Whatever Floats....

your boat!  The last days of summer spent at the terrific new Homewood Pool!

Consider the Lily

Water lilies at the Kayser Lily Pool, Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Always a good idea!

Flowers For My Teacher

A special moment between a new student and her teacher.

Independent Presbyterian Church Day School

Hope

 

 This precious family has come a long way from living on the streets.  Even now, their  life and its day to day challenges,  often seem insurmountable.  They get by with a lot of help from their friends, who are grateful for the opportunity. To learn more about the effects of poverty in Birmingham, go HERE.

Birmingham Reflection

Admittedly, this wasn't taken in the last few weeks. We've had a pretty dry summer here in The Ham.  This alley shot was in the archives from a steamy summer afternoon downtown.

Back to School - Dress Code

 

I had the great luck to photograph Independent Presbyterian's Day School opening yesterday.  Just so you know, fairy wings and a nice gold handbag are most certainly in the dress code.

WANTED - Some TLC

North Birmingham is full of once beautiful old homes just begging to be restored to their former beauty.  This is just one.

Temple Emanu-El

This afternoon I will have the pleasure of attending the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center's annual L'Chaim Event at Temple Emanu-El.  This year's honoree is Jeffrey Bayer who has been a faithful supporter of the BHEC.  I hope you will join me!  Tickets may be purchased at the door and all proceeds will benefit the wonderful work of the BHEC. 

Back to School II - The Rectangle Teacher

Classroom today have changed a lot. He may have the world at his fingertip, but I hope there are still real books in his classroom!

Faith Skate

Faith Skate on 2nd Avenue downtown is a foreign but very cool place for me. "Fish out of water", probably fits.  The colors and designs appeal to my photographer's eye. I'm way past trying one out for size!

Faith Skate Supply

2328 2nd Avenue North

Birmingham, AL 35203

Back To School - I Can Read!!!

 

Vestavia Elementary West

This might just be a little mini-series as I share some photos from schools around town that I have had the pleasure to photograph. I taught 3rd grade for 19 years and retired in 2008.  Some things, like today's photo, never change.  A child discovering the wonder of reading. Makes my heart sing. 

I will be sharing other new and innovative things happening around schools in days to come. The times, they are a changing!

Dog Days of Summer?

I'm never really sure when the Dogs Days begin, but I think I'm close.  These boys were having a ball at Railroad Park!

Cool Fireman Stuff

I was in Crestline this week and strolled over the Mt. Brook Fire Department. They have some cool stuff.

Choo Choo!

This little train with the friendly conductor, has made a zillion trips around the Birmingham Zoo. Alas, my Googling didn't reveal how many decades but take my word for it....it's been making that loop for many, many years!

Birmingham Rouge - Better Late Than Never!

What was I thinking?  Summer's almost over and I've not posted ONE SINGLE WATERMELON SHOT!  Thank you Oak Street Garden Shop , in Crestline Village for having these nice ones in a RED bin!

Lucky

Sometimes I'm just in the right place at the right time. Just outside of  The Garage on Southside. Thank you sir for parking your fine orange scooter right there!

Sand Cakes

 

I dropped in on Wacky Nanny Art Camp yesterday to have a little look around. Alley Bulka, THE wacky nanny and a gaggle of her 4 year olds were having a big time. They enjoyed popsicles, then while some were spraying their tie dyed tee shirts , the rest threw off their flip flops and got down in the good old fashioned sand box there at Community Education South.  Brought back many memories of my childhood. There were some terrific, although a bit gritty, sandcakes and cupcakes served up!

House Guests

Birmingham sculptor Frank Fleming's studio is in his lovely home and aside from being able to see his works in progress, there is the added delight of seeing much of his sculpture displayed throughout his home and gardens.  These gentle creatures seemed quite at home!

A Slice of Sloss

No matter how many times I shoot at Sloss Furnaces, I always find something new that catches my eye.

In The Blink Of An Eye

Blackjack Stables

Feeling Modest?

Rodin's Jean d'Aire,  a nude study of this Burghers of Calais at the Birmingham Museum of Art, peers out through the trees in the sculpture garden.

Sweet!

Sweet Pea's Garden Shop in Homewood, always makes me smile. This time of year it's in full blown color. See?

( And I love the folks that own it. Shop local!)

It Won't Be Long

                                    School starts soon. Vestavia's City Pool will be very lonely!

Dreamer's Path

As if all to often the case, I take a number of photographs at a certain place/event and try to space them out over a period of time. Unfortunately, I sometimes miss the end of an exhibit or deadline. Forgive me for not sharing collage artist Dariana Dervis' magical Dreamer's Path before it closed in the children's area on May 31.  She created a dreamy forest in just a tiny hallway connecting two hands on areas and I enchanted as I'm sure the younger patrons were as well.

Work In Progress

Birmingham schools will be starting up in just a week or so.  Don't ask me to share how I feel about starting school in early August.  When the students at Glen Iris Elementary in the B'ham School System get back in the swing of things, I'll just bet they will be anxious to finish this wonderful mosaic in the school garden. I'd love to revisit when it's done and share the finished product!

All That Glitters

The late afternoon sun sets the doors and windows of the Harbert Center all aglow!

Harbert Center

2019 Fourth Avenue North

Birmingham AL

BADP On The Road - Cullman, Alabama

The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, is located just a short trip north of Birmingham. I followed this priest at a fast pace to capture this!

Dance Class

What could be more fun than getting to photograph tiny dancers at the Children's Dance Foundation in Homewood!

Union Hill Cemetery

Established in 1870, Union Hill is a small cemetery located in Homewood.  It is well kept by loving relatives and friends. 

Bits and Details

Those of you that follow this blog know that I have had a love affair with the Lyric Theatre for YEARS.  Now, thanks to generous donors, the 100 year old Lyric is undergoing a fabulous restoration. I am grateful to be included in the documentation portion of all this.  I'll admit, the idea of the grungy, crusty theatre, that I've been passionate about photographing for so long,  getting "spiffed up", has taken me a while to accept.  I have loved her in all her peeling paint, bats, and dangerous areas for a long time. Today, I share one obsession, the plaster details. Look closely, that's horsehair. That is what makes the acoustics so fabulous. The best is yet to come.

CDP Theme Day - Take Away

Today, my City Daily Photo Blog friends are posting their take on our August theme... TAKE AWAY. I will admit I searched long and hard through my archives to come up with something.  This photo from our weekly Pepper Place Market seemed to fit. This shopper was taking away some day lilies for his yard.  Many of us take away Alabama grown produce, art pieces or simply take away the feeling of community coming together each Saturday morning, enjoying the music, the food, and supporting our Alabama farmers!

Click HERE to see what City Daily Photobloggers have shared from their home cities around our glove. You'll be glad you did!