“But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.”
Psalm 79:13 (ESV)
It is now becoming noticeable that we are losing daylight. I didn’t sense it very much for the first few weeks after the summer solstice. In reality, the daily changes do start out small and begin to increase as we approach autumn, so I’m not just imagining! If I stand at the same spot along the fence where I did for this August sunrise, it will be interesting to note that by early September the sun will be rising to the right of the metal post…moving on down the fence line, heading south for the winter!
As I stood inside the garden looking back toward one of the entrances, I kept thinking a princess or queen would at any moment step through the arbor and greet me. They do live nearby, but on this day, it was to be only a figment of my imagination. You can pretend and dream almost anything out in the garden!
We don’ have a dog, but yesterday this poodle dropped by. We know the owner. I keep reminding myself to keep looking up!
Last week we were reading about the North Alabama Mural trail which has around 125 displays of public art, telling stories and illustrating local history. To our surprise, there were several on the map located in nearby Cherokee County. Pam and I made a short drive and found this one on the back of an old historic building across the street from the current courthouse. This photo makes it appear as a small painting on a wall, but it is actually a large mural and I wanted a close up. This riverboat, the Cherokee III was the last steamboat built in Cherokee County and also the last used on the Rome, Georgia to Gadsden, Alabama run on the Coosa River. It sank in Gadsden in 1936.
Another surprise was the discovery that the 3 story building where the mural was displayed housed the Cherokee County Historical Museum. This is 15 minutes from our house and we were not aware. Sometimes nice finds are right under our noses. This map of the Cherokee Nation was very interesting. We noted the red boxes which were locations of Cherokee settlements, and especially the box labeled Turkey Town. I guess many of you think I was kidding when I’ve said in the past we live near Turkey Town…but we really do!
This is a replica of a blacksmith shop that is placed here in honor of a local blacksmith who had his shop open from 1919-1950 in the county. Cherokee County is one of our state’s most beautiful and diverse counties. It is very rural and agricultural with a rich history, beautiful Weiss Lake, and the Appalachian foothills. I discovered many artifacts and displays here in the basement section of the building.
Cotton has been the main crop in Cherokee County for a long, long time. This old cotton wagon was on display along with some interesting facts. It takes about an acre of cotton to fill a wagon and it weighs around 1500 pounds. My paternal grandparents spent their working lives raising cotton in Cherokee County!
This mural inside the museum shows the Cherokee County Courthouse which was built in 1882 and burned in 1894. The Coosa-River News building shown here also burned in 1894. The Coosa-River News was published irregularly from 1878 to 1958.
This is a very creative and unique way to tell the stories and show important facts about the county’s past and present. I like picket fences and we have pickets around our garden, but none quite like this one!
From a bit of history involving cotton, to a more current (last Friday) view of cotton, almost in real time…this field is near our house and is nearly chest high to me. A very good looking and healthy crop so far this year. The Appalachian Foothills are seen in the background. Some of you see cotton growing in your region, but many of our readers do not live where cotton grows and maybe can enjoy!
Meanwhile back at home, we have a display that I have named “lantern row”. This is only a short section of a long row of invasive little rascals mainly known as Chinese Lantern. A complete row emerged along the edge of one of our sunflower gardens. When I realized what they were while pulling weeds, I decided to leave them. There are hundreds of those “lanterns” I do believe. Look closely, and this is only a small portion.
Many people actually plant these for use in fall displays or just as an interesting plant to have in the garden. Ours are wild and they will spread by rhizomes so folks that plant them on purpose usually put them in containers so they can control the spread.
A few are giving us a glimpse of autumn already. I’ll probably leave them alone and see if Pam can find a place for them in her fall decorating. A lot of people also call this plant groundcherry. It is in the tomato family, but poisonous!
Merry Christmas to everyone. Here lies the story…While continuing my summer clean up and eliminating things we no longer need, a container of old Christmas decorations turned up, things not used or seen in years. I am always seeking ways to entertain the grands that might be a little different, so I had an idea. I decorated the woods beside the path that Pam often takes with the grands on the golf cart. It is also a trail that our son and daughter-in-love take when they are jogging. I didn’t tell any of them. It turned out to be a fun surprise and brought a lot of smiles to little faces and even bigger faces. Of course I told them I didn’t know a thing about it and acted surprised myself, at least for a few minutes. Interestingly, the little baskets were among Pam and my first decorations after we were married and are around 50 years old. And yes, a few of them have been saved!
My woods decorations in the middle of the summer were such a hit that I just left most of them in place. There was a set of fancy wooden letters that spelled out Santa that I had placed at the corner of the pasture and the kids and Pam loved it. Yesterday, it appeared all this has confused Rudolph and he was out looking for the big guy!
The new flag we purchased earlier this year is looking good against all those white blooms and a blue summer sky. We fly the flag year round.
This sunny face is a new arrival. Parts of the wildflower garden looked ragged and not faring well in late June so I cleared out a section. Rather than leave it bare, I put out a few leftover sunflower seeds, not thinking they would have time to do much. There are only a few, but with all the early plantings now faded away, the faithful few are a nice surprise!
When an August day ends this way it is very hard for me to be a complainer!
Wishing you a pleasant and peaceful week.
”Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”.
Hebrews 13:8
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Love, love, love your pictures and
Comments on Sunday. Both Pam
and yourself are both a talented special
couple. I look forward to receiving each blog!
Thank you Nancy. Your time is valuable and we are glad you spend time with us. Hope you have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Butch, when are you going to write a book? You are the most interesting person. You have an eye for the unusual plus a way with words. From the poodle to the sails in the sunset to the Chinese lanterns to the Cherokee nation map, you have taken us on a delightful Sunday trip. I had to look for Turkey Town on the map by enlarging it. It was a fun find. Cotton was a thorn in my side and fingers when I was growing up. It was hard work and when I see the fields where the machines have gathered it I’m reminded that we were never allowed to leave that much cotton behind. The Christmas surprise along the trail made me laugh. You are starting early. The Chinese lanterns are precious. I have often seen them in arrangements so will be looking for them in some ofPams. .
Good to hear from you Alice. I have picked cotton and you are so right, those burs are rough on hands. I understand burs make a good compost. I’m glad I’m not alone when it comes to noticing all the cotton the machines leave. I fear if I wrote a book it would only sell 2 or 3 copies and one of those would be my purchase. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
I have noticed that the days are getting shorter, and it’s getting dark sooner~fall must be on the way! I love the poodle cloud! I enjoyed seeing the art, murals and artifacts at the Cherokee County Museum, it’s fun to discover something new to explore right in your area~ I always love seeing cotton fields, especially right before they are ready for harvesting and they are a sea of fluffy white. I love your Christmas surprise Butch, I’m sure the grands were delighted! I hope you both have a wonderful week ahead~
Thank you Jenna. I hiked around the trail today and my woods decorations were still ok after a thunderstorm yesterday. I love autumn but I also like long daylight hours so it’s mixed feelings. We agree the sea of white in a ready for harvest cotton field really makes a statement. Hope you have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Wonderful shots! I so enjoyed the trip to the museum. The murals are interesting. We see cotton and soybeans in the fields. Both are healthy and it won’t be long before the harvest happens. The clouds and sunrise pics are beautiful. Decorating the woods was a good idea! What fun! Have a wonderful Sunday. Clara❤️
Thanks so much Clara. Cotton, soybeans, and corn are the big 3 around here. My wood’s decorations made it through a thunderstorm yesterday so I think I’ll just leave them there. We are glad we discovered a museum in a small town nearby. Wasn’t expecting that. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
I loved seeing the map of the Cherokee. My paternal grandmother was of Cherokee descent. She was from Tuscaloosa.
Thank you Nancy. There is a lot of Cherokee history in our area. Very many places have Native American names, Tuscaloosa being a good example. Hope you have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Sunday everyone. Being born and raised in PA I have never seen cotton growing, the closest I’ve been to it is the organic cotton balls from the grocery store! Thank you. I have seen the Chinese lanterns though, they have planted themselves here also. Yes the days are definitely getting shorter, it is taking longer to get light in the mornings. My husband takes our Husky for a walk every morning and now he has to wear his lighted headband. Christmas will be here before you know it, but first Fall! Have a nice day and week.
Thanks for your comments Maryann. Cotton fields are amazing seas of white in the fall. Lord willing we will probably photograph some. Those Chinese lanterns really multiply around here. Those lighted headbands are very handy, I have several. I know fall is beautiful in PA. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
As ever, fascinating…. the Sunday images you present, Butch. You have such a keen eye and discernment
Just love the pre-empted Christmas decorations, which would delight any child or reindeer. How did you miss that glorious museum before you discovered it ?…quite a gem of historical recollection. Let us
hope and pray the rural signature of your area remains for many generations to come…. fast becoming
a thing of the past in many regions. Thank you for the charming poodle in the sky. A blessed Sabbath
to all…
Thank you Mary. I just assumed too much in thinking a small rural town of a couple thousand people couldn’t possibly have a museum, but they sure do. Our thoughts, like yours, are hopeful that the rural signature of many places can remain just that way. I’m leaving the Christmas ornaments on the trees to see how long they hold out, yesterday’s thunderstorms did no harm. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Butch, your history you share is fascinating. The original Cherokee nation ran right through my hometown, with the Kanawha River being its northernmost point. My paternal grandmother was part Cherokee.
While we do not grow cotton in WV, it was fascinating for me to see fields of it one year in late fall when traveling north from The FL panhandle.
I’d like to think that poodle in the sky might’ve been ours, a comforting thought.
Love the whimsy of the Christmas on the trail (and Rudolph). Super cute.
I sure hope that Chinese lantern doesn’t end up like the lily-of-the-valley was for me in digging it out later. Why is it that most invasive plants are from Asia, have you noticed that??
Have a great week.
Thank you so much Rita. Several of our readers have shared that they have Cherokee in their ancestry. I looked up the Kanawha on maps and saw it flows over to the Ohio. I may realize I was unwise leaving so many Chinese lanterns around this time when there’s a million of them next year. Hope you have a great week as well!
Butch and Pam
Butch, I really enjoyed your tour of Cherokee County! Finding the poodle in the sky was pretty amazing. I am watching fluffy clouds moving by right now…nothing! The Chinese lanterns are beautiful; can’t wait to see how Pam can use them. As tired as I am of this hot, humid weather, I thoroughly enjoy the extra hours of daylight. Have a great week!
Roxanne, glad you took that short tour with us. I have mixed emotions, conflicts I suppose, with loving all the daylight but ready for the cooler days of autumn. I walked out on the porch and looked up and immediately opened the door, stuck my head in, and told Pam there is a poodle out here. She came out looking for a real dog wondering where a poodle could’ve come from. I’m probably leaving too many of those invasive lanterns. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
I would love to walk through the Cherokee museum. I have fond memories as a child visiting several museums in Montgomery with many Indian artifacts.
I grew up seeing beautiful cotton fields and it is a pretty site. I especially love when they are ready to harvest and the timing here is usually around the second week in November which is about the same time as Samaritans Purse collection week.
Tomorrow is the Sturgeon
Super Moon. I hope we can see it.
Have a great week. Bonnie
Thank you Bonnie. The moon was beautiful rising here tonight and I took a few photos. Maybe one will be good enough to show on next Sundays post. Hard to believe but the next full moon I think will be the harvest moon. Year is getting on by. October and November is when most around here pick cotton. When the fields are white unto harvest it is a sight to behold. Hope you have a great week as well!
Butch and Pam
Hello Friends!
I saw the poodle running through the sky. How fun!
We have cotton in AZ but I have only seen it when it turns white and never green. So Thanks for sharing.
I tried growing the lanterns here in Pennsylvania and could not get them to take. My brother has them and he lives nine minutes away. So I know they can.
I enjoyed the mural and the interesting Cherokee information. We always love to learn something new.
Christmas in August! How fun!
I feel the days getting shorter. The transition is happening.
Happy Sunday Friends!
Thank you Nancy. It was neat that you mentioned the poodle running away because in a matter of seconds it was as if it ran away. The clouds changed shape so quickly. Those lanterns are so invasive here that I’m surprised you can’t get them to grow. My Christmas ornaments made it through a thunderstorm so I’m leaving them up to see if they make it to the holidays. Hope you have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
What a fabulous museum. I love places like that with rooms of the past and wonderful and different ways to tell the story. The mural trail sounds like great fun. And I suspect more than a few princesses and one very lovely queen have passed through that arbor — more than once!
You are right Jeanie about the arbor, the garden is visited by the queen and princesses often. We hope to go back and spend a bit more time in the museum. We kinda ran across it by accident. Hoping to see a few more of the murals too as they all tell stories. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Another wonderful Sunday story. The sunrise and sunset are both the most precious and beautiful times of the day. The “poodle” reminded me of a pet we once had. I love the shapes of the clouds…and have always been able to “see” images. How sweet you worked on a Christmas surprise for your loved ones. The unexpected is always a pleasure. Have a great week and I look forward to next week and the unexpected you will have for us.
Good to hear from you Kari. Thank you for your comments. The poodle in the clouds ran away in a few seconds as the clouds changed so quickly. Christmas ornaments on the trees in August was definitely a surprise but everyone loved it. First light and last light are simply the best times of the day to me. Hope you have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Sunday, Butch and Pam! What a gorgeous collection of photographs from the stunning garden entrance to the beautiful sunsets. I enjoyed reading all about the museum you visited. Casey and I especially found the Cherokee Nation map interesting as it marks places where our ancestors once lived. I know those grandbabies loved seeing the Christmas decorations you placed along the path. Wishing you both a blessed and happy week ahead!
And Happy Sunday to you Shannon. The little museum was a nice find. We didn’t have much time so we need to go again. We found Turkey Town on the map which of course we knew very well, but other spots we weren’t aware of. The grands did get a thrill out of the Christmas decorations and I’ve decided to see if the ornaments will last until the season a actually arrives. We wish you a blessed week as well!
Butch and Pam
Butch, I always enjoy your Sunday posts. Thank you! The history, the plants, and the surprise Christmas decor in the wild all make me smile. I have never planted the lantern plants, but I buy them at the grocery in the fall. I love using them in arrangements. Perhaps I’ll try growing some in a container.
Thank you so much Sarah. I didn’t realize so many people used the lanterns in the fall. They really spread and we have so many this year. A container is probably a good idea. Hope you have a great week!
Butch and Pam
I would have loved to have visited the blacksmith shop. My great grandfather was a blacksmith, so it would have been interesting. Love your photos.
Thanks Leslie Anne. I was surprised to read that shop operated until 1950. I guess I thought the need for a full time blacksmith shop would have passed well before 1950. Shows how little I know about their work. Hope you have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Beautiful post, dear friends! Yesterday, we celebrated my youngest son’s Birthday: 23 years old… A real blessing. What gorgeous sunflower and magnificent sunset!
Thank you so much Maristella. We appreciate you spending time with us. Give your son a happy birthday wish from us and have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Beautiful pictures Butch! I love the poodle in the sky and the one of the arbor. Great surprise for the grands for an early Christmas and Rudolph is precious! The Cherokee history was very interesting and so are the cotton fields to this northern girl who has never seen one in real life. Yes, the days are getting noticeably shorter and here in Calgary, there is a nip in the air early in the morning. Fall is definitely on it’s way. There is a super blue moon tonight and I can’t wait to see if you are able to get any pictures of it. Wishing you both a wonderful week!
Thank you Kim. It is a very bright and clear night here under the full moon. I made pictures last night as the moon rose just about sundown and I hope I have a photo that is good for next Sunday. We wondered being so far north if you were getting any hints of fall. It’s actually supposed to hit upper 50’s Fahrenheit here tomorrow night I think. That’s cool for us in August. We wish you a wonderful week as well!
Butch and Pam
Is this the museum in Centre, Alabama?
Yes, it is!
What a neat surprise to leave out the Christmas decorations for your family to find! I can only imagine how much joy that brought to them. God bless you all!
The grands love seeing it out next to the woods!