Sunday, March 31, 2013

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

This week, I've read several blogs, newspaper columns and Facebook posts
 reminding us that the true meaning of Easter isn't about rabbits, eggs
 or new clothes. It's all about a Savior who died a humiliating death 
in our place. He hung upon a cross, then was placed in a tomb
 before his resurrection on the third day.

 For those whose Lord is Jesus, it's all about the promise of  eternal life
 and a peace and joy beyond our human understanding.

That's why I chose the dogwood, which is blooming in my yard this Easter,
 as a reminder of this awesome occasion. Legend says the bloom resembles
 the shape of a cross and its center, a crown of thorns. The pinched edges
 resemble the wounds caused by nails and the red tinge, His blood.

 
 1 Peter 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy
 he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection 
of Jesus Christ from the dead... (NIV) 

Linking to City Daily Photo Blogs and Weekly Top Shot


Saturday, March 30, 2013

Good Friday Gardener

Good Friday is traditionally the day to plant gardens to insure success,
 and despite recent cold weather, including a couple of killing frosts,
 this Summerfield gardener was hard at work. He intended to plant
 squash, cucumbers and tomatoes yesterday.

To be continued...as the garden grows!

Friday, March 29, 2013

Lannie's BBQ

 Hurry! Vote for Lannie's BBQ in Round 3 of The Alabama BBQ Bracket!

The competition in this round is tough with Facebook voting continuing today
 between Lannie's in Selma and Sam's BBQ in Montgomery. There isn't much time
 left, and the winner will represent the South region in the
 Year of Alabama's Food's Final Four. 

As you can see and ALMOST taste, this take-out plate of a Lannie's BBQ lunch
 is clearly delicious! The pork is oh so tender and the sauce oh so tangy.
 The potato salad and fried okra are pretty good too!   


Thursday, March 28, 2013

The Beauty Review

"The Beauty Review" by  Frances Ohme is one of my favorite paintings
 of the ArtsRevive Spring Art Exhibition.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

The Kings of Selma

It's "K" Week at ABC Wednesday, and this round, I'll have to go with KING.
 There have been many Kings associated with Selma, but this picture
 shows the mausoleum of one of the most influential, William Rufus deVane King
founder of Selma who became vice president of the United States. 

King and his Selma Land Company not only named the town, they designed
it and sold the lots on which the town was built. King later became a U.S.
 senator and U.S. Minister to France, president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate 
and then U.S. vice president in 1853. However, he was unwell and took 
the oath of office in Havana, Cuba, then died less than a month later. 

Other Kings of influence were Dr. Goldsby King who founded the first private
 hospital which became King Sanitarium, then King Memorial Hospital. 
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. arrived in the 1960s to lead voting rights marches,
 and a bust of him stands in front of Brown Chapel AME Church. 

But despite all the busts, memorials, plaques and pictures of those mortal Kings,
 it is the King of Kings that receives the greatest tribute. I never tire of
 the beauty of the many stained-glass windows in our community 
that depict the life of Jesus and comforting words from The Bible. 

 

 



Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Back in the Day

Back in the day, downtown Selma's retail stores included Tissier Hardware,
 Boston Bargain Store, Barton's, Benderskys, Eagles and more.

This display of old Selma photographs was set up at the Walton Theatre 
during the recent Pilgrimage.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Basket of Pansies

Hanging baskets of pansies have really brightened the corner of Water Avenue
 this year, and I'm wondering what flowers will replace them for the summer. 

Sunday, March 24, 2013

First Baptist Church, MLK Street

in the Gothic Revival style by local black architect Dave Benjamin West
 and built in 1894. The church became one of the planning centers
 of the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s.

 It is located on the same street as Brown Chapel AME Church,
 also noted for its history with civil rights.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

The Table of Shewbread


 A replica of The Table of Shewbread was part of the Old Testament Tabernacle
 display last weekend at the Selma Pilgrimage. Tabernacle Ministries of Mobile 
 brought the exhibit to Selma. "Shewbread" or "showbread" means "bread of the face"
 or set out before the face and presence of God.

 
Exodus 25:23-30 "You shall also make a table of acacia wood; two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height. And you shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a molding of gold all around. You shall make for it a frame of a handbreadth all around, and you shall make a gold molding for the frame all around. And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings on the four corners that are at its four legs. The rings shall be close to the frame, as holders for the poles to bear the table. And you shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them. You shall make its dishes, its pans, its pitchers, and its bowls for pouring.
 You shall make them of pure gold. And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always."

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Just a Peek

Just a Peek.

The ground is uneven at the new art garden
 under construction at the Selma Art Guild,
 but it will soon be in better shape for people 
to enjoy a colorful little courtyard.


Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Jesus and the Wedding Feast at Cana

Here is just part of this splendid stained-glass window
 in the parish hall of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

It is Tiffany artist Clara Weaver Parrish's depiction of JESUS
 at the wedding feast in Cana. Cana is where Jesus
 performed his first miracle by turning water into wine.

In the weeks prior to Easter, the church has Lenten lunches
 on Wednesdays at noon in Parker Hall where the window is placed.

Linking to ABC Wednesday where the Letter of the Week is "J"

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Painting the Town

Painting the town has become a tradition during the Selma Pilgrimage, and Robine Wright of Birmingham was one of 27 Alabama Plein Air Artists to participate this year. 

She chose to paint the First Presbyterian Church tower (below) for one of her works. In the background, you can see the First Baptist Church (Lauderdale Street) tower. 


This year was Robine's first visit here with the group, which hails from across the state. In addition to the plein air artists, Robine is a member of the Mountain Brook Art Association.

The paintings are available for purchase at a "Wet Paint" sale at the Selma Art Guild Gallery at the end of Pilgrimage. 

Linking to Our World Tuesday
and City Daily Photo Blogs 

Monday, March 18, 2013

Inside the Old Testament Tabernacle Exhibit

Charlotte Griffeth, Selma's planning and development director, was among
 those who visited the Old Testament Tabernacle exhibit
 during Pilgrimage Weekend. Tabernacle Ministries of Mobile brought
 the display to town and set up in a tent at Phoenix Park. Brass tabernacle
 furnishings made by Dewey Miller attracted the most attention.
 But, this picture of the parting of the Red Sea, along with a collection
 of herbs and spices and miniature icons added to the experience.


Sunday, March 17, 2013

Reading The Torah

Selma celebrated its Jewish heritage this past weekend
 during the 38th annual Pilgrimage, and among the displays
 at Temple Mishkan Israel was The Torah Scroll. 

Printed on parchment paper with Sephardic (Spanish) Hebrew letters,
 it may have been intended for a Spanish congregation in Europe,
 but later it was brought to the U.S. 


Saturday, March 16, 2013

Just Trotting Through Town

Clip clop, clip clop...all around town.

A horse and carriage came to the Selma Pilgrimage on Friday and offered visitors
 the opportunity to ride rather than walk. Pilgrimage opens again today at 8:30 a.m.
 at the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum and 9 a.m. for house tours. 

You can view more pictures on  Selma's Historic Pilgrimage Facebook Page. 


Friday, March 15, 2013

Tales from the Graveyard

The residents of Selma's Old Live Oak Cemetery cordially invite you 
to their peaceful retreat tonight to hear their tales of glory and woe!  

From Civil War generals to Reconstruction congressmen, Abe Lincoln's sister-in-law
 and famous artists and educators,  our town's former citizens will tell how they 
contributed to American history. 

Join them at the cemetery for tours at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.

And be sure and close the cemetery gates when you leave!

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Signs, Signs, The George O. Baker House

The 1858 George O. Baker House will be open for Selma's Pilgrimage this weekend,
 and the sidewalk sign denotes it as an historic property. These signs 
are purchased by homeowners and not only distinguish the house
 as historic but help visitors easily find structures that are listed 
on the town's walking and driving tours. 
 
According to the description on the Selma Pilgrimage website,

 "the Neo-Classic architecture features a front porch with pillars
 and a small cupola that was saved after a fire destroyed the second floor.
 Lincrusta, a wall covering made to simulate hand-tooled leather,
 highlights the front hall and dining room, and door panels hand-painted
 by the Baker daughters (who were cousins of Tiffany artist Clara Weaver Parrish)
 add a personal touch of fine art.

Baker was a mining engineer who had coal and gold mines, but he is best known
 for founding Selma first cottonseed mill and developing uses for cottonseed oil.
 A native of Philadelphia, Pa., he brought craftsmen from there to build this house.




Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Immaculate

It's "I" Week over at ABC Wednesday, and oh my, but isn't "Old Blue" IMMACULATE?

My photograph of this photograph doesn't do it justice, but this picture on canvas
 won third place in photography in the ArtsRevive Juried Spring Art Exhibition.
 The creative photographer is Andrew Swindle, a high school senior. 



Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Bird in Spring


I have a Bird in spring
Which for myself doth sing --
The spring decoys.
And as the summer nears --
And as the Rose appears,
Robin is gone.

Yet do I not repine
Knowing that Bird of mine
Though flown --
Learneth beyond the sea
Melody new for me
And will return.
 
by Emily Dickinson 
 
The birds are singing every morning outside my door!
 
 
 

Monday, March 11, 2013

Cooper, The Cute Little Car

This cute little Cooper Car caught my eye the other day while it was parked 
in front of Carneal ArtsRevive. It's a work of retro art in its own right!

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Saturday, March 9, 2013

This Old Shed

Many Selmians remember this old shed as a heap of boards with a crumpled roof
 until recently when the homeowners restored it. But originally, this structure
 was built from a 1940's Sears-Roebuck garage kit.

It stands on the Kayser-Turner-Searcy property where the home will be
 on tour during Spring Pilgrimage next weekend. Come see!



Friday, March 8, 2013

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Everywhere a Chick, Chick

Here a chick, there a chick, everywhere a chick, chick!

I didn't have to go to Old MacDonald's Farm to see these babies.
 They were brought into our local Tractor Supply while I was purchasing
 Old-Fashioned Lemon Drops, my favorite candy. Now if my house
 was in the country, I wouldn't mind raising a few chickens for fresh eggs!

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

H is for Hoop Skirts

It's ABC Wednesday, and the letter is H, so with the HISTORIC Selma Pilgrimage
 next weekend, HOOP skirts are in! 

These young ladies have been selected to serve as Pilgrimage Junior HOSTESSES
 and were leaving Sturdivant Hall after a photo session when my camera
 caught them in their HIP shoes beneath the HOOP skirts. 

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

The Morning after Jubilee

Water Avenue is cool and clear the morning following the Bridge Crossing Jubilee.
 But after a frigid weekend when snow flurries actually fell downtown,
 the proprietors of the GAW Trading Post enjoy sitting in the sun
 before opening the store in the Adler Building.

 Grace Powell (in the pink) sells estate items there, and she
 returned to Selma after spending 43 years in Brooklyn, N.Y., where
 she directed a daycare center.

 "It was always my dream to come home to Selma," she told me.
 "I was born here and left at age 19."

Grace, along with her son and brother, have worked hard the past few years
 to restore the 1860's building which was damaged
 by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. The building will be on tour during
 the annual Spring Pilgrimage March 16-17.

Monday, March 4, 2013

March Garden

Yellow forsythia and fuschia witch hazel make a striking combination
 for early March color in this Old Town flower garden. 

Sunday, March 3, 2013

If It's Windy, It Must Be March

If it's windy, then it must be March!

The American flag flutters from the porch of the Bridgetender's House
 as the sun sets behind the Edmund Pettus Bridge. 



Saturday, March 2, 2013

A Place to Sit in the Sun

These benches along the riverwalk are perfect for catching some sun,
 especially on cool days when  warmth is welcome. 

and Shadow Shot Sunday

Friday, March 1, 2013

March Theme Day, Cafe Chairs

It's March Theme Day over at City Daily Photo Blogs, and we're
 posting pictures of cafe chairs from around the world!

I thought these chairs at The Vineyard fit the theme perfectly!

The Vineyard is an Italian restaurant located on the first floor
 of The Harmony Club building on Water Avenue. 

See more chairs at CDPB March Theme Day