Riverwatch

After shooting the tour bus for yesterday's Skywatch Friday photo, I turned 180 degrees and shot a "riverwatch" photo. Here is a peek of the Alabama River from Bienville Park. Thanks to more rainfall, the river level is higher this year and should provide many more recreational opportunities for boaters and skiers and fishermen.

On Tour (Skywatch Friday)

A motorcoach tour bus from this company in Baltimore, Md., stopped at Bienville Park on Water Avenue Wednesday while its occupants visited the National Voting Rights Museum. Selma attracts numerous tour bus groups to its Civil Rights sites. In the background at far right is the Harmony Club, formerly a Jewish social club, now a private residence.
May is a good month to visit the Deep South. It typically is our driest month of Spring with daytime temperatures in the 80s.
There are plenty more Skywatch shots out there! Visit them at Wiggers World.

Vote and Vote Again!

It's election time! County and state posts are next Tuesday, and Selma elections for mayor and council are August 26. Vote next week, and vote again in August. Just don't forget to vote!

(Note: This is a randomly generated photo, and no endorsements are indicated!)

"Humble Beginnings"

I noticed this painting at a recent art show and realized that this lifestyle has nearly vanished. Not many people today live on farms, much less tenant farms, and even fewer have yard chickens to feed. The old, wood-frame tenant houses are about gone too. I don't know if this depiction is that of a tenant house, but a restored one would make a good living-history museum.
An interesting website about the World of the Tenant Farmer in Texas is HERE.
I imagine the lifestyle was similar to that here in Alabama.

Brooke Cannon Restored

The Brooke Cannon, located on the grounds of Selma City Hall, underwent extensive restoration this past year. The historic marker placed near it reads:

Cast Aug. 24, 1863 in Selma at the Confederate Naval gun Foundry under direction of Commander Catesby ap R. Jones. Was first gun shipped from the Selma Foundry. Served as stern pivot gun on the Selma-built ironclad ram CSS Tennessee. During the Battle of Mobile Bay the wounding of Admiral Franklin Buchanan and the deaths of both men killed aboard the Tennessee occurred at this gun. This is the only surviving naval gun from the Battle of Mobile Bay lcoated in what was the Confederate States of America.
Designed by Lt. John M. Brooke CSN "to be used against Iron-Clads"
Weight 15,300 lbs
Length: 12 feet, 3.5 inches
Range: 7900 yards (4.5 miles)
Brooke Rifles were reported accurate enough to "hit a barrel at a mile every pop."
Captured by the Federal Navy August 5, 1864 and taken to U.S. Navy yard in Washington DC.
Returned on loan to the Selma-Dallas County Museum of History and Archives from the Naval Historical Center.

The Melvin Monument

Today is Memorial Day in the USA when we remember all the men and women who died serving our country. This monument located at the Federal Building on Alabama Avenue honors Lt. John T. Melvin, the first American Naval officer killed in World War I. Melvin was a Selma native who gave his life when a torpedo from a German submarine hit the U.S. ship Alcedo in November 1917.

Going Somewhere

After a brief face-off with a labrador retriever in our neighborhood, this turtle wasted no time getting to where it was going.
Check out more Camera Critters HERE.

Broad Street

Periwinkles have been planted in the flower beds in front of Selma City Hall. From here you can see most of downtown on Broad Street. Usually, these parking places are taken, but I caught them empty at midday for a "broad" view.

Full Flower Moon (Skywatch Friday)

Here's the Full Flower Moon for May 2008! It seems to be spotlighting this hanging bouganvilla!
More Skywatch photos can be found at Wiggers World. Enjoy!
Better yet, join us!

Florals and Stripes

Florals and stripes complement each other at this downtown Selma intersection. The building with the striped awning is a jewelry store, while the flower bed is one of many along Broad Street.

Spring Clean

After a rain, the world is like new...spring clean.

Highway 80 East

U.S. Highway 80 East from Selma to Montgomery offers beautiful views of the countryside. The historic route through Lowndes County is generally not crowded, and travelers can take side trips to river campgrounds and parks.

Nothing Like a Train

There's nothing like a train to keep little ones entertained. This Crayola-colored choo-choo chugged merrily around the walking track at last weekend's Valley Grande Founders' Day festival.

Selma Gator

Selma, Alabama may not have the proliferation of alligators that Naples, Florida has, but we do have an occasional one, most often the kind sculpted by Charlie "Tin Man" Lucas. This gator is created with a post-hole digger, bicycle pump, tomato cage and ...? I think it makes interesting yard art!
Visit more Camera Critters HERE.

Bright Spot

It was a dark and dreary day.
But, these shiny, yellow flowers reached in all directions to lift the melancholy.

Sky with All the Trimmings (Skywatch Friday)

This sky over Selma gets fluffy clouds plus the decorative trimming of the First Baptist Church educational building.
Plenty more bloggers are watching the sky today! Thanks to Wiggers World for keeping track of them. Head on over and check them out!

Bottle Tree Orchard

Bottle Tree Bob of Marbury, Alabama, brought a whole orchard of bottle trees to the Riverview Arts and Crafts Festival. While some people once thought that bottle trees would keep away evil spirits, today they have become a popular garden sculpture. How 'bout those haint-blue bottles? Check out the bottle tree I posted at Picket Fences here in Selma.

Valley Grande Founders' Day

Antique cars and modern fire trucks were on display last weekend at Valley Grande's Founders' Day festivities. The event was held along the walking trail and beneath the pine trees in the city park. There were food and crafts booths, country music, gospel music, a children's train ride and playground. Valley Grande is a rural community located just north of Selma.

Hand-Woven Baskets

A tisket, a tasket...no green and yellow basket? No, no, no...but there are blue ones and multi-colored ones, and I know the basket weaver would be glad to make whatever color your heart desires! These hand-woven baskets of all colors, shapes and sizes were for sale at the Riverview Arts and Crafts Festival. Which one would you choose?

Gems from the Earth

These gems from the earth are made of mud from indigenous clays of Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Anna Bastida molds the clay into geode bowls (top) and ceramic platters with leaf, moss or bark prints (bottom). She sometimes recycles broken glass by melting it into her sculptures. The artist was in Selma Saturday for the Riverview Arts and Crafts Festival, which was canceled the previous weekend due to rain.
I wondered how she developed her artistic talents...by making mud pies of course! But, she also studied art in New York City and Maui.
(The leaf print piece is made from kudzu.)

Happy Mother's Day

The Store at Summerfield will be closed today. Happy Mother's Day!

The Learning Tree

Here is Byrd Elementary School's Learning Tree. A marker placed by the Alabama Forestry Commission states that the live oak once shaded Judge William Byrd's home, and the judge "championed the rights of students to a good education." The school was established in 1916 and is still educating children in Selma.

Flyway (Skywatch Friday)

This is one photo I HEARD coming. Our house is on the direct route of the air ambulance from Birmingham. We hear the medical helicopter flying over as it heads to Vaughan Regional Medical Center. Later, we hear it flying back, transporting a critically ill patient to the larger, more specialized medical facilities in Alabama's largest city. Thankfully, we don't hear the helicopters often.
(Note: I am assuming this is one of the air ambulances. Due to the sun and the fact that this copter was directly over me, I didn't get to see the medical symbol on its side.)
Today is Skywatch Friday, so fly on over to Wiggers World for more sky views.

Speir Land Company

A lot of elbow grease went into cleaning up this historic downtown structure to transform it into Speir Land Company. The circa 1920' s building still has original, beaded heart pine on the ceiling inside and under the awning outside. Carpet and hardwood were added for interior flooring. Shutters, ceiling fans,a few relics from an old store, and professional landscaping completed the new look. Now, it's like a little oasis just one block off Broad Street. (Note: This is the single-story, painted building in front of the multi-story brick building which used to be a furniture store.)
So what did this building used to be?

Honeysuckle

Two scents compete for the nose in early May: mild, sweet honeysuckle and strong, sinus-killing privet. Here's the honeysuckle, the only one I dare get close enough to for a photo. It's the vine you can eat, or at least pull the bloom apart to get the nectar. Anybody else ever do that as a child? Now, I understand that cats like honeysuckle, because an ingredient in its wood is used in catnip!

Picnic Perfect

The weather, the season and the location are perfect for a picnic! There aren't many people at Grist State Park this time of year. Temperatures are in the 80s, and mosquitoes haven't arrived just yet. Just right for an uncrowded picnic!

Colorful Clowns

These colorful clowns entertained Sunday evening at the annual Christian street festival, a time of praise and worship, food, balloons and socializing. It is held downtown between First Baptist, First Presbyterian and Church Street United Methodist churches. Singing groups included the Selma Community Choir, Freedom Foundation chorus, Angelic Harmonizers and others. Attendees brought along folding chairs, babies in strollers and appetites for free samples of fresh-fried catfish nuggets, hush puppies and Pepsi.

Back to Back

Do you suppose these geese at Grist State Park are no longer on honking terms!

To view more animals from around the world, check out the Camera Critters meme.

Sanctuary

"Sanctuary" is an intriguing sculpture by Ted Whisenhunt, associate professor of art at Judson College in Marion, and it earned a blue ribbon at the March 2008 Arts Revive show in Selma.

Any idea about the background for the theme?
The "little house" has a pole inside that is topped with an upside-down, blue bottle. Why are the outside poles painted white on the bottom?

I really don't know what the artist was thinking when he designed this, but being a native of Alabama, I might have an idea!

Oh yes! Whisenhunt not only teaches art. He is lead singer and a musician with the Kudzu String Band.

Against the Blue (Skywatch Friday)

Old Glory proudly waves against a clear, blue sky and alongside a communications tower in downtown Selma.

Today is SKYWATCH FRIDAY, so head on over HERE at Wigger's World to view more or better yet, join the group!

The Town Clock (May Theme Day is NUMBERS)

The Roman numerals on First Presbyterian Church's tower serve as the town clock. A carillon plays after the hour rings. The clock is located at a main downtown intersection across from City Hall.

There are more than 180 City Daily Photo Blogs from around the world that are displaying numbers today. Check them out!

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Arradon, France by Alice, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Busan, Korea South by iamnbinb, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chesapeake Daily Photo (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Chicago (IL), USA by Focused Light, Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Cologne, Germany by April11, Concordia Sagittaria, Italy by Patrizia, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Dallas (TX), USA by turtle, Darmstadt, Germany by Elsch, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Forks (WA), USA by Mary, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hong Kong, Hong Kong by Rachel A., Hyde, UK by Gerald, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Ioannina, Greece by Christos-Ioanna, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Mainz, Germany by JB, Malaga, Spain by Paula, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Medan, Indonesia by KT, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Montpellier, France by Marie, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Nancy, France by yoshi, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, Newport News (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, North Hampton (NH), USA by Amy, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Owasso (OK), USA by Jennifer, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Penang, Malaysia by Maltelda, Perth, Australia by Elevation7, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Cheryl, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea by Jules, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Riga, Latvia by Riga Images, Rollag, Norway by Stormel, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, San Francisco (CA), USA by Louis la Vache, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tel-Aviv, Israel by Olga, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Vichy, France by Delphsnl, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,