“From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!”
Psalm 113:3 ESV
Welcoming meteorological autumn with a gorgeous “September Morn”. We didn’t dance until the night became a brand new day, but I did rise up early a few mornings last week. OK, for those that may not remember, and you’re thinking I’ve lost it, “September Morn” is a song by Neil Diamond, and we only danced a few minutes the evening before!
I learned that the secret to a chaste tree providing blooms a second time during the season was to prune the tree after the first blooming, removing all the spent blooms. I tried it and discovered this is very true! The bees and butterflies are also thankful, especially the bees…they are crazy over these purple flowers!
Once again, as I was out dead-heading zinnias, an odd looking stem caught my eye. Is this mantis following me around? I encountered a green guy just like this one last week on two different occasions. I do like having them around since they help with insect control, as long as they stay in the garden and not on me. Like last week’s lizard, hanging out beneath a zinnia umbrella has become a popular movement!
The eastern tiger swallowtail didn’t seem to bother the preying mantis, but it refused to land on the zinnia above the mantis. I waited a long time for a butterfly to move closer, but that never happened, so…
…I moved a little closer. My move was not a welcome one. It surprised me that the weight of a praying, (or preying) mantis was enough to bend the zinnia over. It was time for me to move on!
Ballet time has arrived again, and this year EK has joined EM at the dance studio. Now I must admit, there isn’t much that can entice me to attend a ballet performance, but this will do it!
I understand the Umbrella Sky Project was started in Portugal in 2012. I guess the idea really caught on since there are 1000’s of pics available online of hanging umbrella projects from all over the world. But instead of borrowing a pic from some other source, we dropped by a small alley in a nearby rural town and enjoyed making our own photo. Someone did a nice job!
Virgin’s bower, called autumn clematis by most folks, dominates stream banks, lake sides, and other areas near water by late August. It is another vine with beautiful blooms but is very aggressive, climbing on everything! It is highly visible now as I travel around the area.
I’m glad these folks didn’t tear down this old barn to plant more corn but it truly appears it is surrounded. I just love the simple things I see while riding down country roads!
We weren’t very familiar with “The American Quilt Trail Movement”, a fast growing public art movement across North America. Colorful quilt squares are painted on barns and buildings and can be viewed along driving trails across the nation. I don’t know if every state has a trail or an organization, but we are fortunate to have “The Alabama Quilt Trail”. This quilt pattern is called ‘road trip’.
Pam has a long-time friend that has drawn the patterns for many of the area quilt blocks and her husband paints them. This block is one that they produced.
Trail maps and addresses are provided on the “Alabama Barn Quilt Trail” website of people throughout the state who participate. PJ and I located quite a few within driving distance of our home, mapped out a route, and hit the road.
Another block prepared by our friends, this one called ‘woven star’.
Participants expect tourists to stop by and make photos, but we discovered most can be viewed from the highway and pics taken without disturbing anyone. We ran out of time on our drive, but plan to map out more and head out another day. I believe we found 11 on our day trip last week. The blocks are either 4’x4′ or 8’x8′.
This is a farm pond in northeast Alabama. As we were driving a route that would take us by barns with the quilt paintings, I happened to spot a sign that caught my attention. Other signs were also nearby that, to me, suggested the lake was private and posted and visitors best not be hanging around. Is there, or has there been a gator here? I have no idea, but Pam and I obeyed the signs!
Jesus was being watched very closely by some who wanted to find fault with him as he healed a man on the Sabbath. When He asked, which of you having a donkey or an ox that has fallen in a ditch or well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out? The group fell silent. I don’t know if that Biblical principle would apply to a llama in a ditch but PJ spotted one last week as we were riding the countryside. Actually since it was around 100 degrees, I doubt this one wanted out!
Maybe you are planning an extra long weekend without too much labor on Labor Day??? I hope so, but either way:
Have A Great Holiday Weekend and A Blessed Week!
“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 ESV
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Your flower garden is lovely! I appreciate the countryside pictures you share and the beautiful Scripture. It is peaceful and soothing. God bless you!
Thank you, Mrs. White.
Pam
Alabama has many things to enjoy and the quilt squares painted on buildings is so unique. I’d never known about the trail. What fun to look for them on a road trip. That praying mantis was on to you Butch. Your garden belongs to him and you better watch out. The girls are so precious in their ballet outfits. My autumn clematis has begun to bloom. Clematis is not invasive here but crab grass is and it’s working its roots to pieces in our front lawn. I don’t like chemicals so I’ve been digging and digging and digging but I might resort to calling in the brigade. Happy Labor Day you two.
Thank you, Alice. It has been fun to follow part of the trail and hope to visit more. Oh the nasty crab grass! Happy Week!
Pam
Lovely post today. We have several quilt trails in western NC. My husband made one for our home out of ceramic tiles. It weighs a ton, but will never need repainting.
Carole, I know the ceramic tile must be beautiful’
Good Morning, sweet folks! Your gardens never disappoint, especially when you show us the critters! The praying mantis was fabulous.
I enjoyed seeing the ballerinas. What sweethearts in pink.
Our fall clematis is about to bloom. It froze out last year, and I cut it to the base, thinking it was done. This past spring, it came back with full force!
We, too, have quilt blocks all around the area. They are fun to make… lots of measuring to get it just right.
It is always a pleasure to stop by and go on a stroll with you. Thank you!
Happy Labor Day Weekend… we are headed to the boat!
Thank you, Nancy. I am always happy to see you here. Looks like you had a great day!
Pam
We did! I hope you did as well!
Yes, a nice day!
Loving it all, especially the umbrellas and the little ballerinas. I smiled at how poised EM was with her pose and EL doing her best but still a little too young to have the full flair! Give her another year. That will be a special day.
Thank you, Jeanie. EK is determined to be a ballerina!She is always dancing. Yes, given time the flair will come.
Pam!
Happy September Pam and Butch! Love the Umbrella Sky Project you found so pretty! Your ballerinas are quite pretty too, there is nothing sweeter than little girls in their ballet clothes 🙂 How much fun to map out a route to see the barns with quilts, the barns are amazing! The sunset photos are gorgeous! HHjr said there is a feel of Fall in the air today, so maybe Fall is actually on the way…
Thank you, Jenna. I so hope fall is not teasing us!
Pam
Garden flowers are gorgeous. How fun you could visit some of the quilt blocks near your area. Love always that you share your trips with all of us. Happy Sunday. Have a beautiful weekend. Hugs. Kris
Thanks so much, Kris. Wishing you a wonderful week!
Pam
Good morning Pam and Butch! Hoping your Alabama morning is feeling as good as ours in SC!! I’m loving the ballerinas! And the quilt project is wonderful. I’ve seen them on barns too around the area and mountains, but didn’t realize it was such an organized project. Neil Diamond is my absolute favorite! Yesterday with the help of my 2 Fellowship of Christian Athletes guys, we painted about 90’ of deck railing. We started early and we’re done by lunch, the weather was perfect!
Roxanne, when I was a teen I saw Neil Diamond a couple of times. Butch and I saw him in Nashville during his 50th year of performing. That tour was cut short because of his Parkinson’s diagnosis. How nice to have help from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes guys. I know you were happy to complete that job! Happy Week!
Pam
The umbrella project is such a clever idea and so colorful. The morning shot is beautiful. The girls in their ballet outfits are so cute. Your landscaping is still so colorful and providing cover or food for all the tiny creatures. The quilt squares are fun to spot on a road trip. Enjoy your day! Clara ❤️
Thank you, Clara. Enjoy your week ♥️
Pam
Butch really waxed poetic with that Neil Diamond refrain (such memories) Back East we had a “trail” for Sunday driving – viewing the barns adorned with Distelfink
hex signs of German origin for protection, also reproduced by artisans in many forms. Intrigued by the second blooming process of the chaste tree..severing the
past to make way for a new blossoming .. Like the newly blossoming EK following in the steps of her ballerina sister.. her expression says it all. Happy to know about
the Umbrella Sky Project and that it has spread globally…so colorfully. Just love it when spontaneous goodness catches on. So many lessons to be derived from the old barn being preserved in the cornfield or the llama in the ditch echoing scripture
Thank you for blessing this Sabbath and holiday weekend, dear ones.
Mary, thank you for your lovely thoughts. Wishing you a blessed week, dear one!
Pam
Beautiful photos and those girls are wonderful! Blessings.
You are so sweet, Maristella!
Beautiful flowers but nothing can compare to EM and EK in their ballet outfits.
Marilyn,Joan and Marion
Thank you, sweet friends. I might be prejudiced, but I agree!
Lovely photos Butch and Pam …for a beautiful Lord’s Day. The girls are adorable and I’m sure you will enjoy every minute of their ballet performances. As you know we have plenty of gators here in Florida and there are reports of them in Alabama and all along the gulf coast. They love brackish water. I have seen the tops of many of them in our area lakes and rivers and just behind that sign could perhaps be one. None the less, staying clear is the solution to the dilemma. Have a great and Blessed Day and Holiday. Hugs
Thank you, Kari. Gators have been up here for years. It seems they are multiplying and are showing up everywhere. Happy Week to you!
Corn fields and barns. Two basic things that are disappearing. Maybe they’ll name the new subdivision near me, “Corn and Barn Estates.” – choke! Thanks for the lovely images and thoughts.
Thank you, Leslie Anne! “Corn and Barn Estates” 🤣
The flowers are beautiful, as always. So are the lovely ballerinas!
Thank you, dear one!
Great post! That cottage garden! Wow, it’s just spectacular! Not an official quilt trail that I’m aware of (and your friend’s block are fabulous), but my sister and I traveled the AA Highway through part of KY to Cincy this past week, and several barns along the way have quilt blocks painted on them. The drive is so enjoyable, and I love that you & Pam do that. Btw, once at my sister’s, she was playing JD’s greatest hits and I spoke of you both, and showed her your photo and how closely you resemble him, and that you are a very talented singer/songwriter/guitarist too. Butch, you will certainly change your entire frame of mind on ballet should EM and or EK become serious dancing athletes, trust me! Thank you for another SSS.
Thanks so much, Rita. Butch read your comments and appreciates your kind words. He always reads everyone’s comments, I just answer for him. We are hoping to have our friend draw and paint us a quilt square. We would not be on the trail, because we are not visible from the road. You are correct, Butch will not miss anything our grands are involved in, including ballet. He has already been to two ballet programs for Ella Mae.
Have a great week!
Pam
This post was full of everything wonderful! I recently learned about the Quilt Trail throughout America and I think it is a very special way to honor the art of quilting in America. Thanks for sharing your adventure with me!
It is our pleasure, Mary. Thank you!
I absolutely love the quilt paintings on barns and have photographed quite a few. That is amazing that you found 11! I will be pinning several of your photos from this post. It is so refreshing to stop by and visit with you here. Many blessings to you!