Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography
This blog is for my insights on life, the Bible, hiking adventures with my grandson and whatever is important to me
I don’t have any pictures of glass, or other objects with smooth surfaces, so I hope these will pass for an alternative outlook on the theme.
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge-Things that are Smooth
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Bird on a Wire
The Northern Mockingbird is one of the most plentiful birds in North America. You can identify a Northern Mockingbird by listening to its song. You’ll hear its song which usually mimics several other birds simultaneously. Their song can be heard long before you spot their location.
The Northern Mockingbirds continue to learn new sounds throughout their lifetime. What’s interesting (which I didn’t realize) is that a male Northern Mockingbird may possibly learn around two hundred (200) songs throughout its entire life.
Northern Mockingbirds are medium-sized birds with long legs, small heads, and long, thin bills. They are slightly slimmer than a thrush and have longer tails.
Here’s an interesting fact; The Northern Mockingbird is the state bird of five states:
Northern Mockingbirds can be spotted year-round in places with shrubby vegetation like fruiting bushes, thickets, hedges, and open ground. They can be discovered in every state in the United States and parts of Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean.
In the South with our cold and sometimes freezing weather temperatures the Northern Mockingbirds tend to “fly south” for the winter months. I have just recently been able to see them back in our neighborhood. As more often than not, I hear their songs way before I am able to spot their location. When you hear the songs of the Northern Mockingbirds you know Spring has arrived.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Debbie’s One Word Sunday: Yellow
The Cosmic Photo Challenge-The arrival of Spring
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge-03.31
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Location: The Heritage Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia. North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Happy Easter Everyone! Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. Have a Blessed Easter Sunday! I appreciate y’all very much.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Wisteria floribunda
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
Gastonia Erwin Center
Park and Recreation
Cee asks everyone to post photos of Words that contain the Alphabet letters A or E. My selections for this week come from mine and Coleman’s recent visit to Gastonia’s Erwin Center Park and Recreation. As per usual Coleman (notice the Name A & E) is in several of my photos.
Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge-March_Alphabet an A or E in a Word
Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Erwin Center Park and Recreation; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Gastonia, North Carolina
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
We are still having a lot of rain several days out of the week. Even so Coleman and I managed to get a little walking in. We walked for a mile and a half before deciding to get on the bus. We rode the bus to a park we had not previously visited.
We visited the Erwin Center Park and Recreation. We rode the Blue line to the station, then switched to the Yellow line. The Yellow line took us to right across the street from the park.
The Erwin Center opened in 1961 in the Highland neighbourhood of northern Gastonia. The Center was named in honour of Dr. Herbert Erwin. Dr. Erwin was Gaston County’s first African American physician. He was a well known advocate for youth sports and activities. The Community Center has a game room, meeting room, kitchen, lounge, and offices.
In 1967 a full-size gymnasium and an outdoor basketball court were added. Today’s outdoor facilities also include a swimming pool, a splash pad (open during the summer months), a grass volleyball court, horseshoe pits, playground, tot play area, a large picnic shelter and a walking track.
In the summer of 2020, a Black Lives Matter Mural was painted on the Erwin Center basketball court by Ezekiel Clay, Jr.
The Erwin Center Park and Recreation outdoor park areas are open daily from Dawn to Dusk.
This park is a little further away from the park we normally visit, however it does have activities and playgrounds which are of interest to the very young as well as older children, teenagers, and adults.
If we were so inclined to travel a little further from home than usual, we would visit the park again. Coleman enjoyed the playground and wished it was already summer so he could have enjoyed the Splash Pad.
Pull Up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 12
Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Erwin Center Park and Recreation; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Eruca sativa
Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L.Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55lens and Altura UV filter.
Location: Heritage Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. Have a fabulous rest of your week. I appreciate y’all very much.
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.
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
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.
Just smile
and be the reason
for someone to smile
sana_wr8s12
Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge – Smiles
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
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.
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.
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens
Location: The Heritage Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Enjoy the beauty all around you. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
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.
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.
Looking Through the Rails & Such
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.
Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2024 Week 11
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge-03.20
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens
Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Happy Spring Everyone! Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Lucky 🍀
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting The Farm and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
Busy Bees Buzzing around the Beehive
Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters
Cameras: 1-4) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment; 5-7) iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting The Farm and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Brassica juncea
Photo Credit: (c) 2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens with Altura UV Filter.
Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
I never thought about squirrels leaping or jumping from the ground to high branches in trees before. Normally, I see squirrels clambering up trees or from tree to tree. This week we literally saw a squirrel leap (or jump) from the ground to a branch high up in a tree in one swift effortless movement.
Evidently, high enough is however high a squirrel wants to leap to reach its destination.
Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. Take time to observe nature. I appreciate y’all very much.
Coleman’s Way
Along 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.
Lenten rose
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge (FOTD)
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter.
Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA.
God Bless. Stop and Smell the Flowers. Enjoy the beauty of nature all around you. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Beautiful Day for Gazing at Turtles
Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #212
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens with Altura UV Filter attachment and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Location: The Pond; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have an awesome week and weekend ahead. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
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.
Pyrus calleryana
Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday
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.
Baa Baa Baa
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: The Farm; 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
CALENDULA OFFICINALIS
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Settings: f5.6 • 1/320 • 250mm • ISO125
Location: The Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2024 Week 9
Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Take time for yourself, take a walk, smell the flowers and enjoy your week. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Sometimes Ya Gotta Do
What Ya Gotta Do
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Rainy Day here. Hope you have sunshine ☀️ and are able to enjoy the outdoors. Have a wonderful blessed weekend. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Textures are everywhere, in everything if you look closely and really contemplate the esthetics of common everyday objects.
Ordinary objects of olden days …
Not overlooking what’s right beneath you …
Enjoying the variety in the outdoors …
And the many textures within new constructions in the neighbourhood.
Sarah’s Monochrome Madness #3-Textures
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: 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 visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all so very much.
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 …
Then we moved on the Nature Trail and a walk around the Pond …
And ended our visit with a stroll through the Garden in The Farm …
New life is slowly starting to arrive and in the next few weeks new growth will begin to emerge in abundance.
Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge-Close Up or Macro
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.
Don’t Let the Chickens Escape
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max – Ultra Wide Camera
Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all.
Flock of Chickens
Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: 1) iPhone 14 Pro Max; 2/3; Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Location: The Farm; 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.
Prunus cerasoides
Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: Top (1/2) iPhone 14 Pro Max; Bottom (3) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Location: Nature Trail; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Fioretto Cauliflower
Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Settings: f/5.6 • 1/200 • 123mm • ISO100
Location: The Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Welcome to The Farm
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Location: The Farm; 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.
Stand Up, Get Moving— We’re Marching into Spring
Split Cupped Collar Daffodils (Narcissus’Valdrome’)
Ragtag Daily Prompt: Friday – March
Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge 2024 Week 8
Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens
Location: Garden in The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Round Two
On the Way to & At the Museum
Heading to the Bus Stop …
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.
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 lens with Altura (for Canon) Macro Fisheye Attachment.
Location: Sandbox; Playscape; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
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
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.
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 