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.
Brian from Bushboys Worldhosts a monthly challenge called Last On the Card. His rules are simple to follow if you’re interested in participating.
Here are The rules: 1. Post the last photo on your SD card or last photo on your phone for the 30th or whenever your last photo was taken. 2. No editing – who cares if it is out of focus, not framed as you would like or the subject matter didn’t cooperate. 3. You don’t have to have any explanations, just the photo will do 4. Create a Pingback to this post or link in the comments 5. Use the tags The Last Photo and #LastOnTheCard
Location: The Cultural Center Trail; Catawba Nation Greenway Trail; Carolina Thread Trail; Catawba Indian Nation; Catawba Reservation; Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless Enjoy Nature. Hug a Tree. Peace be with you. 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.
The Shining Star Fellowship Church is a Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) affiliated church whose focus is on equipping believers and leading community members to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Shining Star Fellowship Church 301 Palm Street Abilene, Texas
This church is located a few short blocks from my maternal aunt’s home where I visited in the Spring of 2020. This is one of many churches I saw as I walked about my aunt’s neighbourhood.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-25mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment; Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Location: By Lake Crawford & Lake Crawford Trail; Kings Mountain State Park; Blacksburg, South 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.
This week Monochrome Madnessis hosted by Sarah from Travel with Me. She haschosen to challenge us to post images which begin with the letter “P”. Interestingly enough, it wasn’t that difficult to find images in my archives which begin with “P”.
Here are my entries …
Let’s begin by walking out onto the Porch …
Front Porch
Next, how about a trip back in time …
Pennzoil Indy Race Car captured on 35mm at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in August of 1985 by my dad.
Now back to more current“P” images …
Playground at T. Jeffers Center
Pump House by the Catawba River & the Piedmont Medical Center Trail in Rock Hill, SC
Pig at the Children’s Farm in Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, SC
Patterson Pond – Canada Geese enjoying a swim Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, SC
A Preserved replica of a Brown Pelican in The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, NC
Pretty colourful Petunias The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, NC
God Bless. Have a funtastic week ahead. May your week be filled with love, laughter, and happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Funny thing happened on the way to write a post … I told my daughter I didn’t think I had any new doors to post. You know what? She up and sent me the following image she took of a mistaken door she went out and couldn’t get back in without assistance. Problem solved. I’m posting a door for your pleasure, my friends.
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.
Location: Lower Trailhead; Stone Mountain State Park; Roaring Gap, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature. Capture the beauty all around you. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains; Wilson Hwy; Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature. 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.
The Historic Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Bathhouse sits on the shores of Lake Crawford in Kings Mountain State Park. The Bathhouse was the location where Coleman and I began our hike. The height of usage for the Bathhouse was between 1930’s until the 1990’s. In its heyday it was an essential hub for park activities.
Side of Bathhouse
Currently, the Bathhouse is abandoned and in a sad state of disrepair. The exterior ofthe Bathhouse is available for viewing via the Farm Trail (or in our case, we parked in the parking area where the Bathhouse is located.
From the Backside
The Historic CCC Bathhouse is primary historical landmark within Kings Mountain State Park. It is known for its intricate craftsmanship.
Rear-side of Bathhouse
When you approach the main doors (currently locked) there is a QR code you may scan that will give you information about how to donate to the ongoing Bathhouse Donation Project to help aide in the Revitalization Efforts for the renovation of the Bathhouse.
The Bathhouse Backside
Once the Bathhouse is restored, it is intended to serve as a central visitor information hub. It will also allow the Lake Crawford swimming area to be reopen. Swimming has not been allowed in Lake Crawford since 2002. For over 20 years swimming in Lake Crawford and Lake York have been prohibited. Even though swimming is not allowed (hopefully it will be when the Bathhouse is renovated and reopened); there are other recreational activities which may be enjoyed … such as fishing, boating, and sightseeing.
XingfuMama hosts the weekly challenge Whatsoever Is Lovely. The challenge is simple. Just reflect back over your week and see what is lovely, whether a thing or a moment, share in a post what is precious and lovely to you.
Last Thursday, Coleman and I had an early morning adventure (dropped off at 8am) hiking in Kings Mountain State Park. Coleman loves the being out in the great outdoors surrounded by nature’s beauty.
We were dropped off near Lake Crawford and proceeded to hike down to the lake. We hiked along the Lake Crawford Trail and stopped for a short break to observe the Spillway. Watching the water flow from one side to the other is fascinating and captivated Coleman’s interest.
He hopped from rock to rock to cross the water slowly flowing from the Spillway. I, on the hand, crossed over via the bridge.
Here are the views Coleman and I thought were lovely and the memories we made are extremely precious.
The Spillway at Kings Mountain State Park Whatsoever Is Lovely Challenge 2026 – Week 15
Cameras: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens & Altura UV Filter attachment
Location: The Spillway; Lake Crawford; Kings Mountain State Park; Blacksburg, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Isn’t it lovely to Enjoy Nature. Admire Nature’s beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens & Altura UV Filter attachment.
Location: The Living History Farm; Kings Mountain State Park; Blacksburg, South Carolina, USA
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.
Location: The Spillway; Kings Mountain State Park; Blacksburg, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
This week I’m starting a new series for XingfuMama’s Pull Up a Seatthat will last approximately eight (8) weeks more or less. As you can see from the title it will be on Coleman’s Style (of Pulling Up a Seat) in a State Park. This series will all be Coleman’s Style at Kings Mountain State Park.
Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). Let me first apologize for being a bit late in posting this week’s Which Way Challenge. Our internet was being wacky going in and out not staying connected for the longest time. Hopefully our WiFi will stay connected so I can complete and publish.
This week I have chosen (CWWC)/CFFC 2026: Any Which Way with Views from a walk or hike for this week’s theme. This week’s CWWC I’m combining with Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC). Let’s see what we are looking at as we take our walks or hikes. The Which Way can be any path, sidewalk, trail, or road as long as the Which Way is clearly discernible. As always signs are always welcome.
For further information regarding the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) feel free to check out the home page here.
This week Coleman and I took an early morning brisk hike at Kings Mountain State Park (not to be confused with the Kings Mountain National Military Park). We began our hike along the Lake Crawford Trail (Purple Trail Signs) then ventured onto the Historic Farm Trail (Yellow Trail Signs). Our starting point for the Lake Crawford Trail began at the Historic Bathhouse which was built in 1939 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). This Historic Bathhouse is considered to be among the finest examples of CCC rock wall and step construction in the Southeast.
Coleman walking towards the Bathhouse The Rock Steps and the Bathhouse Lake Crawford The Spillway The Water flowing down the Spillway Lake Crawford Coleman following the Purple Trail Signs attached to TreesNotice of Eagle Scout Project completed at Kings Mountain State Park Eagle Scout Project performed by Winston Strong October 2023No Biking Allowed Lake Crawford Trail Kings Mountain State Park
As we continued our Hike, we ventured onto the Historic Farm Trail in order to investigate the Living History Farm. In this next gallery will began on the Historic Farm Trail and end at the Living History Farm.
Coleman following the Yellow Trail Signs At this point we cross the road towards the FarmTrail MapKings Mountain State Park Living History Farm & Parking Who do I see? An Outhouse The chimney & Fireplace which once boiled sorghum stalks Coleman and a wagon Reminds my of the “Little House on the Prairie” wagonsHistoric Farm Trail Kings Mountain State Park
Click on each image to enlarge.
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.
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: Catawba River; Landsford Canal State Park; Catawba, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Love & Peace to y’all. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
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.
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.
“For me, pointing and clicking my phone is absolutely fine. People say that isn’t the art of photography but I don’t agree.”
— Annie Lennox
When I first started taking photos a long time ago, there were no cell phones and I used several different cameras varying from Instamatic cameras, cartridge cameras like Kodak or Fuji. Then in high school I bought my first 35 mm camera.
Since I first obtained a cell phone, I would take pictures with whichever phone I had at the moment. My first phone was a Motorola android, I have since progressed to an iPhone 16 Pro Max.
“The best camera is the one that’s with you.”
— Often attributed to Chase Jarvis
Phone Photography through the Years …
2010 …
Trisha Taken with a Motorola Droid
2012 …
Motorola MB 855
2014
Camera 360 Apple iPhone 5
2017 …
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
2020…
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
2022 …
Coleman Apple iPhone 13 Pro
Skipping to 2026 …
Sophia Ruthann
Taken with an Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Sophia Ruthann
“We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone.”
— Katie Thurmes.
Regardless of whether you have your camera with you or only your phone with a camera; don’t hesitate to capture the fleeting moments. You’ll cherish them forever.
God Bless. Have a Happy and Blessed Passover & Easter weekend. 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.
This week being a free week I thought I’d take you on a virtual journey through Kings Mountain State Park not to be confused with Kings Mountain National Military Park both of which are located in Blacksburg, South Carolina. The two are located right next to each other. The State Park is different and offers many more opportunities for outdoor activities like hiking, camping, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, fishing, and picnicking.
These are from a hike Coleman and I undertook back in 2020 when he was 11 months old. He is a trooper, for sure and for certain. We hiked down to the Waterfall at Lake Crawford.
Lake Crawford Kings Mountain State Park Blacksburg, SC
The Waterfall is an enormous staircase waterfall which is the overflow spillway for Lake Crawford. Lake Crawford is just one of two lakes within Kings Mountain State Park. The other lake is named Lake York which we have not hiked around as of yet.
The Staircase Waterfall & Spillway Kings Mountain State Park Blacksburg, South Carolina
The State Park offers more than twenty (20) of hiking trails and an additional thirty (30) miles of equestrian only trails. It also has one hundred fifteen (115) campsites equipped with water and electricity plus fifteen (15) equestrian campsites.
Kings Mountain State Park and Spillway were built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). It contains approximately nearly seven thousand (7,000) acres for the enjoyment of all who wish to visit.
The Otherside of the Waterfall & Spillway Kings Mountain State Park Blacksburg, SC
Brian from Bushboys Worldhosts a monthly challenge called Last On the Card. His rules are simple to follow if you’re interested in participating.
Here are The rules: 1. Post the last photo on your SD card or last photo on your phone for the 30th or whenever your last photo was taken. 2. No editing – who cares if it is out of focus, not framed as you would like or the subject matter didn’t cooperate. 3. You don’t have to have any explanations, just the photo will do 4. Create a Pingback to this post or link in the comments 5. Use the tags The Last Photo and #LastOnTheCard
Here are my contributions …
From my Canon EOS T7 (2000D):
Civil Air Patrol Cadets gather after hiking at Kings Mountain National Military Park
God Bless. Enjoy your Spring/Autumn days. Stay safe. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 