Faith, Folklore, and Friends

Last Friday, I took a walk around the back yard, hoping to see some blooms.  There was nothing.  What a difference five days and some sunshine can make. Carolina jasmine on the corner of the front porch.  It has a couple of bird nests and lots of bees already. The pear trees seem to have blossomed out overnight. Old-fashioned bridal wreath. There is a white-out in my back yard. First azaleas.  I have some larger ones that are not blooming yet. Last year, our friend, Stephanie Brown, gave us a small Camilla bush.  There have been buds on it since December, and some of them are finally bloomed out. How beautiful is that?  Definitely worth the wait. Thanks again, Steph. Hopefully, there will be more photos to share later.

Have you heard this song by  Joel Hemphill ?  It was very popular several years ago, and has the kind of lyrics that just stick with you while you forget everything else.    Consider The Lilies Verse I Consider the lilies they don’t toil nor spin And there’s not a king with more splendor than them Consider the sparrow they don’t plant or sow But they’re fed by the Master who watches them grow Chorus: We have a Heavenly Father above With eyes filled with mercy And a heart filled with love He really cares when Your head is bowed low Consider the lilies and then you will know Verse II May I introduce you to this friend of mine Who hangs out the stars and tells the sun when to shine And kisses the flowers each morning with dew But He’s not too busy to care about you. Chorus...   So you have to know that this song was running in loops through my mind as Steph and I wandered through the lily patch at the Huntsville Botanical Garden. ...

While we were rambling Saturday,  Steph and I visited the Huntsville Botanical Garden. It is huge and alive with color.  All these photos are from the Butterfly House that is just a small part of the gardens.  When you go through the door, it is like stepping into another world with butterflies everywhere!     Looks like I got an extra in this photo.       We only had about three hours there, not nearly enough.  Sounds like another road trip to me!

  Construction on Huntsville's Lowe Mill began in 1900, and the massive building opened in 1901.  The building, with its 25,000 spindles, turned local cotton into cloth.  A few years later, it was used as a cotton warehouse.    After World War II ended, the building housed the General Shoe Company, providing jobs for approximately 800 people and shoes for soldiers.  Genesco closed in 1978, then the mill became a warehouse for Martin Industries.  In 2001, the building was sold to its current owner, Research Genetics founder, Jim Hudson. Today, Lowe Mill Arts and Entertainment is the largest center for the arts in the Southeast.  Hundreds of artists demonstrate and sell their crafts in booths covering three floors of the old building.   Last Saturday, Steph and I enjoyed wandering around all the booths and talking to the artists.  We rode the vintage elevator and walked on wooden floors scarred by footsteps long ...