Ah Paris!

Fresh snow at the Palais Royal - Saturday morning

Today a little treat for you. I know that it has been very cold in Birmingham, so I thought I'd show you what the weather has been like Paris as well. We awoke to snow on Saturday morning. A francophile photographer's dream! Brrrrr

Patriotic Ponies

Veteran's Day Parade in downtown Birmingham.

Industrial Playground?

Sloss Furnaces Historic Landmark

Let's Go Backstage

Backstage at the Birmingham Children's Theatre.

Oh the Details!

I was stopped in traffic on 21st Street North beside First Presbyterian Church recently, and I spotted this wonderful detail work that I'd never noticed before. Luckily I had my camera. I rolled down the window and here it is for you to admire!

I've posted other photos of this wonderful old downtown Birmingham church here.

Across the Tracks

This building sits across the railroad tracks from Sloss Furnaces. I have no idea what it was used for in the past. It looks abandoned, yet I thought the afternoon sun really showed it off!

If any of my Birmingham readers can share some information, please leave a comment!

Frosting

Today, I'm hoping to be on my way to Paris. The weatherman has predicted snow again, AGAIN in Birmingham!! Well I'm sorry I'll miss that, but I've posted so many photos from last December's morning of snow that maybe it's best I'm not there to take more! I fear I've pushed the limits, but that said, I'm sharing one more, just ONE more from that glorious morning. La neige est trés belle!

Sundown on Second Avenue

A week ago my friend Bill and I did a late afternoon shoot in downtown Birmingham. I caught this one with high hopes that the setting sun would come out just the way I saw it. Not so much. I'll go back and try again. Meanwhile, Bill caught the photograper grappling with the sunset!

The FIrehouse Shelter

Today, my friend Doug Stocks shares a photograph of Birmingham's Firehouse Shelter.  Started in 1983, this outreach program housed just 12 homeless men. Today, 175 men have a safe, warm place to sleep each night. To learn more about one of Birmingham's most successful programs, click here.

Blog Friends - Making Plans

Forgive me for yet another personal post today. As I have stated many times, through this blog I've met met so many wonderful friends, here and across the globe. Today another example. Through another reader, Sara and I connected. . Last fall, we met face to face at the Day of the Dead Festival. We recognized each other immediately ( from Facebook), and she told me she and her husband read my blogs often. We chatted a bit, and she told me she and her family were going to Paris soon. Imagine my delight when she emailed me last week and asked if we could meet and talk about their upcoming trip to Paris.... next week! Small world, we'll be there at the same time! Today we met at Forest Perk on Clairmont. I gave her my condensed version of how to survive in Paris with limited français, the places I visit over and over, and most of all, why Paris j'adore! Well it wasn't all that condensed.

Sara et famille... bon voyage!

Tutu Cute II - Tiny Toes

I'm sorry but some things are just too good to have only one helping! I was going through my archives the other day and ran across the photo shoot at the Children's Dance Foundation in Homewood. I did a post in November here, but look what else I found. Point those toes!

In Case of Fire

The old Steiner Bank on 1st Avenue North is a Birmingham landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places. I like the fire escape zig zagging down the side of the building. The Steiner brothers, Burghard and Sigfried opened the bank right here in 1890. I love the color and design of this building that is still standing proudly today.

A Little Reminder

My dear friend Phoebe brought me this card from a recent trip to Chicago. It's pinned to the bulletin board above my computer. I laughed when I got it because it's probably true, although I'm not so sure I'm all that interesting in real life either! One thing I do know, my life is more interesting BECAUSE of my blog! As we all do when a new year unfolds , I looked back to the beginning of my blog in June, 2008, and how clueless I really was. I thought posting a photo a day would be a piece of cake. A year and a half later, I can tell you for certain that a lot of the time it is a piece of cake, but some days it's like "pulling teeth" as my Momma use to say. That said, blogging has become one of the most rewarding challenges I've ever tackled. Oh my, the wonderful friends I' ve made flung far and wide across the globe. Some I've had the great pleasure of meeting in person. You have all broadened my horizons a thousand fold. From my little office, I take a marvelous trip around the world each and every day. Not only that, so many of you stop by and pay me a visit ( and I don't even have to get out of my PJ's if I don't want to!). Our fearless leader Eric is celebrating the 5th anniversary of his Paris Daily Photo soon. He's the one that got me hooked, and I was lucky enough to tell him in person last July, what a great ride it's been for me! Eric, you really started something!

And Happy Birthday wishes to our friend Petrea, who's Pasadena Daily Photo is celebrating it's 2nd Birthday!!

January Theme Day - CHANGE

"Be the change you want to see in the world"

Gandhi

What could be more important than helping a child become a better reader? Today some photos of STAIR ( Start The Adventure In Reading) reading programs around our city.

Today City Daily Photobloggers around our world are posting their interpretation of the theme CHANGE.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants