🎄🎄🎄🎄2010 December 19, Sunday, Reading of A Christmas Carol & Christmas Party 🎄🎄🎄

Trees of Christmas

I took Sierra to the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, where "The Trees of Christmas" was on display. They are 12-foot spruce and fir trees decorated with themes by local residents at the Art Center, 511 N. Water St., Tuscumbia. Free Sundays 1–3 P.M. 

The curator informed us about the drawings and the display of the singing river sculptures, created by artist Audwin McGee.

Still in its infancy, the Singing River Sculptures are planned as four semi-abstract sculptures — one each in Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia — to be placed in prominent spots, Matthews said, such as city entryways. The capstone of the project will be a cluster of about seven to nine sculptures overlooking the river.

Created from recycled aluminum donated by Wise Alloys, a producer of aluminum can stock based in Muscle Shoals, the pieces' sizes varied according to their locations. The goal is for each to be larger than life, about 18 to 20 feet tall.

After viewing the sculptures, we visited the 12-foot spruce and fir trees, decorated in various themes by local artists. 

One was decorated to honor the firefighters. It was decorated with fireman hats, Dalmatian dogs, candy canes, fire trucks, "Do Not Cross" rope, fire suits, badges, and more.

One was decorated with ice cream cones, red-and-white-striped paper, large and small lollipops, candy, and dolls. 

One tree was decorated with large and small red and gold balls, poinsettias, keys, rope in lights, bells, packages, presents under the tree, and a big red ribbon streaming from the top.

One Christmas tree was decorated with bubbling lights, wrapped with colorful lights, and adorned with dangling icicles, which reminded me of an old-fashioned Christmas tree.

The Trees of Christmas

The Trees of Christmas

One Christmas tree was entirely decorated in gold, with gold balls and lights, and topped with a large gold ribbon that streamed down to the floor. It had packages under the tree, which reminded me of a luxury Christmas tree. 

One Christmas tree was decorated with string, a bird's nest, and pinecones, and was roped in with tiny white lights, creating a scene reminiscent of Christmas in the Country. 

One Christmas tree was decorated with cards, books, USA maps, times, ABCs, Cat in the Hat Books, and encouraging children to read with books under the tree. 

One Christmas tree was decorated with lambs, sheep, and tiny white lights, featuring Bible scriptures on lamb cards, and topped with a large sheep. Under the tree, more sheep and lambs. 

One Christmas tree was decorated with angels, musical instruments, and a string of wooden beads, and topped with lots of icicles spiraling toward the ceiling. Under the tree were several brown bears wearing shirts with "Alabama Dirt Shirt" printed on them, sitting in a wicker chair, creating a more country Christmas atmosphere. 

Once during the Christmas Holidays, you can visit the Helen Keller Home for Free. 

 Helen Keller Home 

 Helen Keller Home 

Donations are welcome. 

Home Tour Admission:

Adults...$6.00

Students  5-18..................$2.00

Seniors & "AAA" members...$5.00

Military (Active and Retired)...$5.00

Group of 20 or more..................Adults $5

Children $1.50 (Group reservations requested)

Sierra and I walked through Ivy Green, Helen Keller's home, which was decorated for Christmas.

The decorations are taken from Ivy Green's grounds. 

We toured the first-floor parlor, the dining room, the hall, Captain Keller's bedroom, Evaline's bedroom, Anne and Helen's bedroom upstairs, the Trunk Room, and the Boys' room. 

Each room was connected by a hallway, and each room had its own fireplace. The home was built by Helen's grandparents, David and Mary Keller, in 1820. The grounds consist of the Rose Garden, Cottage, Boxwood Circle, Cook's House, Well, Herb Garden, Butterfly Garden, Memorial Stone, New Zealand Gate, and Japanese Garden. 

We finished touring the Keller Home and then rode to the Sheffield Library for the reading of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, not Will Stutts. 

Will Stutts did a solo reading of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. 

We saw A Very Merry American Christmas tree. 

The library had a Christmas tree donated by the art classes of LE Wilson Elementary.

It had a sign that read," This tree is dedicated to Whit & Genie."

Love and their daughters, Tabitha & Kayla 

Bless you for your kind and generous spirit

Merry Christmas

Along the side were written Rudolph, Santa Claus, Christmas Trees, the Star of Bethlehem, Jesus, and Frosty the Snowman. 

The Sheffield Library had Christmas cookies and hot apple cider for refreshments. 

Will Stutts's solo reading of Charles Dickens' A Christmas

Christmas Tree and Cookies at Sheffield Library 

Will Stutts performed a solo reading of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. 

He did an excellent job, and he kept my attention.

I was happy to say that I loved to listen to him read. His voice changed with each character, and he maintained this consistency throughout the reading. 

I had a delightful afternoon. 

Sierra and I stopped at Krispy Kreme for two dozen donuts.

We went to Sam's Club for a pizza, a chocolate cake, and cheese dip, which we brought home for our Christmas party.

For our Christmas Party, we had chili, cocktail wieners, chocolate cake, donuts, crackers, chips, cheese dip, and drinks.

When everyone finished eating, we retired to the living room, where the kids played board games, including Monopoly, checkers, and Twister.

Christmas presents were passed out.  

Lora, Stephanie, and a friend came, but her kids did not come. 

Montana called out the colors for Twister while Lora and her friends played.

I had my camera out and took lots of pictures.

It was very lovely of Tracy to share her home with our family.

Thank you, Tracy

Christmas Party at Tracy's 

Playing games 

🎄🎄🎄🎄2012 December 8, Saturday, A Dickens of a Christmas in Franklin Tennessee

2012 Saturday, December 8, Franklin, TN

Was it a Dickens of a Christmas in Franklin, Tennessee?

My husband and I ate breakfast of eggs, sausage, and toast. 

We arrive in Franklin, Tennessee, about 10:00 A.M. 

My husband and I walked around taking pictures of costumed characters from Dickens' story"A Christmas Carol.

I rode the horse-drawn carriage around the Public Square for $2.00. 

The carriage had four padded bench seats that would seat up to twelve people of normal size.

It was pulled by a couple of horses, one of which was brown and whit, and the other pitch black.

We saw arts and crafts from the holiday bazaar throughout the public square. 

There were musicians along the streets; we saw violinists, handbell choirs, harpists, and carolers. 

I grabbed a picture of Scrooge, the  Old "Humbug" himself. 

My husband took a picture of me next to the Grim Reaper.

I took several pictures of the Cratchit family, along with Tiny Tim, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, and Bob Cratchit (who are actually Franklin police officers on duty), Father and Mother Christmas.

We sampled peppermint pretzels and watched the Morris Dancers perform a Cornish dance featuring swords and sticks from the mining communities of Cornwall.

It rained for the first part of the morning. We saw many people carrying umbrellas, but the rain did not deter the festival.

We ate lunch at Papa Boudreaux's Cajun Café & Catering Co. and spent $33.15.

The building was painted purple and trimmed in bright yellow, with iron-metal tables and chairs sitting outside. 

Inside, there were long wooden bench tables that could seat up to 8 people, and the total capacity is 49.

On the outside of the restaurant, on the purple door, was a sign that read," Restrooms are for paying customers ONLY! Sorry, we are a small establishment…….SignedPap's Management.

Scrooge walking the streets of Franklin

Wet Streets of Franklin

I took pictures of many historic markers, including the courthouse. Behind the marker was a sign that read, "Franklin on foot."

What once was the local courthouse is now the Visitors Center in Franklin.

Another sign that Union Headquarters Was Planning for battle was located near a manger scene.

The St. Philip Chaotic Church Marker was in front of the Church.

The Old Factory Store is now a bookstore where several authors were signing books.

We also saw the Masonic Temple, Hiram Lodge No. 7 & building and marker, which was on the Civil War tour number 17.

We saw the Ewen Cameron marker at the Presbyterian Church.

We stopped at Starbucks to use the restroom before we left Franklin.

We passed many war markers as we walked back to the van. We saw the Chickasaw Treaty Council, the Fa Field Hospital caring for the wounded, the Franklin Special School District, the Franklin Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and the Hincheyville Markers.

Christmas Tree in the Center of Town

Lady in Pink

Carriage Rides

Cratchit Family

We rode to Leipers Fork around 1:30 P.M. to watch the Christmas parade, but it was canceled due to the weather. The town was hit by lightning earlier that day. 

The participants of the Christmas Parade had gathered and dispersed after the storm.

Many of them had to travel down Main Street, and we saw many.

We saw a sign that read "Possum Holler Garage Like US on Facebook."

Radio Flayer Wagon 

Possum Holler Garage 

We saw Radio Flayer Wagon atop a Jeep full of riders full of Christmas Cheer.

We saw a Possum Holler Garage tow truck towing an old Plymouth.

We saw an F-150 truck pulling a boat on a wagon, with riders wearing Santa hats.

We saw an Old Chevrolet Truck with the inscription "Posser Holler Garage" pulling an outhouse, the side of which read "Old NO. 7."

There was a round hole cut in the outhouse, and it had a reindeer hanging out of the hole with four legs closed underneath. On the backside of the outhouse was a satellite dish, a sign that read, "Merry Christmas.

A sign that read "Possum Holler est. 2006, "The Other White Meat", "24 Wreck Her Service", "You Bend We Mend 'em".

Behind the signs was Frosty the Snowman, with a couple of reindeer and a sign that read, "  TAY BACK 100 FEET EXPLOSIVE GAS."

Riding in the  1921 Clampett's truck

STAY BACK 100 FEET EXPLOSIVE GAS."

We saw the Hillsboro United Methodist/Bank of Leiper's Fork historic markers located at Old Hwy 96 W.

We walked through the Winters Arts located at the Locke Building.

We went inside Serenity Madison Antiques and Mercantile.

We stopped inside the Laurel Leaf Fashion Store.

We saw the Puckett's grocery restaurant with men sitting outside.

My husband made a picture of me sitting in Clampett's old Ford Truck. It had a homemade wooden bench for sitting.

Inside and hanging along the old truck, I saw a jug of moonshine, a washtub, a trunk, a five-gallon bucket, a frying pan, and a dead opossum lying in a wash pan, hanging under the backside of the truck, just waiting for Granny Clampett to fry.

We saw an outdoor theater inside, with a live Christmas tree adorned with hundreds of colorful bulbs. On either side, standing straight and tall were nutcrackers. 

As we wereleavingi, we saw the Church of Christ at Leiper's For,kWhich Meets Here,e EST 1831.

We walked around the many stores but didn't buy anything.

We left around 2:30 P.M., traveling down the Natchez Trace to Lawrenceburg, TN.

We stopped at Kroger's in Lawrenceburg, where we purchased baked chicken, two slices of red velvet cake, chocolate-covered almonds, and rolls. 

We took all that food home to have a feast.