Monday, November 14, 2016

Ready to Race

These three look ready to race their tractors 
at the Orrville Tractor Show last Saturday.

The event brings tractor enthusiasts from Alabama and nearby states
 and features lots of activities for children in addition 
to antique tractors, cars and engines. 

Friday, November 4, 2016

Handmade

Who wouldn't love a handmade doll or stuffed critter? 

The ladies at By Jeanann not only make these adorable huggables
 but clothes to fit American Girl dolls, purses, quilts
 and most anything out of fabric scraps. 

I found these at Lilly Beck Originals outdoor vendors sale
 that continues through today.

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Dakota Path


Selma artist Cindy Stoudenmire really rocks the pen and ink!

"Dakota Path" is among works on paper now on display 
at "Celebrating the Art of Paper" Show & Sale at ArtsRevive's
 Carneal Cultural Center. The exhibition honors the 50th anniversary
 of International Paper's Riverdale Mill near Selma. 

The show continues every Friday and Saturday, 
Nov. 3-4, Nov. 14-15 and Nov. 21-22 from noon until 4 p.m.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

And the Drought Goes On

The colors, they are a'changin' early this year but not without a quick wilt!

As soon as the ginkgo leaves turn from green to gold, they crumple!
 And that is no thanks to this extended heat and drought!
 James Spann says the drought may break by mid-November,
 and cooler air is on the way.  

Linking to City Daily Photo
November Theme Day, Out of Focus
 

Friday, August 5, 2016

Sunrise at the River

A palette of pastels spreads across an early-morning sky
 above the Alabama River in Selma.

Linking to Skywatch Friday

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Lilies at Valley Grande Park

These delicate white lilies were still blooming at Valley Grande Park
 a couple of weeks ago. They resemble the famous Cahaba River lilies
 in Bibb County. Does anyone know what type of lily these are?

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

The Horsehead Fountain

One of Selma's most unusual sites in the horsehead fountain
 on Water Avenue. Located at the entrance of Lafayette Park 
and corner of the St. James Hotel, it makes a great photo op!

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Morning in Lafayette Park

It's early morning, but the sun is already bright in Lafayette Park. 

At left is the Bridgetender's House where the operator
 of the old swing bridge lived. The marker in the center explains its history.
 That bridge was replaced in 1940 by the Edmund Pettus Bridge. 

Monday, August 1, 2016

August Theme Day (My City's Skyline)

Along Dallas Avenue looking east toward Broad Street, church steeples
 form Selma's skyline. I caught this view shortly after sunrise.
 At left, you can barely see Cornerstone Presbyterian.
 At right is Church Street United Methodist, and just to the left
 of it is First Baptist, Lauderdale Street. 

Linking to City Daily Photo Blogs August Theme Day (My City's Skyline)


Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Flag Day in the USA

It's Flag Day in the USA, and in this archived photo, Old Glory flies
 at a business across the street from the Federal Courthouse
 in downtown Selma.

Linking to Our World Tuesday

Our World Tuesday Graphic

Monday, June 13, 2016

Roadside Blues

These dainty blue wildflowers are the kind of thing that
 brighten Mondays and any other day!

Linking to Blue Monday 

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Wednesday, June 8, 2016

A New View of the Bridge

The demolition of a damaged building on Water Avenue made way
 for a new VIEW of the Pettus Bridge, but these VINES grew over 
the fence while VARIOUS construction and repair projects took place.

Linking to ABC Wednesday where the Letter of the Week is "V."

 

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Chilton County Peaches

Chilton County is smack in the center of Alabama, and Dallas County
 is fortunate to be located directly south of it and the yummiest peaches
 you ever tasted. Chilton is home of the Peach Festival and the
 giant peach tower along Interstate 65, and its peach producers
 truck this sweet fruit our way every June. 


 Our World Tuesday Graphic

Monday, June 6, 2016

Downtown Daylilies



Recent construction at Church Street and Water Avenue 
kept these downtown daylilies hidden.
 But once the barriers came down,
 there they were! 



Friday, June 3, 2016

Oak Leaf Hydrangea

Massive blossoms of oak leaf hydrangea grace the walking paths
 at Valley Grande City Park. In the background, a rail fence borders
 the park along Spring Valley Road.

Linking to Good Fences

 

Thursday, June 2, 2016

A Run with the Truck

It wasn't a Kentucky Derby or Preakness, but Kate the Farm Horse
 did try to race with the truck on a West Dallas County day in May!

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

June Theme Day, Shadow and Highlight

Shadows stretch from tall pines at Valley Grande City Park
  as a couple of women take advantage of the walking trail. 
The path meanders through sun and shade,
 picnic and playground areas. 

Linking to City Daily Photos June Theme Day, Shadow and Highlight  

Friday, May 27, 2016

Hay Weather

Dallas County finally got a week of dry weather, perfect for cutting, raking
 and baling hay! Clear skies prevailed, and it looks like farmers
 may get another week just like it. 

Linking to Skywatch Friday

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Return of The Sand Bar Restaurant

The popular Sand Bar restaurant is returning, bigger,
 better and sitting taller than before!

The historic Christmas Flood of 2015 inundated the former building 
situated just above the Selma Marina, so the new one sits higher up the hill. 

Opening is expected this summer, and it should offer a great view. 

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

The Tremont School Challenge

There is a $10,000 Challenge going on to help preserve the old TREMONT School.

Built in 1913 as Selma's first high school, the structure has been used
 as storage for the past few decades, and since its acquisition
 windows have been replaced along with other repairs. But before
 it can be used again, this historic gem needs a lot more help.
 Over $80,000 has already been invested, but a matching $10,000 grant
 will mean at least an additional $20,000 toward restoration. 

Plans for the former school will be discussed by architect Dick Hudgens
 at tonight's annual meeting of the SDCHPS. The 6 p.m. meeting
 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church is open to all who are interested.   

Linking to ABC Wednesday
The Letter T 


 

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Petal Pushers Produce

The Farmers Market at Bloch Park is OPEN, and here are a few things
 that Petal Pushers Farm had available this morning:
 squash, homemade breads, herbs, red potatoes, jams and jellies.
 
 The business is located in Valley Grande off Alabama Highway 22 North
 where there is a store with home-baked goods, plants and a U-Pick orchard.
 
Linking to Our World Tuesday

Our World Tuesday Graphic

Monday, May 23, 2016

Rose in Bloom

Coral-colored roses bloom outside the St. James Hotel in Lafayette Park.

Thursday, May 19, 2016

The Wildflower Patch

Across the fence in this downtown Selma yard are blue wildflowers
 propagated into the landscape. So pretty!

Linking to Good Fences

 

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Sidewalk Scene

A box of begonias brighten the brick SIDEWALK near the Bridge Tender's House.

Linking to ABC Wednesday where the Letter of the Week is "S" 
(although in this case, you might believe  it was B!)

 

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

The Welcome Flag

Some of Selma's homes have welcome flags, and this one caught my fancy!

Linking to Our World Tuesday

 Our World Tuesday Graphic

Monday, May 16, 2016

Porch Rockers

It's porch weather and time to brighten the rockers with colorful, comfy cushions!

Friday, May 13, 2016

Taking Flight

A cardinal takes flight after perching atop a lantern in Lafayette Park.

(So,  the perfect picture of this redbird sitting on this light was not to be!
 Just before the shutter snapped, he flew away.)
 But, this pose is probably more interesting anyway!

 

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Signs, Signs, Downtown Survey

What do you want to see in downtown Selma?

Stop by the Lafayette Park entrance on Water Avenue
 and let city leaders know. Just above the blue sign
 is a large board where you can write your answer. 


Linking to Signs, Signs

 

Friday, May 6, 2016

Pink Antiques

These pink antique roses flourish along a fence on Lapsley Street.
 Their contrast with a background of Spanish Moss, I think,
 is rather romantically striking. 

Linking to Good Fences

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Coming Down

These walls are all that remained of the old Safelite building a few days ago.
 Its roof and a wall collapsed during a  thunderstorm in early April,
 and now the Water Avenue building is in the final stages of demolition.
  Well, at least there will be yet another great view of the river here!
I just HAD to get those pretty primroses in the photo.

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

A QUAINT Little Cottage

I love blue.
I love old-fashioned roses.
I love white picket fences and cottages and fancy fretwork. 
So I love everything about this QUAINT little house
 in Selma's Old Town!

"Q" is the Letter of the Week over at ABC Wednesday


Friday, April 29, 2016

Bienville Park Overlook

Ever since a sewer cave-in propelled the renovation of Bienville Park,
 the view of the Alabama River has been a lot less crowded.
 The thick overgrowth is gone, and it's a good location to see
 yet another angle of the Edmund Pettus Bridge,
 although NOT from this direction!

Thursday, April 28, 2016

The Pink Box Bakery

From Beatrice to Selma with strawberry, red velvet, pound
 and caramel cakes, homemade bread and cookies,
The Pink Box Bakery sells its goodies on Water Avenue
 every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
 Find them in front of The Harmony Club!
 I bought the bread...delicious! 

Linking to Signs, Signs

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

PAINTINGS by Joanna Nichols

Joanna Nichols' love of nature sparkles through her PAINTINGS of flowers,
fruit, landscapes and animals.  A Selma artist since the turn of the century,
 she is Artist of the Month at the Selma Art Guild where her works
 will be on display through this weekend. Nichols began drawing and painting
 as a young girl in Northumberland, England, and she later married
 and moved to the U.S. where she spent more than two decades
 as an art student and art guild leader in Stamford, Conn.
 In Selma, she says she has been intrigued by the old buildings,
 vehicles and "remnants of the past"
 which she enjoys capturing on canvas. 

Linking to ABC Wednesday
where the Letter of the Week is P.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Charlie's Place

Charlie's Place: It's fast food that's homemade, served in the historic 
Harmony Club building and with an atmosphere that promotes Selma.
 Decorated with local memorabilia and business signs, this new restaurant
 offers huge tasty burgers, and the fries are sliced right from a real potato.
 OR, you can try the pimento cheeseburger that I am told is fast becoming 
their specialty OR a salad or grilled chicken sandwich. 

I liked the fast-food style of placing my order at the counter,
 fixing my own sweet tea, then taking a seat while they prepared my order.
 And no doubt, you will meet Charlie. He's the hospitable type
 and makes sure his guests are happy! 

Linking to Our World Tuesday

 Our World Tuesday Graphic

Monday, April 25, 2016

Field of Prairie Buttercups

If you drive out U.S. 80 West, many fields have turned bright yellow
 with prairie buttercups. While visually striking, farmers don't want them,
 because they are a weed that can irritate the stomachs of livestock.
 However, the buttercups aren't very tasty so livestock tend not to eat them,
 picking between the blossoms for the grass beneath.
 Apparently, this is a very good year for the buttercups!

Friday, April 22, 2016

Earth Day



                                                         Psalms 24:1
                     "The Earth (is) the Lord's, and the fullness thereof;
                               the world, and they that dwell therein."
                   

Mid-March in west Dallas County, Alabama

Linking to Skywatch Friday