Category Archives: Learning all the time

Learning all the time

October 2022, Sadness and Puppies

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I was going to try to update 10 months and quickly realized that was impossible.

So I will post about our October and about our sweet Nomad.

Nomad got sick very quickly. Or it was gradual enough that we didn’t notice.  Yes he was slower, he didn’t bound around the house. But he still ate and played with his toys and was very connected to us and all that was going on.  Until he wasn’t. The last 3 days of his life were one of the hardest things we have gone through. People who loved him came to tell him goodbye.  Keilee and I both were devastated.  We made the decision on Sunday to call the vet Monday morning. He couldn’t stand up alone.  We  had the hardest time getting him outside.  We let him stay outside a  lot. He seemed happier there. (5 months later as I type this I can barely see through my tears).
Our amazing neighbors helped us get him in the car and took us to the vet.  I don’t think I could have done it without them.  My brother met us there. If anyone has ever had to put down (God I hate that saying) a beloved pet you know how it feels.  We were broken. Totally broken.

Our sweet boy.  You were so loved.

For the next couple of weeks we felt like we were living in a tomb.  We could not stay home.  We could not eat dinner in the den as we always did.  We talked to people who loved us. They told us a new puppy would help. We refused at first.  Then we found someone who bred Miniature Australian Shepherds.  We called on Mother’s Day and she said we could come see her puppies.  And we fell in love with one.

So meet Huckleberry.  He is a Red-bi and he is beautiful. He is a huge bundle of motion and energy.  He goes everywhere with us.  He eats all the things in our house.  He demands love 100% of the time.  He is an angel mixed with a huge dose of devil.

And yes he has his own Instagram and Facebook.  AdventuresofHuckleberryT

This is the first day we met him.

The day we brought him home.

Our Huckleberry

October is our favorite month.  Keilee did not accept but a couple  of bookings so we could do all the things.

We did Hidden Rivers Farm with our church.  It was a beautiful day.

We also went to the Fiddler’s Convention. They didn’t allow dogs however we saw A LOT of dogs.  Keilee wasn’t happy.

We went to see Sons of the East, an Australian band.  Keilee also reached out to them to see if she could interview them via Zoom for Tourism.  They said yes and it was amazing!

You can watch the video here!

Fall has been particularly beautiful this year.

We went to the Ren Faire. Keilee dressed up for the first time. She was Renaissance Elsa.  We didn’t take Huckleberry because we knew people would want pictures.  They did.

Downtown Trick or Treat. Huck was a devil.  We thought it was apropos.

2 of Keilee’s Halloween looks.  She posted everyday on Instagram.  Check it out @PrincessKeilee

Halloween was great.  We went as Winnie the Pooh, Piglet and Tigger.  We didn’t go as extra as we usually do because Keilee was sick the entire week before Halloween.  We still had a blast.

Our town had a Dia de los Muertos celebration for the first time.  It was amazing.

And then there was Tyler Merritt. We have both loved Tyler Merritt for years.  Then he started dating Jen Hatmaker and we loved him more.  He heard he was coming to the Princess Theatre in November and could not believe it.  Keilee had an idea to reach out and see if she could interview him.  He said yes!  The interview was amazing.

You can watch it here.

The night of the event we were so excited. We laughed, we cried (well I cried).  There was such an unbelievable positive energy in the theatre.  And I have heard so many people who were there talking about it.  It was a vibe. A hum.  It was beautiful.

So.  There you have it. Our sweet Nomad, our sweet (but devilish) Huckleberry and a whole month of goodness.

Here is where I promise to update better.  But we all know there’s a /good/ chance that won’t happen.

Karen

Learning all the time

Catching Up

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2022 Wow. How is that possible?

Just wanted to play catch up with at least December and January.

Our December was insane. Seriously something almost every day.

Ringing the bell.  She has been doing this off and on since she was 7.

Christmas 2021

Christmas morning at my brothers. One of our very favorite things.

Surprise snow after Christmas. Anyone who knows me knows how much I adore snow!

The time between Christmas and January 1st are some of my favorite days. No where to go. No where to be.  Just peace and calm.

Keilee’s 22nd birthday!!
There is no one that knows me that doesn’t know how I adore you. How every wonderful memory of the last 2 decades (plus) contain you. How my life is infinitely better because of you.
I love your sense of humor. Your interest in always learning. Your heart for people (especially children). Your sense of outrage over injustice. Your love of Jesus. Your vision and more importantly your execution of your visions. I am in awe of you navigating an, at times, insanely busy life with such calm and poise.
I don’t think you have any idea on the impact you have on so many. I watch children, time and time again, look at you in delight and wonder. And I think “What a gift it is. To be able to make a difference in a child’s life. To bring a little magic into their lives”.
You are a beautiful soul and I’m so ever thankful that you are my daughter.
Happy 22!!
 The cranes are here!!!!  They are beautiful and magical.
10 year Challenge
2012
2022
Watched and loved the last few months
Wheel of Time
The Witcher
Dopesick
Tick Tick Boom
Squid Games
Clickbait
Happy 2022!
Karen
Learning all the time

September Days

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September has always been a favorite month. Not THE favorite month (that would be October) but a favorite.

September is when it’s supposed to feel like fall but it actually usually feels like summer.  We did have a week of fall weather and it was lovely.  The last few months have looked a lot different that last summer/early fall.  We hiked last year so often and we haven’t at all this year.  I told Keilee I was afraid that last summer/fall was a beautiful time that we would never do again.  The world was still shut down a lot.  The pool was closed so we hiked.  I miss it and we hope to do it more in October.

September Fun

We spent the day at Reeves Farm.  They have a huge field of gorgeous sunflowers.  Keilee also made a video for Decatur Tourism.

They also have a great store.  We bought some Peach Salsa that was delicious.

Beauty.

There were acres of sunflowers.

Look at all those Sunflowers!!!

Video

Video Sep 29, 7 27 19 AM

Our church made 50 HUGE bags of goodies for the nurses and doctors at our 2 hospitals to say thank you for all they are doing.  Then Keilee and I delivered them.

We spent a day with my Daddy and Marlene driving around a town that Daddy spent so many hours in growing up.  He told us so many stories that I hadn’t heard before.

An old house was having an estate sale.  It was beautiful and we are going to watch the renovations.  I can’t wait to see it restored.

Stained glass window.

Clouds.

My Daddy hasn’t felt well.  He had shoulder surgery and then got pneumonia.  Thankfully he is feeling a bit better.

We also went to a Fall Festival in a nearby town.  It was pretty much just booths with crafts but we enjoyed being out. It was at a farm so of course Keilee had to dress to match the location. 🙂

And pumpkins are at the Farmer’s Market! We like the more unusual ones.

As September winds down we are looking forward to October and cooler temps.

Karen

Learning all the time

July 2021 Hot and Rainy

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Ack. I suck at updating my blog. No matter how much I promise myself I will.

It is July 31. Tomorrow is August. Summer has, as they say, flown by. July was hot and rainy.  If it wasn’t raining we couldn’t do much outside because of the heat.  And August is our hottest month!

Keilee had a really fun event at Point Mallard.  She was the mermaid and kids were mesmerized.  This is by far her hardest costume but she loves being a ‘real’ mermaid.

One of my sweet friends is selling at our local farmer’s market.  I always love seeing her and her beautiful flowers.

Keilee had 2 Cinderella parties in 2 days which is very unusual.  She also got this amazingly beautiful Cinderella gown in June.  It is lovely. But it takes up 3/4 of the front seat!

We went on a picnic and to some thrift stores in Cullman.  But oh my gosh it was HOT!

Cullman angel wings

Sportsmans Lake

Last day at Point Mallard during the week.  They had to close early because so many workers are going back to school.

And finally Happy Birthday Harry Potter!

Finally our month.  One second everyday. More or less.

 

Let’s go August!
Karen

Learning all the time

Dedication of Women’s Marker

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“Lifting as we climb, onward and upward we go…”
~Mary Church Terrell
💜💛💜
What a wonderful and powerful time unveiling Decatur’s NEW historic marker for “A National Votes For Women Trail”!
It was wonderful to learn about Decatur’s involvement in women’s rights to vote and having the FIRST Women’s Suffrage group in the state!
This is the article from our local paper.  Keilee was quoted.
Written by Catherine Godbey

More than 100 marchers, some wearing “Votes for Women” sashes and pins, walked from the historic railroad depot to the former site of the Echols Opera House on Bank and Vine streets — the same steps Susan B. Anthony took in 1895 — to recognize Decatur’s role in the women’s suffrage movement.

“We are here today to reflect on those women who came before us and had the courage to speak up and stand up for what was right. We are also here because we need to recognize that our journey has just begun and the fight is not over yet,” historian Peggy Allen Towns said.


This picture by Jeromino Nisa (Decatur Daily)

The march on Friday culminated with the unveiling of a historical marker. Designed in purple and white — the official colors of the women’s suffrage movement — the sign designates the corner of Bank and Vine as a site on the National Votes for Women’s Trail.

“Decatur has such a rich history in the women’s suffrage movement. It is about time that Decatur embraces our history as we should,” said Towns, who worked with the William G. Pomeroy Foundation and the National Collaborative for Women’s History Sites to secure the marker.

Ranging from teenagers to 80-somethings, the marchers included lawyers, judges, teachers, business owners, ministers, politicians and students. Among the participants was Dorothy Gordon, who graduated from Decatur’s Lakeside High School in 1962 and voted in her first election in the 1960s.

“I am here because it is the right thing to do. We are here because of others’ blood, sweat and tears. They are why we have the right to vote,” Gordon said. “I’m so blessed to be able to take part in this.”

Karen Stanley, of Huntsville, attended the march and unveiling dressed as Ida B. Wells-Barnett, who led the Illinois delegation in the March 1913 suffrage parade in Washington, D.C.

“When I think about those women, I think about the courage and resiliency they had,” said Stanley, who developed an interest in the movement at 8 years old after hearing Fannie Lou Hamer, a civil and voting rights activist, speak. “I became inspired and intrigued, but also sad, hearing what happened to people just because they wanted to vote.”

One of the younger marchers, 21-year-old Keilee Terry, wore a “Feminist” shirt to the event.

“I love that Decatur was active in the suffrage movement. It’s important to know that history and see how far we’ve come. But we still have a long way to go. It’s important to stay active,” Terry said.

The marker’s unveiling coincided with the 102nd anniversary of Congress’ passage of the 19th Amendment, which said the right to vote should not be denied on account of sex. Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the amendment in August 1920, guaranteeing women the right to vote.

By the middle of October 1920, over 2,000 white women and 40 women of color registered to vote in Morgan County. The women ranged in age from a 21-year-old granddaughter of former slaves to 87-year-old Elizabeth Forbes, the widow of a former slave owner.

“Abigail Adams told her husband (John Adams) to not forget about the women (in 1776). But we didn’t get the right to vote until 1920. That was just 100 years ago. It should have happened way before then,” said 13-year-old Marley Jackson, who attended the event with Decatur Youth Services’ Girls Connected for a Cause. “When I’m 18, I’ll be the first person in line to vote.”

Highlighting the city’s history, the marker notes the visit from Anthony, nicknamed the “Napoleon of the Women’s Rights Movement,” and Carrie Chapman Catt, and the influence of Ellen Hildreth, who, in the early 1890s, formed Alabama’s first suffrage club in Decatur, and served as the first president of the Alabama’s Woman Suffrage Association.

“I am overwhelmed by the turnout,” Towns said. “It shows that we are in this together and we are interested in our history and our future.”

Homeschooling has given her (an honestly me) such a love of history.  I love that our town is committed to keeping the history alive.
Karen
Learning all the time

Botanical Gardens

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Last week we finally got to go back to the Botanical Gardens. It had been cool and rainy for so long.

The Gardens are one of our favorite places.
Turtles Sunning

We love this painted piano. Even though neither of us can play a lick.

The Koi Pond with wind ripples.

Spring is so beautiful at the gardens.

They were putting up new exhibits all around the garden. We noticed a definite ‘bird’ theme.

Hammock laying with the sun breaking through the limbs.

It was a glorious day.

Karen

Learning all the time

January 2021 (Hopefully New Beginnings)

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2020 came and went and  here we are in 2021.

Happy 21st birthday to my favorite person in the world.
What a year.
2020 started with her so excited. She had so many events planned. In March the world changed. She quickly adjusted to the changes. She has done free Friday story-times almost every week since March. She has done online Zoom calls and personalized videos to places like the UK, Italy, Hawaii, Pakistan, Germany, Canada and so many states in the US. She’s been featured by libraries all over the country, been interviewed by local news, been in a national online magazine, been sent tons of merchandise by people who recognize her hard work (including Idina Menzel) and she’s brightened thousands of children lives during hard times.
She did outside parties by adjusting the things she offered and becoming a master at staying 6’ away and still making the children feel engaged.
She’s led children’s church activities via Zoom. She’s sat in meetings via Zoom. She’s worked so hard on her social media accounts.
We both discovered we loved hiking and spent copious amounts of time in nature.
Anyone who knows her knows she doesn’t “sit” well and she definitely hasn’t been bored. In fact at age 21 I’ve never once heard her say, I’m bored”.
She is opinionated, smart, wise beyond her years and experiences, she doesn’t cry, she doesn’t love easily but when she does it’s for always. She hates injustice and wants to throat punch the world at times.
Happy birthday my beautiful shining girl. You make my life infinitely better and I adore being your Momma. I pray daily that you always keep Jesus in your center, do the things that make your heart soar and fill you with joy and wonder and find the people who know your worth and make you laugh until your stomach hurts.
I love you. To Pluto and back. And back again. And again times infinity.
And of course she has a birthday crown.
Days of staying home. Of going nowhere. Of reading, cooking, watching TV, playing Switch, reading aloud, watching the news in horror, making plans for virtual events, and more.
The last few days have reminded me of homeschooling when she was young. Talking and laughing and sharing information together. (Now don’t get me wrong we always do a lot of these things but the slow pace this week has been wonderful).
Snow!!!
Anyone who knows me well knows I love snow. I opened my eyes and immediately knew it snowed during the night. The light is just different when there is snow on the ground. I jumped out of bed like a 6 year old and ran to the window.
As much as I hate cold I adore snow. I was thinking about it this morning and I think it’s because so many wonderful, childhood memories involve snow. My very first memory was playing in the snow with my Momma. She had a cardboard box and was pushing me around in it. I was 2 1/2 and I can close my eyes and remember how I felt. (And yet I can’t remember everything we did last week!).
I lived in a neighborhood with tons of kids and we always had a blast on snow days. Can you remember that feeling when you wake up and your Mom would say, “No school today because it snowed!!” We would play all day and then my Momma would make hot chocolate for us all.
My Momma and Daddy also loved snow. I called Daddy and asked him to send me a picture of him in the snow!!
So I hope everyone enjoys our rare snow day!! Make memories!!
“Everything’s magical when it snows, everything looks pretty. The clothes are great. Coats, scarves, gloves, hats.” Lorelai Gilmore- Gilmore Girls
Saturdays.
You definitely look different than you’ve looked for 5 years.
But the slow pace, tea drinking, game playing, music listening, book reading is a vibe we both are so enjoying.
Find your beautiful.
This company (Ambrie) sends Keilee Disney leggings often in exchange for pictures.
They have extremely cute things and also these are the softest leggings I’ve ever seen. They also have masks.
So…..
I don’t know if any of you know Tom Foolery (The Great Realization) but he is offering free creative writing classes.
Keilee and I LOVE him. The only problem was it’s for up to 18. But she signed up anyway. 😬There was no place to put an age so she didn’t actually lie.
She loved it. She said he was the most positive, upbeat guy. Also there were a couple of people older than her in the class. She said there were people from England, Pakistan, Morocco, Ireland, Scotland, Argentina, Brazil, California and her from Alabama.
Point Mallard Trail.
64°
I’m trying to catch up.  It’s ridiculous that I get so behind when I have more than enough time to do these.  We have gotten so much joy over the years in going back and seeing what we were doing in years past in the same months.
Stay safe,
Karen

 

Learning all the time

November and December

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Catch up time.
We voted!!  It wasn’t Keilee’s first time voting but it was her first time voting for President.

Hiking.

Thanksgiving looked a bit different this year. Keilee and I cooked our own Thanksgiving dinner (with WAY too much food) because we did not get together at my dads.
We did stop by for an outside visit this morning. Daddy told us stories about how he was a champion checker player back in the day. We have also become experts at the “wear your mask until you’re ready to take the picture and take it off and don’t breathe and smile” pose.
As we were leaving I told Daddy again that I was so sorry we weren’t able to have our traditional Thanksgiving and he said “That’s ok. I’d much rather be here next year.
Same Daddy same.
Me and my Daddy
Kei and Bull
This tree brings me such peace.
It is filled with ornaments. Some were my Mothers, some that I hand painted at age 7 or 8, some Keilee made or painted, some are expensive and some are from Dollar Tree.
But so many of them have a story.
I can see my Momma’s hands placing them on her tree. I can see Keilee’s little hands gluing and painting. I can see Keilee’s hands helping me decorate.
I think out of almost everything we have our Christmas tree ornaments tell a story. A story of a life. Or of many lives. Beautiful times of togetherness.
It just makes me happy to look at it.
And happy is a good thing.
Me: (for the last few years) UGH. Nomad always messes up my bed and gets dog hair everywhere.
Now Nomad is older. He doesn’t get on the bed anymore. He acts scared when I try to get him up. He moves more slowly when waking up.
Today I walked in to this. You would not believe how happy I was to see his shedding, bed rumpling self on my bed.
What an eye opening moment. We so miss the moments that once made us crazy. So enjoy them. Hair and all. (Or glitter. Or toys everywhere. Or crayons and markers).
Reading “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”
12/24/2009

12/24/2020

The Grinch is one of her favorite characters ever!!  I love her female Grinch.

We had a great Christmas.  It looked different but we enjoyed the slower pace.

New Year’s Day/Eve

New Year’s event at church

Beautiful Labyrinth at church

Some of my favorite pictures month by month


There is so much I could say about 2020.  In January of 2020 we had no clue how our lives would change.  There are parts of it that have been very hard. Keilee misses in person events and parties.  We miss our weekly church events.  I miss hugging people.  But there have also been such beauty in the slowing down.  A love for hiking and discovering new places, a switch to virtual events that has  literally opened the world up for Keilee, long days spent at home reading and watching great shows and movies and just” being”.

I’m not sure how 2021 will look but I hope and pray it has beauty.  Life almost always does if you search for it.

Karen

Learning all the time

October 2020

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Time marches on.

We got wings from the incredibly talented Kelsey Montague and they are incredible. Such a beautiful addition to our town.

Cullman Oktoberfest was such fun.  We met friends there and had a great day.

We met up with friends again at David Crockett State Park (one of  our favorite places we discovered this summer!)

It was a beautiful day at the Botanical Garden visiting the Scarecrow Trail.

Adjusting to the new things.  This was a cooking class with Elsa via Zoom.

Halloween was spent at our church’s trunk or treat.  Masks were required to everyone who attended and guides took the families around to make sure social distancing was followed.  We were a knight and dragon and we (mainly Keilee) built this huge castle out of cardboard.  It was so much fun.

Ok. 2 months caught up.  November is next.  It is December 2 when I am updating this and it has been FREEZING the last couple of days.

Stay safe everyone,

Karen

Learning all the time

September

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I failed totally at posting ONCE A MONTH!!  Good grief.

This is basically a photo dump for the future.

Since March we have been living in this strange new world. I do not think this will be our new normal but it is our FOR NOW normal. I know everyone doesn’t take it seriously but we do.  I love seeing my Daddy but he is older with COPD so that means I can’t ‘live my life as always.”  Because he is important to me.

We spent huge amounts of time outside in nature.  It is one of the few things that calm my soul.

SEPTEMBER

We have so enjoyed our Botanical Gardens membership.  Each time we go we discover new magical places.

 

Picnics and ducks at a local-ish park.

Brushy Lake at Bankhead Forest. Another beautiful day. (I am updating this in November on a chilly day. These pictures make me miss summer!)

Then we went to Joe Wheeler State Park to meet sweet friends from Tennessee.  It was so nice to finally meet Rebel and Ruby in person.

Shoal’s Branch.  We have discovered so many amazing outdoor places during these last few months.

Nature

We had a beautiful moring exploring downtown and seeing Jamey Grimes’ amazing exhibit “Roil” at Carnegie.

 

Hiking and finding a new waterfall!

Hidden Rivers farm opened and we went with friends and loved it.

Fun time at Frazier Park.
Disclaimer. Nomad is not good on a leash. Nomad is not good in new areas. I’ve always wanted a dog that we could take anywhere and would walk calmly beside us. That has not happened although he has gotten better in the last few months because we’ve been walking him more outside. (although I could leave a T-bone steak on the floor and tell him no and go to the grocery store and he wouldn’t touch it.).This is not Nomad’s fault this is our fault. We fully realize that.
Dogs and kids; you do the best you can with both but you always see things you wish you would’ve done a little differently.
All in all a good time was had by everyone.

September was a beautiful month with a lot of time spent outdoors.  Honestly the last few months have been a bit strange but being outside makes us feel more sane.  It is one of the “blessings” of coronavirus; we found so many lovely outdoor spaces and spent so much time in nature.

Karen