American Black Bear Ursus americanusThe Kermode bear, sometimes called the spirit bear (Ursus americanus kermodei), is a subspecies of the American black bear.Coleman Exploring the American Black Bear Ursus americanus
We’ve had a lot of rain off and on lately, so I thought I would do a little wishful thinking and dreaming of spending time at the Catawba River near the Fort Mill Dam with Coleman. Therefore I created a video compilation of a previous time we enjoyed exploring trails along the Catawba River and the Fort Mill Dam.
Greetings, Christmas Day maybe over , but not necessarily the celebrations and we still have the new year a coming. Since we’ve been sick and not out much I’m choosing to make my selections from the last time I was able to get out ( this respiratory infection, RSV, doesn’t seem like it was to disappear.)
I’m taking you on a walk through The Farm ( one of Coleman’s favorite places) at The Schiele Museum of Natural History.
Entering The Farm …
Shapes, sign, green, lines
Turning Right past the farm you enter the Nature Trail. This directional sign points the way.
Poles, Signs, Green, Black, shapes, bushes (and trees in background)
Now let’s enter The Farm and have a look around…
Fences, Gates, Green, Lines, Signs (& Coleman)
Let’s take a look to see what we can find growing in the garden …
Beautiful Yellow and Green Flowers (a bit or orange too, but that doesn’t count here.) Lines and shapes as well.
Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge-December Pick a Topic from my Photo
As we have been sick with a respiratory virus (not Covid)since Thanksgiving; we haven’t been out much due to rain and feeling under the weather. Therefore, I am pulling a few succulents I enjoy from my 2023 archives.
Cameras: 1) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S 10-18mm lens; 2) iPhone 14 Pro Max; 3) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S 55-250 mm lens; 4-5) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens
Location: Holiday at The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Holiday at The Farm with us and for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
I actually have a different wallpaper for three different focus pages:
Coleman Collage Coleman on Engine 4 Gastonia Fire Department Station 4 Gastonia, North Carolina, USA Terry Leon Wilson 1954-2018 Vietnam Veteran
On my Laptop:
Lake Haigler Lake Haigler Entrance Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA Coleman laying on the grass after sliding down the “Slide” Lake Haigler Entrance Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
Name the most expensive personal item you’ve ever purchased (not your home or car).
The answer to this question would depend on one’s definition of personal. According to Merriam Webster, personal means of relating to, or constituting personal property; intended for private use or use by one person. Keeping this definition in mind, furniture would not apply to being the most expensive personal item which I have ever purchased since it is also used by other members of my family.
When I was in high school, I would state that the most expensive personal I purchased was my camera, a Minolta XG-7 35mm with a 50mm lens, a 2x converter, a telephoto lens, and a flash attachment. However, we are talking about the here and now and not in the past. At this present day and age, the most expensive personal item I have purchase would be my current camera of usage which I bought back in 2012. I purchased the Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens, the Canon EF-S 55-250mm lens and a Canon camera strap bundle from Costco. I have since added the Canon EF 75-300mm lens and an Altura for Canon macro wide-angle fisheye attachment.
My camera is certainly not the newest model out there (even though it was at the time I bought it), but it serves me well and I enjoy using it tremendously.
The next selections are from the Anne Springs Close Greenway’s Lake Haigler Entrance which we visited on the same day as the Gastonia Municipal Airport.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Locations: 1,2) Gastonia Municipal Airport; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA 3-6) Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Hope you enjoy the visit. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all very much.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Video: Created in Google Photos App.
Location: Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. Hope you enjoyed the video of Coleman having a fun time in the Greenway. I appreciate y’all very much.
Our first stop, always, when we arrive at the Greenway is to make a track to the restrooms. When we get hiking it could be an hour or more before we reach one again, therefore we want to be prepared.
The Ramp to the Gibson House porch and restrooms.
Next we gaze out upon the pond to the right of the Gibson House. Horses are often in view as are various birds at times. The beauty of the reflections in the lake are always amazing to see. The walkway around the pond is new and still under construction.
The Pond Horse Road Entrance Anne Springs Close Greenway
After that short period, we venture towards one of several hiking trails. On this particular day we chose to hike the Dogwood Trail. Coleman is leading the way. In case you were wondering, he usually always leads the way as we hike along the trails.
Coleman leading the way to the Dogwood Trail
On this day and almost any day in the Fall, the trails are covered with leaves 🍁🍃🍁 of varying shades. Coleman pauses to wait for me to catch up. He goes a but fast for my pace.
Coleman standing on Dogwood Trail
Hiking Trail signs are posted at regular intervals along the Trail. This is one of the many signs hikers will encounter as they hike along the trail. It designates directions for you to decide which way you’d prefer to hike. It informs you of which trail you are hiking so you do not get lost or sidetracked from your desired route. If you scan the QR code, it will bring up an online map and other pertinent information about the trail.
My entries this week for Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge we’re all taken when Coleman and I went hiking at one of his favorite places, Anne Springs Close Greenway.
Muhlenbergia capillaris (Hair-awn or Pink Muhly) Checking you out …The Gulf fritillary or passion butterfly (Dione vanillae) on Zinnias
When Coleman and I were near completion of our hike his mom met us along the trail. The first picture is of Coleman Pulling Up a Seat near his mom in front of the horse stables. The next two pictures of him choosing to Pull Up a Seat along the Dogwood Trail which we were hiking. For Coleman it does not better whether or not he has a chair, a log, or just decides to Pull Up a Seat upon the ground. He will Pull Up a Seat whenever and wherever he pleases.
Coleman and I hiked at Anne Springs Close Greenway on Friday. When we were there, we noticed a tremendous amount of construction work going on. They are making improvements to the Farm area, adding a Childrens Farm area, and adding additional animals to the Farm. Some of these improvements include adding buildings, bathrooms, and educational shelter areas with a wooden walkway to be able to observe the farm animals more effectively. Given the construction work is ongoing and is not estimated to be completed until approximately April 2024, the windows for these buildings are still under construction.
The new improvements will really enhance the Farm and Children’s Farm areas in the Greenway. I know my grandson; Coleman is super excited to be able to pet the animals and be able to better watch and pet them up close and personal. If you’re ever in the area I would encourage you to drop by the Greenway for a visit.
Leaves are often seen along hiking trails. Sometimes we notice the beautiful Autumn foliage in their full glory upon their tress and at other times we notice leaves of various shades upon the ground or in the nearby water.
The first two photos were seen in and around the creek at The Schiele Museum of Natural History’s nature trail. This is a place Coleman loves to visit at least twice per week. The only problem (depends on perspective) is keeping him out of the water.
The last two photos were captured as we were hiking along the Green Trail on the grounds of the Gaston County Warlick Family YMCA. These beautiful Autumn 🍂 leaves were located on the banks of the Robinwood Lake. The sunlight seemed to enhance their colourful loveliness.
Coleman and I walked around the Pond at The Schiele Museum of Natural History’s Nature Trail on Saturday after participating in the Dinosaur Day’s activities. I was fascinated by the turtles in the Pond while Coleman moved onto the Playscape area to have some FunTime in the sand. I stood there for a few minutes watching the turtle move (his/her) head & tail around to catch better rays of sunshine.
Coleman brings joy and sunshine to my soul. It brightens my day to see him smile and express himself in amazing ways.
Coleman does not get to have special treats like ice cream or popsicles on a normal basis when we are out at the museum or other places. He is lactose intolerant and cannot have any dairy or soy products. So on this rare occasion when I found out the ice cream vendor outside the museum had dairy free popsicles; I gave in and bought him one.
The joy I saw on his face as he was eating the strawberry mango popsicle brought a smile to my face and sunshine to my soul.
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 