2000, Dec 23 & 24, A Family Christmas

2000 December 23, & 24 Christmas 

Our family meets to enjoy a Christmas meal and exchange presents at my son's home. 

Paper plates, paper cups, napkins, plastic spoons, and forks were placed at the end of the table which was covered with a red tablecloth.

Everyone gathered around the table, blessings, were said then everyone began filling their plates with food. 

The Christmas dinner placed before us included a turkey, slices of honey-baked ham, cream potatoes, turkey dressing, cranberry slices, baked beans, and hot rolls fresh out of the oven. 

Coconut and chocolate cake was our dessert. 

Poured over ice were sweet tea, mountain dews, and doctor peppers. 

Their gifts were wrapped in Santa or Reindeer wrapping paper in all shapes and sizes under the Christmas Tree.

Wrapping paper lay in disarray as the children excitedly tore open their presents.

When all the excitement died down Hannah read a bedtime story.

Elf for Christmas Oct 1, 1999

When Tingle, one of Santa's best workshop elves, is accidentally wrapped up with a toy airplane and delivered to a real, live boy on Christmas morning, the situation seems hopeless. 

With Santa too far away to help, Tingle worries that he will be trapped in the humans' house forever. But when the courageous little elf comes up with a wonderful, magical plan for escape, readers will find it hard to resist peeking ahead to see what happens. Tingle's thrilling journey back to the North Pole--as well as his joyous homecoming--have all the trappings of a Christmas classic.

The captivating illustrations by Michael Garland (author-illustrator of the best-selling picture book The Mouse Before Christmas) burst with color and movement. Infused with extravagant detail, warmth, and imagination, An Elf for Christmas will linger in the minds of readers long after all the ribbon and wrapping paper have been put away.

The next morning we were served fried bacon, scrambled eggs, homemade biscuits, and chocolate gravy. 

After breakfast, the children enjoyed different forms of entertainment.

Dakota watched movies, and Sierra, & Madison played indoor basketball.

Hannah played with her dolls in her doll-bordered bedroom.

After an enjoyable Christmas, I had a six-hour drive home, for I had to be at work Tuesday Morning. 

Merry Christmas to everyone and a Happy New Year to one and all

Engulfed by Darkness

 Jonah was swallowed by a whale for disobedience.
I was engulfed in darkness, heavy traffic, and blinding rain.

I loaded up my grandson, Justin (age five), and my granddaughter Hannah (age seven) and we began our journey to Pell City.
We traveled I-65 South all the way to Birmingham.
In Birmingham, we took the I-20 to Pell City which took us about two and a half hours.

I did not have the exact address of my grandson, he had moved from his old address.
Now, I was depending on a five-year-old to get us to his new address.

We rode up and down the same highway for over an hour before I could get in touch with his dad.

By the time we left for home, it was getting dark and it had started to rain.
On the Interstate we got behind a large truck and I could not see around him, so we missed our turn.

All I remember was we were headed north on a very rough highway. (79)
Several times I almost stopped because I thought my tires were going flat but I was afraid because it was very dark and not much traffic.

Thank God, I had a cell phone that worked so I called Hubby who was working in St Louis at that time.
I told him what happened and he said, what highway are you on? This was before we had GPS on our phones or our vehicles.

Hubby said I will call you back when I locate you on the map.
Hubby called and said you will have to go over the mountain to get back to I-65.

The darkness and rain did not help to see along the winding roads we took over the mountains.

We almost rammed into a stalled car on a dark bridge.
It took us twice as long to get home but we made it safe and sound.

God was in control in both cases.

🎢Visiting Theme Parks

Dollywood Theme Park 

Map of Opryland Theme Park we visited this park at least twice a year until it closed.

Riding the Ferries Wheel at Wild Adventures Theme Park Georgia 

One of my favorite rides at Wild Adventure Theme Park 

Epcot with grandkids 2004

Disney Studios 2011

The Animal Kingdom with group cheerleaders

Universal Studios Hollywood,  CA with cousins

Silver Dollar City Branson, Mo 

Magic Kingdom1989

Universal Studios Orlando, Fl with hubby

Island of Adventure Orlando Fl 

Bush Gardens Tampa with daughter
Bush Gardens Virginia with sisters no pictures

Hiking & Birding Trails in Alabama 🦉🦆🦅

Hiking with granddaughter along the Tennessee River near Wilson Dam TVA

Bird Site 8 along the Tennessee River below Wilson Dam 

Jimmy Sims Birding Trail Joe Wheeler State Park
The original idea of Joe Wheeler State Park employee and Naturalists Jim Sims, the birding trail is an easy 1/2 mile hike to the back of Weaver Creek. During the winter months when the water levels are lowered, the formed mud flat becomes a haven and feeding ground for migrant and local wading birds and waterfowl.
The trail was built in the summer of 2007 incorporating the Eagle Scout project of Joshua Gray, BSA Troop #52 Rogersville, Alabama, and Joe Wheeler State Park.
The trail is dedicated to the memory of Jimmy Sims and his love of outdoor Alabama.

Birding site #3 Joe Wheeler State Park 

Wild Flower Hike with grandkids

Shoals Creek Preserve Track hiking trail with grandkids
Shoals Creek Preserve Track
Nature Preserve and Recreation Area
This track was protected through the efforts of Alabama's Forever Wild Land Trust, the Alabama State Lands of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources with the assistance of the Lauderdale County Commission. The land is dedicated as the Billingsley-McClure Shoals Creek Preserve to provide Recreational Opportunities for all to enjoy.

Hiking on Bluff near Sheffield Water-tower.

Exploring the many animals along Deibert Park with Grandkids

Hiking in the Dismals with daughter and grandkids 

Hiking at TVA Rock-Pile

Bird Site 6  along the Tennessee River below Wilson Dam

Bird Site 7 along the Tennessee River below Wilson Dam

2003 to present ~The movies that I seen at the theater

Some of the cartoons I went to see more than once with the grandkids 

Christmas with the Kranks

Pirates of the Caribbean Curse of the Black Pearl

Lemony Snickets A Series of Unfortunate Events

Cars

Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Mans Chest 

Harry Potter Order of the Phoenix 

Charlottes Webb

Night at the Museum

Charlottes Webb

Ghost Rider

Pirates of Caribbean at Worlds End

X-Men 

Ratatouille

Hairspray

Sea Monsters

Ink Heart

Harry Potter 1/2 Blood prince

Avatar

Alice in Wonderland 

Transformers 2

Team

Monsters vs Aliens

Surfs up

Despicable Me

The Sorcerers Apprentice

Grown ups

Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Part 1 

Tangled

Chronicle of Narita Dawn of Voyage Treader

Tron

Season of the Witch

Gullivers Travels

Rango 

Rio

Hop

How to Train your Dragon

Water for Elephants

Fast Five 

Pirates Caribbean on Stranger Tides

King Fu Panda 2

Green Lantern 

Cars 2

Harry Potter Deathly Hallows 2

Monsters vs Aliens

transformers Dark of the Moon

Cowboys and Aliens

the Last Air Bender

Disney's a Christmas Carol

Immortals 

New Years

Sherlock Holmes a Game of Shadows

We bought a zoo

Alvin

Sherlock

Mission 4

Joyful Noise

One for the money

Star Wars 

Journey 2 

Lorax 

John Carter 

Hunger Games

Mirror

three Stooges

Chimpanzee

Dark Shadows

Avengers

Men in Black 

Snow White and the Huntsman

Puss in Boots

Prometheus 

Madagascar

Chicken Run

Over the Hedge

Brave

Kung FU Panda 

People Like us

Amazing Spider Man

How to train your dragon

Ice Age 4

Madagascar 2

Dark Knight Rises

Bee Movie

the Watch 

Monsters vs Aliens

Megamind

Paranormal 

Odd Life of Timothy 

Hotel Transylvania 

Frankenweenie

Cloud Atlas 

Sky Fall

Rise of the Guarding

Life of PI

Wreck it Ralph

Hobbit 

Monsters

Cirque du Soleil 

Les Miserable

Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters

Jack and the Giant Slayer

OZ Great

Croods

GI Joe

Jurassic Park

Iron Man 3

Despicable Me 

Hotel Transylvania 

Man of Steel 

Smurf's 

MU 

Ice Age 4

Despicable Me 2

Lone Ranger

Horton Hears a who

Pacific Rim

Happy Feet

Yogi Bear 

Wolverine

Chimpanzee

Percy Jackson

Frozen 

Thor The Dark World

Hobbit of Desolation of Smaug

Captain America Winter 

God is not Dead

Heaven is Real 

X-Med 

Maleficent

Croods

Epic 

Turbo

Despicable Me 2

The Nut Job 

Rio 

Lucy 

Mr Peabody

Guarding of the Galaxy

Rio2

Tomorrow Land

Rise of the Guardians

How to Tame your Dragon 2

Monster vs Aliens

the Croods

Megamind 

Shrek 4ever

Marmaduke 

Minions 

Ant Man

Tooth Fairy 

Spongebob 2

Pattington

Star Wars the Force Awakens 

2009 November 7, Saturday, Hiking in the Dismal Canyon

Lora, Marcus, Madison, and I went hiking in the Dismal Canyon in Phil Campbell from 12:00-4:4-PM.

We ate some snacks before we began our walk into the canyon.

We stopped at the entrance to take pictures, paid to enter the park, and began our journey down into the canyon.

Stopping for Pictures

Dance Hall

There was a sign posted that read:

Dismals Canyon leaves nothing…  Take nothing…

Dismals Canyon is a natural landmark registered with the department of Interior $1,000 fine for the removal or defacement of rocks, plants, or animals.

We started our descent down this wooden ramp and several flights of wooden steps into the canyon. 

Long walk down into the canyon

Along the way we saw Rainbow & Phantom Falls, Grotto, pulpit Rock, Kitchen, Stovepipe, Indian head rock, Temple Cave, fishing hole, Champion tree, weeping bluff, secretly falls, the Chickasaw Indian’s for secret rituals used dance hall, fat-man’s Misery, Witches cavern, and Burr’s hideout. 

Grotto In 1925, the Girl Scouts built the small pool to your right for drinking water.     

Phantom Falls There is no waterfall behind you but the rock picks up the sound of the actual falls 250’ downstream and throws the echo down to this spot, which is only 10’ around.

Weeping Bluff The water that seeps from this bluff is said to be tears shed by the canyon for the loss of its only true friend the Chickasaw Indians.

SECRET FALLS the water creating these falls flows from an underground mountain stream that opens onto the earth's surface about 3/4 of a mile upstream. 

The Chickasaws Indiana’s for secret rituals used DANCE HALL this well camouflaged area protected from the sun and the elements. 

A tight squeeze

Witches Cavern  a strange and beautiful labyrinth of moss and fern-covered boulders with a large colony of dissimilates resides.

Fat Mans Misery The narrow opening 16” wide between the two boulders was the original entrance to the canyon floor.

Crossing the creek

We walked about three miles and we met Steve Meiji (wearing a black Harley Davidson jacket & chaps) and two of his lady friends (one wearing an orange Haley Davidson Jacket and chaps and the other woman wearing a black jacket and chaps) 

Steve helped Madison & others across the creek to Dance Hall.

He gave me his email and I sent him some pictures. 

We saw several small white mushrooms growing on the side of trees.

We exited the canyon by crossing a swinging bridge.

Crossing the swing bridge

Natchez traces the devil’s backbone dismal canyon serves ad the hideout for many other infamous outlaws who robbed and murdered travelers on the devil's backbone.    

When we finished our walk we stopped in at the museum where we saw 

A statue wearing a white, red, and black feather headdress. We saw a tan lamp with a pair of tan boots for a base. We saw a statue of a baker holding a basket with ready-to-eat mac & Cheese on top,  and a blackboard sign that read Specialties Coffee $1.49, Brownies $2.89 and Brownie bites for fifty cents. We saw a wooden clown, a Totem pole with Indiana faces A red Drink coca cola machine, and a popcorn machine. There were all kinds of gadgets hanging from the ceiling. 

Indian Headdress, Boot Lamp

Totem Pole

Dismals Store

For supper Hubby brought home barbecue from Thomas Pitt.