On Saturday, Coleman and I were able to borrow my daughter’s car and go down to the Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm at Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina. It is an hour away from where we currently live, so it is a bit of a drive. Traffic was terrible. I very rarely drive in traffic (I don’t care for heavy traffic, I try to avoid it if at all possible).
Anyway, after we arrived and maneuvered around the Farm to the Alpaca section, we were delighted to discover the new Baby Alpacas born recently at the Greenway. There is One White, and One Brown Baby Alpaca.
Here are a few shots of the Baby Alpacas …
Baby Alpacas in Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm at Anne Springs Close Greenway
Camera: Canon EOS 2000 D with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.
Location: Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm; Greenway Stables and Farm Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature’s Beautiful Creations. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
You may be wondering about my title of Will It, Won’t It, Maybe Not especially when you see the image of a pizza. Let me tell you this is no ordinary pizza.
Hawthorne’s NY Pizza & Bar makes a specialty pizza many Pregnant women from all over Charlotte and the surrounding areas are coming to get. Why are they coming to Hawthorne’s from all over to get this specialty? That is an excellent question. What is this specialty pizza that is attracting pregnant women?
Pregnant women from all over Charlotte and the surrounding areas are determined to come to Hawthorne’s for their Buffalo Wing specialty pizza. It is layered with chicken, mozzarella cheese, and our very own Hawthorne’s in-house, SPECIAL medium-hot buffalo sauce. People are referring to the Buffalo Wing pizza as “The Inducer.”
Now, mind you, that there is no scientific proof that any certain foods (like the Buffalo Wing pizza) can induce labor, however, it is not stopping expectant mothers from enjoying and sharing the speedy power of Hawthorne’s Buffalo Wing Pizza. Even though many pregnant women have reported to giving birth within forty-eight hours or less from the time that they ate The Inducer” pizza, that is not true for every pregnant woman who ate Hawthorne’s “Inducer” pizza.
Coleman’s mom going to Hawthorne’s to get her “Inducer” pizzaOutdoor seating Signature Specialty Menu Coleman drawing on kids menuColeman (aka indoor seating)Coleman Additional Outdoor Seating Pizza with Family & Friends Makes Everything Possible Peace Love PizzaAdditional Indoor Seating at the Bar
With all this discussion regarding “The Inducer” pizza; my daughter eating “The Inducer” pizza is pizza; what do y’all think the outcome was? Did “The Inducer” pizza do the job with its expected success? Did it not work? Or will it eventually work, but take longer than expected?
Location: Hawthorne’s NY Pizza & Bar; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a terrific weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Answer to the questions … so far the expected results have not happened. Still waiting … and waiting. ( She ate it “The Inducer” on Wednesday afternoon around Two (2) pm. And we are still waiting for Baby Sophia to arrive.)
This week John from Journeys with Johnbo is the host for the Lens-Artist Photo Challenge. He has challenged us to post photos of our being On the Move. He has shown us some of the typical ways that people choose to travel (Aka being On the Move). Some of the typical means of being “On the Move” are traveling by car, by train, by airplane, or by a cruise ship or another type of boat.
However, I am not going to show you any typical form of being “On the Move.” You might ask what are some other ways one can be “On the Move?” Well, some of the other methods are walking, running, skiing, skipping, skating, swimming, or our favourite hiking. Even though hiking is Coleman and my favourite method of getting from point A to point B and sometimes C in one day, that is not the method or means of being “On the Move” I am going to show you today.
What method of being “On the Move” am I going to discuss with y’all? Let me tell you. The method is called Curb Walking. Ever heard of Curb Walking? I hadn’t really heard much about it or how or why it is done.
Curb Walking is a unique type of walking which involves walking with one foot on the Curb and the other foot on the street. Ever tried Curb Walking? If you did; did you enjoy it? Was it Beneficial?
My daughter, Trisha, Curb Walking with Coleman close by (not that he’d be much help if she fell, but he’d try).
The uneven gait of Curb Walking is thought to help the pelvis (of pregnant women) to open and shift, which is predicted to encourage the baby to move lower and into a better position for birth.
Curb Walking around the playground at Goat Island Park and Greenway.
Curb Walking can help create flexibility in the hips and pelvic floor over time. It can also be a part of overall exercise for endurance. However, it is not a guaranteed way to start labor.
Trisha Curb Walking around the Playground
How long should you Curb Walking when you first start? It is recommended to begin with 10 minutes. When you are Curb Walking you should listen to your body and take it slow at first. You may gradually increase the duration and frequency (emphasis on gradual). It is suggested to aim for a total of 30 minutes of Curb Walking on the majority of days for overall fitness.
More Curb Walking Starring my daughter.
Before beginning Curb Walking (especially while pregnant), it is highly recommended (if not crucial) to consult your doctor or midwife prior to your first time. (My daughter, however, consulted her physician after her first adventure into Curb Walking). Everyone’s personal health and pregnancy situation is different, so it is best to consult with your medical professional ahead of time. ( I do need to mention she consulted her physician the next day & it was favorable for her to Curb Walk.)
If your doctor gives you the go ahead to begin Curb Walking, it is advised to start between 37 and 39 weeks to specifically try and induce labor. (She is so tired of being pregnant and so ready to meet her daughter.)
Location: Enroute & at Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Take Care. Be safe. And have some fun walking around your surroundings. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Shhh … my daughter doesn’t like her picture taken & doesn’t know I took these.
Terri, host of Sunday Stills has challenged us to show our #Leaf colours. In our area are #Leaves have slowing been displaying their Autumnal colour schemes. Sunday we had a beautiful Sun Shiny day with a high in the low 70’s°, unlike the past couple of days with highs only in the upper 40’s° and freeze warnings.
With a rare warm sunny day Coleman and I meandered down to Goat Island Park and Greenway for a hike along the River Link Greenway to check out the amazingly gorgeous Autumn colours vibrantly painted throughout the trail.
Here are a selection of images from our hike #Leaf Peeping through the Greenway …
Hope y’all enjoy the video clip of our #Leaf Peeping through the Greenway.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens
Location: Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a hike/walk. Enjoy communing with nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
I had plenty of time to look and Skywatch (Weekend Sky) on Friday afternoon waiting and waiting and waiting on the school tbus to bring Coleman back from school. I walked to the bus stop, arrived in plenty of time before the bus was supposed to arrive, but alas I had to wait what seemed like forever before it finally arrived.
I was traffic going up the hill and down the hill and no bus came from either direction for a long, long time. I watched the clouds up above in the sky, then watched a lone black bird soaring overhead. It soared back and forth and to and fro giving a very entertaining show for me while I stood, and stood, and stood some more. Is it a Coragypsatratus (Black Turkey Vulture) or a Ictinaetus malaiensis (Black Eagle)? I’ll let y’all decide and give me your feedback.
Black Eagle or Black Vulture?
Click on each image to enlarge.
I know that the image may not be the best to determine the species. I only had my smartphone with me at the bus stop. Google Lens gives both as suggestions. Go figure.
Now how about looking at some zooming on “land” instead of in the “air.”
Amtrak Passenger Train
You may see the Sky contrast from the early morning Sky above the Amtrak to the afternoon Sky. All images taken from the bus stop up the street from our home.
Can you guess whose status will be changing? You might ask what kind of status … let me tell you. There will be a status change in our family. Why? Whose status is changing? Coleman’s status is changing hurt by. How is Coleman’s status changing in our family? Can you guess?
These are the reasons Coleman and I were waiting in the Waiting Room.
A Baby Sister
We had to wait for the right time, so Coleman could see the images of his Baby Sister.
Profile of Head
It was difficult for them to get a really good shot of her head. She was facing downward.
You may have figured out Coleman’s status change in the family by the images. If not, Coleman is excited to become a Big Brother.
Egidio from Through Brazilian Eyesis this week’s host for the Lens-Artist Photo Challenge with her theme of Longing. I took some time thinking about what I wanted to select to showcase a few things I am Longing.
Longing for times of bygone days, remembering the good times, the friendships made, the experiences I’ve had over the years are memories I treasure forever.
“Oh, how I miss the old days -those carefree moments, those unforgettable experiences, and those precious friendships that made life so incredibly beautiful.”
Longing for road trips, traveling to the mountains, beaches, and favourite places; recalling some of my favourite things.
Showcased in the above gallery are images of a rode trip where my eldest son and I drove through part of the Blue Ridge Parkway stopping at various mileposts to catch a glimpse of the magnificent views. A short distance from a section of the BlueRidge Parkway is where my maternal ancestors lived which emphasizes the significance and importance this area is to my heart.
“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory”
— Dr. Seuss
Memories of bygone days are ones I’ll always cherish, but not all would be worth repeating. Memories of friendships that have stood the test of time are ones worth treasuring.
The above images are a small depiction of bygone days of wonderful events I miss from my childhood. Events of bygone days are lovely to remember, but learning from them and looking forward is extremely essential.
“Sometimes, I wish I could rewind back to the old days and press pause … just for a little while.”
Treasure Simplicity
Here’s to making sure the present are good ‘ole days filled with love, family, and happiness.
Rick Hubbard’s Great American Kid Show was the pre-show for Friday night’s Concert Series in Cramerton, North Carolina on August 15th.
Rick Hubbard has performed nationwide in country, rock, folk, and jazz bands. He’s performed across the USA as a stand-up comedian in clubs, colleges, and cruise ships. His family entertainment show, “The Kazoobie Kazoo Show” has appeared at festivals, events, theaters, and resorts, including Disney World, The Seattle International Children’s Festival, and The Kennedy Center. In this show every kid gets a chance to be on stage, and for the grand finale, everyone gets a free kazoo and joins Rick’s marching kazoo band. It’s Kazoobie!
Kazoobie!
It’s Kazoobie!
Exceptional
Fun
Involving Everyone
Rick Hubbard puts on a show in Centennial Center entertaining kids and adults alike. He believes in KAOS. What does he mean by Kaos?
Kids
Appearing
On
Stage
Rick plays two guitars, a banjo, and a kazoo not all at the same time, but sometimes more than one at once. He is a talented entertainer who interacts effortlessly with his audience involving them in his show.
Cramerton’s kids being apart of his Great American Kids Show …
Coleman and other Cramerton kids following Rick’s instructions
While Rick is entertaining kids and adult audiences he is also educating them in word meanings, guiding them through his music about being friends and following directions.
Playing “Air guitars” and Maracas
In the last part of this Rick Hubbard’s Great American Kids Show he informs everyone about what a Kazoo is, where it is made, and how best to play a Kazoo.
Coleman and other Cramerton kids playing Kazoos on stage with Rick Hubbard.
Every kid in attendance received a free Kazoo they could keep after playing them as part of the show’s Grand Finale Kazoo Band.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV filter attachment.
Location: Centennial Center; Downtown Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a funtastic weekend. Enjoy the great outdoors. 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.
Coleman’s special day adventures began with a short hike through the🌲trees 🌲…
Coleman’s 6th Birthday Adventure
Next up on his special day adventures were a little bit of splash Funtime in the Greenway’s Spillway … but first he needed to cross the swinging bridge …
Greenway’s Swinging Bridge
Now to see his Splashtime Funtime …
Coleman’s Funtime 💦 Splashing 💦 in the Spillway
The water level of the Greenway’s Spillway was really super low, however, that did not prevent Coleman from cooling off and having a Splashing good time on his Special Day Adventure.
Location: Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a funtastic weekend. Get Outdoors and Enjoy some Adventures. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL & Star filter attachments.
Location: Riverside Park and Greenway; Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful weekend. Enjoy the Outdoors. Y’all are amazing and loved. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Backyard; Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy Nature. Feel the Love. Nature demonstrates Love in abundance. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Coleman got a long over due Haircut. His hair went from hanging down in his eyes to really short for summer. For something different and unique, he received a design with his haircut.
Beforehand:
Before Haircut
Coleman is the grandson of a Vietnam Veteran and even though he didn’t take his own life he battled with PTSD throughout his life and addicted to drugs and alcohol which both slowly destroys the mind and body. In our home we remember all veterans and pray that they can find the courage to reach out for help to overcome their struggles and inner pain.
The sad fact is that approximately 22 U.S. Veterans take their own lives every day. The 22 design in Coleman’s hairstyle is to remember the 22 and to help create awareness of the invisible deaths of veterans within the United States who give in to the struggles they battle within and take their own lives. Everyday, 22 veterans lose their battle to post traumatic stress on American soil. That is 1 veterans every 65 minutes.
It is important to remember and honour our veterans. If possible whenever you see someone reach out in kindness. You never know the pain they hold inside or the struggles they are silently battling within.
Location: Landry’s Barber Shoppe; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful weekend. Remember our veterans and pray for them. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Have you ever had a child tell you something and you thought there’s no way that could be true? Let be tell you about an incident that happened this morning (yesterday 5/30). We go outside our front door to check to see if we have any mail. No mail, so what else is new. We don’t receive much in the way of snail mail anyway.
We go back inside the house and Coleman informs me there’s a frog in the house. I’m thinking there’s no way that there’s a frog in our house. He’s insistent that there really is a frog in the house. First he tells me that it went under the couch. Then he tells me it is hopping behind the couch.
At this point I’m not believing him. I’m not seeing any frog in the house, so how could there be a frog in the house. I inform him I do not believe him, he must be lying. He insists his not lying, that there really truly is a green groom the house.
After a little bit of time, guess what hops out from behind the couch and into the middle of the living room floor. Yep, you are right. Coleman was right. I had to apologize to Coleman and admit he was right. There was a green frog in our house.
Needless to say that the little green frog went mmm mmm ahhh hopping across the living room floor. The Little Green Frog reminded me of an old children’s song which starts out with “’Mmm Ahh’, went the little green frog one day, “Mmm ahh,” went the little green frog. “Mmm ahh,” went the little green frog one day, And they all went, “Mmm mmm AHHH!”. I’m not sure who wrote the song, however, the lyrics can be found online by searching in your web browser or by clicking here.
After my finally seeing the Little Green Frog I proceeded to capture the Little Green Frog and escort him outside. Once outside I set the Little Green Frog down on the porch by the stairs. The Little Green Frog merrily hopped down the stairs and into the vast greenness of our front yard. And we said goodbye Little Green Frog.
Next time Coleman tells me something I think might not be true, I’m gonna believe him that it is true until something or someone proves otherwise. Children may say the darnedest things, but often young people speak the truth.
Location: Our Home; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. God Bless the little children. Love your children/grandchildren. Believe in them. Listen and believe what they tell you. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
On Friday evening the Town of Cramerton held a concert in Centennial Center in Downtown Cramerton. The headliner was a Trio called Chairmen of the Board.
Chairmen of the Board is an American-Canadian Soul music group based out of Detroit, Michigan. The group saw their greatest commercial success in the 1970s. The group underwent changes over the years and was reformed in 1978 with members General Norman Johnson, Danny Woods, and Ken Knox. In 1980, they founded Surfside Records and began playing beach music.
The Chairmen of the Board were inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 1999. The group still plays on with the exception of General Johnson (who passed in 2010 from lung cancer) and Danny Woods (who passed in 2018). Ken Knox (a 38 year member), at the request of General Johnson, has kept the legacy strong. He continues to lead the group, Chairmen of the Board, touring with current members Thomas Hunter and Patrick McGuire and 6 musicians.
Chairmen of the Board
The Town came out in droves to listen to Chairmen of the Board perform. The Center was packed with people from all age groups, and even a few dogs as well. The group put on a show stomping performance with people dancing, clapping, and really enjoying a tremendous good ole time performance. Coleman and I really enjoyed listening to them sing and play their songs.
Location: Banks of the South Fork Catawba River; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a Gander of your surroundings. Enjoy nature’s beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment
Settings: f/5.6 • 1/320s •250mm • ISO3200
Location: Goat Island Playground; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina
God Bless. When’s the last time you played Hide & Seek? Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Linemen at work Utility Lines Construction Services, LLC (ULCS)
When Coleman and I were walking back towards downtown, we saw these linemen up in the air in buckets working. Not sure why it took two of them or what the problem was they were working to fix, but it was a sight to see. I know I wouldn’t want to be doing their jobs. It is not on my bucket list to attempt to make a career, especially not at this time in my life.
Coleman and I went hiking after he got home from school today (Friday). We walked downtown to Goat Island Park and Greenway. There weren’t any kids in the playground when we arrived, so I made a decision for us to hike along the trail first and then come back to the playground when we were finished hiking.
We started out along the paved hiking trail and meandered over to the dirt disc golf trail which runs simi-parallel to the South Fork Catawba River. While walking adjacent to the river, Coleman pointed out that there was a man standing in the river. This is not a normal sight when we are hiking. Therefore, we proceeded to investigate what the man was doing wading in the South ForkCatawba River.
At first, I thought the man Wading in the river was fishing even though most fishermen/women fish from one of the fishing piers or from the riverbanks. When we were close we asked the man what he was doing. It turns out that one of the disc golf catchers is on the opposite side of the river from where one is to throw the disc. According to the man wading in the river, many people miss the other side when they throw the disc across the river. So, it turns out he was searching the river for any golf discs that may have landed in the river. He had been searching for approximately twenty (20) to thirty (30) minutes when we approached him. Besides wearing waders the man was tethered to the riverbank by a rope to insure he wouldn’t be carried downstream if for some unpredictable strong wind and current tried to whisk him away. So you see, he wasn’t fishing for fish, but instead for golf discs.
This week when Coleman and I visited Goat Island Park and Greenway we noticed a few Canada Geese. We enjoy watching them around the South Fork Catawba River.
This one here was looking at the River and contemplating going for a swim. Looked back at his mate and seemed to say, “Wanna join me for a swim?”
Canada Goose
… Deciding to go on ahead, he slithered right on down the embankment slipping on in the River and waited for her to join him.
Canada Goose
… Not wanting to pass up the opportunity, she proceeded to join him and swim along and enjoy the River together.
We took a walk yesterday after Coleman got off the School Bus. We had a lovely walk around Riverside Park and Greenway. We took a new (to us) dirt path along the river.
On the way back home, we walked on the sidewalk parallel to the Railroad Tracks. When Coleman heard a noise coming down yonder on the tracks he thought it was a train chugging along down the Railroad Tracks. Imagine our surprise when we saw work vehicles running down the tracks. Oh my, that was such a sight to behold.
Locations: 1) Corona, California, USA; 2) Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a Swinging Good Time. Enjoy your weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The F-4 Phantom II was built by the McDonnell Douglas Corporation ( McDonnell Aircraft Corporation). It was a supersonic, all-weather, twin-engine, two seat fighter-bomber and interceptor jet. It was originally designed for the U.S. Navy in 1953.
The F-4 Phantom II was the most produced American fighter jet. It had become a symbol of the Cold War. It was a formidable aircraft which played a pivotal role in military aviation from the 1960s into the 1990s.
The F-4 was designed around an all-missile armament system with the expectation that air combat would take place at a distance. Its combination of speed, range, and versatility made it a key player in air combat and ground support, leaving a lasting legacy in military history.
The F-4 Phantom II was retired from service in the United States Navy in the 1980’s. The F-4 Phantom II was also retired from the Royal Air Force in 1992. The last active duty F-4 Phantom II was launched from an aircraft in 1986. The last carrier landing of an F-4 Phantom II was in 1986. The last F-4 Phantom target drones were retired in 2004.
Pictured here is one of the F-4 Phantom II retiredU.S. military fighter jet which is on display at the CLT (Charlotte Douglas International) Airport Overlook. With this exhibit one can learn about the Carolinas’ aviation history and the types of planes that fly in and out of CLT.
Location: CLT Airport Overlook; Charlotte Douglas International Airport; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. I encourage you if you’re ever in the Charlotte area to visit the Charlotte Douglas International Airport Overlook. The views our amazing and children of all ages will love it. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
On Monday, after our weekend winter weather, was a delayed start for school for Coleman. Therefore, we were at the bus stop an hour later than normal and were treated with an amazing Red Sky. I am not sure if we need to take warning, that bad weather is coming or not. The weather forecast keeps changing from possible more winter weather to only rainy days ahead.
Coleman was playing with his small soccer ball on the bank of the South Fork Catawba River. He tried making a blockade to keep it from sliding into the water, but alas it failed. His soccer ball with its geometric shapes rolled down into the river.
These depict the travel of his soccer ball floating down the South Fork Catawba River, lost to him forever. Bye, bye soccer ball. Click on each image ( if desired) for larger enhanced viewing.
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 