I'm in the midst of another scrapbook

challenge this month.

... and while the challenge is only 14 layouts, my friend Sheri is challenging us to use lots of different techniques and tools...

And it's been fun! 

I'm also using some things [over 15 yrs old] that I found recently when cleaned out a bit. 

Time FLIES, y'all. 

 

ANYWAY - I  thought I'd share these three challenges where I completed layouts about our time working on a favorite Troll, Mama Zelda, right here in Huntsville.

2026 wk 07 Thursday Three

1. A busy week with plans every. single. day. Routine medical appointments, lunches, special church events, haircut, zoom bookclub, etc.

2. Plus watching Olympic curling.

3. It's false spring! And I'm all in with summer clothes on...

A good week. Oh. And the daffodils are ready to bloom.

#HardwickAdventures

2026 wk 06 Thursday Three

 

1. I had the best time at a long scrapbook weekend right here in town. 

[And learned an easy way to make egg and sausage burritos - yum.]

2. I've read three books this week... all of them different, and two of them good.

3. And yep... I jumped on the favorite things bandwagon...lol. 

[The Lenten Roses are blooming up the hill <-- definitely a favorite.]

Here's a quick share of

 some of the scrapbook pages I completed this month!

 

Nicole Soh, my local dealer, does  a 'Jump Start January' each year.

  

She gives us a daily prompt with the challenge to 

complete [and post] yours within 24 hours. 

 

I'll be honest - I gave myself grace this year and did NOT push myself

 for the 24 hour completion for each and every day.

 

Although,  I have met that challenge a few years straight.

 

But it's hard when we're on the road a couple of weeks in January.

Still, I took a few scrappy things and completed them as I had time.

  

[I need to take some photos of the things I take with me when we travel...]

 

I LOVE the layouts Nicole challenges us with - and enjoy doing this so much! 

  

It helps me finish up the previous year's events [in this case 2024, because I almost always scrapbook a year behind*] 

 

and get a good start on the next year.

[LOOK!! - I found some ole photos!]

And yes. 

We have conversations often about what on earth our family 

might do with these scrapbooks one day... 

 

And Honestly? What does it matter?  

 [Maybe someone in the family might want them....]

Trash them / Keep them. Who cares? 

  

But right here /right now? It makes me happy. It brings me joy to look at my photos, remember people, places and things... and play a little creatively.

And - OOPS - I DID COMPLETE the titles when I returned home, lol...

and added a little llama in that blank space on that layout, HA. 

And just for fun - here's a photo of our fun 

in-person group during the cold weather - lol -  

So there's that. 

#HardwickAdventures  

 

2026 wk 05 Thursday Three

1. Brrrr- it's still COLD here [also, still no snow accumulation for us.,] so I pulled out a scarf I picked up @donnadowneyart 's studio low so many years ago...
2. Enjoyed 2 different lunches with girlfriends, dinner with good friends, and Mexican with the kiddos. It's nice to be home a bit. I've also read the first five books of the Edisto Island mystery series... sounds like a neat place.
3. Annndd... I'm almost completely up-to-date with the January page-a-day scrapbook challenge I committed to. I love this practice each January that helps me clear up the last pages of the year [2024, because I work a year out.]

#HardwickAdventures 

I am so enjoying

 

studying Ephesians with @hellojillsky [Jillian Ungerbuehler] and Illustrated Faith!

 We're taking a deep dive and studying 2 chapters a month as we go verse-by-verse.

 

 And I've already told y'all - I'm using these adorable whimsical winter woodland critters that kept popping up on my socials. I love them and needed a spot to preserve them. So Ephesians it is! Because, you guys, we CAN rest in Him. As believers, we are united with Christ, always and forever.  

These kits are still available in digital or hard copy over at Illustrated faith 

if you want to take a deep dive with me! 

 

#FaithBasedPages #faithart #Bibleart #Biblejournaling #IF_GloriousGrace

 @judyinhuntsville

@IllustratedFaith

2026 wk 04 Thursday Three:

 

1. We're back home - and our cats are happy to be able to go outside. 

But it's COLD y'all!

2. Have had a couple of trips to The Shoals this week to see Craig's mother, help get groceries, and get her to routine doctor appointments... all is well.

3. And we've spent A LOT of time working our volunteer airstream club jobs this week. Whew. Looking forward to rallying together with some great folks this year!

 

PS- too many of my *bereal* photos look like this... and I'm not sad about it.

 

PSS- Hwy 45 in Mississippi is A GIFT. 

[... the road we're driving on in this photo -] 

Aishling the Airstream Update No. 057

Let's talk about Cathedral Caverns State Park

From the internets: "Originally called Bat Cave, Cathedral Caverns was opened to the public by Jacob Gurley in the 1950s. The cave was renamed because of its cathedral-like appearance. Purchased by the state in 1987, it was opened as a State Park in the summer of 2000.  The first feature most people notice about Cathedral Caverns is its massive entrance. The huge opening measures 126 feet wide and 25 feet high, a world record for commercial caves. Inside the cavern are some of the most beautiful formations Mother Nature has ever created, including “Goliath”, one of the largest stalagmites in the world, measuring 45 feet tall and 243 feet in circumference." They also have a campground and cabins.

 

This is where we had our Vintage Airstream Club Region 6 Rally...

[originally planned for March but postponed due to SEVERE weather*]   

A LOT of planning went into this rally and we were so glad to have wonderful weather the weekend we were there - you just never know what these 'between season' months might do in the south!

We intentionally chose our campsite because it had this wonderful meadow behind it  [also one of the few sites - at the time- that had a good cell connection -] 

And I have to say - 

Craig made all my dreams come true with the lighting and multiple fire pits. 

I put out several tables and 

 

there was plenty of room so people could move about and visit together.

I wanted to create little pods

and I think it turned out well even we did in up all together by the time the weekend was over...

Did I mention we had beautiful weather?

While the 'colors' were not at their peak, 

they still gave us quite a show!

And as many times as I've been to Scottsboro, AL 

I have NEVER been to Payne's Soda Fountain where you can get the best slaw dog and 5c ice cream [on Thursdays, if you're old] around. 

Also - that gr-ma's potato salad was THE BEST. [Thanks for that pro tip, Linda!

 

And of course we had our nightly campfires -

Again [thank you, Craig] I LOVED our set-up in the meadow!

We had several activities planned for the weekend - and one was a trip to Unclaimed Baggage [look it up -] so fun with our group!

And OF COURSE we had to do the cave tour! 

It is beautiful!!

 

It's only about a mile or 1.5 long, but I had a messed up knee [twisted it somehow while we were in Dothan.. but thankfully after six weeks of babying it, all is well.]

 

But I did share some private transportation during the tour. lol -

So don't let the hike in prevent you from doing it.

[Maybe call ahead to schedule a golf cart tour guide though.]
 

I hope to go again when I can walk it and enjoy lingering

 around some of the best formations -

Driving through North Alabama was a pleasure.

And I'm so glad we could share our state with the almost 50 people attending the rally! 

 

Another outing was dinner at The Top of the River where they always have 

good catfish, cornbread, greens, and slaw! 

And sunsets!

 

It was pretty cool to have the 'original' VAC R-6 rally attendees** all together again - missing Doc and Cathy due to his passing last year...

[**since I've been region representative -] 

We've come a long way since the voodoo road in Natchez! - HA

 

All-in-all, I think it was a successful rally.

And I look forward to camping there again!

So - Cathedral Caverns State Park

There are basically two campgrounds - up front is 'improved' with full hook-ups.. and in back is more 'rustic' with no sewer and a bath house. I like both areas.

I never went in the bath house, but didn't hear any complaints, either... 

The cave is up the hill with plenty of parking. 

*The park was WONDERFUL to work with when we had to change plans due to weather. I mean - I really can't say enough about how great Judy and her staff were to us!! 

10 out of 10 stars for sure!

#HardwickAdventures

#AishlingtheAirstream  

2026 wk 03 Thursday Three

1. Finished a [very] good and BUSY week at CanOpener - an event with 150+ airstreams! Always fun!

2.Had a few relaxing days at Gulf State Park -- LOVE those trails, and who am i kidding? Our favorite seafood places too.

3. And on a whim, we decided to detour to Biloxi 'on our way home' where we met up with the Gulf Coast Crawl caravan with over 18 airstreams at our campground. COOL.

This is us.

#HardwickAdventures