Saturday, October 4, 2008

Alabama Outdoor Heritage Festival

Today I went with several members of my quilt guild to Midway, Alabama for the Alabama Outdoor Heritage Festival. It was a beautiful Fall day, although it was hot. I am going to let most of the photos speak for themselves. Mr. Wehle, a famous bronze sculptor, began rescuing log cabins and bringing them to this land many years ago. It is set up like an old town. So beautiful and safe. I don't worry about the kids, they roam about all day long and I only see them every now and then. It is not crowded and it is very open and friendly. We had a wonderful day.

This is my son and his friend petting some of the sweet horses who came to the festival.
This is one of the bronze statues by Mr. Wehle. He had champion hunting dogs and this is one of the best.



Here are the other guild members who were on hand. It is such a pleasant way to spend a day.

Yummy, the kettle corn man is always set up next to us. We love to eat that kettle corn!!
Here I am with Smokey Bear. Notice it is not Smokey THE Bear, it is just Smokey Bear.



I loved this old handmade washboard. Can you imagine having to wash clothes that way?





Most people who were volunteering were dressed in "regalia" or period clothing. (They made sure we knew it was not a costume, but regalia.) They represented the period from about 1730 to 1830, when non-native people were first settling in Alabama. I'm glad I wasn't yoked up with two big water buckets.
This is a replica of an old covered bridge. It is so much fun to drive over it. I don't know if you can tell, but the bridge dog-legs over at about the middle because the original bridge was built over two creeks that ran near each other.
What a fun day we had. It is so good to hang out with folks who talk like me! Linda is the only person I know outside of my late Daddy, who says someone is "Balling the Jack" when they are going really fast! I tend to say it too. We also say things like, "It was locked up tighter than Dick's hatband." I could probably think of lots more if I put my mind to it.
This was my third year to go and I definitely plan to go back next year. I hope you enjoyed the photos!
Julie


14 comments:

Rhonda said...

Wow!! What a wonderful and lovely place to spend the day! Love all the pictures, especially the ones of your children petting the horses and the middle of the bridge.

Oddbjørg said...

I'm sure you enjoyed the day. Lovely photos.

Kris said...

I did enjoy the photos! It sounds like a really wonderful day. Hey! I love you bloglist on your sidebar! Has it always been like that? I love that you can see a photo from your favourite blogs. So cool!

scraphappy said...

It looks like a lovely way to spend a day. What great pictures.

Candace said...

Looks like a perfect day with lots of memories. There is a song "Balling the Jack", but I haven't heard it used in conversation before. I grew up with a friend who's mother used the most 'expressions' of anyone I've ever been around. I told my friend that she should write a book of all she can remember. It might have to be R rated though.

Lori said...

Thanks for taking me along. I shutter looking at that wash board. Yikes! Hope you have a great week.

sewkalico said...

This looks like a great day out!!

Renee said...

tag, you're it. come see my blog for details.

Renee said...

tag, you're it. come see my blog for details.

Renee said...

hi, it's renee again. i didn't want you to think i was spamming you so i thought i'd drop back and explain. sara at the quilting bookworm got me(tagged me) and by "tagging" someone, they have to tell 7 fun facts people don't know about them and tag someone else. i thought it would be fun to get to know new people and see some great blogs. hope you might participate. have a great day.
thanks,
renee

Cathy said...

Terrific..looks like a great day...Will have to go one day!!! Cathy

Tanya said...

It looks like great fun! I love the picture of the covered bridge!

Kay said...

This looks like so much fun. I can almost smell the kettle corn. Thanks so much for keeping me company on my trip, Julie. I'll have to look up skinks.

Phyllis Dobbs said...

The festival looks absolutely wonderful. I've lived in Alabama all my live and have never heard of Midway. I would love to attend the festival next year.