Sunday, August 27, 2006

my hometown

Weekend Assignment #126: Where You Live

         

i'm from northwest alabama, an area comprised of 4 cities known as the shoals. (lynyrd skynyrd's 'sweet home alabama'). florence is on the tennessee river....and there are lotsa water activities all summer...annual bass tournaments, fishing, swimming, jet skiing, water skiing, sailing, boating....

         

after much debate, the old railroad bridge was turned into a pedestrian walkway.  it is nice to walk out on the bridge to watch sunsets or fish, and eagles have even been sighted.

                                                

we have the beautiful university of north alabama here, known as the una lions, national champions of the ncaa division II  3 years in a row (early 90's).

   

                   

                           and are very proud to have live mascots....ms una and mr leo....

                                           

          leo refused to come out of his den for the photo shoot...so una hogged the show.  ;)

beautiful downtown florence has undergone restoration and renovation of many old buildings and we now have quaint restaurants, gift shops and local businesses.

     

   our historical district boasts of many victorian homes and a couple of bed and breakfast inns...

                                                  

beautiful downtown wilson park  hosts the annual w.c. handy (father of the blues) festival and renaissance faire. (for city name sake, florence, italy)

   

george lindsey (goober from the andy griffith show) attended una and sponsors an annual  film festival at the university.

                

just across the river is tuscumbia....birthplace of helen keller, and home to the annual live summer production of  'the miracle worker'

      

and the beautiful big spring park that was featured on the today show a few years ago....

   

   with free trolley to downtown, carousel and small roller coaster and train for the children...

                                   

lots of pictures taken in front of these waterfalls, and out in the middle of the spring is a big fountain and on weekends  there is a choreographed light show set to popular tunes.

 

Friday, August 25, 2006

the round robin transportation photo challenge

                                                 The Round Robin Photo Challenges

             when i think of transportation...i think of rides....here are some of  my faves.....

                                                                    my largest ride....

              

this was our honeymoon cruise to the western carribbean...docked in cozumel....the one on the left was our ship.

                                                         my smallest ride................

                    

                                         

                          balloon ride over temecula valley, california....our 2nd anniversary.  :)

                                                                my coolest ride............

           

                                            it was fun too....even if it was a ford!  lol

                                                          and then there are these....

               the star of india....san diego bay...has sailed around the world many times...  cool!

        

                      what about this cute lil number....naval aviation musuem, pensacola, florida

                          

                                                                       i love sailing!!!

                                         

never tried parasailing.....might hafta get my face wet!!!!  ewwww lol...but if i weren't so chicken....bet it would be loads of fun!

and these next few are from forcheim, germany's 1200th birthday celebration kick-off parade for annafest....

                        

                                                      just don't think i could handle the stilts....

               

                                those are real beer kegs....lotsa free beer passed out in this parade....

                              

                                                                the first aid wagon??

and then here is johnny  peacefully floating along....this was before he hit those rapids...(lil ones)  lol....

Friday, August 18, 2006

some of my pics...

i told ya i was a wannabe photographer...  :)