Judy from Life Lessons blog hosts a weekly photo challenge called The Numbers Game. This week’s number is 213. Her instructions for playing along are listed below …
To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find under that number and include a link to your blog in Judy’s 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.
Please click on photos to enlarge.
Here are my entries …
Along the Piedmont Medical Center Trail Rock Hill, SCAndrew Jackson State Park Lancaster, SCWaterfall at The Schiele Museum Gastonia, NCBlue Ridge Mountain ViewGoat South Fork River Park Gastonia, NCMontford Point Marine Memorial at Lejeune Memorial Gardens Jacksonville, NCMike, Lucky, & a Goat Schiele Museum FarmThe Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, NCArthel “Doc” Watson American guitarist and songwriter (my 4th cousin)Harvey, Doyce, & Melvina Watson (my mom & Maternal Grandparents)Doyce Eileen Watson (my mom c.1934)Dalline & Nornal Waters (my dad & his sister)My family in Springs Park in Lancaster, SCTrisha, Terry, & David ( my husband, son, & daughter c.1994) Lake Fort Smith, Arkansas Trisha Wilson Myrtle Beach, SC (c.2010)
Judy from Life Lessons blog hosts a weekly photo challenge called The Numbers Game. This week’s number is 206. Her instructions for playing along are listed below …
To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find under that number and include a link to your blog in Judy’s 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.
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.
R. Warren Cramer is the grandson of Stuart W. Cramer, founder of the Town of Cramerton. He is co-authoring a historical fiction trilogy about the Cramer family and the Town of Cramerton. The trilogy delves into the history of the Cramer family and their achievements.
R. Warren Cramer has been (and continues to be) involved in preserving and sharing the history of his grandfather and the town of Cramerton, North Carolina, which Stuart W. Cramer founded. He has collaborated with author Dixie F. Abernathy on “Cramerton: A Trilogy,” a book series detailing the history of Cramerton and the Cramer family. He provided the research and family history regarding the Cramer family and their significance in American history and culture. He is one of four editors for the “Cramerton: A Trilogy”.
The concept for this book has been developed over decades. When he graduated Duke University in 1981 his father George Cramer encouraged him to write a book about his grandfather, Stuart W. Cramer. The accumulation of efforts to bring the book to fruition began in 2016 with a Cramerton native, Jeff Ramsey introduced author Dixie Abernathy and local historian R. Warren Cramer.
On Saturday, The Cramerton Historical Society Museum held a book signing for the Promise of a NationCramerton: A Trilogy Volume I with author Dixie F. Abernathy and R. Warren Cramer.
Promise of a Nation Cramerton: A Trilogy Dixie F. Abernathy R. Warren Cramer
They shared the ideas behind the trilogy project, the vast number of edits & rewrites and enough to entice interesting buying and reading the first book of the trilogy about the Cramer family and the Town of Cramerton. I look forward to reading it once the ebook is available on the Fourth of July (advanced paperback copies were available at the book signing).
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.
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 frogshopping 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 …
Zonitoides arboreus aka Quick Gloss Snail a species of small air-breathing land snail
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.
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.
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 below.
Here are my contributions to the Numbers Game Challenge … Click on photos for enlarged and enhanced viewing.
George Poston Park Gaston County, NCNorth Carolina Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park Raleigh, NCAndrew Jackson State Park Lancaster, SCAmerican Airlines Airplane Charlotte-Douglas International Airport Catawba River Riverside Park & Greenway Cramerton. NCMoses Cone Memorial Park Watauga County, NCAnne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, SCCatawba River Access Lake Wylie Dam Tega Cay, SCAnne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, SCSpotted Water Hemlock Cicuta maculataErwin Center Gastonia, NCHistoric Baltimore Fishing Pier Cramerton, NCRocky Branch Trail Cramerton, NCColeman Martha Rivers Park Gastonia, NCSouth Fork Catawba River Riverside Park & Greenway Historic Baltimore Fishing Pier Cramerton, NCAnne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, SCGeorgia Visitor Center Tallapoosa, GACatawba River Catawba Indian Reservation York County. SCAnne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, SC
Coleman got a long over due Haircut. His hair went from hanging down in his eyes to really short for summer. For something different and unique, he received a design with his haircut.
Beforehand:
Before Haircut
Coleman is the grandson of a Vietnam Veteran and even though he didn’t take his own life he battled with PTSD throughout his life and addicted to drugs and alcohol which both slowly destroys the mind and body. In our home we remember all veterans and pray that they can find the courage to reach out for help to overcome their struggles and inner pain.
The sad fact is that approximately 22 U.S. Veterans take their own lives every day. The 22 design in Coleman’s hairstyle is to remember the 22 and to help create awareness of the invisible deaths of veterans within the United States who give in to the struggles they battle within and take their own lives. Everyday, 22 veterans lose their battle to post traumatic stress on American soil. That is 1 veterans every 65 minutes.
It is important to remember and honour our veterans. If possible whenever you see someone reach out in kindness. You never know the pain they hold inside or the struggles they are silently battling within.
Location: Landry’s Barber Shoppe; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful weekend. Remember our veterans and pray for them. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Isaiah 58:11 (NIV) Click on image for enhanced viewing
The Lord will always be your guide (if you let him), He will satisfy all your needs (not necessarily your wants) and He will strengthen you. God is always watching over you and working in your life whether you realize it or not.
Location: Cramerton Independent Presbyterian Church; 151 Eighth Avenue ; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful Easter and a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
This week Dale with the Cosmic Photo Challenge has asked us to share What’s Flowering in Our Areas… With Spring having arrived for many of us many plants and flowers are sprouting up and beginning to blossom showing their loving bright and vibrant colours.
God Bless. Have a wonderfully beautiful and blessed day. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find under that number and include 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 below. Below are my contributions to the album:
I am choosing to post photos of volunteers helping across Western North Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Appreciate Prayers for every affected person, family, animal in the areas impacted.
You might not think about this being Weird, Wild, or Oddballs, however, I think it is in an amazing way. Weird in that this is not something you see or experience every day. Wild to see all the Numerous Volunteers leaving their homes to come and help communities, towns, cities, families in tremendous need. Oddballs in that I never imagined the Pack Mule Teams, helicopter pilots, and many others coming together for a single mission.
All of this unity coming together to restore, rescue, and rebuild to lovely to see. This is the very essence of Whatsoever Is Lovely.
Thank you Cajun Navy! Thank you Mike Tobber and crew with Cajun Navy! Thank you National Guard! Thank you Garrett Mitchell and Volunteer Helicopter Pilots! Thank you Linemen! Thank you Search and Rescue Teams! Thank you Mountain Mule Packer Ranch! Thank you to all Volunteers for helping those affected by Hurricane Helene. I appreciate all you’ve accomplished and will continue to do to support the community and families impacted by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.
I’ve been missing out Renard of Renard’s World as well and stumbled on this post. Unfortunately it wouldn’t allow me to comment. Renard’s posts were always interesting and informative. I really enjoyed and appreciated them. Miss you Renard. Where are you?
Renard – MIA? I have been following Renard for several years and found his blog posts very knowledgable and informative. Renard was dedicated to …
For this CosPhoChal, Dale has challenged us to post photos depicting Art for Art’s Sake. I chose to continue on our tour of Hearst Castle by allowing you to see some of the art and sculptures we saw when we were there that day. I formatted the pictures into a slideshow, while I was blogging on this post, for enhanced view and entertainment. Relax and enjoy the show.
Location: Hearst Castle; HearstSan Simeon State Historical Monument; San Simeon, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and watching our slideshow. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts about my blogging posts. I appreciate y’all very much.
President James K. Polk Birthplace Visitor Center — Museum
The President James K. Polk Historic Site is located in Pineville, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The site is a museum and historic location that is managed by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
The site is home to the birthplace of the 11th president of the United States, James K. Polk. Polk served as president from 1845 to 1849. The site is also the only Chief-of-State birthplace in Mecklenburg County.
There are several events held at the historic site throughout the year. The most notable is the President’s Day Program held in mid-February on the Saturday before President’s Day each year. The President’s Day Event Program includes talks which focus on the lives of James K. Polk, Andrew Jackson, and Andrew Johnson. All three of these President’s were born on North Carolina soil.
Other events include cooking demonstrations and guided tours. Earlier this year was the “A Taste of Struggle: Historic Foodways from the Caribbean to the Americas.”
The next event is coming up on March 23:
If you are ever in the Charlotte area of North Carolina it would be worth taking a trip to visit the President James K. Polk Historic Site in Pineville located in the southern part of Mecklenburg County.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Good day everyone. Today it is supposed to rain again. It seems like it has been raining every other day lately. However, it is a pleasure to get out and about in the beautiful outdoors whenever the weather is warm and sunny.
Burial Mounds are artificial hills of earth and stones built over the remains of the dead. They are also known as barrows, kurgans, and tumuli. They are characteristic earthwork monuments of the prehistoric periods approximately between around 5,800 and 3,400 years ago (3800-1400 BC). [Earthworks are described as any activity which disturbs soil, earth, or land surfaces.]
Burial Mounds were used by Anglo-Saxons in England during the late sixth (6th) and seventh (7th) centuries AD. Approximately one hour north of Dublin in Ireland burial mounds can be seen sprouted from the lush countryside. The archaeological site in Ireland features two ancient burial mounds. These mounds are thought to be older than the oldest pyramids.
In North America Indian Burial Mounds have been located in Wisconsin, Arkansas, Illinois, and elsewhere in eastern North America. The Native Americans built earthen mounds for ritual or burial purposes or as the location for important structures. The Mississippian people in eastern Arkansas were using mounds when the Spanish explorers arrived in 1541. Sadly, a vast majority of the mounds that were built in Arkansas have been destroyed by modern development and vandalism. Luckily several hundred still remain and are recognized as important religious and cultural monuments.
The photos posted here are representative of the types of Burial Mounds which were used by many of the Stone Age period. This mound is located in the Stone Age Circle which can be seen when taking a walk/hike along the Nature Trail of The Schiele Museum of Natural History.
In these two Coleman and I are taking a closer look at the Burial Mounds.
BURIAL MOUND Many stone age peoples around the world buried their dead in mounds of earth or stone. This single-chambered tomb replicates mounds from the British Isles roughly 5,000 years ago. The interior chamber measures just over 7 ft long and could fit either one individual or the cremated remains of an entire family or clan. It took over 16,000 pounds of earth to build this mound by hand. [Informational Sign in the Stone Age Circle at The Schiele Museum of Natural History.]
PhotoCredit: (c) 2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Location: Stone Age Circle; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
For the past two weeks (since Thanksgiving) I haven’t been able to get out and capture any scenery around me. Coleman and I have been sick with a bacterial infection consisting of chest congestion and a really bad cough. Over the counter medicine was not working for him so we finally took him to the doctor who prescribed an antibiotic. Hopefully all will be better soon.
We’ve been having issues in our townhome with pests and so today we bombed our place. (The pest controls the complex uses does not work!) So, we took it upon ourselves to try to remedy the problem. With bombing the place, we needed to get out of the place for a few hours, therefore we decided to go for a drive.
Driving around down in the Clover area, I noticed this table and seating outside the Clover Post Office and located near the drop off area. I have never seen seating outside of a post office before. My daughter obliged me to stop the vehicle a moment so I could snap a photo of the unusual (to me anyway) seating at the post office.
Surprisingly, I wasn’t the only one choosing to keep the porch light off on Halloween. Most people who choose to leave their porch light off on Halloween do so because they choose not to pass out candy for one reason or another. I just never expected practically an entire apartment complex to keep their lights off for this one often celebrated holiday.
When I was growing up, we trick or treated during our elementary school years. Our church had a “Haunted House” inside the gym facilities. At that time I was not aware of the pagan background to the holiday, Halloween. It was not until my mid-twenties that I learned all about the origins behind this particular holiday.
Halloween is a contraction of All Hallow’s Eve, and is celebrated on October 31 each year. October 31 is the evening before All Saints’ ( or All Hallows’) Day. All Saints’ Day is a day when Christians remember and honor those who have passed.
Halloween’s origins actually date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. It began around 2,000 years ago, when the Celtic people in Europe celebrated the end of the harvest and the beginning of a new year with a festival called Samhain. During this time period people believed they could commune with the dead more easily. They would light bonfires to try to ward off ill-intentioned spirits and sacrificed crops and animals.
People in Old England and Ireland associated the end of October with the dead wandering among us. They would set out food to satisfy the hungry spirits. Later, as this tradition continued, people began dressing up in creepy costumes to go begging for treats for themselves.
In more recent years many churches have chosen to offer Fall Festivals as an alternative to children going door to door trick or treating. These fall festivals usually have many games for children of all ages to participate in including bobbing for apples, bean bag toss, and many other activities where children can “win” candy while playing a fun game.
I, myself, choose not to celebrate Halloween or pass out any candy on this non-federal holiday. I prefer not to celebrate any spirits that as said to roam around on this particular evening. It is my preference to observe All Saints’ Day, to remember and honor all the saints of the church (especially family members) who have already gone onto heaven. This is my personal preference and reason for keeping my porch light off on Halloween.
52° May not seem extremely cold 🥶 to some, however, it truly does to me. My grandson, Coleman thinks he needs to play outside regardless of the freezing temperatures. We’ve had freeze warnings for the past couple of days. Tonight ( or should I say), by early morning it is only supposed to be around 30°. That is freezing 🥶 cold weather.
I am thankful we do not leave in the mountains ( I do love the mountains though). Our near by mountains are 37° for a high and a low of 22° and sunny.
Do you enjoy cold weather? What is your weather forecast for this time of year?
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
(Calopogon tuberosus var. simpsonii) This gorgeous wildflower is called grass pink and it is in the Orchid family (Orchidaceae). The genus name “Calopogon” is Greek and means “beautiful beard.” It refers to the hairlike structures on the upper petal. It has a bulb-like corm that resembles a tuber, hence the name “tuberosus.” The slender grass-like leaves give rise to the name “grass pink.” It is a stunning wildflower.
Lavender & Meadow SageMeadow Sage Salvia x sylvestrisLavender ‘May Night’ Sage
These Lavender & Sage plants and flowers are within the Memorial Garden which you can find along the Nature Trail at The Schiele Museum located in Gastonia, North Carolina.
Brave means: having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty : having or showing courage according to Merriam-Webster.com.
“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.”
Coco Chanel
How am I brave? I do not feel that I am brave, not like soldiers who go into battle, those fighting cancer, or those speaking out about injustices. However, bravery and courage can be found everyday in many ways that we(I) have not ever considered before.
It takes courage to admit and say you are sorry. I admit this is not always easy. However, we all gain benefit and grow from admitting when we are in the wrong, myself especially.
I can be brave when I allow myself to be me. When I allow myself to be vulnerable and sharing the real me, flaws and all, with others.
I can be brave and courageous when I can let go and forgive. This takes a lot of courage especially since hurts grow deep and anger and resentment can grow within if it is dwelled upon over time. I know I find somethings hard to let go over and forgive. The one thing I need to remember is that by holding on I am only hurting myself.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6
In these past few years since Covid-19 began, it takes courage to be out amongst people. Even though many improvements have been achieved, I am not brave enough to be out amongst large crowds. I am fortunate, so far, to not have been infected by Covid. However, I have been affected by it since I’ve had family members who have had it. Some of which I took care of until they were better. I guess you could say that was brave. I’m not sure, when it comes to people you love, you do whatever is necessary.
There are many other ways we can be brave. How have you been brave? I strive to follow Joshua 1:9 and Be Strong and Courageous, to depend on God and remember He is always with me.
Deciding what I want to achieve this year is similar to deciding if I want to make a New Year Resolution or to make Goals. I do not usually make any Resolutions or set Goals.
IRESEARCHNET.COM
That being said, I do have a short list of Goals I would like to achieve this year.
2023 Goals:
To Pray more consistently 🙏🏼
To Read my Bible more 📖
To Read at least 30 minutes per day 📚
To not procrastinate about writing reviews – Be more consistent 📑📝✍️
What are your Goals, Resolutions? What would you like to achieve this year, 2023?
P. S. I must not forget that I want to strive to continue blogging and photography.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Boat 🛶 at Andrew Jackson State Park with Coleman checking it out. Kayaks with Coleman at Andrew Jackson State Park Kayaks at Anne Springs Close Greenway Dock at Anne Springs Close Greenway Flags Jacksonville, North Carolina Flags in TexasWater 💦 Trees 🌲, and Reflection Andrew Jackson State Park
The above picture is the last photo I have of my mom and I together. It was taken on May 30, 2010, during my daughter’s graduation/birthday celebration.
This month, October, is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Why might you ask that I place my mom’s picture on a post and then proceed to talk about Breast Cancer? Well, let me tell you. Even though my mom is no longer here on this Earth, she was a Breast Cancer Survivor. My mom suffered from two (2) bouts of Breast Cancer. She received chemotherapy and radiation treatments both times. She endured a mastectomy after she was diagnosed the second time with Breast Cancer. She was strong, yet she leaned on Her Lord and Savior to give her the strength to endure and overcome her affliction.
Doyce Eileen (Watson) Waters [10-11-1931/0118-2019] through the years… From her younger days in Ohio, to her time picking strawberries down in Florida, and traveling across to San Diego, California.
Her high school picture, with my dad, and the last photo with myself.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer. This year’s theme is Together We RISE. This year, The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. proclaims to RISE to ensure every woman has access to the screenings she needs and the support she deserves. When we RISE, we Rally in Screening Everyone. It is raising voices to spread the word about the importance of breast cancer screening and support. You may or may not know someone who has been affected by breast cancer, however, it is important for everyone to be screened for breast cancer. No one is immune to Breast Cancer. One day you, a loved one, or a close friend may be affected by breast cancer. 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. That’s one person every two minutes in the U.S. In 2022, it is estimated that nearly 44,000 people in the U.S. will die from breast cancer. When you or a loved one is diagnosed with breast cancer there is a real fear that it might possibly travel to other parts of the body. Diagnosed in the early stages, it is possible to go on and live a cancer-free live.
However, that is not the case for all who experience breast cancer. For some, the disease is metastatic at the time of diagnosis or later recurs. When breast cancer recurs at a distant location, for example to the bones, liver, lungs, and brain, it is no longer curable. My mom went through treatments for Breast Cancer twice. for several years she was presumed to be cancer-free. Being cancer-free was didn’t last for her. She developed skin cancer, having them surgically removed. A few years later she once again developed cancer. This time in her liver and bones. Upon this last diagnosis, she chose not to go through anymore cancer treatments. No more chemotherapy, no more radiation treatments. She felt her time was approaching and did not desire to go through that suffering again. She had previously watched my dad go through cancer treatments and later die from bone cancer. Her suffering ended on January 18, 2018, when she passed from this life into eternity with her loving Heavenly Father.
Now men, I know you probably think this does not apply to you. Although risks are higher for women, men are not immune to breast cancer. It is possible for men to develop breast cancer. About 1 out of every 100 breast cancers diagnosed in the United States is found in men. So please get screened and develop a routine of self-breast examinations.
In memory of my mom. God Bless. Thank you! I appreciate y’all,
These entries are from my hike along the Catawba River. The flowers I notice along the river are not always the same. Different ones catch my eye at different times. The wildflowers are beautiful to observe and enjoy .
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 