The Perpetual Vacationers

An Affair To Forget

2012-01-18T09:49:00.006-06:00

This post is really about Mae Dean but certainly affected both of our lives for nine days of hospitalization and is still affecting both of our lives. The closest happening I can think of that is similar is a very bad dream. But, dreams are not real. At the time, they seem real, but eventually one wakes up and realizes it was only a dream.

Here's the story line. You have made plans to have a routine colonoscopy procedure just because you cannot come up with enough information from the one you had several years ago. You cannot remember the doctor's name who performed the procedure and only remember very little details as to the results of it. Some people really get "up tight" when they have to have one or are told they should have one, but that was not how I felt about it. I guess I thought it was a necessary evil as one ages. They told me I should have another one in 10 years. With that being all I recalled, my primary physician and I agreed that it would be good to just go ahead and have one for the record.

On Monday, January 9, I went in to have this done. They put you out while it is in progress and when you wake up, it's over. This went according to plan, but, at some point, early in the procedure, something went wrong. A surgeon was called in to make sure things were handled in the safest way possible, so when I awoke, I was in a hospital room. Apparently I had even been in ICU for a time. Here's where this is not my experience alone but one shared with WD. I would not want to change places with him because, although both of us were helpless to control the outcome (and still are), I would not envy anyone who found themselves in a situation over which they had no control and just wait. We waited for 9 days before the doctors were satisfied to discharge me from the hospital.

I do understand they were waiting for certain things to occur before they discharged me. It was very apparent they were covering all possible bases as to things that might need attention and could cause problems.

Other than one person who was a nurse or what I'll call a nurse assistant, I find no fault with any of the hospital employees.

Even though I have titled this "An Affair To Forget," I will never forget it and have determined it is not wise to call any medical procedure "routine."

Light Show @ Texas Church

2011-12-08T07:05:00.009-06:00

WHEN? Tuesday · December 8

WHERE? White's Chapel United Methodist Church in Southlake, Texas

WHAT? Holiday Light Show

My sister referred me to this show taking place through Christmas Eve. I have friends and relatives in Texas who may have the chance to see it in person because Southlake is a suburb of Dallas and Fort Worth and considered part of the Metroplex. For us, it looked like something to share via "armchair travel" on this blog. Not only may you find the YouTube video a very entertaining experience, you may even want to look at information on the church's website about this event.
Celebrate the Light 3-D Christmas Spectacular

Final Coastal Choral Performance of 2011

2011-12-05T07:53:00.007-06:00

WHEN? Sunday · December 4

WHERE? Spirit Center at Foley United Methodist Church

WHAT? Coastal Chorale Christmas concert

Reviews:

"Fabulous ... unbelievably good."
- maedeans

"In a class with Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians and The Ray Conniff Singers. They sing with a masterful blend of their voices."
- The Perpetual Vacationers

"Still wonderful entertainment - and still some funny stuff like "Chopsticks Theme and Variations" - like everything else, the price had to increase from $10 to $15"
- MDS

This afternoon's Christmas performance featured some familiar Christmas songs along with several others we had never heard, and all were beautifully done.

If you missed this last performance, never fear, they will perform again in February of 2012:
SNOWBIRD SERENADE

"The Music of the Night"

Thursday, February 23, 2012 - 7:30 pm
Friday, February 24, 2012 - 7:30 pm
Saturday, February 25, 2012 - 3:00 pm
Saturday, February 25, 2012 - 7:30 pm
Sunday, February 26, 2012 - 3:00 pm

(Serenade performances at First Baptist Church, Gulf Shores)

Their first number was an oldie from the 50's. Maybe this video will put you in the Christmas spirit. BTW, Santa Claus was there...

Fourth Annual Oyster Cookoff

2011-11-05T18:17:00.006-05:00

WHEN? Saturday · November 5

WHERE? Gulf Shores, Alabama

We attended last year's Oyster Cookoff at The Hangout ,but the milder temperatures this year made it more enjoyable.

We knew the "lay of the land" which was about the same as it was last year outside The Hangout in the Beer Garden with teams set up in booths cooking oysters to vie for honors with judges. When we arrived, we found some friends at about the same table in the garden. An event for entertaining all ages, it was a good chance to "people watch."

The three categories for the competition were: Oyster Rockefeller, Cajun Oysters, and Chief's Choice Raw. I had a couple of the first two categories but left before the final competition began. Recorded music was played until around 1:45 when The Rantmakers, a band from Nashville, Tennessee, began performing live on the stage. They were very good. I had hoped to show you a video of one of their songs, but I did not punch the right buttons on my camera. I did manage to get a photo of one of the band member's bare feet, which was sort of like Jimmy Buffett's concerts. I love anything that laidback and could not resist including such a photo.

Check out our photos on Flickr at:

Fourth Annual Oyster Cookoff at The Hangout

National Aviation Museum

2011-11-02T20:49:00.002-05:00

WHEN? Wednesday · November 2

WHERE? Pensacola, Florida ·

WHY? Practice by Blue Angels

Ever since we've been living in Lower Alabama, we've been meaning to visit the Aviation Museum in Pensacola again. Today we combined that with also seeing the Blue Angels practice behind the museum.

We can now tell you that this was just as enjoyable as the air shows put on annually at the Pensacola Beach without all the traffic congestion. We will tell you that the air shows at the beach include other air planes as well as the Blue Angels. In that respect, they are special. We are considering going to an actual air show at the museum later this year to see how that is from the standpoint of the close visibility.

It is just about impossible to take photos of the Blue Angels because by the time one hears them they are already gone because of their speed. That is why we started taking videos instead. Even those are the typical amateur non-award-winning variety, but they do prove we were there :)

National Aviation Museum and Blue Angels Practice.

40th Annual Shrimp Festival

2011-10-13T19:01:00.005-05:00

WHEN? Thursday - Sunday · October 13-16

WHERE? Gulf Shores, Alabama · find us on the map

WHY? 40th Annual National Shrimp Festival

This blog post must begin with our disappointment in this year's festival. It has to do with economics. We are retired and on a fixed income. With the price of everything going up, we will probably not attend anymore Shrimp Festivals.

It sounds good that there is no admission to the event, but the best way to attend is to catch a shuttle, so we parked in Bruno's parking lot in Gulf Shores. Then, our first surprise came. The price was $2 a person; last year it was $1 a person.

We had specifically arrived near lunch time to seek out the same meal we had eaten last year. We did not really find it, but one booth had what they called a Paella Dinner for $15 (for one person). Last year a similar meal that was better than this one was $8. We shared the one meal while listening to J.B. Melody on the East Stage.

Anything we saw to possibly purchase had higher prices. One jewelry booth told me they were paying more for what they were selling. So that is what it is about -- inflationary prices across the board.

To see the few photos we took, visit 40th Shrimp Festival of 2009 on Flickr.

As we write this, three more days are left to attend this annual festival in Gulf Shores.

On the Road to Texas and Back

2011-09-30T08:30:00.002-05:00

We've been back from Texas for four days, but it's been a little more difficult to recover because we set off foggers right before we left to rid the place of pests. Even though it was an excellent time to do this, making sure things are safe to use -- like washing all the dishes, in addition to washing a week's worth of laundry has kept us from telling you about our fun-packed trip.

Rather than a blog post that really covers it, we're resorting to showing you photos we took, like we did on our trip away from Alabama last spring. You can see them on Flickr at:

On the Road - Sept. 21, 2011
On the Road ~ Sept. 22, 2011

On the Road ~ Sept. 24, 2011

On the Road ~ Sept. 26, 2011
On the Road ~ Sept. 27, 2011

You may have noticed there are no pictures for Sept. 25th. We are saving perhaps the best for last. That afternoon we went to see a live musical at Theatre Arlington entitled "FOREVER PLAID." The four men performing had done this musical many years ago and said they wanted to do it again before they were in wheel chairs. What a treat it was. This YouTube video gives you a good example of what variety this show contained, but you would have had to be in the audience to have the full benefit.

Weather Report on TS Lee

2011-09-05T18:00:00.002-05:00

WHEN? Monday · September 5

WHERE? Gulf Shores, Alabama · find us on the map

WHY? Winds and rain from Tropical Storm Lee

Tropical Storm Lee has definitely made itself know in the panhandle area and beyond with strong winds and lots of rain. We mainly checked out this on the line at Alabama and Florida.

Yes, we're fully aware we are idiot storm chasers, and we're old enough to know better.

Our sense of adventure and goofiness have shown their face before. We thought we could get some videos and photos to show what TS Lee caused, so we kept driving eastward on the beach road, even when there were times when it was partially covered with sand. We went beyond Gulf State Park and stopped to go out on a boardwalk we had gone to the end of during Hurricane Ike in 2008. Were we surprised to find it was not something we could do when we came to a wall of sand.

If you have never been out on the beach when winds are this high, let us tell you it hurts everywhere your skin is exposed. We were very thankful we both had on eye glasses to protect our eyes. The sand made it's way into our pockets and just about everywhere else. Maybe it was worth it to catch the photos and videos we took on Labor Day of 2011.

The show was actually viewable from the road because the waves were so high.

I have already looked at the videos we took, and I'm not sure they show what we saw.

We actually went inside of the Flora-Bama, and they have made lots of progress in their building since we were there last. The upper level is set up so people there can look down on the stage from three sides, where it used to be a very short balcony on the south side.

It would only be a guess if I tried to tell you about the erosion caused by this storm. Buildings probably made it okay, but I was feeling sorry for anyone who reserved a condo or beach house for the Labor Day Weekend. Their vacation was pretty much shot.

See our photos on flickr:
Wind and Waves from Tropical Storm Lee.

We took several videos to try to let you know what the experience of the winds and rains were like as Tropical Storm Lee came through Lower Alabama.

This video probably best shows particularly how big the waves were:

We spent the rest of our Labor Day at Magnolia River Bar & Grill in Magnolia Springs, Alabama, inside out of the rain and wind and enjoying good friends, music and spirits.

rain, Rain, RAIN!

2011-09-02T18:53:00.003-05:00

This not a normal or usual blog post for THE PERPETUAL VACATIONERS, but it's just noteworthy enough that we are making an exception. It has rained several times today already, which is not normally newsworthy for Lower Alabama, but this summer has been an exception.

Most days recently, either one or both of us were doing some watering detail of grass, shrubs, or flowers. Even after today's rain, if we don't receive anymore for several days, that will not be necessary more than likely.

It looks like weather forecasts are for more because of a tropical depression.

A video was recorded today just so we can look at it if we wonder what it's like for it to rain.

♫ ♪ The sound of rain is music to our ears!♫ ♪

Gulf State Park Pier

2011-07-30T17:23:00.011-05:00

Did you know the Gulf State Park Pier is the longest pier in the Gulf of Mexico? We didn't until we visited it today.

Not only do we know more about the pier than we did before we visited, but there were several surprises.
• the pier has a nice, large parking lot
• no charge is required for visiting the entrance-first platform of the pier
• many varieties of salt water fish may be caught from the pier
• many people were using the beach area by the pier
• emerald green water was on display at this location on Saturday

Once we paid our $2 each to sightsee on the remainder of the pier, that was very interesting and educational itself. Those that were fishing had paid $8 a person, plus they also had to have Salt Water Fishing Licenses, which are sold at the first platform area.

I was pleased to see there was a small shaded area on the pier where one could fish.

Perhaps you will want to visit the pier also after viewing our photos and videos:
Gulf State Park Pier

Mississippi Gulf Coast

2011-07-19T21:22:00.012-05:00

On a very brief trip over to parts of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, we wanted to share some of our experiences and photos from mostly the return trip to Alabama today.

We took care of some business in Waveland, Mississippi. Actually, I’d say the first part of the visit was more like a mission trip that was accomplished because it was not impossible. Then the last part was visiting with old-time friends.

On Monday, we took Interstate 10 into Gulfport to shop at Best Buy. As we speeded up to enter the interstate, I notice a stone sign about the Katrina High Water Mark. I did not get a photo and did not find one by searching the internet, but I do believe this article on July 22, 2011, is about the sign: Bay wants to ‘camouflage’ storm markers

We chose to come back a little longer route by heading south to get on Highway 90 and then drive along the world’s longest man-made beach. That’s the trivia WDS seemed to know, and I’m taking his word for it.

Parts of the drive home were a little depressing because there were still signs of damage from where Hurricane Katrina destroyed areas which were empty of residences and businesses. However, much had been built back. Also the weather was great as compared with the very hard rains we drove in coming over.

We divided the photos into two parts. The first album is:
Along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The two last photos were taken in Mobile, Alabama, where we stopped for a late lunch.

Gulf Islands National Seashore encompasses territory in both Florida and Mississippi, and is therefore separated into two districts. The Mississippi District includes Davis Bayou, and may be reached in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, which we traveled through today on the way back to Alabama.

We enjoyed visiting their Visitors Center and boardwalks and seemed to have the place to ourselves except for one small skink we encountered on the boardwalk just behind the Visitors Center. Our photos from the visit may be seen at:
Davis Bayou ~ Gulf Islands National Seashore.

We have no photos to show we drove through a nice old fashioned downtown in Ocean Springs that we hope to return to and just walk around there. Somewhere in the same area is the Walter Anderson Museum of Art we hope to visit on another trip.

Kitty's Kafe

2011-07-01T06:46:00.000-05:00

WHEN? Friday · July 1

WHERE? Gulf Shores, Alabama

We have been hearing good reports on Kitty's Kafe ever since it opened. It takes a little searching it out because it is not right on one of the main drags. Keep your eyes peeled for the Pelican Place shopping center located at 3800 Gulf Shores Parkway (Alabama 59) where it intersects with Cotton Creek Drive (County Road 4) . The restaurant is located in Suite 100 south of Target. Their phone number is 251-948-5233.

Perhaps word came to us because two of our friends work there as cooks. We still haven't met the owner, Kitty, but that's okay. This is a place we'll return to fairly often because the food is moderately priced and good, and the service is fast and efficient. Today was our second time to dine here at lunch.

I love murals, so I snapped the two in the dining room. I understand from reading some reviews of the place that they have them in the restrooms as well. WDS took the photo of the specials menu.

You might want to click on Kitty's Kafe on Facebook for more information.

We are not really food critics or reviewers as such, but we both know what we like. This place definitely gets the thumbs up.

7th Annual Balloon Festival

2011-06-18T09:38:00.007-05:00

WHERE? Foley, Alabama · find us on the map

As I discovered from talking with my Flickr friend, Brody, not all hot air balloon festivals are equal or the same. We waited quite a long time today before any balloons showed up. If you had seen the dark storm clouds in the sky, you would not have wondered why. For awhile, we thought they would not show up at all. And, when they did, the sun still was not getting though on a regular basis, so not many photos of them were worth keeping.

See our photos on flickr:

Balloon Festival 2011

To see some really professional photos taken on various days of the festival, see Brody J's photos on flickr:
Foley Balloon Fest 2011

The website for the festival is very informative, and we encourage you to visit it not only for information about this year's festival but also some facts about upcoming balloon festivals.
Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival

2nd Annual Bald Eagle Bash

2011-06-04T10:24:00.005-05:00

WHEN? Saturday · June 4, 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The Weeks Bay Foundation hosted the Bald Eagle Bash again this year, and the party was held at the waterfront Tonsmeire Weeks Bay Resource Center (old Lulu’s location) at the Fish River Bridge on U.S. Highway 98 in Fairhope.

The unique taste of Alabama Wild Shrimp was prepared by these great restaurants under the resource center’s building:
Beckwith Camp and Conference Center
Big Daddy's Grill
Bimini Bob's
Blue Marlin Restaurant
Bluegill Restaurant
Fly Creek Café
Islamorada Fish Company
Jesse's Restaurant
Les Roux
LuLu's at Homeport Marina
Tamara's Downtown
The Tin Top Restaurant and Oyster Bar
Wintzell's Oyster House

Over 900 people attend this party with great food, great music by Locust Fork Band, and, best of all, a great cause for preservation of "one of the most beautiful and diverse environments on planet earth ... in Baldwin County" (Phil Norris in THE PELICAN POST, Spring 2011).

Title sponsors for this year's event were BBVA Compass and the Coastal Land Trust. Other sponsors are shown on a sign among the photos from the event, which may be viewed on Weeks Bay Foundation's Facebook.

Been on the Road

2011-05-28T06:45:00.002-05:00

... and in the air at times.

Have you missed us?

Hope not.

It's been so much trouble to fool with the photos, we're just going to show them to you and let that do it because we really don't feel like doing a blog post. Seems like maybe it's too much trouble to go into detail.

Does that make sense? Well, it does to us right now because we have things to do and places to go in Lower Alabama.

Here's the photos from a week of travel in Mississippi, Tennessee, and the upper part of Alabama.

Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday

Restaurant with lots of good atmosphere

2011-05-12T12:00:00.011-05:00

WHEN? Thursday · May 12

WHERE? Daphne Alabama

We cannot imagine we'll ever run out of different restaurants in our area to experience. This one hadn't even been recommended to us, but we could not resist the atmosphere of being located on Mobile Bay in Daphne. When we do eat out, lunch is just about always the meal we choose. Bimini Bob's has a Bahamas theme, and I really don't know if they ever have some music to go with the theme, but that was all the atmosphere lacked. If some Calypso music had been in the background, we'd have felt like we were on a cruise because the weather was perfect to be out on the "deck".

We expect to return with friends to try other items on Bimini Bob's Lunch Menu. We noticed that certain side dishes seem to be standard, which is probably the reason their service is fast. The handcut Potato Fries and Island Slaw get good marks from us.

The photo at the top is actually from a cruise we took in 2008 with some of our new Lower Alabama friends.

We have a few photos we took today while dining here, which you may view at:

• Bimini Bob's in Daphne Alabama

Auntie Bo's Family Restaurant

2011-04-30T13:03:00.010-05:00

WHEN? Saturday · April 30 ·

WHERE? Foley Alabama

One of the perks of being THE PERPETUAL VACATIONERS is learning about restaurants we haven't tried. This morning we visited Auntie Bo's for breakfast. Although we're usually not buffet fans, the specials we saw on the boards sounded appetizing and were reasonably priced. Getting our money's worth is perhaps the biggest advantage to visiting this restaurant. I would emphasize the FAMILY part of their description because it is definitely difficult to take out a whole family for a meal and everyone be reasonably satisfied. Most people like fried chicken, and it's offered every day. Our neighbor said the prime rib special is done right.

If I lived closer to this restaurant, it would probably tempt me every day because of the vegetables and salad bar. Our server mentioned that they do have a menu besides the terrific breakfast special that is especially cooked for each customer – and once we learned what it included, we didn't even look at the menu.

So now you have had our review, such as it is, since we're not really critics. We typically don't have trouble liking food wherever we dine. If we really can't recommend a restaurant, we just don't mention it much at all on our blog.

While there we took some photos, which may be seen on Flickr at:

• Auntie Bo's Family Restaurant

Porch Swing in Tupelo

2011-04-20T07:32:00.025-05:00

WHEN? Wednesday · April 20 ·

WHERE? Tupelo, Mississippi

We're both Elvis fans. I'm a fan of Elton John as well, but did not know about this song by Elton until I saw this:

Elton John · Porch Swing in Tupelo

Video Description on YouTube:
An emotional tribute to Elvis Presley and his beautiful birthplace in the South. This tribute focuses on that part of the young man, who turned out to be king, that will always belong to the timeless peace and eternal wonder of places like Tupelo, Mississippi, U.S. and on the contrast between the life Elvis had, when he grew up, and the life he lived, when he died. Once again a proof of what fame can do to people - but we would never have been without his wonderful music, talent and charm!

Back in May of 2010, we made our pilgrimage to the area where Elvis was born and lived. We took in Graceland in Memphis and stopped by Tupelo on a peaceful Sunday morning. While there we took some photos, which may be seen on Flickr at:

• Tupelo, MS ~ Birthplace of Elvis
• Elvis and Graceland

For some reason, it seems we've been blogging about fountains lately, so now we include our video of the Fountain of Life in Tupelo at Elvis' birthplace.

If the video above doesn't work, try this Flicker link:
Elvis Birthplace Fountain of Life

The Dubai Fountain

2011-04-16T09:43:00.012-05:00

WHEN? Anytime via armchair travel

WHERE? Dubai, United Arab Emirates

My thanks go to Tom for sending this link to me because I'm sure not ever going to see it in person. For more information on this amazing fountain, look at what Wikepedia has to say.

The Dubai Fountain

YouTube has many videos of this fountain. You might want to watch this one also.
Dubai fountain (UAE) - "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston

Blue Angels at Devils Tower Revisited

2011-03-30T09:04:00.021-05:00

Recently we have been reminded a couple of times about the Blue Angels visiting Devils Tower while we were there in 2007 as volunteers.

While we dined on the prime rib at American Legion Post 44 in Gulf Shores, Alabama last night, we noticed the above photo on the wall near our table.

Here's someone else's video taken of this awesome event.

Our previous blog posts about this amazing flight demonstration squadron may be read at:
Angels above
Pensacola Air Show
Second Visit To Pensacola Air Show

59th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival

2011-03-20T04:34:00.048-05:00

WHEN? Sunday · March 20

WHERE? Fairhope, Alabama · find us on the map

We missed this event our first year here in 2008, but have attended each year since. It offers over 200 exhibitors from across the nation. Live entertainment is included, along with many booths offering food and refreshment. All of this takes place on the streets of beautiful downtown Fairhope.

Official Artwork by Karen Faire

Admission is free to the festival, and the only expense for us was a dollar each way from the Bruno's parking lot on BRATS (Baldwin County Area Transportation System), plus our food and drink at the festival itself. A person could spend lots of $$$ on many interesting and unusual items and some great art, but we curbed our appetite for spending.

We discovered the back entrance to The Pub when we followed our noses where barbequed pork and chicken were being cooked outside the place. We had the pork, baked beans and potato salad for $8 a plate and a very welcomed seat at their outdoor patio bar – about $25 total, tip and all.

We chose Saturday again to attend this year, so as I'm posting this, things are underway for its third and final day. We encourage anyone reading this today to get on out and take in what is offered in downtown Fairhope. This Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce video from the 2010 festival reveals what photos alone cannot:

We left the festival in a mood to continue enjoying ourselves and stopped at Magnolia River Bar and Grill in Magnolia Springs before we returning home. That night was a much talked about special full moon, so our photos for the day ended on that note.

Here's the assortment of photos we have to share with you from yesterday.

Couldn't resist adding this video to the post after it was already up. I do hope this festival always has the wonderful weather they enjoyed in 2011.

59th Annual Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival - Awards

Pub Crawling on St. Patrick's Day

2011-03-17T06:15:00.025-05:00

WHEN? Thursday· March 17

WHERE? Gulf Shores, Alabama · find us on the map

We got in on our first pub crawl ever thanks to some friends who requested transportation to Papa Rocco's in Gulf Shores where the Gulf Shores Pub Crawl began. The pubs included were Mudbugs, Gulf Shores Steamer, Desoto’s, The Hangout, Pink Pony, Gulf Island Grille, Ribs ‘N Reds and Mikee’s. We must confess that we did not make the last three pubs. Instead, we began our walk back to Papa Rocco's, where our car was parked. At that point, our friends' ride home had arrived and we were pooped. We stopped along the way at The Shrimp Basket for sitting down and resting as much as for the Shrimp Po-Boys.

We had been told that Denny and Billy were playing at the Elberta VFW, so we felt rested enough to take in another St. Patrick's celebration there, where not only was there holiday entertainment with songs like My Wild Irish Rose and Danny Boy, they were also serving a plate of traditional corned beef and cabbage for a mere three bucks. We could not partake because of our Shrimp Basket lunch less than a hour before, but those who did proclaimed it was delicious.

To fill in on the pubs we missed in Gulf Shores, we stopped at Kelsey's in Foley and Magnolia River Bar and Grill in Magnolia Springs before returning home happily exhausted. It was a beautiful day for the all-day celebrations.

Three years ago, the Orange Beach Pub Crawl was begun at The Wharf, and includes Rafters, Shucker’s, Rum Runners, Guy Harvey, the Cigar Bar and Live Bait. A really young, ambitious partier might be able to make both, since theirs doesn't start until noon. The fact is, their times do overlap because the Gulf Shores Pub Crawl doesn't return to Papa Rocco's until early afternoon.

See more of our photos on Flickr
St. Patrick's Day 2011

Mississippi's Appalachian Mountains

2011-03-13T07:41:00.022-05:00

WHERE? Webster County, Mississippi – near Eupora

Thanks to Terry Harpole in Maben, Mississippi, I'm able to share a brief trip with you. I love the video and audio sketches Walt Grayson of WLBT provides to people in his TV show Look Around Mississippi.

Two minutes well spent:

Old Cove with Walt Grayson
courtesy of Jackson's WLBT-TV

Mardi Gras Celebrations

2011-03-08T16:06:00.016-06:00

WHEN? During Mardi Gras

WHERE? Gulf Shores, Alabama · find us on the map

We took in two Mardi Gras celebrations as Mardi Gras was rapidly coming to a close: A party at Magnolia River Bar & Grill in Magnolia Springs, and the Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Parade on Fat Tuesday, March 8. After the parade, we stopped by MRBG and found two of the people who had walked in the Gulf Shores parade and took a few photos there.

Photos may be viewed in two sets on Flickr at:

David's Catfish House

2011-01-26T09:26:00.052-06:00

WHEN? Wednesday · January 26

WHERE? David's Catfish House · Spanish Fort, Alabama

It took us awhile to discover a place to eat fried catfish in our new home. For awhile, there was a take-out place in Foley we patronized when we needed a fried catfish fix, but the BP oil spill very likely put an end to that like it affected other Coastal Alabama businesses. At any rate, it closed. David's Catfish House in Spanish Fort is now the closest place for good fried catfish. Milton, Florida, has a location we may look up one of these days.

From the website:

Back in 1983 David and Sadie Ross started serving food from their now famous menu. Nearly a quarter century later, the catfish and cheese grits have been flying out of the kitchen. In fact, the dish has been named one of the 100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel for two consecutive years.
Not bad for a mom and pop start-up that began in Waynesboro, Mississippi.
Three years after opening and seeing a market in dire need of great food, David and Sadie moved their restaurant to Monroeville, Alabama, where its headquartered today.

If you're hungry for some real, down-home cooking, bring your appetite to any of our six David's Catfish Houses locations.

If fried catfish is not what you're looking for, take a look at David's Catfish House Menu(pdf). The menu at Spanish Fort seemed to offer other items when we looked at it, but we knew what we came for.

Note: If you are expecting to have an alcoholic beverage with your meal, it does not look like that is available.

When we lived in Jackson, Mississippi, we got our fix at Cock of the Walk, on a fairly regular basis. Their menu is very limited, but they had what we wanted along with the nice atmosphere of being on the water. We enjoyed dining there at least once since we've been in Alabama. Actually it may have been shortly before we settled in Alabama. Possibly the last time we were there was on December 10, 2007, during the Christmas Season. The photos from that visit may be seen in a Flickr slideshow at:

Cock of the Walk on the Ross Barnett Reservoir

Another year coming to a close

2010-12-22T12:42:00.047-06:00

WHEN? Friday · December 24

WHERE? Lower Alabama

Here we are in Paradise (Lower Alabama) nearing our third year as 2010 is coming to a close. It seems many things have occurred since we settled down here. Here's what I have to say about that. It's the same thing I've mentioned before. If you are doing lots of things to write about, you don't have time to write about them. If you aren't doing much, what do you write? One of those quandaries. What results is one never really fully shares the exciting, newsworthy happenings because there is not time for that. When there is time on your hands and you'd like to think of something to share, the feeling is, it's not worth sharing mundane happenings. Perhaps we can just sum it up by saying –

♥ We still love living in LA ♥

This time of year beginning with Thanksgiving and running through the last day of the year and rapidly moving into New Years Day, has so much to do and be energized by that I am seriously thinking of taking off January of 2011 as a vacation from blogging. I've threatened this before and couldn't stick by it. Maybe, just maybe, next year I'll succeed.

Recently I have noticed TV shows such as Oprah, run their shows more than once, so I am going to refer you to some reruns from both of our blogs.

As I looked over previous blogs, I found this one from this blog in 2007: Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

This reminded me of one of my projects I plan to complete before the Christmas decorations are stored away. I want to scan the Little Drummer Boy Christmas cards we have sent and received. Most people would probably think that's a waste of time. Well, that's the kind of priorities I set, so the really important things don't get done while a project like this does. If you are curious enough to check back, I plan to have them in one album on Flickr:
THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY - A Collection

As I looked over previous blog posts, I discovered that some of the links I gave you in previous posts no longer work. At first I thought I'd try to correct that, but life is just too short to spend my time on that. Most of the videos that do not work are from YouTube and the account has been closed because the user was infringing on copyright laws, etc. So, just let me apologize for the fact that they don't work and be done with it. If you want to mention a particular one to me, feel free to do so, and I'll see if there is something else I can substitute that does work on the post.

The other posts I wanted to run by you are from the LIVING... MAEDEANS STYLE blog:

One is also related to THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY:
Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum

The other is related to Wendell being the one who said "Christmas Eve Gift" first today on Christmas Eve:
Christmas Eve Gift

Here's one more I almost forgot:
O CHRISTmas Tree

By now, if you have been paying attention, you probably realize I like THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY. Yes, I know there is nothing in the Bible about him, but it was published in 1857 by James Pierpont, so we'll just say its a fictional legend, sort of like Rudolph and dare we even say the fat man in the red suit? All I know is I really think Jesus likes him too.

This is my final 2010 post, so let me send this wish to you from our house:

Merry Christmas and
Happy 2011!

Magic Christmas in Lights

2010-12-04T06:48:00.040-06:00

WHEN? Friday · December 3

WHERE? Bellingrath Gardens and Home · Theodore, Alabama

Our youngest daughter treated us to the Lights Show put on each holiday season at Bellingrath Gardens and Home. It had particularly been recommeded to us from a long-time resident and friend from Mobile, so we knew it was well worth the trip to view it. We had not seen it already because we really don't like to drive at night. With Carla doing most of the night driving on our return home, we sprung for an unbelievably entertaining evening as we strolled the gardens decorated everywhere with seasonal light decorations while Christmas songs played from many speakers in the gardens. The weather could not have been better with calm winds and only the need for a jacket while leisurely walking all the paths.

An early disappointment: We left our camera at home. Carla had hers, though, and snapped lots of photos as long as its battery allowed.

A pleasant surprise: The area's frost-free autumn encouraged spectacular blooms on the gardens' flowering plants. The cascading chrysanthemums were fantastic, and the rose garden was prettier than when we visited last April. Although there were fewer roses today, the December blooms seemed invigorated by the cooler temps. We recommend arriving long before dark to see the beauty of the blooming plants, then stay for the lights after nightfall. The only negative about approaching it this way is that old joints tire before that much time and walking. Perhaps a better recommendation is to make two visits: one in the daytime and one in the evening.

A clever plan: We arrived before dark and missed heavy traffic, some by the busloads, attending the special lights display. As we departed, vehicles were streaming in to enjoy holiday lights.

More photos would have been taken and probably some videos if we'd had our Canon camera. The reason we were unable to bring it finally unwound after lots of searching back at home. We theorized the camera had fallen out of my unzipped purse sitting on the bedroom floor and slid under the end of the bed out of sight.

Leaving our camera behind certainly didn't deter all three of us from enjoying our visit. The photos that Carla took with her camera illustrate what an impressive and entertaining evening it was:

Christmastime at Bellingrath Gardens

This Bellingrath Gardens video reveals more about this premier Christmas lights display:

Thanksgiving of 2010

2010-11-26T09:57:00.015-06:00

WHEN? Thursday, November 25

WHERE? Magnolia Springs, Alabama · find us on the map

When we first came down to Alabama in January of 2008, we had no idea we would find a second home at Magnolia River Bar and Grill. Today we enjoyed our third Thanksgiving there. To make this a short blog post, just let me say I had the best food there I have ever eaten at any time or any place.

Not only is this a nice, relaxing way to enjoy Thanksgiving, but, when compared to all the Thanksgiving holidays when most of the food preparation was done by a few people, these past three Thanksgivings have been a cooperative effort like a potluck. I would not want to give the impression that it was not a much bigger effort on the part of some people. In the first place, this restaurant and bar always goes out of its way to decorate for holidays, and this was no exception. In a few days the beautiful Christmas tree will be decorated with many other decorative touches as the season quickly follows on the heels of Thanksgiving.

Most of the photos taken today were of decorations with only a few of some people. If you could have seen the place as more and more dishes came out to be set on the table, you would have had no doubt many people worked very hard to make this its usual success. The Flickr photos taken today may be seen at:

Thanksgiving 2010 in LA

Third Annual Oyster Cookoff

2010-11-13T17:46:00.004-06:00

WHEN? Saturday · November 13

WHERE? Gulf Shores, Alabama

We had heard about the Oyster Cookoff at The Hangout last year, but it may have been after it had already taken place. This is not to be confused with the Oyster Fest in Bon Secour, which we did attended last year.

Anyway, if it had not been for a phone call from Diane Saturday morning, we would have missed this one, too.

This was actually the first time we had really participated in any event at The Hangout, located at the "T" intersection of Highway 59 and Beach Boulevard. It is set up for entertaining all ages with it's own sand mountain with a tunnel running through it for youngsters to romp and play on. The outside Beer Garden was where teams were set up in booths cooking oysters to vie for some kind of honors with judges and all. For us it was just a chance to get out and enjoy the gorgeous weather while "people-watching."

The three categories for the competition were: Oyster Rockefeller, Cajun Oysters, and Chief's Choice Raw. I had a couple of the first two categories and one raw one, which was served in a tiny martini glass. Meanwhile, "Bust" was entertaining us with their music on the outdoor stage.

If Diane had not told me about the gift shop inside The Hangout, I would have missed a special collection of trolls on their wall there. During the craze, just about everyone had at least one troll. Of course, all one needs to have of anything is two, and you have a collection.

Only the burning rays of the sun caused us to leave when we did, but visiting with friends in such perfect weather can't be beat.

Check out our photos on Flickr at:

Third Annual Oyster Cookoff at Hangout

Short Trip To Destin

2010-10-29T12:01:00.011-05:00

WHEN? Tuesday-Friday · Oct 26 ~ 29

WHERE? Destin, Florida

We were very excited about the opportunity to stay right on the beach at Sun Destin Beach Resort and Hotel located at 1040 Highway 98 East (Emerald Isle Parkway) in Destin, Florida.

We did not go over exactly the route we had planned because we made a wrong turn somewhere and wound up on I-10 and traveled even further on it than we realized, and this had us arriving in the parking lot of Sun Destin about the same time as our host friend, who drove all the way from Jackson, Mississippi.

Once checked in, we immediately went to the beach balcony side of the condo and soaked up beautiful beach and the waves rolling in. It's not hard to see why they call it the Emerald Isle. The water is a beautiful green hue. Rather than trying to describe this beach resort hotel, the video below will give you a very good idea of what it is like.

While we were there, the weather was pleasantly warm with a good bit of sunshine with lower temperatures and high wind only arriving the night before we were checking out.

We visited with a few snowbirds in the condo bar and sort of envied them being there for several weeks or months rather than a few days, but we really were happy to head on back to Lower Alabama anyway because we still enjoy the many friends we have made there.

There's a great outlet mall there that we visited and even made it back over to Fort Walton on Thursday to check out a special Halloween Costumes shop. Can you believe this? Some of the costumes there cost $150! We wound up at Wal-Mart for our costumes :)

We had shrimp twice in one day. First we had Shrimp Po-Boys at Joe's Crab Shack for lunch and then we purchased fresh shrimp at Sexton's for delish Shrimp Pasta cooked in the condo.

We looked up the Fisherman's Wharf for an early lunch on Thursday. It's a place we visited many, many years ago when we had small children and have visited one other time when we were on one of our Orange Beach vacations. We had the special for that day priced around $8 for two steak patties smothered in onions and gravy and mashed potatoes and gravy. A soft drink was included.

Our photos from the trip may be seen on Flickr at: Trip to SunDestin in Destin, Florida. It is possible more will be added as we had two disposable cameras we were snapping pictures with as well, which we'll pick up at Wal-Mart on Thursday.

On our way back to Alabama on Friday, we got lost in Pensacola. This has happened to us more than once there. This time we wound up going through the Penscola Naval Air Station and on via Pedido Key and the Perdido Sun (a condo we stayed in many years ago).

Probably no one has had a love affair like we have with the beaches and areas on the Coast. We've camped in a tent on Dauphin Island as well as stayed in the Holiday Inn there before it was blown away by some hurricane. We've also stay in cabins right on the beach on Santa Rosa Island. Somewhere along the way we discovered Orange Beach and came there many times -- sometimes in groups or with family staying at Seaside Beach and Rachet Club and other times at Sunswept when there was just the two of us. Sunswept has the distinction of having its on traffic light.

You didn't know you were going to get a commercial for the entire Gulf Coast, did you? Actually, the Mississippi Gulf Coast attracts many people as well -- partly because of the gambling casinos, but events like Cruising the Coast bring many people there to see and be seen in their vintage vehicles. We've enjoyed that a couple of times. I must admit that I missed out on the "gambling gene," but we've still enjoyed a trip with a group of friends on a Halloween weekend.

Going To The Dogs

2010-09-15T19:00:00.027-05:00

WHEN? Wednesday · September 15
WHERE? Mobile Greyhound Park

It was a day for us to "go to the dogs," "have a dog in the race," on a "dog day afternoon" and have a doggone good time!

Facilities were nice as evidenced by Mae Dean's great photography. I'm still worried about that "bronzed dog". Wendell explained the betting philosophy to Mae Dean, while I bet on lucky numbers and cute names. I only lost $17.00. Hot dogs and french fries were very cheap -- usually stadium prices outrageous.

I have to close my eyes when I drive through the tunnel in Mobile, so Wendell insisted that I ride with them rather than vice versa to our dinner destination. Their selection was perfect -- Ed's Seafood Shack -- best shrimp I have ever eaten. Almost prawns so big and delicious.

After dinner we kissed, kissed, hugged, hugged and went to our respective rooms. Got up early next a.m. and drove uneventfully home. Tired but very glad I went.
~Pam, Guest Blogger

The photos from today are on Flickr at:
Going to the Dogs

Let me (MDS) reveal once again why I am not a gambler. I lost every cent of the 28 bucks I bet on the 14 races. Nuff said.

As Pam wrote, we did not see each other the next day because she took off headed back to Jackson too early for that. We didn't hang around Tillman's corner very long ourselves. We chose to take the slow and leisurely scenic route back to Lower Alabama. You can view those photos on Flickr also at:

Tillman's Corner
Heavenly Day at Fairhope Pier
Weeks Bay ~ Land's End

Are You Ready For Some Football?

2010-09-03T16:04:00.009-05:00

This blog post was definitely a joint venture, and we really want to help all of you out to get ready for the football season of 2010.

It takes a little more effort now that we are out of our stomping grounds for many years in Mississippi, but we hope some of our friends back in Mississippi will appreciate this post as well as our new friends in Alabama.

We are fully aware that Alabama came out No. 1 last year, and it seems like from what the sports commentators are saying this year, they may do it again.

But, we are definitely dyed-in-the-wool maroon and white fans, and have always supported them, whether or not they were doing well.

State rivalries are well known in many states. We are familiar particularly with Texas-Texas A&M, Ole Miss-Mississippi State, and Alabama-Auburn, but they are certainly not the only states with rivalries.

The Southern Golden Eagles did not do too well in last night's opening game against the North Carolina Gamecocks as they came out on the short end of the final score of 41-13. We also flipped around for some other first games of the season on TV last night.

Take a look at a Flickr set we put up just today at:
Are you ready for some football?

We hope the football schedules included in the above set will help you out as you arrange your own schedules as the football season is underway.

Manci's Antique Club in Daphne

2010-08-29T03:38:00.039-05:00

The above images are from the website for Manci's Antique Club. The bar-restaurant is located at 1715 Main Street, Daphne, Alabama (Phone: 251/626-2124).

After you look at the website, you will know Italian immagrant Frank Manci purchased an old wooden produce warehouse in what is now downtown Daphne in 1924 and built a gasoline station on the property. This caught my attention because of my own life's history, but I'll get back to that later.

Twenty-three years later Arthur Manci, Frank's son, took over the business. After obtaining a liquor license in 1967, Arthur started to hang bottles and various items on the walls of what is now a full fledged bar, which has resulted in the establishment holding the largest collection of Jim Beam decanters on display. But Jim Beam decanters are not all that decorates the interior of Manci's. All manner of old items are outside and inside such as two antique gravity gas pumps and a wooden schulpture in the inner chamber of the Ladies Room.

Alex Manci, Arthur's son, took over the club in 1987. He holds the title for the "Bloody Mary Capital of the Eastern Shore." So, naturally, I had to try the Bloody Mary. Since I'm not any kind of authority on Bloody Marys, I'll not critique it, but I will tell you it was so hot with spice that I didn't finish it.

In 1995, Alex and his wife Gwen started serving food in the club.

Southern Living and Coastal Living have carried articles about this historical place.

The entire west side of the 1700 block of Main Street (Old Scenic Highway 98) is filled with restaurants. The other two, Guido's and Cousin Vinney's, are owned by the same owner but have separate kitchens. Another restaurant we noticed that seemed to be doing a booming business was East Shore Cafe located about two blocks away on the east side of Main Street (1506). All you need to look for is the old yellow house surrounded by a white picket fence. After reading reviews, I understand they serve Philly Cheese Steak. Hope we can check out that one of these days.

Here's the part about how the history of Manci's Antique Club
sort of coincides with mine.

All along, I had known that both my sister and I were born at home. Are you ahead of me? What I did not know was:

I was born in the back of a gasoline station where Daddy worked and my parents lived at the time.

Think about it. The country had not fully recovered from The Great Depression in 1936, so Daddy had the good fortune of having a job and all of us were lucky to have a place to live.

We took a few photographs while we were there enjoying the food, drinks and atmosphere, which you can see on Flickr at Visit to Manci's Antique Club in Daphne.

Since I'm a very curios person, I still want to go back there when few, if any, customers are there and check out that fig leaf. I received an early warning with a VERY LOUD buzzer before I went into the Ladies Room and put 2+2 together. Still wanta know what's under it :)

525,600 Minutes

2010-08-18T11:42:00.023-05:00

This post is related to a post on July 18, 2010, entitled Choir Concert at Marlow Church. This was a concert by the Sonshine Choir from Brentwood UMC, Brentwood, Tennessee.

I now have an audio music CD of their 2008-2009 tour, and the song in the videos below is one of the tracks on it.

The video below is one taken from one of the closest rows of seats to the stage, so maybe you can pretend, like I did that the camera was in my hands and I was sitting right there.

I would have loved to be there on the final Broadway performance. Or, for that matter, any other Broadway performance of RENT.

Macy's thought it was a good way to advertise on TV:

Garden Party

2010-08-07T22:00:00.013-05:00

This Garden Party began at the beach. It was the first time we attended a beach wedding, and we liked it alot.

But, we're getting ahead of where this began. Well, we really don't know where it all began, but we're thinking from what we've heard that it began in Georgia a long time ago, and it culminated in their marriage and celebration today.

Like the "Garden Party" by Ricky Nelson, and the story it tells, it appeared to us that the bride and groom accomplished what the song tells us with its message of "you can't please everyone -- gotta please yourself," and had the kind of wedding on the the beach they planned together. As far as we could tell, everyone there enjoyed every minute of it from the beginning all the way through the reception.

The wedding itself was blessed with very nice weather for an outdoor event, but their Plan B involved the pavilion at Gulf State Park had God not arranged such heavenly weather.

As we were leaving the beach after the wedding to go to the Foley American Legion for the reception, we spoke with two nice ladies who had driven from Georgia to attend this happy event. Since they did not know the way to the place of the reception, they followed us.

A few people were at the reception who did not attend the wedding, but the friends and family we had seen on the beach filled the hall with quite a celebration afterward, with a buffet brimming with many delicious foods and music for entertainment and dancing.

One of the earlier songs played by Billy Pelletier at the reception gave us the title for this post. We always have to preface one of our amateur videos with the fact that they are all non-award winning videos and add that perhaps, as they say, they are only a little better than nothing. Here's a link to GARDEN PARTY - BILLY PELLETIER.

Kevin and Lynda did their dance together at the reception to Brad Paisley's "Then," which is very appropriate because of the story it tells with reoccuring words:

Now you're my whole life
Now you're my whole world...

We look forward to seeing their wedding photos. Like many others, we snapped a few of our own and even took some very amateurish videos, but we can imagine them looking at these and laughing at them. Just to give you a feel for the enjoyable, relaxed atmosphere of the beach wedding, here's a few photos on Flicker we have to share:
Our First Beach Wedding

Karaoke PLUS @ MRBG

2010-08-01T19:00:00.001-05:00

Karaoke PLUS happens each Sunday afternoon at Magnolia River Bar and Grill in Magnolia Springs, Alabama. Denny Grisham and Billy Pelletier do a good job of entertaining with more than Karaoke. They both sing, and Billy performs on the guitar and harmonica -- have even seen him play the saw a couple of times. MRBG is at 14984 US Hwy. 98, Magnolia Springs, AL, 251/965-6801. Hopped up and recorded this video after the song was already underway when I realized it was Buffett's 1974 hit “Come Monday.”

You can view this amateur video on YouTube at:

COME MONDAY – BILLY PELLETIER

A video filmed at MRBG on another Sunday afternoon that included both Denny and Billy can be seen at:

ALL THESE THINGS

Choir Concert at Marlow Church

2010-07-18T22:00:00.012-05:00

The flyer above tells it all. The vacation came to us today in three large buses required to transport the choir and their chaperons. Yes, when the young people comprising the choir have completed the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, chaperons are necessary, and we were so happy to have them all with their talent to entertain and inspire us.

We noted they were taping the performance as well as taking photos, and we do hope they have some of both that we can purchase to enjoy and inspire us whenever.

The Sonshine Choir was a treat deluxe!

When I visited the Brentwood United Methodist Church website, I was surprised to learn this church is one of five others chosen to have a concert by Libera, a boys choir from England, on their Summer 2010 Tour in the United States.

This made me want to move the vacation to Brentwood on August 4. The places the choir will perform while in the United States are:
August 1st ~ Dallas, Texas
August 2nd ~ Fort Worth, Texas
August 5th ~ St. Louis, Missouri
August 4th ~ Brentwood, Tennessee
August 10th ~ Atlanta, Georgia

We first learned about Libera in November of last year when a friend shared a video by the choir, and I blogged about it on LIVING...MAEDEANS STYLE Blog at that time with a title of simply Libera.

After posting this, I found a YouTube video of this choir which I have added.

Jimmy Buffett Concert for the Gulf

2010-07-11T22:00:00.008-05:00

WHEN? Sunday · July 11

WHERE? Gulf Shores, Alabama · find us on the map

WHY? "Jimmy Buffett and Friends" concert

"It's Five O'clock Somewhere" has become one of my favorite phrases, so it is only natural that after all this time of having my favorite performers, I finally really discovered Jimmy Buffett. I think I read somewhere that five o'clock was when the live performance at Gulf Shores today really got underway. And, it was definitely the time to have the typical beach atmosphere kick in and the crowds at the beach for the live concert to move into high gear.

For many of the concert-goers, today was an all-day affair with the first shuttles arriving at the concert site around 11:00 AM. It is good that many people parked quite some distance from the site, roughly located between Lifeguard Station #3 and #5. Since I wasn't there, I'm really guessing, but the 90-minute concert I viewed on CMT showed enough of this beach we have frequented for me to make a somewhat educated guess.

Since the Mobile Press-Register reporters and photographers were at the concert, let me refer you to Lawrence F. Specker's article they had online:

Jimmy Buffett brings joy: Son of a son of a sailor returns to Gulf Coast to promote tourism 7/12/2010

The above article mentioned several details I did not know, such as remembering the concert's other performers, but I will assure you Jimmy Buffett was on stage the entire 90 minutes of the CMT performance.

Buffett let several others take turns in the spotlight: Mobile native Will Kimbrough, Mississippi songwriter Jesse Winchester and New Orleans composer/songwriter Allen Toussaint.

He also made a point of dedicating "Come Monday" to Mobilian Milton Brown, who "kind of discovered me, all those years ago."

After a short break, what we didn’t see on the 90-minute televised portion was a 40-minute second set that focused less on Buffett's own music. Selections included Kimbrough's "Piece of Work"; "Southern Cross", a song made famous by Crosby, Stills and Nash; and Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl", his last tune of the night.

Speaking of last tunes, I encourage you to sit back and enjoy Buffett's final televised performance of the evening. Superb!

When The Coast Is Clear

www.cmt.com/videos/misc/536045/When-The-Coast-Is-Clear.jhtml

I really like this video because I think it has some very infectious elements to it that may infect you, like it did me, with the kind of music and performance he gives his many fans, referred to as Parrotheads.
One Particular Harbour (Live from Anguilla)

Since Alan Jackson was unable to perform at last night's concert because it was postponed from July 1st, I have included Alan Jackson: It's Five O'Clock Somewhere (with Jimmy Buffett)

A Perpetual Vacationer on HIS Soapbox

2010-07-06T08:32:00.022-05:00

*And it's high time ...

One of us has been on HER soapbox in the past on our other blog, but now it's time for you to hear from the male vacationer represented by this blog.

It's not often that I get on my soapbox, but today is one of those days. Here are a few thoughts I'm having today.

First, it’s the heat wave I keep hearing about on TV and reading about on the internet. Down here in my part of Dixie, (Lower Alabama) halfway between Fairhope and Foley, it’s just the opposite — no heat wave at all. In fact the high temperature on July the 4th was in the high 80’s. Yesterday the high was in the mid 80’s and the forecast for the next 6 or 7 days is for the high temperature to be no more than 92° — not too bad for this time of the year.

The next thing on my mind, and almost everyone down here, is the oil spill. The main industry down here in South Baldwin County is Tourism. With the oil spill the tourists have stopped coming. Lots of people here are losing income. What is it now, day 78 or 79? BP gets on TV and says they are going to clean up everything. My question, is How can BP clean something up that they can't stop?

I haven’t been down to the beaches in the last few days, maybe a week or more, but the last time we went to Gulf Shores the beaches were still the beautiful sugar white sand they were this time last year, but that was before the last Gulf storm that did bring oil into our area. In fact the Gulf was so rough and choppy all of the boats that had been out skimming oil had to come in to port. The sea was just too tough for their small crafts.

Now the news is that we have this big skimmer called the Whale out there and it can gather more oil than the spill is spewing out each day. Why did we wait over 70 days to start using this boat?

From what I’m hearing down here, several countries have offered to help us clean up this mess and stop the leaking, but we have not accepted their offer. WHY?

While I’m on my soapbox I have another thing that peeves me. BP has hired a lot of people to keep the beaches clean. Now get this, and it figures in with the cooler than normal temperatures we are having, the workers are being paid $25 an hour, but OSHA will not let them work longer that 20 minutes each hour. The other time they are sitting under cooling tents. These tents are equipped with electrical generators so they can run electric fans and air conditioners. I wonder what the construction workers in the Southwest and up the East Coast think about this?

— WDS

6th Annual Balloon Festival

2010-06-19T07:10:00.025-05:00

WHERE? Foley, Alabama · find us on the map

We thought we'd get a brochure about this festival on Friday afternoon when we pulled into the festival grounds, but we found out the only way to even get into the festival was by shuttle. By that, I mean there was at least one location in Foley where people could park and the shuttle pick them up and take them to the festival and later pick them up at the festival and return them to their vehicles. We could have parked in an area that was quite far from the festival itself and wait possibly ten minutes for the shuttle to take us on into the festival. Since all we wanted was a brochure, we chose not to do that and just left. It was irritating to us to be met with the situation as it was.

No one but VIP's were allowed to park near the festival, park briefly, get a brochure and then go on with plans for coming back early the next day to attend the festival. We've experienced the VIP situation recently while touring Graceland in Memphis, but we pretty much knew the VIP's had purchased a higher priced ticket. We are assuming the VIP's in this situation were the volunteers, live entertainment, food booth caterers, arts and crafts, and children's village. We also got the idea they were planning on charging us to park, but we now believe admission and parking were both free of charge. We never did get the brochure we wanted, which would have helped us know where the hot air balloons were from, but we did get to see the balloons today. The festival attracted about 45 hot air balloons from across the country.

Today the conditions were perfect for a hot air balloon festival. As our photos show, there was no wind at the ground level. We got photos of just about all the balloons and talked to a few people. One balloon was from Foley, and the group with it did not know what their balloon was being called this year. Sometimes it was called the Blue Angel and other times it was called something else. It was the balloon that was all blue, and I don't think I got a photo of it. In the process of taking photos, I realized some things that I did not last year, I needed to be on the east side of the balloons to take good photos just as the sun was rising. Duh!

See our photos on flickr:

Balloon Festival 2010

To see some really professional photos taken on the same morning, see Brody J's photos on flickr:
Foley Balloon Fest 2010

You'll probably want to look at some more of his excellent photography while you are there.

The website for the festival is very informative, and we encourage you to visit it not only for information about this year's festival but also some facts about upcoming balloon festivals.
Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival

National Chocolate Ice Cream Day

2010-06-07T07:33:00.028-05:00

WHEN? Monday · June 7

WHERE? Foley, Alabama · find us on the map

After traveling into Fairhope for the first dental appointment for a crown, we were listening to the Bill Mac Show on Willie's Place on Sirius Satellite Radio, when they made the announcement that it was National Chocolate Ice Cream Day, so we added that to our agenda while we were out.

First, however, our next stop scheduled was a photo session with Tom the Gator. I do wonder how many people have come within a few feet of Tom without recognizing he was there.

Then we naturally had to stop at the oldest drugstore in Baldwin County, Stacey's Rexall Drugs and Olde Tyme Soda Fountain in Foley, established in 1929. This certainly wasn't our first time to visit, but the lunch crowd was already gone and only a few fountain customers were there. They played some songs on the antique juke box, which were similar to this YouTube video. If you can dance to this video that is almost 10 minutes long, you are certainly more fit than we are.

We both had a dish of chocolate ice cream in recognition of National Chocolate Ice Cream Day.

We blogged about two other visits here. Any excuse will do. Our other posts are:

Old Fashioned and Delicious

Another visit to Stacey's Rexall.

After leaving Stacey's, we took note of the continuing saga unfolding at the intersection of Highway 98 and Highway 65 in Foley, so we had to stop and take a few photos. These very unrelated photos can all be viewed on Flickr at Out and About in Fairhope and Foley Alabama

The smell of oil

2010-06-06T17:30:00.007-05:00

It may be our imagination, but we thought we smelled something different in the air. It was not very strong, and our smellers adjusted to it rather quickly, but we think it is here now -- although very slightly. We were listening to Don Williams on the screened porch when we both thought we smelled it.

The show must go on...

2010-06-05T17:02:00.026-05:00

WHEN? Saturday · June 5, 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.

WHERE? Fairhope Alabama

…and it did for the first ever Bald Eagle Bash to celebrate the return of the Bald Eagle to the Weeks Bay area.

The Weeks Bay Foundation hosted the event.

Even though the weather did not cooperate for this outdoor festival, the party for preservation was a good one. When the first torrential rain (accompanied by high winds and lightning) was over and the sun came out, NEW GROOVE cranked up and entertained the diners and the dancers. People did not allow the weather to dampen their spirits. A group of people started doing a line dance to the band’s music and eventually had the female vocalist out in the muddy parking lot hoofing it with them, or I should say leading them.

I was reminded of the optimistic lyrics of the Irving Berlin song sung by Ethel Merman and found at least three versions of it on YouTube. I liked this one the best.

The event was held at the new waterfront Tonsmeire Weeks Bay Resource Center (old Lulu’s location) at the Fish River Bridge on U.S. Highway 98 in Fairhope. The unique taste of coastal Alabama seafood prepared by local restaurants was under the resource center’s building, which was where most early arrivals took refuge from the rain. Each restaurant served up their top Alabama Wild Shrimp recipe to vie for Peoples’ Choice honors. At one point I let the Grand Hotel people know that drops of rain had totally obliterated their big jar where people were supposed to put their votes. One could no longer even read the restaurant’s name.

The event was well attended and was a great party with great food, great music, and, best of all, a great cause. It raised funds to continue the Foundation’s mission to protect the natural resources of coastal Alabama while supporting the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Even though the rain made it quite an “adventure” as some described it, it was a great success in terms of attendees and funds raised. It was obvious that many who came out had a great time.

America’s national symbol, as well as many other natural wonders are under continuous pressure due to habitat loss and increased human disturbance. Concerted efforts to protect wetlands and nesting sites will ensure the continued existence of the Bald Eagle as well as other creatures. The Foundation has been successful in preserving lands that provide critical habitat for many species of plants and animals.

Sponsors for this year’s event were:
American Foods
BancorpSouth
Bank Trust
Bay Radiology
Bayshore Title Co., Inc.
BBVA Compass
Coastal Land Trust
Colony Homes
Dr. Michael Houston
Eat Alabama Wild Shrimp
Faulkner State’s Gulf Coast Culinary Institute
Hampton Flooring and Design
IBERIABANK
Michael & Cindy McBrearty
Michael and Debbie Quinn
Miller’s Grand Events
Nall Printing
NBC15 WPMI
Rodney Hubble/Force 5 Walls, Inc.
Russell Thompson Butler & Houston, CPAs
Safe Harbor Financial/Jim Byrd
South Baldwin Regional Medical Center
Southern Capital Services, Inc.
Stephen Baker/Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Stone, Granade & Crosby, PC
The Conservation Fund
Thomas Hospital
Tonsmeire Properties
Volkert Environmental Group, Inc.

The ten participating restaurants were troopers and served their delicious cuisine to those attending with a pleasant smile as if every day they cooked while drops of water fell on them. All of us need to support these restaurants and let them know we appreciated their spirit and their food.

Big Daddy’s Grill
Bimini Bob’s
Blue Marlin Restaurant (winner of Peoples’ Choice honors)
Felix’s Fish Camp Grill
Jesse’s Restaurant
Saltwater Grill at The Grand
Tamara’s Steamer
Tin Top Restaurant and Oyster Bar
Wash House Restaurant
Wintzell’s Oyster House

Postscript on June 6: My clothes were still wet when I checked them on the line on the screened porch so I just threw them in the washing machine for a short load. No wonder I felt like I looked like a drowned rat!

A Gorgeous Sunday Afternoon

2010-05-09T20:00:00.038-05:00

WHEN? Mother's Day, May 9

If you don’t know where Big Daddy’s is located, Big Daddy’s website gives you directions from several places west of the restaurant, but on a beautiful weather day on a Sunday afternoon (or any day of the week), I would not hesitate to invite people from as far away as the panhandle of Florida to make a point to experience this at least once. You’ll probably be coming back once you see how relaxing and enjoyable it is. What I really recommend is that you call 251-990-8555 with any questions. Restaurants change their schedules when, for instance, no one turns out for breakfast.

We arrived at Big Daddy's as The Budz were setting up to play. Their first song was James Taylor's Fire and Rain. I told ‘em they couldn’t play too many JT songs.

The place was covered up with customers, but I did notice a few empty tables inside. We would have preferred outdoor seating in the shade – and discovered we weren't the only ones with that idea. We were prepared to enjoy the food, drink and live music, and felt lucky to find two stools together at the bar facing the Fish River, where we shared a Double Combo Basket catfish-shrimp basket with french fries, fried onions rings, hush puppies and coleslaw. Both of us had plenty to eat. Their portion sizes were so large that we even left a little. Miller High Life was our beer of choice at only $1.50. I noticed that Pabst Blue Ribbon was $1.50 also. It looked like the rest of the domestic beers were $2.50 and the imports were $3.00. They also served wine. I didn’t get the idea they served mixed drinks, but then those never interest me. Their soft drinks and such are $1.75 with free refills, and what will knock your socks off is the 50¢ coffee!

Attention: Carnival Cruising Buddies

Big Daddy's serves a dessert called Lava Cake. I think it's similar to the Chocolate Melting Cake we had on the Holiday and Fantasy.

The most boats I ever counted pulled up to the boat ramp at the back of the restaurant were 10, and that included a yellow kayak on the ramp itself.

Big Daddy’s also has live music on Saturday evenings. Don’t be totally disappointed like we were on our first try on a Monday. That’s the one day of the week when the restaurant is closed.

We weren’t through enjoying ourselves because we always like to stop by the Magnolia River Bar & Grill in Magnolia Springs on Sunday afternoons to hear Denny Grisham and Billy Pelletier do their unique version of karaoke. I call it KARAOKE PLUS. You’ll really have to see and hear it for yourselves.

The smiling ape on its ornamental Tiki Bar describes perfectly how I feel about this place. Remember Cheers on TV? Everybody (just about) knows your name at MRBG. Toby Keith's I Love This Bar also comes to mind.

Check out today's photos on flickr:
Mother’s Day of 2010

Weeks Bay Area River Cleanup

2010-05-08T14:00:00.029-05:00

WHEN? Saturday · May 8

WHERE? Fairhope, Alabama · find us on the map

estuary: A semi-enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries are often associated with high rates of biological productivity.

Because Wendell volunteers on Tuesday mornings at Weeks Bay Reserve, we decided to help with with the annual Weeks Bay Area River Cleanup, which involves cleaning up trash that may get into the rivers that feed into Weeks Bay.

While doing this and even afterwards we wondered if it is possible the exertion and endurance required to help in the cleanup may have approached being too strenuous for our "do-gooder" activities. A small group of people showed up for the cleanup at 8:00 A.M. at Weeks Bay Marina (old Lulu's location). Our assigned spots to pick up stinking trash were Manatee Point (east side of Fish River), Weeks Bay Pitcher Plant Bog, and around and under the Roy Spivey Bridge near Kelsey's on Hwy. 98. The payoff was a free lunch at Weeks Bay Foundation on the north side of Hwy 98 just past the Fish River Bridge on the west side.

We already knew that the roads in this area have lots of trash on them, but we were certainly surprised with how much actual BIG junk winds up in these places. One group even had to call and say they didn't have enough room in their vehicle for all the trash they found such as tires — not just parts of tire treads.

Weeks Bay Area River Cleanup photos on Flickr

The plus side of this activity was that we now know where to get sacks to put such trash in and a place to bring them and even where to get the proper gloves to do this. God knows there's plenty of trash waiting to be picked up all over our area including County Road 9 and Highway 98. We can see some reasons for some of the trash along the highways and byways, but it is sad to realise that people who drive along them do mess with Alabama. Maybe this state needs lots of signs like Texas does. Just a thought.

First-time lunch at Fish River Grill #2

2010-04-29T15:47:00.016-05:00

WHEN? Thursday · April 29

WHERE? Foley, Alabama · find us on the map

You'll note their little sign reads Kiss the Cook. Instead, I hugged one of their cooks who just went to work there.

We had heard good things about the original location of Fish River Grill at 8272 County Road 32, and then we began to hear about another location at 8272 Highway 59. We checked out the second location on Highway 59 today.

Word seems to have spread that it's a good place to eat, and they were very busy.

Some of the specialties shown on their Facebook are SWAMP BURGER AND SWAMP SOUP and the BEST GOLDEN FRIED CATFISH ALL-U-CAN-EAT EVERYDAY. Also they have Seafood (WD had the fried shrimp) and PoBoys, BIG burgers and ALABAMA Chicken Melt. They also mention they have a FULL BAR AT FOLEY #2. All of us enjoyed the Swamp Soup. I thought their French fries were good with my fried catfish sandwich (it may have been called a PoBoy).

You might want to check our their Facebook page at:

Fish River Grill on Facebook

Another visit to Stacey's Rexall

2010-04-28T14:00:00.016-05:00

WHEN? Wednesday · April 28

WHERE? Foley, Alabama · find us on the map

Click on the photo above to see why we went to Stacey's today while we had visitors. It's a good place for lunch, and the Key Lime Shakes topped the meal off nicely. The photos taken today are included with our previous photos at Stacey's. You can view them on Flickr at:

Stacey's Rexall Drugs and Olde Tyme Soda Fountain

Beach & LuLu'S

2010-04-27T18:00:00.020-05:00

WHEN? Tuesday · April 27

WHERE? Gulf Shores, Alabama · find us on the map

We needed to go to the beach today while the weather was good and before Jerry left for Montgomery, Alabama to look up old friends and Air Force historical information. It turned out to be cooler than we would like, but we didn't have to share Gulf State Park with many people.

We stopped at LuLu’S on our way back for a couple of appetizers to curb our appetite until we had a real meal at home.

To see a few photos from our day's activities, visit:

2010-04-27 Hatfield's Visit

USS Alabama Battleship Park

2010-04-25T18:00:00.013-05:00

WHEN? Sunday · April 25

WHERE? Mobile Bay · find us on the map

Today's day trip occurred after Ella and I went to worship at Marlow UMC located four miles from our place on County Road 9. We stopped briefly to try our hand again at getting a better photo of the Malbis Greek Orthodox Church and went to a Mexican Restaurant for lunch before going over to Battleship Park beside Mobile Bay.

This is a very exercise intensive activity involving going up and down steep stairs and lots of walking. The women only made it to the deck of the submarine, so we only have a couple of photos to share on that part. You'll get some idea why we were "tuckered out" as you'll notice in our anchor photo (above) as we left the park to return home for some well-deserved R&R.

To view today's photos, go to:: 2010-04-25 of Hatfield's Visit

A very full day

2010-04-23T17:00:00.013-05:00

WHEN? Friday · April 23

WHERE? Bellingrath Gardens and Home · Theodore, Alabama

Since the Fairhope Pier was on our way to Bellingrath, we made a stop there and took a few photos and walked out to the end of the pier and back to get loosened up for all the walking at the gardens.

We knew we were missing the display of azaleas, which had already passed. You can read about this in an April 10, 2010, article by Bill Finch at Azlaeas of Bellingrath; Gardens welcomes city’s famed blooms

BUT, there was plenty to look at and take photos of, which also included lots of walking. We thought we were never going to find the the Japanese Garden, which is now called the Oriental-American Garden, but we finally found it. Once we were in it, we began to think we were being held captive and would never get out of it. Finally we exited at the entrance where we came in. By that time, we were "Bellingrathed out" and hungry. The Magnolia Cafe near the garden entrance was in the process of closing by the time we got there, but they still had tuna salad and chicken salad sandwiches, which our appetites were more than prepared for.

Wendell pulled a fast one on us as we left there, and we returned a different way. Boy, was it a different way. He figured out a way to get to Dauphin Island and take the ferry from there back to the Mobile area on the other side of Mobile Bay.

You will not believe how many photos we took as well as two videos, which you can view at:: 2010-04-23 Hatfield's Visit

Do you know about this art form?

2010-04-21T09:07:00.012-05:00

click on the image to see it better

WHEN? Anytime

WHERE? Republic of Panama

I'll give you a second or two to check your brain cells to see if you've ever seen one of these somewhere.

I am wondering how much these sell for nowadays. Also, do you know where you can buy some of these if you travel there on vacation?

It seems like I heard of someone who collected enough of these that they made a bedspread out of them. I'm sure I would love that because I love the bright colors.

Enough questions. Here's a Wikipedia article for you to read about the history of the art form.

Mola (art form).

We have not visited Panama, but we could have and in hindsight should have.

A picture...

2010-04-18T11:58:00.013-05:00

A picture is worth a thousand words and it's possible a video is even better (see the side bar).

This three point sermon is missing at least one more part:

Stop in Ocean Springs

2010-04-09T10:44:00.024-05:00

WHEN? Thursday · April 8

WHERE? Ocean Springs, Mississippi · (On Biloxi Bay)

On our return trip from Jackson to Lower Alabama, we were treated to a unique lunch along the way. Not only did we discover an interesting place to eat, but it's at a location that has many nearby attractions.

If you'll look at our Flickr photo album on this stop in detail, you can begin to realize what a vacation stop this is, whether you're an RVer or a regular traveler. We are always talking up how much better it is to be in a restful setting while on vacation rather than being in an urban motel, and this one can fill the bill for a more restful spot where one can relax while enjoying some typical attractions that will entertain all ages.

Check it out on flickr:
The Shed - Camp Journey's End in Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Spring Break

2010-04-07T07:10:00.031-05:00

WHEN? Tuesday · April 6

WHERE? Jackson, Mississippi · find us on the map

We love the new route we take from Lower Alabama to Jackson now. There is a place in the Biloxi-Gulfport area of Mississippi, where we get off of Interstate-10 to Interstate-110 and get on Highways 15/67 that is a much better place to part company with the interstate than continue to Highway 49 in Gulfport. This is a fairly new stretch of Highway and eventually this allows access to Highway 49 further along in the trip, Hattiesburg can be bypassed, and the trip seems shorter. It may possibly be a safer way to travel on to Jackson as well. Landmarks along this new part are St. Patrick Catholic High School and the Tradition campus of William Carey University.

We're kidding about spring break even though some of the schools are taking this week as Spring Break. This trip was actually a TCB* trip for an eye appointment, but we did take the opportunity to visit with some friends. This may not include many photos, but such as they are, you can view them at Spring 2010 and come back later to see more because our Spring Break will continue on indefinitely — because we are, after all, The Perpetual Vacationers.
_____________________
*Taking Care of Business

Redneck Riviera Knows How To Celebrate

2010-03-21T12:01:00.021-05:00

WHEN? Wednesday & Saturday · March 17 & 20

WHERE? South Baldwin County, Alabama · find us on the map

The Redneck Riviera is like nowhere else we have ever been. For outsiders, it takes a period of adjustment to get into the partying and celebration at the drop of a hat.

To clue you in on the tag that has been put on this area, we refer you to this Wikipedia entry on the area: Emerald Coast

Not sure why, but the above article seems to forget a part of the Gulf Coast definitely included in the special area referred to as the Redneck Riviera.

Wise words from Tom T. Hall:
Gulf Shores up through Apalachicola
They got beaches of the whitest sand
Nobody cares if gramma's got a tattoo
Or Bubba's got a hot wing in his hand
Redneck Riviera
1996

On the Redneck Riviera, almost anything is a cause for celebration, so St. Patrick's Day certainly does not get by without some celebrations. There's even something called the Pub Crawl. Pub Crawls, in general, did not originate on the Redneck Riviera of Lower Alabama, but this video proves they thought it was a good idea.

This certainly wasn't our first time to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. The first time I recall hadn't been planned – I left work in downtown Jackson, Mississippi to discover that the first Mal's St. Paddy's Day Parade was in progress in 1982.

The theme for yesterday's 2010 St. Paddy's Parade in Jackson was from Kermit the Frog and Jim Henson. Henson was born in Leland, Mississippi. It took place on Saturday, March 20. The parade features the Sweet Potato Queens and their annual ball. Here are parade clips from several Jackson TV stations.

Back to Lower Alabama, our version of the pub crawl was two bars – one in Foley and one in Magnolia Springs. You can see our photos and video on Flickr at Watering Holes.

Waterfalls

2010-03-15T15:13:00.016-05:00

WHEN? Anytime

WHERE? Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Over the years we have enjoyed searching for waterfalls while on vacation. This photo is one located in Australia, and we found on Webshots:

by surfthenet on Webshots

Photographer's comments:

"These beautiful falls are not named, or signed. Was an accident that I even found them, getting lost is a wonderful way to find somewhere you haven't been. At the base of Mount Wellington, Hobart, I'm sure someone knows where these are. I think the stream came from the mountain, snow melt or rain. Beautiful and fresh, and quite cool. — Hobart, Tasmania, Australia"

We particularly had a good time searching for waterfalls in Georgia a number of years ago (possibly 15 or more) along with two other couples who were great company. We miss 'em terribly, but still stay in touch.

Although I haven't been to Australia, I know several people who have, and even have a souvenir from there:

Koala Book Marker on flickr

Second Anniversary

2010-03-11T16:20:00.009-06:00

WHEN? Thursday · March 11

WHERE? Foley, Alabama · find us on the map

Let's have a drum roll and a marching band! Today marks two years we've been living in Alabama.

If you've got a young child, you can rip out today's post and let 'em color it! I double dog dare you to. Make a contest outa it and see if they can finish coloring it before the video below finishes.

This Kool & The Gang music video performing Celebration (C) 1980 The Island Def Jam Music Group is exactly what popped in my head when I realized this was the two year mark.

Ah ~ Hawaii

2010-03-11T10:00:00.031-06:00

WHEN? Anytime

WHERE? Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

We have not visited Hawaii, but we'd like to help you enjoy armchair travel to Hawaii via this blog post. Probably some of my preconceived ideas about what the islands are like came from a book I read a long time ago — Hawaii, a novel by James Michener.

This humorous video was provided by YouTube user jacksonescapee and appears to be taken at the same location as his photo above:

The longer jacksonescapee stays in Hawaii, the more eye-opening videos he's posted. He has a couple of videos by a Blue Grass group. I recommend visiting both of his YouTube Channels:

The following video possibly shows you a view of Hawaii many of its visitors don't see:

Here's another number by the same group:: The Shadow of Your Smile at Casablanca

What a neat way to armchair travel!

Today's Vacation

2010-01-29T15:00:00.039-06:00

WHEN? Friday · January 29

WHERE? Mobile & Baldwin Counties · Alabama

After this morning's VA appointment in Mobile, we paid a second visit to The Museum of Mobile to take a few pictures we missed on our first visit. We've combined the photos from both visits, and there's even a couple of short videos:

The Museum of Mobile - 2 visits
on flickr

While in Mobile, it was interesting to see how SO PREPARED Mobile is for their many Mardi Gras Parades. Mobile had the first 2010 Mardi Gras parade on January 16, the day we left on the Caribbean cruise, another one on January 23, and another will be held tonight. Thirty-seven more are scheduled before the parades are over for 2010.

We also took the opportunity to swing by the USS Alabama Battleship and get our photos at the anchor, which is a family tradition going way back. It was not a good day for pictures, but we took a few anyway, which you can see on Flickr at Battleship USS Alabama.

Market by the Bay · Photo credit Traveling Shoes

We had an early lunch at Market by the Bay in Fairhope (365 South Greeno Road, 251/929-7203), which has quickly become one of our favorite restaurants in this town. Although they don't appear to have a website, word-of-mouth has evidently worked for them. We both think they have the biggest fried shrimp and oysters we've ever eaten in any restaurant. That just may be why they always seem to have plenty of customers.

Filipino Inmates Learn Dance

2010-01-26T04:24:00.036-06:00

WHEN? Tuesday · January 26

WHERE? The Philippines in Southeast Asia

Here's the first thing we saw this morning on Yahoo:

Michael Jackson's Choreographer Teaches
Dancing Filipino Prisoners 'This Is It' Routine

This reminded us that we did not share with you some of the good activities we enjoyed on the Carnival Fantasy Fun Ship on our recent cruise. One of the things we never miss on these cruises are their evening shows in the main theater. They have a group of performers that are very entertaining. Our favorite shows were nonstop dancing and singing. The last one was a tribute to The Beatles. These were young people. They had to be to perform the way they did. About the time we thought they would surely slow the pace because of exhaustion, they'd crank it up again.

Let me put up a disclaimer for the other vacationer associated with this travel blog. This probably would not interest him in the least. He may not have a box in his brain to even cover this subject. However, he does enjoy shows like the ones we saw on the Fantasy. We are moving into our Netflix mood again now that some of the TV sports we watch are about to wind down for awhile. We need some recommendations for music and documentary videos to watch. If you've seen any really good movies, those would interest us as well. Forget the action movies, we're interested in stuff like Forrest Gump and Driving Miss Daisy.

Here's those videos that came with the Yahoo article:

Back from the Caribbean Cruise

2010-01-21T03:15:00.007-06:00

Celebrating our 51st wedding anniversary — no tea party for us! We liked cruising with our new Alabama friends so much last year, we decided to do it again.

We were on the Carnival Fantasy cruise ship when it departed from Mobile on January 16, but it did not leave at 4 P.M. as scheduled. I think it actually started moving out of Mobile Bay something like 9 P.M. Fog was the problem and other bad weather. Some people reported they saw the Dauphin Island and Fort Morgan area way after midnight. By the time we all got on the ship, we were all so exhausted from endless waiting, very little enjoyment was part of Saturday. But things improved considerably on Sunday.

The original itinerary of this cruise was altered so that both Sunday and Monday were fun days at sea and the port of call of Progreso, was eliminated altogether. We did go ashore in Cozumel, Mexico on Tuesday. Wednesday was another fun day at sea, and we arrived in Mobile on Thursday later than expected — arriving back in Magnolia Springs about mid-afternoon.

We have posted 248 photos and a video of the cruise at Western Caribbean Cruise 2010 on Webshots. If anyone objects to their photo being there, just let me know and it will be promptly removed.

In Cozumel

2010-01-19T06:00:00.014-06:00

Carnival Fantasy · afagen

We are in Cozumel today.

Thanks to Adam on Flickr, we have this beautiful photo of the Carnival Fantasy in Cozumel. As soon as I can get to it, we'll put up some photos of the cruise. I am leaning toward "raw" photos without any improvements on them with edit by Adobe Photoshop because so many photos have already been taken. I plan to put them up by days on my Flickr at 2010 Western Caribbean Cruise.

Puerto Progreso, Yucatán

2010-01-18T03:00:00.006-06:00

Puerto Progreso, Yucatán · Monomakhos

This looks like the four-mile-long pier at Progreso. This port of call was eliminated from the cruise because of bad weather, so we did not get to see the pier or any of Progreso.

Slideshow 'Anna Kostenko Painting+1'

2010-01-04T07:36:00.026-06:00

WHEN? Probably never except by armchair

WHERE? Possibly France, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Spain, etc...

An email correspondent sent me a powerpoint slide show attached to an email. The email claimed the images were paintings instead of photographs. I have serious doubts about the images being paintings instead of photographs. In spite of this, I feel there is the opportunity to see some beautiful images. The second slide describes the artist thusly:

Anna Kostenko was born in 1975 in Kiev, Ukraine, and lived and worked in Kraków (aka Cracow), Poland since 1991. She graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, where she studied painting from 1993 to 1998. She has had three exhibitions of works of art in Jorgensen and created many beautiful paintings since its release in 1999. Her fascination with different cultures has led to extensive travels that inspired her work, which has been shown in many countries, including Poland, France, Germany, Ireland and Spain.

I invite you to look at this slide show as armchair travel even though I am convinced it is a hoax of sorts. You might even try to guess what the images depict and make up your own mind on whether the artist described could have possibly created this many paintings in her short life of 35 years. I think someone is really having fun with us on this one as in LOL!

Anna-kostenko_Painting 1

See more presentations by vfreire

Apparently there is an Anna Kostenko who is an artist and painted a painting found at Anna Kostenko Artist - Anna Kostenko Paintings.

2010

2010-01-01T06:00:00.001-06:00

(see animated version of above photo)

Another fresh new year is here ...
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!

– William Arthur Ward

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T06:00:00.003-06:00

Click on the image above
to see this Christmas message.

What's a pangolin?

2009-12-20T05:01:00.024-06:00

WHEN? Probably never except by armchair

WHERE? Borneo rainforest

The first thing I saw today when I turned on the computer was a Yahoo News article about pangolins. I had never heard of such an animal. My curiosity led me to several websites, but the one I just had to share with you was a excellent video of a Malayan or Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) in a Borneo rainforest. With a little imagination, you can pretend you are right there in the rainforest.

There is another video on YouTube from National Geographic you may want to view entitled What in the World is a Pangolin?.

You also might need some help, as I did, on where Borneo is. Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of Maritime Southeast Asia. Borneo is surrounded by the South China Sea to the north and northwest, the Sulu Sea to the northeast, the Celebes Sea and the Makassar Strait to the east and the Java Sea and Karimata Strait to the south. The island of Borneo is divided administratively into 3 parts, the only island in the world that is a recognized part of 3 countries:

The Indonesian provinces of East, South, West and Central Kalimantan
The Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak (the Federal Territory of Labuan is located on nearshore islands of Borneo, but not on the island of Borneo itself)
The independent country of Brunei (main part and eastern exclave of Temburong)

I found the above information at Borneo in Wikipedia.

Dolphins at Weeks Bay

2009-12-15T05:43:00.017-06:00

WHEN? Tuesday · December 15

WHERE? Fairhope, Alabama · find us on the map

Photo credit: ManyFreeWallpapers

estuary: A semi-enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries are often associated with high rates of biological productivity.

While Wendell was volunteering today at Weeks Bay Reserve, an employee remarked that he had seen dolphins jumping out of the water in Weeks Bay for the first time ever. Naturally, my first question was, "Did he get any photos?" Apparently not.

Wendell and I had wondered if the heavy rains we had had recently could be the cause of this different behavior at Weeks Bay, so I sent an email to the manager at Weeks Bay asking him if he had any idea why this unusual Dolphin behavior happened? He replied that he did not know any reasons that would directly cause the dolphins' behavior. He went on to add: "Jumping for a dolphin is common — we just haven’t seen this behavior in Weeks Bay."

I have seen dolphins in the Gulf and even in Weeks Bay traveling one behind the other the way they normally do, but I would be very excited to see them jumping like they are doing in the video below.

Going on a road trip

2009-11-30T12:30:00.028-06:00

WHEN? Anytime

WHERE? Near Colorado Springs, Colorado

We have traveled in Colorado, but that was back in 2005 before we began this blog, and we're not sure why we haven't traveled to this well-known destination in person because it's right here in America. In fact, Wendell took his basic training in the Army near this location that can be seen from Denver, Colorado on a clear day. They call it America’s Mountain. You had probably already guessed it was Pikes Peak, hadn't you?

Now, all you need to do is click on O Beautiful and start the video for your armchair ride to the top of the mountain.

After you've done that, you might want to refresh your memory of the words written by Katharine Lee Bates.

America the Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!

America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassion'd stress
A thorough fare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness.

America! America!
God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for heroes prov'd
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life.

America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev'ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears.

America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.

This version of the song does not include all the verses, but I sure do like it:: Ray Charles does America the Beautiful

Elk Crossing

2009-11-27T12:26:00.010-06:00

WHEN? Nov 27 -- not in person - by armchair

WHERE? Drake, Colorado

We're still waiting for a good sighting in person of either an elk or a moose. Until then, this will do just fine. Notice how a few of the elk slip because it's an icy spot.

Brent Burns at LuLuS

2009-11-16T21:00:00.004-06:00

WHEN? Monday · November 16

WHERE? Gulf Shores, Alabama · find us on the map

VENUE? LuLu'S at Homeport Marina

Not long ago, we were sitting around a fire at Driftwood RV Park when a discussion about going to LuLu's to see Brent Burns came about because of some recent RVers who were staying there. We had been meaning to see him perform ever since we came down in January of 2008, so we decided to join them on November 9th, but Tropical Storm Ida caused us to postpone seeing him. This evening, we finally did get to gather at LuLu's for an enjoyable evening of entertainment.

This was our second visit. We posted about the first one on February 2 at LuLuS.

The owners of the RV park and five of their residents sat at a table close to the stage and we sat at the bar. Brent Burns sounds just like his many recordings, available on seven CDs. I believe it was the Alabama or Gulf Coast tourism people who provided us with three of his songs along with their literature. So we were already familiar with Livin' the Life, Perpetual Vacation and Down in Paradise.

Brent Burns is a well-known singer-songwriter who received the 2008 Trop Rock Music Award for Entertainer Of The Year. You'll likely find his biography interesting reading.

By visiting Brent's website, we learned a lot about him, including the fact that he is a newlywed, having married in October.

You can check out our photos on Flickr by clicking on Brent Burns at LuLu’S.

Got in on a First

2009-11-14T17:58:00.036-06:00

WHEN? Saturday · November 14

WHERE? Bon Secour, Alabama

We arrived at the 1st Annual Bon Secour Oyster and Wine Festival in the mood to party and were not disappointed! Along with the afternoon's gorgeous weather, here's just some of what we were treated to -- and for only $10 a person.

All the oysters, wine and beer we wanted.
Live music, including local bands Smokey and the Iguanas and The Buds, who played from a flatbed truck trailer.
One of the booths we visited was Shucker's Oyster Bar at the Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama. We were familiar with them because Shucker's also has a location on Ross Barnett Reservoir just outside of Jackson, Mississippi. Wendell was pleased to see that their chef was wearing a Mississippi State cap like he was. Their oysters were very good!

We haven't yet learned the results of the oyster competition that was to give a Grand Prize of $1,000 and a People’s Choice award of $500. Spearheaded and organized by the Wine Liberation Society and The Tin Top Restaurant and Oyster Bar, this festival is expected to be an annual event from here on out. We saw a number of friends while we were there, and since festival news travels fast around here, chances are good we'll see lots more next year.

Off The Pavement

2009-10-24T12:49:00.026-05:00

WHEN? Any Day

WHERE? Loveland, Colorado

In our travels, we have never seemed to have as much time as we would like to see all an area offers. Seems like the first time I was in Colorado, I was working in at a bridge tournament in the 70s, and I hardly saw anything except a high rise hotel in downtown Denver. Later, in 2005, we saw some of Colorado while on a month-long trip in our travel trailer that took us to several western states, but we never did make it as far north as Loveland.

Have you ever wished you could see wild animals in their habitat without them seeing you? Now's your chance, and you don't even have to leave your armchair.

Recently, a very cute video was received attached to an email. It was of an elk calf playing in the water in an elk wallow in Colorado. It turns out there are many more wildlife videos from cams placed there by David Neils which are ample proof that the wildlife seems to be plentiful in Colorado. Mr. Neils told me that the elk calf video contained no sound because a squirrel or some other animal pulled the microphone cable out of his camera box.

There's ever so much to see at David Neils - Photographer. He has revised his website to allow his videos to be more easily viewed. This elk calf video is now easy to find there, so I have removed the unauthorized YouTube video I had on this post. On the photography website, you'll note his videos show up the fourth image to the right very near the top. ENJOY!

It is very strange what attention this video has received by YouTube users. Maybe it is correct to say it has gone "viral."

I just checked YouTube, and there are about nine or ten users who still have this video up, but probably none of them have Photographer David Neils' permission to have them up. This is what You Tube offered when I search for Elk Calf.

There's no need to go to YouTube, however, because you can actually see the video at Off The Pavement - David Neils' website.

Live Music at MRBG

2009-10-11T13:00:00.015-05:00

WHEN? Sunday, October 11

WHERE? Magnolia Springs, Alabama · find us on the map

When we first came down to Alabama in January of 2008, live music was playing on Sunday afternoons at the Magnolia River Bar & Grill. Now it's back. This time Billy Pelletier is singing and playing his guitar, and it's combined with karaoke for a fun time.

When I saw this little monkey, it immediately brought to mind Toby Keith's popular song, "I Love This Bar," which in many ways describes this bar.

Shrimp Festival 2009

2009-10-08T23:59:00.012-05:00

WHEN? Thursday - Sunday · October 8-11

WHERE? Gulf Shores, Alabama · find us on the map

WHY? 38th Annual National Shrimp Festival

We did our level best to make it to the first day of the festival because we knew a musical group that were performing at 11:45 AM on one of the music stages. It turned out we did not make it by that time and SugarCane Jane was performing on the stage on the east end. What huge crowds were there already around noon as we rushed through them to get to the stage that was near the Pink Pony.

We were able to hear them for as long as we could stand -- literally STAND, and it was quite warm, even in the shade by the PA control tent. While we were standing there and listening, Top Hat came by and told the person working there that he was making them sound good, and he was right. They captured the attention of many of the festival attendees with their close-blended harmony and the musicianship of Anthony Crawford. Before we just had to leave, Savana Lee sang a solo of an Alison Kraus song. Also, they had sung several of their songs as well. Their new album had not arrived for distribution, but they were almost certain it would be in for their performance on Sunday at the festival.

We stopped at Doc's food booth for some fried shrimp, and hung around in shaded areas until we had both consumed every bite, having not had anything to eat since an early breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express in Jackson, Mississippi, that same day.

To see some of the festival's entertainers and a couple of Hooters Girls on Flickr, visit National Shrimp Festival of 2009.

TCB

2009-10-06T06:00:00.014-05:00

WHEN? Tuesday · October 6

WHERE? Jackson, Mississippi · find us on the map

No, we didn't go all the way to Graceland in Memphis, and we weren't buying flashy jewelry like Elvis wore. We were simply taking care of eye exams long overdue. We have a preferred doctor in Jackson we just can't let go of.

While we were in Jackson, we took the opportunity to look up some friends. This may not include many photos, but such as they are, you can view them at Fall in Mississippi.

Good Combo

2009-09-27T19:36:00.008-05:00

WHEN? Sunday, September 27

WHERE? Alabama's Gulf Coast · find us on the map

Okay, we have put on a few pounds since many of you have seen us. That's because we love to eat and there's plenty of opportunities to do it on the Coast. We are thinking of writing a song entitled "I've gotta lose weight and I sure do dread it" because we've stuffed in lots of good eatin' while we have been here in LA.

Big Daddy's Grill on the Fish River in Fairhope, is in our neighborhood anyway, so it's sort of silly to say we traveled there, but one of the reasons we do travel there as often as we do is it has it all, particularly on a beautiful day like today.

Picture this. Not only is the atmosphere great in the outdoors with good food, there's live musical entertainment to round it out.

Today, the entertainment (besides the dogs and happy people) was a couple of very talented performers who bill themselves as Sugarcane Jane. Here's a video of them doing one of their songs from their upcoming album, which we heard them do live this afternoon.

A hero laid to rest

2009-08-27T22:00:00.017-05:00

WHEN? Thursday · August 27

WHERE? Olive Branch, Mississippi · find us on the map

Some unique experiences were part of a WWII veteran's funeral we recently attended. At the close of the service, our funeral procession traveled nearly 20 miles along a busy interstate to historic Elmwood Cemetery in Midtown Memphis. As each vehicle crossed the quaint stone bridge leading into the cemetery, the daredevil Memphis motorcycle officers who had escorted us stood at attention on either side and saluted until the last car had passed. Unexpected and touching.

I would have been very disappointed had not the video turned out as Taps was played at the cemetery. Since some of the deceased's large family were unable to attend, it was one of many photos and videos taken at Elmwood to share with them.

Day is done, Gone the sun,
From the lakes · From the hills · From the sky,
All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh

Fading light dims the sight,
And a star · Gems the sky · Gleaming bright,
From afar, drawing nigh, falls the night

Thanks and praise for our days,
Neath the sun · Neath the stars · Neath the sky,
As we go, this we know: God is nigh

Magnolia River Bar & Grill

2009-08-11T22:00:00.001-05:00

WHEN? Tuesday, August 11

WHERE? Magnolia Springs, Alabama · find us on the map

We had a very pleasant surprise today. We were served a free sample of gumbo that was the best gumbo I had ever eaten. Unfortunately, the recipe is not available. All I can tell you is that some of the ingredients include shrimp or chicken, wonderfully cooked rice, some hot sauce, and bay leaf.

This place is right on Highway 98 in Magnolia Springs, about half way in between Fairhope and Foley. Keep your eyes open for their sign. It's just one more good place to visit with friends with a cool one or to stuff yourself with some more Gulf Coast cuisine. You might even be talking to the person next to you and get a tip on a place to settle down in LA.☺

Remembering our friend Al

2009-08-08T21:00:00.013-05:00

WHEN? Saturday · August 8

WHERE? Kelseys in Foley, Alabama · find us on the map

It wasn't that long ago, on May 6th, that we celebrated Al's 80th birthday at Kelseys. An even larger crowd gathered on Saturday, August 8th, to remember our friend Al.

Finger foods were served, and the bar was packed with those who had known Al a long time, along with others who had known him for a short while (yours truly).

Wayne Fuller played the guitar and sang Marshall Tucker Band's Can’t You See. Someone at Kelseys was actually recording a video of Wayne's performance. Here’s an early 70’s live version of this classic:

Al's friend Bob Arness composed a poem for the occasion:
Here’s to our buddy, here’s to our pal
It’s hard to believe, but his name is Al
Some words of wisdom, advice to follow
It may not be easy, just learn to swallow.
Al could be hard to take, a pain in your side
Just shake it all off, take it in stride
He was one of a kind, a real piece of art
Most of the time just a grumpy old fart.
We’re all here, you may wonder why
We’re just here to say good-bye.

Al, you are missed.

Slovenian group

2009-08-06T11:49:00.017-05:00

WHEN? Anytime

WHERE? The Internet

WHAT? Perpetuum Jazzile - Vokalna Ekstaza

I have an email correspondent from Slovenia, so I asked him about this group. He responded:: Oh, Perpetuum Jazzile is a group of professional Slovenian singers, many of them have a solo career. They're really good. They sing "a capella" (no instruments, everything is simulated with human voices), mostly adaptations of Slovenian songs, but some foreign songs as well. If they ever come to USA, don't miss them! ;-)
My wife and I were on a concert last fall, where Africa was performed for the first time (this is where YouTube recording is from) and it was fantastic (it's completely different hearing it live in a huge concert hall than now on YouTube, although it's still great).
Best regards, Kristof

Maybe you have seen the rainstorm part of this before but maybe not the choir doing Toto's Africa. Very entertaining. By all means, listen to the first part of this video of the rainstorm.

The beginning of this video is really striking. Group members simulate an African thunderstorm with their hands, then they sing. It's really something to see and hear.

Africa by Perpetuum Jazzile is performed live at Vokal Xtravaganzza 2008 (October 2008) - arranger Tomaž Kozlevčar.

The thunderstorm simulation effects were inspired by Kearsney choir (South Africa).

MSU Bulldog Bash

2009-08-02T21:00:00.009-05:00

WHEN? Sunday · August 2

WHERE? Gulf Breeze, Florida · find us on the map

We took another trip over to Florida in the Pensacola area. This time it was for (are you ready for this?) the MSU Bulldog Beach Bash & Send-off Party. Alumni and friends, incoming MSU students, and prospective students and parents were invited. Lots of work went into planning this event by members of the Northwest Florida Chapter of the Mississippi State University Alumni Association, and it was really good to get together with Mississippi State fans. The college football season is just about here!

Our photos from this event were taken by Wendell, and they are located here.

Old Fashioned and Delicious

2009-07-31T20:00:00.005-05:00

WHEN? Friday · July 31

WHERE? Foley, Alabama · find us on the map

Established in 1929, Stacey's Rexall Drugs and Olde Tyme Soda Fountain is the oldest drugstore in Baldwin County. This café was featured in the Pelican's May 1, 2009 issue. The article was displayed near the table where we ate our ice cream.

Wendell had butter pecan -
I had a hot fudge sundae

Let me backtrack. The first time I went into this drugstore from the Fifties, I was trying to find some place to buy some cosmetics. They didn't have any. What they do have is a place that has some good ice cream and even a menu with foods listed that you might have expected to order in an old fashioned soda fountain.

We only snapped a few photos while we were enjoying our ice cream. You can view them on Flickr at Stacey's Rexall Drugs and Olde Tyme Soda Fountain.

Brockles in Dallas

2009-07-29T16:00:00.023-05:00

WHEN? Late 50's & early 60's

WHERE? Dallas, Texas · find us on the map

Just the name of this blog, The Perpetual Vacationers, leads one to believe that it's about places we have been and things we have seen. Please forgive me for using a poet’s license to include a trip into the past. Not one about where we went or what we saw, but about something we ate.

Back in the late 50's and early 60's when we lived in the Dallas area, there was a restaurant on Ervay Street, just off downtown, named Brockles Restaurant. It opened in 1929 under the name of Brockles' Club Cafe. Andrew Brockles, Sr., went into the restaurant business in 1919. In the Brockles Restaurant on Ervay, they made and served a special dressing on their salads. The salads were nothing more than a quarter of a head of iceberg lettuce covered with this special dressing. There was also a bottle of the dressing on each table and an ample supply of saltines to nibble on until the food was served. The dressing was so good, and in such demand that they started selling it in some of the grocery stores in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Actually, their special dressing began being produced and sold commercially in 1942.

The first time I ever tasted the dressing was at the Texas State Fair. They had a booth there, and were passing out crackers with this special dressing spread on it. It was Soooo Gooood! Needless to say our house was never without Brockles Special Dressing as long as we lived in Texas. My job, however, took us other places and the dressing was not to be found.

I admit that I thought about the dressing from time to time, but after three or four decades, I had about forgotten about it. Luckily, Mae Dean had not. You see, she had worked with a lady who’s father-in-law was either the owner or one of the owners of the business, and had thought about them from time to time. Eight or ten days ago she made an internet search to see it she might find something about the restaurant and it’s dressing and got a BIG HIT. A member of the Brockles family had a web site on The Brockles Family, Brockles Restaurant and Special Dressing. Not only that, but since neither the restaurant nor the dressing business are still around the whole Brockles family agreed to include the recipe for that great tasting Special Dressing on their web site.

BROCKLE’S SPECIAL DRESSING

1 Pint Jar of Mayonnaise (16 oz)
4 Tablespoons Sweet Pickle Relish, drained
2 Teaspoons Paprika
1½ Ounce Blue Cheese, crumbled
1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder

Place Mayonnaise in a mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients one at a time stirring to mix after each item is added. Continue stirring by hand until it is an even color and texture. Place sauce back into the mayonnaise jar that has been washed. Refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours before using.

Note: There should be a little left after filling the jar. Just spread on a saltine and enjoy your effort. This sauce is good as a salad dressing or just eaten on a saltine cracker.

I made my first batch today. I can assure you that our house will never be without Brockles Special Dressing again.

~ Wendell Smith

Second Visit to Pensacola Air Show

2009-07-11T21:00:00.020-05:00

WHEN? Saturday · July 11

WHERE? Pensacola Beach, Florida · find us on the map

The photo at the top of this blog post came from the Pensacola Beach Website. We were way too far away to get a photo like this. This photo must have been made from the air anyway. We weren't in the air.

Organizers of the annual Pensacola Beach Air Show have had many years of experience and definitely know how to plan for a crowd, and a crowd of folks coming by foot, boat and various kinds of motor vehicles was there. The traffic jam was not what we expected and we even considered just going back home, but we drove all the way to Navarre and picked up some snacks and headed back where we came from until we found a place to park and access the far eastern side of Pensacola Beach. One of the requirements for where we parked was that it have at least one portapotty. With that having been found, we brought our beach gear out on a very beautiful, uncrowded beach and spent two or three hours mostly under our newest and best beach umbrella we have ever owned. It put all the others to shame, even if I do say so myself — and I just did.

The difference between this year's and last year's air show is hard to say because our vantage point was way far away from where the show was staged. The good side was we sat on a beach some people dream of. It was likely as uncrowded as it was because so many tourists had crammed into the areas of Pensacola Beach where the air show took place. We can only guess that the show was very similar to the show last year.

Since our photos are not all that good and just prove we were there, we are referring you to a website that has some great photos of the Blue Angels:: Blue Angels at Bent Bay

Our own photos are located on Flickr:: Blue Angels Air Show at Pensacola Beach in 2009

Here's the Blue Angels 60th Anniversary show in 2006:

Happy Birthday America!

2009-07-04T03:00:00.008-05:00

I wanted to save this for myself so I could look at it from time to time.

Just click here and enjoy My Beautiful America.

Happy 4th of July!

Father's Day & First Day of Summer

2009-06-21T15:33:00.008-05:00

WHEN? Sunday · June 21

WHERE? Orange Beach, Alabama · find us on the map

When we left the Foley area, the temperature was around 98º, but when we arrive in the areas near the Gulf and the beaches around the Alabama-Florida line, there was a breeze and the temperatore was 89º. That might have been reason enough to take our little Sunday drive in that direction.

While in that area, we tried a restaurant we had never dined in. We could critique it, but we won't. Let's just say that we consider a Sunday afternoon at Big Daddy’s Grill is more to our liking. The Wolf Bay Lodge restaurant is now located at the Zeke's Marina, and it caused us to realized we had dined there before many, many years ago, but it was then called Zeke's.

We took nine photos you can view quickly in a slide show:

5th Annual Balloon Festival

2009-06-20T21:00:00.017-05:00

WHEN? Saturday · June 19

WHERE? Foley, Alabama · find us on the map

We stopped in briefly Friday morning before all the booths and vendors were set up. Despite our early arrival, the hot air balloons had already come and gone by that time. A helpful vendor explained that they missed the soccer field where they were supposed to land after being blown off course by the prevailing southeasterly winds, and some ended up on the road and even in peoples' back yards. We looked around a bit and took a few antique tractor photos, then returned home in anticipation of seeing balloons on the following morning ...

And we weren't disappointed! Today was better, and we saw quite a few balloons land at the festival's correct destination site. We got photos of the balloons and met four friends there. I'm guessing that at least 30+ balloons were involved in this festival. By using the brochure/schedule for this year's festival, it seems like at least the following was true:

State of Origin / Number of Balloons: Alabama · 7; Florida · 3; Georgia · 5; Kentucky · 1; Louisiana · 6; Mississippi · 6; Missouri · 2; Tennessee · 1; Texas · 2

Total Identified: 33

There were at least two balloons we could not identify and possibly some we identified wrong.

After that, the six of us gathered at the Magnolia River Bar & Grill for a yummy breakfast cooked by Bob. Since we don't expect to return tomorrow for the festival's final day, we'll miss the Frisbee Dogs' scheduled performance.

See our photos on flickr:: 5th Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival

The website for the festival is very informative with a schedule of events and an audio that comes on after you are on the site for a little while.
Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival

Second Visit to Bahama Bob’s

2009-06-12T16:00:00.013-05:00

WHEN? Friday · June 12

WHERE? Gulf Shores, Alabama · find us on the map

Along with good food, today's lupper at Bahama Bob's included a beautiful day to enjoy the beach out back of this beach cafe.

We pretty much covered what a relaxed dining experience it is to choose the back patio where one can look out on the beach and the Gulf. All ages were there on the patio with us on a gorgeous day. Our first visit was covered in a post in July of 2008 at Cay Key Quay.

This visit was mostly occupied with (besides eating) experimenting with shooting short videos:

Sunday Live Music

2009-05-03T21:00:00.000-05:00

WHEN? Sunday · May 3

WHERE? Big Daddy's in Fairhope, Alabama

I was a little undecided about which blog to put this on. But I did want to mention a good choice for reasonably priced entertainment on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons, particularly when the weather is nice.

We've only mentioned Big Daddy's on the Fish River once on this blog, along with quite a few other restaurants we had tried since we settled in Lower Alabama, on the post Sho'nuff fine dining on February 12 of last year.

We really did not go for the food on Sunday afternoon. We saw in a local publication that there was live music there. We had some adult beverage and mixed in some fried crab claws between us, but the live music was really good.

Randy Branch played the guitar and hormonica and sang. Some of the songs were written by him and are on the CD Long Black Car on his website at Poppaskeeter Music, while other songs he sang were written by other songwriters and musicians.

On Randy’s MySpace you can listen to three of the songs on the CD. It looks like he is really quite busy performing locally, and apparently he can also help you with your real estate needs.

Big Daddy's has a street address of 16542 Ferry Road, Fairhope, with access by boat from the Fish River. The Big Daddy's website gives good directions, but once you know where Ferry Road turns off of CR 32, you won’t have any trouble finding it the second time. Those with boats in the area don’t have any trouble finding it once they come into the Fish River out of Weeks Bay by just following the river upstream.

This Sunday afternoon, several people had brought their dogs, so it reminded us some of Pirates Cove in that respect.

We took a few photos you can view at Live Music at Big Daddy’s.

Tolstoy Park

2009-04-27T14:00:00.028-05:00

WHEN? Monday · April 27

WHERE? Montrose, Alabama · find us on the map

Recently I sent a video on Turkey (the country) to a member of Wells United Methodist Church in Jackson, Mississippi. Earl Hill, Jr. replied, thanking me, and added this: "Be sure you read The Poet of Tolstoy Park by Sonny Brewer and see his little house in Fairhope."

I purchased the book and read it and then started trying to find the little round house referred to in the book. It took a second day of searching with more specific directions to finally locate the house.

I recommend the book to you if you are one who likes to read books of a spiritual nature and about philosophy. It's very much like a journal of sorts and is based on a real person, Henry Stuart.

Excerpt from an interview with author Sonny Brewer:
THE POET OF TOLSTOY PARK is based on the true story of a 62-year old man, Henry Stuart, whose doctor in Idaho in 1923 told him he was dying of consumption. He moved here to Fairhope, left his shoes out west, and lived barefooted in a round concrete house he built by himself with his own two hands for twenty-two years! He had a divinity degree from Mount Union College and listed his occupation in the 1920 Census as “weaver of rugs.” Clarence Darrow befriended him and visited Henry a number of times in Fairhope. He was a writer and poet, a gardener, and a self-reliant man Thoreau would have loved.

That's probably enough to grab your interest without giving away the plot. The little round house was not easy to find, even though I had some photos of it from the internet. I think the house had become "bigger than life" in my mind by the time I finished the book because I was really surprised at how small it seemed when I stepped inside of it. It was a pleasure to visit it and take a few photos, which you can see here.

A Surprise Dance

2009-04-13T15:26:00.015-05:00

WHEN? Probably never except by armchair

WHERE? Antwerp, Belgium

Several people have shared this video with me via email, and I think it's too good not to put up on our travelblog. Since I'm Hop-a-long Smith for awhile, real travel is out of the question anyway.

One of the most beautiful buildings of Antwerp is the building where this video took place, which is known as Centraal Statie, Railway Cathedral or simply Antwerp Central Station. One person who posted a video of this on YouTube described it thusly:: "We had a 45 minute gap between two trains and there was a school group performing the Do Re Mi! It took us a while to realize that this was a performace. It seemed like people were randomly joining the dance."

Almost rained out

2009-03-28T21:00:00.016-05:00

WHEN? Saturday · March 28

WHERE? Elberta, Alabama · find us on the map

We wanted to go to the Sausage Festival in Elberta again this year, but the weather was a problem. We felt bad for all those who had booths to sell their wares because the attendance was way down from last year's since it rained up until 9 A.M. But it was reasonably good weather when we arrived. Of course the grounds were soggy from the rain we'd had for the last few days.

We managed to enjoy ourselves inspite of the situation, but we might have stayed longer if the weather had been more cooperative.

Before returning home, we enjoyed hamburgers and fries at Rusty's in Foley.

Check out our Flickr photos at:: Elberta Sausage Festival

We also attended this event last year:
Oom-Pa-Pa 3/29/2008

LA Entertainment

2009-03-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

WHEN? Saturday · March 21

WHERE? Fairhope, Alabama · find us on the map

Last year we heard about this festival from our neighbors, but we were just too involved in getting settled into our Lower Alabama home to take the time to attend it. This year, we chose Saturday to attend. As I'm posting this, things are underway for the thirda and final day of Fairhope's 57th annual Arts & Crafts Festival.

The weather could not have been more beautiful for this event, and today looks like that trend will continue. We followed a bus to the Big Lots shopping area and took it to downtown Fairhope to attend the festival. It's big, so we certainly got in our walking exercise yesterday.

Admission is free. We each paid a buck for the bus going and coming back, and I'm proud to say I only purchased one bargain item for three bucks. This may leave the impression that our total cost was only $7.00. That's not the true picture, because we ducked into the Ravenite Pizzeria for lunch. It was less than $20 for more pizza than we could eat and a cool brew to go with it.

Our photos do not reveal how big this was, but this event offered over 200 exhibitors from throughout the nation. Live entertainment is included as well as many food and refreshments booths. All of this takes place on the streets of beautiful downtown Fairhope.

Where we lunched looked like they had a place up front for live entertainment. They told us that occurred on Friday nights and BEGAN at 10 PM. There's not much chance we'll be attending that because we're getting our ZZZZZZZ's most nights by that time.

We left the festival in a mood to continue enjoying ourselves and stopped three places before we called it a day. We were both happily exhausted and slept like babies.

Here's the unusual assortment of photos we have to share with you from yesterday.

Exotic armchair travel

2009-03-20T09:00:00.008-05:00

WHEN? Probably never except by armchair

WHERE? Pamukkale, Denizli, Turkey

My cousin, Billy Walton, sent me a PowerPoint slideshow about Pamukkal. It was the first time I had heard of it. The show said that perhaps it should be considered the 8th Wonder of the World.

Since I have no idea I can ever travel to Turkey to see this spectacular natural site, I am happy I am able to share this video with you as I armchair travel.

I was disappointed to find this note in my internet research:
Pamukkale has mineral springs that have been in use for thousands of years. Calcium-rich waters spilling from a hilltop spring are responsible for creating white stone basins. The "cotton castle's" terraced basins hold in the 102ºF water, and up until the 1990's you could just walk up and jump in. No more. Hotel development and irresponsible tourism around the springs choked the water source and the basins reverted to a dry, dingy gray. Although their luster has since returned, visitors can only walk on carefully laid out paths around the site.
Source: About.com

Wales West Bluegrass Festival

2009-03-08T17:30:00.035-05:00

WHEN? Saturday and Sunday · March 7 and 8

WHERE? Silverhill, Alabama · find us on the map

This is the 4th year that Wales West RV Resort has held their THANK YOU SNOWBIRDS BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL. The show takes place on both days of the weekend with eight musical groups participating. It's pretty much non-stop music from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM each day with a half-hour break for lunch, during which sweet rolls, popcorn, chips, candy bars, cookies, ice cream, soft drinks, water, coffee, brats and hot dogs are available for sale at very reasonable prices. Also during the festival, train rides on the railroad were half price at $3.00.

It could not have been more convenient to attend this unless we were staying in the park itself because it is located just a few miles from where we live. The weather cooperated completely, beautiful, spring-like and sunshiny.

We tried to capture for you what the RV resort looks like where this festival took place. The owners, Ken Sr., Ken Jr., and Ann Zadnichek, have a really nice piece of property and seem to be continually improving on it.

Having been fulltime RVers, it was somewhat of a joke for us to realize that this park, along with most others in Lower Alabama, don't have the usual problem of having train tracks nearby to serenade the RVers all the time, night and day. So what did they do? They built the only authentic Welsh Victorian two-foot narrow gauge railway in the Americas right in their park. The good part is, this railroad only runs when they schedule it themselves.

Check out our Flickr photos at:: Wales West Bluegrass Festival

The Rest of the Story*

2009-03-02T11:30:00.004-06:00

WHEN? Monday · March 2

WHERE? Hattiesburg, Mississippi · find us on the map

WHY? Lunchtime ... once again, we were hongry

Last September we put up a post on Robert St. John's Restaurants after we stopped in Hattiesburg and ate at the Crescent City Bar & Grill. We agreed to have today's lunch at the Purple Parrot Cafe on our way back to Alabama. Both restaurants are owned by Robert St. John.

The Purple Parrot didn't seem to be as large and was decorated with colorful abstract art. I'm no more an art critic than I am a food critic, but I do know that I like anything filled with many colors. That was true for my food that I selected on the basis of wanting to know what black-eyed pea gravy was. I also knew that I like pork tenderloin (peppercorn encrusted), mashed potatoes and green beans. The portion was a little bit more than I could handle, but I did my best. Wendell chose the pecan encrusted catfish, which also had some black-eyed peas with it, I think. I’ll have to say I was concentrating so much on my own meal that I don’t remember what else he had.

Certain things the servers and staff did were interesting to me. I don’t frequently dine in restaurants of this class, but I do appreciate the service when I do, such as help with my chair as I'm seated.

Here’s something neat: Have you ever dined in a nice restaurant with cloth napkins that are white and come out with lint all over a dark colored outfit? Because I had on black, they switched out my white napkin for a black one. At least that was my take on it.

The other thing that set this restaurant apart for me were various quotes written on the hallway walls. Two favorites:: “Sex is good, but not as good as fresh sweet corn.”
~ Garrison Keillor; “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.”
~ Mae West

*An aside:
Paul Harvey passed away very recently on February 28 of 2009 at the age of 90. What an icon he was and will remain so because of all the memories of the many years he did what he loved while his fans enjoyed it. I’m one of those fans. I thought it was interesting that my first thought for a title for this post probably brought Paul Harvey to your mind just like it did mine.

Mardi Gras Parades

2009-02-27T09:00:00.007-06:00

WHEN? Sunday · February 22 · 2:30 PM
WHERE? Mobile, Alabama
WHAT? Joe Cain Parade

WHEN? Fat Tuesday · February 25 · 10:00 AM
WHERE? Gulf Shores, Alabama
WHAT? Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Parade

WHEN? Fat Tuesday · February 25 · 1:30 PM
WHERE? Orange Beach, Alabama
WHAT? Orange Beach Mardi Gras Parade

We've put up two Photo Sets on Flickr featuring these three parades. You can check them out at: