Our Travels for 2026

January 1, 2026. Started off the New Year the same way I always start my mornings – Lucy and I were out the door early and did our 2 mile walk on the golf course. The rest of the day was spent getting things packed for our trip to Florida. 

A Tribute to Our Pets

Little did I know when I started this blog about the pets in our lives, that we would lose another so soon. Hayley was almost 12 years old and left us on May 5, 2020. Her story is at the bottom of the page....

When Jim and I got together in 1977 we had two animals ~ Gandalf, his German Shepherd (1970-1982) and my cat, Blossom (1970-1978). We lived on a 1929 42' Elco Yacht in Charleston, South Carolina, and of course they lived on it with us. It was amazing that Blossom took to the boat so well. She never fell in, and I guess she went onto land to hunt. As it was such a long time ago, I really cannot recall what she did. I know Gandalf went with Jim everywhere. I think he even took her to work the him, but she may have stayed home with me.  

Gandalf

East Texas Oil Museum, Kilgore, Texas

On our way back to Texas after our winter vacation in Florida, our last stop was near Kilgore, Texas where we stopped to visit the East Texas Oil Museum. The Museum pays tribute to the independent oil producers and wildcatters who dared to dream and pursued the fruits of free enterprise starting in the 1920s. Their relentless efforts resulted in the discovery and development of the remarkable East Texas Oilfield in 1930 and beyond. The museum preserves the history of East Texas in the 1930s through artifacts, oral histories, and other documents. The msueum created a mosaic that documented the spirit and essence of East Texas during that transformative era.

Chennault Aviation & Military Museum, Monroe, Louisiana

Another stop on our way home was at the Chennault Aviation & Military Museum. Jim really likes military museums so I try to find them as we travel. The Chennault Aviation & Military honors veterans and soldiers from WWI through Iraqi Freedom. Through expansive collections of artifacts and compelling stories of the men and women who have served our country, the visitor receives a captivating insight into why we honor our history and our heroes.​

Anniston Museun of Natural History, Anniston, Alabama

On our way west from Georgia we stopped near Anniston, Alabama so we could visit the Anniston Museum of Natural History. The Museum is a nationally accredited museum with the purpose of enhancing public knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of living things and their environments. The Museum preserves and studies collections that relate to humankind and the natural environment and interprets these through interdisciplinary exhibits and programs. The Museum is committed to providing educational, recreational, and economic benefits which will improve the quality of life for diverse audiences.

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Kennesaw, Georgia

The Civil War made its way into Georgia in 1864 as Major General William T. Sherman pushed the Union forces into Georgia to destroy Confederate resistance and end the war. Three years of civil war had laid waste to large parts of Virginia, Mississippi and Tennessee. Only two major battles, Chickamauga and Ringgold Gap, had been fought within Georgia's borders. Union troops occupied only a small part of Georgia. The farms and factories, cities and towns, railroads and seaports, were still intact, and still a vital cog in the Confederate war machine. Why was the battle on Kennessaw Mountain so significant? Let's find out.

Tellus Science Museum, Cartersville, Georgia

The Tellus Science Museum can be seen from I-75 going north out of Atlanta. We traveled that road many years and always thought about stopping, but of course never did. This year was different as I wanted to visit Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield as well after visiting with Jim's brother and his wife in Gainesville. I planned our route west to Acworth so we could visit these two places. The Tellus Science Museum is a Smithsonian affiliate and is a program of Georgia Museums, Inc.