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.
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
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.
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.
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 …
Ramsey Creek Park; Lake Norman; Cornelius, North Carolina
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 StoryWalkwas 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.
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 aureonotatawasp
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”).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.]
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.
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.
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.
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.
Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). This week I have chosen Any Which Way with Shadows and/or silhouettesfor 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
Coleman hiking down to the Spillway amongst many 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.
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.
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.
The Yucca gloriosa species is known by the common names moundlily yucca and soft-tipped yucca. The Yucca gloriosa is also known as Roman candle, candle yucca, palm lily, and Spanish needle.
Close-up of the Yucca Flowers
Yucca gloriosa is caulescent, usually with several stems arising from the base, the base thickening in adult specimens. The leaves are long narrow, straight and very stiff. [The tips of the leaves are extremely sharp to the touch.]
Yucca gloriosa with Raindrops
The inflorescence is a panicle up to 2.5 m (8 ft) long, of bell-shaped white flowers, sometimes tinged purple or red. The fruit is a leathery, elongate berry up to 8 cm (3 in) long. [We have not seen or noticed the berries on the Yucca plant as of yet.]
Moundlily Yucca and Soft-tipped Yucca
The habitat for Yucca gloriosa is normally on exposed sand dunes along the coast and barrier islands of the lower East Coast of the United States. [There are two (2) of the Yucca gloriosa grown as ornament plants on our front lawn.]
Yucca gloriosa has been known to cause skin irritation and even allergic reactions upon contact. The leaf points are even sharp enough to break the skin.
Hiking along the Riverlink Greenway Trail at Goat Island Park and Greenway we tree y to observe everything around us. The objects along our foot path regardless of whether they are on the trail or along the side of its side.
Tree Leaves near the edge of a Trail
The sun bounces off the leaves differs slightly from one spot to another giving interesting contrasts that seem to stand out calling you to take a closer look.
Sun shining on Green Leaves
The glistening rays reflect varying shades of green in the river below. What captured my attention, at first, were the broken tree branches strewn across the waters of the South Fork Catawba River. The water reflections were an added bonus.
Green Water Reflections
Skipping down the road to another Greenway in town; (also apart of the Carolina Thread Trail) the Riverside Park and Greenwaywe encounter interesting plants and trees along the trail pathway.
Taxodium distichum Seed Pods (baldcypress, bald-cypress, bald cypress, swamp cypress)
I found these seed pods fascinating. I was not sure what they were when I first saw them, but they stood out and begged for me to capture them. Looking them up, I discovered these are Bald Cypress seed pods. The Bald Cypress trees are native to the Southeastern United States of America.
Cameras: 1-3) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments; 4) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Locations: 1-3) Riverlink Greenway Trail; Carolina Thread Trail; Goat Island Park and Greenway; 4) Riverside Park and Greenway; Carolina Thread Trail; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a fantastic week. Get Outdoors and enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. May the Sun Shine upon you. May your week be filled with love, laughter, and happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
We have been having so many days of extreme heat and humidity that what rain we have had has not been enough to sustain or elevate the water levels of our lakes, rivers, or spillways.
Coleman on his way to the Spillway
Do you think that the low water levels would hinder Coleman from enjoying splashing around in the Spillway? Definitely not.
Coleman is almost to the Spillway
Normally the water levels would be so high you’d be able to see the water from where Coleman is located. The water is usually all the way across the Spillway and flowing down stream.
Coleman deciding whether we are crossing the Swinging Bridge before he enters the water.
This is the Greenway’s Swinging Bridge, the main access to the other side of the Spillway.
Coleman is almost across the Swinging Bridge
The view of the Swinging Bridge from the top of the stairs. Normally the plant growth is not high enough to intertwine with siding along the Swinging Bridge.
Coleman begins splashing back and forth with his feet.
As you look at the pictures below you’ll be able to see and understand the extreme drought we are experiencing. The extremely low water levels caused by insufficient rainfall is disappointing to see. Ordinarily the water would rise above Coleman’s knees and you would not be seeing all the dirt, red clay, and mud which you can observe here.
Anne Springs Close Greenway Spillway with Coleman
Even though the water levels were extremely low it did not prevent Coleman from having a Splashing Good Time running back and forth, to and fro, as well as up and down the length of the Spillway.
Location: Greenway Spillway; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Stay Cool. 😎 Take Care. Get Outdoors whenever possible. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Dale is challenging us this week because to post fotos that fit the theme of Up, down and sideways. My first three fit the squares aww c theme, but were not taken at the same time or location.
Looking up into the glistening Leaves
Glancing Down into a Pond at Disneyland in 1965.
Looking Sideways waiting to see my granddaughter come around on her balloon in 2018
Then I looked at Dale’s selections again and realized they were all shot at the same location, so I decided to choose an additional set of trios.
Looking Up at the Sky through the Trees
Looking Down at Coleman splashing in the Spillway
Looking Sideways at Coleman on the ridge
These last set of trios were all taken at Anne Springs Close Greenway during Coleman’s Birthday Adventures.
Good Day! This being an off week for Monochrome Madness I am doing my own thing, not following with Sand patterns or fence posts like Leanne or Brian. Hope you will not tire of seeing my grandson, Coleman.
Today I am continuing the Coleman’s adventures in the Greenway from his birthday adventures. After cooling off in the Spillway, it was drying off time which (for Coleman) meant playtime in Schroering Forest Playground.
The Schroering Forest Playground is nestled amongst trees a short distance from the Domtar Forest Porch (featured here) where we relaxed sipping cool refreshing water.
Climbing Structure for ages 5 and Up
The climbing structure is Coleman’s favourite area to play in the Schroering Forest Playground. He has always loved to climb and is not afraid to climb anything (even though, I think his mom is sceptical). She’s probably worried he’ll fall, however, I’m not worried he climbs anything and everything anytime anywhere.
The Schroering Forest Playground was constructed in the Lake Haigler Entrance to Anne Springs Close Greenway in 2024. The intention of this unique playground is to reteach children how to play in the woods.
A mom (aka Coleman’s mom) watching her son enjoying the Playground.
The playscape and structures are specially crafted to help activate sensory skills, foster creativity and problem-solving through free play, reduce stress, increase physical activity, develop confidence in the outdoors, improve cognitive abilities and facilitate outdoor learning. Key features of the Schroering Forest Playground include a central climbing structure for older children and a corresponding structure for younger guests.
Coleman
I’ve been taking Coleman to play in the woods and interact with nature since he could walk. He prefers being outdoors and in the woods over being in the house any day. He enjoys hiking all the trails in Anne Springs Close Greenway and if he can combine hiking with playing all the better as far as he is concerned.
Brian from Bushboys World hosts a monthly challenge called Last On the Card. His 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 31st July 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 July …
From my Canon EOS Rebel T3i:
White & Pink Crape Myrtles across the Street from each other.
From my Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max:
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
God Bless. Have a funtastic weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
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.
The Domtar Forest Porch is located adjacent to the Greenway Gateway (often referred to as the canteen) and alongside the historic Nation Ford Road. It is surrounded by a canopy of trees which provides much needed shade and sometimes a cool breeze for a bit of rest and relaxation to bone weary hikers to enjoy.
Whether you come to the Greenway to hike, attend a concert, or just enjoy the beautiful outdoors, you might like to grab some grub at the Gateway Canteen and Pull Up a Seat in one of many Domtar Forest Porch sitting selections.
On Friday Coleman, his mom (Trisha) and I delighted in quenching our thirst with some iced cold water from the Gateway Canteen sipping them within the Domtar Forest Porch.
The Domtar Forest Porch serves as a gorgeous outdoor site for events nestled in nature. From wedding ceremonies, receptions and parties to picnics and retreats, this venue is perfect for gathering and enjoying the natural surroundings.
The Anne Springs Close Greenway hosts the Rooted Rhythm Concert Series every Thursday evening from the beginning of May through July. The Live Concerts provide a variety of musical artists and genres for guests to the Greenway to enjoy in the beautiful outdoors. There is a small charge for non-Members plus a small parking fee. Greenway members are free, however, if you’re parking at the Lake Haigler entrance you’ll still be charged the parking fee to help with the extra costs for the extra parking lot aides.
Domtar Forest Porch Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, South Carolina