Which Way Does the Wind Blow?

North, South, East or West...the rooster atop a turret in Old Town

points to the direction of the wind.

Linking to Weekend in Black and White

St. James from the River

Here's how the St. James Hotel looks from Riverfront Park and the Alabama River.

 Guests get to enjoy a beautiful view of the park, the river,

 the Edmund Pettus Bridge and the railroad bridge from the back balconies.

 Meanwhile, we've got clouds moving to town this weekend, 

and a few showers are expected.

Linking to Skywatch Friday 

Magnolia in Autumn

It's autumn, and magnolia cones are wearing scarlet!

Linking to Rural Thursday

K is for Karlyn

Did you KNOW that Dallas County once had several thousand farmers, 

that fear of the boll weevil prompted the hiring of our first county extension agent

 or that numerous black-owned businesses once lined Selma's Lapsley Street?

Duke University graduate student KARLYN Forner shared her research

 of Selma's socio-economic and political highlights from 1910-1920 at Tuesday's

 quarterly meeting of the Selma-Dallas County Historic Preservation Society.

 She's researching the 20th Century history of our town for her dissertation

 and previously shared the decade from 1900-1910.

 Now, we're looking forward to the next decade!

Linking to ABC Wednesday where the Letter of the Week is K!

Line Up for Fire Safety

The line to the Fire Safety House stayed long last week during "Be Ready Day"

 at Memorial Stadium. School children learned the importance of being prepared

 in case of emergency, and better yet, how to help prevent emergencies. 

Linking to Our World Tuesday

Flight of the Hummingbird

Things are still humming in our backyard as the hummingbirds

 prepare to migrate south to Mexico, Central America

 and South America. I caught this one in midair

 by using a very fast shutter speed.

Autumn Arrives

Autumn has arrived in more ways than by position of the sun.

We usually don't see leaves turning this early in Selma,

 but the changing of the green is here!

Through the leaves, you can see St. Paul's Episcopal Church downtown.

Coming Soon

What's coming soon to Selma's revived Walton Theater? 

"Won't Back Down."

Since its opening at the performing arts center earlier this year,

 the theater has been a welcome addition downtown.

Linking to Weekend Reflections

Blue Skies Smiling

"Blue skies
Smiling at me
Nothing but blue skies
Do I see."

EXCEPT I do see a bird, probably a pigeon, smiling down from the tallest spire. 

Linking to Skywatch Friday  

Be Ready Day

First responders for emergencies were paid homage on Wednesday

 at Dallas County's "Be Ready Day" at the Memorial Stadium parking lot.

 Hundreds of school children visited venues including this one

 by the Alabama Forestry Commission. Commission employees

 Brigitta Giles and Cedric Hudson were on hand to show a fire plow

 and explain how it is used to control forest fires. 

Almost 70 percent of Alabama is wooded.  

Linking to Rural Thursday

Jams and Jellies

"J" is the Letter of the Week over at ABC Wednesday, and what could be a tastier "J" 

than homemade jams and jellies! Take some pears or strawberries or blueberries,

 and yummy, yummy, spread the sweetness on some toast or biscuits or muffins.

 The jams and jellies (plus syrups and pickles)were made by Laughing Bee Confections

 of Selma and arranged so beautifully at Riverfront Market Day.

 The annual food, music and crafts event on Water Avenue

 will be Saturday, Oct. 13 this year and will include a fun scavenger hunt!

Linking to ABC Wednesday

Red Berries and Spanish Moss

Dogwood is beautiful year-round and even more beautiful 

with its clingy friend, Spanish Moss!

Linking to Our World Tuesday

Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins today at sundown,

 and services were held yesterday and today at Selma's Temple Mishkan Israel.

 The historic temple is over 100 years old and used now for special observances.

Catfish Country

West Alabama's Black Belt region is known for its production of farm-raised catfish,

 and travelers pass by many of the ponds along U.S. Highway 80 west of Selma,

 Alabama Highway 5 and Alabama Highways 25, 69 and 61. 

Linking to Scenic Sunday 

The Sphinx

Now this is not the usual front-porch decor that we see around Selma,

 but this sphinx statue (which I assume is the Greek interpretation)

 crouches on the steps of a lovely Greek Revival home.

Linking to The Weekend in Black and White

A Sunset to Stop Supper For

So, a couple evenings ago,  I was stir-frying okra and tomatoes

 when a glimpse of pink sky caught my attention through the window.

 Turning off the stove and grabbing the camera, I ran outside

 to forever savor the blessing of the day!

Linking to Skywatch Friday

That Golden Touch

Goldenrod is beginning to bring its magic touch to rural roadsides.

 Before the camellia, this glorious wildflower was Alabama's state flower,

 and I still marvel at its brilliance in late summer/early fall.

Linking to Rural Thursday

I is for Italian

ABC Wednesday interprets the letter "I" this week, so of course Selma's

 only authentic ITALIAN restaurant is perfect. The doors lead 

inside The Vineyard, which is located in The Harmony Club, 

built more than a century ago  as a Jewish social club

 on Water Avenue. The building also serves as a private residence. 

You can take a peek inside the restaurant HERE and visit its Facebook page HERE.

Linking to ABC Wednesday

River Ride

Despite high water and a swift current after last week's flash flooding,

 boats were soon back cruising the Alabama River and enjoying

 the great weather ever since!

Linking to Our World Tuesday

Still a Touch of Color

Summer is fast coming to an end, but there is still a touch of color here and there.

 The knockout roses along the riverbank bloom off and on year-round. 

Linking to Sunday Best

New Marina

Construction of the new city marina building is nearing completion

 at 1 Marina Drive. Completion is expected prior to Cabela's King Kat Classic

 Sept. 27, 28 and 29.

Coming to Selma

An 18-wheeler crosses the Pettus Bridge heading into downtown Selma

 in this reflection from the river. Big trucks only use this route

 if they have business in town;  otherwise, they use the Selma Bypass.

Linking to Weekend Reflections

Skywatch... and the Rain Came Tumbling Down

Isaac means "he will laugh," and I guess the remnants of Hurricane Isaac

 had the last laugh in Central Alabama Monday and Tuesday.

 We were relieved that he skirted the state last week,

 but then a portion of the storm sank south and dumped nearly a foot of rain

  in about 18 hours. But it was certainly no laughing matter! I've lived

 in the Selma area for more than 30 years and have never experienced such a rain.

 Streets and some businesses well away from the river flooded due 

to the relentless, heavy downpour after downpour after downpour.

But the sun is shining now!

Linking to Skywatch Friday

How Much is That Poodle in the Window?

I do declare that downtown Selma shops have the most intriguing windows!

Linking to Weekend Reflections