““Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.””
Isaiah 12:2 ESV
With the sun just below the horizon, these “on fire” clouds look blustery and summer-like…but not so. Mid- February can bring a lot of variation to our skies and our day-to-day weather here in Alabama. We are expecting 70ish degree days this week, but no doubt there will be more winter before spring makes a final takeover!
I headed up to Noccalula Falls Park on Friday with the intention of getting a photo of the falls and observe how the water was flowing this winter. As I approached one of the park entrances, I realized the wooded section with the train station, trails, animal barn and many other attractions was filled with hundreds of the most brightly colored objects/figures. I turned around to get a closer look. I stopped by the gift shop and office to see what was going on. The park was closed, but Friday was opening night of the Spring Lantern Festival. I’ll mention more later, but the lady at the shop allowed me into the park with my camera. Except for employees, I had the entire place to myself. This colorful display was near the front where I entered.
.
I mentioned last week that we spotted these daffodils in the pasture as we headed to church. As promised, I had to go back to verify and get a photo.
These are wild daffodils, often called Lent Daffodils because they are the earliest to bloom and are typically showing their beauty by or before the beginning of Lent. This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Many people observe Lent and do so in a variety of ways!
These daffodils lined one of the walks inside the falls park. I can’t imagine how the park will look with everything illuminated at night. We hope to take the grands back one evening next month. The event is open nightly through Easter. And I still can’t believe how nice it was for the lady in charge to let me walk through and make photos.
I stepped onto the porch and looked up to see 3 white pelicans directly over the house. Last week I ventured to where the pelicans were gathering…this week they paid us a nice visit. They are beautiful birds in flight!
Since I’m recognizing and enjoying majestic birds these days, I thought these eagles were displayed very well…I need to see them at night.
Along with the early wild daffodils, Japanese quince always greets us in February. Pam says daffodils, Japanese quince, and …
…forsythia (yellow bells according to my grandmother) are harbingers of spring. Again, as I’ve said before, Pam uses vocabulary words I have to look up! I purposely went by the street where Pam’s dad (Pawpaw) lived to check these two shrubs. As always, these shrubs, across the street from his house, were welcoming February and longer days!
We had a fun and eventful celebration on Friday as our Daniel turned one, or as Allison’s chalk display reads…Daniel’s first rodeo!
He used his cake as a drum for the longest, patting, and at times pounding on it. That was definitely fun, but once the discovery was made that this drum was edible, there was no turning back! The country cowboy loves sweets!
A few more of the “animals” that I encountered in the park. WL loves all things dinosaur so we must get him up to see all these creatures one night. I loved dinosaurs as a kid. Are all little boys and some little girls fascinated with dinosaurs?
Stopping to make 147 photos in the park and moving slowly on the new knee did take a lot of my afternoon. I had a birthday party to attend also. The falls is easily accessed from another entrance, free without admission to the entire park. At least an inside the park trail did give me the view I went there to see in the first place!
Our grands all love to draw, color, and create cards and fun drawings. They make them for every occasion and for no reason at all. Daniel hasn’t started yet, but if anything like his siblings, he will be at it soon. They are very creative too. Pam and I decided to join them and start making our own cards for them, and sometimes for each other. Store bought cards are smaller, $8, not personal, and the content is not nearly what it used to be. These were our cards for the grands this year.
The inside. Now I know you are getting a laugh at my artwork, but don’t make fun, it took me 2 hours. That’s the personal touch and the little folks loved it. I had no aspirations as a child to become an artist, which is no doubt a good thing!
With a busy Valentine’s Day and a special day on Friday to celebrate our precious Daniel, PJ and I decided to take a Valentine excursion on Wednesday to Bottega Cafe. Pam’s was so beyond delicious (I had a sample…she shared!). Duroc pork chop, with roasted sweet potato, polenta, peas, apple, grilled onions, and sage, to name a few of the scrumptious items!
Over near the river gulls kept circling over and gathering in a large group above me as the day was fading one afternoon last week. When I took my photo of the gorgeous sunset, I was not aware of all the gulls that had filled the western sky.
We wish you a blessed, pleasant, and peaceful week!
“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
Happy Birthday to your precious little cowboy! So glad he realized his “drum” was edible. 🎂 So nice to be given access to the park with your camera from the gatekeeper. Love your artwork and personalized Valentine’s Day cards, I’m sure the grands were thrilled. Love the moody skies and signs of spring too, Happy Sunday. ❤️
Thank you Mary. I was wanting a piece of cake and I thought the little guy was never going to start eating. I know playing in it must’ve been so much fun. I was shocked the gatekeeper invited me in and gave me an arm band in case an employee questioned me. And what great pics you have of the hawk. We hope you have an enjoyable week!
Butch and Pam
Hard to believe grandson Daniel is already a year old. The falls park will be even more beautiful when the displays are lit up nightly. Hope you can take pictures then as well, although it may be too crowded. Enjoy th spring like weather this week.
Thank you Rachel. Doesn’t time seem to sweep by while we aren’t paying attention! Maybe we can get to the park at night. I made a lot of daytime photos but it’s designed to be all about the lights. We hope you have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
I love those cards and the drawings can’t help but to make you smile.
Thank you Ruth. The cards are loved by the little ones as they just love things unconditionally, not caring that my artwork isn’t so good. It’s my hope they recognize something much deeper than the lines and colors. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
I think your art work is fabulous, you cannot buy that kind of love and expression in a store. It is why I’ve been making cards for many years now.
I’m not surprised you sweet-talked your way into the closed park to get some pictures. Looks like a fun place to visit.
Thank you Carole. I tagged the park but I almost didn’t. I wondered if the wrong someone saw the post would the lady get in trouble for letting me in? But I do believe she was very much in authority and it was just a nice thing she did. I do enjoy making drawings for the kids and seeing them laugh. As you said, store bought just doesn’t capture it. Have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
Love your art work Butch and your photography. I would enjoy the park and night with the children. In fact I’m looking forward to your photos of the park at night.
Pam’s pork chop looks delicious. It would take most of my time in a day to gather all things on that pork chop and much of my time preparing it. But Yummy it would be. Your sky’s almost look frightening. And I do see the birds in last sky photo. Don’t you wonder who planted those daffodils? They are so sweet and can be counted on appearing no matter the weather.
Thank you Alice. I do wonder about things like those daffodils that are in the most unusual place away from everything yet they’ve been coming up there for years, decades. I wish I knew their story. A good lesson I can learn from daffodils, the importance of consistency. We do hope to get to the park and see it at night as it is meant for the lights. We wish you a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
That is the sweetest little one year old cowboy ever!!!! Happy Birthday. The valentines are so sweet. Sounds like Daniel’s first birthday and Valentines Day was a great celebration. Have a great new week. Hugs. Kris
Thank you Kris. Yes, back to back days of reasons to celebrate but also the reason I need to be on starvation for this week. You know, everything we do seems to revolve around food. We hope you have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Hi Butch – wow, you had a lot to celebrate and be thankful for. Such a happy post. Glad you are getting around better each day. Doesn’t sound like much is going to slow you down for too long. Have a blessed week, you two.
Thank you Michele. Much to be grateful for no doubt. I’m getting about a bit more each day but I’m also impatient. I needed this lesson in patience and trying to slow down at least a little. We hope you have a blessed week as well!
Butch and Pam
Happy Sunday Richardsons….and Happy Birthday to little DJ. and BTW, he is the cutest little cowboy I’ve seen in a long time. How sweet you and Pam create cards for your grands, I know they appreciate all the time and love that goes into making them. I agree, the cards one buys these days are usually found lacking and impersonal. I have shared before that all cards we receive or give each other go into my “Heart Ache Box” and I call it that because my heart ‘aches’ as I read through each one through the years. I am far too romantic AND sentimental.
Thanks again for the beautiful photos and I know the grands …and you two…will enjoy the park when it is all lit up at night. What a great anticipation to look forward too. We have a lot of parades and such to entertain the Snow Birds who bust out the seams of our little city each season, but nothing such as your Spring Lantern Festival. What a delight! Have a wonderful week and keep healing and love to your caregiver.🥰🙏🏻🥰
Thank you Kari. Sentimental is good. We get cards out and read them together, started yesterday, but there were so many we will finish today or tomorrow. The caregiver is doing a great job and now dealing with one who is just enough improved to probably be like a stubborn headache. Sounds like your area has much to offer in the way of activities for visitors. I imagine the lantern festival draws a lot of people from the region. We hope you have an enjoyable week!
Butch and Pam
The homemade cards are all so cute! I’m only up to stick people, so you’re way ahead of me! 🤣 The park looks like it will be a lot of fun! I love seeing the early daffodils, it means spring is close. Happy birthday to DJ! He’s got PJ’s and EM’s hair color. I saw two of the cutest little boys at a restaurant last week; both of them had beautiful auburn hair. It reminded me of my cousin that passed many years ago in a car accident. It was a good moment of remembrance. Looking forward to more park pics when y’all visit as a family. We’re ready for spring. We’re getting the rain today so maybe the flowers won’t be too far behind. Enjoy your day. Clara❤️
Thank you Clara. Your Tennessee rain is down our way today and we needed it really. DJ looks so much like EK when she was a baby before much hair. We are also ready for spring, not to rush things, but the 70’s that are in the forecast are welcome. If we get to the park at night I’m sure we will have a few photos to share. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Thank you for sharing all the happiness! The yellow blooms are making my heart sing. I’m so ready for spring this year! Kudos to you and Pam and your son and DIL for giving these children the best childhood experiences. Love seeing the valentines. The Best! Happy Birthday to that precious redhead!
Thank you Sarah. We join you in being ready for spring, except for those thunderstorms and tornadoes. Of course we do get tornadoes in the winter but not as frequent. Some tornado watches in places today even ( not here). I’m not sure we as kids realized the value and blessing of many experiences but hopefully, as we have, they will look back on them with much gratitude and fondness. We hope you have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Birthday to that cute little Cowboy! How has one year already passed? Those cards were so sweet, what treasures for the grands to keep. And the display at the park … wow! Can’t wait to see more pictures of that. It was 40 and pouring rain when I went to church, expected a smallish crowd. But, no, we were full…Everyone getting in their final “alleluias” before Lent begins. Hope you and Pam have an excellent week.
Thank you Roxanne. And thanks for the reminder of Lent. I may need to consider an extra dessert or two before Wednesday and then completely give them up. Maybe I consider something else since we have an anniversary coming up. Isn’t there always some occasion that requires eating a lot of good but bad stuff? Rain here but around 50 this morning. Glad your folks ventured out in the cold rain. Have a fantastic week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Birthday to Daniel; he is just precious. This is a very artistic post, Butch! The cards are so thoughtful; what will Hallmark do without your business? I agree that store bought cards are not what they used to be, and so expensive. Love to both you and Pam.
Thank you Patti. I know Hallmark will survive but they’ve gone way down hill it seems. The $1 cards at Dollar General are often better and have plenty of space to write my own thoughts. Tell Mike hello and we love y’all. Have a blessed week.
Butch and Pam
I love those daffodils and the theme of “first rodeo” for the party was adorable! Happy upcoming Ash Wednesday to you.
Thank you Leslie Anne. We loved Allison’s theme too. I understand Mardi Gras is huge down your way and there is no shortage of parades in the area. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
That was so very nice of the lady to let you roam about the fabulous park. It’ll be something to look forward to when you bring the grands back at night. I enjoyed seeing your early signs of Spring in your beautiful area. Happy Birthday to your darling one year old cowboy Daniel! Don’t our grandchildren bring us such joy?
Have a beautiful week and a blessed Ash Wednesday.
Thank you Kitty. We do hope to take the grands back to the lantern festival. We are considering later in March on maybe a not so cold evening. The grands do bring joy, we were with them again tonight. We love the hints of spring but as you know February and March can be filled with winter surprises. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Birthday, Daniel! How can he be 1 already??
I enjoyed all your cards. They are so sweet! The kids had to have loved them.
I am so happy to hear you are getting out and about to capture all the wonderful photos. The sunsets and sunrises are gorgeous. But so are the daffodils and forsythia.
I am looking forward to the evening you take the grands to the lighted lantern festival!
Happy New Week to you both!
Thank you Nancy. The years do seem to pass so quickly now. I too am glad to be out. I don’t go far or fast but maybe gaining a little ground daily. We have a warm week predicted so some things will bloom and then it will freeze again. It’s that time of year. We hope you have a great week!
Butch and Pam
The park looks wonderful and it will be fabulous at night with the lights – so nice of the gatekeeper to let you in for photos. The falls are magnificent. And oh my gosh, Daniel is so precious and what a great photo of the two of you. Pam’s meal looks delicious and I’m glad you had a happy Valentine’s Day. Love love love the cards you made and I’ll bet the grands loved them too. What a beautiful sky shot with all the birds and the daffodils are glorious – spring is in the air! Have a fabulous week you two!
Thank you Kim. It was kind of the gatekeeper to allow me in. I was surprised when she asked me about my camera and what I wanted to do. I didn’t ask for a favor. She just offered. Pam’s meal was not only delicious it was so much food…I was able to do some sampling. I saw birds building nests today and a butterfly but they are rushing things a bit. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
I can’t tell you what a lift it gives me today, seeing those daffodils and knowing that at least somewhere spring is on the way and maybe it will come here too. (We are going through a bit of a thaw, so I can tell here, too. But it will be awhile before we see blooms!) What a lovely post, with darling babies, sweet drawings and so much more!
Thank you Jeanie. We are supposed to have 70+ degree days through Friday. We would wish it in your direction if that would help. We saw a butterfly out and about Sunday but it will definitely turn cold again. A little taste of spring to spoil us is not a bad thing. We hope you have a great week!
Butch and Pam
A lovely post as always Butch, what a cutie Daniel is!
Blessings to both you & Pam, Jennifer
Thank you Jennifer. Hope all is going well with you. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Yes, to celebrating your sweet grandson’s first rodeo – priceless!
Thank you Mary, it was a sweet time. We hope you have a joyful week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Belated 1st Birthday to Daniel! It looks like he had a wonderful party! And how nice of the sweet lady to let you in the park to take photos! God is so good to send us reminders of His love for us and to let us know He truly does care about the smallest details of our lives. I hope you were able to take the children back to see everything. May God bless you on this beautiful Lord’s Day!
Thank you Cheryl. We haven’t been back to the park at night yet but hope to get there soon. Daniel had a sweet party and we all enjoyed watching him, especially his siblings. We did have a gorgeous warm day today which got us outside for the afternoon. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam