Skywatch Friday, Alabama River Sunset

Guest photographer Jed Kirk captured this beautiful sunset above the Alabama River

 on one of his recent boating excursions. With summer almost upon us,

 the river traffic will increase significantly!

Linking to Skywatch Friday and City Daily Photo Blogs

The Writing on the YMCA Wall

SELMA'S WILBY THEATRE

That's the writing on the walls (in several places) 

at the historic YMCA building on Broad Street. 

But why? Were theatre banners made here, and did the paint bleed through?

 Who remembers?

Linking to Signs, Signs and City Daily Photo Blogs

Saving the Historic YMCA

 "It has been said that, at its best, preservation engages the past in a conversation

 with the present over a mutual concern for the future."

 William J. Murtagh, Keeping Time: The History and Theory of Preservation in America 

It's  Q Week over at ABC Wednesday, and this QUOTATION about historic preservation works well with the tremendous task of saving Alabama's first YMCA.

Touring the renovation progress with members of the Selma-Dallas County Historic Preservation Society is Selma Mayor George Evans, right. The society purchased the 1885 building and is working to stabilize it for further restoration and future use. Donations are welcome!  

Linking to ABC Wednesday and City Daily Photo Blogs 

The Summer Porch

This front porch is ready for summertime rocking and relaxing,

 and those red geraniums and cushion in the chair

 just make it even more inviting. 

Linking to Ruby Tuesday, Our World and City Daily Photo Blogs

Yellow Cosmos

It was a dark and almost rainy day, and I was searching, searching 

for a good photo subject without any sun. Then, voila! Thank you

 to the person who planted yellow cosmos in his front yard!

Linking to Monday Mellow Yellows and City Daily Photo Blogs

Country Church Pews

These pews take me back to the days when rural families worshiped

 close to home instead of traveling to town. Vehicles and paved

 farm-to-market roads slowly changed the Sunday culture. 

I wonder how many families repeated The Lord's Prayer

 and sang "The Old Rugged Cross" and "What a Friend We Have in Jesus"

 from these painted wooden pews. 

Linking to Shadow Shot Sunday, Inspired Sunday,

 Weekly Top Shot and City Daily Photo Blogs

Vine-ripe Tomatoes

Cleckler's Produce on Dallas Avenue has re-opened for the season

 with vine-ripe tomatoes from Florida!

Judging from the looks of the sliced tomato at top, I bought a few!

 Time for a BLT. 

Linking to City Daily Photo Blogs

Friday Fences, The Rogers Iron Co.

I do believe this town could host an antique fence and gate tour!

This one was made by The Rogers Iron Co. of Springfield,

 which I assume was the one in Missouri, and patented back in 1881. 

Linking to Friday Fences and City Daily Photo Blogs

Fresh Veggies Coming Soon

It's almost time for the local Farmers Market to open!

Located in Bloch Park, the shed will soon shelter truck farmers who bring peaches,

 corn, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, peas, potatoes and much more.

 I'm just hoping their gardens got a better start than mine. We are re-planting

 a few things due to an unusually cold ground this spring. 

Linking to Signs, Signs and City Daily Photo Blogs 

May Theme Day, Creative Artisan

It's May Theme Day over at City Daily Photo Blogs, 

and we are featuring creative artisans from around the world!

 I chose to feature POTTERY from just up the road, and that 

works well with the letter "P" at ABC Wednesday. 

Becky Blaylock is the creator of beautifully unique pieces of clay 

at Earthquake Pottery in Valley Grande. While the retired teacher

 claims her first work "looked like an earthquake hit it" 

(hence the name of her business), she soon became skilled

 not only with the technique but with new ideas for incorporating

 God's creations from nature. 

Below, maple leaves soak in preparation for producing a leaf print

 in the plate at bottom. Note the ferns as well.

 Sometimes, Becky teams her talent with Simply Making It of Marion Junction 

to produce soap dishes for Laura Spencer's homemade goat's milk soap.     

 

Linking to City Daily Photo Blogs Creative Artisans Theme Day

and ABC Wednesday

where the letter of the week is P!