Faith, Folklore, and Friends

 For all my birding friends . . . The grays are Sandhill cranes. Some folks at the refuge estimate 22,000 live there.  The white ones are whooping cranes.  There are from six to twenty there, depending on who you ask.  We saw four while we were there yesterday.  The Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is just off Interstate 65 outside of Decatur, Alabama.

My soul rests quietly only when it looks to God; from Him comes my deliverance. Psalm 62:1

  Award-winning fashion designer Billy Reid has stores in New York, Chicago, Charleston, Houston, etc, but  his company's headquarters is here in Florence, Alabama, his wife's hometown. Every year, he gives us a weekend of music and art. This year, it is Shindig #8. Yesterday, it was a free concert in Wilson Park featuring: Charlie Mars Tony Joe White  Donnie Fritts Jerry Douglas and the Earls of Leicester From the swamp to bluegrass--we loved it all.  Thanks, Mr. Reid.

 DeSoto State Park covers more than 3500 acrs, and borders the Little River.  It has a lodge, cabins, hiking, and more.  The most impressive part to me is the 104' DeSoto Falls. This park was developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).  It is approximately eight miles northeast of Ft. Payne, Alabama.