FIsh are Jumpin'....

Yesterday was the annual Fishing Rodeo and Bike Parade at Avondale Park.  Open to kiddos 15 and younger, the pond was stocked with some big fish!  Here are just two I caught.  More on the Bike Parade later. 

One Note Wonder

On a Shoestring, antiques and collectibles in Bluff Park.  Always a fun place to shoot.

Keep on Truckin'

I love to poke around the trucks parked at the Pepper Place Market on Saturdays. Alabama farmers are the best and they bring us fresh produce every week. Gotta love 'em!

Abandoned

While our happy band of photographers were photographing the historic Lyric Theatre a few weeks ago, we found ourselves on the roof.  Across the way, the Leer Tower sat waiting for someone to notice and perhaps begin a wonderful renovation there. We can only hope.

Update: My sources tell me that the mast was used to tie up dirigibles back in the day!

Swing Into Summer!

Homewood Park

Happy Volunteers

The plants in Cathy's garden are so well loved and tended to they just spring up everywhere, including the cracks in her sidewalks and stairs!

Consider the Lilies

Saturday morning, I was sitting outside the Red Cat Cafe at the Pepper Place, having a coffee with friends and spotted this adorable little girl with her bouquet across the street.  They laughed as I jumped up, grabbed my camera, sprinted over, and asked permission.  I got three shots. Whew!

Follow The RIver

The Cahaba River, near Montevallo, AL.

Today my talented friend Michael Dulin plays his original piece, FOLLOW THE RIVER

Happy Belated Birthday To Me!

It's bad enough I forget the birthdays of friends and sometimes family so I guess it's only fitting that  I missed my very own blog birthday.  FIVE years ago yesterday, I posted my first photo on this blog.  Now 1,856 posts later, I'm still hanging in there.  Sometimes I think it's time to call it quits, then I get a great email or blog comment from a dear reader and it seems well worth the effort.  I thank all of you that read, comment, follow and share my blog. You have expanded my world and shared your friendship and I'm grateful for it.

Since my first blog post was Pepper Place Market sunflowers, I thought I'd post these lovelies today!

Because you're mine....

I walk the line.  

Actually this white line is a slice of daylight from the  overpass of 1st Avenue North that runs over the parking lot at Sloss Furnaces. 

How could I resist this tune today?  Thank you Johnny Cash.

Remember....

Blackjack Farms

 these old coolers?  You had to reach down in that icy water to find your drink the popped the cap on the opener on the outside.

Charlie's Folly

I love to shop at Charlie Thigpen's Garden Gallery.  Of course they have great plants but they carry so many terrific gifts for the  home and garden. Cindy, Charlie's wife shook her head and said, "Charlie had to have that!"  

Play It Again Sam

As our faithful band of curious photographers combed the historic 99 year old Lyric Theatre last Sunday, we moved to the adjoining office building and started exploring. On some of the top floors, where I'd never been before, we found the pipes and parts of an organ and also these xylophones.  Who knows if they will ever be used again but what a great find!

Up On The Roof

Yesterday we gathered another group of enthusiastic photographers for Shoot The Lyric, Part II.  The 99 year old Lyric Theatre as no AC of course so we were a hearty but hot group.  Somehow I was persauded into climbing all six floors of the adjoining office building and........ up on the roof. The breeze was most welcome as was the chance to see our city from that vantage point.  I finally got to see the beautiful detail at the top of the historic Alabama Theatre across the street!

Serve You?

There's a big flea market at the Finley Avenue Farmers' Market almost every day.  Lots of fun things to photograph.  We struck up a conversation with one lady and while we were taking photos, she hollered at her husband to drag this gentleman out for us to see.

Heat Wave

When your AC freezes up, it's nice to have one of these in the closet.  I spotted this one in a storage room at Cahaba Clayworks.  Tomorrow I'm buying myself one just in case.

Happy Horses

Yesterday I shared Blackjack Farms' beautiful vistas. Today a look at one of their happy residents.  I know how he feels. I'd love to live there too!

Birmingham Rouge - Blackjack Farms

Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting Blackjack Farms , near Trussville. WOW, what an excellent facility in a breathtaking setting.  The stables and horses were our first stop,  but then as we left, we meandered over the property and stopped for many more photos. More to come of course.

Biker Girls

Vestavia's McCallum Park is a cool, green oasis off Rocky Ridge Road. This day the kiddos were zooming around on their bikes enjoying the afternoon in the shade.

Lying Down on the Job

Magic City Art Connection - Linn Park

I'm guessing an artist that just need a quick nap to make it through the day!

Biker Boy

This big dish at Railroad Park was probably designed for the skateboarders, but I often find kids on these cool bikes having a blast.  Reminds me of a modern day version of the  Big Wheel.

Downtown Reflections

The mirror like facade of the Park Place Tower reflects the lovely Linn Park, downtown.

Today I join  James' Weekend Reflections. Please go have a look!

Boys Will Be Boys

Spitting contest.  

Frank Fleming's storytellure sculpture fountain, Five Points South

A Home For Coosa

Meet Coosa.  Coosa's previous owner threw her overboard into the Coosa River with a badly broken leg, infected ear and malnourished.  Thankfully someone saw it happen and rescued her.  This precious one year old Golden Retriever  is now in a loving foster home waiting to find her forever home.  Her leg is on the mend and from our photo shoot yesterday, I can promise you she is friendly, loving and her foster mom says she doesn't bark, has adjusted to their two dogs and is a happy girl.  Look at that face, get in touch with Adopt a Golden Birmingham if you can offer her a good home!

Actually....

the prices at Rojo on HIghland Avenue aren't highway robbery, thankfully!

Sara's Arbor

Some of you may remember my posts about dear Sara Jones. We met via my B'ham blog, then met in person. Later, she and I met for coffee as I helped her plan a trip with John to Paris to meet her daughter.  She was a free spirit that seemed to have a  halo of light around her all the time. We lost her too soon. Yesterday, her husband John dedicated the Sara  Jones  Memorial Arbor near the camellia garden at the the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.  Rob Martin's creation will be a  lasting tribute to someone we will never forget.

Forest Delights

Vestavia's Library in the Forest offers the added delight of a little path through the woods behind.

Birmingham Rouge - Veggie Wagon

Shoppers at the Pepper Place Market get very creative with ways to haul their goods home from the market each Saturday.  This was a favorite of mine, of course.

Alabama Still Life

Jones Valley Teaching Farm always has a display to make me stop and snap at the Pepper Place Market.

CDP Theme Day - The Beauty of Decay

Granted, this fading magnolia blossom is more beauty than decay, but may I add, still smelling divine although she's aging.

Today, the first of the month, my City Daily Photobloggers around the world are posting their images of The Beauty of Decay.  Please click HERE to see them all!