“Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.””
Jeremiah 9:23-24 ESV
I was able to take delight in another October sunrise last week. I occasionally wish there was some way to include a pause button in real life. But, upon pondering that thought a bit, I decided maybe having access to such a button wouldn’t be a good idea after all. Strictly God’s business!
I did a double take at this tree for two reasons. It resides near the walking path and boardwalk of a nearby wildlife/bird sanctuary. It’s well away from any homes or neighborhoods, and being a Chinese Tallow (popcorn tree), it isn’t a native tree and must be planted as an ornamental. This would be an escapee or rogue probably planted by birds. And this tree doesn’t normally have black berries?? A closer inspection revealed that the berries belonged to a peppervine that had found a home amongst the tree limbs. The obvious is not always true!
We had harvest gold appliances when we first married 50 plus years ago. That color was the rage in those days. Most appliances may not be harvest gold today but the color sure is popular with me when viewed in this setting. And, the Appalachian foothills in the distance didn’t hurt a thing either! “Gold is just a windy Kansas wheat field”…and also an Alabama soybean field.
Mid-October is Monarch time around our place and this year is no exception. We were beginning to wonder however, as we had spotted a couple passing by, but none choosing to hang out a day or two. That changed Thursday when this male spent most of the afternoon around the Sunshine Cottage garden!
I always leave the fading flowers until the end of October or even later before cleaning up things for the winter. The zinnias and other flowers look rough by this time of year, but like this Monarch, butterflies and bees don’t seem to mind.
I finally caught an angle where the sunlight was shining through the transparent wings and casting shadows of the chaste tree blooms on the underside of the wings. I have never managed to catch one in this position that I can recall!
Our EM butterfly from October 2016, is our throwback pic for this week. She has on her daddy’s overalls and is riding in his radio flyer wagon!
This country church is definitely surrounded by white fields ready for harvest!
The plants have completed their work…
…and the harvester has arrived on the scene, which means…
…bales will soon be ready for a trip to the cotton gin!
Did you grow up hearing folks call these “good news bees”? Our parents and grandparents alike always called them by that name, but I don’t remember any specific good news that followed a sighting. Although these critters look “beeish”, they are actually hover flies, not bees at all! We sure could use a little good news today!
Last week another sentry arrived to watch over the garden, perched high enough for a good view. We see numerous hawks, especially in October, but we’ve not had one decide to stop by the garden, until now. I believe this is a Cooper’s hawk, but would gladly welcome an opinion from some of our readers who may be experts when it comes to birds. I am hopefully always in learning mode. Cooper’s love mice, chipmunks, and squirrels, so I’d say this one stopped at a prime location for a nice meal!
While waiting in a couple of my hideouts for a Monarch sighting, this buckeye kept coming back to the same worn and ragged zinnia. Again, I leave them until frost or later because there is obviously something sweet on the inside that the outer appearance might not show. What a good lesson from a flower! And besides, these common butterflies are very pretty and need a little screen time too.
This Penhill Dark Monarch dahlia was planted in 2019 and had a couple of insignificant blooms that year. The plant never bloomed again, until last week! Stranger things have happened, but still? We left the plant because the foliage was always nice, but stopped looking for blooms a long time ago. Oh well, it’s a beauty and we are pleased to have it!
Pam and I always take a short autumn journey a few miles (about 25) to our northeast to Little River Falls to see the cascading water and the changing leaves around the Little River Canyon National Preserve. We debated whether to go on Wednesday, realizing it was still mid-October, and it has been extremely dry for several months. We had never seen the falls slowed to a small trickle confined to one side. Last year we were a little late. This mountain area gets frost a little earlier than we do a few miles away. This year we arrived too early, but will try again. Will extreme dry conditions take toll on leaf color? Hopefully we can get back in a couple weeks to check it out.
Only bare rocks where water normally flows!
Before returning home from Little River, we decided to check the water coming off nearby, 90 foot Noccalula Falls. We’ve lived here for many years, and of course have had dry conditions where the falls simply dries up, but we don’t see it that often. According to our long range forecast, the next 10 days continue to look dry and warm, with a few days back in the 80’s.
Have a blessed week. We pray for peace in Israel.
“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 always enjoy your stunning photographs and descriptions! It is such a blessing! Thank you!
Thanks so much, Mrs. White!
We had Harvest Gold appliances in two apartments when we were in our early years of marriage. We thought it was so fresh and new at the time, LOL!! How things change.
Yes, how things change. Thank you, Carole!
Love love the beautiful Monarchs. God really made some beautiful creatures for us to enjoy along with your beautiful flowers. We had harvest gold appliances when we were growing up and our first apartment when we married had the dark brown that was popular in the 80’s. Happy Sunday to both of you. Hugs. Kris
Amen, Kris. Seems most of us remember the harvest gold appliances! Happy new week’
I love all the beautiful butterfly photos! I also love seeing the cotton fields this time of year bursting with white cotton bolls and the throw back pic of EM is adorable 🙂 The photos of the falls are shocking that there is so little water flowing! Have a beautiful Sunday and Roll Tide!
Jenna
Thanks so much, Jenna. I love seeing the cotton fields. We need rain, but see none in the forecast. Roll Tide!
Pam
I so agree about fading flowers. They have a beauty all their own. I especially love the butterflies today. So beautiful. I smiled at Harvest Gold. Ah, yes — I remember that time. In a way, I really like that retro feel of it — although i’m not sure I could live with it again!
Thank you, Jeanie. We all seem to remember the harvest gold. Wishing you a lovely week!
Pam
Good morning, Butch and Pam! The opening sunrise is gorgeous, and the cotton fields are beautiful. I especially love the photo of the church surrounded by the cotton field. I was thinking about cleaning out my flower beds this week, but I think your idea is better. I will leave my tired plants a little longer for the bees and butterflies to enjoy. Wishing you both a blessed Sunday and wonderful week ahead!
Thanks so much, Shannon. Hang on to those flowers a little longer. Wishing you a lovely week!
Pam
Another Sunday of spectacular photos… especially those of the butterflies and EM, and oh that field of gold and sunrise. You did have a pause button, known as a camera, and yours is especially gifted. Just love the cotton bales in their colorful wraps. Sad to see the results of our arid weather of late. but hopefully your return to the “falls” may be more encouraging. I’ve listed the buckeye butterfly as one of my visual favorites thanks to you. Continued prayers for peace throughout the middle East and our beloved planet. Sabbath blessings to all.
Thanks so much, Mary. We love catching the monarchs on their way south! Wishing you a lovely week!
Pam
Oh! The popcorn trees! So pretty, yet my parents had to dig their tree up and toss it out – invasive. – who knew? Glad you can still see one in an isolated area. I loved clipping the white tipped branches for Christmas decorations. – thanks for the butterfly photos. so lovely.
Leslie Anne, we had popcorn trees and had to remove them years ago because they became so invasive. Occasionally one will still pop up.
Thank you for your weekly beautiful photos. Love the church amid the cotton fields and speaking of appliances, I not only had harvest gold appliances, but avocado green and the coppertone with its variegated brown toes. Oh my, what were we thinking?
LOL…The other day I spotted a painted bunting but he flew away so fast before I could take a picture… they have become a rare sighting here in south Florida as they make their way to Mexico and South America. Just another marvel of God’s creations. Have a great and Blessed Week dear friends.
Kari, you were very much in style with your appliances 😂 God’s artistry in creation fills me with wonder and awe! Happy Monday!
The butterfly pics are absolutely gorgeous! Everything here is also dry. We have dried leaves falling from the trees. We desperately need some rain. The falls are beautiful with or without water. I must admit I prefer them with water. Our appliances were harvest gold too back in the day. Those appliances lasted much longer than the new ones today! We’re in the midst of cotton being harvested as well. The fields are beautiful. No rain helps them during this time of year so that’s a plus. EM looks so cute in the wagon. Happy Sunday! Clara ❤️
Clara, you are correct at how well those older appliances lasted. Wishing you a joy-filled week ♥️
Thanks for inspiring me with a beautiful Sunday morning message and images captured in your lovely part of the USA! And of course, the image of your granddaughter is priceless!
Mary, thank you for the heartwarming comments!
Hola Amigos queridos, SI!!!! soy yo…”la niña perdida…Amigos queridos, no penseis que ya me habia olvidado de vosotros….no. Vuestra amistad siempre está presente. Son muchos años de contacto para que se llegue a olvidar a unos excelentes amigos y personas. Me encanta siempre todo lo que mostraís, sencillamente es muy bello e interesante. Me encanta TODO!!!!
He perdido el hilo de vuestros nietos…Esa niña tan bonita es nueva?…no la reconozco.
Un gran abrazo
Dolores
Hola nuestro amigo. Estamos muy felices de verte de nuevo. Te hemos extrañado mucho. La pequeña es nuestra Ella Mae mayor, que ahora tiene 7 años. Esta era una foto de recuerdo de ella cuando tenía 6 meses. Tenemos tres nietos. Dos niñas de 7 y 4 años. El más pequeño es un niño de 2 años. ¿Vas a volver a escribir un blog? Cuídate. ¡Les mandamos nuestro cariño y abrazos!
Always look forward to your posts. Beautiful pictures and scriptures
Thanks so much!
It’s always a joy to read these beautiful posts! The Monarchs are indeed gorgeous but so is that buckeye butterfly. And of course EM is adorable. The cotton fields look so pretty and so is the sunrise shot. We had a very dry summer here as well, but inexplicably, have had lots of rain in October. It is currently snowing here. Praying for some rain for you and I hope you both have a wonderful week!
Thank you, Kim. Wow, snow already. You are a sweetheart, my friend!
Butch I can’t remember ever seeing a hover fly nor had I heard the comments about them. I trust you always to show me something a little different from your walks. I adore the throw back picture of EM. She looks like a doll. I do remember her wearing her dads overalls and that is his Radio Flyer. Sweet memories! Oh and I love the butterfly pictures and your patience to wait to get the best picture, and the comment about the fading zennia that there is something sweet on the inside. We are also very dry. No rain for two months almost but it is freezing cold and we expect snow Saturday and Sunday. We had the sprinklers blown out just in time. Anyway where did October go? Everywhere I go I see stores loaded with Christmas.
Thank you, Alice. EM has grown up too quickly. So you may have received snow today and possibly tomorrow! We may have frost on Wednesday morning. We still have no rain in our forecast. October has passed too quickly. Blessings, our friend!
Pam & Butch
All those pictures look so nice. I like the one with the Penhill Dark Monarch dahlia.. I have Denver Daises planted in my yard and they bloom every spring.
Thanks so much for your visit. I am sure your daisies are beautiful each spring!
Such an interesting post, as always! I am praying for peace for Israel, too. We are surely living in the perilous troubled times the Bible told us would come. My heart stays so burdened over it all, and I have to keep refocusing my eyes on Jesus. God bless you all.
Cheryl, keeping our eyes on the hope we have in Christ is the only way to not stay worried and upset!