These Guys

Just arrived at Sweet Peas Garden Center in Homewood, these guys made me smile.  Put a candle inside and you have instant Christmas spirit!

Sweet Peas Garden Center

2829 Linden Avenue

Homewood AL 35209

Love Your Drawers!

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

Glass Act

Every October Sweet Peas Garden Shop in  Homewood invites area artists to share their work for an art show in the garden. I stopped by Saturday morning to say hello to some of my talented friends and found Chris Champion giving glass blowing demonstrations. The process is fascinating to watch.

Chillin'

It's hot down here, but that's no surprise, it's June. The kids at Homewood Central Pool are finding a great way to beat the heat.

Over the River and Through the Woods...

Oh maybe just drop by Sweetpeas Garden Shop in Homewood and get your very fresh Christmas tree this year!

Happy Sticks

One of the many things I love about visiting Sweet Peas Garden Shop in Homewood is their creative way with color. They painted this bamboo fence along the back of the gardens these wild and crazy colors. See what I mean?

Cane Break

I meet my good friend Doug for coffee here at O'Henry's in Homewood from time to time. I love their chairs and their coffee!

Christmas in Birmingham - Paperwhites

I have a pot of paperwhites opening right now, a sweet gift from a friend.  I love the fragrance, a nice addition to the evergreens.  These I found at Sweet Peas Garden Shop in Homewood.

The Hottest Popsicles in Town

Steel City Pops has taken Birmingham by storm. Every day they have lines out the door at their Homewood location on Central Avenue. On Saturdays you can find their cart at the Pepper Place with a long line as well. We tried to buy one after lunch last week but the line was too long so I found this precious boy enjoying his!  Obviously, the long lines mean business is good and the pops are delish. What a great thing for our city.

The Garden Gate

While driving through the Edgewood neighborhood behind Homewood Park last week, this gorgeous bevined (don't try this on Words With Friends, I made it up) gate caught my eye. A u-turn was in order. What lies beyond?  I know. I took a peek.

Made In The Shade

Sweet Peas Garden Shop in Homewood. A festive way to beat the heat!

All Lined Up

When Homewood did a major renovation on their main park on Central Avenue, they chose metal posts that "undulate" and have taken on a lovely patina.  I feature them HERE but liked this closeup as well, with the oakleaf hydrangeas in the background.

Let's Get This Holiday Started!

Nothing like a Christmas Parade to get you in the Christmas spirit.  Last week I attended the Homewood parade and I thought I'd share a few with you today.  It's was chock full of homemade floats with shepherds ( Mary and Joseph?) throwing candy and Santa cheerleaders slinging Mardi Gras beads.  I think here in the south, our various holiday parades have morphed into one! Oh and I guess you're wondering if Santa showed up. He did, but I'm saving him for another day!:)_

All Is Calm, All Is Bright

Quiet night at the Shades Valley Optimist Club's Christmas Tree lot.  These nice folks have been selling trees at Shades Cahaba Elementary on Oxmoor Road for as long as I can remember. They do good work in the community. Please give them your business.

NO! NO!...

*

a thousand times NO!!*  The gift shop at Sweet Peas Garden Center always has items to tempt me.  This basket of vintage yard signs ( first seen on the blog here) just made me laugh out loud!

*With apologies to Betty Boop and company. 

String of Fish??

No just colorful glass windchimes spotted from the front porch of Sweet Peas Garden Center in Homewood.

Tutu Cute!!

Oh yesterday I slogged through torrential rains for a photo shoot. At first I doubted the sanity of all that. But when I arrived at my destination, I was a very, very happy photographer. You see, I was invited to the Children's Dance Foundation in Homewood. What a wonderful place this is. They not only offer dance classes at this location, but in their words:

"Children's Dance Foundation's Community Partnership Program provides dance classes to more than 1,500 children each week at more than 25 social service agencies, child development centers and schools in Birmingham. CDF’s vision is grounded by a commitment to empower all children through dance. CDF embraces this important work with the disenfranchised and underserved, providing classes to organizations that serve these students regardless of their ability to pay."

I had the pleasure of photographing two groups of 3-4 year olds. What could be more fun? I'll have to admit I need to hone my "dancing photography" skills. They were a very exuberant bunch. I hope I captured that. Maybe I'll be invited back to visit some of the other sites in Birmingham. Today.........tiny dancers. :)

For those of you that enjoyed my friend Michael Dulin's great music here on BADP, I want to invite you to his new website here. Check the NEWS section each week. Mike will be offering an original song each and every week .....FREE!

The Gate - Shadow Series

I've photographed this gate and wall at Plain Clothes on several trips down Linden Avenue in Homewood. Yet another Shadow Series entry.

Thank you all for your good wishes for my trip home. Let's pray Friday will be my lucky day, although leaving Paris will be hard.

Shadow Series VI - At the Garden Shop

We had a little break from the Shadow Series this week but I'm not quite through.  Bear with me.   Today, is Part VI.  I'm including two photos since I couldn't make a decision. Quelle surprise! The top shot was taken at Oak Street Garden Shop in Crestline Village.  I liked the background shadows in this one.  The bottom photo was taken at Sweet Peas Garden Shop in Homewood. The shadows on the orchid I thought were nice.

PARIS BLASTOFF.......... Two weeks from TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

(Do I need to start packing?)

Under the Umbrellas

Made you smile, didn't it!  Welcome to Zoës Kitchen in Homewood.  Zoë's very first place was just down the street and it was hardly big enough to turn around in,  much less handle the mobs of patrons that lined up for lunch every day.  Now you can dine at Zoës all over town,  and you can find  franchises in AZ, TN, LA, TX, FL, NC, and SC !   Their  motto is "Eat Smart, Eat Healthy" and they mean it, but with  Zoë's great Greek twist.  I eat there a lot and it's always fresh and healthy just like they advertise,  but I have a little secret.......the homemade chocolate sheet cake is the absolute best thing you ever put in your mouth!