This blog is for my insights on life, the Bible, hiking adventures with my grandson and whatever is important to me
Author: Deb L Waters
I am an avid reader. I read mostly Amish fiction but also read other novels. I enjoy romance, mystery, and Christian devotionals. I enjoy hiking in the outdoors, especially in Greenways and State or National Parks. I love my grandson. He is my favorite subject, so I'll post about him and his antics.
Cee asks everyone to post photos of Words that contain the Alphabet letters A or E. My selections for this week come from mine and Coleman’s recent visit to Gastonia’s Erwin Center Park and Recreation. As per usual Coleman (notice the Name A & E) is in several of my photos.
Gastonia Erwin Center Parks and Recreation Sign with Coleman Basketball Court Gastonia Erwin Center Park and Recreation Ball Field used for Soccer and Baseball Gastonia Erwin Center Park and Recreation Coleman in the Children’s PlaygroundColeman sliding on the Playground Equipment Slide
We are still having a lot of rain several days out of the week. Even so Coleman and I managed to get a little walking in. We walked for a mile and a half before deciding to get on the bus. We rode the bus to a park we had not previously visited.
We visited the Erwin Center Park and Recreation. We rode the Blue line to the station, then switched to the Yellow line. The Yellow line took us to right across the street from the park.
The Erwin Center opened in 1961 in the Highland neighbourhood of northern Gastonia. The Center was named in honour of Dr. Herbert Erwin. Dr. Erwin was Gaston County’s first African American physician. He was a well known advocate for youth sports and activities. The Community Center has a game room, meeting room, kitchen, lounge, and offices.
In 1967 a full-size gymnasium and an outdoor basketball court were added. Today’s outdoor facilities also include a swimming pool, a splash pad (open during the summer months), a grass volleyball court, horseshoe pits, playground, tot play area, a large picnic shelter and a walking track.
In the summer of 2020, a Black Lives Matter Mural was painted on the Erwin Center basketball court by Ezekiel Clay, Jr.
… On the Top of a Slide… On the Bottom of a Slide … on a Swing
The Erwin Center Park and Recreation outdoor park areas are open daily from Dawn to Dusk.
This park is a little further away from the park we normally visit, however it does have activities and playgrounds which are of interest to the very young as well as older children, teenagers, and adults.
If we were so inclined to travel a little further from home than usual, we would visit the park again. Coleman enjoyed the playground and wished it was already summer so he could have enjoyed the Splash Pad.
Here are this week’s questions: 1. Did you wake up in a good mood this morning?
Yes, I woke up in a good mood. However, I would have preferred to sleep a little longer.
2. What was the first thing you thought of when you awoke?
I wanna sleep some more. Majority of mornings I am woken up by my grandson. He wakes up early regardless of when he falls asleep or woke up in the middle of the night. When he does so I’m usually sleeping soundly and am not ready to be awake yet.
3. Tea, coffee, or fruit juice/smoothie for breakfast?
I always drink cold tea from the time I wake up until the time I go to sleep.
4. What topping do you prefer on your toast?
On toast, (which I do not normally eat) I top it with either honey, apple butter, or cinnamon sugar.
Gratitude:
“Gratitude is not a limited resource, nor is it costly. It is abundant as air. We breathe it in but forget to exhale.”
— Marshall Goldsmith, executive leadership coach and author
First off, let’s look out Trail Maps. Trail Maps let us know what trails are at a location and give us directions to follow for our selected trail route we desire to hike.
Crowders Mountain State Park Trail MapYMCA Trail MapTrail Maps
Next, we’ll look at Trail Signs that give Directions for which way to go to continue to a specific destination.
Destination Directions
Continuing on, we look at trail signs which tell us the rules and how we should behave while we are on the trail. Some of the directions might seem like we should already know how to act while on a trail, but reminders are beneficial for those that need one on common courtesy.
How to Act:
Courtesy & Rules to follow
Lastly, we’re looking at signs that give us directions on what we should do. Some remind us to stay Calm, others give us directions on what to do in case of an emergency, while others let us know what (or rather where) not to do.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. Relax and Stay Calm. Remember y’all are amazing. I appreciate y’all very much.
Maternal Great Grandfather & Great Uncle Riding in the 2-Seat Horse-Drawn Carriage
Family Members with early Work Trucks
From Left to Right: Doyce Eileen Watson, Harvey Martin Watson, Jerry Alexander Watson (in My Maternal Grandfather’s Arms) Marvin Houston Watson Beside the Family Car
Great Aunt Flora Alice (My Grandfather’s Sister) & Husband with their Car
I’m grateful for the treasure of memorable photos I have in my possession from my family and ancestors. What are you thankful for this Lent season?
It is officially Spring, however, the winter cold weather is hanging around not wanting to go away. Thankfully we are not getting the deluge of snowfall some areas are experiencing.
Here our weather and sky can change dramatically within a matter of minutes. The following shows our Weekend Sky – Weather on Saturday.
The change in the sky was only thirty minutes from blue skies to dark cloudy skies.
For this week I selected photos which were handed down to me by my maternal grandmother after my maternal grandfather passed. The last selection was one of my father’s photos I received after he passed.
I am so thankful for the many photos that I have received and will treasure them always. Each one tells a little piece of my families history.
Jeramiah Watson Family My Maternal Great Grandfather & Family (My Grandfather, Harvey Martin, is second from left)Family of Jeramiah Watson My Maternal Great Grandfather ( Pictured with his Second Wife and Children)Doyce Eileen Watson First Grade– 1938 Coshocton, Ohio School Class (My Mom’s Class Picture)John Thomas Waters ( My Paternal Grandfather) & Nornal Hule Waters ( My Father)
This week we observed the School Construction noticing the Windows from the street side near the old Grier Middle School location. The Windows and the New Grier Middle School construction is progressing nicely.
Groundbreaking for the new Grier Middle School took place on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. It is expected the completion of the construction of the new Grier Middle School will be in 2025. The New Grier Middle School should be ready for students then barring any complications or delays.
God Bless. The Flowers welcome Spring’s arrival and the Bees 🐝 are hovering around. Enjoy the flowers, but be careful not to get stung. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
On one of our recent hikes we noticed the water streaming down the creek. Coleman laid down on the bridge above and stretched his single stick downward towards the creek trying to stretch it into the water below.
This next shot is not so clear, however, it depicts his lone stick floating in the water. He had lost his grip and it wasn’t within his reach to retrieve it. He was disappointed, but not for long (he always finds sticks along trails.)
Cee’s allowing us to post any road, path, step, bridge, or sign this week for her CWWC. For my selections I chose some from Coleman & my adventures this past week.
Car Driving on Bridge Shot from the Avon Catawba Creeks Greenway Gastonia, North Carolina
Coleman Walking on Sidewalk New Hope Road; Gastonia, North Carolina
Coleman Walking on Brick Ledge The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, North Carolina
Coleman Climbing on Playground Equipment Ladder Steps Erwin Center Recreation and Park Gastonia, North Carolina
Coleman Sock Skating The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, North Carolina
My entries for this Cee’s CMMC this week are a variety of new and archive photos I hope you enjoy. There were taken at The Schiele Museum of Natural History and the Warlick Family YMCA in Gastonia, North Carolina as well as at Andrew Jackson State Park (three of our favorite places to go hiking and relax out in nature.
Brown, Green, Layers, Landscape Green Lettuce on a Bed of Brown Bark Heritage Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
Brown, Green, Teal, Water, Landscape, Layers Spillway; The Nature Trail; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
Blue, Water, Green, Lake, Layers, Brown Robinwood Lake; Warlick Family YMCA; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
Blue, Brown, Green, Landscape, Water, Lake, Layers The Lake at Andrew Jackson State Park; Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
… at Robinwood Lake… at the Cherry Blossoms … at the Sand under the Bridge …at the Sky between the Bridges … at Me through the Ladder Rails… at Coleman through the Railcars
President James K. Polk Birthplace Visitor Center — Museum
The President James K. Polk Historic Site is located in Pineville, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The site is a museum and historic location that is managed by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
The site is home to the birthplace of the 11th president of the United States, James K. Polk. Polk served as president from 1845 to 1849. The site is also the only Chief-of-State birthplace in Mecklenburg County.
There are several events held at the historic site throughout the year. The most notable is the President’s Day Program held in mid-February on the Saturday before President’s Day each year. The President’s Day Event Program includes talks which focus on the lives of James K. Polk, Andrew Jackson, and Andrew Johnson. All three of these President’s were born on North Carolina soil.
Other events include cooking demonstrations and guided tours. Earlier this year was the “A Taste of Struggle: Historic Foodways from the Caribbean to the Americas.”
The next event is coming up on March 23:
If you are ever in the Charlotte area of North Carolina it would be worth taking a trip to visit the President James K. Polk Historic Site in Pineville located in the southern part of Mecklenburg County.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
I never thought about squirrels leaping or jumping from the ground to high branches in trees before. Normally, I see squirrels clambering up trees or from tree to tree. This week we literally saw a squirrel leap (or jump) from the ground to a branch high up in a tree in one swift effortless movement.
Squirrel 🐿️ Action
Evidently, high enough is however high a squirrel wants to leap to reach its destination.
Coleman Hiking & Playing Along the Avon and Catawba Creeks Greenway
The hiking adventures with Coleman are always fun and interesting. He doesn’t always stick to actual pathways or trails, however, he always gets to where he wants to go and has a fantastic time along the way.
Helleborus orientalisHellebore Lenten RoseHelleborus orientalis, the Lenten rose, is a perennial flowering plant and species of hellebore in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter.
Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA.
God Bless. Stop and Smell the Flowers. Enjoy the beauty of nature all around you. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Heidelberg PalaceHEIDELBERG CASTLEHortus Palatinus Garden of Heidelberg castleOld Bridge Heidelberg
These photos were taken back in the mid 1970’s (probably around 1975 or 1975) by my father when my parents travelled to Germany to visit my brother & his family which were stationed at the Air Force Wiesbaden, Germany. They were most likely taken with my dad’s Minolta XG-7 35 mm camera (which I now own).
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL filter.
Location: Avon Creek Trail; Avon and Catawba Creeks Greenway; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy your week. Smell the flowers. Spring is almost here. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
The first sign of Spring is seeing the new buds on plants and especially the blossoms blooming on the magnificent cherry trees. However, it was the Flowering Dogwood when I lived in Lancaster, South Carolina. The whole street was/is lined with the Dogwood trees. When they started blossoming, one knew Spring was just around the corner.
2. Do you have a favourite flower at this time of year?
My favourite flower anytime of the year are roses. Growing up we always had roses and carnations in our garden. Seasonally, I do not have a particular preference.
3. Does your country exercise the hour change?
My state exercises daylight savings time. There are, however, two states along with five U. S. Territories which do not observe daylight savings time.
The states and territories which do not observe Daylight Saving time are:
Arizona
Hawaii
American Samoa
Guam
Northern Mariana Islands
Puerto Rico
U.S. Virgin Islands
Personally, I wish all states would do away with daylight savings time. It is hard on the mind and body to have to adjust to the time changes.
4. Do you spring clean your home throughout, change furniture around or keep to a normal routine?
Spring clean, yes. Change furniture around, no. Thorough cleaning is done every few months or so, but purging the old and unused is not done often enough. Otherwise, I keep to a basically normal routine.
Gratitude:
Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many – not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.
The first shots I snapped turning slightly in each direction to capture what we saw from various angles. The last three were shot when Coleman and I took a short walk around the neighborhood.
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 