Going To The Chapel

On Thursday I posted photographs from a local Greek restaurant, The Fish Market. My blog friend in Greece, Costas, left a very nice comment and a link to some interesting finds in his country. I promised him that I would post some photos from the chapel at Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, just for him! As you can see, this is a beautiful little chapel.

I will be photographing a friend's wedding in this chapel soon. I went last week to check the lighting and do a "dry run". I have never shot a wedding before so I'm a little nervous. The bride and her family are dear friends and I want to do the best that I possibly can for them.

Previous posts here and here.

Holy Moly!!!

I spent a great afternoon at the Children's Fresh Air Farm recently. Owned and run by my church, Independent Presbyterian Church, it has been the site of the BELL ( Building Educated Leaders for Life )program this summer. I got wind that the campers would be using the zipline the next day so I poked around till I found the site. Not an adventurous person by nature, I really didn't give the logisitics a lot of thought. I found the tower, and they told me to come on up! They said to go around and use the bridge, it was easier. (That should have been my first clue) OK, I had to cross this long and swaying bridge to get to the tower and then........... I had to climb this tiny ladder up to the top, or almost the top, of the tower. You don't even want to know what I wanted to scream. Deep breath........I made it. I'm up there and tickled to photograph some of the leaders giving it a test run. I can't tell you how they tried to persuade me to do it, but I just couldn't. I was too worried about having to go back down that ladder and across that bridge. Oh the things I do for a few good photos. Been there, done that , won't be going again. And I hear that the next day those 8 year olds had a ball!

See side photo for proof I actually got that far!

Lauren was far braver than I!

Like a Trip Back to Greece

The Fish Market Restaurant on Birmingham's Southside, not only offers a huge selection of fresh fish from their market, they also have an outstanding restaurant. Owner George Sarris has decorated it in the style of his native Greece. See for yourself!

Parisian

Oh I know what you're all thinking, "Virginia's slipped a shot from Paris in on us." Well non! This the backdoor of the old Parisian's, a much loved local department store. Started in 1877, it eventually added stores in many Birminigham suburbs, around the state and the Southeast. Sadly our Parisian was sold to the "Big Boys" from you know where, and there's not a one left. I found this great old piece of memorabilia while strolling a downtown alley last Saturday during the Worldwide Photo Walk. I'm going back. I think I missed some good opportunities on that alley. Anyone want to volunteer to watch my back??

The Box Office

I think I'll ride the Worldwide Photo Walk, that I joined last Saturday, for a few more days if you don't mind. Today, the view through the window of the Alabama Theater's lobby. I liked the lights and the reflection. ( Well I'd have liked to go inside and get it without the reflection, but they were having an event with a Rolls parked outside. Sigh)

It Rained Saturday

and I'm thankful a bit fell on my parched lawn. Not long after the stormed passed, I joined about 25 area photographers for the Worldwide Photo Walk 2010. It was hot + steamy, but I lasted for over an hour! I've photographed downtown Birmingham a many, many times, so I was a bit stumped to try and find something new and fresh. Our fearless leader Pete, suggested I go macro. Good idea Pete! I found these raindrops perched on some huge canna leaves in a potted planter on 20th Street. Did any of you do a Photo Walk in your city Saturday? I loved wandering downtown with new photo friends!

Summer Memories

I don't know about you , but this brought back memories of sitting in my Nanny's kitchen in Little Rock on a summer afternoon. She would spread newspapers on the kitchen table, plop a big box of salt down, and then commence to slicing up wedges of ice cold watermelon for us with her butcher knife. I was allowed to shed my shirt and let the juice slide down my tummy. Summer memories I've not forgotten!

Let's Twist Again....

like we did last summer. I found this box full of wonderful old 45's at What's On 2nd? recently. The first thing I thought of was this song by Chubby Checker. ( Well I was way up on the third floor where it was very warm, so Chubby's song just sprang to mind!)

By the way, these 45's were selling for $1 a piece. I wish I had a turntable, oh I wish I still had a turntable.

This photo goes out to my two dear music buddies, JB and Jay Gilbert. They know more about the music we all love than any two people I know.

Dinette Set

Oh, another trip back to "Mid Century Modern". What is that??? It's my childhood, that's what. I ate many a meal at a set just like this one at the Bottle Tree Bar and Restaurant. I even felt all nostalgic about the linoleum squares on the floor. I love this place.

It's Too Darn Hot!!

Down here in Birmingham, we're frying eggs on the sidewalk! The temps are hovering around 100F/38C this week. I thought just looking at these cute kiddos enjoying a Snow Cone at the Pepper Place Market might help cool us off. Enjoy!

And Ella Fitzgerald has a song for you today!

I will be offering another 5 week series of photography classes, here in Birmingham, on Monday, July 26 from 1-3pm. These classes are designed for amateur photographers that want to take better family and vacation photos. Contact me if you are interested.

I've Got a Crush on You....

Those of you from a certain era ( I know who you are!) will remember the Ice O Mat. My grandmother ( Nanny) in North Little Rock, Arkansas had one. I loved me some crushed ice with a Coca Cola poured over it. Still do. This vintage ice crusher "turned my crank" as Wayne would say. I thought $18 was a little steep, but now I see that you can pay as much as $46 for one on Etsy! If you live in the Birmingham area, visit What's On 2nd? ( on Second Ave. of course) and plan to spend an hour or more poking around their 3 floors of memorabilia and "nostalgia items". It is well worth the trip.

Well here you go...... a tune for you today :)

I will be starting another 5 week series of photography classes, here in Birmingham, on

Monday, July 26 from 1-3pm.

These classes are designed for amateur photographers that want to take better family and vacation photos. Contact me if you are interested.

Overlooking the Twenty Second Street Viaduct

We call this the 22nd Street Viaduct. I'm not so sure it's really a true viaduct, but well, we like it. It makes us seem so .........Roman? Italian? ( After reading Wikipedia, maybe we're in the clear on this.) I just love the texture of the pilasters ( now I'm not sure these are pilasters). Oh dear!

Red Hot!

That about sums up the weather down here. Whew!! Thank goodness for the shade of this umbrella at Chez Lulu's in English Village. It helped.......a little.

I LOVE Your Boot!

Sometimes a girl just can't make up her mind. In that case, just wear one of each! I spotted this cutie while I was in What's On 2nd? yesterday afternoon. I told her I liked her boot and we struck up a conversation. Before I knew it, she was pretty much calling the shots.....literally. After I took numerous shoe shots, she told me she'd like some of her face, and then decided maybe she'd like one of the top of her head so I could see her hair! Oh and of course she wanted to see all the photos on my camera as well. I was happy to do just that. I guess I was so enamored, I forgot to ask her name!

A Place to Hang Your Hat

Yesterday I was downtown to photograph Café Dupont on 20th Street. A lovely place to dine, and it has a reputation as one of Birmingham's best restaurants. It is also very photogenic... right down to the hatrack by the door!

Everybody In The Pool!

The Children's Fresh Air Farm is the site of Independent Presbyterian Church's summer program for inner city scholars. B.E.L.L. ( Building Educated Leaders for Life) is a new program that hosts 30+ happy campers ( second graders from the STAIR program) that have the privilege of spending the morning honing their math and reading skills, and then in the afternoon, they have an abundance of enrichment activities. I had the pleasure of photographing the fun yesterday. As you can imagine, I have a wealth of photos. Today...swimming lessons!

A Window Seat

Lunch at Chez Lulu. My very fun and dear blog friend, Genie and I had a WONDERFUL lunch here yesterday. BTW, Genie has a terrific new blog that was birthed right here on my i Mac! .......Paris And Beyond. We met through my PTML blog, and share a very special love of Paris and France. After a delightful meeting last month, Genie met me in Paris and we had such fun seeing and photographing the city we both adore . Blogging has brought so many wonderful people into my life.... Genie you're one of em!

Vive la France!

Zoe's on Clairmont Avenue has decked out their windows in celebration of Bastille Day today! Marie Antoinette never looked so "green" in her tutu of recycled Wal-Mart bags!

Party till the heads roll!!

Red Chair

I'll just bet you thought I'd forgotten all about my (multiple) festishes for RED and CHAIRS.......NOPE! Snapped this one at What's On 2nd? in downtown Birmingham. I'll go back.

How Bout a Game of Checkers?

There was a tent set up to teach the young people how to play checkers. Some others found it a nice way to spend some time together. I just loved these two photos. I hope you do too.

Saturday I spent a delightful morning at the East Lake Farmer's Market. You can find it in the parking lot of the East Lake Methodist Church ( 2nd Ave/78th St). Started by Rev. Sally Alloca, it's small, it's got great produce , arts and crafts , music and just really nice folks. I pulled up a chair at Peg Holland's jewelry booth and spent two hours there with Peg and Jeff Willoughby, the inspiration behind this East Lake Purple House Parade. Oh my, I'm heading back often. There were farmers there with wonderful offerings at great prices, but also homemade cornbread, cakes and........CHEESE STRAWS! Plus music and a food demonstration by Mitchell, who showed us how to make a fine black eyed pea/corn/etc marinated salad. I had some, it was terrific. Please join me and support this wonderful group of people trying their best to revitalize this area of Birmingham! More photos to come.

Follow the market on Facebook here.

Birmingham Rouge - Cabaret/Disco

Sometimes you just never know where you'll stumble.....drive by a really cool photo. Saturday, on my way through Woodlawn, I passed this colorful shot. On my way back, I slowed , rolled the window down and got it!! :) The Phoenix Cabaret/ Embers Disco.

Let's Take A Dip!!

Whooeeee! It's hot as hades here! I had a delicious lunch at a great downtown cafe this past week, the Urban Standard. It's a very fun and funky space. I loved these vintage prints hanging from a wire. Makes me want to don my suit and take a dip!

PS The food's good too!

Saturday Morning Blues

This is the second year that I've enjoyed Debbie Bond's music at the Pepper Place. Husband Rick plays the harmonica and keyboard. A few weekends ago they were joined by James who played a mean bass and had us all singing along with "Mustang Sally"!

A Lot of Hoopla

Apparently while I wasn't looking, hula hoops came back in vogue. The first time around, in the late 50's, I was a world class "hooper", but the years have taken a toll. Evidently it's comeback is due to a new form of organized excercise...Hula Hoop classes. Who knew!!!

Recently my Eva gave one a whirl and not to be outdone, I had a go at it myself. I'm proud to say I hadn't lost my touch......well some of it. When we got home Eva said, "Momma, Mumsie did the hula hoop right out in front of everybody!" I'm thankful noone had a camera!

Peaches.......

Chilton County peaches, ripening on my window sill.

Ummm, the problem with the comments was that I fiddled with the background color last night and made the background the same color as the comment text. I'm hopeless!

Enjoying the Sounds..

of the Magic City Blues Society at Phelan Park.

Apparently Blogger is eating your comments today, here and other places as well. I'm receiving them via email but they aren't showing up in the comment box. I appreciate them nonetheless!

Where Faeries Shop Till They Drop

A booth at Spring-a-Ling-a-Ding-Dong

God Bless America...

land that I love!

And nobody sings it better than the great Kate Smith!

Wild Thing...

I think I love ya. Well I know I do. Queen Anne's Lace is one of my most favorite Alabama wildflowers. I've tried to grow it in my yard, but it really loves to just spring up along the roadsides of Alabama in reckless abandon. I'm so glad it does!

Heading For the Lake

or the river. It's a holiday weekend and I'll just bet my neighbors are going to have some fun cooling off with these two colorful kayaks!

CDP Theme Day - Reflections

Today City Daily Photo Bloggers around the world are posting their take on the July's Theme - Reflections. I've been participating in CDP Theme Days for two years now. I love it, although I rarely plan ahead and actually have something in mind when it rolls around the first day of every month. Fortunately, I'm embarking on an exciting and challenging photography project for my church, Independent Presbyterian Church, and I found a photograph of this colorful reflection as the late afternoon sun shown through one of the many exquisite stained glass windows. I'm happy to share it with all of you today.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants