🎄🎄🎄🎄2015 ~ December 7, Monday, Christmas & Cards Trees, Library & Space Center

I went to the Chiropractor, for an adjustment before begin gin my journey or walking in Huntsville and Madison. 

We stopped at Chick-fil-a in Athens for lunch

I ordered some chicken nuggets and a drink. 

We rode through Christmas Card Lane in downtown historic Madison.

List of the Christmas Cards 

• Behold I Bring you good news of Great Joy.
• Birth of Christ Christmas Card
• Birth of Christ  
• Church in the snow 
• Church in the snowy woods
• Happy Christmas
• Joy to the World Let Heaven and Nature Sing
• Let it snow 
• Madison CHY Youth Orchestra
• Mele Kalikimakal Christmas Card
• Merry Christmas ! Madison
• Merry Christmas w/reindeer
• Merry Christmas w/women 
• Merry Christmas, Mele Kalikimaka, Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad
• Noel 
• Peace on Earth w/dog and cat
• Peace To all Creatures great and small
• Poinsettia
• Reason for the Season
• Santa and his Christmas packages
• Santa eating cookies and his elves
• Santa Merry Christmas w/santa & reindeer
• Season’s Greetings w/Santa in sleigh 
• Shepard, Angles and Jesus
• Snow globe
• Thank You for Visiting Christmas Card Lane
• Toy Shop
• Truck caring home Christmas Tree
• We wish you a Merry Christmas
• You're Cool Christmas Card

We saw Christmas trees in Madison where people of the community had decorated to express their own creativity or to promote their business.  

We rode to the Huntsville/Madison Library to take pictures of the Christmas trees distributed throughout the library. 

We saw trees decorated with round paper lace cup mats with notes attached, A tree with jester hat, wearing sunglasses covered in cotton, lights, sticks made into Xs, and covered in toys. Another wrapped in green ribbon,and gold bows, with bugles, colored ball lights. 

A Autism Tree full of christmas balls inside picture of a child, puzzle pieces, ornaments, trimmed in red and gold ribbon. A christmas tree covered in hats, gloves and scars. We saw a tree made out of books and another covered in Christmas Cards. We saw a Christmas Tree from Friends of the Library, and Huntsville Herb Society.We saw a completely white christmas tree trimmed with red and gold rope and electrical lights. A tree trimmed with pink, blue, gold ribbons, and balls. There were many more trees that we saw, I could not describe them all.

HO!HO! HO!(Santa resting after a night of delivering presents)

Thank you for Visiting Christmas Card Lane!(Saying good-by to the last Christmas Card)

Christmas Trees of Madison 

MAC Snowman in the Christmas Trees of Madison 

I also stopped to take pictures of the artistic quilts hanging from the second floor. 

I also saw a display of Doctor Who! Doctor was standing next to the Police Public Call Box.

Police Telephone Free for use of Public 

Advice & Assistance immediately officers & cars respond to all calls pull to open. 

 There was a man sitting next to the display and I ask if he knew Doctor Who? He replied WHO?

We rode to Big Spring Park where we walked the Tinsel Trail of over 200 Christmas Trees.

There were a few trees waiting to be decorated while others were getting the finishing touch put upon them. 

Christmas music filled the air, as we walked along the path, while the sun shone brightly but not too hot. 

It was a perfect day for strolling through the park. 

We were greeted by gold fish, ducks and geese wanting to be feed. 

Christmas Tree at Huntsville Madison County Library 

Quilt Display at Huntsville Madison County Library 

The many faces of Doctor Who?

Ducks, gold fish 

Star Wars May the Force Be with you!

Big Spring Park Tinsel Trail of Christmas Trees

Big Spring Park Tinsel Trail of Christmas Trees

We went to the Space and Rocket Center where we saw Science Fiction, Science Future (where I was beamed up into space) Beam me up Scotty! I stood inside a teleportation machine while my husband at the control panels beamed me into outer space. 

We walked through the U. S. Space and Rocket Center’s latest exhibit, the Celestial Dreams, The Art of Space Jewelry, showcased by the artist Kathy Chan. She uses precious gems, minerals and metals to interpret her genuine wonder of the cosmos in her jewelry. Her display will be on display until May 2016.

Last but not least, there was a movie being made with R2D2.

We had been waiting for the movie maker to come out of the room where he was making the move and he ask if I wanted my picture with R32D2 and I said yes. 

I hope to be in the finished production of the movie.

Wow! What a day! 

I said to the movie producer that Star Wars was my middle sons favorite movie. 

There was a man controlling the sounds that R2D2 made, he made the same sounds that he did in the Star War movies. 

The film will be screened at the U.S. Space and rocket Center’s IMAX theater to promote the new Star Wars, The Force Awakens. 

Wow!!!

Beam me up Scotty!

I saw myself Inside the Time Machine

The Art of Space Jewelry

Cosmic Calendar for December

R2D2

88 Buffet Seafood Sushi Hibachi 

88 Buffet Seafood Sushi Hibachi 

We ate dinner at 88 Buffet Seafood Sushi Hibachi, that is an all-you-can-eat oriental buffet with a variety of different meats,seafood, vegetables and you can watch the chef create your dish right before you eyes.

We had a great day, good food, friendly faces, and a beautiful day. 

2015 November 27, 28, 29, Trip to Gulf Shores, Al, Biloxi, MS & Pensacola, Fl

We left mid-morning traveling on I-65 South to Gulf Shores.
At lunch, we stopped at Peach Park in Clanton Alabama where we enjoyed a delicious fried peach pie topped with a scoop of peach ice cream. Hubby also ordered a large order of onion rings and a barbecue sandwich.

fried peach pie topped with a scoop of peach ice Cream

I walked around Peach Park taking pictures of the giant peach statue sitting on a large bucket with a sign that read, Peach Park Clanton, Al (do not sit on the peach)
I took pictures of a green birdhouse, several wooden bridges, a pond, the playground area, a large red barn where children could play, a swing, a gazebo, a lighthouse, a red caboose (that is rented as an RV) a rose bush, a tractor and my husband sitting at a picnic table.

 large red barn where children could play

Back on the road for another four hours, stopping only for fuel and to use the restrooms.

The Rat Pack (Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr & Frank Sinatra

We stopped in Bay Minette, Alabama to get our oil changes at Chuck Stevens Dodge.
Inside the deanship, I noticed hanging on the wall paintings of several famous people.

I asked the owner if I could take a picture of the paintings, and he said I will sell you all the paintings for $100 each if you take all of them.
They were paintings of Sammy Davis Jr, (notice the ring on his right hand) Frank Sinatra, (big smile) Dean Martin  (The three members of the Rat Pack).
Lewis Armstrong, (with his trumpet) Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Jimmy Dean, Willie Nelson, Jerry Lewis, Glen Miller, and Madison Bourbon Jazz.
In the painting of Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, and Jimmy Dean they all appeared with a cigarette.

I told him that someone had done a great job, but I did not want to buy them.

Clock Belltower 

We saw a Christmas display in Robersdale.
After we checked into the Staybridge Hotel we rode back to Foley's Heritage Park.
In the park was a Christmas village, a clock bellower, angles, and a flowing fountain.

Gulf Shores Beach 

We ate dinner at Chick-fil-A in Foley.
I ordered some chicken nuggets and a Peppermint milkshake, and my husband ordered a strawberry milkshake, and a grilled chicken sandwich.
Before we went back to the hotel we went to Gulf Shores beach, it was too dark to take pictures.

It had been a long day so after we both had a hot show we climbed into bed for a long winter's sleep.

Saturday morning we were both up before the rooster crowed.
We dressed and headed to the beach to watch the sunrise which was at 6:27 AM.

Sunrise

I was an awesome, white and dark cloud overlooking the blue gulf.
There was a hint of pink, blue, white, and yellow as the sun peeked his head through the clouds.
Slowly this ball of fire raised his head higher and higher changing from yellow to a bright orange then back to a bright yellow, with clouds floating all around him, until you could no longer look directly into his face.
A couple was sitting on a blanket that they had spread out on the sandy beach to watch the sunrise. It was still a chill in the air so they were wearing light jackets.

Watching the sunrise 

As the sun peeked, the sky cleared, and you could see the waves that splashed happily upon the sand beach.
We rode back to the hotel where we enjoyed a nice breakfast of link sausage and an omelet. We had cranberry juice to drink.
We stopped to take a picture of the Bell Tower in Foley's Heritage Park.
The 52-foot Bell Tower has four clock faces that face north, south, east, and west which includes 32 brass bells. The Bell Tower and Plaza were built to celebrate Foley's Centennial on January 8, 2015.
Across the street is the Hotel Magnolia one of Foley's oldest buildings, that is now for sale.

Bell Tower 
We took I-10 from Foley to Mobile driving through the George Wallace Tunnel across Mobile Bay.

As we approached Mobile in the distance we could see the RSA Battle House Tower, The RSA Bank Trust Building, and the Van Antwerp Building.
We stopped at the Antebellum Welcome Center in Jackson County, Moss Point, Mississippi.
The Welcome Center was built to resemble an antebellum home with its spiral staircase, arched doorways, and chandeliers. It is filled with antique furniture, and sculptures by Marlin Miller.

Sculptor Marlin Miller working on a large oak near Hard Rock Casino Resort in Biloxi Mississippi. It is named "Marlin's Marlin". This is just one of his many pieces

We traveled the freeway of the Gulf Coast crossing the swamp land area of Escatawpa River,  through Pascagoula, Gautier, Ocean Springs, to Biloxi, MS.
As we topped the I-10 Interstate in Biloxi we could see several casinos and as we exited the interstate we could see the Gulf, the beautiful white sandy beaches, and the Biloxi Lighthouse. We rode past the casinos to Veterans Memorial Park where we stopped to take pictures.
We rode back to the welcome center to find out where we could purchase tickets to ride the trolley.

We were told that we would have to hurry to catch the trolley because it was leaving in a few minutes.
We walked down the hill, across four lanes of traffic to catch the trolley that was leaving the station.
I caught up with the driver, Carla Beaugez Taconi, she said to climb aboard, that she had not collected for the ride.
So we climbed aboard the back of the open-air trolley, so I could take pictures.
We introduced ourselves as the newcomers to the ride, and then off we went hair blowing in the wind.
When Carla was not telling stories about Biloxi, she was playing upbeat music from that area.
As we rode down the street many residents waved to us and we waved back, Carla knew many by their first names and they knew her name.
Carla showed us what real southern hospitality is all about the way she greeted everyone she met.
Carla made you feel like you were a part of her family and her neighbor.

We rode past many vacant store buildings and empty lots that Katrina had destroyed with her violent winds and waters.
We saw old mansions and homes that had survived the storms of time.

We stopped at the 12-foot-high Hurricane Katrina Memorial where we saw a glass case containing various items found after the storm and a black marble wall listing the names of those who died or were lost during the hurricane.

We stopped at the Magnolia Hotel Museum built in 1847 serving as a lodging establishment but now it serves as a Mardi Gras Museum.
In it, we saw memorabilia from carnival celebrations with a variety of colorful Mardi Gras costumes.

Trying on the colorful Mardi Gras costumes

We ended the tour by riding past the works of art on Beach Boulevard, which is a sculptured garden teeming with pelicans, egrets, seagulls, blue marlin, and a shark.
After Katrina destroyed most of the trees along Beach Blvd a chainsaw artist carved six oak trees into marine sculptures that are now displayed along the median of Beach Blvd.

Katrina Sculptured Garden 

We thanked Carla as we exited the trolly.
We walked along the beach to the pier where I took a few pictures.

We had to cross four lanes of traffic back to the Visitor Center.
The Visitor Center is a museum in itself, it has a wealth of information, a gift shop, multi-media exhibits, Biloxi Memorabilia, and on the second floor it has a 67-seat movie theater. The Visitor Center has a striking resemblance to the Dantizier House that once sat at this site, and it has two-story porches, a grand staircase, and floor-to-ceiling windows.

We started our journey home stopping at Taco Bell for a snack.

We arrived just in time for the setting of the sun in Gulf Shores. The sunset was at 4:50PM.

Sun Setting 

We stopped at Lucy Buffett's Lulu's for dinner.
We ordered the Sea Food Sampler with iced tea to drink.
It had been a long day we were both too tired to do anything else.

Sea Food Sampler at Lulu's 

The next morning we slept a little later, got dressed went down for breakfast. We came back upstairs packed our bags, and checked out of the hotel.

We rode to Pensacola, Florida.
We rode through the historic area of Pensacola, touring the Historic Village and taking many pictures.
The village consists of twenty properties in the Historic District which includes the Museum of Commerce and Industry, Julee Panton Cottage, Manuel Barrios Cottage, the McMillen House, Lavalle House Lear-Rocheblave House, Dorr House, and the Old Christ Church. All were closed on Sunday.
We also walked through the park, stopping to take pictures of the T.T. Wentworth Florida State Museum and many other historic state buildings in the historic town.

We went inside the Atlas and Fish House which is along the riverfront to use the restrooms.
 Some of the famous people that have eaten here are American Pickers, Neil Armstrong and Gene Cernan (Astronauts), Elton John, Steve Martin, and Mariah Carey just to name a few.

Historic Village in Pensacola, Fl 

Old Christ Church 1832

I took pictures of John Wesley Hardin (Criminal turned lawyer), the First Baptist Church site, Old City Hall 1907, Mooring Anchor, I never throw anything away, gateway to Florida's History, and many others.
We stopped for gas in Cantonment Florida near the Paper Mill which was giving off an awful vapor of steam.
We ate lunch at Burger King.
On the way home we stopped in Flomation Alabama to take pictures of the marker, L & N train car, and Train Depot now a visitor center.

The closer we got to Montgomery the heavier the traffic got, it was bumper-to-bumper because of the Thanksgiving Holiday.

We took a detour along Highway 31 coming out at Calera where we stopped to eat at Cracker Barrel.
We headed back to I-65 hoping the traffic had moved on but no it was worse.
We saw wreck after wreck and traffic backed up for miles but this time it was headed south.
It took several hours longer than we expected to get home. With my intestines in knots, we finally made it home. I think the break on my side of the card did not work too well.

🎄🎄🎄🎄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.