“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”
Isaiah 54:10
Appalachian Media captured last week’s rising full moon in a unique spot as seen from the barnyard. There was a total eclipse a few hours later, but admittedly, I did not get up at 3:00 AM to observe. Maybe some of you did check out the lunar eclipse??
This gingko is always a golden standout when the leaves all turn. But we also love to see the leaves after they fall and cover the ground. The color fades in a few days but blanketing the green grass adds another dimension to enjoying the yellows and golds while they last. By the way, there are 2 reasons the grass is so green…winter rye grass, and a $300 water bill!
I kept passing by this plant on my jogging route by the lake and I decided to call it a dandelion on steroids. OK, it isn’t a dandelion but there are similarities. The sow thistle has really prickly leaves but I understand they are edible. I’m not sure how that would work since it appears to me you should wear gloves while gathering the leaves! Our son and daughter-in-love have a beautiful garden full of romaine lettuce so we are choosing to stick with that!
I was a bit surprised to run across wild carrot (Queen Anne’s Lace) blooming this late in the season and after several frosts.
Pam’s appetizer at Bottega a few weeks back (eating out for her birthday) was very colorful and was definitely as good as it looks…even better according to PJ. Crostini with roasted beets, Capriole goat cheese, shaved fennel, honey vinegar, and dill.
John Denver sang about gold being just a windy Kansas wheat field, but this will have to do for now. A bluestem grass (Splitbeard bluestem) we call broomsedge or broomstraw, is a very common native grass here in Alabama. What I found interesting however was…
…this one clump that appears to have seeds ready to disperse. It was the only clump in the entire 25-30 acres that was this far along!
Riding through the broomsedge (most southerners call it broom sage) prompted me to make a broom. My great grandparents lived in the Florida panhandle and their yard was sand, no grass. They made their own brooms from broomsedge. Not only did they sweep the house with those brooms, they also swept the yard to keep grass from growing. I remember my grandparents using the brooms when I was with them visiting in Florida. I plan to show this to the grands and hopefully make another broom with them assisting. I have enough broomstraw cut to make a couple more.
PJ’s Bed and Breakfast had overnight guests Friday night. It was warm when they arrived but a cold front yesterday made an afternoon golf cart ride a bit on the cool side. It is important to keep our guests comfortable!
The coral bark maple and mum have been so colorful this fall and are refusing to give it up! I thought they deserved a little final recognition.
I was heading to Planet Fitness when I saw a guy get out of this Mercury Cougar. I pulled over and spoke to him, complimented the car and asked if I might take a photo. He said fine as long as he wasn’t in the pic! But, I forgot to ask what model year it was. I might guess 1970 or ’71 but it truly is a guess. Maybe some of you know?
Back in late September I purchased various seeds to plant in the yard and also a couple of plots away from the house for wildlife. While unloading the truck I dropped a bag of kale and it broke open, spilling about half the seed on the concrete. I swept it up and reclaimed the seed and carried on with my plantings. This is the kale that avoided my clean-up by falling into the crack/expansion joint in the driveway. It is 6-8 inches tall, while what I intentionally planted and fertilized, planning for it to flourish…is around one inch high!
Our lone camellia bush has more buds and blooms than I have ever seen. This plant has never been a prolific bloomer but there are probably several hundred buds on it right now. The camellia is Alabama’s State flower, but isn’t even native here. Go figure! There must be something quite nice inside as the bees want to dive right in!
I encounter not only interesting plants along my jogging paths, but interesting people as well. I met a nice guy out practicing his hobby and he obliged me a few pictures and told me a little about slacklining. I knew about tightrope walking but had not researched slacklining. He is walking on a nylon band that looked to be about an inch wide, maybe a little less. His practice line is anchored only around four or five feet off the ground but the walk he was preparing for will be about 200 feet. I have no plans for taking up this hobby. They do have a safety line tied on for the high walks but still…!
From a distance I saw clusters of red berries on privet and was puzzled. Privet has berries but not red and not in this type cluster. I worked through some briers to get closer and discovered it was a vine that had wrapped itself around the privet branches and without close examination one would think privet was acting very strange. I was faked off by Carolina coralbead, and scratched up too!
It finally turned much colder yesterday and we should have highs all week in the 50’s. But skies last week prior to the cold air looked a lot like summer skies. Possibly we have experienced our last days of 80+ degree weather this year? We shall see.
Garden lights plus a full moon and pleasant temps made for a nice evening outdoors last Monday. Enjoy these moments when they present themselves as nothing worldly remains exactly the same for very long. This is why we remind ourselves each week and include the comforting and promising verse from Hebrews!
Hoping you have a peaceful and pleasant 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,
I so enjoyed trekking with you this morning. Be pictures.
That should be beautiful pictures.
Got it!
Thanks so much for joining us, Joan. Wishing you a lovely Sunday!
Pam
Beautiful recap of the journal of the season, Butch & Pam. We’re also getting a taste of possibly the turn to winter-like temps. Our first real hard frost may be tonight. I’ve seen a local photographer capture a group of slackliners between the Seneca Rocks formation in WV (~900′ above sea level with total elevation of 1570′) while a full moon was rising directly in center of them – it was fantastic! (and something I’d never even entertain the thought of doing!). Happy Sunday, enjoy your day of [hopefully] rest.
Thanks so much, Rita. It is in the low 30’s and very windy this morning. No slacklining for us. Happy Sunday!
Pam
Lovely photos, we did get up early to see the eclipse. It was at its height around 6 am here.
Thanks so much, Carole. Happy Sunday!
Pam
Another interesting post. Yesterday and today have been cold here. We didn’t get out of 30’s yesterday! Earlier in the week it was in the 80’s. EM and EK will enjoy making the brooms. Yours turned out really well. Love the moon shot. I always enjoy a full moon. Enjoyed seeing the final bit of Fall. Slack lining is fascinating but not a hobby I will ever explore. Concrete cracks always grow hearty plants! That is a beautiful vintage car! Stay warm and enjoy your day. Clara❤️ (for some reason, I can’t capitalize sentences in the comment section, so please forgive the structure as I tried several ways but to no avail.)
Well, the sentences capitalized when it posted! Yay!
There is some kind of glitch on our comments. We are trying to solve it.
Pam
Thanks so much, Clara. It is odd your sentence capitalization shows up perfect. Stay warm ♥️
Pam
i love your carefully wrapped BUNDLE OF LOVE ON THE GOLF CART! i HAVE SUCH A SOFT SPOT FOR GINGKO TREES — i HAVE ONE, TOO AND LOVE THEM. tHEY COME ON A BIT LATER AND SEEM TO LASt a lot longer. I have no idea why I can’t capitalize here — I feel like e.e. cummings!
Jeanie, there is some kind of glitch going on with our comments. We are checking on it. Thank you so much and Happy Week!
Beautiful pics as always Butch. Love the pic of your two over night guests. Such cuties. Happy New Week. xoxo Kris
Thanks so much, Kris. Blessings and hugs!
Pam
wHAT A PLEASANT PAUSE TO VIEW YOUR SURROUNDINGS IN THIS SEASON OF CHANGE. WE ANTICIPATE
COLD EVENINGS FROM HERE ON IN …BRRRRR.. BUT THE TREES SEEM TO BE HOLDING ON TO SOME OF THEIR COLOR IN THEIR WAVE OF FAREWELL TO aUTUMN. jUST LOVE THE PIC OF YOUR PRECIOUS SNUGGLERS
DURING THEIR VISIT TO THE COTTAGE… AND THAT BROOM PROJECT SHOULD BE ANOTHER MEMORY MAKING EXPERIENCE AKIN TO THE PUMPKIN GROWING. wHAT A GIFT YOUR NURTURING OF THEIR CURIOSITY AND IMAGINATION HAS BEEN. tHANK YOU FOR THIS sABBATH VISIT AND LESSON… tAKE
CARE AND BE WELL.
Thanks so much, Mary. It has been a chilly day with wind. Wishing you a wonderful week!
Pam
I look forward to your photos and comments each week, Mr. Richardson! Love your observations and wit. Although you rank right up there with your beautiful and creative wife. Love this blog!
Thanks so much for your kind comments, Shirley. We are so glad you like the blog!
Pam
Hi Folks! What a lovely stroll we had this Sunday afternoon. I always enjoy seeing the Littles… they are adorable. What fun you must have with them.
The moon in the barnyard was a fabulous photo. We got up to see the eclipse here in AZ. It was around 1 a.m. so it was doable. Ha! Ha!
Loved that Cougar! What a red beauty.
Happy Sunday friends!
PS. I could not comment from WordPress Reader and hope this goes through. I am now commenting directly from your blog through safari.
Thank you, Nancy. The Littles are our joy for sure. I had a 1967 mustang and wish I still had it but the cougar was sharp.
Butch
Your moon shot is lovely. So pretty. I did get up to see the eclipse, and it was worth it. When I first got up at 3:50, I could see the shadow of the earth passing and just a crescent all white. I’m not sure of the exact time, but about 45 minutes later, the full moon was beautifully orange. It was awesome. It looked just like the NASA pictures I saw in the news. I did not try to make a picture because usually I am disappointed in my moon photos. It was beautiful that night also. I’m not a fan of daylight savings time, but it does have the advantage of seeing the moon earlier in the evening.
I have seen the sage brooms just like yours at my grandmother’s.
Thank you, Bonnie. You make me wish I had gotten up early for the eclipse. I’m glad to know I am not the only one who remembers those brooms!
Butch
Lovely pictures but omigosh, my heart is in my throat when I think of those slackliners – even if they do have a safety rope. Yikes. Not my cup of tea, for sure! Love the shot of the moon, and the camellia is gorgeous, but those two little princesses are the star of the show, of course! It has been very cold here as well – ~-25 one night this past week. Thankfully we were in Victoria and missed it. Yay. Have a wonderful week you two!
Thank you, Kim. I agree, there is no way that I would try slacklining. We have been to Victoria and it is gorgeous. Wishing you a wonderful week!
Pam
Here in Australia, hubby & I saw the Blood Moon with the Moon eclipse, absolutely Spectacular! The sky was clear too!
It was at 9.45pm our time, a much more pleasant time to view it 😊.
Bless you both, Jennifer
Jennifer, I know that must have been amazing! Blessings, Pam
Happy Sunday, Butch and Pam! You have once again shared lovely scripture and beautiful photographs to start our week. The opening photo of the moon and barn is breathtaking! I am a little fond of old barns though. I feel your pain with the water bill. We put an irrigation system in this summer and have been watering like crazy to get our Bermuda and Fescue growing. I hope you both have a most blessed week ahead!
Thank you Shannon. We are fond of old barns and always on the lookout for them as we ride roads. This barn is ours and we wish we could find someone dependable to do some restoration. Have a wonderful week.
Butch
Stunning pictures my dear friends. Your Grands are adorable! Hugs and blessings. Have a lovely week ahead.
Thanks so much for your visit, Maristella.
Hugs and blessings,
Pam
What a great compilation of pictures again this week! I had never heard of slacklining, and it definitely will NOT be going on my bucket list! 😉. I am so impressed with Butch’s broom; there is no end to his talent. It has been a crazy weather here with very warm temps, a tropical storm, and below freezing now. Highlands may get a little snow tomorrow!
Thank you, Roxanne. No slacklining for me either, not even 4 feet off the ground. I hope I don’t end up using that broom. We’ve been in Highlands with snow on two occasions and it’s nice. Have a great week.
Butch
Your garden at night is so beautiful! It reminds me of a scene from a movie. I can see your place being featured in a movie someday. It is so picturesque. Many blessings to you!
You comments always warm my heart!
Pam