Winter in the Gardens

When all of the fall leaves and colorful blooms have fallen, lichens finally get their chance to shine.

Well Worn

This dear little pair of shoes was found at my friend Barbara Adkins' wonderful antique shop, Black Sheep Antiques, in Harpersville, AL. You should go for a visit!

Birmingham Urban Mural

This beautiful mural was started in 1996 to celebrate the Olympic venues here in Birmingham by Space One Eleven. The second panel was finished in 2000. It's a jewel on the side of Boutwell Auditorium that faces our Birmingham Museum of Art. I love it!

Merry Christmas

Independent Presbyterian Church

Ready to Walk Down the Aisle

Yesterday I have some big fun. I was asked to photograph a bride in her finery at my church before her big day. Beautiful bride, no pressure....my kind of shoot!

All Decked Out

This lion and his mate are always in the holiday spirit in my Forest Park neighborhood. I snapped this one year when we had a quick southern snow!

Sunset Over Birmingham

Enjoy!

Santa at Work

Don's Hair Care Center

1803 3rd Avenue North

Traffic Stopper

Etc. in Mountain Brook Village always takes the Blue Ribbon for fabulous, over the top window displays. I"m sorry that my photo just doesn't do this icy ship justice. Take my word for it, it's a traffic stopper!

Raise Your Hand.....

if you grew up when tinsel trees. were in vogue.  We never had one, but my best friend Donna's family did, with the very cool light that changed colors!!!

HO HO HO

Independent Presbyterian Church welcomes everyone to our annual Holiday House Tour. Yesterday, this dapper Santa was spotted outside the church posing for many photos among the colorful decorations. OK, this made my day.

Christmas Finery

This weekend, Independent Presbyterian Church will be decked in her best Christmas finery to welcome you to our 67th Holiday House Tour. The church sanctuary, chapel and parlor will be decorated with exquisite greenery and flowers designed and executed by church members. A delicious holiday tea will be served upstairs in the Great Hall.

This year's homes are the Hillegas residence on Clairmont Avenue, the Spotswood and Vogtle homes on Abingdon Road, and Jim Carter's residence on Montrose Road. Tickets may be purchased at the church, online and at each home. All proceeds go towards IPC missions such as the STAIR tutoring program, Open Door Ministry and the Summer Learning Program at the Children's Fresh Air Farm.

Farewell Fall!

Autumn in Birmingham came very late this year. We suffered through an awful drought. I love the autumn color in my city and bid it a fond farewell as we are finally getting rain and just this week some chilly weather. Christmas is in the air. Stay tuned!

A Treasured Gift

This exquisite silver candelabra was a gift from Temple Emanu-el when Independent Presbyterian Church moved into the present Sanctuary in 1922, after spending 7 years holding services at the Temple. Every year at the annual Holiday House Tour, the candelabra holds a very special place in the Parlor. This year marks the 67th year for the tour. All proceeds go directly to benefit of IPC missions such as the STAIR, Open Door and Children's Fresh Air Farm. Be sure to stop by the church to see the decorations in the Sanctuary, Parlor and Chapel and enjoy refreshments in the Great Hall.

IPC Holiday House Tour

December 10-11

Tickets available online and at the church

Red and Green

Sweet Peas Garden Shop in Homewood is always in the holiday spirit!

Deck the Trees!

 Leaf n Petal at the Summit has these wonderful trees. They aren't your usual but the wide spaced branches make decorating easy.  Tis the season!

Sunday Church Series - Fall Color

The red maple framing the Henry Edmonds Chapel at Independent Presbyterian Church.

Waiting

Advent is a time of waiting. I think this amaryllis is a lovely example.

Chatting With Santa

Kevin, the hedgehog, and Lulu, the pug had some very special time with Santa this week. The North Pole Pop Up Shop at the Summit. GO!

Sunday Church Series

As many of you are aware, I've been in Paris for the last two weeks. Last Sunday I worshipped at the beautiful American Cathedral in Paris. This was my third service and I always look forward to attending services here. If you have never visited or worshipped here, I urge you to do so on your next visit to Paris. It is a warm and welcoming place and oui, the service is in English!

The American Cathedral in Paris

23,avenue George V

75008 Paris

Aliens????

A recent trip downtown to Regions. This is the alien inspired shot of their parking lot!

Au revoir!

For the next two weeks, I'll be in the place I now consider my second home....Paris. I promise to post photos on Instagram ( @vjonesphoto) and Facebook, (Virginia Jones Photography) . I won't be blogging but promise to post new Birmingham  images as soon as I return. I thank you all for following this blog, my Instagram and FB pages. I love sharing my favorite memories with all of you. ..... V

Autumn at Kelly Ingram Park

Taken a few seasons ago, I still love this shot from the historic Kelly Ingram Park.

It's fall y'all..... but it's really not

The truth is that our city has been in  a long drought. Very few trees are able to put out their wonderful autumn show that Birmingham loves. Almost everything as dried up and leaves fallen. In addition, it's as wam  here as it was in September, making for a faux fall! Thankfully, I have a deep pocket of fall photos in Birmingham, This was taken at our lovely Linn Park downtown, a few years ago. 

Safe and Sound

Yesterday I was fortunate to tour the almost completed renovation of the Historic Federal Reserve Building with Capstone Real Estate Investment's Mike Mouron. The newly refurbished safes were fascinating. The interior of this one has been converted into public restrooms. This historic building,located in downtown Birmingham consists of the original  built in 1927, and an attached building completed in 1957.  Due to open December 1, 2016, another wonderful renovation of a Birmingham landmark!

Fall Color!

 Taken when the Thomas Jefferson Hotel in downtown Birmingham was beginning their renovation. I can't wait to see it all spiffed up!

Road Trip

This cotton field outside of Harpersville, Alabama, is one I captured a few years ago. I"m a city girl, so I really loved seeing this cotton field up close!

Autumn in Linn Park

We're not having much of a colorful autumn this year due to the drought, so I've dipped into the archives. Today, Linn Park's monument honoring Mary A. Calahan, former principal of Powell School in downtown Birmingham.

Birmingham Reflection

This is what I call a drive by shooting. Stopped at a light and took this from the car at UAB.

Remnants

 Pieces of what appears to be chunks for column details from the historic Pizitz Building.

Not So Stormy Weather

Last night Birmingham had high hopes that we would finally get some much needed rain. We are in the throes of a drought and the clouds looked like they might give up some rain.......but not. All was not lost because English Village was geared up for a fun night of open houses, jazz on the street and a parade put on by Carole Griffin and her creative group from Continental Bakery and Chez Lulu. It was a great night to be out and about!

Men at Work!

I'd like to take this time to salute the hard working Brasfield and Gorrie crew who have worked tirelessly on the renovation of the Pizitz Building. They work in the cold and Lord knows the summer heat here in Birmingham,. I have visited their construction site photographing since last February and without fail, they were always friendly, polite and allowed me to do my thing. These are the guys that show up day in and day out and are bringing this lovely old building back to life. As a proud wearer of a Brasfield and Gorrie hard hat, I tip mine to all of them!

For My Birmingham Area Friends!

I am so pleased to be exhibiting my Pizitz Building Series for the first time. Many of these images will be hanging in the soon to be completed renovation of the historic Pizitz Department Store Building downtown. I hope you will stop by and bring a friend!

Historical Abstracts - The Pizitz Building

I confess, this was my favorite stairwell in the entire Pizitz Building. I have no idea how the fabulous color and dark spots came to be, but I'm grateful. I shot this through the railing spindles. Thank you Tom Walker for holding up the awful orange construction extension cord every single time, so I could capture this wonderful wall.



I will be exhibiting my Pizitz prints on Thursday, November 3 from 4:30 - 7:30 at The Henhouse Antiques in English Village. I hope you will stop by, have a look, and say hello!

Pizitz Building Series - Shadows

 Long shadows on a wall, soon to be pristine. I"m grateful for the opportunity to capture the old before the new in this 93 year old treasure.

Historical Abstracts

Since last February, I have been photographing the historic 93 year old Pizitz Department Store building in downtown Birmingham. While of course the architectural details caught my eye, I was drawn to what appeared to be abstract paintings in the stairwells, walls and ceilings throughout the building. This collection I've named Historical Abstracts. I am thrilled to announce that 62 of my abstracts and architectural details will be installed in the common areas of the 6 floors of  apartments as well as the lobby. A very special thank you to Bayer Property's project manager, Tom Walker and Wisznia's architect Jules Lagarde for allowing me access to the building, supporting my work and for selecting my photographs for the beautiful renovation due to open December, 2016.

On Thursday, November 3, I will show my Pizitz Series at the Henhouse Antiques in English Village from 4:30-7:30. I will be joined by Birmingham artist Carrie Pittman with delicious tastings by caterer Vaughan McGeehee. I hope you will stop by!

Rainbows

This past week, I had to privilege to photograph at the Sixth Avenue Baptist Church. I'd been once before and was looking forward to the afternoon light streaming in through the bank of windows at the front of the church. These contemporary windows casting shadows on the slatted ceiling of the narthex took my breath.

Today, I share this post with James' Weekend Reflections right HERE!

Fall in the Gardens

Yes, it gets really hot a humid here in the summer but you can't beat the rest of the year in Birmingham. Taken just a week ago, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens was still lush , despite no rain, and gorgeous at the end of September!

The Open Door

Thanks to a partnership with JCCEO, Jefferson State Community College, The Literacy Council of Central Alabama, and Independent Presbyterian Church, the former Kingston Elementary School is opening its doors for English Second Language and GED classes with child care provided. Today marked the open house and I stopped in to have a look around. What a wonderful facility for learning and success. I'll go back in the coming weeks to photograph the ESL classes in progress!

If you would love to get involved, contact The Literacy Council for volunteer opportunities!

Shhhh, GED students hard at work

Melancholy

Saying goodbye for another season. Not many more pickups loaded with these big green stripey guys!

Mushrooms on a Log

These beauties were spotted at the Pepper Place Market a few weeks ago. I'm heading to Grandview Farms in Montevallo very soon to see all of their offerings.

Men At Work

Sparks are flying down at the Pizitz Building renovation. I see progress every time I go!

The Four Spirits

The Four Spirits, honoring the memory of Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley was created by Birmingham native Elizabeth MacQueen. It stands in Kelly Ingram Park, across the street from the 16th Street Baptist Church where they died on September 15, 1963. The bomb that took their lives was planted at the church by four Ku Klux Klan members. Next to the church stands a peace pole that reads, "Let there be peace on earth." Indeed.

Love Your Drawers!

The Homewood Antique Mall on Oxmoor Road in Edgewood, is  a treasure trove of great antique finds and photo ops!

The Building Inspectors Showed Up

The Pizitz Building renovation is rolling along and these two are making sure they are up to snuff.

Windows

With half of the abandoned Star Motel already demolished and hauled away, I found some interesting windows.