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

 Sunday we stopped in Decatur to walk thru the Enchanted Forest in Founders Park which is a tinsel stroll supporting Leukemia and Lymphoma.

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

We stopped at RSA to take coworkers' Christmas Present Presents.

We rode to South Huntsville to Christmas on the River at Ditto Landing. There we strolled along the Tennessee River Greenway looking at 4 x 8 plywood custom-designed 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 before we returned it began to sprinkle. 

We rode to Huntsville's Big Spring Park to walk through the Big Spring Park 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 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 Wonder Land stopping for pictures with Santa, Trash Panda, and Frosty. 

Picture with Frosty 

We had not eaten since breakfast and were not 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 very hungry. 

A picture with Trash Panda 

I ordered a double cheese Krystal and strawberry Milkshake. 

It was late when we arrived home and we both were tired from the long day. 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 we waited for our table to be called to go 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 and grits. 

We sat with strangers but introduced ourselves. We found that we had a lot in common. 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, we were entertained by Christmas music from a piano player.

For about an hour we were entertained by storyteller Dolores Hydock in her 

All I want for 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.

And went on to tell her the different times 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 @ 1:30 PM we are taking our granddaughter. The brunch was over at 12PM and we had a 30-minute drive.

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

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

I told her if she would wait until 15 after 1PM we would get out but she was so anxious. 

She waited until 15 after and she. She &  I got out and walked across the road. There 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 picking up candy 

Santa Clause riding in the Greenhill Parade

 It was not a very long parade the kids did get a lot of candy.

We dropped her off at her house.

We went to The Christmas Market located at The Cotton Gin at Roberson Farm which was filled with merchandise from various vendors. 

Grinch Christmas @The Cotton Gin

A crowd was standing in line to see people who played characters in Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons. 

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

Met the Grinch in Whoville

 

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

Athens Courthouse was decorated for the holidays and crowds of people 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 pretty fast and we were sitting inside the car so I had to take them through the windows. But I did 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 each much of it. We did buy a couple of Chocolate coconut Macadamia candies at UG White Mercantile. The parade was over at about 8. 

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

Christmas at UG White Merchantile 

 Is merchandise that sells southern-made goods, where treasures can be found. Like stepping back in time. 

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

Rogersville Tinsel Trail 

Stopped at Jack's for a couple of 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.)