Tag Archives: Alabama

Iron Bowl

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iron-bowlToday is Iron Bowl Eve in Alabama. You have to choose sides — no more-iron-bowlexcuses. And even though today also is the first official day of Christmas shopping and we women throughout the state are eager to start wearing the snowpeople sweaters and angel earrings and candy cane-embroidered pants we put away this past January, we have to wait three days more. Today and tomorrow are for wearing crimson and white or orange and blue, and then Sunday (and perhaps Monday if you want to rub it in for co-workers) is the day for the winners to wear their colors proudly and triumphantly and the losers to look ahead to 2009. Read more about it at http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20081128/ARTICLES/811280301

Like many Alabama families. we’re a house divided. I try to remain neutral, unbiased and completely objective. Sort of. Younger daughter Carolyn is rabidly anti-Alabama. It stems, she explained this morning, from when we moved here to Alabama from Tennessee. She started third grade here and on her first day, everybody in her class demanded to know whether she went for Alabama or Auburn. The Alabama kids seemed especially intensely scary, she says, so she chose Auburn as the safer option and has never wavered. Older daughter Liz with her husband Jason and eight-month-old Nolan are blissfully unaware that this is a major football weekend. Husband John Pitts is totally focused on the Ole Miss/Mississippi State rivalry that culminates in the Egg Bowl, which is a big story, too, at least to those folks who live in Mississippi and we who claim honorary Mississippi citizenship.

Thanksgiving Day

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behel-family-thanksgiving-002We have a new name for 8-month-old grandson Nolan Thomas Behel: behel-family-thanksgiving-0221Tractor Boy! When his grandad Buddy Behel put him up on the tractor after Thanksgiving dinner at Behel family headquarters on Hawk Pride Mountain in Tuscumbia, Alabama, it was as if Nolan had found his natural place in the world. Hard to tell who was more delighted — grandpa or grandson! The Behels are my older daughter’s in-laws and graciously include my family in any holiday celebration. And am I glad. Honored, really. Twenty-five friends and Behels were there for Thanksgiving behel-family-thanksgiving-0331along with all the classics — sweet potatoes, dressing, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie. Could it get any better? Yes! I didn’t have to cook! My assignment was macaroni and cheese, which I let the frozen-food aisle take care of. (Thank you, Chef Stouffer’s.) After dessert, Buddy took everybody for a hayride — the non-scratchy kind with cushions instead of hay. As we rode through woods and fields and gentle hills, he showed us the remains of his family’s original log cabin. Plus, some of the city dwellers who’d never tasted persimmons before got to sample some straight off the tree. I’d rather have my persimmons in jelly and jams, so when we got back to the house I had another slice of my daughter’s yummy sweet-potato coconut pie instead. Thank goodness her mother-in-law taught her to cook — Stouffer’s will take you only so far.

Restaurants in Florence, Alabama

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dish-and-florence-leaves-002Sometimes it’s easy to forget that some of the best places to eat are in dish-and-florence-leaves-003your own backyard — or your own downtown. Dish Gourmet Cafe and Catering in Florence, Alabama, is a small and cozy lunch bistro serving some of the freshest sandwiches and salads in town. Favorites include the Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna and the Thai Beef salads as well as the Portobella and Goat Cheese Panini, Blackened Salmon Reuben and Pimento Cheese BLT Wrap. Even the fresh-fruit side dish-and-florence-leaves-001is delicious and, well, fresh — unlike some so-called “fresh” fruit salads that taste freshly thawed instead of freshly cut. In warm weather you can eat on the sidewalk and watch most of Florence drive and/or walk by, but eating inside is a delight, too, with the abundant greenery in the window seats and a hand-painted  mural on the wall. And do not forget to choose a homemade dessert. Dish is the perfect place to take company visiting for the holidays or to meet friends for a work or shopping break break. It opens at 11 a.m., Mondays through Fridays. Call 256.766.2414.

Family Get-togethers

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Front, daughter Carolyn holding grandson Nolan, sister-in-law Tammie, sister-in-law Susannah and brothers Michael and Mark; and back, son-in-law Jason, nephew Samuel, daughter Liz, parents Ray and Susan and husband John.

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Me in the middle, trying to keep my brothers under control. As always.

Oh, wow — how many times does the whole Wood clan gather in one place? Not many, that’s for sure. My parents and my two younger brothers and their families got together with the Alabama side at my older daughter’s apartment in Huntsville, and we had a blast. My son-in-law, Jason, was such a good sport to give up his Sunday afternoon/evening to the Wood invasion, and my husband was equally good natured about sharing his one day off. Thanks, guys! We did the Wood favorite things when we meet in the Rocket City: eat at Bonefish Grill and shop at Fresh Market. We also got in plenty of talking, Nolan admiring and even a game of football — which the girls won, by the way. And I also got a photo of my favorite people in one place at one time. Priceless!

Florence Quilt Show

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quilt-show-001Some of the best art comes from needle, thread and fabric. Prime quilt-show-004example? The annual Quilt Challenge from the Shoals Piecemakers Quilt Guild. It’s on display now at Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts in Florence, Alabama, and it’s a definite must-see. Every year, guild members challenge themselves to create quilts using a different theme. This  year’s is “My Quilting Inspiration.”  Each quilt must portray the theme and use at least one traditional quilt block. Guild members choose best of show, best use of theme and other awards, but visitors to the exhibit choose the winner of the People’s Choice Award by voting for their favorite quilt. And it’s a tough choice this year. The walls of the Kennedy-quilt-show-002Douglass gallery practically glow with these warm and intrically quilted pieces. Every year I’m amazed at the talent and skill of these quilters who create out of their imaginations and bits of cloth. How do they do that? I can barely figure out how to hem a pair of pants. And here’s the other thing. When you first meet some of these quilters, you might make the mistake of thinking they are your typical small-town, down-home, Southern moms and grandmas — and you would be wrong. These women are fierce and feisty artists who stitch their hopes and dreams and memories and stories into works the rest of us can only admire. We’re just lucky they’re willing to share with us. The exhibit is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays through Dec. 18. Admission is free. Call 256.760.6379 or visit http://www.kennedydouglasscenter.org/ for details. And while you’re in downtown Florence, don’t forget to wander around. Go visit the two lion mascots on the campus of the University of North Alabama. Grab some coffee, lunch and sweet treats at McGraw’s, Rivertown and Coffee-ol-ogy coffee shops. Dip bread in oil and herbs at Ricatoni’s or chips in salsa at Rosie’s. Have a Chicago-style hot dog or a thick and juicy steak. Shop for clothes, gifts, wine, furniture, jewelry and antiques. Meet artists and fashion designers. Check out Florence landmarks such as the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library and Pope’s Tavern Museum. Stroll down historic Wood Avenue and Walnut Street. And go see the quilts.

Urban Standard

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urban-standard-001On such a chilly pre-winter morning, I would love to be about 120 urban-standard-005miles south, sipping a perfect espresso machiatto in one of my favorite coffee shops — Urban Standard in Birmingham, Alabama. Tucked into an almost-abandoned but formerly-bustling downtown street, Urban Standard is serious about its coffee and wants you to be, too. These folks know what they’re doing, and it shows. The baristas are skilled in all phases of coffee making and take great care urban-standard-006and obvious pride in their work. This is not the place to order a triple super-gigantic fruity-tooty syrupy-sweet concoction. Do not even try. But do order some food. The lunch sandwiches and salads are worth going for even if you don’t like coffee (you don’t like coffee???), and the moist and rich cupcakes are ridiculously simple and simply wonderful. Urban Standard is another one of those spots that started out quietly but quickly became a gathering spot as friends told friends who told friends who told … With exposed brick walls and whimsical metal tables and chairs as well as its eclectic but warm mix of retro/antique/funky decor, Urban Standard doubles as a shopping destination, too — sort of like drinking the best espresso ever in the middle of a hip secondhand thrift store. It’s on Second Avenue North and open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Mondays-Wednesdays; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays; and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays. The under-construction Web site is http://www.urbanstandard.net/

Be Scene

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huntsville-halloween-and-scene-005Yikes! I was wrong that this weekend is fall’s last stand, because winter has taken over already. It’s cold and windy here in northwest Alabama and the perfect Sunday for staying inside, wondering why LSU had to stage a comeback to beat Troy (Troy!) and contemplating the news that our president-elect believes in college-football playoffs. Or, you could start stressing about the upcoming holidays and desperately try to remember the place where you put the Christmas CDs this past January so it’d be easy to find them this year.  (The box of outdoor decorations? Wrapped up in the Christmas stockings? And speaking of the stockings, I wonder where…. ) Or, you could bundle up and go to the huntsville-halloween-and-scene-0031Scene Lounge at Monaco Pictures at Bridge Street Town Centre in Huntsville. This bar/restaurant adjacent to the movie theater is the spot to go if you believe that nothing new ever happens around here — the warm and sophisticated space is unlike anywhere else. With its plush banquette seating and sleek pedestal tables, Scene evokes the feeling of old-school glamour back when going to the movies was an event. This is where James Bond would stop in for a drink before saving the world. Conversely, it’s also where my daughter and I can take a baby and a stroller in and enjoy some of the best sushi this side of the Pacific. Go figure. The fun part is that you can order anything to go and then take into the theater. Or, claim a table on the patio where you’ve got a front-row view of Bridge Street shoppers. Everything I’ve had here is good, and I especially like the hummus, which comes with roasted vegetables and pita chips. The Scene rightfully has become a Huntsville gathering spot and offers wine tastings and theme parties coordinated with movie premieres along with other special events. Check out the Web site at http://www.sceneatmonaco.com/home.asp

Fall in Florence, Alabama

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downtown-florence-0014I was wandering around downtown Florence, Alabama, on a new-fall-florencerecent cool and misty fall morning and I realized that this weekend is probably autumn 2008’s last chance to dazzle and inspire before wind, rain and cold blasts us into winter. It’s been a surprisingly vivid fall this year around here, with vibrant reds and yellows glowing in the midst of subtle oranges and softly fading greens. Now, there’s beginning to be more leaves underfoot than overhead. But as I was rambling around Wilson Park, the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts and the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, I remembered once again that sometimes the most beautiful and wonderful things are — literally — in our own backyards.

Huntsville Coffee

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kaffee5For fresh-roasted coffee beans and an incredible selection late-september-pics-2008-0361of loose teas from around the world, go to Kaffeeklatsch on the courthouse square in downtown Huntsville, Alabama. This is one of those places that just makes you happy as soon as you walk in: jars of coffee beans and tea leaves line the shelves and a helpful and friendly staff will answer any of your questions. The country-of-origin list reads like a coffee who’s-who — Brazil, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Yemen, Columbia, Panama and of course the U.S.’s contribution of Hawaii. And tea made from loose leaves tastes so much fresher and more natural than even the best pre-packaged tea bags. Check out the Web site at http://www.kaffeeklatsch.com/. You can order online if you can’t make it to the store.

Red Rain

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red-rain-001One of my family’s favorite stores in Birmingham, Alabama, actually is red-rain-004in Homewood. Red Rain is a sort of environmentally-aware general store with an emphasis on local and Alabama products. You can buy handmade soaps and candles in recycled containers, local honey, fresh produce, gently used books and glass ware, lotions and creams, handmade jewelry, stationery, Alabama Dirt shirts, yoga items and Alabama Chanin appliqued dish towels made from recycled T-shirts. Red Rain is a vibrant gathering place, too. Shopkeeper Sarah Gurganus believes in being an active member of the community and in environmental education and supporting local red-rain-003craftspeople and artisans as well as environmental causes. Red Rain is a go-to place for gifts in my family. Just walkingred-rain-0022 in makes me smile — and it smells so good! Plus, it’s so inspiring to see what creative folks can do. Red Rain also has Burt’s Bees and Dr. Bronners products and some  wonderfully whimsical pottery pieces. Check out the Web site at www.redrainstore.com.