P is for Potter

We're honoring the letter "P" over at ABC Wednesday, and it was my PRIVILEGE to visit

Becky Blaylock at Earthquake POTTERY for a few PICTURES. She explained that the first

 PIECE of POTTERY she ever made looked as if an earthquake hit it,

 hence EARTHQUAKE POTTERY! 

Since then, she's acquired quite the creative touch and likes to incorporate

 natural and not so natural POTPOURRI into her designs. The POTTERY above

 is one of her more unique PRODUCTS.   

Becky was among PARTICIPANTS in the weekend's Black Belt Art Explosion. 

Linking to ABC Wednesday and City Daily Photo Blog PORTAL.

Area 51

For Our World Tuesday, I was able to secure entrance

 into Dallas County's own highly technical Area 51!

Any idea what is going on here???

 

Hint: This place was among the stops on Saturday's Black Belt Art Explosion tour. 

 

Linking to Our World Tuesday and City Daily Photo Blogs

 

Sunshine Cottage

What a cheerful house the owners have to come home to!

It has the white picket fence, gingerbread trim, American flag,

 front porch and sunshine yellow paint. Very pretty!

Linking to Friday Fences

City Daily Photo

The Pumpkins' Gate

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate;
The first one said, "My it's getting late."
The second one said, "There are witches in the air."
The third one said, "But we don't care."
The fourth one said, "Let's run and run and run."
The fifth one said, "It's Halloween fun."
"Wooooooo" went the wind,
And out went the lights.
These five little pumpkins ran out of sight.

Fingerplay directions:
Hold up five fingers and bend them down one at a time as the verse progresses.
Line 7: Swoosh hand through the air.
Line 8: Clap hands on "out"
Line 9: Place hands behind back.

My children learned the "Five Little Pumpkins" fingerplay verse in preschool, and these 

pumpkins (way more than five!) are on display at St. Paul's Episcopal pumpkin patch.  

Linking to Rural Thursday

City Daily Photo Blogs

O is for Open-Air Market

We're photographing the letter "O" at ABC Wednesday, and the annual

 open-air market known as Riverfront Market Day brings arts, crafts, food,

 music and children's activities to Water Avenue.It's a fun day

 in usually great weather! Market Day was held Oct. 13. 

Linking to ABC Wednesday

Fall at Kenan's Mill

The millstones will turn once again at Kenan's Mill on Saturday, Nov. 3! 

Celebrate the Year of Alabama Food with fresh-ground cornmeal and grits 

at the annual Kenan's Mill Fall Festival. Sample some old-fashioned apple cider

 made on site, and tour the mill and charcoal kiln. Children will find lots to do 

from hayrides and train rides to sack races and jumping

 in the Selma Fire Department's Fire Safety Bounce House.

Then, bring a lawn chair or sit upon the hay bales

 and enjoy live music or head to The Vittles Wagon for barbecue,

 chili, hot dogs, Hoppin' John, cornbread and more!   

Linking to Our World Tuesday

The Sunflower Sculpture

Sunflowers are just springing up all over down on the terrace of Carneal ArtsRevive.

These metallic sculptures most recently greeted guests

 for the annual Alabama Tale-Tellin' Festival.

Linking to Mellow Yellow Monday

City Daily Photo Blog Portal

Market Day Musician

Market Day musicians keep melodies going all day.

 The keyboarder above played Dixieland and jazz with The Ramblers.

Linking to Weekend in Black and White

City Daily Photo Blogs

Have a Little Hay

There was plenty of hay to go around at the equine exhibit

 during the Central Alabama Fair, and I'm sure

 the horses and ponies didn't mind a bit!

Linking to Friday Fences 

City Daily Photo Blogs

Light from the Rafters

From the heights of the weathered rafters on the terrace

 of Carneal ArtsRevive shines the light of a sparkling chandelier! 

 

Linking to Rural Thursday

N is for NEST

Have you ever seen a birdhouse like this?

These were for sale at last weekend's Riverfront Market Day and really caught my eye!

The nests are handmade of felt and called Wild Woolies. Designed for small birds

 such as wrens, the opening can be enlarged to accommodate tree swallows and bluebirds. 

They are crafted by Fair Trade Artisans and the yarn and dyes are all eco-friendly.

Linking to ABC Wednesday Meme 

Live from Selma!

WPKR is on the air and live from the Carneal ArtsRevive building in Selma, Alabama!

The Dill Pickers ramped up the roll of the Alabama River last weekend

 with their lively rendition of an old-time radio show.

 The performance was part of the Alabama Tale-Tellin' Festival. 

They will return next year, so come on down!

Linking to Our World Tuesday

Walking the Duck

Ahh...the joys of childhood! Have you ever walked a duck?

This little cutie had so much fun walking his duck at Selma's Riverfront Market Day!

Linking to Mellow Yellow Monday

The City Daily Photo portal is back!

Late Evening on the Terrace

Those who arrived early for the Alabama Tale-Tellin' Festival this weekend

 enjoyed a view of the Edmund Pettus Bridge and Alabama River

 from the terrace at Carneal ArtsRevive. 

Linking to Scenic Sunday

Molded by Hand

It's Rural Thursday, and there is nothing better than hand-thrown pottery

 to add down-to-earth warmth (other than a wood stove or fireplace!)

 to a home. I admit a weakness for vessels like these and treasure the churns 

and pitchers handed down through our family, plus quite a few

 I've purchased myself!

These clay pitchers were crafted by Allen Ham,

 the world-famous potter of the Alabama Black Belt!

 

Linking to Rural Thursday

M is for Market Day

We're posting the letter "M" this week, just in time for Market Day!

The annual Riverfront Market Day festival is Saturday on Water Avenue.

 There will be food, arts, crafts, music, a scavenger hunt and children's activities.

Linking to ABC Wednesday

Ribbons, Ribbons

There were plenty of ribbons to go around at the Central Alabama Fair last week,

 most to the folks who still preserve their own food!

Freezing and canning food is what we did in the summer back when I was growing up

...in a hot kitchen with a big window fan

...made even hotter by canners on the stove.

 Gosh, I haven't made any of my grandmama's pear pickle in years!

 I really, really need to get back into this, what with food prices going up.  

Do you preserve food, and I have to wonder if our daughters and granddaughters

 (and sons and grandsons!) are learning how!

Linking to Our World Tuesday 

Tastes of Tale-Tellin'

Before the music and stories begin, come early and have a taste of Tale-Tellin'!

Supper will be served beginning at 5:30 p.m. this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12/13 

in the Carneal ArtsRevive courtyard by the Alabama River.

 In the photo, last year's menu included Lannie's barbecue sandwiches,

 hot dogs, moonpies, cookies, chips, soft drinks and bottled water.

 The Swappin' Ground also begins at 5:30 with the main event at 7. 

The Alabama Tale-Tellin' Festival was founded by the late author

 and storyteller Kathryn Tucker Windham. 

Find updates on the ArtsRevive Facebook Page. 

Linking to Mellow Yellow Monday

Near the Cross

"Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
bring its scenes before me;
help me walk from day to day
with its shadow o'er me."

(from "Near the Cross")

Linking to Shadow Shot Sunday

Fog at the Riverbank

Recent mornings have brought fog to the riverbank.

 Even at midmorning, low clouds wrapped 

the New Orleans Bar and Grill in a shroud.

Linking to Weekend in Black and White

Something to Crow About

He may have to bide his time in a cage at the fair,

but at least he's got something to crow about!

Linking to Friday Fences

Let's Talk to the Animals

Let's talk to the animals at the Central Alabama Fair Petting Zoo!

 There are rabbits, baby chicks, pigs, a cow, horses and goats.

The Lions' Club sponsored event continues through Saturday 

at the old armory and fairgrounds on West Dallas Avenue. 

Linking to Rural Thursday

L is for Lobster Fest

It's ABC Wednesday, and L is for LOBSTER FEST!

Better hurry up and call that number if you want

 to get your name and lobster in the pot!

Linking to ABC Wednesday

The Oldest Daily Paper

So...unlike folks in Mobile, Birmingham and Huntsville, I still get to start every morning 

reading my hometown daily paper that is delivered to my house in real newsprint.

 Not only that, but yesterday, when The Mobile Press-Register stopped daily publication 

and cut its newsprint version to three times a week, I get to read the oldest daily 

newspaper in Alabama! After 185 years, The Selma Times-Journal is still printing. 

Linking to Our World Tuesday