Radiating Light
Through the Trees


Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #289 – Tools of Photo Composition
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
This blog is for my insights on life, the Bible, hiking adventures with my grandson and whatever is important to me
Radiating Light
Through the Trees


Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #289 – Tools of Photo Composition
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
Textures are everywhere, in everything if you look closely and really contemplate the esthetics of common everyday objects.
Ordinary objects of olden days …


Not overlooking what’s right beneath you …

Enjoying the variety in the outdoors …

And the many textures within new constructions in the neighbourhood.

Sarah’s Monochrome Madness #3-Textures
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens
Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all so very much.
These close-ups were all captured during mine & Coleman’s latest visit to (I was so worried you lay down. You don’t just – Apple iPhone’s Siri trying to type what was said to my grandson, oops) our local museum’s nature trail.
We started this visit with a walk through the Dinosaurs Exhibitions …

Then we moved on the Nature Trail and a walk around the Pond …

And ended our visit with a stroll through the Garden in The Farm …

New life is slowly starting to arrive and in the next few weeks new growth will begin to emerge in abundance.

Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge-Close Up or Macro
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: 1/2) iPhone 14 Pro Max; 3/4) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for taking a walk with us and sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all very much.
Don’t Let the Chickens Escape

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max – Ultra Wide Camera
Location: The Farm; 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.
Flock of Chickens



Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: 1) iPhone 14 Pro Max; 2/3; Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. 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.
Here are my entries for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge this week showing Pairs.



Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge-Pairs
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit (c) 2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Here are this week’s questions:
1. How many times have you been a patient in hospital?
Five (5), I think. Once when I was a child for tonsillectomy; once for each of my children’s births (three,3); once for a still birth; and once after a car accident in 1996 when my leg was broken, and a titanium rod was inserted to connect the broken parts of my right femur. So, I guess that adds up to six (6) not five (5).
2. Did you notice any differences with your experiences?
For the most part the times were so long ago I do not remember much if anything from my hospital stays. I do know that my stays were in five (5) different hospitals in three (3) different cities in two (2) different states.
3. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being good and 1 being poor, how would you rate food choices, and separately on the same scale, quality?
Honestly, I do not recall anything about the food served in any of the hospitals.
4. How long were you in for?
My recollection is slim regarding the length of stays. I do not think they were more than two or three days each time.
Gratitude:

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your world, your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Prunus cerasoides



Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: Top (1/2) iPhone 14 Pro Max; Bottom (3) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Location: Nature Trail; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
— Horsin’ Around

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L.Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all so very much.
Observations From the Greenway




Cosmic Photo Challenge-Taken from Below
Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Fioretto Cauliflower

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Settings: f/5.6 • 1/200 • 123mm • ISO100
Location: The Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Welcome to The Farm

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Continuing the Observation of
Windows Under Construction
The construction of the new school is coming along nicely now that spring is on the way. You can observe the different sizes and shapes of the windows taking shape in the school buildings.
Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: 1) iPhone 14 Pro Max; 2-4) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Location: Shot from Parking Lot; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
Around Lake Haigler
It is almost guaranteed that while Coleman and I are out hiking along a trail, he’ll decide to sit and rest a second or two before moving on. He can choose to just plop on the ground or hop up on one of the benches scattered along the trail. On this day we chose to hike around Lake Haigler at the Greenway.
Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Seating
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 9
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Haigler Loop; Lake Haigler; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Yesterday was a loving day to spend hiking in the Greenway. Unlike the day before when it rained all day and all night. The trails were a bit muddy, however, the views were beautiful with gorgeous skylines and amazing reflection.
Hammad’s Weekend Sky #120-03.03.24
Jez’s Water, Water Everywhere #211
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Lake Haigler; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
— Daffodils


Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Stand Up, Get Moving— We’re Marching into Spring

Split Cupped Collar Daffodils (Narcissus’Valdrome’)

Ragtag Daily Prompt: Friday – March
Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge 2024 Week 8
Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens
Location: Garden in The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Round Two
On the Way to & At the Museum
Heading to the Bus Stop …

Arriving at the Museum …




Along the Nature Trail …


Cee’s Which Way Challenge- Any Type of Road, Path, Sign, Step, or Bridge
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm and Canon EF-S55-250mm lenses.
Location: From Bus Stop on Stoneybrook Avenue; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing our path and your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Cee’s Which Way Challenge- Any Type of Road, Path, Sign, Step, or Bridge
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens with Altura (for Canon) Macro Fisheye Attachment.
Location: Sandbox; Playscape; 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.

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
Hope y’all had a pleasant Leap Day. I know Coleman and I did. First day in a while with no rain, so it was a good day to venture outside and visit the Schiele Museum, one of Coleman’s favourite places.
Conveniently, it gave me an opportunity for capturing some interesting moments on this Leap/Last Day. Therefore, here are my last on the card shot for February.
From my iPhone 14 Pro Max:

Formosa Azalea
From my Canon EOS Rebel T3i:

Rhododendron simsii
Last on the Card-February 2024
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Flowing From Flowering Weeds to Wonderful Serenity of Calming Blue Waters; here is my entry for
Cee’s CMMC this week.




Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge-February Alphabet W or X anywhere in the word
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Ink Art — Tattoos



These tattoos all have meanings behind them. I do not remember my husband, Terry’s meaning for his tattoo. Regrettably I do not have a better quality photo of it. May he continue to Rest in Peace.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all.


Leanne’s Monochrome Madness
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Northern Mockingbird

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday
Photo Credit:©️2013 Deb L.Waters … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all so very much.
— In Monochrome —



Cosmic Photo Challenge-Wide Open Spaces
Photo Credit:©️Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: 1 & 3) iPhone 14 Pro Max; 2) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Location: Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
A Variety of Cars Through the Years
Race Cars:


At a Car Show:


Toy Cars:


Son’s Cars:


Antique Cars:


Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge-Cars – new, vintage, toy, etc.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Shadows can be seen everywhere, at least when the sun is shining brightly. Shadows materialize along walkways, piers, and trails as well as anywhere imaginable.
Here are my entries for Debbie’s OWS Challenge this week which calls for us to show our SHADOW.





Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Shadow
Photo Credit: ©️2023/4 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: 1-4) iPhone 14 Pro Max; 5) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Locations: Various sites in North and South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Photo Credit:©️2024 Shirley Hunter
Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
— At the Greenway




Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max — Telephoto lens.
Location: Horse Stables; Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Photographing Public Art Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️2024 Marsha Hayes
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Photo Credit: ©️2015 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 6 Plus
Location: Andrew Jackson State Park; Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
On the Road or on the Trail Signs let us know where we are, where we are headed, and Which Way not to travel.
My entries for this week’s CWWC …





Cee’s Which Way Challenge- Roads with any sign
Photo Credit:©️Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Thank you for travelling with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all very much.

Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge 2024 Week 7
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
Mobile Unit Doors
Normally, most people would only think about wreaths and or the laying of wreaths at cemeteries around the Christmas holiday season. The Christmas Season being the annual time for wreaths to be laid in the Arlington National Cemetery as well as other cemeteries across America.

Wreaths Across America was formed in 2007 by the Worcestershire Family with the support of Veterans Organizations and a variety of other groups. These groups had previously helped with their annual wreath ceremony in Arlington. Wreaths Across America was formed as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, to continue and expand this effort, and support others around the country who wanted to do the same.

The organization’s mission which was established is to Remember. Honor. Teach.

Wreaths Across America is dedicated to teaching all generations about the value of their freedoms, and the importance of honoring those who sacrificed so much to protect those freedoms.

In 2022, the organization launched its expanded TEACH Program and collaborated with like-minded organizations focused on character development and service projects for young people of all ages, with lesson plans for all grade levels and learning abilities.

The Wreaths Across America (WAA) continues its commitment to remember our fallen servicemen and women all throughout the year. One way they do this is with the Remembrance Tree Program.
The Remembrance Tree Program was established as another way to remember and honor our veterans. WAA established this program for families of veterans to provide a living memorial to their lost loved ones.

The Remembrance Tree Program is a part of the Wreaths Across America organization that we ( my daughter and I) had not been familiar with prior to visiting the Wreaths Across America Mobile Unit when it came to Fort Mill, South Carolina.
The WAA purchased their own dog-tag machine which allows feed families of the veteran the ability to customize their message for the dog-tag. The family or their representative is taken out to the balsam tip land, in Harrington, Maine, to find a tree that will become a living memorial to their loved one. The dog-tag is then placed on the trunk of an evergreen tree of their choosing and a red marker is placed on the tree to show that it has been chosen as a memorial.
One of the Volunteers with Wreaths Across America was kind enough to inform us of this special program and gave us the opportunity to provide the information for a dog-tag to be made. The information has been given and we are waiting to hear when it will be placed on a tree as a living memorial to my late husband and father to my children, Sgt. Terry Leon Wilson Vietnam Veteran (1954-2018).
“To be killed in war is not the worst that can happen. To be lost is not the worst that can happen… to be forgotten is the worst.”
— Pierre Claeyssens (1909-2003)
The WAA is continuing doing all they can to ensure that no veteran is ever forgotten. They have been traveling all across America with their mobile unit to provide support and assistance to honor their commitment to Remember. Honor. Teach.
To all who have served and or are serving, Thank You for your Service. To all Vietnam Veterans, Welcome Home!
Dan’s Thursday Doors
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Wreaths Across America Mobile Unit: In front of Cabela’s; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
My entries for Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge this week were all taken at Goat Island Park & Greenway along the South Fork River Trail, a part of the Carolina Thread Trail System one year ago in February 2023.











Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge-Pick a Topic from my Photo
Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens.
Location: South Fork Carolina River Trail; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Greenway and sharing your time and thoughts with us.

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
Here are my entries this week for Dawn’s Monochrome Madness-Rocks.




Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
What are Burial Mounds?
Who used Burial Mounds?
When were they first used?
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.


Photo Credit: (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.
FOTD

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
Along the Trails



Cosmic Photo Challenge-Bare Trees
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Take a hike. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting the Greenway and for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Scents and Sounds
Hear and Smell My Favourites



Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge-Favorite Scents
Lens-Artists Challenge #287 – Sound
Photo Credit ©️Deb L. Waters
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone Pro Max
Location: Warlick Family YMCA; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Teal
The following are my entries for Debbie’s One Word Sunday Challenge-Teal. Teal can be found, if one’s looking, around the world including the United States. It can be found in all kinds of places like doors and signs or even statues.




God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
— Potted Perennials

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge-02.19
Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Take time for yourself, take a walk, smell the flowers and enjoy your week. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Wanna Share a Bite?

When Coleman and I visited The Farm On at The Schiele Museum on Tuesday Mike and Lucky were busy chomping away. It was feeding time and they were hungrily munching their food to their hearts (and belly’s) contentment.
I do not believe I would partake in their diet, however, they did appear to enjoy it themselves.
Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, 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.

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Settings: f/5.6 • 1/125s • 200mm • ISO3200
Location: Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.