“Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!”
Psalm 31:24
Something simple like a little fog in a valley can make for a different and pleasant look to an otherwise calm, basic winter morning!
I was finally able to get out and stroll a bit last week and dropped by a spot near the house where I had suspected beavers must be at work. I had seen a lot of water that never seemed to dry up and dying pine trees, so I decided to get a closer look. These big rodents are amazing when it comes to the work they can do with their teeth, not to mention they must also have a tremendous work ethic.
I do believe this small tree or shrub has given it’s life (maybe not voluntarily) for the benefit of the beaver cause!
What is great for the beaver is not good for a lot of vegetation that cannot survive standing in constant water. But on the other hand the wetlands they create provides habitat suitable and beneficial to many other plants and animals. The circle of life I suppose!
Birds frequent the Lady Banks Rose arbor, especially in winter. We keep wild bird seed scattered below the arbor in January and February so we can enjoy watching the action just outside the kitchen window. This, we believe, is an Eastern Towhee. It is not nearly as common as many other birds that we observe this time of year. I read they are actually considered an oversized sparrow. A cardinal was looking on!
These 2 little birds are more common and we are glad to see them in every season! P J gets to spend precious time with them 2 days every week and spoiling is in progress if I were to make a guess!
I wish the cardinals would not be so competitive and chase each other away. Large numbers of them are often in the yard but don’t seem to cooperate as far as a group photo. I did see a pic on Instagram I believe that had probably a dozen grouped together in the pic. It was either photoshopped or their birds are more neighborly than ours!
I want to point out some natural confusion that took place last week, and days like this record high temp on New Year’s Day is likely the main reason.
Japanese quince are early bloomers, late February, early March… but not the first week of January!
I am hoping you don’t tire of my goldenrod features. Primarily a September and October bloomer, I have mentioned, that in some years we have new plants bloom in December. In fact I posted new arrivals last month to prove that it does happen. But this is last week and a first in January, at least for me. If more bloom next month I give my word I will not show them…but I might mention it!
We also have a lot of bulbs that are coming up and we’ve heard from many readers who are experiencing the same. I wish this wasn’t happening but it is. I have never planted alliums before, but decided to try some bulb planting in the autumn. I thought I followed the planting directions but maybe I did not plant them deep enough? Or possibly it is those milder than normal days and the ground temps triggered them to come up? We have now experienced a couple of hard freezes and I have no idea what results to expect. Time will tell.
I will slip in a throwback from January 2020 which I believe is appropriate and validated by yesterday’s sighting of two bald eagles flying over and beyond the Sunshine Cottage. The pair yesterday caught us without a camera handy and they were not flying this close together. We are always thrilled by these birds and January is a good month to see them. Our observations for about 10 years indicates they lay eggs this month. We have been fortunate to have nests nearby and that is likely why we do see eagles from time to time without leaving the yard. Truly a joy for us!
I expected my pumpkin graveyard could possibly trick the local turkeys into thinking we are still celebrating autumn, and they have curiously hung out around this spot a lot, but…
…that does not explain the confusion among many of the gobblers who are all fanned out acting like spring has arrived! I actually think it was a ploy to trick the ladies and make them think it’s here since we’d had some warm days. The display did not phase the ladies and was apparently a failure so…
…they just moved on over to visit P J in the Sunshine Cottage!
A nice January sunset to close out another day, one we weren’t promised, but were graciously given!
Wishing you a blessed week and hoping you find ways to keep warm! Quite cold in a lot of places!
”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
Pouring rain on this Sabbath morn in this corner of TN. Again, another lesson from Butch in the art of close observation of
the environ…. and thank you for the up close photos and renderings of the beaver habitat…something I would never have had
the opportunity to witness otherwise. That last shot of the sunset is beautiful, as is the comforting phrase from Psalm 31.
Blessings of the day to all.
The sun is shining beautifully after our rainy Sunday! Happy Monday, Mary!
I love seeing the turkeys, especially with their tails fanned out! It has been a crazy weather January, no wonder Mother Nature is confused! I love seeing cardinals, I always feel like they bring good luck. EK looks so cute with her hair ribbon, it’s so wonderful that they live so close and you can help care for them. I hope you both can stay dry and cozy on this rainy Sunday!
Jenna
Good morning, Jenna. The sun looks beautiful after our rainy Sunday. Roll Tide!
Once again you show us things in nature that we could never see where we live. Thank you. I wonder if God had in mind when he created the beaver, that they are examples for humans to follow- work hard, persevere.
Great analogy, Nancy! Thank you and enjoy your week.
A peaceful expose of nature; lovely. The photo of the children is precious. Love to all.
Love to you and Mike!
Good Morning and what a lovely stroll. I have never seen a beavers work in progress or beaver dams. Quite interesting!
Love seeing your birds. We use to put out sunflower seeds for the Cardinals here in AZ. We got some for a while… but then we started getting unwanted rodents so we had to stop. The rodents like to eat and chew on wires from our outdoor lighting and such. So we had to stop.
Seeing the littles always gives me joy. So happy Pam gets to spend time with them often!
Stay warm…
Happy Sunday!
Nancy, thank you. There must have been 10 cardinals perched on the branches yesterday as it poured rain. There were at least 50 turkeys in our pasture. Happy Monday!
Happy Sunday, Butch and Pam! Such a lovely post for this Sunday morning. I always love seeing what you find in nature. As always, those grandbabies are absolutely precious. I know they bring you both great joy. Enjoy your week ahead!
Enjoy your week and thank you, Shannon!
I expected I’d be seeing some spring blooms form your region soon. I have seen forsythia blooming, and buds elsewhere. Quince is so pretty, I just love it. I rather enjoy hearing of your regional garden happenings like that, as well as the oddities such as your goldenrod, so keep those shares coming. The kids are so adorable, I love noting the differences in their looks. Wyatt’s eyes are just dreamy. Have a great week coming.
Thank you so much, Rita. So far, winter has seemed confused!
Pam and Butch, Lovely pics and wonderful narrative as usual. I always learn something new and see things that I wouldn’t otherwise see or pay attention to during a typical day. Thank you for that! Wyatt and EK are so cute! Huggable sweet! Those blue eyes are gorgeous! The eagles fascinate me. When the tornado tore threw Reelfoot Lake in NW TN recently, I was concerned for the eagles as that is a huge habitat area for them. Fortunately, they flew off a few miles before it struck and have returned to rebuild their nests in the trees still standing! It was stated they could sense the impending doom and sought protection. God really did think of everything! How comforting and incredibly humbling! We had bush roses that bloomed this month. We don’t know what to expect this Spring! Enjoy your week sweet friends! Clara❤️
Clara, that is an incredible story about the eagles! Thank you so much for sharing it. I always worry about the animals and birds during storms and bitter weather. Blessings, Roxanne
Isn’t that an awesome story?!
Thanks so much for sharing about the eagles. I couldn’t help but think of the old song, “His eye is on the sparrow.”
Beautiful writing and pics Pam. I love your sweet little human birds the best. The eyes are just beautiful on those cuties. Happy New Week. xoxo
Happy week to you, Kris and thank you!
Happy Sunday Pam and Butch, really enjoyed all the bird pictures today…especially your blue eyed baby birds! We have the same problem with beavers in our area, they create acres of swamp where there should be none. We went from AC last week to me dressed in thermal underwear, a sweater, jacket, gloves, and thick socks for church as we are still outside in our giant tent (45 and raining).
Roxanne, I would imagine it is hard to stay warm in the tent. You went prepared!
Precious Grands and great post. Your pictures have brighten up my rainy and cloudy day. God bless.
Blessings, Maristella!
Delightful post Pam & Butch 🤗
Bless you both,
Jennifer
Thanks so much, Jennifer!
Oh those busy beavers. They can make a mess quickly. EK and her brother however aren’t worrying about making a mess. EK is growing so fast and looking so cute. Wyatt appears to be in heaven under the care of his sister. Everything from your bulbs to the turkeys are showing signs of the times. We are to be watchful. He is coming back soon!
Amen, Alice! Thank you for your sweet visit!
The turkeys are so pretty! Too bad the ladies ignored them. Haha! We’ve had some crazy weather here, too. 80 degrees one day and snowing the next! I hope you have a great week!
Wishing you a great week, Michelle!
You can show me goldenrod any time you like. I think it’s a gorgeous bloom and we see it only for a short time in the fall up here. EK is getting so grown up! I always worry when things start to bloom too early. The week of Christmas I saw fresh magnolia tree buds, nice big ones, starting. I fear they are frozen out now and hope will come again in the spring. As always, beautiful photos, one and all.
Thank you so much, Jeanie! We are getting colder this weekend, perhaps snow?!
I can’t get over how grown up your little grand-daughter is! She is starting to look more and more like her older sister. They grow way too fast, and it just makes a person wish they could slow down time. May God bless all of you in this new year!
I wish I could slow down time because the grands are growing so quickly!
Good Morning, Butch and Pam. Such a lovely post. Beavers are quite interesting characters. Mike grew up along the river here and the Beavers kept the river bank clean. Your sweet ‘little ones’ are so precious. Not to mention just beautiful!
Enjoy these winter days, it is quite cold here in the mountains of WV. 23 is our high for today.
Hello Sandra, it appears you had a little trouble getting your comment to go through. I am so sorry.
Good morning, Butch and Pam. I love this post – especially those precious ‘little ones.’ They are beautiful. The beavers are interesting characters. Mike grew up along the river here and the beavers kept the river bank clean.
Have a lovely week and pretty winter days!
Thanks so much, Sandra. Happy Wednesday!