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
Leanne’s Monochrome Madness
Bren’s Mid-Week Monochrome #124
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time. I appreciate y’all.
On a Boulder:
On a Bench:
On a Tree:
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
Copyright: ©️2023@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com… All Rights Reserved.
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Crowders Mountain State Park is a 5,217-acre North Carolina state park located in Gaston County, North Carolina in the United States. Gaston County is located 32 miles west of Charlotte. It is on the outskirts of Gastonia, North Carolina.
Crowders Mountain State Park includes two mountain peaks with fabulous views of the surrounding Piedmont area. The peaks include Crowders Mountain and The Pinnacle. There are three different Access Points to the state park.
My grandson and I entered the Crowders Mountain State Park via the Boulders Access Point. This was the first time I took him to this location. We didn’t go far on this trip, only 2.8 miles round trip. We hiked a small portion of the Ridgeline Trail. The entire Ridgeline Trail runs along both North and South Carolina.
The Ridgeline Trail is only one of many trails in the state park. The Boulders Access has a visitor center, restrooms, and picnic areas along with the hiking trails. At this location are quite a number of various sizes of boulders. Some of the boulders were close to the trail and too much of a temptation for my grandson to resist climbing. The Boulders Access area is less crowded then the main access at the Sparrow Springs Access point. The trail is rocky and traverses up and down and around the mountain.
Park Information:
Crowders Mountain State Park 522 Park Office Lane Kings Mountain, NC 28086
Posting for Alive & Trekking’s Which Way Photo Challenge.
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
Photos shot on a iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for sharing in our adventures. I appreciate y’all.
Today wasn’t a day for being out in nature like my grandson loves to be with me. Instead it was a day of running errands and a trip to the barbershop. The last few years I’ve mostly seen beauty shops or hair salons. Sometimes those places just do not perform to one’s satisfaction. We too my grandson to a Great Clips hair salon and were not satisfied with the performance the hairdresser gave on his haircut.
After the poor experience, we let his hair grow and put off taking him anyway to get a better haircut. The other day Coleman, my grandson, held up a portion of his hair and made cutting motions with his fingers. Therefore, it was time to take him somewhere for a better haircut. After googling the area for a barber shop, I found several possibilities. Still I waited though until today. While out on our errands, one of those barbershops was right in the same shopping center we were at for another purpose. I felt it was a sign, so I took him inside for a haircut.
Before photos:
During haircut photos:
After Haircut Photos:
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters ( Aka Nana)
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Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge
Leanne’s Monochrome Madness
Bren’s Mid-Week Monochrome #125
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
I decided to display a slide show of Dandelions and Coleman blowing Dandelion seeds into the wind instead of just one picture for today’s post.
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
Shot on a Canon EOS Rebel T3i with a Canon 75-300 mm lens.
God Bless. Hope y’all don’t mind it is not completely wordless. Thanking for stopping by. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
Copyright: ©️2023gfpacificbeeintrospection.com
Shot with an iPhone 13 Pro
God Bless. Thank you for hanging with me. I appreciate y’all.
Numbered Trail Posts with Coleman signifying the numbers.
Cee’s Black and White Challenge – Numbers
Leanne’s Monochrome Madness
Bren’s Mid-Week Monochrome #124
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Hidden trail in the neighborhood behind the soccer field. My grandson, Coleman loves to find natural trails regardless of whether it is an actual trail or just a path to who knows where. This is a path or trail we discovered the other day while walking and investigating our new neighborhood,
Posting for Alive & Trekking’s Which Way Photo Challenge.
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
God Bless. Thank you for traveling with us. I appreciate y’all.
Ludwig’s Monday Windows
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
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Coleman’s hand in mine.
Coleman showing numbers with his Hands
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
What do you think about when you hear the term home?
According to Wikipedia, Home or domicile is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for one or many humans and sometimes animal companions.
Do you have to have an actual house to have a home? Some might say you do; regardless of whether it be a house, an apartment or a mobile home. Still others would disagree. Myself, I would disagree.
One of my favorite sayings is “Home is Where the Heart is.” What does it mean by “Home is Where the Heart is?” It means simply that your home that your home will always be the place for which you feel the deepest affection, no matter where you are. Often times the place I have the greatest affection for has no walls at all. I am most at home in the woods surrounded by trees and the vast beauty of God’s creation out in nature.
Recently I have been living with my daughter and her son taking care of him 24/7. We moved a week ago from an apartment in Rock Hill, South Carolina to a townhome in Gastonia, North Carolina. Really only a little less than an hour away from where we were. Do I consider it my home? Not really. But maybe temporarily, since my heart lies with my grandson.
Moving from one dwelling to another can be extremely stressful. Packing, unpacking, all while trying to keep a three-year-old entertained can take a toll on a person. I know all too well. Especially if the move is not well planned in advance. I do not handle last minute decisions or moves all that well.
We are now in a townhome in a very quiet neighborhood unlike our last one which was very very noisy. Here no one live above us. It is so wonderful not to hear footsteps all hours of the night or day.
Coleman and I have been taking walks around the neighborhood investigating our new surroundings. Seeing what we can see and taking photos of interesting sights.
Coleman is still adjusting having only been here for a week and a half so far, however, I think he likes the new place so much more than the old one and is happier here being able to feel free to walk around, I know I do not know what I would do if I did not have him to love and share my love of nature.
Fandango’s One Word Challenge: Home
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
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Blue benches like this one are located all around the park and trails at Goat Island Park and Greenway. Punched into it is Cramerton, NC.
This post was taller than any of us are, so it took two of us to help her up onto the post.
Coleman demonstrating his many expressions while perched on the same post his half-sister was on above.
These were taken with my Canon EOS Rebel T3i on Saturday, February 18th when we visited Goat Island Park and Greenway. The Goat Island Park and Greenway is located in Cramerton, North Carolina just a few miles from where we recently moved (a week ago). The Park and Greenway have many different features for people of all ages and abilities. It has two separate playgrounds: one for children 1-4 years old and another one for children 5-12 years old. It has two pedestrian bridges which cross over the South Fork River, a fishing pier, river access, 1/2 mile of asphalt walking trail, and an Adult Fitness Pavillion. In addition to these features, it also has Large and Small Picnic Shelters, three permanent cornhole courts, two permanent ping pong tables, and an 18-hole Disc Golf Course. For the cornhole, ping pong, and Disc Golf one3 must bring their own equipment in order to play.
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
Copyright: ©️2023@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting Goat Island Park and Greenway with me. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
Taken with an iPhone 13 Pro.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time. I appreciate y’all.
This is a fun challenge not hosted by anyone, so if you want to join in, just post a photo.
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
Copyright: ©️2023@gfpacificbee@gmail.com … All Rights Reserved.
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Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Things People Play With
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time with me. I appreciate y’all.
Leanne’s Monochrome Madness
Bren’s Mid-Week Monochrome #122
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
Shot on Canon Rebel T3i Lens: Canon 18-55mm; Altura Super Macro with Altura Fisheye
Copyright: ©️2023@gfpacificbeeinteospection.com … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
This weekend was a rare time spending with my granddaughter, my grandson, and my daughter all on a hiking trail. My daughter does not have her daughter all the time and she does not usually like to go hiking like my grandson and I do. So, being able to be outdoors in nature with all three of them was a lovely experience full of joy.
My grandson loves to climb. It was fun to watch his half-sister follow his lead in climbing up on top of the tunnel. My daughter’s heart was beating so fast, their actions scared her. It is a normal occurrence for me to watch my grandson climb when we are out in nature. If something can be climbed, he’ll climb it.
Whatsoever is lovely blog challenge
God Bless. Thank you for sharing in my lovely experience. I appreciate y’all.
Color My World’s Forest Green challenge
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon Rebel T3i Lens: Canon18-55mm with Altura Super Macro Lens plus Altura Fisheye Lens
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
This toy I received as apart of a monthly toy subscription from Johnson & Johnson in 1982. It was a subscription offered to all new mom during that era.
The PUMP HOUSE is a former industrial pump house located on the Catawba River. It now houses a multi-level dining room, complete with a rooftop bar and deck that’s open for dinner and on weekends. One can enjoy terrific views from the main dining room or from the year-round deck, both on the third level.
The Little Red Caboose is a historic site in South Carolina. The Little Red Caboose is situated nearby to Millstone Park and Veterans Monument.
Autumn leaves turn fiery-red in an attempt to store up as much goodness as possible from leaves and soil before a tree settles down for the winter.
The RED monkey bars are included in the playground equipment in Allison Park which we accessed from the Baxter Village Trailhead located in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
God Bless. Thank you for sightseeing with me. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
Copyright: ©️2023@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Smiles from youngest to oldest ….
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge
God Bless. Thank you for sharing smiles with me. I appreciate y’all.
Now on to the North Carolina Transportation Museum for more Truck Doors.
Dan’s Thursday Doors Challenge One Word Sunday challenge.
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
Copyright: ©️2022@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com
God Bless. Thank you for touring with me. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: 1-5 Deb L. Waters. 6 – Nornal Hule Waters
Copyright: ©️2023@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Take a walk with me through the backwoods of the Greenway. See what my grandson and I see as we meander through the trees and along the creek on the Blue Star Trail. The Greenway is one of the happiest places that my grandson loves to be, hiking and enjoying nature.
We entered the Greenway through a path in a Fort Mill neighborhood. This was our first-time entry through this area. we were not sure where we were going or onto which trail, we would encounter as we hiked from this new point of entrance.
We missed the pathway to start with and crisscrossed through the trees until we emerged near a wooden bridge. We saw the Blue Star Trail sign and knew we were about to be in the Greenway. To the left of the wooden bridge is a swinging bridge that was blocked off with caution tape signifying it was unsafe to use. So, we crossed the wooden bridge to begin our hike for the afternoon.
Coming upon a crossroads we weren’t sure whether to go to the right or the left. We went to the left, and it took us away from the Greenway onto a section belonging to the Town of Fort Mill. We didn’t realize this until we stopped at a gate which indicated it was a restricted area. At such time we turned around and proceeded back the way we had traveled. The pathway runs alongside a creek. In the Greenway the trails run along creeks thus we didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary at first.
Once we arrived back at the crossroads, we proceeded to hike the direction we should have gone in the first place, to the right. In this direction we came to another swinging bridge, the Blue Star. This one was okay to cross. My grandson, Coleman loves to run across swinging bridges. It wasn’t that way the first time he went across one, but now he thinks they are fun to cross.
Being the first time, we hiked via this pathway we didn’t go very far. We were not wearing our proper hiking boots and we were just out for a short adventure. Therefore, we at this point went back to the house we were visiting to relax and reflect on our time in the woods.
God Bless. Thank you for meandering along the trail with us. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
Copyright: ©️2023gfpacificbeeintrospection.com
Shot with an iPhone 13 Pro
God Bless. Thank you for hanging with me. I appreciate y’all.
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
Copyright: ©️2023@gfpacificbeeintrispection.com
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2023-Week 2
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
Copyright: ©️2023@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com
God Bless. Pull Up a Seat and enjoy your day. Remember I appreciate y’all.
God Bless. Thank you! I appreciate y’all.
…. Coleman goes with me, either beside or in front leading the way.
Over the weekend, Coleman and I enjoyed a beautiful sunshiny day hiking 🥾 along the Catawba River by the Fort Mill Dam. We’ve had a lot of rain lately and Coleman does not like to be cooped up in the home all day. It is always a joy to be able to take him out in nature where he can be free to run.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing our hike. I appreciate y’all.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Visiting the Horses 🐎
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Stables with us. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
Copyright: ©️2023@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com
God Bless. Enjoy your Sunday. Thank you for viewing my skyline. I appreciate y’all.
What brings me the most joy right now in my life is spending time with my grandson. The ability to share my love of God, Nature, the enjoyment of hiking, and shower him with my never ending love.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: Deb L Waters.
Copyright: ©️2023@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com
God Bless. Thanks you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
“The Eyes are the window to your soul.”
~ William Shakespeare
“The soul, fortunately, has an interpreter – often an unconscious but still a faithful interpreter – in the eye.”
~ Charlotte Bronte
Photo Credit: Copyright ©️2021@DebLWaters … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
From the last week of December and the last week of the year 2022.
iPhone 13 Pro:
Canon Rebel EOS T3i:
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Pull Up a Seat ….
Photo Credit: Copyright ©️2022@DebWaters74
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
God Bless. I trust your 2022 ended as you wished. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
A reflection of Coleman’s life throughout the year, 2022, before beginning the New Year. He’s grown so much in so many ways in such a short time.
The First Three Months: January-March…
The Next Three Months: April-June…
Onward to the Next Three Months: July–September…
The Last Three Months of 2022: October-December…
Where has the year gone? My little grandson, my hiking 🥾 buddy is not so little anymore. He’s become very adventurous. He loves to explore the outdoors. He love to visit Anne Springs Close Greenway. He has already hiked all 26 trails multiple times for more than 36 miles within the Greenway. He knows the trails better than some adults.
He does not like bad weather day’s especially since he does not like being cooped up in doors. He’d rather be outdoors all the time if he could. I pray his adventurous spirit will never be squashed.
Continue on little man, keep growing, keep learning, and always stay adventurous loving the outdoors.
God Bless. Happy New Year! Thank you for visiting. See y’all in 2023. I appreciate y’all.
Not exactly a Holiday Color, but a Holiday picture
God Bless. Thank you for stopping by. I’ll be looking for y’all in 2023. I appreciate y’all.
Here’s my entries for Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge.
Wednesday morning Ho Ho Waffles 🧇.
Photo Credit: Copyright ©️2022@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com … All Rights Reserved
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Reflecting back on Christmases past is something I don’t often do. This year I have been trying to remember what Christmases used to look like while I was growing up. Odd thing is I cannot remember much about them. Not what gifts were given or received. I know I gave and received them, but if you asked me what I received in any particular year I would not be able to tell you.
These photos are from my archives. Most likely taken by my father, Nornal Hule Waters.
The first photo by the date is of my very first Christmas taken with my dad, & my brother. So, this one my mom probably snapped. This first Christmas was spent in Great Falls, South Carolina. Great Falls is a town (not a city). The second photo is also taken in Great Falls, SC with my mom I presume the following year. And the third photo was taken in San Diego, California when I was either in Junior High or a sophomore in high school. Definitely before 1974. My brother went into the Air Force early in 1975 and was no longer home for Christmas afterwards.
The one constant which I remember is that every Christmas Eve growing up, we went to a Christmas Eve Service at church. We would dress up in our very best church clothes to attend the special service. It would be filled with music, both from the choir and the audience. It would be a joyous occasion, extremely uplifting. The emphasis would be given though a message (some would call a sermon) as well as the music on the true meaning of Christmas. The birth of Jesus Christ and the visit by the three wise men presenting the Christ child with precious gifts. This tradition was not continued each and every year after my marriage and living what I consider my hometown (not my birth city). Sadly, it is one that I remember and miss the most.
The above pictures were taken after I had my eldest son and later after my marriage. The first photo is of my eldest son, John Thomas Waters III. He was named after my paternal grandfather who was also named after his paternal grandfather. The next one is the first Christmas photo after my marriage. And the last one is with my daughter for her first Christmas.
The next group of photos are random pictures of my family throughout the years.
More Random Christmas Photos:
Capture the memories with your family and friends while you are still able. You never know when one of them may no longer be with you. Photographs speak a thousand words, more than you’ll ever know. I wish I could spend another holiday with my dad, mom, husband, and grandparents, but sadly they will only be here in spirit.
I pray y’all had a wonderful Christmas and will have a blessed New Year.
My grandson had to wait half the day before he could open his Christmas Presents due to his mom working in the morning. He was having a hard time understanding his needed to wait for his “Ho Ho” presents. Before then he and I enjoyed some cuddle time.
I trust y’all enjoyed your holiday (or at least the day) relaxing.
Photo Credit: Copyright (c)2022@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. See y’all next time. I appreciate y’all.
From my archives: Disney Frozen on Ice
The above photos were taken at a performance of Disney’s Frozen on Ice at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina back on April 16, 2016.
We just barely got a tree this year. This is Coleman’s first HoHo (Christmas) Tree. He was so delighted that he finally has a HoHo Tree.
Another Throwback from my Archives.
Photo Credit: (c)2022@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 