2022 Dec 4, Tinsel Trails, Christmas Card Lane Ditto Landing & Toyota Field Christmas Lights Huntsville, AL

 On Sunday, we stopped in Decatur to walk through the Enchanted Forest in Founders Park, a tinsel-stroll supporting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

We stopped in Madison for their Polar Express Christmas event on Main Street, where the Christmas trees were beautifully displayed. 

We stopped at RSA to take coworkers' Christmas presents.

We rode to South Huntsville for Christmas on the River at Ditto Landing. There, we strolled along the Tennessee River Greenway, looking at custom-designed 4 x 8 plywood Christmas cards. 

Grinchmas

It's not what's under the Christmas Tree that matters. 
It's who's around it. 

We stopped at every card to get a picture, and it began to sprinkle before we returned. 

We rode to Huntsville's Big Spring Park to walk the Tinsel Trail. 

Big Spring Park Tinsel Trail.

We were afraid of getting wet, but the rain had stopped.

Next, we rode to Toyota Field to see The North Pole Rocket City Christmas Light Show and Winter Wonderland.

Which are a mile-and-a-half maze of bright, dancing, and twinkling lights. We tuned our radio to 95.5 to listen to Christmas music.

The North Pole Rocket City Christmas Light Show 

After the drive, we stopped at Toyota Field and walked through Winter Wonderland, stopping for pictures with Santa, Trash Panda, and Frosty. 

Picture with Frosty 

We hadn't eaten since breakfast and weren't sure what we wanted. We were tired and didn't want to go into a restaurant and wait, so we decided to stop at Krystal. Believe it or not, their food was good, or we were hungry. 

A picture with Trash Panda 

I ordered a double cheese Krystal and a strawberry Milkshake. 

When we arrived home, it was late, and we were both tired from the long day. I put my cameras away for another day to download and went to bed.

2022 Dec 3, Christmas Lunch, Christmas Parade, and The Cotton Gin

Met my friend Wanda at the Clarion Hotel to enjoy a Christmas brunch buffet and listen to storyteller Dolores Hydock.

Several large round tables were covered with white tablecloths, vases of Christmas flowers, and red and green chocolate candies. Each table held up to eight people. There were at least 15 to 20 tables, and most were full. 

Mimosas were available with or without liquor, which we enjoyed while waiting for our table to be called to the Christmas buffet. 

At the buffet, we were served pineapple, Strawberries, grapes, orange slices, small pastries, sausage casserole, and biscuits covered with sweet syrup, as well as grits. 

We sat with strangers but took the time to introduce ourselves. We discovered that we shared many commonalities. One of the ladies  I had graduated from the same high school.

Another lady said we used the same eye clinic(Maynard & Mitchell) in Huntsville. 

While we were eating and getting to know each other, a piano player entertained us with Christmas music.

For about an hour, we were entertained by storyteller Dolores Hydock. 

All I want is Christmas stories. 

She told a true story about an elderly man in a nursing home. She had asked him if COVID was the first time his life had been turned upside down. He said I would like to think so, but no.

He told her his life had been turned upside down and how something always turned out for the better. 

She talked about generous hearts, wish lists, and gifts that show up in unusual packages. 

Hubby and I are going to the Greenhill Christmas at 1:30 P.M. We are taking our granddaughter. The brunch ended at 12 P.M., and we had a 30-minute drive ahead of us.

We arrived at the parade at about 1 P.M., parked, and sat inside the car. 

Our granddaughter saw a little girl across the road and was very anxious to leave the car.

I told her we would get out if she waited until 15 1 P.M., but she was so anxious. 

She waited until 15 minutes later, and she and I got out and walked across the road. She and two other children ran and played until the parade started. 

I know how she feels because I feel the same way, anxious. 

When the parade began, they grabbed their bags and headed to the edge of the road, waiting for candy to be thrown.

Greenhill Christmas is picking up candy. 

Santa Claus riding in the Greenhill Parade

 It was not a long parade, but the kids got a lot of candy.

We dropped her off at her house.

We visited the Christmas Market, located at the Cotton Gin on Roberson Farm, which was filled with merchandise from various vendors. 

Grinch Christmas @The Cotton Gin

A crowd stood in line to see actors who had portrayed characters in Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons. 

We did not stand in line; we just shopped and took pictures. 

Met the Grinch in Whoville

 

2022 Dec 1, Athens Christmas Parade and Adventures Athens, AL

The Athens Courthouse was decorated for the holidays, and crowds lined up to watch the Christmas Parade. 

North Pole & Candy Carnival Float in the Christmas Parade 

I had a hard time getting good pictures at the parade. They were moving quickly, and we were sitting inside the car, so I had to take them through the windows. However, I did manage to get a few good ones. We enjoyed the parade & shopping at UG White Mercantile. 

We bought supper at Zaxby's in Athens, but our food was overcooked, so we didn't eat much of it. We bought a couple of chocolate coconut macadamia candies at UG White Mercantile. The parade concluded around 8. 

We parked across the street facing Merchant's Alley, waiting for the Athens Parade.

Christmas at UG White Merchantile 

 It is a merchandise store that sells southern-made goods, where treasures can be found, allowing you to step back in time. 

We stopped in Rogersville to see their Christmas Trees in the park. 

Rogersville Tinsel Trail 

I stopped at Jack's for a few strawberry cheesecake pies and was in bed a little after 9. 

From 1-3 Crafting at the Florence Library (making a Christmas card with watercolors).