Ivy Green

While traveling to Bob’s new fishing hole, we stopped for the night in Tuscumbia, Alabama.  We asked if there was anything interesting to see around Tuscumbia, and they told us it was Helen Keller’s birthplace, so off we went.


Isn’t the house pretty?  It was built in 1820 by Helen’s grandparents.  Helen was born in the small building to the right of the main house.


It’s easier to see Helen’s birthplace here.  It’s the little building behind the tree on the right.


After some time Helen and her parents moved into the main house, and this is the furniture they used while living here.


The guides told such good stories, and it was easy to tell that they loved Helen Keller.


Remember the scene from The Miracle Worker when Anne Sullivan came to live with Helen and her parents, and Helen ran from plate to plate eating everything she could feel? 


The quilt on Helen’s bed looks like the crazy quilt Beth and I made when she was in middle school.


Everyone remembers the scene in the movie that showed Helen and Anne with the pump, except for Bob.  He claims he never saw The Miracle Worker or To Kill a Mockingbird.  I’m not sure I believe him, but we must remember:  John Wayne is not in either movie.

Now, on to that fishing hole, and wait until you see it and the fun day trips we took while we were there!

We Went Looking for Elvis!

When we were in Las Vegas a few years ago we saw Elvis.  Many, many Elvis’s, at least 50, and I know one of them was the genuine Elvis.  Maybe the one that charged a dollar to have your picture taken with him.  I got to stuff my dollar bill into his huge fake gold belt buckle!  We wanted to see him again so off we went.


Since we didn’t see Elvis in downtown Memphis we decided to tour Graceland.  We’ll find him there for sure!


Don’t you wish you had a set of huge blue peacock stained glass windows in your living room?  


The dining room table was all set so I bet Elvis is around here somewhere.


They said Elvis didn’t drink, but he had a huge bar, for his guests.


Three TVs, a monkey on the table, lots of yellow, but still no Elvis.


The walls and ceiling of this room were covered with cloth.  Lots and lots of cloth.  What was he thinking?


The jungle room.  What can we say about this? 


The other half of the jungle room.  Interesting.


This is the office, and they had a lot of mementoes sent to Elvis by his fans in this room.


His horses were in the pasture so he’s not out riding.  He’s here somewhere!


I guess you could call this his trophy room.  There were many gold and platinum records in this room.


Life sized portraits too.


They told us that Elvis used this room often to practice new songs.


There were razzley dazzley Elvis outfits here, in various sizes.


This room had more gold and platinum records.  Holy cow!


This outfit must be from later years because it looks rather large.


There were so many trophy rooms!


This is where they say Elvis and his parents are buried, but we know the truth!  Remember, we saw him in Vegas!


Graceland again.  They didn’t let us go upstairs because Elvis never left anyone go up there.  I bet that’s where he is today!


Across the street from Graceland they had his cars.  This was his first Mercedes.


This is the Cadillac he bought his momma.  I wonder when I’m getting mine!  Jaime and Beth???


This Elvis outfit was for sale for a couple thousand dollars.  Now how many of those do you think they sell?  We also toured Elvis’s private jets but our computer person lost the pictures.  I won’t mention any names.

So that’s it for Memphis.  No Elvis here today.

We’re still heading north and Bob found a new fishing hole.  Check back soon to see if he catches anything.

A Stop in Memphis – home of the Blues and Elvis

While we passed through Tennessee we had to stop in Memphis.  Beth told us when we’re in Tennessee we should stop here.  So we did.


Of course Memphis is all about Elvis, and doesn’t he look so young and cute here?


B. B. King has his place in Memphis music history and is honored too. The music they had playing in this visitor’s center was good!


You know you’re in Memphis when you see this road sign.  It’s hard to miss.


Of course we had to see the ducks at The Peabody!


We knew the ducks do their walk at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. so we got there at 10:30 thinking we’d be early.  Not a chance! These people were lined up and ready when we got there, but we found a place to stand near the elevator.


We were able to figure out which elevator they’d be using.


The Peabody Duck Master gives a little spiel about the history of the ducks.  Doesn’t he look quite natty with his red coat and duck cane? 


He finally took the elevator to the roof, and when doors opened again the ducks were with him and ready to roll. 


Those little guys knew what to do and they hustled out of the elevator and down the red carpet.


So cute!


They all hopped in happily except for this guy.  He came back down the steps and around the fountain a couple of times followed by the Duck Master.  After two times around the fountain he came back down the red carpet and into the elevator!


There was a little grey haired guy cleaning the mirrors in the elevator quite unaware that the duck and Duck Master were coming back in.


The little duck was herded out again and ran down the carpet and hopped right in the fountain this time.  He got a round of applause from his fans!


We went up to the mezzanine for an over head look.   


After all that ducky fun we went to look for Elvis. 


We took a stroll down Beal Street, and the music is definitely good here.  So are the ribs!


I thought these street musicians were better than the ones we heard in New Orleans.



Sparse crowd, but good music


We couldn’t figure this out.  The façade of the building was propped up, no building, but the bar/restaurant was very busy on the other side.


Memphis has street cars too!

I had never been on a riverboat, so Bob said now was the time to do it.

I was happy to finally be on a riverboat, and then he told me the paddlewheel was fake!

Memphis’ riverfront is really pretty with large houses built high up on the banks away from the river and flooding. 

After our cruise we went back to Beale Street to see more of the action.

This sign caught our eyes.

And this lady could SING!

Another fun sign:  You can’t dance to da Vinci!
Next stop:  GRACELAND!  I know we’ll see Elvis there!