“The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!”
Psalm 113:4 ESV
I often name a photo, I suppose as an artist does a painting. I called this one “Anticipation”. Will a thunderhead with rain and lightning develop? Could there be a rainbow? Looking at the sky can bring many thoughts to mind to give us pause and wonder. Maybe that’s what happened when singer and songwriter Dottie Rambo wrote words like “The sky shall unfold, preparing His entrance…”!
I love hay-time and bales in the field. I am sure you’ve figured that out by now. We don’t see them lined up like this very often, and these didn’t stay there long…it’s time to load and head to the barn yard! Today’s preparation will be appreciated come winter!
These were each about the size of a decent salad plate and appeared overnight. By the time I noticed them, insects had shown up for a little mushroom delight. Mushrooms are eaten by a lot of wildlife. Small mammals like squirrels and other rodents, turtles, birds, and deer love ’em. They were completely gone by the next morning and tracks revealed deer had finished them off!
This is the poke salad jungle. Or should I say, “polk” salad jungle? This native plant is known as pokeweed, yet a popular song about a girl named Annie who made sure the family had plenty of this to eat was titled “Polk Salad Annie”. To add more confusion is that this plant was, (and still is to some extent), really eaten by folks in the south…yet sources claim the plant is toxic. I guess it is like mushrooms, you best know what you are doing if you decide to mess with it! My grandmother cooked it, and I don’t recall anyone ever being sick! I’m not suggesting you try it, but maybe you have already??
WL is soaking up some sun and clearly enjoying the beach. Rumor was that a small shark was seen in the water, so his parents and sisters were keeping a close eye on little brother…to keep him from charging into the water and attacking the shark!
A new flower emerged in the wildflower garden last week that I was only slightly familiar with. Beebalm or wild bergamot lives up to the name as bees are crazy about it. What I was not aware of was the reason it is also called wild bergamot. Related to mint, a strong flavored tea can be made from the plant, and many people believe the leaves taste like bergamot. So I asked, what is bergamot? I’m glad I asked. The bergamot orange is a citrus fruit native to Italy. It’s the tea connection that I found quite interesting…Earl Grey tea is a blend that has been flavored with oil of bergamot. The fruit’s rind has a fragrant oil which is added to black tea to give Earl Grey its unique taste.
After a rain, as cool air naturally moves down hill, we sometimes get a fog or low cloud bank that settles all along the base of the mountain. We have been fortunate to get some welcome showers so far this month. July can be very dry.
It was time for our annual visit to lotus city, the nearby lotus flower bog. I feature this flower because it offers such unusual beauty, is not native, and is a rare find. The impressive way this aquatic plant rises out of the murky water, as well as its long history of uses and fascination makes for an interesting study if you care to read a little.
The leaves are big as an umbrella!
The flower is native to China and considered an exotic here. I wish I knew the history of how it came to be located in this particular area on Weiss Lake. One of our Alabama groups that promotes tourism featured this spot last week in a post I ran across.
I discovered that the lotus plant (often called Indian Lotus) can live as long as one thousand years and the seeds may remain viable for over a thousand years, as well!
Another discovery was that the plant is not exempt from visits by Japanese beetles!
Here you can see a variety of the growth stages, from buds, to blooms, to seed pods.
Back to our garden…each year I plant at least one pot with purple fountain grass. Pam knows I must have at least one. I just like the way it looks when it gets to this point, and she indulged me by allowing it to have a prominent place in the Sunshine Cottage garden. I think deep down she really likes the plant!
I suppose this farmer and his dog stayed a little too long in the fields and missed their supper!
This firetruck is the main reason we stopped by an antique place we discovered last week in a neighboring county. The skeleton driving a tractor was an added attraction. Pam’s mom grew up near a rural community in northeast Alabama known as Broomtown. It is a real place, and this retired truck is from that very community!
Looking back on 2011, a stunning view of Monterey Bay near Pacific Grove in California. Pacific Grove is a breeding ground and winter hang out for Monarch butterflies that migrate from the Rocky Mountains.
A wish from the Sunshine Cottage garden to you, wherever you might be…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,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Anticipation, aptly named
Thank you, Gail and Happy Sunday!
Pam
The rain is much appreciated. It has been such a hot summer this year. I love the photograph of the fog in the background. I appreciate all the pictures you share of flowers and nature. They are very peaceful. God bless you!
Thank you, Mrs. White. Wishing you a joy-filled Sunday!
Pam
Another lovely stroll with my Alabama friends. I almost didn’t recognize WL! He is getting so big!
The stunning Lotus flowers were a delight this morning for me to see. Along with the bee balm. I have some red bee balm about to bloom… perhaps today!
Such lovely photos… thank you and please enjoy your Sunday!
Good morning Nancy. I told Butch that the photo made him look like he was older than 2. Thank you and Happy Sunday to you and sweet man!
Such great photos, love the lotus flowers. Happy Sunday!
Thank you, Carole!
Thank you Butch. You are so good at bringing new ideas to us. Naming the cloud anticipation, and keeping it as a memory. Rainbows too. All looking forward to Jesus return. From mushrooms to bee balm to tea, it’s all so much fun to read your post. We had a bear warning in a nearby neighborhood this morning. Our robins nest was taken off our down spout during the night killing the babies. Mama and Papa Robin were searching this morning for their babies. We found two in the grass that had died. Maybe an owl or hawk?? I’m sad!
WL is growing so fast and is so cute!
Thank you, Alice for your sweet comments. They are always encouraging. Do you often have bear warnings nearby? There have been several sightings of bear in our county. A bear was recently spotted on an Alabama beach and took a swim in the Gulf of Mexico. It was all recorded, just never would have imagined a bear on one of our beaches. Wishing you a joy-filled week!
Pam
Yes, bears, mountain lions, coyotes, fox all are part of this area. Usually the bears follow the creek looking for food but not always.
We have coyotes and fox visit us at night. We can hear the coyotes. Mountain lions and bears are frightening!
The hay bales were a familiar sight to me. My husband moves them to help the people that rent our land and also get them off the new grass. I enjoy your Sunday Morning posts every Sunday before church. Thank you.
Thank you, JoAnn for your sweet and encouraging comments. Wishing you a wonderful week!
Pam
We’ve had so much wind, rain and hail the past 2 weeks that anticipation is a great name for that cloud. We are anticipating more severe weather today. The Sunshine Cottage garden is gorgeous! Wyatt is growing up and looks so cute. The lotus field is so pretty. Mushrooms provide a nice food source for all the wildlife it seems and pretty colors for us to enjoy. Loved all the pics. Enjoy your day. Clara ❤️
Clara, I am so sorry about your bad weather. It has rained all around us for the past four days, and we have hardly had a drop. Stay safe ♥️
Blessed Sunday, Pam and Butch! In my imagination I saw a bunny rabbit in that big thunderhead! I am so grateful for the rain showers we have been getting almost every afternoon; but my daily morning routine seems to now include picking up lots of branches and twigs. I love that photo of WL because it gives a glimpse of the young man he will grow to be (just not too fast!). Fascinating info on the lotus plants. Is it just my yard, or are the Japanese beetles ferocious this summer?
Thank you, Roxanne. The lotus flower and its stages are so interesting. The Japanese beetles seem to be everywhere. They are a menace. Have a wonderful week!
Pam
A very beautiful post Butch. So much to see and learn from you. I, too, love the bales of hay. Reminds me of my days living on our farm. The history of bee balm and Earl Grey tea was new info for me. Wyatt is one handsome little guy. The cottage garden is truly amazing. I see the sunflowers are already blooming. The sneaky little rabbits had mine for dinner. Oh well, that is part of gardening.The song by Dottie Rambo is a favorite. Have a blessed week.
Thank you, Dianne. Sunflowers are in full bloom as are the zinnias. So sorry about the rabbits, they can be destructive. Have a wonderful week!
Pam
The SUnshine Cottage gardens are looking pretty terrific! And I love the name “Anticipation” for that photo. Splendid mushrooms, too!
Thanks so much, Jeanie!
What a great trip and my Terry being a fire chief and collector of vintage fire things would have loved that fire truck. How fun that it is from where Pam’s mom grew up. Have a great new week ahead. Hugs. Kris
Thanks so much, Kris. I was surprised that Broomtown ever had a fire truck, it is only a wide place in the road, as the saying goes. Have a wonderful week!
Pam
A reversed slant….the sharks should be on the lookout for Wyatt…what a handsome guy.. yes, looking quite advanced for his two. Today’s collection of photos is another class with Butch on things intriguing and informative. Love the Earl Grey (favorite)/Bergamot connection. The lotus, a visual treat in all its stages and does seem content in the South (as well it should be) That guy in the tractor must have quite a tale to tell … what brought him and his pal to their demise while
riding ole rusty Red? Just love the purple fountain grass and what it brings to a garden. The
bales of hay and sky of anticipation are seasonal reminders of the continuum of life….
Another Sabbath dotted with Butch’s keen curiosity, insight and blessings.
Thank you, Mary. Wyatt is a bundle of energy and so much fun! We love visiting the lotus bog each year. The stages are quite amazing. Have a wonderful week, dear one!
The lotus and the lotus bog are beautiful! I like the purple fountain grass and the old tractor but not the skeletons, yikes! WL looks adorable~ your zinnias and sunflowers are thriving! Have a great week!
Jenna
Thanks so much, Jenna. Have a lovely week!
Pam
Adorable post! Wyatt is so cute. Happy Sunday!
Thank you, Maristella!
I love how your photos always prompt thoughts of my own (and many other readers, I’m certain). WL is such a beautiful boy! I love purple fountain grass too, Butch, and love using it in containers. It’s so pretty, even into fall. We stayed in Pacific Grove on one of our trips to CA, a fun memory. The skeleton on the tractor gave me a chuckle. There’s Jeep owner in town that dresses a skeleton passenger for seasonal holidays, and right he’s dressed as Uncle Sam.😊Have a great week, Richardsons!
Thank you, Rita. Butch must always have purple fountain grass. We have a business that has a gigantic skeleton in front and the clothing changes often. We pass by it on our way to church. She is dressed in beach attire this week. Funny about the jeep owner having a skeleton passenger. Wishing you a lovely week!
Pam xoxo
Thank you for sharing about the song,” We shall behold him” written by Dottie Rambo.I googled and heard her share how she came about writing it. And then I listened to Sandi Patti sing it. So moving I can hardly see to type. It’s been a while since I heard it. The picture that you shared and named Anticipation is beautiful as is the thoughts behind it and the scripture written above it.
That is a beautiful picture of Wyatt. He does look older. Glad they had a good beach trip.
I loved seeing your sunflowers and zinnias growing.
Interesting other plants too. I loved the history of bee balm.
I have always loved the song, I play it on the piano almost every day. Wishing you a wonderful week my friend!
Pam
A beautiful post as always Pam & Butch. Earl Grey tea is my all time favourite beverage so I knew instantly what Bergamot was all about when you mentioned it above 😊
Such a beautiful scene from Sunshine Cottage.
Bless you both, Jennifer
Thank you, Jennifer. Earl Grey is also my favorite. Wishing you a joy-filled week, my friend!
I forgot to sign as Pam 🥰
👍😊
The lotus plant photographs are so beautiful! I enjoyed reading all about it. That is pretty amazing that its seeds last so long. My dad just finished bailing and putting up his hay for winter. He was grateful for an excellent yield this year. Wyatt is adorable! Sunshine Cottage’s garden is stunning, and looks like a magazine photo. Wishing you both a wonderful and blessed week ahead!
Shannon, thank you for your sweet comments, my friend!
Pam
Thank you for the interesting read and your peace-inducing photos, Butch. Hadn’t thought of that Dottie Rambo song in a long time–used to be one of my favorites, especially when Sandy Patty sang it! / Can’t believe how grown up Wyatt looks in the beach photo, though Pam assures us he’s just two! / Finally, that parting shot from the Sunshine Cottage Garden is calendar-worthy. SO lovely!
Thank you, Nancy. I love to play that song on the piano. Wishing you a lovely week!
Pam
Lovely floral blooms – and that picture perfect grandson is so charming!
How sweet you are, Mary!
Pam
I love the picture of the clouds – what a great shot! They sure look like something will be forthcoming. Love the hay bales too; there is just something about them that speaks to simpler times or something. Wyatt is adorable and the Sunshine Cottage garden is just lovely. Wishing you both a beautiful week!
Thank you, Kim! Happy week to you, dear one!
Pam
Did I spot a new/old wrought iron piece over with the sunflowers? The garden is so charming and your knowledge is vast. WL has grown so much! Thank you Butch & Pam
Thanks so much, Gina! We have had the wrought iron piece for years and decided to use it in the garden. The grands are all growing too fast. Sending love to you, my friend!
Pam
As always, beautiful photos! I had not heard the name Dottie Rambo for a long time but I know she wrote many songs that other singers have recorded.
Thank you for your visit, Donna. Have a wonderful weekend!
Such adorable photos, a real treat for the eyes! Have a beautiful day.
Thank you for your visit! Happy Friday!
I am so glad I stumbled on your blog. WOW, I sat here, reading, reading, reading and more reading and mesmerized by all – Love it.
I visited you via Grace at Home No. 512
My entries this week = 97+98. If you have not joined us at SSPS yet, come and share your posts with us and you can be our next featured post.
We’re open Monday through Saturday every week.
You will find the linkup information (1) In the Top bar under Blogging: Weekly Senior Salon Pit Stop OR 2nd image In the sidebar
We hope to meet you there virtually
Thanks so much for your visit. Wishing you a wonderful Friday!
I like the purple fountain grass, too. So pretty! I learn so many interesting facts when I come here. Thank you all for all you share!
Thank you, Cheryl. We are happy you enjoy!
Pam