Morgan County Memorial Park Priceville, Alabama |
Swann Covered Bridge |
Easley Bridge |
Noccalula falls |
Horton Covered Bridge |
Traveling home |
Morgan County Memorial Park Priceville, Alabama |
Swann Covered Bridge |
Easley Bridge |
Noccalula falls |
Horton Covered Bridge |
Traveling home |
Wyndham condos |
Firehouse Sub in Sevierville |
Smoky Mountains |
Cracker Barrel Madison, Alabama |
Ferries Wheel |
Apple Barn |
The Incredible Christmas Store |
Santa @ Dollywood |
Eating catfish at Huck Fins |
Hotel Pigeon Forge, TN |
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 |
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.
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.
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 |
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.
I saw a herd of deer on the road as I was leaving.
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.
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.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year To all my friends and family Hope this year brought you lots of health and happiness. Just a recap ...