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 

2024 July 9, 22, 24 Day trips to Pulaski, Lynnville, TN., Corinth, MS., & Danville, Hartsell, AL., with Ava

2024 July 9, 2024 Tuesdays Day Trip to Pulaski and Lynnville, TN

 Today, we rode to Pulaski to the Giles County Memorial Interpretive Center Trail of Tears Museum.

Ava and Trail of Tears Statue

Many of the park marks and benches were in much need of repairs. 

We saw a golden raintree, a Statue, and several Markers. 

We were getting ready to leave when we saw pictures of the Trail of Tears in the tunnel under the highway.

Ava and I decided to walk through the tunnel. 

Students created The Bench Project, Wilma Pearl Mankiller, The Children the Oxen, the Trail of Tears, and several paintings. 

It was a treasure of local artists about the Trail of Tears. 

Ava and the  1927 Baldwin Steam Locomotive

We next rode to the Town of Lynnville, TN. 

We visited the Train Depot Museum, where we saw a miniature train engine, signal lights, several signs about the train, a train conductor, and a ticket counter.  

Outside, we walked inside the 1927 Baldwin Steam Locomotive, the 1920s Passenger Coach 2587. The red caboose was locked, so we did not go inside. 

Along the hallway were signs about the Milky Way Farm and a picture of Frank C. Mars, the owner and maker of Mars candy. 

We took several pictures outside, one alongside the LRR Lynnville Railroad Museum sign and the Giles County Turkey. 

Ava at Soda Pop Junction

We walked across the road to Soda Pop Junction.

Outside was an orange and white truck with a sign that read "Soda Pop Junction Good Ol' Soda Pop."

We were greeted when we walked inside. 

I ordered a Chili's dog, and Ava ordered a hamburger and fries. She ate her fries but not her hamburger. Hubby ate her hamburger and most of my chili dog.  

Ava ordered an orange crushed soda in a bottle. 

I told our waitress that Ave loves to visit museums, and she said AVA, I have something to show you. 

She took a quarter out of the register, and we walked to the back of the restaurant. 

She placed a quarter in the slot, and a piano and a hand-held organ began to play.  

We thanked her and began our journey to Lawrenceburg. 

We had to return to Krogers to pick up the salmon and cantaloupe I had left at the store the day before. 

It began to rain as we started our journey home.

July 22, 2024, Monday Microwave Dave 

Today, we went to Florence Library to see Microwave Dave and to make musical instruments out of trash.

Ava made a guitar out of a shoe box.

And a water bottle with seeds.

The kids, as well as the adults, had a good time.

Ava put her finger in the alligator's mouth. 

Ava wanted ice cream, and we were going to Tuscumbia. I remembered that the Palace had good ice cream. 

Ava ordered Smokey Mountain Fudge.

Ava enjoying her Smokey Mountain Fudge Ice cream in a cone. 

I ordered pecan praline. 

Then we went to Helen Keller Library to listen to Book It with Jazz the Jazz Allstars.

Afterward, we went to Champy's for lunch. 

Hubby ordered a salad, and we shared a catfish meal.

Ava ordered a chicken fingers meal.

We had leftovers.

Microwave Dave went through the cycle of Blues Music From the days of slavery. 

People make music with a rhythm to help them pass the hard times. 

Then, the clicking and clacking of the railroad era, the sounds of the wheels on the train as it went down the tracks. 

The free slaves moved to the city with a different rhythm. 

The time the people were paid to play music. 

He asked if any of the kids knew about fractions. 

Then, he began telling us how the beats were fractions. 

The kids blew their paper horns, and they beat on their coffee cans for drums. 

They picked the rubber band strings on their shoebox guitar. 

And shook their water bottles filled with bird seeds

In rhythm with Microwave Dave's music.

On Tuesday, we rode to Rogersville Library to see Microwave Dave.

Ava made a drum from an oatmeal box, a paper horn, and a shaker from a Mt Dew bottle. 

We did a sing-along and played our handmade instruments with Microwave Dave.

We learned about the history of jazz. 

Everyone had a good time. 

July 24, Wednesday Day Trip to Corinth, MS

Today, we rode to Corinth, MS.

We stopped at the Visitor Center and were given information about sites in Corinth, MS.

We walked to the Corinth Train Depot and Crossroads Museum, which was closed. 

I, too, have pictures of the 1924 American LaFrance Fire Truck and a sign of Caboose # 2994, a Civil War Corinth, big guns, and the Miniature Hurlbut Amusement Equipment Co. locomotive No 1009. 

We stopped at the New Coca-Cola Museum. Outside was a carved giant wooden Coca-Cola bottle.

There was a buzzer on the door which, when pressed, released a locked door that let you inside a one-room museum. 

The museum featured over 1,000 Coca-Cola artifacts, including a truck, soda fountain, Coca-Cola boxes, bottles, signs, and toys.

Ava at the Coca-Cola Museum 

In the front of the museum sat a Coca-Cola drink machine with small glass bottles filled with Coke products you could purchase. 

That took me back to when a Coke cost 6 to 10 cents, not a dollar or more.  

We stopped at the 15,000-square-foot Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center Museum, which features interactive exhibits and a memorial Garden for the 1862 battles of Shiloh and Corinth.

Ava at the Interpretive Center 

We stopped at the Corinth's Highway Hospitality Building, and I said the Crossroads Museum was closed. 

The curator tried to call the museum, but no answer. She said it should be open, so we returned to the museum.

It was open, and the curator said her dog was sick and that she had taken him to the vet. 

We paid the admission fee and walked through the museum.

We enjoyed the miniature running train display. 

It was now lunchtime, and everyone was ready for lunch. Borroum's Drugs Store Diner was just a few blocks from the Crossroads Museum.

The dinner was hectic. We finally found a table where people had just finished eating lunch, with their dishes still on the table. 

Our waitress finally cleaned the table and took our order. 

 I ordered a hamburger with chips, Ava ordered chicken nuggets and fries, and Hubby ordered a double cheeseburger with onion rings. 

This was our last stop before starting for home. 

It rained a little on us but not much, and it was evident by the time we left. It was still pretty wet when we got home but soon cleared off.

We had a great time, and the area was not overcrowded with people, which is so much better than fighting a crowd.

Ava had to get her picture taken with a slug at the park near the Visitor Center. 

Ava and the Slugg

Last week was their slug Festival, with slugs all around town.

Monday, July 29, Day trip to Danville and Hartselle, Al

Today, we went to town to pay for our utilities and get our B-12 shots.

Ava and the Jesse Owens statue

Ava and Jesse Owens 26 feet Long Jump 

Then we rode to Danville by way of US 72 East towards Cullman.

We stopped at the Jesse Owen's Museum. 

We watched the 1936 Olympics there and saw how Jesse Owen won the gold medal before World War II. 

Before Hitler killed all the Jewish people. 

It was a very moving story, and it helped me understand more about the Olympics then. 

We walked outside, where we saw Jesse Owens's Statue, a replica of his birth home, and a replica of the long jump Jesse set a world record at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany. 

Ava and Sequoya statue 

We stopped at the Oakville Indian Museum.

We saw arrowheads and other artifacts from the Mississippian, Archaic, Paleo, and Woodland Periods American Indians. 

We saw a wooden carving of Sequoyah, a mixed-blood Cherokee who developed an alphabet or syllabary. 

Ava was not impressed, for she rushed through it.

We bought her a bag of colorful rocks and a mood ring in the gift shop. 

Ava and the Blues Brothers

We stopped for lunch at Oh'Bryan's in Hartselle. 

Ava and I ordered the special for eight dollars, and everything was included. 

Ava ordered fried chicken fingers with fries and a doctor's pepper.

I ordered grilled chicken fingers and a sweet potato with iced tea 

Hubby ordered a salad, steak potato toast, and iced tea. 

We filled up with gas at Murphy.

And we stopped at Krogers for sodas.

We were home by 3:30.