100 Strangers Challenge - The Cutie Patooties!

Stranger # 89

Well I just sat myself on the steps at the Pepper Place Market last Saturday with my friend Bill and watched the people and the dogs parade by us. These two little strangers just practically plopped in my lap. The "Ice Cream Girl" and her family sat down with us. She wanted to "pose" for me, but for once , I waited. Eventually the ice cream won out, and she had to have an unposed LICK! The little curly head below, walked right up, gave me a very serious stare and said, "Will you take my picture?" Well you bet sweetheart. I snapped and snapped and she continued to stare. I knew the shadows were too dark so I waited, eventually she glanced away and I got this shot. I'm almost at the end of the 100 Stranger Challenge. I'm thinking this is way too much fun. I' m not done.

Stranger #90

Two Things Challenge -Early/Late

Early

Here today ...........gone two hours later. Fresh peaches grown right here in Alabama don't last long at the Pepper Place Market on a Saturday. This truck was full and they went like hot cakes...... I mean like peach cobbler!

I FINALLY join my beloved TWO THINGS CHALLENGE TEAM again. YEAH!!! To see how the rest of the gang interpreted the challenge click here.

LATE

Yellow

I was at Sloss Furnaces last Saturday waiting for the train to pass..............took advantage of the view. Not my usual, but I think my granddaddy, who worked for the Missouri-Pacific Railroad as a switchman, would have liked these.

TKO

Technical Knock Out is the only electronic recycler in Alabama. They recycle anything that plugs in except a TV. The components all stay in the good ole US of A. IN 2008. they recycled 142 TONS of metal, 6.9 TONS of wire, and 11 tractor trailers full of circuit boards, power supplies, floppies (I resent that!), and opticals. My friend and co-owner, Elise mans their booth at Pepper Place Market every Saturday. She loves talking to the patrons and seeing the PPM dogs. Last Saturday I found these colorful "mother boards". Elise thinks they look like mini-cities. I do too!

Just Melons

Averiett Branch Farms

Pepper Place Market

It's all about the light, isn't it!

The Crape Myrtles are a Bloomin'

This time of year Birmingham is covered with the blossoms of the crape myrtle. They come in all colors of white, lilac, pink and my personal favorite that I call watermelon, shown here today. Birmingham 'eye candy' for sure!

Stokin' the Fire BBQ and Music Festival

As your roving reporter in Birmingham, I found myself at Sloss Furnaces on Saturday morning to cover the Stokin' the Fire BBQ and Music Festival. Alas, the BBQ tasting wasn't until 4:00 that afternoon, but I wandered around the whole place and checked out the team tents and the various grills/smokers. I'm a fair barbeque smoker myself, and I have to tell you that there were some mighty fine rigs out there. I don't know who the winners were, but I can tell you that everyone was having a fine time at 11:00 and I can only imagine how much fun they were having by nightfall when the music really cranked up. Oh and just for the record, my two favorite team names were: "Bad to the Bone" and "Bubba Q"!

Just one of the Mega-Grills!!

My southern readers won't need an explanation here but for the rest of you, this is a smoked Boston butt. It has nothing whatsoever to do with Boston or anything Yankee. Butts (excuse my French), ribs and I think chicken were the categories for judging.

Pepper Place Dogs

The Trifecta

What can I say, these Pepper Place dogs are so darn cute, I can hardly stand it!

If you're happy and you know it........ wag your tongue!

Foxglove

Have a bon Sunday everyone!

When the Cat's Away.....

Apparently while I was running loose in Paris this summer, the spiders were spinning out of control - right here on my window ledges. Someone needs a good window washer! This photo is proof positive that the late afternoon light can make anything look good.

Another Gathering Storm

Grab your glass, it's time to head inside!

( Evie's deck)

Tea Party

Tuesday, I ran in to Village Press in Mountain Brook Village to buy some cards. They have a terrific selection of cards, invitations, and stationery, not to mention a helpful and friendly staff. What a pleasant surprise to find that they were having a tea party for their patrons. My cute little friend Elizabeth, was having a grand time sampling the pink lemonade and cookies while her mom was shopping! I was able to talk her into just one more cookie so I could take her picture.

Rest in Peace , Dear Willie

The hardest part about having a pet is having to say goodbye when they are ready, but you're not. I lost my sweet granddog Willie on Monday. He was much loved by our family and especially his soulmate, Ivy and Kittykins, who secretly loved him but wouldn't admit it. From the day he joined our family, he was the sweetest and gentlest dog you could ever love. Man's best friend indeed.

Lunch at Bettola

Today I had lunch at Bettola at Birmingham's Pepper Place ( Martin Biscuit Co. to be exact). Bettola is a really hip place, and I always feel very "with it" when I dine there! I met my cute friend from the Birmingham Children's Theatre, Nancy Jones, there to discuss an exciting photography project that she's proposing for me to shoot this fall. Oh don't you worry, you'll get to see it all from start to finish. Stay tuned!

P.S. Nancy tells me she is a trés faithful fan of both my blogs. Merci beaucoup mon amie! And you all will get to see her in person , I promise!!!

Snazzy Zinnias

The best part about summer? Being able to pick ( or buy) a glorious bouquet of zinnias!! These are not the shrinking violets of the flower world. Nope, they are about the sassiest things around this time of year. Their hot vibrant colors just make me smile. Saturday Eva and Davis helped me pick out a bouquet for my dear, dear friend Mary Ann, who needs all our heartfelt prayers and good thoughts right now. We shared a sniff with a very friendly Dalmatian on the way out. Enjoy!

A GREAT BIG WELCOME......

to Colleen at her new Montgomery, AL Daily Photo blog. What fun to have another blog friend posting from Alabama. Check it out!

Nice Folks at the Pepper Place

Oh I know that I post photos from the Pepper Place Market all the time. Well it's just as my blog friend Bob Crowe, calls it - A Photographer's Buffet! I haven't been in town much this summer, so this was only my second vist. I just love it because of all the great people that work the booths. Today a sampling. The lady in the top photo is an example of "Southern Hospitality". She is having a nice chat with a customer . She's probably giving her a delicious recipe, explaining how ripe it is, or telling her all about their farm and how that gorgeous peach is raised. ( She might even be telling her how cute her grandchildren are...who knows! ) Southerners like to "visit". It's what we love, and we're damn good at it! ( Excuse my French!) The gentleman in the bottom photo was shucking corn at lightning speed. I took the liberty of stepping behind the table of fresh vegetables in order to get a good shot of his technique! He's yet another on of my 100 Strangers Challenge. In case you're wondering. I have no idea how many I have at this point. Well close to 100 I'm thinking. Why stop now? This is a blast!!!!

Green Shutters

I spotted these aged to perfection green shutters at my friend Billy Angell's Oak Street Garden Shop in Crestline Village. They are all "peely" and crusty, but I like 'em a whole lot!!

The Hours Passed........

and the picture stayed. Apparently there was a time when this was a problem and could ruin a good dinner party in a heartbeat . At the risk of showing my age (like that's been a big secret), I do remember holding the "rabbit ears" just a certain way so the picture would come back, and my parents' endless talk about the dreaded picture tube going out! Thankfully the T.V. pictured here didn't ruin the evening for Joan Crawford and her friends! This vintage sign, preserved on the side of the Midtown Center on Birmingham's southside reminds me of the ones our friend Ken Mac has shown us on his fabulous Greenwich Village Daily Photo Blog. KM, this one's for you.

Rhonda

Back in the spring I posted quite a few photographs from the wonderful Magic City Art Connection held in downtown Birmingham at Linn Park. I was digging around in my archives last night and found this portrait. You all know I'm not Photoshop savvy, but this photograph was so blown out from the harsh noontime sun, I fiddled in Iphoto a little and here's what I got. I like it or maybe I was in Paris too long, I don't know. I think it suits Rhonda's style and her exuberant artwork! I regret I no longer have her card, so if any of my readers know her please contact me and I will post her info.

15 MINUTES OF FAME

Some of my Paris photographs are now featured on a new online magazine, Norwizzle!!

I will also be doing some photography work for them from time to time.

Cup of Java at O'Henry's

The Table/Chair Series is alive and well!!!

O'Henry's Coffee Shop in downtown Homewood is where my friend Doug and I like to meet for a morning chat from time to time. He's a photographer ( you met him here as my sub in June) so he wasn't a bit embarrassed when I grabbed my camera and started taking some shots in the middle of our conversation!

GOOD NEWS !!

My luggage has turned up in Nashville be home at noon today. That's a very good thing.

Jones Valley Urban Farm- A little green amongst the asphalt

A garden plot tended by a group from the YWCA

Welcome back to the Jones Valley Urban Farm.  A non-profit agency that utilizes 3 acres of vancant downtown property.  They raise vegetables and flowers and do a terrific job of educating the community about healthy food.  I've posted about this great place here.  I also stop by their booth at the Pepper Place on Saturdays to buy their organically grown produce.

The JVUF's booth at the Pepper Place Market always has a terrific variety of cut flowers as well as organically grown veggies.

Chow Chow???

I know what most of you are thinking, what the heck is CHOW CHOW?  If you Google it you will most likely find many canine sites. That's not what we're talking here.  Chow chow is a southern delicacy that we eat with blackeyed peas etc.  It's a type of relish,  and you can find some mighty fine chow chow at the Pepper Place Market on Saturdays in Birmingham.  Go on and hit this link and see what's in it.

The End of the Line

USO Members greet servicemen returning home for R & R. What a treat to see the

crowds gathered and clapping for these fine young men!

Last night I flew into the Atlanta Airport expecting to zip right on home to Birmingham. NOT! I found the last two flights to BHM overbooked and after trying to catch the airport shuttle (the last one had already left the airport) and rent a car ( they wouldn't accept my temporary driver's license), I decided to go to a nearby hotel and wait till morning for the 10:30 shuttle to BHM. That worked and by 12:30 we drove into BHM and I was home at last. Today a few shots I took at the airport. Tomorrow we'll be back to normal here with photos from the Magic City. Thank you all for you good wishes as I made my way home from France. It's nice to be home and I have many , many  wonderful memories of my trip. You can see more photos on http://paristhroughmylens.blogspot.com of course.

This is how the baggage carousel looks when your luggage is lost somewhere in the northern hemisphere.  La sigh!

Now I know why these guys are extinct....... they flew standby and never left the airport.

Departure Update

I am at CDG Airport again! THis time it looks very good that I will be on the noon flight to PIttsburgh then on to BHM arriving at 8:51 PM! Thank you all for your good wishes for my journey home!
V

The Gate - Shadow Series

I've photographed this gate and wall at Plain Clothes on several trips down Linden Avenue in Homewood. Yet another Shadow Series entry.

Thank you all for your good wishes for my trip home. Let's pray Friday will be my lucky day, although leaving Paris will be hard.

Birmingham Thunder

While I recover from jet lag today my guest photographer is Bill Dixon. Bill is my intrepid shooting buddy, and he and I have logged a lot of miles in search of photographs around town. He was nice enough to sub for me in June as well.

Today is a spectacular shot he captured atop Red Mountain at "The Club". Sorry I missed that photo shoot, Bill!

Standby Me!

I took this early in the day yesterday when I still had visions of flying home in the near future. Yes, if you have to spend some days in an airport, Charles de Gaaulle is the place to be. The architecture is beautiful, there are fabulous ritzy shope to prowl through, comfortable chairs etc. The bottom line is I didn't get on any of the four flights out. Tomorrow I 'm taking a break since the numbers don't look favorable. I'll enjoy Paris for a day and then start all over again on Friday.

Guess Who I Met Today??? THE BOSS!!

Well all you City Daily Photo Bloggers know who "The Boss" is! Oui, it's our revered patriarch, Eric Tenin! Eric and I met for a drink tonight, and I was thrilled to finally meet him in person.

He is just as charming as you've imagined and we had a grand time "talking blog". For all of you that emailed me with requests for his "blessings on your blog", not to worry, you're covered. He did mention something about my blog being his absolute favorite . but I'm sure he was just being polite! He was kind enough to pose next to his motorcycle so I would have proof of our rendezvous. I figured some of you out there would have some doubts. Thanks Eric for a wonderful visit and for letting me horn in on your home turf from time to time!

Au Revoir Paris!

No, this is NOT Birmingham, but today I wing my way back home from Paris. I have had a magical summer in France . I thought it might be nice to share a special Paris photo with you today so that you can see why I don't want leave! As many times as I have had the privilege of traveling here, I never tire of the spectacular sites in this city. I took this on Sunday night when Peter ( Peter's Paris ) , Janet ( DC Confidential) and Maya ( Maya Photography) and I ended a jampacked day of sightseeing and photography at the Louvre with a quick late night shoot. Au revoir!