How To Tell You Are In The Country:

When the menu includes neckbones, rutabagas, and fried okra.

Scenic Sunday

Fog on Payne Lake in the Talledega National Forest, Alabama, United States. 

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The Sky After The Storm

 

 

It rained all night and most of the day. We had to drive over to Calera to pick up a part. While we were driving home, the sun started coming out just as it started to set. The sky was magnificent!

Scenic Sunday

 

The Black Warrior River at the Moundville Archaeological Park in Moundville Alabama, November 2009.

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We Went To See Alabama

We set out the other day to go see Alabama, to find our way around our new neighborhood. They had recently scraped the sides of the road, and that orange dirt was showing on the shoulders. For some reason, I found this to be quite lovely.

 

We drove through the Talledega National Forest along County Road 50, and came out in the little town of Moundville. This tiny restaurant was on the corner of County Road 50 and Hwy 69. They are open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and have what else? Catfish, on the menu. They also have shrimp, oysters, and other seafood. They were closed the day we were there, but we put them on our list to try before we leave the area. 

 

 

Just off Hwy 69 is Moundville Archaeologic Park. This area was inhabited by Mississippian Indians 800 years ago. They built the mounds here along the Black Warrior River. Archaeologists studying the area don't know why the Indians built the mounds, or why they left. These early inhabitants left behind lots of pieces of pottery and other of their handicrafts, but, alas, the museum was closed for renovations so we did not get to see them. We are planning to go back in a couple months when it opens up.

 

 There are about 15 mounds there in all. Two of them are larger than the others, and were probably where the chief or religous leaders lived. 

The holes where the dirt was dug out to build the mounds became man-made lakes, and the Indians probably used them as fish farms, growing fish to feed the village. They were farmers, too, growing squash, corn, and beans among other things.

 

We drove down to the Black Warrior River, where there is a picnic pavillion, a conference center, and restrooms.  A small outdoor Indian village replica was there but it wasn't open, either. 

 

The park charges $5.00 per person admission, and was an interesting stop for the day, but it would have been better if the museum had been open. There is a small RV park, with full hook ups on the property. Sites cost $12 per night, but it was not clear where you go to register and pay. Call ahead to get more info before you go. I wish we had.

I Have A Confession To Make

I have looking forward to our stay in Alabama so much. I was secretely counting the days until we could leave the Grand Canyon and get ourselves down south again. I have missed my family and friends down here so much! But I have to confess, I have really missed the food, too.  

(this is my home cooked fried catfish)

We have been in Alabama for a week, and I have eaten fried catfish 5 times since I got here.  I am probably going to turn into a big ol' catfish, with a slippery skin and thin, one strand mustache hanging out by my nose quite soon. And grow gills. And if I don't turn into a catfish I will be fatter for sure! But how can you resist that true, southern fried catfish when you see it on the menu? I have eaten it for breakfast with grits and fried eggs. For lunch with home made cole slaw and french fries. And tonight I had it for dinner, cooked at home and served with garlic new potatoes and squash casserole. 

It doesn't help that we have found the most fabulous little restaurant less than two miles from our campsite. It is located in a gas station, which is not unusual her in the south. Pleasant Valley Grocery Store is the official name of the place, but it is a little gas station with a tiny restaurant tucked inside. 

They cater to the deer hunters that frequent this area, the ones who stay at the campground we are hosting. They sell candy, sodas, bread, snacks and beer. And have the best southern fried catfish I have ever put in my mouth. It came with cole slaw and home fries. FabGrandpa had the smoked barbecue pork ribs--it was the first time I have EVER heard him ask for a to go box because he couldn't eat it all. EVER. In 18 years. 

The people who run the place are so nice! They greet us each time we come in as if they have known us all their lives. Like they are so happy to see us! The second time we came in, they asked if we were going to have iced tea, and remembered that I get the unsweetened tea. The SECOND time. 

 

They have University of Alabama memorabilia on the walls (a little bit of Auburn University stuff, too, but they definitely lean towards Alabama)  There is a crockpot of boiled peanuts over on the counter, too. 

 

They have a pretty good cup of coffee, too.  I'm telling you, if you come to this area, and don't go to this place, you are messing up!  You'll miss the best fried catfish ever in the history of the earth!

(I have not been paid to write about Pleasant Valley Restaurant. This is just my opinion, take it or leave it)

We're Looking For A Home...

No, we are not going to stop living in our trailer and working at wonderful places like the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. But with the prices of real estate what they are right now, we would be crazy not to buy a house if we find the perfect one.

So, what is the perfect home for the FabGrandma? I am looking for a little white frame house, with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom, and 1.5 to 5 acres, out in the country. A sweet little grandma house. One with a yard big enough to park our 34' trailer in while we're there. Something like this. Or this. Or this.

We want something ready to move into, no fixer uppers for us, please! We are looking in the west Georgia, east Alabama area, from roughly Franklin, Georgia, to Lineville, Alabama to Anniston, Alabama to Rome, Georgia. Roughly the area outlined in blue on this map:


That is a pretty big area, I know, but we don't want to limit ourselves to one place and miss out on a good opportunity. We do like the Franklin area, though it is not the only area we want. If anyone out there reading this knows of a nice little place that fits the descripition, and is under $40,000, let me know! We could wind up being neighbors for the winter.