“The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.”
Psalm 121:5-6 ESV
With the sun just below the horizon and a combination of high clouds and low clouds, it can make one imagine that the whole world is ablaze. We did have a forrest fire or a controlled burn one day last week that brought a lot of smoke to our area. Fortunately it cleared away and all was well. March often brings elevated threats of fires in our neck of the woods. Did you witness the lunar eclipse? We had all clouds!
I think this has to be a maple. They have showy new growth ahead of a lot of other trees. Maples are well known for fall color, but I say they aren’t bad for a brief colorful display in late winter, early spring!
Talk about a lazy bunch! I couldn’t get them all in a photo but there could’ve been 100. I wonder if observing turtles had anything to do with originating the saying “as easy as falling off a log”?
Without a close examination it was very hard to distinguish where rock ended and the old tree started. I trekked along a section of the river’s edge while everything is still somewhat bare, discovering things I might not notice once foliage arrives in full force. And to be honest, it is coming on fast with our above average temps hanging around!
A scene which contains two rogue, unwanted, invading, menaces. I discovered a ‘Bradford’ (Callery) pear in the edge of the woods that I didn’t realize was there. It is ashamed that a tree with such pretty blooms has turned into an invasive with thorns and is very hard to control. I will cut this tree down as I have others which have popped up in our woods and pastures. What I did not expect to find when photographing the Callery blooms was another pest that has invaded us for several years, but never to the extent we are experiencing now…the Asian beetle that is not our native lady bug. These pests are on everything and in everything and somehow manage to get in the house. Lately it has been an everyday battle! Do you deal with them?
I forget how our woods are filled with young beech trees until late winter when their unique way of hanging on to their light brown leaves makes them stand out. Some of the leaves are now turning an even paler color as it will soon be time for new leaves to replace the old! We can travel the interstate this time of year and see them in abundance, easy to spot in the bare woodlands.
“Dandelion” – My bright showy blooms will rival many that are popular, glorious and which are known as flowers. But the real me is found hidden in my roots and later in what I produce, thus I am known as a weed.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
Matthew 7:15 ESV
The power of roots…an eastern red cedar through the years has broken and lifted rock as it has continued to grow!
Another one of our forgotten, basically throw-away hyacinths has graced us this week, this one a beautiful lavender. EK would love this one since purple is her favorite color. Maybe it needs to be in a vase for her!
I should’ve packed a trail camera and been prepared to set it up to see what’s living here. Definitely a nice home for a critter. I am still very cautious about venturing very far off trail. I hadn’t planned to but did anyway. Don’t mention it to Pam. The leaf covered woods can hide stump holes that are undetected until your leg drops in one up to your knee. That’s a possible injury to a good knee/leg, and certainly a worse possibility soon after knee surgery!
I took the tractor to retrieve the failed nutcracker and bring him to a final place of rest. This was to be the reassignment…the trash heap. But as I crossed the pasture I saw two heads pop up and two girls coming into view on one of our trails that leads into this pasture from the southwest woods. Then the rest of the family arrived, who just by chance had all gone on a Sunday afternoon hike, and were returning just as I was making my move. I had to answer a lot of questions and now am back to square one with this nutcracker. He is resting behind the workshop!
As expected, by last weekend the Japanese Magnolia was going strong and with many more blooms to come. Sometimes it gets bitten by frost since it does bloom early, but ‘so far so good’ this season as the frosty nights have stayed away for a while now!
A view from above is telling. While there are certainly signs of spring all around, the garden as seen here is still asleep and waiting for planting time. The daffodil blooms have faded, leaving one lone bloomer at its peak…
…Candytuft, and one weed I see which must be removed. We replanted the area around the statues last season, but I failed to do my homework. I think we needed something that might bloom all summer and this will probably be finished this month. Perhaps it will fill in and look nice. After it almost died last summer, I think leaving it for now is deserving and that is what we will do!
While removing weeds and doing some garden clean up, I found this egg under brush between a rock and the side of one of our long raised beds. It was in a tunneled out spot and well hidden until I moved the rock and debris. Since it cannot be a bird egg I’m thinking it must be a snake? I moved it into better light for a photo and it probably appears larger than the egg actually is…no bigger than the end of my little finger, if that big. We do see rat snakes in the garden at times and especially in this back section. I think snakes would lay a number of eggs and there was only one, so I am puzzled. What do you think?
While on the subject of possible reptile eggs, this green anole visited me on the patio Friday and decided that I was in his territory. The display of the pinkish-red skin flap, called a dewlap, is to impress the ladies, attract a mate, and claim his area of dominance. Trouble is, I saw no ladies anywhere around, and it is the ladies who will need to lay those eggs. Their eggs are only 1/4 inch long and the egg in the previous photo is probably 1/2 inch. They do only lay one egg at a time however, every week or two from now until late summer/early autumn. TMLI…too much lizard information!
When all the trees are adorned with leaves in a few weeks, the perspective from this hillside near the house might not give quite the view seen here. But a sunset through the trees as I was returning home from a trail ride was a nice ending to an afternoon outdoors.
“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
Beautiful photos as usual. We have Asian beetles by the droves and I discovered they bite, unlike our common lady beetle, aka ladybug. Could the egg possibly be from a skink which are much larger than anole lizards? A real mystery!
Thank you Rachel. Those beetles do bite and they hurt. A skink is a possibility and we have plenty of those around. The Asian beetles are the worst they’ve ever been I believe. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
I can predict w 100% certainty when we will have cloudy skies – whenever we have meteor shower, lunar eclipse, etc 🤪
Thank you Gail. You are right, seems like one knows about the other. We were reading yesterday about upcoming meteor shower activity and some dates for that, guess that means cloudy nights too. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
There’s so much information today that I’ve enjoyed that it’s taken some time for me to take it all in. So many turtles I’ve not seen before and there is probably many more it’s just not room on the log to fit them in. I don’t have lady bugs as yet but it’s a good reminder that the Asian ones bite. Tree roots that will split a rock aren’t something I’ve seen but I do see trees here that grow out of rocks and become very large trees. Theres some dirt somewhere that’s not seen that’s for sure. Speaking of roots dandelions are the blooms seen here. I work hard to get at there roots and just yesterday saw the tool I use to try and extract them. The little lizard was beautiful in showing himself off for you Butch. Snake eggs do not thrill me and digging around to find that one wouldn’t happen for me. Butch you just aren’t going to be able to dispose of the nutcracker. Taking him for a ride on something that’s not open for inspection might be the best idea. Oh and i’d never tell Pam that you got off the trail to see what was hidden in that nice hole under the tree. But explaining how you had to get another new knee might be interesting. Stay safe. Saw where the tornadoes were dancing around out there.
Thank you Alice. We hope the beetles do not make it out your way, they are a real nuisance. I got a couple of bites yesterday. They really hurt, not for long but a brief little pain isn’t a welcome thing. I wish the nutcracker could deter beetles, he would have a permanent home by the back door. Thankfully no tornadoes near us but some terrible and tragic weather for people in places between us and you. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Good morning Butch and Pam! The saga of Mr. Nutcracker continues! You are doomed, my friend, doomed. You might as well get out the gorilla glue, alien tape (my new favorite!), staples, etc and open the Nutcracker OR and Rehab facility! We have not been invaded by the beetles so please keep them in AL. The Juro spiders last summer were enough of a battle. I love this time of year when you can see so much through the woods not normally visible, but you are so right about the hidden holes. I already broke my arm and leg falling in a pothole during the 2017 eclipse, thank you very much! Loving this weather, but is it False Spring? Hope you have a splendid week, full of adventures!
Thank you Roxanne. I think the nutcracker will have to just slowly ease into the shadows and hope spring and summer will bring on nutcracker forgetfulness. We wouldn’t wish these beetles on you and hope your spiders don’t head west. Sorry I even mentioned stepping in a hidden hole and stirred up memories but it is a real thing to watch out for especially in the woods. False spring; maybe, we have a 39 in the forecast. We hope you have a splendid week as well!
Butch and Pam
I had to chuckle at the nutcracker getting a reprieve again! The spring foliage is really popping out with this warmer weather. It is amazing how rock and oaks look so similar together. Enjoy your week. Clara❤️
Thank you Clara. We see a little touch of cooler weather down the line but nothing drastic. Hoping the warmer days stay around and maybe warm weather activities will help some folks forget the nutcracker; he will be way out of season soon. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
More beautiful photos and new information. I have always loved ladybugs…which makes me think of the little poem:
Lady Bug! Lady Bug! Fly away home! Your house is on fire and your children alone….
now, I have to admit I don’t know what that means other than it is a saying my Mother used frequently…that and the farmer said to the boll weevil, why did you pick my farm? and the boll weevil said to the farmer, I don’t mean you no harm. LOL
I am sure Florida has the Asian beetle as we have almost any other kind of insect due to our high humidity and warm weather, so I will be on the look out.
I have to agree that Mr. Nutcracker is destined to be at your future Christmas displays, OR perhaps he. could take up a new residence with the grands?😂
Thank you Kari. You would probably not love these Asian beetles and hopefully you won’t have to decide. Maybe I should take the nutcracker late at night and place him on the grands front porch? Then they would beg their daddy to let him stay. He would probably toss him though; daddy’s aren’t as soft as granddaddy’s. I read your story about Wayne Newton, what an interesting and amazing story. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
The continuing saga of the nutcracker is funny. I think you might have to accept that his is just part of your Christmas. Perhaps he can stand guard on another part of your property. 😊 Love the opening photo of the red sky, just beautiful.
Thank you Karen. We wish the nutcracker was a deterrent to the invading Asian beetles but he seems to only attract everything. I thought he could ride off into the sunset eventually but we will see if that happens. We wish you a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
Asian Beetle? I thought it looked like a ladybug, so now I’ll need to do some research.I scooped up what I thought was a ladybug and ran outside to set it free last week. Have I committed an insect faux pas? It’s all so beautiful, but I guess it’s in the eye of the beholder! Thanks for the tip!
Thank you Leslie Anne. We had to research several years ago to discover that the Asian beetle was an American ladybug imposter but there are some differences. Maybe you only have true native ladybugs since you aren’t seeing hundreds or thousands like we have around. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Spring has certainly come to your world and with it, great beauty. It’s fun to see those hyacinths — I have a forced one in my kitchen window but it will be some time before we see them in the yard! And I must say there is something about dandelions that is charming — till they become puffballs and they they become weeds!
Thank you Jeanie. Have to give dandelions credit, we can find them every month of the year. A few decent days in January and if I’m out and about much I will run across a dandelion. Best thing about them then is that they don’t make it past the flower stage. Enjoy your window hyacinth until the yard produces and have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Butch I think that Nutcracker has some real guardian angels looking out for him!!!! I think he just needs to continue to stay in your yard. Maybe he could be like where’s Waldo for the grands and you can put him different places on the property for them to discover. We have those pesky ladybugs too. Have a wonderful new week. Hugs. Kris
Thank you Kris. The grands would definitely love to be out hunting for the nutcracker. He’s so colorful he would be hard to hide but that’s a great idea. The invasive beetles up there…I’m hearing of them in so many places. Cold doesn’t seem to get rid of them. Hope you have a splendid week!
Butch and Pam
I love the timing of the grandies turning up when you were on a mission to discard the Nutcracker Butch! I still have a piece of driftwood that my second born granddaughter & I found on the beach around the corner when she was five years old, she’s now twenty two & still remarks about it when she visits! Lol! I even offered for her to have it in her own home now but she wanted it to stay where she put it as a child! 😊
We have several invading species here in Australia especially dealing with the Varroa mite that is killing off our Honey Bees/Industry at the moment, the Cane Toad is another huge problem, Rabbits another & Fire Ants which are quite dangerous, just to name a few. Lantana is a major problem in our Bush, Forrests & wooded areas, as it takes over & is now banned across all states of Australia.
Hope you both have a blessed week, Jennifer
Thank you Jennifer. We are thinking you will always be the owner of that driftwood. Those things just turn out to be special. Your invasive’s sound serious, especially the honeybee situation. Our honeybee numbers have declined and it has not been determined exactly why I don’t think. We always plant lantana as it is one that blooms all summer and needs little attention but I’ve not heard of it being invasive here. Maybe our climate keeps that from happening. I think I will research some about it. Hope you have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Yes, to celebrating the health benefits within the dear dandelion! I think the nutcracker needs to visit a nutcracker hospital and receive some tender loving care and next winter spring back to duty!!!!! The nutcracker appears to still be a family favorite!
Thank you Mary. I have performed some procedures to help the nutcracker and am amazed he has held together. His nutcracker cousin broke in half twice and is finished, but maybe a little TLC can still help the remaining one. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam