2020 Nov 28-Dec 1, Trip to Smoky Mountains with Sherry and Bobby (4 days)

November 28-Dec 1, Trip to Sevierville, TN with Sherry and Bobby On Nov 28, Saturday, Hubby and I ate breakfast at Jack's in Elgin. I ordered a sausage and biscuit, and hubby ordered a big breakfast. We ordered Bobby a sausage and biscuit to go. We meet them at the Hensley barbecue in Town Creek. We stopped at Jack's in Decatur for a restroom break; I bought three strawberry cheesecake pies for the three of us. We stopped at a couple of rest areas for restroom breaks. We filled up with gas at the new Wiggles in Sevierville, and we all ordered a sub sandwich from Wiggles. It had been a beautiful day for traveling. We checked into condo number 2514 Wyndham condos.

Wyndham condos

Nov. 29, Sunday Cloudy Today, we went to Shoe Carnival and Lees. We ate lunch at Huck Fins; they don't have a lunch special on Sundays, and you have to pay the full price of $15.88 a plate. We all ordered a three-piece fried catfish meal with fixings of white beans, hush puppies, pickles, onions, and coleslaw. We each got a takeaway box enough for supper. We stopped at Walmart, where I bought a small red radio flyer wagon for Haynes' upcoming birthday; I also bought a bag of peppermint bark.

Firehouse Sub in Sevierville

Nov 30, Monday Today we went to Hammers in Sevierville, I bought some warm gloves and hubby a shirt. We stopped at Firehouse Sub in Sevierville on Middle Creek Road for lunch. I ordered a six-inch meatball sub, chips, and coke. My cousin ordered a sub, but they messed up her order, and she complained they gave her a free sub and a brownie. We spent the afternoon watching Hallmark Christmas movies. That night, it snowed. Dec 1, Tuesday, I Went outside there was snow on the ground, and it was cold, but the roads were clear. We were on our way home by 9 AM after checking out. We stopped at McDonald's in Lauden, Tennessee, for breakfast. I ordered a sausage muffin and coke.

Smoky Mountains

When we arrived in Town Creek, hubby was waiting for me at Hensley Barbecue. After a bittersweet goodbye with my relatives, we began our journey. Hubby and I stopped for lunch at Cracker Barrel in Athens.

Cracker Barrel Madison, Alabama 

For lunch, I ordered chicken and dumplings with Lima beans and cornbread. At Cracker Barrel, I bought three summer tops that were marked down. I knew we were not going to many places, and the weather was not agreeable for outdoor activities, so I left my big camera at home. We spent the majority of our vacation watching Hallmark Movies, shopping, eating out, and reminiscing.

2020 Nov 11-14, Trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (4 days)

Nov 11, Wednesday,  Hubby and I stopped at Cracker Barrel in Spring Hill for breakfast. We stopped several times for restroom breaks on our way to Pigeon Forge. We checked into Park Grove Inn in Pigeon Forge. What a view we could see the ferry wheel on the Island from our room.

Ferries Wheel 

Hubby took a shower, lay down, and took a nap. His stomach was giving him a fit, and he said I think I have a fever. After his nap, we rode to Applewood Farm House Restaurant for dinner.

Apple Barn 

For an appetizer, they brought apple fritters along with apple sauce and jute. I ordered a bowl of vegetable soup with cornbread. Hubby did not order anything but did eat some of my soup. That night, hubby ran a fever and had diarrhea all night.

The Incredible Christmas Store

Nov 12, Thursday:  The Incredible Christmas Store was just three blocks from our hotel, so I walked there while hubby slept. I walked across the Little Pigeon River, stopping to take pictures along the way. I bought a chocolate pretzel at the Christmas Candy Shop. When I returned, hubby was up, so we rode to the Old Mill, where I bought some stone-ground cornmeal and some apple fritter mix. We went to the Disney Store, where I bought Christmas toys for the great-grandkids. We ate lunch at Firehouse Sub and stopped in front of the Dixie stampede for a picture of the tall Christmas tree. We spent the rest of the day at Dollywood 2–9 PM. We rented a cart for hubby; he said he felt too weak to walk. We upgraded our tickets for the next year to $194.20 Our adventures began in the Wildwood Park area for children.

Santa @ Dollywood 

We meet Santa behind glass after we write him a letter and drop it into his mailbox. We watched a couple of shows outside, but all the inside shows were closed. We rode the train up the mountain, and there were plastic shields between each seat. We had to get tickets for the last train ride because the virus seats were limited. We stopped at the ice cream shop for some Rockies Road ice cream in a chocolate waffle cone. We returned the cart and walked back to our car.

Eating catfish at Huck Fins

On Nov 13, Friday I ate French toast for breakfast at the hotel. We rode to the Bass Pro Shop in Kodak and then to Katom Restaurant Supplies, where I bought two bottle openers and a thermometer. We stopped at Huck Finn's for lunch, where I ordered a two-piece catfish dinner with fixings. (Fixings include a bowl of white beans, onion, pickles, coleslaw, and hushpuppies) We took the bypass in Gatlinburg and ordered over the Smoky Mountains. We rode through Cherokee out to I-40 back to Sevierville.

Hotel Pigeon Forge, TN

Nov 15, Saturday We began our travel home, stopping to fill up with gas at Flying J. I ate a bagel for breakfast before we left the hotel. We stopped at Five Guys in Spring Hill for a late lunch or early supper. There, we both ordered a fully-dressed hamburger and crispy fries. They have the best hamburgers in town. Our last stop was at Krogers in Lawrenceburg to pick up a few groceries. After that long ride home, we were both very tired.

2020 Dec 21, Day trip to Franklin, Tennessee with Ava Grace

 Hubby and I took Ava Grace on a day trip. We stopped in Loretto to get lottery tickets and Ava a doctor's pepper and some gummy candy. 

We stopped at Murphy’s to fillip with gas and at Walmart in Lawrenceburg to get Ava a new car seat. Hubby had to put it together, which took a while. 

We traveled north up the Natchez Trace, stopping a couple times for restroom breaks. Several of the restrooms were closed due to the Coronavirus.

The trace was desolate, the trees necked, and we saw one bird, a buck deer, and a dog. We saw several motorcycle riders and several people hiking. 

We rode through Leipers Fork but didn’t see any or very little Christmas decorations. I think Ave took a nap while we were on the trace. 

Mellow Mushroom Pizza Restaurant

Cheese Pizza 

House Special Pizza 

We stopped at Mellow Mushroom for dinner. Ava ordered a small cheese pizza and hubby and I split a House Special pizza, and we ordered three drinks. 

Ava only ate one piece of her pizza we had the rest put into a to-go box, took it home, and gave it to her granddad.

While we were eating at Mellow Mushroom, we saw Santa Clause riding a Harley on the roundabout in Franklin through the large windows. 

Santa Clause on Harley (looking through the window)

Ava & Granny sitting in front of a very tall Christmas tree.

Ava standing next to a cannon

 

Ava and I walked over to the window she waved at Santa Clause, and He waved back and pointed at her. We finished eating, and I took pictures of Ava and the statues at Mellow Mushroom. 

We went outside, and Santa Claus was leaving. We walked across the street to the center of the roundabout, where Ava had spotted a very tall Christmas tree. We took several pictures of the Tree, Ava, and the cannons that were there. 

We walked back to our car, and by that time, Santa Claus was coming back down the road. He stopped, and I got a few pictures with Ava and Santa.

Ava and Santa Clause on his Harley

Ava had to hug Santa, and he hugged her back. She said he was the real Santa Clause, and she sang Christmas Songs most of the way home. 

We stopped at a convenience store for a restroom break, and we finished our trip home. We made a detour in St Joseph to see a house decorated for Christmas, you could see it from the highway but only from the backside. Her granddaddy was waiting for her. She gave us both a hug, Collected her belongings, and they went home. I gave her granddad the leftover cheese pizza. 

2020 The year of Coronavirus and wearing mask

Total left knee replacement was March 10, that same week, much of our country was shut down because of the  Coronavirus.

I stayed overnight at the hospital and was sent home with all the equipment I would need for the next few weeks for home therapy.

I also went to three days a week to Peak Performance for physical therapy.

The Sciatic nerve in my lower back flared up, which caused therapy to be very painful. 

My Orthopedic doctor had to manipulate my left knee, which helped relieve some of the pain in my lower back. 

It took several months before I could enjoy walking, and I was thankful to have my hubby doing my household chores. 

I could not read or sit at my computer because it was too painful, and it was hard for me to concentrate. 

On June 18, our granddaughter gave birth to a baby boy. 

Only her hubby could be with her, and her baby shower was virtual. 

(Great Grandson Atlas Ian is doing great; he is growing like a weed.)

River, our great-grandson, turned two on June 2.

We celebrated our great-grandson's first birthday on Sunday, December 13. 

He and his mother both had the Coronavirus, and both are doing fine now. 

Our daughter-in-law contracted the Coronavirus at work and gave it to her husband (our son), they were quarantined for 14 days. 

Schools across the United States were shut down, and graduating was just months away for seniors.

Our grandson, a senior, graduated in May after months of his school being shut down. 

Our country was in a pandemic, with businesses, schools, factories, and restaurants shut down.

People dying, and the virus spreading like wildfire, causing people to stress out. 

Lowes was doing a booming business during the pandemic because people were afraid to go anywhere, so many did home projects and gardening.

 I enjoyed spending time attending to my flowers and herbs. 

The Coronavirus has kept many inside this year beginning in the Spring. It sored through  

Summer and Autumn, now it is Winter, and the coronavirus is still here.

The CBS bible study that I attend every year is now virtual. It is great that we can still see one another through Zoom and be safe. 

We have grandchildren attending Universities, High School, and Kindergarten with odd days.

Every Thursday and Friday in September & October, we kept our great-granddaughter, Ava.

We did the social distance, we would take her to our local parks, where she enjoyed feeding the turtles and fish. 

For the last two weeks, Hubby and I have been picking our great-granddaughter up at school. 

Her uncle is a senior this year and usually takes and picks her up, but in the last two weeks, he has not gone to school on Thursdays and Fridays. (because of the pandemic)

Hubby went back to work part-time in June and full-time in September. 

Last year was a sad year for my niece she lost her husband to cancer. 

But 2020 has brought her happiness, she found another love, and they were married on the first of October. 

The Coronavirus is still on the rampage, the numbers are going down. 

Most states have a mandate that you have to wear a mask covering your nose and mouth before entering a place of business. 

High-risk people are encouraged to stay home and have their groceries & personal items delivered.

Stores limit the number of people inside their stores. Restaurants have spaced their tables at least 6 feet apart. Many places of business have a shield or partitions to protect their employees. 

Some places will only take credit cards because they do not want to handle money that is full of germs.

The flu season is just around the corner, and the medical field is in a rush to come up with an anti-virus serum to give to the public to help prevent the further spread of the Coronavirus.

We have missed so much of our annual Halloween parties and Thanksgiving meals with family, and now Christmas is just around the corner. 

Our family get-togethers may be small this year. 

Hubby contracted the Coronavirus from a co-worker, and I got it from him.  We missed having a Thanksgiving meal with our families. 

In November, I went to the Mountains with my cousin and aunt. We ate out a couple of times and did a little shopping, but mostly, we just enjoyed each other's company.

We bought a Modular home in July but will not be finished until late January. This Coronavirus has put a dent in many aspects of our lives. 

My dad fell and broke his hip and died shortly in November. 

Our family is going to celebrate Christmas on December 20 and have a sister gathering on Christmas Day.

We just have to take one day at a time. 

This year, we have had a birth (a great-grandson), a death (my dad), a marriage (my niece), and sickness.

We have been very busy this year but differently. Life as we know it will no longer be the same.

Even in a pandemic, life goes on. 

 

2020 Jan 31-Feb 2, Woman's Retreat Joe Wheeler Lodge ( 3 days)

 Friday afternoon check-in lodge & received a package for the entire retreat. 

We ate a fried catfish meal with salad for dinner, and after dinner, we walked around the lodge. 

Eating Catfish at Joe Wheeler 

Catfish, baked potato, hush puppies, tarter Sauce, butter, sour cream 

We went back to our room until it was time for our pajama movie "Steel Magnolia."

There were snacks to eat while watching the movie, but I was too full to eat. 

Could not believe that I enjoyed watching an old movie with a bunch of strangers. 

After the movie, everyone retired to their rooms for the night.

Saturday morning, we ate a light breakfast followed by painting class from 8-9:30AM.

Hello Spring Painting 

Next, we created a bath balm from 9:45 to 11:15AM.

From 11:30-12PM, we danced.

Lunch was a Taco Salad from the food bar. 12-1PM

Self-defense form 2-3PM 

Pontoon Cruise 2-3PM

The women who had registered for the 2PM boat ride loaded onto the Pontoon boat for a one-hour ride on the Tennessee River, where our guide pointed out points of interest and waterfowl. 

Boats at Joe Wheeler 

Pontoon Boat ride

Self-Defense 4:15-5:15PM  

Went back to our room to rest until dinner.

Roll, Porkchop, Vegetables

Our guest speaker was Lee Marshall at 7:30PM. Kids to love. 

It was a beautiful Sunday morning the sun was coming up, and the waterfowl astir. 

Waterfowl at Joe Wheeler Lake 

Waterfowl at Joe Wheeler Lake 

I saw a herd of deer on the road as I was leaving. 

A herd of Deer at Joe Wheeler State Park 

2020 Jan 28, Day Trip to Guntersville, Alabama Parks, & Harbors

Hubby and I rode to Guntersville, stopping at the Guntersville Dam and looking for waterfowl, but we did not see any.

We stopped at Guntersville Harbor & Guntersville Municipal Park, where we saw hundreds of seagulls,& double-crested Cormorants.

We stopped at Dollar General for sweets.

It was getting near lunchtime, so we rode to Winzell’s Oyster House, where hubby and I  split a Sea Food Broil. $26.69 meal, which consisted of premium white fish, oysters, shrimp, stuffed crab, and scallops.

After a delicious meal, we rode to Guntersville State Park.

Double-breasted Cormorants 

Double-breasted Cormorants 

Seagulls 

Lunch at Winzell's  

Seafood Boil

 (12 shrimp, 4 oysters, 1 fish, 1 crab cake, & 5 scallops) 

A couple of deer come in for a closer look.

Lazy Billy goat

We rode to Lake Guntersville, which is located on the banks of the Tennessee River, where we saw hundreds of American Coots.

We saw a herd of deer grazing on both sides of the road near the campground area. 

We also saw an area with a small enclosed pond along with friendly petting animals such as donkeys, emus, and goats. 

We were hoping to see an eagle or two but saw none. 

The park at Guntersville was desolate, too cold for swimming, but a few were camping.

My sister-in-law had a transmission put in her car, so hubby and I rode to Decatur, and hubby drove the car home. 

I stopped at Jack's, on my way home, in Decatur for a couple of strawberry cheesecake pies. 

Had a pleasant day in Guntersville.

2020 May 25, Parks of Decatur, Alabama

Hubby and I decided to ride to Decatur to stroll through the beautiful parks of Decatur. We have not been on many of our daily travels because of the CROVIRUS.

At Delano Park, we saw Pink Roses, pink, blue, and white hydrangeas, shrubs, hostas, and orange daylilies. 

We saw several Beale’s Barbery evergreen shrub that is native to mainland China, they were full of grape berries. 

Sitting on a limb of the Beale Barbery Shrub was a Mocking Bird. 

I wonder if he eats Beale Barbery berries?

We saw several squirrels scurrying about in the park. 

At River Wild Delano Park Garden, we saw several blooming magnolia trees.

We also saw dotted along the path several informative plaques about the animals, trees, & plants. 

Some of the plaques we saw were Prothonotary Warbler, Eastern Hellbender, Biodiversity, limestone, turtles, fish, frogs, Eastern Red Cedar, Rabbits, great blue heron, etc. 

We also saw odd-shaped boulders. 

We saw a huge carving of turtles you could sit up in Turtle Cove Story Circle.

We saw a rabbit nearly my height, a frog on top of a rock, a beaver, and a dragonfly sitting atop a pole. 

We saw flowers and shrubs as we strolled along the concrete sidewalk.

Delano Park 

Delano Park Hydragenas

Magnolia Bloom

Turtle in Children's Riverwild Park 

Pink rose Delano Park 

Red crossover Bridge Frazier Park

Hydrangea in Frazier Park 

In the Japanese Gardens at Frazier Park, we saw a Red Bridge and, beneath it, a bubbling brook. 

We saw Blue and white Hydrangeas and orange Daylilies. Frazier Park is located near the old downtown area and is not as big as Delano Park but just as pretty. 

Hubby and I stopped at Jack’s in Decatur for dinner I ordered a fried chicken, bacon cheese sandwich, fries, and a drink. (It was more than I could eat)

Hubby ordered a hamburger on Texas toast and a strawberry milkshake. 

(We were the only ones dining inside at Jack’s)

We both took a nap when we arrived home. 

Tomorrow will be the last day of physical therapy for my left knee.