Rainy Days and Rainy Nights (Foley, AL)

We left Texas last week and made it to Foley, AL in two days.  Our first day of travel was uneventful except for driving through pockets of rain.  The second day was more fun as we crossed through Louisana's waterways and many swamps.  I spotted two 2 alligators!   The highlight of my day!😁

We also crossed the Mississppi River.  As we were going over the bridge, I was reminded of Clive Cussler's Flood Tide.  The adventures in this book brings Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino to the Mississippi River to foil the evil genius.  It was fun trying to imagine the two men on a boat pretending to be local fishermen while an old cruise ship tries to sneak up the Mississippi.  Yea, I know.  Sounds a little over the top, but I do love reading all about Pitt's adventures and I love visiting locations featured in fictional books.

Mississippi River

 Our first day in Foley, AL was a trip to Florida's state park office to get a new pass.  We stopped at Orange Beach which was quite busy with the last vacationers before school started.  I have missed the white sandy beaches of the Gulf Coast.  The sand is soft and as fine as sugar grains that it squeaks if you drag your feet while walking.  Oh! And the big Turtle to the left offers free beach toys for the young visitors to borrow while they are on the beach.  It looks like the visitors are doing a great job of honoring the Turtle because the bin had quite a few toys in it.

Orange Beach, AL

A couple of days later, we visited the Foley Depot Museum & Model Train Exhibit.  The following are photos of the park.

With the look of rain coming our way, we decided to move inside to see the model trains. ☂

 

Below are some photos of the Model Train Exhibit.  The guide turned off the lights so we could see the town with all the night-lights on.  He told me that a group of men got together at one house and spent 14 months building this small, not to mentioned, very detailed town.  The town got so big that they had to cut it into pieces to get it out of the house.  A great place to bring everybody.  The kids were really enjoying the display with the lights off.

 Lots of moving parts.  The ferris wheel is going around while the drive-in behind it is playing a movie with Lucille Ball.

Towards the back, the Fireworks building is on fire.  The firefighters are trying to put it out. 

 My favorite part is the man trying to escape the bear.  According to the guide, the bear is protecting the moonshine still from the revenue guy.  🤣LOL!

And what train track doesn't have a Hobo camp?  Looks like they have found themselves a nice little camping site.

 They even have a list of Hobo Codes. The "Jail with good lodging" is a good one.

 But, my favorite one is the "Kind Lady" code!

Kitty!

Lots of rain in this area which hasn't cooled it off.  It is still hot and humid.  After seeing what is happening in other areas, I am quite happy to deal with this weather.

The fires and the floods seem to be getting worse.  If you are in the NW or the NE states, I hope you and your families are safe.

On The Cutting Board
I'm getting a few things done.  Well, sort of.  I'm not sure what is up with me lately.  I just want to work on a few things and then I put them aside for later.

I started an English Cottage garden themed for the Happy Campers.  I'm really loving the Hollyhocks.  I have actually found them relaxing to make and a joy to watch them grow.

I have finished embroidering quite a few of them, but this is as far as I have gone on them.

Now, I am working on a new ABC Animal quilt.  I'm on the 'B' now and should have the 'C' done soon.

Maybe once the weather cools off just a little, I will fill more like pulling out the sewing machine and getting all the UFO projects done.  In the meantime.....
Happy Quilting!