Posts Tagged ‘nature’

15 Oct

FALL

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The mountains are beginning to show signs of Fall.

The colors are brilliant….

It seems it happens overnight.  Why just last week I didn’t notice all this color…..

I had to just stop….. I watched the sunshine pour through these trees.  I tried to capture the beauty…..but ….it was impossible.

The yellow leaves appear golden when the sun shines on them at just the right angle.

I saw this little guy yesterday while Billy and I were out….but I didn’t have my camera.  Today, I went back to the same spot….and there he was.  Once again enjoying the water puddle in a ditch.  I love it when critters make new little places their home.

With all the flowers fading away for the impending winter….it is neat to see this bee enjoying the last of the wild flowers.

Why even these mushrooms have a beautiful color…perfect for autumn.  I don’t believe I have ever seen any this color before.

Amazing ….. the beauty and color is everywhere you look.

The weather was absolutely beautiful today, a perfect time to enjoy the leaves.  All too soon they will loosen one by one and gracefully fall to the ground.  Did you know that if you are really quiet in the woods when the leaves are falling…you can hear them hit the ground.  I know it sounds crazy right….but try it some time.  Actually most of the time we have been in the woods for a walk  I couldn’t help but notice how quiet nature really is.  Sure there are the occasions when the owls talk to one another or you hear the rustling of the leaves as a bird searches for worms…or squirrels scampering from one tree top to the other.  But on most days…it is very peaceful and quiet.  Now night time….that’s a different story.  The sounds of the coyotes will give you goose bumps…..

Speaking of goose bumps…..I saw these little evergreens and they instantly made me think of Christmas.  In just a few short weeks we will be bundling up for walks and decorating trees that look very similar.  That time of year holds lots of wonderful things too…but I’m not ready for the cold weather just yet.  Matter of fact…I have a saying….For every cold day we have….that is one less day of cold.

For now….I’m enjoying the beauty of Fall…..and all the things that go with it!

2 Oct

“Cotton Pickin”

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So far Fall has greeted us with rainy weather.

However, that allows little girls to wear cute rain boots…..I sure wish they made these for big girls.

It is also the time for picking cotton.

The brown part of this field is where they have already harvested the cotton.  The white is the cotton waiting to be picked.

This is a cotton boll.

Here is what a boll looks like when it first starts to open.

Interesting how it is divided into sections.

Inside each one of those puffy white sections are cotton seeds.  When cotton gets to this stage it reminds me of pop corn ….popping out of the shell.

It begins to hang….that is when you start to really notice it from a distance.  Here you can see the rain drops on the cotton.  When the cotton is dry it is really fluffy and pretty.  The fields look white from the road.  It is a beautiful sight.  This time of year the farmers really try to get the fields harvested before the rain sets in.

The cotton plant is considered a shrub.  I find it most amazing that someone figured out how to turn this…. into….yarn and cloth.

Here is some of the equipment that they use.  Of course that green beauty is a John Deere tractor…the other container is called a Module Builder.

The cotton pickers… of today.  Unlike years ago when the fields were harvested by people.  The teeth on the front of this machine goes between the rows.  Making it easier to gather most all the cotton that is on the plant. The container on this machine that holds the cotton is called a Boll Buggy.  Once the Boll Buggy is full it is taken to the Module Builder where it is pressed down by an arm looking device.  Once the Module Builder is full and firmly packed then it is removed…and all that remains is the Module.

The machines make quick work of it.  Here it is all covered up to keep it dry and clean.  It is my understanding that each module can weigh over 16,000 pounds.  It usually stays at the side of the field, covered until it is time to transfer it to the gin.

The gin separates the cotton and cleans it by removing leaves and dirt particles.  The seed is separated from what is called the fiber..the fluffy white part.  Once the fiber has been ginned it is called lint. It is then pressed together and made into great big bales. Once baled the cotton gets sent to merchants.  The cotton seed can be sold for animal use, it can be crushed having the oil extracted or there is another process that can allow the seeds to be processed and used for paper, plastic and batting.  Of course the seed once processed can be sold and used for another crop.

Pretty amazing.

19 Sep

After the Rain

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And the rain came down!  We had almost 5 inches of rain the other day.  When it rains heavy like this, it really flows down the mountain.

The next morning the rain had stopped, but the water still flowed.  This is an area where the water runs into the goldfish pond.  Usually there is just enough to refresh it….but when we have this much…of course it overflows.  Billy has designed a spillway for times such as these.

I saw Mabel through the window, looking at something with great interest.  As soon as I could put my shoes on…I headed over to see what had her full attention.

This is what it was….one of the goldfish had gotten washed out of the pond.   He was still alive….even with Mabel pawing at him.  She thought it was pretty neat that she could put her paw on him and he would flop around.

I moved her away….and placed it back in the pond….after I took this picture of course.  Part of its tail was torn, it had a scratch or two from Mabel…and I noticed that little blood spot on his eye.  Poor thing.  However, it swam away quickly once back in the pond.  I am hoping it will be alright.

I’m glad Mabel found it…I am also glad Ellie wasn’t around or she would have eaten it.  She LOVES to eat fish….or maybe that would be sushi…since she eats them raw!

Next was to check on the chickens.  It was raining when I got home from work that night and they were already hunkered down under the coop.  I never could entice them to come out and get into their little home.  So I left them to figure it out for themselves.

I found that apparently some slept on the arm of the rocking chair and some in the planter.

The chair had all the signs of bird activity on it….and the begonias in the flower box….well… as you can see….they were completely squished.  They will have to learn that they are NOT allowed to do that again. ARGH..teenagers!

But everyone was alright and  accounted for.

I then took a walk and checked on the goats.  They were up on high ground, I sure can’t blame them.  Everyone seemed to be fine…and the headband we outfitted Pearl in seems to be working!

The mountains were exceptionally pretty this morning.

All was well at the pasture…muddy…but fine.

When I first arrived, I called for the cows.  They usually come if they hear me.  But on this day they didn’t.  The donkey’s were up close, so they came running, as well as the  ponies and the goats.  I try to spend time with all of them….checking to make sure they are not sick or injured.  They wouldn’t cooperate for a group picture so that will be for another day.

The cows never did come to the front pasture so I loaded up on the four wheeler and went to check on them.

As I drove through the tall grass…these beautiful orange butterflies dotted the landscape.  Flying to and fro from one plant to the other.   They made it look so effortless.  I watched as they fluttered past and glided into a landing on the very tip of the flower of their choice.  Their weight wasn’t even noticeable when they landed.  They stretched their wings out wide, showing all the intricate color and design details their wings possessed. …..WOW….

I continued on looking for the cows.

It always amazes me too how BIG cows can not be ….well….obvious.  When I first came into the back pasture this is the only cow I saw….Clementine.  Normally they are all together, so I wondered why she was alone.

Yet, as I got closer I saw she was on a slight ridge.  It was then that I saw she was indeed with the others.

Cupid, Chuck and Ferdinand….the bull.

Right beside them…. next to another stand of trees was the rest of the herd.

Brandy, standing,…Zsa -Zsa, Joy, Punkin, Lee, Toots and Bailey…Notice how one is hiding behind the trees….all you can see is her nose.  There are seven here…hard to think they could be tucked away so tightly, yet comfortably.  Sometimes when they see me…they figure that I have a treat for them….and start walking toward me.  They didn’t care on this day.  They were content.  I love it when they are…..it seems they are happy…and want for nothing.

I began to drive back through the field and just had to stop and watch the butterflies once again.  Everything was happy.  The birds, the animals, and especially the plants as they seem to welcome the fresh rain water.

The air was crisp and clear…..AHHHHHH.   Beautiful….Just Beautiful.

This verse was in a song I grew up singing.  It plays over and over in my mind…..

THIS IS MY FATHER’S WORLD—(in part)

This is my Father’s world,

the birds their carols raise,

the morning light, the lily white,

declares their maker’s praise.

This is my Father’s world,

He shines on all that’s fair:

In the rustling grass, I hear Him pass;

He speaks to me everywhere.

Thank you God……

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL WORLD!

31 Aug

Beauty all around

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Sometimes I notice things in my surroundings more than other times.

yesterday it seemed that everywhere I went I saw beauty in the natural surroundings.

Like the golden field with the freshly rolled bails of hay.  It is as if it changed from a green field to a golden one overnight.

When I stopped to take that picture this was in the field by my feet.   A beautiful sun shine yellow flower with a bee busily working.

 

I love the scallop on the end of the petals….

I went on down by the lake just for a quick ride on the 4 wheeler when I couldn’t help but notice these beautiful morning glories.

Every time I see a morning glory…I think of my mother.  She would say “Morning”…. glory.  It stills makes me smile.

I turned to get back on the 4 wheeler and right before my eyes was this vine that had grown up the farm valve.  I found it so picturesque.

I do not know what those little red flowers are…but they are just beautiful.  Dainty, yet bold in color.

before me was a patch of them….now why don’t the flowers I buy look this good?

And then I saw a patch of these.  I think they are awesome looking.  I can’t help but think about the fun God must have had as HE created each plant differently, uniquely and beautifully.

Maybe this is another morning glory…I’m not sure…but I have heard that blue is the rarest color in plants.  I’m not positive about that…but I have not seen a lot of blue when I think about it.

Another pretty yellow flower…but I noticed the petals are totally different in shape than the other one.

I was amazed at all the tiny…tiny…yellow flowers on this plant….just beautiful!

This is another color I don’t see a lot in wild flowers.  A pale pink flower…when I looked closer…I could see a couple of the little buds on each stalk were beginning to bloom.

God always amazes me with His creation.

For the grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever.  Isaiah 40:8

6 Jun

Enjoying the plants

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In the home I grew up in, our next door neighbor had lilies like these between our yards.  I always thought they were so pretty.

I planted some of these at Billy’s office years ago….and they continue to be pretty, year after year.  I love them and you do not even have to be good with plants for them to live.    Obviously if they come back for me….then they are hardy!

My neighbor that I have now gave me these last year, they were just bulbs with a twig of green.  I told Billy not to mistake then for a weed, because they looked like one during the time they were transplanted.  I had no idea what color they would be or what they would really look like.  All I knew is that she called them Native Lilies.  I have been anxiously waiting for them to bloom this year.

They finally did.

I think they are really beautiful…and look to be double petaled.  Needless to say…I am very pleased that they survived and are sooooo pretty.

These are Canna Lilies

Speaking of survival….these little guys have been through it.  A friend of mine had more than enough of these in her yard.  She thinned them out and gave some to me several years ago.  I planted them on the land before we moved here.  They have been stepped on and piles of dirt and mulch put on top of them when Billy built a new flower bed area near them.  Then rocks were brought in…and…well…kinda put on top of them.  They still came up.  Truth be known I think Billy has even sprayed them with his little weed killer stuff.  He isn’t real fond of these.  But I think there is place for them.  Matter of fact right where they are on the side of the house is a perfect spot.  Obviously they think so too!

They are called canna lilies and I have heard that they are in the banana tree family.  I do not know that for sure, but the leaves and stalks do resemble it.  I have had some of these in the past.  There are some with purple leaves too.  Some have orange flowers, yellow flowers and then of course this one is a red one.

This one was just beginning to open, they just get prettier and prettier when they fully open.

There is a tree that is blooming everywhere right now.  It is actually known to be a pest, because they tend to take over and grow wild.  However, they are really unique.

This is a Mimosa.  I think the fringe flowers are so interesting looking.  And the leaves have almost a fern  like appearance to them.  They seem to always catch my eye.

This particular tree was near the farm….so I stopped and got a picture….then I saw something else that caught my eye….the neighbors rooster enjoying the ability to be free in the yard.

Cute….

Meanwhile back at the house…. the blackberry bushes are loaded.

We only got enough berries last year to make about two cobblers, but this year…it is a bumper crop!

As you can see there are more to ripen in the coming days.  Billy and I picked a good bit the other day

we got a quart in that one picking.

Billy loves to eat them with a little cool whip.

Yesterday after work I walked down to the blackberry bushes.  I saw that Billy had driven down to them.  I thought…well good…he is already starting to pick.  As I walked closer I could see him picking and eating.  When I got to him, I asked how much did you get…expecting to see his container.  He said….A big belly full!

That man….he is so funny.

 

30 May

Down in the Boon Docks

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We have been working around the land the last few days.  Billy has a lot of projects going.  He amazes me with the things he envisions.  He put up this little building over his pump for the well.  It is not completely through….but real close.  This will also be his little shop to work in.  He plans to make signs for the land.  He is so excited.  I don’t think he will be doing much of that anytime soon though….because it is just tooooo nice to be inside.  The sign work will probably be saved for really rainy days and the upcoming winter days.

We found this sign last year at a shop while we were out of town.  He was glad that now he could hang it up.

This is down by the lake and we thought it would just be perfect.

Meanwhile I have some cat tails that have popped up in the goldfish pond.  I believe I am going to have to take some to the lake….they would look perfect there.

He was digging around the yard and I got tickled at his shirt.  He had sweated a face design!

Billy has always wanted a weeping cherry tree.  They are really pretty , but I haven’t found one for a really good price yet.  Sooooo he doesn’t have one.  Sooooo the other day he came in and said I trimmed the Willow tree.  I said you WHAT?  You trimmed my Willow Tree….

Oddly enough it looks a little bit like a weeping cherry…hmmmm   It certainly doesn’t look like a Willow Tree anymore.  I think I will have to confiscate the clippers for a while.

He did do a good job on the bushes in front of the house.  And that is where we found this.

Isn’t that so neat.  That little baby waiting for its Mama to come feed it.  I love this time of year.

There is new life everywhere you look, and that always makes me smile.

Especially here in the Boon Docks!

 

 

15 May

Plants and Animals

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I’ve been watching a few of my plants lately, the ones that come back every year.  I tried to guess when it was that they were going to bloom.

I thought it was around this time last year, I happened to guess right.

I planted these several years ago.  They continue to produce more plants, so they are starting to really make a statement.

Same thing with these Hydrangea’s.  I think I mentioned before that I had moved this plant, it didn’t do much of anything last year.

While the plant itself is still small.  It is already giving me some beautiful flowers.

I love the different colors on the same plant.  I believe it likes it’s new place in this flower bed!

I had a new daylily I was trying out last year, but I noticed that Billy thought it was a weed and got it with the weedeater a couple of times.

Billy bought me a “just my size weedeater”.    It is easy to handle and  battery operated  (Billy laughs at it).   It is light weight enough for me and I don’t have to mix up the additives and pull on it…and pull on it…and pull on it, and beg it to start.   I just push my little button and off I go.  Granted the battery doesn’t  last a longtime, but does little jobs just fine.  So he did the big areas with his MANLY WEEDEATER.  And I did the little areas with my girly one.

All that to say…..my daylilies survived and actually bloomed this week!

Ah….now that’s pretty!

I love the water lilies in the gold fish pond. I have three different kinds.  Whenever I see this particular one…it takes me back to rowing a boat at my Grandma and Grandpa’s.

It was all around flowers like these that we would catch those big ole bull frogs that my grandma would fry up the legs for us.   We actually have quite a few frogs that like to hang out in our pond as well.  When you walk up to the pond they will jump in from the edge and sometimes they skip like a rock across the water.  Ellie loves to make them jump in.

This is another one I have.

It has not spread as much as the other one.  If you look to the right there is another bloom getting ready to surface.  Maybe this year it will do better.  The pads tend to be  purple unlike the green pads with the other lilies.

It was as if the yard was saying “Happy Mothers Day” to me.  I thought their blooming time was perfect!

I happened to catch some of the Mama animals with their babies this weekend and thought you would like to see them too.

Starting with our newest Mama and baby.  This is Zsa-Zsa and 3 week old baby girl…Joy.

This is Punkin and Toot.  Toot is about to two months old now, and growing like a weed.

This is Brandy and her 9 month old girl….Lee.  Lee is always loving up on her Mama, it is really sweet.

I couldn’t get a picture of Cupid and Chuck together.

He is a boy and you know how boys don’t really care for all that stuff.

But the baby girls decided to pose for me.

I am seeing them hang out together a good bit.  Lately when the cows are in the pasture the two of them are always together playing while the Mothers graze.  Joy is the one on the left and Toot is on the right.  I think they will be close.  I’ve noticed that Chuck and Lee tend to do that too, they are 3 weeks apart in age.  Toot is starting to turn more brown than she was.  It is fun to watch their markings develop as they grow.

These aren’t the greatest pictures of the goats, but when they see me they come running to the fence and picturing taking is all over at that point.  So this was taken as I zoomed in from behind a tree.  They looked right at me…they just think I’m a little bit nuts, hiding behind a tree.  I suppose I am…come think about it.

This is Pearl and Hoot n Nanny.  Hoot is really growing and Pearl is a good first time mother.

This is Violet and Jethro.  He is changing so much, he’s getting so tall and his horns are really growing.  He looks a lot like Pearl.  Violet is the mother to both of them….at different times of course.

The temperature has been a little cooler this week, they have all been enjoying it.

I hope it won’t be much longer before we welcome a new addition to the Farm.

I absolutely can’t wait to see this baby!

This is Zippy, she came into the pasture last May.  It takes about a year for them to carry their baby.  So hopefully…we are getting close.

I know Moses will be glad, Zippy is a  little grouchy toward him these days.  Poor Moses….he just tries to walk away.

It has been a really good week, watching all the new Mama’s and Mama’s to be.

I love getting to be around all the new life here on the Farm.

 

 

 

 

 

28 Apr

Trying out the camera

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While we were gone on the trip…our miniature rose bush bloomed.  I went to take a picture…but the wind was blowing so the camera focused more on the statue.  That’s ok.  But the roses are pretty right now!

Remember me telling about my plant sales…well these were some of the latest…I had placed them around this rose bush and they are all looking pretty too.

They are violas….looks like a miniature pansy.

These are also violas…I think this combination of colors is my favorite.

Every time I look at this statue…it reminds me of my sister Charlotte.  I suppose it is from when we were little…she looked a lot like this.  I know….I’m weird.

These were the pansies from that same plant sale….They have done pretty well too.

This is a Gerbera Daisy…I kinda chuckle every time I look at it.  I planted last year, in a pot.  It did alright through the season, but I never have any luck with them.  They always, always, always die after a few weeks.  I left it alone in the pot.  I had it on the front porch, it was protected from direct frost and all, I usually dump the pots and put them away for the winter.  I didn’t do that to this pot.  I just let it sit there…looking ugly all winter.

Spring rolled around and I had my plants from the plant sale…went to put some in that pot.. much to my surprise, I saw a tiny little leaf  poking its head out.  Well here it is.  One stem even has three flowers on it.

I just took that…while I was posting …curiosity got the best of  me….I had to see if it had opened all the way up.

While I was outside I heard the frogs really singing at the goldfish pond.

Ahhhh…last but certainly not least.  This was from last years sale…they came back which is a WONDERFUL thing.  I love the colors of these too.

I did take a few pictures of some of the animals yesterday…

This is Jett.  I believe she will be our next Mama.  She is such a small cow….I am really worried.  This is her first, she is old enough, she is just so petite.

We actually have 3 that are smaller than I would like for them to be.

This one is Zsa-Zsa.  She is probably going to give birth right after Jett.  She is small too…but she is not as petite.  The third one is Bailey, I’m not sure how far along she is yet. She isn’t close enough for me to guess.

Jett and Zsa-Zsa both bagged up while we were gone.  I suspect they will give birth within the month.  I would like to guess that Jett will be in about a week…or two…but….?

Zsa-Zsa is right there too…but according to her tail end…she may be we a week or so after Jett.

I am learning…and the thing I have learned the most is…..I still have a lot to learn.

Mrs. Zippy is getting very round.  She came into the pasture at the end of May last year.  They carry the baby for a year.  She has not bagged up…so I think sometime in June…MAYBE?  I absolutely can’t wait….it is going to be PRECIOUS.

When I took these pictures they were all swatting the flies.

We had a really mild winter…I have already sprayed them earlier in the season.  I suppose this will be a summer for the flies.

Usually they do not like to be sprayed…but I gave them a nice treat and sprayed them all while they were eating.  They weren’t sure at first, but then they were like….YES….thank you!

I love this time of year.  The weather was perfect last night, the day light is longer and it gives me so much more time to just enjoy them.

Now, if I can just adjust to this camera.

27 Apr

Beauty Everywhere

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I find it so neat how there is beauty all around us.  No matter what our soil conditions are there is usually a plant that surprises us with its beauty.

This is a Bougainvillea.  Amazingly enough, they are drought tolerant…perfect for the area we were in.  It was just gorgeous.  It was actually a pleasant kind of odd to see it flourish.

I have no idea what this is.  It too was thriving, in the heat and dry conditions.

I loved the little purple flowers that were all over it.

The cactus are beautiful.

The people can also use them for food.  This young mother had just gathered some eggs from a few chickens they have and cut some cactus from her plants.  One of the members of our group was a nutritionist, she decided to saute some for our dinner and also had some that were  raw for us to try.  I tried the sauteed ones…they were good.  (I do not know how to make that little mark on the computer over the -e-)

I have not seen many different trees in the area we are working.  I have seen this one in particular, the pods are unique and striking.

There were some new banana plants since we were there last.  I looked it up and apparently they are not really “trees”.  Anyway, possibly they will grow good here and offer another source of food.

The missionaries have been given a rabbit as a gift….they are hopefully getting another one soon.   That can be the gift that keeps on giving…..

Along the banks of the canal I saw these little guys (goats)….made me think about our own.

They were eating the vegetation along the way.

They went down the steep embankment and drank from the canal then continued on their way.

Apparently this is the garbage truck….

A beautiful animal, doing his job.

The true meaning of “horse power”.

On the day we travel back home we usually make a stop in Progreso.  They have a market area where you can buy things that help support the locals.  I love to see the things they get creative with.

I should have taken a picture while the man was making this ring with my name on it.  He does an amazing job.  He just bends and shapes it from a strand of wire.  He is very talented.

This is a necklace.  It is a crucifix made of glass and a lady writes on a grain of rice for you.

Not only that, but on the other side of that grain of rice…she drew a heart and colored it in.  Then she placed a tiny amount of greenery and a little bead to look like a flower.

Something about having my name…there…at the cross that makes it seem even more personal.

It reminds me…that Jesus loved and still loves me so much….he died for me.  WOW.

There is a taco stand that the teams frequent while there.

The vendors continue to come and try to sell the goods to you while you eat.  Some of them will serenade you for a small fee.  I think that is a pretty neat way to use their talent.

Someone had these two little fellows play and sing, I only caught the end of it….but it is fun to hear.

On the way back across the border,

I saw this beautiful Lime tree.

There is usually a stop at the ice cream shop before we load up.  Well it was there that it happened…..

I dropped my camera!  UGH….

I clicked it to see if it was going to work……

Ben even gave me a smile to give it a good check….

However, it makes a new noise and it works when wants to.  Soooooo….I got a different one yesterday…not crazy about it…but maybe it is because I do not know enough about all the buttons yet.

I think I will have to see if I can have my other one repaired without it costing as much as the camera did.  It took such great pictures.

So bear with me….as I  try the new one out.

I did get it to take one more picture when we got home.  We were going through the woods on the dirt road…and saw this amazing looking THING….I suppose it is a mushroom?

I do not know…but even my sick little camera….captured it so nicely.

There really is beauty everywhere you look!

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