Day 31 - 1/31/2011

Well, I can't believe it--I've made it through the first 31 days of the 365-day photo journey.  Many of these days have seen overcast skies, which hasn't presented the best backdrop for a photo shoot.  Still, I've managed to take plenty of photos and post at least 31 of them.  Along the way, I'm learning (or should I say relearning) what it means to take a good photo.  I have really enjoyed watching my fellow 365ers snapshots of their journey, and I'm learning so much from you.

Thankfully, the camellia bushes are full of buds and some of those buds are beginning to open.  Although it was another overcast day, I was able to take a few photos that turned out okay.  I did have a little problem with the lighting (I can't really control the flash very well with a point-and-shoot camera), but I was pleased with the amount of detail and the shallow depth of field that I achieved in several of the shots that I took.

I am really looking forward to some better weather, but I think we're in for quite a few more of these overcast and rainy days before we see much sunshine.

Day 30 - 1/30/2011

I drove up to the country this weekend to visit my boyfriend.  I had hope this would be a nice relaxing weekend, but that wasn't exactly the case.  We did get to get out and explore the country side a bit, and I took some cool photos.  However, Saturday evening became long and stressful due to a family situation with my mother.  Thankfully, all is now resolved, and I am finally posting my weekend pics.

We rode down Hwy 34 to where one of our fellow 365ers lives, but we didn't make it as far as her house.  Sorry, Laura!  I had hoped to stop by to say hi, but we were running late by the time we got to Leroy.  So, I snapped a few shots of the old Leroy US Post Office then moved on down the road.  I took a few more photos before we headed off to dinner at one of my favorate spots to eat when I'm the area--The Harbor Restaurant in Gilbertown.  My sweetie and I love their fried catfish.  The catfish was a little off that night, but still good eating.  Anyway, I stopped along the way and took some more photos.  There are so many beautiful and quaint churches, old barns, etc., along the road, not to mention just some beautiful scenary.  It's even prettier when the grass is green, instead of the lovely brown stuff we've been gazing at for months. However, I only have room for one scene today.

I didn't get to see where the new post office resides.  I'll have to check out it's new location one day.

Day 29 - 1/29/2011

St. Stephens Visitor Center and Museum

Prior to Mississippi becoming a state in 1817 St. Stephens had been the eastern most city of the Mississippi Territory. Upon Mississippi gaining statehood, Alabama became its own territory and St. Stephens its capital. Alabama's first Governor, William Wyatt Bibb, presided over the first meeting of the Territorial Legislature at the Douglass Hotel on St. Stephens' High Street. After taking the oath of office, swearing to uphold the constitution, the next order of business was to create the charter of Alabama's first bank, The Tombecbee Bank. "The sitting of the first legislature at St. Stephens was right. For here, where McClary hoisted the American flag, was the beginning of Alabama." (Peter J. Hamilton, 1899)

In 1853 the Alabama Legislature authorized construction of the St. Stephens Courthouse to serve as governmental headquarters for Washington County. When completed in 1854, the courthouse was home to the probate office and record rooms for the entire county.

The St. Stephens courthouse served the county seat for 53 years until the county seat was moved to Chatom in 1907.

The St. Stephens Courthouse is now open to the public as a Visitor Center and Museum. The St. Stephens Courthouse features fully restored siding, beaded board and heartpine flooring throughout, and much of the original 1853 windowpane glass. The museum displays portraits of early St. Stephens residents Thomas Eastin, William Crawford and Temperance Crawford (painted by Thomas Sully, a well-known artist from Philadelphia, and one of the foremost 19^th-century portrait painters in the US). Also on exhibit is a large dugout canoe of the prehistoric Indians, a collection of ancient fossils from local limestone deposits, and artifacts from the historic town of Old St. Stephens and Fort St. Esteban.

Day 28 - 1/28/2011

Many of the Spring Hill College students drive cars on campus, some of them quite expensive cars;  but you will also see other students, and faculty, who peddle their way around.  In the past few years, Spring Hill's campus has become primarily a walking campus.  So, one either walks across campus or rides a bicycle, unless you are fortunate enough to have a golf cart. (Okay, I will admit to driving my car to a meeting if the meeting is all the way on the other side of the campus.) As a result of so many bikes on campus, we now have quite a few bike ramps placed here and there for the campus communities' use. In fact, anyone parking a bike on the sidewalk instead of in a bike ramp will be fined.  Even the College's president, Fr. Salmi, rides his bicycle to work most days, leaving his presidental parking space empty.  I've never noticed, I wonder if he has a presidential bike space.  Hmmm, maybe I'll have to find out.

Day 27 - 1/27/2011

Mardi Gras King Cake

Baby on the King Cake (before we hid the baby)

Alex & Joan - the birthday boy & girl

Margo got the piece of cake with the baby in it.

Today we celebrated two birthdays.  Alex's and Joan's birthdays were actually earlier in the month, but my co-workers decided to wait to celebrate their birthdays until today because I was out for a week with my mother.  It has been our tradition over the past couple of years to celebrate the January birthdays with a Mardi Gras King Cake.  We let one person hide the baby so that no one else in the office knows where the baby is hidden.  The one who gets the slice of cake with the baby has to buy the next King Cake.  This time Margo got that piece of cake.  Okay, Margo, you get to bring in the next King Cake.  Can't wait!  Want a piece?

Day 26 - 1/26/2011

The Grotto, Spring Hill College campus

Day 25 - 1/25/2011

Sodality Chapel - Spring Hill College

Sodality Chapel - Spring Hill College



Sodality Chapel - Spring Hill College

 It was a dreary, rainy day on campus, but the campus has so many beautiful buildings and scenes worth photographing come rain or shine.  I wasn't able to get out during the middle of the day, but I was able to capture a few shots after I got off work, just before dark. The gardens near the Chapel and the old chapel itself are not only picturesque but it's a peaceful place with three or four benches where students, faculty and staff can go to eat lunch or just enjoy the scenary and pray.  I haven't yet seen the inside of the chapel.  I hope to take a look-see and perhaps get some photos to share with you soon.