Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Stage by the River

Knockout roses are blooming along the Carneal ArtsRevive fence
 by the Alabama River, and in a few weeks, the terrace stage (background)
 will be filled with music during the annual StreetFest on May 18
The Alabama Symphony Orchestra performs a free evening concert at 6 p.m.,
 while other musicians will entertain throughout the day. 


Monday, April 29, 2013

Cinnamon Rolls

Now I wish some of these cinnamon rolls had come home with me
 from WoodBurn's Bakery at the Battle of Selma! This year was the first
 for the Spring Hill, Fla., bakery at the Selma event. Bread loaves,
 rolls, cookies and hot entrees are made and cooked on site. 


Sunday, April 28, 2013

Summerfield Methodist Church

The historic Summerfield Methodist Church was built in 1845 after its predecessor,
 Childers Chapel, burned nearby in 1842. The church is part of the
 Summerfield Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
 The community is a short drive north of Selma. 

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Fashions of the 1860s

If you lived 150 years ago, getting dressed was not so simple,
 especially not for women.

These students and hundreds more learned about life during the 1860s
 at the Battle of Selma School Days tours. The three fashions shown
 are a lady's ensemble for going out (with hat), a ball gown and a work dress
 (with bonnet). Not shown is the black mourning dress which became
 more and more common as the long American Civil War wore on. 





Friday, April 26, 2013

You Can Have Your Lemonade, and Take Home the Eiffel Tower!

Little John's is back at the Battle of Selma this year
 offering homemade lemonade and root beer in the Eiffel Tower!

But I'm sorry to say that after the first day of school tours,
 there weren't many towers left.  However, the usual blue
 and brown bottles are back as well as a few new fish-shaped ones.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Outhouse

O is for OUTHOUSE.

Its' ABC Wednesday, and the letter of the week is O, so here is one
 of the outhouses restrooms near  Confederate Headquarters 
at the Battle of Selma living history tour area. I am not sure
 if this conceals more modern conveniences or not, but the sponsors 
work very hard to keep everything as authentic as possible!


Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Living History Lessons

This is Battle of Selma Week when living history tours and a re-enactment
 of the April 1865 American Civil War battle here take place in Riverside Park. 

Students from North-Central Alabama to Northwest Florida arrive for tours
 this Thursday and Friday to learn about 1860's music and games (pictured),
 clothing, medical care, blacksmithing, cannons, tent living and cooking,
 plus visit the sutleries and sample old-fashioned lemonade and root beer.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Bearded Iris

We've had enough cold weather this spring for my bearded iris
 to bloom for the first time in years!

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Marion Junction Presbyterian Church

I've been meaning to take a picture of the 
Marion Junction Presbyterian Church
 for years, and finally I did!

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Pick a Basket

Temps were in the 80s a few days ago when this picture of summer hanging baskets
 was taken. But despite almost record-breaking cold this morning, it really IS time
 to hang some flowers! The flowing, pink bouganvillea sure is tempting me!


 

Friday, April 19, 2013

Friday Fences, Vaughan-Smitherman Museum

We're looking up from the sidewalk, through the fence 
and beneath the trees at the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum. 

Built in 1847, this building has housed schools, hospitals,
 the courthouse and now a museum.


Thursday, April 18, 2013

Valley Creek View

Here's the covered-bridge view of Valley Creek when crossing
 from Valley Creek Park into Riverside Park. Hundreds of school children,
 battle participants and spectators will cross this bridge
 during Battle of Selma Weekend April 25-28. 

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Bringing in the Bedding Plants


It's "N" Week at ABC Wednesday, and the plant NURSERIES in Alabama
 are rapidly bringing in the bedding plants. 

I was downtown at Holley's Farm and Garden Center this week
 when a Bonnie Plant Farm truck delivered flats of flowers and vegetable plants.
 Above, I chose a few pink impatiens for my shade-loving hanging baskets,
 but I would have loved to bring home some vinca, daisies, petunias
 and begonia. Below, a Bonnie Plant Farm employee stocks the outdoor shelves.

Now, I would be remiss not to mention that Dallas County is home to Wright's 
and Bearden's, both excellent NURSERIES too, and we will be heading 
to Plantersville for tomato plants.

Gotta love homegrown tomatoes!

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

The Snowball Tree

We have snowballs in April!

This snowball tree graces the rear courtyard at the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum.
 I've seen quite a few of these small trees around town,
 and they are just magnificent!

The structure in the background was built with part of the facade
 from the old Hotel Albert, which was located where the City Hall complex 
now stands. Designed after the Doge's Palace in Venice, Italy,
 the hotel was built before and after the Civil War.
 It was demolished in 1969, a loss that spurred Selmians to try harder
 to preserve their historic structures.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Where the Pink Dogwood Blooms

My camera has been waiting, waiting and waiting for this pink dogwood tree
 to bloom in the Church Street United Methodist Church courtyard.

Finally, last week the first buds opened, but it still wasn't quite at peak.
 Good enough!

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Revival

There's a revival going on in Old Live Oak Cemetery this week!

An angel points the way to Heaven, while azaleas and dogwoods fill the "pews,"
and a cool breeze lifts the spirit of the Spanish Moss!

Linking to Weekly Top Shot and City Daily Photo Blogs


Friday, April 12, 2013

Winding Wysteria

Purple wysteria winds its way around the brick post and gate
 at the Riverside Park entrance. 

The park is adjacent to Valley Creek Park (commonly called Bloch Park)
 and will soon be the site of the Battle of Selma school tours and re-enactment.



Thursday, April 11, 2013

Road Through the Black Belt

Heading west from Selma, U.S. Highway 80 is a mostly four-lane road
 that traverses Alabama's Black Belt region. The area is named for the color
 of much of its soil, heavy clays suitable for pastures, ponds and clover,
 although it once grew a lot of cotton. 


Wednesday, April 10, 2013

M is for Movies


M is for MOVIE popcorn, MOVIE candy and MOVIE posters such
 as this display in the lobby of the Selma Walton Theatre.

Celebrating the letter M over at ABC Wednesday 
 and linking to City Daily Photo Blogs

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

The Back Side of Spring

Can it be that we are on the back side of spring already?

With freezing temperatures just a couple of weeks ago and a high near 90
 expected today, it sure seems that way! Like the back side of this bumblebee,
 spring has turned on us, and we are heading straight into summer.



Monday, April 8, 2013

The Lady Banks Roses

These Lady Banks roses began blooming in March,
 but they are usually at peak in early April.

However, due to some late frosts, some may not reach
 full bloom for a few more days. These roses are located 
in the municipal complex next to City Hall. 

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Looking for a Home

This black-and-white beauty is looking for a home!

She's been living at the Central Alabama Animal Shelter
 in Selma for a long time, and while she enjoys a big playroom,
 a loving family to call her own is on her bucket list!

Saturday, April 6, 2013

The Resurrection Cross

The sky was mostly cloudy the day after Easter, but flowers on the cross
 in front of Church Street United Methodist Church were still vibrant with color.
 I like the way the newly leafed tree posed in the background too!


Friday, April 5, 2013

Friday Fences, The Cemetery Gate

Loved ones used to be buried in places like this...upon a tree-shaded hill
 behind an ornate gate and with monuments inscribed with scripture.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Prairie Buttercups

Prairie buttercups covered this field along U.S. Highway 80 West
on Easter Sunday. In the distance, you can see the faint lavender color
 of redbud trees and the early spring hues of other trees along the skyline. 
What a beautiful morning!


Wednesday, April 3, 2013

The Lady at Rest

We're blogging the letter "L" today over at ABC Wednesday, and I was LUCKY
 to be LED to this LADY at rest by another photography enthusiast last week. 

While most of my monument photos are taken in Old Live Oak Cemetery
 in Selma, we LOOKED around and found this one in a rural graveyard.
 It memorializes a young wife who died at the age of 26 in 1860.
 How LOVED she must have been!



Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Monday, April 1, 2013

April Theme Day, Pedestrians' Crossing

It's April Theme Day over at the City Daily Photo Blogs, and we're sharing photos
 of pedestrian crossings. The sidewalks on the Edmund Pettus Bridge fit the theme 
perfectly, and last October, I was photographing Riverfront Market Day 
when these Boy Scouts from Prattville made the trek across the bridge.