The Colors of Sloss

Sloss Furnaces Historical Landmark

Sunday Church Series - A Different Perspective

I have featured many, many photographs of the Cathedral Church of the Advent, one of Birmingham's oldest and most beautiful churches.  Today it is mirrored in the windows of the Regions Harbert Plaza across the street.

A Great Day For Golf

Oh  we've had some gorgeous weather the last few days.  Late yesterday,  I was on my way home and stopped and took this shot. I live in Forest Park just blocks from Birmingham's Highland Park Golf Course.  Established in 1903 as the Country Club of Birmingham , it the oldest golf course in Alabama.  1927 it was opened for the public and in 1955 name for revered Birmingham native, Charley Boswell, 17 time National Blind Golf Champion.  The restoration of the course in 1998 makes it a favorite course for golfers.  Many were out there whacking the daylights out of that little white ball yesterday!!

Camellia

Today a rest for the eyes.  Alabama's state flower, camellia japonica.

Power to the People

Yesterday, blue skies, sunshine and warmer temps were much appreciated in here Birmingham, but they were a little  hard to see as I sat at the traffic light in Homewood.

Today, in an effort to make all of the people happy, some of the time,  I offer up two tunes for you.  Some of you will enjoy John Lennon's Power to the People, and others will probably opt for Blue Skies by Willie Nelson. You know who you are!  ( And my guess is that JB will either love them both or hate them both. Hide and watch!)


Oops, sorry about the technical difficulties with the links this am. I don't know why John won't sing for you. I've fiddled with it and guess you'll have to Google him!
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Lurking in the Alley

You just never know what you'll find in downtown Birmingham when you prowl around the alleyways.

Clairmont Fire Station Gets New Face

This past year our firefighters at the Clairmont Fire Station got some new digs.  Since then this great old building has almost gotten the wrecking ball but so far it's still with us.  Those of us in the neighborhood are hoping someone will make it a neat bar or café.  I pass it 3 or 4 times a day and have been delighted to see the outside has become an art gallery of sorts.  In the last few weeks new art has gone up . I swung by and caught this one today. Any of my B'ham readers know who the artists are?

Greetings From Glendale - We're #1 !!!

Auburn's Wes Bynum makes it happen.  See it here.

It's all over but the shouting!!

Those of you that have followed this blog for a while know that I'm not a sports person, but I do love some SEC football, namely my Auburn Tigers.  True AU fans love 'em win or lose (but winning is so much more fun)!  While I was snoozing the night away in Paris a few weeks ago, the Auburn faithful were cheering on the Tigers  in Glendale, Arizona for the National Championship.  From what I hear, the Auburn Nation filled about 3/4 of the stadium and they're all still talking about what a great time it was.

Today, my guest photographer is my friend Martha Ann Doyal who was right there with her family and has kindly shared some photos of the big game.  This past Saturday about 70,000 fans packed Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn to welcome the team and just have a general love fest.  I missed that too but I've enjoyed the hearing all about it.  WAR EAGLE!

Sunday Church Series - Column Detail

I have been invited by my church, Independent Presbyterian Church, to exhibit some of my photographs for the annual Religious Arts Festival.  I've chosen a collection of Birmingham and Paris/French churches.  As I was selecting, I found this from the beautiful Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church here on Birmingham's southside.

No. 1 Kodak Jr.

What's On 2nd?

I love old cameras.  I am really grateful that I discovered my passion for photography at this time in my life, but when I see old cameras like this, I wish I'd found it long ago.  I dabbled in film photography by taking really, really bad photographs of my girls as they grew up,  and I got a little better when the first 2 grandbabies came along.  Now digital works for this "immediate gratification" photographer, but I still wouldn't mind getting my hands on one of these fine old boys.

Just Grand

That's how I would describe Birmingham's historic Alabama Theatre.  I've brought you here many times.  Today the staircase.  This lovely old theater is 84 year young now and thanks to the late Cecil Whitmire and many others, it has been lovingly preserved.  It evokes many wonderful memories for me as a girl growing up here.

Andy Warhol Paints a Portrait

In October, Neil Printz, editor of the Andy Warhol catalogue raisonné spoke at the Birmingham Museum of Art.  "Printz presented selections of Warhol's 40 year love-affair with the human face."  On exhibit in the Contemporary Gallery were Warhol portraits of Birmingham art philanthropists Charles and  Caroline Ireland (1979).  It was exciting for me to be able to see and photograph these along with the series of photographs made by the artist for the portraits. The lecture and exhibit were just one facet of the Birmingham Museum of Art's celebration of "The Year of Photography"

A Paris Moment à Birmingham

Ohhh la la, I met my chère amie and fellow Paris blogger Genie, at Chez Fonfon yesterday . She and daughter Lauren were up from Mobile and when asked where we should lunch, I knew just the place.  We all agreed that it has a very French feel. They even have moules and frites on the menu!! This is one of internationally known and James Beard finalist, Chef Frank Stitt's fleet of three outstanding restaurants in Birmingham.  Located in Five Points South right next door to his fabulous Highlands Bar and Grill.


My friend and photography buddy, Bill Dixon has shared his photos here many times when I've been away.  Guess blogworld rubbed off on him, so he's gone and created his very own photoblog....Southern Stuff.  Please stop by, have a look, leave a comment and Follow his blog!

True Grits

McEwen and Sons organic corn meal, polenta and stone ground grits are becoming a household word around here.  This family owned business in Wilsonville, Alabama started out selling to Birmingham area stores and restaurants and now has customers from coast to coast. I hear folks bragging about their cornbread now that they've switched to their corn meal and I've got to try their grits. To be honest, the "Organic Blue" grits make me wonder, but I"m game!   I can see some of you turning up your nose.....you know where this is going....... well Honey, you can KISS MY GRITS!  Don't knock 'em till you've tried 'em!

Making Beautiful Music

As many of you know, I have had the pleasure of working ( it's not really work, he buys my lunch and if begged will occasionally play for me ) for my dear friend and very talented pianist,  (I call him Maestro!) *Michael Dulin.  Mike's wife Jan and I taught together for many years. When I retired, Mike hired me to help with promoting his last CD, Follow the River.  Well now he's about to launch a new CD, so I will again be recruited as V.P. for Shipping and Handling!  Timeless II, will debut shortly. I'll keep you posted when you can order it.  If you are a classical music fan, you will want to order it along with Timeless.

* To hear a few songs from Timeless II , go here.

Sunday Church Series - Reid Chapel, Samford University

Samford University's Reid Chapel is name for A. Hamilton Reid.  "Built in the image of the first Baptist church built in the Americas."

100+ Strangers Challenge - Funky Lady

100+ Strangers Challenge  # 106

Linda Lindale calls her business Funky Ladies Studio... I agree!  I met her at Artwalk 2010.  Her knitted and crocheted pieces were great fun as was her jewelry.

The View

My very talented artist friend Kevin Irwin's studio is one of my favorite places to shoot. It's located right over the viaduct from downtown Birmingham.  I love the way the window frames Sloss Furnaces in the distance.

Today I will hopefully be arriving back in Birmingham from a  wonderful 7 days in Paris with my dear friend Mary Gilbert from Cincinnati.  I will begin  posting new  photos on Paris Through My Lens tomorrow so  jump over and have a look. Many thanks to all of my guest photographers for sharing their work  while I was gone.

Under the Boardwalk

Sunrise on the Gulf

Panama City , Florida

Oh today we get to dip our toes in the Gulf again.  If you haven't experienced the Alabama/Florida Gulf Coast, then you've haven't lived.  Although I love Paris, the Gulf coast is my second most favorite place  to be. White powdery sand and blue water.  My former photography student LaTrelle Grayson shares this superb shot with us today.  How beautiful is that!!

Fog Settles Over Lake Logan Martin

LaTrelle Grayson finds his lake home at Lake Logan Martin fertile ground for photographs. Have a look at this one!

Sunrise at Ruffner Mountain

Today's image comes from my dear friend Bill Dixon.  He has tried and tried to get me to venture out for a photo shoot to catch a sunrise. It's pretty much not going to happen , B.  Today I share this nice one from the quarry at Ruffner Mountain.  I've taken a crowd of enthusiastic third graders to this quarry for many a field trip.........never at sunrise.

Sandy Paws

Grayton Beach, Florida

Today a very special guest photographer, my former student Rip Livingston.  Rip is now in the 6th grade and has a new camera.  He's been sending me some of his work and shared his new photoblog ( you heard me), The Lens Of An Amateur.  I asked Rip to share a photo and he chose this one from the Gulf where he and his family spent some time after Christmas.  I think you'll agree Rip has a fine eye.  I'm thinking he might give Mrs. J a run for her money!

Give Rip's blog a visit and tell him Mrs. J sent you! :)

While I'm in Paris, I have asked some of my photography friends to sub as guest photographers. I hope you'll leave them comments as you do for me.  See you back here soon!

Bienville Square - Mobile, Alabama

Today we venture down to Alabama's coast to the port city of Mobile.  My dear friend and fellow Paris blogger, Genie ( Paris and Beyond), share this great shot of Bienville Square in the heart of Mobile.

While I'm away, I have some great friends that are sharing their work with you. Please leave them comments as you always do for me. 

Sunset on the Tennessee River

Oh I wish I'd taken this gorgeous shot. My friend Bill Dixon camped out on the Tennessee River in Guntersville, in north Alabama and caught this sunset shot.  Camping is not my forte, so I'm thrilled to have Bill's photograph to share with you all today.

My thanks to Bill for sharing photos with me this week in my absence. I hope you'll visit his website and leave him some of your nice comments.

The Firehouse Shelter - Guest Photographer Doug Stocks

This week some of my friends are sharing their photos with you.  You probably remember Doug Stocks when he subbed for me during my 2009 jaunt to Paris.  Doug is a good friend, mentor and one fine photographer.  I recently had the privilege of compiling a book of some of his images for him to share with his family and friends. This one from Birmingham's Firehouse Shelter is one of my favorites.

The Firehouse Shelter was founded in 1983 as an outreach program for the Cooperative Downtown Ministries.  Started for just 12 men and now provides food and shelter for 175 homeless.  Our city is so fortunate to have such wonderful programs that provide for those in our community that so desperately need our help.

A Montgomery Sunrise...Sunrise in Paris?

Today my guest photographer is my friend Charles Ingram.  Charles lives south of B'ham in Montgomery. He recently stepped out on his back porch early one morning and shared this glorious sunrise with me.  As many of you know I'm not an early riser.  Today however, if all goes as planned, Mary and I will be seeing a Paris sunrise at Aéroport Paris Charles de Gaulle.  Wish us well.

While I'm away, my dear friends have once again offered their terrific photos for you enjoyment. Please feel free to leave them comments. They'll love them!

On 18th Street

This lovely architectural  detail caught my   eye on 18th Street North in downtown   Birmingham, across from the Lyric Theater.  The blue sky didn't hurt!

I'll be putting my blogs on post option while I'm away.  Beginning tomorrow, I will have guest photographers who  have   graciously offered some  fine photographs  from  Birmingham and around the state  as well. I  hope you will  continue to       stop by and  leave comments for them  as well.

La Paree

I've chosen this photo today for several reasons.  La Paree in downtown Birmingham closed in 2003 after 60 years in business and was a great Birmingham restaurant that I'm sure many of your remember. If memory serves, I don't believe the cuisine was French but délicieux just the same. The crab claws were a personal favorite.  Well it's been long closed but the marquee remains.

 Today it makes me smile as it reminds me that very soon I'll be dining in Paree.......France!  I will have some good photographer friends that will share some of their work both here in B'ham and around the state as well. I hope you will like the virtual sidetrips. To keep up with my adventures visit my Paris Through My Lens blog.

Preening

This graceful piece of sculpture stands at the end of a reflecting pool full of water lilies at the Birmingham Botantical Gardens.  Since we had balmy weather this past Saturday, (along with thunderstorms later)  I thought this glorious shot of the gardens was in order.   Chillier weather has returned but it's still sunny and most welcome!

Sunday Church Series - Southside Baptist Church

Established soon after the founding of Birmingham, Southside Baptist Church  has been a presence in our city,  providing meaningful programs and community outreach.

CDP Theme Day- Best Photo of the Year

Today City Daily Photobloggers around the world have dug around in their archives and chosen their favorite photo of the year.  I asked a few of my friends what I should choose and this seemed to be the photo of choice.  I snapped this at the Pepper Place Market and posted on May 26th.

To see all of my great City Daily Photobloggers favorite photos go here.