Wishing you a blessed Palm Sunday
“And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Mark 11:9
In a week when most sunrises hid behind clouds, the moon popped in and gave us a nice rising with an unusual hazy ring hanging around!
Most of today’s post involves “new beginnings” as spring is starting to take off. We are thankful that our local deer were thoughtful enough to leave a couple of stems of the saucer magnolia (tulip tree if you prefer) untouched which surprisingly allowed us to have 2 blooms, and the promise of a few leaves…unless they drop back by for dessert.
I took a different route through the woods to check on the progress of the trilliums near the river and came across a couple of trees I did not know were nearby. These look like wild cherry blooms to me. When not in bloom, they simply blend in with everything else and would likely go unnoticed.
If you happened to catch us last week on SSS 333 you saw a young trillium in one of the pics. There has been a lot of progress in one week. A few blooms are happening and dozens of new plants have emerged…
…and this beauty was discovered in the pine woods, isolated from the other plants!
We can’t talk about new beginnings and progress without saying happy birthday to our princess Emma Kennedy, who turned two last Friday. We had us a party and she loved it!
I had not expected dogwoods to have any blooms just yet but was quite surprised when it seemed these small immature flowers appeared overnight. We saw turkeys off and on most of the week all around the house including quite a few this day. Now I know what your thinking…what does that have to do with dogwood? Normally nothing, except when we looked at this pic later, it looks as if we had a photo bomber that is hard to see, but is probably a turkey!
I had asked Pam what kind of cabbage did she have growing out back. I was informed that this is a perennial called autumn fire sedum and that I planted it last year. A year is just too long to remember such details!
First blooms for the lady banks this season. After a storm last fall that took its toll on the entire vine, we weren’t sure we would see any flowers this season!
Who is ready for some pollen? It is ramping up here in north Alabama and the worst is yet to come.
For years we have referred to this area as the swamp. In the dry season the standing water is gone but the area stays flooded a lot in the spring, but the beavers and wood ducks don’t seem to mind. Violent storms and a lot of rain last week brought devastation, loss of property, and sadly, loss of life to communities not too many miles from our house. Many need our prayers!
The snowballs always come out with what I call a burst of energy in the early spring!
With this positive sign, we are hopeful the bridal wreath spirea will put on a show in its second season in a new location.
A friend gave us these daffodils a few years ago. We understand they originally came from her grandmothers yard and were very old. One trait is blooming a little later than others around the yard but we are not sure what variety these are.
The calm after the storm. At the end of a day that brought numerous tornadoes to the south, a bright glow appeared on everything as the sun was setting, casting an eerie reflection off high clouds .
What a difference a day makes! This week is often called Holy Week. As we have looked at new beginnings and life coming forth around us we cannot help but remember that real new life is only possible because of Christ’s resurrection!
”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
Good morning Pam & Butch, Beautiful examples of spring in bloom around your property and home. You’re a couple weeks ahead of us in here in NC. Happy belated birthday to Miss Blue Eyes! Bracing for severe storms today, we had hail yesterday. Keeping those impacted last week in our thoughts and prayers. Happy Palm Sunday ♥
Stay safe today, Mary. We are under a severe thunderstorm watch this morning. There has been damage in counties west and north of us during the night.
Good morning on this Palm Sunday, Pam and Butch. Spring is really springing around your house! It does not seem possible EK was born two whole years ago. Those little dangling things full of pollen give me major angst…bad memories of falling off a ladder and shattering my heel while I was cleaning pollen off the porch. Another scary day of severe thunderstorms here too, but we cannot complain about a dry Spring.
Good morning, Roxanne. I remember your fall, don’t be hanging on ladders 😘 Stay safe, it is pouring rain here!
All the new growth and blooms bring hope and new beginnings, it is a blessing that this year we are experiencing faith in what the future holds instead of the fear we felt last year…stay safe from the storms today, I hope your beautiful snowball blooms stay in place! Have a wonderful Sunday Pam and Butch and Happy Birthday to princess EK!
Thanks so much, Jenna. Storms are passing through now, hopefully over soon. Enjoy your day!
Good morning, Pam and Butch. Oh, the trilliums, I do love them. In our mountains they do not bloom until about the first to middle of May. The white ones just send me over the moon. Your Bridal Wreath looks happy and it will only be more glorious with every passing year. It was my mom’s favorite.
I am so happy to hear the terrible storms passed you by. Do stay safe they are so freighting. Have a lovely day and week ahead. We have rain today too, perfect to finish my book.
I hope you enjoyed reading on a rainy day. I finished reading a book this afternoon.
Wishing you a lovely week and thank you for your sweet comments!
Good morning Pam and Butch, We’re so happy you are safe after all the stormy weather. There’s been so much destruction and families have been impacted in so many ways. We’re praying for those affected. Miss EK is a beauty! She has such a sweet smile, pretty blue eyes and gorgeous red hair. I can’t believe 2 years have passed. The pictures of early Spring are outstanding. The dogwood trees and tulip magnolias are just beautiful. Praying that you won’t have bad weather today. God bless you all. Clara ❤️
Thank you Clara for your sweet comments. I am so glad that you all are safe. Blessings on this most Holy Week! ♥️
Butch, as usual your photos and prose are perfect on this Lord’s Day….and we know God gives us the perfect mate if we just seek Him first. Pam is such a compliment to you and vice versa. What you don’t remember, she does. Together you are one. 🙂
I love your Spring blooms; they announce a new beginning and give such excitement as they change day by day.
There is such beauty around us, we are truly Blessed by God’s paintbrush. I think of the Easter Lilies, particularly during this Holy Week, and I think of Matthew 6:28,29 “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”
Thank you and Pam for sharing these Spring flowers, little Miss EK (Happy Belated Birthday Sweet One) and your thoughts.
Blessings Always
Kari
Kari, your sentiments warm my heart. I love the scripture in Matthew, we are in God’s loving care. Blessings, my dear friend!
I’m glad you don’t appear to have damage after the storm. I was concerned about all my friends in this path. The new life is beautiful on the trees and the blooms. Of course my favorite has to be Emma Kennedy’s birthday photo! What a darling!
Thank you, Jeanie. We had a sweet birthday party!
My dear friend, no … I am not forgetting you … is that during the week I have to go to Madrid every day to continue my treatment with the physiotherapist, and that occupies me almost the whole day, I arrive at the night home.
Everything you show is wonderful, in reality nature is like a miracle of God … well I think it is. The variety and beauty is spectacular.
As spectacular is how Emma Kennedy has grown, she is very old and very beautiful. Congratulations on her birthday.
A big hug to all
Querida Dolores, no te preocupes, sé que estás ocupada viajando a Madrid para tu terapia. Debe estar exhausto cada noche cuando regrese a casa. Tengo muchas esperanzas de que estés mejorando cada día. Nuestras nietas están creciendo demasiado rápido. ¡Pronto tendrán un hermanito en unas seis semanas! ¡Cuídate amigo mío, manda abrazos!
Pam
May He enfold you in safety amid the storm. Prayers for those who have suffered so many losses. EK has turned two? Too
soon….how fleeting is time…May that red moppet never lose her whimsy and charm. The trillium is magnificent, as are the
other photos today; beautifully captured. After our storms of last evening, the sun now shines and calm is somewhat restored.
He kept us in perfect peace, whose minds were stayed upon Him. A very blessed Palm Sunday of adoration and rejoicing.
Love you both.
The weather stilled and it is cooler and windy! So glad you are safe, did you experience flooding?
Sending love to you, Mary!
Love seeing your signs of spring. The trillium grew fast in one week. There must be several different varieties because yours is not the same as the one I once had. Mine was more a solid color.
I am amazed at your snowballs.Your bush is gigantic and so many blooms. I had one or two blooms on mine last year. Don’t see any sigh of blooms yet this year. I need to read more about their care but probably mine does not get enough sun.
Happy Birthday to EK. Y’all have had a busy week or so. Baby shower and birthday party and the stress of bad weather.
It’s been a cloudy day here. No rain yet but some chance this afternoon. I need lots of nice soaking rain since I fertilized my hydrangeas yesterday. I am concerned we have lows of 39,36, and 37 Wednesday-Friday this week. My hydrangeas have leafed out. Hope those temps change. But there usually is a cold snap before Easter!
Thinking of all those that were affected by the tornadoes and flooding.
Thanks so much Bonnie. It was a busy week. We have a low of 29 this week, yikes! It is spring break so I will enjoy the girls.
Beautiful! Thank you for the seasonal and spiritual inspiration!
Thank you Rita!
Thanks for the lovely look at spring! Those trilliums are gorgeous – I’ve never seen one that dark. Beautiful! I hope you stay safe through all the weather tonight, and joining my thoughts to yours for the people who are suffering with damage and loss. Take care!
Thanks so much for your sweet comments. Have a lovely week!
Butch and Pam, I hope you both had a blessed Palm Sunday. Today’s, post is so beautiful with all of the lovely photographs. The first one of the moon is stunning! Happy Birthday to Miss Emma! She is a doll! I hope you both have a wonderful week ahead!
Thank you sweet friend. Wishing you a wonderful week!
I look forward to your lovely images every Sunday and your appreciation of the bounty in your lives. A couple of warm days in the low country where we are at the moment has caused azaleas to pop in full glory. The island is showing off abundant color.
Thanks so much Linda. We are expecting frost later this week which is very late!
Hello my friends! What a beautiful spring post full of blooms and little visits from EK! New beginnings and blessings.
I’m sorry I am just getting to your delightful post today but we have had our third set of guests (spring in the desert brings lots of visitors) and so we took them to one of our favorite mountain towns on Sunday. So please forgive my tardiness!
I sure hope all has calmed down with your storms. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Sending hugs to both of you. Happy Week to you!
Thank you Nancy. You have been busy with your guests, but I know you enjoyed. Possible severe weather tomorrow. Spring in the South is gorgeous, but it can also be violent weather!
Prayers for you all!
Such lovely photographs, Pam. I was especially drawn to the buttery blooms on the lady banks vine. I’ve never heard of that plant before. Just yesterday while pulling weeds I noticed a few new-to-me wild flowers. I’ll have to see if I can capture a decent photo or two–and find out their names. You’ve inspired me, Pam, to savor the gifts of early spring with my iPhone camera!
Thank you for your visit, Nancy. I love finding little hidden wildflowers, so definitely pull out your phone and snap some photos,
Aw, happy 2nd birthday to your sweet girl! She is just precious. So wonderful to see everything coming alive this spring, but oh, my, the pollen is horrible! It sure kicks in the old allergies and is hard to cope with. My heart goes out to all in your area who were affected by the storms. God have mercy and comfort all who mourn. And may He bless you and your family always!
Thank you sweet Cheryl. The pollen has been terrible with the worst yet to come. Blessings~
The woods behind me is just beginning to wake up! So exciting every single year!
Love spring when we see new life!
Spring is such a season of new beginnings and I never tire of it.