Thursday, April 30, 2009

Hunt Refinery


This is Hunt Refining Company in Tuscaloosa. This refinery has been a major employer in Tuscaloosa since 1946. They make products including oil, gas, jet fuel, diesel fuel, home heating oil, and paving asphalt. If you buy gas at a Parade station in the southeast, that fuel was refined right here. Hunt products are marketed as far as New Jersey to the north and Houston and Pensacola to the west and south.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Work in Tuscaloosa


If you lived in Tuscaloosa, chances are you would know someone who worked at or had retired from "the rubber plant," BF Goodrich. This plant has been manufacturing tires for as long as I can remember. It is unionized and over the years has experienced many strikes, a buyout by Michelin, and unfortunately recent layoffs. But at least it's still here. The plant in Opelika, Alabama hasn't fared as well.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Spring in the Woods


On a springtime walk in the woods of the southeast, you might spot - a quiet lake with new life buzzing, swimming, & hopping all around, wildflowers, wild ferns, honeysuckles, blackberry blossoms, and unidentified seed pods.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Skywatch Friday


"But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?" ...oh wait, that's not a window, that's a hole in the roof of the barn! Here's a shot into the hayloft, complete with rope for swinging down. And technically, that is the sky you see through that hole, so it works for Skywatch Friday too! Now, how many blogs can combine the Bard and a barn in one post?

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Inside the barn


That's an old screen door hanging up. I love the rafters and old weathered siding here. If you click to enlarge the next pic, you can see a plow and an old wagon wheel in back.





Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Pieced together barn


Here's the barn, as promised, almost. My Daddy is over 70 and he says it has been there as long as he can remember. It belonged to his mother's youngest brother.
I took two pics of the front, neither of which included the entire barn. Not sure how that happened...amateur photography once again. Anyway, I pieced the two together in Picasa. I matched the roofline and that vertical loft line. Sorry about the shadow and sky color, not enough time to fix them (and maybe not enough skill).

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Old Farm


Another old farming implement at my great uncle's old homeplace.
Stay tuned for the barn.

Monday, April 20, 2009


Old hay rake

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Spring in Tuscaloosa 2


My composition is less than perfect with that big pine in the way, but I loved the contrast between the waxy green magnolia and the stark white dogwood. The magnolia tree here is HUGE. It's one of the largest I've ever seen and it has several giant buddies in the same yard. The dogwood is also large for its type. I think this one is worth a click to enlarge.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Skywatch Friday


Spring clouds near sunset over Shelton State Community College.
See more skies Skywatch Friday.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Egg Hunt


Is there anything sweeter than a big ol' white bow on a brown haired girl?
I don't think so. The Easter egg hunt after lunch was a big hit with this little one and her big brother (behind the tree).

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

What IS a Gravity Wave?


Sunday night a gravity wave moved across Alabama. I don't understand it either, but whatever it was, it included winds of 60 miles per hour. Did you know that 60 mph winds will turn your neighbor's trampoline into a flying saucer? Did you know that the impact of a flying trampoline rolling across the back of your house can break a window, tear away aluminum from the eave, and rip a gaping hole in your roof? Did you know that the sound of a trampoline crashing into your house at 12:45 a.m. is very upsetting? We thought a tornado was ripping the house apart with us in our bed!
But we were lucky compared to some residents.
Lots of people are still without power. That's the one downside of living in a city of large trees.
Thankfully, there were no injuries reported.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Happy Easter


A dogwood blossom reminds us - cross shaped, crown of thorns in the center, rusty colored nail prints on the outer edges of the petals. There's a legend about the tree, but I don't know that it's true.
This I do know...
Hallelujah, He is Risen!
Happy Resurrection Day Everybody!

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Snowball Bush


Spring in Tuscaloosa - Chinese Snowball Bush - Viburnum

Friday, April 10, 2009

Skywatch Friday


Those little specs among the puffy white clouds are the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron performing combat maneuvers over Tuscaloosa last weekend at the 2009 AirShow. Click to enlarge! Happy Weekend Everyone!
Please visit these Skywatch Friday to see other skies from around the world.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Pink Dogwood


The dogwood trees are blooming in Tuscaloosa. I love the white variety that is native in the southeast. This pink dogwood is a cultivated variety and a favorite of mine.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Ascending


Ascending. Blue Angels fly the Boeing F/A 18 Hornet.
The Tuscaloosa AirShow was a rousing success and the weather couldn't have been more perfect Saturday. Unfortunately on Sunday, Tuscaloosa was cloudy and rainy, forcing the Blue Angels to cancel the second show. The pilots stayed around and visited and signed autographs for the 30,000 people who came to the show Sunday.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

More Blue Angels


Sorry about the lack of quality here. They're flying really high and really fast. This is the best I could do with my rinky dink camera. But you can see the classic diamond formation. We had four Navy pilots and two Marine pilots. Their pictures were in our local paper. They were dressed exactly alike, but I think I could tell the difference by the way they wear their hats! Navy hats were pulled wide toward the ears, Marine hats were pulled narrow front to back. (does anyone know if that's right?)
"The Blue Angels’ mission is to enhance Navy and Marine Corps recruiting efforts and to represent the naval service to the United States, its elected leadership and foreign nations. The Blue Angels serve as positive role models and goodwill ambassadors for the U. S. Navy and Marine Corps."

Monday, April 6, 2009

Blue Angels


An estimated 80-100,000 people turned out Saturday at the Tuscaloosa Regional Airport to see a day of flying that concluded with a spectacular show of combat maneuvers by the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels. The show was a huge success! We can't wait till they come back to see us again. Click to enlarge. I'll be sharing other photos from the show this week.
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Saturday, April 4, 2009

The Blue Angels in Tuscaloosa


Click to enlarge! The Blue Angels, the U. S Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, are performing maneuvers in Tuscaloosa this weekend at the Tuscaloosa Airshow! We're so excited to have this elite flying team in town. They only perform in 35 cities a year, and we got them! I hope to get some shots of the show.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Skywatch Friday


Blue sky over the Paul W. Bryant Bridge, the newest spanning the Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Who is Paul W. "Bear" Bryant? Glad you asked.
For more skywatch photos, please visit Skywatch Friday.
Happy Weekend!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Water Towers, Old and New


The older one in the background was always a favorite place for local high school students to paint their schools initials. Now it's covered in rust and I'm pretty sure some less than innocent grafitti. The newer one is tag free, probably because it's harder to climb.
(And there, in the foreground, are my signature power lines. Apparently I can't take a shot without them. good grief)