365 Days in Guntersville

Day 166 - first irises blooming this year

2011-03-26T11:59:00.005-05:00

WOW - it's been a long time since I've posted here. Life kinda got away from me, but I'm going to try and at least finish the 365 days. Of course, they won't be consecutive :)

We had lovely weather last week and my first irises are blooming in my back yard. These are the "old fashioned irises" that came from my Grandmother's yard.

Weather has turned cold and rainy (but thank God there's nothing white falling out of the sky) and we WILL be warm again.

Day 165 - Cargill

2009-07-13T14:00:00.002-05:00

Haven't done this in awhile, but this is where we used to buy corn for our goats. Took 3 drums in the back of the pickup and pulled up under the shute for them to fill it. Awfully lot of corn dust - had to be sure windows were up on the truck. You weighted as you went in and again as you went out, that's how they charged you.

I don't use that much corn now that I only have a few goats (though they're multiplying as I type). I buy it in 50 pound bags now.

My little pickup truck was so tiny compared to the huge trucks that hauled the corn to who knows where.

Day 164

2009-07-07T19:14:00.002-05:00

Another giant fishing lure. There are a lot of them, I need to get around and get a few more pics.

Day 163 - Large Fishing Lure

2009-06-22T15:48:00.006-05:00

I know - this was originally supposed to be 365 consecutive days - but obviously I'm not going to make that - but will try for 365 anyway.

Today's photo is of a rather large fishing lure - did I mention Guntersville Lake is a great fishing lake. The Bassmasters hold all kinds of tournaments here.

This spring the Chamber of Commerce sponsored these lures and they're all along the walking trails. Individuals were allowed to come and help paint portions of them when they first went up.

SO, we'll be having pictures of a few of them for several days now....

Plus Day 162 - Old Citizens Bank Building

2009-06-12T16:24:00.002-05:00

This lovely old building is downtown and was actually a bank when I was growing up. Then it encountered some sad times. A young couple finally bought it and re-did it. I understand now there are offices on the ground floor and they live on the 2nd floor.

I love old buildings and am so pleased when people restore them instead of tearing them down.

Plus Day 161 - Book on Amazon

2009-06-11T17:49:00.004-05:00

Gosh, I guess I've intentionally/unintentionally taken quite a sabbitical in keeping this up to date. I had an experience today that encouraged me to go back to it. So, here we are at PLUS Day 161 and hopefully I can actually finish out 365 - though it's obviously had a little break.

This is the cover of a book that has just been listed on Amazon. It's the memoirs of my great-grandfather, Albert Martin Ayres I. And, I believe appropriate for this Blog, since he lived a big part of his life on Georgia Mtn. and lived in Guntersville while he was Probate Judge in Marshall County. I published it in 2004 as a gift for my kids/grandkids and the publisher has just listed on Amazon. I'd be shocked if anyone actually bought it, but it does have some interesting parts, and it was nice to see it on the "Big A".

At the urging of some online friends, I've started Memoirs and Family Stories Blog and will include some of the more interesting text from the book. So, if you're interesting in reading some of the book, check out the new blog.

Day 160 Frosty says - It's cold in St. Louis

2008-12-26T16:14:00.004-06:00

....and there are strange things in the backyard here. I found a squirrel today and chased him but got really confused when he disappeared. Mom told me he went up a tree. I didn't know squirrels could climb trees. We don't have them in our yard at home because Belle chases everything out that might be fun for me.

And, in the yard here there are strange, barking dogs all around in the neighboring yards. They come right up to the fence and bark at me - but I bark and growl and let them know how fearless I am too!

Day 159 Merry Christmas (Day 25 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-25T15:15:00.003-06:00

And, this is really what it's all about - Merry Christmas to all!!

Day 158 Nutcrackers (Day 24 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-24T15:31:00.005-06:00

Just a few of the nutcrackers my grandson collects. They all live in his room when it's not Christmas and you can't see nearly all of them here, but a pretty good representation.

He LOVED seeing the large ones on Fran's blog!

Day 157 Christmas Fence (Day 23 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-23T19:19:00.004-06:00

This is a fence on my mountain in Alabama all decked out for Christmas. I passed it as I was leaving yesterday. At the moment, I'm in St. Louis - and the trip wasn't much fun, and I'm really glad it's finished. Weather was (is) unpleasant almost the entire trip. But, we're here safe and sound. Frosty was a great little traveler and protected me the entire day.

Day 156 - Wreath (Day 22 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-22T09:14:00.004-06:00

This is the wreath that I hang on the 'inside' of my front door. My FSIL (favorite son-in-law) gave it to me the first year he and my DD were married (he's also my only son-in-law :)

This will be my last Christmas post of 'my' decorations as I'm on the road today. Hopefully I'll be able to post from Tennessee and Missouri.

A friend is house sitting with my furbabies and Frosty is traveling with me as my guard dog.

Merry Christmas to all.

Day 155 - More Little Trees (Day 21 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-21T14:26:00.006-06:00

Several more 'little trees' in various rooms around my house.

Day 154 - Big tree (Day 20 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-20T17:11:00.004-06:00

Well, it's not nearly as big as some - but it's 7-1/2 feet tall and one of the slim ones. Lit with multicolored lights and all sorts of ornaments from over the years.

This tree is upstairs in the "FROG" room (family room over garage) so I don't see it as often as I don't spend much time up there. One of the reasons for all the other smaller ones around the house so I can actually see them.

Day 153 - Dining Table (Day 19 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-19T16:33:00.004-06:00

I love this table - it belonged to my great-great grandfather and has 4 leaves (which I use when all my kids are home). The sterling napkin rings were also family - great grandparents & grandparents.

Day 152 - Fireplace (Day 18 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-18T17:16:00.005-06:00

This is the 'display' under my small slim tree in my living room. The doll is a 'toni doll' - not my original one, but the dress is an original that I made when I was maybe 13 years old. I also made the little clown - one of my few crochet projects.

Here's the entire tree, which is filled with my most prized ornaments - from over the years. A few from my kids childhood, a few from our travels and some fairly recent. Of course I had to add at least one elephant (at the bottom).

And here it is from back a ways. I love my fireplace (and my gas logs). It was originally a wood burning, but I'm way too old to worry about wood.

Day 151 - More Living Room (Day 17 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-17T16:36:00.005-06:00

This is as you enter my living room (great room I guess) from the entryway. That little table was my mother's and is a cloverleaf top.

Day 150 - Chuck's Christmas Tree (Day 16 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-16T17:23:00.002-06:00

{sigh} Three years and two months today.

Day 149 - Outside decorations (Day 15 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-15T15:34:00.006-06:00

Not nearly as many outside lights as in years past. I didn't think I'd get anything up, but our Youth Pastor and his wife came one Sunday afternoon and did the outside stuff for me. What sweethearts they are.

Chuck made this reindeer the year before he died. Yeah, I'm pretty sure this one IS a reindeer and not a moose. :) Actually he made two, this one with it's head up and another with it's head down grazing. We used them both that year - and I have not been able to find the second one since he died. I've torn the place apart - I've looked in places it shouldn't be. It's not here. I have no idea what happened to it.

I've had to change a lot of my decorations simply because I couldn't handle seeing them the way we "always did them".... maybe that's why that reindeer is gone :)

Looking at my front porch from an angle. Chuck always wound Christmas lights around the pillars - but I can't handle seeing them that way now, so I just put out my little baby porch tree and my shrub lights.

Day 148 - Elephant tree (Day 14 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-14T15:49:00.001-06:00

I've collected elephants for YEARS, and so have a pleathura of elephant Christmas ornaments (many from one particular grandson who loves to shop for elephants for me). There are so many, I decided a couple of years ago to have a seperate tree for them. They don't show up well on a green tree, but look great on a white one.

I even have an "elephant angel" for the top of the elephant Christmas Tree

Day 147 - My Office Tree (Day 13 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-13T09:38:00.008-06:00

My little office tree is kind of a "Charlie Brown tree". It's one of those little skinny ones that's seen better days. But, the lights are cheery and the white/crystal ornaments show up well.

The Christmas pillows add a nice touch and are all handmade (by me).

Day 146 - Entry way revisited (Day 12 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-12T20:46:00.002-06:00

This gorgeous 'lightbox' was a gift from a friend last year. I'd seen them at craft shows and I just love it. It's one of those glass blocks people sometimes use in bathrooms, with a hole drilled in it and Christmas light poked in, then wrapped as a gift. One of my favorite decorations. It sits on the table in my entryway.

The candle holder was another gift so many years ago it would be considered 'vintage' now. And, actually the glass beads I use around the bottom of the candles truly ARE vintage - they were my mother-in-laws in the early 1900s. I restrung them a few years ago as the string had long since worn out and I was loosing them.

I posted a picture earlier of the little tree - but from the other direction. Can you tell I love Christmas lights???

Day 145 - Purple Tree (Day 11 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-11T08:40:00.004-06:00

A friend gave me this little purple tree a couple of years ago as a gift and it always makes me smile (I think that was her idea). I couldn't get the purple lights to show in a photo. This little tree sits at the entrance to my bedroom, so I can enjoy it all day and evening.

Day 144 - Kitchen (Day 10 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-10T15:47:00.002-06:00

Day 143 - Santa Baby (Day 9 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-09T15:52:00.002-06:00

Frosty's not totally excited about modeling his new Santa suit - but he does love those treats. I needed 3 hands.

He just looks SOOOOO cute though.

Day 142 - Dresser tree & angel (Day 8 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-08T19:31:00.002-06:00

This little pink tree and angel sit on the dresser in my bedroom.

Day 141 - Nutcracker (Day 7 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-07T21:13:00.000-06:00

Day 140 - Another Entry Snowman (Day 6 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-06T13:04:00.001-06:00

This little cutie waves his arms (if I put a battery in him and turn him on).

Day 139 - Fluffy and the Reindeer (Day 5 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-05T19:19:00.003-06:00

While Emma Grace is checking everything out, Fluffy decided my yummy Christmas plaid throw was just there for her to sleep on.

I love that little reindeer behind her. Friends gave him to me as a gift several years ago. He plays "Grandma got run over by a reindeer" and I smile every time I hear it.

NOTE - Okay, I stand corrected. I guess it's a moose (what do I know)... but it still plays "Grandma got run over by a reindeer". Maybe the creators didn't know the difference either.

Day 138 - Oops, I'm caught (Day 4 of 25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-04T20:35:00.005-06:00

Emma Grace has been extremely interested in all the Christmas decorations going up.

"Who me? I was only looking!!

Day 137 - Pink Barbie tree (3rd-25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-03T16:03:00.003-06:00

I love my Barbie tree. I saw one in a magazine several years and wanted one ever since. The pink trees became popular a couple of years ago - this is a little fiber optic. My two "best" Barbie ornaments (Hallmark) grace the bottom. Most of the ornaments are McDonald's Barbie, and my daughter found a package of small Barbie ornaments the first year I had the tree.

I collect Barbies - not the vintage or terribly expensive ones - but I do have a room full. Chuck loved giving me Barbies, so I have some really pretty ones.

This tree always makes me smile :)

Day 137 - Welcome Snowman (2nd-25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-02T14:18:00.003-06:00

This cute little wooden snowman and skinny tree sit in my entry way. I got that tree in an antique shop for $6 a couple of years ago and have truly enjoyed it.

Day 136 - Snow in Alabama (1st-25 days of Christmas)

2008-12-01T17:16:00.005-06:00

I love Christmas decorations - and had decided to start today posting the 25 days of Christmas decorations. Since I'm in Alabama - my snow qualifies!!!

It's COLD in Alabama - and there was a dusting of snow when I got up this morning. Didn't last long, but it's snow!!! I've gotten tired of sweeping the leaves off my deck and it looked kinda strange with the leaves and snow. Little elephant plant stand looks kinda lonely doesn't he.

Day 135 - Another old house

2008-11-28T17:53:00.003-06:00

Another "old" house in my 'neighborhood' (which is definitely in the country).

This is back off the road quite a ways and still lived in - by someone even older than me.

Day 134 - turkey

2008-11-27T13:00:00.002-06:00

Still sick - so home alone for Thanksgiving. Great friends and neighbors have taken care of me though and I'm well fed.

Trying to find an appropriate picture for today (and still not going out) I decided this was definitely it. This little pinecone turkey was made by my oldest grandson (now in college) in Sunday School when he was 3 years old (obviously had some help). He made it for Chuck and Chuck mounted it on the wooden base so he could keep it. It now lives in an honored place in a glass bookcase in my living room, and today reminds me how very much I have to be thankful for.

I have a wonderful family, a great church family, caring neighbors, loving furkids and so very much more.

Day 133 - Another Housemate

2008-11-25T15:45:00.002-06:00

Another day without going outside, so thought I'd introduce another of my 'housemates'.

This is "Squeaker". He's a cockatiel that I agreed to give a foster home to about 8 years ago. Guess he's here to stay now.

He loves attention, and doesn't get enough. He used to come out and sit on Chuck's shoulder. But then, he liked Chuck better than he does me (of course, I've always been the one to feed him and clean his cage - Chuck just did the fun stuff).

He's about 17 years old and is great with a wolf whistle.

Day 132 - Fluffy Kitty

2008-11-24T20:35:00.003-06:00

It's been cold and rainy and I have the 'crud' so haven't ventured outside today. This is "Fluffy"! She rarely lets me get a photo of her but frequently lays so you can be tempted to run her belly. NOT a good idea.

She's a long hair, gray calico (at least that's what the vet said). Her mother is "Halloween" who's photo has appeared here previously. However, you'd never know they were even related.

Fluffy is about 10 years old and thinks she's Queen of the World. She was here before the dogs, so she put them in their place quickly, however she wasn't particularly pleased when Emma Grace appeared on the scene.

Day 131 - OLD Barn

2008-11-23T15:17:00.002-06:00

Chuck and I used to walk past this barn on our morning walks, but it's starting to look a little the worse for wear. When we walked, there was a horse in the pasture that always came to the fence for a nose rub and a treat (Chuck carried apples). Fond memories!

Day 130 - Fall Decorations

2008-11-22T14:21:00.001-06:00

Guess we'll be posting Christmas decorations pretty soon. I took a ride around my neighborhood late yesterday and saw this basket (it's quite large) with fall flowers and scarecrow. So cute!

Day 129 - Sunshine

2008-11-21T16:18:00.003-06:00

This was my view crossing the causeway this morning heading into work. Took the photo thru the windsheild (hence the spots) as it was too cold to get out and stand in the wind.

Day 128 - Wedding House

2008-11-20T17:41:00.003-06:00

I took this photo before the leaves started turning and just found it (didn't go out today, so had to revert to something saved). This house sits on a corner in Guntersville and is the house my parents got married in on November 27, 1937. They didn't make 50 years either, my Dad died in 1983.

They had friends who lived there and it was just them, my parents and the minister. It was during the depression and both families lived way out in the country and no one had any money, so they kept it a secret from their families for a several weeks.

Day 127 - Sea Gulls

2008-11-19T20:29:00.003-06:00

It was a cold, breezy morning and the sea gulls were going nuts along the causeway as I drove to work this morning. If you enlarge the photo you can see some of their antics.

Day 126 - Handsome Frosty

2008-11-18T16:45:00.002-06:00

Frosty went to the groomers today and is now officially "handsome". He's currently resting in my lap - it was a rough day for the baby.

Day 125 - Cancer Clinic

2008-11-17T16:16:00.004-06:00

The fourth floor of this building houses the Cancer Clinic in Huntsville (38 miles from my house) where I went weekly for a year and a half for treatments. Today was a 'follow up' visit. PET Scan was clear (BIG YEA!!!) and they didn't even draw blood today (another BIG YEA!!!). I don't have to go back for three months.

It's such a relief when he tells me that :)

Day 124 - More trees

2008-11-16T17:08:00.003-06:00

I don't know what these two huge trees are. They sit next to a large pond (which doesn't show in the photo - I was in my car). In the summer time they look like evergreens, very similar to a cedar. But, this time of the year their 'leaves' (not really leaves though) turn a lovely reddish brown. The first year I saw them I thought they were dying - but they always turn green again.

Day 123 - Sailboats

2008-11-15T16:50:00.001-06:00

Picture NOT taken today. Today is gray, windy and rainy. However, I did take this picture on my way home one day last week. I just love the colored sail boats.

Day 122 - Teddy

2008-11-14T07:30:00.005-06:00

This adorable little creature is a neighbor's new puppy - "Teddy". He's a 5 months old Pomeranian and couldn't possibly be any cuter. She had bought a pink leash, planning on a female dog - but fell in love with this one. He's kinda shy, but adorable.

I usually post late in the day, but today has to be early as I'm off to Huntsville for a PET Scan and that not only shoots the day, but since they give me drugs, I'm pretty well zonked when I get home.

Day 121 - Feed Mill

2008-11-13T17:08:00.002-06:00

We have several 'feed mills' on the river in Guntersville. This is Wayne Feeds. Corn comes in on barges and then they do 'whatever' to turn it into various kinds of feeds. There's a dog food company down the road.

Day 120 - Spanish House

2008-11-12T15:44:00.002-06:00

At least that's what we always called it. This house is older than I am (and that's pretty old). It's an Antique Shop now instead of a house - but open by appointment so I've never been inside. It always fascinated me though.

Day 119 - Veterans Day

2008-11-11T16:14:00.002-06:00

Chuck served in 3 branches of the service - U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army. The Navy was always his first love though.

Day 118 - Red leaves

2008-11-10T16:25:00.001-06:00

These bright red leaves are on a little 'stem' growing at the base of a tree. I guess it's a 'tree wannabe' - but the color sure is nice and bright.

Day 117 - More Fall

2008-11-09T17:14:00.001-06:00

It'll be gone soon - the leaves are falling really fast. This is the view across the side road from my house.

Day 116 - 50 years

2008-11-08T17:21:00.003-06:00

Went to a 50th Wedding Anniversary party this afternoon. Fifty years - that's a long time, and the couple are delightful and sweet and fun. I think they had a fun day.

Day 115 - Blue house

2008-11-07T20:09:00.002-06:00

I didn't realize we had so many different 'colored' houses in town until I started this project. This was a photo a made before the leaves started turning.

Day 114 - Two tone tree

2008-11-06T15:58:00.003-06:00

I'm so enjoying the fall colors - and ours are finally here. They probably won't last long, so I'm taking full advantage. This tree is in my bank parking lot.

Day 113 - Colors of Fall

2008-11-05T16:05:00.001-06:00

We're finally getting some fall colors - though there are already LOTS of leaves on the ground. These trees are in my back yard.

Day 112 - I voted

2008-11-04T16:39:00.003-06:00

Yup, I voted early this morning. I've never seen a line where I vote, though there were several more people inside than usual.

Day 111 - Pampas Grass

2008-11-03T15:30:00.004-06:00

I pass this huge clump of Pampas grass going to and from church. When there's a breeze it's always blowing gently. It's near the entrance of "Savannah Place" the 'spiffy' subdivision wanna be that I posted previously.

Day 110 - choppy water

2008-11-02T15:39:00.003-06:00

It's been pretty breezy here the last few days and the water was choppy this morning. The sea gulls seemed to like it though - you can see a few of them if you enlarge the photo.

Day 109 - Turkey Shoot

2008-11-01T16:21:00.003-05:00

No, they don't really shoot turkeys - but they sure make a lot of noise, especially at 8AM on a Saturday morning, and less than a city block from my house. (Though, of course, we're not in the city.)

Day 108 - Halloween

2008-10-31T16:37:00.004-05:00

Yeah - I've posted this before - but I decided it was appropriate for today. This IS "Halloween". I named her that because of her coloring and because I said she was ugly (yeah, yeah I know - she's not really ugly - but she's improved with age). She lived at the barn for about 12 years - it's amazing a barn cat lasted that long. She has since moved to my deck and lives a life of luxury. No more foraging for food or looking for a bed. She has a 'cat house' on the deck and a bed that I just recently put a heater in (and she loves it).

She's always looking in my french doors and would probably come inside - but Emma Grace and Fluffy would not be pleased - and I'm sure Halloween would get the best of them in a fight.

She gets along fine with the dogs - she lets them know who's boss!

Day 107 - Breezy Day

2008-10-30T15:51:00.001-05:00

Our sky was bluer today than normal (less humidity), but it was quite breezy.

Day 106 - Harvest display

2008-10-29T15:51:00.001-05:00

I'm not much on Halloween decorations - but I love the harvest stuff. This was in front of a real estate office in town.

Day 105 - The Witch Crashed

2008-10-28T17:32:00.001-05:00

Cute little house - but I was particularly drawn to the crash of the witch on the roof.

Day 104 - Gorgeous tree

2008-10-27T16:28:00.001-05:00

I've been trying to get a picture of this gorgeous tree for a week and hit the light right today. It's around the corner from my house and still mostly green, but the ends of the limbs are a gorgeous red. Not a lot of color here yet, but it's supposed to be cold tonight so maybe soon.

Day 103 - Golf course

2008-10-26T18:03:00.002-05:00

There's a little 'country' golf course on my mountain that I pass when I go to and from church. It's generally quite busy on Sundays and today was no exception. It's mostly flat, so I don't think presents many challenges, but then it also isn't nearly as expensive as some of the really spiffy ones.

Day 102 - Old Henry House

2008-10-25T16:46:00.007-05:00

This interesting old house was originally owned by my great-great grandparents - built sometime in the 1800's. I suspect it wasn't pink then. Don't know who owns it now, but at least it's still there and apparently having some work done on it as there was scaffolding on the left as you're looking at it.

The picture below is the same house somewhere around 1900 - the girl on the far left is my great aunt and that's my grandmother sitting next to her. I have no idea who the other two are, but I love this photo.

Day 101 - Sasanqua

2008-10-24T17:15:00.006-05:00

This was my mother's favorite flower - perhaps because it bloomed at such a strange time. Sasanqua is in the Camellia family, and it's sometimes blooming in December. So we always had fresh flowers for a long time after summer was gone.

It's at the end of her house (well, I'll probably always refer to it as 'her house' - though she's been gone for some years now) and is gorgeous right now.

I didn't realize how large it had gotten till I stopped there today. And the ground under it is all pink from the wind and rain today.

Day 100 - (yea!) Trees at night

2008-10-23T15:35:00.003-05:00

Seems like I've been sticking close to home lately. I'm obviously not very good with nighttime shots, but couldn't resist this one. This photo isn't nearly as clear and sharp as I'd like, but when I let the dogs out for the last time last night I turned on the spotlight out in the yard and walked to the end of the deck. The sporlight was shining directly on a portion of these two trees and I was struck by the difference in color. The tree with the green is a sweet gum and the one with the colored leaves is a sycamore (and there are colored leaves on the ground). Both have already lost some of their leaves without much color as it's been so incredibly dry.

Day 99 - Foggy Morning

2008-10-22T15:52:00.004-05:00

This was the view from my back deck this morning. Usually I can see all the way across the pasture into the pine thicket - but only just beyond the yard fence this morning.

Day 98 - Grave Diggers

2008-10-21T17:32:00.003-05:00

Saw the grave digger out working in the cemetery across the road from my house as I was leaving to go to work this morning. Wasn't sure how excited he would be for me to take a picture, so didn't try to get any closer.

Actually, one guy is digging - one watching. The watcher doesn't have too difficult a job, but that ground's awfully hard for the digger. They're usually done in about 3 hours though - and then come back and fill it in. The funeral was just happening as I was coming home this afternoon.

Day 97 - Old home/now a business

2008-10-20T17:14:00.002-05:00

Such a gorgeous old home - now a mortgage company. But at least they've taken care of it. The interior looks much like it did when I was a child - except for the desks and filing cabinets of course. Seems that so many of the old homes are becoming businesses these days.

Day 96 - Rock Mt. Church

2008-10-19T15:55:00.003-05:00

A little country Baptist church just down the road from my own church - out in the country.

Day 95 - Boat Launching

2008-10-18T17:37:00.001-05:00

A lot of these signs around our area. I stopped on the way to work this morning and took this photo through my windshield. That's a low mountain in the distance and 'haze' (better known around here as humidity).

Day 94 - Farm Elephant

2008-10-17T18:35:00.002-05:00

I've long collected elephants and one year for my birthday, Chuck got me this one. He lugged that rascal into our living room and gift wrapped him.

That was several moves ago, and we never left him behind. He's held this coveted spot for 18 years now. He's about 18 inches tall and concrete - so NOT lightweight.

Day 93 - Angel

2008-10-16T19:30:00.006-05:00

This lovely angel guards the entrance to my personal family cemetery. She's about 24" tall and holds a small bowl the birds can drink out of. She seemed appropriate today as it's the 3rd anniversary of Chuck's going home. Kinda a melancholy day for me today.

Day 92 - Don't we Wish

2008-10-15T15:41:00.003-05:00

No, unfortunately, those are not the current gas prices in Alabama. That's an abandoned gas station next to the cross stitch shop where I work and I've been meaning to get a photo of the prices. It's obviously been closed for quite awhile. No one can operate it because the underground tanks aren't up to safety standards, the owner won't pay to have them taken up and no one will buy the property knowing they would have to do that also. So there it sits, with it's welcoming/unrealistic prices - but no gas!

Day 91 - golf carts

2008-10-14T17:17:00.003-05:00

Not real exciting - and I think these little buggies are used for other things besides a golf cart. There's a place that "customizes" them at the foot of the mountain and I pass it everytime I go into town. They always have carts sitting out front during the daytime.

Day 90 - Cotton Bale

2008-10-13T18:08:00.003-05:00

Well darn, I've missed two more days - but I was just too tired to do anything. Saturday was a travel day - it takes a long time to get from California back to the deep south. I finally arrived in Tennessee at 8:30PM Saturday night - spent that night and Sunday night at my daughter's in Tennessee and drove home today. I was totally wiped out yesterday.

Saw these cotton bales on my way home from Tennessee today. Not sure if they were before I crossed the state line or not, but pretty close either way. Don't see them much anymore, and the cotton picking machines leave so much waste cotton in the fields... sure not like having them picked by hand - but then no one wants to do that anymore.

Day 89 - Californina - cactus

2008-10-10T16:52:00.001-05:00

I don't think this is desert, though there's a lot of brown here - there's also some gorgeous flowers. This huge cactus is growing over a fence down the street from my son's house. I'm not a big fan of cactus, but this was definitely interesting.

Day 88 - California - Street in Novato

2008-10-09T19:42:00.002-05:00

Rode with my son to run an errand and saw this while sitting in the car waiting on him. Was caught by the way the sun was shining through the tree onto the flowers. Business was interesting looking too :)

Day 87 - California - Starbucks

2008-10-08T18:34:00.002-05:00

We do have Starbucks in Alabama - but not near where I live. So, my DIL took me to Starbucks today and I had a double carmel frapppuccino. It was wonderful. I could get used to that really easy!!!

Day 86 - California - closeup

2008-10-07T16:37:00.003-05:00

This is a closeup of one of one of the redwoods we saw yesterday. The park ranger said it was 1000 years old. Can you imagine?

Day 85 - Muir Woods - California

2008-10-06T16:59:00.003-05:00

Well, we've been sightseeing today - went to "Muir Woods" - the redwoods aren't the really huge ones here, but it's pretty close to where my son lives and I'd never seen redwoods before. It's a lovely national park and we walked till I wore out. You can't really see how big and beautiful the trees and ferns and growth is in these pictures.

Day 84 - California trees

2008-10-05T17:41:00.003-05:00

Well, they sure don't look like trees in Alabama. These trees are at the house next door to my son - and yeah - I made it safely. Though yesterday was a VERY, VERY long day. It's a long way from Alabama to California and I was just too tired to even look at a computer when we finally got to his house last night.

SO, guess I'll be posting California pics for a week anyway.

Day 83 - Old well

2008-10-03T07:59:00.004-05:00

I'm posting early today - actually took this photo yesterday when I went down to the barn. This is a hand dug well from the 1800s. The 'base' around it is huge flat rocks. When I was growing up this well was in a screened porch that opened onto the kitchen of my grandparents home (also from the 1800s). That was quite modern as they didn't have to actually go outside in the weather to get water. It was 'improved on' and at one time actually had a pump that would pump water to the "wash house".

The house and most of the outbuildings burned in the 1980s. It hadn't been lived in since the 1960s but held a special place in my heart. We always planned to renovate it and live in it ourselves. Vandals changed that plan. Chuck wanted to knock the rocks down and fill the well in - I just couldn't.... it's the last thing left connected to the house and while I'll never use if for water, I just can't let it go. The goats love laying on the stones next to the well.

That's the back of my house you can see in the distance.

I'll be traveling later today - I'm going to the dark side of the moon (California) to visit my son & his family. Hopefully I'll be able to post every day, but the travel days will be VERY long, so we'll see.

Day 82 - my old barn

2008-10-02T16:07:00.002-05:00

Didn't realize how very old it looked till I took the photos. It was a great barn in it's day. Built around 1920 and not much care in the last 40 or so years, so I guess it's not too bad. Chuck did some work on it in the '90s, but it hasn't seen much since then. For it's age, it's really not in bad shape - some tlc would work wonders. The little gates in front are to keep the goats out - they have their own barn. There are huge wooden gates on the back that close it completely. Chuck always had "plans" to really 'fix it up'. It's basically some storage now and I keep hay in it.

I have fond memories of it as a child. Always such a fascinating place. There are four stalls on the right side, 2 on the left plus a large "corn crib". There is an upstairs on both sides.

Day 81 - Sail boat marina

2008-10-01T16:16:00.003-05:00

I drive by this sailboat marina anytime I go into town. There haven't been many out on the lake lately. I think most of these owners live elsewhere and just come on the weekends - and I try to avoid going to town on the weekends.

Day 80 - Sno Biz

2008-09-30T14:35:00.002-05:00

One sign says open - one sign says closed. It's actually closed.

It's at the end of the Piggly Wiggly parking lot and across the street from the Rec center & softball fields, so does a pretty good business in the summertime. Tiny little building.

Day 79 - Propane tanks

2008-09-29T14:49:00.001-05:00

Had to go to the gas company this morning and was struck by all the bright shiny propane tanks - just ready for wintertime I guess. Mine at home isn't nearly that bright.

Day 78 - Chicken Houses

2008-09-28T17:09:00.003-05:00

Alabama is chicken raising country - the above picture is just two of the many that are less than a mile from my house. They're big giant buildings - I couldn't get far enough away from them to even get the three that sit right together in the same photo.

In the hot summertime there are huge fans blowing in the front openings.

The bottom photo is the "poop barn" - it probably has another name, but that's what it is. When they clean out the barns (with a backhoe, bulldozer, or whatever) they can't just leave it sitting out in the 'open' like they used to. It has to be IN a barn - hence the poop barn. It's actually quite close to the chicken houses - just a little off to the right of the top photo.

Day 77 - Birdhouse

2008-09-27T13:28:00.001-05:00

Not driving anywhere again today, but was out mowing my back yard and was reminded of this little birdhouse. One of my grandsons 'made it' for Chuck some years ago, so of course Chuck hung it on a tree in the back yard. The grandson had to "decorate" it :) Not sure if any bird has ever appreciated the decor, but it's a sweet reminder of a grandson loving his Gramps.

Day 76 - Yard Ornaments Anyone?

2008-09-26T17:56:00.003-05:00

You really must enlarge this photo to truly appreciate it. This is a little house that someone lives in - he obviously makes and sells yard ornaments (but I have no idea who buys them). You never know what you'll see when you pass here.

Day 75 - Rocks

2008-09-25T17:11:00.003-05:00

Since I didn't leave home today had to find something close. This is part of a pile of BIG rocks at the edge of my front yard. Some were once part of the foundation of my great-great grandfather's home and some were from one of the chimneys. The house burned, we had to have the chimneys knocked down before they fell on someone. Chuck had some of the brought to the front of the house because he was "going to do something with them". Chuck's gone - rocks are still there. Needless to say, most are too big to be moved by a mere mortal.

Guess they're a conversation piece now.

Day 74 - Old, old hospital

2008-09-24T16:14:00.004-05:00

I love this building - and amazingly someone bought it a few years ago, re-did it and now it's an office building - "Ringold Plaza". Not sure what year it was built, but I know it was there in the 1940s. My second son was born there in 1959. Then they built the 'new' hospital which opened in 1963 (my youngest son was one of the first babies born in the 'new' hospital), and the one pictured stayed vacant and abandoned for many years. THEN, they built the newer hospital and the '1963 hospital' became the old hospital and one in the photo here became the "old, old" hospital. Then they tore down the 'old' hospital and built a bank there. If you're not totally confused now it's not my fault.

I understand this building pictured here has massive concrete walls and it was apparently quite a challenge to redo it. Probably one of the reasons it wasn't torn down earlier, it would have been pretty difficult and the city didn't want to spend the money to tear it down. I know they've done a great job on the lobby and front entrance and they tell me the offices are lovely.

We're such a "tear it down and build something new" society, I'm so glad this building was saved.

Day 73 - Elementary School - or it was

2008-09-23T16:47:00.002-05:00

Better known as "the old rock school" - this is where I attended school in the 2nd through 6th grades. It's now the local 'community theatre' - but at least they didn't tear it down.

Day 72 - River Bridge

2008-09-22T17:39:00.004-05:00

This is the view across the street from the Chamber of Commerce - looking out across the river bridge (Tennessee River). I have no idea what kind of flowers these are growing along the bank and the tree - but they sure were pretty.

Day 71 - Chamber of Commerce

2008-09-21T14:55:00.003-05:00

Posted the sign yesterday, today's the building. It sits to the right just as you come off the causeway from the river bridge.

Day 70 - Chamber sign

2008-09-20T15:24:00.005-05:00

Not a very exciting day in the photo department. This is the sign in front of our Chamber of Commerce.

Day 69 - Jaycee Pavillion

2008-09-19T16:39:00.003-05:00

Nice picnic pavillion just across the street from the fishing pier that I pictured on Day 66.

Day 68 - Local Library

2008-09-18T16:43:00.002-05:00

Not a very exciting day in the picture taking department. This is the Guntersville Public Library (who I'm unhappy with at the moment). Just your basic small town library :)