We are very much still in winter even though we haven’t had anymore snow as of yet. We have had many freezing temperatures in the evenings and early mornings. The past couple of days warmed up, however, chilly days and rainy days are still in the foreseeable forecast.
Since Spring has not yet sprung this year I decided to look back upon a delightfully sunny Spring day in 2022(spring ended on June 21st in 2022). On this spectacular Spring day, Coleman and I hiked along the Catawba River in Rock Hill, South Carolina. We hiked along the Founders Trail which runs parallel to the Catawba River. And before you ask, Coleman did enjoy some refreshing playtime in the River.
Look closely to see people tubing down the River.
Kayakers enjoying the Catawba River.
Coleman wading, playing, & watching the tubers floating down the Catawba River.
Location: Catawba River; Founders Trail; Carolina Thread Trail; Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Here’s wishing for Spring. Have a delightfully wonderful weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
One day back in Time my daughter and I took a vacation to meet some cousins in Ohio.
One day our one of our cousins took us sightseeing. On another day, we visited Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) as a perspective future college for my daughter to attend.
One day we walked the vast campus viewing the luscious Green lawn with a fascinating Bronze statue called “Circle of Friends.”
Circle of Friends Statue by Gary Lee Price COTC Newark, Ohio
One day we learned that the circle represents the world coming together, ‘paws’ clasped in friendship and unity.
One day we were fascinated by Price’s use of one animal from each of the seven continents, representing the entire world and our need for interaction and cooperation.
One day we interacted inside the circle joining in with the “Circle of Friends.”
One day I pray the world will come together in friendship and unity interacting and cooperating with one another peacefully.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.
Location: By the Railroad Tracks; Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Be Safe. Be Courteous. Have a Splendiferous week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Stay Safe. Stay Warm. Have a fantastic weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
We a well into the beginning of 2026. Coleman started back to school today, so now I have a few minutes to reflect on the past couple of weeks.
Hopefully y’all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s Day. Ours was truly an eventful Christmas holiday extravaganza. Of course it was exciting to watch Coleman receive his Gifts on Christmas Day, which he totally enjoyed. We kept telling him beforehand that he had to listen and behave or “Santa” wouldn’t bring any toys. You know what? “Santa” brought a few toys anyway. Coleman mostly received new clothes, which he was just as excited to get especially his new shoes.
Pre-Opening of Gifts Opening of Gifts beginColeman’s excitement Coleman’s new Cowboy Boots
Setting aside the Gifts, we decided to not let 2025 Dwindle away being bored at home. Instead, we chose to leave our little town and go on an amazing Adventure.
Where did we go on our big Adventure? Coleman’s mom was thinking about going to the mountains. Coleman wanted to go to the Beach. So, where do you think we went on our little Adventure? Yep, you’re right, we went to the Beach.
As 2025 was Dwindling away, we packed our bags, loaded up the car and headed out of town for our mini vacay Adventure. Sorry, we didn’t get any pictures of the car all loaded up, but we (I mean I) began snapping plenty of photos from the moment we arrived, all through our many Adventurous activities, and all throughout our entire mini vacation.
Arriving, Checking in, & Checking out our surroundings.
After checking in and bringing everything (and I mean everything) into our room for the week (actually six days), Coleman and I decided to head down to the Beach. We did not want to Dwindle our time away inside the room for one minute longer. Instead, we wanted to begin enjoying the Gift of Adventure immediately.
Coleman’s very first time at a Beach. First time seeing the Atlantic Ocean. First time his feet touched the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Cameras: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel 2000D.
Locations: 1st 4) Cramerton, North Carolina; Rest, 5-8) Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. It’s been an Amazing Adventurous beginning to 2026. We didn’t let 2025 Dwindle away. We enjoyed the Gift of Time away together. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Ninth Floor; Captains Quarters; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Hoping you do not experience tumultuous times in the days ahead. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
“Silver and Gold have I none, but such as I have I give unto thee …” (Acts 3:6)
You might not think this would apply to this time of year, however, I think it very much applies to. Presents, I do not need; but your Presence would be greatly welcomed and appreciated.
When Jesus was born, the Magi (also referred to as Wise Men) brought gifts (Presents) of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They came not just with their Presents, but also with their Presence. The Wise Men came to show their respect by being Present and giving Presents with significant meaning and importance.
The gift of Gold was honourable and symbolically respectful of Jesus’ Kingship and royalty. The gift of Frankincense signified their worship of the newborn king, honouring Jesus’ divinity and priesthood. The gift of Myrrh was a foretelling of Jesus’ mortality, suffering, and impending death. The Presents, from the Magi, acknowledged Jesus as King, God, and Savior. They also served practical purposes for Joseph and Mary to help meet their needs.
Yes, we all like to receive Presents during this holiday season, but Presents are not as important to me as having your Presence here with me. Now I know children (aka Coleman) does not understand that our Presence together is more meaningful than receiving Presents. One day, he may learn and appreciate our Presence together, but for now he should would enjoy receiving Presents for Christmas.
These Bald Cypress trees are resilient and have the ability to grow in very wet conditions, even standing in water. These are grown near the South Fork Catawba River in Riverside Park and Greenway.
The Cypress cones are the reproductive structures of Cypress trees that develop from the tree’s flowers. What you see here are the female cones, often called seed cones. The little red droplet on the bottom cone looks like resin which is characteristic from a cypress tree.
The Cluster of Bald Cypress cones you see is a perfect example of an infructescence. These cones are actually modified seed cones, and once they mature, they’ll release seeds. It’s interesting to learn how plants develop these unique structures to disperse their seeds. The mature cones contain seeds that are a very important food source for local wildlife, including squirrels, waterfowl, and other birds.
Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion & Ultra Wide Cameras
Location: South Fork Catawba River; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors and Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Have a terrific rest of your week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The Anolis carolinensis (Green Anole) is a tree-dwelling species of anole lizards native to the Southeastern United States. It is small to medium-sized a trunk-crowned ecomorph green anole which can change its colour to several shades from brown to green. It is sometimes referred to as American chameleon due to its colour-changing ability, but it is not a true chameleon.
Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)
The dewlap is usually pink for Anolis carolinensis and is very rarely present in females. The color of the dewlap is variable and different from the lizard eye to the human eye. Green anoles are thought to be capable of seeing a larger range of the UV spectrum, and that the dewlap reflects ultraviolet light to attract mates.
Honestly, I would just like to show you some lovely Lanose creatures which can be seen at The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, North Carolina.
Do you like my Lanose?
My friends Lanose are different shades than mine.
Mine is lighter, more fluffier than theirs ↖️.
Bet you’d love to run your fingers through my Lanose.
You know what? I’m not gonna come close enough for you to even try. You may look 👀 all you want, but you’re not gonna touch.
Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful weekend. Take time for yourself and relax. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
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.
John Deere 750L LGP CRAWLER DOZER
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.
John Deere 700L LGP Crawler Dozers
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.
The World in its vastness may not seem a calm and mellow place to find peace and rest. However, there are some amazingly wonderful places out there in this big beautiful world where you can find respite from the hectic stressful times life throws your way.
Moon & World Planetarium Show at The Schiele Museum of Natural History
Taking time to get away from every day normalcy is a privilege and often a personal necessity.
I feel the most calm and mellow when I am out in nature camping in my favourite campground away from any and all folks or situations which would be stressful.
My Campsite at Andrew Jackson State Park
Naturally, a bit of rest in a hammock would be nice and relaxing allowing for me to mellow out and enjoy my time in nature’s outdoors.
Hammock in Andrew Jackson State Park
Of course, whether I am on my own or with Coleman a hike along a trail is sure to be had. Hiking out among the trees in nature always brings about calmness and tranquility. Our hikes sometimes brings about interesting sights and experiences, like gnomes or even Stitch.
Stitch in Anne Springs Close Greenway
The Vast Outdoors is where Coleman feels calm, relaxed, and mellow. He dislikes being in doors and much prefers being outside and preferably in the woods surrounded by trees and water.
Catawba River Piedmont Medical Center Trail Rock Hill, SCCatawba Indian Nation Trail, Catawba Reservation Catawba Indian Nation Trail, Catawba Reservation, SCColeman
God Bless. Stay Calm. Mellow out and relax. Take Care. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Crosses at The Billy Graham Library Charlotte, North Carolina
I have a belief from the Depths of my Soul in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. My belief lies in knowing Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. My belief lies in knowing Jesus died on the Cross, was buried, and rose again into heaven. My belief lies in knowing God is always with me and will never leave me; he is my protector, my comforter, my all in all. From the bottom of my Soul, I know no one can ever take my beliefs away.
The closest Shorelines we have near us are t hr e banks of the Catawba River, therefore I have chosen to show y’all what Coleman and I have seen recently on the Shoreline of the South Fork Catawba River. The first few photos are taken on the banks of the South Fork Catawba River at the Goat Island Park and Greenway.
Canada Geese on the Shoreline banks of the South Fork Catawba River
On both days the weather was Tepid which was a delightful experience and quite a contrast to our recent freezing weather of snow and freezing rain. The Tepid weather was just perfect, not too hit and not too cold.
This next set of images were taken on Monday of the South Fork Catawba River’s Shoreline from the Riverside Park and Greenway mainly featuring Coleman playing on the Shoreline banks.
Coleman playing in the sand along the Shoreline of the South Fork Catawba River
Cameras: Images 1-4 & 6-11) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; Image 5) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.
Location: 1st set of Images) Shoreline of the South Fork Catawba River, Goat Island Park and Greenway; 2nd set) Shoreline of the South Fork Catawba River, Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature’s beauty. Relax and have some fun. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Coleman and I love to go hiking and whenever I am Willing to go hiking, he is always Willing to put on his hiking boots rearing to go on a hiking adventure. No matter when or where we might venture on our adventures I am usually almost always Willing to bring my Canon along to take photographs of the amazingly beautiful nature surrounding whatever hiking trail we choose to tackle for the day.
Most often than not Coleman and I close to hike in a local Greenway, Nature Preserve, or a State Park. Coleman is always excited and rearing to go out for a hike. He distastes being cooped up indoors. The majority of Greenways or State Parks are filled with Green trees, lawns, and vegetation. It’s like walking through a lush Green forest snapping photographs one by one with my Camera. I often take photographs with my iPhone as well as my Canon.
For this post I am combining several challenges into one post. I Willing chosen to select Photographs with plenty of Green using Green and Hiking as my theme for Judy’s Numbers Game.
Here are the Photographs with Green I am Willing to share with y’all for Judy’s Numbers Game, the RDP prompt of Photograph, Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge of Green, and lastly, but no less important FOWC prompt of Willing.
Landsford Canal State Park Catawba, South Carolina
I trust you have enjoyed seeing the Photographs of the lush Green trees as we hiked the Canal Trail at Landsford Canal State Park I do Willingly captured for your viewing pleasure. Click on any image for an enhanced view. Be sure to take a look at each Photograph Challenge I’ve included to get a look at what others have posted.,
Location: Outside Confluence South Fork; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Be Kind. Love One Another as Yourself. Don’t let anything get your Goat. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Coleman and I refilled our bird feeder today to the delight and contentment of Northern Cardinals as well as a variety of other bird species.
The birds have a tendency to jostle some of the bird seeds around while they are grabbing a bite and flying off. Some will stay awhile for a bit of contented munching while others snatch and flee to and fro. They do fly here and there spreading the word and then flying back for more.
After filling the feeder, we had some loose seeds, so instead of putting them back in the back we spread them out on the railing. Coleman loves to watch the birds eating the bird feed we put out. Today, the Female Northern Cardinals were displaying contentment, enjoying the feed we spread out for their content.
Location: As seen through our Front Window; Our Front Porch Railings; Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Be Content with who you are. You are loved. Dwell in the Contentment of our Lord God. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Bestie is a person’s best friend. I had friends growing up, but I do not recall one being a bestie. I know, as an adult, have had friends that come and go, but none of them have ever been close enough to be called a bestie. Nowadays, I spend practically all my time with my grandson, Coleman. He is my hiking buddy. He and I are closer than he is with his own mom. The reason for that is most likely due to the fact that we spend the most time together as his mom works a lot to provide a place for us to live. So in a sense he is my bestie. He is not a confident, but he is someone I love and care very deeply about; someone I’d give my life to protect.
Coleman playing at CB Huss Recreation Complex.
Coleman colouring an ornament at the Town of Cramerton Community Center.
Coleman and myself affectionately loving each other.
I have plenty of photos of Grey clouds, Grey skies, but I chose to choose instead a Grey Zebu located in the Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm at Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
The Ragtag Prompt of Seesaw fits right into some of the pictures of Coleman I took this past weekend at Goat Island Park and Greenway. The Goat Island Park’s Playground only opened back up this past weekend after having been closed for renovations to repair damage generated by the strong winds and storms which caused flooding to the Greenway’s Playground and a majority of the rest of the Greenway.
When we went to the playground Coleman was hoping to be able to not only play on the playground’s equipment, but also with other children. However, that is not exactly how it worked out. Yes, he was able to play on the various playground equipment including the Seesaw, but not with other children. Other parents or grandparents kept their children at a distance from other children playing in the playground. Thus the many facial expressions displayed by Coleman. He found it difficult to enjoy playing on the Seesaw especially when no other child would get on the Seesaw with him. I tried getting on the Seesaw with him, however, that didn’t work so we. My end sank all the way to the ground and he was stuck up in the air until I could manage to extend my legs for my end to go up. (Actually I ended up having to get off for his end to come down.) Here are photos of Coleman Pulling Up a Seat on the Seesaw.
Location: Goat Island Playground; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Playground with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. Have a wonderfully funtastic day. I appreciate y’all very much.
For the past few months, we have been in unrest. I live with my daughter and grandson whom I take care of while she works. Up until recently (like three months ago) her husband (who never liked my being there) was also in the home. He moved out leaving my daughter with a whole heap of debt and a rental amount she could not afford without his assistance. He really didn’t think he should contribute to the financial obligations before he moved out and definitely didn’t think so afterwards even though his name was also on the lease. this made it difficult for my daughter to find another place to live; one in which she would be able to afford. Thus, creating extreme hardship and high levels of stress and anxiety.
A Pile of Pumpkins Ready for Children’s Pickin’
After much searching and reaching out to anyone and everyone she finally found another place for us to move to. Just one catch, the landlord was still working on the house, and she didn’t have the financial resources to move in immediately. Therefore, we had additional expenses of staying in a motel for a week until everything could be completed to satisfaction. during this transitional period my grandson was missing several days of kindergarten and speech class.
So, what do you think I did? Since we couldn’t provide transportation to his school, I took him to enjoy one of his favorite pastimes, hiking. Coleman and I went hiking three days in a row to his delight. In the mist of trials, it was a blessing to enjoy being out in nature spending quality time with him. Our motel for the week was a short distance from his favorite hiking place, Anne Springs Close Greenway. Therefore, where else would I take him but to the Greenway, of course. These Pumpkins were seen on our fourth day of hiking. They were situated at the Lake Haigler entrance to the Anne Springs Close Greenway. The Greenway also had other fun Fall/Autumn activities set up for the children to enjoy. During this week we visited three of the five entrances to the Greenway. Each entrance offers different trails and activities for visitors to utilize and enjoy.
Who Wants a Pumpkin?
I am extremely grateful for my daughter and her strength and persistence in searching and locating a place for us to live and feel at peace. Home is the nicest word in our vocabulary right now. We are all thankful for having a home to live in. Thankful to be out of the motel. Thankful to be out of turmoil. Thankful to be relieved of a heavy load of stress and worry. I know, all our troubles and worries should be laid in the hands of God, our Heavenly Father. It is difficult sometimes to lay everything at his feet and not continue to worry.
We (mostly me) still have a tremendous amount of unpacking to do but alas, it will all get done in due time. I am still processing the fact that we have a home to live in. Understanding that we are all safe and can relax and enjoy our home (it is a rental, but it is our home for now). Coleman has his own little room, with his own bed (he had been having to share mine). He has a fairly good size yard to play in and we don’t have to worry about him not having enough space to run and pay. This home is a blessing, and I am truly thankful for being allowed to share it with my daughter and grandson.
Five years ago I received an expected yet saddening phone call from my brother. I was working when I received the call that my mother had passed.
My mom and I were not close after I became an adult and was on my own. I was felt she favored my brother and his family. I harbored ill feelings for the longest time towards my mother. I guess you could say I was jealous of the close relationship I felt she had with my brother and his family. I felt she spent much more time with his family and only gave me and my family a few minutes of her time. To me it seemed she cared more about them and even my dad’s sister’s family more than she cared about me.
Regardless of how I felt about her as an adult, she was still my mother. She is here any longer, I can’t let her know how I felt. I was never open with her about my thoughts and feelings. Sometimes I wish I had felt like I could have been open with her and closer. You can never get back the time lost with loved ones. Regrets can never be taken back once loved ones are no longer with us. I still think about my mom, especially on her birthday.
CHERISH EVERY MOMENT AND EVERY PERSON IN YOUR LIFE, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE THE LAST TIME YOU SEE SOMEONE.
quoteslife101.net
Cherish Your Loved Ones
Cherish your family each and every day Life is unbelievably unpredictable Enjoy the people in your life, Invest in forgiveness Stop wasting precious time And be thankful for what you have Cherish your loved ones. You never know when God will call them home.
Landslides occur whenever they choose to happen even in the most unlikely of circumstances or in areas you least expect. This one happened on a portion of my cousin’s property. Better be careful where you walk. Never know what Mother Nature will decide to do next.
Along my cousin’s property after all the rain from Tropical Storms.
The Olympic Games are only held every four years. They are an athletic festival/competition that originated in Ancient Greece. Athletes from all over the world compete in various sports competitions. Athletes train for years for the opportunity to participate in the Olympic Games.
This year the Summer Olympics are currently taking place in Paris, France. There has been much controversy surrounding the Opening Ceremonies which took place on Friday. I’m not discussing the specifics or opinions regarding the controversy.
I am interested in discovering whether you are watching this year’s Olympic Games. I am watching/ following how the United States athletes are performing during their Olympic qualifying Trials and Final Medal matches for their respective events. I believe the athletes have worked extremely hard to achieve their goals of becoming an Olympian and should be supported for their efforts.
If you are watching the Paris Olympic Games, are you watching every single game/competition or are you just watching and enjoying specific events? As for me, I am only watching/following specific sporting events like swimming and gymnastics.
Did your children complete/play in sporting activities while they were growing up? My daughter participated in ROTC Drill Team competitions during high school. My eldest son participated in Taekwondo (aka Tae Kwon Do), football, and swimming. He concentrated on swimming and competed in many swim meets from twelve (12) through eighteen (18) years of age. His best events were the 100-meter, 200-meter butterfly even though he competed in all strokes including the individual medley and team relays.
These pictures show him swimming the butterfly in the California Interschlastic Federation’s (CIF) State Swimming Championships in 1999. He was there competing with his High school Swim Team.
These may not be at the same level as the Olympics, but many Olympic Athletes begin their training through local clubs, training programs, or their high school or college athletic programs.
Welcome Friends, Guests, and Visitors! This is June 2024, I am realizing that the Older I get the harder it is for me to Rise. It is harder for me to Rise in the mornings, and harder for me to Rise from the floor. Let’s face it the Older I get the harder it is for me to do a lot of things. But, do I let that stop me? No. The Older I get the more determined I am to Rise above any and all obstacles that may arise.
Now that all that has been said, how about we take a ride down memory lane (or in this instance – tracks.) As I have been looking back through my dad’s Old old slides, I realise how much I do not remember about the family trips we took. I remember taking them, but the details are obscure. In the process of digitizing his old slides, the memories are Rising to the forefront of my mind.
On this trip down memory lane, I can see the photos and recall our ride on a vintage Railroad at Stone Mountain Park in Georgia.
The Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad is an open-air train that chugs around the 5-mile base of Stone Mountain. The ride takes 40 minutes and includes a live “train robbery” skit. Trains depart from Railroad Depot, an old-fashioned train station, where there’s a restaurant with all the fixings for a fried-chicken picnic, just in case you forgot to bring your own.
Train Robbers escaping from the Sheriff
The Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad, Inc. was formed in 1960 to construct a tourist railroad encircling the mountain. Three secondhand steam locomotives and several rebuilt passenger cars were purchased for hauling mountain visitors. Attempts were made to backdate two of the steamers to appear more like Civil War era engines, as the railroad’s theme was based on the “Great Locomotive Chase” involving the General and the Texas.
A single locomotive pulls a consistent of open-air cars and often a caboose around the 3.88 mile loop track. Two or more trains are run during busy park hours. Passengers board at the Train Station near the Memorial Lawn. On the far side of the mountain, trains often stop for skit entertainment in the small yard area that includes mock up building fronts, a maintenance shed, and several spurs that store previous rolling stock.
Don’t let the clown face fool you, this is no good guy. He is attempting to “rob” the train.
The Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad ride is just one of several activities one may choose to take part in while visiting the Park. Regardless of whether you’re into history, hiking, or want to enjoy some relaxing entertainment Stone Mountain Park can accommodate your interests. For more information about what to do and see at the Park click here.
Docked Boats Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, USA Throwback Photo Sailboat In the Caribbean Sea off the Coast of Cozumel, Mexico February 2020 iPhone 11 Pro MaxBoating on Lake Wylie Taken from McDowell Nature Preserve Charlotte, North Carolina, USA July 2020 iPhone 11 Pro Max
Did you know that Barn Quilt Trails are located in 43 states of the United States of America and Canada has 3? Barn Quilts are believed to have originated in Pennsylvania almost 300 years ago when Europeans immigrated to America.
Have you ever wondered what a Barn Quilt is or their significance? A Barn Quilt is a large piece of wood painted to look like a quilt block and hung on the exterior of a barn, house, garage or other building. During the Revolutionary War, “Barn Quilts” were used to show American forces that an area was safe, secure, and supplies were available. Barn Quilts are a popular form of Americana folk art. They help to preserve the country’s quilting tradition and the regional heritage of various communities.
Barn Quilt Trails
Barn Quilt
Blue Ridge Parkway
North Carolina
The first Barn Quilt Trail was started by Donna Sue Groves. She came up with the idea while working for the Ohio Arts Council in the 1990s. Donna Sue shared her story in “Following the Barn Quilt Trail.” Soon barn quilts spread to other states, becoming driving tours, drawing in tourists and bringing the Appalachian way of life to the forefront. The Barn Quilts in the slideshow are located in the Ohio Barn Quilt Trails and the Appalachian Quilt Trail.
My Favorite Quilt
Even though this Quilt is not a Barn Quilt, it is extremely special to me. It was made by maternal grandmother with remnants of fabric used to make uniforms for me when I worked as a nursing assistant after high school. She lovingly made it with love to fit my bed. It was sewn on an old fashioned black Singer Sewing Machine to make each quilt top. She used colorful yarn to hand quilt and tie-off the quilt.
In Memory & Cancer Awareness for Grandmother & Dad ( My Daughter’s Tatoo)
A Tattoo on my Husband’s Arm
These tattoos all have meanings behind them. I do not remember my husband, Terry’s meaning for his tattoo. Regrettably I do not have a better quality photo of it. May he continue to Rest in Peace.
Looking back in time to Sunday, February 23, 2020; I remember walking off the Enchantment of the Sea Caribbean cruise ship onto the docks of the Costa Maya Port and seeing an amazingly entertaining sight.
When I first saw the ritualistic performance, I didn’t realize exactly what I was watching, however, I later learned that I was observing four men dancing in the sky.
Would you SIT on top of an 80 foot pole?
These four dancers are tied by their feet with long ropes; they descend to the ground as the ropes unwind and fly around the pole. There is a fifth dancer who remains at the top of the pole, playing the flute and drum. This ceremony is not just for mere entertainment to display bravery and courage, but it actually has a much deeper, more valuable meaning.
The Papantla Flyers are also known as the Voladores de Papantla or Birds from Earth. The Dance of the Voladores or Papantla Flyers is a pre-Hispanic ritual that originated in Papantla, Veracruz, Mexico. The Papantla Flyers is the most famous of the Totonac dances. This ancient Mesoamerican ritual is used to ask the gods to end a drought and bring rain for crops during extended dry seasons. It is said that the brave men falling symbolizes the fall of raindrops from the sky in the search of earth’s fertility. The flute represents the singing of a bird, and the drum resembles the voice of the gods; similar (almost) to the sound of a thunderstorm. In the past, the ritual began by choosing and cutting the tree from which they would take the flying post.
As a tourist this traditional ritual of the Papantla Flyers was stunning yet seemed dangerous. To the locals, it is a normal common and ancient tradition. It was amazing to watch even though I doubt that I would ever climb that high on any pole. Rest assured that these men who perform the important ceremony have been trained since childhood to perform this ritual. The tourists, like me, in actuality only see the final part of the ceremony.
If I enjoyed being knee deep in snow, I might be full of envy seeing all the snow ❄️ my cousins received yesterday at their places in Tennessee. However, I I do enjoy observing their snow covered lawns, porches, and cars from a distance of my rain drenched home.
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 