Camera: Canon EOS 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens with Altura UV Filter attachment.
Location: Patterson Pond; Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm; Greenway Stables and Farm Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy Nature. Take a hike/walk amongst God’s beautiful creatures. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
One Day while hiking along a trail Coleman and I came across a section with textured wood that had seen better days.
Trail near Gardner Park Elementary Gastonia, North Carolina
One Day while hiking in Anne Springs Close Greenway we spotted a mysterious hole within a rotting tree stump that drew our attention.
At Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
One Day we decided to take a break in the shade to catch our breath before contour hike. (Coleman was just under 2 at the time.) we found some interesting shadows and a Dragonfly.
Chestnut Trail; McDowell Nature Preserve; Charlotte, North Carolina
One Day during a hike to Coleman’s favourite sandpit in Riverside Park and Greenway we noticed some interesting texture of Hypnum cupressiforme, (the cypress-leaved plaitmoss or hypnum moss).
Textured hypnum moss growing on a tree Coleman enjoys climbing.
One Day at Riverside Park and Greenway I was trying to locate the log I usually sat on while Coleman played in the sand. It took some looking around before we spotted it. Someone had decomposed our log by using it as a fire log. (No fires are to be built in the park especially during the summer fire season.)
Burnt Log destroyed by fire. So much for my sitting on it.
Good Sunday Morning to y’all. This week Debbie from Travel with Intenthas chosen Steering Wheels for the theme for One Word Sunday (OWS). I’ve scoured my archives searching for a few Steering Wheels and I’ve managed come come across a few.
Here are my entries …
Coleman behind the Steering Wheel of a Fire Engine
Coleman testing out the Steering Wheel of a Tractor at The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History.
These next two are located at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, North Carolina.
Coleman Turning a Steering Wheel outside the main Museum building.
Here Coleman is checking out the Steering Wheel of a Train.
Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion & Ultra Wide Cameras
Location: South Fork Catawba River; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors and Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Have a terrific rest of your week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
These are from one of the freight trains that pass by everyday while I(we) wait for the school bus. Coleman will never meet his maternal pawpaw during his lifetime, but he knows about him and what he looks like. He also knows that his Pawpaw drove an 18-wheeler for J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc..
When we saw these the other day Coleman recognized the J.B. Hunt logo and stated that that was the company his Pawpaw drove for. His Pawpaw drove an 18-Wheeler for J.B. Hunt from 1992 until a couple of years before his passing in 2018.
Location: Railroad Tracks; Corner of S. Main St. & 7th St.; Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. May you experience Double the fun, Double the happiness, and Double the love this week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Our Fallen Brothers is called Marine Corps Interrogator Translator monument, it honours those who died in combat. The monument is a 38,000 pound stone and is etched with the names of nine Marines who died in combat, some in World War II, Vietnam, Korea, and Afghanistan.
Marine interrogators and translators worked to question prisoners of war in their native language and translate the information for intelligiance purposes.
The Marine Corps Interrogator Translator Monument serves as a symbol of their sacrifice. This Monument is one of several Memorial Monuments honouring Fallen Soldiers located within the Lejeune Memorial Gardens in Jacksonville, North Carolina near Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base.
Location: Marine Corps Interrogator Translator Monument; Lejeune Memorial Gardens; Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Remember the Fallen. Honour their Sacrifice. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
There are many ways the term Hanging could be interpreted, such as Hanging around (with friends) Hanging Upside down (like a “monkey”), Hanging In (Being persistent, carrying on under difficult circumstances), or perhaps used as in the expression How’s it Hanging. These types of Hanging are totally different and distinct from Debbie’s example of Curtains Hanging or any other object Hanging.
I’m going to show you some “Hanging” examples of “Like Mother … Like Son.”
Coleman’s Mom’sversion of Hanging …
Trisha, my daughter/Coleman’s Mom Hanging Upside Down on a Tree. (2009)
Trisha Hanging around in a Tree. (2023)
Coleman’s version of Hanging …
Black & White of Coleman Hanging on a Metal Railing (2025)
Coleman Hanging around in a Tree (2025)
Coleman Hanging on “Monkey” Bars (2023)
Coleman Hanging on low Chin Up Bar in the Catawba Reservation (2022)
God Bless. Have a funtastic time Hanging around this week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
In the afternoons Coleman enjoys being outdoors and often Pulls Up a Seat on our Home’s Porch railing which would scare his mom half to death if she was at Home. Luckily for him when he chooses to Pull Up a Seat like in the images below his mom is at work and NOT at Home. This week’s post is also being linked with Debbie’s Six Word Saturday and One Word Sunday Challenges.
Coleman’s Pull Up a Seat Selection of the Afternoon
The Vallecito Stage Station in Julian, California was rebuilt and is a part of the Vallecito County Park operated by the San Diego County Parks. The Vallecito Stage Station was one of the Home Stations along The Butterfield Overland Mail route which carried mail from San Antonio, Texas to San Diego, California beginning in 1857. Passengers on the Stage Coaches ate a good meal once every twenty-four (24) hours at what were called “Home Stations.” Vallecito was one of the “Home Stations” that provided good meals to the Butterfield-Overland travelers from produce and meat supplied by farmers on Mt. Palomar.
Vallecito-Butterfield Stage Station
Vallecito has been preserved as a 71-acre county park built around a reconstruction of the historic Butterfield Stage Station. Vallecito has been a campsite for literally hundreds of years, beginning first with the native Kumeyaay Indians. This area is part of what is known as the Anza-Borego Desert.
When I was growing up my church youth group would come out here almost every year for camping and hiking. The campground area is primitive and you must bring in your own water supplies as wet as any other supplies you might need.
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Enjoy the Outdoors. Have some fun. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
God Bless. May your life be filled with love and joy. Have a marvellous week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
In life sometimes your paths lead Straight to your destination and sometimes your life zigzags until you realize the journey you’re meant to be on.
Straight Path with Straight Lines …
When you stay on the Straight Path the Views are stunning and life is filled with amazing fulfilling stories and an abundance of pure love and happiness.
… Straight Lines & Straight Paths
… Leads to amazing views of Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies in beautiful fragrant blooms transcending across the Catawba River.
Location: Spider Lily Viewing Area; Nature Trail; Landsford Canal State Park; Catawba, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. May your life be filled with love and joy. Have a marvellous week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Coleman playing by the Wiggling Waggling blue lines
Wiggly Floor Map Lines
The blue Wiggly lines represent rivers and lakes in our area. The floor map drawings showing the Wiggly Waggling lines are on the floor inside Confluence which is run by the Catawba Riverkeepers.
Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion and Ultra Wide Cameras
Location: Confluence; Downtown Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Wiggle Waggle if you please. Getting your Wiggly Waggle on might just be fun and bring smiles and laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Good Day! As I right this this evening it is trying to rain, we’ve seen the dark clouds rolling in, heard the thunder banging like drums overhead, but yet to see the rain. I am thankful for the lovely sunshine we enjoyed today.
It was such a beautiful day and we hadn’t been out and about for the past week with all our on again off again thunderstorms; therefore, it was an excellent day to wander down to the river for a bit of hiking and Coleman playtime in the sandy river banks. Coleman is fascinated by the rippling effects of the water when he throws wood into the river.
I decided to capture his water ripples in black and white thereby linking this post to Jez’s Water Water Everywhere, Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Repeat and Monochrome Monday.
Location: South Fork Catawba River; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a hike/walk out in Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Leave No Trace means to carry out what you bring in to nature. Minimize your impact on natural environments. Leave an area as pristine as possible (even better than you found it). The idea is to ensure that the next visitor would barely know anyone else had been there.
Not everyone practises Leave No Trace as is recommended. Too often when we go hiking on various trails, regardless of whether the trails are in Greenways, Local, State, or National Parks, people will leave Litter by the side of trails, amongst the trees, and around campsites.
Worrells Walk, Carolina Thread Trail; Seven Oaks Preserve; Belmont, North Carolina Carolina Thread Trail; Goat Island Park and Greenway
“Please Take Nothing But Pictures Leave Nothing But Footprints”
Quote Origin disputed – Chief Seattleor James Brewer, or National Geographic Society
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm and EF-S55-250mm lenses.
Location: As Stated in captions.
God Bless. Please be sure to Leave No Trace, no Litter left behind. Take only Pictures, kill nothing but time. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
We have been having so many days of extreme heat and humidity that what rain we have had has not been enough to sustain or elevate the water levels of our lakes, rivers, or spillways.
Coleman on his way to the Spillway
Do you think that the low water levels would hinder Coleman from enjoying splashing around in the Spillway? Definitely not.
Coleman is almost to the Spillway
Normally the water levels would be so high you’d be able to see the water from where Coleman is located. The water is usually all the way across the Spillway and flowing down stream.
Coleman deciding whether we are crossing the Swinging Bridge before he enters the water.
This is the Greenway’s Swinging Bridge, the main access to the other side of the Spillway.
Coleman is almost across the Swinging Bridge
The view of the Swinging Bridge from the top of the stairs. Normally the plant growth is not high enough to intertwine with siding along the Swinging Bridge.
Coleman begins splashing back and forth with his feet.
As you look at the pictures below you’ll be able to see and understand the extreme drought we are experiencing. The extremely low water levels caused by insufficient rainfall is disappointing to see. Ordinarily the water would rise above Coleman’s knees and you would not be seeing all the dirt, red clay, and mud which you can observe here.
Anne Springs Close Greenway Spillway with Coleman
Even though the water levels were extremely low it did not prevent Coleman from having a Splashing Good Time running back and forth, to and fro, as well as up and down the length of the Spillway.
Location: Greenway Spillway; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Stay Cool. 😎 Take Care. Get Outdoors whenever possible. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
I have not been to the ocean in years, but we venture to lakes and rivers which are nearby. Here’s a look 👀 at our “Seasides”.
Myrtle Beach SeasideRankin LakeAndrew Jackson State Park Lake w/AlonaAndrew Jackson State Park Lake w/ColemanColeman by the South Fork Catawba River Riverside Park and Greenway
Summer for me used to be about Church Camp, Family Vacation, Beach Volleyball, Waterskiing with friends, however, times change … Life changes with the times.
Now Summer is all about Coleman (actually all my days are with Coleman), hiking in the woods, attending Downtown Concerts, watching Coleman playing with water in his Turtle, running thru the sprays of water from a hose trying to keep cool 😎.
Summer …
Water 💦 Play
Coleman in his Turtle
Fireworks
Cramerton Fireworks
Hiking & Sand Funtime
Coleman hiking through the woods to the Big Sand Area for Sand Playtime
Last week Debbie had us Looking Up, it was fun to see everyone’s take on Looking Up. This week’s theme is Looking Down. There are many different and interesting things available to see all around us if we only Look and observe what’s all around us.
Coleman and I paid a visit to the expanded and upgraded Daniel Stowe Conservancy, formerly known as The Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens. Looking all around the trails surrounding The Trailhead Store at the Conservancy there were some interesting views which we Looked Down upon.
…. Such as the Pond down and slightly to the right of The Trailhead Store.
Looking Down upon the Reflections in the Pond
…. Or this little Pond with a waterfall surrounded by rocks a short distance away from the Dog Park.
Coleman looking down over the Pond
Moving along further down the trail we spot an interesting painting on the pathway with a Trail crossing sign nearby.
Looking Down upon the painted pathway before crossing the road.
And lastly for today, I’m Looking Down upon Coleman looking down at something on a bench.
Coleman Looking Down on the Bench while I’m Looking Down the small incline at him.
Cameras: 1 & 5-6) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments; 2-4) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Location: The Trailhead Store; Carolina Thread Trail; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Discover Nature’s amazing beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Also Known as Bee’s Nest-Plant; Bird’s-Nest; Devil’s Plague; Queen Anne’s Lace; and Wild Carrot
Queen Anne’s Lace is a summer biennial wildflower from the Apiaceae (carrot) family. In some states it is considered invasive. It has naturalized in many states and can be found in sun to partial shade along roadsides, old fields, and waste places. In our area of North Carolina Queen Anne’s Lace can be found along trails, in wooded areas, and near the Catawba River.
The 2 to 4 foot tall umbels of white flowers appear in its second year of growth from mid-summer to mid-fall and have a lacy look. The basal rosette consists of 5-inch long arching leaves with a few leaves occurring alternately up the main stem.
Instead of looking straight at these flowers I chose to shot them looking up at them from underneath for a unique perspective.
Brian from Bushboys World gives these rules forThe Last on the Card Challenge. 1. Post the last photo on your SD card or last photo on your phone for the 30th April or whenever your last photo was taken. 2. No editing – who cares if it is out of focus, not framed as you would like or the subject matter didn’t cooperate. 3. You don’t have to have any explanations, just the photo will do 4. Create a Pingback to this post or link in the comments 5. Use the tags The Last Photo and #LastOnTheCard
Water reflections are the most common reflections we see on our adventures. Perhaps, due to being close to the Catawba River or possibly within a short drive of any number of lakes. It doesn’t really matter, I love gazing over the water no matter where we are to see the reflections of the surrounding landscape reflecting over the water.
On most hiking trails which Coleman and I there are there are sporadically placed benches Conveniently placed for hiker’s Convenience to rest, relax, and rejuvenate to continue one’s hiking adventure.
Here are a few benches Conveniently placed for hiker’s Convenience…
Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, SCAndrew Jackson State Park Lancaster, SCCatawba Park Tega Cay, SCCatawba River Trailhead Rock Hill, SC Ed Yount Trail South Fork River Park Gastonia, NCLake Haigler Trail Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, SCGoat Island Park and Greenway Cramerton, NCGoat Island Park and Greenway Cramerton, NCRiverside Park and Greenway Cramerton, NC
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment.
Settings: f/4 • 1/320 • 55mm • ISO100
Location: Centennial Center River Access and Observation Pier; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a lovely day. Relax and enjoy the outdoors. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Living within walking distance to the South Fork Catawba River I figured Riverscape would be a funtastic word to choose for this week’s One Word Sunday Challenge.
These are from the hike Coleman and I took yesterday after the Easter Egg Scramble.
South Fork Catawba River
Coleman always loves spending time playing and hiking near the River. Where do y’all enjoy spending your afternoons?
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 