“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 ESV
I enjoyed a warm, pleasant, October morning while on a sunrise walk through the fields last week. The mornings are cooling off now however, with the cold front that made its way south yesterday bringing low-to-mid 40’s. For everything there is a season, and perhaps sweatshirt or hoodie season is upon us…at least for the early morning hours! How is autumn shaping up where you live?
The old blue planter served us well all spring and summer with colorful petunias, vinca, and other flowers, but I did have to water those plants almost every day. It was time for relocation, a new assignment…so with change in the air, it has now become the garden welcome center. And, no watering necessary!
Not everything is welcome in the garden, so we are trying out a new security system. Just to keep an eye on things and discourage unwanted pests!
Pam decided to take a short rest in Budapest (how ’bout that rhyme) so I trekked across the Danube on the Chain Bridge and found this funicular. We call this an incline railway in most places here in the U.S. It was a nice ride, and offered a great view of the river and city. This is located on the Buda side of the river. I never knew one side was Buda and the other side was Pest!
Queen EM finally lost her first tooth. She wasn’t interested in the “tooth fairy” thing and chose instead to get a pedicure, she and her mommy having a girls day out. She was all smiles doing this “big girl” stuff, but don’t tell anyone…I think some of us cried, ever so briefly, but still…
The southern magnolia is a messy tree, but worth the clean up from leaves and seed pods. Several seed stages are always on our 40+ year old magnolia at the same time. The pod that forms first from the bloom reminds me of a soft furry pine cone without the stickers!
Looking just above the furry pod, it was easy to find several that had burst forth with their brightly colored, shiny, coated seeds.
And when the season’s work is complete, and the little ones are gone…it is time to give it up and eventually drop to the ground. That’s when it can get messy under the tree! I discovered that these dried pods are used in all sorts of ways for decorating and crafts. They are for sale online!!! I had no idea. I’ve been chopping them up with the lawn mower! I think I will gather them this week before mowing. I’m curious as to how many I might find!
The harvest is upon us. October is considered a prime month to enjoy the colors of turning leaves, and rightly so. But, the changes across our farmland when the fields are “white unto harvest” , to me, run a close second as far as seasonal beauty! When the foliage is completely gone this will be ready for the picker.
Near the cotton fields, soy beans are being harvested. Other fields remain green and appear to be a few weeks away from being ready. I would only assume the difference is staggered planting times. I enjoy riding through our local farm community any time, but especially in the fall!
It is autumn but this day lily in our front yard has not been notified. We found ourselves amazed that this one lily has started to bloom again in late September and October. I chose to get a photo for Pam because I was certain this would be the last bloom of the season. However, if I am not terribly mistaken, there’s a new bud just waiting for another day? With temps dipping into the 40’s this weekend, I am thinking this unusual behavior will finally cease! This daylily is called Endless Beauty…maybe it is attempting to live up to the name!
A day later and a daylily later, the bloom in the previous pic is finished and yesterday’s bud is today’s blossom. A time to be born and a time to die!
This native, somewhat invasive weed actually has a fall look and is even beginning to show orange and gold colors. I think it’s kinda pretty and doesn’t deserve to be called hogwort.
Some additional nice fall color is already displayed in our woods and needs credit, even if it is poison ivy/poison oak vines. I suppose “look but don’t touch” applies in this situation.
On the same morning I took the stroll and captured this post’s first photo, as the day was becoming brighter, I took note of the clouds higher in the sky. And while doing so, a lingering star caught my eye. It wasn’t actually a star. Can you find Venus in this photo?
An evening sky ahead of our first real cold front of the fall. Fronts typically bring rain, but this one was mostly dry for us!
Yesterday was one of those days and evenings of near perfection that can only be experienced in October. We’ve not had such a gorgeous day since…well…since sometime last October!
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
Hooray for not having to water pots every day! My water bill went down $10 this month, directly attributable to that! That stag beyond the fence is impressively large! Little EM is growing up so fast, I can appreciate your sadness. I have a couple summer flowers pushing blooms also, almost begging not to be cut back. The temps tell us otherwise. The horizon shots are magnificent!
We are so tired of watering. I told Butch to let them all dry up. Thank you, Rita!
Pam
Lovely Sunday morning walk.
Thanks, Carole!
Pam
A lost tooth and a pedicure, she is growing up! My CC {10} spent her tooth fairy money at Sephora buying lotion and nail polish, so cute but I miss the baby doll days…It is starting to look and feel like fall here and I’m loving it! Have a wonderful week Pam and Butch!
Jenna
Jenna, so hard to believe CC is 10. They grow up too fast. Enjoy your week!
Pam
Beautiful capture of nature as always. Love EM and having a mom/daughter day out together. Those days are the best. We are having fall weather finally here in Illinois. Summer has finally let go of us. Have a great week ahead. Hugs. Kris
Thanks so much, Kris. Enjoy the fall weather my friend!
Pam
Not sure which countries we were in when we used the funicular to go up or down but it was a very needed and old way to transverse the path. I believe one was in Austria. I did know that Budapest was two separate places but only because we met a citizen on a train ride that educated us. Yesterday our low was 36 and early morning the frost looked like snow on the tops of houses. So for me it was a day of changing the bedding from summer to winter and did I ever sleep soundly. EM is following her mom along that path to adulthood. And praise God she has a godly mentor. Always enjoy walking with you Butch on Sunday morning.
Thank you, Alice. It was 41 here this morning and there was frost not far from us. The comforter felt good on the bed last night!
Pam
Thank you for your always beautiful and precious posts! Made me smile… Have a blessed Sunday dear friends!
Thank you, Maristella.! Blessings my friend.
Pam
Such an enjoyable a stroll through your fields and discoveries, Butch. Just love your new welcome greeting. Yay ~ I found Venus – prize enough. So cute that EM had her “loss” soothed by such a feminine treat with Mom. Appreciated the return to Budapest for the ride and view.. Memory-laden.
I venture that stag could vault the barrier, if it came to it, but probably realized he made a much more handsome model posing where he was. As ever your photos of the heavens are awesome. Joining others in prayer this day for peace and compassion….
Thank you, dear Mary! Yes prayers for peace, my friend.
Pam
That is a beautiful buck! We see mostly does and fawns all year long but occasionally a buck in the fall. We saw ours a few days ago at dusk. We know they’re around but they are very stealthy. EM is really growing up. She’s a cutie pie with that missing front tooth. We had the same cold front and got a little slow rain but nothing significant. I’m ready for the cooler weather. The fall colors are beautiful. Venus is just a speck in the sky it seems but the sky shots are gorgeous! Love all the pics. Enjoy your Sunday! Clara❤️
Yes, Venus is very small in the sky. We had a light rain, not enough to quench the dry ground’s thirst! Happy Week, Clara ♥️
Pam
Bing further south it was 50 degrees here this morning which is much cooler than 67 yesterday morning. Tomorrow is forecast to be 46.
How neat to get a pic of a buck! I will never forget some years ago walking in the woods and hearing a loud noise from behind us. It was a deer running that jumped an eight foot fence in the clearing ahead of us onto military property.
I liked seeing the different phases of magnolia pods. Cotton fields are beautiful and say home sweet home to me.I never tire seeing the rich white fields “white unto harvest.”
Your sky photos are indeed lovely.
EM is a cutie. I love the excitement about losing a tooth. She came out far ahead of my kids many years ago.
Have a great week.🍁🍁🍁 Bonnie
Thank you, Bonnie. Like you, I love the fields “white unto harvest.” It was 41 here this morning. Happy week to you, Bonnie!
Pam
The Queen lost a tooth…how is this possible, she was just a baby a couple of years ago! But she is definitely a girl after my own heart with that pedicure. I realized last week our only fall color so far is the poison ivy way up in the trees! I get the Word of the Day and today it is “stravaig..to wander aimlessly, as in I went stravaiging in the woods and found an old log cabin”. That describes all of Burch’s interesting walkabouts and was a new word for me!
Roxanne, thank you for sharing the Word of the Day. I am totally unfamiliar with the word. But, it might describe Butch perfectly 😉
Pam
How fun to lose a tooth and enjoy a pedicure with mom! We too are enjoying the cold front that moved through our region. Your images of nature always make me smile!
Thank you, Mary. The cooler weather is so nice.
Pam
I never knew that about the foliage on the cotton. Learn some thing new every day!
I’ve always liked funiculars. The last one I was on was in Quebec City (Old Quebec). The first, in Paris. How fun!
Thank you, Jeanie. I have always wanted to travel to Quebec. Wishing you a lovely week!
Pam
I’ve never been on a funicular – had actually never hear the term – but it looks fun. Kind of like a roller coaster almost. The sky shots are gorgeous as always and I can’t see Venus sadly. The cotton field is lovely and EM is so cute with the missing tooth (but I can appreciate the sadness too). Have a wonderful week Richardsons!
Kim, thank you so much! Looking forward to your table on Tuesday, my friend!
Pam
I giggled when I looked closely at your new garden security! It’s perfect!
I am enjoying all your fall Colors! The Endless Beauty Day Lily blooming now tells us that God wants to remind us that there are always reminders of his endless love!
And a mom-and-daughter day! How wonderful!
Happy New Week to you all!
Thank you, Nancy. You realized it was not the real thing 🤣😂
Pam
I always enjoy Butch’s musing and walkabouts. God has given us so much beauty and each season has it’s beauty. However, I think Fall has such an abundance of my favorite colors that I have to admit I love it. The Captain and I are enjoying a fire in our fireplace this week as our weather has turned cooler. I also liked the explanation of the magnolia pods as I have a magnolia tree that lost a few branches during the Hurricane. EM is growing up too fast as I am sure you guys have already discovered. One of my grandchildren just entered college! Yikes! Have a Blessed and glorious Fall.
So glad you can light a fire and enjoy cooler temps. Yikes, a grand in college. Where does time go? Thank you, Kari!
Pam
We’re headed south to Louisiana on Wednesday to visit with friends. I’m excited, but also knowing I’ll probably lose the remnants of my flowers to a killing frost while I’m away. Not quite ready to bid farewell to the garden’s beauty, but SO ready at the same time. As always, thank you both for sharing the beauty which surrounds you (and the adventures with your beautiful grandkids). I always come away from your posts with an education, inspiration for my own garden, and spiritual refreshment.
Cindie, your comments warm my heart. Enjoy your trip to Louisiana and safe travels!
Pam
The sunset photos you shoot over those trees are always just stunning! It amazes me how God never allows two sunsets to look exactly the same. His wisdom is infinite, even demonstrated in the sunsets. How much we miss by not looking up into the heavens!
Thank you, Cheryl. His wisdom is infinite. The heavens are full of His glory!
Pam