2016 Christmas Letter Activies for the year

On January 1, 2016, Hubby and I traveled to Franklin, Tennessee, to the Thoroughbred Theater to watch the action, adventure, Sci-Fi, and fantasy movie Star Wars Force Awakens.

In February, I took several classes at the Apple store 

Stay Connected, Sketch, Draw, and Paint with iPad, Explore Apple TV, & Perfect Your Photos on Mac

On March 4, 2016, I toured the Rippavilla Plantation in Springhill, TN.

On March 8, 2016, Hubby and I traveled to Waynesboro, Lawrenceburg, Mt Pleasant, Columbia, and Spring Hill, TN. 

On April 1 & 2, I attended Mule Day and Mule Day Parade in Columbia, TN. 

On April 5, Hubby and I traveled to Red Bay, Alabama, to Tour the Tiffen Motor Plant.

On April 12, Hubby and I traveled to Elkmont, Alabama, to tour the Belle Chevre Goat Cheese Factory. 

On April 9, I attended the Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Athens, Alabama, and Earth Day in Sheffield, Alabama. 

On April 17, I attended the Athens Cemetery Stroll. 

On April 30, I attended the Stroll at Athens State University.

On April 23, Hubby and I traveled to South Pittsburg, Tennessee, for the Cornbread Festival.

On May 20 & 21, I attended the UNA Storytelling festival

May 20, That afternoon, hubby and I attended Jacob and Lindsey’s wedding rehearsal at East Florence Depot.

On May 21, Hubby and I attended the Wedding of Lindsey Smith and Jacob Hughes at Oliver’s Barn. 

On June 25, I attended the Helen Keller Festival in Tuscumbia, Alabama.

On June 28, Hubby and I traveled to Scottsboro, Stevenson, Menton, Fort Payne, and Section Alabama.

On July 23, I attended several functions of the W. C. Handy Festival.

On August 19, Hubby and I attended the Watermelon Festival in Russellville, Alabama.

On September 1, Hubby and I rode to Corinth, Mississippi, where we toured several historic sites. 

On September 5, 2016, Hubby and I traveled to Smith Lake in Cullman to attend the Sweet Tater Festival.

On September 8, I rode to Huntsville to tour the Scare Crow Trail at the Botanical Gardens. 

On September 9, Hubby and I attended a performance by Arvel Bird, a Celtic Indian.

On September 10, I attended Oka Kapassa in Tuscumbia, the British Car Show in Rogersville, and the birthday party for Joe Wheeler at the Wheeler Plantation.

On October 1, Hubby and I traveled to Centerville, Tennessee, to attend the Banana Puddin’ Festival, Car Show, and Quilt Show. 

On October 5, I traveled with a group of women from our church to 

2800 Pittsburg Church Road, Petersburg, KY, to tour the Creation Museum. We spent the night in Dry Ridge, Kentucky.

On October 6, We traveled to 1 Ark Encounter Drive, Williamstown, Ky 41097, to tour Noah’s Ark. 

On October 15, Hubby and I traveled to Nashville to take a Monterey Fall Foliage Excursion train ride. 

On October 22, I rode to Lawrenceburg to take the Mimosa Cemetery stroll. 

On November 9, Hubby traveled to Huntsville to go to NASA and Bridge Street. 

On November 12, I took the Pathway to Prayer trolley Tour in Florence, Alabama. 

On November 15, Hubby and I traveled to Nashville to tour the Opryland Hotel's three gardens decorated for the Christmas Holidays and to walk through the ICE HOUSE with carvings of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and the Christ manger scene. 

November 24, Thanksgiving Dinner at Mike with family 

On November 26, My sister-in-law and I rode to Huntsville to walk through Christmas Tree Tinsel Trail, Madison’s Christmas Card Lane, and shop at Bridge Street.

On November 29, Hubby and I rode to Lebanon, Tennessee, to tour the town and Chad’s Winter Wonderland of Christmas Lights. We rode to Nashville to drive through Jellystone’s Dancing Christmas Lights, then on to Opry Mills for Shopping. 

On December 1, Hubby and I attended the Athens Christmas Parade.

On December 2, Hubby and I attended a prayer for Peace at Pope's Tavern and the lighting of a Christmas Tree at both Pope’s Tavern and Wilson Park.

On December 3, I attended a talk about George Colbert at the Visitors Center.

On December 5, I attended Christmas Dinner and exchanged gifts with my Church Class.

On December 7, Hubby and I attended a Christmas dinner and Christmas Program at our church.

That morning, I attended our Lady's bible Class Christmas luncheon.

On December 9, Hubby and I attended the Florence Christmas Parade.

On December 10, Hubby and I attended Dickens of a Christmas from 9-12, and from 2-4 PM, we attended the Leipers Fork Parade.

On December 11, I took my granddaughter's pictures for graduation.

December 12-14: Hubby and I spent a couple of days in Gulf Shores. We rode to Theodore to walk through the Christmas lights at the Bellingrath Gardens. We spent a few hours on the beach, watching a miniature train show and walking through Heritage Park.

December 17, My granddaughter Hannah Hughes will graduate from UNA on 12/17/2016 at 2:30 PM with a degree in Elementary Education.

December 24, We will have  Christmas with the kids and grandkids. 

December 19-24: Hubby is taking off for Christmas Vacation.

On December 25, My middle son will be celebrating his 47th birthday.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 

2023 April 15, Cullman Walking Tour, Killen Adventure Park and Wheeler Wildlife Refuge

Our tour guide was Ben Johnson South(a descendant of Creek Indians). We began our tour inside the Cullman Museum. The museum is a replica of the home of John Cullmann, who founded a colony of German immigrants. It has a narrow front porch with gingerbread trim and twin towers.

Cullman Museum 

Statue of John Cullmann

Inside the museum are Native American Artifacts, Indian statues, and arrowheads spanning thousands of years. 

Pioneer life, early settlers before John Cullmann. Dutch doll, a couple of rockers, butter churn, and kitchen articles. 

Civil War: A house divided,  Music and Pictures, Our home town: growing up in Cullman, and History of Johann Gottfried Cullmann.

We walked outside to see the statue of Johann Gottfried Cullmann and learn about his history.

We walked up the street, and our guide talked about several different buildings. 

Inside the  Sacred Heart Church of Jesus Roman Catholic Church.

Our treat was going through and learning the history of the Sacred Heart Church of Jesus Roman Catholic Church.

https://uploads.weconnect.com/mce/a5b1d7e217aa227d5b2b8a84920780cf637960e2/HomePageItems/SacredHeartHistory/New%20SHC%20History.pdf 

Above is the link to read the history of this great church.

We ended the walk at the Cullman's Farmer's Market
to buy some fresh strawberries, but they had sold out.

It was getting near lunchtime, so we rode to OH! Bryan's for lunch.

Sirloin steak, sweet potato, and toast 

After lunch, we rode to Wheeler Wildlife Refuge. I walked to both view areas and along the swamp boardwalk. 

I saw lots of small birds.

I saw several turtles, three chipmunks, a squirrel, Canada geese, White Egret, and a snake swimming in the water.

Saw lots of wildflowers blooming.

No Whooping or Sandhill Cranes to be found. Saw only 4 other people there. The backyard birds were chirping loudly. I heard 27 different bird sounds on my Merlin App. It was a nice, quiet walk at the Refuge.

ChimpmunksWheeler Wildlife Refuge

We stopped at Killen Adventure Park, where hubby and I both ordered a waffle cone.

I ordered Rocky Road ice cream, and he ordered Cheesecake ice cream.

We fed the animals (ducks, turtles, fish, and peacocks) while eating our ice cream.

There were lots of people playing Miniature Golf, having birthday parties, and feeding the animals.

It was a beautiful day to be outside.

Killen Adventure Park 

2022 April 30, Walking Tour Town Creek, AL

The Walking tour took place in Town Creek, and everyone was to meet at the Farmers Market on Main  Street.

I was early, so I looked around and talked to the vendors. I bought two tomato plants.

At 1:00PM, the van arrived, driven by Pastor Steve Agee, provided by Victory Baptist Church.

The former mayor of Town Creek (Linda Peebles) rode with us.

Everyone loaded into the van, and we headed to the public library. 

We were met by the librarian she gave us some material, which included:

Welcome to Town Creek, which included stories about Saunders Hall Good Mansion 

The Town Creek Hotel, Town Creek City Hall, Veterans Memorial & 

The new Story Walk is a learning trail behind the library. It is designed to introduce visitors of all ages to the environment of the area.

The librarian told us about the Story Walk Trail and gave us all the pamphlets. 

Our next stop was the Town Creek Depot, where dignitaries made speeches they were Mayor Mike Park, Proncey Roberson(State Representative), Loretta Gillespie, & Robert Sheffield (Former Hazelwood coach). 

The Town Creek Train Depot was built in the early 1800s, and the first run of engines took place on February 1, 1835.

Also attending were former NFL football players from Town Creek.  

Chris & Kerry Goode (brothers) and DJ Jones.

After a meet-and-greet session, we headed to our next stop, Posey Farms.

We were greeted by the Posey Family with refreshments.

Mr. Posey said it all began in 1953 when we leased 7 acres of land and planted our first cotton crop. 

Posey's first home is now surrounded by farmland. 

2021 April 24, Touring the Antebellum Home of Presbyterian Minister Robert Donnell Athens, Alabama with Tour guide Alice Tiller

Pleasant Hill 

Home of Rev. Robert Donnell (1784-1855) 

Built abt. 1849 by Rev. Robert Donnell, a native of North Carolina, and his second wife, Clara Lindley Donnell. 

He was greatly inspired by the Great Spiritual Revival of 1800 and became a Presbyterian circuit rider, one of the "flaming fires," so-called because of their spiritual intensity. Donnell held the first camp meeting in the settlement that became Huntsville, started new churches in North Alabama and Tennessee, and retired as minister of the Athens Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

For his service and dedication, the North Alabama Presbytery was named in his honor. After the death of Rev. Donnell in 1855, this house and surrounding acreage passed to his son, James Webb Smith Donnell. J.W.S. Donnell and his family lived here during the Civil War, even though he was wanted by the Union Army for aiding the Confederacy. 

In 1862, during the sacking of Athens, Federal troops camped on the house grounds, looted, and damaged the house through bankruptcy after the war. 

It served as a boarding school for boys for a time and later as the home of Athens School Superintendent Julian Newman and his family. 

 In the 1970s, a campaign to save and restore the house was initiated by local historians and authors Christine W. Edwards and Faye A. Axford. Local citizens, businesses, and Donnell's descendants contributed to the restoration of this historical landmark.

Pleasant Hill Historical Marker

Pleasant Hill Historic Marker

Donnell House

The Donnell House is located at 601 South Clinton Street. 

It hosts events throughout the year, such as a Christmas tree presentation during the holiday season. Because it is located on the campus of the Athens Middle School, students have conducted school projects, including interpretive videos that are centered around the history of the house. 

April is the month to showcase the local history in counties in Alabama by featuring walking tours every Saturday in April. I chose the *Robert Donnell House & Museum to tour it was the only walking tour that I had not attended. 

 *Tour options were: *Beaty Historic District *Downtown Athens Historic District *Athens City Cemetery *Athens State University *Houston Historic District All the above are excellent tours, and many tour guides dress in the period of the tour. 

 Unfortunately, the Governor George S. Houston Library and Museum were not offered this year. 

 The Donnell House and Museum were hoasting a wedding later that day, and food was being prepared and finger foods placed on the table.

Wedding Buffett

What caught my eye was the Armadillo pink cake. Hanging in the parlor were pictures of Rev Donnell and his two wives. 

Two staircases were leading to the upper level, which showcased the history of the home and its occupants. 

 Outside was an 1830s log cabin donated by Don and Ed Horton, sons of Judge James Horton, and nearby was an herb garden. 

 I had driven past the Donnell House Museum many times but never noticed it until the tour because it was located in the Athens School system.

2016 Saturday, June 25, Helen Keller Festival Actives

The Helen Keller Festival is to honor a woman, Helen Keller,  who not only overcame being blind and deaf but went on to be a great ambassador for America. 

Helen Keller was born to Arthur Keller and Catherine Adams Keller on June 27,1880 and died on June 1, 1968.

Helen learned to read and write with the help of Anne Sullivan and she graduated from Radcliffe College with honors in 1904. Helen also wrote several books and was an advocate for several causes. Helen Adams Keller is buried in the Washington National Cathedral in Washington DC. 

My first stop was the Car and Truck Show located on Main Street Tuscumbia /Sponsored by the Shoals Car and Truck Club.

The streets were crowded with people walking around looking at all the vehicles displayed. There were vehicles like the Scoobie Doo Volkswagen, to the newest Corvette.

I tried to find a shade in which to park my van which would be about midway through everything, that I wanted to do.

I walked down the street to Cold Water Book Store where the Tuscumbia Walking Tour people were to meet.

I was a little early so I walked inside to cool off and inside were several more people. There were several vendors set up inside so, I went by each one and stopped to talk.

I talked to a man selling books on how to start a business. I said that I was retired and had no interest in starting a business and that I liked history. He said that maybe some of my family would like to start a business. I said I have family that owned business already. He laughed and said I guess you are not going to buy a book from me and I said not unless it is about history. We both laughed. 

Next, I meet a woman selling jewelry she said that she lived in Atlanta but was originally from Tuscumbia and she came every year for the Helen Keller Festival. 

I stopped at the next table where a man, his wife, and his son were setting. He was selling a series of books about UFOs. He told me that he made the bust statue of Warner Von Braun at NASA and that he had done work for Disney.

There was a display of beautiful pictures depicting the early 50s & 60’s and I said whoever painted these pictures sure did a great job. The woman standing next to me said they were hers. 

She said growing up in the 50s was just like the Happy Days show.

It was getting close to the time for the walking tour so I walked outside to wait for the tour to begin.

We had three people that shared information about how Tuscumbia got started and how it got to be called Tuscumbia. The Old Stage Coach Building was pointed out to us and we were told that we could tour it on our own later. We walked up Main Street stopping to listen to the women talk about the train depot where Anne Sullivan was picked up by one of the Keller's carriages and taken to Ivy Green. There is a carriage on display that was owned by the Kellers in the Tuscumbia Depot. 

We also listened to the women talk about the newspaper building where Mr. Keller worked. 

The streets were still very crowded with people as we made our way up the street. 

We stopped just outside the Abernathy House and one of the women ask if the group could tour the house. 

We were invited inside and some of the group walked upstairs while others toured the tunnel underneath the house. The tunnel was once used to bring food inside to the dining room, which was once located downstairs.

Everyone walked outside and across the parking lot. Our next stop was in the blazing sun so, I looked for a shady spot, while the women talked about the two churches that were nearby.

Finally, we arrived at the First Presbyterian Church where we were invited to the Helen Keller Mini Concert. 

Dinie Stone played one song, Jesus Loves Me on the harpsichord.

Brian Beck played a couple songs on the Organ.

Dinie Stone played a selection of  hymns and classics on the piano 

Dinie played songs about water, about communion and when Dinie began to play America everyone stood and joined in the singing. 

In the end, everyone was invited to stay for light refreshments. 

Once I knew only darkness and stillness...
my life was without past or future but a little word from the fingers of another fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness, and my heart leaped to the rapture of living. 

Helen Keller Mini-Concert

The letter was written by Helen Keller

Everyone was given a reproduced copy of the original letter written by Helen Keller to Reverend WF Trump 

I enjoyed two glasses of fresh lemonade, & two cookies while I sat and talked with several women. 

It was around 12:30PM by this time, and I still had to walk back to my car. 

I was going to the Keller Library to listen to Keller Thompson talk about the life of her great, great aunt Helen Keller.

I arrived at the Keller Library but the door was still locked, it was bout fifteen until one. Many other people were waiting. I walked back to my van and cranked it because it was too hot to stand outside. Right after I cranked the van the door opened. So I got out of my van and walked inside.

I enjoyed listening to Mrs. Thompson's talk and slide show about Helen Keller. 

There were also light refreshments after the talk. I got a bottle of water and a cookie.

It had been a great morning even though the heat index was over 100 degrees.