Category: #GetOutdoors

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 Wordless Wednesday: 28 May

Mirror Image

*Lake Haigler*
*Anne Springs Close Greenway*
*Fort Mill, South Carolina*

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #269

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Lake Haigler; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South 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 OWS: Reflection(s)

In the Lake

Water reflections are the most common reflections we see on our adventures. Perhaps, due to being close to the Catawba River or possibly within a short drive of any number of lakes. It doesn’t really matter, I love gazing over the water no matter where we are to see the reflections of the surrounding landscape reflecting over the water.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday

Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2025 Week 21

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #269

Camera: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

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

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

2025 Flower of the Day: 27 May

Amsonia tabernaemontana

*Aka Eastern Bluestar,*
*Blue Dogbane,*
*Willow Amsonia,*
*Woodland Bluestar*

The Eastern Bluestar, of the Dogbane family, is a 1-3 ft., erect-stemmed perennial forming large, multi-stemmed clumps. The smooth stems are crowded with narrow, oval leaves which turn golden-yellow in the fall. The rim of the Blue, tubular flowers flare out into a star-shape, appear in loosely conjested clusters at the tips of the stems. These flowers grow in wet to moist and sandy soiled areas. The Blue Star’s growth has naturalized northeast as far as Massachusetts. However, its primary habitat is the southeastern and eastern regions of the United States.

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 21

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Settings: f/1.78 • 1/843s • 106mm • ISO64

Location: Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm; Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

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

[Just a side note: when I typed in made of glass for Dan’s CFFC this flower popped up in the selected images. So I took it as a sign to use it for Cee’s FOTD.]

Benches Throughout the Greenway

Avon-Catawba Creeks Greenway

*Coleman*
*Gotha Greenway*
*Gastonia Sister Cities*

“Where the Green Heart of Germany meets the Gateway of Gastonia”

Dedicated on October 2, 2011

Jude’s Bench Anniversary Challenge

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Avon-Catawba Creeks Greenway Trail; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderful day. Enjoy a hike/walk in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Which Way with Dirt roads or dirt pathways or trails

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 Dirt roads or dirt pathways or trails. Remember to be sure your Which Ways are clearly defined. Remember signs are always welcome in your Which Ways.

School is out for the summer or about to be if not already in your area. Summer is a fitting time to be out in the nature hiking (or taking a walk) leisurely enjoying the beauty of God’s creation.

Here are my entries for (CWWC): Any Which Way with Dirt roads or dirt pathways or trails. Now over to y’all to show us the dirt roads, pathways, or trails you enjoy while you’re hiking or walking about in y’all’s favorite areas.

***Coleman hiking***
***in Riverside Park and***
***Greenway’s Dirt Trail***

You might enjoy taking a look at other Which Ways from this past week; check out the links below:

Chava61’s 2025 Which Way Challenge (CWWC)

Pepper’s How Far Can You Go Which Ways

Dawn’s A Poplar Which Way

Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Dirt roads or dirt pathways or trails

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

Location: Dirt Trail; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take a hike. Enjoy a stroll through nature’s beautiful pathways and parks. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Thursday Trios: 22 May — Trachemys scripta

Pond Sliders are a species of common, medium-sized, semiaquatic turtles. The most recognized species are the Red-eared slider (T. s. elegans), which is popular in the pet trade and has been introduced to other parts of the world by people releasing it to the wild.

Thursday Trios

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

Settings: f/5.6 • 1/250 • 187mm • ISO100

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

God Bless. Have an adventurous weekend. Discover the wonders of Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Wordless Wednesday: 21 May

Up, Down, Across,

Back and Forth

Hide and Seek

Coleman’s Way

Brian’s Monochrome Madness #34 (Street-lights by day or at night)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens and Altura Wide Angle Fisheye attachment.

Location: C.B. Huss Recreation Complex; 219 Tenth Street; 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 Monochrome Monday: 19 May

Water 💧 Play 💦

Monochrome Monday

Monday Monochrome

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion & Ultra WideCamera

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

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

2025 Sunday Trees:

Juglans nigra

Eastern American

Black Walnut

The Juglans nigra, Eastern American Black Walnut is a species of deciduous tree in the Walnut family, Juglandaceae, native to central and eastern North America. Black Walnut trees are used commercially for its rich deep brown colour and is easily worked.

The Walnut seeds (aka nuts) are cultivated for their distinctive and desirable taste. Walnut trees are grown for lumber and food. An interesting note is that in 2017, the United States Department of Agriculture valued U.S. Walnut timber at $530 billion. Also noted that a significant portion is grown in Missouri.

Sunday Trees – #585

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Max Fusion Camera

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

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

2025 Silent Sunday: 18 May

Hanging Around

Coleman
C.B. Huss Recreation
Center Playground

Silent Sunday:18 May 2025

Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge – Hang

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with (1-3) Canon EF-S55-250mm lens; (4) Canon EF-S18-55mm lens

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

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

Gander at a Gaggle of Geese

*A Gaggle of Canada Geese*
*on the Banks of the*
*South Fork Catawba River*

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday-17 May 2025

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

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

God Bless. Have a Gander of your surroundings. Enjoy nature’s beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Monochrome Madness (MM) #34 — Street Lights Early Evening

An early evening walk through downtown is about the latest I can manage, I try to be home before dark (I don’t see well at night).

These are my entries …

*Center Street*
*Downtown*
*Town of Cramerton*

*Center Street*
*approaching*
*Eighth Avenue*

*Corner of*
*North Main Street*
*and Eighth Avenue*

All taken at 5:20pm this evening – Friday, 16 May.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

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

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

2025 LAPC #348: Serenity

“Tranquility, serenity, and beauty of nature taught me how to find happiness in life and in the silence of eternity.”
— Debasish Mridha

Where do I find Peace, Serenity, and a sense of Solace? More likely than not, I find it out in the wonderful abliss of nature’s beauty and tranquility.

For example … In a Campground or by a Lake

Andrew Jackson State Park
Lancaster, South Carolina

Or possibly by the Ocean …

Or with a relaxing peaceful stroll through a Botanical Garden …

*Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden*
*(now called Conservancy)*
*Belmont, North Carolina*

Perhaps we’ll visit the serenity of a different lake …

*Cane Creek Lake*
*Cane Creek Park*
*Waxhaw, North Carolina*

Lens-Artists Photography Challenge #348: Serenity

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

2025 LAPC #347 — Breaking the Rules

Breaking the Rules? Whoever said one had to follow Rules in photography? Up, Down, Sideways, it doesn’t always matter if you shoot straight, point and shoot vertical or horizontal. Instead follow your own instincts, make your own interpretations on your shooting style. After all, you are the one you need to please.

What’s your angle?

Shooting across the river from a laying down position …

Shooting Subject Slightly off-center … background slightly blurred ( might be a rule though – who cares, I don’t read rules).

Not actually diagonal lines …

Lens-artists Photography Challenge #347 – break the rules!

Cameras: 1-4) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera; 5-6) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV filter attachment.

Locations: 1-4) Riverside Park and Greenway; 5-6) Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Which Way (Your Choice)

Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). This week I have chosen Any Which Way (Your Choice) for this week’s theme. The Which Way can be any path, sidewalk, trail, or road as long as the Which Way is clearly discernible. For further information regarding the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) feel free to check out the home page here.

My Choice of Which Ways for this week’s theme are in two segments. The first Which Way being a paved pathway, aka nature trail) some with people and some without.

My second segment of Which Ways are of a dirt pathway within a baseball field.

Here is my first Which Ways segment:

And here is my second Which Ways segment:

Thank you to those who have participated and supported the Which Ways Challenge. I appreciate y’all sharing your Which Ways with us.

For an idea of other’s Which Ways from this past week’s challenge, be sure to click on the following links below.

gwh photos2’s Which Way Challenge-Shadows: May 9, 2025

Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)-Your Choice

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

Locations: Segment One) South Fork River Trail; Carolina Thread Trail; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Segment Two) C.B. Huss Recreation T-Ball Field; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Hike/Walk. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with e. I appreciate y’all very much.

Note: Next Week’s Theme => CWWC: Dirt roads or dirt pathways or trails

2025 SYD: May 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

Canada Geese
South Fork Catawba River
Goat Island Park and Greenway

From My Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max:

Personal Focus

*Coleman*
*Goat Island Park and Greenway*

Reading Focus

*Coleman*
*sitting on a pipe*
at
*Goat Island Park and Greenway*

Hiking Focus

*Coleman*
*Tree Climbing*
at
*Riverside Park and Greenway*

Share Your Desktop – May 2025

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

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

2025 Wordless Wednesday: 14 May

Pond Slider

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

Location: South Fork Catawba River; South Fork River Trail; River Link Greenway; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, 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.

2025 Monday Portrait: 12 May

Plus Birds of the Carolinas

/Bird of the Week CXVI

Anas Platyrhynchos

The Anas Platyrhynchos also known as Mallards are one of several varieties of duck species, which include both resident and migratory birds. The Mallard is the most abundant duck in North America, often found in a variety of habitats. Even though apparently abundant, we have not seen many of the Mallards in or around the Catawba River.

The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is a widespread dabbling duck with a long body and high tail. The Mallard is easily identified by the male’s iridescent green head, white neck collar, and black tail curl. Females and juveniles have mottled brown bodies and dull orange bills. Both sexes have iridescent blue wing speculums. Mallards breed in fresh marshes surrounding lakes, ponds, beaver ponds, impoundments, open swamps, and such like areas, however, they do have a propensity to avoid nesting in brackish marshes.

*Mallard ducks*
*in the*
*South Fork Catawba River*

Coleman and I went hiking on the South Fork River Trail, a part of the Carolina Thread Trail, in Goat Island Park and Greenway on Saturday watching a partial day without rainfall (it rained again after we were safely home). While hiking the trail, Coleman and I were looking for the Turtles that often sun themselves on logs in the South Fork Catawba River. What were spotted prior to the Turtles were a pair of Mallards standing on a log checking out the River area. [This was the first time we’ve seen the Mallards in this region of the South Fork Catawba River.]

As we continued our hike we did encounter a lone Turtle sunning on a log which dove quickly into the river. But alas, we ventured on down the trail to find more Mallards on logs and in the river. It was fascinating to see and watch them especially since we had not previously seen the Mallards in this section of the Catawba River before.

Mallards feed in the water by tipping forward and grazing on underwater plants. They almost never dive. They can be very tame ducks especially in city ponds, and often group together with other Mallards and other species of dabbling ducks.

Mallards are able to live in almost any wetland habitat, natural or artificial. Look for them on lakes, ponds, marshes, rivers, and coastal habitats, as well as nearby city and suburban parks and residential backyards.

Monday Portrait

Birds of the Carolinas

Bird of the Week CXVI

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

Settings: f/6.3 • 1/320 • 250mm • ISO800-2000

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

God Bless. Get outdoors and enjoy nature’s beauty and natural wildlife. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Numbers Game #71 – 192

Judy from Life Lessons hosts The Numbers Game. I’m a week behind, but I figured better late than not at all. Her number for the Numbers Game Challenge #71 is 192. I didn’t have any luck finding photos matching 192, so I am doing as suggested in showing images of a common word.

 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.

My Word I am using is Coleman. I am posting the images in a video format for your enjoyment.

Coleman at Riverside Park and Greenway

Judy’s Numbers Game-#71-192

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

Location Riverside Park and Greenway; 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 Flower of the Day: 12 May

Lonicera japonica

Cee’s FOTD

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

Location: River Link Greenway; South Fork River Trail; 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 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Which Way with Shadows

Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). This week I have chosen Any Which Way with Shadows for this week’s theme. Shadows can be on any path, sidewalk, trail, or road as long as the Which Way is clearly discernible. For further information regarding the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) feel free to check out the home page here.

Here are my entries for this week’s Which Way Challenge – Any Which Way with Shadows …

My Which Ways with Shadows are a mixture of paved pathways, sidewalks, and dirt trails. Hope you enjoy the hike with Coleman and myself.

Thank you to those who have participated and supported the Which Ways Challenge. I appreciate y’all sharing your Which Ways with us.

For an idea of other’s Which Ways from this past week’s challenge, be sure to click on the following links below.

Brian’s Road trips (through the windscreen #2)

GERIATRI’X’ FOTOGALLERY’s HIGHWAY SIGNS

Which Way Challenge (CWWC)-Any Which Way with Shadows

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max and Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Locations: Gastonia and Cramerton, Gaston County, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a hike/walk. Enjoy nature’s beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Thursday Doors: 08 May

Boathouse Doors

The Boathouse is located in McAdenville, North Carolina. It is the focal epicentre for Catawba Riverkeeper’s outdoor recreation. The Catawba Riverkeeper’s mission is to preserve, protect, and restore local water quality.

Many activities are available to do at or around The Boathouse like …

Playing Outside …

Renting a kayak, canoe, or standup paddleboard (or bring your own to enjoy an afternoon on the River.
Take a walk, run, or bike ride down the South Fork River Trail.
Go fishing along the banks of the South Fork River.

Relaxing … you may relax inside The Boathouse and enjoy the air conditioning while having a soft drink, beer, and/or snack. Or you may sit and relax outdoors around a picnic table.

Jam at the Dam … listen to fantastic live music at one of the Catawba Riverkeeper’s live outdoor events such as once held last weekend while the Goat Island Games were being played. [Coleman and I missed this live music event, but we do listen to their live music shows at Confluence which is run by the Catawba Riverkeeper.]

Dan’s Thursday Doors

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: The Boathouse; 115 Willow Dr, McAdenville, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Words for Thought #59: 05.06

Set Your Mind

On Things Above …

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes… including you.”
—Anne Lamott

Take time to get outside, unplug, let go of your worries, trust God and rest in the promises that Everything will work out.

Think About It Tuesday

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

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

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

2025 Monday Portrait: 05 May —

Eastern Gray Squirrel

From Hide – n – Seek to Portrait Posing, squirrels can be fascinating early evening entertainment. Enjoy!

That That’s all folks …

Monday Portrait

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

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

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

2025 OWS: 04 May — Favourite Capture (this week)

Coleman
looking out over the
South Fork Catawba River @GoatIslandParkandGreenway

Debbie’s One Word Sunday

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

Settings: f/4 • 1/320 • 55mm • ISO100

Location: Centennial Center River Access and Observation Pier; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a lovely day. Relax and enjoy the outdoors. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Sunday Trees: Coastal Redwoods

In my youth my church youth group would go camping 🏕️ up in the Sequoia National Forest and sleep in big green military tents amongst the “gentle giants.”

*Sequoiadendron gigantism*
*aka Giant Sequoia*

Girls would be in one or two small army tents and boys would be in separate tents in a separate area of the camp. Each tent had a capacity of up to 21 people, however, I think we only had about a dozen teenagers plus 1-2 adult chaperones per tent. [Side Note: when I camp I still sleep in tents].

*Sequoia sempervirens*
*aka Coast Redwood*

It is amazing to walk amongst the Giant Sequoias often referred to as Coastal Redwoods, Coast Redwoods, and “Gentle Giants.” To look up at the sky through the center of a California Pacific Coast Redwood and walk amongst the trees so tall as if reaching up towards the heavens is mesmerizing.

*Coastal Redwoods*
*aka California Redwoods*

Sunday Trees

Location: Avenue of the Giants; Humboldt Redwoods State Park; Weott, California, USA

God Bless. Do you have any giant trees in your neck of the woods? Coleman and I love to walk in the woods enjoying nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Silent Sunday: 04 May

Water Abstracts

*South Fork Catawba River*
*Goat Island Park and Greenway*

Silent Sunday

Cameras: 1-3) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max ( 2-3 edited in Pixlr); 4-5) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens (unedited)

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

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

2025 Cell Pic Sunday: 04 May

Centennial Center Park

*From Centennial Center*
*Looking Outward*

John’s CellPic Sunday

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Centennial Center; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

Coleman’s Hiding … Can You Spot Him?

Did you Find Coleman’s location? Let me know where you see Coleman hiding.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

SWS

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment

Settings: f/5.6 • 1/320s • 250mm • ISO3200

Location: Goat Island Playground; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina

God Bless. When’s the last time you played Hide & Seek? Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Words for Thought #58: 04.29

God always has something to say. Be encouraged by His Word as you spend some time in biblical meditation and hear His heart for you.

The Beauty of God’s Creations are all around us. Be thankful for God’s many blessings and the beauty he has created in you.

“Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.”
—Mary Oliver

Think About It Tuesday

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

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

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

2025 Sunday Trees: Washingtonia Robusta

The Mexican Fan Palm is known for its slender, columnar trunk that can reach 100 feet tall and swell slightly at the base. Its trunk is brown and bumpy when young, but smooths and grays over time. It has large, fan-shaped leaves that can grow 3–5 feet wide and have sharp spines at the base.

Washingtonia robusta is one of two species in the genus Washingtonia. The other species closely related to it is the Washingtonia filifera (California Fan Palm). Both Washingtonia are grown as ornamental trees. The Mexican Washingtonia has a narrower trunk (which is typically somewhat wider at the base), and grows slightly faster and taller; it is also somewhat less cold hardy than the California fan palm, hardy to about −8 °C (18 °F).

*Aka the Mexican fan palm,*
*Mexican washingtonia, or skyduster*

The Mexican Fan Palm is normally grown in the desert areas of the Southwestern United States. Those areas include California, Arizona, and southern Nevada, as well as the extreme southwestern regions of Utah and Texas.

Both of the above locations for the Washingtonia robusta are located inland a short distance area from the Coast of the Pacific Ocean. The images were taken in Spring and Summer of 1979 by my father when we visited these places.

Sunday Trees

Throwback Thursday

Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm

Location: 1) Hearst Castle; San Simeon, California; 2) Ports O’ Call Village; San Pedro, California, USA

God Bless. Have a marvelous week. Explore Your World. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Silent Cell Pic Sunday: 27 April

One of My Favourite Places

Silent Sunday

John’s CellPic Sunday

Sunny Sunday

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere

Camera: Apple iPhone 6 Plus

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

God Bless. Have a wonderful day & week ahead. 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.

2025 Monochrome Madness: Free Week — Cloudy Skies

As I was sitting on the swing on the front porch keeping an eye on Coleman playing in the yard, I noticed the picturesque skyline filled with amazing cloudscapes. I grabbed my iPhone, changed the settings to muted black and white using the camera’s fusion mode I captured the view I was seeing .

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Hammad’s Weekend Sky

Skywatch Friday

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

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

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

One-Liner Wednesday: 23 April

1linerWeds
(Badge by Laura
@riddlefromthemiddle.com)

“For in the true nature of things,
if we rightly consider,
every green tree is
far more glorious than if
it were made of gold and silver.”
— Martin Luther King Jr.

#1LinerWednesday

Sunday Trees

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

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

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

2025 Wordless Wednesday: 23 April

*Canada Goose*
*Streaming through the*
*South Fork Catawba River*

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #266

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion

Location: South Fork Catawba River; 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 Cee’s Flower of the Day: 22 April

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

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

God Bless. Take time to enjoy the beautiful flowers. Enjoy a walk. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Monday Portrait: 21 April

Domestic Greylag Goose

Monday Portrait

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max Telephoto

Location: Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm; Greenway Stables Entrance ; 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.

Spring Festival 2025: Along the South Fork Catawba River

Spring Flowers are springing up up and down the river and riverbanks. Coleman and I took a walk on Friday to Riverside Park and Greenway, I was amazed at all the beautiful flowers sprouting into bloom.

Here are some of the flowers we came across that are starting to blossom. There are signs that indicate other flowers will blossom in the next week or so.

*Green arrow arum (Peltandra virginica)*

The Green Arrow Arum should begin blooming in the next two-three weeks, about the same timeframe as the Spider Lilies.

Spring Festival 2025-Week #5

https://videopress.com/v/IJ601mRD?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&loop=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2025 Week 15

God Bless. Take time to enjoy the Beauty in Nature. Be thankful for your blessings. Have a wonderful week ahead. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Cell Pic Sunday: 20 April

Canada Geese

at the River

Canada Geese
South Fork Catawba River
Goat Island Park and Greenway

John’s CellPic Sunday

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

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

God Bless. Happy Easter Everyone! Have a wonderful day. 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 Numbers Game #68-189

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:

Judy’s Numbers Game #68-189

Cee’s Flower of the Day (Chris)

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #265

Throwback Thursday

God Bless. Wishing you a blessed Good Friday. 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