Summer in the Park

That blue sky is inviting, but summer is a bit too hot

 for much midday walking in Riverfront Park,

Wait until late afternoon, and it's a nice stroll by the Alabama River.

 The new amphitheater is the red building at the far left.

Linking to Skywatch Friday

Posy Pillow

I am loving my posy pillow made by Earthquake Pottery!

It's designed for tiny things, such as a child-size, fist full of wildflowers

 or clover or in this case, mint leaves and miniature zinnia-like blossoms. 

 Holes in the top make it perfect for little blooms.

Linking to Monday Mellow Yellows

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, Listen and Learn

Cell phones are not only welcome but part of the design 

for Selma's new audio tours. 

Simply dial the number or scan the code with your cell phone to hear

 the history at each of 75 historic sites. The histories are narrated 

by local citizens. Site maps are available at the

 Selma-Dallas County Centre for Commerce and other locations. 

Linking to Signs, Signs

V is for VIOLENT

What an especially VIOLENT storm!

The VELOCITY of these dark clouds gave farmers a VALID reason 

to get out of the hay fields in central Alabama a couple of weeks ago.

Linking to ABC Wednesday where the letter V is on display

Our World, Coming Home

Mary Louisa Portis  was just a week old when she died in 1853,

 and many years later, her gravestone was stolen from the cemetery at Cahawba.

  But last weekend, the stone came home after Good Samaritans found it

 discarded in a cemetery in Montgomery, and the Cahawba Foundation 

honored the return with a brief ceremony. 

Cahawba Foundation member Anne Dalton donned a period mourning dress

 to participate, and others sang, spoke, purchased the bouquet

 and laid flowers on the grave. 

Mary Louisa is buried next to her three-year-old sister, and their parents,

 Thomas and Emma Portis,  were teachers in the town near Selma that was Alabama's

 first permanent state capital. Their father later became an attorney,

 served in the War Between the States and eventually moved to St. Louis

 where he represented Jay Gould's railroad interests and apparently

 became vice president of the Missouri Pacific Railroad.

 Portis, Kansas was named in his honor.   

Linking to Our World Tuesday

Blue Lace-top Hydrangea

Summer can't get much showier than this!

The blue hydrangea is a warm-season favorite down South, 

and these beauties were grown by former District Judge Miller Childers.

Thanks to guest photographer Christine Weerts.

Linking to Blue Monday