*Today we bid Jean au revoir. I'm so glad she included some Gulf Coasts shots. My favorite place to be ( besides right here in Paris that is). What a terrific guest photographer/blogger she's been. Merci beaucoup mon amie!
My best friend from high school has a condo on the Gulf of Mexico at Orange Beach, Alabama. (We Alabamians are very proud of our beautiful sugary-white sand beaches!) Jo’s condo has been the site for many reunions and girl get-togethers. This April Jo hosted a get together, and I couldn’t pass up this photo looking down from her balcony where Jo and Dee were resting poolside. Below is the spectacular view beyond!
Jean Reed - Guest Photographer
* Today Jean takes you to south Alabama near Mobile. Enjoy your little field trip with her.
Whenever I’m on vacation at the beach or near the water, my favorite time of day is sunset! These sunset photos were taken from my friend’s home on the Fish River in south Alabama in Baldwin County near Mobile. The palette of colors can change so drastically from day-to-day! What a gorgeous view!
Jean Reed - Guest Photographer
Once a month the retired teachers--- from the Elementary school where I taught for 30 plus years ---get together at The Club for lunch. We call ourselves R.E.S.T. (Retired Edgewood School Teachers!) Teachers never get to enjoy lunch! So now that we are all retired, we have a most enjoyable lunch with adult conversation and no interruptions to calm down rowdy children in a school lunchroom!!! There is no lack of conversation as we catch up and reminisce while dining with a fabulous view of our city! The Club is the site for many parties, luncheons, wedding receptions and civic events in Birmingham.
* My friend Jean Reed continues as my guest photographer this week. I'm enjoying her photos as I prepost them so I know you are too.
During the 20’s Quinlan Castle was the swankiest place to live in Birmingham. My mother lived there while taking classes at Business School—around 70 years ago. During her recent hospital visit at St. Vincent’s last fall, the view from her window was this nostalgic sunset view of Quinlan Castle in the Birmingham skyline! The view to the south from her window was the Red Mountain Expressway that leads to the Over-the Mountain suburbs. Vulcan is along the mountain to the right side in the photo!
Jean Reed - Guest Photographer
Virginia has introduced you to Vulcan. As a child we all looked to see if Vulcan had a green light or a red light in his right hand---representing traffic fatalities in our city for that day. Vulcan was restored a few years ago and the light was removed and the original spear was placed in Vulcan’ s right hand. During Vulcan’s restoration, Vulcan’s head was on view at the Art Museum. Below is a picture of my class during the year that Vulcan was being restored! What a thrill of a lifetime to see Vulcan up close and personal!!!
Jean Reed - Guest Photographer
Highland Avenue is Old Birmingham. These homes were built in the early 1900’s. The brick house was for many years the home of Birmingham Civic Ballet. I took ballet lessons there. My teacher, beautiful Gloria Gustavson, would leave each day from teaching ballet and walk to the white house next door, which was a boarding home at the time. Today the brick house has been fully restored and is known as The Donnelly House named for the original inhabitants. It is the site of many weddings, receptions, teas, and luncheons. Thank goodness these homes are restored and well cared-for so many of us can enjoy their Southern splendor!
* This week's Guest Photographer is my dear friend Jean Reed. We go back a very long way together, and she was taking fabulous photographs long before I even thought about it. I hope you will leave comments for her. She'll appreciate it so very much.
Each day my dog carries her blanket outside, drops it to go mark her territory, runs down the driveway to get my paper, and then comes in with me to get breakfast! Each night she sleeps by my bed ---and many nights on my bed with her head across my feet! As I leave each day, she watches from the living room window til my car is out of view!
Jean Reed - Guest Photographer
* My friend Jean Reed is sitting in as my guest blogger this week while I'm in France. She introduced me to the Robert Jemison Trail and we have logged a lot of miles together here.
The Robert Jemison Trail is enjoyed by hundreds of walkers and runners on a daily basis. It is such a beautiful spot that one can get lost in the beauty of the babbling brook and the surrounding natural landscape and forget the pain of exercise and heart rate! It is great for one’s mental outlook and attitude to reap the multisensory advantages of spending time in the natural world! Once its summer, just don’t forget to watch out for snakes!!!!
Jean Reed - Guest Photographer
My father bought and planted this rose bush for me when I bought my house. Despite a lack of care and tending, it blooms each year reminding me of my sweet dad.
It’s only fitting for me to begin my guest appearance on Virginia’s blog with a tribute to my dad. I am my Father’s Daughter---a true Southern “Daddy’s Girl.” My father worked for an international construction firm and spent a lot of time traveling the world alone. My dad’s camera was his constant companion, and my love of photography stemmed from his lifelong love. Growing up, my family spent many evenings watching slideshows of our family, friends, and the world ---or, the view of the world through his eyes!
Jean Reed - Guest Photographer
Today is City Daily Photo's Theme Day. The chosen theme is FEET and I have the cutest ones you have ever seen. This is Mary Walker's tiny three week old tooties!
