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

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

It has been a very busy 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, not a lot of people on the beach except the ones 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 in February by ordering a 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

In March I rode to Huntsville 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, ate at  Mel’s Diner, and at The Apple House Restaurant.

Riding the Ferries Wheel

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

Two of my amazing grandsons 

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

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

My daughter and her three amazing children 

In April, I did several walking tours, The Civil War, Tuscumbia, and the Oakwood Cemetery. I 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 hot air balloon show in Decatur and to 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

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

Carmike Theater has a summer special for four dollars 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 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 where we toured 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 so I could help her move to Fort Myers.

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

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

The next day we continued our travel to Fort Myers, arriving at the fully furnished apartment that 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, and 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 Christmas fireworks show at Bridge Street Town Centre.

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 which was 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 where we spent two nights and three days. 

We traveled to Biloxi, MS, where we took 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 members of our church entertain us with their salute to our Lord Jesus Christ. 

2013 ~May 25-31, Lee County's High School Graduation, Universal Studios & Sea World

Day 1: Friday, May 24, 2013

At 5:30 A.M., I drove hubby to Foodland to catch his ride to work in Huntsville.

I went to ECM Hospital to visit my dad; he had Gallbladder surgery the day before. When I got to the parking deck at ECM I programmed my GPS for our trip to Columbus, Georgia. I stayed with my dad until about 9:00 A.M. 

I picked up hubby at Mapco in Huntsville, Al near NASA at 10:30A.M.

We ate brunch at Cracker Barrel Store number 51 in Cullman, Al.

I ordered a kids plate of grilled chicken fingers, carrots, with an of glass water cost ($4.69)

Hubby ordered a bacon cheeseburger plate with onion rings $10.58 and a diet coke $1.99 for total $23.11. (We shared a dark mallow cup $1.19.)

We stopped at Peach Park in Clanton, Al where we shared a bowl of peach ice cream & a fried peach pie. We walked around the park and I took pictures.  

Holding up a peach at Peach Park 

Riding a horse

Peach Ice cream and fried Peach Pie, YUM!

Hubby at Peach Park 

Peach Park 

We arrived at Country Inns & Suites 1720 Fountain Court Columbus Ga at 5:30 P.M. Room 108-confirmation number 73984065.  Total cost $95.12 for one night. (706) 660-1880

Hubby took a shower and I changed clothes. Graduation was at Smith Station Middle School Stadium Smith Station Alabama. 

We arrived early, we sat in the front row of the bleachers.

I started talking to the woman next to me, she was a friend of Justin’s mom (Stacy), who was sitting next to me. 

She leaned over and said I think that is Justin’s grandmother. Justin’s dad (Josh) and brother (Andrew) came later. Josh and hubby started talking about electrical work for both were IBEW brothers. I was told that Justin had joined the ARMY he was to leave for camp in August. He signed up before he had told his mom or dad.

There were 394 students to graduate from Smith Station in Lee County AL, the graduation lasted from 8 P.M. to 10:00 P.M.

After the graduation we made several pictures, we said our good-byes. We told Justin and his family that we would be back through May 29 to pick him up.

Justin 

Justin, Josh, Stacy, and Andrew 

Justin, me and Hubby

Justin 

After the graduation most restaurants were closed, we found a Taco Bell that was open located at 7330 Veterans Parkway Columbus Georgia  31906 at 10:39 P.M. we spent $9.27. 

I bought lottery tickets at the connecting store. 

Back at the hotel, we climbed into bed for it had been a long day. 

Day 2: Saturday, May 25, 2013

We both got up took showers, packed, ate waffles with fruit and fruit juice for breakfast then loaded the van and started our journal to Orlando Florida. We filled up with gas at the Summit in Columbus Georgia $60.50.

Along the way, we stopped at Marks Melon Patch in Dawson Georgia for hubby wanted some boiled peanuts. I took out my camera, I started taking pictures. I saw an outhouse next to the fruit stand I opened the door.

It startled me when the dummies inside started to speak, hubby laughed. The owner said it gets them every time.

Outhouse

Dummie in outhouse

We stopped at some of the historic sites in Dawson Georgia. I took pictures of Terrell County Historic Marker, Confederate Gun Shop Marker, World War II Marker, James Mathews Griggs Historic Marker, Terrell Courthouse, old homes, and churches. 

While I was taking pictures, I met the great-grandson of James Mathew Griggs. He told me that the marker of his great-grandfather had been moved to the courthouse lawn.

The marker read: 

To the memory of James Mathew Griggs who represented with conspicuous ability and fidelity the 2nd district of Georgia in Congress from March 4, 1897, to the dated of his death January 5, 1910. This memorial is erected in his hometown by the people of the district. 

He loved and honored the people they loved and honored him.

James Mathew Griggs

Terrell County Courthouse

Next, we stopped in the historic town of Sylvester, where I took pictures of Worth County Historic marker, the courthouse, War Markers, and a hundred-year-old train engine.

The Train engine was enclosed with a gate, it had a roof over it, it was located next to the main highway.

While I was taking pictures of the train, I heard a laugh.

I thought to myself someone thinks it is funny that I am taking pictures of the train. 

I looked around to see who was laughing, and to my surprise, it was a goat! 

The goat was on a trailer behind a truck that was stopped at the red light.

The goat laughed and laughed as the truck pulled away. LOL! Needless to say, he was not laughing at me but I sure thought he was. I walked back to the van and told hubby about the incident and he laughed.

A hundred-year-old train engine in Sylvester

The Laughing Goat 

We ate lunch at Texas Road House 3830 SW Archer Rd Gainsville, Fl for lunch. I ordered sirloin steak with potato and water. Hubby ordered hamburgers and fries at 2:46 P.M. we ate at table 44 and our server was Rachel. Total cost for the meal $26.76. 

When we arrived in Orlando we had to drive through several tolls cost $5.25 to get to Country Inn & Suites 5440 Forbes Place Orlando, Fl (407)856-8896 room 112. 

We took our luggage to the room, changes clothes and rode to the Island of Adventure.

 At the Island of Adventure, we watched Poison Adventure, we walked to the back of the park to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to ride the Forbidden Journey of Harry Potter. 

The Island of Adventure

The Island of Adventure

We left the Island of Adventure, we went to City Walk, I had talked to Lora, she was to meet us there. As always she was late.

We decided to eat supper at Hard Rock Café, we insisted on eating outside, they said that we would have to wait, we said that was okay, we were not in a hurry.

It is funny now, but we thought that their tables outside were downstairs.

We were lead to a balcony overlooking City Walk, which had a gorgeous view, but a bit briskly.

Being so high up, it caught the breeze of the parks.

Hard Rock Cafe in City Walk Orlando

Hard Rock Cafe in City Walk Orlando 

The balcony at Hard Rock Cafe in City Walk

We ordered boneless chicken tenders, water and coke cost $19.91. We sat there for as long as we could wait for Lora and her friend. 

We paid our bill and left. 

We met Lora and her friend at Bubba Gumps. There were people outside of Bubba Gumps jumping rope and Hula, Hula  Hooping. It had been a long day, we said good-bye, we rode back to the hotel. 

We stopped at Race Trac store 522 at 1875 McCoy Rd Belle Isle Fl 32089 to get fuel at pump one for 15.215 gallons at $3.549 per gallon it was 5:37P.M.

Day 3:  Sunday, May 26, 2013

We slept late, we ate breakfast about 9:30 A.M. after breakfast we rode to Universal Studios. 

We rode ET, Doctor Seuss Ride, Spider-Man, The Minions, we watched Fear Factor, the Animal show. We walked to City Walk, at 4:12 P.M. we ordered lunch at Bubba Gumps, our server was Eric and we sat at table 62. 

We ordered the Shrimper’s Heaven and two glasses of water cost $25.51. 

We walked to Universal Studios, we waited one hour and fifteen minutes to ride despicable me, which was a great disappointment. 

We exited Universal Studios, we went to the Island of Adventure where we bought a Choro cost $3.00 at Neeps Cart at 18:28P.M. Hubby bought a Lemon Slush cost $4.25 at the Poe Lemon. 

We bought a large coke for $2.99 at Market Café at 21:39 P.M. We stopped at Taco Bell ordered one burrito supreme $2.49, three Dorito loco supremes $5.07 for a total of $8.05, at 10:58 P.M. 

Are we having fun yet? 

It must be Sunday... We're in Color!

The Island of Adventure

Day 4: Monday, May 27, 2014

Hubby was very tired from the day before, so he slept in, while I wrote in my journal about the events of the day before. For breakfast, we ate eggs, sausage, bagels in the hotel.

At lunch, we went to Wendy's where we ordered  hamburgers and frosty’s paid cash $10.00

We arrived at Sea World at 1:14 P.M., paid $15.00 to park 

The shows that we watched were:

Pets Ahoy at Seaport Theater at 1:45P.M.

One Ocean Shame Stadium at 2:30 P.M. (Killer Whale)

A’Lure the call of the Ocean at Nautilus Theater at 3:30 P.M

Blue Horizons at Dolphin theater at 5:00 PM

Clyde and Seamore Take Pirates Island at Sea Lion & Otter Theater at 5:45 P.M

For the remainder of the day, we saw at dolphins at Dolphins cove, the Stingrays at Stingray Lagoon.

We walked through the Manatee Aquarium 

Ate chicken nuggets and corn at Expedition café. Spent $9.25.

We stopped at Taco Bell on Mccoy Road where we ordered one burrito supreme $2.49, two Dorito Loco supreme at $2.78, one Nachos Bell Grande $2.99 and spent $10.07, at 8:08P.M.

One Ocean Shame 

One Ocean Shame 

A’Lure the call of the Ocean at Nautilus Theater 

Sea World

Blue Horizons at Dolphin

Blue Horizons at Dolphin

Sea World Entrance Antarctica

Sea World Entrance 

Day 5: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 

We ate breakfast at the hotel of bagels, sausage, cream cheese and orange juice.

I called Majorie Goodrich to see if she was at home and if she would like for us to come for a visit. We stayed a couple of hours at Majorie's trailer. She wanted to walk the nature trail near her home. After walking the trail, we said good-bye.

We stopped at Golden Corral in Clermont Fl for a lunch buffet at $6.99 each for a total of $14.96.

We drove to Downtown Disney where we walked around stopping at some of the souvenir shops. We stopped at Ghirardelli for some vanilla and strawberry ice cream cost $5.91.

 Ghirardelli at Downtown Disney

 Ghirardelli at Downtown Disney

We stopped in DTD Bridge where hubby bought a diet coke for $2.76. We stopped in at Trex where I purchased a Trixie Trecerator for $19.17. (like a build-a-bear).

We bought gas at Racetrack for $33.00 9.431 gallons for $3.499 per gallon at 18:30PM.

  Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney

Day 6: Wednesday, May 29, 2012 

Paid hotel bill of $300.05 for four days, we loaded luggage into our van and started home.

We ate breakfast at the hotel.

We stopped at Mark’s Melon Patch in Albany Ga at 13:38 P.M. for boiled peanuts and onions.

We stopped at Pilot in Tifton Ga for fuel 12.73 gallons at $3.299 per gallon $42.00.

We picked up Justin in Phenix City and started home.

We stopped in Calera Alabama at Cracker Barrel to eat supper, Justin ordered chicken finger plate, I ordered a kids chicken finger plate and hubby ordered Bacon Cheese Burger plate, we spent $34.10. We bought gas at Murphy’s USA in Calera for 12.609 gallons at $3.569 per gallon for $45.00

We drove home stopping to drop Justin off at Shana's.

She greeted us at the gate, I helped Justin unload his luggage. We said goodbye and rode home.

Hubby had to work the next day, after all that driving he dropped into bed.