“Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.”
Psalm 85:9 ESV
The clouds winked at me one morning last week. We’ve not had too many clouds lately. It has become quite dry and remains very hot and breezy, typical September. The drier air does feel better though, and also allows for cooler nights! Lower humidity does add a touch of relief.
I think I caused a problem for all of us who might be attempting to watch our weight or otherwise eat healthy with that whole thing last week about monkey bread. Pam came through as promised but then temptation was seated on our kitchen counter. One solution was to take the monkey bread to the grands, which we did…but not before I had a sample in order to be sure it was OK for the kids. They loved it. I had forgotten just how good it is! (Had more last night!)
I was weed eating around the fence back in June and stopped shy of cutting down some growth because it looked like goldenrod. I have watched it grow all summer and now it is 8 or 9 feet tall. Soon to be majestically decked out in yellow, its shape and growth pattern reminds me of a menorah.
The recent land clearing gave me easy access to a spot on the river I hadn’t ventured to in a long time, even though it’s not far from the house. It is hard to get a real sense of the size of this stone and distance to the river by this photo. I named this the white cliffs of Turkeytown. The white rock continues into the water and below the surface. It is really a pretty spot to view from the river, but we sold our boat last year and we’ve not actually spent time on the river in quite some time.
We are all too big to occupy the little chair, with the exception of Daniel. But he is not quite ready to sit alone and enjoy the chair. So for now, the first small pumpkin to join us for the season turned out to be a good fit!
Taking a walk around the yard last week made me think about that commercial that always asked what was in your wallet. I wanted to follow that up by asking, what’s in your yard? I discovered that persimmons have fallen by the dozens and are all over one spot near the drive. Next to this little group were several additional groups of round evidence that deer had found the persimmons and spent time here. I had a photo of that evidence but Pam talked me out of showing it, even though it is also a part of what’s in the yard!
A ginkgo can offer some of the most beautiful golden colors in the fall, usually in late October around here. As I walked under our smallest ginkgo, I found an assortment of leaves scattered beneath the tree. This tree always shows stress from summer and drops a lot of leaves early, I guess as a way of dealing with heat and drought.
I have previously mentioned and shown the fruit from our larger ginkgo tree that wasn’t supposed to be a female and therefore should not produce any fruit. As reported and proclaimed by those in the know, these pleasant looking little pods have a terrible smell when they are mature and mashed. They are everywhere and I am looking forward to encountering them with the mower, along with the persimmons and the deer evidence that is plentiful. What’s in your yard?
All summer I’ve waited at length while being very still in order to get close-up photos of hummingbirds. Now I’m being chased from the garden by the current group. She does not even appreciate that I am the one who planted all these flowers that she and her friends have enjoyed for months. She appeared mad!
There’s something about this particular grocery store parking lot that attracts drivers of unique vehicles. This is the same place that had the odd iridescent glowing car last week. I wonder what might turn up next?
Our Autumn Fire Sedum is living up to its name. I must thank Pam for giving us a touch of fall with this pic from the cottage garden.
Where we live if someone mentions seeing a whitetail it automatically means they saw a deer. But not so fast…a very common dragonfly in this neck of the woods is also called a whitetail. It is obviously a reasonable name!
We were thinking it might be early to think about pumpkins, especially with temps in the mid-90’s as is predicted for this week. However, I found this photo of our visit to the pumpkin farm on September 10, three years ago. We remember they held out well that year, so maybe it is time to go pumpkin shopping!
I went across the river mid-week to check on the corn harvest and found the fields had been pulled and cut already. I also found that I wasn’t alone in having an interest in the harvest. The geese keep up with the work much better than I do. No “find something in the clouds” challenge this week, but I will say that the geese just over the hill in the distance (background) look somewhat like people walking through the field.
Cotton growers had to deal with an unusual wet period at planting time this year. Many were late planting, and something I’ve not seen in the past, some fields where I always see cotton were not planted at all. PJ and I have viewed a number of fields that are like this one. I did not know that a previous cotton field, if left alone, would produce a few plants on its own the following year. This is an example of that, and is interesting also because some of these plants are well ahead of others, which I suppose means they germinated at different times! I need to ask someone…did these plants come up from roots or from seed left behind from last fall’s harvest? I think roots because cotton is a perennial, even a perennial shrub in warmer climates, but is grown as an annual here.
This plant was loaded with tight bolls and with no blooms evident. Some plants still have blooms, while others have…
…all three, blooms, bolls, and mature white cotton!
We have a warm dry week ahead even though some clouds have been hanging around, especially midday and late afternoon. We wish you a peaceful week! Prayers for our nation!!
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 ESV
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
It is hot and dry here as well. We need rain! And our nation needs repentance and healing.
Thank you Rachel. We certainly agree with your words regarding this nation. We hope you have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Good morning Butch and Pam, I love your hummingbird picture! My hummers literally are dive bombing me as I am changing 3 feeders daily! Business is booming, and they are not even giving me a chance to hang the feeders back up. If I was about to fly thousands of miles, I guess I would stoke up too (maybe on monkey bread!). Is your soil rocky? Clay? That big rock by the river is beautiful. The leaves are starting to fall from the sweet gums in my yard. Isn’t it funny how one tiny pumpkin explodes into Pumpkin Palooza at the Sunshine Cottage! Have a blessed week and yes, we all need to pray for our nation.
Thanks Roxanne. We have a variety of soil types and a lot of rock in places. None right at the house and yard but veins of rock very nearby. I figure I will be sent out soon on a pumpkin mission. I guess I’m ready to travel since I finished off the monkey bread today. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Good morning, Butch and Pam. What’s in my yard this year are a whole lot of random, very hard mushrooms. They appear to look like polypores (e.g., chicken of the woods) at times, false puffballs (scleroderma) at other times. they are well beyond where our tree was cut down 4 yrs ago, and only appeared this year, and even beyond where soil was ever amended, very strange. I have to dig them out, and so my grass is already aerated, lol. Bring on the pumpkins, and I love seeing the cotton fields of AL.Have a great week.
Thank you Rita. We’ve had an unusual crop of mushrooms too this summer in strange places. It was wet early on but very dry now so I imagine they will begin to diminish. I’m sure pumpkins will be on my to-do list beginning this week. They are starting to show up for sale at all the usual places. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Good Morning sweet friends. Love the hummingbird shot. What a nice catch. We were in the low 50’s and 60’s last week which is below normal and now this week back up in the high 80’s. Summer and Fall are in a competition right now. Soon the trees will begin to change up here my favorite part of fall. In the clouds I see an owl. As a kid we use to lay in the grass and stare up at the big fluffy clouds and play a game of what we saw in the clouds. Have a great new week. Hugs. Kris
Thank you Kris. Glad I’m not the only one seeing things in the clouds, I will look for the owl. Summer and fall competing…good thought, so true. It will soon be the weeks where we need heat in the mornings and AC in the afternoons. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
There can never be just one…pumpkin. I’m sure more will quickly follow. Especially if you want those perfect ones. 😊 Love the Autumn Fire Sedum, it just says “fall”.
Thank you Karen. You are correct about a lone pumpkin. I’m sure we will be searching for more over the next few days as we are seeing them for sale now at many places. Have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
A lovely stroll today Butch, spotting signs of Fall. I am fascinated by the recurring cotton in an old field, it looks so lonely! That camo truck is eye catching instead of being hidden in nature 😂 I bet the driver had on matching clothes! Pumpkins are hard to resist, I’m sure your garden will be filled with them soon! Have a great week Pam and Butch!
Thanks Jenna. I didn’t see the camo truck driver so maybe he was wearing even better camo. We have see several fields with those scattered lonely cotton plants. Yes, more pumpkins are bound to show up soon. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
That hummingbird does look like she’s on a mission to get you! 🤣 Our yard is similar to yours. The deer are searching for water and good greens. We have a lake nearby but they are used to our creek water which hasn’t had significant water in it since spring. The rock view of the lake is really nice! I had a feeling monkey bread would be on the menu this week. Enjoy your day. Clara❤️
Thanks Clara. The monkey bread was a must but it’s all history now, last bites at lunch today. The hummers have seemingly lost their fear now, I guess they see the urgency to not be bothered by our presence as they sense fall and migration is near. Amazingly deer have not nibbled on our flowers and shrubs this year, so far that is. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Good morning Butch and Pam! Your Autumn Fire Sedum is beautiful and makes me think of autumn. We are back up to the 90s again after an unusually cool August and early September. The Ragweed pollen is high which has me having to stay indoors more than I would like to. Thank you for sharing your photos of nature and scripture with us. My heart has been heavy this week, and I join you both in praying for our nation. May you both have a peaceful week.
Thank you Shannon. Ragweed is everywhere around but I don’t think has quite launched out the pollen just yet here. The sedum turned quickly when it started and has done well this year…definitely bringing the autumn look. It has been a sad few days and certainly we pray for peace to rule our hearts. Have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
What a lovely country stroll you shared with us. That first photo is quite stunning. I loved it!
Your sedum is ahead of ours but we sure do love that deep Autumn red when it turns.
The hummingbird does look angry. Better watch out when she flies by!
Thanks for such lovely photos.
I pray always for our nation and will continue to do so. 🙏
Happy new week to you!
Thanks Nancy. The hummers are acting like dive bombers these days. The sedum changed rather quickly once it started and definitely speaks of fall. Praying along with you for this nation. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
What car in the grocery store parking lot…I couldn’t see any vehicle??? 😉
Your pictures were stunning! And, I’ve never seen cotten plants grow like that. Really interesting…
Our yard has some apples that have fallen from the trees, we are greatful our daughter is coming over to pick some apples and plans to make apple fritters! Boy, your Monkey Bread sure looked delicious! Also in our yard, we have some fallen walnuts from our neighbor’s tree. When their children were young they would come and pick them up from our yard and earn some extra pocket money. They are beautifully grown up now…
We too are praying for our beloved nation…and may God Bless You and your family for so much joy and interesting facts you share with us.
Thank you Sue. I wish we had apple trees. I planted one a long time ago which didn’t survive. I’m sure the deer would love if we had apples falling everywhere. We don’t normally see cotton pop up in old fields because the fields are usually planted with some crop and never left idle. The camo vehicle owner would be pleased that it worked so well. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Butch & Pam,
I can only imagine how your littlest pumpkin is already growing! So precious! I ALWAYS enjoy coming here to visit. Your photos always make me say, “WOW”! You’re an incredible photographer and have a keen eye on God’s beautiful nature masterpieces, Butch. But let’s talk about that monkey bread! Tee hee. I had to stop and stare for a while. Pam, that looks so delicious!
I remember you teaching us about the cotton growing–I learned a lot from you! That hummingbird close up and pictures of past fall, and current leaves, are wonderful!
It’s been in the 90’s here. Did they used to call this Indian Summer, Butch? I’m praying it will soon feel like fall.
My Momma’s side of the family is having a large reunion next Saturday. I’m praying for cooler weather by then.
Please let Pam know that I pray for you all every day! I’m doing my best and taking one day at a time. God is good! And your posts are always reminder of his beautiful Earth, wisdom, nature, family, and friends! God bless you all! Have a wonderful and blessed week! I love you all! Karla
Thanks Karla. Good to hear from you. I’ve never seen cotton as a big shrub but I’ve read that in tropical climates it can grow to 20 feet. We have a beautiful planet but creation is definitely groaning as the scripture points out. I usually consider an unusual warm spell a little later in the season as Indian Summer. A couple of years back we hit triple digits in October. Hopefully your reunion will see some cooler days. We pray for you and for our country. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
We can find a praise in the sad news of this week…Praise God for such a man of faith who wasn’t afraid to stand up for Jesus. We should all be so bold and maybe now we will be. We must stop the hate and violence and learn to respect each other’s opinions peaceably. Simply agree to disagree and move on. Our country needs a revival and more love. Praying always.
Thank you for the great pics on this beautiful Sunday here in Florida. The rock is amazing and I have always loved Autumn Joy red sedum and your plants are beautiful.
Every time I see a cotton plant, I think of the boll weevil song….where the farmer says to the boll weevil,
“Say, why’d you pick my farm?”
The weevil just laughed at the farmer and said
Said, “We ain’t gonna do ya much harm”
“We’re looking for a home….gotta have a home.”
Pam’s monkey bread looks delish and I am sure the grands enjoyed it too…the name if nothing else. LOL Have a great and Blessed week. Hugs to both of you. 🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
Thanks Kari. I definitely remember that boll weevil song. Maybe you’ve seen the statue of the boll weevil in downtown Enterprise, Alabama? It was erected over 100 years ago. The monkey bread was a hit with the grands and me too. It’s all gone now so I’m back to low carb high protein I guess. We join you in praying for this nation. Have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
I’m a day late to the chit-chat. I’ve been busy eating monkey bread! Hahaha. So lovely and fall-ish. I’m still clinging to my favorite official end of summer, but will begin the transition this week. Praying along with you for love.
Thank you Leslie Anne. Busy eating monkey bread is definitely a reason to be late for everything. We are glad to get the temptation out of the house, at least for now. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
That monkey bread! Oh, my! Pam rocks!
Your fall is looking lovely. You made me look outside at my gingko, which is still green, but I think will soon look as yours did. I don’t understand why I’m seeing more fall in the warm south than the cool north, but I’ll take it!
It all looks wonderful!
Thank you Jeanie. I believe the heat and extreme dry weather may stress things here and cause the early leaf drop. Not sure but it seems to happen every year in September. And yes to the monkey bread. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
The pictures are so nice to see. The landscape looks beautiful there. I enjoyed seeing the cotton growing on the plant! Thank you!
Thank you Mrs White. Every place has its own unique beauty I believe. Cotton harvest around here usually starts in October but can linger on into the winter. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Yes, to monkey bread that knows no limits and respects no willpower! Perhaps the unique vehicles parked in the parking lot are part of a marketing scheme to keep potential customers driving by and stopping in!
Thank you Mary. With monkey bread present, willpower is absent. I believe you may be right about the scheme because I keep stopping by that store. Have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
The geese in the background do look like people and I also see the owl in the clouds. The sedum are lovely and fall is slowly but surely announcing its presence. It was interesting to read about the cotton plants and the hummingbird does look kind of cross lol. The monkey bread looks delicious and glad that everyone enjoyed it. Have a wonderful week Pam and Butch!
Thank you Kim. I’m glad we found that owl in the clouds. I was out back a few minutes ago and heard a real owl not too far away. I didn’t realize it but in tropical places cotton plants can grow to 15-20 feet tall. I guess it’s meters up there? 5 or 6 meters?
Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Prayers for our nation, indeed. We have never needed them more. It breaks my heart! Your humor and wit about “what’s in your yard?” made me laugh out loud. I needed that today! God bless you all!