My little area of town used to be surrounded by farmland and cotton fields. In the evenings, I could stand on my front porch and watch the most amazing sunsets. Nothing around me but 2 or 3 houses. It was so nice.

Now I have 72 new ones around me. Progress, they call it. The cotton fields and farming land is almost gone. The sunsets; however, are constant!

In the small towns in Alabama, we have lots of cottage homes, antebellum homes, and "estates." All Southern style...think Gone With the Wind. I prefer the small homes and would kill to own a 1800-cottage...but I'd have to sell both kidney's and a couple of lungs to afford one.

There is still a great deal of farmland around...still cotton fields. But more and more I'm seeing new subdivisions coming up and more land taken. I still love it.