Changing Landscape

The landscape is changing on the Highway 80 side of Elkdale Baptist Church. The pine trees came down last week to make way for more parking.

Selma's Churches, The Rose Window at St. Paul's

Some of the most beautiful stained-glass windows you will find anywhere are at Selma's St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The Rose Window is above the front door and features symbols of evangelists and the sacraments. Other windows in the church were designed by Clara Weaver Parrish, a member of the parish, and an artist for Tiffany Company of New York.

Photography by Christine Weerts

Kenan's Mill in Color

Spotlights cast a colorful glow on Kenan's Mill after dark last Saturday night. The mill and its grounds were used for an outdoor wedding reception. To your left, notice the strings of lights along the swinging bridge across Valley Creek.

(Skywatch Friday) Field of Beans

Last Sunday was a lovely day in Dallas County, and the sun shone above this healthy field of soybeans.

To view more Skywatch photos, head on over to www.skyley.blogspot.com.

Outdoor Lighting

How's this for romantic?

Chandeliers amid the Spanish Moss provided lighting after dark at a recent wedding reception at Kenan's Mill.

Click on the photo to enlarge it for a much better view.

Gifts for the Guests

Guests who attended the wedding reception at Kenan's Mill received stone-ground goodies straight from the mill! (Click the photo to view a larger version.)

The Cuisine...Southern Style

Hi y'all! We're still at the wedding reception from last weekend. As you can see, Selma has caterers who are the caliber of Paula Deen!

I can't even begin to list all the food from which to choose, but naturally there are fruit and veggies, dips and cheese balls, not to mention shrimp, grits, muffins and kudzu jelly. Of course, there was also sweet tea!

In the background is the Kenan's Mill mill house where the miller lived.

They Could Have Danced All Night

Young children who attended Saturday's wedding reception at Kenan's Mill could have danced all night on the dance floor in front of the bandstand. The bride's parents, along with other creative types, designed and built the floor. Meanwhile, the band plays on in the background.
(The "W" is the inital of the groom's last name.)

Elegance at Kenan's Mill

Wow! Kenan's Mill has never been so elegant!

The historic 1860's gristmill and its grounds were the setting Saturday for a wedding reception. Chandeliers sparkled from tree limbs. Tables were decked with white linens, and a Motown band from Tuskegee provided music from the bandstand.

Plus, the weather cooperated! After a week of high humidity and intermittent storms, Selma awoke to a cool nip in the air and a northwest breeze. It couldn't have been more perfect!

You can see the mill in the left background and the bandstand in the right background.

Click on the photo for a larger view.

An Upside Down Snack

I am convinced that squirrels will go to any length to eat! Dan Johnson caught a squirrel balancing upside down to munch on leftover sunflower seeds.

Downpour!

Selma experienced yet another downpour Thursday, and here is the view of the barely visible Pettus Bridge and Alabama River at Diego's Restaurant.

Except for a bit of green in the landscape, you might think this is a black and white photo, but alas, it's in color!

To see more Skywatch photos, click on skyley.blogspot.com.

Life Expectancy

Life expectancy has greatly increased in the U.S. since babies were born circa 1960. The CDC just announced that expectancy now stands at 78. In 1960, it was 70.

Just from 2006 to 2007, babies have the expectation of living three additional months.

This nursery is a replica of one where numerous Selma newborns were cared for in the old Vaughan Memorial Hospital back in the 1950s and 1960s. The building is now a museum with medical exhibits on its third floor. Notice the window behind the incubator. Older siblings of newborns were allowed to climb the outside spiral staircase to get a first look through the window at their new brother or sister.

The Frame Shoppe on Broad Street

The Frame Shoppe, which moved several months ago from Water Avenue to Broad Street, continuously displays works by regional artists, sculptors, photographers and craftsmen. The business participates in a quarterly Art Walk, and of course, it frames things!

Angelwing Begonia

Angelwing begonia loves the heat, the shade and the humidity of southern summers. Thanks to Elaine Stewart for sending a photo of her well-tended begonia basket!

Walton Theatre Mosaic

A ceramic mosaic for the old Walton Theatre is embedded in the sidewalk in front of the Performing Arts Centre.

The Walton was once a popular movie theatre, then fell into disrepair and was revived in the 1980s to become part of the Striplin Performing Arts Center. Today, it's known as the Miss Kitty Theatre, named after longtime PAC director Kitty Windham.

St. James at Dusk

As the sun sets late one evening in August, it casts a warm glow on the St. James Hotel.

Old-Fashioned Dolls

If you like dolls, then you'll love the playroom at Sturdivant Hall. Collections of old-fashioned dolls fill the cabinets, and they come in all sizes and outfits!

Skywatch Friday, Sky and Water

Guest photographer Christine Weerts sent a picture of sky and water for today's Skywatch Friday.

A Selma water tank rises into the blue against shimmering backlit clouds.

To see more skies, visit skyley.blogspot.com.

Confederate Currency

Three-dollar bills and other denominations of Confederate currency occupy glass cases at the Old Depot Museum.

Much of the currency issued from 1861 to 1865 was backed by cotton. The Confederate States of America expected to sell millions of bales to Europe, but a global cotton surplus in the early 1860s meant those bales sat in warehouses along the docks, and the notes became worthless. Some state currency was backed instead by bond sales or pledges and could be exchanged for Confederate notes or goods and services. But, by the end of the Civil War, they too were worthless. Another problem was that in addition to the Confederate government, some states, cities, banks and even businesses issued paper money, causing the currency to be easily counterfeited.

Cotton Blossom

Cotton is blossoming all over Dallas County, at least where it's still planted.
Last year, only 7,100 bales were produced compared to 11,600 bales in 2000 and 17,800 bales in 1990.

Planted acreage fell from 16,800 in 1990 to 3,900 in 2008. Price the farmer receives per pound is still around 63 cents, the same as 1989.

In 2007, the year of the Great Drought, a mere 2,000 bales were harvested, and farmers decided to plant even less of the crop.

Statistics courtesy the National Cotton Council

Photo by Christine Weerts

The Market Place

Since posting the picture of a handmade kitchen island, several people have asked where The Market Place is located. It's right downtown where MeeMaw's used to be, and long before that, Myer's Shoes was here. You can't miss the American flag and furniture on the sidewalk out front.

Dog Meets Bus

Today was the first day of school!

Here's the bus as it delivers the children back home. We always know when the bus is about to arrive, because a neighborhood German Shepherd shows up in our yard to wait for it. Apparently, he first meets the bus on the other side of the neighborhood, then takes a shortcut to beat it over here.

I see that this is either a new bus or has a new roof, because I don't recall the vents on top. Speaking of ventilation, August is much too hot for children to have to go to school! They should be swimming!

Summer Gold

Butterflies and moths are enjoying summer gold these days as flowers wind down for the season.

By the Light of the Silvery Moon

This picture may not be in sharp focus on the spider, but I thought the silvery moon peeking from between clouds and shining on its habitat was interesting! An outside light was used to capture the weave of the web.

Skywatch Friday, Summer Rain

Looking toward Selma from atop this hill, there's a summer rain on the way!

Check out more Skywatch Friday photos at www.skyley.blogspot.com.

The Beetle and the Butterfly

I believe the zinnias in my front yard are on their last legs (er, stems). Critters such as the beetle, underneath, are taking over, while butterflies and moths, above, are scarce this summer.

Blooming Cotton

Cotton in Central Alabama has almost finished blooming! You can't see the blooms very well as I took this photo through the window of a moving vehicle. But, notice the irrigation system in the background. We've had so much rain lately, I doubt it's been needed, but perhaps the equipment was used during those 100-degree days in June.

Traveling through Autaugaville

We spotted this three-wheel motorcycle traveling through Autaugaville the other day. The town is known for its farming community and agricultural arena. It is located about 25 miles east of Selma on Alabama Highway 14.

Rainy Day

Saturday evening brought thunder and heavy rain to Selma and Dallas County. Here's the view heading into Selma from Alabama Highway 14 East.

Old Tenant House

Old tenant houses in Central Alabama are becoming a rare sight. I snapped a photo of this one along Alabama Highway 14 between Selma and Prattville. Most of these structures were abandoned long ago and have fallen into disrepair or been torn down. At least someone painted this one and put a new roof on it.

August Theme Day (Night)

It's August Theme Day at the City Daily Photo Blogs, and why not cool off here in the Deep South with SNOW!

Five months ago, this was the scene in my backyard before daybreak. I was able to capture the huge snowflakes by turning on the backyard floodlights.

There are plenty more pictures from the dark sides of Planet Earth.

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