Faith, Folklore, and Friends

Is this blurred, slightly abstract photo capturing a picture of grapes? a deadly virus? bacteria on the head of a pin? None of the above.   It is mature berries from the beautyberry bush.  I wrote about beautyberries  here , and they continue to fascinate me.  This year, they seemed to mature quicker than usual. The bush shakes with birds when they start eating the berries.  I think it is a favorite of the redbirds. The bush is so pretty that it almost, but not quite, makes me happy to see the autumn and admit summer is over.  I hang on to summer as tight as I can until I have to let go. We planted this bush several years ago, and it thrives here without any petting.  I have seen them growing wild east of Huntsville, but I have never seen any growing in our area that wasn't planted.  This bush is a must-have if you enjoy attracting birds to your yard. 

Monte Sano State Park is built on the eastern slopes and top of Monte Sano Mountain in Huntsville, Alabama.  The park was built in part by the Civilian Conservation Corps and opened in August, 1938. Monte Sano is a Spanish term meaning Mountain of Health. The park offers lodging in rustic cabins, camping, picnicking, and many hiking and biking trails. I was there last week with a few of my favorite people for a writing retreat. It was dark when we finished and started home. I was amazed at the lack of light pollution, with a busy city humming right over the mountain top.  It was dark enough to see innumerable stars and easy to imagine that we were the only people for miles around. They are open from 7:00 AM until sundown for day use.   We are planning to spend the day there this fall after the leaves change. 

On Thursday night, Hub and I and some more people we love attended the Don Williams concert at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.   We attended one of his concerts in 2011 and enjoyed it immensely.  The only difference is his hair and beard are a little longer now.   He did not   disappoint!     Where's my calendar?  I have got to do this again.   Am I too old to be a groupie?

  Construction on Huntsville's Lowe Mill began in 1900, and the massive building opened in 1901.  The building, with its 25,000 spindles, turned local cotton into cloth.  A few years later, it was used as a cotton warehouse.    After World War II ended, the building housed the General Shoe Company, providing jobs for approximately 800 people and shoes for soldiers.  Genesco closed in 1978, then the mill became a warehouse for Martin Industries.  In 2001, the building was sold to its current owner, Research Genetics founder, Jim Hudson. Today, Lowe Mill Arts and Entertainment is the largest center for the arts in the Southeast.  Hundreds of artists demonstrate and sell their crafts in booths covering three floors of the old building.   Last Saturday, Steph and I enjoyed wandering around all the booths and talking to the artists.  We rode the vintage elevator and walked on wooden floors scarred by footsteps long ...