The Colors of Sloss

Sloss Furnaces Historical Landmark

Sunday Church Series - A Different Perspective

I have featured many, many photographs of the Cathedral Church of the Advent, one of Birmingham's oldest and most beautiful churches.  Today it is mirrored in the windows of the Regions Harbert Plaza across the street.

A Great Day For Golf

Oh  we've had some gorgeous weather the last few days.  Late yesterday,  I was on my way home and stopped and took this shot. I live in Forest Park just blocks from Birmingham's Highland Park Golf Course.  Established in 1903 as the Country Club of Birmingham , it the oldest golf course in Alabama.  1927 it was opened for the public and in 1955 name for revered Birmingham native, Charley Boswell, 17 time National Blind Golf Champion.  The restoration of the course in 1998 makes it a favorite course for golfers.  Many were out there whacking the daylights out of that little white ball yesterday!!

Camellia

Today a rest for the eyes.  Alabama's state flower, camellia japonica.

Power to the People

Yesterday, blue skies, sunshine and warmer temps were much appreciated in here Birmingham, but they were a little  hard to see as I sat at the traffic light in Homewood.

Today, in an effort to make all of the people happy, some of the time,  I offer up two tunes for you.  Some of you will enjoy John Lennon's Power to the People, and others will probably opt for Blue Skies by Willie Nelson. You know who you are!  ( And my guess is that JB will either love them both or hate them both. Hide and watch!)


Oops, sorry about the technical difficulties with the links this am. I don't know why John won't sing for you. I've fiddled with it and guess you'll have to Google him!
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Lurking in the Alley

You just never know what you'll find in downtown Birmingham when you prowl around the alleyways.

Clairmont Fire Station Gets New Face

This past year our firefighters at the Clairmont Fire Station got some new digs.  Since then this great old building has almost gotten the wrecking ball but so far it's still with us.  Those of us in the neighborhood are hoping someone will make it a neat bar or café.  I pass it 3 or 4 times a day and have been delighted to see the outside has become an art gallery of sorts.  In the last few weeks new art has gone up . I swung by and caught this one today. Any of my B'ham readers know who the artists are?

Greetings From Glendale - We're #1 !!!

Auburn's Wes Bynum makes it happen.  See it here.

It's all over but the shouting!!

Those of you that have followed this blog for a while know that I'm not a sports person, but I do love some SEC football, namely my Auburn Tigers.  True AU fans love 'em win or lose (but winning is so much more fun)!  While I was snoozing the night away in Paris a few weeks ago, the Auburn faithful were cheering on the Tigers  in Glendale, Arizona for the National Championship.  From what I hear, the Auburn Nation filled about 3/4 of the stadium and they're all still talking about what a great time it was.

Today, my guest photographer is my friend Martha Ann Doyal who was right there with her family and has kindly shared some photos of the big game.  This past Saturday about 70,000 fans packed Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn to welcome the team and just have a general love fest.  I missed that too but I've enjoyed the hearing all about it.  WAR EAGLE!

Sunday Church Series - Column Detail

I have been invited by my church, Independent Presbyterian Church, to exhibit some of my photographs for the annual Religious Arts Festival.  I've chosen a collection of Birmingham and Paris/French churches.  As I was selecting, I found this from the beautiful Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church here on Birmingham's southside.

No. 1 Kodak Jr.

What's On 2nd?

I love old cameras.  I am really grateful that I discovered my passion for photography at this time in my life, but when I see old cameras like this, I wish I'd found it long ago.  I dabbled in film photography by taking really, really bad photographs of my girls as they grew up,  and I got a little better when the first 2 grandbabies came along.  Now digital works for this "immediate gratification" photographer, but I still wouldn't mind getting my hands on one of these fine old boys.

Just Grand

That's how I would describe Birmingham's historic Alabama Theatre.  I've brought you here many times.  Today the staircase.  This lovely old theater is 84 year young now and thanks to the late Cecil Whitmire and many others, it has been lovingly preserved.  It evokes many wonderful memories for me as a girl growing up here.

Andy Warhol Paints a Portrait

In October, Neil Printz, editor of the Andy Warhol catalogue raisonné spoke at the Birmingham Museum of Art.  "Printz presented selections of Warhol's 40 year love-affair with the human face."  On exhibit in the Contemporary Gallery were Warhol portraits of Birmingham art philanthropists Charles and  Caroline Ireland (1979).  It was exciting for me to be able to see and photograph these along with the series of photographs made by the artist for the portraits. The lecture and exhibit were just one facet of the Birmingham Museum of Art's celebration of "The Year of Photography"

A Paris Moment à Birmingham

Ohhh la la, I met my chère amie and fellow Paris blogger Genie, at Chez Fonfon yesterday . She and daughter Lauren were up from Mobile and when asked where we should lunch, I knew just the place.  We all agreed that it has a very French feel. They even have moules and frites on the menu!! This is one of internationally known and James Beard finalist, Chef Frank Stitt's fleet of three outstanding restaurants in Birmingham.  Located in Five Points South right next door to his fabulous Highlands Bar and Grill.


My friend and photography buddy, Bill Dixon has shared his photos here many times when I've been away.  Guess blogworld rubbed off on him, so he's gone and created his very own photoblog....Southern Stuff.  Please stop by, have a look, leave a comment and Follow his blog!

True Grits

McEwen and Sons organic corn meal, polenta and stone ground grits are becoming a household word around here.  This family owned business in Wilsonville, Alabama started out selling to Birmingham area stores and restaurants and now has customers from coast to coast. I hear folks bragging about their cornbread now that they've switched to their corn meal and I've got to try their grits. To be honest, the "Organic Blue" grits make me wonder, but I"m game!   I can see some of you turning up your nose.....you know where this is going....... well Honey, you can KISS MY GRITS!  Don't knock 'em till you've tried 'em!