Off the Beaten Path
Join me on an adventure. Where will we go today?
The history of Dalton, Georgia, shines on every corner with multiple historical sites. My favorite is the Mill at Crown Garden, built on the architectural bones of Crown Mills, the first industrial Dalton facility in 1884. Renovations converted the mill into Loft apartments and numerous retail and service stores. Their website says it best.
The Mill is a multi-purpose destination where fresh vibes perfectly juxtapose heritage and nostalgia. Originally a textile mill, The Mill features timeless aesthetics and a unique ambiance. A vision to breathe new life into this space gives Dalton a venue bustling with retail, restaurants, and more. Let us be a staple in your breakfast, lunch, and dinner plans, a go-to for gifts and apparel purchases, the backdrop to your weekend outings and date nights, the spot where you hang/chill/study/meet, and more! The Thomas A. Burry house at 506 Hawthorne St. features white columns on a wrap-around porch and sits on a modest hill. Another traditional Southern home is at 506 S. Thornton Avenue, the Ainsworth E. Blunt House. If architecture interests you, the Thornton Avenue-Murray Hill Historic District provides multiple examples of antebellum and turn-of-the-century red brick homes. The 1914-built Western and Atlantic Depot is part of the historic downtown district on Depot Street. Renovated in 2009, the depot now houses the visitor center. The Dalton Commerical Historic District covers most of the traditional downtown area. Multiple quaint restaurants abound. One unique venue knocked out the inside walls and removed the ceiling. The remaining walls and brick flooring form a courtyard with live music and a bar. Walking the streets of Dalton, you will see decorated peacocks. Why peacocks in Dalton, Georgia? A century ago, U.S. Highway 41 was nicknamed “Peacock Alley” after the popular chenille peacock bedspread. The tufting techniques used to make the Peacock bedspreads eventually led to the manufacture of carpets. More on that later. The Downtown Dalton Development Authority created a Peacocks on Parade event sponsored by individuals and local businesses. Local artists incorporated their ideas and themes by submitting a proposal. The peacocks are five feet tall weigh more than one hundred pounds, and can be found throughout downtown Dalton. You may have heard that Dalton is the carpet capital of the world. How did this small town in the foothills come to wrestle this title away from Persia? Over half of all the carpets sold in the US are still made in the greater Dalton area. Many global company headquarters are in Dalton such as Beaulieu, J&J Industries, and Shaw. I have a soft spot for textile manufacturing as I worked for Dixie Group for a little over a decade. It is thanks to Catherine Evans Whitener that carpet reigns king in Dalton. At 15 years old, she made a bedspread in 1895 as a wedding gift for her brother. She had seen a colonial version using a long-forgotten technique called candlewick tufting. She tried and failed many times through experimentation until she finally perfected it. The bedspread gift was a local phenomenon and then became a national obsession. More orders than could be filled led her to teach neighbors how to tuft and a new industry was born. Largely agricultural and very poor, tufting bedspreads was a successful side business to the family farm. By 1920, thousands were working out of their homes in Dalton, making these peacock-tufted bedspreads. The nationwide demand led to mechanized innovations and factories sprang up all around Dalton. There can only be just so long a new craze will last and the attention finally slowed for the bedspreads. With the factories in place, the owners diversified into other areas such as carpet. By the 1970s, Dalton had more millionaires per capita than any other city in the USA. The recession and decline of the housing market hurt so many of the bigger carpet companies consolidated to save money and streamline manufacturing. Hard flooring also became competitive. It became difficult to find enough labor as well so immigrants were encouraged to come work in Dalton. Today, about 50% of the population is Hispanic. The restaurants and stores reflect the influence of the immigrants. Dalton is an interesting, historical place to visit. I would be remiss to fail to mention the tremendous creative aspects of Dalton. The Creative Arts Guild is one of the oldest in Georgia. Two theater companies provide fantastic shows: the Dalton Little Theater and the Artistic Creative Theater. Multiple live music is offered at many of the venues around town. If you a local beer or a cold press coffee, Dalton has it. I spent a day just wandering the historic downtown area, observing the murals and peacocks, and window shopping at the unique stores.
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![]() I actively promote new artists that I find online. Hohyun has greatly impressed me. You can listen to the links below. The other artists I know from my personal life. They are all extremely hard-working and gifted. Please take a moment and check out their links. Check out Hohyun, a young artist, on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/track/79ncKQJ3BcdjNnII5XR2lS or his Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/itshohyun/. His first song, released in 2022, has already garnered over a million views. He is worth a listen. His words are profound, and his tone is smooth. He writes all original music, accompanies himself on guitar, and has an indie sound. He is improving and has enormous potential. I support anyone who chases their dreams! In the past two months, I have watched his view numbers jump. Several of us are using his music as background audio for our reels. Check him out on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5d3Lv219pA. Support young emerging artists! I am committed to promoting young entrepreneurs and artists. Here is a charming idea for gifts for the younger people in your life. I have known these young ladies for years, and they are creative and hard-working. Let's support them! Here is their contact information: https://www.facebook.com/SharkBiteKandi It is my great fortune that I taught this old soul walking around in a young lady’s body. One of the first things I noticed about Emma is her gorgeous brown, doe-shaped eyes and a shy, sweet smile. Her cute cherub cheeks rise with that ready smile. I have attached her cover of the song - Worst of You by Maisie Peters cover. Her southern, country, sassy, soulful phrasing and dynamics are intriguing as she develops her musical style. Her pain is conveyed in several of her songs as she channels her emotions through her music. I can see her as a singer-songwriter as she matures and gains more experience. Head to her YouTube channel and subscribe to hear more of her covers. She keeps putting up music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSr2lX4e968 Follow her on social media: insta | emsryann_ tiktok | emsryann1 snap | emsryann1 twitter | emmaryanscott vsco | emsryann11 As the choir director and pianist/organist at Harrison United Methodist Church years ago, I was drowning in dual roles. We were fortunate to find Georgii through the college. His talent and willingness to work with me to try different things were refreshing. I am delighted to review his new single as he launches his pop career. You may listen in the hotlinks below to several music channels that carry his music. I listen to a lot of Asian Pop, and the rhythms and synthesis sound like that style to me. The words are heartbroken country lyrics. I jokingly asked him if he wanted to release the song with an acoustic guitar in the country genre. I can relate to the title phrase: I’m trying to let go of something I never had. Georgii is a brilliant, gifted, and hard-working artist. Georgii is now performing in small venues in New York City. Please jump over and show a new artist some support and listen to the song. https://www.facebook.com/georgiimusic Facebook link https://open.spotify.com/album/26wlyAQyjKc4gOoAXJnkPo?si=tib21T5xTYGTGdHZA6OTYw&referral=labelaffiliate&utm_source=1011lwCm8BfY&utm_medium=Indie_Distrokid&utm_campaign=labelaffiliate&nd=1#login Spotify https://music.apple.com/us/album/never-had-single/1667787590 Apple Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdB8ga_21RA&feature=youtu.be Youtube Channel https://www.pandora.com/artist/georgii/never-had/ALl9q9nvV5l77Zw Pandora Supporting oneself with the arts is a daunting task. All these young people are dreaming and chasing opportunities. Every single subscriber and view helps. ![]() I had known about the Georgia Guidestones for years. Construction of the granite marvel started my first year of college, and rumors flew all over the state about devil worship and satanic rituals. My 18-year-old self just laughed and put it on my long list of things to see one day. It is a mystery in a remote, rural corner of Georgia. The mystery man went by the name of Richard C. Christian, who commissioned the Georgia Guidestones. The Elberton Granite Finishing Company hesitated to take the job - the biggest of their history. Richard went to the bank, telling the President he and his friends had planned this message to humanity for twenty years. The President learned his true identity but had to destroy all documentation with his real name and swore never to tell. He kept that oath. The bank convinced the Elberton Granite Finishing Company that the project was legitimate and fully funded. Those who love a great mystery must still determine who paid for the Georgia Guidestones or their motivation. The bank President’s not telling, although rumors have flown over the years over the mystery man's true identity. Fast forward 40 years, and I checked off that box on my bucket list in 2017. With a friend and a stopover in the quaint Bavarian town of Helen, we ventured across two-lane winding highways to a small hill in the middle of a pasture in Elbert County, Georgia, close to the South Carolina line. It was huge! It dominated the countryside. Made from granite slabs, it stood over nineteen feet tall. The Guidestones had a set of 10 engraved principles in eight different languages, including Arabic, English, Hebrew, Hindi, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, and Traditional Chinese. The principles are:
Many pastors railed against it as demonic, including one at the launch. Many called for it to come down. The guide stones were erected on March 22, 1980, but who put them up remains a mystery, making the area of ongoing interest for conspiracy theorists. Then, an explosion blew up one of the slabs on a Wednesday in July 2022, around 4:00 a.m. The rest of the five tablets were damaged. For public safety, the remaining slabs were bulldozed and removed. No suspect or motives have been reported, although the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is working on the case. A silver sedan was captured leaving the scene on video. It is a loss of tourism dollars as an estimated 200,000 people traveled to the remote corner of Georgia simply to see the Guidestones. Sure, there is the Dillard House with a fantastic all-you-can-eat spread right up the road and spectacular waterfalls in that part of the country. However, there is just something spell-binding about a modern Stonehenge in the Appalachian foothills in North Georgia. I’m glad I went. We may never know the reasons for construction and destruction. I have always loved the story of Snow White. The thought of an evil queen who could turn herself into a hag always amused me. If she could become a hag, why couldn’t she become a more extraordinary beauty than Snow White? She was already pretty, so a simple spell to beat Snow White should be a snap. The ride focuses more on the Seven Dwarfs than Snow White, although her presence is known. With a 39-foot drop, hairpin curves, quick pickup, and swaying cars, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is popular in the Fantasyland section of the Magic Kingdom. Available for individual lightning lanes pricing, you may pay $11 to skip the line when I went in August of 2023. I chose to stand the hour-plus in line for the ride. The line is entertaining, with some interactive activities. The one that looked the most promising needed to be fixed: a water spigot. Turning barrels in the line shoots images on the ceiling. It fits my ADD perfectly. I turned barrels the entire time I was in that section of the line as the other children marveled at the images I generated on the ceiling. The line moves quickly as there are few people in the lightning lane. The height requirement is 38 inches. The ride takes about three minutes, which is quick if you have been standing in line for over an hour. I suggest you go during fireworks or a parade as lines will drop off sometimes. It is one of the most popular rides in the park, so head there first if you open up or close the park. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train allows Rider Switch, where people with small children take turns riding and waiting with the littles. The ride does allow people in ECVs and wheelchairs if they can transfer to the seat. I saw an ADA ride car with a different opening that looked easier to transfer than the regular seats. No service animals are allowed; with all coasters, please, no pregnant ladies. One car holds four individuals, two to a seat with a pulled-down lap bar for safety. The cars rock, so you are slung from side to side as the coaster navigates the sharp turns. You can help that along by excessively leaning into the curves. With rocking cars and quick, steep turns, you should skip this ride if you are prone to motion sickness. If you are set up, the Photo Pass magically transfers your picture to your account. I cover how that operates in another blog, but it is interesting how accurate facial recognition is in linking accounts. There are two locations on the ride. Check out the cool video at the bottom that was included in our Photo Pass Package. My sister and I often sang the dwarf’s famous song with a slight change. I owe, I owe, so off to work I go. It is a favorite memory from my young adulthood. The ride presentation is adorable, with a quick drop and a smooth trip through the gem mine, watching our favorite dwarf miners singing and working. The characters are a perfect match to my memory. At 34 mph, the smooth steel coaster flies along the track. Part of the ride is inside the mine tunnel with an extensive view of the park toward the end. You come out of the tunnel at the top of the drop. The front car has a spectacular view. We sat in the back which felt very fast. Too soon, the ride is over. A charming scene awaits you at the end. Snow White is dancing inside the cottage with the seven dwarfs. I highly recommend Seven Dwarfs Mine Train for older children and teens. Stick to the Peter Pan Flight ride for younger guests. Hidden Mickeys and some of the original decorations from the previous Snow White ride are all over the ride. The scam that is blowing up my media starts innocently enough. Someone has lost a child, a parent, or a dog. They beg for help sharing the information. Please ‘bump’ it up to stay high on a community website. The Better Business Bureau has warned about this bait-and-switch tactic now being deployed. After a group of kind people has shared the post, the originator changes it to a fake ad for some non-existent rental house to get application fees or even rent, a link to a fake survey with a guaranteed prize, or any number of ways to get your personal information and cash. One way easy to tell amateur scammers is that they may put a silver alert on a child or an amber alert on an elderly person. The first thing I do when I see these is to check the originator. Suppose it is a page and not a profile, a scam. A grandparent will have pictures of their child over the years instead of just the one missing post. Please protect yourself! Block and delete at the minimum, and do NOT share it on your social media.
Companies like your insurance company, credit card company, and the social security administration will never threaten, scare, or pressure you to take immediate action by warning of an arrest or legal action. If someone calls you for a code on an account, they may have your username and try to log in with two-step verification or reset your password. Many people lost their social media accounts when someone was able to reset their password. Two-step verification is a pain, especially if you need help accessing your smart device to verify your account. However, I highly recommend it to protect all your accounts. If someone does any of the following, it is a scam.
Protect yourself by staying calm and providing no information. Hang up! Refrain from responding. Report it to the company they are pretending to represent or directly to a Government agency such as Social Security Administration. It seems there is a new way to try to scam people every day. I received an email today with an invoice for a new iPhone that I ordered. They said the iPhone would be delivered tomorrow. I will not hold my breathe! I keep them in a folder in case I ever have to take legal action to protect myself. #slamthescam is one way to share experiences and information about scammers. If we all protect each other, we may put these guys out of the scam business. The Photo Pass Memory Maker is a great way to have unique pictures of your Disney vacation. Professional photographers are at over 100 locations in all four parks. They are in place with several character meet-and-greet locations and unique attractions. Several professional photographers are on Main Street, U.S.A., and around Cinderella’s castle. Portrait studios are also around. Magic shots, including the insertion of characters, or in my case, balloons, are included in the package. I’ve included a few pictures of shots taken on popular rides.
The pictures appeared on my Disney Experience App within 5 minutes of exiting the rides. You have unlimited downloads, but you must watch the date. The pictures disappear after 45 days, even if you purchased the package deal. You lose all your pictures. I know because once I forgot to download and my 45 days passed. The photos were all deleted from the Disney server. Buying the Genie+ will get you digital downloads of on-ride photos taken on the purchase day. It is included in the cost at no additional charge. Several rides, such as the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. offers on-ride Photo Pass photos. These automatically appear in the My Disney Experience app if you wear a Magic Band or Magic Band+. It appears to use facial recognition as well. This ride is also one of the few rides that has video footage. I’ve included mine at the bottom. I enjoyed the characters that were inserted into our pictures. We have a hitchhiking ghost with us in front of the Haunted Mansion. A professional shot of the train just showed up with Mickey as the train conductor. My expression of fear as I fell on the Hollywood Tower of Terror would be impossible to capture in the moment, along with the exhilaration of the Light Cycles on the Tron ride. One of my fondest Disney memories was with my daughter about 15 years ago. We challenged ourselves to get as many pictures for our Memory Maker as possible in one day. We rode no rides and watched nothing. We ran from one Disney photographer to another and stood in line after line for characters. We hit all four parks before the park hopper had a 2:00 p.m. time restriction. We started with early hours and ended with late hours. We went for 14 hours and had professional pictures taken with us of nearly every character in all four parks. We went through the Pooh and Tigger lines twice, as they were her favorite characters growing up. We still have digital copies over a decade later. No price can be put on having that kind of digital memory. For the Fall of 2023 price, a one-day memory maker costs $69 for all photos and videos. Order early if you want to get the memory maker photo pass for your entire trip. It is $169 online, but if you wait until you are there, the price jumps to $169. The memory maker is a big perk for annual pass holders. Their entire year is only $99. The price may change if you are reading this at a later date. I highly recommend it so that you can have the memories of meeting the characters without having to hand your cell phone to the handler or someone from your group miss being in the picture. You can enjoy the moment with the character and still get a picture. If, for some reason, the app does not have your pictures, a Photo Pass office can help locate them. The Magic Kingdom Photo Pass office is inside the Town Square Theater on Main Street, U.S.A. To the left side of the sizeable world-known globe of Epcot are themed areas. The Mission: Space pavilion includes a restaurant, lounge, high-tech play area, and a space simulation. Visitors train for Mars Missions in a simulated NASA training that is not recommended if you have motion sickness.
In the high-tech play area are multiple space-themed activities. One of my favorites is the X-2 Deep Space Shuttle mission at the International Space Training Center or ISTC. Each team has four cadets: a navigator, a pilot, a commander, and an engineer. You are trained before the mission about your role and expectations—countdown with everyone at their stations for an incredible mission through space. The Shuttle dodges meteorites and slingshots around the Moon. Our home planet is shown. If everyone successfully fills their position, the mission is a success. The Journey to Mars ride has two optional missions. You may orbit the Earth with the Green Mission or take the Orange Mission in a centrifuge that spins and tilts, simulating the speed and G-forces for launch, clearing, and reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. I rode the Orange Mission once and had to lay down for at least thirty minutes to stop Epcot from spinning. Astronauts must be 44” or taller to ride the Orange Mission. All the safety signs are placed along the waiting line. Good health, no high blood pressure, heart, back, neck problems, or motion sickness is touted for riders. No expectant mothers, either. It is a thrilling ride, and the lines are not as long because it is an older ride in the park. The standby was only ten minutes this week. The Green Mission is for guests 40” and taller. It also uses a motion simulator but does not spin and has only light movement. Expectant mothers should not ride this one, either. The Space 220 restaurant is just excellent. It is named 220 because it is 220 miles above the Earth. The presentation is mind-blowing as you enter the space elevator to travel up the tether above the Earth. It is difficult to get a reservation. It seems that locals book all the restaurants months in advance and cancel at the last minute. We were fortunate to walk up and get a reservation within two hours. It is one of the more expensive restaurants in Epcot, with intriguing food pairings and a gorgeous presentation. Expect to spend about $100 a person at Space 220. The service is excellent. I have gluten intolerances, and the menu offered a wide selection. Viewports provide an aerial view of Florida as we go up. During dinner, many space crafts and astronauts traveled above Earth's daytime and nighttime views. Important to know that you must have a confirmed dining reservation for the total party of all ages, an Epcot reservation for that day, and valid admission to Epcot on the same date for every guest. Because the restaurant is a third-party vendor, none of the Disney Passholder or other discounts apply. Dinner featured a 3-course meal with American-style cuisine. My appetizer was a compressed watermelon slice on a sea of greens, burrata mozzarella, tomatoes, arugula, Florida citrus oil, and white balsamic dressing. My friend ordered a delicious roasted asparagus soup that he scraped up every drop from the bowl. It featured jumbo lump crabmeat, roasted poblano, red peppers, citrus chili oil, and croutons. My main dish was the tomahawk pork chop, a slow-roasted 16-oz Niman ranch pork chop, corn flan, succotash, and spiced applesauce. The tender meat fell off the bone. It was delicious. My friend ordered the 24 oz bone-in ribeye with a coffee space rub, fingerling potatoes, asparagus, and cippolini onion. We both had dessert, but the appetizer and the main entree far eclipsed the dessert. We had a dessert drink called the up all night made with absolut vanilla vodka, chilled espresso, Kahlua, and Creme de Cacao. It had a bitter chocolate aftertaste but was a very smooth drink. Here is the menu as of August, 2023. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_CA/dining/epcot/space-220/menus/dinner It is a numbers game to monetize your original content. I have been working on it for about 2 years now. I started with Patreon with my original crime and horror stories. I paid my entire advertising budget with an established crime website that hosted conventions and had hundreds of thousands of viewers. I gained a few subscribers on my Patreon but they did not stay. They said my writing was horrible - rather, I was writing more horror than crime. I conducted exit surveys and did a market focus group to realize - I write as much horror as I do crime. I do not even like to read or watch horror myself! Yet, here I am, writing short stories that sometimes verge on horror. www.bitesizecrimestories.com if you are interested. It is my highest performing blog out of 8 that I originated.
I researched several promotions companies and finally settled on one who did everything they said they would do. I ran a very affordable one-time campaign. My readers on the crime story blog increased by ten people. That was a success and I earned 35 cents in ad revenue last week. It is a major improvement on the previous months. As of today, this website is not monetized. I have been researching out why Google AdSense has not approved it for ads. Apparently, I am not wordy enough for monetarization. All the articles and You Tube videos I watched suggested every blog contain a minimum of 600 words. I am able to say what I want quite often in 150 to 300 words, way too short to justify an ad apparently. While I had some limited success on Patreon, the subscriber model does not work for me. I am using social media to bring my blogs to the attention of Google as I am running their AdSense to earn money to help offset all the business costs I incurred in setting up 8 websites, hosting, and software. I am available if anyone has any questions on how to get started. Please use me as a sounding board! The best part about the online business game is that the income is fairly passive. Once I launch this blog into the internet universe, I can ignore it and move along. Hopefully, people will find it from the code words I used when I set it up. The majority of my views seem to be coming from google search engines so I know that it is working. It is a number driven game. There are several people out there unethically offering to get me thousands of Instagram followers for only $19.99. I can only assume they are either lying or the accounts are fake or bot accounts. All of us are hoping for that one big hit. One thing goes viral, and the content creator has a nice side hustle. Until then, we all are consistently churning out our best work in the hopes we are noticed in the ocean of content. ![]() In July 2014, traveling cross country and desperately needing a pit stop, we came up on Marceline, Missouri. As we were pulling off, a sign caught our attention. We were in Walt Disney’s hometown! Of course, we had to go to the museum. I apologize for the quality of my pictures; it was a much older cell phone than we use today. In July 2014, traveling cross country and desperately needing a pit stop, we came up on Marceline, Missouri. As we were pulling off, a sign caught our attention. We were in Walt Disney’s hometown! Of course, we had to go to the museum. I apologize for the quality of my pictures; it was a much older cell phone than we use today. We accidentally found the childhood home of Walt Disney. Huge Disney fans, we were exhilarated! We spent several hours marveling over the artifacts. Walking the town's streets before entering the museum felt like Main Street Disneyland and Disney World. Walt’s formative years were spent in Marceline, and we recognized many of the landmarks from the town. The original Zurcher’s store, open since 1915, was still open. We discovered it was the inspiration for the Disneyland Emporium. We ate at J&J on Main Street. Here is their link if you want to check out their menu. https://www.facebook.com/jjonmain/ It has been several years but my memory is the food is delectable with a lot of choices. They also have live music on the weekends and a lot of drink specials. After lunch, it was time to check out the main attraction in Marceline. Established in 2001, the Walt Disney Hometown Museum celebrated Walt’s 100th Birthday. The museum started with Walt’s sister’s collection, Ruth Disney Beecher. She was close to her brothers, Walt and Roy, and knew how they loved their hometown. The museum focuses on his early life and the evolution of Disney Entertainment. The museum lovingly preserves Walt’s legacy. The collection includes vintage Mickey Mouse toys, models, sketches, and original animation cells from classic Disney movies. There is even a replica of Walt’s childhood home and scaled models of Disneyland. Walt always loved trains, so the town placed the museum inside the former Santa Fe train depot. I borrowed a picture from the website www.waltdisneymuseum.org. With over 10,000 square feet, over 4,000 unique artifacts are housed there. Personal letters written between family members, gifts from Walt to the City of Marceline, artist-signed original artwork, and other memorabilia fill the place. I play Pokemon Go, and it alerted me to a very special Pokestop, not too far from the museum. We inquired inside and learned that there was another place. We visited the old family farm and sat under Walt’s thinking tree, which inspired parts of Winnie the Pooh. The barn sat next to the tree with well-wishes and notes to Walt were written on every available inch of the wood inside the barn. Wildflowers abundantly blessed the field behind the barn. We sat in the cool breeze and reflected on the genius of the man who started this entire Disney empire in the modest, small town of Marceline. According to the website, the museum is closed on Mondays. Thursday through Saturday, the hours are 10 am to 4 pm. Sunday, the hours are 1 pm to 5 pm. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for youth (6 - 12), and free under 6. Seniors and military get a discount with $9 admission and $5 for D23 members and cast members. Parking is easy, and the museum is ADA-compliant, with a self-operated elevator lift and a ramp. Being a renovated railroad depot, not all parts are accessible. The museum is a non-profit and not part of the Walt Disney Company. If you are a Disney fan traveling through Missouri, this is not to be missed! The trail starts wide, as you would expect from an old mining trail. Remnants of the Coal and iron ore facilities remain from beautiful moss-covered rock walls, a deep hole in the mountain, leftover bridge supports, and other evidence. Wear good shoes and bring hiking poles as the hike can be strenuous in places. Solid, wooden bridges are available to cross streams. It is a popular hiking area with streams, blue holes, and waterfalls. Laurel-Snow State Natural Area is tucked into a gorge inside Walden’s Ridge. Several creeks meander, including Richland, Polebridge, Morgan, Henderson, and Laurel.
If you are just going a mile or under, children and dogs will be very comfortable. Without storms, the water levels are low, with many opportunities to splash. A few deep spots allow swimming, and a couple of blue holes were noted after a couple of miles of hiking. Be sure to be back to exit the parking lot before 7:00 PM or be prepared to sleep in your car until the next day. After a mile or so, the trail narrows to about a third of the original size. Poison Ivy is close on either side so eyes were kept firmly on the path. The elevation started to climb significantly, and we scrambled over rocks on the trail at about two miles in. There appeared to be switchback opportunities, but loose rocks and steep inclines kept us on the main trail. We did not follow water run-off gullies, although other hikers did go that way. The lush greenery sported fern dells, wild hydrangea, and several cultivated greenhouse plants that must have escaped from a nearby farm and rooted on the mountainside. Rhododendrons were starting to bloom in mid-June. We saw little wildlife beyond snails and a few squirrels. Water trickled down the mountainside in several places. Towering boulders stood on either side of the trail with crevices that would be amazing shelters for critters. We were able to climb up on the top of a few of the 2 and 3-story boulders for a better view of the water. We did not make it to Laurel Falls. Other hikers told us it was just a trickle and we only had 2 hours to make it another 5 miles round trip and then 2.5 miles back to the car. We opted to come back another day, unwilling to risk getting locked in the parking l A local hiker told us the water is often high enough to kayak. On our visit in mid-June, it was barely visible, trickling around the rocks in most places and pooling deep water in places. The water was cool but not as cold as some mountain streams at higher elevations. An interactive map of the area shows elevations and hiking trails. https://www.arcgis.com/apps/Embed/index.html?webmap=762f5151ba8045b2b076c0455f37179a&extent=-85.9116,35.1279,-83.0194,36.502&zoom=true&scale=true&search=true&searchextent=false&details=true&legend=true&active_panel=details&basemap_gallery=true&disable_scroll=true&theme=light The area opens daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time. If you do not return to your car, the parking lot is locked, and you are stuck there until the morning. There are signs with this warning all around the entrance and parking lot. Overnight camping is permitted, and details are on the Friends of the Cumberland Trail Website. https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.friendsofthecumberlandtrail.org/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1694138385989216&usg=AOvVaw0Y6Akbt25zuL7nocs8QKBo Laurel-Snow State Natural Area is a gorgeous hike. The hike is considered one of the top 25 in Tennessee, according to Trip Advisor. I am going back to catch Laurel Falls but early in the morning to allow enough time for a leisurely round trip. The following are actual stories that I lived during my travels or happened to friends of mine. Please be aware that these are all common scams to take money out of your pocket and sometimes take YOU. Human trafficking has orders for all kinds of humans. Do not believe your age or other demographic keeps you from being a potential victim. Eating by yourself at a table means you need to be doubly observant. Do not leave your purse, phone, or anything at the table if you go to the restroom. Ask for a new glass of water or whatever you are drinking just in case someone slipped something into your drink. Never leave an open drink on the table where someone could easily slip something into it. A man asked to sit with me in a crowded restaurant. No, my boyfriend is about to arrive. Get your check and leave immediately. Waiting outside my hotel, a woman offered to take me around New Orleans and show me where all the locals hang out. No, thank you. I am waiting on my family to pick me up for dinner. Walk back into the hotel. Knock on the hotel door - delivery. I did order room service. Looking out, the person is not in the hotel uniform. Please leave it outside the door. My boyfriend will pick it up after playing this video game. I am waiting on a cab. A car pulls up and says - you waiting on your Uber? No, I am waiting on my boyfriend. He just went to get the car out of the garage. Keep your windows up or most of the way up. Two true stories follow. The first had a man reach in at a red light, grab the purse from the front seat, and run backward. The car was on a one-way street and had to take the block, and he was long gone by that point. The second also has an open window. A man reached in, opened the door on a sunny afternoon, put a gun to the head of the driver, and instructed him to go out to a secluded road. Fortunately, the driver survived but was left at a dead end with no phone, professional equipment, and car gone. Blue lights may appear in your rearview mirror when driving home late at night. Immediately call 911 to verify if it is a police car or someone trying to abduct or rob you. Please put two-step verification on every account you own. It is a pain, but I saved my Instagram account last month when someone tried to access it. I have been part of data breaches with Wells Fargo and other banks so my information is out on the dark web. It is annoying, and I get so aggravated when I get that email or text stating that I need to use the code to log into the app or website. I am so glad that I left two-step verification on my accounts. A data breach revealed my Google account log-in and several other accounts use that Google account to authenticate. So, yesterday, my accounts may have been sold on the dark web. This is more common than we realize. The dark web is set up under the world wide web and uses peer-to-peer networks, incognito for the less sophisticated users, etc. My Netflix was accessed in Argentina. My Apple ID was attempted in Japan, and my Instagram was attempted in Kentucky. This all happened within one hour last night. Because of two-step verification, only Netflix was used, but no financial accounts are tied to it. I IMMEDIATELY CHANGED THE PASSWORD once I received the alert it had been used in Argentina. Because I beat them to the change, my Google account remained secure. Whenever someone tries to sign in on an untrusted device on an account with two-step verification, I receive a security code in an email or a text to my phone. This means I am me, guaranteed. You can turn off two-step verification if you travel and use many devices. You may still get security codes sent randomly, and your account is more risky. Some apps, such as Microsoft Authenticator, help, but as demonstrated last night, the two-step verification setup works. Before you set up the two-step verification on Google and other accounts, please have several unique security contact emails or phone numbers with your account for backup purposes. If you lose your phone or security information without a backup contact method attached, you most likely will lose that account. With multiple internationally presented social media and blogs, I am more of a target, as demonstrated last night. Still, I recommend you use two-step verification at a minimum on your financial accounts, such as online banking, bitcoin, and investments. Once you have two-step verification, be aware that there may be ways that scammers will use it to take over your accounts: bank, social media, etc. They will try to log in with an easy-to-obtain thing such as an email. It requires a two-step verification. They call and pretend to be that company and say they are going to send you a verification code. They will hold and trigger the two-step process. You get the code and give it to them on the phone. You have now handed them control of your account. Several of my friends lost their Instagram accounts this way and now people are selling snake oil on that account under their name. Do not use gas stations by the interstate with debit cards. It is easy to set up a clone to grab your information. If you use a debit card, run it as a credit card so that your PIN is not entered. Even good people will do an act of desperation when they are desperate. Keep yourself safe. These are all actual scenarios. Rachel Marinero provides the following video about phishing to better help you understand red flags. I have permission to share through the CANVA professional software program. As an annual pass holder to Gibb’s Gardens and a frequent visitor, I had high expectations for my bus trip today with the Scenic City Friends. I knew our older travelers would not be able to see much of the gardens because wheelchairs are difficult to roll on the gravel paths. We had tried it before. Many of the gravel paths sink the wheels. With over 150 benches, there are plenty of places to rest for those unable to traverse the entire garden. The front part of the gardens is lovely, with many pots with coordinating colors and plants. Several of my co-travelers stayed in the front area and enjoyed their visit. From the front area, part of the Japanese garden can be seen, as well as part of the running brook. The babbling water, bird chirps, and hungry squirrels add to the peaceful atmosphere. Dozens of tables are available under a tree canopy, and more are accessible across the wood bridge spanning the stream. Please do not feed the squirrels, no matter how cute they are, as they scamper around under the tables. They bite.
As a private botanical garden, the drive is worth the effort. Hundreds of well-manicured lawns are surrounded by landscaped flowerbeds that pop with color. Spring-fed ponds boast dozens of species and colors of water lilies. Pergolas, handcrafted Japanese lanterns, a smiling Buddha, a hand-carved chair from a wood stump, and Japanese maples adorn a large Japanese-styled garden. The water has the deep color of a blue hole in several of the ponds. Water drips over minor falls throughout the garden. Wood bridges span the ponds and streams. A large fern dell leads into the newest section of Gibbs Garden - Inspiration Garden, the most expansive fern dell I have ever seen in my travels. I spotted at least six different species of ferns, ranging from 4 inches to 4 feet. Sprinkled in the fern dell are trillium, a native wildflower to North America—a few mountain laurels dotted behind the ferns. One of the things that Jim Gibb does very well is height contrast. In 2017, Hurricane Irma plowed through Georgia, taking down most of the trees in that section. Jim Gibbs, already an award-winning landscape architect and seasoned gardener, studied various plants that flourish in Section 7. He built an inspirational garden with rare dwarf Japanese maples, dwarf ginkgos, and over 200 varieties of dwarf conifers. Giant boulders were buried in the hillside. Hydrangeas and mountain laurels provide some white color to the dozens of shades of green. Inspiration Garden goes up an altitude of 150 feet, leading up to the Manor House. A recommended ADA pathway is on the map for those unable to traverse up the incline. Not all the gardens are accessible because of the topology of the gardens. If you can walk up the steep incline, the house and the view of the terraced gardens, along with the blue ridge mountains in the distance, are worth the climb. In front of the house are several arches covered in climbing roses. Pots hold colorful plants to add to the visual appeal. To the side of the house is a pool of water with two small pools feeding it. The other side also has a water feature with a dozen pots of colorful plants. The house is in a combination of styles, predominantly a Mediterranean look. There is a Tudor look with the wood embedded in the concrete sides and a shingles look of a Swiss home. The rest is Italian, with curved windows and arches leading to terraces and patios. The details around the windows, the roofline, and underneath the roof also look Italian. You may decide for yourself. It is a beautiful home. There are distinct gardens throughout Gibbs Garden. I love the children’s garden, which features detailed metal statues of children playing. One is playing the flute, another is reading a book. Some are fishing while two ride a giant turtle. Sculptures are scattered throughout the garden. A fox sits in the table area. A mountain cat slinks down an incline. The highlight of the trip is a new, wildflower section. Yellow cosmos cover a hillside with red poppies in the lower fields. There are multiple paths with various degrees of difficulty to walk. The lowest path is on the same level as the rose garden with a slight incline. The hill is approximately 50 feet incline. I walked over four miles today and saw most of the gardens. HINT: wear great walking shoes. The roses are in full bloom in every color. They are scattered all over the park. Pansies in every color and size adorn the edges of the flower beds, their faces dancing in the wind. Larkspur leaps to the skies in the center of the cosmos and poppies in a splash of purple. They also add height interest in the pansy beds and flower pots. Majestic Magnolia trees soared to the heavens. Part of the gardens are formal but my favorite sections are those more naturalized. The wildflowers are scattered across the hillside. Ferns and other shade loving plants spread underneath the canopy. I will let my pictures speak more than my words can tell about the beauty and splendor. Details: Gibbs Garden is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm. The cost for adults is $25, seniors are $18, and children 3 to 17 are $10 each per day. You can apply the cost of admission to an annual pass that goes one year from activation. Adult membership is $60, and children 3 to 17 are $30. There is no cost for parking. Even though most of the park has strenuous walking, the front quarter is level and easy to walk, with several places to sit. Estimated Bloom Calendar Daffodils - March 1st through April 15th With multiple species, not all bloom simultaneously, but we saw hundreds of thousands when we went in 2022. Cherry Blossoms - Two weeks in March Dogwoods - Two to three weeks in April Azaleas - April into Fall Fern Dell - April through late October Rhododendron - Two to three weeks in May Roses - First of May until November Hydrangea - May until November Waterlilies - May until November Daylilies - June until August Crape Myrtle - July to August Annuals & Perennials - rotate out in flowerbeds and pots, spring through fall (peaks summer) Wildflowers - varies throughout spring to fall Fall leaf color changes - September to November ![]() I like to play games on my phone, but I sometimes get sucked into hours of play, partially thanks to my ADD and addictive personality. Rewarded Play has a high rating of 4.2 stars out of 5 on the Google Play Store. It is only available on Android phones. You can earn points in different ways. Taking surveys means you will be inundated with emails selling products and services tailor-made to your survey answers. This is my own experience. After about a week of surveys, I declined and focused on playing the daily 4 minutes per game to earn minor points. As you can see, I have accumulated many points in a few weeks. I set a timer for 5 minutes when I open a game. Once the timer goes off, I finish the level and close the game. It keeps me from spending too much time on my phone, earns me the daily minimum, and provides a few entertaining moments in the midst of the chaos of my life. If you enjoy playing games, why not earn gift cards as well? Some of my favorite games are the solitaire card games. A cute fish greats me, wanting to be feed. The graphics are adorable. I also enjoy the merge games where three eggs become a dragon that works to get my coins for the game. But my favorites are the combined number games. There are several versions of this game. Right now, I am running 12 games that I try to do 5 minutes a day. Yes, I am only making about $5 an hour but it fills time while I am waiting for clothes to dry and checking my emails. The downside is that you must change the games every 40 to 60 days to keep getting rewarded. Each game also has built-in ads which is a great time to check emails or get a drink of water. Some levels are difficult to beat without purchasing help. I have found if you just keep failing to pass a level, eventually, the level is easier or they give you help. Even if you do not pass that level, you still accumulate your 4 minutes and 200 to 250 points toward the gift cards. If I get a level I can't pass, my grandkids can sometimes do it. I just returned home from a quick trip to Macon, Georgia, with two friends for the Alpha Delta Kappa Teacher Honorary Sorority Georgia Fun Day event. We stayed at the Best Western Inn and Suites on 4681 Chambers Rd. Two of us stayed in a room with two queen beds, non-smoking. The room had a coffee maker, microwave, refrigerator, hairdryer, ironing board, cable channels, and free WIFI.
The bad news is given first. There is no elevator however, parking is conveniently located near the stairs to the second floor. There was a massive party under us until 11:30, but the music and the laughter were contagious. We arrived around 2:30 pm on Friday. Unfortunately, the rooms were not ready, so we waited in the lobby for about 20 minutes. The check-in lady was very apologetic and friendly. Our reservations were on file, and check-in went smoothly. The lobby sitting area accommodates about a dozen people, contains a working computer, and has a very cool bubble accent piece that changes colors. A flat screen TV provides background noise to our conversation as we wait. The rooms are spacious. I'm sure about 300 square feet. The location is convenient on a major highway close to Middle Georgia State University. The traffic noise is less than what is at my house, a pleasant surprise. The temperature was comfortable with the standard wall unit AC/Heater. The water in the shower was HOT, which I appreciated after a long car ride. The bed and pillows were very comfortable. It was one of the best night's sleep I have had in some time - after the party downstairs died down. The highlight of the motel is the breakfast! I have a gluten intolerance, so toast, cinnamon rolls, and waffles are off my list. Most continental breakfasts have little I can eat. That is not the case at this location! I had scrambled eggs and sausage, tangerine, yogurt, and oatmeal. Juice, milk, and coffee were also available, as well as a cereal bar. Several pastries were available. All the staff are amicable and helpful. At less than $100 a night, I thought the motel was a great value. I recommend Best Western Inn and Suites if you are ever in Macon, Georgia. Near the end of April and the first of May, run to Hiawassee, Georgia, to the woodland gardens of Hamilton Memorial Gardens. It is right next to the Georgia Fairgrounds. The flame azaleas are peaking right about that time. Some Rhododendron species may have bloomed, but most peak in late April.
Since my last visit, a Thursday night music series and a bar area have been added. I learned something today. According to garden plaques, an azalea is a rhododendron, but not all rhododendrons are azaleas. Fun fact! Since it had been raining most of the day, I ran about a mile of the trails while my Mom and Aunt leisurely strolled in the upper section. The trails meander down a steep hill to the water level of the lake. On the weekend, you can hire a golf cart to run the trails; however, on a Wednesday afternoon, only one person working was on the scene. He was hard at work blowing off the trails on the far side of the gardens. I left him alone to work. There is a greenhouse with affordable plants, food trucks for special events, and beautiful views of the lake and mountains. Enjoy the pictures! The 2024 Rhododendron Festival will start on Thursday, April 11th, at 6 p.m. It opens with the first night of the Acoustic Sunset Concert Series. On April 12th, the new courtyard fills with gourmet food vendors and Georgia crafters at 11 a.m. every weekend through May 12th. Live entertainment hits the courtyard stage at noon on Saturdays until 4 p.m. Entrance to this area and the crafters' area is free. The garden entrance fee is $6.00. Parking is free. Ticket sales help maintain the 41-year-old nonprofit Hamilton Gardens. I bought several plants from Fred Hamilton’s Greenhouse, open to the public 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Several of the same species of Rhododendron from the garden are for sale, along with annuals and locally grown perennials. All proceeds help maintain the Gardens. Late April and May are not the only times of the year to visit Hamilton Memorial Gardens in Hiawassee, Georgia. I spent some time talking with a volunteer who works seasonally to help maintain the Gardens. She camps nearby and walks over to work a few weeks every year. I have visited the Hamilton Memorial Gardens for years to see the flower explosion of Rhododendrons and Azaleas. There is so much more than just the spring festival. Another big event is right next door at the Georgia Mountain Fair. It runs from Friday, October 6th, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. through Saturday, October 14th, 2023, at 10:00 p.m. One-day pass is $6 for the Arts and Crafts section and $16 to for everything: arts, crafts, and music. Children twelve and under are free so this is a very family-friendly event with a look into North Georgia’s rich culture. But wait, there is more going on! A holiday event for the entire family, the Mountain Country Christmas in Lights, 2023, transforms the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds into magic. Holiday light shows, Christmas music, arts and crafts vendors, specialty foods, and a visit with St. Nick make an enchanted memory. The cost is $7 and children twelve and under are free. The holiday outdoor arts and crafts market is open every Thursday and Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and every Saturday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. It starts Thanksgiving on November 23rd and runs through December 23rd. Make this a new family tradition if you are anywhere near the Hiawassee area of North Georgia. I know that I marked my calendar for 2024 to visit several times and not just in April. . ![]() Today I attended the plant sale and open day at Creekside Flower Farm. It is only 15 miles from the Ringgold exit on I-75, but traffic and winding country roads took over 40 minutes. It is on the outskirts of Chickamauga, at the foot of Lookout Mountain, and was well-attended. The crew of about ten volunteers and staff had their hands full directing dozens of cars down a small, one-lane road to park down a steep hill on pasture. Fortunately, we could park a bit closer because we were buying flowers. Most guests parked and walked about a half mile up a hill on a walkway marked separate from the road for safety. I saw several strollers bogged down in the mud. The flower prices were reasonable; however, we still paid $10 entry for one car. It would have only been $7 a car if we had ordered earlier. The fields of flowers were beautiful. There were more, but the January freeze hit the farm hard, and many plants were lost. The open house and flower sale were scheduled to help offset the loss of plants and protective covers that were shredded by the storm. This may be the first year as only a handful of vendors, one food truck, and a great vocalist accompanying himself on an acoustic guitar. Reading the Creekside Flower Farm website, I learned the owner started seven years ago with just a dream, no land, and no business or farming experience. We always like to support local businesses and buy some plants. We enjoyed the drive and walk among the blossoms. An opportunity is coming up soon to pick flowers from the fields. A $25 ticket gets you a glass jar to fill with 20 or so blooms. A portable restroom was available for the festival however will not be available for flower-picking days. More information may be found on their website at https://www.creeksideflowerfarm.com/ Time to plan to catch the next solar eclipse that crosses the North American continent on April 8, 2024. If you miss this one, the next chance comes in August 2044. The total solar eclipse crosses our continent from Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
The last one in 2017 was quite an event in Georgia. We took the entire school outside with safety goggles donated by local businesses. We had a massive party with music and food. It chilled us as we went into complete darkness to the symphony of crickets and tree frogs. The nervous giggles of middle age students joined. If you get this chance, you should see a total solar eclipse. Safety is my primary recommendation. You can make your safety gear or purchase it online. NASA provides an excellent variation of solar eclipse viewing equipment. I have seen several paths; however, one was brought to my attention this week by Xavier Jubier. There is also a fantastic website at http://xjubier.free.fr/en/index_en.html that shows solar eclipse pictures from global locations. Another fantastic website dedicated to solar eclipses is https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/. Most of us are looking hard for side hustles. If we can set it up and let it run to generate passive income, that’s the best. After watching multiple how-to-do it videos and reading blogs, we started researching the ETSY/Printify combination. The strategy is simple. Create original designs on Etsy and link them to products on Printify. You carry no inventory; the customer is shipped directly from the manufacturer on the Printify system. There are over 200 manufacturers worldwide, so we spent a week reading the reviews and calculating price comparisons for similar products. We created a spreadsheet with all the charges Etsy adds for every design uploaded and every product sold through their site.
Setting up that first design took some time, but replicating the rest was easy. We calculated shipping expenses in an average cost to offer free shipping on all products. We decided to make a small profit, much less than a physical store would profit. We launched the store. We saw data that people looked at the designs, but no orders materialized. I looked at our store from my cell phone without logging in so that I could see the store. I saw ads running across the bottom of our store saying, "get a similar shirt for only $8.” Etsy was pushing lower-cost designs from their top sellers on our store page. After looking at the numbers, their shirts' profit margin must be in cents. They make it up in quantity, but a new store starting would not be able to compete. Our costs with small quantities with the Etsy charges and eating the shipping cost far exceeded the $8 advertised shirt. Our COST was more than $8 before adding in free shipping. The Etsy/Printify model is flawed because Etsy does not protect the small and newer stores. Etsy sinks small and new clients because they advertise similar products at significantly lower costs on the store pages at the bottom under the title “You may also like.” My recommendation if you have original designs is to sell the digital designs and let clients download and do whatever they like with your design. You are opening yourself up to lose your original ideas this way so that is a red flag as well. ![]() Especially during the winter, I love to grow indoor plants from my leftover veggies when we cook. Lettuce and onions are fast-growing. If you are patient, place toothpicks in an avocado seed over water and wait. Wait. Wait. Eventually, months later, you will have a small tree. I have cut lettuce off regrowth before just for a mini snack. Potato eyes work well to root in dirt. The flowers on both the potato and onion are lovely. So, the next time you cook, think about putting that carrot top in water. A superb green leaf bursts out. I bought several tropical plants and loaned them to a school in 2005 for a prom. I have managed to keep nearly all of them alive, so imagine my alarm when I checked on them in the garage. The new growth on one was crawling with tiny black bugs. A quick internet search and aphids had invaded my pachira aquatica. Aphids are born pregnant, so they spread quickly. We expected a significant storm that night, and one of the remedies was a lot of water. It worked for most of the aphids. The aphid population had significantly declined the next day and was isolated to one plant. I pinched off the new growth with aphids and bagged them into the trash can. Crossing my fingers today the plant is aphid free. I did not have to resort to a chemical solution. Mother Nature was beneficial. So far this afternoon, my poor money tree, or pachira aquatica, is aphid free.
A cute Thai food and Teriyaki restaurant called Baan Thai is in the business complex in Ringgold, close to the chiropractor and United Grocery. The Uncle and Auntie who own and run the place are very friendly. I took my two granddaughters, who were charmed by the Asian decorations. The place was spacious to be small, the restrooms were immaculate, and the entrance was handicap accessible. Parking was easy to find. The big hit for the girls was the Taro Tea and the California Rolls. I ordered two rolls, and the girls polished them off in minutes. I have a curry allergy, so I had to leave it off my pineapple fried rice dish. It was excellent, with a lot of crunch from cashew nuts and other fresh ingredients such as bell peppers, carrots, onions, and broccoli. I will be going back soon. Their menu offers diverse foods such as Pho and other rice noodles, valid for this gluten-intolerant foodie. Several dishes feature curry or stir fry. Salads include cold noodles, mixed greens, and papaya tossed with either Thai or Lao-style dressing. Children's options include fried chicken with rice, fries, and stir fry, but mine go straight to the sushi. I did not try the coconut soup, but it sounds fantastic. Expect to spend $10 to $15 with plenty of leftovers to take home. Open every day during the week from 11 am to 8 pm and on the weekend from noon until 8 pm. You can order takeout at 706-952-1549. The address is 33 Legion Street, Ringgold, GA 30736. Follow on FACEBOOK at https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=teriyaki%20of%20japan%20%232.
![]() During the past two spring seasons, I have been fortunate to stay a few days at The Beach Club on the Fort Morgan, Alabama Peninsula. Outside of Gulf Shores, the Beach Club offers many amenities, including an open pool year-round, hot tubs, walking trails, cable TV, wifi, children-focused activities, athletic courts, restaurants and bars onsite, and hundreds of yards of secluded, private beach. Hiking trails meander through the 86 acres near a national wildlife refuge. Secure with a closed check-in system, I felt safe walking the trails, around the complex, and on the beach alone. The complex is laid out, and every room has a beach view. The flower beds are well-maintained, and the rooms are gorgeous. I will let my pictures do the talking about the complex. The condo costs for a two-bedroom range from $270 to $500 a night. Three bedrooms run $340 to $600 a night, and four are $470 to $800 a night, depending on the season. The summer season has higher prices. You may rent directly from owners or book through the online website. https://thebeachclub.spectrumresorts.com/rentals/#/room Be sure and bring your groceries because there are few businesses near the condos. There is a dollar general, a pizza place, and a small market within a couple of miles. The condos are close to the ferry that runs over to Dauphin Island, which has a couple of grills on the water. The porch runs the length of the condo, with several chairs and a couple of tables to sit out and watch the dolphins play in the water. There is a channel between the shore and a sand bar where fish can get trapped. We saw dolphins for multiple days. The pelicans are out fishing as well. Sandpipers ran along in front as I walked along the beach. I did step on a tiny jellyfish, but the salt water took the sting out, and I was left with a slight bruise on the bottom of my foot. The sunrise and sunset are best viewed from the beach as the sides of the building, and the other buildings can block part of the view. This is for you for a relaxed family and friends vacation away from the hustle and bustle of the spring break crowd. ![]() Last week, I met up with an old friend I had not seen since the early 1980s at the Ruby Slipper on Palafox Street in Pensacola, Florida. The place opened at 7:30 am, and parking was difficult to find. The place is popular! I parked three blocks up the street and walked down to the restaurant. These people believe in brunch all day. The New Orleans-inspired menu has multiple options Link to the menu here. https://www.rubybrunch.com/menu/?olonwp=JjBtp_vMLk25gkYh_bnoiQ The coffee is hot and tasty and kept refreshed. The service was terrific. I am gluten-intolerant, and multiple things on the menu are available with a bread substitute. I ordered the florentine omelet stuffed with portobello mushrooms, spinach, and goat cheese. Gluten-free toast spread with honey butter, and I am a happy camper. My friend ordered the southern breakfast with more food than she could eat. The biscuit was gigantic! She had scrambled eggs, stone-ground grits, applewood-smoked bacon, and the buttermilk biscuit sitting on a slice of fried green tomato. Looking around the restaurant, that appeared to be one of the most popular dishes. The price ranges from $8 to $15 depending on your order and add-ons like coffee. The restaurant closes early, at 2 pm during the week and 3 pm on weekends. The tables are close together. The place is popular, so I recommend reservations. With everything on one floor, it is easily accessible. Great food, affordable prices, cute decor, and fast service make it a place I will frequent again. There is one in their chain close to me in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is on my list of places to review soon. ![]() If you are considering hiring a bus to take your large family or group somewhere in the Southeast, I highly recommend Eagle Christian Tours bus. Headquartered out of Rome, Georgia, they have multiple vehicles that can handle various group sizes. Some of the locations they service include Atlanta, Nashville, and Birmingham. Our bus driver, Al, was terrific on a rainy day on small, winding roads. I felt safe the entire trip, going and coming. The bus was spectacular, with comfortable seats. I slept a good hour on the ride back. Each seat has a port to charge phones, and the bus has Wi-Fi. I did not use it but noticed several did around me. The all-important restroom in the back was clean. The bus itself was pristine in an elegant look and each seat was equipped with a handle to assist standing up along with a hook for a purse holder. Spacious overhead compartments were available but unneeded for our day trip.. Multiple exits for safety were pointed out by our driver, who courteously pulled over in appropriate places to allow speed demons to move along their way on the back highway. The ease of figuring out which size you need is already ready to calculate using their website. Just click on the number of people in your group for an instant quote—the website, our driver Al, and the luxury bus scream professional and proficient. https://eaglechristiantours.com/ Eagle Christian Tours P.O. Box 512, Rome, GA 30162 Phone: (706) 314-8684 [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/ECTbus ![]() Until the show aired, we, the audience, were sworn to secrecy. Only a handful of people knew that after work and meetings on January 24th, my friend and I hustled up to Franklin, Tennessee, in the late afternoon. It started with a short notice on the For King & Country Facebook page, which generated an email from Cathy. She got a response requesting that she apply for a slot in the audience for Country Music Television’s series Crossroads, taping with For King & Country with Jimmie Allen. She forwarded it to me, and I applied as well. We waited until the 23rd. She received a response that evening, and she was in the audience! I waited. Waited. Waited. After lunch, I received a ticket to attend, so we were good to go. I couldn’t leave my meeting fast enough to hit the road! Instructions included no oversized bags, no food, just water, and no flashy, standout prints or sequined. We arrived around 6:00 pm CST to check in and snagged one of the last available parking spots at The Factory in Franklin, Tennessee. The place sprouted trendy shops and restaurants. Many had steampunk and industrial decor and were closed, saving me untold money. The line was long, but the crowd was boisterous and friendly. Security checked all bags then a person came through to discuss vaccination status, covid exposure. Another followed carefully, checking names against the list. Another placed bands on our wrists, allowing entry. The noise level rose as each person made their way down the line of a couple of hundred people. We entered the facility to cool red lights and fog that diffracted the lights. The crowd was arranged several times by a stage manager. We started on the second level overlooking the stage but eventually moved to the back of the crowd. Everyone was friendly, joking, and complimenting each other on their western attire. Well, not me, as I was just in a solid shirt and jeans. If this happens again, at least I will spring for a fringed shirt.
The music was fantastic. The harmonies were smooth, and the musicians were top-notch. Several musicians played multiple instruments throughout the night, and even the singers played percussion during the show. Jimmie Allen is like an energizer bunny bouncing all over the stage for the two hours that night. For King & Country also bounced and danced around the stage, and the audience with them, waving hands, jumping up and down, and clapping along to the beat. We all sang along and screamed encouragement between the songs. I lost my voice for a couple of days afterward. The songs performed were from Jimmie Allen: Best Shot, Down Home, and Freedom was a highway. From For King & Country, songs were God only Knows, Joy, and What are we waiting for. The audience was more familiar with the second set of songs, and What are we waiting for chorus rang through the rafters. Most of the audience were experienced Crossroad attendees and followed cues. We just went with the crowd as it was our first time. It was a lifetime experience. I am thrilled we drove up there on such short notice to experience this adventure. You can see Crossroads on any service that carries CMT. I watched it on Direct TV. You can see the back of our heads in a few shots. Since we were taller than several of the young ladies as well as later to arrive, we were in the back of the audience. It was a great view! It felt like we were all in the pit in front of the stage. Afterward, several of the performers mingled with the audience. It was a late night getting home, about 2:00 am EST for me, and worth every second of lost sleep. |