Yesterday, Joe and I ended up spending the night in the little town of Calera, Alabama instead of Selma.  Our routes are always tentative and subject to change.  Sometimes the change is intentional and sometimes due to navigational (me) error.  Since we were headed to Talladega today, the route toward Calera seemed the better choice of route as the roads were smaller and we hoped, would be more interesting.  As it turned out, our choice was correct.

We traveled yesterday through more cotton fields, these not ready for harvest as they were in parts of Arkansas and Mississippi.  The cotton plants had begun to set the bolls but the bolls were not open on most of the plants and the foliage was still green.
We also began to see Kudzu, a very invasive vine that originated in Asia and was introduced to the U.S. in 1876 at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia and was introduced in the Southeast as an ornamental plant for use to shade porches and was used as a high-protein content cattle fodder and for use in combating soil erosion. By 1946, over 1,200,000 acres had been planted in kudzu.  When cotton crops failed in the middle of the 20th century due to boll weevil infestations, many of these plantings were left unattended as farmers moved from their rural homes to urban areas.  It has now spread throughout the southern states and it kills other plants by smothering them.  It grows quickly and that allows it to outpace growth of native species.

Kudzu that has taken over in an area, covering native plants including trees.  Left unattended, it will continue to spread.  Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi are the states most affected by the infestation of kudzu.

This beautiful scenery on a farm in central Alabama was just spectacular.  Hope Kudzu doesn't get a foothold here!  This was in an area with a lot of cattle ranches.

   
I am attracted to anything old and historic.  This was an early homestead in central Alabama.  I would love to live in this old house with it's 2 fieldstone fireplaces and that broad and deep front porch.  This type of house was common in the old South.  I remember old houses in north Louisiana where my family is from that were like this only the center of the house (where the double doors are in this house) was left open. These were called "dog trot" houses since the dogs could walk or "trot" down through the open center of the house.  Later changes to these dog trot houses were to enclose the open center to create a wide hallway.  I remember my Mom telling about being at one of these old dog trot houses as a kid when there was a thunderstorm.  She said she was in the open area in the center and a lightening bolt fireball came through the open area.  She was always uncomfortable in storms after that and I don't blame her!  I would have probably died on the spot from fright if a fireball passed over me.

  
An old country store in central Alabama, no longer in business but covered with old signs.  I have always wanted to have a little village on our property with old buildings moved in to preserve them.  We've never been able to do that, but the desire to have my own little village of old buildings - old houses, stores, gas stations, etc.  will always be a dream of mine.

You know you are in the deep South when you see Piggly Wiggly grocery stores.  I remember my grandparents shopping at the Piggly Wiggly store in Ruston, LA back in the 1950's and 60's.  In the 1950's I was a young girl of less than 10 years old and remember going to Ruston from Simsboro, a smaller town some 8 miles from Ruston, to be a "big deal".  My cousin and I had to dress up with our white anklet socks, black patent shoes and pretty dress and WHITE GLOVES!  All this was because we were going to "town".  Ruston was considered to be town and you had to present the right look or it was frowned upon.  In the 1960's, I remember that we didn't have to dress up and could go to Ruston in pedal pusher pants and our Keds tennis shoes - no white gloves and no black patent shoes and white ankle socks.  We felt like we were really free!  Going to the A & W Rootbeer place next to Piggly Wiggly for a rootbeer float was a real treat in those days.

Joe had to meet with a customer in Talladega to look at a car that he is to upholster. John Garrett has a very early Cadillac to be reupholstered.  When we pulled in to his yard, it created quite a sensation.  Neighbors and friends showed up to see this old car that had driven about 9,600 miles this summer and the crazy people (that would be Joe and I) that were riding in it.  A reporter and photographer from a town nearby showed up also.  John Garrett was so hospitable.  He is a great cook too.  Lunch was cooked up by him and was delicious - BBQ'ed smoked ham steaks, green beans and homemade mashed potatoes.  We loved it.

This afternoon we traveled on some 20 miles or so to the town of Anniston, Alabama where we are spending the night with Evergreen B & B host, Delores Pierce.  After a period of getting to know each other, we elected to make it an early night.

Tomorrow we will be making our way toward the Atlanta, Georgia area.  I'm not sure where we will be tomorrow night.  A lot depends on how many antique and thrift stores we find in the Anniston area.  From those with whom we have talked, there seems to be a fair number of stores that will be of interest in this immediate area.  We probably won't get out of Anniston until about noon.

Next to riding in the old car, rocks and antique and thrift stores rank a close second. Tomorrow should be a lot of fun!