“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”
Proverbs 19:21 ESV
My best laid plans often never materialize, or are forced to change. Sometimes that is a real blessing. Thankfully my plans to get out early a few mornings last week worked out well however, and I was able to enjoy several great October sunrises. The small crescent moon was sharing the sky with Venus, but you really have to look closely to see the planet…Pam found it!
I gave up on really liking warty pumpkins some years ago but still get a few every season because they are popular and a lot of people think it is a neat look. I had no intention of buying any additional pumpkins, especially a warty one. But something came over me and I brought this one home last week. I think PJ likes it. She displayed it in a nice spot which is a good sign!
The engine doesn’t appear to be doing anything but thankfully it was doing its job. The land and structures below are in Austria near Vienna. Heading home!
I know that praying is aways a very good thing, any place and in any position. Most of the time we speak of praying on our knees, but I see nothing wrong with praying upside down. I suppose this praying (or preying) mantis agrees. The wild narrowleaf sunflowers are blooming all over the place and were my original intention but you never know what little extra might turn up!
While taking a walk in the nearby wildlife park/bird sanctuary I came across this single swamp mallow. The bloom was about 8 inches across and reminded me of the cultivars we enjoyed all summer in our garden called “luna red” and “luna rose”. Both hibiscus cultivars had gigantic blooms.
All I can say is, “boys with their toys”. Or maybe “nothing runs like a Deere”. You might think we were working on a necessary home project, but the truth is, we were repairing a washed out crossing where we hike, ride and otherwise play! (We also work around the house when needed)
I assume there’s no need to tire out both legs, when standing on one leg works just fine. The hen mallard philosophy!
The final day of haying season came last week. Seasons come and seasons go. I enjoy fall and the holidays, but I always miss the lazy, hazy days of summer. Do you have a favorite?
It’s beginning to look a lot like autumn…well, maybe a little like autumn.
We finally received a small amount of rain near the end of the week, but this large water droplet was a collection of dew drops. The small yellow ginkgo leaf first caught my eye. Like the sunflower and preying mantis earlier, sometimes you’re admiring one thing yet discover another!
Asters have always been a favorite. One of our natives, hairy aster or frost aster can be found now along roadsides and field edges.
Orange jewelweed likes damp low areas and I find it a lot this time of year around the bogs and lakes.
If you dropped by last week you saw that I discovered that people buy the seed pods from magnolia trees. I usually chop these up with my mower, but decided this year to pick them up instead. It’s not that I plan to sell them (they’re several dollars each online), but I just thought I would feel as if I was shredding money while running over them with the mower. These are only a few I picked up in a couple of minutes!
Friday evening was cool but pleasant and a perfect time to have our first fire in the pit by the Sunshine Cottage. It was a last minute idea so no marshmallows were roasted. That wouldn’t be fun without EM, EK, and WL anyway! We did enjoy a little music, and music has zero calories.
This unusual and rare rainbow appeared last week one afternoon on a day that we received no rain. I don’t recall seeing one quite like it. It fanned out with additional rays beyond the normal colors and pattern. Our local meteorologist calls this a supernumerary bow and describes it as “delicate closely spaced arcs of predominately green, pink, and purple hues that appear just inside the primary rainbow”. God’s amazing creation. The sky on this particular afternoon was simply indescribable!
Hoping you have an awesome 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,
Life and Linda
I see venus
It is very small in the photo! Happy Sunday, Gail.
My favorite time of year is when the days are long and the temperatures are warm. It’s dark when the children are raised from their sleep to get ready to get on a school bus and when they get home it’s a short time to be outside where they can get fresh air and sunshine that we treasure so much Butch. We were backing out of our garage yesterday and saw our neighbors children playing under our Colorado blue spruce.,it has the ideal shelter underneath to play. Soon snow will stop that fun pastime. But you say children like to play in snow, well not really. They take their sports inside where the sun doesn’t shine and the air isn’t as clean. Beautiful rainbow Butch. Praying for calmer heads and helping hands for Israel. May God bless her with peace.
Thank you, dear Alice. Yes, we are in prayer! Troublesome times but we trust our faithful God as you do. Love and hugs!
Pam
Took me a while, but I found Venus. I love the look of the Sunshine Cottage at night with the firepit. Fall is definitely upon us. Thank you for observing the simple pleasures each week, No matter if we’re on our knees, hanging upside down, or just casually reading, it’s like a prayer of gratitude. xo
Venus is tiny in that photo. Thank you, Rita. Yes, a prayer of gratitude, indeed!
Pam
I saw Venus!
Good Morning Folks!
What a lively Sunday Stroll. My sweet man would love to play with the tractor and digger!
I enjoy seeing all the beauty on your walks. That rainbow was quite stunning.
There’s nothing like a backyard fire. Yours was beautiful!
Summer is my fun season, and Fall is my beautiful season.
Happy Sunday!
Thank you, Nancy. Fall is my beautiful season, also!
Pam
The rainbow is fabulous. Nothing like relaxing by a backyard fire to be cozy and warm. Happy Sunday. Have a wonderful new week ahead. Hugs. Kris
Thanks so much, Kris. Wishing you a wonderful weeks and Hugs right back to you!
Pam
Happy Sunday Butch and Pam! The sunrise with Venus is breathtaking, and I always feel that seeing a rainbow is such a treat and a promise from God that there is hope~ I loved seeing “the boys and their toys” 🙂 How nice to relax with a fire and music outside, so peaceful~ as simple pleasures are the best!
Jenna
Thank you, Jenna. Simple pleasures are definitely the best…Happy Sunday!
Pam
Our jewelweed is gone now. But smiled about the gnarly and warty pumpkins. I don’t usually buy them yet with a lot of pumpkins I find them a wonderful change of pace! Loved the rainbow!
Thanks so much, Jeanie. Wishing you a beautiful autumn Sunday!
Pam
Another lovely new discovery gift from Butch…the orange jewelweed… Every Sabbath an “insight to Nature” experience. What a lovely setting by the firelight bathed in music. Wonder how God feels
about those who sell off at outlandish prices His gifts to us from the magnolia tree…. Venus duly noted. I agree with Pam about that noteworthy warted pumpkin…. great color and design….
Continued concern and prayer for Israel….
Thank you, Mary. Yes we continue to pray for Israel!
Love and hugs.
Pam
Beautiful sky shots. The rainbow is gorgeous. Enjoyed all the pics. Have a great afternoon. Clara❤️
Thank you, Clara ♥️
What beautiful rainbow! Gorgeous pictures. Praying for Israel… Have a blessed week ahead.
Thank you Maristella 🙏🏻
Butch does a great job with his Sunday posts. My favorite photos in this post are the fire pit by the Sunshine Cottage and the rainbow. And yes, prayers for Israel.
So much beauty in the simple things that Butch finds for us. That rainbow was spectacular. I enjoyed seeing your big boy with his toys! Our reading today in church was Isaiah 25:1-9. It actually gave me goosebumps. My new church plant has just moved into a synagogue. They have welcomed us with open arms to use their facilities on Sunday mornings. I hope everyone around the world is praying for peace.
What an incredible rainbow and sunrise. I rise early and with coffee in hand go out in the dark and view the night sky. Venus has been brightly visible on the back of my home and Jupiter in the front now. It is so peaceful and beautiful! I miss seeing God’s awesome handiwork when it is cloudy.
I enjoyed all the flora and fauna of the season Butch shared today. Love the glow of your firepit and the Sunshine cottage at night.
Prayers for Israel.
Such a beautiful post to start the week! The sunrise photo is gorgeous! October has such wonderful sunrises, and I have enjoyed a few on my morning walks as well as the pretty asters along the roadside. The rainbow you captured is amazing! I love your new fire pit area with Sunshine Cottage in the background. This is the perfect month for sitting around a fire in the evenings. Wishing you both a blessed week ahead!
Beautiful pictures and what a neat rainbow! I couldn’t find Venus sadly, but the crescent moon is gorgeous. I am in love with that warty pumpkin and the upside down preying mantis. The boys with their toys shot is such fun. The firepit with the Sunshine Cottage in the background looks so warm and cozy. Have a lovely week Pam and Butch!
Thank you, Kim. Your visits are always heartwarming!
A wonderful post filled with much loveliness! 💖 I think rainbows are one of nature’s best gifts and the one you captured is amazing! And I so agree with you – “nothing runs like a Deere”, if you have an outdoor project to get done! Best autumn wishes to you two!
Best autumn wishes to you and Mr. Z!
Pam
Wow! That rainbow! Praise God that He still gives us comfort through the promise He made to Noah so long ago. His promise still stands. In spite of all that is going on in this warped, upside down, evil world. God is still on the throne, and He is still faithful. I have never heard of a rainbow without rain. That is so interesting.
God is faithful and His promises never fail!🙏🏻
What a cute bug in that sunflower!
Thank you for your visit! Happy Sunday!