With the weather somewhat improving and a bit warmer (still not warm enough – jacket weather), Coleman and I are able to venture out on the trails for some delightful hiking. The trails are pretty muddy due to all the strong rainstorms we’ve been experiencing. Some of the trails are blocked off as closed for maintenance due to the damage occurring from the storms.
However, we managed to observe some amazingly beautiful sights ( not posted here.) Since we always hike in the woods, we (I) were able to capture a variety of weathered wood for this week’s challenge of Cee’s CFFC.
Weathered Wood Inside a Tree Trunk Bird HousesWeathered Log Floating in Robinwood Lake
“This table is reserved to honor our missing comrades in arms. The tablecloth is white — symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call of duty. The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of the missing and their loved ones and friends of these Americans who keep the faith, awaiting answers. The vase is tied with a red ribbon, symbol of our continued determination to account for our missing. A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears endured by those missing and their families who seek answers. The Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God. The glass is inverted — to symbolize their inability to share this evening’s toast. The chair is empty — they are missing.”
Location: Airport Pond; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. May you gain insight into your purpose and may your heart be blessed throughout life. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
The construction on the new school next to The Schiele Museum is making extremely slow progress. However, I think with spring being on the way the construction progress may increase as the weather starts to improve.
Hey, You Looking at Me?Maybe You’d Like a Frontal Snapshot?Or Perhaps I Should Come a Little Closer?Is This Close Enough? Let’s Make a Deal, I’ll Give You One More Shot … This is My Final Pose!
One never knows where Coleman will decide to Pull Up a Seatfor a spell. The first two are of places he chose to Pull Up a Seatat the Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia and the third one is of his selection in the Greenway.
Toby Keith sings “Don’t Let the Old Man In”Toby Keith (Image from Public Site)
Toby Keith Singing “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue”
Remembering and Honoring Toby Keith. Sad to hear of his passing from Stomach Cancer. Gone too soon, but his legacy will forever remain in our hearts and memories.
All photos obtained from public websites. Videos linked from YouTube.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
American Black Bear Ursus americanusThe Kermode bear, sometimes called the spirit bear (Ursus americanus kermodei), is a subspecies of the American black bear.Coleman Exploring the American Black Bear Ursus americanus
Describe an item you were incredibly attached to as a youth. What became of it?
The item I am most attached to from my youth is a stuffed monkey. Yes, I said a stuffed monkey. It is not just any ordinary stuffed monkey. It is a vintage red and white Mr. Bim The Monkey rubber face plush toy. I’ve had him since I was about five years old, (I really do still have him.)
The Mr. Bim The Monkey was a plush toy made to resemble a real chimpanzee from the 1947 children’s show Howdy Doody. (As a sign note, I still have a 45rpm with the Howdy Doody song.) In the 1950’s the Rushton Toys Co. produced a chimpanzee plush named Zippy Zip, which became popular with children. Mr. Bim Monkey stands roughly 18 inches tall. The majority of the 1960’s Mr. Bim the Monkey plush toys were black and yellow with red suspenders with a yellow banana in its right hand. The red suspenders had bells attached on them.
Above shows Coleman holding my Red and White Mr. Bim The Monkey. He is over fifty (50) years old. His suspenders have broken due to lots of love and play. His bells have long since vanished and he is a little dirty from lack of cleaning. However, he’s been a faithful companion throughout the years.
Friday was the first day of 2024 without too many clouds or rainstorms. The first time since before winter that we could see the aircrafts flying over our area. Blue skies and semi-warm weather warms the body and the soul.
I was just thinking about the many times Coleman and I have enjoyed hiking together along the Catawba River when the RDP (Ragtag Daily Prompt) appeared showing the today’s prompt to be River. Our minds seem to be in sync on thinking about River.
We’ve had a tremendous amount of rainfall recently and so I’ve been remembering beautiful sunny days spent with Coleman at the Catawba River. I’ve had photos of the Catawba River come across in my Google photos app as memories.
These are some of the memory photos that I’ve enjoyed looking over this week.
I didn’t think I would have any snapshots to contribute to this Cosmic Photo Challenge, then with our latest storms a vital bridge at my favorite greenway collapsed with severe destruction which is interfering with hikers and mountain bikers using sections of the Greenway trails.
I did not own a computer until around 2005 or 2006, I’m not sure exactly which year. It was given as a gift to aide in my ancestry research. I also a card program on it to make my own cards, postcards, and magnets.
The computer was nothing like the laptop I currently own. It was old and bulky having several wires to connect to the keyboard and the internet via a wireless hotspot on my phone.
The computer was a beige box shaped computer monitor with an upright Pentium-equipped tower computer manufactured by Gateway. I do not recall if it was installed with Microsoft 95 or 98. I do know it was slow at times but it worked and I had never owned a computer of any kind before. I never even used a computer until my oldest son was in high school and the high school is also where I occasionally used a computer.
A pizza-box form-factor desktop computer manufactured by Gateway, circa mid-1990s [wikipedia]
When I received the Gateway computer I was also given several discs and the instruction manual. Among the discs were several which helped with my ancestral work, Plus an encyclopedia and other learning resource discs.
At the time of owning the Gateway computer I only owned a very basic phone, I think it was a Nokia possibly the Nokia 3220.
Nokia 3220 Similar to my first cell phone
Times have changed, advances have been made, and I have learned and adapted to the technological changes and advances over the years.
I currently own an HP laptop and an iPhone smartphone. Technology and I have come along way over the years. Does one ever forget their first computer or first anything? Maybe, maybe not.
1. Who is your oldest living relative (aunt, grandparent etc)?
My oldest living relative that I know of is my Aunt Mary Dalline, my dad’s sister. There may be an older relative that I am unaware of and which I do not have a relationship.
2. How often do you visit them or is distance a factor?
I haven’t really visited her since my uncle died in 2019. I keep in touch with my cousins (her children online), however, since my mom died in 2019 there has not been the closeness as there was before.
3. Have any of your family lived to be 100?
I’m not sure if any of my relatives lived to be 100, but I do know my 1C1R’s husband lived to 99.
4. Would you like to celebrate your 100th birthday?
I do not plan on celebrating a 100th birthday because I do not believe I would live that long.
National Park Service Doughton Park Visitor Center
In front of the Doughton Park Visitor Center are welcoming chairs and a table to rest a bit and enjoy the view or perhaps to wait for the Park store to open if you are camping in one of their many campsites.
Doughton Park is located off of the Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 238.5 – 241. Besides the beautiful scenery surrounding this Park one may choose to explore The Brinegar Cabin, observe craft demonstrations, and talk a gander down one of several diverse hiking trails.
This area has one of the Parkway’s largest campgrounds, a popular picnic area, and more than thirty (30) miles of hiking trails where one may access forested slopes, streams, and backcountry in Basin Cove.
Doughton Park Legend
Originally called The Bluffs, 6,000 acre Doughton Park was created in the 1930s when the Blue Ridge Parkway was routed through this part of North Carolina. It was one of the first parts of the Parkway to be completed and remains its largest recreation area. In the 1950s, it was renamed for Robert Lee Doughton (1863-1954), a local landowner and politician, who was instrumental in getting the Parkway built. Mr. Doughton lived in the nearby Laurel Springs, North Carolina. [Note: the Laurel Springs area is also the area where my maternal grandfather grew up.]
The northern and western borders of Doughton Park are formed by the Parkway itself, which here follows the crest of the mountains, traveling at more than 3,000 feet above sea level through rolling highland meadow. The other borders of the Park are traced by steeply descending mountain ridges: Flat Rock Ridge along the southern side of the Park and Cedar Ridge along the eastern side. Within these borders is the rugged and remote watershed of two mountain streams, Basin Creek and Cove Creek. Together, the double valley – or double gorge – is known as Basin Cove.
In October of 2017 my eldest son and I took a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway meandering the scenic route enjoying the beautiful Autumn colours. I allowed him to drive as he had never previously driven the Parkway. We stopped at several mileposts along the way observing the beautiful landscape. At various mileposts including Milepost 238.5 – 241, we stopped, stretched our legs, and proceeded to hike along several of the many trails found along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I do not recall which trail we hiked at Doughton Park, however, I do know we visited The Brinegar Cabin. I encourage y’all if you are ever in the Western Part of the Carolinas to take a scenic drive along The Blue Ridge Parkway.
Views from the Backyard (1-2) Views from the Front Yard (3-4)
We have been having a lot of rain throughout the year. This is today’s view of our rainy weather. I am thankful it is not as devastating here as for some of my friends in San Diego, California. I do long for a California visit to see old friends and acquaintances. It will have to wait for another time. In my dreams the weather is perfectly sunny ☀️, not too hot 🥵 , not too 🥶, but just right. No jacket or sweater necessary. A time to enjoy the beautiful beaches, take a hike in the desert or the mountains or possibly both. In my dreams, the days are filled with love and happiness surrounded my friends I care deeply about. Hopefully, one day it will come to pass.
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 