The Struggle Continues

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute chronicles the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham. The final room depicts the continuing struggle that we here in Birmingham and cities around this country face to become a nation of true equality.

Guitar Man

This combo was entertaining guests at the Arthur Price opening exhibit at Gallery 1930 in English Village.

Light Up My Life!

This very cool light table at Bart's Artventure at the Birmingham Museum of Art is all about having fun with art. This area is just for kids, but I wanted to throw my camera down and join them!

Sunday Church Series - St. Paul's Cathedral

This lovely original art by my Birmingham artist friend Sarah Soule Webb, has been donated for auction to benefit Community Kitchens,  but this is just one of many beautiful cathedrals she has painted. 

Evening With Arthur Price

Thursday evening I attended the opening of Arthur Price's newest work at the newly renovated Gallery 1930, in English Village. Art and his wife Caren are friends and I think he is one of the finest artist I know. If you are in the Birmingham area, don't miss this beautiful exhibit.

Industrial Decay

Months ago, I was lucky enough to visit Wade Sand and Gravel. Thank you again Chris Fennell, for showing me around. I love revisiting photos and this one caught my eye. I have no idea what this dial was used for but loved the image.

Kiss The Cooks!

My friends the Adams, had some very special visitors last week, their adorable grandtwins who flew in from Colorado. They decided to host a little bake sale of their homemade goodies to earn money for a shopping trip to Smith's Variety. My Birmingham readers understand this! Eva and I had a grand time shopping for cookies, cupcakes and dog treats. How could we resist these two?? I can't wait to hear how the profits were spent!

Birmingham Boulangerie

No, I've taken you all to Paris. This gorgeous bread can be purchased at the Pepper Place Market every Saturday. There are usually at least three stalls selling homemade bread that is pretty close to a Paris boulangerie.

BADP On The Road - Cotton Picking!

While in Auburn we passed some cotton fields and I had a big time photographing and picked a few to use with my macro lens!

BADP On The Road - AUBURN!

Many of you know that Auburn University is my alma mater and where my heart is. This past weekend I spent the day in Auburn with sorority sisters and many photo ops of the campus that brings back so many wonderful memories.

Water Hazard?

Hard to say if this is a "water hazard" or just a tranquil scene. Highland Park, home of the Charley Boswell Golf Course.

Big Show Off!

Yesterday, my friend Cathy Adams' garden was just so fabulous but this guy was stealing the show. My butterfly expert Matt Hunter, ventures it is a Spicebush Swallowtail. I"m going with Matt.

Loner

A nice afternoon swim enjoying the peace and quiet at Railroad Park.

Belles collections

My friend Jack would call this "out of jurisdiction". Well technically Harpersville, Alabama is out of Birmingham,... but not far. Last Friday my friend Kimberly Wilson and I took a road trip to Black Sheep Antiques  to see my friend Barbara Atkins. I loved her place,. It is full of interesting vignettes of collectibles, that reminded me of so many charming Paris shops.  I could have stayed all day. The fact that she welcomed me with wine and cheese straws, didn't have a thing to do with that! I will share more photos from this field trip in days to come.

A Work of Art

Foodies and photographers will both look at these and swoon, but for different reasons. Although I'd love to try these in a dish, these Pearl Oyster mushrooms from Southern Foothills Farm, almost took my breath with their beauty. It wasn't until I got home that I realized that besides the dozen or so photos I took, I could actually have bought a box and tried them! I hope to visit their farm located about an hour from Birmingham on Straight Mountain, between Oneonta and Asheville. 

May We Move Forward

This day in 1963, a bomb ripped through the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham and killed four young girls and injured more church members. It propelled the Civil Rights Movement forward to honor the lives lost that day. Our city had made great strides since that awful day, but we and our nation have a long way to go to erase racial prejudice in this country. May those lives lost be not in vain.

This sculpture, The Four Spirits, exquisitely created by Birmingham sculptor Elizabeth MacQueen is placed just across from the church in Kelly Ingram Park.

For more information, from people here in Birmingham who lived during this time in 1963, I urge you to visit, Kids in Birmingham in 1963. a site where many of us here in Birmingham, share our stories. 

Puzzling

Sometimes, you just need a friend to advise.

Sunday Church Series - 16th Street Baptist Church

Established in 1873 as the First Colored Baptist Church, it was the first black church in the city of Birmingham. On September 15, 1963, a bomb ripped through the church killing four young girls - Denise McNair, Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley and Carole Robertson and injuring 20 church members. This senseless killing, aimed to slow down the civil rights movement in Birmingham served to propel the movement forward.

Somebody's Responsible For This

You'll meet him another day. Meanwhile if you're into cute balloon hats, head on down to the Pepper Place Market today and get yourself one!

Keyless

A new shipment of antique doors from France arrived at Architectural Heritage last week. I enjoyed photographing the locks, key holes and door handles. This one had by far, the most character.

Atta Girl!

The only girl at the Lego table with a bunch of boys, she sat quietly working on her own creation and quite proud to show me.

Horsing Around

I love Blackjack Farms in Irondale. What a beautiful setting and facility. The horses are very friendly as well!

So long, farewell....

I'm no farmer but I can pretty much bet that we're seeing the last of the watermelon crops here in Alabama for this year. I loved these all lined up like little round soldiers at the Pepper Place Market.

Tournesol Trio

My blog friend Jack at Naples/Hartford in Season photoblog, suggested that I needed to get back to more portraits. Well a spin around the Pepper Place Market last Saturday was a banner day for me. These girls were kind enough to pose with their sunflowers ( les tournesols). More to come this week.

Sunday Church Series - Labyrinth Garden

Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood. I grew up in this church.

Meet the Artist - Amy Saab

Last Friday night, my church Independent Presbyterian Church attended the Shabbat service at Temple Emanu-El, and afterwards, hosted a reception for their congregation. Twice in our 100 years they opened their church to us, at our beginning and again in the 90's when we had a devastating fire. This centennial celebration for IPC would not have been complete without our sharing our gratitude with our Jewish friends. In honor of our 100 years, Amy Saab was commissioned by her church to paint this lovely view of our sanctuary. Amy also contributed her extraordinary artwork for their Book of Prayer. Our congregation will treasure this painting and the spirit in which it was given. Please visit  her website. She shares her visit to our church in such a beautiful way. Two religions, one wonderful friendship over so many years. 

A Special Place

for special kids. The Red Barn Foundation in Leeds, offers many wonderful programs but one of my favorites is in their words, " Weekly riding lesson for children with physical, cognitive, or emotional disabilities and special circumstances, such as foster care, adoption, social delays, and grief." Please visit their website and make a donation or donate your time.

Construction Art

If you build it, they will buy. Primo real estate, a block from Regions Field on Birmingham's Southside. Condos, I suspect.

It's High School Football Season Ya'll

 The Homewood Patriot Marching Band. The largest HS band in Alabama and I love them! Both of my girls attended this great school and I taught in the Homewood System for 18 years.

CDP Theme Day - Curiosities

"Tragic City Art Destruction"

The Alabama School of Fine Arts' entry at the Magic City Art Connection's High School Sculpture Project - Child's Play Revived. 

Today is the first of September of that means City Daily Photobloggers around the world are posting their photos of our theme - CURIOSITIES. Click HERE to see all of them!