Christmas In Birmingham

This past weekend, my church Independent Presbyterian Church, hosted its 66th Holiday House Tour. I thought the Thomson's welcoming front porch with this colorful swing was perfect for our unseasonable Christmas weather.

Fa la la la la

Meet my friend and talented pianist and teacher, Gloria Gilmer. She and I have become friends via our Sunday School class at Independent Presbyterian Church. Once we learned how gifted she was, we asked/begged her to play in our Great Hall this Holiday House weekend. You may recognize her as, in addition to teaching piano, she also plays at Von Maur as well. Her extensive collection of Christmas music required a rolling suitcase! How fortunate we are to have such a talented new member.

Celebrating 100 Years

This weekend marks Independent Presbyterian Church's 66th Annual Holiday House Tour. This is also their 100th anniversary. At its founding, the church held services at Temple Emmanu-El .In the 1992, after a devastating fire, IPC again worshipped there until renovation was complete. This is one of two magnificent silver candelabrum given to IPC by the Temple when the church moved to its permanent home at 3100 Highland Avenue in 1926. The Holiday House Tour raises money for the Children's Fresh Air Farm in Bluff Park. For more information about the tour click HERE.  

An Evening Downtown

The newly restored Florentine Building downtown is even more elegant at night.

My Next Obsession

Now that a the historic Lyric Theatre is just weeks from the fabulous completion of the restoration, I've found another love... the old Thomas Jefferson Hotel. Stewart Perry Construction has taken on this old hotel and it promises to be a great photo op if I can find a way to get in there!

The Welder

Things are moving quickly as the construction company of Stewart Perry pushes to get the restoration of the Lyric finished by the end of 2015. I was there last week and the place was working alive with seats being installed, last minute painting and here welding hand railings behind of the ground floor seats. In post processing I spotted the welder's shadow on the wall.

Sally Knits!

Meet my sweet friend Sally Chew. Sally has been knitting all her life and a sells her beautiful scarves, wraps, vests and accessories all over the southeast. She also serves as my knitting advisor. As I plod along cranking out one scarf every six months, Sally's home is full of many projects that somehow she manages to keep going at the same time.

Wheeeeeee!

As I've often said, sometimes you get served what's on my plate at the moment. I have had a few Christmas photo shoots this week and today, you get to have a peek. Meet Millie and her dad. David is an assistant minister at my church, and we did a family shoot right after church yesterday. This took my breath ,and I'm very glad to report it had a good outcome!

Sunday Church Series - Cathedral of St. Paul

Downtown's beautiful Cathedral of St. Paul., built in 1890 for the cost of....$90,000.

Birmingham's Urban Mural

Located on the east wall of the Boutwell Auditorium, this colorful mosaic "depicting a mythical dragon rising out of Birmingham's industrial past." The 28,000 colorful tiles were created through participation from Space One Eleven and completed in 2000.

Back In The Classroom

They grew UP and I didn't!

Yesterday I got to do what I love. 

1. Talk to students 

2. Talk about Paris

2. Talk about photography

4. Share my photos

5. Be back in Homewood classrooms

 I was invited back to Madame Michelle Myer's French classes at Homewood High School to share my photos and talk about my love of Paris. This year, after my trip during the attacks in Paris, my photos and talk took another turn. I took her classes through my last trip day by day and tried to explain what it felt like to be there and share what I saw and felt. The bonus was that I was able to reconnect with two of my former third graders in her French IV class. They were working on a project concerning the Climate Conference in Paris. Mrs. J was left in their dust, but I was thrilled and impressed to sit and listen as they conversed en français!

Ron's Ginkgo

I will probably post this photo every autumn as long as I have this blog. My friend Ron Council planted these ginkgo trees in front of his home in Forest Park from seeds he gathered at Birmingham Southern College years ago. He loved them, and we all loved Ron, so seeing them in all their glory every autumn reminds us all of his wonderful spirit.

Under Wraps

August, 2011 this was shot in the mezzanine of the historic Lyric Theatre. I loved the old seats with all the dust, spider webs, and grime. Well times are changing and this old abandoned theatre is coming to life. I took my 12th trip to the Lyric Theatre on Monday and my jaw dropped at the amazing transformation since my last trip about 9 months ago. The Lyric is set to open in January, 2016. Just you wait, I will have many teasers leading up to the big opening and photos that night as well!

New seats under wraps for now at the Lyric

CDP Theme Day - Your Shop Windows

Today's City Daily Photo Theme is Shop Windows. I chose the eclectic Reed Books, The Museum of Fond Memories in downtown Birmingham. You can spend hours in this place that is full to the brim with old books and memorabilia.  To see the other entries of my fellow CDP blog friends, click HERE!