This Or That Thursday: Bottle Tree

My mother-in-law has a bottle tree in her yard.  She had told us about it but our trip to Alabama earlier this month was the first time that we saw it.
After my father-in-law died, the place that he worked gave her two trees to plant in his honor.  One is doing fine but the other died.  She decided that she would make it into a bottle tree.
Friends and family have brought her bottles (including the beer bottles that one of his friends brought for him to enjoy).  I think that my favorite is the pink one.  It looks so old and vintage.

I am linking up with This Or That Thursday at Deb Duty's Blog.

This Or That Thursday

Here are a few photos that I took while I was at home in Alabama.  They are of flowers around my grandmother's house.  I just loved the colors.

I am linking up with This Or That Thursday and Rural Thursday.

Sunflower Field

 We Taft and I started the drive from Gran's and my parent's house, we noticed that the Cotton Field that we saw in September when we were last in Alabama was now planted with sunflowers.  We had to stop for a few minutes.  There were a lot of bee's so Taft was a little nervous and a little mad that I would not let him pick one since I didn't want to get shot at.

Bean's Mill - Opelika, Alabama

There is an old mill on the way from my Mother-In-Law's house to Auburn, Alabama.  I have driven by it for years and never stopped.  I decided that Taft might enjoy it since he loves to see new things.  We stopped on our way into town and got the phone number of the people that own it.  We called on our way back and they said it was fine for us to do a little exploring with the camera.

Today I am linking up with A Rural Journal for Rural Thursday.

 

Alabama Trip Day 5 - Monday

Our drive home from Alabama was a long one.  We spent the night with Gran on Sunday to be able to get a head start on the drive.  It is further south than my parent's house so it would help with the timing.  But - it was storming.  A lot.  We got up later than we meant too. 
By the time that we were up, had baths, and had the car packed, it was about noon.  Then the storm sirens started to go off so we delayed a little to see how the weather looked.  I had mentioned to Taft that we needed to stop and buy mayonnaise on the way home.  When I got him in his car seat, I asked him where we were going.  I thought that he would say, "home" or "to see daddy", but he said, "to buy mayonnaise".  This is only important if you know my love of Bama brand Mayo.  I can't buy it in Florida so I stock up when I get home and have people bring it to me when they visit. 
Taft and I didn't get to Columbus, GA, until around 2 pm.
We stopped at Wal*Mart in Phenix City for mayo and then to get some lunch at a drive thru.  The drive was not too bad even though it rained almost the entire time.  I kept the radio on local stations and every county that we went into was under a storm and/or tornado warning.  It was a little crazy.
We did stop at the little store between Columbus, GA, and Albany, GA.  The Merritt Pecan Company has homemade jerky and lots of pecan candy and pecan logs.  Plus - they have very clean bathrooms and gas.  Taft and I stopped on the way in and out of town. 

It was after dark when we got to Florida and Taft was tired.  So was I.  We called Daddy when we got to Jacksonville, FL, so that he could order us some pizza for dinner and have it ready for us.  Taft was very excited to see his daddy and tell him all about his trip.  He wanted to show him all his new toys, clothes, and shoes, and talked about the fun he had until he fell asleep.

Alabama Day 4 - Sunday

Yes - another post that I have had started but not finished.....

Sunday was our last day in Heflin.  We all had breakfast together and then Taft took some photos with his family to use in his collage at school.  Here are just a few...

 Taft with Uncle Patrick (my brother) and his new wife, Aunt Lori.  Taft really loved Uncle Pack.

 Taft and Mawmaw Geneva (my grandmother)

 Taft and Shemar.  Aunt Kristi's cat that is living with Mawmaw.

 Mallory and Travis with Shemar.

 Taft and Mawmaw (my mother)

 Taft and Pawpaw (my daddy) and Bit Bit, I think.

 Aunt Kristi (my sister), Taft and Mallory

Taft wanted to get his picture made with Pawpaw's car aka Lightning McQueen.

Taft completely fell in love with a weed eater toy at Mawmaw and Pawpaw's.  Pawpaw gave it to Taft and brought it out the car for us.  Taft was so happy that he held it all the way to Gran's house.  He even held it as he slept in the car.

When we got to Gran's, it was dinner time.  Mrs. Betty came to eat with us.  She is one of Gran's friends and the mother of Shane's best friend from school.  We always love to see Mrs. Betty.  We also ate with Scott, Izzy, Evan, and Jenna.  Aunt Chelsea wasn't feeling well and didn't get the house until later.

I can't believe that I didn't get anymore pictures at Gran's house.  Taft had a ball!  He loved Jenna's new fish and wanted to kiss the tank.  He also loved her new hamster (or mouse as he called it) and loved for me to get it out of the cage and let him kiss it too.

We also go to spend some time with Aunt Chelsea.  Her and Scott got married in March but since we had not been to Alabama in a year (gasp) we had not gotten the chance to meet her yet.  Hopefully we will get to stay longer the next trip and get to know her a little better.

Alabama Trip Day 3 - Saturday

On Saturday, we were awaken before 8 by Mallory to let us know that breakfast was almost ready.  We ate breakfast each day at my parents house with the entire family.  Taft and I went over in our pj's.  Uncle Pack was dressed and said that he would take Taft for a 4 wheeler ride before he and Lori left for the day.  I wondered how Taft would do this time.  He got right on and told me by.  They took a nice long ride and Taft loved it.  Later when we got dressed, he wanted to wear his camo shorts because they were just like Pack's.
Then we got ready to go shopping with Mawmaw, Kristi, and Mallory.  We went to a big Thrift Store in Oxford and to Kohl's.  Mawmaw got Taft 8 new shirts and a pair of shoes.  Now he just needs pants to get started for fall.  We also go lunch at Arby's.  "Roast Beast" is a favorite of Taft's.
By the time we got to Mawmaw Geneva's, it was time for a nap.  Taft and I laid down in bed but didn't get a lot of sleeping done.  Shamar kept wanting to sleep with us and could not be still.  I knew then that we had to lock him out for the night.
When we got up, Pawpaw was cooking dinner.  He did tuna steaks on the grill, salmon, and shrimp.  He also did pork chops for Mother since she is not a fan of seafood.  It was delicious.  We also had garlic bread and potatoes.  Pawpaw and Mawmaw had gone to the Fruithurst Winery while Taft and I napped.  We tried the strawberry wine, blackberry wine, and muscadine wine.  All were very good, but I loved the strawberry.
After dinner was over, Mawmaw took Taft and I for a ride on the Rhino out in the pasture.  Taft loved it since it was starting to get dark and he could see the moon.  He also thought that we were going very fast.
Somehow, I didn't take any photos on Saturday.

Alabama Trip Day 2 - Friday

On Friday, we woke up and had breakfast with Gran before packing up to go to Heflin.  On the way, Taft and I saw a cotton field.  I decided to stop and get out and let Taft see the cotton.  I told him that it was cotton and he said that it was "cotton balls".  He was a little hard to get to smile for a picture but I got a few that are a "kinda funny" as he says.  Then we picked a little piece of cotton to take home and got back on the road.

When we got to Mawmaw's (my grandmother), I told Taft to go in and say surprise. When we went in she was asleep in her recliner.  I think that he surprised her and maybe scared her to death.  She was very happy to see us and we were very happy to see her. 
Mawmaw Geneva has a new cat living in her house.  Shamar.  Kristi found him at the feed store and brought him home.  Then they found out that he has been fixed and declawed.  He is a beautiful cat and huge!  I weighed him and he was 20 pounds.  He and Taft were pretty close in size.

After a few minutes, Aunt Kristi came over to see us before she had to go to work at the school.  She asked us to come have lunch with Mallory and her Pre-K class.  So we made plans to do that.
Before we left to go to the school, Uncle Patrick and his new wife Lori came over.  Taft looked a Patrick a little funny at first.  I told him that Patrick might eat him.  Finally he went over to Patrick, who he started calling Pack, and said, "Pack, I want to hug you.  Don't eat me OK?". 
We went to Pleasant Grove Elementary School when I went to school to see Miss Mallory.  First we took a tour of the library with Kristi.  Then we waited on the Pre-K class to come through.  Mallory was excited to see us.  We had a great lunch of hamburgers.  Travis saw us and came over to say hello also.  One of the funniest things is what the Pre-K kids will tell you.  One asked if I knew her mother.  I told her that I didn't and she said, "she is Brooke and my dad is Brett, "  I guess I was supposed to know know who that was.  They were all pretty funny.
Aunt Kristi, Mallory, Taft, and  made a trip to the Dollar General also.  We saw the milk man while we were there.  He was making his delivery.  He told us to come out to the truck before we left.  He let Mallory and Taft get on the truck and gave them each a chocolate milk.  In the photo, they kinda look afraid, but they said that they loved it.

Later, everyone had dinner at Mawmaw's house.  Then we went to my parents house for a little while and a tour.  We had not been to Alabama since their remodel was finished.  It looks great. 
Then it was back to Mawmaw Geneva's to get ready for bed.

Alabama Trip Day 1 - Thursday

Taft and I left Florida to come to Alabama.  We left this morning at 9am and started north.  I wondered how traveling with him would be this go around.  He has not been on a road trip in over a year.  It went very well.

The first place that we stopped was at the Georgia Welcome Center.  I thought that Taft would enjoy going in and picking out some books and maps.  He did.  They have a special book for kids, a Georgia Travel Guide, and then Taft got a "smile".  It is a smile on a stick.  He thought that it was funny.

Taft looking at the Cabbage Patch Kid Display at the Welcome Center

 

Taft with his "smile" on.

We made great time and he loved getting out of the car to stretch when we stopped for gas.  He also got a kick out of getting lunch at Krystal.  He loved the square cheeseburger.

We also stopped at one of my favorite places - the store in Weston, GA.  It sells pecan logs and candies, homemade beef jerky, and has clean bathrooms and gas.  The last two are a plus.  I may have gotten a pecan log and I may have eaten it all before we got to Columbus.  ;0

Once we got into Ft. Benning, Taft was thrilled to see all the tanks and "army mans".

Our plan was to get into Phenix City and stop to see Aunt Teresa, Izzy, and Evan.  We made such great time that we were very early and Aunt T was still in school.   Lucky for us, she just had us come by the school and visit.

Then it was off to Gran's house.  We got in, had dinner, and then Taft went out to help Gran water the plants.  We are going to bed soon and will get up in the morning and back on the road.  We are going to Mawmaw's (my grandmother) in the morning to surprise her.

Surprise Party - June 19th

We got a HUGE suprise while at Aunt Kristi's. Mallory was having a birthday party on the 19th. she turned 3 that week. Kristi knew that we cancelled Taft's Florida party and she decided that Mallory and Taft would have a party together. A surprise party.
I really had no idea. We were working on get things ready and she was making a strawberry cake for Mallory. I got Taft in the bed and went to the kitchen to snack with her. I noticed a second cake in the oven and asked what it was for. I then concluded that it was in case people didn't like strawberry. So - Kristi pulled out the decorations that she got for it and they were all little construction vehicles. Then she had to tell me that it was a party for Taft too and that everyone knew but Taft and I. She had even invited my best friend since kindergarten, Kendra, and her little girl, Hallie.
So on Saturday morning, I got to decorate 2 cakes! It was a lot of fun. Family, friends, cake, and hot dogs. Yummy!
Mallory, Taft, and Mawmaw Geneva.
Taft and Mawmaw blowing out the candles.
Both of the birthday kids together.
Having lots of fun licking those candles and decorations.
Don't forget opening those gifts!