The weather has been hot and Sunny 🌞 during the day and stormy at night. Decided to switch out the sand in my grandson’s “Turtle” for Water 💧 to allow him to enjoy 😊 water playtime in the Warm Sunshine.
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 ofClare’s Share Your Desktopwhere 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 LoopTrails
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
Location: Horse Stables; Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a fabulous rest of your week. Enjoy the Outdoors. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
We managed to have a beautiful clear day yesterday (almost), so Coleman and I rode the bus to the Y for some fresh air and a bit of hiking.
All aboard, we’re on our way.
Before we begin our hike, it’s Coleman swing time. If we waited till later the school kids would have taken over and he couldn’t have been able to play.
Cameras: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens with Altura UV & NP filter and also Altura Wide-Angle Fisheye attachments.
Location: Gaston County Warlick Family YMCA; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors and Enjoy Our Beautiful Earth. Thank you for traversing the trail with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Whoever said ROCKS needed to be shared for What Rocks Your World? Hey there everyone, I gotta to be one that’s different … willing to Rock the boat (per se.)
Yes, I could do a whole post about Rocks and places of Rocks, however, why should I ? Especially when What Rocks My World isn’t a What but a Who.
On this hiking adventure I parked at the Dairy Barn Entrance to the Anne Springs Close Greenway. After exiting the car we proceeded to hike along the fencing before hitting the trails. Following the fence line we were able to view the horses, some of which trotted over to our location. [More on horses later].
Our first stop along the Blue Star Trail was to take a look at the Faires/Coltharp Cabin. To our surprise and delight it was open to the public (first time we’d seen it open). So naturally, Coleman with me following went inside to see what was inside.
A Look inside the Faires/Coltharp Cabin
After leaving the cabin, we hiked further along the Blue Star Trail towards the Swinging Bridge and the Schroering Forest Playground located on the other side of the Spillway.
Blue Star Trail
When the Spillway is up and streaming with a steady flow of water, the only way to cross it is to walk across the Greenway’s Swinging Bridge. Since our destination was on the far side of the Swinging Bridge we/I slowly walked across. Coleman used to walk across it when he was younger, but now if no one else is on it he’ll run across.
Coleman crossing the Swinging Bridge
We made it safely across the Swinging Bridge, walked around the Artisan Market, ordered lunch from the Greenway’s Canteen and rested a bit before heading to the Schroering Forest Playground. We had a clear view of the Playground from where we chose to sit. This was the first official day the Playground was open. They had been working on it all fall and winter. Being its opening day, the playground was crowded with children from all age groups.
Coleman hiking the Blue Star Trail
Upon completion of our lunch we noticed there were still a lot of children on the playground. I decided to have Coleman wait to play in it until it wasn’t nearly so crowded. Therefore, we continued on with our hiking and headed down to Lake Haigler.
Blue Star Trail Almost down to Lake Haigler
We hiked along the narrow side pathway towards the lake. The straight pathway is wider and more widely traveled by the majority of visitors to the Greenway.
We hiked a short loop with great views of Lake Haigler and then hiked back up to the Playground. Coleman climbed up on the Climbing structure and wasn’t sure about what to do after climbing up a short ways and just sat down for a few minutes. [The all natural wood climbing structure seemed to puzzle Coleman. He’ll probably climb more next time we visit.]
Steele Creek Trail
After a full afternoon of hiking and Coleman playing I decided it was time to head home. Hence, we proceeded to hike back up to the car. Instead of hiking the exact same trail we hiked down, we started out hiking on the Steele Creek Trail. The Steele Creek Trail is a narrow trail that leads up towards the Graham Historical Cabin.
From the cabin we traverse back onto the Blue Star Trail. After short distance from the cabin, Coleman starts searching for the cows. Sometimes they are up close to the fence line, but on this day we really had to look for them. Searching the pasture as we hiked up the trail, two of the cows came walking towards our direction from the far end of the pasture. That made a Coleman’s day. He was then ready to go home.
When visiting The Schiele Museum yesterday Coleman and I walked down a different staircase than we’ve taken before. Part way down the stairs in between floors was a swiveling chair which Coleman proceeded to climb upon. His antics and expressions can be viewed in these slideshow photos.
We are still having a lot of rain several days out of the week. Even so Coleman and I managed to get a little walking in. We walked for a mile and a half before deciding to get on the bus. We rode the bus to a park we had not previously visited.
We visited the Erwin Center Park and Recreation. We rode the Blue line to the station, then switched to the Yellow line. The Yellow line took us to right across the street from the park.
The Erwin Center opened in 1961 in the Highland neighbourhood of northern Gastonia. The Center was named in honour of Dr. Herbert Erwin. Dr. Erwin was Gaston County’s first African American physician. He was a well known advocate for youth sports and activities. The Community Center has a game room, meeting room, kitchen, lounge, and offices.
In 1967 a full-size gymnasium and an outdoor basketball court were added. Today’s outdoor facilities also include a swimming pool, a splash pad (open during the summer months), a grass volleyball court, horseshoe pits, playground, tot play area, a large picnic shelter and a walking track.
In the summer of 2020, a Black Lives Matter Mural was painted on the Erwin Center basketball court by Ezekiel Clay, Jr.
… On the Top of a Slide… On the Bottom of a Slide … on a Swing
The Erwin Center Park and Recreation outdoor park areas are open daily from Dawn to Dusk.
This park is a little further away from the park we normally visit, however it does have activities and playgrounds which are of interest to the very young as well as older children, teenagers, and adults.
If we were so inclined to travel a little further from home than usual, we would visit the park again. Coleman enjoyed the playground and wished it was already summer so he could have enjoyed the Splash Pad.
Cee’s allowing us to post any road, path, step, bridge, or sign this week for her CWWC. For my selections I chose some from Coleman & my adventures this past week.
Car Driving on Bridge Shot from the Avon Catawba Creeks Greenway Gastonia, North Carolina
Coleman Walking on Sidewalk New Hope Road; Gastonia, North Carolina
Coleman Walking on Brick Ledge The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, North Carolina
Coleman Climbing on Playground Equipment Ladder Steps Erwin Center Recreation and Park Gastonia, North Carolina
Coleman Sock Skating The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, North Carolina
Coleman Hiking & Playing Along the Avon and Catawba Creeks Greenway
The hiking adventures with Coleman are always fun and interesting. He doesn’t always stick to actual pathways or trails, however, he always gets to where he wants to go and has a fantastic time along the way.
It is almost guaranteed that while Coleman and I are out hiking along a trail, he’ll decide to sit and rest a second or two before moving on. He can choose to just plop on the ground or hop up on one of the benches scattered along the trail. On this day we chose to hike around Lake Haigler at the Greenway.
One never knows where Coleman will decide to Pull Up a Seatfor a spell. The first two are of places he chose to Pull Up a Seatat the Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia and the third one is of his selection in the Greenway.
Describe an item you were incredibly attached to as a youth. What became of it?
The item I am most attached to from my youth is a stuffed monkey. Yes, I said a stuffed monkey. It is not just any ordinary stuffed monkey. It is a vintage red and white Mr. Bim The Monkey rubber face plush toy. I’ve had him since I was about five years old, (I really do still have him.)
The Mr. Bim The Monkey was a plush toy made to resemble a real chimpanzee from the 1947 children’s show Howdy Doody. (As a sign note, I still have a 45rpm with the Howdy Doody song.) In the 1950’s the Rushton Toys Co. produced a chimpanzee plush named Zippy Zip, which became popular with children. Mr. Bim Monkey stands roughly 18 inches tall. The majority of the 1960’s Mr. Bim the Monkey plush toys were black and yellow with red suspenders with a yellow banana in its right hand. The red suspenders had bells attached on them.
Above shows Coleman holding my Red and White Mr. Bim The Monkey. He is over fifty (50) years old. His suspenders have broken due to lots of love and play. His bells have long since vanished and he is a little dirty from lack of cleaning. However, he’s been a faithful companion throughout the years.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. Looking forward to seeing y’all’s Last on the Card photos. I appreciate y’all very much.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Video: Created in Google Photos App.
Location: Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. Hope you enjoyed the video of Coleman having a fun time in the Greenway. I appreciate y’all very much.
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.
As Coleman and I were wandering through the Nature trail at the Schiele Museum; we featured Up the stairs and around the path downward until he ran off and into the Playscape sand pit. He brought along his friend Mr. Blue.
Up and Around the Stairs
Coleman met Mr. Blue at the doctor’s office. He helped him adjust to receiving two shots. He was comforted by him and decided he did not want to leave him behind when we arrived at the museum.
Why amI on my side? How’d I get this way? Please help me!
Therefore, Mr. Blue tagged along by his Side any which way and everywhere he happened to go. Mr. Blue hadn’t realised he would be cast aside for Dinosaurs 🦕🦖🦕 Coleman discovered hiding in the sand.
Mr. BlueColeman playing with the Dinosaurs That’s not how I meant … I wanted Upright.
Please do not look down on Mr. Blue for being disappointed. I’ll have you know he was not forgotten. When it was time to go back Up the trail to go home, Coleman made sure he gathered Up his new friend when he was packing his belongings into his backpack.
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.
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
Coleman Fort Mill Dam Fort Mill, South Carolina North Carolina Transportation Museum
From 2022
Coleman overlooking Lake Haigler from the Kayak DockRipples in the Water 💦Coleman Fishing Pier Andrew Jackson State Park Lancaster, South Carolina
From 2023:
Coleman Avon Creek Greenway Gastonia, North Carolina Coleman Green Trail Warlick YMCA Gastonia, North Carolina Trisha (Coleman’s Mom) Playscape Schiele Museum Gastonia, North Carolina Coleman & his Shades Warlick YMCA Gastonia, North Carolina Coleman Playscape Schiele Museum Gastonia, North Carolina
Hopefully this counts, it not a lake, river, creek or any other waterway. Instead it is of a Splayground, or in other words a Splash Pad.
I took Coleman to Lineberger Park where there is a Splash Pad known as Splayground. I believe he had tons of fun. He thoroughly enjoyed himself and wished he could have stayed longer.
Coleman running through the Splash 💦 Pad
It’s a delight when I can bring a smile to my grandson’s face and watch him enjoying himself having a fabulously funtastic time.
I never know how many photos I will have to delete whenever Coleman gets ahold oh my phone. This time it was over > 100 photos. Luckily I caught it in time before the backup to the cloud was initiated.
Some of the other photos were similar to these and others were of the rug, parts of his train tracks, or nothing at all. Hope you are not bothered too much by the open with food it mouth shots. It just turned four (4) so his pictures can be interesting at times.
Playing in his Turtle SandboxSplashing in the Greenway Spillway Relaxing on our New Recliner Loveseat A Year Comparison Playing in Lake Crandall Riding His New 2-Wheel Bicycle
Coleman expressions on the busColeman having fun at the YColeman playing in the SandColeman going Round and Round in the MazeColeman in shades on his 4th Birthday 07/25/23
In a maze one chooses to go this way or that way. Sometimes the way you choose leads to a dead end and sometimes other choices lead you on the path that leads you out of the maze. In life it is similar; we decide which pathway we want to venture on. Sometimes the choices we make lead us to no where and other choices lead us to a more fulfilling path for our lives.
Location: Natural Amazement, The Schiele Museum of Natural History’s Nature Trail, The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Gastonia, North Carolina
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Natural Amazement with Coleman and myself. I appreciate y’all.
North 321 Vol. Fire Dept. Coleman peeping in the Firetruck DoorColeman checking out the inside of Firetruck Equipment DoorA Four year old telling Coleman all about what is kept in this Equipment DoorColeman investigating the Firetruck Generator Door A Look at Coleman through a Firetruck DoorInside a Firetruck Door, Who do we see? Coleman Smiling Ear to Ear
Turtles Sculpture Located at The Schiele Museum PondLittle Tyke Turtle filled with Water, Toys, & Coleman Coleman on his Radio Flyer Big Wheel Clarkia purpurea Calflora
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.
Seating at the Greenway An Adirondack Chair & a Picnic Table with benches Anne Springs Close Greenway Coleman’s Seating on an Adult Exercise Equipment at Avon and Catawba Creeks Greenway Coleman’s Seating on another piece of Adult Exercise Equipment at Avon and Catawba Creeks GreenwayColeman’s version of Seating along the Green Trail at the Warlick YMCA ( A Rock 🪨 for Seating)Coleman’s Seating On a Bar on Exercise Equipment on the Power Loop of the Styz Trail System at the Warlick YMCAColor Pop Close-Up of Coleman Sitting on the Exercise Bar Warlick YMCA SYTZ Trail System
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 