Beer=Good, festival=Good, Beer Festival=HELLS YEAH!

Elisa pouring beer like she did in college=GOOD!

This weekend is the Magic City Brewfest. Come out and support. I will be drinking on Saturday and pouring on Sunday.

great opportunity to

a)See Sloss Furnace
B)drink good beer
c)eat food
d)hear music
e)buy a Vintage T shirt
f)SEE ME

I am counting this in my quest to See and Do Alabama. I think it qualifies.

Details in the link. It promises to be a good time.

It's gonna start today, My Life of Saturdays

Yesterday, a friend and I took an hour drive to West Blocton to see the Cahaba Lily. I had heard of this elusive flowers and, as a part of my quest to See and Do Alabama, decided to take a trip to see it.

What is the Cahaba Lily?

Hymenocallis coronaria (Cahaba Lily or Shoals spider-lily) is a species of the genus Hymenocallis, native to the Southeastern United States. It is an aquatic, perennial flowering plant found only in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Within Alabama it is known as the Cahaba Lily, outside of that state it is known as the Shoals spider-lily due to the fact that it requires a swift, shallow, water current and direct sunlight to flourish.[1] The plant grows to about 3 feet (0.9 m) tall and develops from a bulb that lodges in between rocks in the shoals.[2] It blooms from early May to late June. Each fragrant flower blooms for one day.[1]
from Wikipedia


Well, after taking the Mini along a dirt and gravel road (boy, did we get some looks!), we parked, got out the camera bag, water bottles and headed out.


The first glimpse of 'the largest single stand of Lilies in the world". It was quite a sight, these dainty white flowers seemingly rising from the water in a dazzling display of green and white. Unable to get a good view, we kept going along the road. Some ways down, we came upon an empty shore area. After walking through the trees a bit, we found a big rock that afforded us a good view. Unsatisfied, we decided that we must get right up to them.

So, we went swimming. At first we just waded a bit out. They we needed the cameras, so I waded back, retrieved them and (after putting them in a Ziploc bag), waded back out with them held high over my head. Thank goodness I bought the accidental insurance. It was such a sight! I took some great shots, retired the camera to a HUGE boulder in the middle, and Jenn and I swam all over the place. We explored a cave, swam right up to the lilies that everyone is enchanted with. We used some rocks covered in algea as a water slide (it worked and was so fun!). We laughed a lot and splashed around for 3 hours! Everyone on the shores was watching 'those two crazy girls who are crossing the river and swimming in the lilies'!


hours later, exhausted and feet bleeding (damn snails...I am investing in chacos this week), we left. Stomachs growling, we stopped at The American Diner, where we were the only patrons and the cook made the best cornbread I have ever had (even going back to make me more!). It was delightful and the unsweet tea made me realize why people love tea in the south. Full and happy, we headed back to the city we call home.

All in all, a wonderful day. I highly recommend going to see the Lilies if you can. And splashing in the river. I hope to take a canoe trip there soon. After some editing fun, I may post more photos.

Redemption

This was to be my wedding day. It was a lovely day with friends who celebrated life with me.

Beauty in the ruins.

Alabama the Beautiful

I don't know how much longer I will stay in Alabama. I have a year long lease, so at least another 11 months, but after that...who knows where God and my life will take me?

Because of this, I have vowed to take the next 11 months to see Alabama. Do Alabama. I am going to treat our lovely state as though I were a tourist. I don't want to leave (IF) and miss out on all of the wonderful events and places and foods and people of the place I have called home for the past 5 years.

I started today. CJ and I started out about 9am. We drove to York to see The Coleman Center for the Art, a small gallery smack in the middle of a little town (run by 2 people whose last name is Munoz!!). Alas, there was no exhibit, so we peaked into the window and explored York. Did you know that there is a Progressive Childrens College of Common Sense? According to this article, it is "which will serve as a launching pad for a preschool education program". That is one hell of a name!

Downtown York (also see the above article) is lovely, with everything from a beautiful basket weaving shop, stained glass and mosiac studio to a store called "the Watch ma call it" shop, where CJ spotted 'Nsync dolls, right next to vintage vases. We also spotted what we think is a bike shop, and a blues bar in the midst of renovation. Took some great pictures of bldgs and the train (which I considered jumping on and seeing where I end up...). all in all, a cool little place that I would never have seen but am glad that I did.

By the way, York is called "The City on the Move.".

Back in the car to drive another hour through small towns and past farms and cottages and struggling communities to Faunsdale...for a Crawfish boil! I grew up on Crawfish, and eating them is comfort food for me. We hunkered down on overturned milk crates and ate etouffe, boiled crawfish and beer. Wandered, listened to conversations as well as BAD country music (has it gotten worse lately?...it was gross). Then we did what probably looked funny to everyone there. We pulled out books, found a shady shop a bit hidden away took off our shoes (I had another fire ant incident, so was itching and stinging like crazy. sigh.) and read. We had our beer, we were reading books and we were happy. It was great. Stayed for a few hours and hopped back into the car home. We both lament the fact that they had not set up the mechanical bull yet, we had dressed accordingly!

On the way home, CJ introduced me to Northport and we stopped in the Kentuck studio and perused the wares. I am learning the the art community in Alabama is large and varied, but a small, interconnected community. Very cool. The drive home was stunning, with small farms and cows lounging all around us. The interstate was flanked on both sides by a lovely rose colored plant. I came home exhausted but happy.

First day of Year of Tourism: successful. Tomorrow: Old 280 boogie in Waverly, AL. This is year 2 for me and I LOVE this festival. Waverly is a cool town with great people and a kick ass festival. Check out Standard Deluxe print shop and eat at The Yellow Hammer. A 2 hour drive that is well worth the drive.

So here we go. I have some places in my mind (Rural Studio, Tannehill, Kentuck festival, Black Warrior River, Ava Maria Grotto, etc, etc), but I clearly do not know all the secrets that Alabama has to hold.

Are there places you want to go? Somewhere you have been or heard of? Somewhere that I simply must go? Please tell me! I will probably be chronicling my trips and experiences here. I know that I will not get to them all, but I am sure going to try.

This keeps popping to my head as I write this,
"If you can't be with the one you love, honey, love the one your with."