#OptOutdoorsNC – Page 6 – Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography

2025 Monday Window: 16 June

*Kitty by a Window – 2 — AI creation by PR*

John Deere

Construction Windows

As Coleman and I were walking along the Carolina Thread Trail with all the twists and turns we wound up at a dead end. Not knowing which way to go from there we tried this trail and that trail without much success. Thinking we might be Lost as we kept trying to figure our way back out of the trail and back to the Trailhead Store where our adventures began; we spotted a few construction vehicles working across a road from the trail we were on.

Click on each image for enlarged viewing.

After while we were not only confused and turned around encountering another dead end of a trail; I decided to try our Luck and approached one of the construction workers to see if he could help us figure out how to get back on the correct trail to take us where we needed to go.

Click on each image for enlarged viewing.

The John Deere 700L series was designed with a 17-percent-larger cab than models prior to them. It features more glass
area, larger doors, and a streamlined
hood profile, optimizing comfort and
visibility to the blade ahead and the surrounding jobsite.

Monday Window

Monday Window-16 June 2025

Ragtag Daily Prompt-Lost

Ragtag Daily Prompt-Luck!

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

Location: New Construction Site; By The Trailhead Store; Daniel Stowe Contributed; Belmont, North 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.

2025 Macro Monday: 06.16

Zinnia elegans

Macro Monday (MM)

Macro Monday

Cee’s/Chris’ FOTD

Cee’s FOTD

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters

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

Location: The Farmhouse Garden Center; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, 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 Sunday Trees: 15 June

Acer saccharum

The Northern Sugar Maple is a deciduous tree in the soapberry family (Sapindaceae) native to Eastern and central North America from Canada south through the Appalachian Mountains to Georgia and west to Minnesota to northeast Texas.

Here in North Carolina, it is found in the mountains and sporadically in the Piedmont region. Northern Sugar Maple trees may reach around fifty (50) to one hundred twenty (120) feet tall with a dense, spreading crown that provides heavy shade and grows slowly to medium, although it may grow faster in open areas. It tends to grow best in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic, fertile soil in full sun, but it tolerates average well-drained soils in sun to part shade.

This particular tree is located on the grounds of The Trailhead Store, a property of Daniel Stowe Conservancy. It provides shade for visitors to enjoy a respite from the hot sun and humid heat of a sunny summer day.

Sunday Trees #590

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: The Trailhead Store; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 One Word Sunday (OWS) : Looking Down

Last week Debbie had us Looking Up, it was fun to see everyone’s take on Looking Up. This week’s theme is Looking Down. There are many different and interesting things available to see all around us if we only Look and observe what’s all around us.

Coleman and I paid a visit to the expanded and upgraded Daniel Stowe Conservancy, formerly known as The Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens. Looking all around the trails surrounding The Trailhead Store at the Conservancy there were some interesting views which we Looked Down upon.

…. Such as the Pond down and slightly to the right of The Trailhead Store.

*Looking Down upon the*
*Reflections in the Pond*

…. Or this little Pond with a waterfall surrounded by rocks a short distance away from the Dog Park.

***Coleman looking down over the Pond***

Moving along further down the trail we spot an interesting painting on the pathway with a Trail crossing sign nearby.

*Looking Down upon*
*the painted pathway*
*before crossing the road.*

And lastly for today, I’m Looking Down upon Coleman looking down at something on a bench.

*Coleman Looking Down on the Bench* while I’m Looking Down the small incline at him.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Looking Down

Cameras: 1 & 5-6) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments; 2-4) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: The Trailhead Store; Carolina Thread Trail; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Cell Pic Sunday/Monday Portrait: 15/16 June

Arilus cristatus

Click on each image for enhanced/enlarged views.

Aka the
North American wheel bug
or simply wheel bug,
a species of large assassin bug
***in the family Reduviidae***
**and the only species of wheel bug**
***found in the*** ***United States.***

The North American Wheel Bug is one of the largest terrestrial true bugs in North America, reaching up to 1.5 inches (38 mm) in length in its adult stage.

North American wheel bugs prey on caterpillars and beetles, such as Japanese beetles, the cabbage worm, orange dogs, tent caterpillars, and the Mexican bean beetle, all of which they pierce with their beak to inject salivary fluids that dissolve soft tissue.

The North American wheel bug is most active in daylight, but may engage in predatory behaviors at night in areas illuminated by lights.

It is considered beneficial since most of its prey are pests, however, I did not consider myself a pest and didn’t care for it as my sitting companion.

John’s Cell Pic Sunday

Monday Portrait

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Outdoor Seating Area; The Trailhead Store; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 SYD: June 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 (not a screenshot) 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

*Coleman looking over the Pond*
*by The Trailhead Store*
*at Daniel Stowe* Conservancy

Desktop Screensaver

Color Pop of Coleman
sitting on a Fence Post
on The Carolina Thread Trail
by The Trailhead Store
at Daniel Stowe Conservancy

From My Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max:

Focus

*Coleman*
*sitting on a Cairn*
*at Rocky Branch Trailhead*

Personal Focus

*Coleman*
*sitting on a Bench*
*inside a Gazebo*
*by The Trailhead Store*
*at Daniel Stowe Conservancy*

Reading Focus

Coleman
sitting on a Fence Post
on The Carolina Thread Trail
by The Trailhead Store
at Daniel Stowe Conservancy

Hiking Focus

*Coleman*
*by a*
*Do Not Enter*
*Trail Post*
*on the*
*Rocky Branch Trail*

Click on each image for enlarged viewing.

Share Your Desktop – June 2025

Cameras: 1) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL Filter attachment; 2-6) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Locations: 1-2 & 4-5) The Trailhead Store, Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Belmont, North Carolina; 3 & 6) Rocky Branch Trail, Cramerton/Belmont, North Carolina, USA

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 Silent Sunday: 15 June

Hydrangea macrophylla

Endless Summer

Silent Sunday

Cee’s Flower of the Day

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

Location: The Farmhouse Garden Center; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, 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: 14 June

Veronica spicata

***Spiked Speedwell***
The Farmhouse Garden Center
at Stowe Conservancy

Click on image for enhanced viewing.

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Cee’s FOTD

Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2025 Week 23

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

Location: The Farmhouse Garden Center; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

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

Even Trees Spread Love ❤️ for Y’all

“Open hearts see Love everywhere…”
Truth Beckons
Pinterest

If you ever feel down …

… Look at Nature

“Hearts are everywhere
in nature.”
Nell Regar Kartychok

If you ever feel unloved …

… Look to Nature

Nature will distinctly showcase love …

“Rest your heart in nature’s warm, and the deepest love of life
will form.”
Angie Weiland-Crosby

… Remember You are Loved

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

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

God Bless. Enjoy Nature. Feel the Love. Nature demonstrates Love in abundance. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Monochrome Madness (MM) — Naturally or Almost

This week’s host Elke from pictures imperfect blog is asking us to select images that are naturally monochrome. I searched my photos and think I came up with a few that might work for this week’s challenge.

*DSBG Dog Park Entrance*
*Daniel Stowe Conservancy*
*Belmont, NC*

*Garden Metal Wind Spinner*
*The Farmhouse Garden Center*
*The Daniel Stowe Conservancy*
*Belmont, NC*

Airplane Overhead
in Grey Cloudy Skies
Riverside Park and Greenway
Cramerton, NC

*South Fork Catawba River*
*Riverside Park and Greenway*
*Cramerton, NC*

Mostly Monochrome
Adirondack Bird Feeder
The Farmhouse Garden Center
*Daniel Stowe Conservancy*
*Belmont, NC*

Elke’s Monochrome Madness-Naturally Monochrome

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness #36 – Naturally monochrome

Cameras: 1) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; 2-5) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.

Locations: 1-2 & 5) The Farmhouse Garden Center, Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Belmont, North Carolina, USA; 3-4) Riverside Park and Greenway, Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Skywatch Friday/Weekend Sky —13/14 June

My Sky photos this week are actually from Tuesday evening. We had some colourful clouds prior to the moon rising.

I tried staying awake until the moon was at full illumination on Wednesday morning around 3:44am EST, but failed miserably. The shots of the moon I did manage to capture were taken at 9:26pm on Tuesday evening. I was hoping to catch June’s full strawberry moon when it would be its brightest. This was the best I could do however, since I was unable to be awake at such an early hour .

Skywatch Friday

Hammad’s Weekend Sky

Weekend Sky

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

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

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

2025 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Roads with traffic (vehicles of any kind, Etc. Cars,Bicycles)

Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). This week I have chosen (CWWC): Roads with traffic (vehicles of any kind; eg. Cars, Bicycles, etc) for this week’s theme. The Traffic in Your Which Ways can be heavy or light as long as your Which Ways are clearly discernible. For further information regarding the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) feel free to check out the home page here. As always remember to have fun.

There are times Coleman and I run across traffic as we walk to our destination or Trailhead. On Saturday we had to walk along a few different roads (some with sidewalks and some without sidewalks) to reach our intended destination to begin our hike for the day.

Here are my entries for this week’s challenge … from our walk …

Bicycles/Bicyclists:

Cars, SUV’s, and Trucks:

For enhanced/enlarged viewing click on each image.

Thank you to all who have supported and contributed to the Which Way Challenge this past week or at any time. Be sure to check out other Which Ways by clicking on the links below.

Dawn from The Day After’s Which Way: With Random People

Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Roads with traffic (vehicles of any kind; eg. Cars, Bicycles, etc)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Lakewood & Eagle Road; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Thursday Trios: 12 June —

Trios Flowers & Fungi

Carol’s Thursday Trios

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Camera: 1-6) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments; 7-8) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Rocky Branch Trail; Cramerton/Belmont, 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.

2025 Thursday Doors: 12 June — Doors at Daniel Stowe Conservancy (Pt 1)

Shed Door in Woods

Coleman and I went to the Daniel Stowe Conservancy to investigate all their new upgrades and additions to what was once known as the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens (DSBG). Along with the name change, many improvements, upgrades, and additions were added to DSBG.

The Farmhouse Garden Center and The Trailhead Store are just two of the many new developments on the grounds of the Daniel Stowe Conservancy. [I’ll discuss more on these facilities on another later post.] There is also an addition of a Dog Park, additional trails and connecting trails encompassing approximately eight plus (8+) miles of hiking trails on Stowe Property.

Coleman and I began our hiking adventure from The Trailhead Store. We hiked past an extra small waterfall pond, by the Dog Park and around the Big Pond Loop and then crossed the road to continue hiking on the Carolina Thread Trail.

While walking/hiking on the Conservancy property you’ll encounter some concrete paths, crushed concrete trails, natural trails filled with rocks, roots, rises, falls, switchbacks and changes in elevation which inhabits the feeling of adventure.

It was while hiking along the Carolina Thread Trail portion that we noticed a wooden Shed standing amongst the Trees. I’m not sure what the Shed was once used for, but found it interesting to be almost in the middle of nowhere.

No, we didn’t attempt to go inside the Shed. We only glimpsed a look at it from the trail … no off trail wandering for a closer look. No need when I could zoom in for a better view.

Dan’s Thursday Doors-12 June 2025

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Carolina Thread Trail; Daniel Stowe Conservancy (DSBG); Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take a Hike/Walk. Have an adventurous day. Nature is beautiful, admire it. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Spring Festival #12 —

Spring Wildflowers

Rocky Branch Trail

I’m a few days behind, but it’s still Springtime. While Coleman and I were on our long (just shy of 5 miles) hike on Saturday we noticed a few sections of the trail lined with beautiful Wildflowers.

Here are my Wildflower contributions …

***Wildflowers***
***on our Hike***
***for***
***National Trail Day June 07, 2025***

Click on each image for enlarged viewing.

Spring Festival 2025 #12 – 11 June

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens with Altura UV & CPL filter attachments

Location: Rocky Branch Trail; Belmont/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 Wordless Wednesday: 11 June

Be Careful Where You Step

Click on images for enhanced enlarged viewing.

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

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

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

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Have a Walk Amongst the Trees. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 CFFC/CosPhoChal — Bridges Made of Wood

As I sat thinking about these two challenges, I began to ponder what I could use and what might be best to fit each of these challenges. Then it dawned on me, Dan from No Facilities has chosen a theme of Things Made of Wood for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge and Dale who hosts the The Cosmic Photo Challenge has selected a prompt of Bridges, both of these challenges might actually work out well combined together into one post.

Now you are thinking how might that be possible? Well, let me explain myself to you. There are many Bridges which are constructed out of wood, especially Bridges engineered to make it easier to cross creeks, streams, rivers, and or lakes. Many Wooden Bridges are built strategically in much needed areas throughout campgrounds, greenways, and hiking trails.

Coleman and I go hiking together every week and sometimes several times throughout the week. We do encounter Wooden Bridges along the trails we hike almost everywhere we venture to hike in the Woods. Hey, I just thought of something when I wrote that last statement … Trees are Made of Wood and when we cross Bridges Made of Wood we are surrounded by Trees.

Enough jibber-jabbering around, here’s my contribution for #CFFC and #CosPhoChal.

***Wooden Bridges***
***along the***
**Rocky Branch Trail**

Dan’s Fun Foto (CFFC)-Things Made of Wood

Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge (CosPhoChal)-Bridges

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

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

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

You might want to see what’s up next on the Which Way homepage. Looking forward to seeing y’all’s Which Ways come Friday.

2025 Whataburger Windows & Doors

Whataburger, an American fast food restaurant chain headquartered and based out of San Antonio, Texas, opened its first North Carolina restaurant in Gastonia on May 29th. The opening of the legendary Texas Burger Chain has been a long wait full of anticipation, full of excitement in the expectation of Whataburger finally becoming a reality in North Carolina.

The Grand Opening of the Gastonia River Whataburger is one moment of an exciting full year celebration for Whataburger’s 75th Anniversary year. The residents of North Carolina have been excitedly waiting since around 2022 for a Whataburger to open one of its legendary Texas Burger restaurants.

What’s all the hype about Whataburger? Whataburger serves fresh never frozen beef patties on 5-inch buns, and craveworthy classics like the Patty Melt and Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit – always made-to-order and fully customizable. They serve a grilled chicken sandwich unlike anything you’ve ever eaten before. It is so delicious, it’s amazingly worth the wait and anticipation of finally being able to order a delicious meal from Whataburger.

*Whataburger*
*Gastonia, North Carolina*

Those who have never had anything from a Whataburger before were not sure what all the big excitement and hullabaloo has been about. Well, those of us who have eaten at a Whataburger restaurant before know how awesome, exceptional, and sensational Whataburger food truly is mouthwatering delicious.

The lines to enter Whataburger were extremely long with cars, trucks, and SUV’s back up across the parking lot across the road and then some. The parking for dining in was packed and overflowing into the shopping centre parking lot across the street. Lines were monitored by private security and the Gaston County Sheriff’s Department. There were lines to enter the store with a few parties by allowed in to the store at a time to afford overcrowding.

*Mile long lines*
*waiting to enter*
***Whataburger***

No need to worry about finding a place to sit. Whataburger had that all planned out with extra sitting outside under a tent set up with plenty of tables and chairs. The Whataburger staff brought our food right out to us and everyone else who chose to eat outside.

*Whataburger*
*Outdoor sitting for*
*Grand Opening week.*

The demand was so strong that the Whataburger delivery trucks had a difficult time getting into the location to deliver more products for the much needed restaurant.

Other Views of the New Whataburger…

Monday Window

See Monday Window posts in Reader

Dan’s Thursday Doors

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 23

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Whataburger; Gastonia, North 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.

2025 Monday Portrait: 09 June

Monday Portrait

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Rocky Branch Trail; Rocky Branch Park; 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.

2025 Macro Monday: 06.09

Rudbeckia triloba

Aka Brown-Eyed Susan
Thin Leaved Coneflower
Three-lobed Coneflower

Macro Monday (MM)

Macro Monday

Cee’s/Chris’ FOTD

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters

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

Location: Rocky Branch Trail; 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 OWS: Looking Up (From Underneath)

Daucus carota

Also Known as Bee’s Nest-Plant; Bird’s-Nest; Devil’s Plague; Queen Anne’s Lace; and Wild Carrot

Queen Anne’s Lace is a summer biennial wildflower from the Apiaceae (carrot) family. In some states it is considered invasive. It has naturalized in many states and can be found in sun to partial shade along roadsides, old fields, and waste places. In our area of North Carolina Queen Anne’s Lace can be found along trails, in wooded areas, and near the Catawba River.

The 2 to 4 foot tall umbels of white flowers appear in its second year of growth from mid-summer to mid-fall and have a lacy look. The basal rosette consists of 5-inch long arching leaves with a few leaves occurring alternately up the main stem.

Instead of looking straight at these flowers I chose to shot them looking up at them from underneath for a unique perspective.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Looking Up (Continued)

Janet’s One Word Sunday

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2025 Week 23

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

Location: Rocky Branch Trail; 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.

2025 Rocky Branch Benches

Jude’s Bench Anniversary Challenge-08 June 2025

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 23

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Rocky Branch Trail; Rocky Branch Park; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Silent Sunday: 08 June

Retiboletus ornatipes

Silent Sunday

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

Location: Rocky Branch Trail; Rocky Branch Park; Belmont, 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 Cell Pic Sunday: 08 June

Hand Capped

Retiboletus ornatipes
Ornate-stalked Bolete

John’s Cell Pic Sunday-07 June 2025

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

Location: Rocky Branch Trail; Rocky Branch Park; Belmont, 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 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Which Way with people

Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). This week I have chosen (CWWC): Any Which Way with people for this week’s theme. Your Which Ways can be on any pathway, road, step, bridge, and/or sign 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. As always remember to have fun.

Here are my entries for this week’s challenge …

Pathways around Centennial Center with People:

Trails with People:

Remember your Which Ways can be any way one travels, whether on foot, or other means. This week we are focusing on people in our Which Ways. And as always, Be sure to have fun.

For other Which Ways, check out the links below. Thank you to all who contributed to the Which Way Challenges.

Brian from bushboys world’s You’ll find it (down this aisle)

Penn from PENPUSHER 4 – THOUGHTS, WORDS, DEEDS, … Open Road …

Dawn from The Day After’s Which Way: Bridge from the Mill Window

Geriatri’x’ Fotogallery’s Yellow – Red – Blue

~~Cee’s~~ Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)— (CWWC): Any Which Way with people.

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

2025 Flower of the Day: 05 June

Echinacea x ‘Cheyenne Spirit’

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Cee’s FOTD

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Centennial Center; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take time to admire the Beautiful Flowers. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 1-to-3: June —Confluence Outdoor Planter Stand

The challenge is to simply take one photo and get creative with it by processing it in three different ways.

This is a planter stand with a variety of flowers in front of Confluence on Center Street in Cramerton, North Carolina.

Here are the contributions for June 2025:

Original:

Edit One:

*Watercolor Magic Effects 2*
*Pic Collage Photo Editor*

Edit Two:

*Boho 3 Effect*
*with increased warmth,*
*saturation, and vibrance*
*Pic Collage Photo Editor*

Edit Three:

*Vintage 10 effect*
*with expansion to 16:9*
*Pixlr Photo Editor*

One to Three Photo Processing — *One to Three Challenge*

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: In front of Confluence; Center Street; Cramerton, North Carolin, USA

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

2025 CFFC: Things Made of Metal

Good Day! We are in the beginning of June already. Where has the time gone? We are almost half way through 2025, and before ya know it another year will have passed.

Dan from No Facilities has chosen the theme of Things Made of Metal. As suggested I searched through my archives to find possible photos that would fit with this week’s theme.

Here are my contribution entries …

Dan’s CFFC-Things Made of Metal

Be sure to check out the Which Way (CFFC) Challenge – CWWC: Any Which Way with people on Friday. I’m looking forward to seeing y’all’s Which Ways with People.

2025 Flower of the Day: 03 June

Caneberries

Caneberries are a group of berries which includes Blackberries, Raspberries, Boysenberries, Loganberries, and a few more varieties. Caneberries grow on tough, woody stems called canes. They are a part of the Rosaceae family and are also known as bramble berries. Caneberries are aggregate fruits, which means that they are made up of many clusters of individual drupelets. They thrive in cool, moist climates.

They are popular for their nutritional value and can be used in various culinary applications. Caneberry harvest typically occurs from June through August.

Caneberries are grouped by four plant characteristics: 1) growth habit (trailing, semi-erect, or erect); 2) fruiting habit (primocane or floricane); 3) presence or absence of thorns (thorny or thornless); and 4) fruit color (raspberries only).

These particular Caneberries are semi-erect; growing upright in the beginning and bending over to trail along the ground if not supported. In the Southern region of the United States, blackberries and raspberries benefit from a trellis for commercial production.

Caneberries are a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Caneberries can be enjoyed fresh, frozen, or used in jams, cobblers, ice cream, and other dishes. When they are ripe they can be eaten straight from the plant, which Coleman would have loved to do on our latest hike. Unfortunately for him, they were not ripe yet.

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Cee’s FOTD

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

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

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

2025 Monochrome Monday: 02 June

B/W By the River

While Coleman was enjoying playing in the sand near the South Fork Catawba River, I changed the setting my iPhone to Muted B & W for some shots and Stage Light Mono for taking Portraits of Coleman at play. Enjoy watching Coleman in his element.

Coleman
South Fork Catawba River
Riverside Park and Greenway

Monochrome Monday

Monday Portrait

Monochrome Madness

Monday Monochrome

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: The Big Sand Pit; By the South Fork Catawba River; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have Fun. Enjoy Nature’s beauty in the great outdoors. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 MM #35 — Through the Woods

Monochrome Madness

Leanne Cole has chosen the theme of Woods, Rainforests, and Bushland for this week’s Monochrome Madness Challenge. For Coleman and I, every time we go hiking we are hiking through the woods along one trail or another. These are from our hike on Saturday at Riverside Park and Greenway.

There is a dirt trail a few feet away from the main fishing pier which Coleman loves to hike. A few yards down the trail is a large sand area close to the South Fork Catawba River. It has been raining quite a bit here lately, so the trail was muddy but still doable.

Here you can see Coleman hiking along the muddy dirt trail through the Woods pulling his Little Tike Dump Truck/Excavator. He enjoys playing the sand and this trail and sand pit is conveniently close to our home.

**Coleman Hiking**
**through the Woods**
**beside the**
**South Fork Catawba River**

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness #35-Woods, Rainforests, and Bushland

Cameras: 1-2) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL & UV Lens attachments; 3-6) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

Location: Dirt Trail; Beside the South Fork Catawba River; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Macro Monday: 02 June

Orange Coneflower

Macro Monday (MM)

Macro Monday

Cee’s/Chris’ FOTD

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; 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 Sunday Trees: 01 June

Chamaecyparis pisifera

This is a Golden Threadleaf Sawara Cypress, Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Filifera Aurea’ tree. It is sumptuous, perhaps overly so although lovely to look upon. It has a bold, seamless yellow coat of drooping, thread-like foliage that sits like a huge canary-gold Easter Egg. The brilliant color of the Golden Threadleaf Sawara Cypress appeals to everyone mostly, however, its bold yellowish colour may not be pleasing to some folks.

Chamaecyparis pisifera is one of those species that horticultural humanity has fooled with for a very long time, and it is an easily propagated plant. ‘Filifera Aurea’ is an old cultivar of C. pisifera with tightly compressed needles wrapped around pendulous branchlets hence the name, ‘Threadleaf’, to describe the appearance of the foliage. There is also a cultivar, ‘Filifera’, with the same type of foliage that is a nice quiet green. But ‘Filifera Aurea’ stores some of its excess sugars and starches that form in its needles as a bright gold pigment, a glorious gold pigment, a wild, extravagant, take-your-shoes-off-and-dance gold pigment that has to make any gardener smile, even in the midst of the late winter doldrums.

‘Filifera Aurea’ is a good sized plant, eventually reaching 18-20 feet with age, but retaining a relatively formal, broadly conical shape that adds to its bold statement in the landscape. Chamaecyparis pisifera cultivars perform surprisingly well in the hot, wet southeast and ‘Filifera Aurea’ is no exception. It will happily grow a foot a year, if not overly stressed, in a broad range of soil conditions as long as it has full sun and reasonably regular moisture.

Sunday Trees – #587

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Max Fusion Camera

Location: C.B. Huss Recreation Complex; 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 Last On the Card: 31 May

Brian from Bushboys World gives these rules for The Last on the Card Challenge.
1. Post the last photo on your SD card or last photo on your phone for the 30th April 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 #LastPhotos …

From my iPhone:

From my HP Laptop:

Brian’s Last on the Card

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Looking Up

Camera: 1) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; 2)Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens with Altura UV & CPL filter attachments

Location: By the South Fork Catawba River; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Silent Sunday: 01 June

Watching the Line

Silent Sunday

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere

Location: South Fork Catawba River; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cram, 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 Cell Pic Sunday: 01 June —

Cicuta maculata

*Spotted Water Hemlock,*
*Water-hemlock, Beaver Poison*

John’s CellPic Sunday – 01 June 2025

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

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

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

2025 Skywatch Friday/Weekend Sky — 31 May

Evening Cloudy Skies

First Four from Front Yard
Last Three from Backyard

Skywatch Friday

Hammad’s Weekend Sky

Weekend Sky

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

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

God Bless. Sky watching can be dramatic, amazing to watch the Sun Rise in the mornings. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Flower of the Day: 31 May

Yesterday, after talking a long hike along the South Fork River Trail we stopped in Confluence for a bit of respite and to cool off from the high humidity. Luckily it didn’t rain until after we arrived back home.

On display to the left of the entrance is a Kayak. Normally, it is just the kayak … no decoration inside of it. We found it to hold a pot of White Mandevilla which drew our attention to the beautiful flowers.

Enjoy. Click on each image for enhanced viewing.

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge: 31 May 2025

Cee’s FOTD

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Out Front; Confluence; Center Street; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take Care. Be Observant. Admire the beauty all around. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Type of Road, Path, Step, Bridge, or Sign

Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). This week I have chosen (CWWC): Any Type of Road, Path, Step, Bridge, or Sign for this week’s theme. Your Which Ways can be on any pathway, road, step, bridge, and/or sign 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. As always remember to have fun.

Here are my entries for this week’s challenge …

Pathway/Sidewalk:

Roads:

Bridges:

Steps:

Signs:

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 from Bushboys World’s Exploring (going down Gore Rd)

Sandy from Out of MyWrite Mind’s Follow The Shadowy Path

WoollyMuses’ Cee-WWay-Challenge-Dirt-Paths-Roads

GERIATRI’X’ FOTOGALLERY’s DIRT TRACK

chava61 from This and That’s 2025 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Which Way with Dirt roads/pathways/trails

Dawn from The Day After’s Which Way: Gravel Dirt Roads

Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Type of Road, Path, Step, Bridge, or Sign

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

2025 Spring Festival #11 —

Springtime Blossoms

in the Neighbourhood

Welcome to my Week #11 Floral contribution to Dawn’s Spring Festival 2025.

Walking the neighbourhood today, these are some of the flowers we saw in bloom. The Calla Lilies are from different neighbouring gardens.

*Yucca treculeana*
*Aka Spanish Dagger, Spanish Bayonet*

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2025

Cee’s FOTD

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

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

God Bless. Take time to admire the beauty of God’s creations. Observe the Flowers, how they grow and blossom. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Thursday Trios: 29 May

Springtime with Canada Geese

Canada Geese are quite often spotted on the banks or in the waters of the South Fork Catawba River. These are just a few of the trio shots, mostly I captured the large number (about a dozen or more) of Canada Geese along the river’s banks.

***Canada Geese***
***by the***
***South Fork Catawba River***

Thursday Trios

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max;

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

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

Be sure to check out Friday’s Which Way Challenge. This week’s theme will be (CWWC): Any Type of Road, Path, Step, Bridge, or Sign. Looking forward to seeing the Which Ways y’all share with everyone.

2025 CosPhoChal: Wildflowers

Wild for Wildflowers, regardless if they are along a walkway, beside the road, or in a Wildflower Garden or Meadow. Flowers are beautiful wherever they blossom.

Here are a few we have captured over the past few years.

Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge

Cee’s Flower of the Day

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

Spring 2025 Town of Cramerton Concert

Chairmen of the Board

I’m combining this post with Judy’s Numbers Game #74-195 with a theme of Concert.

On Friday evening the Town of Cramerton held a concert in Centennial Center in Downtown Cramerton. The headliner was a Trio called Chairmen of the Board.

Chairmen of the Board is an American-Canadian Soul music group based out of Detroit, Michigan. The group saw their greatest commercial success in the 1970s. The group underwent changes over the years and was reformed in 1978 with members General Norman Johnson, Danny Woods, and Ken Knox. In 1980, they founded Surfside Records and began playing beach music.

The Chairmen of the Board were inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 1999. The group still plays on with the exception of General Johnson (who passed in 2010 from lung cancer) and Danny Woods (who passed in 2018). Ken Knox (a 38 year member), at the request of General Johnson, has kept the legacy strong. He continues to lead the group, Chairmen of the Board, touring with current members Thomas Hunter and Patrick McGuire and 6 musicians.

The Town came out in droves to listen to Chairmen of the Board perform. The Center was packed with people from all age groups, and even a few dogs as well. The group put on a show stomping performance with people dancing, clapping, and really enjoying a tremendous good ole time performance. Coleman and I really enjoyed listening to them sing and play their songs.

Six Word Saturday

Judy’s Numbers Game #74-195

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Telephoto Camera

Location: Centennial Center; Town of Cramerton; 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 Monday Window: 26 May — NASCAR #3 Windows

Thinking about the Coca-Cola 600 today as I work on my blog; I am remembering a time when I took my granddaughter, Alona to Carowinds. She was fascinated to see Dale Earnhardt’s #3 NASCAR race car on display in front of the then “Intimidator” hypercoaster (now called “Thunder Striker”).

*Alona*
*Dale Earnhardt’s #3*
*Race Car*

The iconic “Intimidator” coaster ride at Carowinds opened with great fanfare in 2010. Carowinds had a long standing contract enabling them to license the name “Intimidator” through Dale Earnhardt Inc..

Carowinds “Intimidator” hypercoaster was renamed Thunder Striker after the licensing contract with Dale Earnhardt Inc. expired in December of 2023. The “Intimidator” carried its name for over a decade. The name “Intimidator” was the nickname for NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt.

Monday Window

Camera: Apple iPhone X

Location: The Intimidator; Carowinds; Charlotte, North 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.

2025 Monday Portrait: 26 May

American Pitbull Terrier

at the Concert

Friday evening Cramerton had a concert in Centennial Center Park. Large crowds of people and a few dogs gathered outside to listen to a mixture of R&B and Soul music from the Detroit, Michigan based group called “Chairmen of the Board.”

This American Pitbull weaved in and out of the crowds and then looked our way as if to pose for his photo op.

Monday Portrait

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

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

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

John Deere

Construction Windows

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Zinnia elegans

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Acer saccharum

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Arilus cristatus

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Hydrangea macrophylla

Endless Summer

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Veronica spicata

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Trios Flowers & Fungi

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Shed Door in Woods

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Be Careful Where You Step

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Rudbeckia triloba

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Daucus carota

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Retiboletus ornatipes

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Hand Capped

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Echinacea x ‘Cheyenne Spirit’

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Caneberries

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B/W By the River

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Monochrome Madness

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Chamaecyparis pisifera

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Watching the Line

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Cicuta maculata

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Evening Cloudy Skies

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Springtime Blossoms

in the Neighbourhood

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Springtime with Canada Geese

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Chairmen of the Board

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American Pitbull Terrier

at the Concert

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