“Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?”
Psalm 113:5-6 ESV
I must give credit to Pam for this pic of a magnificent September sunrise from the middle of last week. Missing this in person is what I get for not getting up early enough to catch a ride on the golf cart before it pulled away just before sunrise. I bragged on her for the brave move in the dark. The fence line you see in the shadows is home and a travel route for various creatures…such as skunks, coyotes, bobcats and others. None will harm you, but a close encounter might make you smell as if you’ve been afflicted!
I was finished with today’s post a couple of days early (I thought) when our daughter-in-love shared this sunrise rainbow that she captured while out for an early run. So glad she took time to take this pic, and I definitely could not pass it up. Sunrise beauty is normally seen looking east, but how about this sunrise blessing looking north!! Thank you AR!
I typically only fly the drone from home but I ventured a bit further one day last week. Flying northeast I found a cornfield with the Appalachian foothills in the distance. This field is not likely to become a corn maze next month, but will probably be harvested for feed. It would be cheating I suppose to fly over a maze designed to be entertaining, yet challenging to find your way out, and take an aerial. I do think that would make an interesting photo however!
As you know I sometimes name a photo, and on occasion, something totally off the wall comes to mind…but in this case just a reality. I am calling this “Days Gone By”. I am familiar with this old place and even the silo in the distance hasn’t stored grain in many years. Sad but true. A story that is repeated over and over!
We found this barn quilt along the Alabama Barn Quilt Trail a few days after our day trip last week. Most of the quilts are blocks of special material with the painting on the block like art work on a canvas, and then the finished work is hung on the barn. This pattern is actually painted directly on the barn door.
This barn was quite a distance from the main highway so I tried my long lens. It worked fairly well. We thought the old truck was a great addition to the scene!
This nice pattern is one of two found on a barn at a friends flower farm. Pam finds a lot of flowers for table arrangements and for special occasions at Deep Roots Flower Farm and I go with her “once in a blue moon”… but I had never seen the quilt blocks until last week. Speaking of the moon, we had a full blue moon on August 30. In case you missed it, it will rise here a little later, just hang on!
Blue moons and blue eyes were all around week before last. One of WL’s favorite spots is the back seat of the golf cart. If the cart is anywhere in the vicinity, he will load up and fasten his seat belt indicating it is time to go. He doesn’t care where we go, just get moving! And, he likes facing backwards, this is his preferred seat! The leading competitor that might lure him away from the golf cart would be a John Deere tractor.
Ironweed, with its tough as iron stems, is a vibrant and bright purple indicator of change and things to come. As August fades, this tall native plant can be seen along our field edges and trails. Since it is toxic to livestock, I imagine those with cattle and horses would prefer not to have it in pastures. An aster akin to sunflowers can’t be all bad though!
I decided to hike a little off my routine trails and in a direction not normally taken. Hidden away near an overgrown home place I found this marker, inside what remains of an ornate iron fence. The area was covered by some type of ornamental vine that looks like periwinkle, but interestingly, the one vine growing up the middle of the stone is poison ivy!
This is near the river and what was known as Croft Ferry. The crossing was about 1/2 mile upriver from us! Info from a local historian dates the ferry back to 1823, so 200 years ago! The Croft family took the ferry in 1838 and I understand their family operated it until the county took over. There is a lot of very interesting pre-civil war and civil war history that took place here.
On a side note, a U S Post Office operated from 1914-1954, in a building that once stood on a site which is now part of our son’s front yard! The mail traveled to residents across the river by way of the ferry. The ferry shut down around 1970 when highways and bridges made the ferry obsolete. Once again, “bygone days”.
Another discovery was this tulip tree, sometimes called tulip poplar, or yellow poplar. Not really a poplar at all but a magnolia family tree that is one of the fastest growing native trees in our area. (Magnoliaceae liriodendron tulipifera, if you have a desire to be technical). I must say that this is one of the largest I have seen. We have one in our yard that I know to be over 40 years old and it is about one third this size.
Murals have become another popular expression of art that usually reveals history and/or tells a story about a community or area. They have always been around of course, but like the quilt blocks on barns, many new murals are mapped out and are part of The Alabama Mural Trail. New ones are popping up all the time in both urban and rural areas. I was passing through Gadsden and spotted this one last week. I discovered that there are over 140 murals just on the North Alabama Mural Trail!
I never pay attention to car dealerships or used car lots because those are very common and quite numerous. However, when a palm tree lot opens up to sell…well, palm trees, here in northeast Alabama, I took notice. Not what I am accustomed to or needing at the moment, but if you are interested, the number is available. Not really a good fit for our Sunshine Cottage garden, so we will pass for now.
I confess, the blue moon I promised earlier was not really blue, but is was the second full moon in a calendar month which doesn’t happen often, hence “once in a blue moon”! The current idea of the phrase is not so old but I read the notion of a blue moon and various uses of the phrase have been around about 500 years!
The sky was on fire one evening!
Pam and I will be moving about some in the coming days, venturing to a few isolated places and at times may not have cell or internet. But, we will be checking in when service is available.
We pray you have a wonderful 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
That Sunrise! Glory be to God!
Good Morning Friends. What a lovely stroll through your area of Alabama. I enjoyed seeing all the quilt blocks. I have made some, and it’s a lot of measuring to get the pattern just right.
That Tulip tree was huge! Wow!
I enjoyed seeing sweet little Blue Eyes, who is not so little anymore.
Thank you for the Blue Moon picture. By the time I saw it, it was bedtime, and I went straight to bed.
Have a beautiful Sunday, my dear friends!
The magnificent sunrise and sunset photos are so beautiful, we live in a wonderful world.
Butch, this post is filled with so much of God’s beauty! As always, my favorite is WL! Those blue eyes! Once in a blue moon I might catch a sunrise or rainbow ~but these are gorgeous! I can imagine how much fun you have with the drone, Butch! The barns, history (I love history!), the tree, and the palm trees for sale (tee hee),…it all made for such a joyful reading time this morning! The moon was mesmerizing! I took a few captures, with just my iPhone,…yours is spectacular! Please give Pam my love and prayers. I’ve been praying each day for all of you~in isolation and peaceful surroundings! I can imagine the beauty you’re experiencing! Many blessings! 🙏🏻🙌🏻💛
The sunrise and sunset shots are magnificent. I know you will capture some more beautiful ones this week!
The sunrise and sunset photos are always my favorite part of Southern Sundays, gorgeous! The rainbow capture and the blue moon capture are gorgeous too! WL is such a cutie, always on the move 🙂 Will palm trees do well in north Alabama? I sure wouldn’t think so, they don’t like cold temps…It was interesting to read about the old ferry and to see the fence and the marker. I love seeing murals painted on various buildings, and have a friend in Selma that has painted some. Have a wonderful and peaceful Sunday Pam and Butch!
Ohhhh the sunset and sunrises you capture are just stunning. The beauty God provides for us is such a gift. Love little Mr. Handsome blue eyes. Those eyes of his are amazing and beautiful. Have a great new week. Hugs. Kris
The sky shots are beautiful! WL has captivating eyes. That tulip poplar is huge! We love seeing the quilt squares and other murals. Enjoy your week! Clara❤️
You and Pam have such an eye for beauty, sometimes in unusual places. I love your nature pictures and look forward to your posts. God bless you.
What an enjoyable post and your first and last photos of the morning and evening sky are wondrous.
Mesmerized by those blue eyes and his penchant for being on the go on select chariots.
The sky photos are exquisite and though spontaneous, could not have been planned better.
I thought the enclosed marker was an old family grave-site, but could very well fill that category, given the demise of its original function. You capture such nostalgic beauty in your
wanderings; views not available to most. We tried a tulip poplar on our property, but, alas, it did not “take”….That one is one humdinger, Butch. Sabbath joy and peace to you both.
Amazing photography by you all! Especially those sunrises & little blue eyes 😊
Blessings to you both, Jennifer
Great photos by your assistants, Butch. 😉And I do love the blue moon and sky on fire. However, that blue-eyed, beautiful boy WL cannot be topped! Safe travels, Richardsons.
Oh the photo of the rainbow! Gods promise is now being used to denigrate. Surely His children can stand up for Him!
Awesome! And Amazing photos! Thank you Butch and Pam and I love that Pam ventured out at zero dark thirty and captured such a beautiful sunrise. God Bless you both.
A little late but oh, my! Such a lot to love here. (Especially those “quilted” barns!
beautiful photos and wise observations, Butch!
As always, gorgeous photos Butch! The sky shots are always favorites, though I don’t know why. Love the sky on fire and the rainbow is pretty amazing too. I’m so glad you captured the blue moon and I was hoping that you would as it was cloudy and rainy here the night of. Love the quilt painted on the barn door. Wyatt is just adorable! Enjoy your time away you two!
The way you capture the essence of Sunday traditions is truly heartwarming. The images of the serene countryside, the inviting table settings, and the delicious dishes make me feel like I’m right there with you, enjoying a leisurely Sunday in the South. Thank you for sharing these simple yet beautiful moments that remind us of the importance of slowing down and savoring life’s pleasures. Your blog is a delightful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Stunning post . Greetings.
Those Alabama barn quilt trails are very intriguing! Happy autumn to y’all!
Alice dear ~ We were warned about wolves in sheep’s clothing. Their rainbow
is fooling none of us.
Oh that rainbow photo! It is just breathtaking and a much needed reminder that my dear Lord’s promises still remain and He will be faithful in my current trials. I can’t get over how beautiful your grandson’s eyes are! And the sky photo at the end was just stunning.