Weekend in Black and White at Old Live Oak Cemetery

A tendril of Spanish Moss drapes across the brickwork

 of a mausoleum in Old Live Oak Cemetery.

Posted at Weekend in Black and White

Garden Fences

A glorious mix of azaleas were in bloom last week in this formal garden

 on Church Street. Since Friday is the day that I sometimes join the Friday Fences

 meme, this picture was perfect! There is the fence on the left,

 but I see hedge fences rambling everywhere! 

Posted at Friday Fences

Rural Thursday, Simply Making It

Simply Making It brought chickens, a goat, goat milk soap and beeswax candles

 to the Heritage Village Artisans' Fair during Selma's recent Pilgrimage.

 It's really true! We can live more simply!

Posted at Rural Thursday

ABC Wednesday, KUDOS for the Art Show!

K is the Letter of the Week over at ABC Wednesday,

 and I'm sharing some KUDOS from a recent Selma visitor.

Len Bornstein of Millburn, N.J., was in town during Pilgrimage Weekend

 and gave lots of kudos to the artwork at the ArtsRevive Juried Art Show.

 Among his favorite works was "Rag Rug" by Julian Wait. Bornstein is chair 

of the Arts Unbound Board of Governors, which raises funds for the program.

 Arts Unbound in Orange, N.J.,  "provides arts education, skills building

 and a variety of vocational opportunities in the visual arts to youth and adults 

with mental, developmental and physical disabilities."

This trip wasn't Bornstein's first to Selma. The retired educator

 recollected that when he was 21, he came to Selma

 during the Civil Rights Movement and ate lunch with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

Posted at ABC Wednesday

My Favorite Azalea

My favorite variety of azalea is in full bloom, but I don't know its name!

I like its native look, as if it just sprung up in the woods all by itself.

Dogwood

It's still March, but much of the dogwood is starting to fade.

 Our early spring seems to be turning into an early summer!

A Long Life

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life."

John 6:47 (King James Bible)

This tombstone inscription in Old Live Oak Cemetery declares that the deceased

 was given a long life, even forever and ever. While 41 years doesn't seem 

like a long earthly life today, babies who were born in the U.S. around 1864 

only had an average life expectancy of 48 years. However, Jesus promises

 that those who believe on Him can live with Him forever and ever.

Posted at Scripture and a Snapshot

Weekend Reflections, Crossing

Tourists walk along the sidewalk on the Pettus Bridge, above,

 while the arches are reflected in the Alabama River, below.

Posted at Weekend Reflections

Friday Fences and Fifth Anniversary

Old Live Oak Cemetery is lending this ornate fence

 and gate to celebrate this blog's fifth anniversary today! 

In this photo are five of my favorite photo subjects:

 old wrought iron, lovingly inscribed tombstones, dogwood,

 Spanish Moss and over in the background, azalea. 

Thank you to everyone who has visited Selma 

through my blog and especially for your kind comments!

Posted at Friday Fences

Old Live Oak in Bloom

The azaleas and dogwood at Old Live Oak Cemetery have been in bloom

 since last week. Hope you haven't missed the show!

J is for Jewelry

It's ABC Wednesday, and J is the letter of the week.

 I could have posted pictures of all the "Js" that I've worked with:

Joan, Jo, Jean and another Jean at my first job...

Jean, Jeanette, Jackie and Jessie at my last full-time job...

and recently while working on a community event:

 Jacque, Jewell and Jan!

 It just goes to figure that I'm a "J" too!

But, I don't have pictures of all those people,

 and the cute string of beads above led me to JEWELRY!

 Can you tell that they are made of clay?

 I saw them on display at the Selma Art Guild.

Can you tell what the neckline is made from?

 How about the bodice?

 I believe this is what they call "wearable art!"

Posted at ABC Wednesday

Black Belt Transformations

If you visit the ghost town of Cahawba, you'll find history and geography lessons

 posted near the visitor center. Dallas County is located in the Black Belt region,

 a narrow swath of land across Central Alabama that is named for the color

 of some of its prairie soils. It once was the home of cotton plantations

 but today is known for its catfish and forest industries.

 This and other posters describe the transformations among its people and landscape.

 Old Cahawba Archaelogical Park is open daily from 9-5.

Posted at Our World Tuesday

Guess Who Came to Pilgrimage?

The 1928 Holly-Skinner House took Selma Pilgrimage visitors back to the 1930s

 with characters straight from real life and the movies!

 Does this infamous character look familiar to you? 

Shadow Trio

A  trio of shadows stretch across the hardwood floor of Weaver Castle

 where new owners are renovating the 1868 Gothic mansion. 

The house where renowned Selma artist Clara Weaver Parrish grew up

 was featured on this weekend's Selma Pilgrimage. 

Posted at Shadow Shot Sunday

Weekend Reflections, Cedar through the Leaded Glass

Leaded glass windows let lots of light inside this 1928 English Tudor home

 that is open for Selma's Pilgrimage this weekend. The panes reflect

 a large cedar tree and the beautiful blue skies. This home,

 the Holly/Skinner House is open from 1-5 this afternoon.

 It is owned by movie producer Tonya Holly, who is currently filming 

 The Story of Bonnie and Clyde, and was built by Dr. Marcus Skinner,

 a renowned orthopedic surgeon who helped found the Crippled Children's Society 

(Children's Rehabilitation Center) in Alabama and perfected surgical techniques.

 Holly, along with several characters from the 1930s

and Dr. Skinner's granddaughters, are the tour guides.

Posted at Weekend Reflections

Skywatch Friday, Spring has Sprung

Spring in Selma is simply breathtaking when the skies are bright blue,

 the azaleas are peaking, and there has been rain to wash away the pollen!

Posted at Skywatch Friday

ABC Wednesday, I is for Iris

It's ABC Wednesday, and I is for IRIS, a flower that is as graceful as a ballerina. 

Posted at ABC Wednesday

Peaking

The azaleas are peaking this week, and Selma is almost at its spring garden best!

Instructions for the Court

Junior hostesses for Selma's Pilgrimage receive instructions during a photo shoot

 at the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum. The Pilgrimage Court will help at historic homes 

and other sites during the 37th annual Pilgrimage this weekend. 

Shadow Shot Sunday, Covered Bridge

"Covered Bridge" by Karen Weir not only won the third prize photography ribbon,

 but it was perfect for Shadow Shot Sunday. Opening night of the 10th annual

 ArtsRevive Juried Art Show was held Saturday night at Carneal ArtsRevive. 

Posted at Shadow Shot Sunday 

Greetings

"Old Servants," by Charlie "Tin Man" Lucas was last year's 3D first-place winner

 in the ArtsRevive Juried Art Exhibition and greeted guests at this year's

 members-only reception. The event is free to the public beginning

 Friday, March 16 and Saturday, March 17 from 11-5 p.m. and Sunday, March 18

 from 1-5 pm. The show will be open on Fridays and Saturdays

 from noon until 4 p.m. through the end of April.

The Decorative Fence

The old, iron fences around town really lend a decorative touch,

 especially with a background of Spanish Moss and spring shrubs. 

Posted at Friday Fences

Rural Thursday, Yard Rooster

Yard chickens used to be common; but now,

 not so much unless you live in rural Dallas County.

Posted at Rural Thursday

ABC Wednesday, H is for History

It's H Week over at ABC Wednesday, and oh my goodness,

 there are multitudes of possibilities for HISTORY. 

Everything in Selma is historic, and our slogan is "History and Hospitality." 

So, since I happened to be at the Old Depot Museum today,

 history was everywhere, and I snapped this photo of a few relics on the lawn. 

The museum features not only Selma and Dallas County history

 but that of the Black Belt region as well.

Posted at ABC Wednesday

The Libba Buchanan Barn

The Libba Buchanan Barn is a charming addition to the Kenan's Mill park near Selma.

 The property, which was owned by the Kenan family,  includes the barn

 (where restrooms are located), the mill, miller's house and a nearby kiln.

 Kenan's Mill will be open during the annual Selma Pilgrimage March 16-17,

 and visitors can purchase freshly ground cornmeal and grits. 

Posted at Barn Charm

The Coffee Shoppe

Ahhh....it's Monday.

It's chilly outside.

I need a cup of coffee!

The Coffee Shoppe sells coffee, sandwiches and pastries and

 is one of Selma's newest businesses. It is located on Broad Street

 in the former Fred's Flowers building.

Dinner's in the Oven!

How about cooking dinner in one of these old wood-burning stoves? 

Except this one has been retrofitted for gas!

It's a Maggie Union six-burner, cast-iron stove with warming shelves 

and can be found, if it's still there, at Junebugg's Flea and Antique Mall.   

Storm Watching

It was a dark and stormy night across Central Alabama, and even our cat

 likes to watch meteorologist James Spann (ABC 33-40) on my computer monitor.

 A long-track tornado that began in the western part of  Dallas County

 apparently hit Grist State Park, which is well north of our house.

 The storm was still traveling through East Alabama at 11:30 p.m. 

and moving into Georgia.  More details at daylight!

Friday Fences, Base of the Bridge

A pretty, curved brick fence (or retaining wall) serves as a planter

 and a sign holder at the base of the Pettus Bridge.

Posted at Friday Fences

March Theme Day (ELECTRICITY)

The City Daily Photo Blogs have gone ELECTRIC for the first day of March.

So, when the lights go out in Songs of Selma Park, someone has to replace the bulbs,

 and I just happened to be there yesterday to photograph the task. Shine on!

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