Peabody Ducks

When you talk about the Peabody hotel

One of the first things they talk about is the ducks

How did the tradition of the ducks in The Peabody fountain begin?

Back in 1933 Frank Schutt, General Manager of The Peabody, and a friend, Chip Barwick, returned from a weekend hunting trip to Arkansas. The men had a little too much Jack Daniel's Tennessee sippin' whiskey, and thought it would be funny to place some of their live duck decoys (it was legal then for hunters to use live decoys) in the beautiful Peabody fountain. The funny thing was - they were still in the fountain the next morning.

Three small English call ducks were selected as "guinea pigs," and the reaction was nothing short of enthusiastic. Soon, five North American Mallard ducks would replace the original ducks.

In 1940, Bellman Edward Pembroke, a former circus animal trainer, offered to help with delivering the ducks to the fountain each day and taught them the now-famous Peabody Duck March. Mr. Pembroke became the Peabody Duckmaster, serving in that capacity for 50 years until his retirement in 1991.

Every morning at 11:00 they roll out the red carpet for the ducks to come down the elevator and walk out to the fountain.  At 5:00 PM they then return to their home in the penthouse on the roof top of the hotel. You can go up and view them in their penthouse.

London LOVED the ducks.  I can't tell you how many times we went downstairs to see the ducks. We watched them both evenings march up the red carpet into the elevator.  

Off they go

Memphis Day 1

So on Thursday, Dec 2 we head off to Memphis for Marathon Weekend

Russ was running the half-marathon as a St Jude Hero - helping to raise money

We spent the first night in Springdale, AK - Russ needed to check on one of  the stores

Our hotel gave us a suite - too bad we didn't check in till 10:30 PM

While Russ was having a meeting with the employees

- London got to enjoy the heart shape tub -

I am glad someone enjoyed it

 On the road again

View of Memphis while crossing the Mississippi

This year Russ treated London and I

We got to stay at the Peabody Hotel

This is such a beautiful old hotel - with so much class and charm

It was great being right downtown where the race starts and finishes

Our home for the weekend

Views from the roof top

I wish my pictures did justice for how beautiful it looks at Christmas time

Gingerbread House of the Peabody 

London wanted her picture taken with the "dog"

Our stay at the Peabody was everything I hoped it would be

It has such a warm, grand feeling about it

I can't wait to go back next year

Thanksgiving

This year we had Thanksgiving at our house

I told Russ I wanted to stay home this year

We had 14 people, 2 cats and a dog

London helping Grandma Brown make her oyster stuffing (Russ/Mike's request)

Russ wanted to deep fry a turkey - I agreed

It freed up a lot of oven space

We let the guys be in charge of the turkey 

So, while the turkey was frying away

the men decided to play some football

after all . . isn't that what Thanksgiving is about

Turkey and Football 

Look at that turkey - doesn't it look grand! 

Very Successful

The garage is still standing - they didn't burn anything down

 

Some of our food - it was absolutely fantastic

We had so much good food 

 After dinner we played some bingo

We even had prizes

whoopee cushions - martini glasses, glow sticks, Christmas wall hangings

to name a few

Family picture 

Russ, London & Sherrie 

London and Grandma Brown 

 

London wanted a picture with sugar

We had a great time this year, lot of good food, fun and laughter

Happy Turkey Day

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day

with family and friends

Russ and I have a lot to be thankful for this year

I will save that for another day

London's Preschool and the PreK class did a Thanksgiving program

for the grandmas and grandpas at the nursing home.

They had some really cute songs.

So I leave you this Thanksgiving with two songs

Good Luck to all of you who will be out shopping on Black Friday

I am staying home this year

I will working on decorating my house

Seeing Santa

The last two years we have gone to Bradley Fair to see the tree lighting and Santa

I had been talking with London this week about seeing Santa

She talks about him, wanted to see him & wondered where his mommy was

I asked her on Thursday if she would sit in his lap so I could take a picture

"NO"

Can you stand by him so I can take a picture of you & Santa

"NO"

"Mommy, I shake his hand"

The final decision - okay I can deal with that

Saturday came, Russ was out of town, girls night out

Leaving Newton - she kept asking where he was

Park City - changed to mommy I don't want to see Santa

Wichita - Mommy, I don't like Santa, he's not my friend

I thought maybe she would change her mind once we got there and saw other kids

It was beautiful evening to be out 

London 2008 (1 yr old)

London 2009

She was okay until I set her on his lap 

2010

Yep, you guessed it - she didn't want anything to do with

She wouldn't even look at Santa 

But we saw this guy - he's a clown - usually she is scared of people dressed up

She walked right up to Ronald and asked for a sticker

No problems - should of taken of picture with Ronald

I guess Santa should of been handing out stickers

Run 4 Kon

HOPE, it begins with a single step. My husband, Russ will run for those that can’t—the patients of St. Jude.  He will make a difference in the lives of children fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

Russ has decided to participate again in the St. Jude Half-Marathon this December 4th in Memphis. As a lot of you know, his son Konley Thomas was a patient at St. Jude for 9 years and in January of 09 he lost his battle with cancer.

He promised Konley that he would do all he could for St. Jude to help cure cancer. This past October, with the help of the employees of Mojo Mobile he has been able to raise $2,500 for St. Jude. Over the last couple months He has been able to talk to local colleges about the importance of supporting St. Jude. His fundraising efforts will directly support the work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to find cures and save the lives of children fighting cancer and other deadly diseases.

You can be part of this of this experience by supporting financially or by prayer.  Just click on Run 4 Kon and it will take you to his St. Jude Hero website if you would like to make a donation. Please join with us and be part of this wonderful mission for saving children.