Bridge @ Lineberger Park Gastonia, North Carolina Kings Mountain State Park Blacksburg, South Carolina GARDEN OF THE WAXHAWS TRAIL Andrew Jackson State Park Lancaster, South Carolina The Founders Trail is a beautiful natural surface trail along the Catawba River with a sidewalk connection to the Riverwalk: Piedmont Medical Center Trail and River Park. Located in the Fort Mill/Rock Hill area of South Carolina. These bridges are at various locations along the Blue Star Trail within Anne Springs Close Greenway which crossover the many creeks, streams, and other waterways connecting many trails for individuals to enjoy hiking and exploring the Greenway. Fort Mill, South Carolina
I mostly see Spider Webs. It is a rare occasion when I can see and capture a Spider 🕷️ in its web. I’m not well mastered in the art of capturing Spiderwebs when I’m snapping photos out in nature. That being said; here is my contribution for Denzil’s Nature Photo Challenge #29.
I’d like to share some advice for everyone whether or not you are a hiker, enjoy visiting parks ( local, state, and/or national) please Leave No Trace.
What does it mean to Leave No Trace? The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace are as follows:
Plan Ahead and Prepare
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
I want to emphasize and strongly urge everyone especially to adhere to Principle #3– Dispose of Waste Properly.
Waste in Nature and along Nature Trails
Make sure whatever you pack in, pack it out. Don’t forget to inspect your campsite, food preparation areas, and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter. Inspect and Make sure the site is completely clean.
Utilize toilet facilities whenever possible. Otherwise, deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished.
Pack out any and all toiletries ( e.g.toilet paper) and hygiene products.
Carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes when you plan to wash yourself or your dishes. Be sure to use biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.
This is extremely important and were established by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, and built on work done by the United States Forestry Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management in the mid 1980’s.
There has been too many times I’ve taken my grandson hiking in local parks and greenways, state parks where we have seen trash discarded along the side of trails or in nearby waterways such as creeks, streams, rivers, and lakes.
I have been trying to teach and emphasize to him how important it is to leave what’s in the park or on the trail to leave it on the trail and in the park. I want him to learn the vital role he has in protecting our local, state, and national parks. I am trying to instill in him the effects his actions may have on the plants,, animals, other people, and even our entire ecosystem. He maybe too young to fully understand and appreciate the importance of Leave No Trace, however, he is not too young to know that it is important to not leave trash/waste behind.
Finding trash/waste along the trails we hike is sad to know that some are not contentious enough to leave an environment clean and not care how their actions may effect the environment or wildlife in the surrounding areas.
Coleman by the Waste Receptacle
Please use the waste receptacles provided in our many parks and greenways. If none are available, carry your trash items out with you and dispose of them later at a proper disposal area.
Cee’s challenges vary from week to week this weeks is to see what interesting posts we select to go along with her them of Kellogg’s Rice Krispies – Snap! Crackle! Pop!. Here are my selections, maybe not what you might think but I hope you’ll enjoy them nonetheless.
It’s been raining a lot here this year even more so now that hurricane season is here. Where we live we mostly get tropical storms during hurricane season. It’s been raining more so on a nightly basis. Therefore, we we do get a beautiful sunshiny day Coleman and I try to take full advantage of it. We (Coleman) decides where we’re going and we go enjoy our day hiking. It’s definitely more amazing when we are by a lake.
Andrew Jackson State Park is one of our favorite places to spend our time hiking, relaxing, and enjoying the beautiful views in nature.
Beautiful views from the Linn Cove Viaduct to Mount Jefferson State Park and on to Stone Mountain State Park along the Stunning Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.
For our time of reflection and remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001 Coleman and I paid a visit to Andrew Jackson State Park we we could have a time of relaxation, hiking 🥾, and just plain ole fun.
Mostly Coleman’s choices for Pulling Up a Seat.
Coleman had some fun time at the Playground 🛝, then we walked around most of the lake (ignoring a trail closed sign for a short bit) and then proceeded back towards the Picnic tables 🧺 for a small snack. After his snack, it was back to the playground for him to burn off more energy and to enjoy himself in the Playground.
I have to admit I only see some “wild” animals in zoos since they are not native to my area. Therefore this first few are animals I’ve seen in various Zoos.
Wildlife in Zoos:
African Bush Elephant Reticulated Giraffe ZebrasKittens
No, I do not care for change. Change of seasons is expected, however, I would prefer to have spring or fall weather year-round. But then I would need to move to even come close to that happening. As far as other types of changes I would prefer not to have change, but if change was necessary then I would plan ahead and prepare myself accordingly for the upcoming change.
2. Can you remember the last time you had to use an operator service?
No, I cannot remember the last time I had to use an operator service. Now if you are referring to an automated customer service, then that is a different story. I hate automated customer service lines when you do not get the opportunity to speak with an actual person or have to go through a tremendous number of loops before the automation will transfer you to a live person. In that case, it would have been last month.
3. What is the best and worst ‘hold’ music you have had to listen to?
I would not know what the best or worst ‘hold’ music I had to listen to would have been. I tend to not listen to any ‘hold’ music.
4. Do you find numerous ‘options’ annoying when connected to an automated service?
Definitely. As stated previously, I abhor automated service regardless of whether it is automated customer service or any other kind. I would prefer to speak with a person whenever I had a problem or circumstance which needed attention immediately in order to be resolved.
The Cone Manor Moses H. Cone Memorial Park Der MusikpavillonPlayground stairs (Ladders)Andrew Jackson State Park Andrew Jackson State Park Anne Springs Close Greenway Crowders Mountain State Park Clover, South Carolina 14 Walnut Street Great Falls, South Carolina
God Bless. Thank you for visiting my upstairs downstairs stairs and steps. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Zinnias are subtropical and tropical upright annual flowering plants in the Asteraceae family which boast an abundance of daisy-like flowers. They are native to North and South America.
Original Peruvian Zinnias
These and other Zinnias are grown in the Memorial Wildlife Garden contained within The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, North Carolina. The Farm is located to the left as you enter the Nature Trail area outside the Museum walls.
According to Merriam-Webster, time is the measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues. It could also be considered a nonspatial continuum that is measured in terms of events which succeed one another from past through present to future.
These are examples of various clocks that measure time throughout any given day.
Wolverine CAMERAWolverine CAMERA
Time is for us to live in the Present, remember the Past, and strive for a better Future. How long we take to complete a task is measured in Time. If we work for an employer, our bosses what takes to be completed efficiently and on time. For writers, you set your own expectations, goals, and schedules; you also have to adhere to deadlines set up by your publisher.
I currently do not have time restraints for the most part, however, I do have time restrictions on when and how long I may use my daughter’s vehicle. Otherwise, I do what I want, when I want, unless Coleman ( my grandson) has other ideas. Then my time is all his.
Ultimate driving machines in the air and on the ground Present & Past.
American Airlines Aircraft (who says “an ultimate driving machine needs to be on the ground). 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Coupe 2014 Lenoir Car Show; Lenoir, North Carolina, USA2005 Pontiac GTO Lancaster, South Carolina, USA1974 Ford LTD Lackland Air Force Base in Bexar County, Texas
Amish Buggy Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio, USA
WWII M8 Greyhound Military Vehicle San Diego, California, USA1950 Chevy Deluxe Coupe Taken in 1956 Great Falls, South Carolina, USA
As Coleman and I stepped outside our front door we had unexpected visitors greet us before we sojourned on a short walk around the complex. These unexpected guests were overjoyed to show us some loving.
Around 5:30pm this evening:
The first two photos in the slideshow below were take around 7:25pm from the back patio. The rest were taken between 7:30 and 8:00pm tonight. Notice how quickly the weather changes our view.
Never will I ever forget that fateful day, September 11, 2001. Never will I forget the news coming across loud speakers, and television screens. Never ever will I forget the photos of the planes blasting into the twin towers of the World Trade Center. It was so devastating, so shocking, scary, and terrifyingly tragic. Never will I forget the scenes pictured of thousands of volunteers searching the rubble for survivors. Never will I forget the plane that flew into the Pentagon and the lives lost on that horrific day. Never will I forget the hijacked plane crashing into a Pennsylvania field. Never will I ever forget the thousands of lives due to hijackers taking over control from Flight 175, Flight 77, Flight 93, and Flight 11.
Never will I forget the events which occurred on 9/11/2001. Never will I forget to remember those who unwittingly paid the ultimate sacrifice on that fateful day. I will never ever forget. God Bless America.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
Setaria pumila is a species of grass known by many common names, including yellow foxtail, yellow bristle-grass, pigeon grass, and cattail grass. It is native to Europe, but it is known throughout the world as a common weed. It grows in lawns, sidewalks, roadsides, cultivated fields, and many other places.
I decided to do a slideshow for this post to show the change in the sky from mid-week through the weekend. If you look closely, you’ll see more than blue skies cloudy skies.
In the USA, the name ladybird was popularly americanized to ladybug, although these insects are beetles (Coleoptera), not bugs (Hemiptera).
Now, the word ladybird applies to a whole family of beetles, Coccinellidae or ladybirds, not just Coccinella septempunctata.
I had not seen any ladybugs 🐞 around our area in a very long time. Today as I was reaching for an item out of an upper cabinet this ladybug 🐞 landed on my arm and then proceeded to fly onto the overhead lighting. Couldn’t get that good off a shot looking onto the light fixture to obtain a shot, but at least I tried.
Ark of the Covenant The Discovery Center Abilene, TexasGold outfit & headdress The Discovery Center Abilene, TexasSecond Temple Jerusalem Replica The Discovery Center Abilene, TexasJupiter as seen via Schiele Museum Planetarium Showing Gastonia, North Carolina Echinacea Coneflowers
How do you get on with your in-laws/partner’s family? Unfortunately, they are no longer around, and neither is my spouse. when were we first married, we got along well with one another but after we moved to a different state we drifted apart.
What is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to you?I am not sure what the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. While I was working, I was always told I was dependable. Since I’ve been retired no one says much at all except for What’s for supper? Even so, I think the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me was “I love you!”
What was your favourite ride/stall at a fun fair?It has been an extremely long time since I attended a fun fair. In fact, I do not think I have visited one since I was in my late teens. In the 1960’s my dad entered his model cars for display. He had some first-place ribbons for his model car displays. I do not ever remember going on any of the rides, only going through the exhibition halls looking over all the many various exhibits.
Would you like to be a child growing up in today’s world?No, I would not like to be a child growing up in today’s world. Growing up without technology, being free to roam the neighborhoods without fear of violence was a wonderful time period in my life. It was a life of enjoying the outdoors and not glued to a phone, a computer, or anything. Loved riding my bike of handmade skateboard outside (No helmet necessary back then).
Share a story about the furthest you’ve ever traveled from home.
I always considered traveling the distance from the west coast to the east coast to be the longest I had ever traveled from home. I have traveled many times from Southern California to the Carolinas many times throughout my lifetime. First, as a child with my family growing up to see my paternal grandparents and later on, on my own to visit my paternal grandfather and my dad’s brother and sister and their families.
Thinking about the place which might be the furthest I have ever traveled from home, I began to wonder the actual distance in miles of places I have traveled from home to calculate where the furthest place from home I have traveled to.
After my calculations and deliberations I discovered that the furthest I have traveled from home occurred in 2020 before the pandemic lockdown was initiated.
At the beginning of 2020 I was still processing the deaths of family members which happened in 2019. I was lost and searching for whatever and wherever my life’s direction would be. I was at the time living in a tent in a local campground. I saw a post of Facebook from Monica, my sister-n-law’s sister, asking for someone to share a cruise to Mexico with her. I decided why not and sent her a message agreeing to share a cabin.
Initially I was at a loss on his to pay for it and what all it would entail. She made it sound so easy and agreed I could pay after after I arrived in Texas. The reason for the delay was I was waiting on approval and payment from the Social Security administration regarding my spousal retirement benefits. I also had to wait for my passport to arrive in order for me to be allowed to board the cruise ship out of Galveston, Texas.
In late January of 2020 I boarded a bus in Charlotte, North Carolina. First, however, I drove to my daughter’s apartment to leave my car there and then she drove my to the bus station to await my departure.
The bus trip took my from Charlotte, NC to San Antonio, Texas (approximately 1,231 miles) for the initial leg of my journey. This was the first time I had travelled long distance by bus. Normally I drove across country using a rental vehicle. The bus trip was not too bad. I actually had a seat in a row all to myself so it was not crowded and I could stretch out (the best one can on a bus) if I desired.
The bus stopped at many locations along the route and took approximately 32 hours to reach San Antonio. It was necessary for me to transfer buses in Houston to complete the trip to San Antonio. From San Antonio i boarded yet another bus to take me to San Marcos, Texas (another 58 miles) where Monica had agreed to pick me up and take me to her home in Canyon Lake (an additional 27 miles) to await the date to leave on our cruise.
Monica’s home was not as I had expected and I couldn’t hardly wait for the day we would board the cruise ship. I did get to sightsee a little bit in New Braunfels, Texas. There I walked around sightseeing while Monica went to a couple of appointments. New Braunfels was the closest shopping area from her home.
Finally, the day arrived to head to Port Galveston to board our cruise ship. The drive from her home in Canyon Lake to Galveston was 255 miles and took approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes. I was ready to depart long before Monica. I think I was a little anxious about arriving on time but also excited about the adventure I was about to embark upon.
Getting a late start from her home I was worried we would be late arriving at the port. I hoped we would not miss being able to board. I did not want to miss the cruise. Thankfully we were not too late and were processed (passports and identification checked and verified) an able to embark aboard our cruise ship, Enchantment of the Seas.
The cruise was full of amazing entertainment, food, and many activities for one’s participation. Surprisingly, to me, Monica chose to stay in our room instead of watching the entertainment or eating meals in the dining room. Everything was exquisite; the food was delicious, the service was amazing, the entertainment was spectacular. I could go on and on, it was incredible.
Our first port we docked in was Cozumel, Mexico. At this port Monica didn’t feel well and remained on board the cruise ship. She did not mind my going ahead and disembarking to look and the port. I saw many shops ( not far away as it is a tourist destination).
This was a 5 day cruise with stops in Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico. We were at sea for a little more than a day before reaching our first destination of Cozumel. Even though Monica stayed on board, I enjoyed myself walking around the port visiting the shops and just wandering around the area. Back on board the ship for another day at sea before reaching our second port destination of Costa Maya. I was never board while on the cruise ship or in port. There were so many options to choose to participate in including a walking track on the ninth deck. I try to walk everyday and walking the track was a good option other than walking up and down the stairs to get from our cabin to the dining room, or one of the various locations for entertainment.
Aboard the Enchantment of the Seas
In Costa Maya, I was surprised, Monica joined me in disembarking the cruise ship to walk around the port. I think she actually relaxed and enjoyed herself somewhat.
The entire trip one way was approximately 3,171.1 miles to reach the destinations for my cruise adventure to Mexico. Would I do it again? Maybe someday, however, the cost for a single person is rather high. All cabin prices a based on a two person occupancy. Therefore if a person doesn’t have anyone to share the cruise with you have the entire amount as an expense. I did enjoy the cruise and had a lovely time visiting the ports, watching the entertainment and devouring the delicious meals.
Thank you for listening and sharing your time and thoughts. I know this was rather long winded. I didn’t know how to make my adventure far from home into a short story.
I blog because I can. That’s a simplistic answer I know. In all honesty, I blog as an outlet for release of my thoughts and feelings. I used to right my thoughts down in a daily planner, needing a new planner every year, but then planners get packed away, misplaced or simply forgotten.
By writing my thoughts and feelings into my life and my surroundings it helps to analyze and take an accounting of my own actions. It is therapeutic for me just like my need to be out in nature hiking and photographing the landscape & the world around my very existence.
For the past 405 days I have consistently posted something on my blog. It might have been a short response to a daily prompt, an entry for a photo challenge, or a post about something meaningful to me. This is the longest streak I have ever had of consistently posting blog posts.
I enjoy posting a little bit about myself and my surroundings. I am enthusiastically enjoying participating in the many various writing prompts and photography challenges. What about you, why do you blog? Looking forward to reading what y’all post next.
Lesser Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron strigosa)
Stay true to yourself. Share your stories, your photos, Share a small piece of your world. It only matters to you (or me) what each of us decide to post on our blogs. Blog as much or as little as you desire. It’s all up to you.
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 