“My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass. But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations.”
Psalm 102:11-12
As years pass, I am reminded that with God, one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as one day. I too, like the Psalmist, feel a bit withered, but hold fast to the One who is eternal. Pam and I have been blessed to have been given another year to share our Simple Southern Sunday’s with you. You will find some 2022 highlights here as we walk through the seasons of the past year!
HAPPY NEW YEAR
The old barn on a winter’s day.
These guys are regulars around the yard and pastures!
There is almost always an egret somewhere along the jogging path by the lake!
A nearby treasure…Noccalula Falls Park.
Dogwood blooms signal a springing back to life, indicating the winter nap is over!
The Kwanzan Cherry is PJ’s favorite…one of mine too!
These are our real favorites in all seasons!
Fly me to the moon and let me float among the stars…or better yet, let me observe it all from right here at home!
There’s something nice about red and white!
Maybe the peony is actually Pam’s favorite bloom? Or possibly a toss-up with the cherry…nothing wrong with a tie for first place!
The garden fares well in the early part of the growing season before our southern heat settles in and rain showers become scarce.
The Plains coreopsis turned out to be a showy wildflower that we enjoyed last summer.
Sunflowers are a garden standard. On days like a few we had last week, we begin to long for sunflower weather!
The hummers have left us for now but we are hopeful for another opportunity to provide a few hundred zinnias for the 2023 birds!
A gazebo high in the Great Smoky Mountains…it’s all about location, location, location!
Nearby farm country as viewed from one of Appalachian Media’s drones!
Pam calls our place a compound. My drone footage is not as fancy as that of Appalachian Media!
A lot of color on Weiss Lake on a warm, sunny autumn day!
It doesn’t seem so long ago that our maples looked this way. I miss October!
One thing that we seem to always locate at any time of the year is good food. All of these delicious treats were found at Bottega in Birmingham!
Like the egret and many other birds, mallards are numerous along the boardwalk where I sometimes jog.
Little River, just above the falls, offers amazing autumn scenery. We are fortunate to live only a short distance from Little River Canyon National Preserve and Little River Canyon.
The fire pit was a new addition in late 2022!
Never be without pumpkins in the fall. Autumn could not exist without pumpkins! We even grew a few of our own in 2022.
The Sunshine Cottage is a special place to hang out if you need a little Christmas, and who doesn’t!
We hope and pray that each of you are experiencing a wonderful New Year’s Day and have 364 more just like it in 2023!
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch,Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
You live in such a beautiful, restful place. It is lovely. Thank you for the comforting Scripture. God bless you!
Thank you and God bless!
Thank you for blessing me w photos of God’s beauty and your uplifting words week after week
It is our pleasure. Thank you, Gail!
Happy New Year to you both!
Thank you, Carole!
All the shots are so beautiful and look so serene. The cardinal and hummingbird are outstanding! Happy 2023! May God richly bless you and your family. Clara❤️
Thanks so much, Clara ♥️
Thank you for this gorgeous look back on your 2022, Butch & Pam. I so enjoy your Simple Southern Sundays, and the life you’ve built within. I appreciate you sharing. It definitely leaves me feeling connected. Happy New Year. xo, Rita
Thank you for your warm comments, Rita!
Thank you for a lovely post of the past year! Looking forward to 2023 and praying for God to continue to pour out his blessings on the Richardsons.
Thank you, Bobbie. You are a sweet blessing!
What a strikingly beautiful revisit to 2022. The views of your exquisite surroundings and
enchanting Grandchildren make our Sundays sing, Butch. Thank you for all the light and joy you and Pam impart and for giving such blessed meaning to life’s purpose through your selected Scripture, which are always on mark. May 2023 be covered in good health, well being and the choicest blessings of His Providence upon all….
Thank you, Mary for your encouraging and most meaningful comments! Blessings~
Our Lord has certainly blessed you both with the ability to see the beauty of this great gift of life. Thank you for sharing it with us. God Bless you and Happy New Year!
May God bless you, Ellen!
Happy Happy New Year Butch and Pam. We are all going to be blessed with another year of your beautiful captures in pics of God’s beauty. Thank you for sharing with us. Wishing you a year of so much happiness, joy each day and great health. xoxo Kris
Thank you so much, Kris for your sweet wishes!
Daily egrets, beautiful blooms, adorable young ones. It looks about as close to perfect as I can imagine. Sending all good wishes for a splendid new year!
Thank you, Jeanie for your good wishes!
Happy New Year!
Thank you for all the beauty and blessings you have shared with us…you truly are a joy❣
Thank you Sue for your sweet and encouraging comments♥️
Amazing post, just breathtaking… Happy New Year to all of you. I am grateful for your encouragement. Thank you.
Thank you, sweet Maristella!
Love every picture but must admit the drone picture showing th “compound” is my favorite because I have a better idea of where everything is. The next is the grands followered by the moon with a United flight taking peop,e for a visit on the moon 😅 looking forward to 2023 posts as I love the food posts from Botegga, the walks with Butch and the latest happenings in Sunshine cottage and the grands growth.
Thank you, dear one. We love sharing and so appreciate you following and commenting!
Oh I was remiss in wishing you a happy new uear!
Thank you, Alice!
Wishing you and yours A Happy,Blessed New Year
Marilyn,Joan and Marion
Thanks so much to all of you!
What a beautiful roundup of photos from 2022 and lovely scripture to accompany them. May this year bring you many happy days, health, and blessings! Happy New Year!
Thank you, sweet friend!
Pam
The beauty of nature, the good taste in the images, the love in the care of these jewels that God offers us… is what makes the spirit calm, problems are forgotten and friendship grows.
Dear friends, I send you a big hug of friendship, my congratulations for having those angels who are more beautiful and older every day and that these days are a way of loving Our newborn Lord.
With love
Dolores
Dolores, siempre es bueno saber de ti, nuestra amiga. Espero que hayas tenido una maravillosa Navidad con tu familia. ¡Butch y yo les deseamos un 2023 saludable y lleno de alegría!
Mucho amor,
Pam
Thank you for sharing blessings with all of us. Your photos and words bring us cheer every day, but especially on days when we most need some uplifting thoughts. Happy New Year and wishes for good health and fortune in 2023.
Thank you, Daphne! Blessings for 2023!
Butch and Pam, it is always a delight to open a post from you. Thanks for sharing all the beauty of nature that surrounds you and your family. All the best for 2023!
Sarah, thank you for your lovely comments. All the best to you!
Pam
Good Afternoon and Happy New Year friends!
I loved seeing the drone picture of your home. Sooooo beautiful and such a lovely property.
The Littles are getting bigger and such wonderful smiles they share.
The pink cherry blossoms are now my favorite as well.
Thank you always for your amazing photos and comforting words.
Happy New Year!
Thanks so much, my friend. Let’s catch up in a few days!
Happy New Year, dear Pam and Butch!
Blessings dear one!
Pam
Beautiful pictures and what a wonderful walk down 2022 memory lane! I really love this series and I’m so glad you will keep it going in 2023. Happy New Year to you both and wishing you a lovely week!
Happy New Year, Kim and thank you!
I miss October, too! That is a good way to put it. I always say that from September up to February 3rd is my favorite time of the year, as it encompasses all of my favorite dates of the year—starting with my birthday, my favorite season of autumn, Thanksgiving, Christmas, our dear son’s birthday, New Year’s, and my dear husband’s birthday. But, truly, I am just so grateful for each day of life and for every second God gives the three of us together. May He bless you and your family in this new year!
Thank you, Cheryl. You have a lot of celebrations in those months!