“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
Romans 12:14-15 ESV
Sunrises this time of year can be amazing, even without clouds around. A number of cedar trees line the fence, planted by birds many years ago. We had the nicest week of weather last week since mid autumn. March can bring some surprises and usually has ups and downs…a bit unsettled I’d say. Next Sunday we will be on Daylight time which makes catching sunrises occur a little later as far as the clock goes, at least for a few weeks!
I dropped by the spot I call “on mallard pond”. These three were the first mallards I had seen here since late October. And, it appeared there might be some nesting considerations or at least negotiations going on! I was glad to see they had returned.
I waited around patiently until the group decided to swim over to a closer spot. I thought at times this drake (male) was being a bit of a show-off!
One of the hens was only interested in lunch, “ducking” out of sight right in front of her suitor. Mallards are puddle ducks that tip in shallow water like this hen in order to find a variety of menu items! Did you notice in the reflection that a Canada Goose had dropped in for a close visit? The ducks didn’t seem to mind.
While cleaning up an old flower bed, something yellow caught my eye in the distance over in the woods where everything else was still brown and gray. Standing out among the winter backdrop was this leatherleaf holly grape shrub. It obviously blooms early and is evergreen. Clusters of purple grape-like fruit will be enjoyed by birds this summer. Taking time to investigate also brought another surprise…
…a honeybee, the first of the season!
The icicles from a couple of weeks back have disappeared and Little River is flowing effortlessly through the canyon.
When I stepped out on a rocky ledge (not to close to the edge) and looked down I immediately thought of the song, “Islands In The Stream”. To be stranded on this island wouldn’t require a lot of exploration to determine what was available for survival!
This is a real place, a true mountain town about 20 miles from our house. It is famous for a furniture store that has drawn people from all over the south for many years. It began as a General Store in 1922. The store, family operated by a fourth generation, now covers over 150,000 square feet. Dogtown is small, with a 4-way stop, and no traffic light. It doesn’t take long to pass through, and while there, I didn’t see a single dog!
I thought I had seen the largest gathering of gulls I ever remembered seeing some weeks back, but that was before I came across this group gathered on the leeward side of a small island just before sunset. I understand gulls will eat about anything, but I am thinking there aren’t many small minnows still hanging around this island!
Today’s post has thus far featured some nice birds, but this mess left by cormorants is really bad. EK would call it disgusting, she likes that word. So much damage is done to vegetation where these birds congregate. The white on everything is not frost or ice and it now has a distinct odor (and near a shopping mall). No additional detail needed!
I often come across a simple scene that I think speaks volumes. I know it’s just me, so I choose to give them names that hopefully somehow conveys a story or prompts imagination. I call this one, “The past, present, and future”!
To me, some plants seem to be out of place, like they don’t belong. Deep in the hardwoods I found this yucca on Friday. It is a native plant to the southeast, but I think it belongs on the coast or in the desert. I’ve passed near here many times but I had never spotted these plants standing all alone in the middle of the woods. It is so much easier to see things in late winter when everything is bare.
I often wonder how some things end up with a common name that makes no sense. That is not the case with the whitetail deer. As you can see, that name makes perfect sense. Once that white flag goes up, the decision to head for a safer place has been made, and there is no stopping for second guessing…
…but that white tail can also be hard to hide. I would never see a deer in this photo if it wasn’t for that streak of white passing through the trees!
The “old drifter” has found a resting place. I did not find any evidence that this tree was uprooted from anywhere near this spot. I wonder if it was along the edge of the nearby island and finally fell into the lake, drifting here in high water before finding a new home?
There were rainbow colors briefly in the clouds above this communications tower late one afternoon. I think our meteorologist calls this phenomenon a “sun dog”.
Not a spectacular sunset by some standards (I actually think every sunset is spectacular) but this late February scene was very calming and peaceful…and that’s not a bad thing!
Have a peaceful first week of March!
“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
I love it when you take us along on your walk .Praying you are feeling better Pam.
Thank you Myrna. Hoping good weather will arrive and allow some pleasant hikes. Pam is better today. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Love the stroll through the woods, along the lake, and all the nature shots. Hope Pam is making progress and feeling stronger. Take care. Clara❤️
Thank you Clara. Better weather makes it easier to get out and about for sure. Pam is better today. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
It is lovely to see our world waking up from winter into spring. We had temps in the 70s over the weekend, and our spring blooming bulbs are putting up shoots of green. Then, tonight it is going to drop into the 20s. March is a crazy month for weather! Love seeing the honey bee this early. I hope the hive is strong. Lovely photos as usual.
Thank you Carole. March can be a crazy month. We had upper 20’s last night. I am noting that many things are waking up as you say. I think we get back in the 70’s by Tuesday. Have a splendid week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Sunday, Butch and Pam! I always enjoy seeing what you share from your nature walks. It’s exciting to see all of the changes that Match brings after a long winter. Our temps have been in the 70s and 80s, and I heard frogs croaking this weekend. I’m excited for spring to arrive. The closing sunset photograph you shared is stunning. Wishing you both a happy March and wonderful week ahead!
Thank you Shannon. We know you are happy to see some pleasant days. We had frogs and crickets one night too. If we could somehow avoid those terrible tornadoes. Every season has it’s challenges. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Good morning Richardson’s. Your walk this morning made me itch to be outside also. Spring is here indeed. We had 60’s this week and it’s awesome but the weather forecasters predicts snow Thursday and Friday here. Well it’s badly needed moisture and so I’ll be satisfied inside. The shrub you call leather leaf holly grape is what I call mahonia. It has to be kept in check or you’ll have a yard full and the leaves fall and make a mess and will stick into you. I suspect somebody threw the yucca away and it planted itself where it landed. I pray that Pam is mending and will be better than ever❣️
Thank you Alice. Pam is better. The leatherleaf is also called mahonia, same plant. I hope it stays in the woods. I’ll keep my eye on it. We need moisture here too. Forest fires have been breaking out in the area. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
It is so intriguing to see remote scenes we might not be privy to and then to read your insights about them, Butch. Nature can be gentle and serene, but there are times it can appear forceful and threatening… the wonder of its many faces. This past week has been sublime in the weather department, but the 4th
is supposed to bring us another wave of inclement conditions. Can Spring be far
behind? Continued prayers for Pam’s comfort and complete recovery and your
role as provider of the healing teas. Blessed Sabbath to all.
Thank you Mary. We definitely had a pleasant week but this week looks up and down, typical March. We need rain but could do without the forceful weather which is also typical March. I need to come up with a quote using your “many faces” thought. Have a blessed Sunday and a great week!
Butch and Pam
How wonderful you are seeing everything coming back to life. We have a little ways to go here in Illinois but there are signs. Yay for Spring! Have a great new week. Hugs. Kris
Thank you Kris. I know you are a little behind us for springing forth but it will come. If I take a close look I notice a little life that’s not noticeable by just passing by. Have w great week!
Butch and Pam
I loved the “past, present, and future” caption! So appropriate and well-named! I agree that every sunset is spectacular! How God still makes each one unique, after all these years, is such a shining demonstration of His unlimited power. I got tickled that EM likes to use the word disgusting! It is funny how kids go through stages and take a liking to certain words like disgusting, then a few years later, things that seemed so disgusting to them, suddenly aren’t so disgusting anymore! Lol!
Thanks for your comments and insights Cheryl. Kids are amazing with their vocabulary and ours use many of those words correctly, words I don’t think we used or even knew as kids. I definitely thought some foods were disgusting as a child but later loved them. Have a blessed first week of March!
Butch and Pam
Happy Sunday Butch and Pam, that water looks really cold! Yesterday started out delightfully warm but windy. At sunset I noticed some fisherman on the pond in coats and hoodies and thought what the heck. All that wind had brought in a cold front, and we were back below freezing. I agree with EK’s choice of words! So very glad to hear Pam is feeling better. Prayers for continued healing.
Thank you Roxanne. I see fishermen out on the water all bundled up and think, “look at those crazy people “. Then I remember that I get out in all kinds of weather and do the same thing with things I enjoy. Guess we’re all crazy. And yep, 28 predicted here tonight, but low 70’s by Tuesday. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Beautiful views! And I love the name Dogtown — with no dogs on view! I hope you all have a wonderful week.
Thank you Jeanie. The story goes that guys were constructing a building near the crossroads and kept commenting every day about all the stray dogs they were seeing. The name stuck. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Wishing the two of you a peaceful Sunday and a week filled with many blessings! Walks in nature seem to make life just right.
Thank you Mary. Hoping the moderating weather will make nature walks even more pleasant and interesting. We’ve had a peaceful Sunday and hope you’ve had as well. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Such a lovely walk in nature!
I was amazed of all the gulls!
Dogtown is a neat name for a town. A dog statue is needed.
Thank you for the lovely stroll.
Enjoy your week my friends.
Thank you Nancy. We do have a south Alabama town that has a dog statue. I never thought about Dogtown having one. Maybe I should check on that. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Thanks Butch for another nature walk and the enlightening commentary. I look forward to reading it each Sunday…altho I am a little slow in reading this week. Life gets busy these days. Love the ducks, gulls and deer. Dogtown is a wonderfully unusual name…makes you wonder how it was so named many years ago. I’m sure there is a story there. Hugs to Pam and so glad she is feeling better. Enjoy your warmer weather and I’m looking forward to next Sunday’s views.
Thank you Kari. There is a story about dogtown. It’s said some construction guys were building a building near the crossroads and every day that would talk about all the stray dogs they were seeing. And so the name stuck. Sounds reasonable to me. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever seen that many gulls at once. Great shot of the honey bee and I hope they have a good season. I love the white-tailed deer and that all those icicles are gone. Dogtown is such a fun name. Beautiful sunset shots too. March is a very mercurial month for us too – yesterday it was 12 degrees and sunny while today it is 0 and snowing. I’m glad that spring is on the way for you and, from the comments, that Pam is feeling better. Hooray! Have a wonderful week!
Thank you Kim. Sounds like March is much the same in how it acts regardless of location. March and April are overall very nice here but it is also the time of year that we deal with a much greater threat of tornadoes. And yes, Pam is much better today. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam