Location: Martha Rivers Park; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a sunshiny day. Observe Nature. Thankful for local wildlife. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Unity Community; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a funtastic weekend. Enjoy the Spring Florals. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
This Quercus pagoda (Cherrybark Oak) tree is a an old Oak tree which is native to the Carolinas and the Southeastern United States of America. It is a fast-growing, long-lived deciduous tree. These trees are capable of reaching a height between 100-130 feet tall having a 40-70 foot spread. (I included a couple images of the base of the tree so you can get the idea of its spread.)
The Cherrybark Oak trees thrive in moist well-drained bottomland soils in full sun. This Oak tree provides an enormous amount of shade providing protection from the harsh sun. (If you look closely, you’ll be able to view Coleman playing under the Canopy of this Old Oak Tree.
Location: Unity Community; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. May you rest Under the Canopy of God’s Love and Protection. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: T. Jeffers Center and Park; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Walk/Hike. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Unity Community; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a sunshiny day. Observe Nature. Thankful for local wildlife. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
We looked out our sliding glass door the other day. We were surprised (maybe startled would be more like it) to see along black snake not too far from the door. Snakes are fine anywhere but in our yard. (Our last place we also found a long black snake.) What’s up with that? You’d think we’d attract them somehow. However, we’d prefer them to slither through the woods, or anywhere else but here.
My daughter was brave (she did ask what kind it was first). She picked up the long black snake and escorted it off the property. Just so you know, the long black snake (our unwanted and unwelcome visitor is an Eastern ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis). It is a large, non-venomous constrictor which is commonly found in the eastern United States of America. It is known for its shiny black colouration with a black and white checkered belly.
Even though we prefer them not to be around, they are beneficial for controlling rodent populations. When they are threatened, they will vibrate their tail and strike. They will also stick their tongue out and hiss out anyone they think will harm them.
Location: Unity Community; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Look up. Count you many blessings. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: T. Jeffers Center and Park; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Walk/Hike. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Near Tennis Courts; T. Jeffers Center and Park; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: City of Gastonia Fire Headquarters (Shot from across the street); Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have an adventurous week filled with love and happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: T. Jeffers Center and Park; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy the Spring-like weather. Ours is bouncing back and forth from the low 60°’s to the low 80°’s. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Unity Community; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Look up. Count you many blessings. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Unity Community; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a funtastic weekend. Enjoy the Spring Florals. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Last week I shared a pink rose peeking out of garden bush. Ordinarily I don’t share from the same plant two weeks in a row, but I am fascinated with the variety of colours and shades on this rose bush.
As the week has progressed more and more buds have been blossoming. What’s surprising to me is the vast variety of shades on the same plant. The blooms vary from whitish with pinkish centre’s to varying shades of pink and even what appears to be reddish or dark pink buds. I do not recall seeing such a variegated colour scheme on one plant before. For comparison you may check out last week’s roses by clicking here.
Location: Unity Community; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Dale, the host of the Cosmic Photo Challenge has asked the question “How does your garden grow?”. We haven’t lived in our current location long enough to plant a garden, but nonetheless, a small garden does exist on the property. I have shown a few pictures in other challenges, however, I show other pictures not previously posted.
These are some of the Eastern Skunk Cabbage growing in the garden …
Location: Home Gardens; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. May you be blessed with new adventures, new friendships, and an abundance of happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The Symplocarpus foetidus, aka Eastern skunk cabbage, is growing in a small garden of our rental home. When I first saw the plants in the small garden I wasn’t sure what type of plant they were.
Aka Eastern Skunk Cabbage
The Eastern Skunk Cabbage is a native North American wildflower. It is known for being among the first plants to emerge in late winter.
Close-up view
It is a low-growing plant that grows in wetlands (Why here, I’m not sure. We definitely don’t live in a wetland area. We did have snow and ice storms this winter though.) and moist hill slopes (the area it’s planted in is more or less flat) of eastern North America.
A single unopened plant
We moved here evidently after the plants had already bloomed. When in blooming season, the plant produces a foul-smelling, maroon-and-green mottled spathe (hood) that covers its flowers, attracting pollinators like flies and beetles with its heat and odour. Its foul-smelling odour is the main reason it is called “Skunk Cabbage.”
Once the Eastern Skunk Cabbage flowers, then large, cabbage-like leaves unfurl, and the plant is toxic if ingested raw, causing burning and swelling.
Location: Backyard Garden; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a funtastic weekend. Enjoy the Spring Florals. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Unity Community; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Dan Antion hosts theThursday Doorschallenge every Thursday. All you need to do to participate is post a picture(s) of a door(s) and leave a link to your post on his current post.
Coleman and I are still on our search for a church we’d like to attend that is in walking distance from our current residence. We have visited three (3) churches so far and none of the services are even close to want we would like in a church service. Some have been welcoming and others have not. What they all have in common, including the church we’d first last Sunday, is they all seem to think they need to have the sound system turned up full blast. That to me is a huge turn off. I do not care to attend any church that thinks they need to blow my eardrums out.
This past Sunday, Coleman and I attended Temple Baptist Church in Gastonia, North Carolina about a 27 minute walk from our house. A few people greeted us, but once they sound system was turned on and the band (I’m not a fan of bands in churches, especially not loud blaring bands) started playing I tried to listen. I really tried to enjoy the music, but I couldn’t not with it blasting so loud it hurt my eardrums. I tried plugging my ears, still extremely too loud. We even walked outside, the sound system was still blasting so loud (to me) it was ridiculous.
Here is a gallery of the doors we saw at the church …
Temple Baptist Church Gastonia, NC
Coleman and I tried sitting in the foyer to listen to the worship service, but it seemed as if the preacher was yelling into the microphone which added to the volume of the sound system that appeared to be turned up all the way as far as it could go. It was still too loud for my liking. Needless to say, we will not be going back.
Location: Temple Baptist Church; 701 Littlejohn Street; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful week and weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Note: This Friday’s CWWC is combined with Dan’s CFFC – Any Which Way with Views from a walk or hike. Let us all show what we see on our walks or hikes. Be sure to include your Which Ways in your post. Thank you.
Location: N. Myrtle School Road; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Temple Baptist Church; 701 Littlejohn Street; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Hope you’ve enjoyed had an amazing Easter/Passover. Enjoy your week ahead. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Happy Blessed Passover! Happy Easter! Have a wonderful day and week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Sam’s Car Wash; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Happy Easter! May you remember it’s not about the Bunny. It’s about the Cross. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Our Backyard; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Happy Passover and Easter! Enjoy your weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The Sky can be a mighty canvas with “Paints” stretching across the clouds like fiery reds or orange, or they can be an array of pastel shades like pink. The Sky’s colours can change spontaneously from one moment to another.
The following images range during a time span from 7:46 pm until 7:53 pm taken from our front porch of Wednesday evening.
Location: Unity Community; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a blessed Passover and a Happy Easter weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
On our walk this afternoon Coleman and I saw several flowering trees on our way to the T Jeffers Center. One stood out on the corner across from T. Jeffers Park.
Location: Near T. Jeffers Center; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Stop and admire Nature’s Beauty. Take a walk Enjoy the Outdoors. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
First off, let me tell you I don’t do public transportation that often and when I do it is rare.
Let’s look at Past Public Transportation…
San Francisco Trolley (Not exactly a Bus, but still Public Transit)
Inside a Charter Bus
Looking at a Charter Bus from another Charter Bus
Now to see what can be seen from a Greyhound Bus …
Seen from a Greyhound Bus Passing through Louisiana
Moving on toward the Present …
Waiting Riding the Gastonia Public Transit
Coleman and I rode the Gastonia Transit Buses for approximately two (2) years before Gaston County disbanded the County Transit system and replaced it with Gaston Go Vans (which I still haven’t figured out how to arrange rides on them). The Buses were really convenient for Coleman and I to hop on and off (reduce fair for under 5 (under 3 was free) and seniors. We used to ride the buses all over Gastonia to various destinations such as: the library, The Schiele Museum of Natural History, Lineberger Park, Edwin Center, Warlick Family YMCA, Avon and Catawba Creek Greenways, and even to Walmart or Food Lion if we desired.
Last, but not least …
Coleman’s First Grade Class Edward Sadler Elementary Field Day Photo In front of Gaston County, North Carolina Public School Bus
Cameras: 1st Set: Minolta XG-7 35 mm; 2nd Set: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max; 3rd Set: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Can you spot Coleman in the last picture? Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The Anas platyrhynchos domesticus, also known as the domestic duck. The ones pictured here are Indian Runner Ducks or referred to as Runner Duck.
The duck to the right, the white and fawn duck is the Indian Runner Duck.
The Indian Runner Ducks are unique in that they stand upright similar to penguins with a long slender body. Unlike the majority of ducks which waddle when they walk, the Indian Runner Ducks run. Runners have a straight-backed gait and move with a quick, running pace.
Don’t let the Indian name fool you, they actually originated from Southeast Asia. The Indian Runner Ducks were brought over from the Indonesian islands of Lombok, Java, and Bali to Europe and the Americas in the 19th century.
The Indian Runner Ducks ability to run and forage. Historically, they were herded into rice paddies to forage snails, slugs, and insects using them as natural pest controls. Having the runner Ducks in the rice paddies provided farmers with additional income and the Ducks provided natural manure beneficial to the rice crops, reducing the need for fertilizer.
Indian Runner Ducks
The Indian Runner Ducks may be known as fast runners, however, they were not fast enough to stop Coleman from catching them. They are also known to be prolific egg layers, producing white, hen-sized eggs. The females are able to produce approximately 150 to possibly over 300 eggs per year. (Too bad these don’t fly over the fence between our yards. If they did I wouldn’t need to buy so many eggs.)
Location: Neighbours Trampoline; From our Backyard; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. May the Lord God bring a ray of Sunshine into your lives and Sonshine into your souls. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
God Bless. Enjoy Nature. Get Outdoors. Have a fabulous week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
One, Two, Three Ducks running away from Coleman. Now that we live next door to chickens and ducks 🦆, Colemanhas a penchant for pursuing and chasing our neighbours chickens and ducks.
One never knows when Coleman will #PullUpaSeat or where he will #PullUpaSeat or what he’ll choose to #PullUpaSeat upon. It could be a chair, an outdoor fire pit, a Little Tyke Big Rig, or possibly a trampoline. Whenever he feels like Pulling Up a Seat, you can be one hundred per cent confident he’ll find something, somewhere to Pull Up a Seat.
This Friday (yesterday) was no exception. Here are Coleman’s choices …
Coleman and I have been visiting various churches in our area. According to Google the church at 2700 Crescent Lane in Gastonia, North Carolina is named Second Baptist Church. Google AI describes the church as “a community cornerstone that blends traditional and modern architecture to provide a welcoming atmosphere for its congregation.”
Welcome Pentecostal Church “The Great I Am”
We decided since it was in walking distance that we would visit and see if it would possibly be a church we would like to attend. Lo and behold, when we approached the church it did not seem to be as advertised or as stated by Google.
Iglesia Pentecostés “El Gran Yo Soy,”
The building no longer served as a place for worship by Second Baptist Church. The church is now called Iglesia Pentecostés “El Gran Yo Soy,” a Spanish Pentecostal Church.
Pentecostal Church “The Great I AM.”
Discovering that it was a Spanish speaking church I asked Coleman if he wanted to go back home. He said, “No, he wanted to go inside and attend the service.” So, we went inside. We arrived at 11am, the time when most of the churches in the area begin their services. Turns out Iglesia Pentecostés “El Gran Yo Soy,” doesn’t begin their services until 12 pm. The church is open before then for anyone to come inside and pray.
Iglesia Pentecostés “El Gran Yo Soy,”
Guess what. Coleman and I approached the front door and were graciously welcomed to go inside and worship with them. So we did, we went inside and took a seat near the back (not sure if we’d manage to stay for the whole service.) We were greeted (in English) by several people making us feel welcome.
Turns out waiting an hour for a service to begin isn’t that easy especially for an energetic six year old (let alone his grandma). Not everyone who went up from to front to pray prayed quietly as this gentleman was doing. After a while Coleman decided he had to use the restroom so we walked out to the foyer to locate one. He then informed me he didn’t understand the words they were singing or speaking. He understands a little Spanish but a a slower pace than what was being used. Because of that he decided he’d rather go back home than stay for the rest of the time.
God Bless. Enjoy Nature. Get Outdoors. Have a fabulous week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens
Location: The Rooftop Garden; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
We recently moved into a different house (on 2027.03.01) and already had to inform our landlady of a plumbing leak with the kitchen sink. It was leaking from the spray hose, the pipe joints under the sink, & the sink basket on the right side was rusted so terribly bad that it was leaking from it as well.
Our Landlady called a guy she knew of that lived done the street, however, that particular guy didn’t show up the next day after the initial meeting with landlady. We informed her that he didn’t show up to repair the leak. She calls back a couple days later informing us a different person would be coming out to “repair” the leak.
Rear Doors of a Brothers Plumbing Vehicle
Lo and behold, what we thought was going to be a simple “repair” of a kitchen faucet/sink leak turned out to become a huge problem with more issues than we ever expected or imagined. (Don’t worry, I’m getting to the Brothers Plumber in just a little bit.)
Turned out the piping was cracked, the previous sealant wasn’t applied or was improperly applied to the joints for the pipes. The “sink basket, basket strainer, strainer, etc. were all rusted, corroded, and the “plumber” (2nd person called) couldn’t get the sink basket strainer assembly off without removing the entire sink and pipes.
Are you understanding my meaning by saying it turned out not to be a simple “repair?) When this person tried to turn off the water valve under the kitchen sink it broke, so therefore, he called a “plumber” from BrothersAir (Heating, Cooling, & Plumbing). Guess what? The man fromBrothers didn’t do any better than the 2nd person. Oh, he replaced the water shut off valve alright, but he wasn’t much assistance when the entire sink was replaced. Now, let me back up a minute. The 2nd man went to Lowe’s and purchased a whole new sink, faucet and kitchen drain assembly with basket strainer and returned and installed it before the 3rd man (the Brothers Plumber) arrived. He stopped working on the repair after he broke the water shut off valve until the Brothers Plumber replaced the valve.
Side view of Brothers Van & doors.
When all the “new” pipes, sink, faucet, and entire drain assembly were attached, do you think that was the end of our problems? Yeah, you’re right it was not. Part of the pipes and connecting joint connectors were put on crooked and not fastened properly together which then meant we STILL had a leakage problem. Not only that, but then the 2nd person & the Brothers Plumber discovered a leak with the water meter (of course it was on the side for the property & not the city to fix.
Now you’re probably wondering what else could go wrong. With all these problems, the 2nd person was in communication with our landlady and her being frustrated (remind you a “simple” repair turned in a major repair) gave my daughter and ear full as if we were the source and cause for the leak the major issues with the repair after.
Now onto the next day. The 2nd man returned with yet another Plumber (4th man). You keeping all this straight? Kinda like the old saying “How many electricians does it take to change a light bulb?” except it’s “How many Plumbers does it take to repair a leak?” Well, with the addition of the 4th Plumber the pipes have been straightened, the joints (hopefully) properly sealed, and (hopefully) no more leak. [Note: the 3rd Plumber (the Brothers Plumber) charged the 2nd man $500 to replace the water supply (shutoff) valve & that’s about all he did other than help discover the leak at the water meter.
The 4th Plumber corrected the mistakes made by the other “Plumbers”, flushed out the drain/sewage system informing us the “Flushable” wipes are NOT really flushable or biodegradable as some brands claim. Turns out that Flushable wipes do not have consistent standards or regulations of the products. This 4th Plumber will return tomorrow (aka today, Thursday). He said he will double check that the sealant has properly sealed the pipes and no additional sealant needed (but if needed he’ll add additional). He said also that he will repair the leak at the water meter.
By my count it has taken Four Plumbers to repair a a leak with the kitchen sink. It has also cost a tremendous amount more dollars than it should have cost. The 2nd Plumber says he’ll take care of our first water bill (the water is still leaking at the meter (hopefully not after tomorrow.)
How could we be source of this problem when we’ve barely been in the house? Beyond our comprehension currently.
Do you think we would recommend this particular BrothersAirto anyone for any kind of service or repair? I absolutely think not.
Location: Our Residence; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Take Care. Stay Warm (We’re back to freezing low temperatures). Be Grateful. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: The Garden in the Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7(2000D) with Canon EF-S55/250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.
Location: Carolina Speedway; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Let God direct your life’s speed and journey. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Sidewalk in Front; City of David; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. May the Lord God bring a ray of Sunshine into your lives and Sonshine into your souls. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Neighbour’s Trampoline; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Spread some love and kindness to those around you. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
First signs of Spring are slowly sprouting up out of the old dry branches of the hydrangea bush in front of the house. It’s odd to see old and new life together, but it’s also wonderful and beautiful. It reminds me that God has made me a new creation …
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
“And the one sitting on the throne said, ‘Look, I am making everything new!’And then he said to me, ‘Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.’”
God said it, and I believe it. He makes everything new, even the plants, flowers, … when He said everything, He meant absolutely everything is made new.
Location: Home Garden; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. May you be blessed with new adventures, new friendships, and an abundance of happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 