Palm Crosses

Today Christians around the world will be celebrating Palm Sunday. The ladies of my church, Independent Presbyterian Church, spent Friday morning making these lovely crosses for all of us to wear today in rememberance. It's a technique that I admire but have not learned. I guess I'm just pleased to just watch them and be able to photograph the beautiful results.

Driftwood?

Well to be perfectly honest, I don't know if this is driftwood or not. On the other hand, it looks almost like dried bones. I've photographed these mobiles at Sweetpeas in Homewood a zillion times. My photographs don't seem to do them justice, or maybe I'm afraid you won't understand what they are! I tried again last week, and I think I'm ready to share. Whatever they are, they are bleached this wonderful pale gray and against the red.... I think I'm satisfied.

Mon Nouveau Parapluie

"Into each life some rain must fall." I say just pop open your chic Parisian parapluie and enjoy the view overhead.

Ella Fitzgerald and the Ink Spots have a tune for you today. You'll be very sorry if you don't give it a listen!

* I'm not at all certain my français is correct today.....quelle surprise! Correction s'il vous plait.

Doors From the Past I

I was fortunate to be able to have access to a wonderful treasure trove at The Garage last week. My photography buddy William Nolen and I were given access to an area where Fritz Whaley stores some wonderful architectural pieces. Mind you, it's a mélange of junk right alongside some very special finds. That's what we photographers delight in after all. William and I declared it another "mother lode"! There were so many fabulous old doors ( I thought I'd been transported back to Paris ) that I've decided to embark on yet ANOTHER series. Today the first, with many more to come.

For your viewing pleasure, William has made a little movie of our time spent at The Gargage right here.

Spring Is Busting Out All Over!

You'll have to pardon my gushing but it's been a long, cold, dreary, wet winter down here in the "Sunny South" and today was just a blessing for us all. I'm not sure what this gorgeous flowering tree is. I'll guess Bradford Pear and hope that a kind reader will correct me if I'm wrong. What could be more gorgeous? Happy sigh!

Birmingham's Idol Lends a Hand

About 4 years ago, Birmingham's favorite son Taylor Hicks, became our American Idol. We were thrilled. Taylor's not only talented but an all around nice guy. He was on a little break from touring with Grease, so he came home to visit friends and family. On Thursday he joined the hard working folks from Habitat for Humanity and Independent Presbyterian Church to help complete a Habitat home in the Wylam neighborhood. Of course I was there to capture the event!

BTW, when all the TV camera crews packed up and went home, Taylor was able to get some work done!

Mirror, Mirror

The Interiors Market at the Pepper Place on 2nd Avenue South is one of my favorite places to look around. Antique vendors have small rooms where they show everthing - antiques, furniture, rugs, artwork and accessories. It's always changing, so I always find something new. They also have some fabulous jewelry that I love to try on and drool over. Today some beautiful old mirrors and furniture in Martha Lauren's space. Look who kept getting in my shot!

A Glimpse of Spring

Taken at The Gardener's Gallery

Pepper Place

And that's about all we're going to have for a few days. Friday and Saturday we had our first sunshine sightings and warmer temps in what seems like weeks. Birmingham seemed to finally be waking from a long winter's slumber. Well today Mother Nature is going to flex her muscles once more. Rain and possible snow showers are expected today and tonight. I'm muttering under my breath. Don't ask.

Aftenoon Update: Mother Nature just called and said, "Just kidding!" It's poured all morning but now I think I see something bright in the sky. Wonder what that is???

RC Cola

My southern readers will remember RC Cola (Royal Crown). I found this old cooler at The Garage yesterday. All that's missing is a Moon Pie!

WANTED - The Whereabouts of the Cheyenne Diner!

My thanks to Ken Mac for this great shot of the Cheyenne while it was still in NYC!

Some of my long time readers remember when I first posted the terrific news that the Cheyenne Diner in New York City had been saved from destruction and was being moved to none other than.....Birmingham, Alabama! I was first alerted by my dear blog friend Ken Mac at Greenwich Village Daily Photo. He has a passion for the great old places in New York that have been preserved and unfortunately many that are being torn down to make way for who knows what! He and I rejoiced when the news spread that the Cheyenne had escaped the wrecking ball and was moving south. I was all prepared to photograph its arrival etc. Unfortunately, I've tried everything and everyone I know , and I still have not made contact with the new owner. I do know that this classic diner arrived in two pieces on the back of flatbed trucks many months ago. Since then, I've been unable to find out anything further. If any of my Birmingham viewers have a lead for me, please leave a comment or email me.

Ken Mac, when I find this place, you're going to have to make the trip to Birmingham to see it with me!

Number 100!!! 100 Hundred Strangers Challenge

Stranger # 100 !!!!!!!

Drum roll puhleeze!!! I've hit ONE HUNDRED STRANGERS! Meet Maria. As you know, I don't usually put a name with a face when I post my 100 Strangers. I don't know why, but I just want to share this lovely lady's name, since she holds the place of honor today. I guess if you want to "nit pick" as we say down south, she might not be an absolute stranger to me. When I frequent The Cantina, she is usually there, smiling and very busy. A few days ago I went for lunch, and she waited on me. After I finished my delicious fish taco, I asked if I could take her photograph. She agreed, so I ran to the car for my camera. She graciously posed while I found the right light. Maria, thank you for being my Stranger Number 100!

Now there's some blog chatter about what I'll do next. Well.......I'm going to keep right on. Why would I stop now?

Nigel the Holiday Hound

All Leprechauns aren't tiny!

Meet my neighbor Nigel. Nigel's humans, Kathryn and Jonathan, live a few blocks away, and I met him practically "eye to eye" while having wine at their home a few weeks ago. Kathryn said they like to dress him up for special occasions, so I jumped on that one. Today Nigel and I would like to wish you all a Happy St. Patrick's Day. Party on!

Stay tuned, he could become a blog regular. Think "bunny ears".

Fried Green Tomatoes

Today you're in for a treat. Sandi, a Birmingham blogger, who has a food blog called Whistle Stop Cooking and I met a few weeks ago at the Irondale Cafe ( the Whistlestop Cafe). Of course we both had fried green tomatoes and more!! Well Sandi's husband's family goes way back with the Irondale Cafe. I told her she could tell the story much better than I could, so today, Sandi is in charge of BADP. The top photo is hers as well. The Wall of Fame is a tribute to Fannie Flagg and the cast of the movie. Thanks Sandi for the day off!

"My friend Virginia and I met at the Whistle Stop Cafe in Irondale a week or so ago for lunch. It got me to thinking, and I remembered to ask Bill about how his family came to own the cafe. His dad was a railroad man, his mom was raising 3 kids... neither knew much about running a resturant.

So the story goes~~ Mr. Mac ate at this little cafe by the tracks in Irondale frequently. He loved the meat and veggies and sandwiches that Bess served. Miss Bess Fortenberry ran the small cafe with her friend Sue and a black cook named Lizzie. It was a thriving business, although small, with only enough seating inside for 31. Mr. Mac had talked to Bess about buying her cafe... before she would agree, she insisted that he have his wife come and talk to her. (smart woman!)
Mary Jo was busy on the other side of town raising kids and really didn't know much about Irondale or the cafe. She remembers walking into the tiny dim cafe to meet with Bess and was a little surprized. The cafe was in a small green framed building, with four booths and a counter for seating. There was a big Coca-Cola sign over the door and a couple of small dingy windows. Bess asked her "what in the world do you want to buy this cafe for?" Mary Jo assured her it was Mr. Mac's idea and she would only be working with him.
She remembers thinking she knew nothing about running a business but Dad was insitent. She drove back to Huffman, and prayed that Bess would decide to sell it to someone else. Instead... They became the owners of a cafe in Irondale. (or as Bill would say... the cafe owned them) Soon after they took over, the manager became sick and had to shorten her hours. The 'batter was made' and Mary Jo became a full time cafe owner/manager. Someone else's dream, became her reality.
By the 1980's cafe was a booming success, the old building had to be torn down to meet health department standards, and a new cafe was built. This new building seated 100 and had an automatic dishwasher, 5 deep fryers, and a modern kitchen. It wasn't long before they were busting at the seams again.
Then... one day in 1983, a local TV personality and author, named Fannie Flagg walked in and said she wanted to write a book based on her Great-Aunt Bess and her old cafe. Many of the stories from the novel 'Fried Green Tomatoes at the WhistleStop Cafe' are based on real life stories from the early days at the cafe.

My plate of fried green tomatoes and black eyed peas. Scrumptious macaroni and cheese just out of the photo.

Doggone Books - 100 Strangers Challenge

Stranger # 99

Meet my new friend Voris Williams. Voris opened Doggone Books - Used Books & Other Neat Stuff , in "downtown" Irondale when he retired. Actually he really was a stranger for the first minute and a half after I walked in to have a look around. After that we starting visiting and found out we had a mutual friend and learned a lot about each other! Voris is Stranger #99. One more to go. It could be this week. Stay tuned. Oh and did I buy anything here? You bet, a pocket map of Paris! :)