2010 March 20, Saturday, Big Read & Exploring

I took two grandsons to the Florence Library to kick off the big read.
The boys enjoyed fence painting (Tom Sawyer Fence painting) using yellow, green, red & blue paints. A couple was playing and singing music. 

Tom Sawyer 

Fence Painting

There was a wooden statue with the face hollowed out, where the kids could put their faces and pretend to be Tom Sawyer. 

The kids also received a peppermint stick.

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The boys with the dog display

The boys and the elephant display

We walked across the street to Wilson Park and then to Kennedy Douglas Art Center, where the boys could explore the outdoor art displays. We saw a dog, a dinosaur, an elephant, and a spider.

We stopped at Pickett Place, a Historic site.

Pope's Tavern 

We stopped at Pope's Tavern and walked around the grounds, taking a few pictures. 

Teaching the Boys about early cooking 

teaching the boys about the early watering troughs for horses

We continued walking to UNA. We went to see the lions, UNA, and LEO. 
We visited Romeo & Juliet Statues, the building that looks like a castle, the UNA bell tower, the area where UNA soldiers are honored, and many other sites. 

Finishing our walkthrough UNA 

Sculptures displayed downtown 

We walked downtown,n stopping for a picture of the Hulk poster.

our last stop with the Presbyterian Church 

I took the boys to Wendy's for Frosty and chicken fingers. 

The grandkids learned a lot of history and had fun doing it. 

🎄🎄🎄🎄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, Mel's Diner, and The Apple House Restaurant.

Riding the Ferris Wheel

My husband and I took two of the grandsons to the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge and the Wheeler Dam Birding Trail. 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 third Blood Moon set, 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 the Lookout Mountains. 

Rock City in the 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: 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, and Casey Jones Museum.

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 stay overnight 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 the Savannah National Wildlife 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 with family and 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 Christmas fireworks show at Bridge Street Town Center.

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 three days and two nights. 

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, March 23,24,25 , Spending time with grandchildren

March 23, 24, 25, 2015 Spending time with Grandsons 
I cooked pancakes and fried eggs for breakfast and served them with all-natural blackberry syrup from Carver's Orchard, which I had bought at the Apple House in Cosby, Tennessee.

After breakfast (around 8:00 A.M.), we traveled to Athens, stopping at the car wash to wash and vacuum the van.

We had an appointment at Champion Chrysler Dealership to repair the driver's window control panel and replace the key battery.

While we waited, the boys ate chips, soda, and coffee from the waiting area.

We rode to Decatur to look at a 2007 Honda Van at Honda of Decatur.

My husband made a down payment of $500 on the Honda, then we rode to Rogersville to get a cashier's check at LECU.
We rode back to Honda of Decatur to finalize the sale. 
We called our insurance company to add the 2007 Silver Honda. 
It was after lunch, and everyone was getting hungry, so we took the boys to eat fish at 
McCallum's is one of our favorite places to eat seafood. The boys had never eaten at McCallum's, so it was a treat for them. 

http://mccollumscatfish.com/contact.html

Montana ordered fried frog legs, fries, slaw, hush puppies, and sweet tea. 
He said he had never eaten frog legs and wanted to try them. I said if you order frog legs, you will have to eat them.
He ate all but two of the frog legs.

Nevada and my husband ordered a plate of shrimp and catfish with slaw, baked potato, hush puppies, and sweet tea.

I ordered grilled chicken, slaw, baked sweet potato, hushpuppies, and Unsweet tea.

We brought home two frog legs and all the hushpuppies.

The food is always good, but it's more than enough for one person; we always have leftovers.

Catfish and hushpuppies

We took the boys to the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Museum and the walking trail.

The boys and I walked to the viewing area where we saw a large crane, turtles, several ducks, and either a hawk or an eagle.

Atkeson Cypress Trail 

 We walked the 1/2-mile Atkeson Cypress trail, where we crossed bridges over a swamp full of cypress trees, turtles, snakes, fish, and birds. The bridge is wooden, part of the trail is concrete, and the remainder is a gravel or grass path.

Walking the Atkeson Cypress trail 

Cypress Trees

Grandsons

Birds flying above the marsh 

At the viewing area, we saw an eagle, but it could have been a hawk. The hawk or eagle frightened the smaller birds into the air; he was hunting for food.

We watched the large bird fly, which looked like it was up into the clouds.

In the gift shop, I bought six huge postcards.
The boy picked out some rocks and Indian arrowheads.

We stopped at the birding trail at Wheeler Dam. The boys and I walked along the edge of the Tennessee River, and we saw many different birds swimming, flying, and catching fish for their dinner.

Looking for birds

Looking for birds

Looking for birds

The boys and I enjoyed the day with my husband while he took care of business. 

The boys were with us from Monday through Wednesday.

On Monday, the boys worked in the yard picking up tree limbs and debris. I gave them money for working in the yard.

Tuesday, we had business in Athens and Decatur. On Wednesday, we had business in town, and we took the boys to the Blue Door, where Nevada picked out a pair of shoes and a necklace.

Montana picked out a necklace, wristband, and hat.

We went to Rosie's Mexican Cantina Restaurant for lunch, and the boys said they had never eaten at Rosie's

We started with a large bowl of white cheese dip, salsa, and chips. My husband ordered a large taco dinner,  which consisted of chicken on soft and crispy tacos.

The boys and I shared a lunch of chicken fajitas, served with three homemade flour tortillas, sautéed peppers, onions, Pico de Gallo, sour cream, cheese, Mexican garlic butter, Mexican rice, charro beans, and guacamole.

The boys and my husband ordered sweet tea, and I drank water with lemon.

We finished the meal with a commentary bowl of vanilla ice cream.

We came back home. I took a nap, the boys played outside, and my husband watched TV.

A Valentine for my Grandson's ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

The sunshine of each precious smile

could melt the coldest heart.

It brightens up my dreary day.

When we are far apart.

The memory of each and every little hand

holding mine so tight

brings a warm glow to my heart

on a cold and dreary night.

Those little arms that hug my neck will

soon be big and strong; you're growing up

So quickly, so it won't be very long.

So I'll take your hugs and kisses now,

cause the day will soon be here,

when you'll think you're much too big,

for Grandmaw to hold so near.

Dakota Riley❤️❤️

Jacob Cohen❤️❤️

Justin Kyle❤️❤️

Marcus Jr❤️❤️

Montana Titus❤️❤️

Nevada Clanton❤️❤️

God sent me six precious grandsons, Jake, Dakota, Justin, Marcus Jr., Nevada, and Montana.