When a girl gets asked by her sweetheart to join him for a ride on Sunday afternoon, why not do it?
My husband suggested we take a trip to view the Virginia Bluebells down in the river valley near our farm. On our way we were delighted to see pink puffs of apple blossoms. Along with that we spied dead, gray trees which made holes in the verdant spectacle to see through. Without a doubt, they were displaying the talents of our woodpecker sort of neighbors.
Our powerful John Deere 2520 pulled us in a little red trailer decked with square bales of straw for our comfort.
In nearly 80° weather, a blue sky dotted with friendly white clouds met us as we traveled along. The forest floor carpeted with green and the happy white five-petal cupped flowers, Woodland Anemone greeted us as we passed. An occasional splash of yellow from the brilliant-colored buttercup and delicate, feathery-leafed, sculpted Dutchmen’s Breeches captured our attention. Colonies of small umbrella shaped plants, the May Apple, popped in and out of view.
As we neared the river, layered rock on a bluff became exposed to our sight. Small gray rocks that slid down the hillside showcased bouquets of the Virginia Bluebells. Then just around the corner of the hillside, the whole hill was awash in the purple/blue of the bluebells. The thick bluebell patches wafted their sweet scent our way.
Four separate springs added their cold waters to the river. Near the riverside, springs drained quietly onto rounded, smooth rocks in the riverbed. The cool waters pooled and then rushed noisily into the main tributary of the river.
Three deer, one a fawn, darted out from behind trees and moved along to more quiet places as we drove by them. The tractor forded a dry riverbed and a wet one. We found new patches loaded with wild flowers and with some stinging nettles just to add to our adventure. We noted the purple and green variegated leaves heralding the presence of the showy trout lily.
The work site of a busy beaver turned our heads. Several trees had been taken down. Later we found his pond and observed him dipping underwater to enter his below-water entrance to his lodge.
Splash! A fish jumped to snatch a juicy insect that had been tempting him.
On the way home, driving past our plowed field, a killdeer darted away in surprise and flew low to take our minds off of the spot she deems as hers. She was protecting her nesting rights.
In the farmyard, another killdeer with her two chicks raced away. Papa stayed close by to see they got away from us safely.
The leisurely, Sunday afternoon ride, as you can tell, was filled with action. How vast is our Creator’s ability! Even in one afternoon ride He shows us His handiwork.
In Psalm 19:3. 4 (RSV) we read, “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims His handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.”
Pickled Beets
2 – 15 ounce cans of beets sliced (I cooked beets from my own garden.)
1½ cups beet juice and water
1 large Vidalia onion
1 cup sugar
1 cup apple cider vinegar
Slice beets and onion. Combine in a glass or a non-reactive bowl. In a sauce pan, heat juice and vinegar to steaming, not boiling and add sugar. Stir to dissolve and heat to boiling. Pour hot juice in beets and onions. Stir and cool. Put in refrigerator. Taste is best after 24 hours.
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