Thanks For the Memories

I created my Birmingham Daily Photo Blog in June 2008, after following Eric Tenin's Paris Daily Photo ( pictured on the bottom right). Six months later, after my second trip to Paris, Paris Through My Lens. was born.  Since that time I have visited Paris a total of 17 times and posted a photo of Paris almost every day. It's been a life/career changing experience for me. I have made so many friends with fellow bloggers and readers around the world. Many I have had the pleasure of meeting in person. I regret that this collage doesn't represent all of you, but it brought me so much pleasure today collecting these images.

With much regret, this seems like the right time to close both of my blogs. I am so grateful to all of  you who have followed and left comments of encouragement. I value your friendship. I will leave both blogs up so that if you choose, you can still do a search and perhaps finds some photos that you missed along the way. In the meantime, I will continue to post images on my Instagram @vjonesphoto and offer prints on my Etsy shop:http://www.etsy.com/shop/VirginiaJones.

The Sun Has Set...

on another year, but also on Birmingham Alabama Daily Photo. Since its inception in June, 2008, I have, according to Blogger, posted 2,716 photos here! Along the way, I have met so many dear bloggers and readers, more than I can possibly count. The City Daily Photo community is a talented and caring group of photobloggers and thanks to this opportunity, I now have friends around the world, many whom I've met in person over the last 7 years. For all the perks, the daily responsibility of taking and posting a photo has started to drive my photography, and I feel I need a bit more freedom to explore new genres in order to grow as a photographer.

The good news is that this blog will just move to Birmingham Through My Lens ( the address will remain the same)! I won't post every single day, but I hope all of your who have followed BADP continue to come by and have a look at my latest images.

I thank you for your loyalty, comments, encouragement and most of all, your friendship.  Here's to a new and creative 2016 from Birmingham!

V

City Daily Photo Theme Day - Shelter

This bent rebar covered in muscadines provides some nice shelter for this pup who hangs out at Jones Valley Teaching Farm in downtown Birmingham.

Today I join my fellow City Daily Photobloggers around the world who have posted their take on this month's theme right HERE.

Drum Roll................

Today Birmingham Alabama Daily Photo celebrates another milestone. Today ( or maybe it was yesterday, that post has disappeared) this blog debuted SEVEN years ago. Back in 2008, I knew next to nothing about blogging and my Mac guru John O. at the Apple Store, made it happen. What a wonderful ride it's been. I've made a zillion dear friends around the globe who have become more than just a blogger name to me. I've talked with, met in person and entertained many here in my home. The City Daily Photo community has opened the world to me. Of course I want to thank again,  Eric Tenin who was the creator of CDP and whose blog Paris Daily Photo inspired me. I created this BADP to make myself get out in my city and take photos in order to improve my after retirement passion, photography. Bloggers says I've posted 2,561 blog posts! Times flies when you're having fun and I'm still having a blast.

A huge thank you to everyone who visits, those who leave comments and all the great mentors who helped me limp along. I cherish your friendships more than you will know.
V

CDP Theme Day- Self Portrait

Ahhh the first day of the month and my City Daily Photoblog friends around the world are frantically digging around for a self portrait for this month's theme. I was about to bow out when I found this one from a recent photo shoot at the Henhouse Antiques where I love doing part-time work. We were photographing the wonderful pieces for a new online site last week, so here's my self portrait for today. I'm pleased to be framed by this gorgeous antique pediment mirror. For more of my fellow city daily photoblog friends' creative self portraits, click right HERE!

City Daily Photo Theme Day - Facade

These old ghost signs all over downtown Birmingham intrigue me.  I think this one's a good choice for the  City Daily Photo Theme Day....Facades.  I hope you will visit my blog friends around the world and see their take on the theme today!  Click HERE to see them all.

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!

CDP Theme Day - Cafe Chairs

Railroad Park

Today, the first of the month and City Daily Photobloggers all over the globe are posting photos of this month's theme....Cafe Tables.  Right up my alley in Paris, but not hard to find in Birmingham either.  Click HERE to go to the City Daily Photo portal and see them all!

CDP Theme Day - The Water's Edge

The first of every month is Theme Day for my City Daily Photoblogger friends around the world. I'll admit that some months the theme slips by me but as luck would have it........I have one to share today.
To have a look at the CDPBs  take on our theme today, click right HERE!

This was taken a few weeks ago in one of the nice streams that wind their way around Railroad Park in downtown Birmingham.  Yes, in October, it's still fine weather for rolling  up your jeans and wading.

Artist At Work

Christopher Champion made his beautiful glass pendants and beads right before our very eyes last Saturday at Sweet Pea's Garden Center's art show in Homewood

Since June 20, 2008 I have had the pleasure of being part of the world wide City Daily Photo.  The brainchild of Eric Tenin whose Paris Daily Photo was my inspiration to take the leap into blog world, it has grown to staggering numbers as more and more bloggers joined our group posting a photo of their city every single day!  It's a huge time commitment but I'm sure most will tell you it's worth it for the experience of making friends all over the world.  Today marks my 1,611th post!  It's also the day that the new City Daily Photo portal will be up and running. By visiting the link here, you can see thumbnails for all the photos recently posted and go directly to that blog.  The portal has been down for some time and is now being hosted by Julie and Peter, two Australian bloggers who have done a terrific job.  I'm also pleased to announce that my Paris Through My Lens blog will now be a part of the CDP group as well!

I hope you will visit the other daily photobloggers around the world every day and tell them I sent you!

What Photobloggers Do....

 One of my favorite City Daily Photobloggers, Daryl ( Out and About in New York City and Through My Eyes) paid me a visit this past weekend.  We've been corresponding for more than a year,  and so when I picked her up at the airport on Friday, it was "old home week" as we say down here.  Joining Daryl was my dear Paris amie Mary Gilbert, who flew in from Cincinnati on Thursday.  Birmingham offered them a warm welcome...a very warm welcome.  I think Daryl's next visit will probably be in the winter!  Despite the heat, there was a whole lot of laughing and talking and....picture taking.  I hope you will visit her blogs and say hello!

Empty - July CDPB Theme Day

Today City Daily Photo Bloggers around the world turn their cameras toward a common theme... EMPTY.  My contribution is this stack of wire baskets just waiting to be filled with fresh produce from Oak Street Market in Crestline Village.  

I love seeing how my City Daily Photo Blog friends around the world have interpreted the monthly theme.  Click below and see for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Off We Go!!!

FINALLY!  After 8 months of anticipation and planning, Karen and I are off at last.  What started as just a great vacation  week in Paris,  has become something so much more. When we hatched this Paris adventure in March, I had no idea that I would become a member of the City Daily Photo global community.  Since the start of my blog in June,  I have been blessed by the number of  wonderful friendships I have made.  I have laughed and learned from each of you. Your comments and critiques have been incredibly helpful as I struggle to become a better photographer.   When I get on that plane today, I will be taking so many of you with me.  I do so appreciate your enthusiasm, excitement,  and well wishes.  When I arrive in Paris, there will be dear French friends waiting for me there.  How on earth did a girl from Birmingham, Alabama get this lucky??   All I can say is, "Merci beaucoup."  I promise to bore you to absolute tears with my photographs when I return home so prepare yourselves!  Please buckle your seatbelts and put your tray tables in the upright position.  It's now time for take off.......

Today's photo is la Tour Eiffel in the rain.  It rains a lot in Paris and this photo proves that even in the rain, Paris is magical.  "I love Paris when it drizzles." (It's a good thing because it probably will... a lot!)  

The Tune du Jour is.... "Paris tour eiffel" by Le Grand Orchestre du Splendid.  I think our friend Olivier in Evry, France,  introduced me to this song.  Merci, Olivier! 

DEPART BIRMINGHAM....  11/16  11:30 am

ARRIVE  PARIS... 11/17  9:40 am

This adorable video will give you a taste of France today! I hope you enjoy it as much as we all have! 

Eva had it all figured out on our trip in March , 2007.  Luckily her tiny legs fit on the tray table.  No leg-room was not a worry for her.  For her Mumsie....yes!

Discover Le Grand Orchestre du Splendid!

Happy Birthday to Us!

This has been a big week for our family!  My two youngest grandchildren both celebrated their 4th  birthdays (a day apart) this week.  This is our Laura Kate at her party on Wednesday.  She helped her Mom make those cupcakes.   I just had to include her friend Belle who was all about the chocolate icing.    Davis will host a Pirate Party today.  You will be treated to a photo one day soon.  A crowd of rowdy little swashbucklers should make for some interesting pictures!

Today, I am celebrating my 100th post on City Daily Photo.  My mother always said,"Ignorance is bliss."  You can say that again.  When I naively created this blog I thought it would be just a photo and a caption each day. Whew!  Why did I ever think I could say ANYTHING in one sentence???  Well, 100 posts later I can tell you that it's way more work than I imagined, but I've never had so much fun.  Stressful having to amass a warehouse full of photos - Yes!  The pay-off?  Meeting some incredibly nice folks right here in Birmingham and getting to know all of you from near and far flung cities around the world!   What an interesting, talented, caring group of photographers you are.  A special thanks to Janet (Rambling Round) in Selma for your patience helping me to get up and running.  You answered at least a million questions and showed me the ropes.  Tom Wigley, you were a wonderful mentor as well.  I would never have been able to participate in Skywatch if you hadn't taken me under your wing.  Strangetastes (St.Louis, MO DP) you continue to give me much needed feedback on my photographs.  Thank you for your expert advice and your friendship.  And before the orchestra starts playing to get me off the stage,  let me thank every one of you who stop by and read my blog, and those who leave comments - your encouragement, suggestions,  and often hilarious comments make my day and raise the bar for me.  Merci beaucoup mes amis.

   For such a special occasion, I have chosen 3 Tunes du Jour.  Take your pick!