The Lady With a the Funeral Home Fan

My last trip to the Pepper Place Market, I passed this nice lady taking a little break from selling shelled peas and butter beans. It was HOT that morning and she was fanning with what looked like a towel.  I jokingly told here she needed a "funeral home fan".  The young man in the group photo below said he knew what I meant and ran to the truck and produced one.  It didn't come from a funeral home but it worked just fine.  She put it up when she saw my camera, but I sweet talked her into letting me get her photo. Voilá!  Thank you ma'am!!

The Bottle Tree

The Bottle Tree on Birmingham's southside is just a great fun and funky place to have a drink, some good food and hear live entertainment.   Chef Tom Bagby is a dear family friend,  and he's known for his killer pimento cheese,  as well as some delectable sounding vegetarian dishes,  which I regret to report I've not tried.  It's also a photographer's paradise,  and there will be more photos in days to come.  Don't you just love this table and chairs???   

You're A Grand Old Flag!

It's the Fourth of July.   All over Birmingham folks are cooking ribs, munching on potato salad and baked beans and cranking  homemade ice cream.  There's also a whole lot of flag waving going on.  My adorable next door neighbors,  Jay and William  patiently cooperated while Miss Virginia took a zillion photos in my driveway last week.   I thought you might also enjoy Kate Smith's legendary rendition of "God Bless America" as well. Nobody could sing it like she could!  Happy Birthday America!

Bend Over Let Me See You Shake a Tailfeather

Back in May, the STAIR tutors took their students to the Birmingham Zoo as an end of the year field trip.  I found these flamingoes to be great subjects.  They came very close to the fence and then did a little tail feather shaking for us! 

* I checked out Amir's Tehran Daily Photo blog today. He has posted a short message for us. You might want to read it. What a blessing to have him home safely and able to correspond with us again!

I don't know about you, but I LOVE Dan and John as the Blues Brothers. Sing it brothers!!!!

PORTRAITS FROM MY HEART - The Fab Five!

It's been quite a while since I've posted a photo for my Portraits From My Heart series. Today a RARE shot of all five and look, everyone's happy!   They lined themselves up by age. Left to right: Lindley 8, Eva 7, Chappell 6, Laura Kate and Davis both 4 1/2.  

The Fab Four has a tune for us today!

* They'll make another appearance on the 4th of July!

Empty - July CDPB Theme Day

Today City Daily Photo Bloggers around the world turn their cameras toward a common theme... EMPTY.  My contribution is this stack of wire baskets just waiting to be filled with fresh produce from Oak Street Market in Crestline Village.  

I love seeing how my City Daily Photo Blog friends around the world have interpreted the monthly theme.  Click below and see for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Pepper Place Market Revisited

Well, I got home from France last week and was feeling a little sad and experiencing some culture shock.  Saturday morning rolled around,  and I grabbed my market cart and camera and headed to the Pepper Place Market.  No, it's NOT the rue Mouffetard Market but it's a place that feels like HOME!  I did have a "Paris Moment"  at Continental Bakery's stall. I had a pain au chocolat that was EVERY BIT AS GOOD as the many I had in Paris, for which I am eternally grateful!!   I also tucked a baguette in my cart, another Paris staple that I can enjoy here in B'ham and was ever so delicious.  I love the energy of this market - the friendly people, the helpful, smiling vendors, the  live music, the flowers, the colorful fruits and vegetables....well everything about it.  And did I mention that everyone spoke my language  - SOUTHERN?  Of course I saw many friends there.  That's always a highlight for me, seeing friends old and new and catching up!   My photography buddy Bill  and I  watched Chef Frank Stitt do a cooking demo and visited the Lite Box Gallery's newest photography exhibit.  I have so many photos from this year and last year, I'll never be able to share them all.  Today a taste.  Enjoy!!!