“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:1
Praying for the dear people in Ukraine!
I decided to start the day off with an appetizer. If you are already hungry for spring maybe an appetizer isn’t needed, but a little preview to lift our spirits while we wait can’t hurt. I like to view the seasons from the meteorological standpoint, and in that sense, spring arrives this week!
Hairy bittercress is one of those early emerging weeds that has it’s own beauty but nevertheless is not welcome. And, it is a bold invader, growing in the middle our our pea gravel walkway. Such nerve! It is interesting though, because of the way the plant disperses seeds. When the seed pods are ripe and you brush by them they explode and the seeds pop in every direction, maybe as far as 3 feet. Have you had this happen? That’s a very prolific manner of reproducing. I guess pulling these up early is best!
Weather will not stop the ever present and extremely popular drive-thru. This is the day we live in! I didn’t order anything. I just got in line and waited 15 minutes to get a closer look at this dedicated employee!
A winter lake scene offers a look at the diverse habitat along the waters edge. Like the woodlands with no leaves, low lake levels reveal much that cannot be seen in the warmer months.
If you viewed a post from last Wednesday (2-23) then you already know we celebrated our 49th wedding anniversary. Our favorite restaurant did not disappoint as far as the food was concerned, and the staff did a few things to make it extra special. Can you believe PJ ate every layer of this burnt honey cake?
EM provided us a little entertainment while she was out of school on President’s Day. It’s easier to sing when the microphone looks like an ice cream cone! She captured me with those eyes!
I found several varieties of camellia still in bloom last week. All were different from the shrub we have in our yard. Not an expert on these plants (or any plants for that matter), I am hesitant to name this one…
…or this one. Maybe Japanese camellia is close?
Emerging in a big way over the last few days is our autumn fire sedum. This is the second season for this perennial. Last year these plants gave us a very unique and ever changing look through late fall. Is it still “too winter” where you live to have new growth from perennials?
In an area of all hardwoods I spotted a large green patch that stood out from quite a distance in an otherwise very dead looking and bare brown landscape. I wonder if the acorn that happened to land in the middle of this moss will have a chance to become an oak? If I can remember (and I probably won’t), I would like to drop back by after the growing season is well underway and observe. Of course some hungry squirrel may come by and have other plans for this nut!
I have a fondness for old barns. There is just something about all they represent. Like strength, honest hard work, provision, family, history, good food, country cooking, grandparents, and good old days…to name a few!
It struck me as strange to see this type of landscaping along the river’s edge, at least in the region where we live. Is it just me?
A nice place to visit but not a spot where one should linger. If you saw the bridge in last week’s post you may remember it was no longer open for vehicle traffic. This one however remains active, so…if you hear a loud whistle and feel a vibration it’s definitely time to move on!
I’ve seen clouds from both sides too but I am still liking this side best!
Have a great day and 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
Good Morning Pam & Butch! Your spring collage took my breath away on this dreary, raining morning. I had to chuckle at ‘it’s easier to sing when the microphone looks like an ice cream cone’ 🙂 Your anniversary dessert looks delicious! I have a special place in my heart for old barn that comes from visiting my grandparents’ farm as a child. Happy Sunday ♥
Thank you, Mary. I am looking forward to nicer spring-like weather this week💚
The pink camellia looks like pink perfection. I’m not sure about the second one. My Mathotiana have blooms at different phases of opening on the same bush that have some white on them as your picture.
Very interesting umbrella for a fast food worker. I haven’t seen anything like that.
Your photo college is stunning. Thanks for the preview of spring.
I agree EM has beautiful eyes.
Your anniversary dessert does look good! Have a great week.
Thank you, Bonnie! Hopefully, nicer weather this week. Happy Sunday!
Pam and Butch, Your Spring collage is beautiful! We always appreciate old barn scenes. EM does have the prettiest eyes! Ice cream cones always help! Lol The evergreen plants along the lakeside are interesting. Your anniversary dessert looks delicious! Enjoy your week! Clara ❤️
Thank you, sweet Clara! Happy Sunday ♥️
Spring is on all our minds I think, and I love the Spring collage! I am seeing more and more things in bloom daily and my camellia bush is sporting huge blooms this year. EM is looking so grown up, and an ice cream cone mic is bound to produce sweet sounds…I’m so glad your anniversary dinner was wonderful and special. Enjoy this rainy Sunday with warmer temps to come!
Jenna
Thank you, Jenna. I am looking forward to sunshine!
Definitely, spring is on my mind! I refuse to say it’s still winter, so I’m with you on the meteorological calendar. I do have things emerging, a few of which I’m still not sure are weed or forgotten flower. Time will tell. EM is looking SO grown up these days. Pam’s a champ with her sweets (I didn’t doubt it for a minute, nor do I doubt you had your own, Butch!). Happy start of a new week and new month!
Rita, I never leave a bite of dessert on my plate. This burnt honey cake is outstanding. “Come on” spring!
Good morning, Butch and Pam! I loved seeing all the early signs of spring, and I can’t wait for its arrival. We had winter weather all last week, and I’m so ready for it to be on its way! I love the photo of the old barn. I seem to have a soft spot for them as well as it reminds me of my grandparent’s farm. Wishing you both a beautiful day and blessed week ahead!
We are hoping for sunshine and warmer weather this week! Happy Sunday!
Happy Sunday Pam. I love the Spring collage how pretty and to dream of Spring! Ha ha about the dedicated employee. I have not see that one. Too cute. We here in Illinois are going to see sunshine and some warmth move in and snow all gone. Can’t wait. I saw 5 Robins yesterday. In the midwest that is how we know Spring is getting close when you see the Robins come back. Have a great week. xoxo Kris
Thanks so much, Kris. Yay for the robins, hope you see sunshine this week!
Good morning Butch and Pam! It’s on the cold side and raining here, but I have daffodils, Lenten roses, and camellias blooming. I love the drive through outfit! Wonder if they make a dachshund size version?!? We join you in praying for Ukraine, it is horrifying to see what is happening.
Thank you, Roxanne. Sun and warmer weather for this week, can’t wait!
What an exquisite welcome to Spring’s opening… the photos are mesmerizing…All your impressions of the old barn are spot
on.. there is something about that image. That acorn among the moss – also hope it holds the promise of a mighty oak…
Nothing like burnt honey cake to celebrate the sweetness of a great marriage. Before you know it, that fast food rain attire
will become au courant and popular among the rest of us…fun… .EM might consider passing along her mike/cone to the
White House – sort of item right up his alley. Thank you for the wondrous photos and scriptural passages that lift us up
as we pray for the Ukraine and her courageous people.
Smiles and laughter from your comments, Mary! Wishing you a wonderful week!
The camellias are pretty and EM is adorable. I agree that look is precious.
Thank you, Della. Wishing you a lovely week!
Blessings dear friends. How beautiful EM is!
Thank you, Maristella!
A beautiful prelude to Spring! EM is such a beauty. Old barns also call my name. Praying for the people of Ukraine.
Thank you, Dianne 🙏🏻🇺🇦
I would eat all 10 layers of that burnt honey cake too Butch. I might offer my spouse a smidge just to show my lack of being a glutton. EM is growing up so fast and gets prettier every time we get to see her if that is possible. Our garden is still under a foot of snow but we are suppose to have temps in The low 60’s this week which could start to waken the tulip, buttercups and hyacinth bulbs. I heard my neighbor sawing dead limbs in their back yard this afternoon. So the sounds of the earth waking up from a long Winter are beginning. That was an unusual landscaping along the river. I suppose someone had cut the pines but they are putting put again. Praying for peace.
The cake was delicious, Alice! I hope you see signs of spring soon! 🙏🏻
Good morning, Butch and Pam. It is a beautiful day here today. Spring will be so welcomed by everyone. Little Miss Ella looks so grown up. She is a beauty. I love, love your photos of camellias and the pale pink one makes my heart pound. It is gorgeous. Love all the photos and the one of the clouds is magnificent. Have a wonderful week, enjoy your days.
Thanks so much, Sandra. We are supposed to have sunshine all week and highs in the upper 70’s by Saturday!
I too pray for the Ukraine…
I am very late for our Sunday Stroll but an adventure took me elsewhere.
EM singing in the ice cream cone microphone was toooo cute! And her eyes are gorgeous!
I too love old barns and new barns as well. I liked the one you shared with us.
And what are those very green plants along the River?
The cake looked amazing!
Happy Week to you both!
Thank you, Nancy. The cake was so good! Wishing you a lovely week dear one!
A lovely collage indeed: breath-taking spring photos, a fabulous dessert, a darling grandgirl, gorgeous camellias, friendly old barn, and peachy sunset. Such fun, never knowing what you’d share with us next! (Praying with you for the people of Ukraine!)
Thanks so much, Nancy for your sweet comments! 🙏🏻
Thanks for the beautiful photos Pam and Butch! We still have a good month of winter left where I am but I’m so happy to see your spring “appetizers”! I would be captured by EM’s beautiful eyes too! Oh, and the cake looks delish – no way you could leave any of that behind! Happy soon to be spring!
Thank you, Kim. The cake was delicious. Have a lovely week!
Such a lovely post, as always! I can see why you were so taken by EM’s eyes! She is just precious and it seems like she is growing so fast and looks so mature already. Time waits for no one and marches on whether we want it to slow down or not. That cake looked amazing! I can’t imagine making such thin layers and was trying to figure out how they do that. LOL! I have never heard of a burnt honey cake, but it sure looks delicious! God bless you and your family.
You’re bringing spring and all kinds of love to this neck of the woods. And yes, please, to a slice of that anniversary cake. Yum!
Lovely post, and Happy Anniversary!
Thank you, Irene!
I love seeing all the posts with gardens already blooming, while I look out my window and all i see is now 🙂 It gives me something to look forward to. Your camellias are just beautiful. I imagine the scent is beautiful too.
Thank you, Angie. Winter will be returning here this coming weekend after temps in the high 70’s.