Welcome Fall!

I am declaring this a Sweetgum, but will welcome an expert opinions!

Sunday Church Series -Fall Color

I never tire of coming out my church, Independent Presbyterian, in the fall. This glorious Japanese Red Maple is glorious.

Glorious Autumn

This could very well be a new theme for this blog.  I think I've found more magnificent photos this season than spring and summer rolled into one.  I took this just outside the door of Henhouse Antiques in English Village.

Autumn at Lake Martin - View From the Slough Part I

Today we take a little trip down Hwy. 280 to Coosa County.  Why you ask?  Well my friends and I gathered for a "Girls' Night on Lake Martin" on Thursday.  The weather was perfect, the food delicious, the company delightful and the photo ops were so plentiful I could hardly put my camera down long enough to refill my wine glass!

The Last of the Hydrangeas

SIGH!

How beautifully leaves grow old.  How full of light and color are their last days. 

 ~John Burroughs

Peter Piper Picked a Peck of ....

perfect pumpkins!

I waited as long as I could for the first, but not the last of the pumpkin photographs this season.  They come in so many fascinating colors and shapes now, I'm snapping them right and left!

Oak Street Garden Shop

Crestline

Autumn Afternoon's Light

Today I am pleased to feature the work of another one of my photography students, Sara Pennington.  We all thought that this was one of her best,  and one that really demonstrated what she had learned from our lesson on using light and shadows.

I am planning to begin a new series of classes: From Snapshots to Photographs right after Christmas.  If you are interested please email me !

Autumn Becomes You

The Birmingham Museum of Art looks even better with these gorgeous autumn leaves don't you think?

Bare and Beautiful

Allée of crape myrtle trees

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

What most of you don't know is that I have a cadre of photography friends that often get the distinct pleasure (?) of critiquing my photos before they go up here. Sometimes I listen and sometimes I don't, and they know that. Today's photo got a positive but rather noncommital answer from Wayne, who is usually trying not to rock my boat. Bob Crowe , is an attorney so it's safe to say he's not scared of me or anyone else, and as always the silver-tongued lawyer, he said, "It sort of has a blend of autumn starkness and grace." Two thumbs up, more or less, so here it is! Thanks guys, the check's in the mail as always.

I chased the setting sun all over the gardens Friday. With Daylight Savings Time coming to an end, I'll need to get my act together if I'm going to take advantage of the afternoon light I love. I really liked the last rays on these polished trunks and branches.

My friend Daryl has persuaded me to enter this photo at Aileni's Monochrome Weekly. Please visit her site and and the amazing monochrome work shown there every week!

Seed Pods

I walked all around my Forest Park neighborhood yesterday. A glorious, warm , sunny autumn day. I found so much to share with you. Today, these nice seed pods.

I see so many new BLOG FOLLOWERS! Thank you so very much for following my blog and for your visits and comments. Merci!

Ooops! Looks like Blogger has eaten you all again. Burp!

So Long Summer - 2009

Back in the good ole days, when the kids didn't go back to school till after Labor Day (instead of the first week in August), today marked the end of summer and the beginning of fall. It was set in stone, along with the mandate that no white shoes etc were to be worn one minute past Labor Day!!!! The new school calendar around here leaves one a bit bewildered about exactly when fall begins, but I'm going with Labor Day. Now if you live in Birmingham, you won't be packing up those summer clothes for about a month or maybe two, or even thinking about whipping a pot of chili. But we do have the start of our college football, and autumn leaves are already scattered around my yard even though the AC is still chugging. So today, I offer this farewell to summer.... a cool, delicious photo from the lemonade guy at the Pepper Place Market, and Billie Holliday is even going to croon "Summertime" just for you!!!

Glorious Golden Leaves

Go ahead, I know what you're thinking, "Shameless self promotion of grandchildren again."  Actually I was going to run the nice photo below that I took at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens the other day. The trees around here are virtually begging to be photographed.  Then this afternoon , Laura Kate and I took a spin through the gardens for a little diversion, and I grabbed a few snaps of her in exactly the same spot,  before she put her foot down!  (When that happens, it's time to move on.)  So which would YOU put on the portal....L.K. or the tree/gate shot??? That's what I thought.  Now I have cleared my Daily Photo conscience.

There are two Tunes du Jour today.  The first is "Will and Anna" from Nottinghill. The second is a song I found a while back and have held onto until the election. It will bring a chuckle no matter who you voted for.  "Dear Mr. President" by Randy Newman from Forest Gump.

PARIS COUNTDOWN....10 DAYS!

Discover Various Artists!

Discover Randy Newman!

Autumn Bistro

The nice thing about living in the "burbs" is that you can run to the grocery store and then make a quick left at the Botanical Gardens to catch a few quick shots.  I walked around for about half an hour and enjoyed the warm late afternoon sunshine.  The last roses of summer are fading, but some still beautiful and  sweet smelling (see below).   The leaves are almost ready to put on a grand show in the very near future.   I especially liked this scene with the sprinkling of golden brown leaves all around.  Oh,  I'll be back!

 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

OK, I haven't dressed up for Halloween since about the 7th grade.  That said, in a weak moment I let Wayne talk me into being Natasha to his Boris today. We are both so O.L.D. that we forgot until a while ago.  In case you are wondering, YES,  Natasha and I have similar figures! In fact we look very much alike except for hair color of course. Now who wants to be Bullwinkle??? Anyone???

The Tune du Jour is  "Young at Heart" by Frank Sinatra.  Why you ask?  Because going to Paris really is a fairy tale come true!

PARIS COUNTDOWN....16 DAYS!!!!

Discover Frank Sinatra!

Pumpkins with Pizazz!

Even though our temperatures are still saying summer, there are some signs of autumn popping up around town.  Sweet Peas Garden Shop in the suburb of Homewood is spreading the news.  If you want an everyday, run of the mill orange pumpkin just stop by the grocery store. But, if you are looking for pumpkins (gourds?) with a little pizazz,  you better beat it over to Sweet Peas. I snuck up on their porch while they were closed yesterday and snapped a few photos for you before they got picked over.  I think I might have just found my next banner photo !

Thanks for all the comments yesterday regarding the pros and cons of the lowly but ever so tasty OKRA.  Rumor has it that I might be the new commissioner of the Okra Council of Alabama!

A special note:  Congratulations to our friend Olivier from Evry, France Daily Photo.  The city of Evry has honored him with a lovely exhibition of his photographs during their Heritage Day celebration.  His photos are displayed along the road leading to the Seine.  Please visit his site today and see his video and photos of the installation.  Bravo Olivier!

The Tune du Jour is a good one, "Only You" by the Platters.  

Clinging to Summer

Autumn hasn't found its way down to Alabama just yet.  Oh the days are shorter, the kids have been back in school for over a month now, SEC football is at fever pitch,  and Halloween mania has hit every shop in town , but the weather still feels like summer!  This outrageously gorgeous bucket of zinnias caught my eye at the Pepper Place on Saturday.  A sure sign that summer's not ready to pack her grip and make way for fall anytime soon.   Why,  it's still flip-flop weather!!!  So how's the weather in your part of the world?

The Tune du Jour is a good one -  "Summertime" by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.  You will want to sit back and listen to every minute of this.