2023 Dec 8, Moulton on the Square Moulton, AL "CHRISTMAS"

We left Cullman, traveling on Highway 157 toward Moulton. 

We always attend Moulton on the Square, but this year, the festival was held at the Lions Club Fairgrounds due to ongoing renovations at the old courthouse. 

A large crowd was already there enjoying the festival. 

The entrance to the Christmas Festival 

We saw several displays and places to stop for photos. 

We saw Santa Claus talking to the children. 

Vendors selling their wares.

The smell of food filled the air.

We enjoyed Tiny Hiney's Petting Zoo, where we saw goats, sheep, a llama, a Kangaroo, a cow, and a pony.

Each animal was wearing Christmas attire. 

Pony dressed in Red

As we left, the snow machine began to fill the air with snow. The children enjoyed the snow falling on their faces. 

Let itSnoww! Let itSnoww!

2018 Dec 2, A Visit to see Santa Clause at Santa Land Elgin, Alabama

Hubby, Ava, and I went to visit Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the Reindeer at Santa Land.
Hubby parked the car in the field, and we walked to the ticket counter. There, we purchased our tickets and were told we could take our time strolling the grounds before entering the Castle. 

Entrance to Santa Land

SantaLand 

We saw Micky, Minnie, Winnie the Pooh, Tiger, and many other Disney Characters.
Ava and I enjoyed listening to and dancing to the music played at the Looney Tunes Area, featuring Wylie Coyote, Road Runner, Daffy Duck, Tweety Bird, Sylvester, Yosemite Sam, and the Tasmanian Devil. 

Ava and I were dancing to the music, and Hubby overheard a little girl say I want to go there and dance. 

SantaLand is home to Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, Reindeer, and many other characters. 
Ava loved all the outdoor decorations but wanted to go inside because it was a bit chilly outside. 

Ava said, "I am Cold!" 

Once inside the Castle, we saw a menagerie of Christmas Decorations. 

A couple of Puffins 

The Grinch 

Santa and his talking Reindeer 

We were greeted by Santa's helper and waited for our turn to sit in Santa's lap and talk to Santa. 

Ava went right up and sat in Santa's lap. She told him what she wanted for Christmas.
She told Santa, and we continued walking through the Castle. 

Ava and Santa Claus 

Ava and Mrs. Clause 

Next, we saw Mrs. Claus. Ava went right up and sat in her lap, and she gave Ava a Candy Cane. 
We took a few pictures inside and walked outside.

We could hear the Chipmunks singing in the distance. Ava said they were singing too loudly. 

Alvin, Simon, Theodore the Chipmunks

Ava kept saying I want to go back inside and see Santa Claus. So we took her back through, and Santa was going on break. He asks Ave if she wants to go see the Reindeer, and she says yes.
Santa took Ava's hand, and they walked outside, stopping to see the Reindeer. 

Ava and Santa are visiting the Reindeer. 

Santa holding Ava's hand 

Ava told Santa Merry Christmas 🎄
We walked around outside some more. It was damp and cold outside, so we
went back inside.
We bought Ava a gingerbread cookie and took it to a table to be decorated. On each table were three different colors of icing to be used for decorating the cookies. We used green for the eyes, red for the buttons, and trimmed him in yellow. He was yummy and sweet. 

Ava with her Gingerbread Cookie, we ate all but the head.

Gingerbread Cookie: I helped her decorate

Ava didn't want to leave. We told her Santa Claus had to go to bed
She was okay then.

🎄🎄🎄🎄2016 Friday December 2 & Saturday December 3, Events "Christmas"

Yesterday, my husband and I joined a group gathering at 6:00 P.M. for Every Light, a prayer for peace, at Pope's Tavern.

"We, Angels and Mortals, Believers and Non-Believers,

Look heavenward and speak the word aloud.

Peace. We look at our world and speak the word aloud.

Peace. We look at each other, then into ourselves

And we say without hesitation or apology.

Peace, My Brother.

Peace, My Sister.

Peace, My Soul."

-- "Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem" by Dr. Maya Angelou

We walked through the lower level of Pope's Tavern, where we saw signs of an Old Fashion Christmas. 

We saw a cedar tree, whose top branches reached the ceiling, it was covered with stringed popcorn, stuffed animals, snowflakes, Christmas balls, and a rope made of construction paper. All the ornaments were hand-made. 

The dining room was decorated with fresh pine needles and apples and topped with a pineapple.

Refreshment was served after the program.

We were welcomed by Margie Anderton, and a devotional was led by Stan Dean. 
American Legion Post 11 presented the Honor Guard Flags. 
The Legacy Christmas Academy Choir entertained us with Christmas Carols. 

Legacy Christmas Academy Choir

Our mayor, Steve Holt, greeted the audience
Wayne Higgins told some of the histories of Pope's Tavern.
Taps were played by Honor Guards.

Honor Guard

There was a special dedication to the memory of Christine Glover.
Christine's granddaughter lit the Christmas Tree.
Stan Dean ended the program with a prayer.
We walked to Wilson Park to listen to a group of children sing Christmas Carols.
We saw the lighting of the Christmas Tree in Wilson Park. 

Children sing Christmas Carols.

Christmas Tree Wilson Park 

We walked downtown to check out First Friday. We saw snow, Frosty, Santa Claus, and people in Medieval costumes. We saw Bobbies on horses and Segates, and we saw a live manger scene.

Manger Scene 

Frosty and Snow 

Today, I went to the Visitors Center to listen to the Natchez Trace Park Ranger, Emily Smithey. She was very informative about the history of George Colbert's activity on the Natchez Trace in its infancy.
She discussed the Importance of safe river crossing, trade, and transition in the Chickasaw society. She also told us about the new pictures being posted in a kiosk along the Natchez Trace that showcase its history.
There was a Q&A after her talk.
Descendants of George Colbert attended the meeting. 

Christmas Tree at the Visitor Center

I attended the Kennedy Douglas Arts Center's Christmas in the Renaissance City Authors Crawl with Glen Wills, from Forgotten Alabama, and Angela Broyles of Blue-Water Publications.
I talked to a descendant of George Colbert from Oklahoma. He was doing a book signing.
I introduced myself, and we discussed a variety of topics. 

Books from various authors were for sale from 10:30 to 3:30 P.M. at Kennedy Douglas.

🦌🦌🦌2016 November 15,Tuesday, ICE COLD, Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer

Hubby and I stopped at Logan's Roadhouse in Spring Hill, TN, for lunch.
We ordered Roadhouse 'Shroom, which are hand-battered fresh mushrooms with Rockin' Horseradish. I ordered Chips and Cheese dip, creamy white queso cheese with crispy tortilla chips.
For our main meal, we ordered an All-American Cheeseburger with Swiss Cheese, served on a toasted brioche bun with sliced lettuce, tomato, red onion, and pickles.

Cheeseburger 

Roadhouse 'Shroom 

Chips and Cheese dip

Hubby ordered the Fried Cheese and Bacon Burger, which was fried cheese, thick-cut hardwood smoked bacon, sliced tomato, lettuce, red onions, and thousand island dressing on a toasted brioche bun.
We had to get two to-go boxes because we ordered way too much food.

We stopped at Sam's Club in Franklin to purchase two batteries for our RV.

When we reached Nashville, our first stop was the Gaylord Opryland Event Center to purchase ICE tickets.
As we walked toward the Event Center, we were greeted by a giant ICE sculpture. So we stopped to take pictures.
Next, we purchased ICE tickets! Featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer comes to life in magnificent sculptures hand-carved from more than 2 million pounds of Ice.

ICE

Presents under the Christmas Tree

Three Snowmen 

Several TVs were hanging on an Ice Wall, giving instructions before entering the ICE House.

Wall of TVs

When the show ended, everyone was given Blue parkas to wear, and before entering the Ice, we were asked if we wanted our picture taken. We said no.
Upon entering the 9 degrees ICEHOUSE, we were greeted by a huge ICE Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

WITH a dial that said, "Make it glow"!

Inside ICE, we saw several Reindeer, Santa, dancing dolls, Cowboys, clowns, dogs, and bears.
The Lion, King of the Beast, wore angel wings and a crown, sitting in front of the ICE slides. There were three or four Slide shoots where people could slide down the Ice.

We saw a green Christmas tree covered in colorful balls and a gold rope.
We saw elves, a family of deer, Frosty the Snow Man, the Ice Bar, Santa, and his Reindeer.
One scene was five elves and a sign that read: And, at Santa's Castle ... an elf named Hermney didn't want to make toys as the other elves did. He had wanted to be a dentist since he was a kid.

The elf who wanted to be a dentist. 

We saw Yukon Cornelius and the Abominable Snow Monster. 

Next, we saw Yukon Cornelius and the Abominable Snow Monster, and a sign that read:

What they found was a creature! A giant! A friend! An Abominable Snow Monster who was meaner than mean.
The Yukon Cornelius came 'round the bend. These two lonely misfits had found a new friend. What a mighty swing of his miner's ax, Yukon whacked the Ice, which started some cracks. And just as the Bumble got to the bay, the Ice broke free, and they floated away.

Santa and his Reindeer

Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the wise men, shepherds, and an Angel 

We exited the ice rink into the Christmas store and walked to the Gaylord Hotel.
I had my picture taken with Santa.
We spent several hours walking through the three gardens that were decorated for the Christmas Holidays.
We stopped for a Butterfinger Ice Cream and rested.
We exited the hotel and walked back outside Ice Ring, where we watched the sunset.

Setting Sun on the White Christmas Tree.
We traveled to Spring Hill and stopped at Panda Express for dinner.

Both of us were exhausted from all the walking and it was still over an hour's ride from Spring Hill to home.

🎄🎄🎄🎄The Christmas Sprit of fun

I went to town early this morning to do some last-minute Christmas Shopping. I took my sister-in-law so she could do her last-minute shopping without having to drive through this crazy Christmas traffic. We visited Walmart, Walgreens, Regency Square Mall, The Blue Door, and the YMCA, and ate lunch at Chick-fil-A. I stopped at Foodland for a buttermilk pie for my Christmas brunch tomorrow, all before 1 P.M. All done! With one to wrap.

Buttermilk Pie after the party on Saturday

When my husband arrived home from work, we rode into town, where we met friends at Flo-Bama. We enjoyed an appetizer of fried mushrooms, followed by hamburgers and hot dogs.

We sat with friends, one of whom was dressed as Santa Claus.

All the children thought he was Santa Claus and wanted their picture made with him. 

The man stooped in front of my friend, she was afraid his bottom might go off!!!!!!!

We all enjoyed listening to the Kerry Gilbert band play a variety of songs including Tie the Knot, Kaw-Liga, and several different Christmas Songs, with Hugh putting a chimney hat over his head. You just have to watch them live to fully appreciate how funny and great they sound.

We had to leave at 9 P.M., and my husband has to work tomorrow; he drives an hour and a half to work every day, so he has to be in bed by ten.

KGB Band- Hugh with Chimney Hat

We were home in time for him to watch a little TV, and then it was off to bed. I actually slept all night long without coughing.

Mr. Clause

The next day, Saturday, December 20:

Christmas Party today at Laura's with Stella, Phoebe, and Megen. 

We had more food than we all could possibly eat.

We had pecan pie, buttermilk pie, pretzels topped with pecans, and rolls. 

We ate chips, chicken salad sandwiches made with croissants, grapes, sun-dried cake, cheeseball with chips, macaroni salad, and lots more sweets. 

Leftovers for my husband's dinner
Potato Cake (eaten on Hanukkah)

We participated in a Dirty Santa gift swap. 

My Dirty Santa Gift
We sat around telling stories, and Megen had us in stitches. She told stories that were not so funny, like the time her trailer burned to the ground.

We had a great time. 

Merry Christmas to all my friends from bible class.

Phoebe gave everyone a picture of her dog, a bookmark, and a book that she signed. The book was written by Rick Warren, "The Purpose of Christmas."

Make yourself familiar with angels.

The Purpose of Christmas

Friends love through all kinds of weather,

And families stick together

in all kinds of trouble.

Proverbs 17:17 

Phoebe's dog dressed up for Christmas.

A slice of Pecan Pie, YUM!

The Christmas Tree🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻

Snow is falling all around

Silently, it hits the ground.

All the trees are

Heavy with snow

Christmas is coming

So, up the hill, we must go.

In the distance, I spy my tree

While others say, 'Please pick me.'

The tree makes an Echo sound,

As it falls to the ground.

Carefully wrapped in rope

As I pull it down the slope.

Atop my car, it does ride

Until I can put it safely inside.

Not too close to the fireplace, it

will reside.

Santa will be surprised

And will scream with delight

As down the chimney, he comes

No longer, cover in white.

The tree will sparkle and shine.

As Santa leaves all those

🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻

Presents of mine.

Santa climbs into his sleigh.

As he disappears into the night

I heard him exclaim

Merry Christmas

To all

Your Christmas Tree

🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻

Was out of sight!!!!!