2023 Dec 8, Moulton on the Square Moulton, AL "CHRISTMAS"

We left Cullman, traveling on Highway 157 toward Moulton. 

We always attend Moulton on the Square, but this year, the festival was held at the Lions Club Fairgrounds due to ongoing renovations at the old courthouse. 

A large crowd was already there enjoying the festival. 

The entrance to the Christmas Festival 

We saw several displays and places to stop for photos. 

We saw Santa Claus talking to the children. 

Vendors selling their wares.

The smell of food filled the air.

We enjoyed Tiny Hiney's Petting Zoo, where we saw goats, sheep, a llama, a Kangaroo, a cow, and a pony.

Each animal was wearing Christmas attire. 

Pony dressed in Red

As we left, the snow machine began to fill the air with snow. The children enjoyed the snow falling on their faces. 

Let itSnoww! Let itSnoww!

2023 Dec 8, German Christkindlmarkt Cullman, AlL(Day Trip)

We traveled 157 miles to Cullman to see the German Christkindlmarkt. We saw Ice Skating, a Christmas Carousel, Mrs. Claus, the Christkindl Express, several warming tents, and vendors selling unique merchandise there.

Cullman's Christkindlmarkt 

Cullman's Christkindlmarkt  before dark

To ride the Christmas train or Carousel, you must purchase your tickets via a virtual queue system that allows you to get in line virtually without waiting. Cost $3

Christmas Carousel

Christmas Train 

We didn't see Santa Claus, but we did see Mrs. Claus and Christkind.

Lots of activities for little ones to do.

Toy making with Santa, 

Painting with Emily

Decorating cookies with Mrs. Claus

Snow Globes with Mrs. Claus

Charm Bracelets and Wooden Toy Trains with Mrs. Claus

Making ornaments with the Grinch 

Elf yourself with Buddy the Elf 

Nutcracker painting with Christkind 

And Ice Skating. 

 pretzel bratwurst

We walked around the square several times, stopping for a pretzel bratwurst (delicious) and a drink. 

We sat at a large picnic table enclosed on three sides. There, we met a couple from Birmingham. A member of Good Bellows stopped and played Jingle Bells while I played along with the handbells.

Played Jingle Bells 

We sat and talked for several minutes. The couple left, and we followed suit.

Manger Scene 

We also saw the manger scene. 

We saw North America's largest Christmas Pyramid Lights.

Did you know that nativity scenes are the heart and soul of the German Christkindlmarkt?

These festive markets are not just about shopping. They are also a celebration of tradition and faith. 

Despite evolving styles and changing times, nativity scenes remain a cherished and enduring tradition. 

This extraordinary handcrafted Nativity display, an actual work of art, was skillfully crafted by the renowned German company Erzgebirgische Holzkunst Gajlenz- the same talented artisans behind the Weihnachten pyramid. 

But that is not all! The Cullman Parks, Recreation, and Sports Tourism maintenance team was integral in constructing the stable that houses these exquisite figures. This collaboration between tradition and modern craftsmanship brings to life a Nativity scene that beautifully embodies the spirit of Christmas. 

We finished taking pictures and headed to the car. 

2019 Dec 8-Dec 13, Trip to Sevierville, Tennessee (6days) and Journal of my three Root Canals (Dec 4, Dec 13-17)

Dec 4, 

All night, my lower left bottom tooth hurt, so on our way to see my eye doctor in Huntsville, we stopped at the dentist, and he said I had two abscesses.

The dentist performed a root canal on the tooth that was hurting, but it hurt several days after the procedure. I was given pain pills and antibiotics for an infection.

I went back the next day, but the dentist was unable to access the canals, so he closed them back up and made an appointment for me to see the endodontist.

I went on my trip with abscessed teeth.

Day 1: Dec 8, 

Traveled from Huntsville to Sevierville, TN, with my cousin Sherry and Aunt Bobbie. 

We were too early to check into Wyndham condos, so we went to eat a late lunch at Applewood Farmhouse Grill.

We ordered a hot bowl of vegetable soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, apple fritters, apple sauce, and their delicious apple, orange, & pineapple juice. We had enough food left over for dinner.

Juice and Apple Fritters

Checked into Wyndham Condos after 4 P.M. 

We were staying in room 1427 and had brought several items, and we needed a cart to load everything onto.

Sherry spied a couple of luggage carriers in the entranceway and was going to get one, but a couple had taken both of them.

Sherry was upset and said that they should give us one, but they would not

We finally found one and loaded it with everything that we had brought 

Another couple was waiting for our baggage cart and asked if they could have it when we were finished with it

Sherry and Bobbie were pushing and pulling the cart around the twisting walkway, and things kept falling off the cart. Finally, the man said Let me help you, ladies

He gave his luggage to Aunt Bobbie and proceeded to push the cart to our room

His wife asked me if I was with them

I laughed and said yes

I said it was like the movie Christmas Vacation 

We both laughed 

Her husband helped unload the cart 

We thanked him, and he took the cart, and they left 

Another couple was waiting for the cart when they had finished. 

What a way to start our vacation 

Later that night, Sherry and I rode to Walmart to pick up a few items. (Apple juice & chips) And where I saw Dolly Parton's Imaginary Library book.

Dolly Parton's Imaginary Library book

Day 2: Dec 9, 

We met Wanda & Buck at Huck Finn for lunch.

We all ordered catfish, fries, white beans, onion, pickle, coleslaw, and hushpuppies from the lunch menu.

We said goodbye to Wanda and Buck and rode to Dolly Parton's Stampede, decorated for Christmas.

We all took several pictures.

Dolly Parton's Stampede

Huck Finn's 

We shopped at Burlington Coat Factory and Old Time Pottery.

We rode back to the condo for the remainder of the day and spent the time watching TV.

Dec 10, 2019 

Sherry and Bobbie went to a meeting at Wyndham. We all ate breakfast at the Time-share, and I was taken back to the condo by one of the bus drivers. 

While they were at the Time-share, I called my dentist to get a refill of my antibiotics at Walgreens and to cancel my colonoscopy until the first of the year. 

We ate lunch at Firehouse Subs. I ordered a Philly Steak 4-inch sandwich, salsa chips, and Sprite.

Philly Steak 

It was a cold, wet night, but we ventured out because we had free tickets to see Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show.

We had to go through security after we got our tickets. We were early, so we walked around in the gift shop and then found a bench to sit on.

Our tickets indicated Row 6A, which was located on the left side of the building, and we were unable to see all the characters in the show.

We saw a Seal lion show, a Scrooge's Pirates show, the Birth of Jesus, with Mary riding out on a donkey, an angel descending from the ceiling, Wise men coming from afar, and shepherds. 

Mary and Joseph 

Our server was Jenna, and she first served us drinks. I ordered tea.

Next, she brought everyone a cup and filled each one with Cream of Vegetable soup. Next, she brought us biscuits to go with our soup.

Next, she brought everyone a piece of fried chicken, along with macaroni and cheese, and sweet potatoes. When everyone finished eating, she gathered up all the dishes and returned with a plate and a peach pie.

She also brought doggie bags for our leftovers. 

I wasn't extremely hungry, but I ate my entire pie.

While at the show, I received a text saying that my great-grandson, Hayne Cohen Hughes, had been born, weighing 7 lbs 10 oz. 

The show was over around 8 or 9, so we rode back to the condo, watched some TV, and went to bed. By this time, it was snowing.

It snowed all night, and the next morning, the ground was covered with snow. 

By noon the next day, the roads were clear. 

It snowed all night, and this is the next morning 

Day 3: Dec 11,

Picked up my medicine at Walgreens.

We rode to Dandridge, TN, to eat Lunch at Bush Family Cafe. 

We all ordered the lunch special, chicken and dumplings with okra, roll, and creamed potatoes 🥔 

But I ordered green beans instead of potatoes.

After we finished lunch, we walked to the museum, and the curator asked if we had toured the Bush Family Home. We said no, we did not know that it was open to the public.

She said you had better hurry, for they were closing at 2 P.M. and it was about fifteen till 2.

The Bush Bean home was opened for the Christmas Holidays

We were told that they usually open Thursday-Saturday, but had added Tuesday and Wednesday this year 

The house is used for business purposes, and the family no longer resides there.

The home had four bedrooms and four bathrooms upstairs. 

Bush's Home that we toured

After touring the Bush home, we rode back to the Bush Museum, where we got our pictures taken together and separately. We talked to the man taking the photos for several minutes. 

On our way back, we saw a car in the ditch. He was driving too fast to make the curve.

It had snowed the night before, so he could have encountered some black ice.

We stopped at Ollie's to do some shopping before returning to the condo. I bought a Drop N' Charge wireless charging mouse pad. 

Group picture at Bush's Bean Museum

Day 4: Dec 12,

Around 12:30 A.M., I heard a banging on the door

I was asleep and thought Aunt Bobbie was checking to see if I was asleep. 

I kept hearing the banging and got up to open the bedroom door. I did not see anyone.

I heard the banging again and looked out my bedroom window 

I was sleeping in the front bedroom next to the front door

A man standing at the door said he was with security and asked if we had heard the water running, so I let him inside 

We checked all the sinks and toilets in front of the condo first

Then we went into the back bathroom, and we heard the water running 

The sink stopper was shut, and the faucet was running 

Water had overflowed onto the floor and flooded the condo below us

The people in the apartment below us had to be moved to another apartment in the middle of the night

After all the water had dried up

Everyone went back to bed 

I could not go back to sleep, so I watched TV and uploaded pictures from our day's adventures.

Later that morning, an engineer came to our condo to inspect the sink.

It was stopped and had to be replaced. 

We rode to Vanity Fair to do some shopping. I bought two cute sweatshirts: one features a Coca-Cola design, and the other is pink and gray. I also bought Hubby a gray button-up shirt.

We were all getting hungry, and Texas Roadhouse was conveniently located nearby, so we stopped there for lunch. 

We all ordered from the lunch menu. I ordered a sirloin steak medium-well, sweet potato, and Caesar salad.

We had enough leftovers for dinner later that night.

Sirloin Steak Medium well, sweet potato, and Ceaser Salad

At 8:00 P.M., we took a shuttle bus from the Elkmont Activity Center, along with a family of eight, to see the Christmas lights from the condo where we were staying. 

Elkmont Activity Center

Several got off the bus to take pictures at the Smoky Mountain Opry. We rode past the Titanic and the Hatfields and McCoys.

Several got out at the Dixie Stampede & The Island, where we took several pictures.

Smoky Mountain Opry.

The Ferris Wheel on the Island

We rode past the Inn at Christmas and Veterans Park. We rode along the boulevard, where we saw the 12 Days of Christmas and Teaster Lane, featuring Christmas lights at the old mill, as well as decorations inspired by Hey Diddle Diddle, Humpty Dumpty, Mother Goose, and the Pigeon Forge Trolley, all beautifully lit up for the holiday season.

Day 5: Dec 13, 

Checked out and traveled home

We stopped at McDonald's in Huntsville to use the restrooms. Sherry and Bobby ordered a hamburger.

I did not order anything because I was meeting my Hubby at Cracker Barrel in Huntsville.

After they dropped me off, Hubby and I stopped at Wendy's in Athens for a bowl of hot chili and a chocolate Frosty.

Dec 14,

I had not seen my grandgrandson, so I went for a visit and to hold him.

His grandparents came by while I was there. I had to do some more Christmas shopping, so I said goodbye. 

Dec 15

I had a great time tonight with my son, Hubby, Ava Grace, and River. The great-grandkids enjoyed seeing The Grinch, Frosty, The Gingerbread Man, and Santa Claus. They decorated and ate some gingerbread cookies. It was a perfect night to view the Christmas lights, neither too hot nor too cold.

Dec 16, 2019 

I went to an endodontist this morning for a root canal with an abscessed tooth, and I ended up getting two root canals. Both teeth were behind my bridge and abscessed.  Now, I will need a new bridge. Two weeks ago, I had a root canal done on my lower left tooth because it was abscessed. I am taking pain meds and going to bed. Tomorrow I will have to go to the dentist for a temporary bridge. 

Dec 17, 

Today, I went to the dentist for my temporary bridge and post 

When I got home, I took a pain pill & an antibiotic pill and lay down.

Hubby had to get a temporary crown because he had a tooth break off 

He is also resting

🚂🚂🚂Tuscumbia Train Depot Museum Built 1888

Tuscumbia was the first railroad in Alabama and the fourth in the USA.
Located 204 West Fifth Street Tuscumbia.
Constructed in 1888 by Memphis and Charleston Railroads

Tuscumbia Train Depot  back view

Tuscumbia Railroad First Railroad west of the Alleghenies

Tuscumbia Rail Depot front view 

In 1948, a new depot was built along Shop Pike in Sheffield and the 5th Street Depot was
donated to the City of Tuscumbia for a Community Center.
My grandparents celebrated their 50th Anniversary at the 5th Street Street Depot, in 1976.

Golden Anniversary Celebrations 1976
5th Street Community Center (Old Tuscumbia Depot

The bell came from a real Tuscumbia steam engine and school children love to ring it. 

JW Kiser who had worked for the railroad convinced Southern Railroad to donate the bell to Woodward Avenue Baptist Church. It was used to signal children that it was time for Sunday School.

The church no longer used the bell so the church donated the bell to the Tuscumbia Train Depot on October 21, 2007.

Waiting for train & Long stick used for sending messages

Railroads use lights and hand signs so that train men and workers can "talk."  The signs were first used over 130 years ago before people had radios.  Railroads needed men to be able to send signals from far or near.  Many times, the signalman would be too far away to use a whistle or horn.  Colors, lights, and hand signals were all used.

Color Signals

On the railroad, different colors have to mean.  Flags are colored to send a message.  Flag color signals are:

Red - Stop

White - Go

Green - Go slowly  - caution!

Blue-blue flags are placed on a car or other object on which men are working.

STOP!  Swing lantern across tracks.

SLOW DOWN!  Hold at arm's length when the train is moving.

GO!  Raise straight up and down.

GO BACK! Swing up and down in a circle at half an arm's length across the track, when the train is moving.

TRAIN HAS PARTED! This tells the trainmen that cars have come loose.  Swing up and down in a circle at full arm's length when the train is running.

DO NOT GO!  APPLY BRAKES! Swing straight above your head when the train is standing.

GO! RELEASE BRAKES!  Hold at arm's length above your head when the train is standing.

Ticket Counter
When the ticket window opened it averaged about 30,000 tickets a year. 

WWII of the 718 R.O.B. UNIT -CIT F.T.O.

The fighting 718th Railroad Operating Battalion brought home a souvenir from Germany when they captured a railway station in Germany.

https://archive.org/details/HistoryOfThe718thRailrayOperatingBattalion

The 718th was given the territory from Folligny to Mayenne and to Rennes, a substantial section of the French railroad, to operate. Along with this came the responsibility of maintaining a single track from Pontabault to Cayenne and from Ponterson to Fougeres, and a double track from Folligny to Dol, with the supervision of French maintenance of a double track from Dol to Rennes. 

Operation of the railroad was by permissive block under blackout conditions. 

Flagging with fusee and lantern was permitted only in case of emergency during the blackout. Crews going out on a run never knew when they might get back. 

The carriage owned by Keller Family used to pick up teacher Anne Sullivan. 

This carriage owned by the Keller Family was thought to be used by Captian Arthur Keller to pick up Anne Sullivan at the Tuscumbia Train Station. 

Anne rode in the buggy with Captain Keller down the long drive that was lined with magnolias to Ivy Green. Anne spotted Helen waiting for her on the front porch, this would change the lives of both Helen and Anne forever. 

🎄🎄🎄🎄2010 December 19, Sunday, Reading of A Christmas Carol & Christmas Party 🎄🎄🎄

Trees of Christmas

I took Sierra to the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, where "The Trees of Christmas" was on display. They are 12-foot spruce and fir trees decorated with themes by local residents at the Art Center, 511 N. Water St., Tuscumbia. Free Sundays 1–3 P.M. 

The curator informed us about the drawings and display of the singing river sculptures, which were created by artist Audwin McGee.

Still in its infant stages, the Singing River Sculptures are planned as four semi-abstract sculptures — one each in Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia — to be placed in prominent spots, Matthews said, such as a city entryway. The capstone of the project will be a cluster of about seven to nine sculptures overlooking the river.

Created from recycled aluminum donated by Wise Alloys, a producer of aluminum can stock based in Muscle Shoals, the pieces' sizes varied according to their locations. The goal is for each to be larger than life, about 18 to 20 feet tall.

After viewing the sculptures, we visited the 12-foot spruce and fir trees, decorated in various themes by local artists. 

One was decorated to honor the firefighters. It was decorated with fireman hats, Dalmatian dogs, candy canes, fire trucks, rope in do not cross the line, fire suits, badges, etc

One was decorated with ice cream cones, roped in red and white-stripped paper, large and small lollipops, candy, and dolls. 

One tree was decorated with large and small red and gold balls, poinsettias, keys, rope in lights, bells, packages, presents under the tree, and a big red ribbon streaming from the top.

One Christmas tree was decorated with bubbling lights, wrapped with colorful lights, and adorned with dangling icicles, which reminded me of an old-fashioned Christmas tree.

The Trees of Christmas

The Trees of Christmas

One Christmas tree was decorated entirely in gold, featuring gold balls, lights, and topped with a large gold ribbon that streamed down to the floor. It had packages under the tree, which reminded me of a luxury Christmas tree. 

One Christmas tree was decorated with string, a bird's nest, and pinecones, and was roped in with tiny white lights, creating a scene reminiscent of Christmas in the Country. 

One Christmas tree was decorated with cards, books, USA maps, times, ABCs, Cat in the Hat Books, and encouraging children to read with books under the tree. 

One Christmas tree was decorated with lambs, sheep, and tiny white lights, featuring Bible scriptures on lamb cards, and topped with a large sheep. Under the tree, more sheep and lambs. 

One Christmas tree was decorated with angels, musical instruments, roped with string wooden beads, and topped with lots of icicles spiraling toward the ceiling. Under the tree were several brown bears wearing shirts with "Alabama Dirt Shirt" written on them, and they were sitting in a wicker chair, creating a more country Christmas atmosphere. 

Once during the Christmas Holidays, you can visit the Helen Keller Home for Free. 

 Helen Keller Home 

 Helen Keller Home 

Donations are welcome. 

Home Tour Admission:

Adults...$6.00

Students  5-18..................$2.00

Seniors & "AAA" members...$5.00

Military (Active and Retired)...$5.00

Group of 20 or more..................Adults $5

Children $1.50 (Group reservations requested)

Sierra and I walked through Ivy Green, the home of Helen Keller, which was decorated for Christmas.

The decorations are taken from the grounds of Ivy Green. 

We toured the first-floor parlor, the dining room, the hall, Captain Keller's bedroom, Evaline's bedroom, Anne and Helen's bedroom upstairs, the Trunk Room, and the Boys' room. 

Each room was connected by a hallway, and each room had its own fireplace. The home was built by Helen's grandparents, David and Mary Keller, in 1820. The grounds consist of Rose Garden, Cottage, Boxwood Circle, Cook's House, Well, Herb Garden, Butterfly Garden, Memorial Stone, New Zealand Gate, and Japanese Garden. 

We finished touring the Keller Home and then rode to the Sheffield Library for the reading of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, not Will Stutts. 

Will Stutts did a solo reading of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. 

We saw A Very Merry American Christmas tree. 

The library had a Christmas tree donated by the art classes of LE Wilson Elementary.

It had a sign that read," This tree is dedicated to Whit & Genie."

Love and their daughters, Tabitha & Kayla 

Bless you for your kind and generous spirit

Merry Christmas

Along the side were written Rudolph, Santa Claus, Christmas Trees, the Star of Bethlehem, Jesus, and Frosty the Snowman. 

The Sheffield Library had Christmas cookies and hot apple cider for refreshments. 

Will Stutts's solo reading of Charles Dickens' A Christmas

Christmas Tree and Cookies at Sheffield Library 

Will Stutts performed a solo reading of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. 

He did an excellent job, and he kept my attention.

I was happy to say that I loved to listen to him read. His voice changed with each character, and he maintained this consistency throughout the reading. 

I had a delightful afternoon. 

Sierra and I stopped at Krispy Kreme for two dozen donuts.

We went to Sam's Club for a pizza, a chocolate cake, and cheese dip, which we brought home for our Christmas party.

For our Christmas Party, we had chili, cocktail wieners, chocolate cake, donuts, crackers, chips, cheese dip, and drinks.

When everyone finished eating, we retired to the living room, where the kids played board games, including Monopoly, checkers, and Twister.

Christmas presents were passed out.  

Lora, Stephanie, and a friend came, but her kids did not come. 

Montana called out the colors for Twister while Lora and her friends played the game.

I had my camera out and took lots of pictures.

It was very lovely of Tracy to share her home with our family.

Thank you Tracy

Christmas Party at Tracy's 

Playing games