Turtles! Turtles! Turtles!
Turtles Know How to Hang Out in the Sun!
April 16th, 2019
In early Spring when the mornings are cold and a long sunny day make the afternoons hot you can find turtles coming out of the cold waters of most Southern creeks and rivers to sunbathe. We couldn't believe the number of turtles we discovered after seeing a group and decided to pull over near the Elk River in Limestone County. In this picture you can easily count over 50.
These guys are enjoying a little fellowship in the sun and all agree on the best direction to face.
The Three Not So Little Pigs
Pigs, Barn and Tractor... All Country
April 16th, 2019
On Upper Snake Road in Alabama, I believe we found the Three Little Pigs all grown up and NOT so little! I have to hand this one to Mosey to catch this picture as we drove by rather quickly to avoid a tractor spraying a nearby field. We didn't even notice the darker spotted pig until we got home and viewed the pictures. Love the old barn and tractor... all country.
Hidden Valley Upper Snake Road
Don't Blink...
April 16th, 2019
One day as we were heading West on Upper Snake Road in Alabama we caught a glimpse of a beautiful hidden valley. We passed it quickly even doing our usual 35 mph. The road dips and curves to the left at the best vantage point and my guess is going the posted 50 mph you probably would never see it. We just had to turn around to take a second look and slow down a bit more for Mosey to capture the picture above. Only after seeing it on our computer did we notice the small herd of cows in the shade of the trees all the way at the end of the valley. Just as in life... don't blink or you'll miss it!!
The Old CookStove Restaurant
An Old Restaurant on a Gravel Road! You Bet!
October 19th, 2018
We found The Old CookStove Restaurant in a book a friend had given me called ‘Alabama Back Road Restaurants and Recipes”. It was listed as a family buffet-style restaurant in the middle of Mennonite country on one of the only gravel roads in Morgan county. A gravel road AND a restaurant, both favorites we look for!
It seems the old country buffet restaurants aren’t as common as they used to be. A place where people come sit a spell and eat, but not just eat, to visit. A place where the servers know the customers by name, and might even know their "usual". There’s something about sitting around a table and sharing a meal with others. It’s more than eating, it’s sharing life.
The restaurant is well marked off of Morgan County Road 55 on a little gravel road named Reeder Road. The gravel road up to the restaurant was not as long or scenic as we had hoped, but still added to the overall charm. The restaurant was in a quaint country home setting and for a small restaurant, it had an impressive spread, with a well stocked salad bar, meat, meat and more meat, more veggies to mention and a dessert bar with homemade ice cream! What more could you want? Poke tried most everything and rated it with 4 napkins, with some items even higher. He really thought the meatloaf was delicious, and carrots that melted in your mouth. And give him some cobbler and homemade ice cream still in the churn, and well, he’s done!
I loved looking at the Mennonite wares, quilts, purses, jams/jellies, cakes and candles. I could’ve spent quite a bit just on quilts alone, they had some beautiful ones! And the old cookstove was right there in the middle of things, which just screams country charm!
They seemed to have a constant stream of regular customers and we could see why. We enjoyed some time sitting on the porch after our meal before loading up in Daisy for the drive home. There were plenty of places to sit and let your meal settle. Now that I’m home, maybe I should really go back for a few of those quilts, I mean Christmas is coming very soon, and a beautiful quilt would make a great gift, don’t you think? Oh and some of those sweets! Well, looks like a trip back might be in order... see ya there? It’s a charming little treasure, just around the corner.
Old Barn on Sandy Road
Old Barn and Pecan Trees
October 19th, 2018
Daisy doesn't enjoy the busy main roads, so in the attempt to find a backroad to one of the few bridges across the Tennessee River in Alabama we came through an area called Swan Creek Waterfowl Management Area. We traveled down a road called Sandy Road, one of the closest roads to the main bridge on Highway 31 going into Decatur.
There we found a large old barn a good ways off the road that caught our attention. Isn't she a beauty? It was rather overgrown and beginning to fall due to weather, neglect and age. None the less still a great barn with an impressive presence. And you know how I feel about barns.
As we continued down the road there was a driveway lined with pecan trees going to a clearing with random debris surrounded by other trees where it appeared a house use to sit. It seemed to be the owners of the barn at one time and from the size of the trees might have been built long ago, but who knows when it might have ceased to exist or what happened to it. Here again, we wonder the stories it might tell and the history of those who may have lived there.
Gnat Grove Road Tennessee
A Beautiful Winding Road Through The Tennessee Hillside
September 29th, 2018
The first thing that caught our attention on this little road was the overgrown road sign and really the name itself, Gnat Grove. At first glance, we thought the road was gravel, but as we drove further along, it was more of a rural tar and chip road, so didn't make it in our Gravel Road section. Even so, the beautiful Tennessee hillside was lush and green this time of year. As we enjoyed the hills and valleys, we came to an opening in the trees giving us a view of a large tree in the middle of a field on a hillside.
We saw several dear, but not until we came to a complete stop did we see them all. Upon a closer look there was a small herd of deer. Can you count them all?
There were a total of six deer taking advantage of the shade offered by this large tree. For us, it was very unusual to see that many deer around one o'clock in the middle of the afternoon! The wonderful treasures of God's creation, just around the corner…
Toys for Tots Event at Old Delina Country Store
3rd Annual Toys for Tots Cruise In and Toy Run
September 29th, 2018
We spent the day at Old Delina Country Store for their 3rd Annual Toys for Tots Event. There were many events and activities planned for the day, so we got there early.
First up was registering for the motorcycle ride to Pickers Creek Winery. Lots of awesome motorcycles lined up for the ride and I thought maybe we should get a motorcycle. Really, they look like so much fun to ride, very cool too. Now of course, I’d have to shop for just the right look, which could be fun. Certain things are important, like a cool leather jacket, some heavy boots, oh and a do-rag! Definitely a do-rag, no wind blown hair here! Maybe I should look into that anyway for those crazy Jeep hair days!
Oh and the antique and classic tractors, cars and trucks! I was amazed at the attention to detail taken on restoring the classics. These guys were all in! And who doesn’t love an old tractor? (kinda goes along with how I feel about old barns) I totally missed the announcement for the Best in Show for tractors, probably due to the ice cream I had to have! Did I mention it was a very hot day?! But I was there for the Best in Show for cars and trucks! Thanks to Voodoo Customs for some awesome trucks and creating the awesome trophies! Check out that First Place trophy, not to mention the winning truck! I love how people from all around come together for a great cause!
They also had a silent auction with anything from a free oil change, home décor, jewelry, beauty products to a wine gift basket and more! Other things of interest were a couple of dedicated musicians, a few vendors with crafts and jewelry, a bouncy house—no I didn’t get in the bouncy house, however they also had a dunk tank and I gotta be honest, it was very hot so the water in the dunk tank looked pretty tempting. I almost volunteered just for a quick dip, I mean it is for the children, lol, but I opted for the ice cream instead.
But the real stars for the day were those that volunteered, donated items and came out to support the cause! If you’ve ever planned an event like this, you know a little something about what it takes... time, energy and money! It’s not for the weak at heart! It boils down to a great love for the children and a great big servant heart. At one point in the day, Poke witnessed Jac, who we have come to know as the face of Delina, worked tirelessly as she helped gather drink refills for a table of customers, answered questions about an outside vendor needing change, waited on a small girl asking for a dessert- maybe a fried pie and ice cream, AND answering questions from the kitchen, all at the same time! She’s amazing, and seems to be right where she’s meant to be. And that’s just one example, all the people there are amazingly friendly and hard workers! It’s a wonderful thing to see people loving other people and doing what they can, where they are to help out! If you missed it this year, please plan to get involved and come out and support the event next year! It’s a treasure!
Green Acres Barn on Delina Road
Green Acres is the Place for Me...
September 29th, 2018
Winding West on Delina Road we came across a large red barn. The fence line was grown up, so we almost missed the "Green Acres" sign and actually had to come back and stop for the picture.
Come on, how could we pass that up? Here we are, somewhat city folk turned country. So this barn really spoke to us on many levels. Are you singing the theme song yet? You know how it goes.. Green acres is the place for me, farm livin' is the life for me. Land spreadin' out so far and wide.... I know you're singing it now! Well, that is if you're old enough to remember the show!
Back to the barn, it was a big ol' barn just sitting almost right on the road. Most likely not in use, but the sign was in great shape and still has a ladder hanging on the side of it. I'd really love to know the story behind it. Do you think it was owned by people that moved from the city and was trying to make it as farmers? Or maybe just someone with a great sense of humor? Could have been someone that loved the beautiful lush green acres. In any case, I knew the moment I saw it, it would definitely make our blog! Another hidden treasure, just around the corner.