2024 Monday Window: 04.08

Faires/Coltharp Cabin Window

Pasture Reflections
Faires/Coltharp Cabin

Ludwig’s Monday Window

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1) iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Dairy Barn Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

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

2024 Monday Portrait: 04.08

A Greenway Horse Greets Coleman

Here I come
“Little Man”
Maybe you’ll
like this
Pose Better?
Alright, I’ll come Closer
Coleman visiting the Horses

Monday Portrait

Photo Credit: 2024 ©️Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Dairy Barn Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

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

Children Climbing/Playing on Opening Day

Schroering Forest Playground

Opening Day for the Schroering Forest Playground was on March 30th. The Playground is a new addition for Anne Springs Close Greenway. Being its opening day list of families came to visit the Greenway the check out the new Playground. Children young and old alike investigated and explored the many different features and structures within the playground.

The number of people on the climbing structure varied throughout the day with the greatest impact of visitors being early in the morning and dwindling later on in the afternoon.

When Coleman and I first walked around the playground and the Climbing Structure it was intimidating with so many people in and on the various structures. Overwhelming especially for Coleman, so we chose to hike around the lake and come back later hoping for fewer children to be in the playground.

Coleman slowly getting the courage to try climbing on the Climbing Structure.

After climbing a short distance, Coleman sits down and looks around unsure of what to do next.

He eventually decides he was to get down, but was uncertain about how to go about climbing down. After watching for a little bit I realized he wanted help getting down. So we went hiking back up towards the car visiting the historic cabins, cows, and horses along the way.

Six Word Saturday: 04.06.24

John’s Cell Pic Sunday

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Schroering Forest Playground; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

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

Fairy 🧚‍♂️ Seating — It’s Swing Time

As Coleman and I were hiking along Steele Creek Trail back towards the car we spotted this little Fairy Garden tucked away in the base of a tree. I have seen pictures which other hikers have taken before, however this was the first time we had ever spotted the Fairy Garden. If you weren’t looking at the surrounding landscape you could possibly miss seeing it.

Spotted along
Steele Creek Trail
Fairy Garden
Time to Swing
and Relax

Pull Up a Seat-2024 Week 14

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: 1&3) iPhone 14 Pro Max; 2) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300 mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment.

Location: Steele Creek Trail; Dairy Barn Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

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

2024 CWWC: Any Type of Road, Path, Step, Bridge or Sign.

Following Cee’s lead on

Narrow Walkways

Mine are Along the

Blue Star Trail

On this hiking adventure I parked at the Dairy Barn Entrance to the Anne Springs Close Greenway. After exiting the car we proceeded to hike along the fencing before hitting the trails. Following the fence line we were able to view the horses, some of which trotted over to our location. [More on horses later].

Our first stop along the Blue Star Trail was to take a look at the Faires/Coltharp Cabin. To our surprise and delight it was open to the public (first time we’d seen it open). So naturally, Coleman with me following went inside to see what was inside.

A Look
inside the
Faires/Coltharp Cabin

After leaving the cabin, we hiked further along the Blue Star Trail towards the Swinging Bridge and the Schroering Forest Playground located on the other side of the Spillway.

Blue Star Trail

When the Spillway is up and streaming with a steady flow of water, the only way to cross it is to walk across the Greenway’s Swinging Bridge. Since our destination was on the far side of the Swinging Bridge we/I slowly walked across. Coleman used to walk across it when he was younger, but now if no one else is on it he’ll run across.

Coleman
crossing the
Swinging Bridge

We made it safely across the Swinging Bridge, walked around the Artisan Market, ordered lunch from the Greenway’s Canteen and rested a bit before heading to the Schroering Forest Playground. We had a clear view of the Playground from where we chose to sit. This was the first official day the Playground was open. They had been working on it all fall and winter. Being its opening day, the playground was crowded with children from all age groups.

Coleman
hiking the
Blue Star Trail

Upon completion of our lunch we noticed there were still a lot of children on the playground. I decided to have Coleman wait to play in it until it wasn’t nearly so crowded. Therefore, we continued on with our hiking and headed down to Lake Haigler.

Blue Star Trail
Almost down to
Lake Haigler

We hiked along the narrow side pathway towards the lake. The straight pathway is wider and more widely traveled by the majority of visitors to the Greenway.

We hiked a short loop with great views of Lake Haigler and then hiked back up to the Playground. Coleman climbed up on the Climbing structure and wasn’t sure about what to do after climbing up a short ways and just sat down for a few minutes. [The all natural wood climbing structure seemed to puzzle Coleman. He’ll probably climb more next time we visit.]

Steele Creek Trail

After a full afternoon of hiking and Coleman playing I decided it was time to head home. Hence, we proceeded to hike back up to the car. Instead of hiking the exact same trail we hiked down, we started out hiking on the Steele Creek Trail. The Steele Creek Trail is a narrow trail that leads up towards the Graham Historical Cabin.

From the cabin we traverse back onto the Blue Star Trail. After short distance from the cabin, Coleman starts searching for the cows. Sometimes they are up close to the fence line, but on this day we really had to look for them. Searching the pasture as we hiked up the trail, two of the cows came walking towards our direction from the far end of the pasture. That made a Coleman’s day. He was then ready to go home.

Cee’s Which Way Challenge- Any Type of Road, Path, Sign, Step, or Bridge 

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Cameras: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens and Altura CPL Filter attachment.

Location: Dairy Barn Entrance; Blue Star Trail; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA.

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

Looking In & Through an Historic Cabin’s Doors

Faires/Coltharp Cabin

Take a walk with us inside Faires/Coltharp Historic Cabin. You can see Coleman has no qualms about going through the door to check everything out. He is extremely inquisitive and loves to investigate everything he sees and comes across.

A Bit of History:

The Faires/Coltharp Cabin:

Dan’s Thursday Doors

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Slides-1-3) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens; All other photos) iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Location Faires/Coltharp Cabin; Dairy Barn Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

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

Gathering of Friends (Not Just for Humans)

For this week I selected trios from the pasture which Coleman and I enjoyed watching on our hike at the Anne Springs Close Greenway.

Thursday Trios-04.04.24

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens with Altura CPL Filter attachment.

Location: Dairy Barn Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

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

2024 Wordless Wednesday: Gazing Over the Pasture

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens with Altura CPL Filter attachment.

Location: Near Comporium Amphitheater; Blue Star Trail; Dairy Barn Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

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

Words for Thought #12

“Guide me in your truth
and teach me, for you
are God my Savior,
and my hope is in
you all day long.

Psalm 25:5 (NIV)

Think About It Tuesday

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

2024 LAPC #293: Water Flowing Through the Spillway

We had a very beautiful sunny weekend. It was warm and windy day. We decided it was a lovely day for hiking at Anne Springs Close Greenway. Due to the massive abundance of vehicles parking at the Lake Haigler Entrance for the Artisan Market I chose to park at the Dairy Barn Entrance. There was another reason for parking at this entrance as well; they charged extra at the other entrance because of the Artisan Market. Who wants to pay extra? I certainly didn’t, not in addition to my membership for the Greenway.

The Dairy Barn Entrance has a few different trails that can be accessed with various sites and scenery to observe. We hiked down the Blue Star Trail which leads down to the Greenway’s Spillway passing horses and the Faires/Coltharp Historic Cabin along the way.

Coleman loves to stop and watch the horses. Moving along, to crossover the Spillway we had to walk across the Swinging Bridge. We stopped on both sides of the Spillway to observe the water flowing down, around, and under the Swinging Bridge.

Coleman
crossing the
Greenway’s Swinging Bridge
Lovingly Watching
the Water Flowing
Through the
Greenway Spillway

Anne’s Len-Artist Photo Challenge – Water in Motion

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #214

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens and Altura CPL Filter.

Location: Swinging Bridge; Dairy Barn Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, 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.

2024 Last on the Card —

March

It just so happens that the last photo on my phone and on my camera are of the exact same object, a windmill.

From my iPhone 14 Pro Max:

Windmill
at the
Dairy Barn

From my Canon EOS T3i:

Dairy Barn
Windmill

Last on the Card

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Location: Dairy Barn Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA.

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

Historic Graham Cabin Windows

Monday Window

On Saturday, March 30th, Coleman and I visited the Anne Springs Close Greenway. We parked at the Dairy Barn Entrance and hiked down the Blue Star Trail and hiked back up on Steele Creek Trail. From this entrance one can visit two historic cabins: 1) Faires/Coltharp Cabin and 2) The Graham Cabin. On this trip we had the unique experience of going inside the cabin to view what it would have been like back in the 1800’s. This was a new experience for us since the cabins had previously been closed to the public.

The Graham Cabin is more than 200 years old and was once the home of Archibald Graham, the grandfather of Reverend Billy Graham. Here is a look at the inside of the Graham Cabin and its windows.

Ludwig’s Monday Window

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1) iPhone 14 Pro Max

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

2024 Weekend Sky: 03.31.24

~ Beautiful Weather for Easter ~

Beautiful Day
for Coleman
Petting a Horse
Beautiful Day
for a Hike
Beautiful Day
for Reflection
at Lake Haigler

Hammad’s Weekend Sky-03.31

Whatsoever Is Lovely Challenge 2024 Week 13

John’s Cell Pic Sunday

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Dairy Barn Entrance; Lake Haigler; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God’s Blessings to y’all this Beautiful Easter Sunday. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 CWWC: March 28 —Any Which Way

Which Ways in Monochrome

For this week I’ve dug into my archives for various selections of which way to travel.

First, let’s make a stop in Raleigh, North Carolina where I attended Ancestry Day hosted by The Friends of the Archives in conjunction with the State Archives of North Carolina, the Government and Heritage Library, and the North Carolina Genealogical Society.

Next, we’ll head over to Lenoir, North Carolina for a Watson/Greer/Trivette family reunion at the Yadkin Valley Community Park.

Greer/Watson/Trivette Family Reunion Yadkin Valley Community Park
Lenoir, North Carolina, USA
June 2016

Then we’ll spend some time in Jacksonville, North Carolina where one of my sons ( my 2nd born, David) was stationed while serving in the United States Marines. While there for the weekend my eldest son, John and I visited the Lejeune Memorial Gardens.

Lejeune Memorial Gardens
Jacksonville, North Carolina, USA
February 2017

Finally, let’s take another drive. This time let’s drive to Columbia, South Carolina before returning home for some quiet time of rest and relaxation. In Columbia I am joined by my daughter, Trisha and her daughter, Alona. We decided to visit the Riverbanks Zoo to see the animals. We enjoyed the short train ride around a small portion of the Zoo.

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Columbia, South Carolina, USA
August 2017

Cee’s Which Way Challenge – 03.28

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

2024 OWS: Direction

Directions for Where to Go,

What to Do, & How to Act

Where to Go:

First off, let’s look out Trail Maps. Trail Maps let us know what trails are at a location and give us directions to follow for our selected trail route we desire to hike.

Next, we’ll look at Trail Signs that give Directions for which way to go to continue to a specific destination.

Continuing on, we look at trail signs which tell us the rules and how we should behave while we are on the trail. Some of the directions might seem like we should already know how to act while on a trail, but reminders are beneficial for those that need one on common courtesy.

How to Act:

Lastly, we’re looking at signs that give us directions on what we should do. Some remind us to stay Calm, others give us directions on what to do in case of an emergency, while others let us know what (or rather where) not to do.

What to Do & Not to Do:

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Direction

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

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. Relax and Stay Calm. Remember y’all are amazing. I appreciate y’all very much.

A Single Stick Stretch

On one of our recent hikes we noticed the water streaming down the creek. Coleman laid down on the bridge above and stretched his single stick downward towards the creek trying to stretch it into the water below.

This next shot is not so clear, however, it depicts his lone stick floating in the water. He had lost his grip and it wasn’t within his reach to retrieve it. He was disappointed, but not for long (he always finds sticks along trails.)

FOWC: Stick

Today’s Prompt-One

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

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

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

2024 CWWC: Any Road, Path, Step, Bridge, or Sign

Cee’s allowing us to post any road, path, step, bridge, or sign this week for her CWWC. For my selections I chose some from Coleman & my adventures this past week.

Car Driving on Bridge
Shot from the
Avon Catawba Creeks Greenway
Gastonia, North Carolina
Coleman Walking on Sidewalk
New Hope Road; Gastonia, North Carolina
Coleman Walking on Brick Ledge
The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, North Carolina
Coleman Climbing on Playground Equipment Ladder Steps
Erwin Center Recreation and Park Gastonia, North Carolina
Coleman Sock Skating
The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, North Carolina

Cee’s Which Way Challenge-Any Road, Path, Step, Bridge or Sign

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

2024 CMMC: Pick a Topic from my Photo

My entries for this Cee’s CMMC this week are a variety of new and archive photos I hope you enjoy. There were taken at The Schiele Museum of Natural History and the Warlick Family YMCA in Gastonia, North Carolina as well as at Andrew Jackson State Park (three of our favorite places to go hiking and relax out in nature.

Brown, Green, Layers, Landscape
Green Lettuce on a Bed of Brown Bark

Heritage Garden; The Farm;
The Schiele Museum of Natural History;
Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
Brown, Green, Teal, Water, Landscape, Layers
Spillway; The Nature Trail;
The Schiele Museum of Natural History;
Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
Blue, Water, Green, Lake, Layers, Brown
Robinwood Lake; Warlick Family YMCA;
Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
Blue, Brown, Green, Landscape, Water, Lake, Layers
The Lake at Andrew Jackson State Park;
Lancaster, South Carolina, USA

Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge-Pick a Topic from My Photo

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #213

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

2024 CPC: Looking Through

Looking Through the Rails & Such

… at Robinwood Lake
… at the Cherry Blossoms
… at the Sand under the Bridge
…at the Sky between the Bridges
… at Me through the Ladder Rails
… at Coleman through the Railcars

The Cosmic Photo Challenge-Looking through

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1-5)Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens; 6) iPhone 14 Pro Max

Locations: Various in Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

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

2024 CWWC: 03.14 — Any Which Way

Coleman’s Way

Along Avon and Catawba

Creeks Greenway

Coleman Hiking & Playing
Along the Avon and
Catawba Creeks Greenway

The hiking adventures with Coleman are always fun and interesting. He doesn’t always stick to actual pathways or trails, however, he always gets to where he wants to go and has a fantastic time along the way.

Cee’s Which Way Challenge-Any Which Way

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens with an Altura CPL filter attachment and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Locations: Lineberger Park; Avon Creek Trail, Avon and Catawba Creeks Greenway; Warlick YMCA; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

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

2024 CFFC: Interesting Perspectives

Bus Driver Internal View
Under the Bridge Walkway
Shadows

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge-Interesting Perspective

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

Locations: Bus; Lineberger Park; Avon and Catawba Creeks Greenway; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. Hope you enjoyed our hiking adventures. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Wordless Wednesday: 03.12

Pyrus calleryana

AKA Callery Pear
Bradford Pear

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L.Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

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

God Bless. Enjoy your week. Smell the flowers. Spring is almost here. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 CWWC: Week of 03.07

Any type of Road, Path,

Step, Bridge or Sign.

My entries for this week show pathways and signs in and around The Schiele Museum. Enjoy the walk with Coleman and I as we show you some scenes of our recent visit.

Cee’s Which Way Challenge-Any type of Road, Path, Step, Bridge or Sign.

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1 & 3) iPhone 14 Pro Max; 2 & 4-6) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm and Canon EF-S55-250mm lenses with Altura (for Canon) Fisheye Wide-Angle Macro lens attachment.

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

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

2024 CMMC: March — Close Up or Macro

These close-ups were all captured during mine & Coleman’s latest visit to (I was so worried you lay down. You don’t just – Apple iPhone’s Siri trying to type what was said to my grandson, oops) our local museum’s nature trail.

We started this visit with a walk through the Dinosaurs Exhibitions …

Stegosaurus Plates

Then we moved on the Nature Trail and a walk around the Pond …

Turtles & their Reflections

And ended our visit with a stroll through the Garden in The Farm …


Great Mullein

Verbascum thapsus

New life is slowly starting to arrive and in the next few weeks new growth will begin to emerge in abundance.

Ranunculus acris
Common Buttercup

Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge-Close Up or Macro

Cee’s FOTD

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

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

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

2024 Wordless Wednesday: 03.06.24

— Horsin’ Around

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L.Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

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

2024 CosPhoChal-Take From Below

Observations From the Greenway

Looking Upward
at an Airplane ✈️
The Greenway Spillway
from Below
Coleman
Taken from the
Trail Below
An Aeroplane
Headed to the Airport

Cosmic Photo Challenge-Taken from Below

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

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

2024 OWS: Seating

Around Lake Haigler

It is almost guaranteed that while Coleman and I are out hiking along a trail, he’ll decide to sit and rest a second or two before moving on. He can choose to just plop on the ground or hop up on one of the benches scattered along the trail. On this day we chose to hike around Lake Haigler at the Greenway.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Seating

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 9

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Haigler Loop; Lake Haigler; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

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

2024 Weekend Sky: 03.03.24

Yesterday was a loving day to spend hiking in the Greenway. Unlike the day before when it rained all day and all night. The trails were a bit muddy, however, the views were beautiful with gorgeous skylines and amazing reflection.

Hammad’s Weekend Sky #120-03.03.24

Jez’s Water, Water Everywhere #211

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Lake Haigler; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA.

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

2024 CWWC: February— Any Type of Road, Path, Sign, Step, or Bridge

Round Two

On the Way to & At the Museum

Heading to the Bus Stop …

Steps, Path

Arriving at the Museum …

Along the Nature Trail …

Cee’s Which Way Challenge- Any Type of Road, Path, Sign, Step, or Bridge 

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Cameras: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm and Canon EF-S55-250mm lenses. 

Location: From Bus Stop on Stoneybrook Avenue; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

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

2024 Last on the Card — February 29

Hope y’all had a pleasant Leap Day. I know Coleman and I did. First day in a while with no rain, so it was a good day to venture outside and visit the Schiele Museum, one of Coleman’s favourite places.

Conveniently, it gave me an opportunity for capturing some interesting moments on this Leap/Last Day. Therefore, here are my last on the card shot for February.

From my iPhone 14 Pro Max:

Formosa Azalea 

From my Canon EOS Rebel T3i:

Rhododendron simsii

Last on the Card-February 2024

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

2024 CosPhoChal: Wide Open Spaces

— In Monochrome —

Cosmic Photo Challenge-Wide Open Spaces

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

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

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

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

2024 OWS: Shadow

Shadows can be seen everywhere, at least when the sun is shining brightly. Shadows materialize along walkways, piers, and trails as well as anywhere imaginable.

Here are my entries for Debbie’s OWS Challenge this week which calls for us to show our SHADOW.

Shadows of Bushes, Trees, & Coleman Warlick Family YMCA
Shadows of the Fencing & Coleman
Warlick Family YMCA
Shadows of Trees
The Schiele Museum of Natural History
Shadows of Trees, Coleman, & Myself
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Shadows along the Pier
& in the Lake
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Shadow

Photo Credit: ©️2023/4 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1-4) iPhone 14 Pro Max; 5) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.

Locations: Various sites in North and South Carolina, USA

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

Monday Portrait: 02.26 — A Thirsty Horse

— At the Greenway

Monday Portrait

Macro Monday 

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

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max — Telephoto lens.

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

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

Dreaming of Hiking the Trails

GARDEN OF THE WAXHAWS TRAIL

John’s Cell Pic Sunday

Photo Credit: ©️2015 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: iPhone 6 Plus

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

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

2024 CMMC: Pick a Topic from my Photo

My entries for Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge this week were all taken at Goat Island Park & Greenway along the South Fork River Trail, a part of the Carolina Thread Trail System one year ago in February 2023.

Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge-Pick a Topic from my Photo

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

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens.

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

God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Greenway and sharing your time and thoughts with us.

2024 CosPhoChal: Bare Trees

Along the Trails

Cosmic Photo Challenge-Bare Trees

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

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

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

Words for Thought #6 – 02.21.24

Think About It Tuesday

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone Pro Max

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

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

2024 Macro Monday: 02.19 — Liking What You See?

The Eye Sees All
Greenway Horse’s Eye

Macro Monday

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

Settings: f/5.6 • 1/125s • 200mmISO3200

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

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

In the YMCA Woods – Let’s Sit & Rest …

Coleman
on
Outdoor Exercise Equipment
Coleman
on a
Tree

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024- Week 7

John’s Cell Pic Sunday

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – Telephoto lens.

Location: Green Trail; Warlick Family YMCA; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

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

Lovingly Amazing Views of Robinwood Lake

Sparkles , Sun ☀️Rays,

and Refreshing Reflections

I bought a Sedremm Compatible with 58mm Star Filter set containing 4 Points, 6 Points, and 8 Points for my Christmas present to myself.

On this week’s visit to the Warlick YMCA I tried out using the 8 Point Star Filter attached the my Canon EF-S55-250mm lens on my Canon EOS Rebel T3i. I think some of the shots came out pretty cool looking, mind you I am only barely learning to use the Star filters.

Whatsoever Is Lovely Challenge-2024 Week 6

Six Word Saturday

Water, Water, Everywhere

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Location: Robinwood Lake; Warlick Family YMCA; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA.

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

2024 CFFC: Weathered Wood

With the weather somewhat improving and a bit warmer (still not warm enough – jacket weather), Coleman and I are able to venture out on the trails for some delightful hiking. The trails are pretty muddy due to all the strong rainstorms we’ve been experiencing. Some of the trails are blocked off as closed for maintenance due to the damage occurring from the storms.

However, we managed to observe some amazingly beautiful sights ( not posted here.) Since we always hike in the woods, we (I) were able to capture a variety of weathered wood for this week’s challenge of Cee’s CFFC.

Weathered Wood
Inside a Tree Trunk
Weathered Log
Floating in
Robinwood Lake

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge-Weathered Wood

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

Location: Green Trail/Quartz Loop; Warlick Family YMCA; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA.

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

2024 LAPC: 02.12 — Weather

Today was rainy again but we had some beautiful weather with clear blue skies over the weekend at the

Anne Springs Close Greenway.

Lens-Artists Challenge-Weather

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

2024 Monday Portrait: 02.12

A Highland Cow

(bos taurus taurus)

Hey,
You Looking at Me?
Maybe You’d Like
a Frontal Snapshot?
Or Perhaps
I Should Come
a Little Closer?
Is This Close Enough?
Let’s Make a Deal,
I’ll Give You One More Shot …
This is My Final Pose!

Monday Portrait

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: 1) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens; 2-5) iPhone 14 Pro Max – Ultra wide Camera

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

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

Lovely Day Spent Hiking —ASCG Stables

Coleman Loves the Greenway

Hiking the Greenway

Six Word Saturday

Cee’s Which Way Challenge-Dirt Roads or Dirt Pathways or trails

Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2024 Week 5

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Location: Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway (ASCG); Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

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

2024 Wordless Wednesday—02.07.24_Museum Spillway

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Jez’s Water water Everywhere #208

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

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

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

2024 CWWC: Any Type of Road, Path, Step, Bridge or Sign.

Round Two

On the Way to & At the Museum

Steps, Path

Arriving at the Museum …

Along the Nature Trail …

Cee’s Which Way Challenge- Any Type of Road, Path, Sign, Step, or Bridge

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm and Canon EF-S55-250mm lenses.

Location: From Bus Stop on Stoneybrook Avenue; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

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

Doughton Park Visitor Center and Store

National Park Service
Doughton Park Visitor Center

In front of the Doughton Park Visitor Center are welcoming chairs and a table to rest a bit and enjoy the view or perhaps to wait for the Park store to open if you are camping in one of their many campsites.

Doughton Park is located off of the Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 238.5 – 241. Besides the beautiful scenery surrounding this Park one may choose to explore The Brinegar Cabin, observe craft demonstrations, and talk a gander down one of several diverse hiking trails.

This area has one of the Parkway’s largest campgrounds, a popular picnic area, and more than thirty (30) miles of hiking trails where one may access forested slopes, streams, and backcountry in Basin Cove.

Doughton Park Legend

Originally called The Bluffs, 6,000 acre Doughton Park was created in the 1930s when the Blue Ridge Parkway was routed through this part of North Carolina. It was one of the first parts of the Parkway to be completed and remains its largest recreation area. In the 1950s, it was renamed for Robert Lee Doughton (1863-1954), a local landowner and politician, who was instrumental in getting the Parkway built. Mr. Doughton lived in the nearby Laurel Springs, North Carolina. [Note: the Laurel Springs area is also the area where my maternal grandfather grew up.]

The northern and western borders of Doughton Park are formed by the Parkway itself, which here follows the crest of the mountains, traveling at more than 3,000 feet above sea level through rolling highland meadow. The other borders of the Park are traced by steeply descending mountain ridges: Flat Rock Ridge along the southern side of the Park and Cedar Ridge along the eastern side. Within these borders is the rugged and remote watershed of two mountain streams, Basin Creek and Cove Creek. Together, the double valley – or double gorge – is known as Basin Cove.

In October of 2017 my eldest son and I took a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway meandering the scenic route enjoying the beautiful Autumn colours. I allowed him to drive as he had never previously driven the Parkway. We stopped at several mileposts along the way observing the beautiful landscape. At various mileposts including Milepost 238.5 – 241, we stopped, stretched our legs, and proceeded to hike along several of the many trails found along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I do not recall which trail we hiked at Doughton Park, however, I do know we visited The Brinegar Cabin. I encourage y’all if you are ever in the Western Part of the Carolinas to take a scenic drive along The Blue Ridge Parkway.

Ludwig’s Monday Window

Dan’s Thursday Doors

XingfuMamas Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge: 2024-Week 4

Photo Credit: ©️2017 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 7 Plus — Wide Camera 28mm • screen f1.8 • 1/656s • ISO20

Location: Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 238.5 – 241

Doughton Park;

45338 Blue Ridge Parkway

Laurel Springs, NC 28644

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

Silent Cell Pic Sunday: 2024 January 28 —–

John’s Cell Pic Sunday

Silent Sunday

XingfuMama’s Whatever is Lovely Challenge: 2024-Week 3

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #206-2024 #4

Photo Credit: ©️2019 Deb L. Waters… All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

Location: Around the Lake; Andrew Jackson State Park

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

Haigler Loop’s Sunshiny Yellow Canada Goldenrod

Solidago canadensis
Common Name(s): Canada Goldenrod
Canadian Goldenrod

Six Word Saturday

Sunny Sunday

Silent Sunday

XingfuMama’s Whatever is Lovely Challenge: 2024-Week 1

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

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

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

Location: Haigler Loop; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina,USA.

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

2024 CWWC: Which ways with snow or the color white

I have not seen any snow recently or in the past year, so I am going to let y’all see some of the WHITE which I have seen along the various trails that Coleman and I have hiked in 2023.

First up is a hike with the Anne Springs Close Greenway Hiking Club where some of the hikers are wearing white. Everybody was not ready for the photo; I like to catch people unaware when I can. you may also notice the white in the Archers Loop sign and the white clouds in the sky. It was a beautiful, picturesque day.

Archers Loop
Adventure Road
Anne Springs Close Greenway Hiking Club
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

Next up is the white Riverwalk Bridge as seen from the Piedmont Medical Center Trail that we have hiked with the hiking club and on our own. Coleman loves to hike along the Catawba River whenever we get the opportunity.

Riverwalk Bridge
over the Catawba River
Riverwalk Trailhead
Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA

Below is capturing a hike we were able to do with Coleman’s mom and sister. It is near one of the locations his mom works at sometimes. Here we are on the Baxter Village Trail, a part of the Carolina Thread Trail System.

Baxter Village Trail
Carolina Thread Trail
Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
Baxter Village Trail
Carolina Thread Trail
Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

This next trail is one Coleman and I hiked on our own. I parked at the Boulder Access Parking lot, and we found the entrance to the trail. We hiked approximately two and a half miles before we turned around and headed back to the car. The trail goes on for miles crossing from North Carolina into South Carolina. We were not prepared to go that distance on this hike.

Boulders Overlook
Boulder Access Area
Crowders Mountain State Park
Kings Mountain, North Carolina, USA

For another hike we stopped at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden to hike and enjoy the many marvelous flowers grown there. This is the covered walkway leading into the gardens. Notice the vines growing around the white pillars and Coleman trying to balance on the brick edging along the walkway.

Coleman
at
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Belmont, North Carolina, USA

Lastly, I know you cannot see the trail, but I wanted to leave you with a beautiful white flower of Queen Anne’s Lace to enjoy.

Queen Anne’s Lace
(Daucas carota)
Lake Haigler Entrance
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

Cee’s Which Way Challenge-Which ways with snow or the color white

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

God Bless. Thank you for tagging along with us as we remembered our amazing hikes. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.