Simple + Southern Sunday No. 524

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭100‬:‭4‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)

   BLESSINGS  TO  ALL   THIS   THANKSGIVING  WEEK

“Fading Fall”. The landscape across the way near our home last week showed evidence that autumn is now settling in across our Appalachian Foothills region. This was a day prior to our first predicted freezing temp of the season and was also accompanied by afternoon winds of 20+ mph. The leaves were falling, falling, falling!

Sweet gum trees actually provide a lot of fall color, some trees showing deep reds and purples as early as September. Others, like this one, turn later, mainly with yellow and orange tints. This one is thinning out and the green leaves will just go brown before falling.

We can always count on our coral bark maple to present a wonderful golden display before all goes brown and down!

Noccalula Falls is truly a “falls” again. A mid-week rain brought some places near us about 3.5 inches of needed moisture. 

At the conclusion of the season’s final garden tea party, the girls wanted to pose with Charolette Daisy. They were sad that she was going away, resting until sometime next year. Imagination is a sweet thing. I say it’s not only just for children!
 

I noticed how bright the roses were in the lamp light one night and thought I must get a photo. These bushes near the porch have bloomed better in mid-November than during the summer! Again, with the possibility of our first nights to hover near freezing by daybreak, this scene can’t last too much longer! Will we really get a freeze? It’s a toss-up as I write this, but I will let you know!

Mandevilla is a tropical vine. This is one of our remaining plants as it appeared November 21 here in NE Alabama. I suppose since it is red and green it could pass as early Christmas decoration? I know I am highlighting “fading fall” today, but this tough plant deserves respect!

The Bloodgood Japanese Maples have held their color and leaves very well this fall. The grands like to climb them. I loved climbing trees as a kid. What is it about climbing trees?

Some Saturdays call for moving from the thicket to the theatre, from the backwoods to the ballet. The two little ballerinas who are front and center brought such delight and joy to our Saturday evening as we attended a performance of  “The Nutcracker Princess”. Today will be the 4th performance so those girls will be worn out!
 

It was time. The pumpkins held up better this fall than ever but have now finished their race, crossing the finish line in style. This is now their new home and final resting place, the revered spot where all that have gone before them have returned to the soil…the pumpkin graveyard!

The final panels have been placed on the big tree that stands on a hill above the river. I stepped into sort of a construction area to get this look at the tree and while there, was joined by the local police. As I departed I made sure my camera was in view and the officer only observed me as I escorted myself from the premises!

Nearby Noccalula Falls park is quite an attraction year round, but is amazing through the holidays as “Christmas at the Falls” opened Friday night. The lights, food and gift vendors, train rides, animals, and old Santa himself are only part of a wide variety of fun and fascination that attracts people from far and wide. This spot, where I imagine visitors can take a photo, is next to an old historic building where my sister opens a Christmas gift shop each year during the holidays. Many of the gifts are authentic items from the Holy Land. I was visiting with her last week the day before “Christmas at the Falls” opened, while she was preparing the shop. When I took a walk from her place, I realized that it appeared I was the only one in the entire park other than people that were working there. It wasn’t dark and all the lights weren’t illuminated, but I decided to take advantage of the time I had with no crowd! 

Right behind the actual train station was this display. These lights were on. Testing to be sure all is working maybe? We plan to officially visit one evening later in the season.
 

I stopped and spoke to this llama but he was busy eating a salad and paid me very little attention.

These two were having more than salad. I was told by a park volunteer that they had a huge appetite for watermelon, pineapple, apples, cucumbers and other produce. This could get expensive. The caretaker told me these were Scottish Highland cows. I read where in some places in Scotland these cattle roam free. I want to learn more about them!

Although Atlanta is over two hours from us by road, a lot of inbound and outbound flights pass just to our north. It really is a constant, but mostly distant stream of air traffic. Atlanta is the busiest airport in the world and home to Delta Airlines. I am not always able to get such a shot as this one of what appears to be a Delta jet, based on the colors I can see. And to capture those vapor trails! I decided to post this pic because of what the late evening added to the display…

…vapor trails forming crosses painted by a November sunset! And although their paths seemed to cross, no planes were injured in the taking of this photo!
(BTW – at the time of posting we were yet to experience freezing temps!)

There’s so much to be thankful for that it’s overwhelming to consider it all. We are grateful for all of you who spend time during your everyday living to take walks with us!

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭118‬:‭1‬ ‭ESV

Linking with:
 Pieced Pastimes,  Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
 Imparting Grace,Life and Linda