🎄🎄🎄🎄Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2015🎄🎅🏻

Another year has passed, and I am still here, Thank God.

It has been a hectic year.

My husband and I started the year off right in January. We took an overnight trip to Gulf Shores.

The beach is a great place to go in the winter months. Few people were on the beach except those there to watch the sunset, which was awesome. 

We stayed at Staybridge Suites for half price (a full kitchen), just like living in an apartment. We enjoyed a delicious seafood meal at Lula's (my husband had never eaten there).

Gulf Shores sunset 

We celebrated Valentine's Day in February by ordering pizza from a new place called The Rising Crust. The pizza was delicious.

The Rising Crust Pizza 

My granddaughter had her first child and our first great-grandchild, Ava Grace.

Ava Grace

I rode to Huntsville in March to attend the Saint Patrick's Day Parade. (I had never been to a Saint Patrick's Day Parade) It was fun, and I took lots of pictures.

Saint Patrick's Day Parade

Toward the end of March, I was invited to spend the weekend with my friend and her husband in Pigeon Forge, TN. My sister went with me. We had a great time. We went to a quilt show, rode the Ferris wheel, ate at Margaritaville, and ate at Mel's Diner and The Apple House Restaurant.

Riding the Ferries Wheel

My husband and I took two of the grandsons to the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge and the Wheeler Dam Birding Trail, and that same day, Hubby bought a 2007 Silver Honda. 

Two of my amazing grandsons 

I spent the day at the Birmingham Zoo in April with my daughter and grandchildren.

Early that morning, we watched the setting of the third Blood Moon, which was terrific.

My daughter and her three exceptional children 

In April, I took several walking tours: the Civil War, Tuscumbia, and Oakwood Cemetery. I also took a Civil War trolley tour in Florence.

In May, Hubby and I went to Rock City in Lookout Mountains. 

Rock City in Lookout Mountains, me in my neon suit

I went to the Decatur hot air balloon show and a Dennis Family Reunion. (to meet relatives I never knew)

Sierra, my granddaughter, graduated from high school, and her brother graduated from sixth grade.

Sierra 

Montana

In June, my husband and I toured the Rosenbaum home/museum.

Rosenbaum home/museum

I took several of my grandchildren to the movies every Thursday in June, July, and the first two Thursdays in August. 

Carmike Theater has a four-dollar summer special where you can get a small Coke, a small popcorn, and a movie. We have been doing this for several years.

In June, my husband and I took a day trip to Hurricane Mills, Loretta Lynn's Ranch, Museum, RV Park, and Grist Mill. 

Loretta Lynn's Ranch/Museum

In July, we took several day trips.

We rode to Jackson, Tennessee, stopping at the Train Depot, Rock-A-Billy Museum, Casey Jones Museum, and Train Depot.

Train Depot in Jackson, Tennessee

We also rode to Tullahoma, Tennessee, to tour the George Dickel Distillery, the Science Museum, and the Beechcraft Air Museum.

Beechcraft Air Museum.

In August, Hubby and I rode to Birmingham, Alabama, to visit the Iron Works Historical State Park. 

Iron Works Historical State Park

We rode to Pulaski, Tennessee, touring the Milky Way Farms. (The farm built by the candy giant of Milky Way Candy 

Milky Way Farms 

We also rode to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where we toured the Stones River National Battlefield, Oaklands Historic House/Museum, and Cannonsburg Village.

Cannonsburg Village Murfreesboro, TN

My daughter decided to leave Rhode Island and move to Fort Myers to work, so at the end of September, I flew to Rhode Island to help her move.

We spent the first day on the road, stopping in Columbia, South Carolina, to spend the night with one of my daughter's friends.

The next day, we were back on the road, stopping at the Frampton Visitor Center in South Carolina. The Frampton was an old plantation home. We also stopped at Savannah National Refuge and Museum in Hardeeville, Ga.

Our next stop was the waterfront in Savannah, GA, where we ended the day with my cousin, Marjorie Goodrich. We spent the evening catching up on family and spent the night.

The next day, we continued our travel to Fort Myers, arriving at the fully furnished apartment my daughter had rented.

Some of the places that we visited while I was in Florida were Sanibel Island, Fort Myers River Walk, Big Cypress National Preserve, Ochopee Smallest Post Office, Everglade Museum and boat ride, Mound House at Estero Island, Edison/Ford's winter homes, Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, Manatee Park, Shell factory, Lakes Park, Slough Preserve. We attended a Pirates Festival, Zombie Festival, and Oktoberfest. 

Mother and Daughter in Fort Myers, Florida

In November, my husband and I rode to Meridian, MS, toured the Jimmy Rodgers Museum, grave, and Blues Trail.

Jimmy Rodger Statue

I attended the wedding & shower of Chase Wanner.

My husband and I enjoyed watching the Bridge Street Town Centre Christmas fireworks show.

I spent three days beside my middle son, who was in the hospital for three days with mini-strokes. 

We rode to Nashville, Tennessee, where we toured A Country Christmas at the Opryland Hotel, beautifully decorated for the holidays.

We walked through the Nutcracker's magical & colorful carved Ice Sculptures.

Manger Scene in Carved Ice Sculptures

Pier on Beach in Biloxi, MS

My husband and I traveled to Gulf Shores for two nights and three days. 

We traveled to Biloxi, MS, to take a trolley tour of the historic downtown area.

We traveled to Pensacola, FL, where we toured the Historic Village of Pensacola. 

We had an eventful ride home, watching people dart in and out of traffic. We saw several wrecks, and traffic backed up for miles.

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We watch my niece and other church members entertain us with their salute to our Lord Jesus Christ. 

🚙2015 July 7, Tuesday, Day trip to Jackson Tennessee

We left home around 8AM
We took Cox Creek Pky to Hwy 20 into Tennessee.
In Tennessee hwy 20 becomes 69
We continued traveling on hwy 69 through Savannah, we took hwy 64 over to Selmer up hwy 45.
For some crazy reason, our GPS took us off the beaten path through a little town called Finger.

Finger Store
We winded and twisted around the road back to hwy 45 in Henderson, Tn.

We rode past the Pinson Mounds sign, I wanted to stop but my husband said, it is just a pile of dirt and it is too hot.

Pinson Mounds Archaeological Area 2.5 miles

Finally, we made it to Jackson our first stop was the NC & SL Railroad Museum.
There was construction going on the road in front of the museum, we had to take a detour.

Detour sign and Neely House

We parked, I started taking pictures of the mural across the street, the Neely House, and the three train cars that were parked on the train tracks at the museum.

Mural of the Train Depot 

Kitchen & Dining Car, Caboose, Chessie System car

Chessie System Car

The Sleeping area

Kitchen 

Dining area
We walked into the museum where we saw more memorabilia that we could possibly see in one day. We watched the many tiny trains, twist and turn behind a glass case. I could have watched the trains for hours.

We talked to both curators, one of the curators ask me where we were from, I told her.
She asks me if I knew the Dunkin family.
She said her father-in-law was Colonel Dunkin and he is buried somewhere in South Alabama and she said she was a widow.
We thanked both curators and traveled to Rockabilly passing the historic homes on East Main Street.
This museum is free to the public.

Historic home on East Main St

Historic Greyhound Bus Station

Our next stop was Rockabilly Museum where we were greeted by the knowledgeable curator Henry Harrison. We toured the museum with a couple from Sweden.

The Swedish Couple 

I'm Going to Jackson
We got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout,
We've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went out.
I'm goin' to Jackson, I'm gonna mess around,
Yeah, I'm goin' to Jackson, 
Look out Jackson town.

Well, go on down to Jackson; go ahead and wreck your health.
Go play your hand you big-talkin' man, make a big fool of yourself,
Yeah, go to Jackson; go comb your hair!
Honey, I'm gonna snowball, Jackson.
See if I care.

When I breeze into that city, people gonna stoop and bow. (Hah!)
All them women gonna make me, teach 'em what they don't know how,
I'm goin' to Jackson, you turn-a loose-a my coat.
'Cause I'm goin' to Jackson.
"Goodbye," that's all she wrote.

But they'll laugh at you in Jackson, and I'll be dancin' on a Pony Keg.
They'll lead you 'round town like a scalded hound,
With your tail tucked between your legs,
Yeah, go to Jackson, you big-talkin' man.
And I'll be waitin' in Jackson, behind my Jaypan Fan, 

Well now, we got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper Sprout,
We've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went.
I'm goin' to Jackson, and that's a fact.
Yeah, we're goin' to Jackson, ain't never comin' back.

Well, we got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout'
And we've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went...

Playing the drums 

The Mural at Rockabilly

On stage 

Guitar

Henry Harrison 

We thanked Mr. Harrison for the tour and all the information about Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Brenda Lee, Johnny Cash, WS Holland, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Jordan Aires, Ace Cannon, Carl Mann, Narvel Felts, Wanda Jackson & Sam Phillips.

This museum cost $10.00 per person 

Our next stop was the Casey Jones Village and the Old Country Store Restaurant.

We ordered two senior buffet meals with tea cost per person was $9.98 total cost $21.91.

I filled my plate with collard greens, peas and fried corn fritters, a small salad plate and for dessert blackberry and peach cobbler. Oh, my gosh! It was so good!

Southern Buffet

Old Country Store Restaurant

Soda Shop woman frying up some apple pies

I took a few pictures outside, we walked across the parking lot, to the Old Town Music Highway Crossroads.

Motorcycle Made my Orange County Choppers

We walked to Casey's Museum Home, Train Museum and the gift shop.

Casey Jones Home 

The Hurst that carried Casey Jones 

The crash 

Casey Jones dining room 

Train engine 382🚂🚂🚂

Our last stop before starting home was the Winery, where I tasted several different wines before we purchased a bottle of Blackberry and Cayuga White wine, we spent $32.93.

We traveled home stopping at Chick-fil-a for dinner at 5:43PM.
We were both very tired from the trip and we both fell asleep by 8:30PM.
We had a great day it started out not too hot, by the end of the day it was humid.
Another full day of fun, see where next week will take us!