2023 Macro Monday: November 6 – For Future Play

Macro Monday

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.

Settings: f/5.6 • 1/100s • 70mm • ISO500

Location: Future Children’s Playground; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA.

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

2023 FOTD: November 5 – Rudbeckia fulgida

Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii
Black-eyed Susan

Silent Sunday

Sunny Sunday – November 5

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens. Settings: f/5 • 1/1000 • 146mm • ISO100

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

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

2023 CWWC: Hiking the Greenway in Black & White

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.

Coleman standing behind
the Dogwood Trail signs.

Cee’s Which Way Challenge-Black and White

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: 1, 3-5) iPhone 14 Pro Max; 2) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 55-250 mm lens.

Location: Horse Road Entrance; Dogwood Trail; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA.

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

2023 Floral Friday: November 3

View from Down Under:

Looking Upward
Zinnia

Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge 

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 55-250mm lens.

Location: By Gibson House; Horse Stables Entrance; 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.

Peek-A-Boo I See You – Thursday Doors

Thursday Doors, hosted by blogger and author, Dan Antion.

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 55-250 mm lens.

Location: The Horse Stables; Horse Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

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

2023 CMMC: Close Up or Macro

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

Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge-Close Up or Macro

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 55-250 mm lens.

Location: Horse 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.

2023 FOTD: A Speck of Autumn

Horse Stables Entrance
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 55-250 mm lens.

Location: Horse Stables Entrance; Dogwood Trail; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA.

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

Wordless Wednesday: Ilex cornuta

Ilex cornuta,
the Chinese Holly,
is one of the old reliables
of southeastern landscapes.
AKA Horned Holly.
Aquifoliaceae plant family.

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 55-250mm lens.

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

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

2023 FOTD: Splashing 💦 Zinnias

Garden of Zinnias

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge (FOTD)

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 55-250mm lens. f/8 • 1/200 • 65mm • ISO100

Location: Horse Stables Entrance; 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.

Pull Up a Seat: Among Nature

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.

… By the Horses
… On a Trail
surrounded by Leaves 🍁
… On a Log 🪵
Examining its Contents

Pull up a Seat-Week 43

Photo Credit: (c) 2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 55-250mm lens.

Location: Horse 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.

Monday Window: Under Construction #2

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.

Ludwig’s Monday Window 

Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 55-250mm lens.

Location: Horse 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.

Silent Sunday: 2023 October 29

Silent Sunday

Whatsoever Is Lovely-Week 44

Sunny Sunday – October 29

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens. Settings: f/7.1 • 1/320 • 250mm • ISO320

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

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

2023 FOTD: Dianthus

Dianthus
(Telstar Carmine Rose)

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.

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

2023 Festival of Leaves Challenge: Week Three —Autumn Foliage

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.

Festival of Leaves Challenge 2023

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Lenses:

  • 1-2) Canon EF-S55-250mm;
  • 3-4) Canon EF 75-300mm

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

Black Cats – Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge

Weekly Prompts Color Challenge-Black

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1) iPhone 14 Pro Max; 2) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.

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

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

Catching Rays of Sunshine

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.

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #194

Photo Credit: (c) 2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.

Location: The Pond; Nature Trail; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

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

Monday Portrait: Meet Mike and Lucky

Mike and Lucky
say Welcome Folks.
Say Hi to Lucky
Mike says,
“Why are you staring at me?”

Monday Portrait

Photo Credit: (c) 2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.

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

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

2023 Last on the Card: September 30

On my iPhone 14 Pro Max:

Coleman
in his new PJ’s

From my Canon EOS Rebel T3i:

Coleman
Pulled Up a Seat
behind a Haystack
Schiele Museum Nature Trail
Gastonia, North Carolina

Last on the Card – September 2023

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters

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

Brings Sunshine to my Soul

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.

Coleman bringing
Sunshine to my Soul

Sunny Sunday

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.

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

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

2023 Thursday Trios — September 28 – Museum Autumn Festival

Three Sets of Balloons 🎈
Zinnia hybrida
‘Profusion Lemon’
Three Pallets
of
Watermelons Pumpkins 🎃
+ Coleman

Thursday Trios

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.

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

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

Wordless Wednesday: Ilex cassine

Dahoon (Ilex cassine)
Schiele Museum
Gastonia, North Carolina
Dahoon is a rare evergreen holly
found at the borders
of limesink ponds.
Schiele Museum
Gastonia, North Carolina.

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Photo Credit: ©️2023Deb L. Waters 

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens. 

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

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

2023 CFFC: Autumn – Metal in The Farm

All Autumn – Metal photos included in my entry this week were taken during the Autumn Festival this past Saturday at The Schiele Museum of Natural History & Planetarium in Gastonia, North Carolina.

Turkey in a
Metal & Wood Coop
The Farm
Schiele Museum of Natural History
Potatoes 🥔
in a Metal Basket
The Farm
Schiele Museum of Natural History
Coleman in an
Artificial Metal Pumpkin
@ Autumn Festival
Coleman
on a haystack
surrounded by pumpkins
@ The Autumn Festival
@ The Schiele Museum of Natural History
Gastonia, North Carolina
Coleman
Autumn Festival
Schiele Museum
Gastonia, North Carolina

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Autumn – Metal

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.

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

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

Silent Sunday: Pacific Shadows Sempervivum

Sempervivum ‘Pacific Shadows’ –
Hens & Chicks

Silent Sunday

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.

Location: Memorial Wildlife Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA.

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts. Have a fantastic weekend. I appreciate y’all.

Floral Friday: 2023 September 22

Sandia Brocade Dahlia

Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge 

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens

Location: Memorial Wildlife Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA. 

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts. Have a fantastic weekend. I appreciate y’all.

Shimmering Reflections in Andrew Jackson State Park

It’s been raining a lot here this year even more so now that hurricane season is here. Where we live we mostly get tropical storms during hurricane season. It’s been raining more so on a nightly basis. Therefore, we we do get a beautiful sunshiny day Coleman and I try to take full advantage of it. We (Coleman) decides where we’re going and we go enjoy our day hiking. It’s definitely more amazing when we are by a lake.

Andrew Jackson State Park is one of our favorite places to spend our time hiking, relaxing, and enjoying the beautiful views in nature.

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #192

WHATSOEVER IS LOVELY CHALLENGE-2023 

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens.

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

Wordless Wednesday: 2023 September 20_Eastern Daisy Fleabane

Erigeron annuus
eastern daisy fleabane,

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge 

Photo Credit: ©️2023Deb L. Waters

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.

Location: Andrew Jackson State Park; Lancaster, South Carolina, USA

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

Have a Seat Around the Lake

For our time of reflection and remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001 Coleman and I paid a visit to Andrew Jackson State Park we we could have a time of relaxation, hiking 🥾, and just plain ole fun.

Mostly Coleman’s choices
for Pulling Up a Seat.

Coleman had some fun time at the Playground 🛝, then we walked around most of the lake (ignoring a trail closed sign for a short bit) and then proceeded back towards the Picnic tables 🧺 for a small snack. After his snack, it was back to the playground for him to burn off more energy and to enjoy himself in the Playground.

Pull Up a Seat – Week 37

Fandango’s One Word Challenge – Seat

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Slides 1-6: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens. Slides 7-8: iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Location: Andrew Jackson State Park; Lancaster, South Carolina, USA

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

Silent Sunday: 2023 September 17

Silent Sunday

Photo Credit:©️2023 Deb L. Waters

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens. f/5.6 • 1/200 • 135mm • ISO320

Location: Andrew Jackson State Park; Lancaster, South Carolina, USA.

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

Coleman Slide Funtime

On Monday, Coleman and I ventured down to Andrew Jackson State Park for a relaxing afternoon of hiking around the lake and in the playground.

The following depicts Coleman’s version on how to approach and go down a slide.

Coleman’s Slide Fun
Andrew Jackson State Park
Lancaster, South Carolina, USA

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday-Almost wordless

Photo Credit: ©️2023Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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