AHG Backyard Campout

 

This was the normally scheduled AHG spring campout weekend that we were planning to be at Oak Mountain State Park.  But instead of a state park campout, our troop decided to do one in the backyard during our time of quarantine.  Anabelle was working on her Explorer badge for camping, and it required her to put up her own tent and sleep in it for two nights.  So as I was putting up the family tent, I told Belle that I would help if needed when I was done...but that was not needed.  Davis had previously shown her how to put up this one man tent that I guess is now hers.  And she had it down with no help.  She was SO excited to be on her own, and me and Ruby had the large tent all to ourselves (No, you know Magan slept in the bed).  Ruby thought she was big stuff on the Queen Size Air Mattress in her OWN room of the 10 person tent.  I had my blow up  air pad and sleeping bag and was fine.  We got rained on the first night, but it was nice.  Me and the girls played Stomple before reading a chapter of The Borrowers, then Anabelle left us for the night. 

 

During the Saturday, I had some activities for Belle's badgework...we worked on Soap Carving, and made hiking sticks.  We had recently cut down some Cyprus trees that had been dead for like 3 years...but our neighbor Rob said that the limbs made excellent hiking sticks.  So I cut off the big branches, and the girls then sanded down their hiking stick, then spraypainted it (Belle chose blue, Ruby pink).  I made a smaller hiking stick for our other neighbor's little boy Anders.  And during all these hiking stick making, Davis and Sam jumped in and made one also. 

 

That evening the girls had a zoom campfire meeting with all the others in the troop.  And earlier in the day, Sam and I marked out a trail in the woods behind the house, and that night I let Belle lead us on a night hike thru the woods and along the creek.  We were looking for wildlife, but I don't think we were quiet enough.  The girls got to use their hiking sticks, altho I think Belle's was still wet.  That night in the tent was VERY WINDY.  Davis joined us and slept on the big bed with Ruby.  I don't remember anything else, but the tent was also used as a Barbie mansion and play area.  Love that these girls love camping out, and I am also glad this is only a couple of weekends a year...as I did not sleep well that second night. 



 

Genealogy - A Biography of Jan Junkin written by Sam Junkin

Jan Junkin's life starts where others do, at birth.  She was born June 21, 1939 in Hamilton Alabama.  At age 10, she moved to Mississippi.  Here was the first place they had the luxury of indoor plumbing.  She went to a school that had two classrooms with coal burners as heaters, a study hall, and a lunch room.  While a student, she made it her duty to go to every sporting game. 

In her 8th grade year, the moved to Tuscaloosa.  There they found themselves in a horrible icestorm.  This house in Tuscaloosa had 1 bedroom, a closet, a living room, a kitchen and a dining room, but they had an outhouse. 

They then  moved to Gordo, and for the next 4 years, she remembered loving being in the band.  She married Thomas Junkin in August 11 of 1956.  They lived in Birmingham, and both worked.  On Janettes 19th birthday, she had her first child, Tim Junkin, and in 1958, Tanya was born.  In 1965, Tera was born. 

In 2006, they moved to Cullman and on January 8, 2006 Thomas died.  Then on November 9, 2010 Myrtle, Jan's mother, died. 

My mawmaw was generation 10 of the Davis family from Hezekiah Davis.  William Junkin was board on September 4, 1869 in Gordo, Pickens County Alabama, and died on April 26, 1959.  The Junkin family is from Gordo in Pickens county.  Jody Davis was a family member that was a famous baseball player. 

I've learned about a lot of my family coming out of Pickens county Alabama on the Junkin Side, and also that the Ratcliff side was all from Alabama.  I learned that my great grandmothers line of Davis came out of Georgia primarily, so in conclusion, my family has been in the Southern States and mainly Alabama for many generations.

Post Script from Dad...Troop 354 had a guest speaker on genealogy and both Sam and Davis were working on this merit badge.  In completing his interview, and the subsequent report, Sam has earned the merit badge.  These blogs are my connection to our families stories.  I am so happy to have a record from MawMaw "Let me tell you about my Grandpa" as these stories paint the pictures during a time that we didn't take pictures of every moment...our genealogy is filled with stories that are mostly untold, but even in little snips, they paint a picture of my sweet grandmother marching in a band and cheering at a football game. 

Another trip thru Orr Park

This set of pictures was to be yet another Frisbee golf outing, but we were on an adventure for a new golf course to play, and looking to play in Calera at Veterans park.  We picked up some Hardees on the way, and pulled into Veteran's park to find that they had garbage bagged the Frisbee golf holes, AND there was posting that no one could even be in the grass.  This seems strange to me, as people were running all over the trails and running next to one another and past one another, and to get away from them out in the middle of a wide open field...well that type of social distancing was not allowed.  So we ate our biscuits, and drove down to Montevallo to check out Orr Park.  We had first visited this park in 2017, so I tried to gather the kids for some recreations of those shots, you will see a few below.  We all remembered that Ruby LOVED this place and wanted her picture then with EVERY carving.  It was not much different this time, she still wanted her pic with most.  And Davis just had to get a toe in the water.  And even Sam could not refrain from sticking his head into a carving.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter Weekend



So this Easter would not have a special Easter service at church, but we still had time to dye some eggs and hide some eggs.  The girls did get to wear some pretty dresses that morning while me and the boys wore our sweatpants to the zoom meeting. This year, the Easter bunny planned a special fun set of clues with various gifts found throughout the hunt.  The girls were also up at 4:30 AM to begin this fun day, but were kind enough to wait till 5:45 AM before waking me and Magan.  I had fun watching them on their journey of clues that led them outside several times (with a flashlight...remember it was 5:45AM), led them into our room in the closet, a quiet peek into the boys room, and even a trip back into their room (The Easter Bunny had visited everyone that night with clues in this easter basket hunt)...and finally to the secret hiding place for their gifts...Mom's photography studio.  The Easter bunny had gotten a couple of games that Ruby could play since she was always getting kicked out of spades and hearts...and the games of stomple and Ticket to Ride have become good games for the whole family. 

 

The Saturday before Easter, we went to what may be the only open green area with a picnic table not roped off in all of Birmingham.  We had a great meal from Margarita grill...where we were able to get Magan's craving...Queso Dip.  Me and the boys practiced our Frisbee golf throwing techniques, then me and the girls did some gymnastics, then we played I Spy, then I tried to "read their mind" and "read their palms" to figure out what they were thinking of...haha, Buby liked the magic I was trying...while Belle just rolled her eyes a bit.  It was a fun time, and then I remember falling asleep on that grass for awhile in the sun.  A good day.  A wonderful weekend. 

 

I also found the Easter Bunny's letter this year...so figured I would attach it below...

 

Hippity Hoppity Easter’s Finally Here!   Hey guys! I hope you like all the treats this year. 

Wow, this is a crazy year, but I am glad you guys are doing well, and quarantined at your house.  It did not bother me, but I am being safe and wearing a cute little bunny mask that one of Santa’s elves made me.  Did you guys know that they are making masks for many of the doctors and nurses?  Oh, and Santa and Mrs. Claus are also doing well, they are used to staying at home in the North Pole for most of the year. 

 

Belle…I heard about that crazy tooth you finally lost.  The tooth fairy told me that she came by your house every night for two weeks thinking it would be out.  I am sorry you are missing your friends during this time, but I have some prizes at the end of this adventure that will hopefully bring some smiles. 

 

Ruby…You are getting so big!  I can’t believe that you are already in kindergarten.  Do you like carrots?  I like carrots…but you guys would not be happy if I just brought carrots…haha…I found some of those candy carrots, how bout those?  I hope you like all the candy, and you will love the surprizes too!

Sam and Davis…You boys are also getting sooo big.  These little baskets just don’t hold all the candy.  Hey, I got you guys a few prizes too, but I am guessing those girls will beat you to the adventure, so they will probably just leave your prizes by your easter baskets.  I hope you guys will use your prizes to have some fun time with your sweet sisters. 

I left some treats for your mom and dad up high on the mantel, they get my leftovers.  And girls…I have hidden 12 eggs in the living room and dining room for you to find.

Ruby and Belle:  To find your prize, you must work together to find each clue.  These clues will lead you on an adventure, but at the end is your prizes.  I hope you can find them!  If you need any help, just wake your dad up, he used to find all the clues I left for him when he was a little boy. 

Clue #1 - This is a place that gets really hot, also where your mamma makes tater tots!  Oh, and I left you a garbage bag for your adventure…heee heee   you might find some prizes on the way!

You guys be good, and I’ll see you next year…

E. B.

PS…As I said before above, I hid a few eggs around the house, but I want to be fair, so Sam and Davis, there are 8 eggs hidden downstairs in the den.  Maybe you can find them while you play your video games.