🎄🎄🎄🎄2016 November 26, Saturday, Tinsel Trail, Bridge Street and Christmas Card Lane.

I had a fun day, my sister-in-law rode to Huntsville with me? 

We stopped in Athens at Duck Pond to see their Christmas tree trail but, only one Christmas Tree was decorated, so we did not stop.

We stopped at Chick-fil-a in Athens where I bought a large Ice tea. 

We rode to Huntsville to see the Tinsel Trail at Big Spring Park.

This year all the Christmas Trees were located near the YMCA because the Big Spring park area near the Art Museum was still under construction.

I am not sure how many trees were decorated but I took lots of pictures. 
The sun was bright, as we walked through the Big Spring Park looking at the Christmas Trees but it was cold in the shade. 
Several times we would come out of the shade into the sun just to warm up. 
We walked through Tinsel Trail twice. 
We wanted to make sure we did not miss any Christmas Trees. We heard several Christmas Carols coming from the loudspeakers overhead. 

Some of my favorite Christmas Trees!!!

Santa in a Helicopter Christmas Tree

Minnie Mouse Christmas Tree 

Troll Christmas Tree 

Owl Christmas Tree

We watched the ducks and fish swimming in the canal, near the Christmas Tree Trail. 

When we were leaving we rode passed Huntsville Hospital looking at all the nearby shops. 

From Governor's Drive, I took 565, exiting onto Old Madison Pike.
We were going to the Bridge Street Centre.

I parked the van near Book-a-million, and we walked inside to use the restrooms. While standing in line in the restroom I met a woman from Madison and we began to talk. I was telling her about going to Tinsel Trail. She said I am glad you told me about the Tinsel Trail, I think we will go today. 
We came out of the restroom and ended up talking for at least 15 minutes.
As we were leaving I said have a Merry Christmas and New Year. She said hope you have the same. 

My sister-in-law had never visited Bridge Street, she said I wished we had something like this back home.

We saw the man-made pond with a large white Reindeer and Christmas ornaments, the carousel, several larger white reindeer, and lots of decorations strung down the center of Bridge Street. 

As we crossed over the bridge we saw Piper & Leaf Artisan Tea.
They had four different samples Cherry Christmas, Caramel Apple Pie, Mistle Grove, and Pumpkin Moonshine Tea. I tried them all, my favorite was the Caramel Apple Pie. 

Piper & Leaf Artisan Tea booth

I ask the owner of the Pumpkin Moonshine Tea had real moonshine in it. 
The young man said you can add your own.  

The Christmas at the end of Bridge Street was decorated in largely white, silver, and gold balls, with a star on top but the twinkling lights were not on. 

Standing in front of the Christmas tree that was near Monaco Theater was a young girl singing Christmas Carols.
Several children were running along the water's edge. 

Christmas Tree, children playing, and young girl singing @ Bridge Street Town Centre

My sister-in-law and I stood listening to the young girl sing when she finished the second song we left and walked back to the van, that was parked near Books-a-million.

In Madison, we rode past several homes that had large handmade Christmas Cards sitting on their front lawns. (Christmas Card Lane)

It was after 2 PM when we stopped at Chick-fil-a in Athens for lunch.
We both ordered kids' two-piece chicken meal, with waffle fries and ice cream in a cup. 

Chick-fil-a Christmas Tree in Athens 

We rode west on 72 with the sun shining brightly in our faces.
It seemed quite warm but the thermometer in my car read 56 degrees.

I guess everyone was out yesterday for Black Friday or was at home for the Alabama Football Game because the traffic was light. 

It had been a great day for going outside and I needed the long walk, after all the food I ate at the  Thanksgiving dinners.  
Earlier that morning it had been ice on my windshield, as the day progressed it warmed up.

We were home by 3:30 PM.  

🦌🦌🦌2016 November 15,Tuesday, ICE COLD, Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer

Hubby and I stopped at Logan's Roadhouse Spring Hill TN for lunch.
We ordered Roadhouse 'Shroom which are hand-battered fresh mushrooms with Rockin' Horseradish.  I ordered Chips and Cheese dip, creamy white queso cheese with crispy tortilla chips.
For our main meal, we ordered an All American Cheeseburger, with Swiss Cheese, served with sliced lettuce, tomato, red onion, and pickles on a toasted brioche bun.

Cheeseburger 

Roadhouse 'Shroom 

Chips and Cheese dip

Hubby ordered the Fried Cheese and Bacon Burger, which was fried cheese, thick-cut hardwood smoked bacon sliced tomato, lettuce, red onions, and thousand island dressing on a toasted brioche bun.
We had to get two to-go boxes because we ordered way too much food.

We stopped at Sam's Club in Franklin to purchase two batteries for our RV.

When we reached Nashville our first stop was the Gaylord Opryland Event Center to purchase ICE tickets.
As we walked toward the Event Center we were greeted by a giant ICE sculpture. So we stopped to take pictures.
Next, we purchased ICE tickets! featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer is brought to life in magnificent sculptures that are hand-carved from more than 2 million pounds of ice.

ICE

Presents under Christmas Tree

Three Snowmen 

There were several TV hanging on an Ice Wall giving instructions before entering the ICE House.

Wall of TVs

When the show ended everyone was given Blue parkas to wear and before entering the ICE were asked if we wanted our picture taken. We said no.
Upon entering the  9 degrees ICEHOUSE we were greeted by a huge ICE Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer.

WITH a dial that said, "Make it glow"!

Inside ICE we saw several Reindeer, Santa, dancing dolls, Cowboys, clowns, dogs, and bears.
The Lion,  King of the Beast was wearing angel wings, and a crown and he was sitting in front of the ICE slides. There were three or four Slide shoots where people could slide down the ice.

We saw a green Christmas tree covered in colorful balls and a gold rope.
We saw elves, a family of deer, Frosty the Snow Man, the Ice Bar, Santa, and his Reindeer.
One scene was five elves and a sign that read: And, at Santa's Castle ... an elf named Hermney didn't want to make toys as the other elves did. He had wanted to be a dentist since he was a kid.

The elf who wanted to be a dentist. 

We saw Yukon Cornelius and the Abominable Snow Monster. 

Next, we saw Yukon Cornelius and the Abominable Snow Monster and a sign that read:

What they found was a creature! A giant! A friend! An Abominable Snow Monster who was meaner than mean.
The Yukon Cornelius came 'round the bend. These two lonely misfits had found a new friend. What a mighty swing of his miner's ax, Yukon whacked the ice, which started some cracks. and just as the Bumble got to the bay, the ice broke free, and they floated away.

Santa and his Reindeer

Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, The wise men, Shepards and an Angel 

We exited Ice into the Christmas store and we walked to Gaylord Hotel.
I had my picture taken with Santa.
We spent several hours walking through the Three gardens that were decorated for the Christmas Holidays.
We stopped for a Butterfinger Ice Cream and rested.
We exited the hotel and walked back outside Ice Ring where we watched the sunset.

Setting Sun on the White Christmas Tree.
We traveled to Spring Hill stopping at Panda Express for dinner.

Both of us were exhausted from all the walking and it was still over an hour's ride from Spring Hill to home.

Woe! unto the Sinners in Zion! Isaiah 33:14-16

The sinners in Zion are terrified;

    trembling grips the 

godless:

Not acknowledging a deity or divine law 

“Who of us can dwell with the 

consuming fire?

Deeply Felt 

severe trial or ordeal 

    Who of us can dwell with 

everlasting burning?”

lasting or enduring through all time

very hot

15 

Those who walk righteously

    and speak what is right,

who reject gain from 

extortion

Extortion is a crime in which one person forces another person to do something against his will, generally to give up money or other property, by the threat of violence, property damage, damage to the person’s reputation, or extreme financial hardship. Extortion involves the victim’s consent to the crime, but that consent is obtained illegally. 

    and keep their hands from accepting 

bribes 

• a sum of money or other inducement offered or given in inducement, incentive, payola, payoff, kickback, boodle, sweetenerwho stop their ears against plots of 

murder

the crime of unlawfully killing a person, especially with malice aforethought

    and shut their eyes against 

contemplating evil

to think deeply or carefully about (something)

causing harm or injury to someone

16 

they are the ones who will dwell on the 

heights

the highest part:summit

    whose refuge will be the 

mountain fortress.

an area of land that rises very high above the land around it and that is higher than a hill

a place that is protected against attack:a fortified place

Their bread will be supplied,

Food Sustenance

 to provide for

    and water will not fail them.

Water

the degree of clarity and luster of a precious stone

Jesus said, But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
John 4:14

🚋🚋🚋🚋2016 November 12, Saturday, Pathway to Prayer Trolley Tour

I ran back to the van for my jacket and camera and at 11 AM I jumped aboard the open-air trolley for a tour of Pathways to Prayer by Lee Freeman.
A tour of downtown Florence's houses of Worship.
I sat in the section with no windows so I could take pictures.
We stopped at St Mark's's MB church built around 1859, the second oldest black church in Florence.
Looked like they were having a yard sale in the parking lot.

St Marks MB Church 

St Joseph Catholic Church

Bethel CP Church

We travel down the road to Bethel CP Church built around 1897 also a black church.
Our next stop was St Joseph Catholic Church built around 1878, their priest was Benedict Manges.
This church overlooks the very large Florence Cemetery. My neighbor's kids went to school at St Joseph's.
Our next stop was at the First Baptist Church on Wood Avenue next door to the Florence Library. This church purchased the old Florence Library and uses it for classrooms. Their parking lot is full during events at Wilson Park and First Fridays downtown.

 First Baptist Church

Also on Wood Avenue, we visited Wood Avenue Chruch of Christ once called Popular Street Christian Church, built around 1886. It is located across the road from the Florence Library and faces the Florence Library.

Wood Avenue Church of Christ 

We rode passed many old historic homes on Wood Avenue.

Our next stop was 201 East Hawthorne St at the Temple B'Nai Israel built in 1906 by Reformed Jewish families.

Temple B'Nai Israel 

Our next stop was Calvary Fellowship of the Church of the Shoals located at 424 E Tombigbee St it is a non-denominational Church.

Calvary Fellowship of the Church of the Shoals

The First Presbyterian Church is located on Mobile Street across the street from the US Post Office, Ledgens, and Shoals Theater. It was built around 1818 the oldest church in Florence. Its pastor was Rev Gideon Blackburn

First presbyterian church 

We rode past Regions Bank which was built as a replica of the Forks of Cypress

Regions Bank Greek Revival building with a two-story colonnade composed of 24 columns. 

Across the street was the First Methodist Church built around 1822 it is the second oldest church. Founded by John Coz and John Kerr.

First Methodist Church

Trinity Episcopal Church third oldest church built around 1824 by Rev William Spencer Wall.
In front of their church was a sign that read: We are P.A.W.S. RESCUE ADOPT FOSTER
Our mission: Creating a more humane and caring environment for animals in Northwest Alabama. Partnering with local animal control & law enforcement for community assistance to help homeless, unwanted, and abused pets.

Trinity Episcopal Church

Tennessee Valley Community Church and Center was our last stop

.

2016 November 9, Wednesday, Trip to Bridge Street and NASA

Ate breakfast at Cracker Barrel, and after breakfast went to CBS. 

After CBS, hubby and I rode to Huntsville. 

We shopped at Toyrus (love that store) (love to shop for little ones at Toyrus) and bought my G. Granddaughter a Dory dress, necklace, and bag. We rode to NASA to pick up the hubby's check and fill it up with gas. We stopped so I could take a few pictures. 

Redstone Test Site

Redstone Test Site

We rode back to Bridge Street to eat lunch at Cantina Laredo. We ordered Mexican chicken feta served with beans, rice, onions, peppers, and sour cream.  

We were also served salsa, & chips. 

Cantina Laredo

Cantina Laredo

Salsa

Chicken Feta

When we finished eating we walked down Bridge Street which was decorated for the Christmas Holidays. There will be a Christmas Lighting on November 11 at 4:30 PM. Their extra-large Christmas tree was already up, extra-large white reindeer were everywhere, Christmas lights were strung and many stores had Christmas window displays. 

White Reindeer

Christmas Tree

Christmas Decorations

We shopped at Old Navy and Cabela's we did not buy anything. We stopped at Kohles on our way out of Huntsville. I bought a new purse, a big red dog, and a Madeline doll. 

Hubby went to Family Vision to get his glasses repaired. We stopped at Aldi's for groceries. They had eggs at 49 cents a dozen, milk at 99 cents a gallon hams at $1.09 a pound. We bought several other items. 

Madeline and the Big Red Dog 

We stopped at Wendy's for a Chocolate Frosty. 

As we started our journey home the sun shone brightly on our faces. Hubby said I cannot get used to this time change. 

Sunset 

I wanted to get into the Christmas Spirit but with this crazy weather, it has been hard. It does not feel or seem like Christmas this year. We could sure use some cooler weather. I like seasonal change, winter, spring, summer, and autumn.