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 

2001~ November 21-December 1, Celebrating Thanksgiving with Family & Traveling to Gulf Shores, AL

We stayed four days and five nights at Veteran Park to spend time with family for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Day 1: Wednesday, November 21, 2001 

I spent the day with my children and grandchildren and ate Thanksgiving dinner.

Hannah, Nevada, Madison 

Nevada and Marcus are playing Video Games. 

Nevada, Jake is watching a movie. 

Nevada and Marcus in Jake's Room 

Day 2: Thursday, November 22, 2001

Celebrated Thanksgiving with family.

Day 3: Friday, November 23, 2001 

I spent the day with my granddaughter, Hannah, at the Conference Center and Veterans Park.

The Renaissance tower 

Hannah at the Conference Center 

Hannah at the Conference Center 

Hannah at Veterans Park 

Veterans Park 

Day 4: Saturday, November 24, 2001 

We celebrated Thanksgiving with Hubby's family.

Day 5: Sunday, November 25, 2001 

I spent the day with my grandmother.

My siblings and grandmother

Visiting my Grandmother

Day 6:  Monday, November 26, 2001

Hubby drove our Damon Escaper to the Luxury RV Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama, where we stayed a week with the other snowbirds.

Luxury RV Park

November is off-season at GulfShoress, and all you see are snowbirds. The pace slows down during the winter months. 

It is a good time to go sightseeing and drive along the Ocean. 

Luxury RV Park, Gulf Shores

Luxury RV Park, Gulf Shores

November 26, 2001

We toured ForMorgan's "Bowyers" Museum and walked among the ruins.

We walked along the windy beaches of Fort Bowyers, with the windy salt air blowing in our hair. We toured the museum, where we saw Mobile Point Lighthouse, a 4th-order Fresnel lens, built between 1873 and 1966. 

Fort Morgan "Bowyers" Museum 

Fort Morgan "Bowyers" Museum  

Fort Morgan "Bowyers" Museum  

Fort Morgan "Bowyers" Museum

Fort Morgan "Bowyers" Museum 

Day 7: Tuesday, November 27, 2001

We spent the day at the National Aviation Museum in Pensacola, which was festively decorated for the Christmas Holidays during WWII, with Christmas music playing in the background. 
On the upper level, we saw a grocery store, a barbershop, army camps, aircraft, jeeps, TV shows from that era, and jungle camps. 
We saw pin-up girls posted at camps, Hagia & Hagia Booz for fifteen cents, the Home of the Luck Marine, and what a house of a military family may have looked like. We saw Pawn & Loan, Sandy Ridge Grocery, a Colonial Bread sign, Jo, Jo's, a Buck Rodgers, and an airplane. We also saw maps, family pictures, and radios.
The museum was full of airplanes and jets of every size, shape, and color. 
There was a replica of a ship. We went inside and saw the sick bay area with medicines, bunk beds, and toilets. 

We saw the US Coast Guard, a miniature boat display with airplanes ready to defend our country, two floors of airplanes and flags from different countries, and a skylab that simulated flying. Hubby had always dreamed of being a pilot. 
We saw the cockpit of an airplane. We crawled inside and played 

We saw the 70-3M 129655 Aircraft, the Blue Angels US Navy 16483 Aircraft, and a flight of the Blue Angels over St. Louis hanging from the ceiling. 

Museum of Aviation in Pensacola

Museum of Aviation in Pensacola

Museum of Aviation in Pensacola

Museum of Aviation in Pensacola

We walked back upstairs, where we saw Jake's Garage, a sign for Pepis for five cents, and a Texaco sign. We also saw a malfunctioning melon scale and a popcorn theater.
We saw a hall filled with plaques of honor, and one was Alan Shepard, one of the first men to walk on the moon.

Our next stop was Big Lagoon State Park in Perdido Key, Florida. We were the only ones there as we walked along the boardwalk overlooking a natural lake teeming with wildlife. We saw an observation tower but did not climb it. We walked along the sandy beach, stopping at the water's edge. 

We ate dinner at Lambert's Restaurant, "Home of the trowed roll. "

They bring you all the food, and you can eat rolls. The original restaurant is in Sikeston, Missouri, and another is in Branson, Missouri. 

Day 8: Wednesday, November 28, 2001

We toured the USS Alabama Battleship at 2703 Battleship Parkway, Mobile, AL 36602.

We walked along the decks of the mighty USS Alabama. 

The ship received nine battle stars from WWII. We walked up and down many flights of stairs and saw many memorials honoring our veterans who died for our country. 

USS Alabama Battleship Mobile 

USS Alabama Battleship Mobile 

USS Alabama Battleship Mobile 

A-12 Blackbird Spy

We walked through the aircraft Pavilion and saw exhibits, including an A-12 Blackbird spy plane, a Tuskegee Airmen's P-51 Mustang, a Vietnam PBR River patrol boat, and many other military aircraft. 

We walked through the USS Alabama rose garden, saw the Coast Guard 1378 helicopter in black and white, and saw the F-15 Fighting Falcon Viper Replica of the USS Alabama. 

We saw the photo gallery at the Battleship Memorial Park. Christmas music played on the radio, and the park was decked with decorations.

Day 9-10:  November 29, 30, 2001
On Friday, we rode to Gulf Shores and walked along the beach, filling our shoes with sand. It had stormed the day before, so the Gulf was still violent, with pounding waves, and red flags were out.
We saw the iconic Pink Pony Restaurant and watched birds feeding on fish. It was a very windy, overcast, and pleasant day. 
During the summer, this beach is filled with tourists' voices, but today, it is silent. 

It is time for our vacation to come to a close, so we are heading out. At 11:30 A.M., we crossed Mobile Bay in our Damon Escaper, and we could see the USS Alabama in the distance as we neared the Mobile Bay tunnel. 
At 6:29 P.M., the sun is setting as we ride through Mississippi. We stop at Sam's Town Casino RV Park, where we stay for a few nights before beginning our journey home. 

We gambled in Sam's Town, Hollywood, and Harrods Casinos.

The casino in Tunica, MS

The casino in Tunica, MS

The casino in Tunica, MS

Day 11: Saturday, December 1, 2001 

We spent Thanksgiving with family, rode to Gulf Shores for a short vacation, saw the Museum of Naval Aviation and the USS Alabama, spent two nights in Tunica, and traveled home to Fenton, MO.