Faith, Folklore, and Friends

Rose-breasted grosbeaks migrate through our area from about the middle of April until early May.  They seemed a little later this year. I watched the feeders for days before they showed up.  It was worth the wait. I have been trying, without success, to get some photos since they have been here.  This morning, I managed to get a few by staying inside and not disturbing them.  These shots were taken through two panes of glass, so please forgive me if they seem a little fuzzy.  They hide in the scaly-bark hickory tree just off the deck. This handsome fellow seems to really enjoy the woodpecker suet. I'm really glad I was able to get these shots before they take off for the northeast.  Y'all can come back anytime!

Yesterday, Hub, Baby Boy, Rachel, and I attended the Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburg, Tennessee.  South Pittsburg is where Lodge makes all those iron skillets to cook cornbread in. I think the festival is twelve years old, and this was our third time to attend.   It was an almost-perfect day. Rhonda Vincent and the Rage put on a good show, and their sponsor, Martha White, was generous with gifts and samples. Cornbread Alley lets you sample many different kinds of cornbread, including some with chocolate chips and pecans.  They were all good, but after all that sampling, I was thinking it might be a little better with a pork chop to go with it. With more than sixty vendors with real art, it was hard to choose what to take home. I especially loved the bird houses. It was hard to miss this one-man band clown.  His doll had eyes like Chucky and it kinda scared some of us.  Then the clouds started churning, and we left a little so

My beloved spoke and said to me,      “Arise, my darling,      my beautiful one, come with me. 11  See! The winter is past;      the rains are over and gone. 12  Flowers appear on the earth;      the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves      is heard in our land. 13  The fig tree forms its early fruit;      the blossoming  vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling;      my beautiful one, come with me!" ~Song of Solomon 2:10-13

Time is like a flowing river, you can't touch  the  water twice. Because the flow that  passed  will  never come back. ~Basit Babatunde

Some days, we thought winter would last forever, but it just seemed that way.  It is gone, chased away by sunlight and south winds, although I found a little pocket of it hiding under the hickory tree yesterday morning.  The end of winter also means the end of quilting class. It was wonderful, productive, and a great learning experience for all of us.  It was tough for us some weeks; we battled sickness and the cold to keep our meetings.  I applaud the students who came out on nights so mean and cold that no other living things were stirring.  We made it, and we did good. It is the love of good things, of things made with hands, of things that will last that compels students to give up a cozy night at home to show up for class week after week and patiently put stitches in fabric. I met Pam Osburn (Rosyln Carter) when she came to work at the chemistry department at the University of North Alabama several years ago.  The chemistry department is just across the hall fro

I know that my redeemer lives,      and that in the end he will stand on the earth.                       ~Job 19:25

You believe   In God, for your part?--that He who makes     Can make good things from ill things, best from worst,       As men plant tulips upon dunghills when         They wish them finest.                       - Elizabeth Barrett  Browning Mid the sharp, short emerald wheat, scarce risen three fingers well,   The wild tulip at the end of its tube, blows out its great red bell,     Like a thin clear bubble of blood, for the children to pick and sell.       -  Robert Browning Dutch tulips from their beds   Flaunted their stately heads.           ~James Montgomery

At last, things are blooming at the Robertson manse. Thank you, Lord, for letting me see another spring time. See! The winter is past;      the rains are over and gone. 12  Flowers appear on the earth;      the season of singing has come.                                             ~Song of Solomon 2:11,12a

I have seen you in the sanctuary      and beheld your power and your glory. ~Psalm 63.2

It always makes me nervous when there is fishing too close to the dam, but these white pelicans seem to be enjoying it immensely. White pelicans usually winter farther south than we are, but they seem to like it just fine here.  Their numbers have increased greatly in the past year, and they can be spotted just about any time near the dam and other spots along the river. Could be that they love the fishing here. They are beautiful.  We welcome them to our part of the state.