Hello friends! This past week-end found our Travel Hosts and we girls
traveling to Northwest Alabama for a visit to Helen Keller's birthplace,
Ivy
Green. I was very much excited by the opportunity to explore Ivy Green and
see for myself the place famed for the miracle of Helen Keller's
re-awakening by the consistent - nay, persistent - efforts of her teacher,
Annie Sullivan.

Ivy Green now sits on ten acres in the midst of Tuscumbia's historic
district. The grounds are quite beautiful and very peaceful. My Travel
Hosts had risen with the dawn in order take advantage of the cool morning
for our visit. Hitty Jellicakes and I posed nicely on the marker leading
to
the house, then I, Hitty Dixee and Hitty Phillida arranged ourselves around
a statue of young Helen, reading a book written in Braille, that sits under
an enormous tree in the front garden.

It was the beginning of a lovely day....

Yours,

Hitty Annie Sullivan

I had quite a time posing for my portrait at the pump. I held my breath
while balancing on the chain that surrounds the well. It was a relief to
sit down on the porch of the "Little House". Behind me, you can see the
cookhouse for Ivy Green.

Hitty Annie Sullivan

The "Little House" was the "classroom" for Helen and Anne - a place for Anne
to work with the young Helen alone and away from the influence of the
family. After driving Helen around for hours to confuse her sense of place,
Annie and
Helen arrived at the "Little House", a mere hop, skip and jump away from the
main home.

I, myself, sat for one last portrait at Ivy Green in front of the cottage
and, sitting quietly, reflected on the courage of these two magnificent
women:
Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan.

Yours,

Hitty Annie Sullivan

As we left Tuscumbia, Alabama, one of my Travel Hosts decided to take a
small detour to visit an unusual spot. We wandered along back country roads
until we eventually came to a secluded memorial, deep in the woods and high
in the bluffs. I suspect what drew her here was her own fondness for the
"Bassett of Doom" - whom my Hitty sisters here in the Wiregrass endure daily
and with great fortitude. We were present at the "Coon Hound Cemetery".

After some small discussion among ourselves, we concluded that we all had
large reservations about hunting, however, we certainly had to give a nod of
approval to those who cherish their companion animals.

Yours, thoughtfully,

Hitty Annie Sullivan

A delightful drive through some pretty woods led us to a chirpy little
stream. We dutifully paid our fee and began hiking into the forest. Hitty
Phillida was the only one of the girls truly anxious to explore, so it was
only she, our Travel Hosts and I.

Our Travel Host took the first picture from the interior of the limestone
hollow under the bridge- you can see the bridge arching above. And then,
turning around, I posed on the rocks, with odd, green (really,
extraordinarily green - the photo does not tell the whole truth!), glowing
lichen or moss behind me.

Yours for today,

Hitty Annie Sullivan

My time in Alabama is drawing to a close and I still am very busy. My
company is much sought after!

Wednesday evening found me at the church of my Travel Hosts, assisting the
ladies with their preparations for their regular Wednesday evening supper.
A traditional Cajun meal was on the menu, including a large pot of gumbo. I,
however, was involved in preparing the grilled cheese sandwiches for the
very young and "un-gumbo-initiated". (Although I couldn't resist a peek into
the pot...)

I am so very glad I feasted well on Wednesday night, because Thursday took
me on quite a different sort of adventure and well in need of energy!

Yours, tastefully,

Hitty Annie Sullivan