“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.”
Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV
We continue to have some very nice days as November moves right along. After receiving about 1.5 inches of needed rain, mostly at night, a beautiful and cooler weekend is here. One negative of turning back the clock to standard time is the need to rise an hour earlier, at least according to the clock, to catch a sunrise like this one last week. If I could only get it in my mind that the clock affects absolutely nothing concerning when the sun comes up or goes down. There is this mental thing, even when we don’t have a schedule to keep, which causes our lives to be built around our clocks!
Fall is in the air, as indicated by the changes that are suddenly happening around our garden and region. Our only coral bark maple was providing a beautiful autumn display by week’s end.
I decided to declare last week as “eagle week” here at our place. Seth took this photo from their front porch. On a prior morning, when leaving for work, there were 4 bald eagles at their house either flying near or sitting in a big oak by the driveway. We’ve witnessed 2 together in the past but never before witnessed 4 at the same time. People have spotted larger numbers together here in Alabama, but the only place I have personally seen that many at once was in Alaska!
Pam and I were out together enjoying a sunny Thursday morning when I looked over across the field and said, “wait a minute, there’s a bald eagle standing out there”. I might guess there was possibly a mouse out there too, just beneath those talons? Then Pam directed my attention to a pine tree at the edge…
…so we made our way about 100 yards to a spot beneath the pine. If you are going to be invaded by something, why not bald eagles. We love watching these birds, having never in our wildest imaginations thought we would have them right outside our door!
One of my walking/jogging trails circles behind the house along the edge of the back pasture and then has options to take a couple of different routes, or circle back behind the garden. This day I chose to make the simple loop about 12 times. Each loop covers about 1/3 mile. There are times when the wildlife, as well as the domesticated animals along the way are not happy with my presence and they make an exit when I am a very long distance away. And then there are days like Thursday when the animals just stare and act as if I’m not around!
Sometimes she runs off and sometimes she will eat out of my hand. I don’t have any idea what makes the difference. I ran by and spoke but had no food available, so on round 3 she left, realizing I was empty handed!
It was simply one of those days where all the creatures were out enjoying a perfect fall day, knowing these days are fleeting (aren’t they all?). Mr. (or Mrs.) Groundhog was fine as long as I passed on by and kept moving. But on my second trip by, when I paused long enough for a photo, this guy was quickly out of sight. I only got this one pic before it was detected that my pace had come to a halt and I was seen as a threat.
As I passed behind the garden, low and behold there was something else to surprise me along this path. The clematis that I thought was completely gone had come back to life for a third time, now running along the fence. We had a little rain and the temps have been nice, apparently great clematis weather. I’m glad I chose this particular loop for my walk that day. I have realized that almost all of today’s photos were taken right around our house, all but two, and those not far away at a place I frequent!
Pam rarely gets to walk with me in the wildlife park but we made an exception this week. We hadn’t expected to run across a couple who seemed to be having a serious conversation. As best we could tell he was making flirting remarks and had that arrogant “hey baby” look about him.
I asked Pam to get a woman’s take on what her reply might be since I couldn’t discern from my vantage point. She believes that his remarks weren’t taken kindly whatsoever, and that he was being rebuked for his forward behavior. He appears what we in the south or Appalachia might call, “sulled up”! A misbehaving mallard!
If this wasn’t coming out of the dirt from under one of our maple trees, I would have added melted butter and syrup and had an autumn delight, right there among the fallen leaves!
From days gone by…this old silo not far from our house stands beside what was once part of a thriving dairy farm. I can remember as a teenager dropping in and seeing the dairy cows lined up being milked. A veterinary clinic was also located next door.
Across the field in front of us the hay mowers left a strip untouched which is now bringing us flaming red autumn delights, typical of sumac here in November. There are a lot of various types of sumac around and it can be easily spotted because of its color and low growth along field edges and roadsides.
A fall look across a portion of our garden and backyard. We were blessed with another beautiful week. The long range forecast hints that we may see a temp around freezing one night next weekend. That would bring about quick change. We still have a bit of summer gardening hanging around, but I guess it is time to give it up! I’m stubborn however, nurturing a few little plants…so I will let the frost decide when it’s officially over.
To reveal my reluctance to completely give up all things summer, I decided to present evidence. We had marigolds growing this summer in the cottage garden about 4 feet from this spot. About a month ago I noticed “baby” marigolds coming up in the middle of the gravel walking path. I have avoided stepping on them, watered them, and now the offspring of summer parents are blooming in November. We have beautiful late planting marigolds that are also blooming, but these little rogues made it on their own before frost. I wasn’t sure they would!
This is one of our trail options, one that I didn’t take the day all the creatures greeted me. This portion goes along the river, by the picnic table, and beyond. Our folks love to hike and run this route and the grands often take bike rides with their parents too. Pam and I had it all to ourselves on Friday. As you can see, it is truly a fine place to take a stroll on a sunny autumn afternoon!
After several years of attempting to keep the small white indoor/outdoor lights in several of the garden trees, I gave up on the idea and tried something different. The small Christmas strands didn’t last as long as I wanted and a set was always burning out, needing replacement. I am not as fond of ladders or tree climbing as I once was either. I decided to place two strands of larger globe type outdoor lights in the coral bark maple. I do like the light given to the garden, but I’m not sure how the larger cords and bulbs will look in the dead of winter. It’s an experiment I suppose!
Have a peaceful and pleasant week! Remember our Veterans!
“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
As I’m sitting in the porch reading your post, it is raining. All the creatures are enjoying the much needed rain and cooler temperatures. Beautiful pictures and especially the bald eagles. We have a couple of nesting pairs less than a mile from us, as the crow flies. They occasionally fly over our place, but never land. We have seen them dive for fish in our neighbor’s lake next door. Such majestic birds. I love the story of the mallard couple and their conversation. Hope you have a great week of cooler temperatures with rain!
Wonderful wildlife photos, the eagles are amazing. Fall color is lovely. Those ducks are so cute.