Foggy Day on Shades Mountain

Vestavia Temple.of Sibyl

Looking South

Thank you Vestavia Country Club for always making this vista so beautiful in the spring.

Foggy Day on Shades Mountain

Vestavia's Sibyl Temple stands at the top of Shades Mountain on Highway 31 South, is a replica of the Sibyl Temple in Tivoli, Italy.

Child's Play

The cute kiddos at Vestavia Hills Elementary School West have way more fun than we ever.  All I can remember is Hop Scotch, Four-Square, Dodge Ball, and Kick Ball!

Biker Girls

Vestavia's McCallum Park is a cool, green oasis off Rocky Ridge Road. This day the kiddos were zooming around on their bikes enjoying the afternoon in the shade.

Forest Delights

Vestavia's Library in the Forest offers the added delight of a little path through the woods behind.

Traffic Stopper

The corner of Highway 31 and Shades Crest Road in Vestavia Hills has been in bloom for 30 years, thanks to the Men's Garden Club of Vestavia.  Traffic is always whizzing by this busy intersection but when you get caught by the light, it's a delight to see what they've added.  This arbor that is just blooming with purple clematis caught my eye.

BAM!

Yogurt Lab in Vestavia kicked it up a notch!

Dominoes Diva

Don't let her lovely smile fool you, she's a killer dominoes player at the New Merkle Senior Center in Cahaba Heights.

Well Ho Ho Ho!!!

Yesterday, Santa made a personal call to Catala Road in Vestavia Hills via the VHFD.  He heard there had been a lot of good boys and girls so he pulled up a chair in the Lawrence's front yard and had a chat with every one of them.  Unfortunately the low light made photographing that next to impossible.  Take my word for it, everyone enjoyed their time with the bearded one and I even gave him a kiss!

Skipping Off to Lunch

Liberty Park Elementary

High Tech

Promethean Boards are as common as spiral notebooks and No.2 pencils in our schools these days.  I had the pleasure of visiting the Vestavia Hills City Schools last spring as part of a photography assignment for the Chamber of Commerce's Vestavia Living Magazine.  Getting back into the classrooms was one of my favorite sites.   I've been retired for four years and things have changed in that short time.  

Sunday Church Series - The Episcopal Church of the Ascenion

The Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Vestavia Hills

On Golden Pond

Vestavia Hills Men's Garden Club keeps this pretty spot, on the corner of Shades Crest Road and Hwy. 31,  in full bloom year round and the fish very happy!

I Scream , You Scream....

We all scream for ice cream at Brewsters in Vestavia!

(And that's my Laura Kate taking a big bite! )

Learning From the Experts

Yesterday I had a delightful photo assignment.  I paid a visit to the New Merkle House Senior Center in the Cahaba Heights neighborhood of Vestavia Hills.  I got there just in time to observe a fine game of Rummikub and dominoes!  After watching this spirited game, I was invited to play a round with the experts.  This nice gentlemen helped me along, but as I was reminded that after this first game that would not be allowed!  Now maybe I can take on my grandchildren and have half a chance!

Patio Surfing

Vestavia Hills has a marvelous library they've named Library in the Forest.  Nestled in the woods on Hwy. 31, it is an inviting place to come and spend time inside and out.  The patio area on the upper level proved to be an enjoyable place to do a little computer work.

Sibyl Temple

Located on the crest in Vestavia Hills,  the beautiful  Sibyl Temple overlooks Shades Valley and farther north to downtown Birmingham. Click here to read more about its origin.

Fog on the Mountain

The beautiful suburb of Vestavia Hills lies south of Birmingham atop Shades Mountain.  If you're looking for some nice fog shots, this is the first place to check.  A few Saturdays ago, I headed up the "mountain" in search of some nice photographs.  I found them at Vestavia's  Sybyl Temple.  No view of the neighboring suburb of Homewood down in the valley this day. Vestavia was socked in,  but the fog enveloping the Temple was just what I had hoped for.

* Today my friend Peter is posting the "Sculptures of Tuileries " on his blog. He has kindly included one of my Eva from our Paris trip in 2007 .

Please go have a look!

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PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

The Tune du Jour is " Someone Like You" by Van Morrison

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Soccer, A Kick in the Grass on an Autumn Afternoon

I must confess that I am of the "pre soccer" generation.  I didn't grow up playing it.  Well that's an understatement, I hardly played Kick Ball.  It's only been in the last 20 or so years that I gave it much thought.  Now it's all the rage in Birmingham,  and our Chappell, age 5, is finishing up a rather stellar season.  I got to photograph the last game for these two Vestavia Hills teams yesterday.  What kind of a Mumsie would forget her 300mm lens????? I will blame that on fatigue.  That said,  I did the best I could with 8 cute 5 year olds running all over the field, and spilling over into the adjoining field as well!  As I said , I don't know much about soccer,  but I don't remember 3-4 coaches all out on the field ....well "herding cats" again. My daughter Kathleen was one of the coaches/herders.  She said that it's needed to help keep them "on track".  Well that's the truth!  You might notice that there are boys and girls on the same team.  When did that happen???   In the end, they had a terrific time, showed great sportsmanship, worked as a team,  and to my untrained eye, looked pretty skilled!   Congrats to our Chappy and her teammates for a great season!

The Tune du Jour is "Monday, Monday" by The Mamas & The Papas

PARIS COUNTDOWN....20 DAYS!

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