Category: Coleman

Brian’s CFFC Trains: Tickets please (here comes the train)

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

2025 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Unpaved Road or Pathway

Another week is almost over, you know what that means. It is time for the next Which Way Challenge (CWWC). This week I am combining the Which Way Challenge with Johnbo’s Lens-Artist Challenge #345. John has chosen a theme of “My Go to Places” which ties into my chosen theme of Any Unpaved Road or Pathway.

Go to Places change from time to time especially whenever our dwelling places change or as we progress through the ages. Our interests may change, our surroundings may change, regardless of how or when changes occur we tend to develop new ideas and locations for our “Go to Places.”

Currently, my “Go to Places” depends on Coleman’s interests and selection of the day. Whenever we go hiking we go to one of two Greenways within walking distance from our home. It just so happens that both of these “Go to Places” contain Any Unpaved Roads or Pathways. More often than not Coleman prefers to hike along unpaved nature surface trails or off the beaten pathways out in nature.

Here are our Unpaved Roads and/or Pathways … Coleman leads the way to one of his favourite “Go to Places.”

*An Unpaved off the beaten Pathway*
*at Riverside Park and Greenway*

*Coleman’s favourite spot*
*at Riverside Park and Greenway*
*“The Big Sand Pit”*

Be sure to click on the links below to see what others have as their Which Ways.

Brian’s CWWC Trains: More trains (on the way)

Geriatri’x’ Photography’s Which Way With Trains And Trolleys

Chava61’s CWWC + CFFC: Trains, etc.

I deeply appreciate and extend my greatest gratitude for all who have supported and participated in the Which Way (CWWC) Challenge.

Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)-Any Unpaved Road or Pathway

Lens-Artists Challenge #345 – My Go-To Places

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

Location: Off the Beaten Path Trail; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take a hike/walk in Nature. Commune with the beautiful landscapes, the trees and flowers, and (maybe) natural wildlife. Refresh your soul. Renew your mind. Life is a journey … relax and enjoy it. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 CosPhoChal: Up, Down and Sideways … This Way and That Way

“I LOOKED UP THE WAY I WAS GOING AND BACK THE WAY I COME AND SINCE I WASN’T SATISFIED I STEPPED OFF AND [FOUND] ME A NEW PATH.”
MAYA ANGELOU

Whenever one goes hiking in the woods it is wise to be mindful of your surroundings. Pay close attention to your environment using all of your senses in order to identify potential hazards and navigate safely.

Thus look up to be aware of any changes in the weather; look from side to side observing for wildlife, uneven terrain, and potential hazards like deep drops or slippery rocks. Look downward and backward always being aware of your direction and the surrounding landscape, and use a map and compass if available.

Pay attention to the feel of the ground under your feet and the temperature to make certain you are staying on solid footing and avoiding cold and damp areas.

Coleman and I go hiking/walking practically every week, sometimes several times during a week. Looking up occasionally ensures the weather is still good, no storms or cold temperatures encompassing. We always look around us being on the lookout for any wildlife (lizards, snakes, birds, etc.). Looking down the path to make sure no tree limbs, rocks, or other obstacles are on the trails to ensure our safety. We don’t want any preventable accidents like scrapped knees, arms or injuries to occur if at all possible.

“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing views. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.”
– Edward Abbey

Beauty is all around us, to see it all one must look up, down, sideways, and all around you or you might miss out on something truly special and beautiful.

“Life Is Meant for Spectacular Adventures. Let Your Feet Wander, Your Eyes Marvel, and Your Soul Ignite.”
– SLVCWRITER
WWW.BEMYTRAVELMUSE.COM

Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge-Up, Down and Sideways

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #266

Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2025 Week 16

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Set 1) Rocky Branch Trail; Set 2) Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Enjoy the beauty in Nature. Take a hike/walk. Find your inner peace. Always be aware of your surroundings. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Pull Up a Seat On a Tree Limb

Coleman’s

Choice of

Pulling Up a Seat

By the River

Coleman loves to play in the sand by the river. He’ll also climb anything he sees worthy of his climbing capabilities. Yesterday, his climbing took him up an American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) tree to Pull Up a Seat.

The ascending progression …

The Sitting Adjustment:

And Back Up a Tree again to perch on a limb …

Where did Coleman disappear? … See his legs dangling up so high like a monkey in a tree?

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 16

Sunday Trees

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

Location: By the South Fork Catawba River; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Do or did you like to climb trees like Coleman does? Where is your favourite place to Pull Up a Seat? Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge – Sinuous

“I realized, watching that supple and sinuous movement, that life was the only magic all humanity could agree upon.”
— Anonymous

According to Dictionary.com the definition of sinuous is having many curves, bends, or turns; winding: a sinuous path. Most of the trails Coleman and I hike have many sinuous paths that twist and turn around bends and hills, up and down going back and forth curving this way and that way constantly winding down or up a sinuous route along the trail.

*Coleman hiking along the Rocky Branch Trail*

“Life is full of unexpected twists and turns.
We can embrace, or resist, the journey.
The choice is ours.”
— Kathy Overman

Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge – Sinuous

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Rocky Branch Trail; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take a hike. Enjoy the Outdoors. Embrace the journey. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Wordless Wednesday: 16 April

T-Ball Season — Go Comets

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion & Telephoto Cameras

Location: Baseball Field; C.B. Huss Recreation Center; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 SYD: April 15

Clare from Clare’s Cosmos invites everyone to join her in Sharing Your Desktop (SYD). Below are her suggestions for participating in the Share Your Desktop Challenge

To do so, simply share the photo* you have set as your wallpaper;
Provide as little or as much detail as you wish;
Use a pingback, or post a link here so I know you have joined in on the fun;
Then finally, share the fun around.

I am sharing my Wallpaper from both my Laptop and my Smartphone. I enjoy looking at different images each month. Most of which revolve around Coleman (my grandson) and nature.

Here are my Desktop Wallpaper and Screensaver for my Laptop:

From My HP Laptop:

Desktop Background Wallpaper

Desktop Screensaver

*Coleman by the*
*South Fork Catawba River*
*Riverside Park and Greenway*

From My Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max:

Personal Focus

*Coleman*
*practicing fielding*
*for T-Ball*

Reading Focus

*Coleman at*
*Riverside Park and Greenway*

Hiking Focus

*Coleman hiking*
*on the Disc Golf Trail*
*Goat Island Park and Greenway*

Share Your Desktop – April 2025

Cameras: 1,3,5) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; 2,4) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL & Star Filter attachments

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

Pull Up a Seat – Coleman Style on a Stack of Rock Slabs

Rocky Branch Trail

As we were nearing the end of our hike along the Rocky Branch Trail to head back home; Coleman decided to climb up into the top of the Stack of Rock Slabs (Rock statue) located at the Cramerton entrance to the Rocky Branch Trail portion of the Carolina Thread Trail. As you can tell, if something appears to be suitable for sitting Coleman will find a way to Pull Up a Seat.

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 15

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

Location: Rocky Branch Trail; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Enjoy the Outdoors. Take a walk. Relax and have Fun. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Cell Pic Sunday: 13 April

Easter Egg Scramble

On Saturday, the 12th of April the Town of Cramerton held an Easter Egg Scramble for children under the age of Two (2) through the age of Ten (10). The Town announced the event on the Town of Cramerton’s event page, on their Town app, and on their Facebook page.

The announcement asked for anyone interested in participating in the Easter Egg Scramble to Hop on over to Stuart W Cramer High School ( the Town’s high school) for a morning of fun, games, and tons of eggs to hunt!

Our morning started out at the Community Center for Coleman’s T-Ball individual and team pictures at 9:30am to receive his uniform and then to wait for his team’s turn for pictures. Once the pictures were completed, we stopped back by home to have him change back out of his uniform and grab something for him to use to place the eggs he gathered.

We arrived at the high school in time to greet the Bunny’s and the Honeybee prior to his age group’s turn to Scramble for Easter Eggs. The Easter Egg Scramble began at 10:15am for the youngest Easter Egg Scramblers, with the 4-5 years old’s (Coleman’s age group) turn beginning at around 10:45am. For the lack of an Easter Egg basket, I grabbed a grocery bag for him to gather his eggs into once he picked them up.

And they’re off and running …

Once the children were finished their turn at the Easter Egg Scramble the children could turn their eggs in for bags of candy (no candy was placed in any of the eggs). All children received the same size bag of candy regardless of how many eggs they acquired. Coleman gathered approximately thirty + eggs.

The Easter Egg Scramble event was partnered with The Town of Cramerton, Stuart W. Cramer High School Student Council, Life Church, Cramerton Church, and Cramerton Christian Academy. The candy bags were packed and donated by Cramerton Christian Academy, Cramerton Church, and Life Church.

The Easter Egg Scramble event was a family-friendly event which enabled families and their children to have a tremendous amount of Fun.

John’s CellPic Sunday -13 April 2025

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

Location: Stuart W Cramer High School; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. “May this Palm Sunday bring renewed faith, hope, and love.” Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 LAPC #343 – Seen on my Last Outing with Coleman

Leya is this week’s host for the Lens-Artist Challenge. She has selected a theme of Seen on my Last Outing.

My last outing was on Friday after I picked Coleman up from the school bus stop. After stopping at home to allow him to change into shorts, gather drinks and snacks we proceeded to hike downtown to Goat Island Park and Greenway for a relaxing afternoon of hiking and fun.

What we saw when we first approached Goat Island were the Canada Geese out soaking up the warm sunshine.

Continuing on our way we gaze over the South Fork Catawba River from the bridge as we cross over into the Greenway.

Next up, we saw a bicyclist riding along in front of us on the paved Greenway trail.

Hiking along we saw Sasquatch and more Canada Geese.

Isn’t it amazing the variety of interesting things we see on our various outings we take when we venture outside. The interesting “thing” we saw next was not in our normal per view of subjects seen on any of our adventures previously.

*A man tethered to a landline in the middle of the South Fork Catawba River.*

We spoke with the man in the River as curiosity plagued us to know what he was doing standing in the middle of the River. He informed us he was searching for golf discs that might of missed their target and landed in the river instead of the disc golf catcher.

Venturing on, Coleman and I spotted trash discarded by the trail (someone didn’t adhere to the Leave No Trace rule).

Before continuing on our hike, Coleman decided to throw sticks in the river. He likes to see the splashes that occur when he throws objects into the water.

And coming back around to the beginning of the trail, we see some newly grown mushrooms and a couple of disc golf catchers.

As we are at the end of our adventure and what was Seen on our Last Outing, you might like to venture over to Leya’s blog to see what she saw on her last outing. Thank you Leya for hosting this week’s challenge. Click here to check out Leya’s post.

Lens-Artists Challenge #343 – Seen on my Last Outing

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #264

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL & 4-Star Filter attachments.

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.

2025 CosPhoChal: April Week One — Fun in the Sun

Fun in the Sun

Coleman Style

Whenever the weather is nice and warm on the weekends and sometimes during the week, Coleman and I go hiking to one of the nearby Greenways. Coleman prefers being outside having Fun in the Sun anytime to being cooped up indoors.

Whenever I go outside into the Sunshine, it is, more likely than not, to watch Coleman having Fun in the Sun.

Now that Spring has arrived, Coleman has Fun in the Sun practicing T-Ball (or if you hear him say it, it would be T-Bat practice).

Some days we go to Riverside Park and Greenway, while there he likes to have Fun in the Sun playing in the Sand or being near the water.

On other days we hike down to Goat Island Park and Greenway to either hike or allow Coleman to play in the playground. Occasionally we bring along our cornhole bean bags to have some Fun in the Sun playing a round of Cornhole.

Most other times at Goat Island he play on the playground equipment swinging & twisting in & out of the ropes or convincing me to push him on the Swings for him to enjoy having Fun in the Sun.

Cosmic Photo Challenge-Fun in the sun

#CosPhoChal

Cameras: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250 lens.

Locations: 1-3) C.B. Huss Recreation Center; 4-7) Riverside Park and Greenway; 8-11) Goat Island Park and Greenway

God Bless. Have Fun in the Sun. Enjoy the vast beauty in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC): Cars and Trucks

Dan is hosting the CFFC and graciously took it over when Cee was no longer feeling the strength to continue. He has posted a wonderful tribute honoring Cee’s memory. Feel free to read it on Dan’s CFFC’s blog here.

Cars and trucks come in all different shapes. Sizes, and colors. They range from toy cars and trucks to 18-Wheelers. They can be found in museums. On and off the road and sometimes on the back of a tow truck.

Here are my entries for ~~Cee’s~~ Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge.

*Evans Shell*
*NC Transportation Museum*

To help keep Cee’s Challenges alive including Cee’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC) check out what’s happening on the CWWC homepage here. This Friday’s CWWC theme is: Any which way with in black and white.

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

2025 Weekend Sky(Watch) Friday: 06 April

The other day it was warm, but cloudy and windy. It was raining lightly when Coleman got off the school bus. We waited a half hour, the rain stopped, so we ventured down to Riverside Park and Greenway for him to play in the sand by the South Fork Catawba River.

These shots of the Sky(watch) were taken using an Altura 4 Star filter and an Altura CPL filter attachments. Occasionally, the sun tried to peek through the cloudy sky.

Hammad’s Weekend Sky

Skywatch Friday

Camera:Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL & 4-Star filter attachments.

Location: Riverside Park and Greenway Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Stay Warm. Take care of yourself and each other. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 LAPC/Monday Portrait: 17 March

Affection Between

a Boy (aka Coleman)

and a Horse

For this week I am combining Monday Portrait with the Lens-Artist Photography Challenge. This week’s Lens-Artist Challenge #340 is hosted by Ritva with a theme of Portraits.

My Portraits for these challenges were taken when we visited the Horses at Anne Springs Close Greenway. Coleman loves visiting the Horses whenever an opportunity presents itself. From the images you can visualize how much he loves visiting the Horses and the respond affectionately towards him.

Here are my entries:

Lens-artists challenge #340 – Portraits

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

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

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

2025 Silent Sunday: 16 March

A Boy’s Treasure

Silent Sunday

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

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.

Pull Up a Seat on a Lone (Jude’s) Bench

While hiking a hidden (almost) dirt trail at Riverside Park and Greenway this past weekend, Coleman and I came upon this lone Bench in the middle of a sandy area near the South Fork Catawba River.

I am not sure if anyone else knows about this Bench and the Sandy area along the South Fork Catawba River or not. Coleman and I have not seen anyone else around the area. Most people stay near the Fishing Piers at the Greenways.

It gives Coleman an opportunity to play undisturbed in the Sand with his Little Tikes construction vehicles. He is quite the “engineer” designing his own roads, bridges and tunnels in the sand.

It also allows me to have a peaceful serene tranquil relaxing place to Pull Up a Seat to relax and enjoy watching Coleman play.

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 10

Jude’s Bench Challenge

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: South Fork Catawba River; Dirt Trail; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

2025 Silent Sunday: March 09

Construction on the Riverbank

Coleman & his Little Tike Truck
South Fork Catawba River

Silent Sunday

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #260

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: South Fork Catawba River; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Cell Pic Sunday: 9 March

John’s Cell Pic Sunday

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #260

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: By the South Fork Catawba River; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Thursday Doors: March 6

Historic Baltimore School Doors

This Historic Baltimore School is a little less than a mile walk from our home. Coleman and I visited here last weekend. The school building is in bad shape, however, funds are being raised to restore and preserve the school building. It already has Historic recognition and is awaiting the necessary funds to begin the restoration process. It will be used as a community center and museum once it is restored.

Restoration and Preservation is necessary for future generations to learn and understand the historical structure significance of the Baltimore Village School. To learn and understand why there was such a need for the school and how people and society’s views back then were so dramatically different than they are today.

I didn’t live in this area back during that time period. I do remember when buses were used to transport black students from one neighbourhood to another to integrate the schools. Times were definitely different back in the day.

Cameras: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Historic Baltimore School; Historic Baltimore Village; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take a Walk. Visit an Historic Site. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 LAPC #338 — Pick a Word

John with the blog photobyjohnbo is the host for this week’s Lens-Artist Challenge and he is giving us an opportunity to choose our own Word which would be appropriate for our topic, sharing three to four photos that go along with our Word topic choice.

For John’s Pick-a-Word challenge this week I have chosen to use the word Historic. The Word Historic means that something is famous or important in history, for an example a historical site.

The Town of Cramerton, (which we currently reside in) has a couple of different Historic places within walking distance to our home. On Saturday, Coleman and I walked up the road and around a bend for approximately 0.9 miles to the Historic Baltimore School.

*Coleman*
*pointing to the*
**Historic Baltimore Village**
*sign.*

The Historic Baltimore Village sign is located at the beginning of the road leading to the Historic Baltimore School. The Historic Baltimore School is located at 575 Baltimore Drive in Cramerton, North Carolina. It was built by Stuart Cramer, in the late 1920’s for the children of African American men and women who worked in the Cramer Mills and Cramer’s Dairy Farm and Orchards. The intention of the school was to educate the African Americans and provide skills to navigate segregation.

The Baltimore Village School sits on a hill near the South Fork Catawba River. Inside the building are cracked windows covered by boards, an old refrigerator on one side of the room, and patches of peeling paint hanging off the roof.

The school has been closed for quite some time, but a former Cramerton resident stepped in to preserve its history. Former residents Fred Glenn and his wife, Ernestine Glenn purchased the school building with plans to renovate it. They bought it to prevent it from being burned to the ground by the city’s fire department which had planned to do a control burn.

However, knowing the Historic importance of the Baltimore Village School, the Glenn’s wanted to protect and preserve the school for generations to come to be able to learn about its history and significance to the community.

The front and back sides of the **Historic Baltimore School** building.

Mr. Glenn has stated that the Baltimore Village School, where his mother and Aunt attended in the 1930’s, was the heartbeat of the community. The school building provided an alternative to places off-limits to African Americans. Back during that particular time period, African Americans did not have the opportunity of going to a cinema, or any such facility or theatre. The school building became the theatre for the Baltimore Village Community. The school building was also used as a place of worship and later used as a community center.

*Help Save the Historic Baltimore Village School*

The Glenn’s and the Board of Directors for the Baltimore Village School are currently still trying to raise enough funds for the restoration of the Historic school. Once enough funds are raised the money will be used to turn the building into a community center and a museum for people to learn about a critical piece of history in the small town of Cramerton.

“History is not the past but a map of the past, drawn from a particular point of view, to be useful to the modern traveler”
— Henry Glassie

Lens-Artists Challenge #338-Pick a Word

Natalie’s Public Art Challenge

Monday Window

Cameras: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Historic Baltimore School; Historic Baltimore Village; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Tour an Historic Place. Learn about history not found in books. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Look Train — Oops, Not a Train

Hey Grandma, That’s not a Train

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.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Railroad Tracks; Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

Random NC Monochrome Pix

This being a non-theme week, I have decided to post a random variety of Monochrome images. I am linking to Leanne’s Monochrome Madness here.

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Thursday Doors

God Bless. Black & White or Colour; the World is a beautiful convas for artistic expression. 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 Monday Portrait: February 17

Lovruary

*Love & Affection*
*between a*
*Horse & a boy*
*(aka Coleman)*

Camera: Apple iPhone 13 Pro Wide Camera (taken 2/14/23)

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

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

2025 SYD: February 15

Clare from Clare’s Cosmos invites everyone to join her in Sharing Your Desktop (SYD). Below are her suggestions for participating in the Share Your Desktop Challenge

To do so, simply share the photo* you have set as your wallpaper;
Provide as little or as much detail as you wish;
Use a pingback, or post a link here so I know you have joined in on the fun;
Then finally, share the fun around.

I am sharing my Wallpaper from both my Laptop and my Smartphone. I enjoy looking at different images each month. Most of which revolve around Coleman (my grandson) and nature.

Here are my Desktop Wallpaper and Screensaver for my Laptop:

Desktop Wallpaper:

Coleman
sitting on a tree branch
at Goat Island Park and Greenway.
Also **My Smartphone Hiking Focus**

Desktop Screensaver:

*Coleman*
*playing with his Brio Train set*
*& his MagnaTiles on his Road mat.*

Smartphone Wallpapers:

Personal Focus

*Coleman*
*Swinging on a rope*
*at Goat Island Park and Greenway*

Reading Focus

Coleman
playing at the
CLT Airport Overlook

Share Your Desktop-2025 February

Cameras: 1) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens; 2) Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max; 3-4) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

God Bless. Play Along. Share Your Desktops with Clare’s Share Your Desktop Challenge. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Think Rope Swinging’s in the Blood

Top Image: Coleman’s Uncle John (My eldest)
Bottom Image: Coleman Swinging on a rope
at Goat Island Park and Greenway

Six Word Saturday

Woolly Muses: WhichWayChallenge25-0207-Paved-Roads-Sidewalks

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.

2025 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): February Week 2 — Which way with the colors of brown or black

I’m combining this week’s CWWC with Dan’s CFFC Black and…? — CFFC. For the Which Way Challenge I have selected Any Which Way with the Colours Brown &/or Black. To me, this ties in nicely with Dan’s Black and ? Challenge for this week. Let’s have fun and see what we can all achieve together.

Here are my entries for this week’s challenge:

These were taken back in February of 2023 when Coleman and I convinced my daughter and granddaughter to Tag-along on one of our hiking adventures. For this hike, we chose to visit the Baxter Village Trail which begins near the Library in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Hiking along on the trail we encounter plenty of Brown and a bit of Black as well as some other colours.

The Baxter Village Trail is a part of the Carolina Thread Trail network of trails within North and South Carolina. It is also a part of a 9-mile network of trails within the Baxter Village Community. This particular trail is a 3.3-mile segment of the Thread Trail trail is moderately hilly and features several streams along its length.

The trail consisted of natural surfaces, boardwalks, and some pavement. The rating for the trail is moderate, but for Coleman and I it was rather easy. As you can see we wound through a forest of trees and through tunnel and for my grandchildren over the tunnel as well.

To take a look at other Which Ways from this past week check out the links below:

LinsArt: Friday Catch Up – 7th February 2025

GERIATRI’X’ FOTOGALLERY: STAIRS WITH PEOPLE

Judy Dykstra-Brown: Walk This Way! (For the Which Way Challenge) Feb 9, 2025

______________________________________________

Which Way Challenge: With the Colours Brown and/or Black

Dan’s CFFC: Black and?

Camera: Apple iPhone 13 Pro and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S15-55mm lens.

Location: Baxter Village Trail; Baxter Village Community; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderfully fabulous rest of your week. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Wordless Wednesday: February 12

Stairs to Tracks

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Railroad Track Stairs; Downtown Cramerton; Town of Cramerton; Cramerton North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Numbers Game #60 — 181

February 10, 2025

Judy Dykstra-Brown hosts The Numbers Game challenge each week. This week is Game #60 and the number is 181.

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.

This week I am choosing to use a theme of Playground focusing on the CLT Airport Overlook playground in Charlotte, North Carolina. Coleman enjoyed playing in CLT Charlotte Douglas International) Airport Overlook’s Playground. He kept zipping to and fro checking out all the various playground equipment and all the unique places to Pull Up a Seat.

Judy’s Numbers Game #60-181

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 6

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: CLT Airport Overlook Playground; CLT Airport Overlook; Charlotte Douglas International Airport; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Monochrome Monday Portrait

My Friend, My Buddy-boy,

My Grandson, My Heart ❤️,

Coleman

I have recently upgraded my smartphone from the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max to the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max. It has features which the iPhone 14 Pro Max did not have.

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max has in addition to the main camera, ultra-wide camera, and the telephoto camera it also has a Fusion camera. The Fusion camera has ten (10) different modes to choose from ranging from standard to Dramatic to Mute or Stark Black and White with several different options in between. In the Fusion Square you can slide between lighter or darker and control the amount of light desired for an image.

This Fusion Camera feature is all new and different to me. I have only had my Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max since last Monday and have not figured out all its new “bells and whistles” (new upgraded features). Today it was in the high 70’s here, warm enough to allow Coleman to play outside. Instead of going on a hike like we’d normally do, I decided to let him try out his T-ball set up. He will be playing T-Ball through our local Recreational Center and figured it wouldn’t hurt to let him try to practice hitting a ball.

The first eight (8) of these photos were taken using the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Mac’s Fusion camera with the Mute Black and White setting. The last seven (7) were taken using its Stark Black and White settings.

Monochrome Monday

Ragtag Daily Prompt: Sunday – Friend

Monochrome Madness

Cosmic Photo Challenge: Black and White

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Backyard; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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 Cell Pic Sunday: 02.09

US Air Flight

1016 Memorial

The U.S. Air Flight 1016 Memorial honors the people who died on board the flight from Columbia, S.C. to Charlotte on July 2, 1994. The Memorial includes a plaque in memory of those who died or were injured and those who helped rescue efforts. The Memorial is located in a section of the CLT (Charlotte Douglas International) Airport Overlook in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The U.S. Air Flight 1016 crashed in Charlotte 30 1/2 years ago. During that horrific crash in 1994 thirty-seven (37) of the fifty-seven (57) people on board died. The people in Charlotte and the surrounding areas have not forgotten.

On July 2, 1994, the flight encountered heavy thunderstorms and microburst-induced windshear while attempting to land, and crashed into heavy trees and a private residence near the airport. The crash and ensuing Fire caused 37 fatalities and seriously injured 20 people.

The New CLT Airport Overlook Memorial was designed to represent Morse Code for CAE (Columbia) and CLT, the origin and destination airports for the flight. It includes a plaque in memory of those who died or were injured and those who helped rescue efforts.

This past Tuesday Coleman, my daughter Trisha, and I paid a visit to the CLT Airport Overlook to allow Coleman to play in the Overlook’s new playground. While there we also visited the U.S. Air Flight 1016 Memorial. The reverse side of the pillar about U.S. Air Flight 1016 lists the names of the thirty-seven (37) people who died in the crash.

John’s Cell Pic Sunday

Camera: Apple iPhone 16Pro Max

Location: CLT Airport Overlook; Charlotte Douglas International Airport; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 CFFC: Nursery Rhyme

One, Two,

Buckle My Shoe …

Nineteen, twenty,

MyPlate’s Empty.

Dan from no facilities has chosen a them of Nursery Rhyme for this week’s CFFC Challenge. There are many variation, but that’s not too important. Look at the rhyme as written and use any or all of the bold words as prompts. If the words are numbers, use them the way you used them earlier. Otherwise, use the words themselves. This should give you lots of opportunities to choose a photo. New or archive photos are acceptable.

One, two, buckle my shoe;
Three, four, knock(er) at the (Thursday) door;
Five, six, pick up sticks;
Seven, eight, lay them straight;
Nine, ten, a big fat hen;
Eleven, twelve, dig and delve;
Thirteen, fourteen, maids a-courting;
Fifteen, sixteen, maids in the kitchen;
Seventeen, eighteen, maids in waiting;
Nineteen, twenty, my plate‘s empty.

[Source: Wikipedia.org]

Here are my One, Two Buckle My Shoe Nursery Rhyme photo selections:

Dan’s CFFC-Nursery Rhyme

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

2025 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): February Week 1 — Any Which Way with Paved Pathways or Sidewalks

Welcome back to the Which Way Challenge (CWWC), I’m so glad you are enjoying this challenge. For this week I have chosen the theme of (CWWC): Any Which Way with Paved Pathways or Sidewalks. Remember to be sure your Which Ways are clearly defined. Remember signs are always welcome in your Which Ways.

Here are my Which Ways for this week:

*Sidewalks around the*
*CLT Airport Overlook’s Playground*

Paved Runway Strip (Pathway)
at CLT Airport Overlook

*USAir Flight 1016 memorial*
*at CLT Airport Overlook*
*(Paved Sidewalks)*

On Tuesday my daughter had a day off of work and decided to give Coleman a surprise. After he got off the school bus in the afternoon, she drove us to the Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) Airport Overlook.

In 2024 the CLT Airport Overlook underwent a major overhaul. This overhaul project cost a whopping $8 million. This is the fifth overlook for the Charlotte Douglas International Airport since 1937.

This New CLT Airport Overlook has two (2) age-specific playgrounds with shaded areas. Of course, being at the airport, the playgrounds have an airport theme including runway, a cargo transport vehicle, and a mini air traffic control tower.

The CLT Overlook also has a covered space with ten (10) covered picnic tables plus uncovered picnic tables and benches with LED lighting for pedestrian and parking areas. There are a couple of other features which I will discuss in an upcoming future post.

Which Way Challenge (CWWC)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) Airport Overlook also; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

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

Public Art in a Perennial Garden/FOTD

@Daniel Stowe

Botanical Gardens

*Coleman discovering the Perennial Garden*

Washington Matan Development
Opal Stone
Donated By
Villam and Laura Moore

PPAC (Photographing Public Art Challenge)

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens.

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

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

2025 CPC: Black and White w/Coleman +

The Cosmic Photo Challenge prompt for this week is Black and White. Looking through this past week’s photos from Coleman and my visit to Goat Island Park and Greenway, I found few that I think would work for this challenge.

Here is what I have chosen for this week’s CPC prompt.

*Tunnel with Car passing through under the Train.*

Now to show some of what I took today of Coleman using my new iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Coleman at the AT&T store
patiently waiting for us to go.

Cosmic Photo Challenge

Monochrome Monday

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Cameras: 1-5) iPhone 14 Pro Max; 6-8) iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: 1-5) Cramerton, North Carolina; 6-8) AT&T Store, Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

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

Hiking through a Lush Green Canal Trail

Coleman and I love to go hiking and whenever I am Willing to go hiking, he is always Willing to put on his hiking boots rearing to go on a hiking adventure. No matter when or where we might venture on our adventures I am usually almost always Willing to bring my Canon along to take photographs of the amazingly beautiful nature surrounding whatever hiking trail we choose to tackle for the day.

Most often than not Coleman and I close to hike in a local Greenway, Nature Preserve, or a State Park. Coleman is always excited and rearing to go out for a hike. He distastes being cooped up indoors. The majority of Greenways or State Parks are filled with Green trees, lawns, and vegetation. It’s like walking through a lush Green forest snapping photographs one by one with my Camera. I often take photographs with my iPhone as well as my Canon.

For this post I am combining several challenges into one post. I Willing chosen to select Photographs with plenty of Green using Green and Hiking as my theme for Judy’s Numbers Game.

Here are the Photographs with Green I am Willing to share with y’all for Judy’s Numbers Game, the RDP prompt of Photograph, Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge of Green, and lastly, but no less important FOWC prompt of Willing.

Landsford Canal State Park
Catawba, South Carolina

I trust you have enjoyed seeing the Photographs of the lush Green trees as we hiked the Canal Trail at Landsford Canal State Park I do Willingly captured for your viewing pleasure. Click on any image for an enhanced view. Be sure to take a look at each Photograph Challenge I’ve included to get a look at what others have posted.,

Ragtag Daily Prompt-Photograph

Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge-Green

Fandango’s One-Word Challenge—Willing

Judy’s Numbers Game #59-180

Camera: Apple iPhone 13 Pro Wide Camera

Location: Canal Trail; Landsford Canal State Park; Catawba, 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.

2025 Silent Sunday/WWE: February 2

With a Push & Shove,

a Splish & Splash

Silent Sunday

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #257

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura for Canon UV Filter attachment.

Location: South Fork Catawba River; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

Higher, Higher Reaching for the Sky

… At Goat Island

Park and Greenway

We decided to take a risk with the impending rain and meandered down to Goat Island Park and Greenway for Coleman to have some Funtime in the playground. He loves to swing. Even though he is learning to pump his legs to keep swinging, he still enjoys having me push him to go higher and higher towards the sky.

As you might could tell, he had loads of fun. Especially after a friend from school showed up to play in the playground. His friend, Liam, is a little bit older and rides the same school bus with him. He lives on the other end of our street close to the railroad tracks.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

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

Settings: f/4.5/5 • 1/800 • 79mm • ISO320-400

Location: Swings; In the Playground; 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.

2025 Cee’s Weekend FOTD: February 1/2

Cee’s Weekend FOTD

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Town of Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a Sweet Sensational Weekend filled with love and happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Ultimate Finale of GeometricJanuary Squares

Geometric Shapes

and Patterns at

Andrew Jackson State Park

This being the 31st of January and the last day of the month for Becky’s GeometricJanuary Squares Challenge for 2025, I decided to give you my ultimate finale of Geometric Squares all from Andrew Jackson State Park.

Regardless of where you spend your time at Andrew Jackson State Park you are bound to see a vast selection of geometric shapes and patterns. They could be lines, circles, rectangles, triangles, or columns.

You may see them near the parking lot, at the Meeting House, in the Museum in the building with the office, in and around the school house or within the playground or by the lake. Geometric designs are all over the Park, just be observant and you’ll notice the wide array of different types of geometrics.

For more information about Andrew Jackson State Park and the events and activities it has to offer click here.

Becky’s GeometricJanuary #31

Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens; Apple iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

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

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

2025 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): January Week 5 — Any Which Way (Your Choice)

Welcome back to the Which Way Challenge (CWWC), I’m so glad you are enjoying this challenge. For this week I have decided to let it be your choice, Any Which Way. Just be sure your Which Ways are clearly defined. Remember signs are always welcome in your Which Ways.

My Which Way selections for this week are my grandson, Coleman’s choices for how prefers his Which Ways. They include dirt trails, bridges, and even trees.

Here we are hiking at Anne Springs Close Greenway beginning on North Steele Creek Trail and crossing onto the Blue Star Trail.

We parked at the Dairy Barn Entrance down almost to the Spillway, then ventured onto North Steele Creek Trail for our hiking adventures of the day. After our fill of hiking we eventually wound our hiking around and back up to the Dairy Barn parking lot to go back home.

To learn more about Anne Springs Close Greenway and what all it has to offer click here.

I am grateful for those who shared there Which Ways last week. To view their Which Ways clink on their links below:

Gwh photos2’s CWWC: Stairs, Steps, Ladders – January 24, 2025

Which Way Challenge (CWWC)-Any Which Way

Camera: Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Location: North Steele Creek & Blue Star Trails; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. 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.

Coleman’s Bench Choices at a Museum

Just found out about Jude’s Bench Challenge through Sue’s post Lone bench with a view….reprised. As I looked through my photo archives, I realized I have an abundance of Bench photos to select for this challenge.

My first Bench photos for Jude’s challenge are from the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, North Carolina. I took my grandson, Coleman there in 2021 for a fun day together. I am also linking this post to XingfuMama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge.

Jude’s Bench Challenge

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 4

Camera: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

Location: N.C. Transportation Museum; Spencer, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take Care. Have some fun. Enjoy your day. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Thursday Doors: January 23

Coleman’s

Hot Wheels

Doors

1993 Hot Wheels Oldsmobile 442 W-30 72mm was made as a replica of the car from the Warner Brothers movie Demolition Man.

The Hot Wheels Olds 442 shown here was imprinted ©️1993 Warner Thailand and the signature Hot Wheels®️. It was originally bought for my younger son and now Coleman enjoys playing with it.