“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
Thanks for taking us along on your walk. Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving.
Thanks Myrna. We are glad you came along. Have a great week and a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!🦃
Thanks Rachel. Hope your week is a good one and you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
I wonder if the park would like to have your leftover pumpkins? Our local wildlife center here feeds some to their residents every year, as long as they are uncut and not rotted. In the past, we’ve cut ours in half and set it on the ground next to the bird feeder pole for the turkeys and squirrels to eat.
Love how the holiday decorations are coming along, truly we are entering the holiday season!
Thank you Carole. We actually have turkey, coyotes and other wildlife that eat the pumpkins once I move them a little further from the house. Seth has chickens and we take some to him. Chickens not only love them it’s very nutritious for them I understand. Decorations are slowly coming together. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
We enjoyed the walk. The town will be buzzing during the holiday season. It’s very festive! The ballet looks like an awesome event that the girls would enjoy. Love the nature shots and the petting zoo animals! The wild animals will eat well off of the discarded pumpkins at your home. Our plants in pots are still hanging on too. Happy Thanksgiving! Clara ❤️
Thanks Clara. The wildlife does feast on the pumpkins and Seth’s chickens always get their share too. The girls really enjoyed the ballet this year and we could tell as we watched them. They love The Nutcracker. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
It is hard to believe that November is almost over! It has been a beautiful Fall, now on to December! I love seeing the Christmas decorations going up, such a happy festive time! Love your ballerinas, and the photo of the girls with Charlotte Daisy, so cute~ It is good to see Noccalula Falls falling again, thank goodness for the recent rain. Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving week Pam and Butch!
Thank you Jenna. We agree, November has escaped us somehow in a flash. Looks like December will bring our first freeze and very cold weather. We go from above normal to below normal so quickly. It will feel more like Christmas though. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
What an enjoyable walkabout, beginning with a favorite Psalm. The church with the falls in front was really beautiful. I love the ballerina picture! (I took ballet from 5 to almost 40, so you might be going to a lot of performances). Will llamas or Scottish cows eat pumpkins? It was 31 degrees when I got up this morning, so the seasons are moving along! Have a blessed Thanksgiving week, my dear friends.
Thank you Roxanne. Now we love everything the girls do including ballet but you scare me with that business of 35 years of ballet. Will we be over 100 and still attending ballet? Scottish cows do eat pumpkins I believe. I saw video of elk eating them in people’s yards in Colorado. We are predicted to have a night at 21 degrees next weekend. Have a great Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
The girls (looking so grown up) and Charolette Daisy make a fetching trio…
It was reassuring to see the Falls beside the Church restored to its former
rushing state … and the rose and mandevilla Christmas color display …and
O my, the hilltop Christmas tree that almost got you in focus for a steep fine…
What a delightful experience Christmas at the Falls must be for everyone…
Your town really knows how to establish unforgettable tradition. The evening
at Nutcracker must have been the topping on the memory cake. Come this
Thanksgiving and more memories to be treasured and stored. May we all be filled with peace, joy and gratitude for so many blessings.
Thank you Mary. Ha, I have decided to view that hilltop tree from a distance next time. A little rain has provided new life for the falls and the huge Christmas event opened there Friday. The girls really enjoyed performing at the ballet this year. A little older and more experienced was helpful. It is all about the memories. We wish you a blessed and happy Thanksgiving filled with memories!
Butch and Pam
It seems that you have a lovely, lingering fall. Do any of the pumpkins in the pumpkin graveyard ever reseed themselves for the next year?
Thanks Karen. Fall is lingering but we understand very cold weather with our first freeze will arrive next weekend. Sometimes the pumpkins do reseed. We have allowed them to grow and actually pulled a few the following season. Most times though they aren’t in the best place for survival. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Happy thanksgiving to you!
Thank you Leslie Anne. We wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Another beautiful Sunday visit. Your girls — adorable as usual and there is so much beauty in your world! I hope your Thanksgiving week is simply marvelous.
Thank you Jeanie. There’s beauty everywhere. We really enjoy Thanksgiving week even though it’s quite busy. We hope your week and your Thanksgiving is marvelous as well!
Butch and Pam
The girls get prettier and prettier as each day goes by. I bet the performance was pretty amazing. Have a great week and Happy Thanksgiving. Hugs. Kris
Thank you Kris. We are thankful the grands live close by and we get to be a part of their everyday living. That’s a blessing. We wish for you a blessed Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Glad to see water running over the falls again! And you still have t had freezing temperatures! Wish I was there. I would have throughly enjoyed being at the grands performance. I threw away the two pumpkins I had in two urns by the front door yesterday. I tried to burst it so the squirrels could enjoy it but it was solid frozen. My niece came Thursday and she helped me put up the Christmas tree, decorated the mantel and decorated the front. It was lots of fun to have her with me. Executing snow Wednesday and hoping it doesn’t cause delays in Thanksgiving travel.
Thank you Alice. Sounds like you had a good time with your niece and that she was much help. We knew that snow had come your way but didn’t know you had more right around the corner. I think the cold air from that system is settling in down here next weekend and we will get our first freezes. Poor squirrels will have to gnaw their way into the pumpkins. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Butch (and Pam),
This walk and captures of your life gave me smiles! From the girls and Ms. Daisy (and the girls in Nutcracker!), the beautiful roses, your sister’s shop and the time you had without others there to capture these photos (and not get arrested, tee hee :-), the Delta, the trees, and the crosses—just wow! This time of year is my favorite. Your homestead and lives display so much goodness. Oh, I almost forgot the Highland cows. How fascinating! And that llama—too cute. Butch, I wish you and Pam (and your entire family) a blessed Thanksgiving! May God continue to bless you all as you go about doing such great things here this side of heaven. Love, Karla, Finley, and family 💚
Thank you so much Karla. I’m glad you were able to place your blessings on my package that had to travel around the world. My sister opened the Christmas shop Friday night and she told us tonight that it had been very crowded thus far which is a good thing. Those cows eating veggies and fruit amazed me. We are finished with ballet and in both Christmas and Thanksgiving mode. God bless you. We pray for you and wish you all a blessed week and wonderful Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Happy Sunday Butch and Pam! Your Coral Bark Maple is absolutely gorgeous, and your roses are beautiful. Those two little girls are so pretty and how exciting that they are performing in the Nutcracker. We are expecting our first freeze tomorrow night. It’s hard to believe because we got up to 74 today. I wish you both a most blessed and happy Thanksgiving week!
Thank you Shannon. We will have 70’s tomorrow but I think our first freeze will come in this weekend. Down close to 20 one night. That’s going to be a shock. The girls enjoyed the Nutcracker and of course their grandparents loved it. Have a great week and a blessed Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Thanks for sharing such lovely landscapes and scenes to begin this Thanksgiving week. Darling girls and I”m sure a lovely evening seeing The Nutcracker Princess. I love seeing the final resting place for your pumpkins. Wishing you both a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Thank you Emily. The girls and little brother bring us much joy. Some of the pumpkins become a treat for their chickens. We hope you have a great week and a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Butch, it’s always a joy to read your Sunday posts. Thank you! My porch pumpkins are still hanging on. I spray them with clear sealer to keep the squirrels from feasting on them. They will go in the compost bin next week. I’m envious of your Blood Good Japanese Maples. We had several years ago, but lost them from the squirrels stripping the bark. I planted a new one two years ago, but it doesn’t turn red. I think it must not be a Blood Good.
Grateful for you and Pam and the pleasure of reading your Everyday Living. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you Sarah. Squirrels definitely get into everything but we had no idea they would harm the maples. So they have stayed away from the blood good maples. We always used a sealer on apples in our outdoor Christmas fan and last year ‘possums ate them anyway. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas!
Butch and Pam
Can you believe that November is almost gone? My, oh my!
I loved the pictures today but first your Nutcracker princesses are adorable. There are many ballerinas. It must be a fabulous presentation.
I enjoyed seeing the roses. How beautiful and so red!
Thank you for another lovely post.
Wishing all of you a Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks so much Nancy. We did enjoy the Nutcracker especially a certain two little princesses. The roses and other lingering flowers will finally get a shock late week as we are expecting temperatures near 20 a few nights. Hope you enjoy a good week and a great Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Such lovely fall photos Butch. The grands are adorable with Charlotte Daisy and how special at the Nutcracker! The tree in town is spectacular – I can’t even figure out how tall it must be and the people who put it up – wow! The mandevilla looks lovely and I love the sky shots. I’m so glad you got some much needed rain and that the falls are, well, falls again. Happy, happy Thanksgiving to you both!
Thank you so much Kim. We are getting a little rain and predicted to have our first below freezing temperature of the season this Friday night. It does take the grands to get me to a ballet but they made it very enjoyable for us. Thanks for the Thanksgiving wish…you’ve celebrated already but you should join us and celebrate again. We hope you have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Wow, that cross formed by the vapor trails is really neat! What a wonderful observation! Your photos are amazing!
We were in the pasture in the golf cart when we saw the cross in the sky. It was beautiful!
Pam