Charlie's Fountain

I never  go to the Pepper Place Market without making a swing through Charlie Thigpen's outdoor garden. I always have fun chatting with Charlie himself and taking a few photos. I try and stay out of his Garden Gallery shop because I can't ever walk out empty handed. They have such healthy plants and fabulous pots and garden accoutrements!  I have tried to capture this  fountain many times. Yesterday, I think I got it.

"Hot Enough For Ya?"

No matter where you go around town, that's what everybody's saying.  I've lived here most of my life, but somehow I'm always surprised at  how hot it gets in July.  Maybe if I had this fine Emerson Junior that I found at On a Shoestring yesterday, it would help! ( I LOVE this place!)

Here's the Dirt

17 years ago Joy Maples and Martin Ledvina created the first Alabama Dirt shirts and Earth Creations was born.  Yes they were dyed with Alabama red clay!  Since that time their line of organic tee shirts and other naturally dyed products has grown and grown. I spotted these at the their Pepper Place booth recently.  An Alabama grown company that we should all support!

Namaste

Yesterday I was asked to take some photographs of India Henson's Chair Yoga class at PH Balanced Fitness.   I have been attending India's Hatha Yoga class for about 7 months. Now with my knee issues, this chair class is a wonderful alternative.  The plus side of this shoot was that when it came time for the 15 minutes of relaxation, I got on the floor and "let the stress flow out of my body" with the rest of the ladies!
Namaste.

Summer Showers...

are frequent this time of year in Birmingham.  I'll bet the kiddos at Triangle Park think a "wet seat" is a whole lot of fun!

BIrmingham Rouge - Girl With Red Hat

Do you think I could pass this up?  Luckily her mom agreed.

How about that curl??? 

Carefree!

Only a few more weeks to kick up your heels before school starts here!

Children's Fresh Air Farm
Bluff Park


"Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language."
-- Henry James

It's All In How You SEE It

Oak Street Garden Shop

" To have peace with this peculiar life; to accept what we do not understand; to wait calmly for what awaits us, you have to be wiser than I am"
M.C. Escher

Gourmet okra?.....who knew!

Well leave it to the cute couple that owns  Snow's Bend Farms to come up with some fancy okra that we haven't seen around here!  Maybe today I'll buy a handful of that nice red and purple variety and give it a try. You just never know what you'll find at the Pepper Place!

Everybody in the Pool III - SPLASH!!!

Today the last of the series, Everybody in the Pool.  If you are just joining us,  drop down to Wednesday's post to get the scoop.  As you can see, the happy campers FINALLY got to practice their new swimming skills. Ahhhhh!

My sincere thanks to the Summer Learning Program's amazing Director Gini Williams and her wonderful staff for allowing me to photograph these precious children again this summer.

Everybody in the Pool II - Learning the Strokes

After suiting up, these campers learn how to do the strokes that will help them be better swimmers. This day,  it was so hot and humid,  I almost threw my camera aside and jumped in with them!

Today the second in my series from the Summer Learning Program at the Children's Fresh Air Farm. More tomorrow.  Read about the great article that the B'ham News featured recently here.

Everybody in the Pool - Get Your Suit On

I've been doing this blog for 37 months now and never done a series.  Well I'm always trying to keep things fresh and interesting around here and yesterday, I read to the terrific kiddos at IPC's Summer Learning Program held again this year at the Children's Fresh Air Farm in Bluff Park.  Besides getting to read some of my favorite books each week, I get to roam around with my camera. Finally, the afternoon rains have subsided,  so I was able to visit an enthusiastic group at the pool yesterday, learning to swim.  This series will continue for a few days.  I loved so many photos I couldn't choose just one,  so I hope you will enjoy them all.

"It's A Great Day To Be a Peanut!"

Ms. Peanut, as we call her,  is the spokesperson for The Peanut Depot on Morris Avenue. Every Saturday she dons this great but WARM peanut costume and happily calls to shoppers that pass by her booth at the Pepper Place Market. No matter how hot and humid, she is smiling, cheerful and just adorable!  I don't know how much she gets paid to do this but whatever the amount.......it's not enough!  Oh that everyone loved their job as much as she does!

NOTE: Thanks to readers Harriet and Dystopos for supplying her name....Felicia Jackson and this information about her here!

Saturday Morning Reflections

Look closely and you'll see where I was this hot summer morning.

Birmingham Rouge - The 'Maters are in Season

Sometimes at the Pepper Place the produce looks so good, you just can't wait till you get home.   Down here, it's not a good tomato if the juice doesn't run down your arm! I think he found a good one.

It's Too Darn Hot!

We've had high temps and a lot of rain lately.  Sort of "saunaish", as some say.  This lady found the perfect thing to beat the heat... what we've been known to call a "funeral home" fan.

Sibyl Temple

Located on the crest in Vestavia Hills,  the beautiful  Sibyl Temple overlooks Shades Valley and farther north to downtown Birmingham. Click here to read more about its origin.

Well That Was Some Big Ole Fun....

now what can I do???

This sweet boy was oblivious to the fact that he was delighting his grandparents as well as friends and family as he amused himself with the baskets of nectarines at the Fourth of July celebration.  He took his "job" very seriously! 

It's All In The Details

When strolling along 20th Street in downtown Birmingham recently, I looked up and found this lovely old window. Loved the details.  Can anyone supply us with the name of this building?

Stacked Up

Early on a Sunday morning, Daryl and I stopped at Bottega so I could show her these two great Birmingham restaurants.  We both got some good shots that day, even through the windows.

TIme

Jordan Home

Highland Avenue

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”  Steve Jobs

Good Morning Glory!

One thing I love about blogging is that I am constantly inspired by other photographer/bloggers.  Today, I give a nod to my friend Costas in Athens, Greece.  His blog, Nature Digital, often features his fine macro photography as well as photographs from his beloved native home,  Crete.   I found this lovely Morning Glory vine growing on the fence beside Bottega on Highland Avenue recently.  I love this "old timey" flower.  You really don't see it so much anymore.  Costas, this bloom is for you my friend!

Birmingham Rouge - The Caboose

Morris Avenue

Downtown Birmingham

Domed

Andrew Gerow Hodges Chapel

Samford University

Gerow Hodges and his wife were Howard College (now Samford University) classmates and close personal friends of my mother.  She was the president's secretary through 3 presidents.  In fact, we lived on the campus for five years when I was growing up.  Samford University is one of the most beautiful campuses you will ever find in Alabama.  I've posted other photos here and here 

Que With the Klinners II - Check Under Your Hood???

Well after I had my fill of ribs and some fine creamed corn, green beans etc, on the Fourth, I wandered around the Klinner place. Look what I found out back.

Que With the Klinners

Yesterday we joined the Klinner family in Clanton for a good ole southern Fourth of July barbeque "on the grounds" as we like to say.  They opened their lovely Victorian home to us all, and after a plate full of ribs, creamed corn and green beans like my Nanny use to make, I drug myself up and had a field day photographing the whole event. Let's just start with the back porch and work from there shall we?

Flag Wavers

This is from my archives, but I love it and hope you won't mind seeing it one more time!
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY EVERYONE!

You Don't Have Mail

Morris Avenue

Looks like a long time since the mailman left anything here.

Have A ...

PEACHY holiday weekend!

I am pleased to announce the publication of my book, Paris Rouge Through My Lens, now available for sale on BLURB. See the badge on the sidebar that will take you right there.  This book was so much fun I have two more in the works!

CDP Theme Day - GREEN

Eat your greens!

Here in Alabama, we "eat funny".  Well we don't think so, but some folks ( Yankees)  think we do.  Well we love, love the greens of turnips and also collard greens.  Alabama soul food at its best. 

Today is City Daily Photo Theme Day.  Click HERE to see how bloggers around the world are seeing GREEN in their neck of the woods!