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.
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.
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.
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.
Hiking along the Riverlink Greenway Trail at Goat Island Park and Greenway we tree y to observe everything around us. The objects along our foot path regardless of whether they are on the trail or along the side of its side.
Tree Leaves near the edge of a Trail
The sun bounces off the leaves differs slightly from one spot to another giving interesting contrasts that seem to stand out calling you to take a closer look.
Sun shining on Green Leaves
The glistening rays reflect varying shades of green in the river below. What captured my attention, at first, were the broken tree branches strewn across the waters of the South Fork Catawba River. The water reflections were an added bonus.
Green Water Reflections
Skipping down the road to another Greenway in town; (also apart of the Carolina Thread Trail) the Riverside Park and Greenwaywe encounter interesting plants and trees along the trail pathway.
Taxodium distichum Seed Pods (baldcypress, bald-cypress, bald cypress, swamp cypress)
I found these seed pods fascinating. I was not sure what they were when I first saw them, but they stood out and begged for me to capture them. Looking them up, I discovered these are Bald Cypress seed pods. The Bald Cypress trees are native to the Southeastern United States of America.
Cameras: 1-3) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments; 4) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Locations: 1-3) Riverlink Greenway Trail; Carolina Thread Trail; Goat Island Park and Greenway; 4) Riverside Park and Greenway; Carolina Thread Trail; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a fantastic week. Get Outdoors and enjoy Nature. 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.
“The friends whom I have are invaluable, and although not numerous they are sufficient for my enjoyment; and the texture of my own mind renders me very indifferent to the rest of the world.”
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?
Witch at Land of Oz (click on image for enlarged viewing)
This is a throwback photo my dad took back in 1972 on a visit to The Land of Oz.The Land of Oz Theme Park was once a thriving tourist attraction in Beech Mountain, North Carolina. The theme park was inspired by the Wizard of Oz. It operated from 1970 to 1980.
Location: The Land of Oz Theme Park; Beech Mountain, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you Janet for hosting these past three challenges. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
I’ve chosen to post photos of Metal Artwork I captured when visiting my Aunt in Abilene, Texas in 2020. The following are my entries for this week’s One Word Sunday challenge.
Currently, we do not own any pets, however, Coleman and I see Pets while we are hiking along trails in various Parks and Greenways. Many visitors to Parks and Greenways bring their companions/Pets along with them. Some of the Greenways have Doggie Park sections for the Dogs to enjoy running around and playing with other dogs.
The following are some of the companion Pets we have encountered on our hiking adventures.
Goat Island Park and Greenway Goat Island Park and Greenway Doggie ParkGoat Island Park and Greenway Doggie Park Goat Island Park and Greenway Doggie ParkRiverside Park and Greenway Goat Island Park and GreenwayAnne Springs Close GreenwayGaston County Warlick Family YMCAThe Schiele Museum of Natural History TrailAnne Springs Close GreenwayAndrew Jackson State Park
Cameras: 1-9) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm and Canon EF-S75-300mm lens; 10) Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max; 11) Apple iPhone XR
Locations: as stated with images.
God Bless. Thank you Janet for hosting One Word Sunday this week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
A floating piece of Wood Coleman through into the River. Looking through the Branches as the Water passes on by. Canada Geese enjoying an afternoon swim in the South Fork Catawba River.
Camera: 1)Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment. 2-3) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Location: South Fork Catawba River; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy the Warm Springlike days when they come. Have a walk in Nature to refresh your mind and soul. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Debbie’s One Word Challenge theme this week is Haze. My entries this week are from a trip with my eldest son in 2017. He had a birthday wish to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway.
We drove to the Parkway beginning our trip in Lancaster, South Carolina driving through Chester to the US-321N. This direction led us through Blowing Rock before traversing over onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. We (He) drove the Parkway from this southern point all the way to the North Carolina/Viginia Border. We did not drive the Virginia portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
We stopped at various milestones along the parkway for breaks, hiking, and to check out the scenery. At a few stops we incurred a bit of Haze which impaired the views somewhat.
Stone Mountain Overlook Bluff Overlook/Doughton Park Devils Garden Overlook Raven Rocks OverlookBalsam Grove/Pisgah Inn Observation DeckPisgah National ForestAlong the Blue Ridge Parkway
We stopped more on the way back southbound than we did going northbound. Our northern most stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway was at Stone Mountain Overlook at Milepost 232.5. We stopped here shortly before proceeding to Stone Mountain State Park in Roaring Gap, North Carolina where we hiked the Stone Mountain Loop Trail. We had great views of Stone Mountain, saw the Middle and Lower Waterfalls, and visited the Hutchinson Homestead. The Hutchinson Homestead is a mid-19th century farm with well maintained old buildings, a large meadow with terrific views of Stone Mountain State.
Our next stops were at Devils Garden Overlook at Milepost 235.7; Doughton Park at Milepost 241.1; Bluff Mountain at Milepost 243.4; Raven Rocks Overlook at Milepost 289.5; Moses H. Cone Memorial Park (not pictured) at Milepost 294.1; Craggy Gardens (not pictured) at Milepost 364.6; and Mount Pisgah at Milepost 408.6.
It was a long enjoyable drive and valuable experience full of memories spent with my eldest son. As you can see from the images some of our views were obscured and opaque due to the hazy atmosphere.
Crosses at The Billy Graham Library Charlotte, North Carolina
I have a belief from the Depths of my Soul in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. My belief lies in knowing Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. My belief lies in knowing Jesus died on the Cross, was buried, and rose again into heaven. My belief lies in knowing God is always with me and will never leave me; he is my protector, my comforter, my all in all. From the bottom of my Soul, I know no one can ever take my beliefs away.
After days of freezing cold temperatures and wintery weather, it was a delightful afternoon with a high of 56° and a feels like in the low 60°’s.
After wandering around the trail at Goat Island, it was wonderful to see the floral display at the Center in downtown Cramerton.
Ceramic Flower pots filled with new floral life …
… Could Spring be on the way? Or is the Weather fooling us? Only time will tell. I’ll enjoy the beautiful floral displays and the warmth of the Sun while I can.
At the End of Life a Cross Signifies a life of service and dedication … The Southern Cross of Honor is placed on the graves of Confederate Veterans who served honourably during the American Civil War. For further information about the Southern Cross of Honor click here.
This Southern Cross of Honor is placed on my paternal 2X Great Grandfather’s grave. My 2X Great Grandfather John Thomas Waters ( Gravemarker reads THO’S WATERS) served honourably during the Civil War as a soldier of the Lucas Guards, a South Carolina unit of the Confederate Army.
[This is a part of my ancestral history and is not up for discussion. Like most soldiers regardless of who what unit or side of any war they served in, he and his comrades believed in what they were fighting for during their time period in history.]
Debbie from Travel With Intentis the host for the One Word Sunday Challenge. She is giving us an opportunity to continue to share square (s) with Becky’s GeometricJanuary challenge ending and a new month of blogging adventures beginning.
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 