Everyday Living

Simple + Southern Sunday No. 415

~ Autumn, Fall, Simple + Southern Sunday

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭34:17-18‬ ‭

Change is in the air and autumn is wasting no time in making its presence known. Weeks of dry windy weather seems to have brought about earlier than normal color as well as falling leaves. I believe we are a couple of weeks ahead of schedule here in north Alabama, but that’s just my thinking! What about around your place?

The maple trees in the front yard will not have their typical autumn display because so many of the leaves are on the ground! However, I will not miss out on the show, I’ll enjoy them where they are. After all, this is why we refer to this season as fall!
 

The big sugar maple has a lot of bare limbs already…and you can see why! Things will really speed up this week as we have predictions of freezing temps, maybe upper 20’s one night? Much too soon for my liking!

A visitor last week was so neat and polite to move this pumpkin off the rocks and into the grass so that eating a hole in it would not create a mess in the garden. Based on the fact that the critter only ‘messed over it’, as we say around here…I’ll guess this is raccoon-ish. Same way they did our tomatoes!

I hope these pumpkins remain safe because this group is what I have selected to become the jack-o-lantern team. Hopefully, a post later this week will feature these, along with…

…their designers and carvers. Last year we began what I hope will be a tradition…getting the grands together and letting them assist in carving their own jack-o-lantern. WL will likely be interested in other activities, but in another year he will be ready! He still gets his own pumpkin! The girls will love it.

We have been on the lookout for monarchs because October is when they stop by for a few days. While hanging around in the garden attempting to blend in so I might catch a pic of a monarch, this gulf fritillary came close. They are smaller than monarchs but very pretty butterflies. They’ve been abundant all summer and fall.
 

I finally caught a quick look at the first monarch of the autumn season at the house, but it was not in the garden. As I was riding a nearby trail where woodland sunflowers are absolutely everywhere, I spotted this one. What would we do without cell phone cameras!

Being still in the garden and doing my best to look like a zinnia finally paid off. This male gave me a chance for a few photos. 

Our throwback this week takes us to Aspen, Colorado, 2017, and the John Denver Sanctuary. This past week was the 25th anniversary of his tragic death. Sunshine On My Shoulders remains my very favorite song. You might enjoy the post from 5 years ago as we shared highlights of our visit to Aspen. Check it out here!
 

Up on the Tennessee River, sailing must be quite popular. When returning from a field trip with the grands, this picturesque scene caught my eye!
 

I had not ventured behind this stand of cane in a long time. I found an unusual sight. There must have been a perfect line up for the young cane to grow through the rusted out hole in the old metal pail. It took a few years for the cane to get this large and be wearing this bucket! No doubt the ‘wash tub’ is one I used for feed and had left it in the woods behind the back pasture. That would’ve been years ago!

P. J. loves our vanilla strawberry hydrangeas and they certainly provide much summer beauty. But summer is not the end of their contribution to the garden. A very autumnal look in my opinion.

The purple petunias have really been a season long bloomer and still holding on. The hummingbirds visited them all summer but now the hummingbird moths are taking over. 

Geese are such a common sight for most folks these days. In yards, parking lots, on golf courses, and numerous other public spots. A real nuisance in many places. I did find a harvested corn field that I believe had 100 or more. I figured this group was more on the wild side than those that follow me when I jog down by the lake! I had the bright idea to fly the drone up to an altitude that would let me take a pic of the entire flock. Just straight up for a height advantage, not over the birds. The drone did not reach 15 feet before the entire flock left the area and headed south. My idea was apparently not a good one! I had at least got this pic before the failed drone attempt.

Another nice extra following our visit last week to Cathedral Caverns State Park. This view looking back into the valley was worth a stop at an overlook.  We had a wonderful day trip with the family and plan to share some photos of the awesome cave!

I pray your week will be as peaceful and calm as this scene. 

”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,

Comments

  1. Butch and Pam, Your maple tree leaves are a beautiful yellow carpet upon the green grass. The grands look ready for pumpkin carving. We got some rain this past week as well as yesterday and today. We desperately needed it! We were under red flag fire warnings. I love the Tennessee river. Lots of boating goes on; sailing, skiing, pontoons, and fishing. I always enjoy just sitting still and watching the river activities whenever we are there which is not nearly enough! The butterflies better get a move on as the first freeze watch of the season is Tuesday in our area. Happy Sunday! Clara❤️

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  2. Enjoyed this Sunday morning post Just loved the butterflies but even they couldn’t compete with the beautiful grands! Have a blessed day.

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  4. A grand post with the grandchildren. Fall starts here in August. This year the leaves have hung on and it’s beautiful. I haven’t seen but two butterflies the entire summer.

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  5. I love the opening psalm. It resonates with a family situation this past week (and another family member’s petition now). I had to look at our 10 day forecast since yours calls for upper 20s – ours has just a couple right at 32. Still, fall is definitely at its height. Speaking of heights, Bridge Day was yesterday at WV’s New River National Gorge, with base jumpers flying off the 900′ suspension bridge – not for the faint of heart! But the sunshine was glorious. Your favorite song holds a special memory for me as well – sung in accompaniment to a book without words i used to read to my daughters.
    Have a wonderfully blessed week, Richardsons. Looking forward to your pumpkin carvings!

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  6. O the wondrous works of our Creator, so beautifully captured in your photos. WL captures my heart with his
    joyful smile every time. That trio of yours spells happiness….25 years since losing John Denver? Butch, you honor him well… he was a poet and his music will always reverberate in the lives and loves of those
    sensitive to his “message”. Autumn quickly altered our surroundings and too early we will experience frost..
    One needs a time to adjust… Love the can on the cane phenomenon and the sighting of the elusive Monarch. Thank you for your usual on target scripture that fills a Sabbath’s call. Is Pam getting ready for her ” you know what” ? Have a blessed week.

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  7. Happy Sunday Pam and Butch! I agree, I don’t remember as much Fall color or fallen leaves this early in the season, I have seen some truly stunning trees lately. I love your pumpkin carving tradition with the 3 adorable grands, I can’t wait to see the creations this year! Love all your close up captures of the butterflies and hummingbird moth, I haven’t seen one of those before~ The sailboats are beautiful. We are still shaking our heads about the Bama game yesterday, talk about a nail biter! Looks like a beautiful week ahead, enjoy!
    Jenna

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  9. Pam Thank You for sharing this beautiful nature post, The nicest picture is your three beautiful grandchildren. The Pumpkin eater looks like the work of our resident squirrels. We have been a victim of them in the past.
    Happy Fall
    Marilyn,Joan and Marion

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  10. Dear Pam, thanks for that verse right up top today. So grateful that He is near and so very close no matter what season we’re in …

    I hope this has been a super-lovely autumn weekend for you!

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  11. Oh my Pam. Those leaves are beautiful! Love the picture of the kids. They are growing up so quickly. Your pictures are lovely and those pumpkins are so cute. Some of my grands have already done a little pumpkin carving. Happy October to you. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  13. Your leaves are looking amazing on and off the trees! And those Butterflies, Hummingbird Moths and Monarchs are equally amazing. But seeing the grands always makes my day!
    Happy New Week to you both!

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  14. I’ve never seen a hummingbird moth before – they are huge!! Glad to see that the petunias are still giving – ours did not do well this summer – too many days of hot weather and their leaves were fried. They must be a local variety? Love the last picture – so calm. Go team jack-o-lantern – can’t wait to see what the grands do with the pumpkins! Have a lovely week you two!

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  15. Butch and Pam, I hope you both had a wonderful weekend and that your week is off to a great start! The photos of the monarchs are beautiful! I bet the grands are excited about carving pumpkins. We are experiencing early freezes as well and with the severe drought our leaves are already falling without putting on their fall show of colors. Wishing you both a most blessed week!

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  16. I totally agree! Fall is passing by way too quickly, and I told my husband yesterday that I want it to slow down! We took a drive yesterday and both agreed that this autumn is one of the most beautiful we ever remember seeing. Our colors here in the mountains are just breathtaking and so awe-inspiring. How I worship and praise our almighty God Who puts all of this on display for us every year! Oh, how I love the fall and am SO grateful to be alive to see another one and enjoy it with my dear little family.

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