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).
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| 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.
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| The Rising Crust Pizza |
My granddaughter had her first child and our first great-grandchild, Ava Grace.
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| 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.
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| Saint Patrick's Day Parade |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Sierra |
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| Montana |
In June, my husband and I toured the Rosenbaum home/museum.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Beechcraft Air Museum. |
In August, Hubby and I rode to Birmingham, Alabama, to visit the Iron Works Historical State Park.
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| 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
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| Milky Way Farms |
We also rode to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where we toured the Stones River National Battlefield, Oaklands Historic House/Museum, and Cannonsburg Village.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Manger Scene in Carved Ice Sculptures |
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| 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.
We watch my niece and other church members entertain us with their salute to our Lord Jesus Christ.
