2021 Dec 22, Christmas on the Square Moulton & O'Byran's Hartselle, Alabama

Today, Hubby and I took Ava to historic downtown Moulton to Christmas on the Square. Christmas on the Square began in 2019 with only 100 trees. 

Body Barns Fitness, 

El Rio Mexican Restaurant,   

Lawrence Couty Career Technical Center,   

The World is a better place with you in it. (Merry Christmas from Marlee Sutton Foundation), 

Merry Christmas from Crow Veterinary Clinic (Dog head holes),

Merry Christmas from JMAK Service Ince Martin McLemore,  

Merry Christmas from Shine Time Super Wash,  

Merry Christmas from Joe Wheeler EMC,  

Merry Christmas from Lawrence County Farmers Market (Plants), 

Merry Christmas from The Burch Agency (House with Snowman), 

Merry Christmas from In Loving Memory of our Daddy’s Bradley Gone Hunting,  

Merry Christmas from Southern Automotive,  

Merry Christmas from Morris Plumbing,  

Merry Christmas from Rayco Doors & Docks Inc,  

Merry Christmas from First Southern Financial,  

Merry Christmas from The Shaun’s Show,  

Merry Christmas from LCHS Family & Consumer Science,  

Merry Christmas from Lawrence County Republicans (Red, White, & Blue American Flags) Holiday Camper with puppy Dog and a candy cane for trailer hitch, 

Merry Christmas from Morris Plumbing Company (Covered with Frosties and blue ribbons, 

Merry Christmas from Sandra Ligon & Staff (Mini-Lawrence County Courthouse), 

Merry Christmas from LC Road Dept equipment with Santa at the wheel, 

Merry Christmas from In Memory of Dock Flannigan (Santa, frosty, presents), 

Merry Christmas from In loving memory of Sonya Collins, 

Merry Christmas from Caddo Congressional Christian Church (White Crosses, Star, blue balls, 

Merry Christmas from Turquoise Turtle (Blue mailbox), 

Merry Christmas from Berea Baptist Church (covered In fruit), 

Merry Christmas from Crossfit Zapped (yellow weights), 

Merry Christmas from Butterstick Bakery & Bistro (wrapped in red and white ribbons), 

Merry Christmas from Moulton Middle School (Little Red School House), 

Merry Christmas from National Fallen Firefighters (pictures of fallen heroes), 

Merry Christmas from Moulton Elementary “Great Happens Here,” 

Merry Christmas from Lawrence Medical Center,  

 Merry Christmas from Chalybeate Fire & Rescue,  

Merry Christmas from Shear Effects (large frosty), 

Merry Christmas from Blown Away (Girl blowing bubbles), 

Merry Christmas from Amber Leeann’s Boutique  

Merry Christmas from Southern Care New Beacon Hospice (May your days be Merry and bright), 

Merry Christmas from Walmart Moulton, 

Merry Christmas from Lawrence County Sheriff's Office (Police Car), 

Merry Christmas from Comfort Care Hospice,  

Merry Christmas from Loving Memory Tim Craig,  

Merry Christmas from the Town of Courtland,  

Merry Christmas from ELMS,  

Merry Christmas from Senator Larry Stutts (Gingerbread Man and Christmas Tree head holes, 

Merry Christmas from East Lawrence FFA, The Mystery Machine Agricultural Education 

Merry Christmas from Mt Hope Pre-K, 

Merry Christmas from In memory of Ashley Hughes, 

Merry Christmas from Lawrence County Library (Frosty & Books), 

 Merry Christmas from LA Plaza Bonita Mexican Restaurant,  

Merry Christmas from LC Schools (Gnome), 

Merry Christmas from Funderdome Skating Rink (Skates Let the Good Times Roll Groovy), 

Merry Christmas from Moulton Church of Christ,  North Pole Santa is out,  

Merry Christmas from Morgan Jones Mar-Mac Real Estate (Cabin), Manger scene on the front lawn, Merry Christmas from In Memory of Dewey & Ann Retherford,  

Merry Christmas from Country Brook Design Inc.,  

Merry Christmas from WCU Banking with Gnomie,  

Merry Christmas from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System,  

Merry Christmas from Moulton Baptist Church (What’s a Candy Cane), 

Merry Christmas from LouAllen Farms, 

Merry Christmas from Faith over Fear in Honor George Terry (white bench), 

Merry Christmas from Steve’s Drugs,  

Merry Christmas from Boycott Construction,  

Merry Christmas from Resurrection Catholic Chapel  

Merry Christmas from In Loving Memory of Mary-Frances Adair  Camper with Farm Fresh Christmas Trees Red Bench, Santa & Reindeer 

Merry Christmas from Blue Dolphin Pools  

Merry Christmas from In Memory of Eden Grace Hill (all purple) 

Merry Christmas from M & D Mechanical  

Merry Christmas from Republic Services 

Merry Christmas from Roden Surplus Imports Inc (North Pole Santa’s Mailbox) 

Merry Christmas from Shine Time Super Wash  

Merry Christmas from Flash Fiber  

Merry Christmas from Moulton United Methodist Church (Noah’s Ark and animals) 

Merry Christmas from LC Solid Waste (Green Garbage can) 

Merry Christmas from the Market 

Merry Christmas from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church  

Merry Christmas from Western Sirloin  

Merry Christmas from Batters Box LC Fury  

Merry Christmas from the Moulton Lions Club  

Merry Christmas from the town of Hillsboro  

Merry Christmas from In loving memory of Sydney Claire Briley 

Merry Christmas from Jerry Folks Insurance Agency  

Merry Christmas from Claiborne Electric  

Merry Christmas from In Memory of Ronnie Logston 

Merry Christmas from Brewer Heating & Air  

Merry Christmas from Vintage Boutique  

Merry Christmas from West Lawrence Water  

Merry Christmas from Calvary Tabernacle Church  

Merry Christmas from American Diesel  

Merry Christmas from Pilgrim Missionary Baptist (Cross & Manager ) 

Merry Christmas from Shelton’s Jiffy Mart (Santa’s workshop) 

Merry Christmas from Cornerstone Church (Big Red Radio Flyer wagon)

Merry Christmas from Apex Real Estate (There’s no place like home)

Big Red Sleigh with reindeer 

Merry Christmas from McCaw Hydraulics Moulton (Grinch) 

Merry Christmas from the City of Moulton Gingerbread Street   

Merry Christmas from Lawrence County Signature School 

Merry Christmas from In Loving Memory of Willard Blankinship Gingerbread Street, Merry Christmas from Martin and Co-Construction Co  

Merry Christmas from Tis the season to be a jolly old red truck  

Merry Christmas from Ink & Thread 

Merry Christmas from Christmas on the Square Committee 

Merry Christmas from Soul-shine Tan & Shop   

Merry Christmas from NARCOG (Cocoa Booth) 

Merry Christmas from Hospice of North Alabama Grinch Kissing Booth Mistletoe candy canes 

Merry Christmas from In Loving Memory of Bobby Ray Talley Sr  

Merry Christmas from in loving memory of Bill Terry  

Merry Christmas from Lawrence County Dream Center (Face-hole Christmas tree 

Merry Christmas from Berryman Trenching JOY  

Merry Christmas from Julia’s  Merry Christmas from Hatton High School 

These are from the one I took pictures of, and I am sure there are many more that I missed.  

We arrived around 11:00 AM, and I took over 200 pictures. 

There were several great stopping places to take pictures.  

One was in a little Red car with dice dangling from the rearview mirror with Ava at the Wheel.  

One was at the Burch Agency “Merry Christmas and Frosty 

One was Ave and a Brown Beaver wearing a red 7 Black checked hat 

One was at Santa’s Workshop with Elves 

One was at the Road Department with Santa at the wheel 

One was in front of the mini courthouse Of Course, 

One was in front of the big red Radio Flyer, Ava petting a mole & some dogs 

One way of us hugging at There’s snowflake-like home 

One of Ava in the Tiny dollhouse 

One of Ava the Target dog and snowman  

One of Ava & me in the Big Red Truck  

One of Ava and me riding in the Big Red Sleigh with Reindeer 

One of Ava the Grinch and the dog  

One of us sitting in red chairs on Gingerbread Street Ava and the Gingerbread man 

In the tiny house, Ava and Scooby-Doo  

Ava mailed her letter to Santa 

Ava and the Mystery Machine  

Ava holding Frosty’s hand  

Ava and the abominable snowman  

Ava and I on the White Bench, and Olf  

Ava and 3 Snowmen  

Ava and reindeer 

Ava and I in front of the old truck Ava at Christmas on the Square  

Ava & Travis at the Christmas Camper  

Ava at Soul-shine: Ava and 2 penguins 

Ava selling hot cocoa  

Ava and Noah’s Ark  

Ava and Baby Jesus  

Ava and the Grinch  

Ava and I at the kissing booth 

Ava and the mini-Train  

Ava and Tin-soldier Nutcracker 

Me and the polar bear  

Ava at the Exit  

Ava and the White Owl  

Ava and the Christmas Toys  

Ava at the Dream Center  

Ava and the Manger Scene  

Ava hugs the farmer  

Ava and I  hugging at JOY  

Ava hugging Santa Clause 

Ava and I riding the Red Car 

Heads in strawberry and grapes 

Ava and I Groovy at the Skate Center  

Ava and Pluto  

Ava with Mickey and Minnie  

Ava with Snow Family 

We rode to O’Bryan's in Hartselle for lunch, where I ordered a petite sirloin steak with sweet potato, and hubby ordered a Delmonico Steak with baked potato and salad bar.  Ava ordered a hamburger, fries, and doctor's pepper. Ava ate her fried but did not touch her hamburger.  I took pictures of Ave standing next to the Christmas tree, one sitting on the fireplace, one in front of a gasoline pump, the back of an old car, and one sitting on a fire truck.  The decor is the retro front end of Chevy used as a counter and the backside as seating.  There is a room where you can sit in a car and watch TV (like being at a drive-in).

We left there and rode to Wheeler Wildlife Refuge. 

I went to see the Sandhill Cranes, Ducks, and Whooping Crane while Ave and hubby stayed in the automobile.  There were thousands of cranes feeding on the grain left by farmers.  There were several people in the view area taking pictures of the birds. Six Sandhill Cranes were sighted, and I saw three. I walked down to the edge of the water to get a closer look at the cranes. 

I did not stay long because it was cold.  We saw an inflatable Santa atop a car dealership leaving Decatur.  We stopped at Mike's to see Atlas after we dropped Ava off.  Atlas was driving his jeep, is 18 months old, still sucking on a Passy, and driving that jeep everywhere.  He knows how to make it go but still does not understand how to control it.  It had been a full day with all the activities.  I was ready to lie down to rest.

The Golden Years

In your golden years 

You see a variety of physicians
hoping they can repair it,
your bodily parts

Your body becomes like an aged car
without constant care, it begins to fall apart. 

What did you say become 

your daily answer?

Hearing aids become a necessity. 

Snap, Crackle, and Pop are the sounds
you make as you walk across the floor. 

You take the elevator instead of the stairs.

That beautiful, vibrant golden hair has turned shades of gray.

The obituary is your daily reading 

You look daily

for friends, relatives, or neighbor 

names that have gone to the great beyond!

Those once bright white teeth have aged
you now have

root canals, bridges, crowns, implants 

Heaven forbid if you have to 

wear dentures.

Your sight grows dim
and glasses are required.

Arthritis rules your body
your signature becomes a scribble
as you try to sign your name

You take more pills than you can hold in one hand
just to survive.

You leave the room but forget why?
Do you forget your name?
You forget the day, month, or year!

You watched your parents and grandparents
as they reached their golden years.

Life seems to have passed you by as
You watched your children grow and leave
the nest
then you watch your grandchildren
leave the nest
Now you are all alone.

My grandmother told me  Heaven is my home
There, I will be able to  run, & jump 

just as I did when I was a kid.

She said I don't seek 

fortune, & fame, for they will soon
fade away.

God is my refuge
Heaven is my home
No more pain and suffering.
This is my hope and my salvation!

2016 September 5, Saturday, Sweet Tater Festival @Smith Lake & Labor Day Actives

Started the morning with a call out to work with hubby. It only took about fifteen minutes to reset the alarm. 
While at Red Stone Arsenal we stopped at a couple of new buildings so I could take pictures. 
The first building was glass and the entrance had a metal winding staircase that led upstairs to the top level, with high ceilings. 
On display in the lobby were rockets, the Space Shuttle, the mini Apollo Lunar Module, globed Sea of Tranquility July 1969, and a table made from a rocket exhaust nozzle.

Tabletop
Base made from Rocket Exhaust Nozzle

Table made from Rocket Exhaust Nozzle 

Space Shuttle

The next building held The Space Launch Systems.
It had a life-size space suit, an Orion Space Craft, and a mini NASA building, with a launch area.
There was a half-circle orange bench where people could set not very comfortably. 

There was a life-size model of the Space Launch System (SLS) 1.25 scale.
The Space Launch System is going to Mars. 

Lifesize Space suit with an arm around a woman 

Space Launch System will be the next rocket in space going to  MARS

Smith Lake at the Sweet Tater Festival was our next destination which took a little over an hour.
As we got closer to the park we saw signs that said, This way to tater festival, have money ready. The entrance fee was three dollars per person, and children 5 free.

There was plenty of parking with no one directing traffic, we found a nice close spot and parked. 
I took my camera with me and started taking pictures. 
I think we picked the hottest time of the day to visit the festival, the sun was blazing hot,
and sweat was already pouring down the back of my shirt.
The aroma of barbecue, hamburgers, & french fries filled the air.
There was a lemonade stand for the thirsty. 
I could see Smith Lake in the distance, I wanted to take my shoes off and wade in the lake. 
The sound of music filled the air coming from a staging area.
There were people with their children and many with their dogs. 

They had carriage rides for five dollars, I wanted to ride but it was too hot.

Smith Lake 

Carriage Rides

Inflatables for kids

Band

Mechanical Bull riding

Food Vendors 

Several people brought their dogs

In the wooded area was the Hot Rod Car Show.

We saw Corvettes, Fords, Chevys, Mustangs, Camaro, Trans-Am, Firebirds, Cadillacs.

Thunderbird

Ralph Lane st 1927 Rat Farm 

Most of the car show was in the shade

Cadillac

Corvette

Oldsmobile 

Orange Ford truck Hemi Powered

the red car 

Two hours was more than enough fun in the hot sun.
We exited the park, and took I-65N, to Cullman.
We stopped at Logan's Roadhouse for a late lunch.
I was still wearing an orange wristband when I went to the restroom at Logan's. There I meet a family also still wearing their orange wristbands. I ask them if they had been to the festival? They said yes.
When we were leaving we met a man carrying a large camera case and he also was wearing an orange wristband. I ask if he had been to the festival? He replied yes. I laughed and said that Logan's must be the stopping-off place for many people that had been to the festival.

We ordered 1/2 rack of ribs, fried apples, broccoli, salmon, and rolls.
For dessert, we order three bucks of sweets pies.
One peanut butter, and two strawberry cheesecakes.

A bucket full of strawberry cheesecake

Arrived home around 4:00PM
At 5:30PM we rode to Tennessee for lottery tickets.
Stopping at Roger High in Greenhill to watch our grandson play football.

The first team lost Rogers 0, and Lauderdale County 28.
When the first team played the sun was still blazing down and I could nearly see the boys play. By the time the next team played the sun had gone down and it had cool down enough to enjoy the football games.
The boys took several cool-down breaks which they needed, several looked very hot.
The next team won 27 Rogers, Lauderdale County 17.

There was plenty of activity going on in the bleachers with our great-granddaughter.
Had a full fun day.

2016 Saturday, June 25, Helen Keller Festival Actives

The Helen Keller Festival is to honor a woman, Helen Keller,  who not only overcame being blind and deaf but went on to be a great ambassador for America. 

Helen Keller was born to Arthur Keller and Catherine Adams Keller on June 27,1880 and died on June 1, 1968.

Helen learned to read and write with the help of Anne Sullivan and she graduated from Radcliffe College with honors in 1904. Helen also wrote several books and was an advocate for several causes. Helen Adams Keller is buried in the Washington National Cathedral in Washington DC. 

My first stop was the Car and Truck Show located on Main Street Tuscumbia /Sponsored by the Shoals Car and Truck Club.

The streets were crowded with people walking around looking at all the vehicles displayed. There were vehicles like the Scoobie Doo Volkswagen, to the newest Corvette.

I tried to find a shade in which to park my van which would be about midway through everything, that I wanted to do.

I walked down the street to Cold Water Book Store where the Tuscumbia Walking Tour people were to meet.

I was a little early so I walked inside to cool off and inside were several more people. There were several vendors set up inside so, I went by each one and stopped to talk.

I talked to a man selling books on how to start a business. I said that I was retired and had no interest in starting a business and that I liked history. He said that maybe some of my family would like to start a business. I said I have family that owned business already. He laughed and said I guess you are not going to buy a book from me and I said not unless it is about history. We both laughed. 

Next, I meet a woman selling jewelry she said that she lived in Atlanta but was originally from Tuscumbia and she came every year for the Helen Keller Festival. 

I stopped at the next table where a man, his wife, and his son were setting. He was selling a series of books about UFOs. He told me that he made the bust statue of Warner Von Braun at NASA and that he had done work for Disney.

There was a display of beautiful pictures depicting the early 50s & 60’s and I said whoever painted these pictures sure did a great job. The woman standing next to me said they were hers. 

She said growing up in the 50s was just like the Happy Days show.

It was getting close to the time for the walking tour so I walked outside to wait for the tour to begin.

We had three people that shared information about how Tuscumbia got started and how it got to be called Tuscumbia. The Old Stage Coach Building was pointed out to us and we were told that we could tour it on our own later. We walked up Main Street stopping to listen to the women talk about the train depot where Anne Sullivan was picked up by one of the Keller's carriages and taken to Ivy Green. There is a carriage on display that was owned by the Kellers in the Tuscumbia Depot. 

We also listened to the women talk about the newspaper building where Mr. Keller worked. 

The streets were still very crowded with people as we made our way up the street. 

We stopped just outside the Abernathy House and one of the women ask if the group could tour the house. 

We were invited inside and some of the group walked upstairs while others toured the tunnel underneath the house. The tunnel was once used to bring food inside to the dining room, which was once located downstairs.

Everyone walked outside and across the parking lot. Our next stop was in the blazing sun so, I looked for a shady spot, while the women talked about the two churches that were nearby.

Finally, we arrived at the First Presbyterian Church where we were invited to the Helen Keller Mini Concert. 

Dinie Stone played one song, Jesus Loves Me on the harpsichord.

Brian Beck played a couple songs on the Organ.

Dinie Stone played a selection of  hymns and classics on the piano 

Dinie played songs about water, about communion and when Dinie began to play America everyone stood and joined in the singing. 

In the end, everyone was invited to stay for light refreshments. 

Once I knew only darkness and stillness...
my life was without past or future but a little word from the fingers of another fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness, and my heart leaped to the rapture of living. 

Helen Keller Mini-Concert

The letter was written by Helen Keller

Everyone was given a reproduced copy of the original letter written by Helen Keller to Reverend WF Trump 

I enjoyed two glasses of fresh lemonade, & two cookies while I sat and talked with several women. 

It was around 12:30PM by this time, and I still had to walk back to my car. 

I was going to the Keller Library to listen to Keller Thompson talk about the life of her great, great aunt Helen Keller.

I arrived at the Keller Library but the door was still locked, it was bout fifteen until one. Many other people were waiting. I walked back to my van and cranked it because it was too hot to stand outside. Right after I cranked the van the door opened. So I got out of my van and walked inside.

I enjoyed listening to Mrs. Thompson's talk and slide show about Helen Keller. 

There were also light refreshments after the talk. I got a bottle of water and a cookie.

It had been a great morning even though the heat index was over 100 degrees.

2010 April 7, Wednesday, A day trip to Tulepo MS

Hubby and I traveled south along Natchez Trace stopping along the way to take pictures of markers. Bear Creek Mound, Pharr Mounds, Donivan Slough, Old Trace & Twenty Mile Bottom.

We arrived in Tupelo MS the birth home of Elvis Presley. We walked around the home and looked inside, we walked along the Walk of Life printed on the granite marker laid around the birth home. We saw the statue of Elvis at age 13. We saw Elvis Presley and the Blues marker telling about his influence on Blues music. We walked into the church where Elvis and his family attended. We visited Elvis's chapel "a place of meditation". We walked along the eight-foot "Story Wall", about Elvis's life told by friends of the family. We stopped to watch the fountain with thirteen upper spouts representing his life in Tupelo. We visited the gift shop. 
Our last stop was Memphis Bound where we saw a replica of the 1939 green Plymouth that Elvis drove to Memphis TN.

We rode downtown Lee County, Tupelo stopping to take pictures. We stopped at the Convention Center we saw the Shake Rag Blues Marker, telling about Elvis's influence on Blues Music. Inside on display were pictures of Elvis and Elvis White Chain Jump Suit. 
We saw the Lyric Theater where the family may have gone to see a movie. Our last stop in Tupelo was the Tupelo National Battlefield. 

Bear Creek Mound

Pharr Mounds

Pharr Mounds

Donivan Slough 

Old Trace 

Twenty Mile Bottom

Elvis Presley's birth home built in 1934

Elvis Presley's birth home 

Statue of Elvis Presley as a boy

Elvis Presley boyhood church 

Elvis Presley Museum 

1939 Plymouth

Shake Rag Blues Marker 

Shake Rag Blues Marker 

Colorful guitar with Elvis' face

Convention Center display of Elvis Presley and Marty Stewart

Fair Park and City Hall

Lyric Theater "All Shook Up" 

Tupelo National Battlefield

Battle of Tupelo and The Western Campaign 1864

We ate lunch at Cracker Barrel

Tupelo National Battlefield 

We took a different route home. We stopped in Red Bay Alabama where I took a few pictures of a mural on the side of a store building, some war memorials 

Mural in Red Bay

Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia 

We ended our trip by stopping at the Music Hall of Fame to take a picture of the Blues Marker.

The Blues Trail Mississippi to Alabama 

The Blues Trail Mississippi to Alabama 

It had been a full day driving south on Natchez Trace stopping to see several sights. A stop at Elvis Presley's birth home site. We made a stop at the Lee County-Tupelo Convention Centre.

We visited the Tupelo National Battlefield. We ate lunch at Cracker Barrel. We stopped in Red Bay. Our last stop was at the Music Hall of Fame where the Alabama to Mississippi Blues Marker was located.