It is just past mid-winter if you are like me and prefer to use the meteorological dates for the seasons. But either way January can sometimes force us inside. But, I happened to notice that all of today’s scenes are outdoors! Apparently last week was nice outside!
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
The days are noticeably longer as the earth’s tilt allows the sun to be slightly more direct each day now. I’m just very partial to some sunshine on my shoulders!
A spectacular winter day on Weiss Lake. Winter pool levels expose the mud flats with Lookout Mountain in the background. All this beneath a very busy sky!
I must ask, what says country more than cows?
Longing for some winter color last week, we turned to the much maligned, often despised, but dependable dandelion. Everything has its day!
The queen and princess are highly outnumbered by boy cousins but they don’t seem to mind. Their Paw Paw (Pam’s dad) enjoyed getting to see his great grandchildren last week, even if it was at a distance without the usual hugs. We had Christmas outside in mid January. Christmas in January did not prevent this group from having a fun time as they opened gifts out on the patio!
White pelicans on Lake Gadsden have not been informed of social distancing or have chosen to ignore the mandate! Once a very rare sight in Alabama, white pelicans are becoming more common in our state. Sightings a few years back were mainly limited to coastal areas of the state but we are now seeing a lot of them on north Alabama lakes.
We observed as the group leaders stayed out front in search of what we figured were schools of small fish, maybe shad, in the shallows. As soon as those out front discovered food down below and began dipping their heads, birds in the back of the group began racing to the front. We watched them do this repeatedly. Very interesting feeding activity and something we had never witnessed before! The way the group worked together to circle and round up their prey reminded us of watching humpback whales in Alaska work together in a feeding frenzy called bubble-net feeding. An awesome thing to witness as well!
The pod (a group of pelicans) seems happy after enjoying a hearty lunch together!
Is it possibly a sign of an age crisis when you enjoy spending hours sitting in your driveway in a convertible? P J did drive it some (less than 10,000 miles in 10 years). This was 2011 but the T-Bird is a 2003, James Bond 007 special edition. These are all numbered as only 700 were made. We sold it in 2013…crisis over!
As a passerby in the summer, large masses of ivy that may have taken a number of years to reach such heights can go unnoticed, blending in with other leaves. But without summer foliage, the ivy becomes the show and can be quite impressive.
Seth has completed a tremendous amount of clean-up around the farm and especially around the barn. We would love to do some restoration on the barn. Not necessarily making it look new, but arresting any further deterioration and replacing portions that are too far gone. It is hard to find someone who does this kind of work. Maybe you know someone who wants to work on a barn in north Alabama?
A beautiful finish, as His grace allowed us to say farewell to another day. The sun will keep coming and going until God determines the journey is complete!
Have a blessed week!
”Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”.
Hebrews 13:8
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Butch, Your last line is so profound.Everything and everyday we are blessed to receive is a gift from God.
It was so interesting about the pelicans being so far north.
I got a kick out of Pam in the convertible.
From sunrise to sunset you show God’s creation well.
Thank you Bonnie. Wishing you a beautiful Sunday!
Lovely post, Butch. I especially enjoyed the pelicans. They are so pretty in the water.
Have a wonderful day and a beautiful week ahead. Blessings to you, Pam and your lovely family.
Thank you Sandra. Wishing you a lovely week!
Loved seeing all the cousins bringing even more sunshine to the cottage! And Pam in that car…wowza!! I too loved your last comment… I used to run the embryo research lab in the Animal Science department at Clemson (lots of cows in my life back then). A grad student forgot to change the gas tank on the incubator and 5000 embryos were lost, but it ultimately was my responsibility. I had to call a doctor, literally in tears, to say all the research had been lost. That dear man said “Roxanne, it is okay; God will still make the sun come up tomorrow.” I will never forget his words.
Oh my Roxanne, I know that was hard. You always share wonderful stories, thank you! Wishing you a lovely week!
How is the renovation progressing?
Renovation is going great, thank you for asking! All that is left is tiling the backsplash. I was able to move everything back into the (new!) cabinets, so some semblance of order has been restored and I can cook again
I am so glad it is almost finished. You must post a photo when everything is back in place!
What a beautiful and endearing post! Love seeing all the cousins together. The pelicans are so beautiful. I am always awed by God’s greetings in the morning and at night. And the barn…oh my, it is so much like the one on our farm growing up.I love the way it looks. Thank you for blessing our lives with God’s amazing words.
Thank you dearest Dianne. You are a sweet blessing!
What a lovely post for this winter morning! I’m so happy those precious cousins were able to celebrate Christmas together. I have a soft spot for old red barns. My grandparent’s farm had one, and I always loved it. Happy Sunday! I hope you both have a blessed week!
Thanks so much Shannon. Enjoy your day!
Pam and Butch, Wonderful pictures and commentary. Pelicans are amazing birds to watch. Looks like the children had a wonderful day together. Soon there will be another baby boy and we’re all excited for your family! Barns and cows in the sun are beautiful countryside scenes. They’re always a welcome sight when traveling the side roads. The picture of Pam in the T-bird is great! Love that car! You looked ready for the road. The perfect car for traveling the countryside roads on a sunny day. We’re ready for some of those relaxing days. It’s raining here so it won’t be today. Enjoy your week sweet friends. Clara❤️
Thanks so much Clara. We enjoyed traveling the country roads in the TBird, it was a lot of fun. We are supposed to have rain tonight. Have a wonderful week ♥️
So inspiring each Sunday to read your post! I love how you always share God’s beauty in nature as well as His Holy Spirit! Brings such joy to us all in these often sad times! Thank you for such warming words on this chilly morning!
Linda, thank you for your encouraging comments. Blessings~
Another entry to lift the spirits and warm the heart…. Beautiful photos of God’s gift of creation…
pelicans, sunsets, ivy-laden trees. Even more so, the gathering of precious Children at Sunshine cottage to augment the unity message so needed in our time. Pam, the perfect model to show the perfect model of automotive design, looks right at home in that classy puddle jumper. Another Sabbath made joyful. Bless you Pam and Butch. You might consider an Amish
community as a source for restoring the barn.
Thank you Mary. There is an Amish community not too far away and we had not thought of them. Wishing you a wonderful week!
Sweet post…Love your adorable children together…How I loved gathering with my cousins when I was a child at my grandfather’s house! Stunning pictures! Thank you,my friends !Your post warms my heart! Blessings!
Thank you so much, Maristella. Blessings on your week!
“Sunshine on my shoulders make me happy” John Denver. Love that song and bet you can sing it well, even sounding like John a little. Oh no, Pam, you sold the TBird 007 Special, I would love it to tool around in the Summer. The pelicans were beautiful. God has such an imagination . Little girls always look best surrounded by little boys especially those royalty ones. Hope your week is fueled with blessings.
Hi Alice, I enjoyed the TBird while I had it, fun to drive. Butch sounds so much like John. Wishing you a lovely week my friend!
Beautiful photos! Despite freezing cold temperatures my boys and I try to get outside at least a couple times a week.
So glad you can enjoy outdoors even in the cold. Thank you!
I have noticed the longer days, and really enjoy it not getting dark at 4:30! Love the lake photo with the “busy” sky…and white pelicans, wow, how beautiful! Cousins have such a natural bond, I’m so glad they were able to get together. Love the Tbird, what a classic and love the uplifting words you two always share…have a great week, the last days of January!
Jenna
Yes, the last days of January, where did they go? Thank you Jenna.
Good Morning! Sorry I’m late to the party but we had such a busy day yesterday and then there was Football too.
Butch… do you see your movie star wife? Look at her in that beautiful T-Bird! Wow!
Seeing the grandchildren all at once tugged at my heart… so I know PawPaw’s heart was filled with joy.
The pelicans were amazing and the barn will be fun to work on.
Happy Week to the both of you!
Thank you Nancy. I love your visits whenever you have time. Wishing you a most enjoyable week after your refreshing rain!
White pelicans, oh my!!!
Never have heard of them, seen them, thought of them!!!
Your photos have made my day. And prompted me to get ready to go outdoors for a frigid walk. I’m pretty sure I won’t be seeing any white pelicans. Seagulls maybe?
Thank you Linda. I hope you enjoyed your frigid walk!
What a lovely Sunday in your world! Lots of smiles with your barn but oh! Those fabulous pelicans. They’re truly gorgeous, as are the photos! Here’s to a few more minutes of light every day! (We’re in Michigan — we don’t get the sunshine part!)
Thank you Jeanie. The pelicans were so enjoyable to watch!
Endearing, the happy smiles of the cousins. Pam & Butch, your posts always leave me with a lighter heart–thank you for making my world a happier place. Hugs!
Thank you dearest Bobbie for your your sweet and encouraging words. Hugs!
That is a beautiful car, and I’m sure your memories of it are fond. Reading about how the birds flocked around when they found out there was food made me think of how we should be that way about the Word of God and have that kind of hunger for it. May the Lord bless you all.
A lovely post & beautiful photos! Isn’t it wonderful that children enjoy Christmas anytime of the year! And I’ve never seen pure white Pelicans with bright yellow beaks before! We have the Australian Pelican here which are black & white with pale apricot beaks.
Blessings,
Jennifer
Thank you for the peaceful moments, scrolling through your lovely photos and comments! The pelicans reminded me of our forty years in Florida, though ours were brown. (Your snowy white ones are much prettier!) We never tired of watching them dive bill first into the water–at astonishing speed–and almost always come up with a fish. You’d think they’d cause brain damage, slamming into the water like that!
Thank you dear Nancy. The pelicans are amazing to watch. Blessings ~