When Coleman and I were near completion of our hike his mom met us along the trail. The first picture is of Coleman Pulling Up a Seat near his mom in front of the horse stables. The next two pictures of him choosing to Pull Up a Seat along the Dogwood Trail which we were hiking. For Coleman it does not better whether or not he has a chair, a log, or just decides to Pull Up a Seat upon the ground. He will Pull Up a Seat whenever and wherever he pleases.
Coleman and I hiked at Anne Springs Close Greenway on Friday. When we were there, we noticed a tremendous amount of construction work going on. They are making improvements to the Farm area, adding a Childrens Farm area, and adding additional animals to the Farm. Some of these improvements include adding buildings, bathrooms, and educational shelter areas with a wooden walkway to be able to observe the farm animals more effectively. Given the construction work is ongoing and is not estimated to be completed until approximately April 2024, the windows for these buildings are still under construction.
The new improvements will really enhance the Farm and Children’s Farm areas in the Greenway. I know my grandson; Coleman is super excited to be able to pet the animals and be able to better watch and pet them up close and personal. If you’re ever in the area I would encourage you to drop by the Greenway for a visit.
The previous post photos were all shot on my iPhone 14 Pro Max. These photos were all Shot on Canon. The Solar Eclipse in my area was only a partial solar eclipse, however it was still amazing to observe. These probably would have turned out better if I had the proper filter to use for the occasion. [Filters for Canon are on my wish list]. I hope you enjoy the video of my view of the Solar Eclipse.
Partial Solar Eclipse 2023 October 14 Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
I know they all feature my grandson, Coleman. I never tire of looking at his pictures on my iPhone or on my laptop. I also never tire of spending time with him out in nature. He makes me smile, makes me laugh, and amazes me in how much he is growing and learning.
I decided to go ahead and do a part two to my CWWC – Any Which Way with People Challenge post. These photos are all taken at Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The hikers you see pictured here are all members of the Anne Springs Close Greenway Hiking Club. Coleman and I participate in hikes with the hiking club whenever feasible. When it is not possible to join the hiking club for a hike Coleman and I go to the Greenway or various other hiking trails to hike. (Just an FYI, Coleman has been hiking the Greenway trails since he was approximately one and a half years old (1 1/2).
For this Cee’s CMMC this week I thought I would show you some of the Plum (purple) Coleman and I have seen this week on our hiking adventures at The Schiele Museum of Natural History and along trails at the Warlick Family YMCA. They range from purple colored wood on the maze to purple canoes and plenty of purplish flowers. Hope y’all will enjoy the slideshow.
Leaves are often seen along hiking trails. Sometimes we notice the beautiful Autumn foliage in their full glory upon their tress and at other times we notice leaves of various shades upon the ground or in the nearby water.
The first two photos were seen in and around the creek at The Schiele Museum of Natural History’s nature trail. This is a place Coleman loves to visit at least twice per week. The only problem (depends on perspective) is keeping him out of the water.
The last two photos were captured as we were hiking along the Green Trail on the grounds of the Gaston County Warlick Family YMCA. These beautiful Autumn 🍂 leaves were located on the banks of the Robinwood Lake. The sunlight seemed to enhance their colourful loveliness.
Coleman and I walked around the Pond at The Schiele Museum of Natural History’s Nature Trail on Saturday after participating in the Dinosaur Day’s activities. I was fascinated by the turtles in the Pond while Coleman moved onto the Playscape area to have some FunTime in the sand. I stood there for a few minutes watching the turtle move (his/her) head & tail around to catch better rays of sunshine.
Coleman brings joy and sunshine to my soul. It brightens my day to see him smile and express himself in amazing ways.
Coleman does not get to have special treats like ice cream or popsicles on a normal basis when we are out at the museum or other places. He is lactose intolerant and cannot have any dairy or soy products. So on this rare occasion when I found out the ice cream vendor outside the museum had dairy free popsicles; I gave in and bought him one.
The joy I saw on his face as he was eating the strawberry mango popsicle brought a smile to my face and sunshine to my soul.
This challenge is different for me. Compared to others most of my moon 🌙 shots seem rather small and insignificant. I do not have proper equipment to get really close up photographic shots of the moon, however, I capture what I am able. The really close-up images were taken by a friend of mine or taken via a planetarium show of the moon 🌝 . I decided to post the photos through a video instead of individual images. I hope y’all enjoy the show.
Moons over the years Moonlight Sonata (by Beethoven)
Dahoon (Ilex cassine) Schiele Museum Gastonia, North Carolina Dahoon is a rare evergreen holly found at the borders of limesink ponds. Schiele Museum Gastonia, North Carolina.
All Autumn – Metal photos included in my entry this week were taken during the Autumn Festival this past Saturday at The Schiele Museum of Natural History & Planetarium in Gastonia, North Carolina.
Turkey in a Metal & Wood Coop The Farm Schiele Museum of Natural History Potatoes 🥔 in a Metal Basket The Farm Schiele Museum of Natural History Coleman in an Artificial Metal Pumpkin @ Autumn Festival Coleman on a haystack surrounded by pumpkins @ The Autumn Festival @ The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, North Carolina Coleman Autumn Festival Schiele Museum Gastonia, North Carolina
Pachydiplax longipennis Blue dasher Species of dragonfly
Blue dashers live near still, calm bodies of water, such as ponds, marshes, slow-moving waterways, and ditches, in warm areas typically at low elevations. The adults roost in trees at night.
The blue dasher hunts by keeping still and waiting for suitable prey to come within range. When it does, they dart from their position to catch it.
I mostly see Spider Webs. It is a rare occasion when I can see and capture a Spider 🕷️ in its web. I’m not well mastered in the art of capturing Spiderwebs when I’m snapping photos out in nature. That being said; here is my contribution for Denzil’s Nature Photo Challenge #29.
It’s been raining a lot here this year even more so now that hurricane season is here. Where we live we mostly get tropical storms during hurricane season. It’s been raining more so on a nightly basis. Therefore, we we do get a beautiful sunshiny day Coleman and I try to take full advantage of it. We (Coleman) decides where we’re going and we go enjoy our day hiking. It’s definitely more amazing when we are by a lake.
Andrew Jackson State Park is one of our favorite places to spend our time hiking, relaxing, and enjoying the beautiful views in nature.
For our time of reflection and remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001 Coleman and I paid a visit to Andrew Jackson State Park we we could have a time of relaxation, hiking 🥾, and just plain ole fun.
Mostly Coleman’s choices for Pulling Up a Seat.
Coleman had some fun time at the Playground 🛝, then we walked around most of the lake (ignoring a trail closed sign for a short bit) and then proceeded back towards the Picnic tables 🧺 for a small snack. After his snack, it was back to the playground for him to burn off more energy and to enjoy himself in the Playground.
Zinnias are subtropical and tropical upright annual flowering plants in the Asteraceae family which boast an abundance of daisy-like flowers. They are native to North and South America.
Original Peruvian Zinnias
These and other Zinnias are grown in the Memorial Wildlife Garden contained within The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, North Carolina. The Farm is located to the left as you enter the Nature Trail area outside the Museum walls.
I blog because I can. That’s a simplistic answer I know. In all honesty, I blog as an outlet for release of my thoughts and feelings. I used to right my thoughts down in a daily planner, needing a new planner every year, but then planners get packed away, misplaced or simply forgotten.
By writing my thoughts and feelings into my life and my surroundings it helps to analyze and take an accounting of my own actions. It is therapeutic for me just like my need to be out in nature hiking and photographing the landscape & the world around my very existence.
For the past 405 days I have consistently posted something on my blog. It might have been a short response to a daily prompt, an entry for a photo challenge, or a post about something meaningful to me. This is the longest streak I have ever had of consistently posting blog posts.
I enjoy posting a little bit about myself and my surroundings. I am enthusiastically enjoying participating in the many various writing prompts and photography challenges. What about you, why do you blog? Looking forward to reading what y’all post next.
Lesser Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron strigosa)
Stay true to yourself. Share your stories, your photos, Share a small piece of your world. It only matters to you (or me) what each of us decide to post on our blogs. Blog as much or as little as you desire. It’s all up to you.
I normally try to take photos as we go hiking in our neighborhood, along the various trails and sometimes we hike more than one trail in a given day. As always my hiking buddy is my (recently turned 4) grandson, Coleman. He loves spending time outdoors especially when he gets to go hiking in the woods, along the creeks, rivers, and lakes.
On this particular day we rode the transit bus from near our home to the Avon Catawba Creeks Greenway. We hiked the Greenway seeing many amazing sights along the way. We hiked the entire 2.7 mile paved greenway. The Avon Catawba Creeks Greenway connects Lineberger Park to Ferguson Park. The Catawba Creek Greenway portion runs through wooded and open creek areas between several residential areas and junctions at the Avon Creek Greenway. Combined, the Avon and Catawba Creeks Greenway is approximately 3 miles. We ventured over onto Robinwood Road from the Greenway and on down to the Gaston County Warlick Family YMCA to continue hiking some more after a bit of a rest and a snack while overlooking Robinwood Lake.
Photo Credit: (c) 2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time as we hiked along the Greenways to the Warlick YMCA. It was a pleasurable afternoon. We appreciate y’all and any thoughts you’d like to share.
Rhus glabra, (AKA white sumac, upland sumac, or scarlet sumac) is a species of sumac in the family Anacardiaceae, native to North America.Native Americans ate the young sprouts as a salad. The fruit is sour and contains a large seed, but can be chewed (to alleviate thirst) and made into a lemonade-like drink.
On this day Coleman and I hiked from Avon Catawba Creeks Greenway to the Warlick Family YMCA approximately a 2.5 mile hike. Coleman enjoys hiking with me, he also loves to test out the fitness equipment and Pull Up a Seat wherever he chooses. It is good to sit and rest occasionally along the trail.
Coleman on Fitness Equipment Coleman on Fitness EquipmentAvon Creek Greenway Coleman at an Outdoor Table Warlick Family YMCAColeman on a Slide Warlick Family YMCAColeman Resting before getting on a bus to go home
Welcome Cee and thanks for taking on the Which Way Challenge. I appreciate you and am looking forward to all you have to bring to challenge us on our Which Way Challenge adventures.
I’ve held off posting a which way challenge knowing you were taking over. Most of my “roads” are trails Coleman and I hike. I hope you’ll enjoy comingalong on our Which Way hiking adventures.
I know only the first photo has an actual road in it, however, Coleman and I mostly travel on dirt pathways. We walk most everywhere, sometimes riding the bus to get to a location where we plan to hike. Hopefully next time I’ll be able to be more in tune with the theme.