“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
1 John 4:7-8 ESV
Hello May! The first day of the month arrived with a lot of clouds but a brief break occurred at sunrise. It was a cool, quiet morning with the exception of a coyote yapping at me from over the hill. He knew I was around and had no intentions of revealing himself. We had plans for later in the day and hoped for sunshine. The day remained mostly cloudy, but that did not change our plans!
We ordered an inexpensive checked tablecloth to be used for a specific purpose and place. The tablecloth arrived on our doorstep Wednesday and we couldn’t wait to use it…
…and Friday was the chosen day. Cloudy, but no rain, so why not have a picnic? Our response to that question might be obvious. PJ filled a picnic basket with chicken salad sandwiches, chips, white chocolate macadamia cookies, and gala apples. We loaded up plates, the new tablecloth, napkins, sweet tea, ice and a few other items and headed about 1/2 mile into the woods behind our house! Our old picnic table that was in our yard until a couple of weeks ago now sits near the river beside our path.
We brought wild flowers from the field in a bucket of water and cut a few stems on-site and made a simple floral arrangement. Queen Anne’s lace and butterweed are currently abundant. And what is better than sweet iced tea in a Mason jar? Nothing I can think of! Mr. John Mason invented his jar in 1858. The Ball Brothers and the Ball Corporation licensed Mr. Mason’s product a little later, hence the “Ball Mason jar”. You can still purchase new ones today. Did I mention it was very still and quiet as we sat down to enjoy the enormous blessings of a small, simple country picnic? And yes, we did eat too much (mostly me)! We can get to this spot only on foot or an ATV. Those of our family who are somewhat younger also sometimes come on bicycles! It was an ATV day for Pam and me!
These two are very often found hanging out together, enjoying each others company. Honeysuckle (yellow and white blooms) find privet to be a perfect host for its fast growing vines. These two grow in the same habitat, bloom at the same time, and have wonderful fragrances. The two fragrances combine to fill the countryside with a sweet smell that announces spring. I go way back in associating the fragrances to days in high school when this signaled that summer vacation and graduation were soon to come. Even after all the years, a walk in the woods still takes me down memory lane to those thoughts!
And speaking of memories, WL had a memorable party on Wednesday. His mom made a cake (cupcakes too) creating the theme he requested, planes among the clouds. After a lot of pizza and cake, there were 2 hours of fun and games for around 25 kids to hopefully use up some “sugar” energy!
I think he likes posing for photos, stopping in mid-chew to give us a smile! Did I mention Pam and I helped with the eating of cake? It was so wonderful. Allison makes the best cakes!
I found a lone cornflower in the middle of a grown up area that has so many weeds, vines, briers, and other things growing that it seemed out of place. This is close to our pasture and not extremely far from where we had cornflowers in a wildflower garden last season!
I think our sunflowers are off to a good start with potential for a decent showing, this in spite of cows from a neighbor’s pasture walking through this raised bed when the plants were barely visible. We looked out the kitchen window late one afternoon and were very disturbed upon seeing 9 black angus cows behind the garden amongst the blueberry bushes. As you might imagine I put on a hasty cattle drive. We did not realize until the next morning that some of them walked through this raised bed. You can probably see where I have smoothed out most of the deep holes their hoofs made. Amazingly, most of the tracks were between the rows or outside the rows with only a few crushed plants!
From long ago, the owner of the old home place that once stood near Seth’s house had irises growing all around the historic house. Her flowers were always so lovely. Those flower beds are gone now, but on the bank of the road shoulder, irises just like those that once had a home nearby are now growing amongst the grasses. This is probably a Southern Blue Flag iris which is native to the southeast. This iris prefers a wet area or to live in a garden where the caretaker waters well, but I do believe these irises come from those that once thrived in a dear one’s flower beds that were only about 30 or 40 yards from where these volunteer plants are today!
As I traveled down the creek bank to check for blooms on a plant that I thought might be a spring spider lily, I spotted a very bright yellow object some distance away. Nothing else in the entire woods looked like it so curiosity led me to alter my path by about 100 yards…this to find a curled up, glowing, yellow leaf from a tulip tree. I don’t think they are even this colorful in the fall!
The detour to only discover a bright leaf did put me beside a small oak that was covered with Resurrection Fern. I am never able to get a close look at this fern because it is usually found on upper trunks or large limbs of trees that are high up and not in reach. The way it wrapped around the tree in net-like fashion was intriguing. Detours can frustrate but I suppose aren’t always bad!
The supposed spider lily was not yet in bloom. However, I enjoyed another spot upstream where water from recent rains was again channeling through the same grooves carved here by rushing waters from years gone by. I had a thought while considering this caption for a Sunday post…”Groovin’ on a Sunday afternoon”. This is a “groovy” spot. Some of our readers are asking, what in the world is groovy?!
Our Echinacea or coneflower has returned in force and already outgrown its space. Coneflower was used for medicinal purposes by Native Americans. Many people today believe it is helpful against the common cold and some respiratory problems, although it seems there are no conclusive studies to verify. It is a daisy family (Asteraceae) plant, and oddly enough, closely related to ragweed (same family) which deals a lot of people respiratory misery in autumn due to allergies!
We have one group of Plantain lilies (hosta) that are faring well although their spot now receives more sun after the removal of many, tall, nearby pines that were dying. The dappled sunlight seems to be no problem. We were not able to keep our hosta in another area since the roots were very entangled with those of a birch tree which was also removed. You possibly saw that ordeal in last weeks post!
The Creator’s natural world is such an astonishing thing. Last year we had a tall urn that sat beside this walk. I always want at least one purple petunia and that urn was the place selected to plant one. It bloomed so well for most of the summer. I was walking by yesterday and bent over to pull a couple of those aggravating weeds that always come through the cracks. I paused in amazement when I saw that one of my “weeds” was in fact a purple petunia growing from a crack between the rock and brick along the walkway. There’s no doubt where it came from and no doubt what it survived in order to be here!
Lord willing, there will be more picnics. We do plan to invite guests to the next outing, and the guest list is already complete. If I were to give a hint as to who will be invited, I would say…”The guests will be the ones who can ride their bicycles to the picnic.” A date has not been set, as we have one more birthday to celebrate first!
HAPPY FIRST WEEK OF MAY!
“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
Your picnic lunch looks so restful and wonderful! I didn’t know about the name behind the mason jar. That is so interesting!
The children look so happy at the party! The cake must have been as wonderful as it looks!
God bless!
Thank you Mrs. White. The cake was as wonderful as it looked and of course I ate too much of it. My grandparents canned everything from their gardens and their pantries were filled with Mason jars, a vivid memory. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
That area looks perfect for a picnic. The “groovy” rock is cool. It’s amazing and scary what the power of water can do. Love all the flower pictures. How can Wyatt be 5 already? Soon he’ll be driving a car or plane!
Thank you Rachel. I guess water is nature’s most powerful force. The thoughts of Wyatt driving is scary but you are so right, time slips by so quickly and 5 will be 16 with only a blink. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
A picnic by the River. That setting had everything a person needs to praise the Lord with song even if it’s Grooving. The river looks muddy. Did you get a good rain? I love how the Lord moves plants and I never move them. That picture of WL and his friends was one of pure joy. That cake was so perfect for how WL wanted to show his love of airplanes. Who knows but when he chooses a profession he might become a pilot and fly the skies of the world. Maybe even an astronaut.. Oh well it’s his dream not mine. Don’t know what I’d do if I saw cattle in my flower bed. Sometimes they leave behind fertilizer. I just purchased cornflower seeds to plant in an area of my garden that needs flowers in late summer. We have had some rain recently but it wasn’t enough to do much good. I’m thankful for every drop however. The forecast is for more rain later in the week. Yea‼️
Thank you Alice. We did finally get some rain over the course of a few days. Like you we need more but thankful for what we received. And I didn’t mention it but the cattle did leave some “fertilizer” in the yard. Cornflower should be a good choice as it seems to thrive well. Have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
The picnic was perfect! Hopefully your red checked picnic tablecloth will get a lot of use by the water. It was a lovely walk in the woods exploring the various plants. Allison does a wonderful job decorating cakes! She’s really talented! WL’s cake was amazing! I can’t believe he’s 5 already! Have a restful Sunday. We’re enjoying fantastic weather now that we’ve had some rain and cooled things off to normal again. Clara❤️
Thank you Clara. Yes, we did get some rain and it’s cooler today, only 40 this morning. WL’s cake was great and EM has a birthday next week so I’m hoping for another cake, not that I need those calories. Pam is insisting I rest today so I may mind for a change and do just that. Hope your Sunday is restful too!
Butch and Pam
How romantic, a picnic in the woods! Your flower photos are lovely.
Thank you Carole. The next picnic will probably be a bit busier and noisier with additional guests. We hope you have a joyful week!
Butch and Pam
You’re hitting on a lot of my favorites here! Honeysuckle, picnics with checked table cloths, mason jars, beautiful blooms and darling children. A wonderful time!
Happy new week and Sunday too!
Thank you Jeanie. It is hard for those things not to be among the favorites isn’t it! We hope you’re having a happy Sunday and have a great week!
Butch and Pam
How sweet and what a perfect spot for a picnic. Everything looks wonderful and yummy. Ahhh an old fashion picnic. Have a great week. Hugs. Kris
Thank you Kris. The picnic spot isn’t in the wilderness but it is a quiet and secluded little place. And it was yummy. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
What a lovely picnic.
Thank you Debbie. It was indeed a nice little picnic. We hope your week is a lovely one!
Butch and Pam
Time goes by so fast I can’t believe Wyatt is 5.. Most people don’t set their dinner table as nice as your picnic talble in the woods…I love it. We have Resurrection Fern.all over our town growing on the oak trees. Just as you said, it is too high up to really see. Thanks for a close up.
Thank you Karen. We know a year has always been 365 days but it sure seems to come around faster as we get older and we see the grands growing like weeds. I did mention to Pam that when the next guests come to a picnic that maybe paper goods would be in order for the table setting. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
A destination picnic with a checked tablecloth is something everyone should experience! What a joyful day for memory making! – Love the birthday cake too. Zooom!
Thank you Leslie Anne. We agree, even if the destination is only a half mile away, why not? It is about the memories. Have a splendid week!
Butch and Pam
Happy 5th Birthday Wyatt Happiness and Blessings Throughout your birthday year.
Marilyn and Marion
Thank you Marilyn and Marion. Wyatt never meets a stranger and doesn’t have a shy bone. We hope you two have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Belated Birthday to Wyatt! Adorable party! Wonderful photos! Happy May!
Thank you Maristella. We convey all the birthday wishes to Wyatt. We expect he and his siblings will pay us a Sunday afternoon visit. Happy May to you and a great week too!
Butch and Pam
Thank you Alice. We did finally get some rain over the course of a few days. Like you we need more but thankful for what we received. And I didn’t mention it but the cattle did leave some “fertilizer” in the yard. Cornflower should be a good choice as it seems to thrive well. Have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
I was so happy to see the red checked table cloth because I knew what was coming next. I am a sucker and a romantic for a picnic…any picnic! The Captain and I have packed a picnic basket with fried chicken, potato salad and sweet tea with a checked tablecloth… as well as brown paper bag torn in two for a cloth to hold the baloney package, loaf of bread , bag of chips and canned soda for an impromptu picnic. Just mention the word picnic and I am grabbing a blanket and waiting in the car. How fun that you can walk (or ride) to your personal picnic area. Luv the little birthday boy…he looks like he is having fun. That birthday cake looks amazing. What a wonderful week you have had. Blessings Always to you both.
Thank you Kari. And you know I have already mentioned that fried chicken and potato salad should be the choices for the next picnic. We’ve had picnics on a blanket too but that’s been a while. Good memories. The birthday boy is not shy and knows how to enjoy parties. It was filled with smiles, (and noise). Have a delightful week!
Butch and Pam
Happy first week of May and Happy 5th Birthday to your grandson! Your picnic on your checkered cloth looked like a perfect outing. How wonderful for the two of you and then more with special cycling guests in the future. Have a wonderful week!
Thank you Kitty. I think the additional outings need to happen before summer heat arrives and the mosquitos and other visitors of the unwelcome type discover our spot and are there waiting on us. It’s fried chicken and potato salad next time…I hope. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
One of life’s simple pleasures…a picnic! Love the new checked cloth for your table by the water. Wyatt’s cake is too cute, it looks like a fun birthday party. I can’t imagine looking out and seeing cows in your backyard…glad you saw them before they trampled or munched on your plants. Happy Sunday ❤️
Thank you Mary. The cows were a definite surprise and we are hoping that our neighbors fence repairs are adequate and it doesn’t happen again while we’re not looking. I believe you’re exactly right on simple pleasures, those might be the best. Parties and picnics are taking toll on my diet plan though. Have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
Wyatt is 5??? How can that be?? His cake looked soooo good.
The picnic looked wonderful. I love how you even had flowers with that red-and-white-checked tablecloth.
I enjoyed seeing all the flowers. The blue ones really stand out. And honeysuckle reminds me of when I was a young child in Pittsburgh. My Mom had it in our Pittsburgh yard before we moved north to my childhood home, which is now our summer home. Lovely memories!
So, along with turkeys and deer, you also have black Angus cows in your backyard. That must have been something to see. I am glad they didn’t mess up the sunflowers.
Happy May, folks!
Thank you Nancy. Yes time flies when you’re having fun and Wyatt is 5 (EM is 10 next week). I guess honeysuckle grows in a lot of places, just blooming a little later farther north. Seems like spring blooms and smells stir up childhood memories for most of us. We had 8 deer near the garden late yesterday but they behaved (so far) but the cows showed no respect. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
A lovely post as always!
What a delightful & groovy (I knew what it meant lol) spot you have on your property for a picnic lunch Butch.
Picnics are one of our favourite outings too. We so enjoy being in God’s creation with each other, as I’m sure do you & Pam.
Love seeing all the wildflowers & interesting flora.
Unfortunately, Privet although pretty is considered a noxious weed here in Australia, being extremely invasive taking over vast reserves of native bushland & forests.
It’s a constant job for Landcare groups to remove it from those areas, as it has to be done manually.
Wyatt looks a very delighted birthday boy indeed! And that cake is amazing indeed!
Blessings to both you & Pam, Jennifer
Thank you Jennifer. Privet is also very invasive here and extremely difficult to get rid of. We’ve eliminated some along our pastures and fences but it is everywhere. The fragrance and bloom is nice but given the choice we would wish privet was not around. Wyatt was so thrilled at his party. He knows how to have fun. I think many of us can relate to groovy but maybe hate to admit it. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Looks like the two of you savored the simple joys in gingham style! I’d picnic with you two at that table anytime! Belated birthday wishes to sweet Wyatt, and his cake sure is darling!
Thank you Mary. Wyatt was just here and I think he’s still celebrating. I like the blue and white gingham but the red has come to be the popular one for country picnics I guess. You’d be very welcome to drop by for a picnic but I suppose it would be quite a trip for a picnic. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Happy May, Butch and Pam! The picnic looks perfect…romantic, beautiful, and tranquil. The ATV transportation seems the ideal way to get there! Sounds like Sir Will had a splendid birthday, and his cake was so cute. I have a love/hate relationship with honeysuckle…it smells sooo good, but it sure is a constant battle to keep it out of my azaleas! We have more rain in the forecast here, thank goodness, as the whole state is now in severe drought status. Hope you have more adventures planned for this week!
Thank you Roxanne. Honeysuckle like that terribly invasive privet can tend to be where we don’t want it. We thought we’d get more rain Friday night but it didn’t happen. My week has a lot of adventures but they are all routine follow-up or yearly Dr appointments. Somehow 3 in one week. Hope your rain materializes. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
The picnic sounds amazing and the food looks simple and delicious! The checkered tablecloth is perfect for the picnic table – I’m not even going to ask how you got it down there lol. WL looks delighted with his birthday party and I can’t believe he is five already! Allison did a fantastic job of the cake and cupcakes. It was interesting to read that the Echinacea is related to ragweed – who knew? I’m sorry about the cattle in your garden, but I have admit that I did crack a smile at the thought of it. Beautiful sunrise shot. Have a wonderful week you two!
Thank you Kim. WL had a very exciting time as he is usually wide open every day but especially with all those kids at his party. We actually took the picnic table to the river very slowly with the front end loader of one of Seth’s pieces of equipment. I stress “very slowly”. We had a chuckle about cows in the garden too, but that was after they were back where they belong. We hope you have a joyful week!
Butch and Pam
Oh my how I love every single thing in this post. I feel like I was with you on the picnic and love everything else. The sunflower plantings look great, love your raised flower bed and all the flowers shared. Great post!
Than you Dolly. We finally received a little rain and the sunflowers look as if they grow an inch every day. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we will have an outdoor picnic time this afternoon for Mother’s Day. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
I love your picnic spot! What a blessing to have access to such a place on your own property! Such a beautiful post. I enjoyed it so much!
Thanks Cheryl. We need to catch our breath and have another picnic soon. The grands are ready for their turn. That said, we must catch our breath first!!
Butch and Pam