Location: Our Home; Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy your Yourselves! Don’t let the upcoming holiday season stress you out. Relax it’s not about the presents it’s about the birth of Christ. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Do you or your family make any special dishes for the holidays?
Special dishes for the holidays? We have not had any particular special dishes for the holidays in a very very long time. In fact, we have not had large family gatherings since before my maternal grandfather passed in 1968. I used to love going to my maternal grandparents home and not just for the holidays. My grandmother was a fantastic cook and I learned a lot from her. I wish I could remember everything she tried to teach me. Oh if I would have had the insight and forethought to ask more questions about her life and to take notations regarding all the wisdom she tried to I still, it would be wonderful.
This year’s Thanksgiving gathering (probably couldn’t really call it a gather) consisted of just Coleman and myself. His mom had to work. My sons and my daughter do not get along right now, so they were not invited (probably wouldn’t have come anyway.)
Did I let it only being Coleman and myself hinder me from preparing a fantastic fulfilling Thanksgiving meal? No, I did not. By the time I could manage to be able to go to the store for a turkey, all the small turkeys were sold out. I had wanted a small turkey, after all Coleman and I didn’t need a large one especially since he doesn’t like to eat meat. That meant only I would be eating the turkey and his mom when she got home from work.
Instead of a small whole turkey (sold out) or a small turkey breast (sold out), I cooked a Turkey tenderloin with carrots and petite potatoes in the crockpot and let them cook all day long. When the turkey, carrots, and potatoes were almost done, I began cooking sweet potatoes and seasoned Brussel sprouts in the oven. (Coleman loves his vegetables). I also baked crescent rolls (Coleman’s choice) in the oven to go with the meal.
My Thanksgiving dinner plate
After discovering what I thought was a pumpkin pie turned out to be a sweet potato pie; I made lactose free banana cream pudding with vanilla wafers for dessert. (Coleman is lactose intolerant so the dessert needed to be special for him.) I used his lactose free milk to make the pudding. After it thickened, I scooped the banana cream pudding into small individual size Tupperware containers and place four wafers around the edges of the pudding.
Lactose free Banana cream Pudding
Coleman really enjoyed eating his baked sweet potatoes, petite potatoes, carrots, and Brussel sprouts. Oh, I can’t forget he enjoyed his crescent rolls and his lactose free banana cream pudding.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and listening about our Thanksgiving Holiday Meal. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
I’ve missed Cee so much and know this is a difficult time for her and Chris. Praying for strength and comfort for them both. I’ve been trying to keep up with the Which Way Challenge even though Cee is unable to do so. I encourage everyone who wishes to show Cee our Which Ways by posting your Stairs, Steps, and/or Ramps this week. . Just post any Which Way you desire and link up to Cee’s Which Way Challenge.
This week I am again posting a Which Way My Wayshowing Which Ways one might use by venturing up or down Stairs, Steps, and or Ramps. This week I chose to post my Stairs, Steps, and Ramp in Monochrome. You may use Monochrome, but not necessary. You may choose any format you desire if you choose to participate.
We begin our Which Way by walking down our front Steps …
Our Front Steps
Journeying on our way Coleman decides to climb the Steps at Cramer United Methodist Church …
Steps at Cramer United Methodist Church
Next, we explore the KayakRamp and Stairs at Goat Island Park and Greenway …
Kayak Ramp & Stairs Goat Island Park and Greenway
Coleman and I continue our wandering around Cramerton, the next day, after he walks down the School Bus 98 Steps …
School Bus 98 Steps
After Coleman exits the school bus, we drop off his school backpack and grab his hiking backpack with snacks and drinks. Then, we head on down to Riverside Park and Greenway for a relaxing afternoon noon of hiking and exploring.
While hiking the trail, we come upon the Stairs to one of several Fishing Piers at the Greenway …
Catawba Riverkeepers Water Recommended Flow Sign by the Fishing Pier Staircase
Lastly, we see interesting Halloween Decorations on each side of a neighbouring house Front Porch Steps …
House #89 Decorations and Front Porch Steps
Hope you enjoyed visiting our Which Ways this Week. I would love to see y’all’s Which Ways. Remember to click on each photo for larger enhanced viewing.
Location: Goat Island Park and Greenway; Plus Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy the Outdoors. Take a Hike. Relax in a Park. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
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 myNumbers 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.
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.
Confluence, what is it you might ask? Coleman and I came across this place called Confluence when we walking around downtown Cramerton. We didn’t know what type of a place it was; curiosity took the better of us and we proceeded inside to check it out.
Confluence by definition is the convergence of two rivers, especially rivers of approximately equal width; an act or process of merging. In our area it is the Confluence of the Catawba River and the South Fork River converging into one.
Confluence, the place, is a place for the community where music, art, and recreation come together along the banks of the South Fork, the largest tributary of the Catawba River, in Cramerton, NC. Confluence is operated by Catawba Riverkeeper. Catawba Riverkeeper is the local nonprofit dedicated to preserving and protecting local waterways.
Children’s Play Area
Goat at Entrance to Confluence
On the Back Hallway Walls Catawba RiverKeepers
Confluence is about supporting the health of the river. Art is the convergence where inspiration, creativity, and talent combine to give life to beauty. It has the power to create social and cultural bonds within communities. Their goal is to support the lives of those who use their proximity to the Catawba River as their inspiration for the creation of art pieces, as well as enrich the lives of those living along the river by providing them access to affordable, local artwork.
Coleman & I enjoyed putting a puzzle together.
Confluence is about supporting lives along the river. Music is the ultimate confluence where a plethora of notes come together to create magic. It is the soul of a place, bringing people together to experience joy or sadness, to toe-tap together in sync to a blazing beat, or lean shoulder to shoulder and sing along to a melody from a bygone era. Their goal is to support and showcase local musicians while giving the community a central gathering spot to grab a drink, make new friends, and listen to good music.
Confluence is about supporting Fun at the River. Life on the river is about more than just watersports. It’s about movement, about getting your heart to pump a little bit faster, about acknowledging the air filling your lungs. It’s appreciating being surrounded by nature and feeling connected to the earth beneath you and the water around you. Their goal is to help you bring movement and fun into your outdoor recreation journey. Even if that includes a fishing pole, a competitive game of disc golf, a lazy game of cornhole, or a kayak trip down the South Fork.
Coleman and I met the ladies running Confluence the day we stopped in. They informed us of all their facilities, their programs, their children’s area, the opportunities for families to come together for quality time and fun.
Coleman and I came back the following Saturday and spent time in the children’s area. The children’s area is filled with books, colouring books, crayons, puzzles, blocks, and all sorts of stuff to do individually or as a family. Coleman and I worked on putting a puzzle together. After completing what we could, we discovered it was missing three pieces. That didn’t really matter. What mattered was our spending time working on it together.
I’ve missed Cee so much and know this is a difficult time for her and Chris. Praying for strength and comfort for them both. I’ve been trying to keep up with the Which Way Challenge even though Cee is unable to do so. I encourage everyone who wishes to show Cee our Which Ways. Just post any Which Way you desire and link up to Cee’s Which Way Challenge.
This week I am again posting a Which Way My Wayshowing Which Ways Coleman and I discovered in Riverside Park and Greenway. My grandson, Coleman and I are beginning to roam around our new neighborhood and town investigating what interesting things and places we can find in the area. Riverside Park and Greenway is just a short walking distance away from our new home. Here are a few shots from our walk through Riverside Park and Greenway.
Coleman and I left our home and turned right out of the driveway; walked to the end of our street (which is curved downhill) and then proceeded to walk across the street onto the Carolina Thread Trail.
On the way to Riverside Greenway
The Carolina Thread Trail leads into the Riverside Greenway Trail. We walked the entire length of the Riverside Greenway Trail and even a little bit of off trail hiking. During parts of the hike we were walking parallel to the South Fork Catawba River.
It was a fun enjoyable relaxing day out discovering a (new to us) local trail. Hope y’all have a wonderfully funtastic weekend.
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 myNumbers 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.
Once Silent, Now Lively
The playground at Goat Island Park and Greenway had been “Silent” since the winds and storms caused by Hurricane Helene came through our area flooding many a Greenway including Goat Island Greenway. While there is still work to be done around the Greenway and the playground area, enough has been done to allow the playground to mostly reopen with the exception of the big green slide and a few other insignificant areas (at least as far as the children are concerned). The Goat Island Park and Greenway’s Playground now welcomes children once again inviting them to play, climb, and enjoy its equipment; hence the Playground is Alive and Lively once more.
Our new home we moved to is a short distance from the railroad tracks; Coleman loves it. He is fascinated with trains and has his own Brio train set he designs different layouts for each time he sets it up to [play. A little off track there, however, the point is that he tries to run outside regardless of the weather every time he hears a train chug chugging along up or down the track. As in Johnny Cash’s song “I’ve Got a Thing About Trains,” Coleman has a thing about trains.
Whenever Coleman sees a train or hears a train a chug chugging down the track, he wants me to take a picture(s) of the train. Being the devoted Grandma that I am, of course, I oblige him and snap a picture or two, or three or sometimes more.
Coleman and I had the privilege of attending a Veterans Day Celebration at the Cramerton Independent Presbyterian Church on Eighth Avenue in Cramerton, North Carolina on Monday,November 11th at 11:11 Am. The service was hosted by The Cramerton Community Committee and Cramerton Historical Society.
Coleman was anxious to leave the house, so we left early and walked to the church from Seventh Street south of the railroad tracks to uptown along Eighth Avenue for approximately 0.5 miles down hill and up hill until we reached our destination of the church location.
Coleman actually sat quietly waiting and watching for the service to begin. (I had already explained to him that the service was to honour the Veterans, the men and women who served in the military, like his Pawpaw had served.) [FYI – the patches on Coleman’s shirt were his Pawpaw’s patches from when he served in the U. S. Army.]
The service began with the presentation of colours by the Cramerton Police Honour Guard. Next, was the singing of the National Anthem, prayer, introduction and recognition of dignitaries, veteran remembrances, and closing comments with taps.
Flower & Flag in a Vase Table Decorations
After the service was concluded those hosting the service led everyone downstairs for an appreciation meal. The meal was catered by Georgio’s Restaurant to give veterans and their families an opportunity to eat afterward. (I wasn’t sure about attending the meal, but as the spouse and grandson of a Vietnam Veteran we were invited to participate in the meal.) It was greatly appreciated and enjoyed by all who attended the service.
My Dad, Nornal H. Waters, U.S. Navy Korean Veteran and My Spouse, Sgt. Terry L. Wilson. U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran A Sampling of My Military Family who served in various Wars from the Civil War to World War I, to Korean War, and Afghanistan. My Military Family Sgt Terry Leon Wilson My husband, Terry Leon Wilson SP4 US Army Vietnam Buried in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City, Nevada
To All Veterans, Thank you for your Service!
God Bless. Thank a Veteran! Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
I love capturing reflections, especially reflections in water. Coleman and I just happened to hike along a portion of the South Fork River on Saturday. It was a relaxing time walking along the (new to us) Riverside Greenway in Cramerton which runs alongside the South Fork River. We saw quite a few amazingly beautiful reflections in the river. Here an only a small portion of what I managed to capture with my iPhone.
We have recently moved to Cramerton, North Carolina. Wherever we are living, Coleman and I enjoy walking around the area seeing all the beautiful sights and interesting places we can discover.
On Friday after Coleman got off the school bus, we walked up the street; under a railroad overpass; past the post office, the fire department, the entrance to Goat Island Park and Greenway; continuing onward and upward until we reached the Community Center and playground. [The playground at Goat Island is temporarily closed for repairs due to Hurricane Helene damage from its wind and flooding.] The following are some of Cramerton’s Public Art displays around the town.
WWII Soldier And his Daughter Town Of Cramerton, North Carolina
Welcome to Cramerton Wall Mural
Genuine Cramerton Army Cloth Wall Mural
Metal Wind Spinner Cramerton Recreation Center
‘Goat in a boat’ greets Cramerton residents, visitors Wall Mural
Concrete Fireman Statue & Coleman Cramerton Fire Department
We hope you have enjoyed our walking tour of Cramerton’s Public Art.
We recently moved and our new to us rental home has a swing on the front porch which Coleman claims is his swing. We haven’t had a swing on a porch since we lived with my uncle years ago. The beautiful views from our front porch are amazingly beautiful (even the view that is not of the sky).
I do not celebrate Halloween, however, I know many of y’all do. Therefore, I am wishing everyone that celebrates Halloween a fun-filled day of fun, joy and happiness.
Today, was the first day of Coleman catching the school bus to take him to his new school. We have to be at the corner stop 🛑 sign, up the slight hill from our new home for him to get on the bus, by 6:30 in the morning. It is still dark at that time of the morning. [Just my opinion, but I do not believe little children should have to be up so early or get on a bus in the dark to go to school.]
Anyway, on our walk to the bus stop this morning we saw a house with Halloween lights and decorations all lit up. I’ll have to keep our front porch light off this evening. No candy will be given out from our home and I do not give Coleman any candy. We need to read labels for all prepackaged foods due to his allergies to dairy, soy, and nut allergies.
Here’s a couple of examples of what we saw on our walk to the bus stop. Click on images for enhanced viewing.
Halloween Decorations
Lighted Halloween Decorations
And as a bonus I’m throwing in a couple of photos of Coleman at the bus stop.
in primo piano – photos Dan Antion’s Thursday Doors photo
Hiking along Steele Creek Trail at Anne Springs Close Greenway, Coleman and I stopped to pay a visit to the Hobbit’s Homes before continuing on our way. If you’re not looking carefully you could miss seeing the Hobbit’s Homes hidden within the tree.
God Bless. Share your desktops, I’m looking forward to seeing them. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
For Fandango’s One Word Challengeword choice of Create I decided to share a couple of items Coleman has created while in his Kindergarten class this year.
Clare from Clare’s Cosmos is asking all of us once again to share our desktops. All you need to do is share the photo (not your actual desktop) you have set as your wallpaper. Provide whatever information you desire about the photo. Use a pingback, or post a link to her blog hereso she knows you’ve joined in on the fun. Then, enjoy sharing the fun around.
Come on along and join the fun. Share one or more, it doesn’t matter whether the photos are from your desktop, laptop, tablet, or your smartphone wallpaper(s).
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. Looking forward to seeing y’all’s desktop photos. Have a wonderful week. I appreciate y’all very much.
Blue Ridge Mountains North Carolina, USAFountain at Central Ohio Technical College Newark, Ohio License Plates Display NC Transportation Museum Spencer, North Carolina Business Garden Gastonia, North Carolina Grave Marker for Eddie W. Waters ( my Paternal Uncle) Great Falls, South Carolina
A Hodgepodge of Coleman
At the Fort Mill DamAt The Schiele Museum of Natural History At Gardner Park Elementary Playground At Neighborhood Playground
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I look forward to seeing y’all’s pictures for Judy’s Numbers Game. I appreciate y’all very much.
This month is going to be a little different for me since I haven’t been anywhere to use my camera this month. I have been busy digitizing my dad’s old slides. I hope it’s alright to post the last picture from the last roll of his I converted to digital format.
From my Dad’s Minolta XG-7 35mm:
My dad’s reflection of him taking the photo is in the mirror.
This week’s Pull Up a Seat selections were determined by Coleman. We walked around the neighbourhood and after walking for several blocks he decided he wanted to Pull Up a Seat at the picnic table outside of the Walmart Neighborhood Market which is used mainly by employees.
We get up and continue on our walk where he sees a rock he figures would be a nice place to Pull Up a Seat. We hadn’t walked far when he chose to sit a spell, but I was fine with that since I had taken a tumble upon the uneven torn up asphalt.
After catching our breath, we continued walking ending up at the school playground. Coleman always finds places he can Pull Up a Seat in a playground.
Sometimes he chose the slide …
… Or at the top of a climbing structure …
… Or on a Swing.
It doesn’t seem to matter to him where he Pulls Up a Seat. He’s having fun, so it doesn’t matter to me either.
Lesser Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron strigosa)ZinniasThe Farm Anne Springs Close GreenwayLake Haigler Anne Springs Close GreenwayColeman & Goat Schiele MuseumColeman Schiele Museum
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.
Location: Dairy Barn Entrance; Lake Haigler; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God’s Blessings to y’all this Beautiful Easter Sunday. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
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.
Cee asks everyone to post photos of Words that contain the Alphabet letters A or E. My selections for this week come from mine and Coleman’s recent visit to Gastonia’s Erwin Center Park and Recreation. As per usual Coleman (notice the Name A & E) is in several of my photos.
Gastonia Erwin Center Parks and Recreation Sign with Coleman Basketball Court Gastonia Erwin Center Park and Recreation Ball Field used for Soccer and Baseball Gastonia Erwin Center Park and Recreation Coleman in the Children’s PlaygroundColeman sliding on the Playground Equipment Slide
On one of our recent hikes we noticed the water streaming down the creek. Coleman laid down on the bridge above and stretched his single stick downward towards the creek trying to stretch it into the water below.
This next shot is not so clear, however, it depicts his lone stick floating in the water. He had lost his grip and it wasn’t within his reach to retrieve it. He was disappointed, but not for long (he always finds sticks along trails.)
I do not get mine done very frequently. The last time I took myself anywhere to get anything done to my hair was in before 2014. When I did go I often went to my cousin to get a haircut, a perm or sometimes even dying my hair. There was no better beautician in my book other than my cousin, Carol. [Actually she was my first cousin once removed’s wife, but why get technical.]
Why talk about haircuts anyway?
Hair Health —-
It is healthy to get your hair, at least, trimmed periodically to remove damaged ends, prevent split ends, and help with hair breakage.
Hair Growth —-
Haircuts can promote hair growth and make your hair look healthier and fuller.
Scalp Health —-
Haircuts can improve scalp circulation, which stimulates healthier hair growth. They can also minimize dandruff and dry scalp.
Styling —-
Haircuts cuts can maintain a well-groomed appearance and allow for versatility in styling.
Self-Care —-
Haircuts can be a form of self-care. Visits to hair salons can be a way to take a break from your normal routine and relieve daily stress and anxieties. It can also help you feel better and more confident, more free; like the weight just sort of rolled off your shoulders.
You might be wondering why I chose to discuss haircuts. This week I decided it was long overdue for me to get my hair, at least trimmed if not a complete haircut. Lately, my hair has been tangling up quite a bit, especially if I slide on brushing daily or twice a day. It had gotten so long that when I would lend over to clean my hair would fall into whatever I was cleaning. (Not a good thing if it is the commode one is cleaning.) Yuck.
My grandson, Coleman enjoys getting his haircut. When his hair starts hanging down in his face, he’ll hold his hair up and make cutting gestures with his fingers.
So, between yesterday and this afternoon noon, he and I both got our haircuts taken care of. I went and had my haircut done yesterday. It is a little shorter than I anticipated, but it will grow and is a lot lighter on my head. No more hair falling into places we prefer them not to be.
Top: My Before Photo Bottom: My After Photo
This afternoon while running errands, I gave in and we took Coleman to “his barber” in “his barbershop” for his haircut. Yes, he does have a favorite barber and he’ll tell you how to get to “his” barbershop. He was so ecstatic to be getting his haircut. He was smiling from ear to ear during the whole haircut.
Top & Left: Coleman’s hair being cut Bottom Right: His Before Photo
God Bless. Treat yourself to a haircut, make-over, or whatever to help yourself look and feel better. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.