🎄🎄2016 November 29, Tuesday, Chad's Wonderland, Jelly Stone Dancing Lights and Opry Mills "Christmas"

We ate lunch at Ponderosa Steakhouse in Lawrenceburg.

New York Strip, baked potato, and Texas Toast 

Ponderosa Steakhouse 

Chad's Winter Wonderland

 Chad's Winter Wonderland is located between Lebanon and Mt Juliet just north of the Hwy 70 and Hwy 109 intersections.
It has eight acres of displays with life-size Native scenes, live animals, and ninety drive-thru arches decorated with Christmas Lights.
With Conway Twitty and Twitty Bird singing Happy the Christmas Clown,
 Ding-A-Ling, Christmas is for Kids, We wish you a Merry Christmas, Silver Bells, Frosty the Snow Man, Rudolph Red Nose Reindeer, and many other Christmas Songs.

We saw Frosty, Reindeer, Christmas trees, Christmas Train, carolers, Christmas Stockings, toy soldiers, angels, a manger scene with live animals, a helicopter,  airplanes, and Santa's Train.
We talked to Santa at Santa's Workshop. We saw a live-dancing Frosty Snowman.
The cost was $15.00 per car
It was very enjoyable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFZuFa0YVso

We rode through Chad's Winter Wonderland at 6PM which took about 15 minutes.
We were about thirty minutes from Nashville so we decided to visit The Dancing Lights of Christmas at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park.

Dancing Lights at Jelly Stone Park 

We paid $25.00, slid the top back on our van, climbed up stuck my head through the hole with my cell phone in hand. I began taking videos as we rode through hundreds of thousands of LED Christmas lights dancing to Rockn' Christmas tunes. The park also offers special rides on its firetruck but reservations for the Fire Truck must be made in advance.

Dancing Lights

We stopped at Fox 17's Santa's Village where there was a Santa Claus, family activities, a spider hum, inflatables, and a petting zoo. 

There were fires for roasting Marshmallows and a big screen TV showing a Christmas
movie

 It was beginning to sprinkle as we left Jellystone Park.
We rode to Opry Mills and stopped to look at the aquariums at the Aquarium Restaurant, and at the Lego Land Store to look at all the displays.

Lego Land 

A Visit with Santa 

Christmas Trees at Opry Mall

We ate supper at Panda Express in the food court.
It rained hard while we were inside the mall.

We went inside Bass Pro Shops to view their Christmas displays and Santa Village.

Fire Place at Bass Pro Shops

Bear at Bass Pro Shops

Christmas Tree at Bass Pro Shops

Santa's Village and Reindeer 

We exited the mall it was still a light rain as we headed to the van.
Traffic was light and the ride home was enjoyable.
At home, there had been severe storms and some tornados. We had missed all the bad weather just a little rain as we traveled home.