A Peaceful Afternoon (By the Ocean)

Leanne’s

Monochrome

Madness

Three Seagulls
by the Atlantic Ocean

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness-2026.01.08

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Atlantic Ocean; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Enjoy Nature. Happy Photographing. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Tumultuous Skies (at the beach)

Ragtag Daily Prompt

A Tumultuous Sky before the Storm

Ragtag Daily Prompt-Tumultuous

RDP Monday: Tumultuous

Photo Credit: ©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion

Location: Ninth Floor; Captains Quarters; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Hoping you do not experience tumultuous times in the days ahead. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Monday Portrait: 05 January

First Portrait for 2026

We are in our first week of 2026; what a week it has been. We spent the week in Myrtle Beach relaxing, “sightseeing,”visiting various attractions, and enjoying time on the beach. [More about those activities to come in future posts].

For the first Monday Portrait of 2026, let’s check out the Southern Stingrays At Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This was Coleman’s first trip to the beach, he was extremely excited about being at the beach, as well as seeing the many different species of “fish” at Ripley’s Aquarium.

Let’s take a look now at the fascinating Southern Stingrays …

Southern Stingrays

The Southern Stingray (Hypanus americanus) is a whiptail stingray which is typically found in tropical and subtropical waters of the western Atlantic Ocean, from as far north as New Jersey all the way down to southern Brazil.

Even though we didn’t actually see them in the Atlantic Ocean, we (especially Coleman) were thrilled to see & pet them at Ripley’s Aquarium.

Coleman viewing
the Southern Stingrays

It is adapted for life on the sea bed, as you can see here they swim very close to the bottom most of the time, but not always.

Southern Stingrays
lying on the sea bed

Southern Stingrays are nocturnal predators, they spray water from their mouths or flap their fins vigorously to disturb the surface in order to expose hidden prey.

A Southern Stingray
on the Aquarium sea bed.

Hypanus americanus exhibit wave-like locomotion using their pectoral fins. The wave-like locomotion allowed them to escape predators, forage efficiently, and generally maneuver quickly.

The Southern Stingrays were exciting and interesting to watch swimming and foraging in the aquarium at Ripley’s Aquarium.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Monday Portrait

Photo Credit:©️2025 (12.31) Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion

Location: Ripley’s Aquarium; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA.

God Bless. Have a funtastic week. May you have many exciting and memorable adventures. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Cell Pic Sunday: 04 January

Scyphozoa

True Jellyfish

The Scyphozoa are exclusively marine class of the phylum Cnidaria. They are known to be referred to as true jellyfish. Currently, there are approximately 200 known species found in marine environments worldwide.

They are characterized by a cell-shaped body (Medusa) that lack a velum (a muscular membrane). Their bodies are mostly composed of a jelly-like substance, and lack a head, skeleton, and specialized respiratory or excretory organs.

Click on each image to enlarge.

John’s CellPic Sunday

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Ripley’s Aquarium; Broadway at the Beach; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Skywatch Friday/Weekend Sky: 01.03

Friday, a beautiful sunny afternoon was a perfect time for a walk along the beach. Observing the ocean, searching for Seashells, and enjoying the beautiful sky views.

Click on image to enlarge. 

2026 Skywatch Friday-01.03

Hammad’s Weekend Sky-2026.01.03

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion 

Location: Atlantic Ocean; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take Care. Have a funtastic weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

The #Flower Hour — First Florals of 2026

Terri from Second Wind Leisure Perspective is the host for The #Flower Hour. I am posting my last 2025 Floral images (December 31,2025) as my first Flower Hour post for 2026.

Hydrangeas
Hydrangea +
The Peace Rose,
formally Rosa ‘Peace’
Bougainvillea
Pink Wisteria
Hydrangea serrata
White on White
Flowers at Broadway at the Beach

Terri’s The #Flower Hour 2026

Also posting to Remember …

Bren’s Floral Friday 

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: By Dinopark; Broadway at the Beach; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Wishing y’all the best life filled with love, peace, and joy in 2026. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Last on the Card – December

Last of 2025

Brian from Bushboys World hosts a monthly challenge called Last On the CardHis rules are simple to follow if you’re interested in participating. 

Here are The rules:
1. Post the last photo on your SD card or last photo on your phone for the 30th or whenever your last photo was taken.
2. No editing – who cares if it is out of focus, not framed as you would like or the subject matter didn’t cooperate.
3. You don’t have to have any explanations, just the photo will do
4. Create a Pingback to this post or link in the comments
5. Use the tags The Last Photo and #LastOnTheCard

Here are mine for December  … 

From my Canon EOS T7 (2000D):

Brachiosaurus
Dinopark
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

From my Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max:

Sharkey’s Grouper Tacos
These tacos bring together the rich flavors of grouper, shredded cheddar, and Monterey Jack cheese. Served in a warm flour tortilla with lettuce, topped with house-made pico de gallo, and drizzled with Chipotle mayo sauce.
Sharkey’s Oceanfront Restaurant
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Click on each image to enlarge. 

#Brian’s Last on the Card

God Bless. Happy New Year! Happy 2026! Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

RDP: Evanescent Sea and Sky

Ragtag Daily Prompt-Evanescent

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere

Hammad’s Weekend Sky

Skywatch Friday-Last for 2025

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens plus Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Happy New Year! Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Cell Pic Sunday: 28 December

Holiday Garland

Click image to enlarge. 

John’s Cell Pic Sunday

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Cramerton Independent Presbyterian Church; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Skywatch Friday/Weekend Sky: 12.26

Skywatching at Goat Island Park and Greenway … The sky was beautiful and captivating amazingly drawing attention to the Creator of all that is, was, and will be.

Click on image to enlarge. 

2025 Skywatch Friday

Hammad’s Weekend Sky-2025.12-19

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion 

Location: Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take Care. Have a funtastic weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Monday Window: 2025.12.22

Kitty by a Window – 2 
— AI creation by 
House Windows
at Lake Norman
from across the lake.

Click on each image to enlarge. 

Monday Window 

Monday Window

See Monday Window posts in Reader

God Bless. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 OWS: 12.07 — Festive

Good Sunday Morning to y’all. This week Debbie from Travel with Intent has chosen Festive for the theme for One Word Sunday (OWS)

Here are my entries …

… From Cramerton’s Christmas Parade …

Snoopy riding on Carolinas Junk Removal Crane.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday – Festive

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion

Location: Parade Route; Downtown Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a very Merry Christmas Holiday. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Cell Pic Sunday: 14 December

Coleman petting
an Owner’s Horse
at Anne Springs Close Greenway

John’s Cell Pic Sunday

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Ultra Wide Camera

Location: Dogwood Trail; Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): 12.12 — Any Which Way with a Holiday theme. — Part 1 (Will run for two (2) weeks).

Welcome back to the Which Way ChallengeThis Friday’s Which Way Challenge theme is  CWWC: Any Which Way with a Holiday theme. Your Which Ways can be Any Which Way on any Road, Pathways, Walkways, Sidewalks, Stairs, etc. as long as your Which Ways are clearly visible. 

Here are my contributions …

Click on each image to enlarge. 

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.

Suzette’s For Deb’s CWWC – Any Which Way – Your Choice

Dawn’s Through the Twinkling Lights of the Walking Mall

• NOTE: For next week we will continue the theme of CWWC: Any Which Way with a Holiday theme.

Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Parade Route; Downtown Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take Care. Stay Safe. Enjoy the Outdoors. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 CosPhoChal: 03 December — Abstract

Dale host the weekly challenge The Cosmic Photo Challenge with a different theme each week. This week’s theme is Abstract.

Here are a few Abstract images  from around the Carolinas …

The Schiele Museum
of Natural History
and Planetarium Show
Gastonia, NC
Rocky Branch Trail
Cramerton, NC
Lake Norman,
Cornelius, NC
Sky-view
Riverside Park and Greenway
Cramerton, NC
AI Abstract of Mountains
from my dad’s slides.

Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge-Abstract

Photo Credit:©️ 1965-2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Cell Pic Sunday: 07 December

A La Nanita Nana

Click below to hear the song and watch the Stuart W Cramer Varsity Men Singers perform.

youtube.com/watch


To the nanita nana, nanita her, nanita her A la nanita nana, nanita ella, nanita ella

My girl is sleepy, bless her, bless her Mi niña tiene sueño, bendito sea, bendito sea

To the nanita nana, nanita her, nanita her A la nanita nana, nanita ella, nanita ellaMy girl is sleepy, bless her, bless her Mi niña tiene sueño, bendito sea, bendito sea

Little fountain that runs clear and loud Fuentecita que corre clara y sonora

Nightingale in the jungle, singing and crying Ruiseñor que en la selva, cantando y llora

Be silent while the cradle rocks Calla mientras la cuna, se balancea

Source: Musixmatch Songwriters: David N. Lawrence

A La Nanita Nana lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company

John’s Cell Pic Sunday

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera : Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Location: Cramerton Independent Presbyterian Church; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.


Peering Out Across the Pier

Monochrome Madness

Can you see where
Coleman is standing?
View From
Lake Norman
Lake Norman
Cornelius, North Carolina

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness-2025.12.03

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Lake Norman; Pier at Ramsey Creek Park; Ramsey Creek Park; Cornelius, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a fantastic rest of your week and weekend ahead. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Wordless Wednesday: 03 December

South Fork Catawba River
from Goat Island Bridge

Click on image to enlarge. 

Wordless Wednesday

Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: South Fork Catawba River; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA 

God Bless. Have a wonderful week and weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Monday Window: 01 December

Bob Evans Restaurant

Kitty by a Window – 2 
— AI creation by PR

For Monday Window this week I am taking you to the Bob Evans Restaurant in Huntersville, North Carolina. It has been awhile since we’ve been out to eat at a Bob Evans, the one closest to us closed & the building was demolished.

We decided to go out to eat on Thanksgiving first a Turkey Dinner (Our oven quit working & cooking a Turkey on the stovetop was highly impractical and improbable.) The closest Bob Evans near us was in downtown Charlotte or up a little further in Huntersville. We chose to go to the one in Huntersville and then go somewhere for a little holiday hiking.

Here are a few shots of the Bob Evans Restaurant; its doors, windows, and seating.

Click on image to enlarge. 

Monday Window 

Monday Window

See Monday Window posts in Reader

Dan’s Thursday Doors

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 48

God Bless. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Monday Portrait: 01 December

Northern Mockingbird

Northern Mockingbird

Monday Portrait

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Telephoto

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Pull Up a Seat on a Jude’s Bench or Two+

On Thanksgiving, my grandson, (Coleman) and I were joined by his mom for a lovely chilly afternoon. After devouring a delicious Turkey dinner (except for Coleman-He doesn’t like meat), my daughter (Trisha) drove us to a quaint park on the edge of Lake Norman called Ramsey Creek Park. At first, Coleman and I were not sure if his mom was going to join us hiking around the park.

Coleman and I started out walking by ourselves walking along the waters edges absorbing all the beautiful scenery. After a while, his mom joined us whilst he was picking up small seashells from the sandy seashore.

We noticed several Benches throughout our time walking around; from park benches to picnic tables and benches, they were scattered all around the park for visitors to relax and enjoy.

Here are some of the views and Benches we encountered …

Jude’s Bench Challenge -2025.11.30

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 48

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Ramsey Creek Park; Cornelius, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Cell Pic Sunday: 23 November

Gorgeous Reflections

South Fork Catawba River

John’s Cell Pic Sunday-2025.11.22

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Cameras: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max;

Location: South Fork Catawba River; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA. 

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature. Take a Walk/Hike. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Wordless Wednesday: November 5

Coleman walking by the
South Fork Catawba River

Click on image to enlarge. 

Wordless Wednesday

Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: South Fork Catawba River; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderful week and weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Thursday Trios: 09 October

Chugging Along

Five days a week as I wait at the bus stop before (with Coleman) school and after school (waiting for Coleman), I watch the Norfolk Southern Trains chug chug chugging up and down the railroad tracks. Coleman loves to watch the trains (he would love to ride in one one day). Sometimes when I am waiting for him to arrive back at the bus stop in the afternoon I’ll capture the Norfolk Southern Trains chug chugging along with my smartphone. Then he’ll watch the train later in the afternoon.

Here is a trio gallery of the Norfolk Southern Trains as they zoom past me standing on the corner.

Click on image to enlarge.

Thursday Trios 

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion 

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA 

God Bless. Enjoy your week and always be observant of your surroundings. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Pull Up a Seat (In a Waiting Room)

In a medical center waiting room while we wait for Coleman’s mom to finish with her appointment.

The Waiting room seating was minimal, but sufficient for daily needs.

Coleman waiting

It turned out she had to schedule an appointment with a different doctor. The one she was scheduled to see was not available. Her new appointment will be next week while Coleman is in school, so we will not be accompanying her.

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 37

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location Piedmont Medical Center; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take Care of yourself. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Which Way Challenge (CWWC) – Any Which Way Capturing People Unaware

Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). This week I have chosen Any Which Way Capturing People Unaware for this week’s theme. The Which Way can be any path, sidewalk, trail, or road as long as the Which Way is clearly discernible. For further information regarding the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) feel free to check out the home page here.

Here are my Which Ways entries:

Click on each image to enlarge.

Thank you to those who have participated and supported the Which Ways Challenge. I appreciate y’all sharing your Which Ways with us. 

For an idea of other’s Which Ways from this past week’s challenge, be sure to click on the following links below.

Brian’s Going up

TGeriatri’x’’s Which Way With Steps And Ladder

Dawn’s Which Way: Steps Inside and Outside the Library

Suzette’s For Deb’s —CWWC Which Way Challenge

Next week theme will be … Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Which Way with Tunnels and/or Underpasses (Ways under Bridges or Trestles)

Photo Challenge:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: River Link Greenway Trail; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a fantastically fun weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 FOWC — A Stable (of Love & Attention)

Coleman showing
Love & Attention
to Stabled
Greenway Horses.

Click on image to enlarge.

Fandango’s One Word Challenge-Stable

Mama Cormier’s Thursday Trios-2025.09.11

Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion

Location: Greenway Horse Stables; Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. May you have a Stable of Love, Friendship, and Joy. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Wordless Wednesday: 10 September

Admiration

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday- 10 September 2025

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Greenway Stables; Greenway Farm & Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA  

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy all of Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Monday Portrait: 09 September

Porch Visitor

American Green Tree Frog

Monday Portrait 

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Cell Pic Sunday — 07 September

Cramerton’s StoryWalk

is Coming Soon

What is a StoryWalk? I’ve seen signs like these along other trails in other Greenways, however, I was not previously aware that they were apart of what is considered a StoryWalk.

A StoryWalk is an interactive activity that combines reading with physical activity by displaying pages from a children’s book along a trail.

Using pages from a deconstructed children’s book, a story is displayed along trails or walking paths on poster boards, attached to fences, or encased in outdoor frames. Pages are laminated, attached to signs or podium-style boxes and are accompanied by activity prompts and questions encouraging people to walk to find the next page.

StoryWalks are a fun and innovative tool to engage young readers and encourage activities that build early literacy skills like reading, writing, talking, singing, and playing.

The Cramerton StoryWalk is a permanent installation located along the Goat Island Greenway.

It featuring pages from a children’s picture book displayed on posts and combines reading with outdoor activity for families. 

The installation of the StoryWalk was made possible through a grant from the Gaston Association of Realtors. 

The StoryWalk concept was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. 

John’s Cell Pic Sunday 

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Cameras: Apple iPhones 16 Pro Max  

Location: StoryWalk; River Link Greenway Trail; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Weekend FOTD: 08.30/.31

Clematis terniflora

Sweet Autumn Clematis is a fast growing deciduous perennial vine which is adored for its masses of small, fragrant white flowers in late summer and fall. The Sweet Autumn Clematis plants are in abundance everywhere around here.

While being appreciated for their beautiful flowers which grow vigorously and abundantly, they are considered an invasive plant species in many parts of the Eastern and Midwestern United States. The plants aggressive self-seeding and rapid growth can lead to it escaping cultivation and outcompeting native vegetation.

Sweet autumn clematis
Clematis terniflora
with Eremnophila aureonotata
wasp

The Clematis terniflora (Sweet autumn clematis) flowers are excellent magnets for attracting pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. As you can see from the images it also attracts wasps like the
Eremnophila aureonotata
, aka the gold-marked thread-waisted wasp. The Eremnophila aureonotata are in the family Sphecidae (“thread-waisted wasps”) which belong to the order of Hymenoptera (“ants, bees, wasps and sawflies”).

Cee’s Weekend FOTD (Flower of the Day)

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Stop and smell the flowers. Capture their beauty. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Monochrome Madness (MM) — Railway Cars at a Standstill

Coleman’s favourite things are Trains of any kind. He can play with or watch trains go by all day long if he could. When we are at the bus stop very early in the mornings we are able to watch the trains go down the track, not every day, but most mornings and quite often in the afternoons as well.

This morning Coleman noticed the Train was not moving …

… it was merely standing still …

… Not moving at all … Coleman decided there was something wrong …

… then he noticed a light shining on the train … The Railway workers were inspecting the Train.

Note: They got it rolling again before he arrived back after school.

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature. Capture the beauty all around you. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Repetitive Rippling Water

Good Day! As I right this this evening it is trying to rain, we’ve seen the dark clouds rolling in, heard the thunder banging like drums overhead, but yet to see the rain. I am thankful for the lovely sunshine we enjoyed today.

It was such a beautiful day and we hadn’t been out and about for the past week with all our on again off again thunderstorms; therefore, it was an excellent day to wander down to the river for a bit of hiking and Coleman playtime in the sandy river banks. Coleman is fascinated by the rippling effects of the water when he throws wood into the river.

I decided to capture his water ripples in black and white thereby linking this post to Jez’s Water Water Everywhere, Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Repeat and Monochrome Monday.

Multiple repetitive
Water Rippling
A Thrown piece of Wood
& it’s Rippling effects
Repetitive Rippling Lines
Repetitive Rippling Circles
Larger Circular Ripples
Natural Water Ripples
(Not by Coleman)

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Repeat

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #277

Monday Monochrome 

Monochrome Monday

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: South Fork Catawba River; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a hike/walk out in Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Freight Rapidly Zooming Around the Bend

Early Morning Freight Train

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Video: Created with Google Photos Highlight Video Editor

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Keep on Rolling and keep on keeping on. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Wordless Wednesday: 08.20

Nocturnal Visitor

Seen strewn across our
front porch posts
Crab spider

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday- 20 August 2025

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA  

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy all of Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Flower of the Day: 19 August

Lagerstroemia speciosa

Queen’s crepe-myrtle
Lagerstroemia speciosa,
aka Pride of India

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take time to admire Nature’s Beauty. Smell the flowers. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Monday Portrait: 08.18

American Green

Tree Frog

This American Green Tree Frog paid us a visit and chose to hang around for a while. It was to our surprise when we opened the front door and saw him looking at us looking at him. To him, it was the most natural thing in the world for him to hang around on our front storm door.

Dryophytes cinereus
aka American

green tree frog

The American Green Tree Frog is a common adaptable amphibian found in the Southeastern United States. [We had previously seen them in our yard blended in with the grass, but not usually hanging on our front door.] They are known for their bright green colour, large toe pads, and ability to change color based on temperature and activity.

The American Green Tree Frogs are often found near water sources like ponds, lakes, and marshes. [I know we live near a river and frogs are quite frequently spotted in the area, but on our door was unexpected.] They play a role in controlling insect populations. [This is always a good thing.]

These frogs eat small insects and other invertebrates like crickets, moths and flies. They can often be found clinging to windows or walls, trying to feed on insects that are attracted to light. [We learn something new everyday. Now we now that it is normal behavior for the Green Tree Frog to cling onto our storm door especially since it is a glass door.]

Monday Portrait

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Our Home; Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Be kind. Love your Neighbour (even strange ones). Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Monday Window — In the Neighbourhood

Kitty by a Window – 2
— AI creation by PR

Looking out over the Neighbourhood …

In the evening while observing the full moon in the sky I inadvertently captured the Neighbourhood windows across the street from us. It seemed like an amazingly picturesque scene.

Click on each image to enlarge. 

Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) Sunday-Neighborhood

Cosmic Photo Challenge-As the Sun Goes Down

Monday Window 

See Monday Window posts in Reader

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Floral Macro Monday: 18.08.2025

Hibiscus moscheutos

Swamp rose mallow

Click on images for enlarged Viewing 

Macro Monday (MM)

Macro Monday 

Cee’s/Chris’ FOTD

Cee’s FOTD

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters 

Camera:Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA 

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Skywatch Friday/Weekend Sky —17 August

Early Morning

versus

Evening Skies

Early Morning:

Evening:

Skywatch Friday

Hammad’s Weekend Sky

Weekend Sky

Weekend Sky

Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA 

God Bless. Enjoy your weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Floral Friday/FOTD: 08.15

Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge 

Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 16 Pro Max

God Bless. Have a terrific fun-filled weekend. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Hi-ho, Hi-Ho … Off to School He Goes …

Monochrome Madness

Hi-ho, hi-ho, It’s off to school He goes.

Hi-ho, hi-ho, It’s off to the Bus-stop He goes.

Hi-ho, hi-ho, It’s off for the First day He goes.

Hi-ho, hi-ho, Waiting at the Bus-stop We Wait.

Hi-ho, hi-ho, And at the Bus-stop We Wait.

Hi-ho, hi-ho, We Wait and Wait …

Hi-ho, hi-ho, We Wait; Oh it’s coming … Bye Grandma.

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a funtastic rest of your week and weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Wordless Wednesday: 13 August

Raindrops on an Awning

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday-13 August 2025

Photo Credit:©️2019 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA  

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy all of Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Which Way with Shadows and/or silhouettes

Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). This week I have chosen Any Which Way with Shadows and/or silhouettes for this week’s theme. Shadows can be on any path, sidewalk, trail, or road as long as the Which Way is clearly discernible. For further information regarding the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) feel free to check out the home page here.

Here are my entries …

Coleman’s Shadows/Silhouettes

Coleman

Taken at Goat Island Park and Greenway at the end of the Riverlink Greenway Trail located in Cramerton, North Carolina.

Coleman’s arm
over his
Shadow/Silhouette

Trees and their Leaves Shadows

The above Shadows were captured at the Lake Haigler Entrance of the Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

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.

Geriatri’x’ Fotogallery’s Up And Down?

Brian from Bushboys World’s Lines (show the way)

Dawn from The Day After’s Way of the Fence Line

Pepper from HeavensSunshine’s A Straight and Crooked Path

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1-2) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments; 3-7) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Locations: As Stated Above

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy a hike/walk in Nature. Admire Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Pull Up a Seat (Outdoor Dining)

THE GREEK GRILL

On a beautiful sunny summer day, who wants to eat indoors? Why not enjoy the beautiful weather and enjoy the delicious Greek Gyros at a dining table outside?

Outdoor Dining
The Greek Grill
Tega Cay, SC

That’s exactly what we did. We went inside, ordered our Greek Gyros with Grilled Veggies and went outside to enjoy our food under the shade of an umbrella in the beautiful sunshine.

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 31

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: The Greek Grill; Tega Cay, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get out and enjoy the Outdoors. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.