2023 Oct 28, Pumpkinfest Franklin, TN, and Trick Treat Killen Park with Ava & River

 It's been a hectic day. 

This morning, we stopped at Jack's for breakfast. They were short-handed, so we had to wait longer than usual. 

Then we rode to Franklin, TN, to their Pumpkinfest. There was no parking, so we had to pay $10 to park.

Very Large Pumpkin 

It was super hot and crowded, so we only stayed for a few hours. We walked down Main Street and a couple of side streets. Several bands were playing music. Mums and Pumpkins decorated the street. Food filled the air. There were rides and fun for the Children. 

Hubby collected a bag of treats, which we gave to the grandkids.

Williamson County's First Taxi

Our big treat was finding the Williamson County Archives Museum. It had several rows of quilts made by locals, a Military Room, a History of Williamson County, Civil War Artifacts, Displays of an Old School Room, a Doctor's Office, a Dress Shop, a Barber Shop, a Country Store, etc. We also saw a horse-drawn carriage by Harry March in Franklin's First Taxi.

We saw where the body of a headless Col Shy once lay in a busted open casket. An article The Curious Case of Col Shy's Casket. The headless body was unidentified. 

Outside was a Civil War Canon. 

The Curious Case of  Col. Shy's Casket 

Canon 

We stopped at Publix in Spring Hill to get some chicken wings from their deli and pick up a few other items.  

We stopped in Lawrenceburg at Long Silvers for a plate of fish and chicken. 

Came home and ate a late lunch. 

Fun Began in Halloween Manor 

Criminals 

Ava, the killer Jason Voorhees, and the Evil Clown Pennywise

Picked up Ava and River around 4:30 and took them to Killen Park for their Trunk n Treat. 

Ava dressed up like Wednesday from the Adams Family, and River was a Ninja Turtle. 

We arrived early, so we let them play in the playground area. When people started lining up, we got in line. 

It was a long line behind us. We walked through the gate of Halloween Manor, and that is when the fun began. 

The kids got lots of candy, a fireman's hat, coloring, and safety books. They got their pictures taken with Inflatable pumpkins, at the Shriners Hillbilly Jeep, With Hocus Pocus, with Dept of Eye Care,  Jason Voorhees, and Pennywise the Dancing Clown.

Making Slime 

Their Treats end with making Slime. Put in a bag and taken home. 

They did a great job by only letting a few kids at a time go into the park. 

The kids had a great time.

2023 November 4, "Walking with the Saints" a Saints Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Florence House of Worship

Today, Hubby and I did a walking tour with a group at (10:00 A.M.) at the Florence Library led by Lee Freeman. 

We visited the former Popular Street Christian Church, now Wood Avenue Church of Christ (1970), across the street from the Florence Library. 

Wood Avenue Church of Christ 

Cavalry Fellowship Church

424 E Tombigbee St Florence, AL 

From the library, we walked to Tombigee St and Popular Streets. 

We stopped at the Cavalry Fellowship (former Popular Street Christian Church)

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church 630 N Poplar St
Florence, AL

From Cavalary Fellow Ship, we walked several blocks up Popular St to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (1938)630 N. Popular St.

First Baptist Church 209 North Walnut St.

We walked back up several streets to Walnut St., The Baptist church, across from the Florence Library. 

We stopped at the Gothic Style First Baptist Church (1888), 209 North Walnut St.

First Presbyterian Church 224 E Mobile St

Next, we walked to East Mobile Street, where the First Presbyterian Church is across the street from the Florence US Post Office. 

We stopped at First Presbyterian Church (1818) 224 E Mobile St. The Oldest Christian Church is the "Mother Church" Florence's oldest church. 

Tennessee Valley Community Church AME
119 N Pine St Florence, Al 

 

We walked down Mobile Street, a one-way street, to Tennessee Valley Community Church AME on Pine Street. As you can see in the picture, construction is happening near this church. 

Trinity Episcopal Church 410 N Pine St Florence, Al 

We walked up Pine St to Trinity Episcopal Church (1824), Florence's third oldest Christian congregation. This church is a few blocks from Tennessee Valley Community Church, which faces Pine St and North Seminary St. We walked up a few blocks to the United Methodist Church.

First United Methodist Church 415 N Seminary Florence, Al 

Our last stop was First United Methodist Church (1822) 415 N Seminary, the second oldest church in Florence. 

Wilson Park Fountain 

Wilson Park is near the United Methodist Church and across the street from the Florence Library. 

We stopped to take a few pictures of the fountain at Wilson. The wind blew the fountain water, wetting us as we walked by.

There were a couple of children enjoying the sprinkles from the fountain.  

Also took pictures of the Florence Library and The Kennedy Douglas Art Center. 

We ate lunch at St Florian Pharmacy Soda Shop. We sat at the bar and watched as they took orders for dipped ice cream and made sandwiches. 

Hubby ordered a ham and cheese sandwich with chocolates and a strawberry milkshake. 

Reuben Sandwich with chips

I ordered a Reuben with Sun Chips, whole grain Harvest cheddar, and Diet Coke. 

After lunch, we headed home, but there was a traffic jam on Highway 72, where a lot of construction was taking place. 

We took Middle Road to the Old Jackson Highway to US 43 home. 

 

2023 Oct 6-14, CARNIVAL SPIRIT Cruise (from Mobile) The BAHAMAS 8 Days: Nassau, Half Moon Cay, Freeport, & Bimini (9Days)

 Day 1: Friday, Oct 6, Mobile:

We ate breakfast at Chick-fil-A, two buildings down from our hotel. I ordered chicken minis and Diet Coke. 

Loaded our luggage into the shuttle and were taken to the docks. 

We went through customs and loaded onto the boat before 12 P.M. 

We stopped for a quick lunch and went to our room. The ship was leaving port around 4:30 P.M. 

Party time 

We went to the deck to join the sail-away party.

We were in stateroom 6117 (Deck 6), and our boarding time was 12:30–1 P.M. 

Muster Station 5.

Hotel The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel and Spa 26 North Royal St Mobile, Al 36602

I bought CC Home Port Deck Pictures 2 5x7 for $31.65

I purchased a Lanyard lock for $7.65 for my Carnival Card. 

We joined our friends in the dining room for dinner. For appetizers, we ordered a shrimp cocktail and Caesar salad. For our main course, I ordered grilled salmon. For dessert, I ordered chocolate molten cake.  

Grilled Salmon with Veggies 

Show Inside Scoop Shopping and Fun Ashore. 

After dinner, Dindere returned to our cabin, where we watched Weathern Heights on TV and went to bed. 

Day 2: Saturday, Oct 7, Sea Day: 

I woke up early and walked around the upper deck, stopping to talk to people. I went downstairs to get a pastry and some fruit juice. I was writing in my journal when Hubby joined me for breakfast. 

Sea Day Brunch in the Empire Room, where I ordered a skillet cake with two link sausages and water. 

Hubby's Sea Day Brunch ham, steak, fries, eggs, fruit 

Hubby bought a Mt Dew cab for $3.54

We returned to our room, watched TV for 24 hours, and napped. For lunch, a hamburger from Guys Burgers. 

For dinner, I ordered grilled shrimp, appetizers, mushrooms, and dessert?

Carnival Spirit Halloween Pumpkin 

After being insincere, I enjoyed watching the 80s Show performance. 

Went to our room, watched Harvey the Rabbit with Jimmy Steward, and went to bed. 

Day 3, Sunday, Oct 8,  Bimini:

I woke up at 4:30 A.M., walked to the upper deck, and watched the sunrise. 

Met a family from Alabama and one from Madison, MS. Took several pictures. 

I took a free trolley into Bimini and a taxi to the old town. ($20.00)

Bimini 

Hubby bought a sun hat, and we walked to the beach. I got into the water while Hubby sat on the beach. 

We stopped to take pictures of the Bimini Museum outside, for the museum was closed.

We met several children playing, and we stopped to talk to them. 

We took the taxi back to the trolley area and then to the boat. 

We ate a late lunch and then took a nap.

Sunset on Bimini 

Dinner in the Empire Room.

After insincere, I watched The Magic Show with Side Show Bert in the Pharoh Room. 

We stopped in the bar area where Mootown Trivia was going on. 

We went to our room only to find a leak, and the floor was wet on Hubby's side.

Hubby put several towels down to dry up the floor. 

Day 4, Monday, Oct 9, Free Port:

Breakfast consisted of a cinnamon raisin roll with juice. 

Bought an excursion Garden of the Groves Tour. $129.98

Senor Frogs before the Garden tour 

We boarded a bus to take us to the Garden of the Groves. 

We met our guide, who led us through the gardens. There, we saw waterfalls, birds, the royal cockatoo, turtles, ducks, a cat, a church, a labyrinth, and many flowers.

We ended the tour at the gift shops, where they sold local items, including souvenirs from things in the gardens. 

Hubby and I ordered a Chicken quesadilla and diet cokes at the nearby restaurant. (25.00) 

Quesadilla and Coke at Garden of the Groves.

We sat at table 5, and Mel was our server. We loaded back onto the bus and were dropped off at the nearby port. 

We shopped and stopped at Zorbas Greek Cuisine and bought a slice of Carrot cake and a water bottle. Which Hubby and I shared. (S10.00)

We were back on the ship by 2 P.M. 

Banana Split 

For DinDinner, we ordered Prim ribs and dessert, a Banana split. 

After insincere, I watched the show Get-Away Island.

Went to bed and watched TV. 

Day 5, Tuesday, Oct 10, Half Moon Cay:

French Toast for breakfast. 

Had to take a ferry over to the island of Half Moon Cay. 

Beautiful Blue Waters of Half Moon Cay

We bought an excursion for the Glass Bottom Boat, which took about an hour. ($98.34)

We bought a hat and a bottle of Mt Dew. ($16.81) (($16.01 hat)

Took the trolley to the beach, where we boarded the boat.

The ship's crew was doing a free cookout for lunch.

I ate a hamburger, cookies, cake and a drink. 

Wearing my new hat on the Island of Half Moon Cay

The hamburger was not done because that night, I got sick.

We walked to the beach. I fell when the sand broke away from the bank, causing me to fall. 

I was not hurt. I only broke my pride. 

We walked along the beach and back to the ferry that took us back to the ship.

We joined our friends for dinner. I could not eat.; My stomach was churning, and I had to leave. I went to bed early that night. 

Day 6, Wednesday, Oct 11, Nassau:

Breakfast cinnamon roll.

Shore Excursions, we went to  Junkaco Museum. (22.00)

Junkaco Museum 

We went to the Straw Market, where Hubby bought a button-up Bahama shirt at the Salty Waves gift shop. ($30)

At Del Sol, I bought 2 tees and a bag that changes colors in the sunlight. (63)I bought a smoothie. ($11)

It was awfully hot, and we did not stay long at Nassau.

Leaving Nassau 

We walked back to the ship around 10:30 and wrote in my journal.

We got a hamburger and fries at Guys Burgers. 

Dinner was Alligator Bites and ribs, french fries, corn, and baked beans. 

Watched show 88 Keys 

Day 7, Thursday, Oct 12, 

Sea Day: It was up in time to see the sunrise, which was very windy.

Beautiful Sunrise Sea Day

Sea Day Brunch was a parfait and steak with eggs and fries. 

Found a couple of ducks. 

Dinner consisted of Lobster tail, baked potato, and pie with ice cream.

Took a nap earlier in the day 

Bought 2 Alaska T's and a pair of shorts. ($35.49)

Watched the Epic Rock Show at Pharoh Palace. 

Day 8, Friday, Oct 13, 

Breakfast was a cinnamon roll.

Lunch was a ham and cheese sub with ice cream cake.

Took a nap and watched movies. 

Bought a build bear at St Jude fun-raiser (34).

Dinner was baked salmon and fried shrimp with baked Alaskan Ice Cream.

Ice Cream

Packed everything and went to bed.

Day 9, Saturday, Oct 14, 

Ate breakfast and got ready to leave the ship. (2 pastries and juice)

We stopped for fuel in Mobile at Murphy's at Springdale Blvd. 

Bought a kit cat and coke. 

Stopped at Sonic in Thomasville for Corn Dogs and tater tots.T's

Stopped at CVS in Haleyville to buy some dental floss.

A six-hour ride home. 

Sunrise Mobile

 

 

2023 Oct 21, Open House at Lawrence County/Lawrenceburg, TN Regional Airport

Today, we rode to the Lawrence County/Lawrenceburg Airport Open House to see Aircraft from the region.

Planes were flying in and out the whole time we were there. 

There were a variety of airplanes one could ride for a price. (Go Vertical Aviation)

They also had the Flagship Detroit Douglas DC-3 (to ride this one was $100 per person), and we walked inside impressive.

Flagship Detroit Douglas DC-3 

Personal Airplane 

We also walked among the Classic and Customs Cars.

Barracuda

We left the Airport around 10:30.

We ate lunch at the Brass Lantern. Hubby had a salad, and I had half a hamburger and some fries. 

We rode to Walmart to get our tires rotated. They were busy and said there would be a 3-hour wait. 

We stopped at Krogers for Soda, which was on sale, and Goodwill, where I bought a couple of wicker baskets.

Next, we stopped at the Dollar Tree for miscellaneous items. (Turkey bags and pans).

Our last stop was a Fall into Christmas event. 

It was at the Woodman of the World building on 200 Glenn Springs Rd Lawrenceburg. 

Here, we bought freezer-dried candy sold by Jabba Designs in Lawrenceburg and peach-fried pie.

Freeze Dried Candy (Strawberry with chocolate inside)

Came home and took a nap.