By Sharon SmithThis year’s Samford Legacy League Christmas Home Tour offers tours of five homes decorated for the holidays along with festive treats and a selection of pop-up shops. The tour will take place Dec. 8. Presented by ARC Realty, the 2022 slate of homes includes two Mountain Brook residences and three Vestavia Hills residences that are an array of ages, … [Read more...]
Family Christmas Home: Family Heirlooms, Festive Christmas Décor Define Mountain Brook Home in IPC Holiday Home Tour
By Anne RuisiTreasured family heirlooms abound in the Mountain Brook home of Mallie and Jay Whatley, right down to holiday décor such as the angel topping the fragrant 10-foot spruce Christmas tree in the living room.“That was a gift from my mom,” Mallie Whatley said. “She had it. The wings had broken off and she glued them back on.” Every room in the house is … [Read more...]
Rainbows on the Floor
It was off the coast of Newfoundland. I was waiting for the ship to pull into port when I turned to see a rainbow in the distance; just a small arc, mind you, but it was beautiful as all rainbows are. I was prepared to watch it fade when another rainbow appeared, then another, then another, each one more brilliant than the last. They came down in front of the mountains. I could … [Read more...]
Recipes to Follow: Shelby County Woman Shares Her Mother’s Love for Cooking in New Cookbook
By Virginia MacDonaldIt began as a love of her Mother’s love of cooking. It has evolved into a way to share recipes with her daughters and everyone else, said Tammy Heinss who last week, for the first time, clutched her brand new 260-page cookbook.She took the name of the cookbook, “Cook With Love,” from an inscription her mother wrote in a cookbook she gave … [Read more...]
Inspired by Coca-Cola: Vestavia Hills Native Creates Popular Series of Santa Claus Paintings
By Anne RuisiArtist Dirk Walker didn’t discover his true calling until he was in his 30s, but since then he’s created several series of paintings that focus on scenes such as wildlife, landscapes, Birmingham landmarks and, notably in the holiday season, Santa Claus.His Santa Claus artwork will be on display Dec. 1 at a Christmas trunk show at Brombergs in Mountain Brook … [Read more...]