2025 OWS: 20 July — Emergency Vehicle Wee-oh Wee-oh Wee-oh 

Also Posting for
#SimplyRED #20

Wee-oh Wee-oh Wee-oh, the sound Coleman makes every time he sees a Fire Truck cruising down the road.

Wee-oh Wee-oh Wee-oh, Engine 412 rolling down the street.

Cramerton Engine 412 cruising back to the station. Wee-oh Wee-oh Wee-oh.

Cramerton’s Emergency vehicle, the Engine 412 Fire Truck is always ready to save the day. Wee-oh Wee-oh Wee-oh.

Click on each image for enlarged viewing.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday (OWS)-Emergency

#SimplyRED #20 (Becky’s Squares)

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

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

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

A Day at the River __ Views of Beautiful Skies, Sunshine, & Shadows

Silent Sunday

Skywatch Friday-18 July 2025

Hammad’s Weekend Sky

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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. Have a funtastic weekend and week ahead. Get Outdoors. Stay Cool. Stay Strong. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 #SimplyRED #19

Becky’s Squares

Viola × wittrockiana

Pansy (Viola x wittrockiana)

Becky’s Squares-SimplyRED #19

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Photo Credit:©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens

Location: The Garden in The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Missing Cee. Stop and admire the Flowers. Capture their Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Thursday Doors: 17 July

Hiking along the trail with Coleman we pass by this barn where horses are tended to by loving caring Greenway Stables staff. Here you see the view we see from the trail.

Anne Springs Close Greenway Barn
Greenway Stables Entrance

Below is a closer look at one of the barn doors.

Barn Quilt & Barn Door

And lastly, let’s get an enhanced view of the Red, White, and Blue Barn Quilt for one of two Squares for Becky’s #SimplyRED!

Red, White, and Blue Barn Quilt

Now for a child’s Barn “built” by Coleman. This Little Tike Barn & Farm set once belonged to his Uncle John who is pictured in yesterday’s #SimplyRED!

#2 #SimplyRED

Dan’s Thursday Doors

#SimplyRED! #17 (Becky’s Squares)

Photo Credit:©️2022-2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1-3) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens; 4) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Locations: 1-3) Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina; 4) Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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 SYD: July 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 at
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Stables Entrance

Desktop Screensaver

Coleman at
Goat Island Park and Greenway

From My Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: 

Focus

Personal Focus

Coleman Horse Lovin’
at Anne Springs
Close Greenway
Horse Stables

Reading Focus

Coleman sliding down
the Slide at
C.B.Huss Recreational Center

Hiking Focus

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

Television Focus

Coleman
admiring the Flowers
in Centennial Center

Click on each image for enlarged viewing. 

Share Your Desktop –July 2025

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

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 CFFC: 14 July — Up Close

Also Posting for Judy’s Numbers Game #81-203

Dan Antion from No Facilities blog host’s Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge. This week he is continuing with his Perspective Challenges. This week is from a perspective of Up Close. This week I am combining CFFC with the Numbers Game using the Theme of Up Close.

Here are my Up Close photos I’ve pulled together for this week’s challenges.

Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC)-Up Close

Judy’s Numbers Game #81-203

To play along, go to your photos file folder 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 put a link to your blog in comments. 

Photo Credit:©️2017-2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i and Various Apple iPhones

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: 13 July — Seaside

I have not been to the ocean in years, but we venture to lakes and rivers which are nearby. Here’s a look 👀 at our “Seasides”.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Seaside

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #272

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

2025 Bench Challenge — Helix R Pocket Park

The Benches here are located within the Helix/R Pocket Park which is installed along the greenway off of Riverside Drive, near Downtown Cramerton. [This Pocket Park is just down our long block and across the road from where we live.]

The Helix/R is a 20-foot tall abstract sculpture created by John Rietta, Soulptor. It was dedicated in Cramerton on Thursday, June 26 along the Carolina Thread Trail on Cramer Mountain Road. It is located in a brand new Pocket Park named the Richard Atkinson Plaza in honour of Cramerton’s Mayor Pro-Tem.

During the dedication The Carolina Thread Trail and the Town of Cramerton, North Carolina cut the ribbon on the Helix/R sculpture officially opening the small Pocket Park to the public.

Jude’s Bench Challenge

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 28.2

Natalie’s Public Art Photo Challenge

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & 6-Star filter attachments.

Location: Helix/R Pocket Park; Richard Atkinson Plaza; 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.

Silently #SimplyRED #13

Silent Sunday

#SimplyRED (Becky’s Squares)

Photo Credit:©️Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens with Altura UV & 6-Star filter attachments

Location: Helix/R and Pocket Park; Town of Cramerton; 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.

Eye’m Lured and Hooked On You

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday (SWS)

#SimplyRED #12.2 (Becky’s Squares)

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

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

God Bless. Have a wonderful weekend. Enjoy the Outdoors. Y’all are amazing and loved. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 #SimplyRED #8: 07.08

Canna indica

Canna indica,
Aka Indian shot,
African arrowroot

Becky’s Squares-#SimplyRED #8

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens

Location: Centennial Center; Downtown 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 Sunday Stills — In the #Swim, But Staying Safe

“Swimming” in the Carolinas

Water sports is a common summer activity around the Carolinas. The Canada Geese enjoy swimming in the South Fork Catawba River …

Canada Geese Swimming in the
South Fork Catawba River

Some people take pleasure in Paddle Boarding …

Paddle boarding in the
South Fork Catawba River

Others gain satisfaction Kayaking with family …

Kayaking in the
South Fork Catawba River

And then Coleman delights in playing and splashing in the Spillway at Anne Springs Close Greenway …

Coleman playing
in the Spillway at

Anne Springs Close Greenway

Lastly, we remember a time when Springs Mill Recreational Park was open and everyone could find contentment in the pool.

Throwback of “swimming”
in a pool at
Springs Mill Recreational Park
Lancaster, South Carolina

Terri’s Sunday Stills: In the #Swim, But Staying Safe

Photo Credit: 1-4) ©️2023-2025 Deb L. Waters; 5) ©️1968 Nornal H. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens; 2-3) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; 4) Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max; 5) Minolta XG-7

Locations: 1-3) South Fork Catawba River; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina; 4) Lake Haigler Spillway; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina; 5) Springs Pool; Springs Mill Recreational Park; Lancaster, South 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.

#Simply#RED #6 – 2025.07.06

Bobbin’ in Abstracts

RED Bobber
floating in

South Fork Catawba River
at Goat Island Park Greenway

Becky’s Squares-#SimplyRED #6

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #271

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.

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

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

Benches, Chairs, and Other seating — Coleman’s Choices (Part Four)

Pull Up a Seat at

The Farmhouse Gardens

Daniel Stowe Conservancy

Welcome back to my saga of Benches, Chairs, and Other seating. This week we are continuing with Coleman’s Choices of Pulling Up a Seat at the Daniel Stowe Conservancy, we uncover a variety of seating arrangements Coleman selected to Pull Up a Seat. Coleman’s choices this week are located at The Farmhouse Garden Center on the grounds of The Village at Stowe.

Click on each image for enhanced enlarged viewing.

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 27

Becky’s Squares-#Simply #Red

Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

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

Location: The Farmhouse Garden Center; The Village at Stowe; 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.

Cee’s FOTD #Simply #RED#5 Camellia japonica

Japanese Camellia
(Camellia japonica
‘Governor Mouton’)

Becky’s Squares-#Simply #Red!

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Red

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens

Location: Glencairn Garden; Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Remembering Cee with #Simply #RED!. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 CosPhoChal — Take a Hike (Through the Woods)

Let’s go on a hike …

Coleman
visiting the Helix
& new Bench area

We can follow up the trails …

Telling stories telling tales … Let’s go see where artists … Learn to write …

Let’s go on a hike … Climbing up above the trees …

Get a view of everything … Let’s go see where artists … Spend their time.

Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge-Take a hike

Song Lyrics Credit: ©️Written by Adam Fink

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL & 6-Star filter attachments.

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

God Bless. Take a Hike. Enjoy Nature. Admire the Beauty all around. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

#Simply RED #4, White, & Blue Squares — Happy Fourth!

RED, White, and Blue Flag
hung on a Red
Cramerton Ladder Truck

Becky’s Squares-#SimplyRed

Sunday Stills Monthly Colour Challenge-Red, White, and Blue (or each color separately)

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura ND & 8-Star filter attachments.

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

God Bless. Happy Independence Day! Have a wonderful weekend. 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 Any type of Signs

Which Way Challenge (CWWC)

Hope y’all have had a fantastic week so far. It’s Friday already and time for another Which Way Challenge. This week we are looking at Any Which Ways with Any Type of Sign(s). They can be street signs, trail signs, or any type of sign you see in your Which Ways as you meander around your pathway or roadway.

My Which Ways with Any Type of Sign(s) are mainly trail signs or signs seen from a trail.

Trail Signs at Goat Island Park and Greenway …

Trail Signs at Riverside Park and Greenway …

Trail Signs at Rocky Branch Trail …

Trail Signs at Carolina Thread Trail; Daniel Stowe Conservancy …

Signs on Side of Trail at Anne Springs Close Greenway …

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’s Which Way: The March of the Spotted Lantern Fly

Dawn’s Which Way of the Deer

Geriatri’X’ Fotogallery’s SHEEPS AND GOATS

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; Canon EOD Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.

Location: As Stated Above

God Bless. Take a hike. Enjoy a stroll through nature’s beautiful pathways and parks. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Remembering Cee with Simply Red#2

Zonal Geranium

Becky’s Squares-Simply Red #2

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens

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 Last On the Card: June 30

Brian from Bushboys World host Last on the Card at the end of each month. His rules for posting the Last Photo are simple just follow his suggestions and you’ll be fine.

The rules are simple:
1. Post the last photo on your SD card or last photo on your phone for the 30th or whenever your last photo was taken.
2. No editing – who cares if it is out of focus, not framed as you would like or the subject matter didn’t cooperate.
3. You don’t have to have any explanations, just the photo will do
4. Create a Pingback to this post or link in the comments
5. Use the tags The Last Photo and #LastOnTheCard

Here’s my Last Photos for June. 

From my Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max …

Help us keep our rivers
and parks clean! an!
Grab a bag, pick up litter,

and dispose of properly.
Thanks! Project by the

Cramerton Community Committee

From my Canon EOS Rebel T3i …

Coleman playing
in the Sand at
Riverside Park
and Greenway

Brian’s Last on the Card

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Location: Riverside Park and Greenway; 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.

2025 OWS: 29 June —Summer

Summer for me used to be about Church Camp, Family Vacation, Beach Volleyball, Waterskiing with friends, however, times change … Life changes with the times.

Now Summer is all about Coleman (actually all my days are with Coleman), hiking in the woods, attending Downtown Concerts, watching Coleman playing with water in his Turtle, running thru the sprays of water from a hose trying to keep cool 😎.

Summer

Water 💦 Play

Fireworks

Hiking & Sand Funtime

Now on to y’all to show your Summer…

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Summer

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment

Locations: 1-2) Backyard; Riverside Community; 3-4) Centennial Center; 5-10) Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

Back to Squaring: 2025 July — ‘‘Simply Red”

Lighting the

Night Sky

with RED

Celebrating America’s Independence with Fireworks

Over the Downtown Skies …

Over the Weekend …

In Cramerton, North Carolina

Happy Squaring … Thank you Becky!

Becky’s Squares-#SimplyRed!

Hammad’s Weekend Sky

Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2025 Week 24 & 25

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura ND & 8-Star filter attachments.

Location: Seen from Centennial Center; Fired from Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Sunday Stills: 29 June Patriotic

Show us your country’s flag,

images of flags

Terri’s Sunday Stills-Patriotic

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura ND & 8-Star filter attachments.

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

God Bless. Happy Independence Weekend America! Thankful for our Freedoms. Enjoy some fireworks if you’re able. [Coleman enjoyed Cramerton’s Fireworks]. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Silent Sunday: 29 June

The God Bless the USA

Happy Independence Day

Weekend America !

Cramerton Fireworks 06.28.2025

Click on image to enlarge. 

Silent Sunday 

Hammad’s Weekend Sky (#2)

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura ND & 8-Star filter attachments. 

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

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Happy Independence Weekend (for those in America)! Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Benches, Chairs, and Other seating — Coleman’s Choices (Part Three)

The Trailhead Store

Daniel Stowe Conservancy

Carolina Thread Trail

Continuing with Coleman’s Choices of Pulling Up a Seat at the Daniel Stowe Conservancy, we uncover a variety of seating arrangements Coleman selected to Pull Up a Seat. This week’s Coleman’s Choices are within the Gazebo at The Trailhead Store on the grounds of The Village at Stowe.

Click on each image for enhanced enlarged viewing.

Stay tuned next week for the continuing saga of Coleman’s choices of Benches, Chairs, and Other seating Part Four-The Farmhouse Seating Choices.

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 26

Jude’s Bench Challenge Anniversary

Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

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

Location: The Gazebo; The Trailhead Store; The Village at Stowe; 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: 27 June

Natchez Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia indica

Click on image for Enlarged Viewing.

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

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

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 Doors: 26 June (oops on 27)

Thursday Doors
©️Ritva at
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography

Farmhouse Garden Center

The Farmhouse Garden Center

The White Farmhouse which is now the Garden Center was once an administrative building. It has been thoroughly renovated and transformed into a charming garden retail and horticulture education center. 

As you drive into The Village at Stowe you drive past this Dog Statuette. It signifies that dogs on leashes are welcomed here.

The steps lead to the front door are lined with flower pots filled with a variety of beautiful flowers inviting you to come on in and explore the garden.

Upon walking inside the Garden Center, you’ll find a mix of vintage farmhouse style and modern character. At The Farmhouse Garden Center you may purchase plants and gardening tools. However, that is not all that is offered. Here is a list of other options

  • Home decor and accessories
  • Mugs, towels and other kitchenware
  • Stowe Merchandise
  • Yard Decor (Wind chimes, Garden Spinners, sculptures, etc)
  • Candles

There is more to The Farmhouse Garden Center than just selling plants and various retail supplies. It also offers a variety of educational opportunities such as learning about gardening and all there is to know regarding plant care. It also provides workshops for floral arrangements and wreath making.

Dan’s Thursday Doors

Natalie’s Photographing Public Art Challenge (PPAC)

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

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

God Bless. Have a fantastic weekend. Take time to enjoy nature and all the beautiful flowers and sights 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 animal in your which way – Part Two

Good day! I trust everyone has had a wonderful week so far. Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). The theme is Any animal in your which way. Let’s see the amazing Which Ways y’all can come up with to display Animals in your Pathways, Sidewalks, Trails, Roads, or in any Which Way You Choose. Here are my entries …

Dogs on Trails or Pathways:

Turtles on & Seen from the Trail:

Bugs Encountered on Trails:

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.

GERIATRI’X’ Fotogallery – LITTLE ANIMALS

Dawn’s Which Way: Squirrel Moving Up

———————————————————————-———————————————————

Next week we will be discovering Which Ways (CWWC) with Any type of Signs featured in our Which Ways.

Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)-Any animal in your which way – Part Two

Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

Locations: 1-9) Rocky Branch Trail; 10 & 12) Goat Island Park and Greenway; 11) The Trailhead Store, Belmont; 13-15) Seventh Street; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Thursday Trios: 26 June

Farmhouse Garden Trios

The Farmhouse Garden Center is located at The Village at Stowe, a part of the Daniel Stowe Conservancy. It is more than just a Garden shop, it is a delightfully warm and inviting destination for those who love and admire plants and flowers regardless of you are a home gardener or not. The flowers are beautiful and displays are enticing.

The Farmhouse offers educational opportunities such as workshops on wreath-making, floral arranging, gardening, and any and all other aspect related to plant care.

For more information about Thursday Trios check out Mama Cormier’s page by clicking here.

Thursday Trios

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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. Enjoy the rest of your week and have a marvelous weekend. Take time to admire the flowers wherever you may wander. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 CosPhoChal: Welcome Summer’s Floral Blossoms

We didn’t do anything different on the 20th than we would normally do on any other day. Coleman and I enjoy being outdoors and wander through the woods whenever we possibly can. Right now in our area the weather is in the mid to high 90’s, much too hot to be out in the sun for any length of time.

With the heat advisory regarding the extreme heat temperatures, we only go out for short periods at a time. In those short periods Coleman likes to check to see what new blossoms have started blooming. These are some of what we have seen within the past week till now.

Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge Shades of #Pink in the Great Outdoors

The Cosmic Photo Challenge: Say hello to Summer

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

2025 CFFC: View from Below— High Angle

This week I have chosen to combine Dan’s CFFC with Judy’s Numbers Game. After all Judy gives the option (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.) Dan’s theme this week is View from Below—High Angle combining some of his chosen photos with my CWWC—Any animal in your which way.

My entries for Dan’s Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge are a hodgepodge of photos shot from below (looking up) from various places and years.

Dan’s CFFC-View from Below—High Angle

Judy’s Numbers Game #78-199

Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)-Any Animal in your Which Way

Photo Credit:©️2018-2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

2025 Macro Monday: 06.23

Toucan® Scarlet

Canna Lily

Aka Indian Shot ‘Toucan Scarlet,
Cana Lily Toucan Scarlet’

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 Center; Town of Cramerton; 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 Silent Sunday: 22 June

Squirrel in Downward Motion

Squirrel Scrambling Down

Click on image to enlarge.

Silent Sunday

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

Location: 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.

Benches, Chairs, and Other seating — Coleman’s Choices (Part Two)

The Trailhead Store

Daniel Stowe Conservancy

Carolina Thread Trail

Continuing with Coleman’s Choices of Pulling Up a Seat at the Daniel Stowe Conservancy, we uncover a variety of seating arrangements Coleman selected to Pull Up a Seat.

Click on each image for enhanced enlarged viewing.

Stay tuned next week for the continuing saga of Coleman’s choices of Benches, Chairs, and Other seating Part Three.

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 25

Jude’s Bench Challenge Anniversary

Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

Location: Goat Island Park and Greenway; The Center; 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: Movement

Flying Disc:

Coleman in Motion:

Click on each image for enlarged viewing.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Movement

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

Location: Riverlink Greenway Trail; 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.

Floral Forage Plus Hives = Eastern Bumblebee

Rubus bifrons +

Bombus impatiens

Walking along the Pathway parallel to the Big Pond we spotted the Blackberry Flowers. Coleman notices them quicker than I do, he really likes it if they have ripe blackberries on the vines.

Aka European Blackberry

Getting a closer look we noticed the bee foraging the nectar from the flowers.

Aka Himalayan Blackberry

A little further down the pathway Coleman noticed some box-like structures through the grassy opening. As curious as he is he naturally wandered into the grassy opening to investigate the structures. After closer examination he informed me that they were Beehives.

Aka Common Eastern Bumblebee
+ Blackberry Flowers

After checking out the Beehives from a safe distance, we walked back towards The Trailhead Store hiking past the Himalayan Blackberry Flowers. Noticing more than just the flowers, I zoomed in to examine what was feasting on its nectar. Then I noticed not only the Common Eastern Bumblebee, but also the Cetonia aurata, which is called the rose chafer or the green rose chafer.

Aka Common Eastern Bumblebee
+ Himalayan Blackberry Flowers

Two for one foraging on the European Blackberry flowers. Think it’s nice that different species can share their delicacies.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday 

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

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

Location: The Trailhead Store Pathway; The Village at Stowe; Belmont, North Carolina, USA 

God Bless. Enjoy Nature. Admire its beauty and intricacies. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Floral Friday: 20 June —

Verbena in the Garden

Verbena bonariensis
Aka the purpletop vervain,
clustertop vervain,
Argentinian vervain,
tall verbena or pretty verbena

“Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help.”

May Sarton

Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day 

God Bless. I am Grateful for each and every one of y’all. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Sunday Stills: B/W Pathways in the Great Outdoors

This week’s theme for Terri’s Sunday Stills Photography Challenge is Paths and #Trails in the Great Outdoors. This week’s theme is difficult except in deciding which photos to select for the challenge. Coleman and I go hiking along trails and pathways at least once a week, most times several days out of a week.

For this week’s challenge I have chosen to select images from our latest adventure hiking from The Trailhead Store in black and white.

Terri’s Sunday Stills-Paths and #Trails in the Great Outdoors

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

Location: Pathway around the Big Pond; From The Trailhead Store; The Village at Stowe; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

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 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any animal in your which way Viewed from Above (CFFC)

Good day! I trust everyone has had a wonderful week so far. Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). This week I have decided to combine the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) with the Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC).The theme is Any animal in your which way Viewed from Above (CFFC).  Let’s see the amazing Which Ways y’all can come up with to display Animals in your Which Way as Seen (Viewed) from Above.,

As you are walking/hiking along throughout your day it is amazing all the many different animals you might encounter on your journey if only you look down occasionally. There are so many incredibly interesting animals that you could possibly find along your path that I have elected to run this theme for two weeks.

Here are my entries for this week’s combined CWWC/CFFC challenge.

We spotted this Northern Cardinal when we first departed from our home to begin our adventure …

Northern Cardinal

We walked down the road towards Goat Island Park and Greenway where we started hiking along Riverlink Greenway. After hiking merely a short distance along the trail, Coleman spotted several Cricket frogs hopping and jumping. Their jumping style is unique due to the fact that they perform a series of jumps and “belly flops” as they move across the water or land (as we observed).

Acris crepitans
Cricket frog

Further down the trail Coleman spotted this little creature, a nymph Threecornered alfalfa hopper. For Coleman he had get closer and look up on the fence railing to get a better view, while I zoomed in looking down upon the little green nymph.

As we kept moving forward Coleman noticed this small Land Snail crawling across the trail …

On this hiking adventure we observed a wide variety of animals; small ones, medium sized ones, and a wee bit bigger ones. This next one seemed to have seen better days. As this Worm might be great as fishing bait on a previous day, he would not catch much with his lack of viability on this day.

Southern Worm 
Aporrectodea trapezoides

There are plenty of more animals to see and observe out there and we will investigate more of them next week for part two of our Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any animal in your which way Viewed from Above (CFFC) Challenge.

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.

Brian from bushboys worldGetting on the road (who knows which way)

Lisa from A Day In The LifeWhich Way Traffic Everywhere

Geriatri’x’ Fotogallery – traffic all over Europe

Dawn from The Day AfterI-81 The Road I Love to Hate

Pepper from HeavensSunshine The Road to Adventures in Maui

Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any animal in your which way (Part One)-Viewed from Above

Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge-Viewed from Above (CFFC)

Debbie’s One Word Sunday Part Two-Looking Down

Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max & Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens

Location: Riverlink Greenway Trail; 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 Thursday Trios: 19 June

VERBENACEAE

Lantana ‘Bandana Pink’
(Lantana camara)
Lantana strigocamara
Aka Lantana camara

(common lantana)

Thursday Trios

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

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

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

2025 Thursday Doors: 19 June

The Trailhead Store

Daniel Stowe Conservancy

The Trailhead Store in The Village at Stowe is a cozy coffee shop nestled amidst the beautiful nature which is preserved through the Daniel Stowe Conservancy. The Trailhead Store specializes in brewing Jade and Elise Coffee. [I am not a coffee drinker so I cannot personally comment on the quality of those particular types of coffees, however, the coffee served here is highly recommended by many guests who have visited.]

The Trailhead Store
Facing the Parking Lot

The Trailhead Store serves more than merely coffee. It offers a delightful array of refreshments, snacks, and provisions on top of coffee to fuel your outdoor escapades. It offers a wide assortment of fresh to-go meals, including sandwiches, wraps, salads, parfaits, vegan options and desserts, ensuring you stay energized throughout your outdoor activities. 

Screened-In Porch

Guests may quench their thirst on their varied selections of coffee, tea, beer, and wine to delight your palate and enjoyment for both on-site and your to-go adventures.

Coleman
at the
Main Door
to
The Trailhead Store

The Trailhead Store offers a wide variety of seating options both in the screened-in patio and outside spread across the vast lawn where you may enjoy beautiful vulgar nature.

Grandma, you coming?
Hurry up.

Whether you’re stopping by for a quick coffee run, a bite to eat, or just wanting a place to relax in a tranquil environment to study, read, write, or simply enjoy the beautiful outdoors surrounding the Store; it is a fantastic to place to stop by for a visit and even stay for awhile. Highly recommend stopping in and treating yourself, or someone else to some of their delectable food and beverages.

Dan’s Thursday Doors

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

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

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

2025 Flower of the Day: 18 June

Calibrachoa

Aka Million Bells

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Cee’s FOTD

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

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

God Bless. Enjoy the Outdoors. Visit a Garden. Admire Nature’s beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Birds of the Carolinas/Birds of the Week CXXI

Spizella passerina

The Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) is a species of New World sparrow, a passerine bird in the family Passerellidae. It is widespread, fairly tame, and common across most of its North American range.

Aka The Chipping Sparrow

This bird is a partial migrant with northerly populations flying southwards in the fall to overwinter in Mexico and the southern United States, and flying northward again in spring.

It molts twice a year. In its breeding plumage it has orangish-rust upper parts, gray head and underparts and a distinctive reddish cap. In non-breeding plumage, the cap is brown and the facial markings are less distinct. The song is a trill and the bird has a piercing flight call that can be heard while it is migrating at night.

 They mostly forage on the ground for seeds and other food items, as well as clambering on plants and trees, feeding on buds and small arthropods. Here in the East, they breed mainly in woodland, farmland, parks, and gardens. [We saw this Chipping sparrow as we left The Farmhouse on the way to The Trailhead Store.] Breeding starts in late April and May and the nest is often built in a tree.

The chipping sparrow feeds on seeds year-round, although insects form most of the diet in the breeding season. Spiders are sometimes taken. Throughout the year, chipping sparrows forage on the ground in covered areas, often near the edges of fields.

The Chipping Sparrow although common in the area is not normally observed by the Stowe Birding Club which track and monitor the birds using their bird houses strategically placed around the Stowe property. [This one Coleman spotted first a short distance from where we were walking. He loves to watch the birds and tries to keep a squirrel out of our bird feeder at home.]

Birds of the Carolinas

Birds of the Week CXXI

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

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

Location: The Village at Stowe; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Looking up or looking down you might spot a bird fascinating enough to watch. Maybe even capture their likeness with your camera. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 WWE: Pond Water Reflections

Last week we visited The Village at Stowe which comprises The Farmhouse Garden Center, Dog Park, Ponds (Big & Little), and also Trailhead access. After visiting The Farmhouse and The Trailhead Store we ventured out to the trails surrounding the Big Pond and Dog Park areas. We hiked the whole surrounding area of the Big Pond which estimated at only .35 miles, but with all our twists and turns and side jaunts it seemed much longer. After a short rest in one of the many seating selections outside The Trailhead Store, we continued hiking on the Carolina Thread Trail which if we had completed the entire trail would have been over 2.5 additional miles. [More on our Carolina Thread Trail (CTT) hike later].

This images depict the Big Pond from just about every angle as we hiked around it.

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #269

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

Location: The Big Pond; The Village at Stowe; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a great rest of your week. Take a walk. Admire the beauty in nature all around you. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Wordless Wednesday: 18 June

Pigs in the Garden

Littlest Piggy

Little Piggy

Click on images for enhanced enlarged viewing. 

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday 

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

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