GeometricJanuary Floating Down the Catawba River

Coleman was playing with his small soccer ball on the bank of the South Fork Catawba River. He tried making a blockade to keep it from sliding into the water, but alas it failed. His soccer ball with its geometric shapes rolled down into the river.

These depict the travel of his soccer ball floating down the South Fork Catawba River, lost to him forever. Bye, bye soccer ball. Click on each image ( if desired) for larger enhanced viewing.

Becky’s GeometricJanuary

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday 

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #252

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

Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV and Star-6 Filter attachments

Location: Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 GeometricJanuary Squaring #4

Becky’s GeometricJanuary Squares

On January 1st, Coleman and I hiked a short ways to the Riverside Park and Greenway. While Coleman was playing in the sand by the South Fork Catawba River, snappy few shots with my camera. Being observant of my surroundings, I captured some fascinating GeometricJanuary shapes.

Here are my Squares for GeometricJanuary #4 linking to Becky here. I’m also linking to RDP Wednesday-Radiant and FOWC-Joint.

Riverside Park and Greenway
Fishing Pier

Look at all the joints holding the pier together. Amazing what you find when you look underneath.

Another angle 📐
of the underside
of the fishing pier.

If you thought the architectural design of the joints on the underside were fascinating, then you would be astounded by the sun’s rays radiating over the water. Don’t you think it looks radiant ?

Becky’s GeometricJanuary

Fandango’s One Word Challenge (FOWC)-Joint

Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP):Wednesday-Radiant

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #252

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

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV filter attachment.

Location: Riverside Park and Greenway Fishing Pier; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton. North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take time to relax and enjoy yourself. Get Outdoors and admire the beauty in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Dirt roads or dirt pathways or trails

Cee’s Which Way Challenge

This week’s Which Way Challenge theme is Any Dirt roads or dirt pathways or trails. You may post one or as many as you like, just make sure your Which Way is clearly distinguishable. Remember signs are always welcome.

Here are my Which Ways for this week …

These are leaf covered dirt trails at the Historic Baltimore Fishing Pier location in Cramerton, North Carolina. Coleman and I hiked them, on Christmas Day, to see where they’d take us. Unfortunately, due to unrepaired damage to the trails from Hurricane Helene, parts of the trails are unrestored and nonfunctional at this time.

This Bridge was barricaded declaring it was unsuitable and hazardous rendering it off-limits to hikers/pedestrians.

Many thanks to WoollyMuses, for their Which Ways. You might want to check out their Silver and/or Gold Which Ways.

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1-5) Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max; 6-7) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura NP filter attachment.

Location: Historic Baltimore Fishing Pier Trails; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. Hope to see your Which Ways showing your Dirt roads or dirt pathways or trails. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Wordless Wednesday: January 1

Leaves Hanging On

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment

Location: Riverside Park and Greenway on Route to the Historic Baltimore Fishing Pier; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2024’s Last ‘Last on the Card’ —December 31st

Brian from Bushboys World invites everyone to post their Last Photo on the Card or smartphone. Here are Brian’s suggestions regarding his Last On the Card Challenge…

Your last photo doesn’t have to be on the very last day of the month if you didn’t take any photos on that day. Maybe it was earlier in the month when the last photo was taken.

 Post the last photo on your SD card or last photo on your phone for the 31st or whenever your last photo was taken. No editing. No explanations needed. Create a Pingback to this post or link in the comments on Brian’s Post. Use the tags The Last Photo and #LastOnTheCard.

Here are my Last on the Card photos:

From my Canon EOS Rebel T3i:

From my Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max:

Brian’s Last On the Card

God Bless. Have a Happy New Year and blessings all year long. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Words for Thought #48: 12.31

All Praise to God

Ephesians 1:3

Think About It Tuesday

Photo Credit: © 2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment.

Location: Off Cramerton Mountain Road; Near Baltimore Fishing Pier; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

Historic Baltimore Fishing Pier

Lovely View

of the

South Fork Catawba River

Posting as part of WWE and Judy’s Numbers Game #54-175. This week I have decided to post photos from the Baltimore Fishing Pier instead of finding the 175 numbered photos. These all linked in a new album in my files. I thought you’d enjoy the photos I shot from the Historic Baltimore Fishing Pier. Enjoy the video.

Historic Baltimore Fishing Pier

 Water Water Everywhere #252

Judy’s Numbers Game #54-175

Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2024 Week 52

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment

Location: Historic Baltimore Fishing Pier; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take Care. Here’s to many happy days of love, joy, and laughter in 2025. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

A Few Ripples and a Splash

Water Water Everywhere

Coleman and I hiked to the Historic Baltimore Fishing Pier on Christmas Day. Whenever we a near a lake or river, Coleman likes to throw sticks, rocks, or whatever he can find into the water. He likes seeing the ripple effect and even more so when he can get a big splash from whatever he throws into the water.

Here’s what I managed to capture from his efforts …

Jez’s  Water Water Everywhere #251

WWE

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment.

Location: Historic Baltimore Fishing Pier; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2024 Weekend FOTD: 12.28/29

Wood Spurge


Cee’s Flower of the Day

Cee’s Weekend FOTD

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm 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 very much.

2024 Silent Sunday: 12.29

Hanging Out

At South Fork Catawba River
Historic Baltimore Fishing Pier

Silent Sunday

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment.

Location: Historic Baltimore Fishing Pier; Off Cramer Mountain Road; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Happy New Year! Venture into Nature. Take a Hike/Walk. Enjoy Life. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Helix/R Project Coming Soon to Cramerton

The Helix/R coming soon to Cramerton has begun construction. The Helix/R Project is a privately funded partnership between Cramerton and the Carolina Thread Trail. The Helix was originally installed in Charlotte in 1983. It was donated to Cramerton in 2018. Its installation began this past week in Riverside Park and Greenway near the bridge. Riverside Park and Greenway is a part of the Carolina Thread Trail; connecting people to nature and the surrounding environment.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

Photographing Public Art Challenge (PPAC)

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment; Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2024 Thursday Trios: 12.19

Mushrooms Shaded Seating

Coleman and I visited a “new to us” park this past week. The name of the park is Central Park located here in Cramerton. According to the Cramerton website, Central Park prides itself natural surface mountain biking trails, walking trails and a natural stream running the length of the park.

While we were hiking along the trails, we had a difficult time distinguishing between the walking trails and the mountain biking trails. Some of the trails had water running across them from the creek (stream).

Alongside one of the trails we came across this unique seating arrangement with tall mushrooms which provide shade for hikers taking a bit of a rest.

Central Park Trail Map

Remember for larger enhanced viewing you may click on each image.

Carol’s Thursday Trios

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1-3) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment; 4-5) Apple iPhone Pro Max

Location: Central Park; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Enjoy Nature. Walk amongst the Trees and/or alongside a creek, river, or lake. Happy Holidays. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us.

2024 Silent Sunday: 12.15

South Fork Catawba River

Coleman
throwing sticks
into the
South Fork Catawba River

Silent Sunday

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #249

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55 mm lens and Altura for Canon UV & ND4 Filter attachments plus Altura Wide-Angle Fisheye lens.

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

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

2024 Thursday Doors: 12.12

One House Door and One Business Door decorated for Christmas. We are slowly decorating for Christmas. The hanging on the first door was made in the early 1970’s in San Diego, California.

7th Street
Center Street

Dan’s Thursday Doors

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens and Altura lenses for Canon, Altura NP & UV Filter attachments, & Altura Wide Angle Fisheye Lens; 2) iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2024 Silent Sunday: December 8

Holiday Train

Casa Vieja Mexican Food’s
(from Belmont, North Carolina)
Entry in
Cramerton’s
Christmas Parade.

Silent Sunday

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55 mm lens and Altura NP & UV Filter attachments for Canon plus Altura Wide Angle Fisheye Lens.

Location: Christmas Parade Route; Downtown Town of Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2024 Weekend Sky: 12.08

Downtown Cramerton

Looking towards to
Goat Island Bridge
Fisheye View of
Cramerton’s Parade Route
A Fisheye View
of Goat Island

Hammad’s Weekend Sky

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

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

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

Who Invited Mr.Grinch to the Parade?

This week has been a week for Christmas Parades in our area. Have you been to a Christmas Parade yet this year? Coleman and I have actually been to two different Christmas Parades this week. One was in the neighbouring town of Belmont and the other one was in our Town of Cramerton.

To our amazement, one of the first people was saw as we approached the Parade site yesterday was Mr. Grinch all decked out for the Christmas Parade.

Who do you think kicked off the Parade? Well, what’d you know, it was Mr. Grinch himself. Mr. Grinch made his appearance throughout the Parade in one manner or another. We never knew when or how he would appear. It didn’t matter how or when, people enjoyed seeing Mr. Grinch and the entire Parade. You may click on each photo for enlarged viewing.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday 

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Downtown; Town of Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2024 CPC: Looking for Trees with Bare Branches

Cosmic Photo Challenge

For this challenge I went searching through my archives to see if I could find any Bare Branches that I might like to select for y’all to enjoy in this post. Guess what? I found several I liked that I hope you’ll like and enjoy as well.

Crowders Mountain State Park
Kings Mountain, North Carolina
March 2023
Baxter Village Trail
Carolina Thread Trail
Fort Mill, South Carolina
January 2023
Old Town
Cramerton, North Carolina
November 2024
Old Town
Cramerton, North Carolina
November 2024
The Schiele Museum
Gastonia, North Carolina
March 2024
Nature Trail
The Schiele Museum
Gastonia, North Carolina
March 2024
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Fort Mill, South Carolina
February 2024
Lake Haigler
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Fort Mill, South Carolina
March 2024
Lake Haigler
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Fort Mill, South Carolina
March 2024

Most of these were taken in the afternoon, after the weather warmed up a bit, while Coleman and I were out hiking and enjoying nature. Right now as I write it is only 27° degrees outside. I’ve already been out in the freezing cold and gotten Coleman on the bus for school. I’m glad I’m inside now out of the freezing cold. Burr, I wish we didn’t have to go out in the freezing cold for him to get on a bus for school. Winter weather has arrived even it won’t be officially winter till the twenty-first.

Cosmic Photo Challenge-Bare Branches

#CosPhoChal

Photo Credit: ©️2023-2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Apple iPhone 13 Pro; Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max; and Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Locations: Crowders Mountain State Park; Baxter Village Trail; Old Town Cramerton; and Anne Springs Close Greenway; in North and South Carolina

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

2024 Numbers Game #48 —169

Judy invites us all to play along with her each week for her Numbers Game. To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find that include that number and  post a link to your blog in my Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title.

Judy’s Numbers Game #48-169

Cee’s Flower of the Day

CocPhoChal-Down in the Park

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

God Bless. Take time for yourself. Walk around a Park or Greenway. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

RDP: Saturday — Grey

Grey in the Farm

Zebu, AKA Humped Cattle
Brahmin cattle, Indicus Cattle

I have plenty of photos of Grey clouds, Grey skies, but I chose to choose instead a Grey Zebu located in the Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm at Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

Ragtag Daily Prompt-Saturday Grey

RDP-Grey

Photo Credit:©️2022 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300 lens.

Location: Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

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

2024 Judy’s Numbers Game #46 — 167

For Judy’s “The Numbers Game #46” Game she invites all to play along. Here are her ideas on how to play along in this challenge. This week’s number is 167. To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find that include that number and  post a link to your blog in my Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title.

Judy’s Numbers Game #46-167

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2024 Week 44

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

God Bless. Take Care. Don’t be Upset and Angry about Political Results; Remember God is in Control. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Monochrome Madness #19: 10.17 — Steps and Stairs

This week Aletta from nowathome blog is hosting this week’s Monochrome Madness challenge. She has chosen a theme of Steps and Stairs. Feel free to join in on the fun and post your monochrome photos of Steps and/or Stairs.

Here are my selections for Aletta’s Monochrome Madness Challenge.

Schiele Museum Nature Trail
Gastonia, North Carolina
Crowders Mountain State Park
Kings Mountain, North Carolina
Lake Haigler Loop
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Fort Mill, South Carolina
Gibson House
Greenway Stables Entrance
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Fort Mill, South Carolina

Aletta’s, from nowathome, Monochrome Madness

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

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

2024 Monday Portrait: 10.14 —

Coleman’s Horse Affection

Monday Portrait

Photo Credit:©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens

Location: 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 us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Macro Monday: 10.14 — Red Leaf

Red Leaf Close-up

Macro Monday

Photo Credit: ©️2022 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300 mm lens.

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

2024 CWWC: October Week 1 — Any Which Way

Cee is back and allowing us to post any type of road, path, step, bridge or sign this week for her Which Way Challenge. This week I have mixed it up with a little new with a little from my favourite place from my archives. Hope you enjoy!

Path to a small prayer garden
Highway 200 leading from Lancaster to Great Falls, South Carolina closed due to Hurricane Helene.
Nature Trail Andrew Jackson State Park
Coleman on the Trail at AJSP

Cee’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)

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

2024 CMMC: October Week 1 — Close Up or Macro

Close-Ups Around the Greenway

Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge-Close Up or Macro

Photo Credit:©️2022 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1-2) iPhone 13 Pro; 3-4) Canon EOS Rebel T3i

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

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

2024 Last on the Card — September

Brian from Bushboy world would like us to show the last photo on our SD card or smartphone for September 30th or whenever your last photo was taken. No editing. Explanations are not necessary. Create a pingback to Brian’s post. Use tags The Last Photo and #LastOnTheCard.

Here are mine. Mine are mostly of Coleman plus one from my dad’s camera. If desired, you may click on each image for enhanced clarity.

From my Dad’s Minolta XG-7:

Candles from Germany

From my Canon EOS Rebel T3i:

My Grandson, Coleman Sleeping

From my iPhone 14 Pro Max:

Upside down Coleman

Brian’s Last on the Card-September 2024

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. Please continue to Pray for those affected by Hurricane Helene. Many of my friends and cousins are affected by. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 CFFC: September – Piles or Stacks

Here are entries for this week’s CFFC:

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC) – Piles or Stacks

Photo Credit: ©2019-2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1 & 3) iPhone 14 Pro Max; 2, 4-5) Canon EOS Rebel T3i; 6) iPhone XR

Locations: 1-5) Gastonia, North Carolina; 6) Babyland General Hospital; Cleveland, Georgia, USA

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

2024 Wordless Wednesday: 09.25

Squirrel 🐿️ Watching

Sciurus carolinensis
Eastern gray squirrel

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Photo Credit :©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History Nature Trail; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

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

2024 Sunday Stills: September Color Challenge — Orange and/or Peach

Terri from Second Wind Leisure Perspectives hosts Sunday Stills Monthly Color each month. Her colour theme for September is Colors of Peach and Orange.

Here are my selections for Terri’s Color Challenge for September.

Terri’s Sunday Stills-Orange and/or Peach

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Becky’s Squares-#Seven for September

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

Birds of the Carolinas #17/Bird of the Week #LXXIX

Anas platyrhynchos

The Anas platyrhynchos is commonly known as Mallard or wild duck. The males (also called drakes) have green heads, while the females (called hens) have mainly brown speckled plumage.

The Mallard is approximately 50-65 centimeters (20-26 inches) long, the body making up the majority (about two-thirds) of their length. They are oftentimes slightly more heavier than the most othe dabbling ducks, weighing 0.7-1.6 kilograms (1.5-3.5 pounds).

Mallards live in wetlands, eat water plants and small animals, and are social animals preferring to congregate in groups or flocks of varying sizes. The Mallards shown here are quite commonly seen at Rankin Lake and other local lakes and parks in the vicinity.

They are a very adaptable species in that they are able to live and thrive in urban areas which may have supported more localised, sensitive species of waterfowl before development.

The name Mallard originally referred to any wild drake, and sometimes it is still associated in this way.

Mallards tend to frequently interbreed with their closest relatives in the genus Anas, which for example might be the American black duck. They might possibly interbreed with other species, such as the northern pintail or various hybrids that could be fertile.

In North America, Mallards winter in the south to southern United States and Northern Mexico. [The Mallards here were shot on camera in January, mid-winter for the southern United States.]

In summer, a combination of hot temperatures and reduced water levels place mallards at an increased risk of contracting botulism. Outbreaks of botulism among mallard populations can lead to mass die-offs.

Birds of the Carolinas

Birds of the Week LXXIX

Photo Credit ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Location: Rankin Lake Park; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA 

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

2024 Last on the Card – August

Brian’s Busboys World is the host for Last on the Card requests us to share our last photo on our SD cards or on our phones for August 31 or whenever your last photo was taken. No editing — just however it came out in focus, blurry, or whatever it may be. No explanations necessary. Be sure to create a pingback to Brian’s post or leave a link in his comments. Be sure to tag your post with The Last Photo and #LastOnTheCard.

Here are my Last on the Card photos for August:

From my Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max:

Coleman’s Brio Railroad design

From my Canon EOS Rebel T3i:

From my Dad’s Minolta XG – 7:

The last photo I digitized in August.

Brian’s Busboys World is the host Last on the Card

God Bless. Have a great week and join in on the fun. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Numbers Game #34-155/LAPC/MM — What’s in a Garden?

Welcome to The Numbers Game #34”.Today’s number is 155. To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find under that number and include a link to your blog in my Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title.

This week I am combining Judy’s Numbers Game with Leanne’s Monochrome Madness and Leya’s Lens-Artist Photo Challenge . I am choosing to use the Word Garden for this week’s challenges.

Glencairn Gardens

Glencairn Gardens is ideal for a Spring stroll through the gardens of blooming azaleas, pansies, wisteria, and periwinkle. When visiting the Gardens be sure to meander through the Veterans Garden which pays tribute to Veterans of all branches of service. Also, during Spring, you be able to enjoy the blossoms of Viburnum, Pink and white Dogwoods, Redbuds, peonies, magnolia trees, and flowering Yoshino and Kwanzan cherry trees.

There is beauty to be seen no matter when one decides to visit Glencairn Gardens. Summertime brings on the colourful bright blooms of crape myrtles, daylilies and hundreds of other annuals.

The trails through the Gardens pass by several fountains, ponds, as well as the vast variety of flowering plants and trees. we enjoy strolling pass the Fountains, especially when they are flowing during the springtime. We always stop by the Veterans Garden when we go visit and remember our family members who have served in our Armed Forces.

Glencairn Gardens began in 1928 as a backyard garden by David and Hazel Bigger who lived in the h9use that serves as the park’s welcome center. It was the inspiration for Rock Hill’s annual Come-See-Me Festival which is a festival celebrating music, frogs, and fun. The Bigger’s gifted this Gardens to the City of Rock Hill through a deed in 1958. The peak blooming season is from the end of March to the middle of April. The Veterans Garden was created with the partnership with The American Legion Post 34 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2889. It h9onors women and men from the past, present, and future who served in the United States armed forces.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #311 – What’s in a Garden?

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Judy’s Numbers Game #34 — 155

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Photo Credit:©️2019 & 2023 Deb L Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Apple iPhone XR and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300 mm and Canon EF-S18-55mm lenses.

Location: Glencairn Gardens; Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA

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

2024 FOTD: 08.12 — Rosa ‘Anuschka’ 

Rosa ‘Anuschka’ 

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Photo Credit:©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens.

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

2024 Weekend FOTD: 08.10/11

Loropetalum chinense 

Loropetalum chinense 
Plum Delight
Chinese Fringe flower

Weekend FOTD

Photo Credits: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens

Location: Martha Rivers Park; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

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

2024 Last On the Card — July

Brian from Bushboy.blog asks us to post our last photo on our SD card or phone on the last day of the month. No editing. Explanations not necessary. Create a Pingback or leave a link in comments to Brian’s blog. Use the tags The Last Photo and #LastOnTheCard. Your last photo doesn’t have to be on the very last day of the month if you didn’t take any photos on that day. Maybe it was earlier in the month when the last photo was taken.

From My iPhone:

Coleman
in his new
Grave Digger shirt

From my Canon EOS Rebel T3i:

Patterson Pond
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

From My Dad’s Slides taken with his Minolta XG-7 35 mm Via My Wolverine Digital Converter:

San Diego Wild Animal Park
San Diego, California, USA

Brian’s Last On the Card

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

2024 OWS: 06.30 — Star

Star Reflections

Debbie’s One Word Sunday’s word this week is Star. Here are my interpretations on Star for this week’s challenge.

Using a Star Filter

Canon Photography

Altura ⭐️ Star Filters

Star Reflections

in Robinwood Lake

iPhone 14 Pro Max

Star Flowers

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Star

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Photo Credit: 2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i and iPhone 14 Pro Max

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

2024 Share Your Desktop: June 15

Clare at Clare’s Cosmos hosts the Share Your Desktop Challenge. She invites us all to share our desktops; whether that be from our desktops, laptops, tablets, or smartphones it does not matter. Join in the challenge and let us all see what you look at every day.

Here are my desktops, wallpapers, wall savers, from my Laptop and my iPhone:

From my HP Laptop:

Laptop Wallpaper:

My Grandson, Coleman
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Laptop Desktop:

Patterson Pond
Anne Springs Close Greenway

From my iPhone 14 Pro Max:

Reading Focus:

Alpaca
Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Television Focus:

Horse Drinking Water
Greenway Stables Entrance
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Personal Focus:

Coleman with the Horses
Greenway Stables
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Hiking Focus:

Coleman Hiking
Dogwood Trail
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Share Your Desktop-June 2024

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Laptops) Canon EOS Rebel T3i; iPhone) iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: 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.

2024 Macro Monday: 06.10

Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
Trigonopeltastes delta
&
Eastern black swallowtail butterfly
on a Buttonbush

Macro Monday 

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Photo Credit:©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens.

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 very much.

2024 Weekend FOTD: 06.08/09

Brassica rapa

Field Mustard 
Brassica rapa

Cee’s Weekend FOTD

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. Cee, you are strong, you are appreciated, and we miss you. Get Better soon. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Last on the Card: May

On my Canon EOS Rebel T3i:

White Sultan Chicken
Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

From my iPhone 14 Pro Max:

Coleman

Last on the Card

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

2024 FOTD: 05.29

Calopogon tuberosus

Simpson’s grass pink and it is in the Orchid family (Orchidaceae) grasspink (Calopogon tuberosus var. simpsonii).

The genus name “Calopogon” is Greek and means “beautiful beard.” It refers to the hairlike structures on the upper petal. It has a bulb-like corm that resembles a tuber, hence the name “tuberosus.” The slender grass-like leaves give rise to the name “grass pink.” It is a stunning wildflower.

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Becky’s #SquareRenew

Photo Credit:©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens.

Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take time to renew your body, mind, and spirit. Like the Garden we also need to renew ourselves to further our growth. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Judy’s Numbers Game #22 — 143 (My #2)

Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm
Sign at Entrance
Patterson Pond
on the pathway
to the Farm Animals
Canada Goose
Swimming in
Patterson Pond
Canada Geese
Flying away
from the Pond
A Horse
by the
Greenway Stables
Spotting a Couple
of Horses
in the Pasture

It just happened by chance that all my “143” photos were taken at Anne Springs Close Greenway. My grandson and I love moving forward along the trails and pathways enjoying a relaxing time surrounded by nature and the reconstructed Children’s Farm.

Judy’s Numbers Game #22

Becky’s Square Challenge-Renew/Moving Forward/Reconstruct/Burgeoning

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved

Cameras: 1-2) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with 1) Canon EF75-300mm and 2) Canon EF-S18-55mm lenses; 3-6) iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Greenway Farm and Stables 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.

2024 SYD: May 15

Can you believe it? We are half through the month of May and one-fourth (1/4) of the way through twenty twenty-four (2024). It is already time for another of Clare’s Share Your Desktop where Clare asks us to share our desktops/wallpaper either from our desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphones.

Now it’s my turn to share my desktops/wallpapers with you. First up is from my iPhone followed by my laptop.

From my iPhone 14 Pro Max:

Personal Focus

Coleman

Hiking Focus

Coleman at a crossroads
between Dogwood, Timberline
and Peach Loop Trails

Reading Focus

Lake Haigler
Anne Springs Close Greenway

From my HP Laptop:

Screensaver Wallpaper

Coleman

Desktop

Horses
at Dairy Barn Entrance
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Clare’s Share Your Desktop

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

Squared “142” Numbers Game #21

This is my first time participating in Judy’s Number Game. My entry is being combined with Becky’s Squares Challenge

Getting out in nature always helps to renew my mind, refresh my spirit, and rejuvenate my soul. This view is from the side porch of the Gibson House.

On Sunday, Coleman and I drove into Fort Mill to visit the newly renewed and reconstructed Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm at the Anne Springs Close Greenway. The newly reconstructed children’s farm is accessible through the Greenway Stables Entrance. We are moving forward ( I know you can’t see our movements, but you can imagine them) to visit the Farm animals (chickens, rabbits, alpacas, and cattle.)

After visiting the farm animals, Coleman and I went back to the car to grab our snacks and put my backpack in it as my camera battery had died. So then I continued taking photos with my iPhone as we proceeded to Move Forward through the horse stables on towards the trails for a bit of hiking. We hiked along on the Dogwood Trail, made a loop onto Peach Loop to watch out over Lake Haigler before heading back to the car and home.

While gazing out over Lake Haigler, I reminisced for a short while remembering a time of apple picking, fresh apple cider, and fresh bread with a dollop of fresh homemade apple butter in Julian, California.

Now that I have your mouth watering for the delicious delightful aroma of fresh homemade apple delicacies, I trust you’ll have a wonderful rest of your weekend and a blissful weekend.

Judy’s Numbers Game Challenge – 142

Becky’s #SquareRenew – Renew-Reconstruct-Moving Forward

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300 mm and Canon EF-S18-55mm lenses.

Location: 1-3) Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA; 4) Julian, California, USA

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

Happy Mother’s Day!

It has been a beautiful day to rejuvenate, to renew the mind, and enjoy nature with my grandson today.

Patterson Pond
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Becky’s #SquareRenew

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens and Altura UV filter attachment.

Location: Patterson Pond; Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm; 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.

Words for Thought #17

Autumn-olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
AKA Silverberry, Russian-olive

Think About It Tuesday

Cee’s FOTD

Becky’s #SquaresRenew

Photo Credit: (c) 2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens

Location: Gaston County 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.

2024 FOTD: 05.02

Dianthus chinensis x barbatus

Pink Dianthus
Dianthus Floral Lace Red
Dianthus Floral Lace Mixture
Dianthus chinensis x barbatus

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens and Altura UV filter attachment.

Location: The Heritage 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.

2024 Last on the Card —April

From my iPhone 14 Pro Max:

Wheatear
(Oenanthe oenanthe)
Backyard Birds
Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

From my Canon EOS Rebel T3i:

Spot of Red among the Green
The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

Brian’s Last on the Card – April 2024

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your Last on the Card photos. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Words for Thought #16

John 15:1-2 NIV

Think About It Tuesday

Cee’s FOTD

Photo Credit: (c) 2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens with Altura UV filter attachment.

Location: The Heritage 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.