Thankful Thursday, September 26, 2019

Thankful Thursday and Little Things Thursday

Colbert County, Alabama, USA, September 22, 2019

I am thankful that we are finally getting cooler weather. When the Summer temperatures are consistently in the high 90Fs, anything under 90F is a blessing! To celebrate, my husband and I walked the Rockpile Trail in northwest Alabama. It was the first time we had been out on a hike since early Summer.

At the start of the trail a bridge crosses a small stream that flows into the Tennessee River.

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And there are plenty of large rocks along the Rockpile Trail!

The lower part of the trail follows an abandoned railroad track next to the river.

In a few places you can still see the old wooden railroad ties, now covered with moss.

Then the trail goes uphill, levels off for a short distance, then uphill it goes again!

A view of the Tennessee River as the trail reaches the top of the bluff

We saw several kinds of wildflowers along the trail. I think these shrubs are Elderberry.

If anyone knows what this vine is, please let me know.

And today, September 26th, is my blog anniversary - 8 years!

Have a blessed day!

Let us know what you are thankful for, visit Thankful Thursday: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Little Things Thursday: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.

Tree Following, July 7, 2015

The tree I am following is an Ornamental Pear.  It has masses of beautiful white flowers in the Spring, and in the Autumn the leaves turn red/orange.  The fruit is tiny, but it is enjoyed by the birds in the Winter.

Ornamental Pear, Prentiss county, Mississippi, USA, July 6, 2015

I was hoping for a sunny blue sky for this photo's background, but we've had cloudy, rainy skies for a week or more. 

It is a tall tree with glossy green leaves.  It has probably grown a little since last month, but not enough to tell the difference.  I didn't know what I could post about this month until I remembered a tip from another Tree Follower (or was it you, Lucy?):  Look around to see what is growing under or near the tree.  So I looked underneath the tree and found ...........

Moss!  A pretty green carpet thriving in the shade the tree provides.  (I think that orange dot is a tiny mushroom).  I had to really hunker down and set the camera on the ground to get this photo, but I think it well worth the trouble.  I don't get up and down as well as I used to!

Have a wonderful day!

To learn more about Tree Following, visit Lucy at Loose and Leafy:  Click Here!


NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.

Walking Trail, December 26, 2014

My red blood counts are still too low, so that I have very little energy, but I try to exercise as much as I am able.  Last Saturday was such a pretty day, my husband and I decided to try the walking trail at the Natchez Trace Freedom Hills Overlook in Northwest Alabama.

The trail is not very long but it is steep.  When you think you are near the top, the trail turns a little curve and goes on up again!  I did not walk very fast, and I had to stop and rest a couple of minutes.

One good thing about walking slowly is that you notice small things like this crack in the paved walkway.

Amazing what you will see if you look closely.  I have a fondness for moss.

The view from the top was not spectacular, but for me it was the journey that was important.  I felt rather proud of myself.  And I made it safely back down, though there were a couple of really steep places I was concerned that I might lose my balance.

A few days later our weather reverted back to the cold, cloudy days we've had most of this month, and we are again walking around and around in the shopping mall.

Have a wonderful week-end!

To see skies from around the world, visit Sky Watch Friday:  Click Here!

And on Saturday, please visit Scenic Weekends:  Click Here!