For Cee’s CFFC challenge this week for Indoor Seating I chose a selection to honor the mom’s in my life [My mom, My Maternal Grandmother, My Grand Aunt (my maternal grandfather’s sister).] I also selected a couple which are the reasons I’m a Mom and Grandma. This is also my post for XingfuMama’sPull Up a Seat Challenge.
December 1958 Family Portrait Mid-1970’s Me, My Grandma, & My Mom in San Diego February 1985 Grand Aunt Sophie, My son John, & Myself August 1989 2 Reasons I’m a Mom — John & David2004 Doyce Eileen Waters (my mom)2007 My mom in TexasMay 2010 Family Portrait 2017 Alona, Trisha, & Myself
Cee’s Fun Foto Challengewas is a weekly themed challenge where Cee asks everyone to search through their photos and post photos they feel meet the criteria of the week’s current theme. This week Cee is challenging everyone to post photos of Locks, Keys, Knobs, and Handles.
My interpretation of this week’s challenge I know is different from what you might expect, but then again it is my insight for this challenge regarding Locks, Keys, Knobs, and Handles where I am focusing on Locks.
The Upper Lifting Locks Landsford Canal State Park
The land along the Catawba River, now apart of Landsford Canal State Park, played a vital integral role in the lives of the surrounding inhabitants for over a thousand years. It was used by the native people like the Catawba as a ford to cross the river, a long long time prior to Tomas Land acquiring the land in 1754.
The Ford’s importance as a river crossing was extremely significant during the American Revolution when it was used as a staging ground by Patriot general Thomas Sumter before the battle of Hanging Rock. The British Army under Lord Charles Cornwallis also used the ford as they withdrew from Charlotte after the Battle of Kings Mountain.
The Guardlock. Landsford Canal State Park
After the War of 1812, the Port of Charleston lost its significant importance to the Port of New Orleans. In an attempt to revitalize the port, projects were undertaken around the state to improve the ability of moving freight to and from the port and within the State of South Carolina.
One of those projects included constructing a series of four canal. The Landsford Canal construction was the last and northern most in the canal system. It was built under the supervision of Scotsman Robert Leckie by both Irish Masons and the local enslaved population. The Canal ran approximately two (2) miles along the Catawba River at its most treacherous point.
The Canal required a total of four lifting locks and a dread lock for the thirty-two feet of descent along its length. It was completed in 1823, was twelve feet wide, ten feet deep, and two miles long. Five locks raised and lowered barges through the thirty-two-foot fall of the river. Three bridges crossed the canal, and six storm culverts carried streams underneath it.
Today, Landsford Canal is the last of the Catawba River Canals and still accessible as well as one of the last in the entire state. The remains of the Canal still visible are the earthen walls of its upper side, four lifting locks and a dread lock. None of the bridges still remain, but the stone foundations are still intact. Ruins of stone culverts and retaining walls still stand in their original locations. The Canal Trail runs along the ruins of the old canal. Hiking the 1.5 mile length you can see the diversion dam in the Catawba River, The dead Lock upstream that let water into the canal, and the Lifting Locks near the south entrance. Along the way you can also see the ruins of much of the stone work and retaining walls. Interpretive signage points out major points of interest.
In Early May hundreds of visitors flock to Landsford Canal State Park. The majority of them are more interested in seeing the Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies. I have hiked the entire length of the nature trail and found the historical signage interesting and informative.
Good day everyone. Today it is supposed to rain again. It seems like it has been raining every other day lately. However, it is a pleasure to get out and about in the beautiful outdoors whenever the weather is warm and sunny.
With the weather somewhat improving and a bit warmer (still not warm enough – jacket weather), Coleman and I are able to venture out on the trails for some delightful hiking. The trails are pretty muddy due to all the strong rainstorms we’ve been experiencing. Some of the trails are blocked off as closed for maintenance due to the damage occurring from the storms.
However, we managed to observe some amazingly beautiful sights ( not posted here.) Since we always hike in the woods, we (I) were able to capture a variety of weathered wood for this week’s challenge of Cee’s CFFC.
Weathered Wood Inside a Tree Trunk Bird HousesWeathered Log Floating in Robinwood Lake
Cee’s asking us to post photos of RED for the Fun Foto Challenge this week. Looking through my archives and recent photos let’s walk through the Red doors to discover what I selected.
Red Doors Painted for the HolidaysRed Tablecloths for Kids Stamp Crafting Red LeavesIxora coccinea: Jungle flame (aka jungle geranium)
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.
Lancaster County, South Carolina does not get snow ❄️ and/or icy weather every winter. I remember when we came back here in 1999, my Uncle Eddie saying that hadn’t had snow ❄️ it almost fifteen years. Guess what? We had a good snowstorm that winter. Lancaster and Chester Counties in South Carolina usually only get snow if the snowstorm is approaching from the south. And it rarely happens before February, so it is an oddity when it occurs. My daughter, having been born in California, had rarely lived through a snowy winter. Where we lived in California we had to drive to the mountains to see and play in the snow. She enjoyed playing in the snow that first winter in the Carolinas.
Sticks and Stones can be found high and low and all around. Some stones can be walked on, but be careful you don’t stumble and get hurt. Some stones draw your attention to an amazing object or view. While other stones bring about sadness and the memories you wish you could still feel and hold onto.
Stones in Dinosaur exhibit Stones near water’s edges Stone Mountain State Park Roaring Gap, North Carolina Paternal Great Grandparents Grave Stones (Markers) Bethune, South Carolina
Sticks can be a nuisance or extremely useful, as in an outdoor fire pit. Sometimes branches and limbs break off of tress during storms and cling together along a body of water. Sometimes sticks need to removed from a trail so hikers don’t stumble over them and get hurt. At other times a fallen tree is cut up and the wood is out to good use. I’m not sure why my maternal grandfather and his sister were sitting on top of the pile of sticks (wood), they may have needed a break after piling it all up in a neat stack.
Sticks piled together by the lakeSticks burning 🔥 in firepitThrowback Photo Maternal Grandpa & Grand Aunt Sitting Atop of a Pile of “Sticks” Deep Gap, North Carolina
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 challenges vary from week to week this weeks is to see what interesting posts we select to go along with her them of Kellogg’s Rice Krispies – Snap! Crackle! Pop!. Here are my selections, maybe not what you might think but I hope you’ll enjoy them nonetheless.
Ultimate driving machines in the air and on the ground Present & Past.
American Airlines Aircraft (who says “an ultimate driving machine needs to be on the ground). 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Coupe 2014 Lenoir Car Show; Lenoir, North Carolina, USA2005 Pontiac GTO Lancaster, South Carolina, USA1974 Ford LTD Lackland Air Force Base in Bexar County, Texas
Amish Buggy Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio, USA
WWII M8 Greyhound Military Vehicle San Diego, California, USA1950 Chevy Deluxe Coupe Taken in 1956 Great Falls, South Carolina, USA
Deep Pink & Middle Yellow Flowers vs. Black & White Purple & lone Yellow Flowers vs. Black & White Red & Yellow Flowers vs. Black & White Pink & Yellow Quilt Square vs. Black & White [Side Note: Quilt made by my Maternal Grandmother]
Carriage House Lane Apartments Playground Gastonia, North Carolina The Schiele Museum Playscape Gastonia, North Carolina Warlick Family YMCA Playground Gastonia, North Carolina Gardner Park Playground Gastonia, North Carolina Martha Rivers Park Playground Gastonia, North Carolina Allison Park Playground Fort Mill, South Carolina
PigGoatAmerican Brahman American breed of indicine cattle
The Brahman is an American breed of zebuine-taurine hybrid beef cattle. Zebuine (Asian humped) cattle were present in the United States from 1849, when a single bull of Indian origin was imported from the United Kingdom to South Carolina. Cross-breeding of these with local taurine cows was the first step in the creation of the Brahman breed.
This week Cee asks us to share photos of catching people unaware. These photos were taken from the Duke Kimbrell Trail of the Matthews-Belk South Fork River Corridor which is a part of the Carolina Thread Trail network of Greenways, trails, and blueways.
The people were enjoying a day on Lake Wylie with their families and friends. They were completely unaware that someone hiking along the was taking photos of their activities.
The young girls were enjoying Stand-up Paddle boarding on the waters of Lake Wylie as their family watched and gave any necessary advice and/or assistance.
As you can see one is having fun with stand-up paddle boarding and another chose to sit and kayak along through the water.
This activity may still be fairly new to them as it seemed they didn’t venture too far away their families Pontoon.
Coleman and I had fun to stopping along the trail to watch their activity. Coleman would probably have preferred to be in the water along with them.
New Holland TractorTractor Massey Ferguson 135 (front loader, bucket & trolley) – 1969Military Tank Location: March Air Field Museum Riverside County, California M8 Greyhound US Military Tank San Diego, California Fieldcrest Cannon Fire Services of Kannapolis, NC “Former Engine 503” 1966 Ford C/American LaFrance North Carolina Transportation Museum Spencer, North Carolina 1950 Dodge Luxury Liner Deluxe Sedan Christopher Beltz Standing by car are: My mom, Doyce Eileen Watson on right in back Her brother Jerry Alexander Watson and Her sister, Erma Irene Watsonin front. San Diego, California 1916 Ford Model T North Carolina Transportation Museum Spencer, North Carolina Dual Horse and Buggy driven by my maternal grandfather, Harvey Martin Watson Deep Gap, North Carolina
Coleman checking out the tractor (to him it’s something to play with)Coleman playing with a rakeRiding a horse is Funtime Coleman playing on the complex playground equipment Coleman’s uncle playing on chin up bars many years agoColeman playing in a Kayak
Feet 👣 Andrew Jackson State ParkShadow Legs Anne Springs Close GreenwayYoung Legs & Feet 👣 Anne Springs Close Greenway Feet 👣 in Crocs Anne Springs Close Greenway
Not exactly a Holiday Color, but a Holiday picture
Coleman in his new RED Flag shirtGreen stands aboveHoliday Lights Southern California Christmas Tree. Photo Credit: Julee VaughanWHITE Cabbage Patch OrnamentsNutcracker decked out in Holiday ColorsSILVER BellHappy New Year Dayspring.com
Fort Mill Red Caboose with Coleman wearing a Red shirtZinnia elegans Lobelia cardinalis Common Name: cardinal flower is a species of flowering plant in the bellflower familyRubus occidentalis Common Name: Black RaspberryViburnum opulus
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 