Watts Consulting

More than you ever wanted to know about Alabama native Joe Watts

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First Iris Bloom in 2008

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I’ve been waiting all spring for these to bloom. We’ve got about 2 dozen more getting ready to bloom. These are all originally from my mom’s house (Inez Watts) in Octagon, Alabama. Ann and I dug them over the course of several years after we moved into our house here in Birmingham, and have watched hopefully for them to bloom each year. Last year was the first year they bloomed. That was a year where I really needed them to bloom, too. I feel a little closer to Mama just looking at them.

Every day for the last week, I’ve gone out to count them and peek carefully to see if they were blooming. Last night just before dark, I took a look and nothing. This morning, this one and one more were looking beautiful.

A Tasty Fish Dinner

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Picked up some snapper at the fish market (Snapper Grabbers) in Vestavia yesterday afternoon. Dusted it with some Parmesan cheese and flour (along with a little seasoning) and cooked it in a little butter and olive oil. Served on top of angel hair pasta that had been tossed with a little olive oil, green onions, fresh tomato, capers and fresh English peas. Yum.

Yes, Another Newsletter

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alsierran0508.jpgFinished another newsletter yesterday. I actually finished several newsletters so far this month–the first half of each month seems to hold at least three newsletters and on some months six or more. In the issue of the Alabama Sierran:
River Action Day Success; Tom’s Top 10 Hikes; Montgomery Water
Festival; Alabama’s Attractions; Scenic River Trail; And the Winner Is
the Trees; Outings and Events; Contacts, and more. Download the newsletter on the Sierra Club’s website (no, I don’t do their website): http://alabama.sierraclub.org/statenewsletters.html

Also finished up several other projects yesterday:

  • A series of ads for Underwoods Jewelers (a sister company to Birmingham, Alabama based Brombergs). There were something like 20 different ads with 4 sizes for each ad. Mostly just simple work resizing and correcting copy.
  • Although I basically finished this project several weeks ago, we officially launched the American Mining Insurance Company’s new website on Monday: www.americanmining.com.
  • The Ala-Tom RC&D website. Located in Thomasville, Alabama, I’ve dealt with them before on the statewide annual report for the Alabama Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils. I’ve also worked with them on the Clarke County Development Foundation, and I’m continuing to work with them on the Southwest Alabama Tourism project: www.alabamasfrontporches.org. Mostly complete a few weeks ago, I finally got almost all the changes made. The site is now live: www.ala-tomrcd.org.

My Growing Obsession

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Okay, I admit it. I’m a little obsessive about these flowers. So far I’ve counted 21 individual iris blooms about to pop out. It will probably take another week or so for them to really start showing. This is up from about 15 yesterday–I think the rains last night coupled with the sunny day today have really helped the growing cycle.

Last year, I think we had about 12 blooms (some of the stalks have multiple blooms on them, but I only count them as one flower). I was especially obsessed with the iris blooms last year, but so far, this year doesn’t seem that different. I can really feel close to my mother when I’m outside looking at those green leafy blooms about to open. Purple was Mama’s favorite color, so it is only fitting that most of my irises are purple. (For those of you who don’t know, the irises, along with many of my other flowering bulbs and rhizomes have been dug in Octagon, Alabama over the past 3+ years at Mama’s (Inez Hinson). It is especially exciting to see them growing–of all the plants I’ve dug from Octagon, Alabama, the irises have thrived most. We do have some day lillies that appear to be doing very well.)

Trip to the Black Belt

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Enjoyed a late morning drive down Highway 5 to Marion, Alabama this past Wednesday. Met with the Cahaba Trace Commission to discuss scenic byways and their possible interest in having a section of their route designated as a byway. We met over lunch at a restaurant (Lottties, I think is the name) right off the courthouse square in Marion. What a beautiful courthouse, too. The food was actually good: fried okra, cole slaw and grilled pork chops. No bread, though. I think the large crowd had them a bit off their game.

Had an opportunity to meet with Nisa Miranda of the University of Alabama Economic Development Institute briefly. We discussed www.alabamasfrontporches.com for a few minutes before she headed off to Camden and then to Ezell’s in Lavaca (the cole slaw is much better at Ezells).

 

Old Family Photos Again

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Here are two of the old family photos I found while at home in Octagon, Alabama last weekend. The first is dated March 1, 1888. This is my grandfather Hinson. The second isn’t dated, but appears to be my grandmother Hinson.