Out in the Fields With God

 Out in the fields with God...early morning walks offer a glimpse of fall ... a sign of the seasons turning. The fog blanketed the lake quite heavy this early morning and lifts as the day begins.

            “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
                                                                                                            ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:8‬ ‭

 Here, one can see the fog starting to lift off the glassy still water this morning. Fog must be almost everywhere as we are located in Arkansas. It is noted that  the foggiest place in the world is the Grand Banks off the island of Newfoundland, Canada. It is said to get  more than 200-days of fog per year.

 Buddy walks early in the morning and captured this image...By the time the sun comes up the fog has lifted off the water. The color around the lake is slow to turn this year. There are so many leaves to fall. 

Once the fog has lifted, look how the clouds 

are reflected in the still waters of the lake.

This is one of the most popular vantage points at the farm – the back of the carriage road leading to the woods and back pasture behind our lake. In this photo, it’s difficult to see where the carriage road leads, making it quite mysterious and even romantic. 

                      I love how the leaves carpet the carriage road.

My mother used to describe fog to be “as thick as pea soup”. This was originally used to describe the dingy yellow smog from burning soft coal common in Europe. Such fogs occurred in London until the Clean Air Act of 1956. 

We never really had pea soup at home, so I don't know where she heard that! 

Out in the Fields with God 

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

The little cares that fretted me

I lost them yesterday,

Among the fields above the sea,

Among the winds at play,

Among the lowing of the herds,

The rustling of the trees,

Among the singing of the birds,

The humming of the bees.

The foolish fears of what might happen.

I cast them all away

Among the clover-scented grass,

Among the new-mown hay,

Among the husking of the corn,

Where drowsy poppies nod

Where ill thoughts die and good are born--

Out in the fields with God.

Out in the fields with God. 

I love when you leave a comment.

I read every one of them! 

Blue and Delilah say thanks for stopping by! 

HUGS! 

You’ll find me on Instagram here:  Alda's Magnolia Hill 

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Sights and Sounds of Fall

Sights and sounds of fall around the lake....

Buddy snapped a picture of the morning fog as it rolled on the lake. 

He walks around the lake almost every morning. 

The Canadian geese always find our lake tempting to fly in and check out the waters.

 

A bit of cotton reminds me of my mothers family as they 

were cotton farmers and the fall was like a holiday 

almost with the harvest season.

I saved seeds from my last years pumpkins and they grew like crazy. 

But one can never have too many, so a trip to the farmers market

 added a bit of color. Will save those seeds too!

Buddy's handmade built  wooden Spring Creek Bridge

 is my favorite in the fall with leaves carpeting the boards. 

I love the sounds of the carriage wheels as it rolls over the boards. 

I love to forage through the woods 

and amazed at the color for flower arrangements. 

Even the ferns in the front of the house

 take on a warm glow in the fall light. 

Smell of the woodsmoke ...

A lovely way to end the weekend

 with a bonfire by the lake. 

Thanks for stopping by! 

HUGS! 

You’ll find me on Instagram here:  Alda's Magnolia Hill 

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5 Tips for Caring for Mums

Happy Wednesday friends!  I freshened up the Boat House 

and around the grounds with a few chrysanthemums. 

They add a charming amount of color to the fall landscape, 

and the Boat House is a great little retreat for fall.

When the days are warm, the nights are chilly 

and the leaves are just starting to think about

turning to those pretty fall colors...

then it is time to add some mums!

From the Boat House to the Front Porch, Mums add fall color 

and dress the landscape in the charm of the season. 

 Fall is appearing around the house as well.

It is hard to do, but when selecting your Chrysanthemum plants, 

look for ones with buds that haven’t bloomed yet. 

They should only have a sneak peak of color 

to confirm what color they will bloom. 

 Most mums will be have cramped roots, 

and  to get the most out of your plant,

 you should probably plan on repotting 

it in a larger vessel once you bring it home. 

If you repot your mum, use potting soil or we have

 manure from the barn that is nutrient rich. 

Mums like sun, so try to tuck your pot in a sunny area.

I have had to learn the hard way to water thoroughly and watch over the coming days to see how long it takes for the soil to start losing its moisture for you don’t want the soil to be soaking wet.   Watch daily for you don’t want it to dry out either. In my case, I water my mums every other day when it’s hot and every 3-4 days when its cooler. Again, the key is not letting the plant dry out but not to overwater either.

When blooms are sagging and are looking like they’re spent,

 clip them off so the plant can focus its energy on other blooms.

Somehow spending time in the autumn

 garden is especially satisfying this year.   

With just a little attention, your mums 

should last beautifully through the season. 

I hope you are all doing well and 

enjoying some peace and beauty

during these troubled times.  

Welcome Fall, 2020 .... Hugs!

Pssst: Did you know Alda's Magnolia Hill  is on Instagram? 

You’ll find me on Instagram here:  Alda's Magnolia Hill 

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Remembering the Legend of the Dogwood

 There is a legend, that at the time 

of the Crucifixion the dogwood 

had been the size of the oak

 and other forest trees.

 It was chosen as the timber for the cross

 as it was strong  and tall.

To be used for such a cruel purpose

 greatly distressed the tree, 

and Jesus, nailed upon it, sensed this, 

and in His gentle pity for all sorrow and suffering said to it: 

"Because of your regret and pity 

for My suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree 

grow large enough to be used as a cross. 

Henceforth it shall be slender

 and bent and twisted and its blossoms 

shall be in the form of a cross. 

...two long petals and two short petals.  

And in the center of the outer edge of 

each petal there will be nail prints, brown with rust 

and stained with red,

 and in the center of the flower 

will be a crown of thorns. 

All those who see it will remember." 

                                    

                                                                                       - author unknown

Even though this is just a legend, 

I appreciate the reminder 

of my Savior's sacrifice for me 

when I see these blooms.

Somehow every year by Easter, 

our Dogwood tree has been in full bloom. 

The purple Wisteria on the dock  is in full bloom

 at the same time as the Dogwood trees.

In my lifetime, I have never missed

 an Easter  church service...

but this year is certainly different. 

In honor of all the health care workers, 

especially those that have passed

 though our Magnolia Hill gates...we are staying home. 

 Healthcare workers are literally risking it all to save us.

They say,  "We also have family but we can't stay home...

Be responsible and STAY HOME because I can't"

Especially pretty in spring, but also in the fall,  

 as swirling scarlet and purple leaves 

add to the fall landscape's  autumnal palette.

Colored red berries on both the white and pink dogwoods 

attract songbirds through early winter. 

The pink dogwood is an American classic. 

This pink Dogwood was given as a gift in

  honor of my mother as she lost her battle with Breast Cancer. 

These legendary trees have long been part of our native landscape 

and provide an aura of magnificence in a 

100% North American native cultivar that ranges

coast to coast.... from Maine to Florida 

and from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific Ocean .

America's founding fathers were big dogwood fans too.

 George Washington planted them at

 Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson planted them at Monticello.

And we too,  love the Dogwood trees at Magnolia Hill.  

It has been an amazing week hasn't it? 

Buddy and I hope you have a blessed Easter

 and see God in the flowers and trees 

or where ever you celebrate. 

As Max Lucado says, "With God's help we 

will get through this!"

Pssst: Did you know Magnolia Hill  is on Instagram? 
You’ll find me on Instagram here:  Alda's Magnolia Hill 

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