Everyday Living

Simple + Southern Sunday No. 433

~ Simple + Southern Sunday, Travel

β€œForever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119:89-90‬ ‭

I enjoy those fleeting moments when the sun is just high enough above the opposite horizon to give an orange glow to only the tops of trees and ridges…morning or evening!

I chose to name this scene “Anticipation”!

While the garden critters are waiting in hopes of more sunshine and warmth, the maples have decided it is time to break free from their long winter nap.

Meanwhile, is this spirea possibly the most confused of all, displaying beautiful fall colors as it comes to life?? It is called candy corn spirea…so maybe that explains what we are seeing! It is not confused, only living up to its name!

Our one and only tulip tree has been a challenge from the beginning. Buck deer rubbed the shrub down to skinned nubs the first year. Somehow surviving, it reestablished itself the following year to provide nice buds and leaves for deer to eat. After fencing around it for two more years to protect it, this season we gave up and left it to nature. I think we are seeing our best season so far…perhaps I need to leave things alone!

I like bright sunny scenes and cheerful looking pics best, but let’s face true everyday living; the sun does not always shine. Last week was warm, but mostly cloudy, even with low 80’s one day!

With our anniversary last week, we thought about some of the traditional things and sayings that surround weddings. For instance, “something old, something new, something blue”, relating to what a bride should wear. The old and new idea got in my head as I looked around the garden. These daffodils were not planted last autumn, but in the fall of 2021. These raised beds were planted with different bulbs last November (2022). I wasn’t sure if the old would come back and also thought I likely destroyed the old when planting the new. To our surprise, the old has blessed the cottage garden with early beauty. Maybe the new bulbs will not be far behind??
 

We do think we are witnessing a few new bulbs peeping out and attempting to emerge among the daffodils. We will see what happens.

A Ponderosa Pine covered with lichen as we look up into a big blue Montana sky. Not a bad scene. I read there are 2700+ species of lichen so I thought I would let each of you research and decide which one this is!

The local elk herd at Triple Creek Ranch (Darby, Montana) seemed to have a favorite area to hang out in each afternoon. Vehicles could ease by and they would not wander away. However, they were not as comfortable with Pam and me on foot as we took afternoon walks. It is not wise to get too close anyway, so we kept our distance and enjoyed the scene!

I discovered another great example of the old and new when I trimmed the autumn fire sedum last week. I hadn’t realized the new growth had sprouted already.

The new sedum reminds me of baby cabbages! 

Doing late winter garden maintenance and preparing for spring is always interesting. This rosemary didn’t survive the one very cold weekend back in December when our temp stayed below freezing for several days. In my attempt to remove the old plant, I found I could not pick up the churn it was planted in. I had to take clippers and clip roots underneath.

I was surprised to find that last summer’s roots had grown through the drain holes and deep into the soil underneath. With this root system, I am thinking the plant would have probably sprouted back out?? You think so? We normally don’t lose rosemary in the winter.

For the third year, something has burrowed beneath the gold mound spirea during the “off-season”. I fill in the burrow each year. The only thing different this year is that the burrow was found under an adjacent plant. I have attempted to catch the culprit on a trail camera, but so far I have no evidence to reveal the visitor.

We had such a wonderful display in the heavens one evening last week. Jupiter appeared to be sitting just off the tip of a crescent moon while Venus rested beneath. Hard to capture a breath taking scene like this and do it justice with a camera…and of course, no claims to know much about photography. This was actually taken with an iPhone. Speaking of old and new a lot today; our old camera died and we are attempting to learn how to use a new one. Challenging! 

Have a blessed week!

β€œThe 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

Comments

  1. I am finding these Sunday morning posts to be so inspiring. I enjoy seeing your garden pictures and beautiful scenery. The Bible verses you share are always a blessing. Thank you!

    Reply

  3. Such a delight to see the daffodils! We are still quite cold and our bulbs deep under the snow in ID. Your photos and sctipture were very much enjoyed this morning. It’s always fun walking with you through the homestead and beyond! Have a wonderful week…

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  4. Beautiful pics both at home and Montana. The Anticipation pic is a favorite; it’s so colorful and aren’t we all anticipating Spring with so much anticipation. The daffodils are so pretty and your tulip magnolia is gorgeous! It seems the deer choose a tree to pick on and they will work it over. We’ve had several killed. Putting a fence around it and giving it protection may have changed their grazing habit and saved it. I’m far from an expert but have found that the fencing helps oftentimes. The candy corn spirea is on fire; it’s so pretty! Those roots to the rosemary were really deep! I’ll have to go and check ours as I didn’t cover it this year. Enjoy your day! Clara❀️

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  5. Since we are still in the midst of winter here in the midwest I am so enjoying new life you show in your posts for Spring. Gives us hope that Spring will visit us soon and bring new life. Love the herd of Elk just hanging out together enjoying their surroundings. Happy Sunday have a beautiful week ahead. Hugs. Kris

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  6. Butch our rosemary survives our winters usually because they are covered with snow but I believe your rosemary may have survived if left to it’s self. Each fall I leave the leaves that blow into the garden around the thyme and rosemary. The only thing that really kills them is age. Woe, that sounds like what folks go through. Loved the crescent moon picture with Jupiter and Venus. I saw that every night as I was going to bed. Those old daffodil bulbs are doing what they do best, multiplying. They will return every year. Our 10 minus temps have left. Today we are getting high winds, gusts of 80 mph. Maybe the wind will melt our high banks of snow. Have a very blessed Sunday and week ahead.

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  7. The most endearing messages to inform our hearts can so often be found in Psalms..
    thank you for today’s. The candy corn spirea is a treat in late Winter’s passing and the
    “Critter” garden is not limited only to a child’s delight. The old may yet become new if
    those buried rosemary roots take hold and emerge some other season… the Lord’s reminder that he was the original and is the consummate smiling Gardener…. O the burst of sedum. The orange glow of dawn and dusk is a great photo capture. Thank you for again giving us the serenity of the Sabbath through your walks and ponderings.

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  9. What a wonderful peek in to spring. We are having the longest, coldest winter I can remember, so to see flowers is a joy. The daffodils are so bright and pretty.

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  10. That last photo was amazing with Jupiter by the moon!
    And Hello Friends!
    Beautiful photos again for all of us to enjoy. I love seeing signs of spring. We are having the same… love the signs of Spring!

    Reply

  11. Love seeing your garden waking up! Why do I suspect the Queen and Princess had a hand in your β€œanticipation” bed?!? It seems way too early for spring knowing our last frost date is April 15. The site of the crescent moon and Jupiter literally stopped me in my tracks last week. Hope your upcoming week is joyful, Pam and Butch.

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  12. Pam and Butch, the part of the Bible verse, β€œYour faithfulness endures to all generations” speaks to my heart about your lovely 50th anniversary celebration. It was such a lovely, intimate, special celebration of love, commitment, and family. Mike and I were so glad that we were able to be there with you. Love to you both.

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  13. Happy Sunday, Butch and Pam! The daffodils are so pretty and remind me spring is on its way. I know those sweet girls must love the anticipation garden. Wishing you both a wonderful week ahead!

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  16. A lovely week of everyday living for sure as everything is not always sunshine and roses. It looks very much like spring is definitely on its way there and what a great thing to contemplate. I love the candy corn spirea – I’ve never heard of that species before but what gorgeous colors. We have spirea here too and I’m always happy to see their beautiful leaves in spring (probably still a couple months from now since we are currently dealing with a recent foot of snow now lol). I love seeing the different seasons down there and how they differ from here. The daffodils are gorgeous! I hope you two are having a great week!

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