Location:The Center; Town of Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Take time to admire the beautiful flowers. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Backyard; Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy Nature. Feel the Love. Nature demonstrates Love in abundance. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
My Sky photos this week are actually from Tuesday evening. We had some colourful clouds prior to the moon rising.
I tried staying awake until the moon was at full illumination on Wednesday morning around 3:44am EST, but failed miserably. The shots of the moon I did manage to capture were taken at 9:26pm on Tuesday evening. I was hoping to catch June’s full strawberry moon when it would be its brightest. This was the best I could do however, since I was unable to be awake at such an early hour .
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments
Location: Rocky Branch Trail; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Have a Walk Amongst the Trees. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Also Known as Bee’s Nest-Plant; Bird’s-Nest; Devil’s Plague; Queen Anne’s Lace; and Wild Carrot
Queen Anne’s Lace is a summer biennial wildflower from the Apiaceae (carrot) family. In some states it is considered invasive. It has naturalized in many states and can be found in sun to partial shade along roadsides, old fields, and waste places. In our area of North Carolina Queen Anne’s Lace can be found along trails, in wooded areas, and near the Catawba River.
The 2 to 4 foot tall umbels of white flowers appear in its second year of growth from mid-summer to mid-fall and have a lacy look. The basal rosette consists of 5-inch long arching leaves with a few leaves occurring alternately up the main stem.
Instead of looking straight at these flowers I chose to shot them looking up at them from underneath for a unique perspective.
Remember your Which Ways can be any way one travels, whether on foot, or other means. This week we are focusing on people in our Which Ways. And as always, Be sure to have fun.
For other Which Ways, check out the links below. Thank you to all who contributed to the Which Way Challenges.
Caneberries are a group of berries which includes Blackberries, Raspberries, Boysenberries, Loganberries,and a few more varieties. Caneberries grow on tough, woody stems called canes. They are a part of the Rosaceae family and are also known as bramble berries. Caneberries are aggregate fruits, which means that they are made up of many clusters of individual drupelets. They thrive in cool, moist climates.
They are popular for their nutritional value and can be used in various culinary applications. Caneberry harvest typically occurs from June through August.
Caneberries are grouped by four plant characteristics: 1) growth habit (trailing, semi-erect, or erect); 2) fruiting habit (primocane or floricane); 3) presence or absence of thorns (thorny or thornless); and 4) fruit color (raspberries only).
These particular Caneberries are semi-erect; growing upright in the beginning and bending over to trail along the ground if not supported. In the Southern region of the United States, blackberries and raspberries benefit from a trellis for commercial production.
Caneberries are a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Caneberries can be enjoyed fresh, frozen, or used in jams, cobblers, ice cream, and other dishes. When they are ripe they can be eaten straight from the plant, which Coleman would have loved to do on our latest hike. Unfortunately for him, they were not ripe yet.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments
Location: South Fork Trail; River Link Greenway; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a fantastic week. Enjoy Nature. Capture its beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
While Coleman was enjoying playing in the sand near the South Fork Catawba River, I changed the setting my iPhone to Muted B & W for some shots and Stage Light Mono for taking Portraits of Coleman at play. Enjoy watching Coleman in his element.
Coleman South Fork Catawba River Riverside Park and Greenway
Location: The Big Sand Pit; By the South Fork Catawba River; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have Fun. Enjoy Nature’s beauty in the great outdoors. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
On Friday evening the Town of Cramerton held a concert in Centennial Center in Downtown Cramerton. The headliner was a Trio called Chairmen of the Board.
Chairmen of the Board is an American-Canadian Soul music group based out of Detroit, Michigan. The group saw their greatest commercial success in the 1970s. The group underwent changes over the years and was reformed in 1978 with members General Norman Johnson, Danny Woods, and Ken Knox. In 1980, they founded Surfside Records and began playing beach music.
The Chairmen of the Board were inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 1999. The group still plays on with the exception of General Johnson (who passed in 2010 from lung cancer) and Danny Woods (who passed in 2018). Ken Knox (a 38 year member), at the request of General Johnson, has kept the legacy strong. He continues to lead the group, Chairmen of the Board, touring with current members Thomas Hunter and Patrick McGuire and 6 musicians.
Chairmen of the Board
The Town came out in droves to listen to Chairmen of the Board perform. The Center was packed with people from all age groups, and even a few dogs as well. The group put on a show stomping performance with people dancing, clapping, and really enjoying a tremendous good ole time performance. Coleman and I really enjoyed listening to them sing and play their songs.
Friday evening Cramerton had a concert in Centennial Center Park. Large crowds of people and a few dogs gathered outside to listen to a mixture of R&B and Soul music from the Detroit, Michigan based group called “Chairmen of the Board.”
This American Pitbull weaved in and out of the crowds and then looked our way as if to pose for his photo op.
Welcome back to the Which Way Challenge (CWWC), I’m so glad you are enjoying this challenge. For this week I have chosen the theme of (CWWC): Any Which Way with Dirt roads or dirt pathways or trails. Remember to be sure your Which Ways are clearly defined. Remember signs are always welcome in your Which Ways.
School is out for the summer or about to be if not already in your area. Summer is a fitting time to be out in the nature hiking (or taking a walk) leisurely enjoying the beauty of God’s creation.
Here are my entries for (CWWC): Any Which Way with Dirt roads or dirt pathways or trails. Now over to y’all to show us the dirt roads, pathways, or trails you enjoy while you’re hiking or walking about in y’all’s favorite areas.
Coleman hiking in Riverside Park and Greenway’s Dirt Trail
You might enjoy taking a look at other Which Ways from this past week; check out the links below:
Location: Dirt Trail; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Take a hike. Enjoy a stroll through nature’s beautiful pathways and parks. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Sky watching can be dramatic, amazing to watch the Sun Rise in the mornings. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Next-Gen Office Solutions is a family owned business in Cramerton, North Carolina that provides office equipment and services to the Charlotte, North Carolina market. Their focus is on serving businesses in the community, particularly small businesses. It was formerly known as B & L Office Equipment, Inc. prior to their rebranding as Next-Gen Office Solutions in 2022.
Next-Gen Office Solutions offers a wide range of office equipment, including including printers, copiers, and other related supplies. They also offer to provide maintenance and repair services for office equipment. Another aspect of their services is offering a free technology assessment to businesses to evaluate their needs.
The buildings the Mayworth School Apartments were once Cramerton’s historic Mayworth School. It was at one time the center of Cramerton’s small community.
The 49,000 square foot building was renovated and now houses 32 affordable apartments for the elderly as well as storage rooms, offices, a laundry room, and computer center. The original auditorium was converted into a community gathering room and two apartments were created in the upper balcony.
The renovation was completed in 2008 with an astounding construction cost of $4,100,000.
As Coleman and I left the C.B. Huss recreation center I snapped a couple of photos of the backside of the Mayworth School Apartments which shares the parking lot with the Recreation Center.
The Juglans nigra, Eastern American Black Walnut is a species of deciduous tree in the Walnut family, Juglandaceae, native to central and eastern North America. Black Walnut trees are used commercially for its rich deep brown colour and is easily worked.
The Walnut seeds (aka nuts) are cultivated for their distinctive and desirable taste. Walnut trees are grown for lumber and food. An interesting note is that in 2017, the United States Department of Agriculture valued U.S. Walnut timber at $530 billion. Also noted that a significant portion is grown in Missouri.
Location: Banks of the South Fork Catawba River; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a Gander of your surroundings. Enjoy nature’s beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
It is Springtime, the Canada Geese are flocking to the rivers. In the past few days as Coleman and I have visited the South Fork Catawba River and Goat Island Park and Greenway, we have noticed more and more Canada Geese enjoying the riverbanks as well as swimming and gliding in the waters of the South Fork Catawba River.
Here are a few photos of Canada Geese Trios captured this week.
Camera: 1-2) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; 3-6) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV filter attachment.
Location: South Fork Catawba River; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a fabulous week. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Be sure to check out Friday’s Which Way Challenge. This week I am allowing y’all to choose your own Which Ways to share with us all.
The Anas Platyrhynchos also known as Mallards are one of several varieties of duck species, which include both resident and migratory birds. The Mallard is the most abundant duck in North America, often found in a variety of habitats. Even though apparently abundant, we have not seen many of the Mallards in or around the Catawba River.
The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is a widespread dabbling duck with a long body and high tail. The Mallard is easily identified by the male’s iridescent green head, white neck collar, and black tail curl. Females and juveniles have mottled brown bodies and dull orange bills. Both sexes have iridescent blue wing speculums. Mallards breed in fresh marshes surrounding lakes, ponds, beaver ponds, impoundments, open swamps, and such like areas, however, they do have a propensity to avoid nesting in brackish marshes.
Mallard ducks in the South Fork Catawba River
Coleman and I went hiking on the South Fork River Trail, a part of the Carolina Thread Trail, in Goat Island Park and Greenway on Saturday watching a partial day without rainfall (it rained again after we were safely home). While hiking the trail, Coleman and I were looking for the Turtles that often sun themselves on logs in the South Fork Catawba River. What were spotted prior to the Turtles were a pair of Mallards standing on a log checking out the River area. [This was the first time we’ve seen the Mallards in this region of the South Fork Catawba River.]
As we continued our hike we did encounter a lone Turtle sunning on a log which dove quickly into the river. But alas, we ventured on down the trail to find more Mallards on logs and in the river. It was fascinating to see and watch them especially since we had not previously seen the Mallards in this section of the Catawba River before.
Mallards feed in the water by tipping forward and grazing on underwater plants. They almost never dive. They can be very tame ducks especially in city ponds, and often group together with other Mallards and other species of dabbling ducks.
Mallards are able to live in almost any wetland habitat, natural or artificial. Look for them on lakes, ponds, marshes, rivers, and coastal habitats, as well as nearby city and suburban parks and residential backyards.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV filter attachment.
Settings: f/6.3 • 1/320 • 250mm • ISO800-2000
Location: South Fork Catawba River; South Fork River Trail; River Link Greenway; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get outdoors and enjoy nature’s beauty and natural wildlife. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
As Coleman and I were walking up from the River by the White Church Coleman noticed a wind chime. He decided to go check it out & see how the chimes sounded.
Coleman rings the Wind Chimes
See the Sky Reflected in the Window
Side Windows of Cramerton Independent Presbyterian Church
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment.
Settings: f/4 • 1/320 • 55mm • ISO100
Location: Centennial Center River Access and Observation Pier; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a lovely day. Relax and enjoy the outdoors. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion & Ultra wide Cameras
Location: Center & Eighth Streets; Downtown Town of Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Pull Up a Seat — Wherever You Desire and Enjoy a Time of Relaxation. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Cameras: 1-3) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max ( 2-3 edited in Pixlr); 4-5) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens (unedited)
Location: South Fork Catawba River; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy the Sunshine ☀️. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
We were able to capture a view of this green Gremlin shortly before it pulled out of the Cruz-In parking lot. I never really considered Gremlins antique before or even seen them in car chows before.
AMC Gremlin’s hatchback
The AMC (American Motors Corporation) Gremlins were introduced in 1970 and were manufactured in the United States between 1970-1978. It was manufactured and marketed in a single two-door body style. The Gremlin was classified as an economycar and competed with the Chevrolet Vega and Ford Pinto, as well as imported cars including the Volkswagen Beetle and Toyota Corolla.
Considering that antique automobiles need to be a minimum of twenty-five (25) – forty-five years old, depending on organization, to be determined an antique; the Gremlins would fit the definition to be classified as an antique.
Location: Cramerton Independent Presbyterian Church; 151 Eighth Avenue ; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful Easter and a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Benches I noticed when Coleman and I were walking through town this morning. Three on one side of the street in neighbouring front yards and two in front of the Cramerton Fire Department.
Fluffy cotton-like cloudscapes scattered our late afternoon/early evening skies. I’m not sure which type of clouds these are. Hammad, how are you on deciphering cloud formation types? Are they Altocumulus or possibly cirrocumulus stratiformis?
The cloudscape makes an interesting view flowing across the skies above us. What do y’all think?
Coleman loves to play in the sand by the river. He’ll also climb anything he sees worthy of his climbing capabilities. Yesterday, his climbing took him up an American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) tree toPull Up a Seat.
The ascending progression …
The Sitting Adjustment:
And Back Up a Tree again to perch on a limb …
Where did Coleman disappear? … See his legs dangling up so high like a monkey in a tree?
Location: By the South Fork Catawba River; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Do or did you like to climb trees like Coleman does? Where is your favourite place to Pull Up a Seat? Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
According to Dictionary.com the definition of sinuous is having many curves, bends, or turns; winding: a sinuous path. Most of the trails Coleman and I hike have many sinuous paths that twist and turn around bends and hills, up and down going back and forth curving this way and that way constantly winding down or up a sinuous route along the trail.
Coleman hiking along the Rocky Branch Trail
“Life is full of unexpected twists and turns. We can embrace, or resist, the journey. The choice is ours.”
Location: Rocky Branch Trail; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Take a hike. Enjoy the Outdoors. Embrace the journey. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: View from the C.C. Dawson Bridge (aka Lakewood Road bridge); Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Happy Palm Sunday! May the spirit of this day fill your heart. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
On Saturday, the 12th of April the Town of Cramerton held an Easter Egg Scramble for children under the age of Two (2) through the age of Ten (10). The Town announced the event on the Town of Cramerton’s event page, on their Town app, and on their Facebook page.
The announcement asked for anyone interested in participating in the Easter Egg Scramble to Hop on over to Stuart W Cramer High School ( the Town’s high school) for a morning of fun, games, and tons of eggs to hunt!
Our morning started out at the Community Center for Coleman’s T-Ball individual and team pictures at 9:30am to receive his uniform and then to wait for his team’s turn for pictures. Once the pictures were completed, we stopped back by home to have him change back out of his uniform and grab something for him to use to place the eggs he gathered.
Coleman with Brown Easter Bunny HoneybeeWhite Easter BunnyColeman preferred the brown Easter Bunny
We arrived at the high school in time to greet the Bunny’s and the Honeybee prior to his age group’s turn to Scramble for Easter Eggs. The Easter Egg Scramble began at 10:15am for the youngest Easter Egg Scramblers, with the 4-5 years old’s (Coleman’s age group) turn beginning at around 10:45am. For the lack of an Easter Egg basket, I grabbed a grocery bag for him to gather his eggs into once he picked them up.
And they’re off and running …
No parents were supposed to help Showing Coleman running and gathering Easter Eggs
Once the children were finished their turn at the Easter Egg Scramble the children could turn their eggs in for bags of candy (no candy was placed in any of the eggs). All children received the same size bag of candy regardless of how many eggs they acquired. Coleman gathered approximately thirty + eggs.
The Easter Egg Scramble event was partnered with The Town of Cramerton, Stuart W. Cramer High School Student Council, Life Church, Cramerton Church, and Cramerton Christian Academy. The candy bags were packed and donated by Cramerton Christian Academy, Cramerton Church, and Life Church.
The Easter Egg Scramble event was a family-friendly event which enabled families and their children to have a tremendous amount of Fun.
Location: Stuart W Cramer High School; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. “May this Palm Sunday bring renewed faith, hope, and love.” Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The scientific name for Mourning Dove is Zenaida macroura. Accordingto the North Carolina Wildlife Resources CommissionMourning Doves are common throughout North Carolina. However, this is the first time Coleman and I have seen them in our neighbourhood. They are members of the dove family, Columbidae. The Mourning Dove is also known by the American mourning dove, the Rain dove, the chueybird. At one point in time they were once referred to as the Carolina pigeon and Carolina turtledove.
A Pair of Mourning Doves
Mourning Doves are one of the most abundant and widespread North American birds and a popular gamebird. Approximately twenty (20) million birds are shot annually in the United States, both for sport and meat. It is said that one pair may raise up to six (6) broods of two (2) squabs (young) each in a single year in warm climate areas.
Mourning Doves on a Wire
These birds (the mourning doves) are often found near humans, whether gobbling up seeds under a feeder, perching on a telephone wire, or building a nest in a questionable location. The macroura in its scientific name comes from the Greek words for “long tail.” The Mourning Doves tail is slender, tapered, and has white-tipped outer feathers which is a clue to distinguish it apart from other Doves like the Eurasian Collared-Dove and the White-winged Dove Those doves tails end in square tips.
Mourning Dove aka Zenaida macroura
Mourning Doves are known to be skittish. They make a sharp whistling sound when they take flight. The noise doesn’t come from their beaks, however, it is actually made by their wings as air rushes through their feathers and causes them to vibrate.
Mourning Dove
It is interesting to note that when Mourning Doves locate a food source, such as seeds on the ground (and possibly in a bird feeder); they prefer to grab as much as they can manage, storing their haul in a throat pouch called the crop. Then, they’ll fly off to a safe spot to work on digesting.
Good Evening, Mourning Dove
In some spiritual or symbolic interpretations, a mourning dove’s appearance can be seen as a message of peace, hope, or a gentle reminder of loved ones, or even a visit from a deceased person. Some people believe that the sight of a Mourning Dove is a message from God, angels, or other spiritual guides. To hear the cooing of a mourning dove can be understood as a call to seek and find inner peace. Another thought is that Doves may remind us to hold on to hope and not fear death, but instead to think of it as a new beginning.
Location: Centennial Center; Town of Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy the Spring Sunshine and have fun. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 