Sunday, December 16, 2012

The Apostles' Window

Where there is hope in Jesus, there is life.

The Apostles' Window at Memorial United Methodist Church

Photo by guest photographer Christine Weerts

Saturday, December 15, 2012

The Mayor and Mr. Claus

Selma Mayor George Evans recently welcomed Santa Claus to the Cahaba Mental Health 
Center's Christmas Village program. Santa sure deserves a pat on the back 
for all the appearances he makes this time of year!

Friday, December 14, 2012

December Sunset

After a cloudy couple of days earlier this week, the setting sun turned the clouds pink.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Stored for Winter

The hay is in the barn and ready to deliver to livestock. 

After last week's unseasonably warm weather, Central Alabama is experiencing 
a blast of cold air, and with little winter grazing due to recent dry weather,
 cattle will be lowing when they see the hay wagon heading their way!


Photo by guest photographer Christine Weerts 

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Monday, December 10, 2012

Up on the Housetop

Up on the housetop, birds might find a very good perch, plus a well-built roof,
 not to mention the latest styles for family living. Even if you don't cater
 to our feathered friends, who can resist adding one of these rustic creations
 to their yard? I rather like the portraits in wood as well! 

Check them out this week at Holiday House at the Striplin Performing Arts Centre.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Christmas at Sturdivant Hall

Christmas comes in apples and oranges at Sturdivant Hall 
this year for its annual open house.

Don't you just love this centerpiece?

When I saw it, memories came back of the pineapple and apple centerpiece
 that my mother used to make from an idea came from Colonial Williamsburg.


Photo by guest photographer Christine Weerts

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Santa Arrives at Christmas Village

Here comes Santa Claus to Cahaba Center's Christmas Village Open House!

The annual event features carols, a tree lighting by Selma's mayor,
 sale of handmade crafts and viewing of a miniature ceramic village
 all decked out for the season.  The center's day-program clients
 work many months to prepare for this day!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Uptown Lights

It's ABC Wednesday, and "U" is for UPTOWN.

Broad Street is magical in December with Christmas lights aglow after dark. 

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Deck the Porch

Christmas decorations are going up all over Selma,
 and I still love the elegance of greenery with red bows.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Your Name in Pictures!

Photo letter art is sort of a scavenger hunt for photographers,
 and Kayla Smith has snapped the whole alphabet!

In fact, she found "letters" in S hooks, on barns, gates, fences,
 posts, logs and all throughout the Dallas County area. 

She displayed her hobby and sold letter pictures 
at Saturday's Sturdivant Hall Christmas Fair. 

Sunday, December 2, 2012

The Candy Man

It's almost Christmas, so there must be candy!

Do you prefer almond brittle or chocolate-covered peanuts?

Selma's Gantt Candies shared samples of the sweet treats
 at Saturday's Sturdivant Hall Christmas Fair. The handmade candy
 is sold at several local businesses including Carter Drug Co.

 

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Crimson Tide BLVD

 
It's December Theme Day, and City Daily Photo Bloggers
 are posting their versions of "My Street." 
Well, this isn't the street where I live, but this corner says a lot
 about the loyalties of University of Alabama sports fans, especially football.

This afternoon, the Crimson Tide meets the Georgia Bulldogs
 in the Southeastern Conference football championship over in Atlanta.
 The winner plays Notre Dame for the National Championship.

Can Alabama win it yet one more time?


Friday, November 30, 2012

Waiting

Garlands drape the fence that encloses Santa's wonderland
 at the Selma Mall, and soon, very soon, St. Nicolas will take his place
 in the emerald chair to hear the Christmas wishes of little ones. 

Linking to Friday Fences

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Tractor Lineup

T is for TRACTORS, and all makes, shapes and sizes
 are on display every year at the Orrville Tractor Show. 

Have you ever driven a tractor?

Linking to 
ABC Wednesday

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

A Peek into Selma's Air Force History

This jet mounted in front of Memorial Stadium reminds Selmians
 of our years when Craig Air Force Base was the largest flying field in the U.S.
 Craig provided flight training for young Air Force pilots and was open
 from the World War II years until the late 1970s when it
 was closed by the Jimmy Carter Administration. 

Another post on aircraft displayed at the stadium is HERE.


Photo by guest photographer Christine Weerts

Monday, November 26, 2012

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Autumn at the Mabry-Jones House

Orange and gold leaves frame the antebellum Mabry-Jones House
 on Tremont Street in Old Town Selma. Temperatures dipped
 into the 20s this morning, so our beautiful autumn will soon be gone.

Photo by guest photographer Christine Weerts

Saturday, November 24, 2012

The A Teams

The A Teams, Alabama and Auburn, play their annual college football rivalry today,
 and I've seen quite a few mailboxes and doors decorated with the team colors.
 These wreaths were available at Selma's Riverfront Market Day in October. 

Friday, November 23, 2012

Oldest to Youngest

Thanksgiving isn't just about turkey and the trimmings 
or Pilgrims and Indians gathering together for a first feast/game day. 

It's mainly about family. It's the biggest family day of the year,
 and many Americans travel great distances to be there. 

Our family reunited on a front porch in Old Town Selma, 
and here, the oldest and youngest say "Hello!"

Thursday, November 22, 2012

The Thanksgiving Table

It's Thanksgiving, and here is the colorful table set at the home of family today.

From pumpkins and a ceramic turkey to Pilgrims and candles, 
the tablescape brought the meaning of the day right to our plates. 

I am so thankful to those Native Americans who taught
 our forebears how to survive in this "new" land.    


Wednesday, November 21, 2012

S is for Super Savor

It's "S Week" at the ABC Wednesday meme,
 so I am SUPER SAVORING the gorgeous gingko this fall! 

Photo by Guest Photographer Christine Weerts

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Double Delight


Today, I am thankful to be an early riser and able to catch both a double rainbow
 and rosy sky at dawn! The gingko tree is the same one that I posted

Monday, November 19, 2012

Gingko by Night

Every year, I post a picture of our gingko tree in mid-November.
 However, this is the first time you get to see it at night
 with the moon poised among its golden branches!

Sunday, November 18, 2012

The Chapel Cross

The cross atop the chapel at Concordia College rises above the trees
 along Broad Street. The chapel was formerly part
 of the United Methodist Children's Home.

 (Photo by guest photographer Christine Weerts)

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Fall Welcome

Just a wreath and a pumpkin attached to a gate 
make a cheerful fall welcome at this driveway.

Guest photographer: Christine Weerts

Linking to Rural Thursday and City Daily Photo Blogs

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

How much stuff do you recycle? 

Selma residents are encouraged to REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE,
 and big RED, dropoff centers are located in a parking lot on Broad Street
 near the National Voting Rights Interpretive Center, at the old Walmart location
 on Highland Avenue and at Bloch Park/Memorial Stadium off West Dallas Avenue.

By the way, it's R Week over at ABC Wednesday!

Linking to ABC Wednesday and City Daily Photo Blogs




Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Cotton Picked

The cotton is nearly picked!
Fall is cotton-picking season in Central Alabama, and this field is finished. 
Thanks to guest photographer Christine Weerts for finding this field 
down in neighboring Wilcox County.

Linking to Our World Tuesday and City Daily Photo Blogs 

Friday, November 9, 2012

Iron Bridge over Valley Creek

The old iron bridge over Valley Creek looks a bit rusty, but it's still reliable.
 The bridge is located on the Kenan's Mill property. 

Linking to Friday Fences and City Daily Photo Blogs

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Corn Grits

What could be more rural AND more southern than stone-ground grits?

Corn grits are sold at Kenan's Mill during special events such as the 
Kenan's Mill Fall Festival and  Spring Pilgrimage. Maintaining a mill like this
 is quite a job, and the creek doesn't always flow so swiftly.
 But it's  an historic site worth saving and an ongoing project

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

A Quantity of Quarts

It's "Q Week" at ABC Wednesday, and a QUANTITY of canned QUARTS 
of jams and jellies and preserves might just make you hungry!
 These colorful jars of goodness were for sale at the Kenan's Mill Festival
 by Mrs. Rushton's Cottage Kitchen.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Area 51 Update

Last week, I posted a picture of Dallas County's Area 51
 and asked what  could possibly be going on. 

Replies included "making an air hockey table" and "printing posters for the art event."
 Tanya of Around Roanoke photo blog came the closest with her "building a UFO" comment.

The truth is that owner Gary Blaylock builds identified flying objects...
remote-controlled hobby aircraft, some of which are shown above.
 He uses highly-technical, computer-controlled equipment to make the designs
 and cut the model pieces. For those who visited his workshop last weekend 
during the Black Belt Arts Explosion, he kindly demonstrated
 his contribution to the arts!

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Visit to the Mill

Pumpkins were everywhere for the annual Kenan's Mill Fall Festival on Saturday. 
The 1860's gristmill and grounds have been preserved as park that opens
 for special events and also features a mill house, brick charcoal kiln,
 swinging bridge across Valley Creek and bandstand. 

Linking to Your Sunday Best

Thursday, November 1, 2012

At the Water's Edge

When crossing the swinging bridge at Kenan's Mill, you might catch the reflection
 of the 1860's building at the edge of Valley Creek, especially when the sky is blue!

Linking to City Daily Photo Blogs, November Theme Day "At the Water's Edge"

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

P is for Potter


We're honoring the letter "P" over at ABC Wednesday, and it was my PRIVILEGE to visit
Becky Blaylock at Earthquake POTTERY for a few PICTURES. She explained that the first
 PIECE of POTTERY she ever made looked as if an earthquake hit it,
 hence EARTHQUAKE POTTERY! 

Since then, she's acquired quite the creative touch and likes to incorporate
 natural and not so natural POTPOURRI into her designs. The POTTERY above
 is one of her more unique PRODUCTS.   

Becky was among PARTICIPANTS in the weekend's Black Belt Art Explosion. 


Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Area 51

For Our World Tuesday, I was able to secure entrance
 into Dallas County's own highly technical Area 51!

Any idea what is going on here???
 
Hint: This place was among the stops on Saturday's Black Belt Art Explosion tour. 

 

Friday, October 26, 2012

Sunshine Cottage

What a cheerful house the owners have to come home to!

It has the white picket fence, gingerbread trim, American flag,
 front porch and sunshine yellow paint. Very pretty!

Linking to Friday Fences

Thursday, October 25, 2012

The Pumpkins' Gate

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate;
The first one said, "My it's getting late."
The second one said, "There are witches in the air."
The third one said, "But we don't care."
The fourth one said, "Let's run and run and run."
The fifth one said, "It's Halloween fun."
"Wooooooo" went the wind,
And out went the lights.
These five little pumpkins ran out of sight.
Fingerplay directions:
Hold up five fingers and bend them down one at a time as the verse progresses.
Line 7: Swoosh hand through the air.
Line 8: Clap hands on "out"
Line 9: Place hands behind back.


My children learned the "Five Little Pumpkins" fingerplay verse in preschool, and these 
pumpkins (way more than five!) are on display at St. Paul's Episcopal pumpkin patch.  
Linking to Rural Thursday

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

O is for Open-Air Market

We're photographing the letter "O" at ABC Wednesday, and the annual
 open-air market known as Riverfront Market Day brings arts, crafts, food,
 music and children's activities to Water Avenue.It's a fun day
 in usually great weather! Market Day was held Oct. 13. 

Linking to ABC Wednesday

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Fall at Kenan's Mill

The millstones will turn once again at Kenan's Mill on Saturday, Nov. 3! 

Celebrate the Year of Alabama Food with fresh-ground cornmeal and grits 
at the annual Kenan's Mill Fall Festival. Sample some old-fashioned apple cider
 made on site, and tour the mill and charcoal kiln. Children will find lots to do 
from hayrides and train rides to sack races and jumping
 in the Selma Fire Department's Fire Safety Bounce House.

Then, bring a lawn chair or sit upon the hay bales
 and enjoy live music or head to The Vittles Wagon for barbecue,
 chili, hot dogs, Hoppin' John, cornbread and more!   

Linking to Our World Tuesday

Monday, October 22, 2012

The Sunflower Sculpture

Sunflowers are just springing up all over down on the terrace of Carneal ArtsRevive.
These metallic sculptures most recently greeted guests
 for the annual Alabama Tale-Tellin' Festival.


Saturday, October 20, 2012

Friday, October 19, 2012

Have a Little Hay

There was plenty of hay to go around at the equine exhibit
 during the Central Alabama Fair, and I'm sure
 the horses and ponies didn't mind a bit!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Light from the Rafters

From the heights of the weathered rafters on the terrace
 of Carneal ArtsRevive shines the light of a sparkling chandelier! 
 

Linking to Rural Thursday