Table/Chair Series - Morning Light

Continental Bakery, one of the most photogenic places in Birmingham. I could hardly eat my pain au chocolat for taking photos. I've featured this place many times here.

SWEET!!!

Soho Sweets,  in the family friendly Edgewood neighborhood on Oxmoor Road, is a kid's paradise. I think their colorful tables and chairs outside are a photographer's paradise!  On this drizzly, chilly day, they made me drag out my camera.  A very colorful so long to summer!

I"m gathering a group of photographers for my Snapshots to Photographs class. I'll teach them starting in October for five weeks. This series is designed for amateur photographers with any type digital camera. Want to improve the quality of your photographs? Contact me!

Coca-Cola Enjoy!

I wandered all around, up and down, at Tricia's Treasures in Homewood last Saturday. Tricia's is the go to place for antiques of all kinds, plus she is just a great lady! This vintage table and chairs, with the memorable Coca- Cola emblem, brought back some fond memories

All Shiny and New

The pavillion at Railroad Park, Birmingham's great new urban park is full of these shiny aluminum table and chairs.  Just perfect for a picnic or enjoying the many live performances that are scheduled.  In the late afternoon sun, I had to stop for a few shots here.

Paris ou Birmingham?

Quick, where are we today? Paris you say? Non! We are at one of my favorite places right here in Birmingham, Architectural Heritage. We've been here and here and many other times as well. Today two photos that remind me so much of Paris. Have a look around! ( I snuck in a chair as well. Haven't shown anything for the Table/Chair series lately)

Merci to Roy Morton, the owner. He is always so kind to let me roam around and take photos.

Curvy Iron Chairs

My friends and I have lunch at V. Richards in Forest Park, our neighborhood market, most Sundays after church. If the weather's fine, you can dine outside and have a seat on these great curvy iron chairs under their bright red umbrellas. Aside from their terrific deli, it's a great little market with specialty items and wine!

Birmingham Rouge III - Deux Chaises

This is a photo I've tried before. I finally got it last week on the back patio of Chez Fonfon. You know what I'm remembering.......Paris! Oh, and it fits with my Chair Series!

BLOG WORD A DAY

from Biz Stone's Who Let the Blogs Out

HITOSIS - Noun. Unable to stop oneself from checking blog stats.

( You know who you are, well maybe I'm there too! )

Shadow Series VI- La Chaise de Boudoir

Since I'm spending my first night in Paris tonight, I thought this an appropriate photograph. It's one more for the Shadows Series. This time I combine it with my Table/Chair Series. You knew there would have be a chair or table somewhere! I'm sure Laurie will ask if this is where I fling my peignoir, and yes ma'am, it is ! Yawn....... bonne nuit everyone!

Two Chairs

While I am in France, I've asked area photographers to sub for me. Please leave a comment!

Today my friend Leo Ticheli ( you've already met him here) has kindly offered this lovely addition to the Chair Series as my guest photographer. Leo is a cinematographer and he told me he added a little pizazz to his photograph. I would ask him how he did it, but I wouldn't understand!!! I'll just enjoy the finished product!

Stripes - Table/Chair Series

Sometimes I stumble on the best photo ops when I least expect it.  I went to Wine and Whiners, a really fun group as you've probably  guessed,  last Wednesday afternoon ( after 5 of course!!).  I had never been to Beth's home before and wasn't prepared for all of the great photographs that awaited me.  I took one look around and high tailed it to the car for my trusty camera.  Here's but one example.  I had a little post processing fun with this one so I'm including another photo so you can see how pretty this table and chairs looks tucked away in her backyard. 

Chaises Vert - Table/Chair Series

Today mon amie Thérèse from Chandler A-Z, has generously offered this great photo to add to my Table/Chair Series.   Before you know it, I'm going to have more guest bloggers than our friend Peter!!   Thérèse actually sent me 3 photos to choose from, all of which were wonderful but this one really caught my eye. Merci beaucoup mille fois, mon amie!!

Reservations for Two- Table/Chair Series

If you read the NY Times article  36 Hours in Birmingham,  you know about Little Savannah.  I featured this lovely neighborhood restaurant here.  Today, we go back for dinner.  I love the starched white tablecloths and the velvet curtains that they bring out for the dinner crowd.  If you ask me for a recommendation from the menu, I'll have to say everything is delicious. Chef Cliff  Holt and and his wife Maureen do an excellent job here.   If you come to Birmingham, you must stop in and have dinner with them!

* Thanks to Marie-Noyale (Larchmont DP) and Bob Crowe ( St. Louis DP) for forwarding me the link to the NY Times article!

A Taste of Vancouver - Table/Chairs Series

Well since yesterday was my 300th Post,  my thoughtful producer/manager Wayne,  (Meandering in Lotus Land),  gave me the day off!  How generous to send me this photograph to add to my Table/Chairs Series.  This is the Liberty Bakery off Main Street in Vancouver, BC.  I love the color of that wall and those vintage chairs paired with that neat tiled table.  Thanks W., there could be a raise in your future.  You know, I could get use to this.  Anyone else care to donate??

Have a Seat- Table/Chair Series III

#3 in my  *"Table and Chairs Series" this week can be found at Chez Fonfon French bistro in Birmingham's Five Points South area.  We spent several days here  last September when my friends flew off to La Bonne Etoile and I was suffering major French envy.  

* Merci Kim at Seattle DP for the idea of making this week's offerings into an ongoing series.

La table par la fenêtre- Table/Chair Series II

We have visited Continental Bakery here and here.  They bake the most wonderful breads and pastries and the shop is oozing with French charm.  I enjoyed an enormous chocolat croissant and coffee here while photographing it yet again from every angle.  

Three Very Special Treats for Me Yesterday:  I picked up the phone and it was our  Bibi from Belgrade calling!  How wonderful to hear her voice and be able to have a long chat. We swapped books and websites and had a grand time learning more about each other.  It just made my day!  I also got to talk with my dear friend Mary in Cincinatti who is leaving for Paris on Monday. I am so thrilled for her and can hardly wait for her tales of all the cemeteries she will be visiting !!  Lastly, for all of you who have been so interested in Lilly's progress, check out her blog and see for yourself!!!!! 

( Alas, I have been homebound since my car is in the shop $$$$$ YIKES!)

Got Brie???

Soda Fountain Minus the Drugstore- Table /Chair Series I

I think you will agree that most of the drugstores, with the wonderful old soda fountains, are a dying breed.  Around here the family owned drugstores shed their fountains years ago and have now sold out to the big chains.  Well this is one for the books....Gilchrist Drugs in Mountain Brook Village.  Gilchrist has been in the same spot for 82 YEARS!!!  The drugstore is long gone, there's not a sign of an aspirin or a band-aid,  but the soda fountain remains and does a booming breakfast and lunch business.  And at about 3:05 every weekday, the school crowd takes over.  Sandwiches, hot dogs, salad plates and even tomato aspic top the menu.  Real shakes and malts are mixed up before your eyes, but the hand squeezed limeades are what they are famous for.  I had lunch at the counter just yesterday. Friendliest staff you'll ever want to meet.  Looks like Gilchrist will be around for another 82!