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Sunday, March 18, 2012

JUST WADDLIN’ IN MEMPHIS

Have you ever been to the Peabody Hotel in Memphis?  I grew up, and still live, an hour from Memphis, so I have been to the Peabody often.  We recently went to a party in Memphis, and I acted like a tourist (or a blogger) ~snapping pictures everywhere.

Outside the Peabody, drivers of horse-drawn carriages try to out-tacky each other in an attempt to attract riders.carraige cinderella

carriage Christmas

carraige cndrella

The lobby of the Peabody is a wonderful place to have a drink and people watch.  There are always a lot of people in the lobby, but especially at 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., when people gather around the fountain and on the balconies around the interior of the lobby.

fountain closeup

This was the second Peabody Hotel built in Memphis.  It opened in 1925.  The fountain has always been there, but the ducks didn’t show up until 1932.  At that time, duck hunters used live decoys.  The hotel manager had taken a friend to hunt in Arkansas, and when they returned to the hotel, they put their live decoys into the fountain.  To their surprise, hotel guests loved this addition to the fountain, so since that day, the Peabody has kept five mallard ducks at the hotel.

swmng ducks

At 11:00 a.m., the “Duck Master” rolls out a red carpet, and the ducks march down the carpet from the elevator to the fountain.  At 5:00 p.m., the Duck Master rolls out the red carpet for the ducks to parade from the fountain back to the elevator to return to their home on the hotel rooftop. duck master

It was too crowded for me to get a picture of the duck parade to the elevator, so I went up to see where they would be spending the night. 

elevator

On my way up, I just had to snap a picture of the elevator floor.

duck palace sign

This sign greeted me when I stepped from the elevator.

ms rv view 2

The ducks have a good view of the City and of the Mississippi River,

river view

and a view of the Arkansas-Tennessee bridge across the Mississippi.

duck palace

The Duck Palace façade.

duck pool

Their swimming pool, with dinner waiting,duck house

and their own little Peabody Hotel.

I was glad to have the chance to waddle around Memphis a little.  I sit at a computer in my office all day, five days a week, and at night, I sit at my laptop at home, visiting blogs and pinning on Pinterest.   Have you heard the song “Walkin’ In Memphis”?  Due to all my sittin’, I had to change the words to “Waddlin’ in Memphis”.

I waddled myself to an estate sale today (one of the few things I consider worth waddling to).  There wasn’t much there, but I didn’t leave empty-handed.  See what I bought.

 

boxes cmbnd

Two boxes of junk (’cause I need more junk at my house).  Actually, I bought three boxes and maybe I’ll show you the other box of junk some time. I just thought three boxes of junk was more than most people could handle in one post.

You can see the twine and yarn in the first container, but the second is little  mysterious. 

ribbon -trim

The second box contained a lot of ribbons and trims.  I promptly put the ribbons  on pant hangers like all of those crafty people do on Pinterest (just not as neatly as a real crafter), and I stacked some of my spools of twine on grandmother’s hem marker thingy.

twine

But, (and this is about as big as the one I’m sitting on) I am not a crafter.  I’m no good at it, but when I see these ideas on Pinterest, I think if I organize myself like a real crafter, maybe I can become a crafter (who am I  fooling?).  There was something else in the box that I didn’t  organize, because I’ve  never been inspired by a pin to organize zippers ~ I’m talking about a LOT of zippers!  So, if you need a lot of zippers, email me, and I will send them to you for the cost of postage.

It’s time for me waddle on out of here.  Thank you for visiting  my ducky post.  If you decide to waddle in Memphis, let me know, and maybe I can meet you there. If you plan to walk in Memphis, I fear I wouldn’t be able to keep up.  laurie

13 comments:

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh how fun Laurie, the ducks are unreal and their little Hotel is fabulous. Great post. So glad you had a little "me" and "fun" time. Hugs, Marty

Sarah said...

Haven't been to Memphis in years, but my sister recently took her granddaughter. They had a delightful time, and of course the Peabody was one of the sights.
~ Sarah

Blondie's Journal said...

What a neat hotel, Laurie...the carriages are a hoot! I love to people watch, too, and what better place than a lobby! The ducks are darling and I would love to sit on the rooftop, what a wonderful view of Memphis {never been}. Glad you found some goodies!

XO,
Jane

Paula Beller said...

Thnaks for sharing the "Ducks" Laurie. Callie and I went to the Peabody last summer, but not to their penthouse. I have never been up there, didn't even know you could go up there. Thanks agin for the pics of the Ducks and your great buys.
Paula

Terra said...

Oh this post is just ducky! I haven't seen the ducks but my parents visited the hotel several times and showed me photos. That is so cool.

Unknown said...

Oh Laurie, What fun to be in Memphis as I was there for a short period 15 yrs ago. Wish I had more time and was able to visit with all these ducks..LOL! I love your header and look at all the neat 'JUNK' you got!
Happy day's...
~Shirley

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Hi Laurie,
You are a hoot and I am pretty sure your not waddling anywhere (you look pretty slender to me)
The hotel is so cool...I heard about one in Orlando like this too?
Hubby and I drove around Memphis once and had to stop for gas...now I want to go back and visit!
Maybe, just maybe I can get him to go south this summer. He hates super hot weather but he loves seeing new sights.
Hugs my dear,
Cindy

April D said...

I KNOW I would have bought those same two boxes of junk--just so you know! :)
Thanks for sharing the ducks with us. I will show my little guy, as he just LOVES ducks.
Glad you had fun.
~april

bj said...

I went to Memphis a long long time ago. Was visiting my brother in Ark. and he took me to Memphis and we toured Graceland. I had the time of my life.
xo bj

xinex said...

Oh how fun to be waddling at Peabody and then top it with an estate sale, Laurie. I have been to the Peabody in orlando but not in Memphis and ducks are all over too. Glad you got a little break from work!...Christine

Kathleen said...

I have never been, but if I ever get down to visit my nephew and his wife I will call you! She is a doc at St Jude's. You can take me bargain hunting!

Debbie said...

I have always wanted to go there! My mom has been, I think. It looks like such an adventure.

And you didn't get junk. Oh. No. You got PINspiration! I am not a good crafter either, but I'm just like you and see stuff that I really want to try.

Now, I expect to see some crafting.
No pressure, huh?

Grandma Linda's Daydreams said...

Very funny and interesting story about the ducks at the Peabody!
Clever ribbon storage there too!
Be blessed!
Linda