Birdies --including a Surprise One!!!!

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend. We enjoyed the cooler weather very much--but I think the heat is returning this week, at least during the daytime. Our biggest problem here now is the lack of rain. We haven't had any rain at all since August 18, and only two or three times this entire summer. The grass is brown, and the leaves on the big shade trees are wilted and dying. We water what we can --and I'm trying to save our Rhododendrons, Azaleas and our Laurel. BUT--even they are stressed and dry. Hopefully, we will get some rain soon, but I think I've scared Mother Nature away with "MY" rain dance!!!!! (Understandable!!! ha ha )

Recently, I have talked alot about our Bluebirds, Cardinals and some of our Woodpeckers... But --we have other Backyard Birds to visit us also... SO--today, I'll show you some of our 'other' birds... I have it on authority that the bird above is a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (immature male --losing his colors). I have never seen one of these, so you can only imagine how excited I am!!!!!! (I first thought he was a Goldfinch; later I thought he was a Yellow-rumped Warbler... )

Mr. BLUEJAY makes alot of noise when he is around. But he doesn't seem to scare the other birds away!

I love MOURNING DOVES. They come almost every afternoon about 5 p.m. and clean up the deck for me... They love to clean up everything the other birds have dropped... I call them my vacuum cleaners!!! ha

I love this silhouette of one of our Ruby-throated Hummingbirds... Our hummers came late this year (July) --but now we have LOTS of them around. I have two feeders on the deck --but have a hard time getting a good picture from inside. But they are fun to watch!!!!

I have one feeder in the front yard -- so I can sit on my bench out front and see the hummers coming and going to this feeder. I love seeing his iridescent colors.

This is our 'friend' ---the Pileated Woodpecker, who loves to sit outside of our window each morning about 6 a.m. HOLLERING for his breakfast... (This one is for you, KELLY.)

Here is your SURPRISE!!!!! Know what this is???? He's a BAT--and he loves to 'rest' on our front porch... They sleep upside down ---but he looks like he had his eyes opened --when I took his picture!!!! Bats are really good to have around since they eat mosquitos. (This one is for you GINNY and JUDY.)

Have a fabulous Tuesday ---and remember to feed the birds!!!!! They will bring so much joy to your life!

Hugs,

Primitive Baptist Church, Cades Cove, TN

On our visit to the Smokies on August 27, we visited Cades Cove, one of our very favorite places in the Smokies. To find out more info on Cades Cove, check out one of my recent posts by clicking HERE. In that post, I showed a map of the 11 mile loop road around the cove. You will find where the Primitive Baptist Church is by looking at the map (number 3 on that map).

Today I will share pictures with you which we took at the Primitive Baptist Church that Friday. As you can see by looking at the sign pictured above, this church was established in 1827. A log building served their needs until this one replaced it in 1887.

Here is a picture of the outside of the pretty little church, taken as we walked around the cemetery beside it. As you can tell, there were quite a few other visitors here on this day also. It was a gorgeous day to be visiting Cades Cove.

The church closed during the Civil War. Official church correspondence after the war explained it all: "We the Primitive Baptist Church in Blount County in Cades Cove, do show the public why we have not kept up our church meeting. It was on account of the Rebellion and we was Union people and the Rebels was too strong here in Cades Cove. Our preacher was obliged to leave sometimes, and thank God we once more can meet."

Here is a picture of the inside of the little church. I just sat down for a few minutes and thought about the early settlers in the 'cove' who attended worship here.

As much as I love seeing churches, I also love visiting old cemeteries... I usually look for the oldest dates on the tombstones I can find. What I found fascinating here were the fancy tombstones, ------------ and...

... the 'not-so-fancy' ones... Made me wonder who is buried here....???

There is a walkway which visitors have to stay on --in order to see the tombstones in this cemetery. The walkway went all of the way around the cemetery... I took this picture of George, who was on one side --and I was on the other. Like me, he was checking out the information on the tombstones.

George found this tombstone of John Oliver and his wife Lurena , who were the first permanent white settlers in Cades Cove. In an upcoming post, I will show you the John Oliver cabin.

I worked hard to get one photo of the church without people in the picture.... And I did it....

Hope you enjoyed our tour of the Primitive Baptist Church in Cades Cove (Smoky Mountains, TN). If you ever get a chance to visit here, you would love it. If not, I encourage you to read some of the stories of the early settlers in this area. There are several books written about Cades Cove, and you can find lots of info on the internet... It is so fascinating, and is our HISTORY. (WARNING though: IF you visit in October, the traffic is bumper-to-bumper!!!)

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Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend. We have no specific plans yet ---but I'm sure we will grill some brats on Monday, and I'll make some 'tater salad and some of Betsy's Baked Beans!!!!!! We may have some delicious corn-on-the-cob also!!! Other than that, we won't do much 'laboring' on Labor Day!!!!!! ha

Have a fabulous weekend, and I'll blog again on Tuesday morning.

Hugs,