“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”
Psalm 9:1-2
We had wonderful weather last week to officially usher in autumn. One way I took advantage of those sunny days was more drone practice. This is a look from above the garden of the neighborhood to our east. As you might notice, our neighbors are woods, fields and a river!
I try to hang on to the summer plants as long as I can, kinda hate to let go of the season I suppose. But, I admit that I do grow weary of watering everything after about 5 months of it! And too, most of the potted plants are spent and also seem weary in spite of my fertilizing and watering. I guess this carpenter bee was as reluctant to give it up as I was…this one staying on the bloom in my hand after I removed it from a pot!
I come across all sorts of creatures when cleaning and maintaining the garden. This southern leopard frog is well camouflaged. Some critters and plants have strange names that don’t seem to fit, but this guy’s color pattern does resemble a leopard. Good name!
Harvest is just around the corner for a lot of crops including these fields of cotton and soy beans. The cotton has yet to lose its foliage so the white is not as visible from the air as it will be in a few weeks. I’ll try to fly this way again next month.
A closer look and I realize the cotton is beginning to open a lot. It won’t be long until the fields are white unto harvest.
The pumpkin crew! The pumpkins in the cart are the first (and probably the last) of our own harvest. The girls planted these in June and were excited to help pull them from the patch. Little brother is excited but not necessarily about the pumpkins…he loves to ride in the cart and awaits the next trip around the yard.
We can always count on spider lilies to pop up in several places around the old home place and barn down on what I refer to as the lower 40.
PJ and I were invited to attend an event last week at Jacksonville State University (JSU). A local restaurant was recommended that serves what someone called street tacos. I had 3, two with brisket and one with fried chicken. And yes, I ate it all. Not my normal program food but I ran an extra mile the next day!
We were at JSU to watch a show by the Marching Southerners. Our great nephew is in the band. They performed for friends and family and they were outstanding. Over 500 students took the field! The JSU Marching Southerners have a long legacy of excellence and we thoroughly enjoyed the show!
A worthy note: The Southerners have been invited to represent the U.S. in Normandy, France, in June of 2024, in honor of the 80th anniversary of D-Day!
I love to ride the back roads and find lovely churches. This church is really not very far from where we live, yet I had never passed by!
I have a jogging route that I enjoy and this trail is never without interesting sights and onlookers. With one foot up on a log, this bird seems to have an aggravated look and probably wishes I would get lost!
This nice looking cluster of flowers is not only attractive but will soon provide dark colored berries that birds love. Why would such a good looking plant be called the devils walking stick?…
…this is why. This plant is native to our area and belongs to the ginseng family. When I climb down a steep ridge I grab saplings and limbs to help with balance. It is best to be very alert when reaching for a walking stick!
Many years ago we purchased 2 ginkgo trees. We were advised to buy male trees since the fruit found on the female trees was known to be messy and have a very bad smell. With that in mind, we were guaranteed our plants were male. After all these years, one tree is producing some type fruit! I will have to get others to tell me if there is a bad odor, but so far Pam has not detected any. I will have to investigate further!
Our son and I have discussed how to restore the old barn that is near his house. This loft has some hay that has possibly been there many, many years. I know it is hard to see but there is quite a bit in the back right corner. The former owners had not farmed or had livestock on the property for a long, long time. It is interesting to me because as a teenager I helped haul hay for the owner and store it in this barn loft. No way to know, but there could be remnants of that hay still here after over 50 years.
If you are ever in your helicopter and look down and see a place that looks like this, go ahead and land and say hello to us. I got carried away with the drone last week!
Have a great 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,
It is always a great pleasure to read you and observe the magnificent photos you take. I love the countryside although I have not lived in it, but my son-in-law José, who is now very close to me, does have land and cultivates it, especially olive trees, and it is a pleasure when he takes us there.
I love abandoned barns…they have so much poetry!!!! now in granada there are many abandoned because it has been forbidden to grow tobacco and they all did it, now they are orphans and they are very sad…
Dolores
Hola Dolores. Es un gran placer saber de usted. Me complace mucho leer de su querido yerno José que es muy cercano a usted. Qué maravilla que tenga tierra y te lleve a donde cultiva olivos. Como siempre, estás en nuestros pensamientos. ¡Espero que cada día sea bueno para ti, nuestro amigo! Enviando nuestro amor, Pam
Butch and Pam,…your “crop” of grandkids and pumpkins were obviously my favorite! The verses at the beginning and end say it all! Seeing your “homestead” from the sky brought tears to my eyes. It made each area, that you fill with SO MUCH love and attention, stand out to me. I just love being a part of your place in having opportunity to view it and read your wonderful posts! God bless you both so much! Thank you for blessing us. Love, Karla 💛🍁💚🌻
Good morning, dear one, you are a beautiful blessing. I have prayed for you this morning. I so hope that you have been able to rest in the peace of knowing our Lord and Savior. I am praying for a good day for you. Sending all my love and hugs 💛🙏🏻💛
Your prayers worked, Pam. I have dear friends, in their 70’s, that workkamped with me near Branson. They took me to nature trail and of course, for custard! Finn and I were worn out and smiling head to toe! I’ll have day 3 radiation today. When I finish Wednesday I’ll prepare for outpatient on Thursday morning for internal radiation. I feel so safe in the arms of our Great Physician! I’m sending all my love and hugs daily to you too! 💕💛🥰🤗🙏🏻
Karla, this makes me so happy. I am excited that you and Finn enjoyed a wonderful day. Praying for day 3 this morning. There is no better place to be…safe in the arms of our Great Physician! Sending you love and hugs, my friend 💛🤗💛🙏🏻🙏🏻
Love the drone action, your property is so beautiful! And I can’t believe how large your pumpkin harvest in the cart was! I’d call that success, for sure.
Definitely the ginkgo fruit smells.nasty when it falls – like vomit- amd worse when it gets stuck in your shoe soles.
Have a great week.
Thanks so much, Rita. I dread smelling the ginkgo. Enjoy your Sunday!
Beautiful drone shots! Your home is just lovely and the the yard is so well manicured and styled. You got quite a few pumpkins. The girls must be thrilled! That frog is indeed well camouflaged! Enjoy your day! Clara❤️
Thank you, Clara. Wishing you a wonderful week ♥️
I look forward to your posts and this one did not disappoint. The grands and pumpkins melt my heart. Just love your home and gardens. Better hope Wyatt will love gardening as much as you do so he can help you in the future! Would definitely be a challenge to find someone to keep it manicured like you do. Enjoy this day and have a blessed week.
Thank you, Bobbie. As we are getting older, taking care of all this is my biggest concern. Wishing you a wonderful week, dear one ♥️
Good morning Butch and Pam. As always, such interesting photos. Yes, the fruit from the gingko’s has a dreadful odor. Hope it is not close to your home. What a harvest of pumpkins, I know the little ones were thrilled. I love to see the cotton. Gives me Mississippi memories. I also love to see it on a wreath or the Christmas tree. When the little white lights twinkle it is amazingly beautiful.
Wishing you all a beautiful day and week ahead!
Thank you, Sandra. It is weird about the ginkgo. Both trees are probably 25 years old and last year was the first year that one had fruit. We love cotton fields. Happy Sunday!
Good Morning Friends… thanks so much for the sky ride today! Your homestead is not only spectacular but also so beautiful. Every spot is absolutely perfect!
The grands and their pumpkins were adorable. They had a big harvest.
And how I love a marching band! I’m partial to Ohio State Marching Band… but it sounds like the band you went to see is also quite special. I just met a gal that was invited to a D-Day anniversary a few years back. She sang with two others in official navy uniforms. She is known to do re-enactments of D-Day.
I loved all the pictures and enjoyed the Drone practice. How fun!
Happy Sunday Friends!
Thanks so much, Nancy. We were amazed how fabulous the band was. They have always been known for their band. We wished the show had been longer. Happy Sunday, dear one!
Good morning Pam and Butch! What a great harvest of pumpkins and grandchildren! That devil’s walking stick looks ferocious, but the street tacos look delicious! I also love driving back roads to discover old barns and churches. Now all of us in the South are anxiously watching the hurricane. Prayers for all in its path.
Yes, the hurricane is ever on our mind. Thank you, Roxanne and have a lovely Sunday!
Another illuminated Sabbath. Cannot get over how Wyatt is shooting up.. the girls look mighty proud of their crop, a well they should be. EM has her photo smile down pat. The Marching Southerners.. remind me of the adage, “Teach a boy to blow a horn and he’ll never blow a safe.”(and he might even get invited to Normandy,France..) My older brother tooted one in our Drum & Bugle Corp and did us proud. So glad this tradition continues. The drone shots are spectacular as well as those close-ups. Love the overview of the homestead and your continuing tour of local church edifices. Praises to His
Name, indeed. A blessed day to all…
Poof, my reply disappeared. In short, Praises to His Name! Have a lovely Sunday, dearest Mary!
I love your drone shots Butch, especially the last one above your house! We have a friend at the beach that comes over and flies his drone from our backyard and shows us what’s going on in the waters around us, a few weeks ago he found a lot of sharks very near the shore! Your pumpkin crop is impressive, great job! The old church is lovely, and that is amazing that you used to help the owner of the old barn on your son’s property! I hope you both are having a relaxing Sunday~
Thank you, Jenna. How frightening about the sharks. There have been so many attacks this year. Happy Sunday!
Devils walking cane is new to me. Thx for sharing
Our pleasure, thank you Gail
Pam
The pumpkin crew look like they are enjoying the harvest. I know it is a thrill Wyatt loves to ride the cart. You had quite a haul of pumpkins.
I’m loving the pic of the spider lilies. They are nostalgic to me from my childhood. I didn’t have as many to come up this year.
You are becoming a pro with your drone shots. I love seeing the whole layout of your property. You can barely see our home on Google Earth because it is surrounded by trees on all sides.
Have a good week. We are a little anxious about the approaching hurricane.
Bonnie, it looks like the hurricane is going very near you. Praying!!
Pam
More gorgeous images of your world! I love all the shots — and thrilled for the band going to D-Day 2024. That church is charming and your pumpkin team looks ready! Thanks for brightening our gloomy Sunday with your words and images!
Thanks so much, Jeanie. Wishing you a lovely autumn week!
Pam
R the doctor
Still can’t read what I. Typing but must comment on the grands pumpkin patch. They surely must have been very excited with the number of pumpkins the harvest brought.
Thank you, dear Alice. I wish I knew what was causing the problem for you. I appreciate all of your efforts to comment. I can see them all. Wishing you. wonderful week,
dear one!
Love the drone views Pam and Butch and I always enjoy the beautiful photos and musings. Wow! your pumpkins are amazing….what a haul and the grands showing their enthusiasm and pride by their efforts in planting is a wonderful thing to see. D-Day 2024 ! What an honor for the band. Have a great and Blessed day. hugs my friend
Thanks so much, Kari. Wishing you a wonderful week!
Hugs,
Pam
Happy Sunday, Butch and Pam! I hope that you both enjoyed your day. The drone views of your home are beautiful. Those grandbabies look so happy with all of those wonderful pumpkins. I wish you both a happy and blessed week ahead!
Thank you, Shannon. I hope you are enjoying some fall weather!
Pam
Pam all of your photos are stunning. Great view from the drone.
Thanks so much, Paula!
What a beautiful place you have. I love your blog and look forward to it all the time. Thank you for sharing all the beauty that is around us. To God be the glory.
Thank you so much, Lisa. Your comments warm my heart.
Pam
Wow! It was so neat to see an aerial shot of your home and land! So beautiful! And that is so neat to think that some of the hay you put up in that barn may still be there! What a blessing that your son owns it now! I hope the two of you are able to come up with a plan to restore the barn. God bless you today!
Thanks so much, dear one!
Stunning pictures. I have never seen a spider lily in that wonderful color… The pumpkin crew is the best! Absolutely adorable! Hugs and blessings dear friends.
As always, I love your visits!
Fantastic photos! The pumpkin crew is adorable and what a great crop of pumpkins you have. Love the drone shots – your property is beautiful! And yes, that walking stick bears watching where you place your hands. I was in a marching band for many years as a teenager and young adult and have a great fondness for them – I remember well all the drills and music practices – I wish them luck in 2024! Have a great week you two!
Thanks so much, Kim. Enjoy your week!
Pam
Love the aerial view of your homestead…such a beautiful place. The red spider lilies are exceptionally pretty…and those grandkids of yours! SO cute! Thanks for sharing.
Have a blessed and beautiful week!
Cindie
Thanks so much, Cindie I appreciate your heartwarming comments.
So many great shots! Especially enjoyed the cotton and the pumpkins!
Thank you, Michele!
Loved this post, enjoyed the journey with you both ☺️
Blessings, Jennifer
Thank you, sweet friend.
Pam