“Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre! He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills.”
Psalm 147:7-8 ESV
I guess even the sky has a rib cage. The sky was very blue early Friday, but a lot of days last week were hazy, not just summer haze, but smoky from fires. A high layer of smoke gave us a yellow look at times but no trouble at ground level which has been a health issue in some places. And, since I mentioned a rib cage…
…this will stick to your rib cage and eating it on a regular basis will do a lot to permanently hide your rib cage. But, on Friday the 31st, we took a chance on it and celebrated the 56th anniversary of our “first date” by both having a blueberry/peach semifreddo! Of course we indulged in a few other things as we enjoyed a delightful evening at Bottega!
The Appalachian Foothills, and this spot on Lookout Mountain close to our home offers really great summertime views of parts of Weiss Lake. In younger days I would not have hesitated to set out on a hike to get here (here and back would take all day), but these days it is really nice to be able to park my truck not too far away!
Not the best day this grasshopper has experienced, but maybe some little bluebirds inside the box she’s sitting on will be pleased. Or, maybe this is too big of a bite and she will just eat it herself?
The sunflowers grew fast, grew tall, and bloomed early. Already spent by the end of July, the only thing left was for the birds, literally. I decided this was an eyesore and that it was time to clean up and move on.
I proceeded to remove the flower heads which were loaded with seeds, and mulch them with the mower right in the yard by this bed. The result was thousands of seeds scattered all around. I also had the bright idea to pull up all the old sunflower remains and prepare this spot for something else, or maybe just be ready for next year. This was no easy matter. After taking a break and returning to the task, wild turkeys were behind the Sunshine Cottage and I am thinking they had chosen this place to have lunch. Looking at these roots, I now know why the plants grew as they did. It was a major ordeal to remove the good soil from the roots!
Hummingbird moths have been fairly common this season. This clearwing, with its slightly different coloration is not as common as the one we simply call a hummingbird clearwing. I believe this to be a snowberry clearwing.
The lotus bogs and their flowers are showy in July and August. We have two areas where I find these and they peak at slightly different times, although the spots are not that far apart. This is a swampy area surrounded by woods while the other spot is part of the shallows of a very large lake. I would think the difference in water temperature might be a factor?…just guessing.
A nice July late afternoon on Weiss Lake. This portion can be seen from atop the mountain as in the earlier photo!
The full Buck Moon coincided with the anniversary of the first moon landing on July 29, 1969. I was looking southeast at this rising from our pasture this July, but sitting on a sofa with my Mom in 1969 when those first steps on the moon were taken. Were you around in those days, and do you remember?
As the moon moved a little higher the colors began to change and the thin cloud strips added interest. It is often called the Buck Moon because this is the time buck deer are experiencing maximum antler growth.
I currently have only one camera out back and it sends photos to my phone. I put it in a new place last week. Sent to my phone on Thursday, this buck is growing some nice antlers. The antlers are covered in velvet this time of year. He did us a favor stopping by and posing. The smaller deer is also a buck. There were 3 in one photo, all growing new antlers…so I guess they were celebrating the full moon named after them long ago by native Americans!
Our crape myrtles in the garden and along the drive are my favorite color as far as crape myrtles go. A number of years ago, while cleaning along the edge of the woods beside where I mow regularly, I spotted a small plant and decided to leave it alone. The reason…I thought it was a crape myrtle and was likely an offspring of the very old trees that are nearby along the driveway. Every year for many years I’ve mowed right next to it along the woods and watched it grow. And finally, my suspicions have been confirmed…
…because a few days back, the tree by the woods began to bloom for the first time. But, there is one problem with my original suspicion. This tree by the woods, which is a crape myrtle, is not the same color as any of our other trees? The nearest tree this color is in a neighbor’s yard about a half mile away. Can we thank the birds for this one? It doesn’t get much sun at the woods edge but I’m glad I left it. It has probably been there 10 years!
We spotted this and thought it summed up things quite well. I suppose I have never adjusted to change very well, and I know for sure that aging only adds to this fact!
Even the highly energetic garden ladies do occasionally need a short rest.
Pam recently said to me, “you see the extraordinary in the ordinary”. Well it has nothing to do with anyone but the Creator of all creation whereby everything is extraordinary. This is a new, female pine cone. When pollen was in the air in April, the scales were open so the pollen could enter. The scales then tightly closed, fertilization took place, and seeds began to develop, all within the sealed protection of “mother cone”. Those sharp points even suggest, “leave my seeds alone”. Next year the cone will swell, change colors, and become that woody thing we usually think about when we think “pine cone”. As the seeds mature during the second year, they will eventually be free to escape and be scattered by the wind or wildlife. Depending on the type tree and other factors, it might take even longer for this extraordinary cycle to complete! Just an ordinary, low hanging, pine cone that almost scratched me in the face as I was walking through the yard?…I really don’t think so!
An early in the week sunset as July entered its final week. Our skies were somewhat hazy at the end of the week which was said to be caused by smoke from distant wildfires!
We hope your August is off to a pleasant and peaceful start!
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 ESV
Linking with:
Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
The young pinecone resembles the caterpillar I found clinging to my parsley planted in a pot on the porch, amazing how it found the parsley. Not being a fan of bugs of any kind the snowberry moth is pretty. There are a couple of rosebushes growing here compliments of the birds and a mystery plant which has a couple of buds, waiting for the big reveal, maybe for my birthday which is Friday. Where did the year go?
Thank you Maryann. Seems like we always have mystery plants in unusual places. The year is truly flying by. We hope you have a great week and a happy birthday!
Butch and Pam
Good Morning. Wow those Hummingbird butterflies are gorgeous. Your first cloud picture looks like angels flying in formation. Beautiful. Happy Sunday. Hugs Kris
Thank you Kris. Yes, angels in formation, I didn’t think of that. We hope you are having a good day and have a great week!
Butch and Pam
The snowberry clearwing has unique colors. The moon is always beautiful. Our generation has seen so many changes… the moon landing, electric vehicles, computers that required literally floors of space and punch cards, to one that fits in your hand and makes calls! We started out with milk delivery, then we had to go to the store for milk and now the store will deliver the milk (soon maybe by drone). Full circle moment! I would venture to say that our generation has seen a whole lot of changes. I’m not a fan of changes necessarily, but I do love delivered groceries I ordered off my cell phone! I would have never dreamed of that as a kid as we watched the moon landing on a little black and white tv. Happy 56th first date. The dessert looks delicious! I love the velvet antler stage on deer. I’m fascinated by how the velvet is replaced by those solid bony antlers. There are a lot of lotus in the swampy area and shallows. Have a good rest of your day. Clara❤️
Thank you Clara. I guess every generation thinks they have seen a lot of changes but it would be hard to think of a time that has seen more change than the last 100 years. That dessert was as good or better than it looks. It is amazing how deer family males grow new antlers every year, some like elk and moose are so massive too. We wish you a pleasant Sunday and a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
On our walk this morning the sun was a bright golden and orange as a result of fires in our not too far away areas. It is breezy this morning, so we aren’t experiencing too much smoke though, speaking of rib cages and lungs. Your sun rise and sunset pictures are always so beautiful. The Buck Moon and bucks with their velvety antlers were so fun to see. But…that pinecone picture (with great explanations) is a piece of art!!! Nature and creation is so full of awe!
Your anniversary 1st date night dessert looks delicious, and the colors…wow! Im thinking there is probably a sweet story there.
Watching the moon landing was pretty amazing! A highlight for our generation for sure.
Loved the Change is good 🤣
Thank you, as always, so enjoyed this post and may this week be a blessing for you and your sweet family, your lovely home and surrounding flora and fauna.
Thank you Sue. I had never given much though to photographing a pine cone but that one almost raked my face and I thought “that’s a neat looking cone “. Pam said we might have opportunity to meet you next month, that would be great. Our skies were partly cloudy today but the smoky look was not present. Wishing you a wonderful first week of August!
Butch and Pam
Yes! We’re so excited, it’s great that we could meet you and Pam…in person! Quite the world we live in!
I remember the moon landing in 1969 very well. I was sure Alfred Hitchcock was going to come out from behind the camera with a loud “Boo”. I spent every minute I could watching my black and white tv. Thank you for sparing the life of the crepe Myrtle by the woods. They are a favorite of mind and when I draw I always put the crepe Myrtle in the drawing. God provides for the birds of the fields. They will enjoy the sunflower seeds. Have a blessed day and week Richardson’s.
Thank you Alice. That’s neat, a crepe myrtle in your drawings, a signature of sorts. There were people that never believed the moon landing was real, even years later. I remember a guy who was angry about the whole thing, called it a hoax, filmed in Arizona or somewhere he said. I guess he died thinking that. We hope you enjoy this first week of August!
Butch and Pam
Happy Sunday, Butch and Pam! Your patience paid off this week with the incredible grasshopper and hummingbird shots, they are stunning. My little eye spied 3 dog heads in the second cloud picture! In 1969 my darling baby sister was only a year old. Daddy insisted we prop her up on pillows in front of the tv so she could also say she watched the first man walk on the moon. We are enjoying some lovely rain today, hope you are also.
Thank you Roxanne. The grasshopper was too patient. I did see one dog in that photo when I posted it but I need to go back and look for the others. You know we had about a quarter inch of rain yesterday and nothing today, but nice at 81 degrees. Your sister can truthfully say that she was part of that historic moment. We hope you have a good evening and a great week!
Butch and Pam
Testing
Wow, 56 years since your fist date – that does deserve a celebration! I’m enjoying your nature images and the stories that they tell!
Thank you Mary. I think we find as many reasons to celebrate as possible because it always leads to good food and dessert. Memories are special. We hope you enjoy this first week of August!
Butch and Pam
Hello Friends! It looks like you all had a wonderful week. Celebrating 56 years since your first date is worth dessert! Congratulations!
I love seeing hummingbird moths. I have seen a few in our pollinator garden. Your bird with the grasshopper was soooo cute. I saw a green grasshopper today while weeding. There were no birds around. Lucky him!
Thanks for the beautiful stroll! Happy Sunday, as well as Happy August!
Thank you Nancy. We are always finding excuses to indulge in desserts. We had a hummingbird moth species come by last week that we’ve never seen before. I managed a not so great photo but if it doesn’t come back around this week I may have to go with what I have. We hope you have a good evening and a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
I’m so glad I found this blog. I enjoy hearing what you and Butch are doing and the beautiful pictures. Yes, I remember 1969 and all the excitement of going to the moon. That is also the year my first son was born,now I’m telling my age,lol!
Thank you Marlene. We are also glad you found us. I think a lot of us reveal our age by the stories we tell but it’s a blessing to be around to share them. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
God’s Creation is indeed extraordinary Butch!
Yes I was around in 1969! In fact I was living in Parkes, NSW here in Australia where the Radio Telescope was one of the main Telescopes used here in Australia to give the visual broadcast around the globe of the Moon landing, as we were facing the Moon at that time! I believe we have conversed about the fun Movie that was made on the event called “The Dish” previously. 😊
So glad you & Pam had a lovely dinner of celebration out. And I understand about change too. I hope you both have a great week.
Blessings, Jennifer
Thank you Jennifer. We have indeed conversed about the telescope there and how all that worked. I had to research that and enjoyed reading about it after you shared. We had no idea of all that. So interesting. We did have an excuse to eat out and have dessert which seems to be too easy, hard on the waistline. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Beautiful pictures and I always love the sky ones, smoke or not, although I’m glad the smoke stayed high rather than ground level. The crepe Myrtle is beautiful and the hummingbird moths are not something we see here. So unique. The pinecone is amazing. I did not know about the Buck moon and the velvet on the deer’s’ antlers – that is so cool. Glad to see the ladies of the garden taking a small rest. The blueberry/peach semifreddo looks so yummy and so happy that you shared a wonderful 56th first-date anniversary. Have a wonderful week ahead!
P.S. The older I get, the less I like change so you are not alone lol.
Thank you Kim. That change which causes us to be older called birthdays is one I suppose we are quite glad to see. Isn’t that a bittersweet thing! We saw a species of hummingbird moth last week we’ve never seen here and didn’t know that it ever came here. Only saw it the one time but hoping it will show up again. I believe that Saskatoon berry you mentioned is more nutritious than our blueberry and would make a good semifreddo, or cobbler. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Butch & Pam…I thought the Captain and I were not as common as many because we always celebrate our first date…this is yet another similarity we share. Happy 56th! Your photos are spectacular as usual, especially the bucks with ‘fuzz’ on their antlers. We used to visit Colorado frequently during rutting season for deer and elk when we lived in Kansas. The pinecone was so interesting…thanks for the background. It is sad for the plants to die away, but I believe it is a renewal for us humans too…we need to stop and take stock and emerge the better for it. Have a wonderful week…Blessings always.🥰🦋🌻🙏🏻
Thank you Kari. Visiting places where elk roam in September can be very interesting, exciting, and dangerous too. It gets kinda crazy. I might not have remembered the exact date of our first date but Pam kept up with everything through the years, although I remember well where we went. We hope your day has been a good one and that you have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Your Sunday posts are food for my eyes and my soul.
Thank you, Michele for your sweet comments and visits.
Pam