Vacation, Day 9, 10/29/2009, Part 6

First, let me explain my recent absence. It's the same song, four-jillionth verse. Been too busy. Been too tired. The only new thing was a nasty allergy-induced crud which, thankfully, is on the way out. Well, maybe until something else blooms or leafs!

Back to vacation in Talladega, Alabama. Kay and her grandson Ian had a blast playing golf--I had a blast taking lots and lots photos. And if my little white iBook Honk weren't so-slow-to-go, I'd have had a blast putting these two photos through some special effects at Picnik. Enjoy!

Kay swings her club at the ball.


Ian makes a powerful swing that results in a long gone ball and a flying divot.


One of the beautiful scenes at the golf course.


Ladybugs swarmed now and then as we tootled around the course on the golf cart. I finally got one in a photo!


Go, Portland Trail Blazers! We're in the first round of the NBA Play Offs, seeded #6 in the West, first game some time on Saturday. Yippee!

Vacation, Day 9, 10/29/2009, Part 5

You can easily see why this house grabbed my attention as we drove back from Talladega to the campground.


Lovely scenic fence--I wonder what it encloses?


From Tuesday through Monday, we're local!


On the way back to Talladega so that Ian and Kay could play golf and I could ride along on the golf cart and take photos, I spied this abandoned barn.


We had a stop to make first, to get the best available pumpkin so that Ian could carve it for Halloween.

Vacation, Day 9, 10/29/2009, Part 4

There in the distance stands First United Methodist Church of Talladega, Alabama. To its right stands the Piggly Wiggly grocery store sign. Piggly Wiggly, that's our goal.


There goes Milton into the Piggly Wiggly.


My goal, to find some more Steen's. I looked here, among the Diamond Joe Syrup, Plow Boy Syrup, Oh Boy Syrup, and the Alaga Syrup, ...


... and among Blackburn's New Crop Brand Syrup and Biscuit Lasses, ...


... and finally among the Blackburn Made and Blackburn's Fairy Queen Syrup. I have to admit that Mama and I do like Blackburn Made a whole lot--it's her favorite and my second favorite--but I didn't want to buy a glass jar of syrup to take home on an airplane.

Vacation, Day 9, 10/29/2009, Part 3

Thursday continues. Ian and Kay ride off somewhere in the golf cart. Looks like the ghosts are about the fly off the canopy!


Milton's plastic basket drying rack, tied to the sink's metal frame with white cord.


The opposite end of the sink frame holds a piece of plywood, placed over the opening for the other basket. The S-hooks have been put to use, too.


Milton's at work to stop the cords from fraying.


Now he's pulling on each piece.


Snap!


Now that he has altered all of the strings that he needs, Milton has moved the plywood, put the things to drip dry in the basket at the opposite end of the sink, and goes about tying this basket into the frame.


In no time at all we're in the truck, heading into the town of Talladega, going to a grocery store, of all places!


The drive took us along several country highways.




This shot reminds of the Blue Ridge over east by the Appalachians.


Lovely home surrounded by trees. I held the camera at the window and clicked off four or five, pointing it to the right as we went by. I got this one, thank goodness.


Imagine our surprise when we came upon TM Cars on the outskirts of Talladega. You see, Milton's first name starts with a T, and at work everyone calls him TM!


We went by the clubhouse at the golf course before we headed for the grocery store. Kay and Ian planned to play later on, so they wanted to find out the hours.


"Reserved Drivers Road Test Only," that's what the blue, diamond-shaped signs read. Looking at the photo, I began to wonder about the building, so I Googled, "Talladega Alabama county." That's where I learned that the building is the Talladega County Courthouse. Isn't the Internet wonderful?


I took this photo through the passenger window of the truck. Since I didn't know the name of the theater, I went to Google again. I learned that it was built in 1936 and used to be called the Martin Theatre--now it's the Ritz. It has been restored and reopened as a multi-use community arts center.


I took this photo through the windshield. I can't remember the last time I saw this sort of traffic signal.

More of our tour of Talladega to come.

Vacation, Day 8, 10/28/2009, Part 6

Our lovely friend, Kay, who is more like a sister to me and another daughter to Mama. We are blessed.


Stirring the fajitas.


Closer to sunset.


Supper's sizzling and the jalapenos are HOT.


Everyone is so-o-o-o full. Some are standing around the heater, no only because they want the heat, they're too full to sit down! Look at the flame on that heater-wow!


Bundled up together, Tinkerbell and Kay sit in front of the TV.


Here's what we watched every chance we got while we were at the campground.

Vacation, Day 8, 10/28/2009, Part 5

Tinkerbell's finished playing with the empty water bottle, for now.


Honest, I don't know who was messin' with Kay, or why. I do know that she's takin' it very well 'cause I see a grin! By the way, that trailer directly behind her is the bottom end of someone's U that faces the next road over. The front part of the trailer to the left of the photo is part of what turned out to be an L for us this time. Both sets of friends arrived in time to settle in well before supper and sunset.


See, she's using that sharp knife to prepare beef for fajitas. Ian's checking out the satellite reception for his grandfather Milton. And there, beyond Ian, you see it's open--that's where our U would have been closed if it hadn't turned into an L.


Here's Milton.


Now that he won't have to go back up the ladder to make satellite adjustments, Milton has hung the metal rack on it, the rack that he crafted for the kitchen sink. My Daddy would've loved this whole idea and its execution!


He's working with tubing and connectors for the sink.














The white hoses are for water.


Yowsers! Running water has arrived!


Kay's Halloween bat lights look good even in daylight.


Kay's Halloween ghost lights on the golf cart.


Moon rise.


Scary Halloween skeleton--what a look!


Kay and Ian cut tomatoes for the fajitas. You can tell the temperature's dropping--Kay's got on her sweatshirt.


Milton set up the outdoor heater. I think it's propane, but I'm not sure.


The sky is so pretty in this photo.