Running for Meto, Kenya

Integrity Worldwide's Run for Kenya 2015 took runners 

through historic downtown Selma this morning.

 Here, a pair sprint past the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum

 on their way to helping fund a medical complex in Meto, Kenya.

 The Selma-based organization last year raised more than $60,000 

to finish a major water project in Leboo, a village in southern Kenya.

Linking to City Daily Photo Blogs

A Very Ugly Scarecrow

It's fall festival time around here, and I don't believe we will see a scarecrow

 any uglier than this one! That straggly black hair atop a bright orange 

pumpkin head should be sufficient to keep the crows out of the corn!

Linking to City Daily Photo Blogs and Our World Tuesday

Family Fun Day at Grist State Park

FAMILY FUN Day at Grist State Park drew a crowd last weekend.

 FOLKS came to enjoy FISHING, peddle boats, swimming, hiking, archery, 

a raptor demonstration, local barbecue and more.

 The park is located about 10 miles north of Selma

 and is a beautiful place to enjoy the outdoors.  

Thanks to guest photographer Christine Weerts!

Linking to ABC Wednesday

where the Letter of the Week is F

Closer to Completion

Selma's Riverfront Park Amphitheater is closer to completion

 with the first big event , a music and arts festival. scheduled on Labor Day. 

The stage is still under construction, and the red building

 in back is a former warehouse.

Linking to Skywatch Friday

Signs, Signs (150th Battle of Selma)

Signs promoting the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Selma are everywhere,

 even hanging from this balcony at the St. James Hotel

 during last week's Alabama River Chili Cookoff. 

Battle Weekend begins with living history tours for school children April 23 and 24

 and continues with a writers' forum, pre-battle skirmish, sutler settlement,

 Battle of Selma Ball and the main battle re-enactment on Sunday, the 25th.

Linking to Signs, Signs

and City Daily Photo Blogs

Firing the Cannon for the 150th

April 2 was the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Selma, and members 

of the Jeff Davis Artillery fired a cannon across the Alabama River

 at the 3 p.m. battle time as part of the official commemoration.

The small, six-pound experimental Brooke cannon was made in Selma in 1864 

and used to designed the steel versions. After the War Between the States

 was over, the cannon was shipped to a warehouse in Virginia but returned 

to the city in the 1930s.  It was placed with another one

 at the Selma Waterworks until one was stolen. 

Then, this one was moved to safekeeping.

Thanks to guest photographer Christine Weerts for the photo!

Linking to City Daily Photo Blogs

The Cast Comes to Town

Cast and crew of "Selma," the movie, came to town Sunday

 for a day honoring the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

 Guest photographer Christine Weerts captured much of the evening

 including a march to the bridge (above) for a concert featuring John Legend 

and Common. Shown below are "Selma" Director Ava DuVernay 

and actor David Oyelowo, who portrayed King.

 Oyelowo prayed on the bridge, and a Red Carpet screening of the movie

 followed at Selma's Walton Theatre. 

Linking to City Daily Photo Blogs

  

Autumn at Kenan's Mill

The festival is coming to Kenan's Mill!

Celebrating rural life and traditions of the Alabama Black Belt,

 the Nov. 1 event will feature live music, corn grinding, hayrides,

 mill tours, folklife demonstrations, arts and crafts and children's activities.  

This view of the  back of the 1860's mill is taken from across Valley Creek. 

Linking to Our World Tuesday and City Daily Photo Blogs

Pots of Gold

Pots of golden chrysanthemums and sculptures by Tin Man Charlie Lucas

 decorated the Carneal ArtsRevive terrace this past weekend 

to welcome guests for the Kathryn Tucker Windham

 Alabama Tale-Tellin' Festival.

 The festival features nationally known storytellers

 and musicians and was founded 36 years ago.

Linking to Monday Mellow Yellows and City Daily Photo Blogs

Dance-Off at the Cook-Off

Sparky and The Cow were crowd favorites for the final dance-off round

 at the Alabama River Chili Cookoff Thursday evening. Sparky won out over 

The Cow (who won last year). The event brought crowds to Water Avenue

 to taste all the chili they wanted from dozens of cookoff teams.

 Proceeds this year will benefit the Cahaba Center for Mental Health. 

Linking to City Daily Photo Blogs

Art for Everybody

Based on last year's show, I would say there will be art for everyone's tastes

 at tonight's grand opening of the Carneal ArtsRevive

 Roots and Wings Art Exhbition and Sale. Doors open at 7.

This show features the works of talented Alabama artists

 in an historic building by the river.

Linking to City Daily Photo Blogs

Hands Across the Black Belt, Holding On

Little hands hold on to the handles of Old Mac's Farm train

 at Riverfront Market Day.

The train will also run at the Kenan's Mill Fall Festival on Nov. 2. 

Introducing HANDS ACROSS THE BLACK BELT photo series

and linking to City Daily Photo Blogs

Patiently Waiting

Good Dog!

She's enjoying the sights and sounds of Riverfront Market Day

 as her master shops.

Linking to Our World Tuesday and City Daily Photo Blogs

Buddy the Clown

He made his first balloon dog at age six.

 Now he twists some 300 creations

 to wow both children and adults!

 He's Buddy the Clown, and the Vermont native is down South 

for the winter, stopping in Selma last Saturday 

for Riverfront Market Day.

He also offers balloon making classes, school shows and church ministries.

Linking to Monday Mellow Yellows and City Daily Photo Blogs

Comb Concert

Have you ever played the comb?

 Ever attended a comb concert?

We have one in Selma every year at the Alabama Tale-Tellin' Festival. 

The evenings of storytelling and music end with an "I'll Fly Away" comb concert

 led by The Dill Pickers. Make plans to attend this family-friendly event

 next October, and you don't even have to play your own comb! 

Tale-Tellin' supplies the comb and the tissue paper! 

Comb concerts in Selma were the creation of Selma storyteller/author

 Kathryn Tucker Windham, who also founded the festival.

 Ever since she went to Heaven a few years ago, we continue to honor

 her memory with her favorite gospel song played and hummed on combs!

Linking to City Daily Photo Blogs

Playing the Tambourine

The night was filled with music and laughter Friday at the

 Alabama Tale-Tellin' Festival, and there is more tonight!

Here, one of The Dill Pickers plays the tambourine

 in that unique Dill Picker fashion.

Linking to City Daily Photo Blogs

Supper on the Terrace

Supper and snacks will be served on the terrace by the river

 at the Alabama Tale-Tellin' Festival this weekend. 

While this picture is from last year's festival, skies will be clear again

 with perfectly pleasant temperatures for outside dining and visiting. 

The Tale-Tellin' stage is inside, but doors will be open

 to let in the cool evening air. 

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for supper and the Swappin' Ground 

(where you can tell YOUR stories), and the main event with music and comedy

 by The Dill Pickers and tales by Donald Davis and Bobby Norfolk

 begins at 7. Tickets are available at the gate.

Linking to Friday Fences, Skywatch Friday and City Daily Photo Blogs

ABC Wednesday, M is for MUSIC

We're blogging the letter M over at ABC Wednesday this week,

 and M is for all the MUSIC that will be filling Water Avenue

 in Selma this weekend.

 From The Dill Pickers Stringband (pictured) and comedy troupe 

at the Alabama Tale-Tellin' Festival to Vintage Gray, The Fabulous Shades,

 Lower Society of Upper Water Avenue, The Ramblers and others

 at Riverfront Market Day, there will be lots of MUSIC!

Linking to ABC Wednesday and City Daily Photo Blogs

Swappin' Ground Tales

This lady knew how to use facial expressions and hand motions to tell her story

 at last year's Alabama Tale-Tellin' Swappin' Ground. The tales begin again

 for the 35th annual festival this Friday and Saturday.

 Swappin' Ground, where folks like you can tell a tale,

  starts at 5:30, and the main event featuring nationally known storytellers

 and The Dill Pickers String Band/comedy troupe, begins at 7.

 Meanwhile, storytelling tips can be found all over the Web.

Linking to Our World Tuesday and City Daily Photo Blogs

Central Alabama Fair Sing-Off

Madison Shea of Woodstock, Ga., was among 20 finalists in Thursday's

 Central Alabama Fair Sing-Off. Contestants ranged from the very young

 to the very elderly, and they hailed from Selma to Mississippi to Georgia.

 Country and gospel were the most popular genre, and one older gentleman

 drew applause by singing "I Just Love Old People."

Linking to City Daily Photo Blogs