#OptOutdoorsNC – Page 9 – Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography

2025 CosPhoChal: Cool Stuff Found with Coleman

Coleman and I go hiking/walking almost every week unless the weather prohibits it, like rain, freezing cold, snow. I’m partial to a mildly warm climate to spend our days outdoors. We see many interesting stuff on our hikes/walks, some cooler than others.

Five Cool Stuff Coleman found interesting on one of our hikes this past weekend.

This Starling kept flying back and forth from the top of The Graham & Gayle Bell Pavilion to a tree on the edge of The Centennial Center Park. It captured Coleman attention seeing it fly to and from.

When we were crossing over the Goat Island Bridge, a family was looking out into the water at something. Of course, Coleman was curious to see what they were looking at so he moved closer to where they had been looking. Coleman thought it was cool to see the turtle (Eastern river cooter) sunning on small log.

Looking over the opposite side of the bridge as we were leaving, Coleman spotted a Kayaker in the water. He finds it fascinating to watch them and probably wishes he could be in one paddling through the river. What made this particular Kayaker so cool, to him, was the man had his son in the kayak with him enjoying an afternoon on the river.

*Kayaker & son*
*in the South Fork Catawba River*

Coleman finds cool and interesting stuff even walking home or in our surrounding neighbourhood. Some of our neighbors enjoy decorating their yards for the upcoming holiday. This being the season of Easter approaching, Coleman thought it was cool to spot the large Easter Eggs in one of the yards and had to point them out to me.

After visiting the Cruz-In in uptown Cramerton after our hike back from the Easter Egg Scramble, Coleman seemed thrilled to try out his new Bubble Wand that was given to us. It was cool to watch him blow bubbles and then try to pop them. As he kept blowing bubbles he eventually learned to catch them and then release the bubbles back into the air.

Cosmic Photo Challenge-Here’s some cool stuff I found.

God Bless. Enjoy the Outdoors. See if you can find Cool Stuff in your area. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 SYD: April 15

Clare from Clare’s Cosmos invites everyone to join her in Sharing Your Desktop (SYD). Below are her suggestions for participating in the Share Your Desktop Challenge

To do so, simply share the photo* you have set as your wallpaper;
Provide as little or as much detail as you wish;
Use a pingback, or post a link here so I know you have joined in on the fun;
Then finally, share the fun around.

I am sharing my Wallpaper from both my Laptop and my Smartphone. I enjoy looking at different images each month. Most of which revolve around Coleman (my grandson) and nature.

Here are my Desktop Wallpaper and Screensaver for my Laptop:

From My HP Laptop:

Desktop Background Wallpaper

Desktop Screensaver

*Coleman by the*
*South Fork Catawba River*
*Riverside Park and Greenway*

From My Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max:

Personal Focus

*Coleman*
*practicing fielding*
*for T-Ball*

Reading Focus

*Coleman at*
*Riverside Park and Greenway*

Hiking Focus

*Coleman hiking*
*on the Disc Golf Trail*
*Goat Island Park and Greenway*

Share Your Desktop – April 2025

Cameras: 1,3,5) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; 2,4) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL & Star Filter attachments

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

2025 Monochrome Monday: 14 April (on 15)

Monochrome Monday

Monday Monochrome

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Telephoto Camera

Location: On the Bank of the South Fork Catawba River; Goat Island Park and Greenway; 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 Macro Monday: 14 (on 15) April

Macro Monday (MM)

Macro Monday

Cee’s/Chris’ FOTD

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

Location: Centennial Center; Downtown Town of Cramerton; 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 Monday Window: 14 April

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

1931 Ford Model A

5 Window Coupe

We walked to the First ever Cramerton Cruz-In during the early afternoon in the uptown parking lot of First Baptist Church. The Cruz-In was supposed to go from 10:00am until 2:00pm. We (Coleman & I ) started walking that direction around 1:00pm in hopes of still being able to see the antique automobiles. As we were walking we noticed some of the cars had already started leaving the Cruz-In. We got lucky and spotted this 1931 Ford Model A Coupe driving our way. I did the best I could with a moving auto to capture it with my iPhone.

I tried to capture most of the Antique Ford’s windows, from front to back and the left side windows. I’m just glad we managed to see it even if only as it was leaving the area. It turned out that most of the cars left at the same time and only a few were left when we arrived. I guess the owners didn’t feel obligated to stay the full length of the Cruz-In.

Monday Window

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: 8th Street; Downtown Town of Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Monday Portrait: 14 April

Stig the Whippet

Stig the Whippet was a visitor at the Cruz-In For Christ which was held on Saturday, 13 April 2025. The Cruz-In had a variety of antique automobiles, a blood drive, a bouncy house, as well as free food, free drinks, free desserts, and a free car wash. All free as a way to minister to the community.

The Cruz-In Stig visited was held by the First Baptist Church of Cramerton. We missed most of the antique automobiles by the time we arrived, but still captured a few with my iPhone camera and Coleman got to enjoy the bouncy house.

The Whippet dog breed was developed by crossing Greyhounds with Terriers. The Kennel Club officially recognized the Whippet Dog breed in 1891. However, it was actually recognized three (3) years earlier by the American Kennel Club in 1888.

The Whippet was originally bred to pursue and capture small game. They were first brought to America by English mill operatives of Massachusetts. They make excellent watchdogs considering they are not snappy or one to bark a lot. They are a quiet and intelligent breed, and do not bark unnecessarily. They are pretty fast when they run with the capability to reach speeds of up to 35mph.

Whippets are generally gentle and affectionate, but can sometimes exhibit behavioral issues such as separation anxiety, aggression, and nervousness. Whippets are sighthounds and need to have secure environment from preventing them from chasing after things. They tend to form strong with their owners; it is not recommended to leave them alone for love periods of time. If you think about acquiring a Whippet, be prepared to have it right next to you even in your bed. They’ll lay next to you touching you when they sleep.

Monday Portrait

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Parking Lot; First Baptist Church of Cramerton; 8th Street; Cramerton, North Carolina, 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.

OWS — Riverscape

Debbie over on Travel with Intent is the host for One Word Sunday. The theme she has chosen this week is —scape. We may use any word that ends with —scape.

Living within walking distance to the South Fork Catawba River I figured Riverscape would be a funtastic word to choose for this week’s One Word Sunday Challenge.

These are from the hike Coleman and I took yesterday after the Easter Egg Scramble.

Coleman always loves spending time playing and hiking near the River. Where do y’all enjoy spending your afternoons?

Debbie’s One Word Sunday- —scape

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: South Fork Catawba River; Goat Island Park and Greenway; from the C.C. Dawson Bridge; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. A Happy Palm Sunday to y’all! Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Pull Up a Seat – Coleman Style on a Stack of Rock Slabs

Rocky Branch Trail

As we were nearing the end of our hike along the Rocky Branch Trail to head back home; Coleman decided to climb up into the top of the Stack of Rock Slabs (Rock statue) located at the Cramerton entrance to the Rocky Branch Trail portion of the Carolina Thread Trail. As you can tell, if something appears to be suitable for sitting Coleman will find a way to Pull Up a Seat.

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 15

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

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

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

2025 Silent Sunday: 13 April

A Glimpse of a Fishing Pier

*Goat Island Pier*
*South Fork Catawba River*

Silent Sunday

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #264

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Telephoto Camera

Location: View from the C.C. Dawson Bridge (aka Lakewood Road bridge); Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Happy Palm Sunday! May the spirit of this day fill your heart. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Cell Pic Sunday: 13 April

Easter Egg Scramble

On Saturday, the 12th of April the Town of Cramerton held an Easter Egg Scramble for children under the age of Two (2) through the age of Ten (10). The Town announced the event on the Town of Cramerton’s event page, on their Town app, and on their Facebook page.

The announcement asked for anyone interested in participating in the Easter Egg Scramble to Hop on over to Stuart W Cramer High School ( the Town’s high school) for a morning of fun, games, and tons of eggs to hunt!

Our morning started out at the Community Center for Coleman’s T-Ball individual and team pictures at 9:30am to receive his uniform and then to wait for his team’s turn for pictures. Once the pictures were completed, we stopped back by home to have him change back out of his uniform and grab something for him to use to place the eggs he gathered.

We arrived at the high school in time to greet the Bunny’s and the Honeybee prior to his age group’s turn to Scramble for Easter Eggs. The Easter Egg Scramble began at 10:15am for the youngest Easter Egg Scramblers, with the 4-5 years old’s (Coleman’s age group) turn beginning at around 10:45am. For the lack of an Easter Egg basket, I grabbed a grocery bag for him to gather his eggs into once he picked them up.

And they’re off and running …

Once the children were finished their turn at the Easter Egg Scramble the children could turn their eggs in for bags of candy (no candy was placed in any of the eggs). All children received the same size bag of candy regardless of how many eggs they acquired. Coleman gathered approximately thirty + eggs.

The Easter Egg Scramble event was partnered with The Town of Cramerton, Stuart W. Cramer High School Student Council, Life Church, Cramerton Church, and Cramerton Christian Academy. The candy bags were packed and donated by Cramerton Christian Academy, Cramerton Church, and Life Church.

The Easter Egg Scramble event was a family-friendly event which enabled families and their children to have a tremendous amount of Fun.

John’s CellPic Sunday -13 April 2025

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

Location: Stuart W Cramer High School; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. “May this Palm Sunday bring renewed faith, hope, and love.” Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

This isn’t on My Bucket List

Linemen at work
Utility Lines Construction Services, LLC (ULCS)

When Coleman and I were walking back towards downtown, we saw these linemen up in the air in buckets working. Not sure why it took two of them or what the problem was they were working to fix, but it was a sight to see. I know I wouldn’t want to be doing their jobs. It is not on my bucket list to attempt to make a career, especially not at this time in my life.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

SWS

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Eighth Street; Cramerton, North Carolina 28032

God Bless. What’s NOT on your bucket list? Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Flower of the Day: 12 April — Rhododendron

Cee’s (Chris’) Flower of the Day

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

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.

Birds of the Carolinas/Birds of the Week CXI

Mourning Doves

The scientific name for Mourning Dove is Zenaida macroura. According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Mourning Doves are common throughout North Carolina. However, this is the first time Coleman and I have seen them in our neighbourhood. They are members of the dove family, Columbidae. The Mourning Dove is also known by the American mourning dove, the Rain dove, the chueybird. At one point in time they were once referred to as the Carolina pigeon and Carolina turtledove.

Mourning Doves are one of the most abundant and widespread North American birds and a popular gamebird. Approximately twenty (20) million birds are shot annually in the United States, both for sport and meat. It is said that one pair may raise up to six (6) broods of two (2) squabs (young) each in a single year in warm climate areas.

These birds (the mourning doves) are often found near humans, whether gobbling up seeds under a feeder, perching on a telephone wire, or building a nest in a questionable location. The macroura in its scientific name comes from the Greek words for “long tail.” The Mourning Doves tail is slender, tapered, and has white-tipped outer feathers which is a clue to distinguish it apart from other Doves like the Eurasian Collared-Dove and the White-winged Dove Those doves tails end in square tips.

Mourning Doves are known to be skittish. They make a sharp whistling sound when they take flight. The noise doesn’t come from their beaks, however, it is actually made by their wings as air rushes through their feathers and causes them to vibrate.

It is interesting to note that when Mourning Doves locate a food source, such as seeds on the ground (and possibly in a bird feeder); they prefer to grab as much as they can manage, storing their haul in a throat pouch called the crop. Then, they’ll fly off to a safe spot to work on digesting.

In some spiritual or symbolic interpretations, a mourning dove’s appearance can be seen as a message of peace, hope, or a gentle reminder of loved ones, or even a visit from a deceased person. Some people believe that the sight of a Mourning Dove is a message from God, angels, or other spiritual guides. To hear the cooing of a mourning dove can be understood as a call to seek and find inner peace. Another thought is that Doves may remind us to hold on to hope and not fear death, but instead to think of it as a new beginning.

Birds of the Carolinas

Birds of the Week CXI

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

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 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Which Way in Black and White

This week I’m asking y’all to show your Which Ways in Black and White in Memory of Cee Neuner (1960-2025). Cee hosted several photo challenges including Cee’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC) – currently hosted by Deb L. Waters (aka me) from Gfpacificbee’s Insights and Photography, Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC) – currently hosted by Dan Antion from No Facilities, Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge (CMMC), and Cee’s Black and White Challenge (CBWC) and Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge (FOTD) – hosted by Chris Donner (Cee’s Life Partner & wife).

In Memory of Cee’s Black and White Challenge let us all show our Which Ways this week in Black and White for this week’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC). Remember to have Fun and Signs are always welcome.

Here are my entries:

On the Road with Cars and Trucks:

Roads and Pathways with Parked Cars and Trucks:

On Sidewalks and Pathways:

All photos were taken in Downtown Town of Cramerton the end of March.

Next week the theme will be CWWC: Any Which Way with Trains and/or Trolleys (or anything else on a railroad track.) This maybe in combination with Dan’s CFFC.

Check out other Which Ways by clicking on the links below.

WHICH WAY WITH FLOWERS

Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)-Any Which Way in Black and White

Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC)

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 14

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Downtown Eighth & Center Streets; Town of Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Thursday Trios: 10 April

Trios in the Park

Thursday Trios

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

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

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

2025 Monochrome Madness (MM): 10 April

Cramerton Concert

The last Friday of the month from March through September the Town of Cramerton holds a Concert Event in the Park. The Concerts will feature artists (singers, bands, musicians) from different genres each month. With a different Genre each Concert the Town hopes to please the musical interests of practically every member of the community.

March’s Concert’s main feature was a band entitled Small Town Sunday. Small Town Sunday performed a mixture of Country music, Christian music, and Christian Country music. The group featured a trio of singers; Matt Branch, Holly Branch and Stephen Robertson plus a drummer, a keyboard musician, and guitarist. The music was fantastic, Coleman and I really enjoyed their music. A couple of song titles they performed are “THE DAYS HE CAN BELIEVE” (written in honor of Matt Branch’s father) and “That’s What I Love About Sunday.”

Here are a few photos I captured during the concert from my iPhone in Black and White.

*Matt & Holly Branch and Stephen Robertson*

To find out more about the musical band, Small Town Sunday click here.

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: The Graham & Gayle Bell Pavilion; Centennial Center; Town of Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Thursday Doors: 10 April

Cramerton Post Office

& Downtown Eateries Doors

*U.S. Post Office*
*Cramerton. N.C. 28032*

Dan’s Thursday Doors

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; Fusion Camera – Muted B&W

Location: Center Street; Downtown Town of Cramerton; 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 LAPC #343 – Seen on my Last Outing with Coleman

Leya is this week’s host for the Lens-Artist Challenge. She has selected a theme of Seen on my Last Outing.

My last outing was on Friday after I picked Coleman up from the school bus stop. After stopping at home to allow him to change into shorts, gather drinks and snacks we proceeded to hike downtown to Goat Island Park and Greenway for a relaxing afternoon of hiking and fun.

What we saw when we first approached Goat Island were the Canada Geese out soaking up the warm sunshine.

Continuing on our way we gaze over the South Fork Catawba River from the bridge as we cross over into the Greenway.

Next up, we saw a bicyclist riding along in front of us on the paved Greenway trail.

Hiking along we saw Sasquatch and more Canada Geese.

Isn’t it amazing the variety of interesting things we see on our various outings we take when we venture outside. The interesting “thing” we saw next was not in our normal per view of subjects seen on any of our adventures previously.

*A man tethered to a landline in the middle of the South Fork Catawba River.*

We spoke with the man in the River as curiosity plagued us to know what he was doing standing in the middle of the River. He informed us he was searching for golf discs that might of missed their target and landed in the river instead of the disc golf catcher.

Venturing on, Coleman and I spotted trash discarded by the trail (someone didn’t adhere to the Leave No Trace rule).

Before continuing on our hike, Coleman decided to throw sticks in the river. He likes to see the splashes that occur when he throws objects into the water.

And coming back around to the beginning of the trail, we see some newly grown mushrooms and a couple of disc golf catchers.

As we are at the end of our adventure and what was Seen on our Last Outing, you might like to venture over to Leya’s blog to see what she saw on her last outing. Thank you Leya for hosting this week’s challenge. Click here to check out Leya’s post.

Lens-Artists Challenge #343 – Seen on my Last Outing

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #264

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL & 4-Star Filter attachments.

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

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

2025 Wordless Wednesday: 09 April

Tree Replanting

*Coleman*
*trying to replant*
*this portion of a tree*

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #264

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL & 4-Star Filter attachments.

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

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

2025 CosPhoChal: April Week One — Fun in the Sun

Fun in the Sun

Coleman Style

Whenever the weather is nice and warm on the weekends and sometimes during the week, Coleman and I go hiking to one of the nearby Greenways. Coleman prefers being outside having Fun in the Sun anytime to being cooped up indoors.

Whenever I go outside into the Sunshine, it is, more likely than not, to watch Coleman having Fun in the Sun.

Now that Spring has arrived, Coleman has Fun in the Sun practicing T-Ball (or if you hear him say it, it would be T-Bat practice).

Some days we go to Riverside Park and Greenway, while there he likes to have Fun in the Sun playing in the Sand or being near the water.

On other days we hike down to Goat Island Park and Greenway to either hike or allow Coleman to play in the playground. Occasionally we bring along our cornhole bean bags to have some Fun in the Sun playing a round of Cornhole.

Most other times at Goat Island he play on the playground equipment swinging & twisting in & out of the ropes or convincing me to push him on the Swings for him to enjoy having Fun in the Sun.

Cosmic Photo Challenge-Fun in the sun

#CosPhoChal

Cameras: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250 lens.

Locations: 1-3) C.B. Huss Recreation Center; 4-7) Riverside Park and Greenway; 8-11) Goat Island Park and Greenway

God Bless. Have Fun in the Sun. Enjoy the vast beauty in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 OWS: 06 April — Creepy

*Witch at Land of Oz*
*(click on image for enlarged viewing)*

This is a throwback photo my dad took back in 1972 on a visit to The Land of Oz. The Land of Oz Theme Park was once a thriving tourist attraction in Beech Mountain, North Carolina. The theme park was inspired by the Wizard of Oz. It operated from 1970 to 1980.

Janet’s One Word Sunday-Creepy

Throwback Thursday

For further information about OWS check out Debbie’s One Word Sunday.

Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm

Digitization: Wolverine Convertor

Location: The Land of Oz Theme Park; Beech Mountain, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you Janet for hosting these past three challenges. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Monochrome Monday: 07 April

Unusual River Sighting

Monochrome Monday

Monday Monochrome

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #264

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL & 4-Star Filter attachments.

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

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

2025 Numbers Game #66-187

Judy from Life Lessons’ blog hosts The Numbers Game each week. I am posting for The Numbers Game #66-187. Judy’s rules for playing along with her Numbers Game are simple.

To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find that include that number and post a link to your blog in my Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title.This prompt will repeat each Monday with a new number. If you want to play along, please link your blog in comments below.

In lieu of numbers this week I am choosing a theme of Downtown Concert. The Downtown Concert was held in Centennial Center in Downtown Cramerton, North Carolina on Friday, March 28th.

The Opening Act for the concert was a singer named Trish England. Trish England is a Christian music artist who performs Southern Gospel, Christian Contemporary and Country music. She is originally from Austin, Texas and currently resides in Bessemer City, North Carolina. She has three (3) CD albums and releasing a single sometime this year all recorded under the Son Sound West Records.

I was really impressed by Trish’s performance. I had never heard of her before her performance in Cramerton, however, I soon realized she is an extremely talented artist who loves Jesus and loves to share her love of Jesus through her music to audiences everywhere. A few of the songs she performed were “Jesus in My Country”, “God Did It”, “Christian in the House”, “That’s God”, and “Behold the Beauty of the Lord”. My grandson, Coleman and I really enjoyed her performance and would recommend listening to her sing in concert, via Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music or which ever is your preference for listening to music online or streaming outlet.

Judy’s Numbers Game #66-187

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

Location: GRAHAM AND GAYLE BELL PAVILION; Centennial Center; Downtown Town of Cramerton; Cramerton, 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.

Sunday Trees — 2025 06 April

Cornus florida,

the Flowering Dogwood

Click on each image for enhanced viewing.

Sunday Trees

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Camera:1 & 3) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; 2) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura 4-Star & CPL Filter attachments.

Location: Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Silent Sunday: 06 April

Agrocybe praecox aka
Spring Fieldcap, Spring Agrocybe
*or Early Agrocybe*

Silent Sunday

Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2025 Week 13

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL & 4-Star filter attachments.

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

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

2025 Weekend Sky(Watch) Friday: 06 April

The other day it was warm, but cloudy and windy. It was raining lightly when Coleman got off the school bus. We waited a half hour, the rain stopped, so we ventured down to Riverside Park and Greenway for him to play in the sand by the South Fork Catawba River.

These shots of the Sky(watch) were taken using an Altura 4 Star filter and an Altura CPL filter attachments. Occasionally, the sun tried to peek through the cloudy sky.

Hammad’s Weekend Sky

Skywatch Friday

Camera:Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL & 4-Star filter attachments.

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

God Bless. Stay Warm. Take care of yourself and each other. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Cell Pic Sunday: 06 April

South Fork Catawba River
Riverside Park and Greenway

John’s Cell Pic Sunday

Cameras: 1)Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max;

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

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

River Wading – Not Fishing for Fish

Coleman and I went hiking after he got home from school today (Friday). We walked downtown to Goat Island Park and Greenway. There weren’t any kids in the playground when we arrived, so I made a decision for us to hike along the trail first and then come back to the playground when we were finished hiking.

We started out along the paved hiking trail and meandered over to the dirt disc golf trail which runs simi-parallel to the South Fork Catawba River. While walking adjacent to the river, Coleman pointed out that there was a man standing in the river. This is not a normal sight when we are hiking. Therefore, we proceeded to investigate what the man was doing wading in the South Fork Catawba River.

At first, I thought the man Wading in the river was fishing even though most fishermen/women fish from one of the fishing piers or from the riverbanks. When we were close we asked the man what he was doing. It turns out that one of the disc golf catchers is on the opposite side of the river from where one is to throw the disc. According to the man wading in the river, many people miss the other side when they throw the disc across the river. So, it turns out he was searching the river for any golf discs that may have landed in the river. He had been searching for approximately twenty (20) to thirty (30) minutes when we approached him. Besides wearing waders the man was tethered to the riverbank by a rope to insure he wouldn’t be carried downstream if for some unpredictable strong wind and current tried to whisk him away. So you see, he wasn’t fishing for fish, but instead for golf discs.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

SWS

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #263

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL & 4-Star Filter attachments.

Location: South Fork Catawba River; Goat Island Park and Greenway; 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: Flower of the Day — 05/06 April

Petunia Easy Wave Yellow

Today I decided to post a flower in memory of Cee’s Weekend FOTD. This past year with her declining health Cee combined Saturday/Sunday Flower of the Day into Weekend FOTD. These are three different processing images of my original Petunia Easy Wave Yellow photo image.

Original:

One:

*Polaroid2 with Bokeh1 Overlay*
*using PicCollage Photo Editor*

Two:

*Magic Effects – Watercolor2*
*using PicCollage Photo Editor*

Three:

*Atomic Black & White Filter*
*using Pixlr Photo Editing*

FOTD

One-to-Three Photo Processing Challenge-April 2025

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Ultra Wide Camera

Location: Outside of TanninWine House; Center Street; Town of Cramerton; 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 MM #31 — Downtown Cramerton at Night-Time

Centennial Center

I’m not usually out at early evening or night time. I have trouble seeing in the dark so Coleman and I are usually always back home before it turns dark. This past Friday, The Town of Cramerton was having a Concert in Centennial Center Park. The Concert did not start until six in the evening, which is still light due to the time change to Daylight Saving Time.

I wanted Coleman to experience the Concert in the park, so we went. We arrived early and found a suitable spot to lay our blanket and sit in the grassy area.

While waiting for the Concert to begin, I snapped shots of the area both with my camera and my iPhone. I shot all these using my iPhone’s fusion camera and captured the area in black and white. Other Special Events will take place the last Friday of each month through the end of Summer. I’ll think about us attending those events when the time comes nearer.

Here are some of what I captured Friday evening.

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Ritva’s Monochrome Madness #31-Night Time

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

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

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

2025 Thursday Trios: 03 April

A Gaggle of Canada Geese

On Sunday, Coleman and I stopped by Goat Island Park and Greenway on the way back home. We were delighted to spot the Canada Geese enjoying themselves on the water of the South Fork Catawba River.

Now that Spring is here and days are approaching the warmer temperatures, we are seeing the Canada Geese more often than we had previously. Sometimes we see larger Gaggle of Canada Geese than we did on this particular day. Most often we see them entering and swimming in pairs. Therefore, seeing three swimming together was a fantastic moment to capture.

Thursday Trios

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #263

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

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

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

2025 Thursday Doors: 03 April

*The R. T. Hill Building featuring side door.*

*The R. T. Hill Building*
*as seen from*
*Centennial Center*

Dan’s Thursday Doors

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

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

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

2025 Wordless Wednesday: 02 April

The Graham & Gayle Bell Pavilion

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: The Graham & Gayle Bell Pavilion; The Centennial Center; Town of Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Cee’s Flower of the Day: 01 April

Verbascum thapsus

Cee’s FOTD

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

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

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

2025 Sunday Stills: 23 March — Celebrating Spring

Take Me Out to the Ball Game …

Celebrating Spring with Children’s sports through the C.B. Huss Recreation Center Complex. Spring is time for Baseball or in Coleman’s case T-Ball. Spring is time to Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Coleman’s T-Ball practices began on Saturday, March 8th.

Look closely & you might spot Coleman in the infield.

Coaches hitting balls for the players to practice fielding the ball.

Coleman waiting in the infield, T-ball approaching, and Coleman’s got the ball.

Great job at practice, Coleman. Till next time, have a funtastic week.

Terri’s Sunday Stills-Celebrate Spring or Autumn

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: CB Huss Recreation Complex; Town of Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Play Ball. Take a Walk. Enjoy the Outdoors. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Silent (Almost… Not Quite) Cell Pic Sunday: 30 March

O! Say can you see …

⁠O! say does that star-spangled Banner yet wave,
⁠O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?(1)

*U.S. Flag*
*hung from a*
*Fire Ladder Truck*

‘Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.(1)

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.(1)

⁠And the star-spangled Banner in triumph shall wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.(1)

*U.S. Flag*
*Waving from a*
*Fire Department*
*Ladder Truck*

And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
While the land of the free is the home of the brave!(1)

Silent Sunday

John’s Cell Pic Sunday

Cameras: 1-2) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; 3-4) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL Filter attachments.

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

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

Sunday Trees — 2025.30.03

Carolina Poplar

Sunday Trees

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

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

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

Backyard Junk Pile Bench

While Coleman was playing in the backyard he was talking about our landlord’s birdbath and then I noticed the bench sitting within the same Junk Pile. Never know what one might find in a junk pile. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.

I’m posting these benches for Jude’s Bench Anniversary Challenge and Xingfu Mama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge.

Jude’s Bench Anniversary Challenge

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 13

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; 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.

Rolling Rolling Up a Good Time

Coleman’s Pre-Concert Activity

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

SWS

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

Location: The Center; Downtown Cramerton; 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.

WWE: South Fork Catawba River — Ripples and Reflections

We live in walking proximity to several access entrances to the South Fork Catawba River, so Coleman and I visit the River often. On this particular day, we accessed one of the back access points which, I believe, is seldom visited by the majority of visitors to Goat Island Park and Greenway.

Here are the Ripples and Reflections we enjoyed seeing on our visit to the South Fork Catawba River.

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #262

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

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

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

2025 Weekend Sky(Watch) Friday: March 28

Hammad’s Weekend Sky

Skywatch Friday

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

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

God Bless. Stay Warm. Take care of yourself and each other. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): March Week 4 — Any Which Way with Bridges

Welcome back to the Which Way Challenge. Another week has passed and we’re almost through with one-quarter (1/4) of 2025. Hope you’re all doing well and will be joining in on the Which Way Challenge .

This week I have chosen a theme of Bridges. As you can see from my images the Bridges can be of a variety of types from Road Bridges to Swinging Bridges to Garden Bridges. Any type of Bridge will be suitable for this post.

Here are my entries for this week’s Which Way Challenge.

Swinging Bridges:

Road Bridges & Trellises:

*Road Bridges*
Piedmont Medical Center Trail
Rock Hill, South Carolina

Trail Bridges:

Throwback Bridges:

Japanese Garden Bridge
Huntington Library, San Marino, California 1979

Be sure to check out these other Which Ways. Thank you for participating in the Which Way Challenge.

Tgeriatrix’s Animals on the road

GERIATRI’X’ FOTOGALLERY’s ANIMALS ON THE ROAD

Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)-Any Which Way with Bridges

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 Thursday Trios: 27 March

Follow the Leader

in Kayaking

the River

Springtime in the Carolinas brings kayakers to the river for Funtime paddling in the water with rays of sunshine bringing warmth and tranquility to their lives.

*Just let me finish maneuvering*
*and I’ll by straight to follow y’all.*

Three kayakers in kayaks as seen from the banks of the South Fork Catawba River as Coleman and I were hiking the Disc Golf Trail parallel to the river. We watched the fellow in the red kayak maneuver his kayak away from the River bank and paddle to catch up with the other two kayakers to continue joining them on their adventure downstream.

Thursday Trios — Follow the Leader

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #262

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

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

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

2025 Thursday Doors: 27 March

Skillet Southern Bistro

Center Street in Downtown Cramerton is the central location hub for get togethers and dining. The image below is of one of the many eating establishments that people gather for some fine dining experiences.

We mostly prefer to eat at home and not waste our resources on eating out at restaurants. Therefore, I cannot personally substantiate or invalidate the claims of being a highly recommended restaurant. However, from everything I hear about the restaurant, the food is high quality and the service is exceptional.

Dan’s Thursday Doors

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

Location: 119 Center Street; Downtown Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Cee’s Flower of the Day: 27 March

Spring Garden

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Cee’s FOTD

Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Wordless Wednesday: 26 March

Autumn? Or Spring?

Northern Mockingbird

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

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

God Bless. Images were taken this Spring. Have a lovely Spring day. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Words for Thought #57: 03.25

“Peace doesn’t come from finding a lake with no storms. It comes from having Jesus in the boat.”
—John Ortberg

Turn off Distractions and Keep Your Eyes Focused on Jesus, Trusting Him in all aspects of Your Life.

Think About It Tuesday

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

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

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

2025 CFFC: Fun with Food

Fun with Outdoor Cooking & ??

Thank you Dan for continuing Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge, can’t say it enough how much it is appreciated and challenging.

This week Dan has chosen the theme of Fun with Food and I have chosen to taken the Fun with Food Outdoors. My selections vary from cooking on open fires, to eating, and some cooking demonstrations. It’s all good and fun and what more fun can be had then by the fresh air and the smell of hot Food cooking over an outdoor fire-pit.

I enjoy camping and cooking on an open fire whenever feasible. Most of these are from years back when I practically lived in the campgrounds. The two photos from the President James K. Polk Historic Site were taken during a Presidents’ Day Celebration in 2014.

The images taken at Andrew Jackson State Park (AJSP) were taken either while camping in or at the Andrew Jackson Birthday Celebration in 2018-2019. I have spent quite a bit of time camping over the years and a lot of time spent in AJSP. I also whenever I am able volunteer at various events held at AJSP as a member of Friends of Andrew Jackson State Park (AJSP).

*Volunteer Cookout Andrew Jackson*
*State Park*
Lancaster, SC

Hopefully one day in the future I’ll be able to take Coleman camping. He wants a tent and to go camping, I’m just not sure he would stay in the tent at night and not wander off.

Dan’s CFFC: Fun with Food

Throwback Thursday

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

2025 OWS: Pets in Parks & Greenways

Janet from This, that and the other thing is this week’s host for the One Word Sunday challenge. She has chosen a theme of Pets for this week’s One Word Sunday .

Currently, we do not own any pets, however, Coleman and I see Pets while we are hiking along trails in various Parks and Greenways. Many visitors to Parks and Greenways bring their companions/Pets along with them. Some of the Greenways have Doggie Park sections for the Dogs to enjoy running around and playing with other dogs.

The following are some of the companion Pets we have encountered on our hiking adventures.

Janet’s One Word Sunday-Pets

Monday Portrait

Cameras: 1-9) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm and Canon EF-S75-300mm lens; 10) Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max; 11) Apple iPhone XR

Locations: as stated with images.

God Bless. Thank you Janet for hosting One Word Sunday this week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Benches Along the Trail

On Saturday Coleman and I went hiking along the Disc Golf Trail at Goat Island Park and Greenway trying to follow the trail in numerical order for the Disc Golf Course. While hiking along the pathway crossing back and forth from paved to dirt trails we came upon these benches. Who knows, maybe people need a bit of rest in between “holes”.

I’m posting these benches for Jude’s Bench Anniversary Challenge and Xingfu Mama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge.

Jude’s Bench Anniversary Challenge

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 12

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

Location: Disc Golf Trail; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

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1931 Ford Model A

5 Window Coupe

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Easter Egg Scramble

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Cramerton Concert

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Take Me Out to the Ball Game …

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Carolina Poplar

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