Horse farms on a state road in Birmingham. Click to open all the pics for a larger view.
One of the things I’ve really enjoyed about living in Birmingham is the horse farms that still dot the countryside around here. We used to have that in Atlanta too, but those have sadly been taken out of the picture in the last 25 years or so, as suburban sprawl & land developers have taken over Atlanta completely…and I mean completely!
Above is farm #1. 
I recently did a volunteer day back out at The American Village, (for those who missed this post in May, it’s a beautiful house, so you might want to take a look at my previous post), which is down in Montevallo about 45 minutes from us. I typically take the back state roads as much as possible, since the scenery is so much more enjoyable than interstate travel. So, go with me and take a look at the Birmingham countryside…horse farms, rural homes, & just plain beautiful scenic sites. I love it! All of these pics (except the first collage pic) were taken on my way to American Village. Not a bad way to travel, don’t you think? Farm #2
I stopped across the street from this farm to get up close & personal with these horses. I’m sure they must have thought I had some food, because they came right over to the fence as soon as I walked up. Farm #3
Once they saw that I had no food, it was back to grazing for them. They were friendly guys though.
Another farm just down the road from the others. It’s amazing how many of these horse farms are around here. Farm #4
I can only hope they will stay like this & not sell out to developers who will swoop in & build countless homes in place of these beautiful pastures.
This is The American Village from a distance. You can see the President’s House is the red brick house right in the center. They have an absolutely gorgeous piece of property.
Rolling hills surrounding The American Village.
Again, American Village countryside.
I love this farmhouse (with an antiques store on the property too) on the way & fell in love with it on my first drive out there.
It’s surrounded by a huge stand of pecan trees.
More pecan trees
Edge of the farmhouse property.
I recently did a volunteer day back out at The American Village, (for those who missed this post in May, it’s a beautiful house, so you might want to take a look at my previous post), which is down in Montevallo about 45 minutes from us. I typically take the back state roads as much as possible, since the scenery is so much more enjoyable than interstate travel. So, go with me and take a look at the Birmingham countryside…horse farms, rural homes, & just plain beautiful scenic sites. I love it! All of these pics (except the first collage pic) were taken on my way to American Village. Not a bad way to travel, don’t you think? Farm #2
I stopped across the street from this farm to get up close & personal with these horses. I’m sure they must have thought I had some food, because they came right over to the fence as soon as I walked up. Farm #3
Once they saw that I had no food, it was back to grazing for them. They were friendly guys though.
Another farm just down the road from the others. It’s amazing how many of these horse farms are around here. Farm #4
I can only hope they will stay like this & not sell out to developers who will swoop in & build countless homes in place of these beautiful pastures.
This is The American Village from a distance. You can see the President’s House is the red brick house right in the center. They have an absolutely gorgeous piece of property.
Rolling hills surrounding The American Village.
Again, American Village countryside.
I love this farmhouse (with an antiques store on the property too) on the way & fell in love with it on my first drive out there.
It’s surrounded by a huge stand of pecan trees.
More pecan trees
Edge of the farmhouse property.We live in an area that’s really growing with lots of new shopping & homes going in, but there are still lots of rural state roads around & when you drive them, you still see plenty of pretty countryside. I hope it stays like this for many, many years!
Hope you enjoyed the Alabama countryside with me. We’re going to GA this weekend for my dad’s 80th birthday party. Have a great weekend.
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Happy Birthday to your father!!!
Well, this post just touched my heart, seeing as I am from rural West Virginia. My grandfather had horses on his farm, and usually some cattle, too. The main difference is that his farm had gentle rolling hills- since hardly any of WV is flat!
I loved that craftsman farmhouse. Gorgeous. Would have loved to seen inside!
Happy Birthday to your dad! I hope you have a great weekend with your family.
Thanks for the tour of Alabama horse country. I’m originally from Kentucky and it reminded me of “My Ole Kentucky Home.”
We have a lot of horse farms out here in Virginia too. I just love them. Especially the beautiful fences they always have.
Hi Rhoda.
I always enjoy seeing the horses too when we’re down that way. We live in Huntsville so we aren’t too far away.
Enjoy Georgia and hope your dad has a very nice birthday!
Just lovely! Thanks for taking us along on your travels.
Oh my gosh, that farm house look like my grandparents’ (deceased) house in Missouri. The emotions are welling up!
I thoroughly enjoyed the tour of the Alabama countryside. What gorgeous farms. We take back roads to every place possible, enjoying the country as we go along. We don’t have as many horse farms in this area, but they were abundant where we lived near Nashville. When you showed those pecan trees it reminded me so much of GA. There is nothing prettier than a lush pecan orchard. Have a fun weekend and wish your father a Happy Birthday from me. xoxo
Oh I did! I sooo enjoyed the roadtrip! Thanks Rhoda!
There is little I love more than getting in our van and hitting the road to see the countryside. And you are so right Rhoda, it is slowly slipping away into the hands of greedy developers.
Great pics!
Beautiful! I always enjoy my drive to Birmingham. It’s really nice to live in a place where you can still see farms and farm land, isn’t it. It’s that way here, too. We still get the occasional tractor or combine on the road and to me it’s a lovely reminder of what we’ve almost lost completly.
Have a fun week-end. My family is heading down to Destin for the week. Hope to meet up with a “friend” while I’m there.
Blessings,
Tonja
Rhoda,
Beautiful pictures. Have a great time celebrating your Dad’s birthday.
Sue
Oh how pretty Rhoda! Thanks for the road trip… what a gorgeous drive. Happy Birthday to your Dad.
Happy Birthday to your Father dear Rhoda! 8p is a huge milestone!
Have a wonderful weekend with yor family.
Love the pictures…nothing is prettier than the back roads through country like that. Those horses are gorgeous. It has been awhile since I was in Alabama. Thank you for the sweet tour!
Hugs,
Sue
Oh Rhoda, that was simply beautiful. Thanks for taking us along on your trip. We love to take drives along back country roads. We are lucky in the southern part of TN that we still have a great deal of farm land. But who knows how long that will last?
Happy birthday to your dad!
Pam
Beautiful pictures, Rhoda! The farmhouse is sweet, too. Have a great time this weekend and Happy Birthday to your dear dad.
Such a beautiful area. I live in Central Florida and our orange groves are quickly changing into housing developments. The horse farms are so beautiful. I have lived here all of my life and it is pictures and places like this that make me think that maybe one day I would like to move.
Happy Birthday to your dad. I wrote a memorial post about my dad today would have been his 75th birthday. Enjoy your time with you family.
I love this blog- it is so homey and comfortable!!
Sue
Hope your birthday celebration didn’t get washed out with all this rain today! Love the pictures! There use to be a horse farm on Atlanta Rd. around the corner, now it Weiland homes. I so miss it!
Happy Birthday to your Dad!
Manuela
Rhoda,
It’s just magical! I’ve always wanted to hop in the car and take a tour of your area of the country. Now I REALLY want to hop in the car and take a tour of your area of the country! 😀
Thanks for such a *gorgeous* post! Happy birthday to your Dad, and safe travels to y’all…
Brin
http://www.messythrillinglife.blogspot.com
Rhoda,
Tell your dad Happy Birthday!
What lovely countryside. Those horse are so pretty. Love the farmhouse. You are lucky to live in such a nice place.
Have a fun weekend with your dad.
Rosemary
Oh Rhoda I was just drooling over those horse farms! You know I love my new house but Johnny and I dream of the day we sell and build our barn on some property! Thanks for posting those- they remind me to keep dreaming!