2020 Christmas Letter Activies

 Merry Christmas,

My year started with Cataract Surgery on my right eye on January 8, followed by a bridge on a tooth on January 21. 

I had three abscesses and three root canals in December, causing me to have a bridge replaced.

On March 10, I had a total knee replacement (on my left knee) just before our country was shut down with no elective surgeries. 

I stayed overnight and then went home to do some therapy. I went to Peak Performance for Therapy.

My knee did not respond to Therapy as it should, causing the orthopedic doctor to manipulate it. 

I spent March, April, and part of May getting Therapy.

During this time, Hubby was staying at home with me and still getting paid. 

He went back to work full-time in September. (He works for a contractor of the government with full pay)

In June, our Granddaughter Hannah gave birth to our fourth great-grandson, "Atlas," just a few days after our great-grandson River celebrated his second birthday.

We couldn't go anywhere, so I spent a lot of time working or attending to my flowers. Most are in pots, which I only had to water and fertilize. This year, we got a lot of rain, which helped with my plants.

We didn't see much of the grandkids or great-grandkids all summer. 

When school started back, we helped with our great-granddaughter, Ava. 

She would attend school for a few days, and we would care for her for a few days. 

Because of the pandemic, our activities were limited. We visited some parks where AVA could play by herself, as well as parks with fish, turtles, and waterfowl. 

We took her to places where she would see Halloween displays, and we took her to a trunk-n-treat. (Lowe's, Home Depot, Party City) 

We took her to the Tinsel Trail in Huntsville and the Enchanted Forest in Decatur.

We have tried to keep her entertained. 

On November 1, Dad fell and broke his hip; his health had been going down for some time. He had lost 30 pounds in the last few months. My sister took him to the doctor, and he had recommended calling Hospice. 

He lived a few days after he fell. We buried him on November 8; he was 93 years old. 

He had a graveside service, and all the family was there. 

We celebrated our great-grandson Hayne's first birthday at the Strickland Hotel on Sunday, December 13. 

Hayne will have Christmas twice this year because he received more presents than most kids get for their birthdays all year. 

On Tuesday, December 22, Hubby and I took Ava, our five-year-old great-granddaughter, to Franklin, Tennessee. We rode north along the Natchez Trace through Leipers Fork to Franklin, Tennessee. We ate dinner at Mellow Mushroom and saw Santa riding on a Harley through the window, but he was gone by the time we finished our meal.

Ava wanted to see the 100-foot or more Christmas tree in the town square. We took a few pictures in the square and headed back to the car when, once again, we heard Santa on his Harley. Santa stopped, and I took a couple of pictures with Ava with him. She had to give Santa a real hug, not a hand bump. She was overjoyed about seeing the Real Santa Claus (that's what she said) and was singing Christmas carols for most of the ride home.

We celebrated Christmas on Sunday, December 20, at Jack and Lindsey's new home. I loved seeing the four great-grandkids — Ava, River, Hayne, and Atlas — open their Christmas presents. Their favorite toy was a barking dog for the boys, and Ave got a mewing cat. All the great-grandkids love animals.

On Friday, December 25, my four sisters and I celebrated Christmas with chili, cheese dip, and various sweets. Afterward, we played several UNO and Dirty Santa games until 9:30 P.M. 

On December 29, my four sisters and I met at Los Trojas Cantina to celebrate my sister Teresa's birthday. 

Tomorrow, December 31, I will spend the day with my 24-month-old great-grandson, River. I have not kept him all year for health reasons, so we will see how that goes. We live in a 40-foot RV with little room for running and playing. Two-year-olds need a lot of space. 

My husband and I will attend the gender reveal of our fifth great-grandchild, who is due sometime next July, on Friday, December 31, from 6:00 to 9:00. 

That about wraps it up for 2020. 

This was a very different year; we lost my dad, and we celebrated the birth of our fourth great-grandson, but could only see him virtually.

We attended Hayne's first birthday party.

Our son, daughter-in-law, granddaughter-in-law, great-grandson, Hubby, and I all had the Coronavirus.  

I had a few health issues, but overall, it has been a good year.

2023 Oct 28, Pumpkinfest Franklin, TN, and Trick Treat Killen Park with Ava & River

 It's been a hectic day. 

This morning, we stopped at Jack's for breakfast. They were shorthanded, so we had to wait longer than usual. 

Then we rode to Franklin, TN, to their Pumpkinfest. There was no parking, so we had to pay $10 to park.

Very Large Pumpkin 

It was extremely hot and crowded, so we only stayed for a short time. We walked down Main Street and a couple of side streets. Several bands were playing music. Mums and Pumpkins decorated the street. Food filled the air. There were rides and fun for the Children. 

Hubby collected a bag of treats, which we gave to the grandkids.

Williamson County's First Taxi

Our big treat was finding the Williamson County Archives Museum. It featured several rows of quilts made by locals, a Military Room, a Display of Williamson County's history, Civil War Artifacts, an Old Schoolroom, a Doctor's Office, a Dress Shop, a Barber Shop, a Country Store, and more. We also saw a horse-drawn carriage by Harry March in Franklin's First Taxi.

We saw where the body of a headless Col Shy once lay in a busted open casket. An article, The Curious Case of Col Shy's Casket. The headless body was unidentified. 

Outside was a Civil War cannon. 

The Curious Case of  Col. Shy's Casket 

Canon 

We stopped at Publix in Spring Hill to get some chicken wings from their deli and pick up a few other items.  

We stopped in Lawrenceburg at Long Silvers for a plate of fish and chicken. 

Came home and ate a late lunch. 

Fun Began in Halloween Manor 

Criminals 

Ava, the killer Jason Voorhees, and the Evil Clown Pennywise

Picked up Ava and River around 4:30 and took them to Killen Park for their Trunk n Treat. 

Ava dressed up like Wednesday from the Adams Family, and River was a Ninja Turtle. 

We arrived early, so we let them play in the playground area. When people started lining up, we got in line. 

There was a long line behind us. We walked through the gate of Halloween Manor, and that is when the fun began. 

The kids received lots of candy, a fireman's hat, coloring books, and safety books. They got their pictures taken with Inflatable pumpkins, at the Shriners Hillbilly Jeep, with Hocus Pocus, with the Department of Eye Care, Jason Voorhees, and Pennywise the Dancing Clown.

Making Slime 

Their Treats end with making Slime. Put in a bag and taken home. 

They did a great job by allowing only a few kids at a time to enter the park. 

The kids had a great time.

2023 Sep 15-18, Trip to Gulf Shores, Fairhope, Daphne, AL. and Pensacola, FL. (4 days)

Day 1:

I had planned a trip to Canton, MS, the day before. The next morning, I asked my Hubby if he wanted to spend a few days in Gulf Shores, Alabama, after we left Canton. He said yes.

He had been discussing going all summer, so we packed our bags for three days and decided to go alone. 

After spending all morning visiting museums and walking around the town, we began our journey to Gulf Shores. 

Shady Acres Village 

We stopped at Shady Acres Village Restaurant, Seminary, MS, for a late lunch. I had a shrimp basket with fries, and Hubby had a 49'er Hamburger with onion rings. 

We also bought several items at their general store. 

It was a four-and-a-half-hour drive to Gulf Shores. 

The sun was setting as we drove through Mobile. We checked into the Staybridge Hotel, and it was dark when we were settled in.

Sunset in Mobile, AL 

We both were too tired for further adventures, so we went to bed. 

Day 2:

The following day, we rushed to the beach to watch the sunrise, but it was cloudy, and a storm was brewing, so we didn't see the sunrise. 

We returned to the hotel for breakfast, and then our adventures began.

Cloudy Sunrise 

We rode to the Outlet Mall to shop. I bought a top and pants at Columbia, spices at TJ Maxx, and a set of Halloween hand towels at TJ Maxx.

Our next stop was OWA Park in Foley. They were having a car show throughout the park, and it was very hot by this time. After I finished taking pictures of most of the cars, we left. 

This was my favorite Car!

We headed down the coastline towards Pensacola, Florida. 

When we arrived downtown, the Arts and Crafts Sales were winding down. 

We had enough time to walk through to see their wear. 

We ate lunch at The Fish House Restaurant on Barracks St., where we enjoyed fried Cod served with creamed potatoes, collard greens, and a salad. 

Fried Cod with Collard Greens, Creamed Potatoes 

It was getting late, so we began our journey back to the hotel. 

Day 3:

Once again, we were up early and heading to the beach for an early morning sunrise, but it was cloudy. Sunrise was at 6:35 A.M.

 Came back to the hotel for breakfast, which included scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit, a bagel, and juice.

We began our journey up the coast in the opposite direction to Fairhope. 

We stopped at the Municipal Park, where they had an Arts and Crafts Tent Sale.  

We stopped to talk to a couple selling spices. (I bought one for my son.)

They saw the camera I was carrying, and we talked about cameras and taking pictures.

The woman was telling me about the brown pelicans at the beach.

Brown Pelicans 

We walked down the long pier, and several Brown Pelicans and various Gulls were present. I took several pictures. 

We rode to Daphne, stopping to eat lunch at Longhorn Steakhouse.

We enjoyed steak with grilled shrimp, creamed potatoes, and Caesar salad. 

We stopped at the Halloween Store in Daphne, where I bought a dress for Halloween. 

We returned to the hotel but stopped at the Story Walk in Loxley. 

Another long day.

Day 4: 

We headed to the beach (6:35 A.M.) to see the sunrise. Today it was beautiful, so I got several pictures.

Sunrise 

Rode back to the hotel, ate breakfast, packed our bags, and began our journey home.

The sun shone on my face, so I napped the first part of the trip home. 

Hubby wanted to stop at Peach Park in Clanton, Alabama, and when I woke up, he said, "I think I have passed Peach Park," and we had.

We did not turn around. We just kept going. 

We eat lunch at Oh Bryan's in Hartselle, AL (his favorite place)

He always orders a steak or baked potato and gets their salad bar.

I ordered grilled chicken and a sweet potato.

We were home way before sunset. 

Another great trip is in the books. 

2019 Oct 28, In Search of Historic Markers, David Crockett Park, Museum, Halloween displays

Our first search of markers was the Killen & Canal System @ Lock 6.
We saw several homes along the river, and to access them, we had to travel up steep hills, which could be very hazardous in the winter.

The Killen & Canal System at Lock 6 was located at the boating dock at the end of Turtle Landing Road.

Soldiers rest at Butler Cemetery in front of the Polo Club.

 Old Gabe Cemetery, located at CR 42
Gabriel Butler, also known as "Ole Gabe," was born in the Carolinas in 1779, during the time of the Revolutionary War. His name appears in the records in Kentucky from the 1800s. He married his first wife, Sarah Whitesides, in Warren County, KY, on December 26, 1803. Gabe was among the earliest white settlers of Lauderdale County. He arrived here during the early 1800s and leased land from Cherokee Indian Chief Doublehead on the Chief's Reserve. After Doublehead was killed in 1807, the government directed the settlers on his Reserve to leave. 
Gabe and other settlers signed a petition in 1809 asking to remain; however, the settlers were elected around 1811. Gabe and his family moved to the north, to Tennessee. Indian Treaties signed in 1817 allowed the creation of Lauderdale County in February 1818. The Federal Land Office was established, allowing land to be sold here beginning in March of 1818. Gabe traveled to Huntsville on November 14, 1818, and purchased land here along Bluewater Creek. Eventually, he owned several acres in this area.

Gaberial "Old Gabe" Butler 1779-1856 Gabe's land was fertile, with an abundance of good water, timber, and game. He built his home on the hill across Bluewater. He expected the road between Huntsville and Florence to be constructed nearby, giving him easy access to his farmland on the other side of the creek. However, the road was built 1 1/2 miles south in the general vicinity of the modern-day US Highway  72. After 1824, Gabe built his second home southwest of here on this side of the creek. Old Gabe donated two acres of land to start the Primitive Baptist Church at Bluewater on May 16, 1840. 

The churches at Mitchell Town and Elgin Crossroads developed from that church. The cemetery at this location, one of the earliest in Lauderdale County, was established by Gabe and named for him. Gabe died in November 1856 at the age of 77. He and some of his family members are buried within the rock walls. Old Gabe had three wives and 11 children, nine of whom married and raised families in this area. Many of the descendants of “Old Gabe" are buried in this cemetery.

Gaberial "Old Gabe" Butler 1779-1856 Cemetery
Butler Cemetery 
Deeded to Gabriel Butler, Nov 14, 1818

CR 568Spider, Ghost, Skeletons, Witches, Pumpkins "Halloween"

Bettie Anne Highway Historic

French Glover Farm on CR 48
Revolutionary War Veteran Benjamin French (1764-1847), a native of Virginia, is buried at this site. Arriving in Limestone County, Alabama, in about 1808, the French acquired this farm in 1837.
The nearby spring is the site of prehistoric Indian Villages and Civil War encampments. The two-story log house, located initially three miles southwest of this place, is believed to have been constructed as early as 1829. It was moved here by the Glover family before 1813. This road was part of the early Pulaski Pike, a major stagecoach and supply route that connected the river at Florence with Pulaski, Tennessee

We were headed to Tennessee for Lottery tickets and were unsure how to get to Loretto from our current location, so we asked Sirius for directions.
Bought Lottery tickets and rode to Lawrenceburg, stopping at The Brass Lantern for lunch.

Brass Lantern
Hoyt Tidwell & wife were there promoting their recipe book, which included his wife's famous chicken dumpling recipe.

Enjoyed eating the famous Chicken and dumplings, fried green tomatoes, Jack Daniel's Apples, red onion, cornbread, and turnip greens.
The famous chicken & dumplings are on Monday's special menu, which comes with two sides.
YUM!

My Hubby ordered the chicken & dumplings, white beans, fried green tomatoes, cornbread, and made one trip to the salad bar.
We had enough leftovers for a to-go box.

Barred Owl bird of prey resting on its perch

David Crockett Museum with carved pumpkins inviting us inside

We rode to David Crockett Park, where we visited the Crockett Museum
 In the museum, we saw Crockett, Tennessee, Westward Movement, Crockett's distillery, Crockett the Politician, the Great Frontier, Crockett's power mill, Crockett the Industrialist, Crockett the Hunter, Crockett's office, his timeline 1786-1822, some of his tools, Markee of the Almo, where David Crockett was killed, and Crockett the homesteader.

Autumn leaves mirroring the lake, what a beautiful sight. 

Monday, after the weekend of Celebrating Halloween, still lingered at the Town Square of Lawrenceburg. 

Witches sitting, and spiders climbing on the white brick wall
showing the joys of a bright October Halloween Day.

Hubby and I had a great Autumn Day, with our adventures taking us into unknown territory.
Seeing gobblings of all kinds in places we would not have seen if we had chosen to stay home.
We met new people, tried new food, and spent the day together on one of our many traveling adventures.