2025 Mar 14, Signal Museum, Texas Roadhouse and Gabe's

Grilled Pork Chop with Sweet Potato 

Hubby and I rode to Huntsville, stopping at Texas Roadhouse in Huntsville for lunch. Spent $47.26. 

I ordered a grilled pork chop with sweet potato, Caesar salad, rolls with cinnamon butter, and iced tea. 

Hubby ordered a Fort Worth steak with sweet potato, salad, and iced tea. 

We rode to the Signals Museum, a newly opened museum of information exploration. It is a Tech museum before tech. Spent 26 dollars. 

Signals Museum 

It is a hands-on museum full of new and old technology.

We experienced Benjamin Franklin catching lightning in a bottle. 

We learned about Abraham Lincoln's use of the telegraph.

We learned about transmitters and how hand-cranked telephones worked. 

We saw the operations of connecting a community through a switchboard. 

We learned about music, recordings, and radio stations.

We learned about Edison's light bulb.

We saw and learned about the first televisions and computers.

We sat inside a radio station. So much to see and learn. 

1947 Entertainment Center 

We stopped at Huntsville's Veterans Park. 

There was not a soul in sight as I walked through the park, taking pictures. I had not seen a few new displays the last time I visited the park. 

The Aviator Statue.

The Wounded Warrior Combat Medic Statue.

The Purple Heart Monument.

The Alabama Gold Star Families Memorial Monument.

The Battlefield Memorial.

In Honor of the Revolutionary Soldier buried in Madison County.

Madison County Veterans Memorial Park

We stopped at Big Spring Park, where I took photos of ducks, birds, and fish. 

It was a beautiful day with flowers and trees blooming. The sun was shining. 

People fed the ducks, birds, and fish. Some relaxed while others briskly walked in the park. 

We stopped at Gabe's in Madison, where we bought two-yard flags, a cover for my backyard chair, a small earring case, Cokes, and candy. 

Spent $73.76

Photos:

6884 @ 11:50 A.M. Texas Roadhouse

6885-86 @1:44-2:31 P.M. Signals Museum

8287-8390 @2:56-3:17 P.M. Veterans Park 

8392-96 @ 3:33 Bird Spring Park 

March 14, 2025, 8-5:30 P.M. Scottsboro All Day

 Everyone parked in the Patches Merchant Emporium 1501 Broad St parking lot around 8:00 A.M.

Everyone loaded onto the bus, and off we went for a full day of adventures.

 

Variety Bake Shop 

Our first stop was The Variety Bake Shop, where we were served two sausage rolls, a glazed donut, and a history lesson from the owner. Several people bought a variety of their desserts.

I took pictures of a few historic markers across the street, posted on poles along the left side of the courthouse.

Veterans Memorial Park, Scottsboro 

Our next stop was Scottsboro Veterans Memorial Park. 

It was full of historical markers and military vehicles. 

Our next stop was the Scottsboro Museum, but no one was home. 

Our guide called their number, but no one answered. We rode by the old Mill and the Airport and finally stopped at the Train Depot.

We all got off the bus to go inside, but the curator called from the Scottsboro Museum, so we loaded it back on the bus and returned to that museum. 

The Scottsboro Boys

By this time, it was lunchtime, so we stopped at Payne's Sandwich Shop. There, we were served a red slaw dog, chips, potato Salad, and our choice of ice cream. I ordered Rocket Road. 

Payne Sandwich Shop 

After lunch, I walked up the sidewalk, taking pictures of markers. 

We loaded back onto the bus and rode to the Scottsboro Train Depot. 

Hubby shows the ladies how the scales work. 

Next, we rode to the Scottsboro Heritage Center.

The curator told us some of the history of the 1881 Procter House. 

The house was built by John A. Brown and sold to A.W. Brooks, the Mayor of Scottsboro.  

The house was then sold to General John R. Coffey. In 1981, the City of Scottsboro bought the home and turned it into a Museum, a research center, and a community venue. 

We could not go upstairs because it was being repaired. 

Outside, we visited Sagetown, a re-creation of a pioneer village, where our curator told us the history of each building.

Proctor Heritage House Museum

One of the buildings was the Little Courthouse, which housed public records dating as far back as 1820.

Our next stop was a sampling of specialty teas and protein shakes. The owner gave us a little history of his store. 

Long walk up the hill to the cemetery. 

Our last stop as a group was the grave site of Mayor Robert Thomas Scott and his wife. 

Their graves were atop a hill, which we had to walk to. 

We returned to the parking lot and said goodbye.

Hubby and I decided to visit Unclaimed Baggage. 

Unclaimed Baggage Scottsboro 
The Truck where it all began.

We did not buy anything, but they had an incredible museum inside the store. 

Outside was a sign telling about the beginning of Unclaimed Baggage.

Then, we began our two-hour trip home. 

We stopped at Taco Bell in Rogersville to pick up something for dinner. We had a great time but were ready for bed when we returned home. 

Cell Phone Photos 

6765-68 @ 9:12 A.M. The Variety Bake Shop

6769-72 @ 8:30 A.M. Markers left side of Courthouse 

6773—85 @ 10:07-10:50 A.M. Scottsboro Boys Museum 

6786-90 @ 10:55-11:47 A.M. Payne's Sandwich Shop 

6791-6817 @ 12:14-12:41 P.M. Train Depot 

6818-40 @12:50-1:17 P.M. Proctor Museum and Pioneer Village

6841-41 @ 2:37 P.M. Scottsboro Nutrition 

6843- @ 4:45 P.M. Unclaimed Baggage Outside 

6844-6868 @4:53-56 P.M. Museum @ Unclaimed Baggage 

6869-72 @5:03 P.M. outside Unclaimed Baggage

Walked 2.6 miles and 6,848 steps 

"Hi, I'm Hoggle." (inside the museum at Unclaimed Baggage)

2018 Christmas Letter Activies

 Well, another year has come and gone. Hope you and your family had a good year!

We had a lot going on this year. 

Enclosed are some of the activities our family did this year. 

(We had lots of cold weather in Jan & Feb)

January 9, Day Trip Hubby and I rode to Decatur Wildlife Refuge

January 15, Day Trip Hubby & I rode to Dodge City

January 25, Attended Wade Hall Post Cards @ Florence Library 

January 31, Trip to Saraland & Dolphin Island with my friend Wanda

FEBRUARY 

Feb1-4 Cruise to Cozumel, Mexico with my friend Wanda 

February 1, Boarded Ship 

February 2, Fun Day @ Sea

Feb 3, Spent day at Cozumel, Mexico 

February 4, Fun Day @ Sea
February 5, Traveled home 

February 9, Worked @ Killen Book Store 9–1 P.M.

Feb 19-21 Trip Hubby & I stayed @ Christmas Inn Pigeon Forge, TN

February 14, Valentine Brunch @ CBS

February 21, Grandson Jake Hughes's BIRTHDAY DINNER

Feb 24/25 Trip Hubby & I stayed @ Joe Wheeler Lodge for Wildlife Photo Weekend.

MARCH

March 2, Children's Museum of Shoals with Great Granddaughter Ava Grace 

March 1, Attended Get Dirty @ Library Petals & Pollinators

March 6, Hubby & Rode to Waynesboro  

Mar 8, Attended Get Dirty @ Library Vegetable Garden & Seed Swap

March 9,  Worked @ Killen Book Store 9–1 P.M.

On March 10, I attended the Coloring Alabama Class by Laura Murray @ Florence Library.

March 11, Attended Wedding Shower Granddaughter Hannah
March 12, Attended Bi-Centennial Party Florence @ Wilson Park 

March 19, Bought Nissan Murano @ Landers McCary Nissan Huntsville

Mar 22, Attended Get Dirty @ Library Garden Landscapes & Pest Management

March 25, Attended @ Help with my dad's 91 Birthday party @ Cloverdale Senior Center

March 27, Attended Appreciation dinner @ Killen Senior Center 

March 28, Day Trip to Huntsville with Hubby to Landers McCary Nissan, ate lunch @ Mama's Taco Community of Providence & Red Stone Arsenal  

Mar 29, Attended Get Dirty @ Library Urban Forestry & Tree Maintenance 

Mar 30, Served @ Passover Sadar @ Killen Baptist Church 

March 31, Attended Ava Grace's 3rd Birthday Party 

APRIL

April 1, Easter Sunday Service

April 3, Day Trip Hubby & I rode Lawrenceburg Davey Crocket Park 

April 4, Hubby & I played Bingo at Chick-fil-a

April 7, Walking Tour Florence Federal Courthouse, Library & Kennedy Douglas Museum

April 10: Had tint put on the new car & Attended Hansel & Gretel Play @ Florence Library.                                                   

On April 11, Hubby and I attended the Social Security Retirement Dinner at Red Lobster.

On April 12, I worked at Killen Bookstore from 9–1 P.M.

April 13, Stormed all-day

April 17, Day Trip Hubby and I rode to  Huntsville UAH, Ditto Landing, and Red Lobster.

On April 20, Hubby and I attended Hansel & Gretel Play at UNA 

April 21, Attended Blue Star Dedication Train Depot Museum Decatur 

April 28, Attended Walking tour Athens State University Library, Delmore Museum & Founders Hall

MAY 

May 2, Music in Wilson Park with Justin Holder

May 7, Dolores Hydock @Muscle Shoals Library It's The Little Things

May 9, Music in Wilson Park with Mike Curtis & Garrett Miles 

May 11, Worked Killen Book Store 9–1 P.M. 

May 13, Mother's Day: I enjoyed a steak meal at Ron's Wind Chimes, flowers, a gift card, and a potting plant. 

May 16, Music in Wilson Park with Shannon Knight

May 17: Enjoyed listening to Kate Campbell Music Hall of Fame from 3–4 P.M. and Josh Goforth Florence Library from 5–6 P.M.

May 18, Attended Storytelling Festival at Shoals Theater at Legends

May 19, Attended Storytelling Festival at Shoals Theater at City Hardware

May 23, Music in Wilson Park with Joseph Baldwin 

JUNE

May 29-June 2 Trip to Gulf Shores

June 2 Birth Anthony River Hughes Great Grandson

June 8, Worked Killen Book Store 9–1 P.M.

June 8, Wedding Rehearsal Hannah Hughes & Chad Menard

June 9, the Wedding of Hannah and Chad Menard

June 9, Lecture of Winstons @ Helen Keller Library 1:30–11:30 A.M. 

June 10, Day Trip Nashville Airport 

June 16, Day Trip NASA @ Big Spring Park & RSA 

June 29, Crows, Chirp, & Bray Wildlife @Helen Keller Library 11–12 P.M.

JULY

July 6, Echoes and Howls Wildlife Program Sheffield Library 10 A.M.

July 10, Day Trip Veterans Museum & Rollo's Cafe Huntsville 

July 13, Killen Book Store 9–1 P.M.

July 18, Day Trip Franklin Toured Carter, Lotz House & Carton Plantation Museums

July 23, Summer Solos with Tosha Hill 11;30-12:30

July 24, BEHIND THE MUSIC – SONGS & STORIES OF THE KGB SERIES 1 2–3 P.M.

July 25, BEHIND THE MUSIC – SONGS & STORIES OF THE KGB SERIES 2 2–3 P.M.

July 26, BEHIND THE MUSIC – SONGS & STORIES OF THE KGB SERIES 3 2–3 P.M.

July 27 Songwriters Showcase Series #4 2–3 P.M. MARK NARMORE & 

Aug

Aug 6-8 Trip Little Rock, Arkansas 

Aug12, A Brief History of Education in Florence 2–3 P.M.

Aug16, Day Trip South Haven, MS 

Aug 22, Day Trip to Tupelo, MS 

August 23, Get Dirty at Library Fall Vegetable

August 30 Get Dirty at Library Cut Flowers

Sept

September 2, Kept great-grandson River Anthony Hughes

September 6, Get Dirty at Library Backyard fruits

September 14, Worked Book Store 9–1 P.M.

September 15, New Bethel Reunion 9–3 P.M.

September 16, Lecture Native Americas at Indian Mound 

September 20, Kept great-granddaughter Ava Grace

September 22, Day Trip Toured Weeden House & Huntsville Depot  

Oct

October 5, Day Trip Oktoberfest and Museum Cullman with sister-in-law

October 6, Oktoberfest St Florian

October 7, Lecture Life in the Highlands with George Makowski 

October 9, Day Trip to Dickson, TN 

October 12, Worked at Book Store 9-1

October 14, Tuscumbia Art Museum lecture Truths and Legends TVA

October 15, Day Trip GPS System checked & Oil change at Nissan of Huntsville ate Red Robin at Bridge St 

October 19, Took Ron and Ava Grace (great-granddaughter) to Home Depot, Lowes & Halloween Store to see Halloween Displays 

October 21, Lecture at Florence Library about James VI & I 

October 24, Lecture at Florence Library Doctors of Death 6–7 P.M.

October 25, Class Diabetes & Healthy Cooking 11:30-12:30 Florence Library 

October 28, Watched the River and went to Renaissance Faire

On the 29, Hubby and I took Ava Grace to treat Elgin

On the 30, Hubby and I took Ava Grace to the treating Town of Killen

Nov 

November 1, Healthy Cooking Florence Library 11:30–12:30 P.M.

November 3, Forks of Cypress Tour, Shoals Business Expo and Cruising Wheeler Lake 

November 4, Athens Cemetery Stroll 

November 6, Day Trip Natchez Trace, Leipers Fork, and Cool Springs Mall Franklin, TN

November 8 Cooking for High Blood Pressure Florence Library 11:30–12:30 P.M.

November 9, Worked Killen Book Store 9–1 P.M.

Nov 11-16, Trip to the Smoky Mountains with cousin Sherry & Aunt Bobby

November 16, Tidwell's Thanksgiving dinner

November 19, Took Mike for Colonoscopy at ECM Hospital 812 Lunch Five Guys 

November 22, Thanksgiving Dinner @ Mike's (my son)

November 24, Worked at Killen Book Store 

November 25, Trees of Christmas TVA Museum And Addressed Christmas Cards & Wrapped presents

November 27, Tinsel Trail Big Spring Park with Hubby

November 28, Legend of Toyland Roxy Theater Russellville with Hubby

November 29, Kennedy Douglas Art Museum Quilt Display

December 2, Trees of Christmas TVAA

December 2, Took Ava Grace to Santa Land Elgin with Hubby

December 4, Went to Nashville to see Grinch Ice, Opryland Hotel 3 Gardens decorated for Christmas and Opry Mills Mall

December 7, Took Ava Grace to Killen Town Hall for the Christmas Program and see Santa

December 13, Christmas Dinner and Listen to storyteller Dolores Hydock at Club Florence

December 15, Hubby and I attended the Leipers Fork Christmas Parade

December 17, Hubby and I visited North Pole Christmas Tree Stroll, Madison Magical Christmas Tree Stroll, Madison's Christmas Card Lane, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge, and Enchanted Forest Christmas Tree Stroll Decatur and enjoyed a Grinch Pancake at IHOP. 

December 21, Christmas Dinner at Tidwell's

December 22, Christmas Dinner at Mike's 

December 25, Breakfast at Mike's 

I journal all my activities and take several pictures, which helps keep my memories alive. 

I hope each and everyone enjoys the holidays.

May the new year bring good fortune, good health, and love.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our house to your 

PS: MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR 2019

Me & Santa @Incredible Christmas Store in Pigeon Forge, TN