Swimming With The Dauphins

Bud's first must see stop of our trip was Dauphin Island in Mobile Bay. When he posted a picture of his first run in April on Facebook and labeled it with the Island's name, my wise and cute little brother asked if he got to swim with the Dauphins.
I did some reading about the Island before we even left home so I knew two things about it: 1) We would have to cross a scary bridge to get there. 2) There was only one motel on the Island.

The bridge. Yes, I hate crossing bridges - have since I was a child. But I told myself we would have to cross a lot of bridges and a lot of water in order to go and see what we wanted to. I guess that helped some because I didn't get as freaked out as I usually do.

This is the Gulf Breeze Motel where we stayed. It has been owned by the same family since 1982. Nothing wrong with staying here except we missed the lower winter rates by two days. It was clean, comfortable, close to the bay side and the beaches.

Which is were we headed as soon as we unpacked the car. It was a bit windy and cool, but oh so much better than what we had left behind in Iowa.

I limited myself the number of shells I would bring home from each beach. The little one at the bottom was still hinged together when I found it. I tried packaging it so carefully, but of course it was in two pieces when I got home.

Indian Shell Mound Park is one of the bird sanctuaries on the Island. We heard more birds than we saw except for these two guinea hens. I was hoping they would make a noise because I've forgotten what they sounded like from when we had white ones when I was a kid.
 The historically significant park was so named because of mounds of shell middens found here - mounds composed of discarded oyster shells. These mounds date to the same Mississippian period (1100 to 1550) as the other mounds we visited.

The Audubon Bird Sanctuary is the largest on the Island at 164 acres. Here Bud is on the pier at the pond in the middle of this birders' mecca reading about what can be seen here. Alligators were on the list, but we didn't spot any. (Thank goodness.)

However, I did get a picture of this turtle though it was very shy. What birds we saw were too far away to identify or even see in the pictures I took of them.

Our day had begun when I asked the motel clerk for a recommendation on where to go for breakfast. He suggested the country club which was open to non-members. I told Bud, "This is going to be a pricey breakfast." When we drove into the parking lot, there were no other cars. We wondered if they were even open. But they were and it was a surprisingly cute little restaurant - not at all the fancy place I was expecting. We were seated at a table overlooking the gulf. My breakfast choice included a side of grits. My first on this trip. We're in the south now, hun.

"Do As I Say, Not As I Do"

"Do as I say, not as I do" was one of the idioms I heard as a child. It was a reminder from the adults that I was supposed to mind them, obey their instructions regardless of what they did; i.e. obey not imitate.

Before we left on vacation I had three specific agendas: Moundville, my niece in Florida and Charleston/Sullivan's Island, SC. The morning of the third day found us at Moundville, Alabama where Bud took this picture of me:

He had a lot of fun posting a similar picture to Facebook warning my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of my gene pool that this was a glimpse into their future. I told him he should just label it "do as I say, not as I do" because I for sure wouldn't have let them go out on those rocks!
That's the Black Warrior River in the background.

Another view of the river which was a major transportation route for the early Native Americans living at Moundville.

Bud standing next to one of the bird totems at the entrance to the Jones Archaeological Museum.

Some of the display cases in the museum. The quantity and quality of artifacts unearthed at Moundville was remarkable and so fascinating to me.

Small Vulture Effigy Bowl carved from limestone - circa A.D. 1250-1500.

Another Effigy Bowl. I think the card said "Serpent/Duck" and that it was the largest specimen of its type. It just amazes me that these survived intact.

I had aspirations of climbing to the top of the largest mound, but I didn't think I could with my bad knees, so I went as far as I could and had Bud take my picture. He said, "You know you're already about half-way to the top." So I went on - just like the little engine, "I think I can, I think I can."

Proof that I made it to the top - I took this picture of Bud at the edge with many of the smaller mounds in the background. (Also, I have pictures of me on top of the mound.)

Picture of me on the patio of the museum with a borrow pit pond and lesser mounds in the background. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Jones Museum.

I first learned about Moundville - as well as other mounds of the Mississippian Culture period the same way I learn about a lot of things - by reading. In this case the books of W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear. People of the River was about the Cahokia Mounds in Illinois which we have also been to. People of the Weeping Eye introduced me to Moundville.

On the way home, at a rest stop, Bud read of another mound site - Winterville near Greenville, MS. This resulted in a bit of backtracking, but hey, we weren't on a time schedule. That's the highest mound at this site in the background. And yes, we both made it to the top of the Temple Mound.

The artifacts in the museum here weren't quite as extensive. One I found interesting was this 'bound captive' Stone Effigy Pipe.

Another was this display of round discs made from various types of stone. It is believed they were used as rolling targets in spear-throwing contests.

For me, one of the most interesting items in the museum was this large photograph showing the flooding in the Great Mississippi floods of 1927. The mounds were one of the few land sites not under water. As such, cattle and other animals took what refuge they could atop them.

By 1939 many of the mounds in this area had already been destroyed by highway construction and farming. If it hadn't been for the efforts of the women of the Greenville Garden Club, this forty-two acre site might not exist today. Thank goodness for those women and their foresight as the Winterville Mounds National Historic Landmark continues to be developed.

The BEST Reason For A Gulf Coast Trip

Bud and I have talked about a trip to the Gulf Coast for several years. The last time we seriously considered going the winter weather there was almost as cold as it was in the Midwest. We decided not to go.

A couple years ago when my niece and hubby were still living in Colorado, we planned a visit out to see them. I don't remember now why we cancelled, but we did.

Finally, the stars aligned. Christine and Dale moved to the panhandle of Florida. Time for a trip to see the Gulf Coast and my niece. It had been almost four years since the last time we were together for her Dad's 70th birthday.

It was lunch time when we arrived. Christine was at work and since I wanted to see her work place anyway, Dale took us there before going to pick up some sandwiches for all of us.

Christine is the manager of Marianna's new Habitat for Humanity Restore. While she works hard to get more donations of building/remodeling/housing supplies for resale, the store continues receiving income from being more the 'thrift' store it was in its uptown location. I admired this lovely chandelier pole lamp. "Wouldn't this look great in my reading corner?" I asked Bud. "Sure, but it won't fit in the car", was his reply.

Bud relaxing on the back deck. Their home sets on an acre of land. Besides a big front yard, they have a huge back yard which had been allowed to become overgrown. Dale & and Christine may be fighting a losing battle trying to get all the weeds and undergrowth cleared. With Florida's wet and warm weather, things grow pretty fast.

While Christine was at work, Dale was an excellent tour guide. This is one of Habitat's current new homes under construction.

He also took us past the infamous Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys. The school was closed in 2011. Because of the ongoing search for and exhumation of graves, the school grounds are closed and a guard is on duty at the gate. If you haven't heard/read about this and want to, you can start here.

Christine had given me several possibilities for things we might want to see/do. The Caverns State Park and Jackson Blue Springs were the two I definitely wanted to see until I heard that friends of theirs had a farm and goats not far from Blue Springs. I said, "Goats! I'll trade the Caverns for a visit to the goat farm."

I think at first they thought I was kidding. (No pun intended.) But after I convinced them I meant it, Dale made a phone call and wrangled us an invitation to Les' farm. I believe my interest in once having my own goats helped me ask somewhat intelligent questions and make knowledgeable comments about the herd.

This fellow's name was Zorro. I think the name fits him. Les said he raises his animals strictly for the manure to use as fertilizer in his gardens - no milking; no eating; no selling.

Walking around the yard and garden followed visiting the goats. I was able to have my questions about various plants and flowers answered. When I spotted this bush and asked what flowering plant it was, the reply was, "That's a blueberry bush."

Which was when I noticed the tiny blueberries forming. This is the first time I have ever seen a blueberry bush. 

Les also had one of those wisteria trees on his property.

At last, a tree I could recognize on my own - even though I've never seen one before and no koalas were present - a fragrant eucalyptus tree. Yes, I came home with some leaves from this tree.

Dale and Les and ? Sorry. I've forgotten the dog's name. She reminded me a bit of Mom's dog, Cricket. In the background you can see one of the gardens. Les is retired FBI, now a Master Gardener. He said that when he retired what he really wanted to do was farm. So he is living out his dream on his 25 acres.

Not far away from there is Jackson Blue Springs Recreational Area. A popular swimming hole, it wasn't open for the season yet but we were able to walk around the gate and down to the springs only to find a dozen or more people there canoeing, kayaking and scuba diving.

   

Close-up of the Sylvania Plantation sign so you can read it.

I am fascinated by these blue springs and blue pools. I've been visiting them and taking pictures whenever and wherever we encounter one. You can read more about this one here. 

More of the pool and facilities. You can see some of the scuba divers walking toward the pool while some others have already entered the water.

And right in the middle of this picture you can see the bubbles coming up from a diver who is already in the cave beneath the concrete diving board area.

It really is true that there's nothing more important than love and family. It was so very, very good to visit Christine and Dale. We had a wonderful time. I loved seeing them and their dog, Anya and the cats as well as Dale's office at the college (Where I didn't take any pictures, duh!), Christine's Habitat Restore and their home and yard - where scarily enough there is a sink hole.

And I really felt welcomed and right at home when I saw this quilt on the bed in our guest bedroom. It was one of my mother's quilts from my own childhood. It was so good to see it at one of her granddaughter's.

In Search of Redbuds and Dogwoods

In my post on the first day of spring I mentioned chasing spring on an upcoming trip to the Gulf Coast wherein I said "Surely there will be dogwoods and redbuds in bloom in Arkansas or Tennessee and azaleas in Florida? Well, yes, there were. Our second day in -

- and I spotted my first redbud along the highway in Arkansas.

As well as several dogwoods along the same stretch of road. I liked the house as well.

The next day we rounded a corner and saw these purple trees. I had no idea what they could be.

Until we got a little closer and I said, "They look like wisteria blossoms. I didn't know there were wisteria trees." Then I saw the vines. Wisteria had climbed to the tops of the trees and was blooming - beautiful.

What appeared to be flooded fields except -

The floods were contained in square-looking ponds. Could it be.....? Yes, a sign confirms it. These are catfish farms.

I needed a guide for all the different wildflowers and weeds I couldn't identify. While waiting for the ferry on Dauphin Island, there was this little cutie:

Is it a periwinkle? And I was right about the azaleas in Florida.....

This was taken at Gulf Islands National Seashore.

While Bud was putting gas in the car, I took this photo of purple phlox (I think).

As well as these - what I'm sure is some kind of weed. As I said, I needed a flora guide book. These reminded me of what we used to call pig weed on the farm, except much taller and more brightly colored.

More redbuds at a scenic overlook in North Carolina.

Atop a rock outcropping in Tennessee.

This is my favorite of all the redbud pictures. It was snapped by Bud as I was driving along an interstate in North Carolina. Amazing how well my little digital camera works at 70 mph.

It was a joy to see all the beautiful spring flowers. I had hopes they might be blooming when we got back home, but not yet. (Snow in the forecast for tonight.)

On the upside, it will be very nice to enjoy two springs this year.