100 Stranger Challenge - Mother and Son

I took this photograph in the Charles de Gaulle Airport on my way back from Paris. I regret I cannot tell you more about this mother and her son.  She spoke no English.  The little boy was very well behaved and delighted when I showed him his pictures on my camera.  What a a special privilege to be able to capture their beautiful faces!

Please visit me new blog:  PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

The Tune du Jour is " You're Still You" by Josh Groban

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The Fog Sets In

Saturday afternoon my alma mater was getting beaten like a drum by our archrivals across the state.  I had had about as much fun as I could stand, so I turned off the television,  grabbed my camera and headed out.  It was a foggy, "mizzly" afternoon and I wasn't sure what I would find.  As luck would have it, I found this winding road shrouded in a blanket of fog.  After taking a number of photos around the neighborhood, I headed back home to watch the last half of the game.......  Just wait till next year!!!

Hope you will visit my new blog

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

The Tune du Jour is "The Enchanted Garden " by Kevin Kern

Discover Kevin Kern!

Noel en Grand - THEME DAY Circles/Spheres

Noel en Grand!

Today is Theme Day around the world as City Daily Photo Bloggers interpret  Circles/Spheres. As luck would have it, I have this very colorful entry this month from my recent trip to Paris.  Galeries Lafayette was nice enough to deck their gorgeous store out for Christmas in time for our visit!  Noel en Grand  indeed!  Oh the outside windows are fabulous. For my Birmingham viewers, reminiscent of the wonderful animated windows Loveman's had in years gone by.  I was as enthralled as the children.  Once inside the famous dome of the store was even more exquisite  festooned with gigantic red and gold balls and Christmas trees.  As a compliment to today's post, I am featuring more of my photos from Galeries Lafayette on my new blog, "Paris Through My Lens".  Hope you will click over and see them as well.

Hundreds of City Daily Photo bloggers are participating in December's Theme Day. Please visit the link below to see their original interpretations.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

The Tune du Jour is "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Amy Grant

* As I promised earlier in the fall, Christmas on this blog would not start till after Thanksgiving.  Tis now the season.  

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Hot Dog Man

Sammy Graphos

Meet my friend Sam.  Sam has been selling the world's best hot dogs in downtown Homewood for close to 40 years!  Sam and his wife Sue are two of my dearest friends, but I can be totally impartial when it comes to rating his dogs.  Everybody south of town knows Sam's Super Samwiches.  It's one of those shotgun hot dog stands that has customers standing elbow to elbow during rush hour.  A few years ago he got real fancy and put some metal chairs and tables outside on the sidewalk. Paris meets Homewood I guess.  Oh and I almost forgot, along with the best hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches and chili, you also get a friendly greeting and a chance to visit with Sam (if he's not off playing golf) and his team of "dog slingers".  In addition to feeding hungry customers Sam, has a heart of gold and generous spirit, giving so much back to our community.  He is a treasure for sure.   Sam's Super Samwiches, a little slice of Americana.  Now I've made myself hungry.  I'm off to get a "Special"- all the way...or maybe a slaw dog...or a hamburger might be good ...........

Please Visit My New Blog 

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

A Photo Diary of My Recent Trip To Paris

The Tune du Jour is "Let's Twist Again"  By Chubby Checker!

Bottom photo: The "apple of Sam's eye", his granddaughter Kate (in the front) performing at the Greek Food Festival earlier this fall.

 

                              

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PORTRAITS FROM MY HEART - My Lindley

This is the last of my Portraits From My Heart series.  I guess it's fitting that the last portrait is of my first grandchild Lindley.  I had the privilege of photographing her very first cry and capturing her daddy's tears as he gazed at his precious daughter for the first time.  She has delighted us with her first giggle, first steps, first words, first loose tooth and hearing her read her first words.  Now she's a big second grader and smarter than her Mumsie!  On second thought, maybe it's not the end of the series.  I might have more to share from time to time.

I have a new blog!  "Paris Through My Lens" - a photo diary of my recent trip to Paris.

The Tune du Jour is "It Had To Be You" by Rod Stewart

Discover Rod Stewart featuring Chris Botti!

SKYWATCH FRIDAY- Birmingham Sunset

Well it's time to get back to Birmingham and join up with the Skywatch Friday gang!  I took this photo about a month or so ago.  This is the Birmingham skyline with the Charley Boswell Public Golf Course in the foreground.  This is right in my neighborhood and I love seeing the rolling hills and nicely landscaped course when I pass it a dozen times a day.  I also like that they chose to honor Birmingham's own Charley Boswell, a pro golfer who just happened to be blind and one wonderful man!

To see how all the other SKYWATCH FRIDAY participants captured their little piece of the sky click here.

ANNOUNCING THE BIRTH OF MY NEW BLOG

Paris Through My Lens

I plan to post 4 photos a day (maybe) so please stop by from time to time.

The Tune du Jour is "The Age of Aquarius/Let the Sunshine" by the Fifth Dimension

Discover The Fifth Dimension!

Giving Thanks

Today is very special for Americans.  A day we stop to give thanks.  I am thankful for this wonderful country I am  privileged to live in, for my dear family and friends, my good health and this year I must add a few more.  This year I am so very thankful for the gift of time my retirement has afforded me.  Now I am able to share my time and talents in so many ways.  I am also grateful for the friendships this blog has brought my way.  What a generous, thoughtful, caring group of friends you have become.  I am touched on a daily basis.  

Today's top photo is what we call "Indian Corn" here.  Who ever heard of Thanksgiving without some Indian corn hanging somewhere!!

Bottom photo:  Thanksgiving is a shop in the Marais district of Paris.   They have everything you could want to make your very own American Thanksgiving feast in Paris!  The store had not opened when we strolled by,  but I pressed my nose against the window and got a look inside.  They have it all and even had boxes of fat orange yams! 

What I'm nibbling this morning with my coffee:  A leftover caramel macaron that i bought last Sunday! Well it's pretty yummy and reminds me of Paris.  Anyone know if you can buy them in the US?

 Bon appetit everyone !!!

Tune du Jour is "What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong!

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Musee du Louvre

Repairs? Storage? Trapped?

For a photographer,  Paris is a blessing and curse.  For me, it is a constant feast for the eyes.  But  on the other hand, Paris has been photographed from every possible angle for so many years by the world's finest photographers.  Intimidating indeed to find something new and interesting.  I don't pretend to do that.  I seek only to capture Paris for myself,  so that when I look back on my photographs, they are not just replicas from a guide book, but evoke a memory of a special moment, place or person.   Today, a visit to le Musee du Louvre.

The Tune du Jour is "Once Upon a Time" by Michael Dulin

One thing I really missed while I was away was Michael's music.  It's good to hear it again!

Stairwell Musee du Louvre

From the Pyramide du Louvre

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1,100 Photographs Later.....

Montmartre

Reentry into "Reality World" is hard. In the Dallas and Birmingham Airports noone spoke a word of French to us and I couldn't find a good piece of brie anywhere!!!  I arrived home tonight at 10:30 after being up for almost 22 hours.  You knew I couldn't go to bed before I had downloaded all my photos, right???  Then the question, "Which ones to show you today?"  I am a zombie so I just picked two to start us off.  Thank you all for you wonderful comments while I was away!  I checked them as often as I could and it meant a lot to have you along for the ride.  I have decided to do an additional Paris Travel Blog with selected photos very soon.  I will not write much and instead include more photos each day.  I am certainly not in competition with Peter and Eric, but think my travel blog should be separate from my Birmingham Daily Photo.  That's really just exactly what I need to be doing.... more blogging! Ha  I will be around to visit you all shortly. I have missed you!!!

V

P.S. Thanks D.C. for blogsitting. I will be happy to give references to any future clients you might have!

Jardins Palais Royal

Au Revoir Paris

Today we bid Paris farewell. ( Pass the Kleenex please !)  I leave you with one last image. Probably my favorite photograph, it was taken from the dome of the Sacre Coeur in March, 2007.  A breathtakingly beautiful sight, in more ways than one. No, there will be no sequel to this one!

Les Trois Bouteilles

These antique seltzer bottles are from Architectural Heritage.  Another one of those things that I have had a go at photographing many, many, many times. Plastic, screw-top seltzer bottles just don't do it for me like these do!

Bottom Photo: Arc de Triomphe in the rain.

Update!  Today is our last day in Paris.  We are heading off to the Louvre and then to the Musee Rodin!  A little snow is predicted and that would be a photographer's godsend if I ever saw one!!!   It has been a wonderful week!  Paris photos will be forthcoming and I will have to figure out the new blog thing. The long flight home will give me time to plan.  D.C. , tell my blog to get the house all cleaned up for my arrival.  Will there be champagne? I am quite used to that now you know.

I am in Paris this week.  My photos have been preposted.  In addition to the Birmingham photo each day, I am including a Paris photo from my last visit in March, 2007.  Thanks for stopping by.

Birmingham's First Skyscraper

In 1913, the Jefferson County Savings and Loan,  now the City Federal Building, opened its doors. Located downtown on 2nd Avenue North,  this 27 story terra cotta faced  building is still the tallest neo classical skyscraper in the southeast. Thankfully spared the wrecking ball, it is now open for business as City Federal condominiums.

Bottom Photo: Eva and "L'ami de personne" (Nobody's Friend).  This bronze by Swedish sculptor Eric Dietman, is in Jardin des Tuileries.

I am in Paris this week.  My photos are preposted this week.  In addition to the Birmingham photo I am including a Paris photo from my last trip in March, 2007.  From time to time I may leave a comment from Paris.  Thanks for stopping by.  Bonne weekend!

Remembering II

Birmingham played a large part in the Civil Rights Movement.  Thankfully, our city has come a long way since the turbulent 60's.  This is Kelly Ingram Park.  I featured it previously here.   This photograph captures the statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. looking towards the 16th Street Baptist Church.  To the left is the Civil Rights Institute.  We remember with pain, the past and look forward to continued healing and progress for our city and our country.

Bottom Photo:  La Tour Eiffel from Jardins des Tuileries

I am in Paris this week.  I have preposted my blog.  In addition to the Birmingham photo, I am including a Paris photo from my last trip in March, 2007.  I may from time to time leave a comment from Paris.  Thanks for stopping by.  Bonne weekend everyone!

Grand Old Lady

For those of you who have grown up in Birmingham, this building is instantly recognizable. This wonderful Art Deco detailing is from Loveman's Department Store in downtown Birmingham.  This grand old lady evokes many fond memories.... eating lunch on the Mezzanine,  the glove department, the elevators with attendants in white gloves, the fabulous Christmas windows...and so many more.  This building now houses the  McWane Science Center.  

Bottom Photo:  Musee du Louvre

Paris, 2007

I am in Paris this week.  I am preposting while I am gone.  In addition to the Birmingham photo each day, I am adding a Paris photo from my last trip in March, 2007.  From time to time I may leave a comment from Paris. Thank you for stopping by.