~ On the way to Saturday Supper ~

 

 

Perfect weather + right amount of rain =

 abundant wildflowers.

 

 

 

 

Patchwork rusty tin building.

Wearing its age so well.

 

 

More pretty wildflowers along a

country railroad track.

 

I love living in the South!

 

(Photos taken out the car window

on the way to supper)

 

 

 

 



~ The Wild Side of Cypress Swamp ~

For at least the past ten years, a pair of hawks have

nested here on the Cypress Knee Swamp.

 

Every spring I wait for them, hoping that once more

they will choose one of our trees to raise another family.

 

Once again, nature did not disappoint me.

 

 

 

When I stopped for the mail this afternoon,

I got a glimpse of movement in the tree

by the mailbox.

 

 

 

I grabbed my little Canon and

snapped a few pictures.

 

They are shy and any sudden movement

sends them flying.



I

 

 

I was a distance away, so the images are not

very sharp, but I was thrilled to capture these.

 

 

 

According to Wikipedia, hawks mate for life. I don't

know if this is the same pair, or if one or more

of the offspring has chosen to return to mate here.

 

We try to be as hospitable as possible. We like

having them as neighbors......one of their

favorite things to eat is a snake.

 

They can help themselves to all the snakes

they can catch!

 

~

 

No matter what is going on in the world around us,

I find comfort in the order and the magic of nature.

 

It never ceases to delight me!

 

Hope you are finding delight in nature in your neck of the woods.

C

 

 

 

Trails and Trellis Garden Tour

 

 

It is that time of year again!

 

 

 

It was a beautiful Saturday morning to visit some of the most

beautiful gardens in our area. Even this carport is pretty.

Here are a few of my favorites from this year.

 

Creative garden art draws our eye

to this beautiful bed of annuals. 

Gaston the alligator looks at home among the blue ageratum.

 

 

Awww. Now I want ducks in my yard. Of course,

that means a pond or water feature of some kind.

Wonder what David will think about that?

 

 

I always get good ideas, like this colorful planter.

 

 

Love, love the color of these chairs.

They look so cool and inviting on the lawn.

 

 

Just lovely, peaceful lawn love.

These glider chairs remind

me of chairs in our yard when I was a child.

 

 

This pretty entry way caught my eye. The chartreuse

potato vine with the deep pink geraniums really

stand out and the lanterns add a sweet touch.

(love the house color as well)

 

 

This outdoor dining table arrangement was stunning.

The vase is handmade wood and the flowers

paired with fruit was another favorite.

~

I always come home with lots of ideas

and at least one thing I want to incorporate into

my country yard here on Cypress Knee Swamp.

 

 

Though not a plant or flower,

 I have wanted to make one of these flags

 and now I am inspired......this is the year!

Hopefully before July 4th..............

Will let you know if it comes to pass.

Hope you are enjoying God's beauty this spring.

Carolyn

 

 

Food for the Body and the Spirit

 

Another first for us as we embrace

the mid-life to senior-adult years.

 

David had to have cataract surgery

and that includes some form of

inactivity as in no bending or lifting

for a week.

 

 

"Still" is not in his vocabulary so

needless to say, he suffered from

cabin fever by the end of the week.

 

We decided to drive across the state

line to enjoy a catfish dinner so he

could get out of the house.

 

 

It is a beautiful spot about 30 minutes

from our home.

 

While enjoying the scenery......

what did I spy on the far bank??

 

 

Looks like Big Foot has a

hankerin' for a fish dinner as well!

Guess I can tell the folks on that

reality show they can quit looking...

I found him.

 

 

A totem anchored the parking area,

carved by a local chainsaw artist that

turned a dead tree into a work of art.

 

Tadpole

 



 

my favorite, a pelican.

 



 

a Caddo Indian profile, isn't

this amazing?

 

 

 

cute frog on a lily pad

and last but not least.....

 

 

a gator...

all familiar sights in these parts,

 done by a man and a chain

saw, on a ladder I suppose?

 

I was impressed.

 

As usual, we traveled the back roads

and David always finds a new

path to explore, (especially since

he was in no hurry to get back to

the house after being cooped up all week).

 

 

This tree caught my eye. You know I have a

love affair with them (trees) and love them

bare or dressed in greenery.

This one, I think is beautiful in form with

all its tiny branches.

 

Not much excitement around the

Cypress Swamp these days

as you can tell.

 

 

 

The clouds are forming and

the forecast for tomorrow

is rain. I'm so thankful

for a beautiful day and a drive

through the country with my

hubbie and new sights to see.

 

We returned refreshed

in body and in spirit.

 

Happy Weekend.....

C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The day was too lovely to spend indoors.

        David suggested a ride to the country

              to check out an old cemetery that had

                     been found when clearing some land.

 

 

 

 

After a short walk through these

               pretty dried grasses, we came

                                         upon this...............

 

 

 

A small, neglected little

               spot, hosting the remains

                                      of a long lost family.

 

 

Some of the stones dated to the 1800's.

                                Most were unreadable.

            The cemetery has been marked off and

                               hopefully, will be cleaned up

                                           and properly preserved.

 

 

 

We stopped at the Koran cemetery on our way

             and found this marker for Mary Brown,

                           born in 1797! She was the oldest

                              person we came across that day.

 

(I did not notice the small American flag

on the ground behind the marker until

I looked at these pictures.

 I would surely have picked it up.)

 

 

Visiting old cemeteries and

           reading the history found in them

                        is one of my favorite things to do.

~

However, on this day,

   I felt a little melancoly for some reason.

      It was a good reminder of how important it

             is to live my life, making each day count.

~

Looking forward to more

lovely spring days to be out and about!

                                C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



First Peek of Spring!

 

 

I took a little walk around the yard today,

enjoying the sunshine and warmer temps.

 

Look what I found!

 

 

This..........

 

And this...

(if you can't make it out, a rose in bud)

 

 

And this.....

(buds on the dogwood tree)

 

 



 



All under beautiful blue skies............

~

I know the wintery weather isn't over completely....

 

but I am giddy with the thought of spring

around the corner:)

 

 

 

 

 

Wishing you blue skies

and warm thoughts today.

                        C



In a Fog

  

 

I traveled to work this morning

surrounded by a velvet soft

 blanket of fog,

the sun a misty light in the sky. 

 



 

 

Eerie and other-worldly.....

 but in a good way.

 

It was a peaceful way to

begin my day.

 

C

 

 

 



 

I will lie down and sleep in peace,

for you alone, Oh Lord,

make me dwell in safety.

                                                Psalm 4:8

Finally, after seemingly unending rain,

a sunny day and a beautiful sunset.

The rain is predicted to return, so I am

soaking up every second of the sunshine!

 

 

Tonight is the night!

 

 

I can't wait.

 

Are you a fan?

"In the bleak midwinter,

frosty wind made moan"

 

 

 

These song lyrics have been stuck

 in my head this week.

 



 

It has been a cloudy and wintery

 beginning to the new year.

 

 

 

A good time to snuggle under a warm comforter

& read a good book with a nice cup of tea.

 

For a warm weather girl, I am trying

to enjoy the beauty of each season......

even it is a bleak midwinter day.

 

Have a warm and cozy weekend.

                               Carolyn   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A happy New Year!

Grant that I may bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.
                                 Edgar A. Guest

 

 

 

Taking Time To Enjoy the Season

 

 

 

 

May Your Days Be Merry and Bright!