“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.”
John 1:9-10 ESV
As I’ve said quite a few times, it’s always good to be looking up. Crepuscular rays (meteorologists’ talk for sun rays) are seen a lot near sunrise and sunset, but these sunbeams (my talk for sun rays) came radiating through the clouds during the day!
I took this because the natural architecture of the crape myrtle is definitely unique and eye catching. But then I noticed all the peeling bark. The bark does peel and is normally loose, which is another interesting part of these trees, but an excess amount of bark has been stripped from our crape myrtles over the past few weeks…
…as seen here, the ground is littered with bark. Straight line winds from a couple of passing thunderstorms was the culprit. We have fared well during the storms but many in our county have suffered much property damage and flooding. It is believed by residents and witnesses that a short lived tornado did touch down Thursday about 10 miles from us. We understand that there were no serious injuries for which we are thankful. Tornado or not, the weather people clocked winds in the 80-90 mph range.
A side note: The worlds longest yard sale (690 miles) originates or ends, depending on which way you are traveling, in our county. The brunt of the storm traveled along the road near the southern end of the yard sale route and Thursday was the first day of the 4 day event. Needless to say, a lot of folks were out and about, and debris, along with yard sale items, was scattered all over.
Last week I posted pics of a visiting hummingbird moth and commented that it had a lot more red than I remembered seeing on other moths. This week, a couple of moths dropped by which were colored more typical to what I normally encounter. Per articles I researched, the red indicates a moth known as hummingbird clear wing. This one is probably a snowberry clearwing.
Many weeks back I attempted to transplant a small bit of milkweed from a nearby roadside before the state mowers came through and claimed it. I think I even mentioned this in a post. I placed the transplant hopeful in the wildflower garden, but a few days later it showed no signs of survival. I had read that it was very hard to relocate these plants, after I had attempted of course! Yesterday, as I was cleaning up spent flowers and weeds from the wildflower garden, what did I discover hidden underneath? I was surprised by my milkweed! The monarchs perhaps will find it when they drop by in October.
PJ and the girls had an impromptu tea party in the Sunshine Cottage. Wyatt and I were not invited, but Ella Mae, PJ, and EK sure enjoyed themselves. We guys like tea, but prefer to play in the dirt.
Our north Alabama version of the “lone cypress”. This bald cypress will have beautiful fall color and is not evergreen. Losing its needles in autumn, it becomes bald!
Our throwback today is the famous “lone cypress” found at Pebble Beach, California. The Monterey Cypress is found naturally only on the central coast of California, confined to two small areas near Pebble Beach and Carmel. We took this pic in 2011 and then rode through a nearby state park where these trees live. Some may be 2,000 years old!
The Bottega bar was on the menu at Bottega Cafe in Birmingham, and after I insisted relentlessly, Pam ordered it. Now, if you really believe that I forced her to order this dessert, I’m offering a special buy on our ocean front property in Arizona!
Honestly, we did not expect any of our crape myrtles to bloom this summer. We just didn’t see anything happening and thought the late freeze in April had taken its toll for the season. They are very late, but once they started it has been like an eruption. The blooms are sometimes touching the ground by mid-July, and these might make it yet!
Bumble bees, honey bees, hover flies, sweat bees and numerous other insects have flocked to the crape myrtles, happier than we were to see the blooms pop out!
The crape myrtle flourish was quickly discovered by the neighborhood bee population. Each tree at times will have 100’s of bees and the white blooms appear more desirable than the fuchsia colors. It was good to see a number of honey bees too. The load of pollen they collect and carry around is amazing.
I’m always looking for color for SSSunday posts and I know just the place to find it. PJ always has something going and will usually let me borrow if I am nice. Last week I spotted this colorful arrangement and was able to get a peep and a pic as a sneak preview for her Monday Morning Blooms post. That post is tomorrow and I understand it will be filled with color. Buying Pam that dessert you saw earlier was instrumental in me gaining permission to use this photo. I need to examine my motives.
The August 1st, full supermoon tried to sneak up behind the bushes, but that’s impossible when you are this big and bright. This moon had an orbit closer than normal, being just over 222,000 miles away. Have you heard the old saying “once in a blue moon”? A blue moon is a second full moon that occurs in the same month. That doesn’t happen often, hence the saying. It will happen however this month, as we will have a blue moon on August 30!
While we don’t live on or near a golf course, we still enjoy this ride on a golf cart. The view is wonderful, but the ride is special because the trail leads to the grands house. Pam is usually our designated driver. She took pics while driving. I think that is against the law!
Wishing you a wonderful 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
Crape myrtles and hummingbirds are two of my favorite summer things! We have an enormous Natchez variety right outside our screen porch, and I can actually hear a constant hum from all the bees! Queen EM looks absolutely regal with her teacup. My mother used to tell us we had to work constantly on our manners in case we were invited to tea with the Queen!! Have a good week!!
Thank you, Roxanne. The hum of bees is music. EM wants to have a weekly tea party. I love that memory of your mother!
Sundays with Butch and Pam is always a joy and a lovely, peaceful one. Of course, that tea party melted my heart this week!
Thank you, Jeanie. The girls love a tea party!
I love the way you can take the simplest things and tell a story or find beauty in them Butch, like the peeling crape myrtle bark. Our yard got trashed by Friday’s storms and I was happy for the much needed rain. The photo of the moth is truly amazing! It is so sweet that the girls love to have tea parties with PJ, I know you both are so glad the family is only a golf cart ride away 🙂 The Bottega dessert looks incredible! I will be looking for the Blue Moon coming later this month, thank you for the back story on that! Thanks for the peek into Monday Morning Blooms, I adore sunflowers!
Butch really keeps life interesting, he has a keen eye! We had thunderstorms this afternoon, but we still needed the rain. Thanks, Jenna!
Pam
Your Pebble Beach photo is a reminder of the times we visited there but your version of it, a lone north Alabama cypress growing out of the water then sheds its leaves, is truly amazing! California has nothing on Alabama! I miss the crepe myrtles so bad. That must have been a fierce wind to strip the bark from your tree. Every milk weed plant in Colorado is saved for the butterfly. Ella Mae is a beautiful child. Her holding the lovely tea cup and peering over it with those gorgeous big eyes are a sight to see! When I grow up I want the be Ella Mae.
Have the most blessed week.
Hi Alice. I love your sweet comments. Have a
wonderful week!
Pam
That moon shot is beautiful! Glad the milkweed survived. It’s a pretty color. The dessert looks tasty. EM is enjoying her tea. MMB looks like it’s going to be abundant with colorful blooms. So sorry to hear that the high winds made it to your area and that it affected the yard sale which sounds interesting. High straight line winds can be devastating even if they’re not a tornado. Our area had hundreds of large, old oak trees blown over roads, power lines, and even destroying a few houses in the past few weeks. If anyone needed oak wood for projects or firewood, there’s plenty of it in our area. Many of these old mature trees were blown over with the root ball up ended and still in one piece. I really hate to see them just laying there on their side. There’s so many of them! We’re just glad no one got seriously injured in your area. Your crape myrtle trees are filled with lovely blooms. Glad they bloomed for you. It’s interesting that the white blooms attract so many by bees. Enjoyed all the shots. Happy Sunday! Clara ❤️
Clara, you had really powerful storms. So sad about the old oak trees. It takes a lot of years to grow an oak. Have a wonderful week!
Pam
Chuckling at your tongue in cheek humor, sir. What a vibrant collection of crape myrtle we are
relishing these days…speaking of relishing…persuasion needed to order that Bottega delight?
Believe that and I have some prime AZ swamp land I’ll include with your piece of oceanfront…
Your sunbeam photo is a perfect illustration of the Heavenly Light of John I…..like such light
breaking through after threatening storms….reassuring confirmation. And what assurance for
Pam to know that EM has learned her tea etiquette to perfection … and gentlemen are excluded so ladies have space for their girl-talk. Looking forward to Pam’s Monday color-fest and have posted August 30 in the planner. A blessed Sabbath…..
The Bottega bar was amazing! Wishing you a lovely week, Mary!
Pam
That moth is amazing. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen one like it. Just beautiful. Hope you have a wonderful week in the garden!
Thanks so much, Leslie Anne!
Pam
Swooning over how you catch nature at its best. Every picture is beautiful. Wishing you a beautiful new week. Hugs. Kris
Thank you, Kris
Pam
Love your pic of the supermoon and the story behind the saying,”once in a blue moon”. I look forward to Aug 30th for the blue moon.
Ella Mae looks so pretty enjoying her tea. How special for Pam to entertain your girls in the Sunshine Cottage.
Your crape myrtles are beautiful! You do your part providing habitat for pollinators.
I’ve always wanted to go on the longest yard sale. It creeps up on me every year.
Thanks for the MMB reminder. I will be viewing.
Have a wonderful week.
Thanks, Bonnie. I love having tea parties with the girls.
Pam
Thank you so much for the interesting notes of the blue moon! I’ve shared with my friend recovering from an illness, and we have Aug 30th to look forward to 💙
As always you both share such lovely and interestingly fun posts. And…your grandchildren are so charming 💜
You bring such joy and beauty to us, it is so appreciated.❤
Sue, your comments are so sweet and encouraging ♥️
Pam
Your posts always make me smile! Such beauty and inspiration. Blessings dear friends.
Thank you, Maristella!
Pam
The sweetness enjoying the tea party – priceless! Enjoying Sundays with you two as you celebrate you love of nature is such a blessing to me! THANK YOU!
Mary, thank you for your sweet comments!
Pam
Beautiful flowers and beautiful photos! I wish I could visit those places some day in an old RV with a good retirement 🙂
Another lovely stroll! And the tea party picture of Ella is just darling! Love her big eyes.
The hummingbird moth is exceptional. We have not seen them here in Pa. but we do see them in AZ.
And lastly the moon shot is fabulous. We missed it coming up over the lake… and no idea why!
Thank you for another lovely post!
Thank you, Nancy! Ella Mae loves a tea party!
Pam
So many fantastic pictures here Butch! That moon shot is so beautiful and glad to hear that we will have a full moon twice this month. Love the sunbeams too. I’m happy that your crape myrtles recovered from the frost and what a magnet for the bees. Wow. EM definitely has her tea etiquette down pat. The bald cypress growing in the water is quite different to see. I wish both of you a lovely week ahead with fingers crossed for rain.
Thank you, Kim. We had rain yesterday and today. Your comments are always so sweet!
Pam
Beautiful photos, I could feel the easy mood of a Sunday trouht them. Amazing places and you describe it so perfectly it feels like I was there 🙂
It is always such a joy to visit with you all here! I am running behind on visiting blogs, as usual, but enjoyed stopping by today. God bless you all.
Thank you and we appreciate all of your visits, Cheryl!