Raining acorns

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Walking down our country road has been treacherous over the past few weeks due to acorns pelting us from the large oak trees that line the road.  When the acorns can’t be avoided, I’ve found it’s best to just tuck your head under and pick up the pace … a lot!

“Challenges are what make life interesting.  Overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”  ~Unknown

Downy Woodpecker

This downy woodpecker and some of his friends have been busy lately drilling holes in our pine trees.  I even heard one tapping on the house early this morning.  They are pretty birds and interesting to watch, but you have to keep an eye on them to make sure they aren’t doing real damage.

“Parents need to fill a child’s bucket of self-esteem so high that the rest of the world can’t poke enough holes to drain it dry.”  ~Alvin Price

Wild berries

“Each season has its own wonder, it’s own special place, and purpose in the pattern of creation.”  ~Unknown

Eastern Bluebirds

One afternoon while I was out walking, I saw a small group of bluebirds foraging for insects.  They sat in bushes and low limbs of trees waiting, and then dropped to the ground to capture their prey.  Their beautiful blue color really made them stand out against the neutral colors of the landscape.

The bluebird, famous for the scrap of sky
Borne on his back – an indigo so bright
That just a glimpse of his distinctive flight,
All swoop and flurry, captivates the eyes
and makes us smile …

~George Bradley

Lovin’ Fall

But I think I love Fall most of all …

I really enjoy the pumpkin farms and fall festivals that October brings — and the cool, crisp, clear weather that we’ve had this month has made them all the more enjoyable.  Here are a few shots from a West Tennessee October.

“Scarecrows, corn rows, pumpkins on the vine.  Leaves curl, wind swirls, Fall is right on time.”  ~Unknown

Autumn butterfly

This Question Mark butterfly blended in well with the fallen autumn leaves lying  beside our country road.

“… [Summer’s] spirit lives on in the flittering Autumn butterfly, the warmth of the waning sunlight and in the last lingering flower on the vine.”  ~Linda Poindexter

Soybean harvest

When you see the dust clouds hanging in the air, you know it is harvest time in Tennessee.  Here are a few photos from this year’s soybean harvest.

“Earth is here so kind, that just tickle her with a hoe and she laughs with a harvest.”  ~Douglas William Jerrold