Cheaper Than Thriftin'

With my trip to the Birmingham area behind me, my longest yard sale posts pretty well wrapped up, my life back to its usual routine, and work always calling me to leave my comfy spot on the couch and remove my fingers from their one on one connection to the keyboard, I'm longing for a connection to the escape that was my recent road trip to the Mountain Brook/Homewood area of Alabama.

Luckily, I took some photos along the way. I've shown you most everything already, but there are a few shots that I haven't set before you quite yet. Today seems like a prime opportunity to infuse a little bit of color and joy from that journey into a weekend plagued by Tropical Storm Isaac. The weather is hampering my desire to go to the store for the painting supplies I need to finish something I started yesterday, and it's preventing me from sanding a pallet I want to make into a sign.

Yesterday the rain was more sporadic so I sanded the two windows I scored at the longest yard sale, and I sanded a piece I found while I was out on the hunt yesterday. (I'll show you those later.) What a mess I made. It kept raining here and there and turning the green, blue, purple and silver paint I was sanding into dust.

Since I can't sand today, despite the wind and driving rain, thank goodness we at least still have power, because that means I can justify putting my feet up and blogging! Sometimes, and I just mean sometimes, it's good to have decisions made by weather default.

Boy is it storming out there. Yikes!

How sweet is this street scene! 

Took this while Cally was driving us around looking for yard sales. 

Loved this neighborhood! I'm sure Cally had to get so tired of me oohing and ahhing over the homes and flowers and everything, but she humored me, shuttled me around and stopped to let me snap pictures.

This is the walkway in front of Anthropologie at The Summit in the Birmingham area. 

The baskets of hanging flowers really caught my eye.

Here is Leaf & Petal in Mountain Brook. I saw two of these shops while we were out and about. Both were just gorgeous, and they have everything set up so you can see if from the street. We were out walking when we passed this one.

It's a different world in Mountain Brook, compared to South Florida. The architecture alone holds appeal for me because it's got so much more character than most of the buildings around here.

Quaint details get me every time.

One of the things I love about Mountain Brook and Homewood is that so many of the shops have flowers in planters flanking the shops outside and they have them in pots at the corners by the street. It lends softness and color and is very inviting.

Lots of cute places to set up shop in this town!

Check this out!

I made Cally go back and find this while we were looking for yard sales because I wanted to be sure I remembered it. This is at someone's home in the same neighborhood as above with the Devon Drive sign. What a great display! I wish I had also taken a wider shot so you could see this in relation to the whole house, but it's awkward shooting photos of people's windows with a huge lens on your camera from the street. Felt a little stalkerish. Glad no one was in there at the time. 

I snapped and we rushed on.

Sorry for the fuzzy shot (we were on the move), but I still think it's a sweet street scene.

After we got stuck in Hobby Lobby during a rainstorm and thought we'd never be able to go out on the roads again, the rain relented. It was sunset so Cally drove me to a "secret" lookout above Mountain Brook that overlooks the city of Birmingham, hoping for parting clouds, and we got them! It was a sweet spot with a beautiful view!

Birmingham City Lights at Sunset

The people who live in the house to the left sure have the view!

Then the night before I left, Cally took me to another lookout in the Homewood/Vestavia area. I believe this is looking over Homewood. 

(Cally, correct me if I'm wrong.)

You can see the outline of the sun if you look carefully.

There you have it, my weekend diversion and a little reminiscing.

It's fun to enjoy beautiful sights through the photos you've already taken.

It's cheaper than thriftin'.

 I think I'll go read a book now and eat the Chicken soup I made last night... 

...maybe have a Cherry Coke. 

Now that's livin'. Despite the tropical storm that's raging.

Hope your weekend is lovely!

I'll be sharing this with:

Cowgirl Up @ Cedar Hill Ranch
Sunday Show Off @ Twigg Studios
Freedom Fridays @ My Turn
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Link Up With Me @ Liz Marie Blog
Time Travel Thursday @ The Brambleberry Cottage
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style
Open Call Tuesday @ Salt Tree
Tuesday's Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Mod Mix Monday @ Mod Vintage Life
Tuesday To-Do @ The Blackberry Vine
Metamorphosis Monday @ BNOTP
Sunday's Best @ My 1929 Charmer
Inspire Me Monday @ Create with Joy
Mop it Up Mondays @ ISBMTF
Nifty Thrifty Sunday @ Nifty Thrifty Things