“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.”
Psalm 42:1
Good morning autumn! The sun has made the journey half way to its southern most point and for a short time our days and nights are about the same length. I am not a fan of short days and long nights, but I do get more rest!
Japanese magnolia blooms in late February and early March but this one continues to be confused. I suppose this isn’t a bad fall color altogether…
…but I do believe this is more like it!
P J and I made a brief stroll last week, traveling through a quaint rural town just over in Georgia about 40 minutes from home. Interesting architecture, history, and a laid back lifestyle is evident here as it is in so many old southern towns and villages.
We found a lot of neat older homes within walking distance of antique shops, a locally owned pharmacy, various other small businesses and of course…places to grab a bite to eat!
I had the urge this week to contrast and compare the old…
…with the new! We love driving through our areas farming communities.
To continue with that thought, the old General Store…
…and the new General Store. Pam said she would’ve never in a million years thought we would include a pic of a Dollar General in a blog post. But to get my point across I just had to do it!
And this speaks for itself!
We’ve seen Noccalula Falls slow to a trickle in September after a long dry spell, but not this year.
I have to wonder just how many gallons of water would tumble over this 90 foot drop in 24 hours after a few rainy days like last weekend.
It was a misty morning at the park. Noccalula and I had it mostly to ourselves! I did remain on the safe side of the fence however.
We thought it was a good time to feature one of the crops that is abundant here in Alabama. Many of you see cotton fields where you live but a lot of our readers live in places where that isn’t the case. September is a good time to find cotton at various stages of maturity, all in the same field, and even on the same plant.
The blooms vary from white, to pale yellow, to pink. Not surprising for this family of plants which includes hibiscus, Rose of Sharon, and a southern favorite, okra! Have I mentioned that I did not have fried okra one single time this summer? I can’t believe I allowed this to happen!
The boll weevil infestations of the early 1900’s wreaked havoc on cotton farming in the U. S. The little pest is not native to our country and thankfully is now under control and even eradicated in many growing areas. There is even a monument to the boll weevil in Enterprise, Alabama.
You can see the different growth stages of the “fruit” found on the same plant.
The morning dew sparkled like crystals in the autumn sun!
An ivy-leaved primrose found a home among the cotton. It is a vine that will climb on whatever happens to be around!
I saved our throwback this week until the end because it seemed so fitting. From one year ago in Big Sky country. Montana is an incredibly beautiful state!
”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 Lind
What an interesting post. Loved your little journey and felt a little like we were a part of it too. Loved your old and new thought. I’ll take the old…
Thank you, Ruthie! Wishing you a lovely Sunday!
Where in Ga did you go antiquing last week?
Go to White Rabbit in West Cobb in Ga. Lot of things to look at.
Kay
Good morning. We weren’t antiquing, just out for a drive. We went to Cave Springs, GA. Maybe we can get over to West Cobb this fall.
I love your contrasts of old and new Butch, and the old General Store/Dollar General was quite a jolt! Cotton fields are one of my favorite scenes in Fall, I love seeing all the fluffy white cotton boles just before harvest, so beautiful. How nice to take a day and tour around close to home, appreciating our country’s beauty. Have a wonderful Sunday, Roll Tide!
Jenna
Thank you, Jenna! Roll Tide and Happy Sunday!
Lovely photos, I didn’t know cotton bloomed in different colors.
Yes, they do. The pink blooms are really pretty!
Pam and Butch, Love the compare and contrast shots. The falls are really pretty when the water is flowing. The horse shot is a favorite. The cotton shots are interesting. Your stroll through the nearby Georgia town looks enjoyable. Enjoy your beautiful fall day! Clara ❤️
Thank you Clara. Enjoy this gorgeous fall day, my friend 🍂🧡🍂
HI Pam! Oh, what a wonderful little trip you took me own. Just Beautiful. My daddy was born in Calhoun, Georgia and then his family moved to Alabama where I was born. The deep south is so lovely.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 🙂
Where did you live in Alabama? We do live in a beautiful place in NE AL in the Appalachian Foothills! Happy Sunday, Shelia!
John 3:16 on the general store. Says it all. Pam, I hear a call for fried okra. I trip to the market is in your future as frozen okra is there if you no longer can find the fresh. I love the details you show us Butch such as the dew on the cotton. Signs are everywhere Butch if we just look. The Japanese magnolia is one, blooming out of season. Hope your week is one of blessing at every turn.
Hello Alice, Butch was hoping someone would notice John 3:16 on the old store. Blessings on your day, our friend!
Love the sequence photos of the cotton! Noccalula Falls and Montana shots are fantastic!
Thank you Rita. The falls are beautiful and because they are in our city, I don’t think we always appreciate them.
Yesterday (Saturday,September 25th), sunrise was at 7:31 am and sunset was at 7:31 pm, so exact time between day and night.
Lisa, exactly the same! Thank you.
Loved the contrasts and wonder why the old fade out and the “new” take over, when that general store holds so much more
to please the senses and assuage the memory. The falls are spectacular and fortunate are the souls who live within visiting distance. The opening and closing photos are more than impressive in view and skill of the photographer. The glorious cool,
yet sunny Autumn days are truly a blessing and thoughts turn to preparing for the coming holidays… planners at the ready and inspiration files and books lined up. A peaceful and enjoyable Sabbath to all.
Thanks so much, Mary. We are most blessed to live so close to the falls. We are loving the weather!
Good morning, Pam and Butch. I love all the photos. So many remind me of Mississippi, especially the cotton. When we lived in VA. I grew just a bit of it to use in wreaths. My endeavor was successful.
Love the photo of the horses in the sunset, I know Montana was gorgeous.
Happy and lovely week to you and your beautiful family!
Thank you Sandra. I love seeing the cotton fields which are a very common sight around us. Wishing you a lovely week!
What a fun Sunday post. I’m glad you were able to get away for a bit of a road trip, which looks delightful. Loved the general stores (well, the vintage one, at least!) Although on this gloomy day, maybe a trip to the Dollar Tree isn’t a bad idea. You can’t get in that much trouble at a dollar store! Have a lovely Sunday and new week!
Thank you, Jeanie. A day trip has much to offer if we take the time. Wishing you a beautiful fall week!
Such a fun trip! Thanks for sharing it – you had me from that first gorgeous picture! Happy Sunday!
Thanks so much, Barbara. Wishing you a lovely week!
Good Afternoon friends…
The old and new was a fabulous idea. I prefer the old general store for sure! And John 3:16 too!
I had no idea that cotton blooms in different colors. We grow cotton in the Phoenix area… I’ll have to check it out sometime.
I’m glad you went for a drive… and thank you for taking us with you.
Have a beautiful Sunday friends!
🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁
Thank you dear friend, the drive was pleasant and offered lots of interesting sights. Wishing you a lovely week.!
Thank you for a bit about cotton. In Central Washington, there is not a single cotton bush! Loved the loved all the pictures.
Hi Nonie. Cotton grows all around us and love seeing the fields all white!
Wow that last photo is absolutely stunning!
Bless you both,
Jennifer
We can’t take credit for the photo. A friend of a friend shared with Butch this photo while he was in Montana last year. It is an amazing shot!
Sorry, I am late for such a nice post. Your drive looks wonderful. I do love to see the cotton fields and they will soon be so beautiful ready to harvest in November. I always associate the cotton being ready with preparing Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Child shoeboxes.
That is a beautiful and great shot of the horses in Montana.
Dollar General is everywhere. We have five in our small town!!!
Love the cooler temps. Enjoy your week.
We enjoyed our little outing to Cave Springs, GA. It is such a quaint little town! Enjoy your week!
Such beautiful photographs to get our week off to a good start. I hope you both had a wonderful weekend and wishing you a happy week ahead!
Thank you sweet friend! Enjoy your week!
What a beautiful post! I love your road trip photos and am reminded once again that if we take the time to look there is beauty all around.
Thank you Elizabeth. If only we take the time to look…!
Loved every single picture and being able to take this trek with you.
Thanks so much Libby!
Wonderful pictures,dear friends. Blessings.
Thanks Butch and Pam! I love when we travel South and see all the beautiful cotton fields. It is interesting seeing all the different stages of the bloom.
I am late to read this post Pam. But, it is such a good
trip to Cave Spring. My husband lived there in his earlier years. His grandmother lived there until her passing. He had two uncles and two aunts that were deaf. They all went to Cave Spring for the deaf, and later worked at the school. We are so blessed to have two children that are not deaf. Lots of prayers for them before and after birth. We live at Silver Creek just outside of Rome, and around sixteen miles from Cave Spring. Lots of people around here go there to get water from the spring near the cave.
I appreciate so much all of your posts and your love for nature.
Thanks so much for always having posts that are so relaxing during these trying times that we are living in.
Brenda, thank you so much for your reply. You don’t live too far from us. Cave Springs is a neat small town. I love to go to Berry College in the fall, but we didn’t make it over there this year. Merry Christmas to you and yours!