Scarecat

The Huntsville Botanical Gardens has a scarecrow trail each year during September and October. The scarecrow designs must interpret the designated theme of the year. The theme this year is "Every 'Crow Has A Story." Click here for more information. It is always lots of fun and quite amazing to see the imagination and creativity that local organizations, businesses, and schools put into designing their scarecrows. They have also added hay bale art this year which allows even more imaginative fun. I watched for weeks as they constructed "Black Cat" at the entrance of the botanical gardens and wanted to save posting the photos until closer to Halloween, but it is just too cute to save any longer.

This is located right at the entrance on Bob Wallace Avenue and is a real eye-catcher.

Front view. Get a load of those whiskers!

Left side

And the point of this adorable work of creativity is the local spay-neuter campaign.

If my schedule improves, I hope to be able to actually tour the scarecrow trail and post more photos of the wild and scary things folks have come up with to entertain us this year.

Happy Halloween, Everyone!

(Click on the links for HBG information)

Fargo's Fish

Here ya go, Fargo. Finally found the fish photos from the water garden at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens. They aren't great, but they are pictures of fish. And remember, you can click on them to enlarge. Happy wishing!

Water Garden

A shot of the water garden at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens

Scenic North Alabama: Water Garden

The water garden is one of my favorite places at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens.

Scenic North Alabama: Butterfly House

We went to the Huntsville Botanical Gardens on my birthday (July 2). I had not been there in several years and was amazed at the beautiful new butterfly house they have built. The old one was a rather temporary affair that has now been refurbished and turned into a lovely bonsai exhibit. My favorite areas used to be the Japanese water garden and the wildflower trail. I have to add the butterfly house to my list of favorites. Here are some photos of the pool and waterfall.

Of course, the batteries in my camera died right after we arrived, so I made almost all the photos for the day with my cell phone.





There were lots of turtles enjoying the fine atmosphere. This was made from the overlook above the waterfall.






This is a view of the terraced waterfall from turtle level. You can see those two guys on the log enjoying themselves.






You can walk under the waterfall. I couldn't resist trying to get a photo from underneath.

Scenic North Alabama: Monarch at Huntsville Botanical Gardens

From One Year to the Next

It's 11:35 CST and 2008 is almost over. Boy, what a year! I have been thinking of doing a sort of "Year in Review," but haven't gotten around to it; maybe in this post, with a brief break to see in the New Year and drink a glass of champagne. I'll start this post this year and finish it next year. A few things have been particularly memorable. Let's see:

January: Life pretty much as usual--or at least what I remember of it


A little snow on the mountain

February: About like January

March: Ditto; I attend a couple of spinning workshops; youngest son completes requirements and earns his Life Scout rank, begins looking ahead to completing requirements for Eagle before turning 18 in September; husband steps down from three years as Scoutmaster back to Assistant Scoutmaster

Handspun for handknitting



Color in spinning





Life Scout with parents


Dad retires as Scoutmaster



April: I start this blog and get new glasses

New Transitions lenses


Seem to work outside even in shade


Spring comes to the Valley


May: Oldest son's birthday (37th); progress on Eagle Scout requirements continues, planning and preliminary work for Eagle project begins


Calling all blood donors, 5/31/08

June: Daughter made honors scholars' list at college with a 3.9 average for the semester and 3.7 overall; husband's birthday (58th); work on Eagle Scout requirements plods along; Eagle Scout project on June 8

7:00 a.m., 6/8/08: setting up for the blood drive


Folks waiting to donate


A few project helpers relaxing at the snack table at the end


Blood drive is a success: 64 units collected



Clearing out: 2:00 p.m., 6/8/08; putting away chairs




July: Must be something other than my birthday (57th), but I can't think of anything; gas prices too high to go on vacation anywhere, but we drive up to Chattanooga and go to Ruby Falls; youngest son still working on Eagle Scout stuff (two of the required merit badges require 12 weeks of planning, activities, and record keeping, another requires 13 weeks of same); Eagle Scout project report in progress

I'd like to be here


I get to go here
Ruby Falls or a UFO?


"Stalagstuff" in the caverns


He thinks he's heard this story before



August: I celebrate my one-year anniversary of no longer being a museum employee after many years in the profession; son still working on Eagle requirements; Eagle project report is finished


Back in the living history days


I really dig living history


Adjusting the spinning wheel


September: We celebrate our 38th anniversary; youngest son turns 18, completes last Eagle requirement the day before his birthday and gets all paperwork signed off and turned in, Eagle board of review pending

Some signs of autumn here and there



October: Garage catches on fire, youngest son saves our house, our rabbits, and probably our lives; I want to write about the fire, but can't; we get Dixie;

Charred water heater



Washer and water heater



It used to be a paper towel rack



Remains of some Christmas decorations



Some of the damage to the ceiling




Preparing to chew


November: Our daughter turns 21; we give thanks for having a house to live in and being alive; repairs on garage begin, but progress is slow and intermittent; we end up with the biggest water heater I've ever seen and I think it's really the second stage of a Saturn V rocket

Daughter with a friend at the botanical gardens



My girl




The new water heater



December: Our son's board of review for Eagle Scout was successful and he is now an Eagle Scout, Court of Honor TBA, probably in February or March with his other two new troop Eagles; construction on garage plods along, with the painters just coming yesterday and today (12/30 and 12/31) to do repairs to sheetrock, but we have a lovely new back garage door, the giant 80-gallon water heater, and new washer, dryer, and shelves, so far


New washer, new door, huge new water heater, and lots of painting to do



Just happy to be here


It is now 2009. Happy New Year.