🎄🎄🎄🎄Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2015🎄🎅🏻

Another year has come and gone and I am still here, Thank God.

It has been a very busy year.

My husband and I started the year off right in January. We took an overnight trip to Gulf Shores.

The beach is a great place to go in the winter months, not a lot of people on the beach except the ones there to watch the sunset, which was awesome. 

We stayed at Staybridge Suites for half price (a full kitchen) just like living in an apartment. We enjoyed a delicious seafood meal at Lula’s (my husband had never eaten there).

Gulf Shores sunset 

We celebrated Valentine's in February by ordering a pizza from a new place called The Rising Crust, the pizza was delicious.

The Rising Crust Pizza 

My granddaughter had her first child and our first great-grandchild, Ava Grace.

Ava Grace

In March I rode to Huntsville to attend the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. (I had never been to a Saint Patrick’s Day Parade) It was fun and I took lots of pictures.

Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

Toward the end of March, I was invited to spend the weekend with my friend and her husband in Pigeon Forge, TN. My sister went with me. We had a great time. We went to a quilt show, rode the Ferris wheel, ate at Margaritaville, ate at  Mel’s Diner, and at The Apple House Restaurant.

Riding the Ferries Wheel

My husband and I took two of the grandsons to the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge, to the Wheeler Dam Birding Trail, and that same day Hubby bought a 2007 Silver Honda. 

Two of my amazing grandsons 

In April I spent the day at the Birmingham Zoo with my daughter and grandchildren.

Early that morning we watched the setting of the third Blood Moon, which was amazing.

My daughter and her three amazing children 

In April, I did several walking tours, The Civil War, Tuscumbia, and the Oakwood Cemetery. I took a Civil War trolley tour in Florence.

In May, Hubby and I went to Rock City in Lookout Mountains. 

Rock City in Lookout Mountains me in my neon suit

I went to the hot air balloon show in Decatur and to a Dennis Family Reunion. (to meet relatives I never knew)

Sierra, my granddaughter graduated from high school and her brother graduated from sixth grade.

Sierra 

Montana

In June, my husband and I toured the Rosenbaum home/museum.

Rosenbaum home/museum

Every Thursday in June, July, and the first two Thursdays in August I took several of my grandchildren to the movies. 

Carmike Theater has a summer special for four dollars where you can get a small Coke, a small popcorn, and a movie. We have been doing this for several years.

In June my husband and I took a day trip to Hurricane Mills, Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, Museum, RV Park, and Grist Mill. 

Loretta Lynn’s Ranch/Museum

In July we took several day trips.

We rode to Jackson Tennessee stopping at the Train Depot, Rock-A-Billy Museum, Casey Jones Museum, and Train Depot.

Train Depot in Jackson Tennessee

We also rode to Tullahoma Tennessee to tour the George Dickel Distillery, the Science Museum, and Beechcraft Air Museum

Beechcraft Air Museum.

In August Hubby and I rode to Birmingham, Alabama to visit the Iron Works Historical State Park. 

Iron Works Historical State Park

We rode to Pulaski, Tennessee where we toured the Milky Way Farms. (The farm built by the candy giant of Milky Way Candy 

Milky Way Farms 

We also rode to Murfreesboro, Tennessee where we toured the Stones River National Battlefield, Oaklands Historic House/Museum, and Cannonsburg Village.

Cannonsburg Village Murfreesboro, TN

My daughter decided to leave Rhode Island and move to Fort Myers to work, so at the end of September, I flew to Rhode Island so I could help her move to Fort Myers.

We spent the first day on the road stopping in Columbia, South Carolina to spend the night with one of my daughter's friends.

The next day, back on the road stopping in Frampton Visitor Center in South Carolina. The Frampton was an old plantation home. We stopped at Savannah National Refuge and Museum in Hardeeville, Ga.

Our next stop was the waterfront in Savannah, GA, and ended the day at my cousin, Marjorie Goodrich. We spent the evening catching up on family and we spent the night.

The next day we continued our travel to Fort Myers, arriving at the fully furnished apartment that my daughter had rented.

Some of the places that we visited while I was in Florida were Sanibel Island, Fort Myers River Walk, Big Cypress National Preserve, Ochopee Smallest Post Office, Everglade Museum and boat ride, Mound House at Estero Island, Edison/Ford’s winter homes, Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, Manatee Park, Shell factory, Lakes Park, Slough Preserve. We attended a Pirates Festival, Zombie Festival, and Oktoberfest. 

Mother and Daughter in Fort Myers Florida

In November my husband and I rode to Meridian, MS, and toured the Jimmy Rodgers Museum, grave, and Blues Trail.

Jimmy Rodger Statue

I attended the wedding & shower of Chase Wanner.

My husband and I enjoyed watching the Christmas fireworks show at Bridge Street Town Centre.

I spent three days beside my middle son who was in the hospital for three days with mini strokes. 

We rode to Nashville, Tennessee where we toured A Country Christmas at the Opryland Hotel which was beautifully decorated for the holidays.

We walked through the Nutcracker’s magical & colorful carved Ice Sculptures.

Manger Scene in Carved Ice Sculptures

Pier on Beach in Biloxi, MS

My husband and I traveled to Gulf Shores where we spent two nights and three days. 

We traveled to Biloxi, MS, where we took a trolley tour of the historic downtown area.

We traveled to Pensacola, FL where we toured the Historic Village of Pensacola. 

We had an eventful ride home watching people dart in and out of traffic. We saw several wrecks, and traffic backed up for miles.

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We watch my niece and other members of our church entertain us with their salute to our Lord Jesus Christ. 

2015 November 11,12,13 Veterans Day in Tuscumbia and A Busy Week at Bridge Street Town Centre

We've had a busy week. 

On Tuesday 10, we traveled to Meridian MS.

Wednesday 11, I went to CBS for Bible Study. 

We rushed to Tuscumbia, where people lined the streets for the Veterans Day Parade.

Children as well as adults rushed to fill their bags with candy, as the people in the parade disbursed candy into the street.

Veterans in the Veterans Day Parade in Tuscumbia 

 Petite Sirloin Steak, Baked Potato with Texas Toast 

We walked to Oh Bryan's Steakhouse where I enjoyed a Petite Steak, Baked potato and Texas toast. My husband enjoyed a New York Strip, Baked potato, Texas toast and the salad bar.

Alabama and Auburn Quilts Raffle 3 tickets for $5.00

There were two quilts hanging on the wall of Bryan’s an Alabama and Auburn.

They were being raffled off to raise money for the Belle Mont Mansion. 

I bought three tickets. 

Walking to Cold Water Book Store.

We stopped in at Cold Water Book Store for a quick pick to see what new books they had in stock.

My husband had a call out to work in Huntsville, I rode to work with him. 

We stopped at the Exploration Gallery at NASA

After my husband finished at work, which took less than an hour, we rode to Bridge Street Town Center, to look at the new iPhones. 

We strolled the streets of Bridge Street stopping to take pictures of the reindeer, twinkling street lights, and the unlit decorated Christmas Tree. 

The lights will be lit on Friday.

Bridge Street Town Centre was decorated for Christmas Holidays.

White Reindeer at Bridge Street 

Christmas Tree

Thursday 12, we went back to Bridge Street Town Centre stopping at Burger King for a juicy whopper Jr. with onions. YUM!

At the Apple Store we purchased two new Iphone, and I-watch. 

My husband updated his phone from the cloud, I updated mind at home.

Friday 13, we went to the Apple Store to fix our cloud account.

At the Apple Store we were put on a waiting list.

We gave them a number where we could be reached and left.

We walked to Red Robin, where I ordered chili, onion rings, coke, my husband ordered a cup of Clam Chowder, and Seafood plate.

Cup of Clam Chowder,& Seafood plate filled with french Fries, fried fish, shrimp and Clams

We had just finished eating went we got a call from Apple, they called and said we are ready, we walked back to the Apple store, along the way we saw people singing Christmas Carols.

Christmas Carolers

It took over hour to get our cloud account fixed. 

We left the Apple store, just missing the arrival of Santa but in time for the fireworks show. 

Everyone gathered around the pond next to the Carousel where we watched the fireworks dance in the sky to Christmas music.

After the fireworks we walked to the newly lit Christmas tree to take a few pictures but the streets were filled with people stopping to take pictures. 

Christmas Tree with twinkling red & white lights, topped with a bright white star

Big Red Christmas Ball with me inside holding my cell

It had been a very long week, we were both very tired so we headed home stopping at the grocery store to pickup a few items. 

2015 November 10, Tuesday, A Trip to Meridian, MS

I looked out the window the sun was coming up, it was a great day for traveling so I ask my husband if he was up for a four hour drive to Meridian MS he said yes. 
After I cooked oatmeal, eggs, and bacon for breakfast, I packed a overnight bag just incase we wanted to spend the night. 

Loaded into the van my Nikon Camera, my phone, luggage and all my travel information about Meridian MS.
We programed the GPS but did not want to go in the direction it was taking us.
We decided to drive to Russellville and then program the GPS for Meridian MS.

We took hwy 43 through Hackelburg, in Hamilton hwy 43 becomes hwy 17, through Detroit, Sulligent, in Vernon it becomes hwy 18 crossing into Mississippi on hwy 12 through Steens, to Columbus, MS

Sulligent, AL

In Columbus we stopped at Chick-fal-A for lunch. 
I ordered chicken nuggets, fries, tea and small ice cream. My husband ordered a chicken sandwich, fries, coke. 

Ice Cream, Chicken nuggets, Waffle fries 

In Columbus we took hwy 45 into Meridian, MS. 
A rough highway with noting to see except where log trucks had taken away all the timber that had been cut, left behind was stumps, brush, and spinel trees. 

Birthplace of
Jimmie Rodgers
Born Sept 8, 1897, at Meridian, MS
Known as the "Singing Brakeman," Rodger's recordings of
Southern blues and ballads greatly
contributed to the world~wide
popularity of a distinctly American musical form. 

Our first stop was the Jimmy Rodgers Museum/Birth home. 
We watch a ten minute film about the early life of Jimmy Rodgers.
Jimmy's  father worked for the railroad.
Jimmy's mother died at a early age of TB, as did Jimmie. 

Our curator gave us a history lesson on the Jimmy Rodgers guitar.
The guitar was opened for display behind a glass case, in a temperature controlled vault. 

The Original Jimmie Rodgers Guitar
Presented to Jimmie Rodgers in Washington DC by Mr C Fredrick Martin, President of The Martin Guitar Co July 27, 1928. This specially made guitar is also seen in the worlds famous "thumbs u" photographs
courtesy Anita Rodgers Court 

Hanging on the wall next to the curators counter was a quilt with history
191 Music Artist were sent three or four bow ties with the request for a signature.
This quilt was to be a tribute to Jimmy Rodgers legacy.
Each and every bow tie was returned with the signature of that artist.
Each bow tie, with its own unique color and signature was placed on a square block.
Ten blocks across and nineteen in length except for one block at the top giving information about the quilt. 
There were two quilts made this one and one given to Elvis Presley.

There were letters, photograph, suits, furniture, albums, and so much more information about the wonderful gifted Jimmy Rodgers.

Well dressed Jimmy Rodgers

We took pictures outside of the engine and caboose.

His is the music of America.
He sang the songs of the people he loved,
of a young nation growing strong.
His was an American of Glistening rails,
thundering boxcars and rain-swept nights,
of lonesome prairies, great mountains
and a high blue sky.
He sang of the bayous and the cotton fields,
the heated plains, of the little towns, the
cities, and the winding rivers of America.
We listened, we understood
JIMMIE RODGERS
The singing brakeman- America's Blue Yodeler
HIS MUSIC WILL LIVE FOREVER
dedicated by his many fans and
the Folk Artist of America
May 26, 1953

We rode to the historic downtown area of Meridian to the walk of honor to see 
Hartley Peavey, Mac McAnally, Moe Bandy, Walt Anderson and International Sweethearts of Rhythm Musician which were located in the Dumont Plaza Park across from the famous Riley center.

A performing arts center, a conference center, an educational center, a major downtown restoration project these are all accurate ways to describe the MSU Riley

Hartley Peavey

Mac McAnally

Moe Bandy

Walter Anderson

 International Sweethearts of Rhythm Musician

Distributed throughout the town of Meridian were Carousel Horses.

This Carousel Horse in next to the old Train Depot.

I took pictures of several Blues Markers, 
On 5th street and 22 avenue was " Country Music Comes of Age."
On 1901 Front Street was "Jimmie Rodgers & The Blues", & Moe Bandy."
Corner of 7th street and 23 avenue was Meridian Rhythm & blues and Soul Music."
At Oak Grove Cemetery was Jimmy Rodgers Father of Country Music.

Our last stop before getting onto I20 to head home was the Oak Grove Cemetery to see where they lay Jimmie after his death, which was nothing fancy, only a small stone rock.

"Jimmie"
James Charles Rodgers
Sept 8, 1897
May 26, 1933
American Blue Yodeler 

We stopped at Outback in Tuscaloosa, Alabama at 6:13 PM where I enjoyed a bowl of Taco Soup.

Taco Soup

My husband ordered a hamburger.
We were home by 9:30 both exhausted from the days travels.