Belle Mont Mansion

JT, Luci and I went on a field trip today. Belle Mont Mansion in Tuscumbia, Alabama, was decorated for Christmas and open for tours. They are only open a few times a year (sometimes only at Christmas), so we were very fortunate to see the mansion. The mansion is being restored as money is raised; you can see the progress in the photos.

Alabama’s finest expression of Jefferson Palladian architecture. Brick, U-shaped structure, built 1828–1832, was one of state’s 1st great plantation houses. Design strongly suggests influence of Thomas Jefferson. Alabama Historical Commission Property.Quote from Belle Mont website

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Field Trip!

Thursday, John came home from work excited about taking us all on a field trip to Cathedral Caverns.  He was so animated, ready to go exploring with all of us.  He's really taken to heart his "Principal-ship" of our homeschool, leading more than ever.  I love that.

Except that on Thursday, right before John got home, all I could think of was how I wanted some time all by myself.  Even if that meant sitting in the van in the driveway, with the doors locked.  As John told us his plan for Saturday, my eyes began to glaze over.  So, seeing Mommy retreating into herself, he revised the plan--it would now be a "Dad takes the kids on a Really! Fun! Trip!" but we couldn't tell Luci about it before arriving there or she'd freeze up and be scared ("Are there monsters there?  What about BATS?!" which is precisely what she said once she found out about the CAVE, about 30 minutes before arriving there).

Turns out part of my reluctance was not just a difficult time this week with my high school kids, but that I was coming down with a sinus infection.  Oh Joy.  At least I didn't have to feel guilty about staying home and missing all the fun. 

There were too many shots that were my favorites, so here are a bunch! 

So glad that John-Daddy-Principal took this shot before going into Cathedral Caverns:  not just to commemorate the occasion but to use as a "my kid's in there lost, here's what he looks like" photo.  Notice I didn't say "she" because I know that Luci would be stuck on John like a limpet.  Which she was.  John said he carried her nearly the entire time.  Good thing she's light.

Enjoy!

Thirty Days of Thanks...

Luci signing her name (she's got "L" showing now) at Helen Keller's house, Ivy Green. This is the famous pump where Helen "awoke" and learned to sign "water." Photo from June 2008. (Luci's still able to wear that jumper and those crocs! Little girl, indeed)


I am so thankful to be here in Alabama, in a state where so many things have happened, and quite a bit close to where we live now. Definitely something to learn around every corner. Yesterday we went to LaGrange, the site where the first chartered college in Alabama stood until it was burned down in the Civil War (and I learned yesterday that some of my homeschool friends are still upset about that and would not let their kids stand on the "blue" side of the photo below).
I'm also thankful that we have indoor plumbing.
Good looking kids, don't you think? I sent John a postcard from this post office.
The infamous blue and gray picture...notice my boys glaring at each other...at least this time they were just acting. During the rest of the field trip they were quite nice.

Things I've Learned Since Moving to Alabama

Possums sleep in the middle of the road with their feet in the air.

There are 5,000 types of snakes on earth and 4,998 live in Alabama .

There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,0 00 live in Alabama, plus a couple no one's seen before.

If it grows, it sticks; if it crawls, it bites.

Onced and Twiced are words.

It is not a shopping cart; it is a buggy.

People actually grow and eat okra.

'Fixinto' is one word.

There is no such thing as 'lunch.' There is only dinner and then supper.

Iced tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you're two. We do like a little tea with our sugar!

Backwards and forwards means 'I know everything about you.'

DJeet is actually a phrase meaning 'Did you eat?'

You don't have to wear a watch because it doesn't matter what time it is. You work until you're done or it's too dark to see.

You don't PUSH buttons, you MASH them.

You measure distance in minutes.

You'll probably have to switch from 'heat' to 'A/C' in the same day.

'Fix' is a verb. Example: 'I'm fixing to go to the store.'

All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect or animal.

You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.

You carry jumper cables in your car . . . for your OWN car.

There are only four spices: salt, pepper, Tabasco and ketchup.

The local papers cover national and international news on one page, but require 6 pages for local gossip and sports.

The first day of deer season is a national holiday.

100 degrees Fahrenheit is 'a little warm.'

We have four seasons: Almost Summer, Summer, still Summer and Christmas.

Going to Wal-mart is a favorite past time known as 'goin' Wal-martin' or off to 'Wally World.'

A cool snap (below 70 degrees) is good pinto-bean weather.

A carbonated soft drink isn't a soda, cola or pop. . . it's a Coke, regardless of brand or flavor. Example: 'What kinda coke you want?'

Fried catfish is the other white meat.

We don't need no stinking driver's ed . . . if our mama says we can drive, we can drive.