Once upon a Monday I drove 68 miles (one way) to meet a woman who sells very inexpensive plants from her home. I told Bob about going and he quickly quipped: “With the price of gas being almost $4.00 a gallon just how much money are you saving here?”
Well, I had to admit that it was probably next to nothing in savings, but hey, it afforded me the opportunity to get out with my camera and see some more of Alabama, as well as the chance to talk to someone besides kitties, dogs, and chickens!
On my way I stopped and took a few photos of:
A derelict old building…
Lead Paint over Stucco
A covered foot bridge…
A Cowboy Church…
The church’s concept is intriguing don’t you think?
Note the hay bale bench on the left, and the corral on the side!
and the Dam Cafe which “…serves damn fine BBQ too!” Or so I’ve been told… 😉
NOTE: Having been highly recommended by the lovely Plant Lady, I wanted to stop in on the way out and get some for that night’s dinner, but they were closed!
Then I followed a very curvy road through an oak forest to arrive here!
(I wish this image was sharper, but you get the effect at any rate.)
The Plant Lady told me that they had found an old house that was being torn down, so they acquired these doors and retrofit them to make an entry to their screen porch! I, of course, love her color choice! Don’t you?
Now when I left that morning I had imagined that I would get my plants and be off, but as it happens, the lovely lady who lives here was a chicken lover like myself,
This is the biggest rooster I have ever seen! He must have been over two feet tall! Well, OK I’m embellishing a bit, but he really was very big!
and an artist as well as gardener of native plants!
This garden is a mix of native and other plantings, but it is done with a very natural effect! It was very peaceful here.
And so it was that we ended up spending the afternoon together talking about the things that were important to us. Her plants, native gardening, her children, and the state of the school system were among the many topics discussed.
During this time we walked across the road to see one of many inlets along the Tennessee River.
On our return I saw a shy Red Fox in the tree studded meadow behind her home. How I wished I could have gotten close enough to get a better shot! Having never seen one in the wild before I found myself holding my breath, as if in so doing he might linger for my camera’s lens, but he did not! Instead he ran off into the deeper grass and disappeared from view altogether. I must admit that I was only a little bit disappointed at not getting a better photograph, because after all… the very fact that I got to see him was a gift.
All too soon it was time to go home and I had over an hours drive ahead of me. It is a funny thing, but driving back the way you came, the miles seem fly by and you arrive home in no time at all!
So what did I get from the lovely plant lady? Red bud trees, Joseph’s coat ground cover, Lamb’s Ears, Monarda (aka: red bee balm) variegated Solomon’s Seal, Wild Phlox, and May Apples! All the native plants went out under the Fringe Tree at the head of the drive, and the trees (also native) are to be planted along the edge of our parking area giving us a gorgeous view in spring, and a bit of shade in summer…
Perhaps more importantly I made a new friend, and that is priceless!
~*~
Notes: These photos of my visit were taken on April 24 of 2011, three days prior to the horrible tornado outbreak in our region. Hence, my delay in posting this lovely visit. Sorry it took me so long.
Also, out of respect for the plant lady’s wishes, I’ve restricted my photos to the environment about her home. Just in case you wondered. Oh yes, and the lovely lady and her family were all OK!!! 🙂
Life on the Farmlet 
i am completely in love with the church shot.. and the rooster, (did you manage to abscond with one of his babies?).. Tornadoes are terrible, i have yet to see one, thank goodness. c
Cecilia, It is a darling church. We have discussed dropping in to see what it’s all about… but we don’t have a horse! 😉 As for chicken babies, well, I had about 40 chickens at that time and didn’t want to risk being strung up for bringing another cluck onto the Farmlet! (kidding, but he truly wouldn’t have liked it!) As for the tornadoes, well, I have been “shell shocked” since the 27th. I think I am OK most of the time, but when they let of with the whether radio broadcasts I still JUMP. Shouldn’t worry so much I guess, because we now have an underground shelter, but it is something you can’t even imagine till it comes your way! ~ L
Read here: https://pixilatedtoo.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/an-event-to-be-reconed-with-severe-weather/
and then here: https://pixilatedtoo.wordpress.com/2011/05/06/photo-friday-the-aftermath/
Don’t know why but your photos won’t open for me – I’ll try again later.
Sorry Julie, they are opening for me. Don’t know if that counts since I’m the author, but I have been having difficulties all over the place lately. ~ L
Opening now – all good! Love the rooster.
Great! ~ L
😉
That is an impressive rooster! I wonder if he’s the dawn “alarm clock.” How nice that you made a new friend. Off to check out the posts you linked to.
Thanks Patti! ~ L
Love the cowboy church! And the strutting rooster.
Thank you Emily. The church is the first of it’s kind that I had ever seen, and that rooster was a stunner! ~ L
Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful pictures with us. I love them all but my favorite is the last one, it is so peaceful
Thank you Sawsan. I have only lived here for just over three years, and I am still getting used to all the green that surrounds me. I used to live in Southern California and there it was pretty much dry and brown, except for the irrigated cities and orchards. It seems odd to say it, but in really wet years the green can be overwhelming to this relocated urban desert dweller. 🙂 ~ L
What a lovely day trip! We have Plymouth Barred Rock chickens as well. Hugo and Earl are our roosters and they are large, handsome specimens. Nice narration and great photos!
It really was a lovely day, and good to get out and see a bit more than my little acre. I have the Plymouth Barred Rock Hens, but they are not nearly so large as this guy was! Thank you for the compliments on the photos, though I do have a long way to go with picture taking. 😉 ~ L
I have to tell you, that church sign…sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction. 🙂
That is one impressive rooster!
Kerry, Yes he was, and quite amicable for a big rooster too! As for the sign, well, I thought the barbed wire was an interesting touch…
~ L
I enjoyed seeing your day – I’m glad you posted it. Better late than never as my grandma would say.
Nancy
Thanks Nancy, It was a good day which is why, even this late, I couldn’t let it pass without mention. I need to make more days like this one. ~ L
This was my first visit to your blog and I enjoyed it very much. The cowboy church made me chuckle. Thank you for sharing your beautiful life.
Hello Josie, I am so happy you visited me and left a message because it allowed me to visit both of your blogs in response. They, and the work you are accomplishing, are stellar! I do hope that any other visitors will take the opportunity to see what you are doing at Deer Paparazza. ~ L
I’ve just been treated to a wonderful glimpse into your world. Lovely photos, such a world away from me 🙂 thank you. Claire
Thank you Claire. We do feel blessed to live in such a beautiful place, but I must admit… I would love to be able to go to France someday. I want to see Monet’s gardens in Giverny!
What a wonderful day.
Cindy, it was, and I am overdue for another adventure! I think I might like to come stomp around in your neck of the woods someday. That is of course if you would have me. However, that is a future trip that I must save and plan for far in advance. 😉
~ L
Any time! 🙂