2025 Aug 23: 7:30-5 PM Backroads Tours, LLC North Georgia Jukebox Revue Day Trip Madison.

We stopped at McDonald's to use the restroom and get some breakfast. We both ordered an egg, chees, and sausage burrito, which we ate on the bus. 

Hubby drove us to Gabe's in Madison, where we boarded bus #451622, Spirit Coach of Huntsville, Alabama; our driver was Eddie. 

Our group leader, Kelley Wolfe, checked off everyone on her list as we boarded the bus. 

We headed to Scottsboro to pick up two more passengers, and by 8:30 A.M., we were on our way to Ringgold, GA, to watch a two-hour musical called Junkbox Review—a Musical of '50s and '60s music. 

We had premier front-stage seating at the Colonnade Performing Arts theatre with popcorn included.

The entertainers were Brittany Angel, Avery Biddle, Jimmy Lee Bryant, Matt George, Tom Hacker, Allie Hasty, Michael Headlamp, Aston Kidd, Jonathan Linton, Patton Locke, Jeremiah Parch, Jonathan Ruff, Ethan Slaughter, Levi Witt (Rudy Clark), Ferryn Wright, and Lauren Zachary.

Rudy performed as Red Skelton (Freedy the Free Loader); he also did Gomer Pyle and Boy George's "Tip Toe through the Tulips."  

The Performers 

The Performers 

After the show, we loaded onto the bus and headed to South Pittsburg, where we enjoyed a late lunch at the Big Bad Breakfast.

Hubby and I sat with Veronica and her friend at lunch. 

I ordered a Belgian Waffle with strawberries, blueberries, whipped cream, and syrup. Hubby ordered pancakes and soda. 

Belgian Waffle 

After lunch, everyone toured the Lodge Skillet Museum and shopped at the Lodge Skillet store. We bought The Naked Bee orange Blossom Honey collection, which cost $13.95 plus tax.

Very large Lodge Skillet cooking a fried egg

Spirit Coach 

The Lodge Characters (dog Lucky), (Ferrous), and Panelopie  

 

Back on the bus by 3:30 P.M. for an hour ride to Scottsboro to drop off two passengers, then onto Madison, another hour ride.

We unloaded the bus at Gabe's in Madison and headed home for another hour ride. 

On our trip, we shared experiences with old friends and made new friends. 

1723-1740 @ 10:47-1:56 P.M. Georgia Time Eastern 

1741-1744 @1:31 Tennessee Time Central

1751-1807 @ 1:45-3:18 P.M. The Lodge Skillet Museum and Lodge Store 

1754 lunch at Big Bad Breakfast  @2:14 P.M.

Coach: Spirit Coach #451622 Driver: Eddie 

2025 Mar 14, Signal Museum, Texas Roadhouse and Gabe's (Day Trip)

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. We spent $ 26. 

Signals Museum 

It is a hands-on museum that features a mix of new and old technologies.

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 

2025, March 14, 8-5:30 P.M. Scottsboro All Day (Day Trip) with Backroads Tours, LLC

 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 located across the street, which are 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 shared some of the history of the 1881 Procter House with us. 

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 purchased the home and converted it into a Museum, research center, and community venue. 

We could not go upstairs because it was being repaired. 

Outside, we visited Sagetown, a recreation of a pioneer village, where our curator shared the history of each building.

Proctor Heritage House Museum

One of the buildings was the Little Courthouse, which housed public records dating back to 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 bid each other goodbye.

Hubby and I decided to visit Unclaimed Baggage. 

Unclaimed Baggage Scottsboro 
The Truck where it all began.

We didn't buy anything, but the store had an incredible museum inside. 

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)

Group photo (Courtesy of Backroads)

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 & February)

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

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

Jan 25, Attended Wade Hall Post Cards @ Florence Library 

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

FEBRUARY 

Feb 1- 4 Cruise to Cozumel, Mexico with my friend Wanda 

Feb 1, Boarded Ship 

Feb 2, Fun Day @ Sea

Feb 3, Spent a day at Cozumel, Mexico 

Feb 4, Fun Day @ Sea
Feb 5, traveled home 

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

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

Feb 14, Valentine Brunch @ CBS

Feb 21, Grandson Jake Hughes's BIRTHDAY DINNER

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

MARCH

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

Mar 1, Attended Get Dirty @ Library Petals & Pollinators

Mar 6, Hubby & Rode to Waynesboro  

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

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

On Mar 10, I attended Laura Murray's "Coloring Alabama" class at the Florence Library.

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

Mar 19, Bought Nissan Murano @ Landers McCary Nissan Huntsville

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

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

Mar 27, Attended Appreciation dinner @ Killen Senior Center 

Mar 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 

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

APRIL

Apr 1, Easter Sunday Service

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

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

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

Apr 10: Had tint put on the new car and attended the Hansel & Gretel play at the Florence Library.                                                   

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

On Apr 12, I worked at Killen Bookstore from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.

Apr 13, Stormed all day.

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

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

Apr 21, Attended Blue Star Dedication, Train Depot Museum, Decatur 

Apr 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 at 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 potted plant. 

May 16, Music in Wilson Park with Shannon Knight

May 17: Enjoyed listening to Kate Campbell at the Music Hall of Fame from 3–4 P.M. and Josh Goforth at the 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

Jun 2 Birth: Anthony River Hughes, Great Grandson

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

Jun 8, Wedding Rehearsal, Hannah Hughes & Chad Menard

Jun 9, the Wedding of Hannah and Chad Menard

Jun 9, Lecture of Winston's @ Helen Keller Library 1:30–11:30 A.M. 

Jun 10, Day Trip Nashville Airport 

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

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

JULY

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

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

Jul 13, Killen Book Store 9–1 P.M.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aug

Aug 6-8 Trip Little Rock, Arkansas 

Aug 12, A Brief History of Education in Florence 2–3 P.M.

Aug 16, Day Trip South Haven, MS 

Aug 22, Day Trip to Tupelo, MS 

Aug 23, Get Dirty at the Library: Fall Vegetable

Aug 30: Get Dirty at the Library Cut Flowers

Sept

Sept 2, Kept great-grandson River Anthony Hughes

Sept 6, Get Dirty at the Library: Backyard fruits

Sept 14, Worked at Book Store 9–1 P.M.

Sept 15, New Bethel Reunion 9–3 P.M.

Sept 16, Lecture on Native Americans at Indian Mound 

Sept 20, Kept great-granddaughter Ava Grace

Sept 22, Day Trip Toured Weeden House & Huntsville Depot  

Oct

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

Oct 6, Oktoberfest St Florian

Oct 7, Lecture: Life in the Highlands with George Makowski 

Oct 9, Day Trip to Dickson, TN 

Oct 12, Worked at Book Store 9-1

Oct 14, Tuscumbia Art Museum lecture: Truths and Legends TVA

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

Oct 19, took Ron and Ava Grace (great-granddaughter) to Home Depot, Lowe's, & Halloween Store to see Halloween Displays 

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

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

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

On Oct 28, I watched the River and went to the Renaissance Faire

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

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

Nov 

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

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

Nov 4, Athens Cemetery Stroll 

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

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

Nov 9, Worked at Killen Book Store 9–1 P.M.

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

Nov 16, Tidwell's Thanksgiving dinner

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

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

Nov 24, Worked at Killen Book Store 

Nov 25, Trees of Christmas, TVA Museum, and Addressed Christmas Cards & Wrapped presents

Nov 27, Tinsel Trail, Big Spring Park with Hubby

Nov 28, Legend of Toyland, Roxy Theater, Russellville, with Hubby

Nov 29, Kennedy Douglas Art Museum Quilt Display

Dec 2, Trees of Christmas TVAA

Dec 2, Took Ava Grace to Santa Land in Elgin with Hubby

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

On Dec 7, I took Ava Grace to Killen Town Hall for the Christmas Program and to see Santa

Dec 13, Christmas Dinner, and listen to storyteller Dolores Hydock at Club Florence

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

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

Dec 21, Christmas Dinner at Tidwell's

Dec 22, Christmas Dinner at Mike's 

Dec 25, Breakfast at Mike's 

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

I hope each and every one enjoys the holidays.

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

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our house to yours 

PS: MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR 2019

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