Merry Kissmas!

It's Christmas Eve, and we are snacking on this sweet 'n salty candy made by my daughter-in-law.

It's made from pretzels, Hershey's Kisses and Hugs candy and M & Ms. Yum! Merry Kissmas and Merry Christmas!

Deep South Decor

Here in the heart of the Deep South,

we like to include a few drapes of Spanish Moss in our decor!

March of the Tin Soldiers

Holding trumpets instead of swords,

these soldiers appear ready to strike a Christmas melody!

ABC Wednesday, W is for Wreaths

Its' ABC Wednesday, and W is for WREATHS and a bit of WHIMSY on this Old Town front porch. 

See more photographic interpretations of the letter W over at the ABC Wednesday meme.

Sturdivant Hall at Christmas

Evergreens decorate the entrance to Selma's famed Sturdivant Hall,

an antebellum Greek Revival mansion that is now a house museum.

Veggie Jewelry

Vegetables are not only good to eat, they're nice to wear too! 

This pendant was made by a local artist and for sale at the Kenan's Mill Festival.

What veggie is it???

(Hint...this veggie is not eaten in this color!)

Scripture & a Snapshot, Isaiah 64:8

"But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter;

and we all are the work of thy hand." Isaiah 64:8

Posted at Scripture and a Snapshot

Mailbox Decor

A Scottie, an elephant or a University of Alabama "A" will give your mailbox that personal touch! Handmade from the Heart designs displayed some of its wares last weekend at the Orrville Tractor Show. I suspect that since Iowa State upset Oklahoma State in college football last night that those big red A's will sell really well! The Crimson Tide's dreams of playing in the national championship just got closer.

Skywatch Friday, Popcorn

Puffs of popcorn scatter throughout a deep-blue November sky on a recent chilly Saturday.

More skies at Skywatch Friday.

Midday Siesta

On the other side of this weather-beaten wagon bed, the cattle appear to be having a midday siesta beneath a few mares' tails. 

ABC Wednesday, I Spy RED!

R is the Letter of the Week over at ABC Wednesday, and I spy the color RED!

Actually, I am seeing red here, there and way over yonder! 

Red chair...red tablecloth...red in the quilt...red jacket...anything else?

(Click on the photo for a larger version, and I guarantee you will see more red!)

More "R's" over at ABC Wednesday

Going, Going and Almost Gone

The leaves of gold are almost gone from the ginkgo tree.

Tractors on Parade

Over here in Central Alabama, we love our tractors!

No bands...no candy...no balloons...no singers...no dancers,

just tractors and fire trucks on parade!

What a Ride!

This fierce mechanical bull didn't scare the dozens of young bull-rider wannabes at the Orrville Tractor Show!

Way Back When

My husband enjoyed seeing this 1962 Farmall tractor at the Orrville Tractor Show on Saturday. 

It's just like the one he used to bale alfalfa hay with way back in the late 1960s and early 70s (when he was a teenager)!

Skywatch Friday, Sunrise before Rain

The sun rose magnificently one day this week before giving way to clouds and rain. 

Then came freezing temperatures!

Follow more skies at Skywatch!

An Old Millstone

An old millstone serves as an outdoor "sculpture" at Kenan's Mill near Selma.

The mill was built in the 1860s and is opened a few times a year for public tours.

Orrville T-Shirt PR

This T-Shirt is self-explanatory, and the little community 15 miles southwest of Selma is calling all tractors

this Saturday for the annual West Dallas Antique Tractor Show.  

There will be classic cars as well lots of other fun activities. Y'all come!

Lost Angler

Peter E. Mock-Jordan displayed a handcrafted canoe and taught a few fly-casting lessons at the Kenan's Mill Festival.

Mock-Jordan, who grew up in Selma, owns the Lost Angler, which also offers guide service for fishing trips on rivers in Central Alabama. 
More photos on the Kenan's Mill Facebook page!  

Touring Kenan's Mill

Visitors to the Kenan's Mill Festival on Saturday tour the interior and hear how cornmeal was made. This mill was built in the 1860s and ground meal until the 1970s. It was restored by the Selma-Dallas County Historic Preservation Society, and the grounds can be rented for special events at reasonable rates.  

More photos on the Kenan's Mill Facebook page!

Weekend Reflections, Autumn

Muted tones of autumn are reflected in Valley Creek. I like how even the Spanish Moss hanging from trees looks so clear  in the water.

See more reflections over at the Weekend Reflections blog meme.

Alabama Fiddler

There's no doubt which team this young fiddler and his grandad will be pulling for tonight! Caleb Bryant has been fiddling since age four and now plays with the bluegrass gospel band Crimsongrass. He entertained the crowd at the Kenan's Mill Festival near Selma today, but tonight he'll be cheering on the No. 2 University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team as it meets the No. 1 Louisiana State University Bengal Tigers. Sportswriters and talkers are calling it the Game of the Century. 

Clearing Debris at the Kenan's Mill Spillway

Jim Wood clears log and leaf debris from atop the spillway at Kenan's Mill in preparation for Saturday's festival.

Stone-ground cornmeal and grits will be available for sale, and visitors can tour the mill and see the wheels turn. 

The festival opens at 9 and closes at 5. More info HERE.

An Autumn Setting

Thanksgiving in the USA isn't far away, and here's one of the tablescapes from our family's feast last year. 

I like the quilt tablecloth and deer antler candelabra.

Y'all Come to the Kenan's Mill Festival!

This festival is always a treat! 

Not only is the food delicious, but the live music is superb, and you get to see cornmeal ground at the 1860's gristmill. 
Don't forget to buy some! Oh, and  stone-ground grits are for sale too!

Cross the swinging bridge across Valley Creek to see the old brick kiln, but if you'd rather not take that challenge,
head back across the iron bridge to take the trail from there.

Tour the miller's house, then sit upon a bale of hay 
or your lawn chair and listen to the music!

Kids and adults will both enjoy tractor-pulled hayrides, and somewhere in the midst of all this,
a team of investigators will share their findings of unusual sights and sounds at Kenan's Mill. 
You might be surprised...or NOT!

November Theme Day, Fences

It's November Theme Day, and the feature is FENCES. Down South, decorative fences are often used for decorating, and last spring,
I captured this colorful quilt on the ArtsRevive terrace fence. The occasion was StreetFest. 

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

October Theme Day, Mysterious Object

It's City Daily Photo Theme Day...Mysterious Objects!

Uh oh! There's a gray blob in the middle of the witch hazel, and it's ruining the shape the shrub! 

But never fear, our fearless feline will investigate.

Mission accomplished!

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Skywatch, Sensational Sunrise

I caught this sensational sunrise on an early-morning walk one day this week. Sure enough, the day turned stormy later on.

Posted at Skywatch Friday

Torch Bearer

A city worker repairs an entrance gate at Old Live Oak Cemetery.

Behind him is the monument to John Tyler Morgan, who was a U.S. senator.

At left is the tomb of William Rufus King, former U.S. vice president and founder of Selma.  

A Rainbow in the Cloud

"I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth."

Genesis 9:13 NKJV

As yesterday's rain ended, the sun came out, so I headed out to find the rainbow and was not disappointed!

Posted for Scripture and a Snapshot

Skywatch, Low Fog

The last week of summer brought much needed on-and-off rain, 

and we were treated to a low fog mixing with sunshine early yesterday.

More skies await at Skywatch!

Morning Glory

Oh, what a beautiful morning glory!

How beautiful are the feet...

"And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,

Who bring glad tidings of good things!'"

Romans 10:15 (NKJV)

The feet in this photo belong to a monument in Old Live Oak Cemetery.

Posted for Scripture and a Snapshot

Entwined

Wildflowers entwine an old, iron gate at Old Live Oak Cemetery.

Grist State Park Getaway

Grist State Park is a favorite getaway for "metro Selmians." Well, Dallas County is about as rural as you can get, but the park features a big fishing lake, hiking trails, picnic and swimming areas, paddleboats and primitive plus modern camping facilities. There's also an office, snack machines and peace of mind! (Photo by Jacob Gresham)

Now is the Time of Your Salvation

  For He says:

 
      “ In an acceptable time I have heard you,
      And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”

   Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2 (New King James Version) 

We cannot know what may happen tomorrow...today is the proper time to respond to the Gospel. 

In memory of the thousands of people who unexpectedly entered Eternity on September 11, 2001.    

Posted for Scripture & a Snapshot
 

Skywatch Friday, After Tropical Storm Lee

After Tropical Storm Lee dropped a couple inches of rain earlier this week, the moon tried to rise between clouds turned temporarily pink by a capricious sun.

More photos at Skywatch Friday!

Skywatch Friday, Puffy Skies

Skies have been blue with a few puffy clouds for much of August. That might change this weekend due to a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico. Come on, rain! 

Check out more skies over at Skywatch Friday!

Railroad Trestle at Sunset

Just before sunset is absolutely the best time for taking pictures at the river. This railroad trestle is located next to the New Orleans Steak & Seafood House (formerly Diego's).

Butterfly Walk

Several butterflies that were part of Selma's Butterfly Project in 2008 now have a home at Carneal Arts Revive.

The butterfly is Selma's official insect, and our town is recognized as the Butterfly Capital of Alabama.

Down by the Riverbank

Summer is golden down by the riverbank!

Cattle Crossing

Forgive my absence, but I've been herding cattle...well, not really!

However, I did get behind a trailer load of the bovine species that was crossing an intersection on Broad Street yesterday. 

Funnel Cake

Funnel cake was just one of the many tasty treats at Valley Grande's Fourth of July celebration.

Other cuisine included fried candy bars, and while the sample I tried was very good, it wasn't as photogenic as this! 

Alabama River Sandbar

Alabama River sandbars are the white-sand beaches of the Black Belt!

Pink Against Green

Pink crape myrtles against a pale green house 

create an attractive contrast during summer months.