My grandson, Coleman and I loved to venture out into nature and roam through the trees whenever the weather permits. It has been raining a lot here lately, so we haven’t been out much. Only twice this week. Coleman loves to go hiking at the Anne Springs Close Greenway which is only a few miles from where we currently live. The Greenway has five different entrances, and we choose a different entrance to begin our hiking each time we go.
From the Horse Stables Entrance: Should we go to the Left or to the Right?
We veered to the LeftPast the Fences … onward to See the Farm Animals
Next, we switched to the Lake Haigler Entrance for some hiking near Lake Haigler.
Instead of a normal cell pic, I am choosing to share a collage I made on my cell phone. The top two photos were taken on a cell phone whereas the bottom photo was taken on my Canon Rebel EOS T3i camera. Hope this is okay since it was created on my cell phone.
Top: Coleman taken in 2019 Middle: Coleman & Alona taken in 2020. Bottom: Coleman taken on Saturday, December 17, 2022
Wishing y’all a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!
Coleman on ElementColeman on a Swing Color Pop of Coleman on a SlideColeman atopA raised Not sure what he’s sitting on Coleman Pulls Up A Seat wherever he chooses Park Bench in front of Fort Mill Library
Boat 🛶 at Andrew Jackson State Park with Coleman checking it out. Kayaks with Coleman at Andrew Jackson State Park Kayaks at Anne Springs Close Greenway Dock at Anne Springs Close Greenway Flags Jacksonville, North Carolina Flags in TexasWater 💦 Trees 🌲, and Reflection Andrew Jackson State Park
For this week’s Cee’s Black and White Challenge (CBWC) we are asked to post black and white photos of traveling/ movement displaying Up and Down. My Up and Down were taken along Lake Haigler Loop at Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Dock Ladder for moving down into the Kayaks.Coleman on top of the stairsDown the Stairs one may sit on a bench and enjoy the beautiful views of Lake HaiglerWater overflowing Down stream into the SpillwayAnyone want to climb Up this hill?Coleman hiking up the hillColeman taking the Stairs upward to the top of the hillCan I go ahead down to the bridge?
On Saturday, I had the opportunity to borrow my daughter’s car. So, Coleman and I took a drive to the Fort Mill Dam and then to Catawba Park. We walked around and enjoyed the scenery.
Coleman running to the Playground Pull Up a Seaton a BenchMushroom Seating Coleman Pulled Up a Seat long enough
Coleman does more running around in the playground area, it is hard to keep up with him. I do not run.
Coleman, my grandson and my walking/hiking buddy hiked the Seven Oaks Preserve Trail on Tuesday afternoon. It was a warm sunny day unlike the past couple of days where it has been chilly, windy, and rainy.
Sun Glistening on Lake Wylie Belmont, NCArched-shaped branch along the groundTree Fungi seen along the trailBoat Dock Lake Wylie Seven Oaks Preserve Trail Belmont, North CarolinaPinecone Coleman brought home from our hike
Whenever I have the opportunity to go out, it is almost always with my grandson, Coleman. He loves to hike. He doesn’t tend to walk much but run along the trail. I walk/hike and try my best to keep up with him. We always see different amazing and interesting things as we hike along the various trails.
Rustic Bench overlooking Steele CreekColeman sitting in the DoorwayWood Rocking Chair Outside an Historic CabinColeman sitting on a ledge overlooking the Fort Mill Dam
Donkey Greets Coleman as we walk the trails at the Anne Springs Close Greenway from the Dairy Barn Entrance. The afternoon turned a little bit windy with the skies cloudy, but it was still a beautiful day for a walk/hike.
Donkey Meet and Greet Dairy Barn Entrance Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, South Carolina
The Donkey came up close to greet Coleman. Coleman loves to see the animals at the Greenway, Horses, Cows, Donkeys, even goats and hogs.
The Town of Fort Mill in South Carolina hosts an annual Scarecrow Crawl from October 5th through October 31st. This year is the 8th Annual Scarecrow Crawl. The Scarecrows entries are created by individuals, schools, businesses, organizations, churches and more. The displays are throughout the main downtown areas of Fort Mill including in Millstone Park. everyone is welcome to come take a stroll in Downtown to view all the amazing Scarecrow entries.
Coleman and I strolled through the Millstone Park area of the Scarecrow Crawl in Fort Mill which was only a small portion (less than half) of the Scarecrow displays throughout downtown Fort Mill,
And still a few more Scarecrow Crawl displays for your enjoyment:
God Bless. Thank you for visiting my blog. I trust you enjoyed the photos. I appreciate y’all.
Boneshaker Bicycle NC Transportation Museum Tandem Bicycle North Carolina Transportation Museum
Motorcycles:
Honda Goldwing Motorcycle NC Transportation Museum (Coleman inspecting) Honda Super Cub North Carolina Transportation Museum My husband’s 1980’s Honda Goldwing with my middle son in the car seat
TRICYCLE:
My grandson, Coleman, and his Radio Flyer My First Big Flyer Tricycle
These past two weeks my family and I have been suffering from bad cases of bronchitis. Therefore, I have not been able to get out and about like I would prefer. My grandson definitely prefers being outdoors in nature to being cooped up in our apartment. Hopefully we’ll be able to get back outside in the next few days.
So I was sitting comfortably the loveseat when my daughter, my grandson, and the dog all decided to pile upon me. So why not capture the rare moment with photos My daughter, Trisha, on the left; Chewy, the Kelpie Welsh Corgi, in the middle; Coleman, my grandson, on my lap; and then myself.
Welcome to my world. Filled with unexpected surprises, love, and adventures ( sometimes misadventures), but who cares. We are family and we love each other.
God Bless. Thank you! I appreciate y’all. #MondayPortrait
The Anne Springs Close Greenway’s Comporium Amphitheater was the location for a concert by the Charlotte Symphony Strings Orchestra on Sunday, September 25, 2022. The tribute concert honored Anne Springs Close, founder and matriarch of the Greenway. The Charlotte Symphony Orchestrawas conducted by Christopher James Lees, the Resident Conductor.
Normally, it is extremely expensive to attend a concert performed by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, however, this particular concert in honor of Anne Springs Close held at the Anne Springs Close Greenway was absolutely free. It was suggested that people attending the concert bring canned or boxed food items to be donated to You Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina or a gently used book to fill the Little Library located behind the Greenway Gateway.
TheComporium Amphitheater Comporium Amphitheater waiting for the Orchestra to begin
This concert was a rare opportunity for me to expose my three year old grandson, Coleman, to fine classical music. He seemed to enjoy the music and behaved rather well in the outdoor setting for the concert. He clapped every time the orchestra completed a piece.
Coleman enjoying a snack while waiting for the concert 🎶
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is the largest and most active professional performing arts organization in the Central Carolinas. The Charlotte Symphony plays approximately 100 performances each season and employs 100 professional musicians. The Orchestra’s principal home is the Belk Theater of the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. It also serves as the resident orchestra for Opera Carolina and Charlotte Ballet.
Charlotte Symphony getting readyIntroducing the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
The Orchestra played a mix light classical from 3-4pm. The classical music included:
Hoe Down from “Rodeo”, Copland
Andante Festivo, Opus 117a – Sibeliu
String Quartet No. 2 “Company” – Glass
Elegiac Melodies, Opus 34 (II. Last Spring) – Grieg
With Malice Toward None (from Lincoln) – Williams
Danse Negre, Op. 35, No 4 – Coleridge-Taylor / arr. Daniel Bukin
Ashokan Farewell – Ungar / arr. Bob Cerulli
St. Paul’s Suite for String Orchestra (I. Gigue)– Holst
Some of the music was soft and easy flowing while others were upbeat and moving. Guess which ones Coleman preferred? He preferred the more upbeat pieces including Divertimenti K. 138 (Mvt. I) by Mozart.
Resident Conductor Christopher James Lees Conducting the Symphony Orchestra
If you ever get the opportunity to go hear a symphony orchestra perform, I would highly recommend you going. This was an amazing opportunity I had to share with my grandson, Coleman. Truly blessed. Thank you Charlotte Symphony Orchestra fir a delightful performance. Thank you Anne Springs Close Greenway for hosting the Orchestra for our pleasurable enjoyment.
These are my entries for Clare’s at Clare’s Cosmo Blog’s monthly challenge, Share Your Desktop. One is actually my screensaver and the other is my background.
Swinging in Riverwalk Greenway: My grandson, Coleman loves taking a break from our hiking on the swings in the Greenway.
When hiking, we encounter various #curves along the trails.
Kayaking is a blueway activity that is enjoyed by many in the Carolinas. One can see Kayakers on the Catawba River at Riverwalk and several other locations along the river.
God Bless. Thank you for stopping by. Hope you’ve enjoyed and will visit again. I appreciate y’all.
This is my first time participating in XingfuMama’s Pull Up a Seat Photo Challenge. I hope y’all will enjoy my entries.
Seating outside the Gibson HouseSeating by the Farm Animals Picnic SEATING by Lake Haigler Seating with a Beautiful ViewColeman chose a Log for HIS SEATING place
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
My grandson turned three on July 25th and had never met the majority of his paternal relatives including his paternal great grandmother. His paternal great grandmother lives in Japan and hasn’t been in this country, at least not for a very long time. She recently got on a plane in Japan and flew to South Carolina. She is here because her daughter, my grandson, Coleman’s paternal grandmother, is extremely ill. She doesn’t seem to know where she is, hasn’t been eating for weeks before she was taken to the hospital. Her lack of substance and her alcoholism has destroyed a lot of the normal bodily functions, like walking, her organs, and her breathing to name a few. At this time, she has not been given a sufficient diagnosis and was sent to a rehabilitation facility. This does not make since to several people, but the only person who has any say in her treatment is her husband. She is on oxygen, is unable to walk, even for short distances like to the bathroom. Prayers would be appreciated on her behalf.
Coleman & his paternal great grandmother
Most people that cross Coleman’s path on the trail or out and about know he is not usually shy, but very friendly and says hi to everyone. That was not the case today when he met his paternal great grandmother for the very first time. He backed away, hid behind me and didn’t say anything for a long time. I’ve never known Coleman to be shy. Coleman’s dad, David picked her up from his dad’s home and brought her to our home. The meeting was in familiar surroundings, but a strange person in his home seemed to baffle him. It took some coaxing to get him to sit next to her.
Coleman’s paternal great grandmother trying to get him to talk
Since Coleman has a very strong attachment to me, I left the room to try to help him not to cling to me, but to allow him an opportunity to get acquainted with his paternal great grandmother. I feel gratitude that Coleman was given this opportunity to meet her. Thankfully she does speak a little English as her primary language is Japanese. My grandson’s father does not speak Japanese, it was not taught to him when he was growing up.
Thankful for the short time Coleman had to spend with his paternal great grandmother. Maybe she can come again to visit him while she is in the United States.
God bless. Thank you. I appreciate each and every one of y’all.
ASCG Marion Walsh Outdoor Classroom Stone MarkerMy grandson sitting on a Slanted U shaped treeMushroom in the Greenway Close-up of my daughter Taken by my 3 year old grandson My grandson, Coleman
God bless. Thank you! Remember I appreciate y’all.
Are you being very quiet? Be sure to look closely.Do you see what I see?
Did you see what my grandson, Coleman and I spotted on our afternoon hike? It is amazing what you can see out in nature if you keep your eyes open and observe your surroundings c l o s e l y. The only problem with our observations is that Coleman tends to speak real loud when he spots an animal that he scares them into running away.
God Bless. Thank you! Remember I appreciate y’all.
The Anne Springs Close Greenway has a Trail Passport program that members and visitors may choose to participate if they so desire. The Trail Passport booklet is a guide for your benefit to assist you in exploring the over 40 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trials. The Greenway has 26 unique trails and points of interest. The Passport provides an easy way for you to keep track of which trails you have accomplished, and which trails you have yet to complete.
Trail Passport Anne Springs Close Greenway
To earn the Passport Certificate, you need to participate in the Hiking Challenge. The following are the requirements for the Hiking Challenge.
Hike, bike or horseback ride a trail
Initial and date each hike that you complete
After you have completed all the trails bring your Passportto the Greenway to receive you completion certificate (subject to availability).
The Greenway has a Trail Map that is a guide to let you know where the trails are located and from which Greenway Entrance is best to take for your desired trail. My grandson loves to carry a Trail Map with him whenever we go for a hike. When he looks at it you would think he knows exactly what he is looking at and can figure out which way he wants to go next.
While some members choose to participate in the Hiking Challenge, there are many that do not. Completing the challenge is not something that everyone accomplishes, however, it is well worth it. It takes dedication and determination to complete all twenty-six (26) trails consisting of thirty-six (36) miles of hiking, biking or horse riding in the Greenway.
My grandson, Coleman, picked up a Trail Passport on one of our visits to the Greenway. He indicated that he wanted to participate in the Hiking Challenge. He did not let his young age deter him from taking up the challenge or completing the challenge. He loves the outdoors and loves to hike and spend time out in nature with me. Coleman just recently turned three. He completed all 26 trails of 36 miles in the Hiking Challenge before his third birthday. He is amazing, but then again you might say I am biased.
Some trails in the Greenway are as short as 0.4 miles while others are over 3 miles in length. On some days we combined several trails and we hiked 5-6 miles. Was he tired by the end of the hike? Definitely, but that never stopped him from keeping going and finishing each day’s hike. After completing each day’s hike, he would lift his hands up and yell “I did it.” He really loves hiking and would do it every day if he could.
Congratulations Coleman! You did it. I am proud of you, your love of hiking, the outdoors, and your determination to succeed.
God Bless. Thank You for stopping by. Take time to enjoy the outdoors. Take a hike, a walk, admire God’s creations along the way. I appreciate y’all.
Happy Birthday 🎂 Coleman 🎉 3 Years Old Today 🎈Coleman Black & White Portrait Collage Coleman Birthday Expressions Coleman My Heart ♥️ My Love My Grandson Coleman Investigating His Presents 🎁. Bat, Ball, Puzzles, Pound Puppy and Thomas the Train 🚂
For our second day of hiking Dogwood at the Anne Springs Close Greenway Stables Entrance, we began on the Dogwood Trail on the right side after passing through one section of the horse stables.
But before we began hiking, we stopped to enjoy the Sweet Black Eyed Susan Seeds and the honeybees feasting on their nectar behind the Gibson House.
Sweet Black-Eyed SusanSeeds and Sunflowers @Greenway Stables Gibson House
Shortly after we began hiking along the Dogwood Trail, we came upon the Airport Pond. We enjoyed the views of the water and the reflections within the water. Whenever possible my grandson loves to play in the water either with his hands or his whole body. Luckily on this day it was just his hands.
ASCG Stables Entrance Airport Pond off Dogwood
After snapping a few pictures, we hiked on further down on Dogwood. My grandson, Coleman, loves to have his picture taken at the Trail Posts. The Trail Posts serve the purpose of letting people know where they are along the trail and which trail they are hiking on. Keeping track of the numbers on the trail posts allows us to know exactly where we are at and how much further we need to travel.
ASCG Dogwood Trail Coleman hiking leading the way
We proceeded onto the Blue Star after we had been hiking for approximately 1.4 miles. This trail contains several mushrooms of varying heights and sizes. I have to watch Coleman, or he’ll swipe at them breaking them apart. O try to teach him about varying things along the trail and that we shouldn’t disturb them. Also, that what is in the park should remain in the park and what we bring in, we must also take out with us. Leave No Trace.
ASCG Coleman checking out his map and the Trail posts for directions
The Blue Star trail is mostly natural surface with some plank bridges and a couple of swinging bridges. At Blue Star H27, Coleman stops to check his map. He likes to carry his own map instead of just looking at mine. We venture off of Blue Star and onto Hickory Trail which leads us back to Dogwood.
ASCG Dogwood and Hickory Trails Which way should we go?
Once back on Dogwood, the trail leads us back to the horse stables and eventually back to our car (Mommy’s car as Coleman would say since I use her car to take him places.)
Horse Stables (Not the same stables as we first entered) Greenway Stables EntranceColeman petting and loving on the horses. The horses instinctively come straight up to him. They know he is not afraid and loves them.Coleman Expressions. My Heart ❤️ My love
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy a hike, a walk, or any adventure communing with nature. Thank you for visiting. See you next time. Remember I appreciate y’all.
My hiking 🥾 buddy, Coleman, and I drove to the Horse 🐎 Road Entrance of the Anne Springs Close Greenway on Thursday. It turned out to be a beautiful day. We’ve been having rain 🌧 showers off and on lately. So time on the trail without rain 🌧 interfering with our hike was fantastic.
The main point of interest at this entrance is of course the horses 🐎. Seeing the horses 🐎 is a highlight for Coleman. He loves seeing and petting the horses 🐎. Visiting the horses was not our main purpose on this day, even though very pleasant. Knowing Coleman, we had to stop and visit with the horses before we could begin our hike for the day.
Coleman saying hi to the horses
The Greenway Stables Entrance is also sometimes referred to as the Horse Road Entrance. The Greenway Stables are located at 1046 Horse Road, Fort Mill, South Carolina. On Horse Road you take a quick left on the road to enter the parking lot. When you first exit your car in the parking lot you will see the Gibson House. The Gibson House overlooks the pond and fields and offers a time for relaxing while watching the horses run. It is available for rent as a venue for wedding ceremonies, receptions, parties, picnics, and much more. Restrooms are located on the right-hand side of the building.
One of the paths to the trails is entered through the first horse stable location. After a short visit with the horses, we moved on down the path to the Dogwood Trailhead. We followed along left side of the Dogwood Trail. At this point, there were two choices to make to begin to begin the trail. We chose the path on the left. This trail passes through a scenic pasture area on the south end of the property connecting with Peach Loop.
Coleman leading the way to the Dogwood Trail
Coleman has a fascination of having his picture taken by the trail posts. Capturing the trail posts also reminds us of where we’ve been and what we encountered along the trail. we connected to Peach Loop after we reached trail marker 7. The Peach Loop breaks off from Timberline and the Blue Star trails as well. Dogwood runs into Timberline, so if you are not familiar with the trails you might get confused on which trail you are on or which direction you need to proceed on when the trails signs say different trails. The Peach Loop route keeps you inside the wooded area rather than being outside the timber line for this section. The loop takes you back onto the trail you started on. Therefore, after coming full “circle” on Peach Loop, it brought us back to Dogwood.
Back on Dogwood the trail wound around and led us back to the horses and the Gibson House where we began our day. The sights along the trail are amazing. The dirt surface can become muddy after the rains. On this day the trails were pretty good. The only things we had to watch out for were the tree roots sticking up along the path. If you’re not watching where you are going you could trip and fall over a tree root, so be careful as you hike the trails.
Naturally, we had to stop along the way back to the car to watch the horses in the pasture grazing about. The horses are beautiful creatures, and the views are spectacular.
God Bless. Get Outdoors and enjoy nature. There’s nothing my grandson loves more than being out in nature and hiking the trails. Thank you for visiting. Looking forward to your next visit. Remember I appreciate y’all,
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 