Stairway to.......First Avenue?

Historic Morris Avenue, in downtown Birmingham,  is one quaint cobblestoned place.  This stairway  leads to Birmingham's First Avenue North.  

Bunnies and Kittens and Lilly, Oh My!

Many of my longtime readers will remember this precious child.  Last October,  I featured my dear friends' daughter Lilly right before she had her first cochlear implant at Children's Hospital. We are so very thankful that she has hearing in that ear now!  Yesterday her mommy asked me to take more photos before her second surgery scheduled for today.  I am blessed.   Lilly, we are praying for you and send all of our love your way!

After the Rain

The week before the "blizzard", we had 24 hours of pouring rain and thunderstorms.  When it finally let up I took a long walk and then stopped by the Botanical Gardens to check on "spring".  Everything was dripping wet,  and I enjoyed trying to capture it all. 

 

Please click on each photo and enlarge to catch the raindrops for yourself!

Clickety Clack....Don't Talk Back!

A side trip to Charlotte Woodson Antiques, in Mt. Brook Village after my walk yesterday was yet another treasure trove for me.  I ended up spending about 2 hours with Dinah, the delightful owner, talking about France of course, and photographing so many lovely things in her beautiful shop. This is why I LOVE doing this blog. I meet so many interesting, friendly people!!!  Today,  her mint condition Corona.  Isn't it just the best? 

Red Hot Chili Cook-Off

The Chef!

Saturday I stopped by the Exceptional Foundation's Chili Cook-Off at Homewood Park.  The Exceptional Foundation holds a special place in my heart. Many of our Shades Cahaba's kids have been a part of this wonderful program,  and I was pleased to support their fundraiser. What a well run , fun event this was. Many groups in town participated, and I tasted WAAAAYYYY too many of the great recipes!  

The Four Amigos

The Davis Cup Dudes

Singing the Blues

Saturday Night I had the pleasure of attending a concert right here in my neighborhood.  My friends the Izards, hosted  Malcolm Holcombe in their home as part of the Small Stages concerts. For a nominal fee  ( a portion of which goes to the host's favorite charity) you bring your own chair and beverage, and  get to enjoy a great evening of musical  entertainment. Malcolm Holcombe, a funky,  bluesy singer, was the featured musician.  I'll have to admit I was a little skeptical.  However, my blog friends Wayne and Bob have been trying to push me out of my musical "box" so I thought I'd give Malcolm a whirl.  Whooo eeeeee! He was something else!  I stayed to the bitter end and had some fun. Thanks to the Izards and Malcolm for helping me spread my musical wings.  I'll be at their next home concert for sure!

It's That Time!!

  As many of you remember, this time last Sunday I was running all over my yard photographing Birmingham's big snowfall!  Well here we are a week later,  and the temperatures are in the 70's. What's  more fun when the weather warms up than taking your shoes off and getting your piggies in the nearest fountain!  I caught this brother and sister doing just that on Friday at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.  The joys of springtime!!

TWO THINGS CHALLENGE: Stars/Stripes

STARS - la tour Eiffel

Once in a blue moon I participate in the prestigious Two Things Challenge.  I am always so pleased with myself when I can......  1. Figure out what the 2 THINGS CHALLENGE is for the week  2. Can find something to enter!  Well today it's a titch of a stretch but I am happy to be part of Team 2 Things again!  Stars and Stripes is our theme this week.  My stars is none other than the fabulous Eiffel Tower resplendent with the stars signifying the European Union.  The stripes is the bamboo forest in the afternoon sunlight at the Japanese Gardens. 

To see how other bloggers interpreted this theme click here.

 A Special Thank You! 

My talented friend Mary Beth Shelton and I did a portrait swap this week.  My new avatar is her work.  She and I met a year ago when we were in a photography class together. We have learned from each other ever since.  I admire her work and was so honored that she asked me to photograph her.  Check out her website!  

STRIPES - Bamboo Forest, Japanese Gardens

Let's Sit on the Porch!

Don't laugh.  It's almost porch sittin' weather down here.  I'm lucky enough to have a patio that is fine in the spring and fall.  Summer tends to be a bit "buggy".  Those folks blessed with screened porches get a lot of company in the summer months!  This little porch is on the back of Kevin Irwin's studio near downtown Birmingham.  Wednesday evening when we were enjoying wine and cheese there , it was nice enough to have the doors open.  I'm trying out that rocker on my next visit.

Sunset Reflections

City Federal Building

These sunset photographs were taken from my very talented artist friend, Kevin Irwin's studio near downtown Birmingham. The top photo is the City Federal Building in the distance. The reflection you see is Kevin's studio. The bottom photo is the old Liberty National Building on southside. Kevin hosted our Cliff Road Women's group yesterday afternoon. I am fortunate to be a part of this interesting, diverse and fun group of women from my neighborhood. Everyone had a grand time touring the studio and oohhing and aahing over her amazing artwork. You've already been to her studio here. We'll be back. I have tons of photos.

Liberty National Building

The Faces of A NIGHT IN OZ

We're back at the Birmingham Children's Theater's wonderful fundraiser - A NIGHT IN OZ*.  How could I pass up a chance to show you some of the adorable faces I captured?  There were way too many for one post.  I've saved a few more to share later.

Remember, if you would like to make a donation to the Birmingham Children's Theater, click here for more information.

* See yesterday's post for more photos of this event

Well of course she looks familiar!

A NIGHT IN OZ

Dozens of darling Dorothys !

Saturday evening I had the pleasure of taking photographs at the Birmingham Children's Theatre's first fundraiser sponsored by their Junior Board.  Held at the beautiful Southern Progress building in Homewood, this was a family event.  An Evening in Oz ....think adorable kiddos dressed to the nines in gingham Dorothy dresses, lots of red, sparkly shoes, scarecrows, lions,  Munchkins, and many, many Glenda's resplendent in their pink gowns.  The Junior Board didn't miss a trick. They had creative crafts, the most elaborate facepainting and kid appropriate food, including a self serve "Pixie Stix" machine that insured a sugar high from now to next year! (My grandson hasn't come back to earth yet.)  The theatre's talented actors,  plus other local singers,  mesmerized the audience with fabulous music from the play and everyone had a really good time!  Sadly the cuts in local and state funding have made this a necessary way for this fabulous community theatre to keep the doors open .  Please go to their website here, if you feel you can make a donation. 

TOMORROW:  The Faces of A Night in Oz!

It's Snow Joke!

Alabama Snowmobile

I did two years of hard wintertime in Iowa and Wisconsin many years ago, and I haven't forgotten one minute of it.  I'm not one of those pie in the sky southerners who spend their whole winter yearning for some kind of snow. Let's just say I've been there, done that. Yesterday's snow was just like I like it.  It snowed hard , made for some gorgeous photos, all the kids got to build snowmen and sled a little, the roads stayed clear, we didn't lose POWER, and it was over and done in a day!!!!  What could be more perfect?  Wayne asked me if we had snow plows in Birmingham. I told him we didn't have anything down here that started with the word SNOW. (Well we do.... Snow Cones).   Birmingham is very hilly and when it ices that pretty much shuts us right down.   One day is plenty thank you.  Now you have to look at a few more photos today cause I'm not through.

BLOG UPDATE: Please hop on over to my producer/manager Wayne's redesigned blog....Meandering in Lotus Land.  Same great photos of Vancouver BC,  just not always daily. My oh my, isn't he the smart one!

Just when you think it's time to sit outside on the porch...... it snows in Alabama!

Mixed message

Transformation

March Theme Day - GLASS

As I am famous for, I used my really best "glass" photos a few weeks back,  so I have been scrambling for something for today's City Daily Photo Theme Day.  I regret that this entry is not from Birmingham, but that's how it goes.   Welcome to the  Museé Carnavalet in Paris' Marais district.  A beautiful place that you should put on your "to do"  list if you ever get lucky enough to visit Paris.  I took a lot of photos through this unusual window,  and I am giving you two different shots so that you get the feel.  It overlooks the gorgeous rose garden.  I think this might be my favorite window in Paris.

City Daily Photo bloggers around the world are sharing their interpretation of GLASS!
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

LATE BREAKING WEATHER!!!

Well look what happened in Birmingham overnight!  This happens every few years - a very late snowfall when we THINK spring is here.  Enjoy these images I captured this morning.  It's still snowing and baby it's COLD outside!!!!

PS, Come back tomorrow for more. I've been jealous all winter of all your fabulous snow photos, I'm going to milk this one for all it's worth!

This is Chez Virginia!

My neighbor's yard. 

10:00 a.m. and it's snowing again like crazy!!