2022 April 30, Walking Tour Town Creek, AL

The Walking tour took place in Town Creek and everyone was to meet at the Farmers Market on Main  Street.

I was early so I looked around and talked to the vendors. I bought two tomato plants.

At 1:00PM the van arrived driven by Pastor Steve Agee provided by Victory Baptist Church.

The former mayor of Town Creek (Linda Peebles) rode with us.

Everyone loaded into the van and we headed to the public library. 

We were met by the librarian she gave us some material which included:

Welcome to Town Creek which included stories about Saunders Hall Good Mansion 

The Town Creek Hotel, Town Creek City Hall, Veterans Memorial & 

The new Story Walk is a learning trail behind the library. It is designed to introduce visitors of all ages to the environment of the area.

The librarian told us about the Story Walk Trail and gave us all the pamphlets 

Our next stop was the Town Creek Depot where dignitaries made speeches they were Mayor Mike Park, Proncey Roberson(State Representative) Loretta Gillespie, & Robert Sheffield (Former Hazelwood coach). 

The Town Creek Train Depot was built in the early 1800s and the first run of engines took place on February 1, 1835.

Also attending were former NFL football players from Town Creek.  

Chris & Kerry Goode (brothers) and DJ Jones.

After a meet and greet session, we headed to our next stop Posey Farms.

We were greeted by the Posey Family with refreshments.

Mr. Posey said it all began in 1953 when we leased 7 acres of land and planted our first cotton crop. 

Posey's first home is now surrounded by farmland. 

2022 Dec 4, Tinsel Trails, Christmas Card Lane Ditto Landing & Toyota Field Christmas Lights Huntsville, AL

 Sunday we stopped in Decatur to walk thru the Enchanted Forest in Founders Park which is a tinsel stroll supporting Leukemia and Lymphoma.

We stopped in Madison for their Polar Express Christmas on Main Street where their Christmas trees were displayed. 

We stopped at RSA to take coworkers' Christmas Present Presents.

We rode to South Huntsville to Christmas on the River at Ditto Landing. There we strolled along the Tennessee River Greenway looking at 4 x 8 plywood custom-designed Christmas cards. 

Grinchmas

It's Not what's under the Christmas Tree that matters. 
It's who's around it. 

We stopped at every card to get a picture and before we returned it began to sprinkle. 

We rode to Huntsville's Big Spring Park to walk through the Big Spring Park Tinsel Trail. 

Big Spring Park Tinsel Trail.

We were afraid of getting wet but the rain had stopped.

Next, we rode to Toyota Field to see The North Pole Rocket City Christmas Light Show and Winter Wonderland.

Which are a mile and half maze of bright dancing and twinkling lights. We tuned our radio to 95.5 to listen to Christmas music.

The North Pole Rocket City Christmas Light Show 

After the drive, we stopped at Toyota  Field and walked through Winter Wonder Land stopping for pictures with Santa, Trash Panda, and Frosty. 

Picture with Frosty 

We had not eaten since breakfast and were not sure what we wanted. We were tired and didn't want to go into a restaurant and wait so we decided to stop at Krystal. Believe it or not, their food was good or we were very hungry. 

A picture with Trash Panda 

I ordered a double cheese Krystal and strawberry Milkshake. 

It was late when we arrived home and we both were tired from the long day. Put my cameras away for another day to download and went to bed.

2022 Dec 3, Christmas Lunch, Christmas Parade, and The Cotton Gin

Met my friend Wanda at the Clarion Hotel to enjoy a Christmas brunch buffet and listen to storyteller Dolores Hydock.

Several large round tables were covered with white tablecloths, vases of Christmas flowers, and red and green chocolate candies. Each table held up to eight people there were at least 15 to 20 tables and most were full. 

Mimosas were available with or without liquor, which we enjoyed, while we waited for our table to be called to go to the Christmas buffet. 

At the buffet, we were served pineapple, Strawberries, grapes, orange slices, small pastries, sausage casserole, and biscuits covered with sweet syrup and grits. 

We sat with strangers but introduced ourselves. We found that we had a lot in common. One of the ladies  I had graduated from the same high school.

Another lady said we used the same eye clinic(Maynard & Mitchell) in Huntsville. 

While we were eating and getting to know each other, we were entertained by Christmas music from a piano player.

For about an hour we were entertained by storyteller Dolores Hydock in her 

All I want for Christmas stories. 

She told a true story about an elderly man in a nursing home. She had asked him if COVID was the first time his life had been turned upside down. He said I would like to think so but no.

And went on to tell her the different times his life had been turned upside down and how something always turned out for the better. 

She talked about generous hearts, wish lists, and gifts that show up in unusual packages. 

Hubby and I are going to the Greenhill Christmas @ 1:30 PM we are taking our granddaughter. The brunch was over at 12PM and we had a 30-minute drive.

We arrived at the parade at about 1PM, parked, and sat inside the car. 

Our granddaughter saw a little girl across the road and was very anxious to get out of the car.

I told her if she would wait until 15 after 1PM we would get out but she was so anxious. 

She waited until 15 after and she. She &  I got out and walked across the road. There she and two other children ran and played until the parade started. 

I know how she feels because I feel the same way anxious. 

When the parade began they grabbed their bags and headed to the edge of the road waiting for candy to be thrown.

Greenhill Christmas picking up candy 

Santa Clause riding in the Greenhill Parade

 It was not a very long parade the kids did get a lot of candy.

We dropped her off at her house.

We went to The Christmas Market located at The Cotton Gin at Roberson Farm which was filled with merchandise from various vendors. 

Grinch Christmas @The Cotton Gin

A crowd was standing in line to see people who played characters in Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons. 

We did not stand in line just shopped and took pictures. 

Met the Grinch in Whoville

 

2022 Dec 1, Athens Christmas Parade and Adventures Athens, AL

Athens Courthouse was decorated for the holidays and crowds of people lined up to watch the Christmas Parade. 

North Pole & Candy Carnival Float in the Christmas Parade 

I had a hard time getting good pictures at the parade. They were moving pretty fast and we were sitting inside the car so I had to take them through the windows. But I did get a few good ones. We enjoyed the parade & shopping at UG White Mercantile. 

We bought supper at Zaxby's in Athens but our food was overcooked so we didn't each much of it. We did buy a couple of Chocolate coconut Macadamia candies at UG White Mercantile. The parade was over at about 8. 

We parked right across the street facing Merchant's Alley waiting for the Athens Parade.

Christmas at UG White Merchantile 

 Is merchandise that sells southern-made goods, where treasures can be found. Like stepping back in time. 

We stopped in Rogersville to see their Christmas Trees in the park. 

Rogersville Tinsel Trail 

Stopped at Jack's for a couple of Strawberry cheesecake pies and was in bed a little after 9. 

From 1-3 Crafting at the Florence Library (making a Christmas card with watercolors.)

2022 Feb 1, Day trip to Lake Guntersville Birding Guntersville, AL

 Today we rode to Lake Guntersville stopping at Lake Guntersville Park on Sunset Drive. 

We stopped at McDonald's in Decatur for a couple of apple pies and drinks before heading to Guntersville. 

We sat down on a bench near the water's edge then I heard this pecking sound, I looked up and to my surprise, I saw a red-headed woodpecker pecking on a rotten tree. He flew from the rotten tree to a Sweetgum tree. I followed it from tree to tree. Then I spotted a sparrow scratching in the dirt for food when it saw me it flew up into the trees.

Red-headed Woodpecker 

Another of my favorite birds the downy woodpecker was aimlessly pecking away on a rotted stump. It was hard getting a picture because the downy was in a shadowed area. I did get a couple of good pictures.

Downy Woodpecker 

We also saw several Canada Geese, white and spotted ducks, and lots of white terns.

We could hear several fish crows above in the trees.  Also saw and heard several bluebirds. 

We rode to Marshall County Park where we saw several ducks and a great gray heron. We also saw a  marker of Major Paramoris Federal Bombardment of Guntersville. 

Major Paramores Federal Bombardment of Guntersville. 

The hill to the immediate left was the site of the 1862 shelling of Guntersville during the War Between the States.
On July 28, 1862, a Federal force under the command of Major J.W. Paramore placed two Parrots guns on the hill and shelled Guntersville from 7 a.mm to 6 p.m. Captain Cyrus Loomis' First Michigan Battery carried out the shelling, which sent more than one hundred of Guntersville's women and children to the ravine south of town for protection.
The rifled Parrots guns fired six-pound projectiles greater distances than older smooth-bore cannons and enabled the Yankees to reach across the Tennessee River. Trenches had to be dug to steady the Parrot's guns and they can still be seen on top of the hill.
Most of the shelling concentrated on cotton warehouses and boat construction facilities south of Henry Island now inundated. The Federals attempted to send an attractive force across the river but failed. 
As a result of the bombardment, several homes near the riverbank were burned and many other homes suffered damage from the shells, including the Nickels and Gilbreath residences. 

Fortunately, both these houses still stand today.
The Chattanooga Daily Rebel reported that the shelling resulted in only two deaths. One was the wife of military General Samuel King Rayburn.

We left Guntersville and rode to Hartselle, stopping at Krogers Grocery for some bottled Mountain Dews and other items. 

We ate a late lunch at O'Bryan's where I ordered a sirloin Steak with sweet potato and diet coke.

We came home by way of the old paper mill road where we saw a red-tail hawk.

We also stopped at Wheeler Dam where we saw several American White Pelicans floating down the Tennessee River. We also saw a couple of Gray herons flying overhead. 

American White Pelicans 

It was a great day for birding. 

2022 Nov 13, Clydesdae's Parade in Cullman's Wearhouse District Cullman, AL

It was a bitterly cold morning as we rode to the Warehouse District in Cullman to see the Clydesdale Nov 13, 2022

Budweiser Advertisment 

Budweiser Clydesdales  coming to Alabama Nov 10-13, 2022 

Jingle & Mingle Birmingham Nov 10 

75th Annual Nationa Veterans day parade Birmingham Nov 11

Lakeview District Trot Parade Birmingham Nov 12 

Christmas Market Open House Cullman Nov 13. 

since Adams 1937 

We arrived at about 1PM and got in line for the parade where we could watch the horses being unloaded. 

Each of the eight Clydesdale was taken out of the trailer one at a time then harnessed with solid brass, patent leather, and stitched with pure linen thread harness which weighed over 130 pounds. 

One of the Clydesdale being hitched up with its harness 

The Red, White, and Gold beer Wagon also has to be taken out of the 50-foot tractor-trailer and the Clydesdale hitched up one at a time. 

Once the horses were hitched to the Wagon, the drivers, riders, and Dalmatian dog climbed aboard the wagon and the parade began.

The parade was scheduled to begin at 1PM but it did not start until 2:20 PM.

The Budweiser wagon, 8 Clydesdale, two drivers,  Dalmatian, and three passengers rode around the Warehouse District 3 times, stopping once for pictures before heading back to the tractor trailers to be loaded up.

8 Clydesdale, drivers, riders, and Dalmatians starting the parade 

Close-up of drivers and Dalmatian 

There were several children standing next to me. A family with three redheaded children. One of the little boys was very impressed with my camera and wanted me to take his picture which I did. 

The little boy who wanted me to take his picture.

There were thousands of people waiting to see the horses. We watched the Clydesdale go around a couple of times. 

After Clydesdale's first trip around the district, many people left. At about the same time we heard the train's whistle blow and a very long train crossed the tracks so these people had to wait for the tracks to be clear to cross. 

We were going to leave after the first round but since we were going to have to wait on the train we decided to go back and watch the Clydesdale one more time. I am glad we did because I got a better video of them coming around the corner and getting my picture made near the wagon. 

After the parade, we headed home stopping at Cracker Barrel in Athens for supper. Hubby ordered a big breakfast and I ordered pinto beans, fried apples with cornbread, chow chow, and onion.  

We stopped at Murphy's Walmart to fill up with Gas. It was dark by the time we arrived home. 

It was a cold day but at least the sun was shining. I think it got up to 41.

2022 Nov 7, Early Morning Adventures

Early this morning it was cold wet and foggy. We rode to Jack for breakfast, where I ordered a single biscuit and gravy. Hubby ordered the big breakfast of eggs, sausage, hash rounds, biscuits, and gravy. As we rode home we saw the sun trying to peak out. 

Sunrise 

 Later that morning we rode to town and stopped at Hobby Lobby,(lots of people looking for holiday decorations) Dollar Tree, and Ollie’s then to get our B12 shots. 

We rode to Muscle Shoals stopped and ate lunch at the new Highway 55 Restaurant. I ordered a hamburger with the fixings onion rings and unsweetened iced tea. I ate about half of my hamburger but all of my onion rings. Hubby also ordered a Mushroom hamburger and onion rings. He ate all his hamburger but not all his onion rings so we had enough for another meal. 

 Bought gas at Murphy's and stopped at Foodland in Muscle Shoals for crab legs(they were on sale for $15.99 a pound.  Since we were on 6th Street we headed to Leighton Pond on Fennel Road to see & listen to birds. 

Leighton Pond on Fennell Road 

All we saw was mud and a few fish flopping. Believe it or not, fish were swimming in the pond. If it gets any lower there will not be any water for the fish to swim in. 

Hubby turned on the GPS System to take us to a different route home. On our way we saw a small cemetery, the sign said Shaw Cemetery just off 6th Street. Several of my relatives are buried in this cemetery. I did not take any pictures there. Next, we turned onto Shaw Road and I said to hubby I wonder who the cemetery and road are named for and that is when we saw a historic marker

The Shaw Home Colbert County

The Shaw Home Colbert Baldy Shaw purchased this property from the state of Alabama in 1830. In 1844, he constructed this home. over the years, various property owners made changes and additions to the Shaw Home and its outbuildings. The canning building is directly north of the home and allows for the canning of garden-raised food without affecting the temperature of the main house. Evidence of Fennell Road is directly behind the canning building on the north boundary line of the home. During the Civil War, Fennell Road provided constant access to and from the many skirmishes between the Northern and Southern armies. The Battle of Town Creek was one of those skirmishes. The Shaw Home is currently a working farm with 2 wells and 9 farm buildings and is an existing example of the tranquility of life in the south. The home also serves as a reminder of the past sadness of the Civil War, fought between brothers, families, and states.

 Listed in the Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage Marker erected in 2013 by Drs. Gerald, and Patricia Miller Murray. 

Bales of Cotton wrapped in pink 

 We also saw hundreds of rolled cotton bales and fields still waiting to be harvested. We road to the Wheeler Dam but had to take a detour for the bridge was out on Highway 101. 

At Wheeler Dam we saw a few cormorants diving for fish, herons flying overhead, and terns sitting on light poles as we crossed the dam. As we were leaving the dam I heard several bird sounds. We rode to the park across the highway where I walked around but did not hear any birds. 

Joe Wheeler State Park on the Lawrence County side is covered in colorful fallen leaves. 

We came back across the highway and road to the overlook at the dam and that is where I heard a lot of Common Grackles and European Starlings. We rode up to Joe Wheeler State Park-Alabama near the entrance and stopped to listen to bird sounds. 

A couple of Muscovy ducks swimming in Wheeler Lake looking for fish

I walked down to the edge of the water and that is where I saw several ducks on the other side of the almost dried-up lake. There were a couple of ducks swimming nearby and I saw a Gray heron in the distance. I heard several red-bellied woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers, American robins, Field sparrow song sparrows, a couple of Muscovy ducks, mallards, and lots of Kildeer. 

Three females standing near Joe Wheeler Lodge 

 We rode to the lodge stopping near the wooded area hoping to hear several birds but we heard none. Then as we started to leave we saw a deer. I started taking pictures of it and then I saw two more. I got out of the car and took several pictures. They were not frightened at all even posed for me. The day started off damp and gloomy but the sun came out for a while. It clouded back up but never rained. We did not plan the day's adventures but just let the day unfold. What fun we had!