La familia de Brown -- June 2006

I love how pseudo fierce dad looks.

No Linds, don't do it!!!

Despite the threat of being pushed off a cliff, Dad's unlit cigar (aka poop stick) remains firmly clinched between his teeth. When these little nasties break apart, we find their shrapnel and carcasses everywhere. When we were living in Auburn, sometimes they would appear in between the couch cushions which would send my mom over the edge, as demostrated in this picture.

After an emergency crisis intervention session, the two reconciled.

Lincoln Logs, come to life

Unfortunately, it was too warm to build a fire in the huge stone fireplace inside, but it and the chimney were beautiful to look at. For $92 a night, we had a two-bedroom cabin with all the modern goods (minus dishwasher) -- a pretty great deal. I will definitely go back to DeSoto State Park.

Front porch

With rockers facing the woods, this front porch was more of a back porch in all the good ways. At night all we could hear was crickets and frogs and the first night a possum came to check the grill out after we got through with it.

Eat the beetles

Behind the white beard and bifocals (or trifocals) lies a twelve-year-old boy who makes appearances during family vacations. This is one of the best parts of family vacations.

Let the good times roll (in a dry county) -- Mentone, Ala.

Oh how we wanted to know what was in these kegs -- beer or dynamite -- or maybe one of each!

Mess-o-fish

Dad and I caught over 20 bream in Lake Weiss, one of our many new discoveries during our short trip. This massive lake, called the Crappie capital of the world, is more than 30,000 acres and goes well into Georgia. Crappie is another name for Bream (pronounced "brim"). We kept 16 and Dad got back to his South Alabama roots by frying these suckers up Monday morning -- they were good too.

I'm sure that on the many hundreds of miles of fishing area on this lake, my dad was probably the only one with a Vanderbilt cap and shirt (his alma mater). It's better than the Forenza sweatshirt, that belonged to me, he used to wear out jogging when I was in junior high. Of course, the jogging track was next to the junior high school. Any girl who grew up in the 1980s knows the pain of this.

Mentone Springs Hotel, Mentone, Ala.

The oldest hotel in the state was built in 1884, by a man named Dr. J. Frank Caldwell of Pennsylvania. Dr. Caldwell had visited the mountain while ill and his health was restored after drinking the mineral spring water on the property. He lived to the ripe old age of 92, which was pretty rare during the turn of the century, especially for a man.

Shops at the square in Mentone

The Mentone Inn, Mentone, Ala.

Built in 1927, this bed and breakfast is surrounded by beautiful trees and gardens and one of the best wrap around porches I've ever seen.

Cliff wall at DeSoto Falls

Boat shed above DeSoto Falls, Fort Payne, Ala.

This was my favorite picture from our trip.

Very dangerous, I'd say

Dad and Linds at DeSoto Falls. My sister and I were of course reminded of the scene with Chevy Chase in "National Lampoon's Vacation" when the family spends all of 10 seconds for a photo opportunity at the Grand Canyon.

DeSoto Falls, top level, Fort Payne, Ala.

DeSoto Falls, both levels, Fort Payne, Ala.

DeSoto Falls, Fort Payne, Ala.

Bottom of DeSoto Falls, Fort Payne, Ala.

I know waterfall pictures are cliched, but there is something about the area where the falls hit the water that is just fascinating to me.

Falls at Little River Canyon, Fort Payne, Ala.

Little River Canyon, Fort Payne, Ala.

The mountains in northeast Alabama and this canyon represent the southernmost region of the Appalachian Mountain Range.

Little River Canyon, Fort Payne, Ala.

There is nothing little about this place.

Where its at

On our way to DeSoto State Park, we saw this little oddity and got pictures on the way back. I think Dad had some inspiration for life after retirement. Yes, what you see here is a utility shed with a pink door. According to the hand-painted sign, they serve barbecue, biscuits and boiled peanuts (three deep South staples.) Maws has a luxurious patio and a drive-through with a hand-painted menu. Unfortunately the place was closed on our return trip. I don't know what's hanging off that patio beam, but I hope its not a noose. I bet they make a killing since construction costs had to be within the $1500 range. Little pink shed doors for you and me baby!

Class reunion

Alec Harvey, left, and Dad talk with Virginia Martin. Alec and Virginia were dad's students way back in the early 1980s at Auburn University's School of Journalism. I work with both of them on a weekly basis at The Birmingham News and Virginia is our next door neighbor. Yes it is a small world after all, especially in newspaper world.

Wee Willie T -- approaching month 3

He won't be wee for long at the rate he's growing. The blanket Christina has him in was Will's dad's when he was a baby.

look ma, no hands, one tooth

nu=3259>77:>:<5>WSNRCG=323387;635947nu0mrj.jpg"> The paste that Ben created with these crackers wound up on one of my shirts -- a black one no doubt.

hold me closer tiny dancer?

Ben's toes are always pointed these days. We told him if wants to be take ballet, he will be a loving, supportive neighborhood that will not scoff at such.

Evening turns to morning in a Montevallo pasture

As the sun rises, we all fall out -- an excellent mild winter evening!

Don't forget your fiber

Codi Jane McGrann, 10, offers Kalijah a broccoli stalk. He treated it like any other youngster would -- he just nibbled at it and kicked it around a while and then finally gave in and ate it.
Codi, after a sound night of sleep, let me sleep in her very comfortable bed and I really appreciated it. I can't remember what exactly I was dreaming about, but all the dreams were good ones.

Misty Mountain Clop

This morning was like being on the set of a southern version of the Hobbit.

It was eerie as the sun came up this day. We don't have thick mist like this in Birmingham and its so beautiful.

The sun starts to rise

I think this horse probably likes the McGrann's better than his own owner.

canine/equine jealousy

Snuff didn't like how many apples the horse was getting so she stepped in and claimed her chow. I have never seen dog eat an apple before. Paul said this dog would never eat an apple if offered one and was only eating this one to send a message that she didn't need to be forgotten during treat time.

my new horse friend

I have always been a little scared of horses, mainly because they are so damn strong and if they can put the hurt on you if they aren't happy with you, but I have definitely made an exception as of last night. Paul and Carrie live on few acres in Montevallo and their neighbor has a huge piece of farmland behind them where this very friendly young horse lives. The McGrann's don't know their neighbor or this horses official name. They call him Kalijah and he is so flirty that last night when I tried to go back to the bon fire to sit down, he leaned over the fence and grabbed my hat and pulled it off. He reminds of of a huge version of Andi. Like a Great Dane, this young horse has no idea how big he is and just wants to be a part of the party. I think the McGranns treat him like another critter and he and their dog, Snuff, are friends. Last time I was at the McGrann's my friend Peter jumped the fence and actually ran around with this horse and the horse followed him around like a puppy.

Bonfires are always the best in Montevallo.

Getting sassy with Clare -- nothing new

I think I was asking Clare to not take this picture and unsurpisingly she did it anyway. Clare and I have been best friends about as long as Paul and Carrie have been together. The relationships that don't waiver are very comforting in this world.

Form of a freak fish, shape of a ninja

That's Mizz Firehead to you

This might be one of the most insane pictures I have ever taken. No Clare's head is not on fire, but it sure looks like it by the weird way the camera picked up the overhead light.

Hey Carrie, why the long face?

Paul McGrann with the Caf Party plan

Paul got the party started right by baking an enchilda casserole -- es muy delicioso. We then played a confusing, but fun dice game called Zilch. Jess was there with her younger child, Walker. I played some Nirvana on guitar -- the band he is all about at the ripe old age of 9.

The psuedo Caf post holiday party begins

Leave it to Clare to come to Montevallo with bucketloads of Asian candy from Atlanta and hair caps -- of course. Paul and later joked that we were like employees at the Caf (nickname of the University of Montevallo cafeteria) getting their post holiday groove on since we had to sling hash over Christmas.

VULCAN PARK - Roy and Liane come to town from Boston

Vulcan -- God of the forge, the largest cast iron statue in the United States and the watcher over Red Mountain

The renovated Vulcan Park has a lot of interesting historical information about the city and its industrial birth.

It has always amazed me that Roy and Peter have known each other since Kindergarten days -- a 30 year friendship.

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