”And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.“
Hebrews 4:13 (ESV)
”Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.“
Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)
Have you ever felt like someone or something was watching you, but you couldn’t actually spot any evidence to confirm? I felt that way on an early walk last week. I later realized I was not alone. Several stick people thought they were hidden, but the camera picked them up!
Bonnie, our blogging friend from Living With Thanksgiving, knows we like old barns and country churches. She remembered us and took time to capture and share this church, located in a rural area of central Alabama!
This was a pretty scene in a shady, damp area of the woods. Ragwort is not good for horses and cattle but insects love it. It is quite common around these parts, we can look out our windows and spot it in the distance. It is native to Eurasia and considered a noxious weed in some of its homeland. I think a few places in the US consider it invasive. Seems harmless in the woods, and a definite announcement of spring.
You have no doubt seen a million + eclipse photos. I told PJ… I am going to scream if I see one more photo, as interesting as they all are. But with that thought, I decided to show one of my photos, so bear with me for just one more. We had a partial, and from my location, a few clouds moved in, which to me made it even more interesting! You may scream now if you like, it’s OK!
This is one of the many ways the grands celebrated my birthday with me last Sunday. WL has a birthday later this month and EM in May. I might need to retaliate. We celebrated EK in March so we are all bunched together. Lots of birthday cake consumed over a short time!
If you saw SSS No. 491 you may remember the wild azalea photos. I mentioned to one of our readers that I mainly see these on ridges, sometimes rocky ridges. Last weeks pics were taken on a ridge just behind the house. I was hiking along Lookout Mountain across from us when I came across this and other azaleas. I noted the color variations last week, but this one caught my eye as being a somewhat darker pink. It was simply a standout in the woods! (Maybe you still haven’t endured as many wild azalea photos as you have solar eclipse pics)!
Pam took me out to eat at our favorite restaurant. This was her dessert. Strawberry zuppa inglese, or better known by me as “yummy”, my name for this delicious Italian dessert! I did not eat dessert or even taste her’s. It’s true! I saved my calories for 5 pieces of birthday cake (not all in one setting).
I do wonder from observation and a purely human perspective what keeps rocks like this in their place. Even though I know who keeps all things where they need to be until their time, and enjoyed looking up into the cobalt sky…I took a photo and then moved along quickly!
And who said a pine tree can’t grow right out of a rock?
I encountered a group of rock climbers and stoped by for a minute. We don’t have the extreme climbing challenges that many places have, but this area near us has become a very popular climbing destination. If you know where to look, you can see one of our pastures from up here. It is a few miles so binoculars help.
This was a group of beginners with instructors below giving advice as needed. A kind lady with the group shared they were from over 3 hours away in Tennessee. I was amazed since Tennessee has no shortage of rocks to climb…you know, good ol’ rocky top! (For many of you who may not be familiar, check out Rocky Top…the song, and a city in Tennessee)
Spreading phlox is known to like mountain ridges and rocky places so finding it in the Appalachian foothills among the rocks was no surprise!
When I saw this finger in the sky I felt it was definitely pointing at me. I knew I was guilty of much, and scolding or warning would be justified. I thought at first that possibly it was that I chanced disturbing the bluebird’s nest last week, but now I don’t think so…
…because I sensed everything was ok with the local bluebirds when they hung around and weren’t upset with me at all. So, I attempted to figure out my wrong-doings, and Pam helped by giving me a list!
Every day or so new wildflowers spring forth. Cornflower was plentiful last year and seems to be making a comeback in the garden. The medium blue is a Crayola crayon color. We visited Estonia a few years ago, but had no knowledge of the country’s national flower at the time. But, the cornflower now reminds us of our trip! I guess it is a famous flower.
California poppies of a different color have suddenly joined the yellow ones. In the late afternoon or when there is heavy cloud cover the poppy petals fold upward as if pointing skyward. They enjoy the sun, as do I!
A very nice way for a pleasant spring day to come to a close. Praying you have pleasant days and a peaceful week!
”May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.“
Psalm 67:1-2 (ESV)
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
Testing
Happy belated birthday, Butch! Looks like you had a beautiful week. Ours was a timultuous followup to last week’s now confirmed tornadoes and derecho. Tornadoes in WV are unheard of, but flooding more common, and that is what we endured the past few days. Even our interstate flooded with hilltop runoff! I was never so happy to see the sun yesterday. I also enjoy the flora, as it’s typical a preview of what will soon be in bloom here in our region. Have a great week.
Thank you Rita. We are thankful you got past a week of such weather. We are expecting dryer and warmer days this week so maybe that will come your way. I have replied to everyone who commented but discovered that some were apparently not sent. You might get 2 replies. So much for technology. Hoping you get this one and that you have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
I definitely saw the finger but also the hand. But I think you would not get a list from sweet Pam. Today i’m thankful you are gaining strength to take nature walks you share with us. Your church group also has many birthdays this time of year. Today we celebrate our very sweet girl Angie. She chose to have donuts instead of cake. She thinks she won’t have candles but I found the cutest thing. It has 16 candles already in it and when you light the candles it opens and plays Happy Birthday. May God bless you two with prosperity, good health and a sound mind.
Thanks Alice. I seem to have lost my first reply so I will try once again. You are correct in that Pam did not give me a list even though she probably would like to. She’s showing me grace and mercy. I too love donuts so that’s not a bad choice. God bless you and have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
The arboretum has a garden of wild azaleas, but you have to hike a mile to get to it. It is full of gorgeous colors this time of year. My tulips came out while we were on our trip. Clouds can have some interesting shapes!
Thank you Carole. My first reply seems to be lost in space so if technology allows I’ll try again. Our azaleas are a climb and short hike to get close to for the most part but not a mile. It sounds like your mile hike might be worth it though. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Birthday Butch! As I always tell you, your eye and imagination always find beauty in nature in the most unusual places and appreciate the little pleasures of life~ Your partial eclipse photo is wonderful. I have a friend that went to Arkansas and experienced the totality, he said it was incredible! I will never get tired of seeing the photos, they are all truly amazing. Enjoy this beautiful Sunday and I hope you both have a great week ahead!
Thanks for the birthday wish Jenna. Some of my replies seem to be lost in space so I’ll try again here. My partial eclipse looks a bit like a crescent moon. I do think the eclipse in 2017 was closer to totality for us than this one but my memory may be incorrect. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
I’m glad you could use the church photo. Fortunately, the view of the church came up and I had time to get my phone ready and capture the sweet church.
We were in the Dallas airport when the eclispe happened! Everyone was crowded around the windows making pictures. The excitement in the air was electrifying and when it happened a roar of clapping and everyone talking ensued. Our pilot kept us informed of the schedule and that we would land shortly before the total eclipse occured. Amazing how they knew the schedule and length of the darkness far in advance.
Glad y’all have enjoyed all the birthdays.Bonnie
Thank you Bonnie. It is amazing how they can determine all that about the sun and moon years in advance. This is my second reply so it’s possible you will see two if the first one makes its way back from space. Sounds like a very interesting time with the eclipse corresponding with flying and the airport. Thanks again for the photo. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
I love to drive through the countryside and look at churches and take pictures. I once considered putting my collection together, but haven’t yet. Driving through the backroads of Georgia you find so many.
You showed Spreading Phlox. My Granny always called that Creeping Phlox.
Thanks Nancy. Putting your photo collection of churches together would be a wonderful thing. Hope you do it. Creeping phlox is a common name I’ve always heard too. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Birthday to Butch! Our daffodils and hyacinths have faded. Some trees are bluming. I have spotted a few tulips. Looking forward to more to come!
Thanks for the birthday wish Linda. With mid 80’s here this week some plants like tulips are finished I imagine. Hope you have more and a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Sigh….another illuminating visit.. Our plethora of country Churches still attests to what was essential
in our founding as a nation. Can one truly tire of the wonder of an eclipse or discovering nature’s hidden messages? And speaking of a reverse deja vu, I dreamed last night of scaling a craggy mountain
hesitating midway, then suddenly finding myself already standing atop its crest. And now your pictures of same. Overactive hippocampus…lol. The Butch Birthday looks like it was a grand success, with tender teasing by a now-Queen. I would not have been able to resist Pam’s zuppa inglese nor the birthday cake… I thought, “the hand of God” when coming upon the picture of the cloud…not judgemental, but guarding.. What marvelous sights you capture, Butch. Obviously, the bluebirds agree
as they continue to pose for your lens. Thank you, Pam and Butch, for blessing ever this Sabbath morn.
Greetings Mary and thank you for sharing. Perhaps a dream that takes you from a place of hesitancy suddenly to the summit isn’t a bad dream. I like your thoughts on the cloud as we know the Father is certainly our guardian, even when we can’t see His hand. Blessings to you today and this week!
Butch and Pam
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Happy Birthday Butch. Glad you had a great week for your birthday. Happy Sunday. Have a fabulous week. Hugs. Kris
Thanks for the birthday wish Kris. The grands, Pam, and family made made it very special. Hope your week is fabulous as well!
Butch and Pam
Such lovely pics Butch and Pam and I would love to have a woods to walk through but here in Florida, we live right in the center of civilization so have to resort to the wildlife and blooms coming to us …and they do. The color of blue is stunning on the cornflower….and the wild azaleas are so beautiful. When we lived in the mountains of New Mexico, we saw many instances of trees growing in the rocks. I always mused at how that could happen when I could’t get a marigold to grow in the flower garden no matter how much I nurtured it. LOL
Love the impish “peace sign”…wonderful memories and lots of birthday cakes for your family.
Have a Blessed week and enjoy your nice weather. Hugs to both of you.
Thank you Kari. That cornflower is an amazing blue for sure. I’ve roamed the mountains of New Mexico a few times and loved it. I agree, we try to get things to grow with nurture and a perfect setting and it sometimes just won’t happen. Hope you have good weather and a blessed week in Florida!
Butch and Pam
Happy Birthday, Butch! Here’s to many more! (Especially if the menu includes a dessert like the one Pam got!)
Thanks for the wishes Jeanie. I do love desserts but have made great effort to lose a few pounds this spring. I really did eat 5 pieces of cake though. Some diet! Have a good week!
Butch and Pam
Butch, Wishing you a beautiful belated birthday! We know you were spoiled by your family and friends! I’m with you – five pieces of birthday cake, yes please!
Keeping capturing the best of nature!
Thanks for the wish Mary and I truly ate 5 pieces over last Saturday and Sunday. A big interruption to my plan for weight loss and healthy eating. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Birthday to Butch! Beautiful landscapes! Hugs and blessings.
Blessings to you Maristella and thanks for the birthday wish. With spring really taking hold now our landscape is changing rapidly. I wonder how autumn looks in your part of the world? I’m thinking very beautiful. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Birthday Butch! What willpower to pass up Pam’s dessert! Bonnie’s photo of the old church is lovely. The idea of rock climbing absolutely terrifies me! I’m not afraid of heights, but dangling from a rope is a definite no go for me. Hope this upcoming week brings you lots of interesting walkabouts!
Thanks for the birthday wish Roxanne. I did pass on Pam’s dessert but more than made up for it with cake. And I too have no need to climb a rock but we are all made a bit different I suppose. Looks like a warm nice week coming up to get out and about. Have a blessed week !
Butch and Pam
Happy Birthday Butch! It sounds as if you had a splendid day. Then you had dinner out with Pam and birthday cake with the whole family! Wonderful!
I loved that church that Bonnie sent you! I still am enjoying the wild azalea bushes in your forest!
Thanks for the beautiful stroll in your neck of the woods!
Have a blessed week!
Thanks for your birthday wish and yes, it was all splendid but with too much cake. I need to stroll a few miles through the woods to work that off. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Birthday Butch and I hope you had a fabulous day! Dinner out at your favorite restaurant sounds amazing and Pam’s dessert looks delicious. The pictures are beautiful as always and I loved the eclipse shot. Bonnie’s church photo is lovely and I can see a whole hand in that cloud picture. The cornflower and poppy are the most stunning colors and the bluebird is a delight. Wishing you both a very wonderful week!
Kim, thank you for the birthday wish. I did have a fabulous day, which turned into several days actually. We are experiencing a warm week this week. Hoping things are becoming springlike in Canada. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Happy belated birthday Butch! I know you had fun celebrating with the family. That dessert does look yummy! We had about a 98% partial eclipse in our area and it was interesting to view. The finger cloud reminds me of the movie ET. The church is a beautiful shot as are the other shots but I am partial also to churches and barns. Hope you’ve had a great week so far! Clara ❤️
Thank you Clara. I did have a fun time with family, I managed to stretch things out over 3 days. You were a little closer to the total eclipse line than we were. It’s been a good week thus far and we hope yours is going well too!
Butch and Pam
That finger in the sky was amazing! I’m so glad you were able to capture it and share. May God bless you all!
Thank you Cheryl. I try to look up and observe but get busy and forget to scan the heavens. Always something to see. Have a blessed week and weekend!
Butch and Pam