““Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!””
Psalm 46:10 ESV
I was ready to move on from the “winter garden” theme after kinda hanging with that idea for a couple of weeks, but then this happened, freezing fog. It has always been a mystery to me how fog can exist and float around in the air while it is 25 degrees. I’ve read about what occurs and why the droplets don’t freeze until contacting a surface, but it is still puzzling to me. It is pretty but can be dangerous as well!
The nandina almost looks like a painting. I think it’s more interesting with the frozen feature than it is otherwise. It would be nice to have warm weather, but maintain the neat leaf fringe.
Our trees were dazzling in the sunlight as the fog faded away. Such a different texture and appearance than snow!
This former chaste tree bloom was once a magnet for bees and butterflies. It doesn’t seem as if that was very long ago. Time flies when you’re having fun!
Our first visit this winter, to our knowledge at least, of a migratory Ruby-crowned Kinglet. This nervous little bird flits around and is always moving about. They constantly flick their wings and the ruby crown is usually hard to see. This male sat still just long enough to provide a great pose. If he wanted to hide his crown, he failed to do so! I’m sure you notice the snow…some shady spots had snow until Friday, hanging on about a week.
A red oak leaf that had fallen in a large flower pot left a lasting impression in the snow. I spotted this several days after the snow. The way the snow melted and formed an outline around the leaf just deserved a photo in my opinion. Another interesting phenomenon to me, but Pam says I tend to find a lot of strange things interesting!
This pork chop on polenta with onion, potatoes, and spinach, plus an awesome sauce was not only an interesting phenomenon, but a very tasty one. A trip to Birmingham last week “required” a stop at one of our favorite places to dine, second only to eating at home. The best is found at our place near Turkeytown, I just keep that one a secret so it doesn’t become overcrowded!
I do have another sky photo but don’t fret, this one will not require a tremendous amount of study. I trust you can see the quill that Benjamin Franklin used when he signed the Declaration of Independence? Actually there are two, I think Ben used the larger one on the left!
When the snow was mostly gone and the sun provided a little warmth (mid 40’s) I decided to head back to the river to a spot I hadn’t been to since late summer or early autumn. It is Bald Eagle nesting month in our area and I wanted to see if I might be fortunate enough to see a bird soaring or fishing. I popped over a hill along the way and was greeted by another trail user. After a two minute staring match, I won out and she showed her white flag and left!
Moving on down the fence line and into a pasture that was mowed late in the season provided a clear view of Lookout Mountain and our Appalachian foothills. Things look so incredibly different in January. In the growing season this becomes head high and you have to pick your way through!
You may have seen my post a few months back where I had discovered several black walnut trees that were absolutely loaded with nuts. There were so many that limbs were sagging. I had never seen such an abundance. I walked under one of those trees on this trek and walnuts were so thick on the ground it was almost impossible to take a step without stepping on one. I wonder what value these would have now or what could they be used for? Maybe I should go back with a few buckets and do some walnut gathering!
I finally arrived at one of the logs along the river where I sometimes take a break. Again, everything opens up in the winter. I sat for a while, watching for eagles, but no action. I was about to give up and head home when…
…this landed almost directly above me. A red-headed woodpecker stayed with me just long enough for one photo. I see other woodpeckers more often than the red head so I was really glad I had stayed on the log a while. The red head catches insects in flight and also eats nuts, fruit, even mice and other bird eggs, being not so much of an excavator of holes in trees like most woodpeckers!
Folks that don’t have the opportunity to spend time in the woods (or don’t care to) may not realize how much dead-fall and dead trees are likely to be in every wooded area. It is very natural but can be very dangerous as well, especially in the winter when all the deciduous trees are without leaves. I try to be conscious of dead trees when picking a spot to rest, camp, or for any activity in the woods, especially if it is windy. I happened to notice this tree that wasn’t too far from my log. At first glance it looked like the other trees, but it is very dead and will fall one of these days, probably soon. I’ll have to keep this in mind when considering sitting on that log!
Having enjoyed a short visit in a quiet spot near the river and seeing a red-headed woodpecker, it was time to start home. Ella Mae was visiting her PJ so I had two girls at the house I needed to see. As I stood to leave, the woodpecker returned for a brief moment so I took a couple more photos. I apologize if this appears a little out of focus but he was in a hurry so you take what they give you. That’s the way with wildlife. I did not realize until I looked at my pics later that this was not the return of the red-headed woodpecker to the same tree, but was in fact a yellow-bellied sapsucker. The sapsucker is only found in Alabama in winter and is our only woodpecker that does not breed here! Sitting on the log paid off I guess.
This oak has no leaves in January to display as ornaments, but it does have a large noticeable tree topper. A mistletoe tree topper.
My grandfather didn’t have access to instant weather forecast, radar and all the things we now have right on our phones. He only had a radio with a lot of static and long range forecasts weren’t very “long range”. He always said the coming of the blackbirds in droves meant a change in weather was soon to come. I remember as a kid watching long, seemingly endless strings of blackbirds crossing the sky. There were thousands traveling together. I always wondered how they had enough to eat, being so many in one place. I still wonder about that. There were several thousand in our yard and fields Friday. The weatherman says our temps will fall below freezing today, and may not rise above freezing until Thursday. Maybe my grandfather knew something? Seems like we would see those birds and in a few days it would be very cold!
Another very colorful January sunset as seen from the Sunshine Cottage porch!
We wish you a peaceful and pleasant week!
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26 (ESV)
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
What a beautiful walk, and something wonderful to come home to as well. I love the frosty photos of edge-tinted leaves and the pine. And lucky you with a red-headed woodpecker! That makes a walk extra special. A happy week to you both!
Thank you Jeanie. Taking long walks usually provides some interesting things. We have a very bitter cold week ahead so getting out will be a challenge. We hope you have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Oh, I am with you on the interesting things to photograph. I’ve only seen one kinglet and it was a golden crowned one. The ruby is beautiful. So fun to imagine the quills in the sunset sky.
Thank you Carole. I don’t think I’ve seen a golden crowned kinglet but have read about them. It’s going to be so cold this week I may only view things that can be seen from the windows. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Especially enjoyed the cloud quill pens ! The mistletoe was interesting as we don’t recognize it if it’s in our area .
Thank you JoAnn. I didn’t realize it for a long time but the mistletoe that grows here does not grow in a lot of states/places, especially west and northwest. I always thought of it as being everywhere. Have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
Butch, your the best. Always look
forward to your posts. Love PJ’s
comment that you always find
something interesting. You do!
And so do I in your posts!
Thank you Nancy. You come to my defense. I guess there’s a fine line between interesting thoughts and weird thoughts. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
The freezing fog is amazing! Love the quills in the sky, and the brilliant blue sky in several of your photos Butch. Pam is right, you do find interest in the littlest things, and that makes your walks so much fun. Love all the pretty bird captures. Keep warm this week, it sounds like it’s going to be extra frigid~ crazy that yesterday was 65 and sunny and this morning the wind chill here is 26! Stay cozy Pam and Butch!
Thank you Jenna. It does look like a good week to stay indoors. And maybe more snow, mainly south of us, even down along the coast. That is crazy weather. Yesterday was a spoiler. I mowed and did some weed trimming if you can believe that. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
I woke up to minus 9 and an hour expected high of 19. Winter is upon us. Oh I forgot to say we have 6 inches of snow. It’s too slippery to go to the mailbox so I might stretch my will and get in the car and drive the few feet to get the mail. I would have called myself chicken in younger years but these days I’m not looking for broken bones. Butch I’d love to have a bucket of those black walnuts. Mama made the most delicious black walnut cake. I’d like to make this cake again because I had worked to get the meat from the shell. That’s long hard work. My friend who is 84 has walnuts frozen in her freezer that her mother had frozen and she just made a black walnut Bacardi rum cake for her husbands 87th birthday and invited me to enjoy a slice. It was delicious! Does that do anything to you?
Thank you Alice. I brought a walnut home in my pocket. I think I’ll test it and see how much trouble it is to get to the meat before I walk a half mile to gather any in the very cold air. We will probably get 9 degrees Tuesday night but not minus 9. Thinking about that cake you mentioned might cause me to attempt the walnuts. Stay warm and have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
The effects of the frozen fog is so fascinating! It gives a bearded affect on everything it seems. The walk through the woods is always interesting. We saw a huge number of blackbirds Friday, so your grandfather was correct! It has gotten colder and it’s only beginning! Brr!! Stay warm! Clara❤️
Thank you Clara. Bearded is a good way to describe the frozen fog. Our huge number of blackbirds left yesterday so they were aware of the forecast. You are probably a little colder there in TN than we are here. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
I share your fascination with the bearded visions wrought by icy cold. Only nature seems capable
of recreating herself to suit the season. I saw BF’s quills and then the fringe-wearing clouds in the
sunset. All that and the frozen mist and I could surmise Who was wielding the brush. Thank you
for giving a name to the beautiful birds you spy….a real treat, as well as that tempting dish at
the ??? mystery restaurant. We are getting ready to honker down for a long Winter’s “nap” in the
midst of a frigid forecast, well fortified with all things hot and comforting. Be warm, safe and blessed.
Thank you Mary. God’s creation never ceases to amaze. It’s snowing here this morning and the deep freeze is coming, yet I found an aster bloom yesterday. I may show that little resilient bloom next week. We do have a pantry that surely has some things like cocoa which will be put to use this week. Not able to get to Bottega Cafe’ this week, we will remain at my favorite restaurant, home. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
PS A friend gave us two beautiful cashmere scarves that will provide warmth this week!
What a beautiful walk. Love your little friend the Woodpecker. Hope you guys warm up soon.
We are only 4 degrees this morning. At least the sun is out that helps. Have a beautiful new week. Hugs. Kris
Thank you Kris. I was out yesterday and saw another type woodpecker out back. I think of the 9 species of woodpecker we have in the state, I have seen 5 of them the last few days. At 4 degrees though, I would need them to drop by just outside the window. Sunshine does make it seem warmer and helps my feelings. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam