2024 Jan 7, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Decatur, Alabama

 What a beautiful day for traveling. We rode to the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge in Decatur, where we saw many Sandhill Cranes and various ducks at the Visitor's overlook buildings.

The newly remodeled Museum was opened. We saw Sandhills and whooping Cranes, Belted kingfishers, Snakes, Alligators, Geese, ducks, hawks, butterflies, otters, northern flickers, and many other animals.

Several empty display cases are waiting to be filled. We saw several friendly people. They were happy to be outside after this last cold spell. 

Sandhill & Whooping Cranes at the Museum 

Belted Kingfisher at the Museum

We stopped at Logan's Roadhouse for lunch. Hubby ordered a salad, steak, and baked potato. I ordered a chicken salad with Roadhouse dressing.

Steak and baked potato at Logans Roadhouse 

On our way home, we saw a Bald Eagle on a Paul Bunyan Power Line near the demolished Paper Mill in Town Creek. 

The eagle made a squawking sound when it saw me. It was letting me know to leave. 

We saw several terns perched on the light poles as we crossed Wheeler Dam. 

Our last stop was Wheeler Dam, where we saw a few White Pelicans, terns, and many cormorants.

2023 Dec 20, Christmas Tree Trails, and Christmas Card Lane Madison & Decatur, AL

Today was another busy day. We rode to the RSA to take 7 hot Domino's pizzas to Hubby's old co-worker for Christmas lunch.

After lunch, we rode to Madison. I walked among and took pictures of the Polar Express Christmas Trees there.

Polar Express Christmas Tree in Madison
A Christmas Story  

Next, we rode up one side and down the other to take pictures of Madison's Christmas Card Trail. 

Merry Christmas, Welcome to Alabama 

We stopped at Ollie's in Madison to pick up a few items.

Then we rode to Decatur, stopping at their Enchanted Forest Trail. (It looked as if a hurricane had blown through.) 

The Enchanted Forest Christmas Tree 

We stopped at ALDI USA in Decatur to pick up a few more items for our Christmas Meal.

We saw 3 red-tailed hawks on power lines on the way home. 

Our last stop was at Wheeler Dam, where we saw several White Pelicans, many cormorants, and a few gulls.

2023 Dec 23, Early Works Museum Huntsville and Rogersville Christmas Trees in Heritage Park with granddaughter AVA

 Today, we rode to Huntsville to take Ava to Early Works. 

The Grinch is guarding the big Red Door.

Warning: Trucks entering the Play Area 

It was decorated for Christmas with Christmas trees in every corner. Inside the country store was the Grinch. Before we went inside, we saw an inflatable Grinch guarding the big red door. At the Country Store was a sign: The Grinch Cafe has been serving nauseating food since 1966."A cafe can be harmful in every way, but the food is worse." 

A meal
 fit for a king

But Ava and her new friends made a meal fit for a king. One of Ava's friends said the meal was half Thanksgiving and Half Christmas.

Adventures in a Snow Globe at the North Pole 

We ate lunch at 88 Buffet. I had shrimp, fried Sweet potatoes, chicken, and Rangoon with cream cheese. I did not care much for the fish.

My plate: shrimp, chicken, fried sweet potatoes,  Sweet rolls, and
Rangoon

Ava ate a plate of fruit, jello, and Ice cream. She had been sick and was not eating much.

We stopped in Rogersville to see their Christmas Trees. This was our last stop.

Rogersville Tinsel Trail 

Ava and the Toy Soldier in Red Lights

2023 Dec 14, Christmas Card Lane Ditto Landing, Big Spring Park Tinsel Trail Huntsville & North Pole Stroll Athens took AVA

 Today, we stopped at Jack in Athens for two cheesecake pies and a scoop of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream for Ava. 

We strolled down North Pole Lane to see the Christmas Trees in Athens. 

North Pole Stroll 

We stopped at Murphy's to refuel.

We stopped at RSA so Ava could see the rockets. 

RSA Rockets 

We rode to Ditto Landing to stroll along the Tennessee River and see the Christmas Cards dotted along its banks. 

Ava loves animals. This was her favorite.

Hubby stopped halfway down while Ava and I strolled to the end, stopping to take pictures. 

A few people were walking, while others were riding bicycles along the pathway.

We stopped at Chick-fil-A South Huntsville for lunch. Ava and I ordered a kid's meal with ice cream, and Hubby had a chicken sandwich. 

Our last stop was at Big Spring Park's Tinsel Trail. There are lots of Christmas trees on both sides of Big Spring. 

This is Ava's favorite at Big Spring Park. 

Hubby sat in the car while Ava and I strolled up and down and around the park. 

We stopped to feed the ducks and fish. 

Feeding the Ducks and fish 

2023 Dec 13, McWane Science Center Museum Birmingham, Toyota Field Dancing Lights we took AVA

 Today, we ate breakfast at Jack's in Cullman. I ordered gravy with sausage and biscuits, Ave ordered sausage and biscuits, and Hubby ordered a ham and cheese sandwich. 

McWane Science Center, Birmingham, AL 

We traveled to Birmingham, stopping at the McWane Science Museum Center. Hubby went to level 3 to see the train display. 

Ava and I went to the second floor to see the dinosaurs, where we saw a Super Cell Tank and birds in a tree. Ava was a weather girl, and she rode the Sky High Cycle. 

Sky High Cycle

We walked up to the third floor, and Ave rode the train and the Zipline several times.

Ava rode the train

The World of Water Aquarium was in the basement, where Ave petted a shark and a ray. 

We saw coral, a variety of fish, and an eel.

AVA made large bubbles on the first floor and experimented with several science objects. Ava lay on a bed of nails. We went inside the distortion room. You were small in the top corner and prominent in the bottom corner. 

Ava on a bed of nails 

distortion room,
"Honey, I shrunk the kid."

 We stopped for dinner at Oh! Bryans in Hartselle. Hubby ordered steak, baked potato, and salad bar. I ordered a chicken wrap. Ava ordered chicken nuggets and fries from McDonald's.

Ava touched a Python before we left McWane Science Center.

Ava with the Blues Brothers 

After dinner, we rode to Toyota Field in Huntsville to see the dancing lights. 

Winter Wonder Land was not open, but we did get to see the light show. 

Traffic was horrible in Huntsville. 

It was way after dark when we arrived home. 

Ava spent the night. 

2023 Dec 9, Dickens of Christmas Yall Come! Tuscumbia, Alabama

Making Smores

 We walked downtown Tuscumbia, stopping to make s'mores while eating. William and his girlfriend came by. 

The carriage is being pulled by Clyde's

We took pictures of the carriages being pulled by Clyde's Horses. We saw several characters from Dickens' A Christmas Carol and Santa Claus. We stopped to pet the Lama, sheep, Zebra, goats, and Camel. 

Dickens Characters

Petting Zoo

We also visited the Tennessee Valley Art Museum Christmas Mart, which featured many beautiful, handmade items for sale. Hubby sat in the car while I toured Ivy Green. 

Ivy Green Birth Home of Helen Keller

Christmas at Ivy Green

Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan

I was told the history of Helen Keller and her home, Ivy Green. We also bought candy(five packages in recycled cups) and an upside-down umbrella because it was raining, and we didn't want to get wet.

We finished the day with lunch at Whataburger. A hamburger with fries and soda. 

Whataburger with French fries. 

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!