Sunday, July 9, 2023

2023 July 7, Day trip to Savannah and Shiloh, Tennessee

 We started our day at the Tennessee River Museum in Savannah. 

A true air-breathing MOSASAUR

The City of Florence, a St. Louis and Tennessee River Packet Company boat, was named to honor the fast-growing city at the foot of Muscle Shoals. Upbound near Coffee Landing on February 8, 1913, she got out of control and was lying cross-stream when the towboat Tomahawk, down-bound and loaded with crossties, rammed and sunk her. One member of the crew and a young passenger lost their lives in the accident.
The picture below is the ship of 2 girls.
12-year-old Ruth Tarbet (left) was one of two casualties of the sinking ship. The daughter of a prominent Saltillo merchant, Ruth, and her daughter had boarded the doomed steamer for the short trip to visit relatives in Savannah.

We saw this picture in the Tennessee River Museum in Savannah.

US GRANT HDGS
We stopped to get pictures of the cannons and cannon balls before crossing the Tennessee River and heading to Shiloh. 

HAGY'S CATFISH HOTEL 

We ate fried catfish, coleslaw, hush puppies, and grilled veggies. Ava ate fried chicken fingers and fries. She said that was the best chicken fingers she ever ate and she told our waitress she rated the food at 100. She ate every bite. We took several pictures at the restaurant and near the Tennessee
River. 

Garfield's Cabin 

The History of Garfield 
Garfield's Cabin 
If the walls of the cabin could talk, they would reveal the intriguing story of an extraordinary yet wonderful resident for many years, Garfield Luster.
The story begins on a hot summer day around 1920 when Garfield is given a ride by Mr. Narvin Hagy, a local traveling salesman.
During this time, Garfield worked for a family that had mistreated him for many years. He decided to flee from this harsh environment, at which time he met Mr. Norvin Hagy on an old gravel road. 
Mr. Hagy lived on a large farm, bonding the Shiloh National Military. His parents were Frank and Mary Hagy. Frank, who had grown up on the farm, was a young boy of 13 when the "Battle of Shiloh" took place around their home in April 1862.
Garfield eventually planted his roots with the Hagy family and, over the years, developed a close bond with them.
During the many decades he lived with the Hagy family, he helped care for four generations.

He not only cooked but also laundered and did other basic chores around the house, but also helped raise the youngsters... a duty he enjoyed the most. He nurtured the young family of Norvin and Dorothy Hagy, showering upon them devotion and care as if they were his own children. 
But Garfield did more than comfort, console, and, when necessary, scold the children, he could also entertain them as well. 

Many years before the fables of Uncle Remas were popularized by Hollywood, Garfield charmed the young Hagys with his folktales of Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox. Another of his talents was acting. He could dress up as a comical character called "Aunt Emiley" and play her so convincingly that the c children momentarily would forget that they were watching Garfield in disguise.


One of Garfield's favorite stories was his explanation of how he got his name. Garfield always chuckled when he told how Garfield was bestowed upon him following the assassination of President Garfield.

Like his namesake, Garfield had experienced hard times: he refused to dwell on the past, only occasionally recalling his unhappy childhood. Garfield was born and raised in the small rural community of Red Bay in North Alabama, probably the son of a former slave.
Garfield was deprived of a formal education, although he was highly intelligent and could have done well in school if he had been given the opportunity.

Even though he was not articulate, his speech was peppered with homespun, folksy southern colloquialism, slow as molasses, dead as a doornail, hot a blue blazes, sharp as a tack, strong as an ox, to quote a few.

King Kong 911 1h
Garfield lived a long and happy life in Shiloh with the Hagy family.
However, he suffered much bereavement at the death of Norvin Hagy in 1960, never fully recovering from the loss of a man who had provided a sanctuary for the greater part of his life. 

Shortly after Mr. Hagy died in 1961, Garfield was diagnosed with prostate cancer. During the last weeks of his life, Norvin Hagy Jr and his wife Teke took Garfield home for a final visit with his relatives, who, at the time, were living in Mississippi.
After his funeral at his church, Saint Rest in Guys, Tennessee, attended by the Hagy Family, Garfield was laid to rest nearby in a small grove of trees. 
The Hagys will always remember Garfield with much love and gratitude as a person who embraced and enriched their lives.

By: the Hagy Family
Dr Don Hagy/Dean Hagy

Next, we stopped at Shiloh Battle Field. The Museum was closed for repairs, but you could watch a film. We did not stay to watch the movie. We heard gunfire and went to check it out.  

Young Park Ranger giving a demonstration. 
There was a young man (Park Ranger)doing a reenactment and was finishing up when we arrived. But he did show Ave the bullet and let her feel the weight of the gun ( I think he said it weighed 10 lbs.) When we stopped at the Tennessee River Museum, there was a gun ball behind glass that you could put your hand through to see if you could pick it up with one hand that weighed 7 lbs. So, she compared the two. 

Park Ranger talking to Ava about being a nurse in the Civil War
We stopped at the Book Museum, where we bought her a book about not being a Nurse in the Civil War. We walked to the National Cemetery, where a young woman was giving a talk about the battles between the North and South at Pittsburg Landing.

Ava had read several pages about the Civil War in her book and was asking several questions about the War.
The Park Ranger finished her talk, but Ava kept asking her questions. It began to sprinkle, so we hurried back to the car. We rode around the park, stopping for a few pictures. 

Shiloh Log Church 

We stopped at the old log cabin church to take a few pictures.
We started for home, and the sky got darker and darker, and it began to rain. The closer we got to Alabama, the harder it rained.
Our last stop was at Wendy's for a Strawberry Frosty. That's what Ava wanted, and I had never tried one. We all ordered a Strawberry Frosty, and it was good. Ava and I played a game all the way home in our Imaginary worlds.

Thursday, June 29, 2023

2023 June 21, The Yellow Deli, Pulaski, Etheridge, Lawrenceburg and Lynnville, Tennessee

 Today, we rode to Lawrenceburg. 

Goodwill did not open until 9AM, so we stopped at Dunkin's Donuts for bacon bites and 2 minis bagels.

Next, we stopped at Goodwill, where I bought 2 men's shirts and a quilt.

We love to buy veggies from the Amish, so we rode to Etheridge, where we bought 2 large heads of cabbage, Squash, onion, peppers, cucumbers, eggs, candy, peanuts, and potatoes.

We had the whole day free, no grandkids to watch.
So we rode to Pulaski, stopping at the Yellow Deli for lunch. 
There we ordered a Ruben sandwich which is corned beef with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, mayo, and mustard on light rye bread served with chips and pickle.
We also ordered a side salad and, for dessert, a slice of their delicious carrot cake. 
We ordered iced tea to drink, and hubby knocked his over while trying to take a picture of a plant.
Their food is always fresh and delicious.

1/2 Reuben on Rye Bread Sandwich

Salad 

Slice of fresh Carrot Cake

We rode to Lynnville, TN, to tour the Train Depot Museum (rebuilt as RR Museum 1998)and the steam locomotive. We walked through the Locomotive, passenger cars, and the little red Caboose.
In the museum were several displays, including a miniature train display.

Across the street was Soda Pop Junction and Big Johnny's Burgers, which was closed for repairs.
In front of those buildings sat an Orange and White Dodge truck, carousel, old bicycle, coke machine, and parking meters.


Orange and White Dodge Truck

Soda Pop Junction and Big Johnny's Burgers


There were public restrooms next to Lynnville's City Hall.
We saw the Iron Horse Hotel, Iron Horse Country Store, and a Historic Marker.
It began to rain, so I only had time to take a picture of the Marker before we headed back to the car.

steam locomotive

Miniature Train Display

Historic Marker
Lynnville Historic District 
Construction of the Nashville & Decatur Railroad and the partial burning of Old Lynnville (Waco) by Federal troops brought this charming town to its present location after the Civil War. The Lynnville National Register Historic District (1988) contains 59 buildings, with architectural examples from each period of the town's development from the 1860s through the early 1900s. 
Erected by Giles County Historical Society 1990


We rode back to Pulaski, stopping at Walmart and Murphys(gas). In Pulaski, we stopped at The Butcher Shop for some homegrown fresh meat.
We stopped at Flatrock Cheese, where we bought 3 different cheeses, some fried pies, stick candy, and a pint jar of local honey.
Then home by way of Minor Hill, TN.

Thursday, June 1, 2023

2023 May 26-27, Lawrenceburg, TN. and Decatur, AL. Adventures

Friday, May 26,  we rode Lawrenceburg to Goodwill, where we bought 2 pairs of Niki Shorts.

We rode to the Amish in Etheridge, where we bought a carton of fresh eggs, homemade butter, Homemade chocolate candy with peanuts, and a bag of peanuts. We bought a head of cabbage, some green onions, and two gallons of strawberries.

We stopped at Krogers for 8 cases of diet Mountain Dews, 4 cases of Sprite Zeroes, and a couple frozen pizzas.

We stopped at Long John Silvers for fish and shrimp, which we took home. 

Ate our dinner and put all the veggies in the refrigerator.

Then, I made 17 jars of strawberry Jam.

Strawberries

17 Jars of Strawberry Jam 

Saturday, May 27, we rode to Point Mallard to the Hot Air Balloon Festival. We didn't see any balloons but saw lots of tractors, food vendors, and vendors. It was cool this morning, and it rained a little, but it sure warmed up fast. We talked to a man from Cullman there enjoying the festival. The festival sure was spread out, so lots of walking. We missed the car show. 

The only hot Air Balloons we saw

Tractors 

We rode to Hartselle for lunch at O'Bryan's.

Where I ordered grilled black chicken with a baked sweet potato.

After lunch, we rode back to Decatur, where they were having a scavenger hunt for 10 very small turtles located along Second Avenue.

Hubby parked the car but stayed inside while I searched for the turtles.

I Met a group of six also doing the scavenger hunt and asked if I could join them.

Turtle 2 Loyd 

Scavenger hunt for 10 turtles

Our Group 

Our group had so much fun searching for the turtles and then taking turns getting our picture taken with the tiny turtles. 

We needed a few items from Rural King in Muscle Shoals, so we took Highway 20 to hwy 72 into Muscle Shoals.
Our first stop was to get a vanilla Ice cream in a cone at Jack's.
At Rural King, we bought cat food, bird seeds, Sure-Jell, a Top, and a hose nozzle.
We rode to the Rock Pile with lots of people there, so no birds.

We stopped at River Heritage Park, and the splash pad was running full blast. 

Splash Pad at the Marriott
Home at Last!

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

2023 May 14-20, Trip Mackinac Island, Sault Ste Marie, Saint Ignace, Mackinaw City, & Frankenmuth, Michigan (Club Diamond Travel from Florence ) (7 days)


Day 1: May 14, Sunday

We had a great trip to Michigan with a group from the Club of 50 people. Before we even got started, we had problems with the bus, so we stopped at Rent Right in Lawrenceburg to get the bus fixed. 

Inside the shop was a barber's chair 

Hubby and I stopped at Jack's for sausage, gravy, and biscuits for breakfast.

We stopped for lunch at Cracker Barrel at Oak Hill, Near Nashville, TN. I ordered a kid's grilled chicken with Mac and cheese.

We traveled on a bus to Ohio, stopping every 2 to 2 1/2 hours to rest. 

We stopped at KFC in Carrollton, KY, for supper.

I ordered chicken with Mac and cheese.

We spent the night at Comfort Inn in Pique, Ohio, and began our journey the next day.

Lobby at Comfort Inn Pique, Ohio

Day 2: May 15, Monday

We traveled to Mackinaw, Michigan, stopping every couple of hours to take a rest break. 

One of our rest stops was at the Ottawa Lake, Michigan Gas Station.

We played bingo and watched the “Somewhere in Time” movie. We also watched Mrs Robertson, a public speaker, she was very funny.

Hubby and I split an Italian Sub for lunch at Jimmy Johns in Flint, Michigan. 

We stopped at the Pancake Chef Restaurant in Mackinaw City, Michigan, for a buffet dinner. After we ate, we walked around the town taking pictures, then on to our hotel in Saint Ignace, Michigan.

I took pictures of markers of Mackinaw City, Iron Horse, Chief Wawatam, The Algoma, Mackinaw’s Civil War Dahlgren Cannons, Mackinaw, Mackinac, or Michilimackinac?, the village of Mackinaw City Merchant Directory, Historic Mackinaw City, and Mackinaw’s First Business District.

The Gateway to Mackinac Island


Mackinaw, Mackinac, or MichilimackinacMichilimackinac?
The Mackinac Straits region derives its name from a French translation of the Ojibway name for Mackinac Island; Missilimakinak, where missi (also Michi or Mishi) means great or many, and Mackinac means turtle. Although it has been spelled many different ways over the years, the most common form is Michilimackinac, which means "the great turtle." With imagination, the island profile resembles a great turtle, partially submerged in the lake, with its outstretched neck and head peering off the west. In the early 1700s, the fur trading outpost on the mainland became known as Fort Michilimackinac, and the island was abbreviated to Mackinac. The Village of Mackinaw City was incorporated in 1883 with an English spelling that suggests the more common pronunciation of Mackinac. Picture 1:Michilimackinac from Round Island by Major Francis Smith Belton, September 1817, from the collection of the Mackinac State Historic Parks. Picture: Jonathan Carver's 1767 map identifies Fort Michilimackinac.

Day 3: May 16, Tuesday 

We ate breakfast at the Budget Host Inn Saint Ignace, MI., and then took the bus down to the ferry dock. Shopped at the gift shop, where I bought a toboggan to cover my ears on the very windy ferry ride to Mackinac Island.

We had a group picture taken at the port after we embarked on the ferry.

Our group loaded into two carriages and was taken for a ride around the island. 

We saw the US Post Cemetery, the Little Stone Church, Fort Mackinac, and the Missionary Bark Chapel. 

We rode through the state park and visited several shops. 

We were told that during the peak tourist season, there were around 500 horses used to carry goods and tourists throughout the city. Thousands of bicycles are there for rent. No vehicles are allowed on the Island.

We walked inside the Grand Hotel & blooming were tulips, & buttercups on the hotel grounds.

We walked to the Surry Hill Carriage House and walked through the Mackinac butterfly house.

Hubby and I split a Mushroom Burger and fries at the Chuck Wagon Restaurant. 

We saw the Missionary Bark Chapel, The Little Stone Church, William Backhouse Astor House, Fort Mackinac and the Fort Gardens, Lake View Hotel., Saving Liberty, Marquette Park, The Indian Dormitory, Home of the Ancestors, & American Fur Company Store. As we were leaving, we saw 3 Dalmatians leaving the ferry.

We ate fried fish, baked potato, salad, bread, and white cake with strawberry topping for dinner at The Galley in Saint Ignace, MI.

We loaded back onto the bus that took us to the hotel. 

Mushroom Burger and Chips at the Chuck Wagon Mackinac Island

The Grand Hotel

State Park Mackinac Island, MI 

View from the ferry of Mackinac Island. 

Day 4 May 17, Wednesday

The next day, we rode the bus to Sault Ste Marie, where we saw the Governor Osborn Memorial and several historical markers about Water Street. We saw a giant foot statue. We walked through the US Army Great Lakes Dredge & Locks Site, where we saw markers, birds, & SOO Locks. We walked through The Visitor Center and talked about the building of the Soo Locks.  We saw the International bridge that connects the US to Canada. 

We ate a big bad breakfast at Franks in Sault Santa Marie, MI. That consists of three fried eggs atop Hash browns smothered in cheese, ham,&  sausage, with two slices of toast.

We boarded the bus and rode to the SOO Locks Boat Tour, where we took a boat ride through the SOO Locks on St Mary’s River on Lake Huron and Lake Superior. We saw the international bridge that connected the US to Canada.  

We stopped at the Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. We didn’t stay long. 

Boarded the bus and rode to the Driftwood restaurant in Saint Ignace, Michigan. There, we ate fried Shrimp, a baked potato with green beans, and custard for dessert. 

We boarded the bus and rode back to the hotel.

Soo Docks & Boat Tours 

Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan

Day 5: May 18, Thursday

Ate breakfast at the hotel, then boarded the bus and across the Mackinaw Bridge to Mackinaw to visit Colonial Michilimackinac Fort. We walked through the historic fort, a visit to the past life of a soldier. 

Stopping to take pictures of markers of Michigan’s First Jewish Settlers, Fort Michilimackinac, flags of Michilimackinac, Welcome to Colonial Michilimackinac, Crossroads of the Fur Trade, The Community outside the Walls: Suburbs of Michilimackinac, Bateau, Using the land,  Encampment at Pequodenonge, The Anishnaabek, Anishnaabek Home, Michilimackinac State Park & Fort Michilimackinac.   

We rode through the Historic Village of Mackinaw City.  Hubby and I split a hamburger and fries at the Keyhole Bar and Grill in Mackinaw City. 

We walked around the city taking pictures, then loaded back onto the bus and rode to the Old Mackinac Point Light House.

By this time, those swarming insects(MIDGES) were covering everything in sight.

The swarms are midge flies, which look like mosquitos but don't bite. The bugs are incredibly annoying. Look anywhere, and they are there. Open your mouth, and a few will get in. 

Most people stayed on the bus, but I got out and went inside the Light House and Museum.

I took pictures of Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, Winter at Mackinac, Historic Mackinaw City, & Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse made to be seen, Colonial Michilimackinac revolutionary Times, Radio Beacon 1937/38, and Welcome to Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. 

Loaded back onto the bus and rode to the Great Lakes Grill in Cheboygan, Michigan. Hubby and I ate a Salad, chicken with rice, shrimp pasta, and butter bread.

Lunch at the Keyhole Bar & Grill Mackinaw City, MI 

Colonial Michilimackinac Fort


Old Mackinac Point Light House

Day 6: May 19, Friday

Breakfast at the Golden Anchor Budge Inn, Saint Ignace, MI.  

Everyone loaded onto the bus, and we began our journey home. 

We Stopped at River Walk Mall, a Bavarian Town in Frankenmuth, Michigan.


We ordered a hamburger and fries for lunch at the Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn Restaurant. We stayed there for a couple of hours. We saw a covered bridge (Holy Brucke Wooden Bridge).


Schmetterling Mural


Holz Bucke Wooden Bridge 1979

We saw the Schmetterling Murals of Germany on the walls behind the Covered Bridge Shop.  Shopped at the Frankenmuth River Place, where we saw an Enchanted Garden and several unique shops. We saw the Bavarian Belle taking people on a ride up and down the river. We did not have time to take the boat ride, but we would love to return someday. There was a park there called Christmas Place. We did not stop. (I think this would be a great place to visit at Christmas.) We stayed the night at Comfort Inn in Pique, Ohio.


Hamburger and fries at the Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn Restaurant

Day 7: May 20, Saturday

Breakfast at the Comfort Inn.

We began our final journey home. 

We watched Mrs Robertson, the public speaker, watched a movie, and played games on our travel home. 

We made several stops along the way one was at the pilot in Pendleton, KY, and another was at the Welcome Center Portland. TN. 

We stopped at Cock of the Walk Restaurant in Nashville, TN, where we enjoyed a platter of Fried Catfish, chicken & shrimp served with a pan of cornbread, pickled onions, and a large bowl of Cole slaw. 

Several people climbed upon the 10-foot-tall rocker for pictures. I climbed up on the rocker for a picture and leaned back, causing the rocker to move, which caused me to fall into the rocker. I rolled over and over, causing everyone to laugh. 

We arrived at the Club, loaded our luggage into the car, and headed for home.

We were home at about 6:30. 


Platter of Catfish, Chicken, Shrimp, and fries


10 tall Rocker at Cock of the Walk 


2024 Christmas Journal Activies

 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year  To all my friends and family Hope this year brought you lots of health and happiness.  Just a recap ...