2017 Christmas Letter

Christmas Letter 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Hope this letter finds your family doing okay.

I just wanted to let you know about the things that happened in 2017.

My sister lost her husband (age 68) in April to a heart attack.

He awoke from sleep, called out to my sister, and said I have a heart attack, and before she could get help, he was gone. He had been having some health issues and had seen a doctor.

He was a retired engineer for the railroad and a farmer. 

Vicki raised vegetables and sold them at the farmer's market. He was very active in farming, raised mules, and was very active in his community. 

On December 16, 2016, Dad was admitted to the Hospital. Dec 21, 2016, I took Dad to Rehab.

Dad stayed in Rehab from Dec. 21, 2016, to 11 February. Dad turned 90 this year and could no longer live alone, so he went to live with my sister. While Dad was in Rehab, a minister came by and talked to him. Dad said that man changed my life, I was saved and has been going to church with me and my sister. 

This year has flown by, and Christmas is only a few days away.

I have finished my Christmas Shopping.

I had a total knee replacement in my right knee at the end of September.

I was in the hospital for two and a half days, six days in rehab, and four weeks of physical therapy.

I still have problems walking long distances. My knee has healed nicely on the outside but will take months to heal on the inside. 

Before surgery, I had to wear a leg brace on my right knee just to walk. 

In January, we went to Wheeler Wildlife Refuge to see a flock of Sandhill Cranes before they began migrating north.

At the end of January, we toured the Guntersville Museum and rode around Guntersville Lake. We also stopped @ Buckets Pocket State Park to enjoy the sweeping view of the rugged, untouched landscape from atop a large rock. 

We celebrated Valentine’s Day @ Famous Dave’s Restaurant in Franklin, TN. We also visited the famous Bedford Falls Train Display @ Hundred Oaks in Nashville. 

We spent President’s Day in Montevallo @ the American Village, which is a series of buildings where one can journey into America’s past for her independence and self-government.

We also walked through the Festival of Tulips, stopping to pick a basket of tulips to take home. 

On March 4, I attended Cooking on the Mountain @ the Burritt Museum in Huntsville.

March 27-29: Hubby and I stay @ the Inn on the River Hotel in Pigeon Forge, TN. 

We enjoyed visiting Patriots Veterans Park, the Islands, Bush Bean Museum, the Old Mill, Applewood Farms Restaurant, Cherokees Veteran’s Park Oconaluftee Visitor Center, and Traveling across the Smokey Mountains.

On April 1, I enjoyed the Beaty Street Walking Tour in Athens, Al. 

On April 8, Hubby and I enjoyed the Houston Walking Tour Athens, Al (home of one of Alabama’s governors)

On April 14, I attended a Passover Seder Meal @ the Methodist Church in Killen.

On April 15, I enjoyed a Church Walking tour in Decatur, Al

On April 17, Hubby and I took our great-granddaughter to Cullman.

We bought fresh strawberries @ the farmer's market, and we toured the train depot and the Clarkson Covered Bridge.

On April 23, I enjoyed the Athens Cemetery Stroll, where the cemetery comes alive with characters from the past. 

On April 29, I enjoyed the walking tour of Historic Bank Street in Decatur, Al. 

May-June We enjoyed music in Wilson Park. 

On May 6, I enjoyed a day @ the Strawberry Festival in Moulton, Al 

On May 10, Hubby and I enjoyed Music in Wilson Park 

On May 15, Hubby and I enjoyed a day trip to the Huntsville Train Depot, Ditto Landing, and Rosie’s Cantina

On May 17, Hubby and I enjoyed music in Wilson Park with the Cadillacs 

May 19-20, I attended the Storytelling Festival @ the Shoals Theater. 

On May 27, I attended the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Decatur.

On May 30, Hubby and I toured the Pink Palace Museum and Bass Pro Shops (we rode the elevator to the top to see a gorgeous view of the Mississippi River and downtown Memphis).

On June 10, I attended a Family Reunion with my dad, sister, and granddaughter. 

We stopped to tour Tom Hendrix's “Rock Wall.” Tom spent thirty years building a walk dedicated to his great, great grandmother, an American Indian who walked from Oklahoma back to her home in Alabama. Trail of Tears. The wall is located near the Natchez Trace between Alabama and Tennessee.

On June 13, Hubby and I toured the Corvette Museum and the Corvette plant in Bowling Green, KY.  On our way home, we stopped in Nashville @ the grave site of the singer George Jones.

On June 17, Hubby and I attended the Moon Pie and RC Festival in Bell Buckle, TN.

July 4, Hubby and I enjoyed spending the day @ Monte Sano Park 

On July 11, Hubby and I toured the Trail of Tears Commemorative Park, Museum of Transportation, Pennyroyal Museum, and Casey Jones Distillery in Hopkinsville, Ky

On July 18, Hubby and I enjoyed a day @ Discovery America Park in Union City, TN.

On July 27, My great-granddaughter and I spent the day @ the newly remodeled Children’s Museum in Florence.

On August 1, Hubby and I toured the James K. Polk ancestral home in Columbia, TN.

On August 11, Hubby and I attended the Killen Founders Day Parade and music in Killen Park. 

On August 18, I rode south on Natchez Trace, taking pictures of new markers celebrating Alabama’s 200-year centennial.

On August 22, Hubby and I enjoyed the Wild Bird Sanctuary @ Davey Crockett State Park in Lawrenceburg, TN.

On August 29, My sister-in-law and I enjoyed watching the tagging of hummingbirds. We toured the Oakville Indian Mounds and Jessie Owens Museum in Danville. 

On September 4, Hubby and I attended the Sweet Tater Festival and Car Show. 

On September 8, I attended Oka Kapassa @ Spring Park with my daughter and grandchildren.

On September 9, I attended the Baby Shower of my great-niece.

September 14, I toured Helen Keller’s Ivy Green (birth home)

On September 18, I took my great-granddaughter to Walmart to try on Halloween heads

September 20-29, Knee Surgery and Recovery 

Spent most of October doing Physical Therapy 

On October 31, Hubby and I traveled north on Natchez Trace, stopping @ Lewis Meriwether Museum/Park, Laurel Hills Park. We ate lunch at Famous Dave’s Franklin Tn. 

On November 4, I took my granddaughter and great-granddaughter to Wild Bird Sanctuary @ Davey Crockett Park. 

November 14, Hubby and I spent the day shopping @ Opry Mills and walking through the Charlie Brown Ice display in Nashville. 

November 17, Hubby and I attended Little Women Broadway Musical @UNA

November 23, Thanksgiving Dinner with family @ Mikes 

On November 28, Hubby and I went to the Tuscumbia Christmas Parade

November 29, Hubby and I went to Babes in Toyland @ Roxy Theater in Russellville

On December 1, Hubby and I went to Light a Candle for Prayer @ Pope’s Tavern, Christmas Tree Lighting in Wilson Park, and Strolled the street of First Friday in Florence. I went to a book signing by Tom McDonald on Promises to Keep.

On December 2, I attended Sacred Way Horse Sanctuary @ the Visitor Center. 

December 3, After church, I went to see the trees-of-Christmas at the Tuscumbia Art Museum. From 2-4 p.m., I attended a Baby Shower for my granddaughter's friend.

On December 6, Hubby and I rode to Huntsville to walk the Tinsel Christmas Trail to Bridge Street and rode through the Huntsville Botanical Gardens Galaxy of Lights. 

On December 7, Hubby and I attended the Muscle Shoals Parade. 

December 9, I attended the Dickens of Christmas Yall Come in Tuscumbia and Poetry reading and music @ St John’s Episcopal Church. 

On December 10, I walked through the Christmas Tree Trail in Athens and Madison.

In Madison, I rode through, taking pictures of the Christmas Cards Display. At 6:30PM, Hubby and I went to the Maple Hill Baptist Church, where they had a replica of Bethlehem that we walked through with a group of other people. 

December 17, We celebrated my sister's 66th birthday at Cracker Barrel, including my four sisters, dad, and two great nieces. 

December 19, Today, we are planning a trip to Opryland Hotel in Nashville.     

December 23, Christmas with family (Saturday night @6pm)my sister is bringing Dad it will be lots of fun.  

We tried to get in as much as possible during the year, but this year, we had to scale back because of my knee. 

Hopefully, the coming year will bring better health. 

Have a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous and Happy New Year 

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, and 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

2015 November 11,12,13 Veterans Day in Tuscumbia and A Busy Week at Bridge Street Town Centre

We've had a busy week. 

On Tuesday 10, we traveled to Meridian MS.

Wednesday 11, I went to CBS for Bible Study. 

We rushed to Tuscumbia, where people lined the streets for the Veterans Day Parade.

Children as well as adults rushed to fill their bags with candy, as the people in the parade disbursed candy into the street.

Veterans in the Veterans Day Parade in Tuscumbia 

 Petite Sirloin Steak, Baked Potato with Texas Toast 

We walked to Oh Bryan's Steakhouse where I enjoyed a Petite Steak, Baked potato and Texas toast. My husband enjoyed a New York Strip, Baked potato, Texas toast and the salad bar.

Alabama and Auburn Quilts Raffle 3 tickets for $5.00

There were two quilts hanging on the wall of Bryan’s an Alabama and Auburn.

They were being raffled off to raise money for the Belle Mont Mansion. 

I bought three tickets. 

Walking to Cold Water Book Store.

We stopped in at Cold Water Book Store for a quick pick to see what new books they had in stock.

My husband had a call out to work in Huntsville, I rode to work with him. 

We stopped at the Exploration Gallery at NASA

After my husband finished at work, which took less than an hour, we rode to Bridge Street Town Center, to look at the new iPhones. 

We strolled the streets of Bridge Street stopping to take pictures of the reindeer, twinkling street lights, and the unlit decorated Christmas Tree. 

The lights will be lit on Friday.

Bridge Street Town Centre was decorated for Christmas Holidays.

White Reindeer at Bridge Street 

Christmas Tree

Thursday 12, we went back to Bridge Street Town Centre stopping at Burger King for a juicy whopper Jr. with onions. YUM!

At the Apple Store we purchased two new Iphone, and I-watch. 

My husband updated his phone from the cloud, I updated mind at home.

Friday 13, we went to the Apple Store to fix our cloud account.

At the Apple Store we were put on a waiting list.

We gave them a number where we could be reached and left.

We walked to Red Robin, where I ordered chili, onion rings, coke, my husband ordered a cup of Clam Chowder, and Seafood plate.

Cup of Clam Chowder,& Seafood plate filled with french Fries, fried fish, shrimp and Clams

We had just finished eating went we got a call from Apple, they called and said we are ready, we walked back to the Apple store, along the way we saw people singing Christmas Carols.

Christmas Carolers

It took over hour to get our cloud account fixed. 

We left the Apple store, just missing the arrival of Santa but in time for the fireworks show. 

Everyone gathered around the pond next to the Carousel where we watched the fireworks dance in the sky to Christmas music.

After the fireworks we walked to the newly lit Christmas tree to take a few pictures but the streets were filled with people stopping to take pictures. 

Christmas Tree with twinkling red & white lights, topped with a bright white star

Big Red Christmas Ball with me inside holding my cell

It had been a very long week, we were both very tired so we headed home stopping at the grocery store to pickup a few items. 

🎄🎄🎄🎄2008 December 21, Sunday, Ivy Green, & Tusucmbia Art Museum in Tuscumbia, Alabama,

Ivy Green 

My husband and I toured Ivy Green the birthplace of Helen Keller. 

David and Mary Fairfax Moore Keller, the grandparents of Helen Keller, built the house in 1820. 

The main house is of Virginia cottage construction, with four large rooms on the first floor with a wide hall, each room has its own fireplace. 

The house was decorated for the holidays with Ivy, Holly, Pines, and other greenery from the grounds, it is amazing what you can use to decorate without a lot of costs. 

There were holly and cedar lying on the table in the parlor, there was a cedar tree beautifully decorated in the corner of the parlor, with magnolia leaves mixed with cedar in the fireplace and on the mantle. 

Ivy Green 

Ivy Green 

Helen’s picture was hanging on the wall, another one of her pictures of Helen at age seven was sitting on the table. 

There were a couple of Victorian chairs sitting in front of the fireplace on an oriental rug covering the hardwood floor. 

Across the hall was the master bedroom where Arthur and Kate Keller slept. 

There was a bed with a high-carved headboard covered with a quilt made by Eveline Keller over one hundred years old. 

There was clothing hanging in the wardrobe of Helen and Mrs. Keller’s. 

On the floor was a Chinese rug given to Helen in 1949 by Hajji Baba Club. 

There was holly, Magnolia, and cedar lying on the fireplace mantle and a picture of Helen age thirteen. 

Ivy Green  

There was a netting basket sitting next to a rocker, a small table with a lamp, an umbrella standing next to the fireplace, another table with a picture sitting inside a bowl. 

The stairs leading to the two bedrooms upstairs were lined with ivy. 

Pictures of Helen and her parents were on the walls in the hall. 

Ivy Green 

The boy’s room was to your right, a trunk room in the middle, and Helen’s room to the left.  All the floors were hardwood coved by large rugs. 

In the dining room sitting on the table were a centerpiece of pine, cedar, holly, and apples and a set of China. Above the fireplace was Magnolia leaves around candelabras, a silver teapot set was sitting on the sugar chest, and the Jackson Press held the silver, linens, and beverages. 

Ivy Green 

Across from the dining room was where Helen’s aunt Eveline Keller slept, but now used as Helen’s Museum. 

Helen’s museum room houses some of Helen’s Braille books, a US stamp with Helen and Anne Sullivan, a bust of Helen, several pictures of Helen at different ages, and many artifacts. 

There is a bronze plate of Helen with a saying, To be blind is to see the bright side of life Helen Keller.

Helen Keller

Helen Keller

Outside was the kitchen and house cleaner’s quarters; there was the pump where Helen said her first word, “Water.” 

WATER

There was a carriage house, and the cottage, where Helen’s toys were displayed.

It had doll carriage, a child rocker, larger rocker, chest, small doll bed, and the picture inside a bowl and a kerosene lamp. In the bedroom, it has a four-poster bed, baby bed, fireplace, another rocker, and a fireplace. 

Ivy Green 

My husband had never seen Helen’s home, I had seen it several times.

My dad had gotten an old trunk from the Keller estate when I was just a small girl, inside of the trunk was a fairytale book, which I read from cover to cover and was lost when we moved to Florence.

We walked across the street to the Tuscumbia Art Museum where we viewed nine, twelve foot Christmas trees that were decorated by different groups, to capture the season.

Delta goes green by the Delta Sigma Theta: their theme was white Angles. 

The Christmas tree is Celebrating 100 years of 4-H: decorated by the 4-H Colbert and Franklin Counties. 

Their tree was decorated with several of the 4-h emblems, and their theme color was green with a green skirt and white button up top shirt from the 1950s.

Just Beachy by Pam Wright:

Pam’s theme was cool colors with sunglasses, flip-flops and other items you would see on the beach.

For unto you are born this day by Leta Mathews and Van Brown:

Their theme color was gold, & silver with twinkling lights, the manger scene, the wise men, and the worshipping of baby Jesus. 

There goes Santa Clause by Janet Cochran:

Theme color was red and white with Santa’s boots sticking out of the chimney, and Santa’s of all shape and sizes covering the tree, Santa’s sack, and presents under the tree.

Unsung Heroes by DAR:

Their tree was decorated with a fire truck, and the tree was wrapped with notes for our heroes.

Uniquely Yours by American Cancer Society and Bosom Buddies support group; 

Their theme was pink, with pink and silver balls hanging on the tree. 

White bears and presents wrapped in pink and white.

The arts of home by: 

UNA’s Department of human and environmental sciences; are many colors with a woman and her umbrella on top. The tree was decorated with things that you would find in a home.

Last, I love to read by WA Threadgill Primary School. 

Their theme color was multicolor with educational toys, books all over the tree and under the tree. 

There was Clifford the big red dog, pooh and many other characters.    

My husband talked to the curator while I took pictures of all the trees

They will be on display until December 24, 2008.