“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of Lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.”
Deuteronomy 10:17 ESV
A nice beginning to another late November morning. Every day is a gift. Today is the beginning of Thanksgiving week and we hope it is a bountiful week for you. Our plans are simple this year. We will be home and have our little folks, and Seth and Allison here for dinner. The first Thanksgiving without Pawpaw. Trying to always remember to cherish the time we are given!
A slightly different perspective for a sunrise photo as the early morning light on a clear autumn day was bathing the top of Lookout Mountain. We are still enjoying fall color, dealing with thousands of invasive Asian lady beetles, and experiencing record high temps reaching 80 in spots. This is the view directly in front of our house as seen from our sidewalk. It’s not New England color, but still not bad for this late in November!
The beautyberry has given up its foliage to the winds of autumn, but the fruit of this year’s labor remains. Seems like this would be an open invitation to birds and whatever else might find these pretty purple treats nice to have on their menu.
Our state flower is the Camellia. The only bush we have has been with us a number of years, but for the most part, has not produced great flowers in large numbers…this fall however, is an exception!
I loved the contrast that I saw as I observed honeybees working these flowers while standing almost in the same spot where I made the Lookout Mountain sunrise earlier, and only a short distance from the nearby beautyberry bush! It is all about perspective, each direction I face telling a different story!
As you can see, last week offered some very warm days. Would asking, which rider do you think was having the most fun be a fair question?
We’ve had the pumpkins since early September. I know it’s not Thanksgiving and they usually remain with us through the holiday. But since the weather was pleasant, I thought, “why not go ahead and take care of the inevitable while it is not freezing”. A warm foggy morning seemed to offer the prefect graveyard ambiance. Can a graveyard have ambiance?
The pumpkin graveyard still offers a delightful fall display lying beside the green winter rye grass, and can be seen from the Sunshine Cottage. Sometimes coyotes, turkeys, raccoons, opossums and others discover these quickly and help themselves to the blessing of an abundant harvest. Other times they remain here a long time untouched. The one thing predictable about wildlife is that wildlife is unpredictable!
The nice weather made work on the huge Christmas tree a lot easier for the crew even though it wasn’t feeling a lot like Christmas. The tree was new last year and was outstanding as it stood on a hill above the river. This season a new platform has been added and I even see tables and stools around the tree for outdoor dining. I noticed a few more new additions that we hope to check out when everything is complete and open for the season! Coming with grandkids maybe?…highly possible!
We’ve had a burning bush growing at the end of the house for longer than I can remember. I noticed it last week from a distance and it was living up to the name, completely engulfed in fiery red. I planned to grab a camera and get a photo, but got distracted and forgot (that happens a lot these days). I remembered the next day and was prepared to capture a good fall photo as well as thinking of the red as a Christmas color. In one day the color had faded and all the leaves had dropped with the exception of those at the very top. I was determined to get a photo regardless!
While traveling down the main street of a small nearby town I was caught off guard, not expecting to see a reindeer on the sidewalk. I turned around and parked across the street and discovered…
…there were two reindeer, this one a patriotic reindeer. They were displayed outside an antique mall and I mentioned it to Pam. She may want to venture over there sometime. I’ve never learned when to keep my mouth shut!
Speaking of antiques. This sign was on a building next to the antique shop.The building is now a museum of local history. I don’t remember the little electrified sparky figure’s name, but I think he was well known, an icon ahead of his time. I’m naming him “Sparky”. I do remember that symbol being on my grandparents electric bill 60+ years ago.
We found an old library photo of what was known as Runt’s Place. Noted for the best hamburger in town, Runt operated here for about 50 years before retiring in the late 1980’s. He was nicknamed Runt because he was 5 feet 3 inches tall. But now the rest of the story. Runt was a WWII Army veteran, fought in the European theatre, was captured by the Nazi’s, and was a prisoner of war for over 8 months in a camp near Auschwitz. He opened here soon after returning home when the war ended!
The menu photo is a little blurry but you can get an idea of the prices. I’m not sure of the date of the menu, but I might guess this was near the end of Runt’s active role as owner (around ’87)? Or maybe a bit later, just judging by the prices? What do you think?
I took this photo Friday. Fortunately another old building was preserved. Runt’s Place is now the home of Downtown Gadsden Incorporated, the original glass blocks still intact!
Enough nostalgia. The garden, bathed in morning light as the sun is now well in the southern sky, is at rest and awaiting the coming winter break. The gardener is also awaiting the coming winter break, but it’s not here yet!
It is the Nutcracker Ballet weekend. Our girls were beautiful and we loved watching them. This was perhaps my favorite part! EM is in the red dress, third from the right. Best I could do with my old cell phone from near the back of the auditorium! And oh yes, before I forget…
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
“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
What a wonderful holiday post! Rides with the little ones, the Nutcracker, beautyberries, and that giant tree. It was fun seeing the photos of Gadsden too! Wishing you both a wonderful weekend and Thanksgiving week — oh, the gifts for which to be thankful!
Thank you Jeanie. True, much to be thankful for. Our city is relatively small but does a lot of nice things. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Love seeing the grands, especially Daniel…so cute holding on to the steering wheel with his tongue out! 😊 I hope Santa is bringing him something to steer and drive. I know seeing the girls in the Nutcracker was a treat and put you in the Christmas spirit. The antique mall looks like one I would love to peruse. We’re familiar with “Sparky” aka, Reddy Kilowatt. My FIL was a career Duke Power employee so there was lots of RK memorabilia in my hubby’s house growing up and to sort through when he passed away. Love seeing the golden light over your garden! It was in the upper 70s here this week so it was good weather to do some overdue garden clean up and attempt to get some leaves up. Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving week. 🦃🧡
Thank you Mary. Kids at any age seem to love something that has wheels and that can be driven. I guess we were all that way. I didn’t realize Reddy Kilowatt was so well known. He may be a national legend. Have a great Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Daniel is in deep thought as steering takes great concentration. I can tell because his tongue snuck out. Thus is the best picture of the week Butch. Your grandchildren always gather around each other with much love. Fall in your area appears to have shaken most of the leaves off and is awaiting some sweater wearing weather. Just what a big Christmas tree needs to cheer one up snd I see reindeer are ready in case snow falls and they are needed to pull your grands around in a sleigh. Probably not before Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving one and all.
Thank you Alice. Daniel likes to have that tongue out, it’s even part of his smile. I don’t think snow will be in our forecast anytime soon but the kids would love it. I think those reindeer are out on the sidewalk 24/7 so I’m surprised someone doesn’t bother them. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving even though you will be missing PawPaw. I love all the pictures, especially the one with all the grands with you on the side by side and Daniel “driving”. I remember Reddy Kilowatt, aka Sparky as I worked 30+ years for our electric company.
Thank you Rachel. I see Reddy Kilowatt is a popular guy. I had forgotten his name and didn’t research it but I do remember now that several have mentioned the name. The kids love anything that has wheels and a steering wheel. Guess we were the same way. Have a great Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Good morning! I saw Grumpy Gardener (Steve Bender) write of his camellia blooming this year, the first time in many. so beautiful! Those grands look like so much fun, and no, I cannot tell which one was having the most fun! Looks like you have two gingers and two brunettes, all beautiful.
That’s Ready Kilowatt from the 1950s on the sign. My sister has a lapel pin in our booth right now of him. The garden still looks gorgeous. Mine is all buttoned up for winter, and this gardener is on leave!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Richardsons.
Thank you Rita. Everyone remembers Reddy Kilowatt. I’m glad someone thought to preserve that sign. It’s in a small community that we don’t pass through often and I had never noticed it before. Pam loans me a magazine sometimes and I read the Grumpy Gardener but haven’t read about his camellia. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Time has flown, and I am amazed at how big Daniel is! The picture of the finale of the girls’ program was a made to order ending for your post today! Happy Thanksgiving.
Thank you JoAnn. I know time is a constant but it does seem to pick up speed as life moves along. The Nutcracker had 3 performances, including this afternoon but we only made Friday night. Have a great Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Oh my gosh the grands having a great time with grandpa. Little D is having the most fun I think. Ahhhh the nutcracker is the kick off for the holiday season. Beautiful. That tree is gorgeous. How beautiful that will be. Have a great start to the Thanksgiving Week. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Hugs. Kris
Thank you Kris. The weather has been unseasonably warm but the Nutcracker and seeing trees and decorations go up does help usher in the holiday feeling. We love Thanksgiving and sometimes feel like it gets passed over these days as Christmas activities start earlier and earlier. Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
The grands are all having fun it appears. Daniel’s little tongue sticking out is adorable as he’s in deep concentration. I know New England has beautiful fall colors, but the east Tennessee mountains that stretch into Georgia are magnificent in the fall and much closer to home! The antique mall looks interesting. Your fall landscape is gorgeous! I’ve decided we’re having a mixture of Thanksgiving and Christmas as well. We’ve decorated for both holidays although I’m really ready for just Christmas since we’ve had fall decorations up for awhile now. I saw a sweatshirt recently that said Happy HalloThanksmas! That’s so true when Thanksgiving is so late in the month. It’s always good to preserve buildings with good history. It’s a nice tradition as well as fun to watch the girls in The Nutcracker. The Christmas tree surrounded by picnic tables sounds like a wonderful idea! Our weather would generally allow outside hot chocolate and donuts be enjoyed by the light of tree as long as there’s no rain involved. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. We know it will be different this year but filled with sweet memories. Clara ❤️
Thank you Clara. Thanksgiving is late and that can tend to make us blend the holidays together. We agree, we do have much beauty all around and close to home. A lot of leaves are falling now and with a very rainy Tuesday predicted more will be coming down. I like that t-shirt idea, so true. We wish you a blessed Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Butch, I do think Daniel was the happiest about this adventure. Think of all the fun years ahead!!! Your Sunday images always delight. Seeing the special views of your property never gets old. There is always something new on which to focus. Thank you!
Happy, Happy Thanksgiving to you and Pam and the family.
Thank you Sarah. We can tell when Daniel is happy, his tongue is out. Seasons bring change to the landscape but all has a special beauty. As much as we like to busy ourselves in the yard and garden it is also nice to get rest while it’s resting. We wish you a happy Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
What a lovely post! Good Morning Folks!
I enjoyed seeing the grands on the golf cart. Looks like the little guy is having the best time trying to drive. I think grandpa is having the time of his life.
I enjoyed seeing all the fall colors along with some Christmas red.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you Nancy. I do think all the golf cart riders were enjoying the moment. It is time for the Christmas colors to start easing into the scenery. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Va Electric and Power Co called thrir giy “ Reddy Kilowatt”
Thank you Gail. Reddy Kilowatt must’ve been a widely known guy. We never knew back then how popular he was. Have a great Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Looks like a fabulous start to the holidays! Such fun to see the old menus and read that story. I know you loved the Nutcracker with its special ballerinas. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you Carole. A couple of ballerinas have won me over to ballet and the Nutcracker. I wish we could still find those menu prices somewhere. Have a happy Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Wonderful Grands! Nice to meet Daniel! Gorgeous photos. God bless you and yours. Happy Thanksgiving, my dear friends!
Thank you Maristella. Daniel is really growing, I think he will be walking soon. I wasn’t sure if you celebrate the equivalent of our Thanksgiving on the same day or not but we wish you a happy Thanksgiving and a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
This was such a wonderful beginning to Thanksgiving week. All of the colors of your countryside and then I really liked seeing all the colors in the pumpkin mound. It’s so interesting that the creatures sometimes choose to enjoy, and sometimes not! It was fun joining you and touring all the fun spots in cute towns too. Seeing the grands and Butch having such fun was especially great, my goodness they are growing so fast! Sending you wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving and remembering all of your joyfull memories…
Thank you Sue. It is certainly about memories as you said. It is strange how the animals will sometimes feast on the discarded pumpkins and some years ignore them. Maybe it depends on the availability of other food sources? Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
I’d say Daniel was having the best time for sure! Your camellia is outstanding. I’d tried growing one, but didn’t have any luck and I was so disappointed. How ex ring for the girls to be in the Nutcracker! I know you’re so proud of them and it must e put you in the holiday spirit. Yes, I agree, Jesus is the same today, always and forever. Amen!
Happy Thanksgiving week to you!
Thank you Kitty. Daniel probably was having the best time and he expresses that by sticking his tongue out. We do enjoy the grands in whatever they do; aren’t all grandparents that way? Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Butch your photos are beautiful as usual. Memories! I love the nostalgia of looking at the way things were in days of yore. (another song)..Every now and then someone comes up with an old menu from one of the 5 & Dime stores and I remember sitting at the counter and enjoying hot roast beef sandwiches with mashed potatoes and the cost being below a $1.00. And the soft drinks tasted so much better than those we were allowed (maybe once a week if we took an empty bottle to sell for 3 cents and buy a soda pop for a dime.). Happy Thanksgiving to you and Pam and all your family.
Thank you Kari. We can relate to all those prices and sitting in the five and dime eating. And those fountain drinks, so much better then. Possibly this is giving away or hinting at our age? Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Butch, this post had me in tears. Beautiful tears. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Seeing the girls in Nutcracker, you and the grands, thinking of spam preparing for Thanksgiving and the beauty of the bounty….it’s all so heartwarming!
We had a similar restaurant and owner story. I’m thankful for Runt and our local hero, Red, who served our country and continued serving up yummy goodness for communities! Those prices could be the 70’s and 80’s?
I love the history~ and the huge tree, Camellia, and nature photos remind me of all the blessings we have!
I’m very thankful for your family. Not only do you display so much beauty, nature, mixed with learning and the Lord (the best!), you are present everything good I love in my own family. The world needs more of all of you!
I’ll be thinking of you without your Daddy, Pam. All of your family gathered around such goodness, memories, and tradition. I will continue praying for everyone’s health. Thank you both for how you bless me and so many others!
Much love and blessings~ Karla 💚🙏🦃💕♥️❤️💚
Thank you Karla. The story goes that Runt talked the Germans into getting a cow from a nearby pasture and then he butchered it and did some cooking for them and his fellow prisoners. Conditions weren’t good even for the enemy and he made it better for all of them. We too love Thanksgiving and wish the holiday overlap wasn’t quite so much. We wish you a blessed Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
It’s my blessing!
What a great story to hear,Butch! Often I’ve thought of both sides of war. Enemies are sons, brothers, uncles, husbands (and females!).
God bless you all. 💚🙏💚🦃
A lovely post Butch & Pam. Your flora is exceptional & how quickly your grandies are growing!
I hope you all have a lovely celebration for your Thanksgiving, celebrating the generations gone, the generations present & the generation that has just arrived! 😊
Blessings to you both, Jennifer
Thank you Jennifer. The grands are truly changing quickly. It does seem the generations come and go as time will not slow or pause for anyone. We hope you have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving week! Who had more fun in that golf cart…you or Daniel! What more wonderful way to start the Christmas season than with The Nutcracker performed by your very own ballerina! Not only are my sasanqua camellias smothered in blooms, one of my japonicas, that usually blooms in February, has a gorgeous bloom on it. The weather was near 80 all weekend and now dropping into the 20s later this week…the plants and I are very confused!
Thank you Roxanne. We are with you on the weather confusion, just trying to get as much done outside on the good days ahead of the cold windy days when it feels much better indoors with a cup of hot chocolate. Tis the season. Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!
Butch and Pam
Looks like family fun and adventure was on your schedule this week! May you two have a Thanksgiving filled with peace, joy, and love.
Thank you Mary. It is a busy time for everyone. We wish you a most blessed Thanksgiving!
Butch and Pam
Great photos Butch and such a variety of content! The fall colors looks beautiful from your front sidewalk and I am in awe of the camellias. The grands are definitely having fun on the golf cart and Daniel is especially looking like he can’t wait to drive lol. Love love the old menus and it’s hard to believe those prices. The town tree is nothing short of amazing and the garden in the morning light is so pretty (soon you can rest (we have six inches of snow here this morning)). The Nutcracker ballet was most certainly a show not to miss! Happy Thanksgiving week!
Thank you Kim. Snow, my my…we have sleds but who knows when or if we will get to let the grands use them. We will leave those type activities to the younger folks. I saw a butterfly today so no snow in the forecast just yet. Thank you for the Thanksgiving wish. I was thinking you have a Thanksgiving holiday in October? We hope you have a wonderful week !
Butch and Pam
There is such a profound and comforting beauty in the “simple” Southern traditions you capture so perfectly each week. Post #575 is a testament to the power of consistency, faith, and family—the true pillars that make a house a home. The photos and reflections feel like a warm embrace and a much-needed reminder to slow down and savor life’s genuine blessings. Thank you for this weekly dose of peace.
After 575 Sundays, has this practice of documenting and sharing these moments fundamentally changed how you and your family experience the rest of the week, knowing that you are consciously gathering and creating the small, sacred moments you’ll reflect on come Sunday?
Your grands are growing up. They all look so cute with Butch. Love seeing your beautiful fall color. How special to see the Nutcracker ballet with your sweet granddaughter. Enjoy those special times.
I loved reading about Runt’s place and his story. What a sacrifice he made for our country! I’m glad they preserved his building, but wish someone would reopen it as a restaurant. I loved the photo of the children and Butch. God bless all of you!