Canon 75-300mm lens – Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography

2025 Flower of the Day: 22.08

Helleborus orientalis

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens

Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden (now called Daniel Stowe Conservancy); Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Admire the Flowers. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 LAPC #361- LOOKING BACK TO #20: 2023 DOORS

Looking Back

to Past

Artistic Doors

Sofia Alves is the host for this week’s Lens-Artist Challenge. The basis for her theme this week is Looking Back to the past #20-Doors and Doorways hosted by Tina.

I have chosen to Look Back to past doors I’ve photographed in 2023 at the Daniel Stowe Conservancy. These are Artistic Doors painted by various local artists displayed with the Stowe Gardens.

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden;
Belmont, North Carolina

Lens-Artist Photo Challenge #361-Looking Back to #20-Doors

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm and EF75-300mm lenses

Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Cee’s FOTD #Simply #RED#5 Camellia japonica

*Japanese Camellia*
*(Camellia japonica*
*‘Governor Mouton’)*

Becky’s Squares-#Simply #Red!

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Red

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens

Location: Glencairn Garden; Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Remembering Cee with #Simply #RED!. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 OWS: 19 May — Conveniently Convenience

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, SC

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Convenience

Jude’s Bench Challenge Anniversary-19 May

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 20

God Bless. Have a wonderfully fun-filled week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Flower of the Day: 30 April

Lagerstroemia indica ‘Tuscarora’

“When Sun warms Earth,
Myrtle knows to shed her skin
and show her inside beauty.”
~ Margaret Simon

Thinking of summer nearing with the end of the school year approaching, Crape Myrtle’s beginning to bloom once again with the heat encroaching upon the earth surface displaying beauty in all its glory.

“I have a secret
It’s a bit of gold
hidden away
only Myrtle knows”
~ Linda Mitchell

There are many times Coleman will walk on by the flowers in bloom and then there are times like these when he’ll stop, sniff the blooms and admire their beauty and fragrance.

*Tuscarora Crape Myrtle*
*Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Tuscarora*

“Myrtle knows
Her dress is so last year.
Underneath—mottled beauty
For fashion’s new season.”
~ Rose Cappelli

Cee’s FOTD ( Flower of the Day) Challenge

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S75-300mm lens.

Location: Gastonia County Warlick Family YMCA; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Stop and smell the flowers. Enjoy Nature’s bountiful beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 OWS: 27 April —Texture

Textile & Visual

Physical Feels

& Visual Appearance

*Bryoria nadvornikiana,*
aka horsehair lichens
Rough, Hairy, Fuzzy, Stiff

*Dog vomit slime mold*
*Slimy, Spongy, Soft, Gelatinous*

Juglans nigra,
aka Eastern American Black Walnut
*Hard, Rough, Tough, Spherical*

Walters(Waters) infant Gravemarker (my paternal Great Grandparents infant son)
Grainy, Rough, Weathered, Coarse,

“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.”
George Combe

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Texture

God Bless. Have a wonderful fulfilled day. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Cee’s Flower of the Day: 27 March

Spring Garden

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Cee’s FOTD

Photo Credit:©️2023 Deb L. Waters

Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Stop and admire the Beautiful Flowers. Thank you visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): March Week 3 — Any Which Way with Shades of Green

Good Day my friends and fellow bloggers. I trust y’all are well. This being the week of St Patrick’s Day, I thought I would have us show our Which Ways with Any Shade of Green in them. Posting your Which Way for this CWWC challenge could be one photo or multiple photos depending on what you desire to post. I look forward to seeing all your Which Ways with Shades of Green . Remember signs are always welcome in your Which Way Challenge posts.

Here are my entries for this week’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Which Way with Shades of Green:

*Pathway at*
*Texas Welcome Center*
*I-20 near Waskom, Texas*

*Pathway at*
Glencairn Garden
*Rock Hill, South Carolina*

*Coleman behind Prairie Loop Sign*
*Prairie Loop, Anne Springs Close Greenway*
*Fort Mill, South Carolina*

*Nature Trail*
*at Warlick YMCA*
*Gastonia, North Carolina*

Nicotiana tabacum
Cultivated Tobacco by Pathway at
Schiele Museum of Natural History
Gastonia, North Carolina

Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC): March Week 3 — Any Which Way with Shades of Green

Cameras: 1-2) Apple iPhone XR; 3-4) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens and Canon EF-S75-300mm lens; 5) Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

God Bless. Here’s hoping y’all will share your Which Ways this week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 RDP: February 22 — Friday! Beast!

Replica Ancient Beasts

The term beast is often referred to any non-human animal species, especially large four -footed mammals. However, the term Beast is determined upon by scientific and biblical interpretations. Biblically, the word “Beast” is referring to large, walking animals excluding humans, amphibians, and small animals. Beasts fall into several different categories including Mammals, Birds, Fish, Insects, Dinosaurs, and Giant Animals.

Birds, Fish, and insects aren’t normally thought of as beast by many people. Birds are descended from the theropod dinosaurs; some of which include the Tyrannosaurus Rex, and Velociraptor. People may think that Pterodactyls are dinosaurs, but they are actually an extinct clade (monophyletic group) of flying reptiles. In the Fish category, Sturgeons are sometimes referred to as “living dinosaurs” (even though they are not) due to their coexistence with dinosaurs and have a prehistoric appearance. Dinosaurs didn’t live in water like ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, mosasaurs which are not dinosaurs, but are prehistoric marine reptiles. In the Insect category, the wheel bug (Arilus cristatus) and the Aethiocarenus burmanicus are described as resembling dinosaurs. Some think the wheel bug may resemble a stegosaurus or a triceratops.

Here are some typical dinosaur replicas which have been on display at one time or another. Children especially are enthusiastically captivated by seeing dinosaurs (like my grandson, Coleman).

The term “Beast” can also be used to apply to a person or thing that is unpleasant, difficult, or powerful. It can refer to a person’s physical appearance or their behaviour such as annoying, cruel, or uncivilized. It can also refer to something that is unpleasant, and/or difficult.

I might think Coleman is being difficult and annoying at times, however, he is no beast.

Ragtag Daily Prompt: Friday! Beast!

Public Art:Dinosaurs

Cameras: Apple iPhone XR, 11 Pro Max, 14 Pro Max, and Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Locations: The Discovery Center; Abilene, Texas; Carowinds; Charlotte, North Carolina; The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Discover Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Wordless Wednesday: February 19

Branta canadensis

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens.

Location: Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 CFFC: Ordinal Numbers

Dan Antion is the new host for the CFFC (Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge). Participating in the CFFC has always been fun and sometimes challenging for me. Let’s support day and continue our support in the CFFChallenge.

Here are my selections from my archives for Dan’s Ordinal Numbers challenge…

*First Baptist Church of Abilene, Texas*

Dan’s CFFC-Ordinal Numbers

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 The Numbers Game #58

Judy from Life Lessons Blog hosts The Numbers Game Challenge and invites us all to play along with her. This week’s number is 179.

To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find that include that number and post a link to your blog in my Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title.This prompt will repeat each Monday with a new number. If you want to play along, please put a link to your blog in comments below. Here are my contributions to the album.

Here are my 179 photo selections for this week’s Numbers Game.

Judy’s Numbers Game #58-179

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Becky’s GeometricJanuary

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Cee’s FOTD: January 20

Lantana camera

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens

Location: Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Thursday Trios: 12.19

Mushrooms Shaded Seating

Coleman and I visited a “new to us” park this past week. The name of the park is Central Park located here in Cramerton. According to the Cramerton website, Central Park prides itself natural surface mountain biking trails, walking trails and a natural stream running the length of the park.

While we were hiking along the trails, we had a difficult time distinguishing between the walking trails and the mountain biking trails. Some of the trails had water running across them from the creek (stream).

Alongside one of the trails we came across this unique seating arrangement with tall mushrooms which provide shade for hikers taking a bit of a rest.

Remember for larger enhanced viewing you may click on each image.

Carol’s Thursday Trios

Cameras: 1-3) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment; 4-5) Apple iPhone Pro Max

Location: Central Park; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Enjoy Nature. Walk amongst the Trees and/or alongside a creek, river, or lake. Happy Holidays. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us.

RDP: Saturday — Grey

Grey in the Farm

I have plenty of photos of Grey clouds, Grey skies, but I chose to choose instead a Grey Zebu located in the Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm at Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

Ragtag Daily Prompt-Saturday Grey

RDP-Grey

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300 lens.

Location: Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Farm with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Birds of the Carolinas #17/Bird of the Week #LXXIX

Anas platyrhynchos

The Anas platyrhynchos is commonly known as Mallard or wild duck. The males (also called drakes) have green heads, while the females (called hens) have mainly brown speckled plumage.

The Mallard is approximately 50-65 centimeters (20-26 inches) long, the body making up the majority (about two-thirds) of their length. They are oftentimes slightly more heavier than the most othe dabbling ducks, weighing 0.7-1.6 kilograms (1.5-3.5 pounds).

Mallards live in wetlands, eat water plants and small animals, and are social animals preferring to congregate in groups or flocks of varying sizes. The Mallards shown here are quite commonly seen at Rankin Lake and other local lakes and parks in the vicinity.

They are a very adaptable species in that they are able to live and thrive in urban areas which may have supported more localised, sensitive species of waterfowl before development.

The name Mallard originally referred to any wild drake, and sometimes it is still associated in this way.

Mallards tend to frequently interbreed with their closest relatives in the genus Anas, which for example might be the American black duck. They might possibly interbreed with other species, such as the northern pintail or various hybrids that could be fertile.

In North America, Mallards winter in the south to southern United States and Northern Mexico. [The Mallards here were shot on camera in January, mid-winter for the southern United States.]

In summer, a combination of hot temperatures and reduced water levels place mallards at an increased risk of contracting botulism. Outbreaks of botulism among mallard populations can lead to mass die-offs.

Birds of the Carolinas

Birds of the Week LXXIX

Location: Rankin Lake Park; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Numbers Game #34-155/LAPC/MM — What’s in a Garden?

Welcome to “The Numbers Game #34”.Today’s number is 155. To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find under that number and include a link to your blog in my Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title.

This week I am combining Judy’s Numbers Game with Leanne’s Monochrome Madness and Leya’s Lens-Artist Photo Challenge . I am choosing to use the Word Garden for this week’s challenges.

Glencairn Gardens

Glencairn Gardens is ideal for a Spring stroll through the gardens of blooming azaleas, pansies, wisteria, and periwinkle. When visiting the Gardens be sure to meander through the Veterans Garden which pays tribute to Veterans of all branches of service. Also, during Spring, you be able to enjoy the blossoms of Viburnum, Pink and white Dogwoods, Redbuds, peonies, magnolia trees, and flowering Yoshino and Kwanzan cherry trees.

There is beauty to be seen no matter when one decides to visit Glencairn Gardens. Summertime brings on the colourful bright blooms of crape myrtles, daylilies and hundreds of other annuals.

The trails through the Gardens pass by several fountains, ponds, as well as the vast variety of flowering plants and trees. we enjoy strolling pass the Fountains, especially when they are flowing during the springtime. We always stop by the Veterans Garden when we go visit and remember our family members who have served in our Armed Forces.

Glencairn Gardens began in 1928 as a backyard garden by David and Hazel Bigger who lived in the h9use that serves as the park’s welcome center. It was the inspiration for Rock Hill’s annual Come-See-Me Festival which is a festival celebrating music, frogs, and fun. The Bigger’s gifted this Gardens to the City of Rock Hill through a deed in 1958. The peak blooming season is from the end of March to the middle of April. The Veterans Garden was created with the partnership with The American Legion Post 34 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2889. It h9onors women and men from the past, present, and future who served in the United States armed forces.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #311 – What’s in a Garden?

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Judy’s Numbers Game #34 — 155

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Cameras: Apple iPhone XR and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300 mm and Canon EF-S18-55mm lenses.

Location: Glencairn Gardens; Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Gardens with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 FOTD: 08.12 — Rosa ‘Anuschka’

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens.

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Share Your Desktop: June 15

Clare at Clare’s Cosmos hosts the Share Your Desktop Challenge. She invites us all to share our desktops; whether that be from our desktops, laptops, tablets, or smartphones it does not matter. Join in the challenge and let us all see what you look at every day.

Here are my desktops, wallpapers, wall savers, from my Laptop and my iPhone:

From my HP Laptop:

Laptop Wallpaper:

***My Grandson, Coleman***
***Anne Springs Close Greenway***

Laptop Desktop:

***Patterson Pond***
***Anne Springs Close Greenway***

From my iPhone 14 Pro Max:

Reading Focus:

***Alpaca***
***Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm***
***Anne Springs Close Greenway***

Television Focus:

***Horse Drinking Water***
***Greenway Stables Entrance***
***Anne Springs Close Greenway***

Personal Focus:

***Coleman with the Horses***
***Greenway Stables***
***Anne Springs Close Greenway***

Hiking Focus:

***Coleman Hiking***
***Dogwood Trail***
***Anne Springs Close Greenway***

Share Your Desktop-June 2024

Cameras: Laptops) Canon EOS Rebel T3i; iPhone) iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Macro Monday: 06.10

Buttonbush

Cephalanthus occidentalis

***Trigonopeltastes delta***
&
***Eastern black swallowtail butterfly***
***on a Buttonbush***

Macro Monday

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens.

Location: Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Numbers Game #23 — 144

Day Trippin’ with Coleman …

… At the YMCA

… At the Schiele Museum of Natural History

… At Anne Springs Close Greenway

Be sure to click on each photo for a larger view. Have a fabulous day!

Judy’s Numbers Game #23-144

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm, Canon EF-S55-250mm, and Canon EF 75-300mm lenses.

Locations: 1)Warlick Family YMCA; 2-5) The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina; 6-11) Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for Day Trippin’ with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Judy’s Numbers Game #22 — 143 (My #2)

***Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm***
***Sign at Entrance***

***Patterson Pond***
**on the pathway**
***to the Farm Animals***

***Canada Goose***
***Swimming in***
***Patterson Pond***

***Canada Geese***
**Flying away**
**from the Pond**

***A Horse***
***by the***
***Greenway Stables***

***Spotting a Couple***
**of Horses**
***in the Pasture***

It just happened by chance that all my “143” photos were taken at Anne Springs Close Greenway. My grandson and I love moving forward along the trails and pathways enjoying a relaxing time surrounded by nature and the reconstructed Children’s Farm.

Judy’s Numbers Game #22

Becky’s Square Challenge-Renew/Moving Forward/Reconstruct/Burgeoning

Cameras: 1-2) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with 1) Canon EF75-300mm and 2) Canon EF-S18-55mm lenses; 3-6) iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Greenway Farm and Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA.

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Squared “142” Numbers Game #21

This is my first time participating in Judy’s Number Game. My entry is being combined with Becky’s Squares Challenge

Getting out in nature always helps to renew my mind, refresh my spirit, and rejuvenate my soul. This view is from the side porch of the Gibson House.

On Sunday, Coleman and I drove into Fort Mill to visit the newly renewed and reconstructed Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm at the Anne Springs Close Greenway. The newly reconstructed children’s farm is accessible through the Greenway Stables Entrance. We are moving forward ( I know you can’t see our movements, but you can imagine them) to visit the Farm animals (chickens, rabbits, alpacas, and cattle.)

After visiting the farm animals, Coleman and I went back to the car to grab our snacks and put my backpack in it as my camera battery had died. So then I continued taking photos with my iPhone as we proceeded to Move Forward through the horse stables on towards the trails for a bit of hiking. We hiked along on the Dogwood Trail, made a loop onto Peach Loop to watch out over Lake Haigler before heading back to the car and home.

While gazing out over Lake Haigler, I reminisced for a short while remembering a time of apple picking, fresh apple cider, and fresh bread with a dollop of fresh homemade apple butter in Julian, California.

Now that I have your mouth watering for the delicious delightful aroma of fresh homemade apple delicacies, I trust you’ll have a wonderful rest of your weekend and a blissful weekend.

Judy’s Numbers Game Challenge – 142

Becky’s #SquareRenew – Renew-Reconstruct-Moving Forward

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300 mm and Canon EF-S18-55mm lenses.

Location: 1-3) Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA; 4) Julian, California, USA

God Bless. Thank you for trekking along with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Last on the Card —April

From my iPhone 14 Pro Max:

***Wheatear***
***(Oenanthe oenanthe)***
***Backyard Birds***
***Gastonia, North Carolina, USA***

From my Canon EOS Rebel T3i:

***Spot of Red among the Green***
***The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, North Carolina, USA***

Brian’s Last on the Card – April 2024

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your Last on the Card photos. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 CFFC: Things that are Rough

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge-Things that are Rough

Cameras: 1) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens; 2) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens; 3) iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: 1-2) Warlick Family YMCA; Gastonia, North Carolina; 3) Patio; Gastonia, North Carolina

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Monday Portrait: 04.22

Bleating to Greet Y’all

Wait a Sec … I’ll Come Closer.

Can Y’all See Me Now?

Monday Portrait

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment.

Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Grrr, Better to Eat You With …

Six Word Saturday

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300 mm lens.

Settings: f5.6 • 1/3 • 75mm • ISO3200

Location: Dinosaur Exhibits; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Rooftop Garden of Stonecrop

Pyxidanthera barbulata
Common Pyxie-moss

Phedimus kamtschaticus,
the orange stonecrop

Thursday Trios

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S75-300mm lens with Altura CPL filter attachment.

Location: The Rooftop Garden; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.

2024 SYD: April 15

Clare @ Clare’s Cosmos invites us each month to share our desktops on the 15th of each month. Can you believe it the month of April is half over already? Here it is time once again to join Share Your Desktop. I like to share my wallpaper for my iPhone as well as for my Laptop. For my iPhone I use different wallpaper’s for the different focuses I use; personal, hiking, and reading.

From my iPhone:

Personal Focus

Hiking Focus

Reading Focus

From my Laptop:

Share Your Desktop-April 15

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. Looking forward to seeing y’all’s desktops. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Weekly Color Challenge- Black

Good Day everyone! Welcome to my blog. The following are my entries for this week’s Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge. The challenge is asking for photos depicting the colour BLACK.

Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge-Black

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment.

Location: Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA.

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 WWE #216 — ASCG’s Lake Haigler

Lake Haigler Loop

View of

Lake Haigler

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #216

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens with Altura CPL filter attachment.

Location: Lake Haigler; Lake Haigler Loop; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA.

God Bless. Enjoy your week and have a fabulous weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 FOTD: 04.09

Phlox subulata

***Aka the creeping phlox,***
***moss phlox,***
***moss pink or***
***mountain phlox***

Cee’s Flower of the Day:04.09

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment.

Location: Schroering Forest Playground; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a lovely Spring day. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Fairy 🧚‍♂️ Seating — It’s Swing Time

As Coleman and I were hiking along Steele Creek Trail back towards the car we spotted this little Fairy Garden tucked away in the base of a tree. I have seen pictures which other hikers have taken before, however this was the first time we had ever spotted the Fairy Garden. If you weren’t looking at the surrounding landscape you could possibly miss seeing it.

***Spotted along***
***Steele Creek Trail***

Pull Up a Seat-2024 Week 14

Camera: 1&3) iPhone 14 Pro Max; 2) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300 mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment.

Location: Steele Creek Trail; Dairy Barn Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 CWWC: Any Type of Road, Path, Step, Bridge or Sign.

Following Cee’s lead on

Narrow Walkways —

Mine are Along the

Blue Star Trail

On this hiking adventure I parked at the Dairy Barn Entrance to the Anne Springs Close Greenway. After exiting the car we proceeded to hike along the fencing before hitting the trails. Following the fence line we were able to view the horses, some of which trotted over to our location. [More on horses later].

Our first stop along the Blue Star Trail was to take a look at the Faires/Coltharp Cabin. To our surprise and delight it was open to the public (first time we’d seen it open). So naturally, Coleman with me following went inside to see what was inside.

***A Look***
***inside the***
***Faires/Coltharp Cabin***

After leaving the cabin, we hiked further along the Blue Star Trail towards the Swinging Bridge and the Schroering Forest Playground located on the other side of the Spillway.

When the Spillway is up and streaming with a steady flow of water, the only way to cross it is to walk across the Greenway’s Swinging Bridge. Since our destination was on the far side of the Swinging Bridge we/I slowly walked across. Coleman used to walk across it when he was younger, but now if no one else is on it he’ll run across.

***Coleman***
***crossing the***
***Swinging Bridge***

We made it safely across the Swinging Bridge, walked around the Artisan Market, ordered lunch from the Greenway’s Canteen and rested a bit before heading to the Schroering Forest Playground. We had a clear view of the Playground from where we chose to sit. This was the first official day the Playground was open. They had been working on it all fall and winter. Being its opening day, the playground was crowded with children from all age groups.

***Coleman***
***hiking the***
***Blue Star Trail***

Upon completion of our lunch we noticed there were still a lot of children on the playground. I decided to have Coleman wait to play in it until it wasn’t nearly so crowded. Therefore, we continued on with our hiking and headed down to Lake Haigler.

***Blue Star Trail***
***Almost down to***
***Lake Haigler***

We hiked along the narrow side pathway towards the lake. The straight pathway is wider and more widely traveled by the majority of visitors to the Greenway.

We hiked a short loop with great views of Lake Haigler and then hiked back up to the Playground. Coleman climbed up on the Climbing structure and wasn’t sure about what to do after climbing up a short ways and just sat down for a few minutes. [The all natural wood climbing structure seemed to puzzle Coleman. He’ll probably climb more next time we visit.]

After a full afternoon of hiking and Coleman playing I decided it was time to head home. Hence, we proceeded to hike back up to the car. Instead of hiking the exact same trail we hiked down, we started out hiking on the Steele Creek Trail. The Steele Creek Trail is a narrow trail that leads up towards the Graham Historical Cabin.

From the cabin we traverse back onto the Blue Star Trail. After short distance from the cabin, Coleman starts searching for the cows. Sometimes they are up close to the fence line, but on this day we really had to look for them. Searching the pasture as we hiked up the trail, two of the cows came walking towards our direction from the far end of the pasture. That made a Coleman’s day. He was then ready to go home.

Cee’s Which Way Challenge- Any Type of Road, Path, Sign, Step, or Bridge

Cameras: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens and Altura CPL Filter attachment.

Location: Dairy Barn Entrance; Blue Star Trail; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA.

God Bless. Thank you for hiking along the Blue Star Trail with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Gathering of Friends (Not Just for Humans)

For this week I selected trios from the pasture which Coleman and I enjoyed watching on our hike at the Anne Springs Close Greenway.

Thursday Trios-04.04.24

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens with Altura CPL Filter attachment.

Location: Dairy Barn Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Birds of the Carolinas #1

Bird on a Wire

The Northern Mockingbird is one of the most plentiful birds in North America. You can identify a Northern Mockingbird by listening to its song. You’ll hear its song which usually mimics several other birds simultaneously. Their song can be heard long before you spot their location.

The Northern Mockingbirds continue to learn new sounds throughout their lifetime. What’s interesting (which I didn’t realize) is that a male Northern Mockingbird may possibly learn around two hundred (200) songs throughout its entire life.

Northern Mockingbirds are medium-sized birds with long legs, small heads, and long, thin bills. They are slightly slimmer than a thrush and have longer tails.

Here’s an interesting fact; The Northern Mockingbird is the state bird of five states:

Arkansas
Florida
Mississippi
Tennessee
Texas

Northern Mockingbirds can be spotted year-round in places with shrubby vegetation like fruiting bushes, thickets, hedges, and open ground. They can be discovered in every state in the United States and parts of Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean.

In the South with our cold and sometimes freezing weather temperatures the Northern Mockingbirds tend to “fly south” for the winter months. I have just recently been able to see them back in our neighborhood. As more often than not, I hear their songs way before I am able to spot their location. When you hear the songs of the Northern Mockingbirds you know Spring has arrived.

Birds of the Carolinas

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Wordless Wednesday: Gazing Over the Pasture

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens with Altura CPL Filter attachment.

Location: Near Comporium Amphitheater; Blue Star Trail; Dairy Barn Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Words for Thought #12

“Guide me in your truth
and teach me, for you
are God my Savior,
and my hope is in
you all day long.

Psalm 25:5 (NIV)

Think About It Tuesday

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 LAPC #293: Water Flowing Through the Spillway

We had a very beautiful sunny weekend. It was warm and windy day. We decided it was a lovely day for hiking at Anne Springs Close Greenway. Due to the massive abundance of vehicles parking at the Lake Haigler Entrance for the Artisan Market I chose to park at the Dairy Barn Entrance. There was another reason for parking at this entrance as well; they charged extra at the other entrance because of the Artisan Market. Who wants to pay extra? I certainly didn’t, not in addition to my membership for the Greenway.

The Dairy Barn Entrance has a few different trails that can be accessed with various sites and scenery to observe. We hiked down the Blue Star Trail which leads down to the Greenway’s Spillway passing horses and the Faires/Coltharp Historic Cabin along the way.

Coleman loves to stop and watch the horses. Moving along, to crossover the Spillway we had to walk across the Swinging Bridge. We stopped on both sides of the Spillway to observe the water flowing down, around, and under the Swinging Bridge.

***Coleman***
***crossing the***
***Greenway’s Swinging Bridge***

https://videopress.com/v/9O7NRnKL?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

Lovingly Watching
the Water Flowing
Through the
Greenway Spillway

Anne’s Len-Artist Photo Challenge – Water in Motion

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #214

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens and Altura CPL Filter.

Location: Swinging Bridge; Dairy Barn Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Last on the Card —

March

It just so happens that the last photo on my phone and on my camera are of the exact same object, a windmill.

From my iPhone 14 Pro Max:

***Windmill***
***at the***
***Dairy Barn***

From my Canon EOS T3i:

Last on the Card

Location: Dairy Barn Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA.

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 OWS: Orchid

One Word Sunday – Orchid

Cee’s FOTD

Macro Monday

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.

2024 CMMC: Pick a Topic from my Photo

My entries for Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge this week were all taken at Goat Island Park & Greenway along the South Fork River Trail, a part of the Carolina Thread Trail System one year ago in February 2023.