Sunday Stills 2026 October 11 (on 17th) A Look at Stairs & Steps

Good Day everyone! This week Terri with Second Wind Leisure Perspectives is on vacation and Hugh from Hugh’s Views and News has graciously stepped up to host in her absence. He has given us the prompt of Steps & Stairs  for this week’s Sunday Stills Challenge . 

There are many ways we can look at Stairs and Steps, every step we take helps us continue on our life’s journey. We take steps every day whether we are just walking on solid ground or climbing a few steps or up the stairs to new adventures.

“For a stairs to be safe, every step on that stairs has to be safe!”

Mehmet Murat ildan
Snow & Ice covered Stairs

In life we may stumble as we embrace struggles, however, with every difficult step we take we build resilience and character.

“To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping.”

~ Author unknown
Nature’s steps & stairs
of rock, dirt & wood

Every Step we take in life shapes who we become, our personal journeys are rarely straight or smooth paths; instead they are built on our actions, unexpected stumbles, and our quiet passes and reflections.

“Every lesson you take from your past immediately turns into a stairs to the light!”

— Mehmet Murat Ildan
Looking at the Light
above the Stairs
to the Railroad Tracks

Focus on each Step in front of you. Looking all the way up to a distant landing can feel overwhelming and draining. It’s best to focus on the single step directly in front of you, making the task manageable.

“It is not enough to stare up the steps, we must step up the stairs,”

spoken by Václav Havel.
Dog waiting at base of Stairs
on an Historic building

Instead of looking at the stairs of life and contemplating the steps, just take action and climb the stairs. Stop worrying about where each step is taking you, relax clarity will will come as you actively begin your ascent and proceed on your way.

“The greatest adventures often come from taking the smallest steps.”

~ Author unknown
Coleman –
is he going up
or down?

Don’t fret. Every great adventure starts with small consistent actions rather than massive leaps. Remember, every adventure, every journey in life begins when we are brave enough to take our first step.

Click on each image to enlarge. 

Hugh’s Sunday Stills – Steps & Stairs

Terri’s Sunday Stills

Photo Credit: Copyright ©️2025-2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Good Bless. Pray for clear skies, wildfires to stop spreading. No more Smoky air clouding our atmosphere. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Sunday Stills 2026 September 20 — Antlers, Horns & Hooves in a Museum

Terri has recently started a new theme for the Sunday Stills challenge called Animal of the Month. This month this theme is focusing on Antlers, Horns & Hooves. I’ve decided to share some that are on supper The Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, North Carolina.

Here are my contributions …

Click on each image to enlarge. 

Terri’s Sunday Stills-Animal of the Month-Antlers, Horns & Hooves

Photo Credit:©️2023-2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 & 16 Pro Max Telephoto 

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

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

Sunday Stills 2026 August 30 (on 31): #NationalBeachDay

Remembering Fun Times
at the Beach

I do not visit the beach as often as I did in my youth, however, I do have memories of being at the beach with family and friends over the years.

Going back in time to see A vintage family day with my Aunt and Uncle at Springmaid Beach in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Aunt Dalline & Uncle Shorty
fishing at the beach.

In 2010, My “children” and I ventured down to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to celebrate my daughter’s high school graduation.

In the foreground is my daughter,
my sons are behind the wave
waiting for the next one.

Moving forward in time to 2017, we (my eldest son and I) take a drive to North Topsail Beach from Jacksonville, North Carolina for a relaxing stroll along the waterfront.

My eldest son, John and myself
at North Topsail Beach, North Carolina.

Let’s take a sidetrack from the East Coast Carolina beaches to visit west coast beaches in San Diego County, California.

Sea Lions on the beach
at La Jolla Cove
in La Jolla, California
Coronado Beach,
Coronado, San Diego County, California

Now back to the East coast and our adventures at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Well, that’s all folks. Till next time have a splendid week filled with love, happiness, and laughter. God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Sunday Stills 2026 August 23: Animal of the Month #2

Insects & Bugs

Animal of the Month
European Honey Bees

Terri has recently started a new theme for the Sunday Stills challenge called Animal of the Month. This month she is challenging us to share images of insects. Insects include a wide variety of animal species. Common examples of Insects are Bees, ants, wasps; Beetles, ladybugs, fireflies; Butterflies and Moths; True Bugs (Cicadas and aphids); as well as Dragonflies and Damselflies.

In this second Sunday Stills Animal of the Month post I am beginning with the European Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) located in The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, North Carolina.

The Beehives
The Farm
The Schiele Museum

North Carolina’s European honey bees are a highly social insect species native to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

The Schiele’s Honeybees

They are the world’s primary pollinator for agriculture. The Honey Bees at The Schiele Museum’s Farm pollinate the wide variety of plants and flowers grown in the Garden.

European honey bees

The European honey bee was first introduced to the Americas by European colonists in March of 1622. The English colonists shipped the first hives to Jamestown, Virginia.

Foraging to the Colony

The Schiele Museum of Natural History has four live apiaries located on The Farm. [The Farm is an outdoor exhibit showcasing Piedmont agricultural history alongside live farm animals.]

Returning to the Hive

Visitors to The Schiele Museum’s Farm are capable of safely look into an observation hive during the Annual Bug Day. During this special day visitors can watch honey bees crawl across honeycomb structures through an indoor -facing window housing a working observation hive.

The museum integrates their apiaries into seasonal student programming, including specialized “Buzz about bees” summer camps and hands-on pollination lab experiments. 

European Honey Bees
(Apis mellifera)

Enough about Honey Bees, shall we take a look at a gallery of other insects/bugs?

Click on each image to enlarge. 

Terri’s Sunday Stills-Animal of the Month 

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. Gallery:©️2019-2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Telephoto; Gallery various cameras.

Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA ; Gallery various locations.

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

Sunday Stills 2026 August 23 — Wallowing Pig

Animal of the Month

Terri has recently started a new theme for the Sunday Stills challenge called Animal of the Month. I’m not sure if my animal fits this week’s animal of the month theme or not since I write mine in advance, but hopefully it’ll be alright.

See the Pig
Eyeing the Pool

With our extreme heat wave we’ve been experiencing, I found it fascinating that even the Pigs in The Farm area at The Schiele Museum of Natural History thought it was too hot.

Pig slowly
approaching pool

Coleman and I stood watching this Pig for a while enjoying its antics and Wallowing.

Pig’s by the pool.
What’s he gonna do?

With it being so hot and humid what else should the Pig do but get in the pool and cool off.

Pig is in the pool.

Turn, turn, turn …

Round and round goes the Pig …

Pig says it’s
time to wallow.

And keep wallowing till it’s completely cooled down …

Turn, turn, turn

Maybe I’ll just take one more spin wallowing in the pool before I get out and mingle.

Almost done Wallowing for now.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s Sunday Stills-Animal of the Month (Sorry, it’s not insects/bugs).

Monday Portrait

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Telephoto

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

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

Sunday Stills 2026 August 16th — Smoky/Smokey

Good Day everyone! This week Terri with Second Wind Leisure Perspectives has given us the prompt of Smoky for the Sunday Stills Challenge . I’m demonstrating two different spelling variations for Smoky, also using Smokey with my selections for this week.

SMOKY …

The Dirt Track was Smoky
Can you see the Monster Truck
through the Smoky arena?
Shark Attack
blew his engine causing
a Smoky atmosphere.

SMOKEY …

Smokey says,
“Remember…
Only YOU Can
Prevent Forest Fires”

Preventing Forest Fires prevents Smoky skies across the vast regions and Smokey needs all our help.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s Sunday Stills-Smoky (2026.08.16)

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Good Bless. Pray for clear skies, wildfires to stop spreading. No more Smoky air clouding our atmosphere. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Sunday Stills 2026 August 10:

Sunday Stills
Monthly Color Challenge

Good Day everyone! This week Terri with Second Wind Leisure Perspectives has given us the prompt of #Yellow Hues for the Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge . She is featuring the Ochre and Saffron yellows, but is allowing any shades of #Yellow.

Let’s take a look at what #Yellow’s I have found …

First, here are some water reflections with #Yellow …

Yellow Water Reflections
in Lake Crandall
Anne Springs Close Greenway

And a few tress with yellow leaves reflected in Lake Haigler at Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

Yellow Tree Reflections
in Lake Haigler

Moving right along in nature we spot a solitary yellow tree and a few yellow Bromeliad Guzmania.

Golden Larch
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Now we’ll take a last look at yellow with images of yellow vehicles …

At last, but not least, Coleman wearing a yellow shirt …

Coleman in 2022 at
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Click on images to enlarge.

Photo Credit:©️1980-2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

OWS/WWE/Sunday Stills – 2026.07.26

Water Reflections of a Fallow Deer

For this Sunday I am combining Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Water with Terri’s Sunday Stills-#Animal of the Month and her Sunday Stills-Reflections. The #Animal of the Month for me is the Fallow Deer.

Coleman and I were able to observe Fallow Deer at the Lazy 5 Ranch home to over 600 Exotic Animals from more than 6 continents. The Lazy 5 Ranch could be compared to a small Safari Zoological Park. At the Lazy 5 Ranch you can either drive your own vehicle through on a Safari tour of the Ranch or opt to take a Wagon Ride (which we did). With the Wagon Ride, there is a driver guiding the horses pulling the Wagon giving al overall commentary of the Ranch, informing us about the various animals we were seeing, and as well as giving a bit of history on how the Ranch came to be in existence.

Here we spot a Fallow Deer in a pond of #Water where looking closely you can see the deer’s Reflections in the #Water.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Water

Terri’s Sunday Stills-#Animal of the Month

Terri’s Sunday Stills-Reflections

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere (#WWE)

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Lazy 5 Ranch; Mooresville, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Admire all of God’s creatures great and small. Enjoy nature’s beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Sunday Stills 2026 July 13th:

Groups of Three (3) or More

in the Gardens of

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Good Day everyone! This week Terri with Second Wind Leisure Perspectives has given us the prompt of Groups of Three (3) or More. I have selected Groups of Three or More in The Gardens at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. Having selected floral Groups of Three (3) or More I am linking this post with Terri’s The #Flower Hour.

Click on rack image to enlarge.

Terri’s Sunday Stills-Groups of 3 or More

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #39

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm and Altura UV Filter Attachment.

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

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

Sunday Stills 2026 July 5th: Monthly Colour Challenge — RED, White, and Blue

The Red, White, and Blue Flag
of the United States of America 🇺🇸

Terri’s Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge-Red, White, and Blue

Photo Credit:©️2019 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone XR

Location: Walmart Supercenter Parking Lot; Lancaster, South Carolina, USA

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

Sunday Stills: Animal of the Month —Reptiles in the Carolinas

I’m joining Terri Webster Schrandt in her new Sunday Stills theme of Animal of the Month. This challenge will be for posting photos of an Animal, Bird, insect, reptile or other Creature of the Month. This month she also has a subtheme of Wild. I am focusing my images on Reptiles in the Wild areas of the Southeastern United States (mainly the Carolinas).

Terri’s Sunday Stills: Animal of the Month – Wild

Photo Credit:©️2024-2025 Deb L. Waters (Spiny Softshell by Trisha L. Wilson) … All Rights Reserved.

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

2026 CFFC: Crayola Green

Plus Going Green

for Sunday Stills

Monthly Color Challenge

Dan from No Facilities hosts the Fun Foto Challenge at and this week he is asking for our The Crayola Box of 8 – Green . I have gone into my recent files to see what I could locate to best represent this week’s theme. Thank you Dan for the link-up with CWWC with CFFC  for a Which Way Challenge theme of Any Which Way with Yellow along a Trail, Path, or Road. There is still time to participate if you’re interested. I am linking this post with Terri’s Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge-(Ever)Green.

Here are my entries …

Click on each image to enlarge.

Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC) – The Crayola Box of 8-Green

Terri’s Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge-(Ever)Green

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Anne Springs Close Greenway, Fort Mill, South Carolina; The Schiele Museum of Natural History, Gastonia, North Carolina; Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Trailhead Store Trail, Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Enjoy your week. May it be filled with love, joy, laughter, and lots of fun. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Sunday Stills: 2026 May 29 (24)

Greenway Babies

Baby Horses and their moms …

Lily and
2 month old Murphy
(Born in 2024)

It’s been amazing to visit Baby Horses born at Anne Springs Close Greenway over the years. I was lucky to have captured Murphy and Forest with their mothers.

Fern and baby Forest
(Born in 2022)

Baby Alpacas …

Greenway Baby Alpacas

My Grand-babies …

Coleman (6 almost 7)
and Sophia Ruthann (5 months)

Terri’s Sunday Stills Challenge-All About Babies

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

God Bless. Treasure your “babies” always. Capture the memories. Love to y’all. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.