Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography
This blog is for my insights on life, the Bible, hiking adventures with my grandson and whatever is important to me
Hiking 🥾 Trails marked on Tree Barks:
Denzils Nature Challenge #22: Tree Bark
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
Dale of The Cosmic Photo Challenge prompt is Freestyle this week.
Since this is freestyle week I decided to let you visit with me on one of the hikes Coleman and I took this past week. This hike was a little bit different in that we had my daughter, Coleman’s mom, along with us. On Tuesday we needed to be out of the home for awhile because a pest control company was going to come in and spray per the Complex management.
Therefore, we decided to go hiking in one of Coleman’s favorite places. The place we chose was Anne Springs Close Greenway about twenty minutes or so from our residence. Mind you now my daughter is not fond of hiking at all. When we arrived, we should them my membership card and proceeded to park. We thought Trisha, my daughter, was just gonna sit and relax near the canteen while Coleman and I hiked. It didn’t exactly go like we had thought. You see, Trisha brought her dog along with on our adventure ( he had to be out of the home as well).
Chewbacca, Trisha’s dog, decided he wanted to hike with us, therefore she had to tag along. We walked down to the lake and proceeded along the trail, Lake Haigler Loop, around the lake.
Coleman loves to run along the trail. I prefer a slower pace since I normally take many photos along the trail of the various sites we see. Often we observe different angles around the lake, seeing flowers, butterflies, sometimes turtles, bees, and even dragonflies.
At other times we see amazing reflections in the water.
I love seeing various creatures feasting on the nectar of wildflowers her at the Greenway.
Further down the trail as we hike around the lake I notice what appears to be a shape of a triangle formed with the reflections in the lake.
As we keep going I slow down observing butterflies flittering to and fro. Naturally I stop to snap a photograph. Meanwhile, my daughter’s trying to convince me to stop taking pictures. Guess what? She didn’t convince me, not one single solitary moment.
Next on our hike we come across a dragonfly and several turtles along the edge of the lake.
By this time my daughter is tired and wants to get this hike over with. Naturally, Coleman and Chewbacca want to keep going. They’re enjoying the outdoors adventure. Hence, we keep chugging along.
After awhile we decide to pull up a seat and relax a bit before finishing our hike. But first there’s more to observe as we near the picnic tables along the backside of the lake.
Finally to a spot to snack relax near the water’s edge.
The Cosmic Photo Challenge: Freestyle
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2023-Week 29
Alive and Trekking’s Which Way Photo Challenge.
Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i and iPhone 14 Pro Max
I hope you enjoyed trekking along with us on our hike around Lake Haigler. God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens. f/7.1 • 1/400 • 300mm • ISO600
Location: Lake Haigler; Lake Haigler Loop; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
The widow skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) is one of the group of dragonflies known as king skimmers.
This species is found commonly in muddy substrates, or still bodies of waters such as ponds, lakes, streams, and creeks.
They are predators that prey on other insects such as mosquitoes. They catch their prey using their legs and use their fangs to bring prey into their mouth.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Location: Lake Haigler Loop; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts.
Hammad Rais’s Weekend Sky #108
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens.
Location: Lake Haigler; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts and for visiting my Weekend Sky view. I appreciate y’all.
I do not have my own personal garden where I currently reside. There are various Gardens close by where I am able to visit occasionally with my grandson. The following are a few examples of what can be seen at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in Belmont, North Carolina.
The Cosmic Photo Challenge: Around the garden.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens Belmont, North Carolina
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
The following are the two photos I’ve been enjoy on my desktop from June 16 through the present July 15th.
Clare’s Share Your Desktop
Photo Credit:©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved
Camera: 1st – Canon EOS Rebel T3i 2nd – iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
Lens-Artists Challenge #257: Simplicity Photography
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit:©️Deb L. Waters …All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Donkeys with us. I appreciate y’all.
Ludwigs Monday Windows
Photo Credit : Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens. Settings: f/5.6 ISO125 1/160s 105mm
God Bless. Thank you for following along with my blog. I appreciate y’all.
Debbies One Word Sunday: Two
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Location: Last 2 – Rankin Lake Park, Gastonia, North Carolina Shot on Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
WHATSOEVER IS LOVELY CHALLENGE-2023 WEEK 27
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters. All Rights Reserved
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens.
Location: Wildflower Garden, Anne Springs Close Greenway, Fort Mill, South Carolina
God Bless. Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate y’all.
XingfuMama’s One to Three Processing Challenge: July 2023
Photo Credit: (c) Deb L, Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens. All effects were done on my Canon EOS Rebel T3i.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with a Canon EF75-300mm lens.
Location Rankin Lake Park, Gastonia, North Carolina
Leannes Monochrome Madness
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm Lens
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge
Photo Credit: (c) Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with a Canon EF75-300mm lens.
God Bless. Thank You for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
These historic cabin windows are attached to the Crook Graham Cabin. The cabin is located at Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
What makes these windows and this cabin historic, you might wonder? Let me tell you a little something about the significance of this particular historic cabin. The Crook Graham Cabin once belonged to Billy Graham’s paternal grandfather, William Crook Graham. He lived in a log house in Fort Mill, South Carolina, Billy Graham’s hometown.
The Graham Cabin is preserved on the Anne Springs Close Greenway a few miles south of Charlotte, North Carolina and is open to the public.
William Crook Graham later acquired acreage along a dirt track called Park Road, that land became a dairy farm.
These photos were taken of the right side of the cabin and the upper front window. On the front side of the cabin are wooden rocking chairs for visitors to relax and enjoy the views. My grandson, Coleman loves to take a break from hiking and relax on one of the rocking chairs for a bit.
Ludwigs Monday Windows
Terri’s Sunday Stills – Historical
Photo Credit: (c) Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with a Canon EF75-300mm lens.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting Graham’s Cabin with me. I appreciate y’all.
After a week of solid rainfall Coleman and I were itching to get outside to roam around in nature. It was decided on Friday that we should be adventurous, after errands were completed. Our errands took us down to Lancaster which is an hour and a half away from our current home. Coleman was being extremely patient, he deserved a break on the way make home. Therefore, to relieve his itch to run around, we stopped at one of his favorite places.
What is that favorite place, you ask? It is the expansive Anne Springs Close Greenway. It was an extremely hot 🥵 and humid summer day. We walked around along the trails, across the swinging bridge, and up to the Wildflower Meadow to observe which flowers were thriving.
These coneflowers are common in the Mountains and the western Piedmont of the Carolinas. They are abundantly growing throughout the Greenway’s grounds.
We took a short break for a bite to eat at the Greenway’s Canteen. Enjoying the cool air was nice, but Coleman was itching for a different kind of relief from the hot 🥵 sunny summer weather. What kind of relief do you think he was desiring?
He was itching to get relief splashing in the water at the Greenway’s Spillway. The Spillway was low, however, it still produced enough water flowing across for many to cool 😎 off and enjoy a splashing 💦 wonderfully amazing good time. Coleman delighted in sloshing and splashing through the Spillway’s water 💦.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
John’s Cellpic Sunday
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
Here you go I’ll pose for you. Which side do you think is my best side? The Left or the Right? Or maybe you need to take a closer look? I think I like the close-up view the best. How about you?
Photo Credit: (c)Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
These coneflowers are native to North America, and there are nine known species of Echinacea. Echinos is Greek for “hedgehog” or “sea urchin” which is reflective of the plants spiny center cone. Pallida is Latin and translated means “pale.” This is in reference to their petal color which is a pale pink-purple.
Interesting Medicinal Information:
Echinacea was first used by Native Americans for treatment of insect stings and bites as well as snake bites. Currently, Echinacea is used to prevent colds, flu, and other respiratory tract infections. It has also been proven to boost the immune system and treat urinary tract infections. Echinacea preparations can also be topically applied for wounds or skin problems. The roots and whole plant possess a cortisone-like antibacterial property.
WHATSOEVER IS LOVELY CHALLENGE-2023 WEEK 26
Terri’s Sunday Stills Challenge
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens.
Location: Wildflower Garden, Anne Springs Close Greenway, Fort Mill, South Carolina
God Bless. Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens
Location: Anne Springs Close Greenway, Dairy Barn Entrance, Fort Mill, South Carolina
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time ⏳ and thoughts 💭 . I appreciate y’all.
From my iPhone 14 Pro Max:
From my Canon EOS Rebel T3i:
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
The Misadventures to our Adventures began on Late Sunday morning, 2023 June 25th. Deciding not to use to much of my daughter’s gas (No car of my own), I chose to take my grandson to the South Fork Trail and Blueway Access to do some hiking. However, when we arrived, we encountered the Danger Trail Closed signs preventing us from hiking the South Fork Trail.
Upon seeing the Danger Trail Closed signs, we climb back into the car, and I search for where to go next to try to accomplish our hike for the day. I looked up the Carolina Thread Trail and it was closed for the day as well. The next stop on our Misadventure to Adventures was the McDonald Field at the Pharr Family YMCA. There didn’t appear to be a trail that we could hike at that location just a short Fit-Trail. Therefore, we decided to get back in the car and figure out where to try next.
After a short drive Coleman and I arrive at our fourth destination of the day, The South Fork River Park. This location looked more promising. So once again we climb out of the car, load ourselves with our backpacks (mine with camera equipment, his with snacks) and proceed to locate the trailhead. We found the trailhead with no problems and proceeded to hike on the natural surface trail which was approximately 1.25-mile loop trail and also included 800 feet of river frontage. The day was hot and humid; however, I believe Coleman enjoyed his time hiking by the riverfront.
Coleman enjoyed hiking by the river. He probably would have liked it better if I had allowed him to get in the river, but we were not prepared for that adventure. Even though this was a wonderful adventure, our day was not over yet.
On our way back to the car, Coleman heard some noise and thought we should investigate what was making the bleat or baaing sound. Located just across the road from the parking lot was a farm with several goats. I was not sure at first how close to allow Coleman to get to the goats. Turns out the farmer was out in the yard and heard Coleman approaching the gated area. The farmer was friendly and gave permission for him to pet the goats. He liked that idea but was a little shy about doing so.
This turned out to be a pleasant day even though it started out with a few mishaps. Once back in the car, the afternoon was still bright and calling for more adventure. I drove us to another park for more hiking and adventure. I will leave those tells for another day.
Lens-Artists #255: Telling a Story
God Bless. Thank you for partaking in our misadventures to adventuring. I appreciate y’all.
Cee’s Black and White Challenge and Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Leannes Monochrome Madness
Photo Credit:©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens.
Settings: f/7.1 1/320s ISO500 210mm
Location: South Fork Trail and Blueway Access, McAdenville, North Carolina
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
This type of plants are DECIDUOUS SHRUBS. Their typical butter yellow autumn leaves fall leaving the flowers exposed on this later flowering selection with slightly larger flowers than the species.
These particular witch-hazels were located near the Lake Trail at Crowders Mountain State Park in Kings Mountain, North Carolina.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
Jez’s WWE challenge
Photo Credit:©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: Photos 1 & 4 – iPhone 14 Pro Max
Camera: Photos 2 & 3 – Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2023-Week 25
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Altura Macro Wide-Angle Fisheye Lens for Canon EG-S18-55mm.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
My grandson and I spotted these spectacular flowers near the entrance to the Nature Trail at The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium located in Gastonia, North Carolina when we went there to go hiking this past week.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: (c)Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm Lens.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
Ludwigs Monday Windows
Photo Credit : Deb L. Waters
God Bless. Thank you for following along with my blog. I appreciate y’all.
The Helianthus schweinitzii is a perennial wildflower endemic to the Piedmont physiographic province of North Carolina and South Carolina. It is one of the rarest species of sunflower in the United States. It is common along utility and highway rights-of-way in North Carolina and South Carolina. These particular Schweinitz’s sunflower are located along the Lake Trail at Crowders Mountain State Park.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens
God Bless. Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Altura Macro Wide-Angle Lens for Canon EF-S18-55mm with Fisheye Attachment.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting with me. I appreciate y’all.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Altura Macro Wide-Angle EF-S18-55mm lens for Canon
God Bless. Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate y’all.
Like many others I was saddened to hear of Bren’s passing. I couldn’t just pick one flower. Bren loved photographing flowers so much and she loved life. I didn’t know her very long, but still I called her my friend. She liked my posts, made encouraging comments, and I enjoyed participating in her challenges. She was always kind, compassionate, and supportive.
I hope you understand one flower was just not sufficient. It took me awhile to be able to write this post. The day I found out about Bren was the anniversary of my husband’s passing from Cancer. Even though the news made me feel sad inside, i know she’ll live on in are heart’s and memories forever.
Debbies One Word Sunday: One
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S 18-55mm and Altura macro wide angle fisheye lens for Canon lenses.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me in remembrance of Our friend, Bren. I appreciate y’all.
Coleman
trekking along the trails
at
Crowders Mountain State Park
Kings Mountain, North Carolina
It was a beautiful day for hiking until the rains came pouring down. Luckily Coleman and I completed our hike and were headed to the car before the rains began pounding down upon us.
Posting for Alive & Trekking’s Which Way Photo Challenge.
Photo Credit: (c) Deb L. Waters
Cameras: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Altura Wide-Angle Macro Lens with Fisheye Attachment for Canon.
God bless. Thank you for sharing in our hiking adventures. I appreciate y’all.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Altura Macro Lens for Canon EF-S18-55mm f/5.6 ISO 200 55mm 1/100s
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
Clare’s Share your Desktop; June 2023
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Altura Macro Lens for Canon. EF-S18-55mm
Settings: f/9 ISO100 53mm 1/200s
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
The Weekend Sky changed throughout the day as my Grandson, Coleman, and I were hiking 🥾. By the time we were finishing our hike around the Lake at Crowders Mountain State Park; the gray clouds started rolling across the sky and later the rains 🌧️ began pouring down upon us.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Cameras: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Altura Macro Wide-Angle Fisheye Lens for Canon.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens.
God bless. Thank you for visiting & sharing in my artistic doors. I appreciate y’all.
Rubus idaeus ‘Caroline’ (Everbearing Raspberry) is a fall-fruit big cultivar producing high yields of large, highly flavored, red raspberries which are perfect for eating or preserves.
Raspberry plants can fruit on different types of canes, and these are categorized into primocane and floricane. Both primocane (first year) fruiting and floricane (second year) fruiting raspberries have both primocanes and floricanes growing from the plant after the first year.
Primocane fruiting raspberries, commonly called Everbearing raspberries, produce flowers and fruit on first year canes. Primocane varieties will produce a moderate crop in June and a much larger crop from late August until frost.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with a Canon EF-S18-55mm lens f/8 1/160 55mm ISO100
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens. f/9 1/200 300mm ISO400
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
From my Canon EOS Rebel T3i:
From my iPhone 14 Pro Max:
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: (c)Deb L. Waters
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
My any kind of seating involves any seating that Coleman deems acceptable for a place for him to sit. His choices of seating are not always what I would choose, but hey, if he’s happy with his choice of seating who am I to say it’s not his kind of seating.
Cee’s Black and White Challenge
Leanne’s Monochrome Madness
Bren’s Mid-Week Monochrome
XingfuMama’s Pull Up a Seat Photo Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
God Bless. Thank you for allowing me to share Coleman’s choices for his any kind of seating. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens.
God bless. Thank you for visiting. Stay tuned for Artistic Doors #6. I appreciate y’all.
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 