My entries this week for Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge we’re all taken when Coleman and I went hiking at one of his favorite places, Anne Springs Close Greenway.
Muhlenbergia capillaris (Hair-awn or Pink Muhly) Checking you out …The Gulf fritillary or passion butterfly (Dione vanillae) on Zinnias
Here are this week’s questions (which are nothing to do with Halloween):
Do you have carpets, rugs, laminating flooring, tiles, or wooden floors (or something else) in your property? Considering the property I live in is a rental townhome, the main areas are all carpeted, the kitchen & bathrooms have laminate flooring. If I had my preference, the entire home would have wood flooring with absolutely no carpeted whatsoever.
Do you have a bathtub and separate shower, or a combination of the two? The master bathroom has a shower only, the other main bathroom has a combination of bathtub and shower. We installed our own shower-heads as we prefer to have adjustable settings to use at our convenience. There is also a downstairs bathroom without a bathtub or shower facilities.
What is your favourite room of the house, and why? I am inclined to say that my favourite room in the house is my bedroom even the the majority of my time is spent in the living downstairs taking care of my grandson. The reason my bedroom is my favorite room is because it is the place of peace and tranquility for me. It is a place where I can relax, think, read and write without distractions or interruptions.
How many televisions do you have? There are three televisions in our home. One in the living room, one in the master bedroom, and one in my room. Although I rarely watch television in my room. I prefer to read or write my thoughts down sometimes on paper and other times through my blogging. I like to upload my photography and share them with y’all.
Sticks and Stones can be found high and low and all around. Some stones can be walked on, but be careful you don’t stumble and get hurt. Some stones draw your attention to an amazing object or view. While other stones bring about sadness and the memories you wish you could still feel and hold onto.
Stones in Dinosaur exhibit Stones near water’s edges Stone Mountain State Park Roaring Gap, North Carolina Paternal Great Grandparents Grave Stones (Markers) Bethune, South Carolina
Sticks can be a nuisance or extremely useful, as in an outdoor fire pit. Sometimes branches and limbs break off of tress during storms and cling together along a body of water. Sometimes sticks need to removed from a trail so hikers don’t stumble over them and get hurt. At other times a fallen tree is cut up and the wood is out to good use. I’m not sure why my maternal grandfather and his sister were sitting on top of the pile of sticks (wood), they may have needed a break after piling it all up in a neat stack.
Sticks piled together by the lakeSticks burning 🔥 in firepitThrowback Photo Maternal Grandpa & Grand Aunt Sitting Atop of a Pile of “Sticks” Deep Gap, North Carolina
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.
Here are my entries for this week’s Lens-Artist Photo Challenge hosted by Sofia.
Wine Vineyard Raffaldini Vineyards & Winery Ronda, North Carolina, USA Garden in Gastonia, North Carolina, USA Fence Gates The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, North Carolina, USA Balboa Park San Diego, California, USA
1. When you were a child, did you have your friends round for tea even if it wasn’t your birthday? Were you invited to stay to tea at a friend’s house?
Growing up as a child I had never heard of having tea with friends and never knew anyone who had tea parties.
2. What was your first job in adult life?
My first job that I had after high school was working as a nurses aide in a convalescent hospital. I took a class in my senior high school of high school to learn how to be a nursing assistant. I planned on studying nursing in college, but couldn’t handle the science classes. I later switched my major to education.
3. Do you enjoy shopping (food, clothes, gifts etc)?
I used to enjoy going into stores to look for new clothes or gifts to give to those I loved and cared about. Nowadays I do not go into very many physical brick and mortar stores, but rather shop mostly online.
4. What was the best bargain you ever got?
Looking back over time I think the best bargain I ever received was the day I married my husband. He brought so much happiness into my life I don’t believe I realized it until it was too late.
Here are this week’s questions about shopping habits:
1. When food shopping, do you prefer to shop online or in person?
Since 2020 I do most of my shopping online and have my items delivered including groceries. I rarely into any kind of store anymore and when I do it’s because I need something sooner than I could possibly have it delivered.
2. Do you take/stick to a shopping list?
Considering I do the majority of my shopping on line, I go through the pantry and refrigerator/freezer and order those items I truly need and not want I might desire.
3. Do you shop around or are you store loyal for convenience?
I order mostly from my local Harris Teeter (Grocery Store) and from Walmart. I shop what is on sale at Harris Teeter and other items, which may be cheaper, I order from Walmart. There are a few cleaning supplies I order online from Home Depot and have the delivered the same day.
4. Roughly how long does it take you to do a weekly shop?
When ordering online, it takes me less than an hour. However, if you count when I periodically add items to my shopping cart before ordering it could vary dramatically.
Gratitude:
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
When Coleman and I were near completion of our hike his mom met us along the trail. The first picture is of Coleman Pulling Up a Seat near his mom in front of the horse stables. The next two pictures of him choosing to Pull Up a Seat along the Dogwood Trail which we were hiking. For Coleman it does not better whether or not he has a chair, a log, or just decides to Pull Up a Seat upon the ground. He will Pull Up a Seat whenever and wherever he pleases.
Coleman and I hiked at Anne Springs Close Greenway on Friday. When we were there, we noticed a tremendous amount of construction work going on. They are making improvements to the Farm area, adding a Childrens Farm area, and adding additional animals to the Farm. Some of these improvements include adding buildings, bathrooms, and educational shelter areas with a wooden walkway to be able to observe the farm animals more effectively. Given the construction work is ongoing and is not estimated to be completed until approximately April 2024, the windows for these buildings are still under construction.
The new improvements will really enhance the Farm and Children’s Farm areas in the Greenway. I know my grandson; Coleman is super excited to be able to pet the animals and be able to better watch and pet them up close and personal. If you’re ever in the area I would encourage you to drop by the Greenway for a visit.
While hiking at the Anne Springs Close Greenway, we stopped by to visit with the horses. I took plenty of photos during our hike, most of the horses we’re approachable and really do not mind the many visitors to the Greenway looking at them or petting them. Then sometimes you see a horse that really wants to get a Close-Up view of you or let you get an extremely Close-Up view of him.
Is this Close Enough? Okay, I’ll Cooperate. Is this Better?
Old US 421S Deep Gap, North Carolina Doc and Merle Watson Highway US – 421 Deep Gap, North Carolina Tractor Pull The Bethune Chicken Strut Bethune, South Carolina Spots and Stripes Railroad Riverbanks Zoo & Garden Columbia, South Carolina Bobcat smoothing a Trail Horse Road Entrance Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, South Carolina Coleman’s Railroad with his Railway & miscellaneous vehicles Rock Hill, South Carolina
Decorations on Doors can be interesting and insightful this time of the year. Some choose to keep it simple; others minimalistic, and still others go all out in their decorations for Halloween. Whether you choose to decorate for Autumn or for Halloween is entirely up to you. Not everyone chooses to decorate their doors or their yards to coincide with the holidays/seasons. That is perfectly okay. Me, myself, I choose not to decorate the outside of our apartment for Halloween. It is a holiday I celebrated as a child, but as an adult I no longer do. These are a few doors I seen lately displaying Autumn/Halloween decorations.
1. Do you prefer a duvet, quilt or sheets and blankets on your bed?
I prefer to use sheets, blankets, and Quilts on my bed. The Quilts I use were lovingly sewn and stitched together by the skilled and talented hands of my beloved maternal grandmother.
2. Do you sleep with one or two pillows?
The only time I ever used only one or two pillows was as a child in my parents home. Now I use at least four pillows on my bed. I currently have six pillows on my bed.
3. Do you prefer a single, double, or kingsize bed?
I have never had a king size bed, not even when my spouse & I shared a bed. I have slept in a twin as an adult ( my husband was an over-the-road truck driver and hardly ever home). So upon moving, I slept in a twin and saved money for a larger bed. I have also had full-size (double) beds and queen size beds. The Queen size was nice, but since it is only me now, a queen would be more room than I really need. Therefore, I currently sleep in a full-size bed with my six pillows, top & bottom sheets, four blankets and one quilt covering me each and every night.
4. In the winter, do you have a hot water bottle or an electric blanket?
Many a winter I have used an electric blanket to keep me warm at night. Even while living in campgrounds for six months out of a year, I had an electric blanket over me while I slept on an air mattress in a tent through 30° winter weather. I mostly used it to keep my feet warm throughout the cold winter nights.
5. Fun question: have you ever slept in a hammock?
I have never slept in a hammock. Slept on the ground or on an air mattress in a sleeping bag, but never in a hammock.
Remembering my first teacher at school is not something I can do at the present time. However, I can remember a few of my high school and college professors. I remember one of my high school English teachers being named Mr. Watson. I remember him more for his name than any of the lessons he taught. His last name, Watson, is my mother’s maiden name.
2. What was your best and worst subjects?
Best: My best subject in school was mathematics, at least while I was in high school. In college, the math classes were of a more advanced level and of greater difficulty than any I had ever taken previously so I struggled somewhat to the point of needing a tutor to help me better comprehend the principles being taught. Worst: I always had a harder time in my history classes than any other subject. Today, I enjoy history as it pertains to my ancestral heritage.
3. Were you encouraged in class or did you just muddle along?
I think some teachers were encouraging while others I just muddle through the classes. One of my junior high teachers encouraged me to do research as a means of improving my grade in my history class. I loved to do research and write reports on what I learned regarding the requested topic.
4. Would you like to be a student today?
Would I like to be a student today? Not in the formal sense of actually having to attend classes, take tests, or turn in assignments. However, I believe we are all students in life, ever learning and growing in wisdom and knowledge.
Here are this week’s questions (my apologies if I have used any before):
1. How well do you know your immediate neighbours?
I do not know the neighbors directly next door to us. The apartment to the left of us ( if you’re looking outside) is currently vacant and only see the ones on the left occasionally as the enter or leave. I have met a few of the other neighbors when Coleman and I go out walking.
2. Do you notice changes in your neighbourhood : ie. new car, new dog, home improvements, etc.
I really do not notice changes in the neighborhood, not dogs, cats, cars, or home improvements. I sometimes notice when yards are decorated for a season like several in the area are now decorated for Halloween.
3. Should new neighbours move in next door, do you introduce yourself once they are settled in?
We recently (just this week) had neighbours move in next door. The new neighbors are a single woman with three girls and one son. The youngest, a girl, is only a year older than Coleman, my grandson. They also have a very lively dog named Asha. Introductions have been made and they are still in the process of settling into their apartment.
4. Have you ever had to complain to your neighbours?
As of yet we have not had to complain about any of our neighbors. Hopefully, we won’t ever have a need to do so.
I’m fairly new to adding just a splash of colour to a photo, hence, I’m not too sure about the quality of these choices. I hope you enjoy them regardless.
Toy CAT truck A splash of Green on the trees Splash of PinkA Hint of Autumn Color Pop of Coleman
I’m a little late in posting this blog post due to dealing with the aftermath of our sewage catastrophe. Wake up at daylight as per my grandson’s habit and went downstairs. Upon entering the downstairs bathroom, we (my grandson and I) noticed the toilet was backed up and had overflowed onto the flow making it impossible to use that particular bathroom facilities. Upon our discovering I tried getting the water (sludge) to drain to no avail. We then proceeded to go back upstairs to try to use the main bathroom upstairs. Come to find out that in flushing the upstairs toilet the downstairs toilet backed up and overflowed even more. So, we were in a quandary of what to do considering we could not go all day without having working bathroom facilities. We were not sure if the problem was in our apartment alone or if it was a major complex issue. In the meantime, we decided to go to the store pick up a container of RID-X and we figured we might as well pick up a few groceries while we were out. The photos below depict a small portion of our aftermath issues. I did not think you would actually want to look at the gross sewage backup catastrophe.
Aftermath of Sewage Backup
Upon arriving home from the store, we happened to see the complex maintenance workers and proceeded to inquire about the problematic situation. They informed us that the complex water would be turned off for approximately one hour and that they were waiting on a plumber to come and remedy the situation. Therefore, with no water and the problem as yet unresolved, we went back out to a different store to pick up a few more grocery items that were not available at the previous location.
Finally, back home again and the water back on much to our delight we could relax a little before working on the clean-up. Also, Coleman, my grandson, needed to have food prepared for him to eat. (He is almost always hungry, but then again, he is four.)
I trust your day and week went better than ours. Hopefully, the rest of our work will be without any complications or unforeseen problems. Have a Blessed week. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
We see shapes of every kind everywhere we walk/hike. Shapes are all around us if we just stop and take notice. Shapes are in everyday items, around playgrounds, in toys children play with, in decorations & even in various sculptures around our neighborhood a, our cities, states, and around the globe. Take time to notice the world around us and see what shapes you might notice.
Circles, Cylindrical Circle ⭕️ & Square 🟨Circles ⭕️ Triangles 🔻🔺🔻& Rectangular Shapes Coleman playing with Foam Shapes Little Explorers The Schiele Museum of Natural History
Signs are just about everywhere we look and even in places we might think to look. Some signs welcome visitors to a particular state while others provide information regarding parks or can be on the humorous side to bring a laugh & a smile.
Welcome Billboards:
Informational Signs:
Humorous (to some) Sign in International Cruise Terminal Cozumel, Mexico:
Take a Ride with Us on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina
After a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway, it is nice to take a stroll or a crawl down the Scarecrow Pathway in Millstone Park located in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Bonus for October: Any Halloween themed Which Way Photo:
Includes Water, Blue, Green, Yellow, Trail, Landscape, Space.
Photos 1-9 are all of the Pond at The Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, North Carolina. Photo 10 is of the North Carolina Mountains displaying both Autumn 🍂 Colours & Winter ❄️ 🥶 ❄️Snow.