American Heritage Date

Good Thursday morning!

The Gallery Pics are a couple of my favorite fall things. Nothing surprising or shocking. I'm saving those photos for tomorrow's post!

RANDOMNESS - I wish I had made this one of my 20 goals for the coming year... because tonight I'm trying something COMPLETELY new and exciting. I'm going to a Zumba class. That's right! And I've talked two friends into going with me.

As I've stated before, I LOVE African music. And a workout incorporating that kind of music sounds more like fun than an actual workout.

I told Mikie so he would hold me accountable.

"I'm taking a Zumba class tomorrow afternoon."

"What is that?" he asked.

"It's a workout/dance class to African music... I think."

"Well, you DO like African music," he said, stating the obvious.

"Yes, I do. Or maybe I just like Phil Collins singing songs in the movie The Lion King. I'm not sure. But I feel secure in my ability to do a workout to The Circle of Life."

"Frist... Elton John sang the songs in The Lion King. You're thinking of Tarzan. Phil Collins sang the songs in that movie."

"Oh. Hmmm. This could be a problem. Maybe I don't like African music at all. Maybe I just like British singers who win Oscars for songs they sing in animated Disney movies set in Africa and the jungle. If that's the case, I may not like to Zumba at all."

"Remember when we went to see The Lion King at the Civic Center? Remember during intermission, the African singers came out and performed? Remember how much you said you loved them?"

"That's right! I did love them. I didn't understand them, but I loved them!"

It was going to be all right. Perhaps my Elton John/Phil Collins faux pas wasn't going to ruin my Zumba experience after all.

If I survive it, I'll tell you all about it... first thing tomorrow morning!

Zumba, Baby!

Blog Linkage - I have three links to share today. One link is great if you are planning on having a pumpkin decorating party... one will help you with ideas if you're planning on getting outside with the family this weekend... and the last one will give you idea after idea after idea if you're in a rut about what to fix for a nice family dinner.

1. Go to www.msn.com and click on the heading "Lifestyle." A list will appear. Click on "Decor & Organizing." When you come to that page, type in "no carve pumpkins," and hit search. You will go to a page with a list of websites. Click on the first website in small print entitled "8 easy no carve pumpkins - Halloween on a budget." It's a complicated way to get to some of the easiest, cutest, no-carve pumpkin ideas ever! Roxie and I are going to make thumbtack pumpkins. (She just doesn't know it yet!)

2. After you have created beautifully decorated pumpkins, you may want to get outside and stretch your legs a bit. Go to www.localhikes.com. Search for your city and state and find the trail that best fits you and your family. When you click on the trails, the author gives you an in-depth description of the trail (length, difficulty rating, what you will see along the way, etc.). There are DOZENS to choose from. It's a great link.

3. Well, you'll be hungry after all of the above activities, so click on Confessions of a Pioneer Woman under My Blog List. At the top of her page, simply click on Food... and you will find recipes galore of different food ideas.

Enjoy!

American Heritage Date

Again, I received a little help from Birmingham Bargain Mom for this week's date.

I visited the American Village on a field trip a couple of years ago, and I thoroughly enjoyed that trip! All of the workers are in character, and it is a fun and educational way to spend a day.

This event is coming up this weekend!

Visit American Village's American Heritage Day this Saturday. The gates open at 9:30 a.m. and close at 3:00 p.m. Admission is $8 for kids ages 5 to 12 and $8.50 for adults ages 13 to 59. (Senior admission is $8.)

Here's a synopsis of what to expect:

1. Join the celebration of General Washington's great victory at Yorktown when General Cornwallis' Army surrendered October 19, 1781, effectively ending The American Revolution. The stunned fife and drum corp of the King's Army played the tune, "The World Turned Upside Down" as they gave up their arms ending 289 years of British rule.

2. You can start the day at The Colonial Courthouse at 10:00 a.m. and join the protesting of "The Stamp Act."

3. Visit continental soldiers in The Encampment and learn the proper way to load the Brown Bess.

4. Step to the Gambols tent and learn to play 18th century tavern table games.

5. Join children on the Green and play games like Hoops or Trap Ball.

6. Meet General Washington. Visit with Lucy Knox, the wife of General Washington's close personal friend, General Henry Knox. Listen as both General Washington and Mrs. Knox tell of their experiences at Yorktown.

7. Learn colonial dances from Eleanor Parke Custis.

8. Discover from the Colonial Jailer all the perils of what happened to those who "broke the law" in colonial times.

9. The Randall Miniature Museum of American History and The White House Oval Office will also be open.

There are concessions, so if you're hungry you'll need to bring some cash.

American Village is located at 3727 Highway 119, Montevallo, Alabama. For more information you can call 205-665-3535.

Mikie and either one of my guys would have loved this date. (I think they would love it to this day, but this weekend is already full. Heavy sigh.) It's a great way to enjoy a beautiful fall weekend, learn history from very gifted storytellers and actors AND spend one-on-one time with your history-loving guy or gal.

Have a very autumnal Thursday. It's amazing outside in our little part of the world. I'll be posting my October 6 through October 13 "October Photography Challenge" pictures in the Gallery Friday, and I'll be sharing Weekend Happenings with you... and there may or may not be a Zumba story to share. Who knows?

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda