“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.”
Psalm 77:11-12 ESV
Memorial Day weekend has arrived and some much needed rain arrived here last week as well. This particular group of ‘just before sunset’ clouds eventually drifted our way and brought us nighttime showers. Perhaps those with outdoor plans for tomorrow will have a nice day, but a cloudy, rainy day is in the forecast for us. Happy Memorial Day to everyone. Although the last Monday of May is our US holiday for honoring and remembering those in the military who died while defending and protecting us, other countries have similar observances at other times of the year.
Last week Pam and I stopped by the country cemetery where our family has burial plots. There were a number of flags on display. I had thoughts about lives lived and now passed. Thoughts of generations that have been, generations that are, and generations yet to come. Gazing across these markers and beyond to the background is a reminder of new life…a newly planted soy bean field where young plants grow in the same place other plants once flourished. There are soldiers buried here who died in wars, beginning with the Civil War!
This foot marker is near the flags seen in the previous picture. Mr. Kidd served in WW II, but did not die in battle. I show this because there is a story here related to our family. Mr. Kidd was a gentle and kind man, a farmer who lived a few miles from us. He fertilized our fields, cut our hay, and did other mowing for us faithfully for many years. As a little boy, Seth would sit for hours watching Calvin go back and forth on his International tractor, the same way Wyatt watches the guys that do it today. Mr. Kidd would at times stop the work, turn off the tractor and talk with Seth and me. Most of our conversations were done with us on the ground while Mr. Kidd sat on the tractor, wearing a big straw hat. I can guarantee Seth remembers it all very well!
Our city does a great job with displays and celebrations all around town. Memorial Day is no exception. I made a stop at this spot along the river near City Hall.
Another story if you don’t mind, this head stone and grave is in the same cemetery as we’ve been showing you today. Stephen Reed Hood was a Methodist preacher. He fought in the Civil War. So what is the story here? He came to the area from Georgia and built a house around 1860…the house stood less than 100 yards from where Seth, Allison and our grands live today! An old chimney stands by their driveway, and is the only thing that would cause a passerby to say, “I believe there was a house there once upon a time”!
Meanwhile, back at our house on a partly cloudy Friday, a light southern breeze keeps the flag moving, just enough to get our attention and remind us of its presence. It stirs a special memory concerning Memorial Day and calls on us to never forget the many who served and never came home!
The ever present May and June ditch lily is here in great abundance, I think more than ever. Surprisingly, after a drier than normal early spring, the orange commander of the roadside is dominating the landscape there, even overshadowing and dominating…
…the delicate evening primroses growing in their midst. It might be considered rude since the evening primrose is also known as “the pink lady”. Lilies have no shame!
Another very orange current occupant of the pastures and other open areas is milkweed. Like this bee, monarch butterflies will feed on milkweed nectar as well as nectar from many other flowers. But, milkweed is the only food source for monarch caterpillars! Since butterflies come from caterpillars, I’d say these plants are a big deal!
More beautiful and brighter than flowers or butterflies are princesses who are also ballerinas and dancers. One with dark hair and big brown eyes…
…and one with sparkling blue eyes and deep auburn hair with natural highlights. We loved watching our girls dance last weekend. It was spring ballet and contemporary dance time!
I made a trek along one of my favorite routes, figuring the oak leaf hydrangeas should be blooming. And sure enough, they had it going on. Interestingly, this particular hydrangea is only a few feet from the fringe tree I photographed which was all white in blooms about 2 months ago!
It is at least easy to understand why this hydrangea is called “oak leaf”. Some names leave me wondering where in the world did this name come from? Not true here!
A little patch of pink sorrel came up in an inside corner at the edge of the house many years ago. It was not in a garden area but in a place where I had always mowed and trimmed with the string trimmer. I cut it down time and time again. When EM started noticing and picking the flowers at about age 3, I started mowing and trimming around it, leaving the spot preserved for little eyes to see and little hands to pick. All 3 older grands now pick the flowers, presenting them to PJ. Maybe Daniel will follow their lead. This is Pam’s photo from last week. I treat the sorrel like an endangered species.
With a little rain and warmer nights, I think the garden is responding with gratitude. The red of the million bells underneath blue sky and white clouds brings us a nice rendition of the red, white, and blue on this Memorial Day weekend. We hope you can drop by on Tuesday as Pam is planning a garden post.
I don’t think I have a word or thought to leave with you on this one, other than it was one of the strangest bunch of clouds I’ve seen in quite a while. We had a lot of cloudiness last week. I kinda thought I would wait and see if you had any thoughts!
It was just after sunset. It was mid-week, and had been a mostly cloudy afternoon. Clouds can be great contributors to a beautiful sunset, but not this day, too many too low along the horizon. I thought I might have a chance for a great photo, but gave up and was headed up the hill toward home when a small, totally clear spot opened up in the heavens straight above me… and out stepped a waxing crescent moon!
May you all have a blessed 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
Hello Butch and Pam, thank you for reminding us of the significance of Memorial Day. Too many young people think it is a holiday to celebrate the start of summer. I always enjoy seeing pictures of your ballerinas, and the story of your sweet neighbor and Seth is so special. We received 4” of much needed rain in the last 24 hours, so I hope to see the ditch lilies popping out soon. Hope you have a splendid week!
Thank you Roxanne. Rain finally but 4 inches is a lot in 24 hours. Raining here now and we are under a flood watch. I haven’t taken a nap on Sunday afternoon in years but this looks like a good day to revive the practice. Strangely we have Queen Anne’s lace and ditch lilies in record numbers and they grow in poor roadside soil and have had no rain. Have a great Memorial Day and week!
Butch and Pam
I see a not so nice looking face in the dark area of the cloud formation, the pictures of the two ballerinas are more pleasing to the eyes!
Thank you Melody. I can envision the face in the dark area as well as some other things in those clouds but we definitely choose to look at the ballerinas instead. Have a wonderful MemorialDay and week!
Butch and Pam
I enjoyed your red, white, and blue in nature and in our beautiful flag. The reminder of why we have Memorial Day is so important. Thank you.
Your ballerinas are getting bigger and are so pretty.
I am glad you got much-needed rain for your gardens and yard.
The clouds at the end were definitely marking their spot in the sky. Wow!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Thank you Nancy. Too many forget or were never taught why Memorial Day is important. Yes the ballerinas are growing up. Raining here now so I won’t have to water this afternoon. Enjoy your Memorial Day and the week ahead!
Butch and Pam
Happy Memorial weekend. The ballerinas look beautiful and very happy. My first impression of the cloud formation was a massive wave approaching, the kind skilled surfers ride. Looking forward Pam’s garden post. I am in the midst of finishing spring garden chores after a week’s vacation of staring at cloud formations and azure water below, doing absolutely nothing much else!
Thank you Rita. I have a hard time doing absolutely nothing but I know it’s a good thing to do (or not do) on occasion. I’m getting better at it though. Glad you had a restful vacation. Enjoy the holiday before taking on too many chores. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
I used to ride my bike back and forth so I could keep the tractor in sight when Mr. Kidd cut hay.
I remember!
I remember that too and I figure you have 2 boys that will do the same thing, only with a different generation of tractor drivers.
Beautiful reminder of why we have Memorial Day and the men and woman who sacrificed their lives so we can live in freedom today. The picture of the clouds has to be the most unusual one I have ever seen! It looks like a twisted handle over a basket of something, maybe???
Thank you Rachel. A twisted handle on a basket is a neat thought and I hadn’t come up with that one. Freedom and sacrifice, two terms that are frequently found together. This speaks volumes. Have a great Memorial Day and week!
Butch and Pam
I see the the basket and handle. Good eye. Our little town of Centreville MI has a little parade through downtown and heads to cemetery with folks following along. A local pastor always gives a wonderful Memorial Day message which always includes our Savior Jesus. After extended family continues the celebration at our house just out of town. Parades at 9 and often we are gathered we into afternoon. Needles to say, a good time is enjoyed by all over coffee and breakfast foods.
Thank you Vicky. I actually missed the thought of a basket and handle but you and others saw that and it’s so clear now. Your Memorial Day sounds truly amazing, something from a story book from the past. We are going to check our map to locate Centreville. We live near a small town known as Centre. Enjoy that Memorial Day celebration and have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
I hope you both have a beautiful Memorial weekend. Love seeing the photos of the younger generation — your girls are so pretty. I want this to be a work outside weekend, but the weather isn’t cooperating and a holiday cookout doesn’t sound too promising either. Oh well. You never can tell!
Thank you Jeanie. Sounds as if your weather and ours may be a lot alike for the weekend. No cookout here today, raining now and predicted for tomorrow too. We need the rain and rest so no complaints. In spite of the weather, have a great Memorial Day and a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Your Memorial day thoughts are so interesting. We visit family plots at six cemeteries and pick up flowers next week. Tonight we will watch the PBS Memorial Day Show from Washington, DC which is always very moving. On a lighter note I thought the clouds might be the Grinch taking a nap!
Thank you JoAnn. The napping Grinch is a similar thought to one I had. I saw someone napping wearing a Christmas-looking hat and you got it with the Grinch. Visiting 6 cemeteries is a moving and thoughtful idea. That can take some time if they should be some distance from you. We hope you have a special Memorial Day week as you make those visits!
Butch and Pam
Memorial Day is an important holiday because we need to remember those young people that went to war and sacrificed themselves for us to enjoy our families and lives in freedom. It’s humbling when you think about it. Thanks for the reminder. We have two national cemeteries in Memphis filled with flags this weekend. We’re getting rain and are thankful for it! Your flowers are flourishing! Your princesses are both beautiful. Enjoy your day. More rain is on the way. We’ll be caught up and out of a drought if we get the rain they’re predicting. Take care. Clara ❤️
Thank you Clara. We do need to remember and to teach our young people and children. If we don’t teach them truth, for certain someone will teach them lies. We too are getting that much needed rain. Finally I’m not watering every day. Visiting a National Cemetery would be an awesome thing to do this weekend. Have a delightful Memorial Day and a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
I saw an old man at the bottom left pushing a huge wheel like a tractors wheel toward heaven. What did you see Butch? I can imagine Seth’s little legs trying to keep up with Mr. Kidd. I remember how Seth mows now and cleans up the over growth. The dancers pictures of brown eyes and blue shows how beautiful God makes each of us in small ways. Must always mention day lilies as my mother made much ado with them. Milkweed is planted here for the butterfly. Love your comment about the sorrel you preserve. The robins are back and as usual they have placed their nest on the brick column on the front porch. I look forward to their arrival every year not so much to the droppings that will show up b cause they fed the babies so well. I try to help them feed the babies by placing earthworms I find while planting the little garden near their nest. Happy Memorial Day Richardson’s. So very thankful for those who gave their lives in service.
Thank you Alice. That old man pushing a tractor wheel might be me, ha. I do have my dealings with tractor tires. It is amazing, Mr Kidd has been gone almost 20 years and Seth does mow and clean some of the same places he used to cut. We understand about your robins and enjoy birds too; but, have birds, have droppings. Pam’s mother loved day lilies and so does Pam. Hope you have enough growing season to have your garden this year. Have a blessed Memorial Day and a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Looks like your city is honoring their heroes with gratitude and grace this weekend. How fun to watch your little stars shine on stage! Ballet slippers and spring notes are my favorite symphony! 💖💖💖
Thank you Mary. We do love to watch the princesses. EM being older now and more experienced is on stage more and involved in more of the performance. That makes it much easier for restless me to sit 3 hours. Have a great Memorial Day and enjoy your week!
Butch and Pam
Butch and Pam, your SSS posts are always such a peaceful way to begin the week. I loved the Memorial Day reflections and the beautiful reminder to pause and remember those who gave all for our freedoms. Love the princesses as well as the wildflowers and scenery you captured. We got a little much-needed rain and hope to get more this week. Wishing you a blessed Memorial Day weekend filled with gratitude and family time. ❤️
Thank you Mary. We are getting rain, even today and more in the forecast. Hopefully you can get plenty of the wet stuff. I know your lake level has been extremely low. Have a wonderful Memorial Day, even if it rains, and have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Sweet friends, thank you for your always beautiful photos and I love the little patch of pink sorrel for the grands…it is the little things we do, isn’t it? Yes, we must never forget those who have died for our country’s freedom. As you know, there are those who think of this day as only a time for remembering all our loved ones who have passed and it is ok…but we must never forget our fallen heroes. This Memorial Day is for them and Praise God for those who also fought and came home.
The girls dancing would fill my heart with pride as I am sure it does for you both…we love when we can see our grands blossoming in the arts. The Captain and I are going to have a picnic tomorrow, AND I am making picnic baskets for two couples …they each have a shut-in and it is difficult for them to get out and about so we will take picnics to them to enjoy in their homes. Enjoy the time with your family, as well as the rain…God is in control! Hugs and Blessings!
Thank you Kari. Picnic baskets for those that can’t get out for their own picnic is a very special thing to do, love that idea. People do get confused as to what Memorial Day is about but as you point out, it’s ok to expand it a bit too. We are enjoying watching the girls progress in their dancing and other activities but they grow up faster than we wish sometimes, however we aren’t in charge…which is a good thing. We are making the best of a rainy afternoon and I suppose being quite lazy. Have a blessed Memorial Day and a great week!
Butch and Pam
I saw an octopus tentacle in that cloud… Crazy imagination! Your ballerinas are beautiful and adorable. Great tribute to honor Memorial Day! Greetings from far far away!
Thank you Maristella. An octopus…I must examine, I had not thought of that. We are always glad to have greetings from far away. It is a holiday weekend for us. Many here in the north in our temperate climate with 4 distinct seasons consider this weekend as a time to begin summer outdoor activities and vacationing but there are vast numbers of Memorial Day celebrations, big and small, across the land which is what the weekend is really about. We hope you have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
I enjoyed the background stories behind the headstones Butch. I always find people’s life stories so interesting.
Your granddaughters look very sweet in those photos.
And that cloud formation is very strange indeed, the darkest cloud is very dark, I’ve not seen a cloud that dark before! I don’t have words for it either.
Hope you both have a great week..
Blessings, Jennifer
Thank you Jennifer. We too love to discover the stories behind lives and events. Seems like the story brings the past back to life, and once we learn the story we may see something entirely different from our original assumptions. Sometimes we don’t know the story and wish we did. As you might imagine, the two ballerinas have me wrapped around their little fingers. Pam said the same thing about that dark cloud. We hope you have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Thank you for a beautiful Memorial Day post!
Your ballerinas are so beautiful and I’ll bet you enjoyed their performances so very much. As far as the cloud…it looked like a giant bug was about to devour whipped cream!
Have a wonderful week!
Thank you Kitty. I guess that entire cloud could look like it was put together from one of those cans of whipped cream. Hadn’t thought about whipped cream until I read what you said. Yes, the ballerinas do bring much joy. Hope you are having a nice Memorial Day and enjoy a great week!
Butch and Pam
I enjoy your stories behind the photos as much as the photos themselves. Each one could start a long conversation between us. Similar thoughts and similar dreaming.
Thank you Leslie Anne. Agreed, it’s so often about the story. I suppose that if a picture paints a thousand words it must be those words, the story, that draws us, speaks to us. We know you are a talented writer. I wish I had a better way with words. At least the true stories kinda tell themselves. Have a great Memorial Day and a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
Your sweet ballerinas are adorable. Have a wonderful Memorial Day. Hugs. Kris
Thank you Kris. We’ve had a rainy but very enjoyable Memorial Day which included a lot of time with ballerinas and their brothers. Hope your day was a good one and that you have a great week!
Butch and Pam
I just love your posts and the story you tell.
Thank you Nonie. There’s often a story if we can find it. Hope you had a wonderful day and blessings for the week ahead!
Butch and Pam
I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day and in memory of those who fought for your country. In Canada, we have Remembrance Day on November 11th for the same reason – to honor and remember those who fought for our freedom. Love, love the ballerinas! The sorrel is so pretty and I can see why the grands choose it. That cloud formation is something else – it almost looks a bit ominous and I’ve never seen anything like it. Looking forward to Pam’s garden post. Have a wonderful week ahead!
Thank you Kim. I did a little research because I knew not everyone would celebrate Memorial Day or at least not at the same time. I saw where Canada did observe it on November 11 and several other places do also. November 11 is Veterans Day here, a different holiday. I believe some countries like Australia celebrate in April but I’m going on memory here which these days isn’t a great idea. We had a very good day, finally getting needed rain. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Memorial Day is time for reflection to those who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice. I am thankful for my dad who served and was blessed to come home. I aways enjoy your post and seeing what’s blooming up your way. We have a few blooms here an there in our tiny garden and they are like beautiful gifts. You have two lovely ballerinas here and I’m sure you enjoyed their recital. We’ve had so much rain we had to bring the flower containers under the porch, poor plants were drowning. Hope we all have sunny days ahead. Have a wonderful week ahead Pam and Butch….
Thank you Emily. Seems we go from drought to drowning. We too have some plants now that look like they’re getting too much water. Not much sun in this week’s forecast. Pam’s dad suffered significant injury during the war but was also blessed to make it home, thousands did not. We certainly did enjoy the girls recital. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
My! That is surely a peculiar looking cloud formation! I have never seen the black like that before. Very odd. Your sweet grand-girls are so pretty, and I can’t believe how much they have grown. Time waits for no one. You all certainly make the most of each moment. God has blessed you abundantly!