Side view of one section of Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman, AL

Perhaps one of the most fascinating sites to see in America is one that may not be well known: Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman, Alabama.  But with over 125 miniature buildings and shrines built with the infinite patience and creativity of one Benedictine monk, Brother Joseph Zoettl, Ave Maria Grotto could be one site you will never forget.

Shrine incorporating seashells, cement, found objects, and miniature statures — Ave Maria Grotto

Born in Bavaria, Joseph Zoettl left his home at the age of 14 to come to America, specifically to St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama.  After an injury left him hunchbacked and almost incapacitated, he was assigned to working long hours alone in the pump house where he began his hobby of making miniature buildings with little more than cement and found objects.

Detail of a miniature building incorporating shells and ceramic pieces in Ave Maria Grotto

People heard about the tiny buildings and sent him things — shards of glass, toilet floats, cold cream jars, shells, and all manner of found objects — which he incorporated into recognizable, well-known buildings and replicas of famous sites that he had seen only on postcards.  Father Joseph, you see, never traveled beyond the abbey.

At first, the replicas were displayed on the grounds, but when the number of visitors who wanted to see the little buildings swelled, the Ave Maria Grotto was constructed in a quarry encompassing over three acres to hold all of Father Joseph’s work.

Gazing at one of several walls of miniature buildings in Ave Maria Grotto.

Long after the dedication of Ave Maria Grotto (also known as “Jerusalem in Miniature”) in 1934, Father Joseph continued his work until his death at the age of 80 in 1961.  People from all over the world had sent him materials, visited the grotto, and praised the creative work of one man whose vision of creating a miniature fairyland continues to bring pleasure even today.

Statue of Father Joseph, Ave Maria Grotto

Set into stonework, the miniatures are somewhat grouped by the area of the world where the originals are located . . . like these from the United States.

Or these from Europe . . .

One whole section is dedicated to buildings and sites of the Holy Land . . .

A replica of Noah’s Ark complete with tiny animals moving two by two has become a personal favorite.

Noah’s Ark — Ave Maria Grotto

Although there’s a calmness surrounding this serene area, it’s not without humor.  For example, a “folk artsy” old dragon head pokes out from underneath one of the buildings.  And a crossing for chipmunks provides a unique pathway for small creatures on the way to somewhere else.

According to Roadside America, Leo Schwaiger, a man who has worked at Ave Maria Grotto for 40 years and apprenticed alongside Father Joseph, maintains the miniature buildings in his spare time.  And he’s also built some of his own, using the same design inspiration Father Joseph used:  postcards!

If you’re traveling through the South, put Ave Maria Grotto on your list of places to see.

You’ll recognize some of the world’s famous architecture, but you’ll also be charmed when you see it dotted with marbles . . . or plastic statues . . . or cherubs.  And we’re pretty sure you’ll be fascinated by the accomplishments and ingenuity of Father Joseph.  

Cross of cement, shells, bits of glass — Ave Maria Grotto

Ave Maria Grotto, 1600 St. Bernard Drive SE, Cullman, AL 35055; 256.734.4110.  http://www.avemariagrotto.com/

Open daily 9 to 5.  Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

Boomer Travel Tips:*

• Be sure to watch the movie in the Welcome Center first.  You’ll get the background of Father Joseph and documentary footage showing how some of the pieces were created.
• The park is accessible for people of all ages with nicely paved sidewalks and ramps.  However, a few areas are a bit steep.  Caution is always advised.
• Admission is $7.00 for adults, but only $5.00 for Seniors and AAA members.
• For more information, check out the website for Ave Maria Grotto.

*Boomer Travel Tips for sight-seeing destinations are now included on Oh, the Places We See.  Hope you enjoy!

Travel well,

Bert and Rusha Sams

Peeling crawfish at the Thank-You Dinner at Turner Industries, Decatur, Alabama.

Whether you say crawfish or crayfish. And whether you “suck dem heads” or not. It didn’t matter.  A big ol’ Thank You from Turner Industries in Decatur, Alabama, was mighty welcome if’n you grew up in The South.  Or if’n you didn’t. Everybody associated with Turner wanted in on the action May 7th, 2015.

So, how’d we get there?  Brother-in-law Jim Mouch, Sr. Vice-President and Regional Manager, called and said, Want to see how we say thanks to our employees and associates down here in Decatur?  We’re serving 650 pounds of crawfish and 350 pounds of fried catfish May 7th, and you need to be here to see it. (Now, you don’t have to ask us twice to a crawfish boil.  Or, for that matter, a catfish dinner.  We were there faster than you can throw mudbugs into a boilin’ pot o’ water.)

Serving fried catfish under the tent at Turner Industries in Decatur, Alabama.

So, here’s how they do it in Decatur.  First, you dip a net into one of the biggest pots you’ll ever see.  Grab hold of those wrigglin’ crawfish and lift.  (It’s heavy, mind you.)

Then dump ’em into a big ol’ mesh pot that fits into a big ol’ metal pot full of eye-burning seasonings and boiling hot water.  Whoo-eeee that stuff can open up your sinuses!

Lowering the pot. We could smell the seasoning six feet away!

Stir the pot ’til the bugs are red.

Stirring the pot. Those sunglasses aren’t just protection from the sun!

And then dump ’em into a cooler.

Dumping ’em into the cooler!

Ah yeah, cher.  Pour that cooler full of crawfish onto a waist-high table and commence to peelin’.

Pourin’ ’em out on the table.

Sip a little.  Peel a little.  Pop ’em in your mouth. Repeat.

Good times at Turner Industries!

It’s personal preference how you get the meat out of the crawfish. Start with popping open the tail.  Or separate tail from body first.  Or do both in one fell swoop. Makes no never mind: visiting, talking, eating, and piling up shells is all just part of the fun.

If you had room for dessert, you could one-bite-it with these hand-painted cookies!  But we could hardly breathe after crawfish, catfish, taters, and corn!

Cookies made for the occasion!

Thank you, Turner Industries, for letting us dine Southern style for a day. Laissez le bon temps rouler!  (Let the good times roll!)

Bert and Rusha Sams

Turner Industries

127 Old Hwy 24, Decatur, AL 35601; http://www.turner-industries.com/

Arranging the produce at Morgan County-Decatur Farmers Market

You go there for the veggies, right?  Plump, pretty, newly picked produce.  And it’s bountiful in Morgan County, Alabama.  But so are the friendly farmers who do themselves proud with colorful pickin’s and Southern pride to boot!

Baskets and baskets of maters at Morgan County-Decatur Farmers Market

It was one of those summer Saturdays when farmers from Eva, Priceville, Somerville, Cullman, Decatur, and even Huntsville gathered in downtown Decatur under a long row of tents and awnings to arrange nature’s bounty for all to see.  Most farmers ‘fessed up to pickin’ on the Fourth just to get the freshest goods to market on Saturday, July 5th when we were there.

Can you believe this stack of green tomatoes! And that hand’s not holding ’em up, either!!

And there was plenty of it, too.  Juicy red maters, purple hull peas, tender yellow squash, freestone peaches, and watermelons piled high ready for thumpin’ to see how ripe they are.

But what made this trip more fun (or is it funner?) than samplin’ them paper shell “pee-cans” was just jawin’ with the farmers.  Like this guy who offered us a slice of a fresh peach until we told him we were Tennessee fans who had reservations ’bout buyin’ from someone wearing a Bama hat.  He grinned ear-to-ear and said, “Aw, go on.  This is good eatin’.  You’ll like it.” Indeed we did.

Bama fan serving freestone peach samples to die-hard Tennessee fans — that would be us! And smiling, too!

Or how about these two early bird entrepreneurs — Jameson and Chandler Barber from Barbers Produce in Decatur?  Proud as punch to be standing by their harvest.  We even talked about being on Twitter, and I said I’d post their picture @rushasams and take a look at @BarbersProduce and their Facebook page too:  facebook.com/barbersproduce.  Farmers are high tech these days, don’t you know?!

Jameson and Chandler Barber standing by their just-picked produce. So happy to be a Decatur Farmers Market!

This lady from Gibson Farm & Greenery said she sells mostly to chefs who are into that farm-to-table thing, but when she has extra, she comes to the Morgan County-Decatur Farmers Market with her chalkboard brimming with good eats.

Selling to us what she normally sells to chefs in Decatur — the best, of course!

It’s not just veggies., though.  When this guy reached over for a jar of Strawberry Jalapeno Jelly and said it’d be good on cream cheese, he had us.  We packed up a couple of jars to share at our next family gathering in Tennessee.

“It’s good on cream cheese,” he said. And he had us buying that Strawberry Jalapeno Jelly at that very moment!

My brother-in-law Jim Mouch even found a yellow and purple bouquet that a lady from Huntsville carefully wrapped in a sack with a little pool of water in the bottom.  (Inventive folks, by golly!)

Jim Mouch seems pleased with a bouquet he found at the Decatur Farmers Market.

So, if you live near Decatur, come on down any Saturday ’til November 8, 2014. Better yet, plan to be there for these upcoming events.  They’re sure to be big-time fun!

Corn Festival — Saturday, July 12, 2014

Tomato Sandwich Day — Saturday, July 26, 2014

Watermelon Festival — Saturday, August 16, 2014

Remember: People almost trump produce at the Decatur Farmers Market — personable, happy, and proud of what they’ve grown.  And for good reason.  Come see!

For more information:

Morgan County-Decatur Farmers Market

211 First Avenue SE

Decatur, Alabama 35601

Website: http://www.decaturfarmersmarket.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/DecaturMorgan-County-Farmers-Market/174610319238067