Heck of a Wreck

I see this old truck weekly and enjoy watching the seasons change around it.
I bet the neighbors don't exactly appreciate it. But, until "home rule" makes the owner haul it off, it looks like they'll have to make peace with the wreckage.

University of Alabama Million Dollar Band

This week, I caught the University of Alabama's Million Dollar Band practicing for Saturday's half time show in Athens, GA. I missed the music, but got a cool drum cadence anyway.
The #8 University of Alabama football team defeated the #3 University of Georgia team. Roll Tide! :)

Skywatch Friday

First day of Fall, sunrise through the clouds.
For more Skywatch Friday photos, click here.

Tannehill Trade Days

Every third weekend of the month from March till November, Trade Days are held at Tannehill State Park. We have a great time walking, looking, eating, seeing old friends, and buying everything from antiques to produce. We avoid the summer months because it's usually unbearably hot. This time of year is really nice. The weather is cooler and there are mums and pumpkins for sale! (Guess who forgot to take pictures of the mums and pumpkins)

If you click to enlarge the last picture, you can see a little girl in Hollywood shades and a Crimson Tide t-shirt. She's a particular favorite of mine.
(beside the man who walked into the shot, but is nicely placed to obscure my sister)

Wild berry clusters

These pretty shrubs grow into huge bushes out in the woods. I'm pretty sure the berries are NOT edible. Can anyone identify?

Downtown Bridges

The bridge on the left is traffic coming into downtown Tuscaloosa from Northport. On the right, leaving driving into Northport. This bridge spans the Black Warrior River.

During rush hours, it's backed up both ways. Accidents on the bridge make it even worse.

Fortunately, we now have four bridges that connect the two towns. So, there are options in case of emergency.

Skywatch Friday

sunset clouds

For more photos with an upward perspective, visit the Skywatch Friday link.

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Old School in Hale County

This old school building is in Hale County. When I was a kid, it was being used by a community church. More recently it was a community center. Now, it's in disrepair and has a warning sign.

What a shame. It is a great old building. I think at one time there was an effort to restore it.

Look at the man on the telephone pole!

"Look at the man on the telephone pole!" says hubby.
I'm thinking a workman is climbing the pole, but no...it's this very strange cutout of a fisherman.
Those are propane tanks underneath. Not sure what one has to do with the other.

Old Chimney

We spotted this old chimney growing out of a thicket along the road in Hale County. A chimney marking an old homesite is not an uncommon site when you're driving in the country. What was interesting was that someone added the family name. It reads "The Arnolds Home."

Sorry about the quality (or lack thereof).

It was really getting dark, so these have been tinkered with to brighten them.

Skywatch Friday

Hale County, Alabama farm road under a late afternoon sky.

For great Skywatch Friday photos click here.

Continental Cotton Gin

This old metal building was a cotton gin, I believe.

The signs read "Continental Gin Machinery" and "Continental Lint Cleaners".

I love old rusty signs. Click to enlarge to see the cool old logo.

In the Sanctuary

Inside the sanctuary of an abandoned church in Hale County looking toward the front.
The piano is in the right hand corner.

The sacred desk - or pulpit, and the altar

Close up of the piano. Note the horizontal board walls and the wainscoting paneling, probably added in the 70s.

View from behind the pulpit. Some of the light fixtures were intact. The large white rectangles in back are closed in sections where restrooms were added. The entrance to the restrooms were outside on the front porch.

One of the front arches from the inside of the porch. See the kudzu taking over?

Abandoned Church

Abandoned church, Hale County Alabama

There's a new church across the road, maybe they just relocated the congregation.

Tomorrow, pics from inside. Yes...we went inside!

Moundville Downtown

Tuscaloosa's neighbor to the south is Hale County. This is the town of Moundville. These shots don't do it justice. The sun was setting and I'm not a photographer. But I think you can see the streetscaping they've done. There are flowers and lamp posts. Most of the storefronts are vacant. There's a brand new bank building though. The second picture is Miss Melissa's Cafe. It's nearly legendary. People drive from Tuscaloosa just to eat there. On this weekday afternoon, it was closed. This week, I'll share more pictures from our road trip to Hale County.

Skywatch Friday

Full moon in June, over the dunes. Gulf Shores, Alabama

Click here for more Skywatch Friday photos.

Daddy, always leading

Daddy leads the way on our walk looking for muscadines.
He's always leading. And when we're smart, we follow.

Mushrooms After Rain

After all the recent rain we've had, lots of mushrooms have sprung up.

These were in the woods, but there are several in yards as well.

Muscadines are Ripe!

Remember the green muscadines from July? They're deep purple/black ripe and sweet now.

These are all wild. The cultivated varieties are larger. Ison's Nursery and Vineyard in Georgia sells them roadside and online now through October 15 (my birthday, by the way)

But there's just something special about a walk through the woods to gather your own.