Frick and Frack

Several weeks ago I walked all over the loft district of Birmingham for the annual Art Walk. I ran into these two pups with their owners in tow, everywhere I went. They just cracked me up. I named them Frick and Frack! Can't you just see the two of them working as a team to get out of the fence and then getting in all the garbage cans in the neighborhood? And yeah, I noticed their funky tongues too!

BLOG WORD A DAY

From Biz Stone's book Who Let the Blogs Out

Comment Spam: Noun. Unwanted comments promoting another site.

Patina

Copper Bowl

Interiors Market, Pepper Place

October Theme Day - CONTRAST

Today is October Theme Day for City Daily Photobloggers around the world. CONTRAST is our theme. Well try as I might, I couldn't find a Birmingham photo to top this one. As many of you know, I spent most of the summer in France. Today's theme just begged for a trip back to Paris. In my opinion, nowhere is the contrast of old and new more beautfully illustrated than right here at la Louvre. Built in the 12th Century, the former Palais du Louvre now overlooks I.M.Pei's Pyramide. A controversial pairing that one either loves or hates. When I first visited Paris, I wasn't sure how I would feel when I saw it. Perhaps what won my heart was seeing it at night. Oh my, it's exquisite... it's just magical. My very, very favorite place for night photographs in Paris. I've photographed it twice, and I can hardly wait for another photo opportunity.

There will be some very creative interpretations of our theme today around the world.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Ode to Rust

I told you it's rained and rained and rained around here , so why not throw the spotlight on RUST!!! These tables at Architectural Heritage on Birmingham's southside are beautiful examples of rust at its best. Rust and peely paint.... sometimes a good thing.

Dusty Lens, this one's for you since you're the king of rusty ummmm....stuff!

So Long Sweet Thing........

Sadly it's about time to bid a fond farewell to watermelon and all the other fine things summer has to offer down here in Alabama. But these little guys below, and their giant size relatives are starting to appear around town, especially at the Pepper Place Market last Saturday. It's beginning to look a little like autumn, but we are still waiting for it to FEEL like it. The thought of a sweater still makes me swoon. Rumor has it that we might get some relief from the heat tomorrow... oh happy day! Stay tuned, that could change on a dime!

Les Lumières

Richard Tubb Interiors at the Pepper Place was a nice place to explore on a rainy Saturday. I was fascinated with these wonderful paper lanterns suspended from the ceiling. The reflection was just too good to pass up.

Bar Fly???

My friend Chuckeroon at Richmond Upon Thames Daily Photo does photos from time to time that he has titled "Bar Fly". I always enjoy the bars/taverns he surreptitiously ( or maybe not) photographs. He was my inspiration for this shot. Last Friday night I went back to the Bottle Tree with my friends Sis and Bill. Bill's a photographer too. Unlike 'roon, we blatantly whipped out our cameras and had a mini photo shoot right there. The younger set tolerates us, and we do appreciate that! You know from previous photos here, that the Bottle Tree is a fun and funky place. Today...... more proof!

Yes, Satan has a painless way for you to pay your bar tab

Lonnie Holley - The Sandman

You've already met Birmingham folk artist Lonnie Holley here and here . Lonnie has a story to tell. Raised 7th of 27 children Lonnie, known as The Sandman, began his artistic life when he carved headstones for his sister's two children who died in a house fire. He used the soft sandstone like material that is a by-product of metal castings he found at a nearby foundary. The rest is history. These days Lonnie continues to carve, but he also paints, and makes some mighty interesting sculpture from found objects like the one above. And when I say he has a story to tell, indeed he does. He held an audience spellbound this day at the Lite Box Gallery at the Pepper Place Market. But in case you think he's just a local artist, think again. Lonnie's work has been exhibited at Atlanta's High Museum, the Smithsonian, New York's American Folk Art Museum and.......the White House! For more about Lonnie's remarkable life go here.

I am pleased to announce that two of my Paris street portraits are being featured on Parisien Salon.com. This is a terrific site and I hope you will give it a look!

O Kafés!

Earlier this week we visited The Cantina. Well step right next door and visit O Kafés! Coffee House. Also housed in the old Martin Biscuit Building on 2nd Avenue South, this was the perfect spot to spend a very rainy morning with friends. I've been buying coffee from their stand at the Pepper Place Market for years, but this was my first visit to their new coffee house. Oh, I'll be back!

Pleasel check out their website for info concerning live music, coffee beans and a lot more!

Breaking News! I am pleased to announce that two of my Paris portraits are being featured on Parisien Salon.com!! This is a beautiful site and I hope you will give it a look.

It's Rained a Lot Lately!

It has rained buckets for what seems like weeks around here. Monday, I got really desperate. Then I had a brainstorm .......mushrooms or toadstools....whatever! I cruised my neighborhood until I found some nice specimens. It didn't take long believe me. They are everywhere and in every imaginable shape and color. I made a quick turn around, jumped out of the car (in the rain), and popped off a few quick shots. Having a daily photo blog one has to be very creative, especially in inclimate weather.

Homegrown, Chez Virginia

Birmingham Rouge IV - The Warehouse

Spotted in a warehouse under renovation in downtown Birmingham. Of course the red caught my eye! May I just say how satisfying it is to find places such as this that I find visually appealing as a photographer and yet highlight the wonderful work going on here in downtown Birmingham to bring it back to life!

UPDATE: Well welcome back to my Followers who have been MIA in Bloggerworld since yesterday. I see some new faces! :)

Portraits From My Heart - The High Fives

Go ahead and say it. I'm guilty as charged for dragging my little darlings on my blog again. Well the "babies" have turned five within a day of each other, and we need to celebrate, right?? For those of you who think that being their Mumsie makes it easier to get photos, think again. I'll let you decide which one is the ham and which one would rather clean up his room than smile for the camera! A very HAPPY BIRTHDAY my Davis and Laura Kate. It seems like only yesterday that both of you were born, a day apart, in the same hospital, and your moms were on different floors at St. Vincent's Hospital. Whew, that was a trip!

(The sentiments expressed on my grandson's shirt do not reflect those of the management!)

Boys will be boys!

Girls will be girls!

BLOG WORD A DAY

I was sure Biz Stone had a word for bloggers that shamelessly feature their grandchilden but couldn't find it . Maybe some of you clever readers ( Marley?) can come up with a suitable word. Go ahead, dish it out, I can take it!

The Cantina

I'll just bet you saw this photo and thought I had found a really neat church here in Birmingham. Actually this is The Cantina, Tortilla Grill, located on 2nd Avenue South in the Martin Biscuit Building at the Pepper Place. ( They have another location on Cahaba Valley Road) Pardon the pun, but this place is dripping with character! It's also a really great place to have some good Mexican food and a beverage. We sat inside last week because of the heat and humidity. I'm so glad we did. Look what I found!

( Never leave home without your camera)

BLOG WORD A DAY

FROM BIZ STONE'S BOOK WHO LET THE BLOGS OUT

BLAWG: NOUN. A BLOG PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH LEGAL AFFAIRS; A BLOG WRITTEN BY A LAWYER.

(SINCE OUR FRIEND BOB CROWE IS NOW HOME FROM HIS JOURNEY TO NEPAL AND TIBET, THIS ONE'S

FOR YOU BOB!)

New Kid on Our Block

Many of you will remember that I lost my sweet granddog Willie a while back. Well, we have a new baby boy in the family. Meet Einstein. We have high hopes that he will live up to his name. Eva and Davis adore him, and Ivy and Kittykins are warming up to him. I'm a proud grandmother!