”I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.“
Isaiah 45:12 ESV
Honeysuckle is a common, widely distributed vine that many of you are familiar with. It may seem unusual that I might begin a post with honeysuckle, but there’s a special reason that, admittedly, will probably only be special to me. As I hiked along a trail near the lake last week, I was overtaken by a sweet fragrance that filled the air around me. Like songs, certain smells can stir up memories. After 3 and a half years with no sense of smell, I stopped in my tracks, overwhelmed by the fact that God had given me another spring to enjoy the unmistakeable scent of honeysuckle. I had not considered that this would ever happen again!
Our first magnolia bloom of the season here at our place. Our 40 plus year old tree blooms a little later than some I see around the area. This bloom is about 30 feet above the ground, but I still give it recognition as being number one. There’s evidence many more will be coming!
Pam’s mom passed away 17 years ago tomorrow. This Barbados lily emerges every year through weeds, bushes and the growth that is part of an old flower bed that is in front of her house. We often speak of transplanting it to a location in our garden. Pam’s dad wouldn’t mind, but somehow it seems like it needs to stay right here. This is home, and home is where it belongs!
We made our way to a local nursery last week for the purpose of finding a few plants that needed a home. The chore of selecting plants was made somewhat easier and pleasant by being able to enjoy some country scenes created by staff on the nursery grounds!
Tomorrow is a big day for WL. Our little man turns 3, and he chose to be taken to the farmers co-op to do some “tractor shopping” (his words) as one of his treats when PJ and I spent Thursday with him. He is partial to John Deere! I have to love it when this boy wants to shop at a farm supply store or a tractor place!
Another pleasant part of hiking along the lake and onto the boardwalk was the sight of these yellow flag irises. They are an aquatic iris. WL would like these too, the yellow being close to the yellow on a John Deere, along with the green of course! This wetland perennial can be invasive and is not a native plant to our area.
I am always aware of the numerous mulberry trees that grow along the path by the lake in the wildlife sanctuary. Last year fruit was scarce, but this season the story is very different. Many people walk these paths and never notice these trees. A gentleman passed as I was looking up and photographing. He stopped and asked about the berries. He said he comes here often but had never taken note of these trees. This particular tree has fruit at various stages of maturity…
…while others had most of the berries ripening all at the same time. Every tree along the way was absolutely loaded with berries!
I spent some time walking in parts of Noccalula Park yesterday. I wandered across this opening and thought this gap in the trees framed the falls perfectly.
Along the roadside and the woods edge near the house is a spot where one of our favorite wild, late April bloomers can usually be found. This year is no exception as bristly locusts have appeared in force over the last few days! You can see why the name is appropriate!
I see these trees either with green berries later in the summer, or brown dried berries in autumn, but I’ve never got a pic of one that was in the flowering stage. This is a China berry. China berry trees grew in my grandparents yard when I was a kid and provided good climbing, and a lot of green ammo for a slingshot!
A number of old authentic buildings and structures have been relocated and restored in Noccalula Park and are found along many of the walking paths. I took my place here for a few minutes and invited several people to join me, but no one admitted they felt the need to sit here. This tells me that all of those who refused to join me provided proof that they are exactly the folks who need to take their rest right here!
After leaving the wooden bench behind, I found it calming to stroll along primrose lane and pass by this nice pink evening primrose. It is said (and sung), life’s a holiday on primrose lane, but I wouldn’t know!
A beautiful wildflower called Indian blanket is doing well in our established wildflower garden. There are several legends and stories about the name. One centers around a warrior whose wife knitted blankets for him from yellow, orange and red threads, said to be part of his protection while he was away at war. Maybe so!
The Sunshine Cottage makes a good background for PJ’s display of cornflowers! I love it when she lends me a garden photo!
Several readers mentioned last week that they were seeing a lot of white displayed where they live and that they loved it. We have a lot of white blooms right now too. One of the more brilliant ones is privet. This California privet is showy but very, very invasive!
Another invasive is grandiflora rose. It is very similar to our sawtooth blackberry which is also in bloom right now. Both have very similar blooms and are found in the same type habitat, not to mention both with briers!
Not having the grands with me, I chose not to hop on this train. But it passed nearby and is quite colorful so I thought deserving of a photo!
We had a beautiful week as April was winding down. From a very light and unexpected scattered frost Tuesday morning, to temps near 90 on Friday, the final full week of April was typical.
Praying you have a blessed week and a wonderful beginning to the month of May.
”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
Praise the Lord, Butch has been blessed with the sense of smell again! I know that honeysuckle fragrance was a great moment.
I love how the trees framed the waterfall so beautifully. Cornflowers are lovely and sweet. How fun to take WL “tractor shopping” for his birthday. All the photos and commentary are interesting. Thank you for SSS each week.
The last two weeks has been extremely full and some of it stressful. So many doctor appointments out of town. Hoping this week will be easier. I didn’t get to comment last week. Every minute was full.
So glad you had a great blessing this week. Bonnie
Thank you Bonnie. We pray this is a less stressful week for you. I understand out of town appointments for sure, very hard. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
I praise God and rejoice with you over His goodness in restoring your sense of smell, Butch. Thank you for taking us on your hikes and roadside adventures—and for sharing the beauty along your way. I can see why the bristly locust is a favorite.
WL is growing up so fast. I love his choice for a birthday adventure with his Da and PJ. I took my oldest granddaughter Violet to a movie last night (Unsung Hero) and can attest to the swiftness of 20 years passing in a few blinks.
Have a blessed and beautiful day, Butch and Pam.
Thank you Cindie and thanks for rejoicing with us. Seedlings do turn overnight to sunflowers. It’s wonderful that you still have chances to spend time with Violet. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
We are so thankful that you have your sense of smell back! Praise God! You miss so many things without the sense of smell or taste. We have friends who still do not have their sense of smell or taste so this gives us hope for them. The privet hedge here is in full bloom and the scent fills the air. While it is sweet, en masse, it’s over powering at times. WL tractor shopping is adorable! I can’t believe he’s 3 already. The falls are gorgeous and the lilies, both red and yellow, are beautiful! All the blooms are so pretty; spring is a wonderful time of year! Enjoy your day. Hope you both are getting your strength back from the flu. Clara❤️
Thank you Clara. That privet is very sweet smelling and I can smell it again also, but it sure does take over everything. Maybe your friends can regain their smell and taste, there is hope. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
So glad Butch got his sense of smell back. Have a great week.
Thanks Della. Even the bad smells aren’t so bad. Have a great week as well!
Butch and Pam
I am so happy your sense of smell has finally returned Butch, you must have been overwhelmed with joy when you caught scent of the honeysuckle! Noccolula Falls is so beautiful, it’s wonderful that the park is close by for you to enjoy. I love that train~ of course WL steals your Sunday show with his adorable face and his love of tractors! I hope you and Pam have a lovely week~
Thank you Jenna. The park and other nice places are close by which is a blessing. I plan to also try out my sense of taste tomorrow on birthday cake. WL loves tractors and sweets. Have a pleasant week !
Butch and Pam
Good Morning. Happy Sunday. We got that frost one day last week and then it was 80 the next day. Crazy weather. My little 6 month old grandson loves John Deere already like his daddy. Happy birthday to WL so adorable. Have a great new week ahead. Hugs. Kris
Thank you Kris. April weather can be a roller coaster. WL is so much like his daddy too when it comes to the outdoors. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
What a lovely walk. I so enjoy your Sunday Morning walks. Thank you.
Thank you Lu Ann. I hope you are having a good Sunday morning and that you have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Birthday to W.L.! Beautiful post! God bless you and yours.
Thank you Maristella. I will give WL your birthday wish. God bless you and have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Gorgeous flowers, I love the white ones too. Great use of a rusted out truck, rather than sending it to a junkyard.
Thank you Carole. They did make good use of the old truck. There’s a good thought related to that. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Hallelujah! And Praise God! You smelled the honeysuckle! It’s such a sweet fragrance. And the best scent for you to begin smelling again, God Willing.
What a lovely walk this morning filled with beautiful flowers and falls! The beauty that God puts in front of your lens is breathtaking.
Happy Birthday to WL!
The special lily is such a loving remembrance of Pam’s Momma. ❤️
Thank you once again for another lovely Sunday stroll. Have a blessed week!
Thank you Nancy. It’s certainly a good time of the year to regain a sense of smell. Sweet smells and sweet sights are a blessing. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
What a marvelous book your Sunday strolls would make…sensitive and uplifting. Birthday
hugs to WL and what a Ha-Ha! moment watching him hug yet another John Deere occasion.
Can’t imagine from where the influence comes…. Today’s visit is repleat with floral reminders
of His glorious Springtime. We are so blessed to have your views. Gratitude for His further
blessings of restoring your sense of smell, Butch. Make room on that Liar’s bench… line
forms to the right….Have a joyous time at WL’s party…..
Thanks Mary for your kind words. The real truth is that there would be no room for others on the bench as I would need to sprawl and take up the entire space. Along with a sense of smell comes a good appetite which will manifest itself at WL’s party. I’m guessing a cake with a tractor on it. Have a blessed Sunday and a great week!
Butch and Pam
Primrose Lane is the street adjacent to the one we live on. The only holidays are the same ones everybody else has.😂 Your blog is alway so interesting. I learn something new nearly every Sunday.
Thank you Nancy. And no extra holidays even living near primrose lane, you should proclaim one of your own. We walked down Penny Lane in Liverpool, it’s famous I guess but probably not a holiday either. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Butch, that is such a miracle that your smell is coming back. Hallelujah! The scent of honeysuckle is so delicious, but yesterday I spent about 3 hours pulling it out of my azaleas. We have friends who are very divided on greens vs. red tractors, and it seems WL already has strong opinions! I know there is not a day that goes by where Pam doesn’t miss her mother, it is the same for me with my mom. Tomorrow is my daddy’s birthday(April 29), he died when I was barely 22. It seems incredible 50 years have passed without him.
Thank you Roxanne and I did fail to mention, honeysuckle can take over. It smells so nice but considered invasive. The red versus green tractors is an ongoing thing but I think the green is winning out at our place. I see April 29 is a special day for you too. Your dad had to be very young. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Hallelujah your sense of smell has returned🙏🙏🙏🙏 What a blessing to have God restore your ability to smell the Spring and Pam’s sweet perfume. So many colors today but my favorite is John Deere green. WL is so precious and choosing the farmers co-op is such a fun place to go for prospective farmers. Wish him a happy happy birthday for me please.
Thank you Alice and we will definitely tell WL of your wishes and that John Deere green is your favorite. He will automatically love you. Did parts of Colorado get snow today? Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Parts saw snow. We received sleet and hail and a down pour that ended up in our basement. I’ve had Restoration come clean it all up. What a mess. Also having gutter cleaned that caused it.
way to go Butch…your smell is coming back. I have no feeling in the bottoms of my feet due to chemo and radiation and keep hoping that perhaps someday The feeling will return,…so I rejoice that you have senses returning to normal. Thank you for your tour of all the sights and smells in your neck of the woods. It is always a pleasure to virtually tour with you.I love that WL wants a of tractor. He is adorable. Have a blessed week to all of you.
Thank you Kari. I do hope and pray you regain the feeling in your feet and know that it can happen. WL is fine with the toy tractors for now but those big boy tractors are quite expensive. Hope you have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
It’s all so springy and pretty! I love a mulberry tree and wish I had one. the honeysuckle brings back great memories – I have zero access to honeysuckle now. What a pity! happy late April to you!
Thank you Leslie Anne. As a boy I always associated the smell of honeysuckle with the school year being almost over and summer near. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
It always amazes me how far along in Spring other people are, when Spring drags its feet here in Chicagoland. Hoping to get my planters out of the greenhouse and plant some cold weather crops today! Lovely post and such a variety! Sandi
Thanks Sandra. Maybe getting out the planters and getting started with some crops will cheer you up and help usher in spring. We are in the mid to upper 80’s all this week per the forecast. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
What a beautiful post, Butch and Pam. As I begin my week, I wanted to get on my PC to comment. There is so much to love in each post! Butch, I’m so happy you have your smell–it touched my heart how the honeysuckle presented its sweet presence to you–just as the Holy Spirit! The flowers, particularly Pam’s Mom’s lilies, are gorgeous and signs of hope! W.L–those EYES! Happy birthday, beautiful boy! A John Deere and tractor store? YES!
The Liar’s Bench made me giggle and the waterfall and your hiking for gorgeous landscapes prove the wondrous glory in God’s creation! You are both blessings to so many of us! May God’s face shine upon YOU both and be gracious to you! Prayers and love, always, Karla and Finley (and family)
Thank you and blessings Karla. We just came in from WL’s party and it was such fun. Flowers do offer signs of hope and can bring smiles even on a difficult day. I hiked quickly past the liars bench as I was fearful of feeling like I needed to sit down and stay a while. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Oh, I’m so please you are able to smell the honeysuckles! Indeed, you are blessed to also enjoy so many spring blooms in your part of the world. And your precious grandson looks like he has found a wonderful surprise!!!
Thank you Mary. We just returned from Wyatt’s party and it was such fun. And I could smell the food. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
I love the honeysuckle photo and I am so glad you are able to smell it Butch. They actually grow here too and are a childhood memory. We actually used to eat the flowers too. The fall are absolutely gorgeous and framed wonderfully. The cornflowers are such a pretty blue. W.L. of course stole the show. His tractor shopping is adorable and I hope he had a wonderful Birthday. Wow – three already. Where does the time go? Wishing you both a lovely week.
Thank you so much Kim. I thought you likely had honeysuckle, seems to grow everywhere. We did have a sweet birthday party today, complete with a plastic tractor on the cake. Have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
Like you, I am a big fan of honeysuckle, so I’m glad you started the post with this one! The fragrance always takes me back to a rather romantic moment in the long ago with my first real love as we traveled to a spot from his past. The smell was overwhelming In a good way) and I’ve never once passed an area with honeysuckle that hasn’t taken me back to this moment. Thanks for this and all the other lovely images here.
Thank you Jeanie. I remember riding all over the place on my bicycle in the country where we lived and the smell of honeysuckle all over the place. School was almost over for the year. Fond memories. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
What a wonderful gift that God has restored your sense of smell! We never know how we will miss something like that until it is gone. I am so thankful Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and He still has the power to heal His trusting children. May He bless you today!