CFFC: The Tall and the short of It

First off, let’s take a look at a TALL building in Abilene, Texas. I visited my Aunt (my mom’s sister) in 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since our plans of visiting other relatives didn’t pan out due to social distancing mandates, I took many long walks around my Aunt’s neighborhood. I was not just out for the exercise, but also to explore the area. I came across this Tall Building on one of my walkabouts.

The Enterprise Tower
Abilene, Texas

The Enterprise Tower was originally known as the First State Bank Tower and then Bank of America Building. It was constructed in the early 80’s and completed in 1984. This is the tallest building in Abilene with its twenty (20) stories at Two Hundred Eighty-Five (285) feet (87 meters). It ranks as the 6th tallest building in West Texas.

And now we’ll take a look see at a building on the shorter side of things located at The Schiele Museum of Natural History’s Catawba Indian Village in Gastonia, North Carolina. The Schiele Museum is a favourite place Coleman enjoys visiting. [The museum also has Dinosaurs 🦖 🦕 on display.]

Early Log Cabin

Information listed on the sign in front of the Early Log Cabin …

This log house reflects the rapid change that the Catawba lifestyle was undergoing throughout Scots-Irish and German settlements of this region in the 18th century. This home is a native adaptation of the log cabins being built by these settiers. The first Catawba cabins were built of unhewn logs with shingle roofs and a central smoke hole. These smoke holes began being replaced with chimneys of stone and logs, as seen here, in the mid-1700s.

This Early Log Cabin is one of several different types of homes in the Catawba Indian Village that were once used by the native Catawba Indians in our area.

Dan’s CFFC

Photo Credit: 2020-2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved

Cameras: 1) Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max; 2) Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

God Bless. May your blessings be long upon the Earth and be you experience tons of joy, peace, love, and happiness throughout the rest of 2024 and all throughout 2025. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Wordless Wednesday: Revisiting Schiele Museum’s Holiday Light Show

For You
Enjoy the Holiday Light Show
Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Merry Christmas!

God Bless. Thank you for visiting. Enjoy the show. Have a Happy Holiday Season filled with Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Weekend FOTD: 12.14/.15

Sulfur Cosmos

Sulfur Cosmos
Schiele Museum of Natural History
Gastonia, North Carolina

Cee’s Weekend FOTD

Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2024 Week 49

Photo Credit: 2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take time to smell the flowers. Enjoy nature’s beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Monday Window: 09.09 — Government Windows

Gaston County

Department of Social Services

Department of
Social Services facility

This DSS facility, the County Courthouse, Sheriff’s Office, and County Jail were all designed by Stewart-Cooper-Newell Architects and were constructed simultaneously. These facilities firm the Gaston County Governmental Complex.

The Department of Social Services facility is approximately 127,890 square feet and contains all the Social Services offices and functions which were previously scattered throughout Gaston County.

Ludwig’s Monday Window 

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Seen from the Bradley Station Dog Park; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Coleman’s Suprise – Sitting in an Airplane

After a day hiking in the Greenway, Coleman’s mom surprised in by stopping at the local airport, Gastonia Municipal Airport. She was curious to see if it would be possible for him to tour the airplanes. Upon asking a couple of people she found out that not only was it possible, but that one of the pilots took us out and allowed him to sit in one of the airplanes. He was so thrilled, he grinned from ear to ear. He didn’t say much, lately he’s been getting shy around people. However, you could tell it by his facial expressions how happy and excited he was to be able to see the airplanes, to Pull Up a Seat in an airplane, and to watch an airplane take off.

Monday Portrait

Ludwig’s Monday Window

Pull Up a Seat Photo Challenge 2023: Week44

Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Gastonia Municipal Airport; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Monday Portrait: Triceratops

Profile View
Frontal View
First View
of Triceratops
as one Walks
into Exhibition

Monday Portrait

Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Dinosaur Exhibition; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA.

Wordless Wednesday: 2023 October 18_Pumpkin Faced

Don’t you just
love ❤️ my
new Look 👀

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters… All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.

Cell Pic Sunday: October 15 – Sorghum

Sorghum is a cereal grain plant that belongs to the grass family Poaceae. It is thought to be native to Africa and is widely grown in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Sorghum has numerous varieties, including grain sorghums, used for food; grass sorghums, grown for hay and fodder; and broomcorn, used in making brooms. Sorghum grain is a nutritious food rich in protein, dietary fiber, B vitamins, and minerals.

For human consumption, the gluten-free grain is usually ground into a meal that is made into porridge, flatbreads, and cakes. The characteristic strong flavour can be reduced by processing. The grain is also used in making edible oil, starch, dextrose (a sugar), paste, and alcoholic beverages. 

The Sorghum plants pictured here are located in The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium in Gastonia, North Carolina. These plants as well as other plants grown in the Garden are grown and given to the animals for feed.

John’s Cellpic Sunday

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History’s Garden in The Farm; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA.

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

MWM: Monochrome Kinda Day …

Yesterday, October 11, I thought I was going to take photos with my Canon, however, that was not possible. Why? I goofed and forgot to change out the battery for a fully charged one and somehow the camera got put away in the on position. Therefore, the battery was dead and I was unable to use my Canon for my photography. Lesson learned, always check battery before leaving the house.

Luckily I always have my iPhone on me and sometimes use both while out and about around town or on a hiking trail. Instead of just using the normal mode I switched the iPhone settings to monochrome and proceeded to snap shots at the Schiele Museum’s Block Party, Dinosaur Theatre, And The Farm.

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA.

God Bless. Have a wonderful enjoyable weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all.

Wordless Wednesday: Fungi

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters… All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens.

Location: Gaston County Warlick Family YMCA; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA.

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all very much.

Sunny Sunday: Beautiful Peaceful Sunshiny Day

Coleman always brings
sunshine 🌞 into my life.

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV (New International Version)

Both images were taken with my iPhone 14 Pro Max by Robinwood Lake at the Gaston County Warlick Family YMCA.

Sunny Sunday

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Gaston County Warlick Family YMCA; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA.

God Bless. May you have a peaceful and joyous week. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.

2023 Silent Sunday: October 8

Robinwood Lake

Silent Sunday

Hammad’s Weekend Sky Challenge- #117

Photo Credit: (c)2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Robinwood Lake; Warlick Family YMCA; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA.

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.

2023 Cell Pic Sunday: Peeking through…

A Glimpse
through the Woods

John’s Cellpic Sunday

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Gaston County Warlick Family YMCA; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA.

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Reaching for the Sky

Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge 

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Field of Wildflowers; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.

2023 Sunday Stills: Fence Me in or Don’t

Coleman Inside
Mike and Lucky
Fenced In
Coleman Outside

Sunday Stills: Don’t #Fence Me In

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.

Martha Rivers Park Monochrome Style

Coleman playing
in the Sand
Coleman Hang-time
in the Fitness Track

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max Telephoto and Ultra Wide Cameras.

Location: Martha Rivers Park; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.

Thursday Doors: Gardner Park Neighborhood

Walking around the neighborhood this week we saw these two doors that were slightly different than the ordinary doors on the majority of houses.

Door with an arched entryway
Decorative Glass Door

Thursday Doors, hosted by blogger and author, Dan Antion.

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Gardner Park Neighborhood; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.

Floral Friday: 2023 September 22

Sandia Brocade Dahlia

Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge 

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens

Location: Memorial Wildlife Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA. 

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts. Have a fantastic weekend. I appreciate y’all.

2023 SYD: 15 September

On My Laptop:

On My Phone:

Share Your Desktop – September

Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all.

Monday Portrait: Lucky

Lucky
The Farm
Schiele Museum of Natural History
Gastonia, North Carolina

Monday Portrait

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters…All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens.

Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all very much.

LAPC: Black & White and Monochrome

I normally try to take photos as we go hiking in our neighborhood, along the various trails and sometimes we hike more than one trail in a given day. As always my hiking buddy is my (recently turned 4) grandson, Coleman. He loves spending time outdoors especially when he gets to go hiking in the woods, along the creeks, rivers, and lakes.

On this particular day we rode the transit bus from near our home to the Avon Catawba Creeks Greenway. We hiked the Greenway seeing many amazing sights along the way. We hiked the entire 2.7 mile paved greenway. The Avon Catawba Creeks Greenway connects Lineberger Park to Ferguson Park. The Catawba Creek Greenway portion runs through wooded and open creek areas between several residential areas and junctions at the Avon Creek Greenway. Combined, the Avon and Catawba Creeks Greenway is approximately 3 miles. We ventured over onto Robinwood Road from the Greenway and on down to the Gaston County Warlick Family YMCA to continue hiking some more after a bit of a rest and a snack while overlooking Robinwood Lake.

Lens-Artist Photo Challenge-Black & White and Monochrome

Leannes Monochrome Madness

Photo Credit: (c) 2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens.

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time as we hiked along the Greenways to the Warlick YMCA. It was a pleasurable afternoon. We appreciate y’all and any thoughts you’d like to share.

Bedazzled Dormer Windows

Looking Upward
Bedazzled Bridal & Formal

Ludwigs Monday Windows

Photo Credit : ©️ 2023 Deb L. Waters

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.

Silent Sunday: 2023 August 27

Silent Sunday

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.

2023 WWE: Splayground fun

Hopefully this counts, it not a lake, river, creek or any other waterway. Instead it is of a Splayground, or in other words a Splash Pad.

I took Coleman to Lineberger Park where there is a Splash Pad known as Splayground. I believe he had tons of fun. He thoroughly enjoyed himself and wished he could have stayed longer.

Coleman running
through the
Splash 💦 Pad

It’s a delight when I can bring a smile to my grandson’s face and watch him enjoying himself having a fabulously funtastic time.

Water Water Everywhere

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max … All Rights Reserved.

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.

FOWC: Trails Devoid of Hikers

Fandango’s One Word Challenge: Devoid

Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

God Bless. Thank you for visiting the trails with me. I appreciate y’all.

Share Your World: My Thoughts on Birthdays

This week Di is asking us these questions;

Here are this week’s questions:

Children aside, do you celebrate your birthday/anniversary or is it just a normal day for you?

For me, my birthday is just an ordinary normal day. It is not recognized by my children. Oh, I wish and long for acknowledgement, but henceforth it does not come and by nightfall I am disappointed.

Do/did you always give your child a birthday party when they were young?

I did not always give my children a birthday party. However, when I did it was usually just with family including cousins.

If your child was born on Christmas Day (or a few days either side of the 25th), did they have a ‘half birthday’ in June, two presents/celebrations, or something else?

None of my children were born near Christmas, but I do have a good friend and an “old” neighbor who was born the day after Christmas. If I remember right, and I might not, his parents tried to make his birthday special & not just combine his birthday with Christmas.

I do have a daughter that was born on “traditional” Memorial Day (traditional meaning before they made it always on a Monday). We tended to celebrate her birthday with the patriotic theme of red, white, and blue.

Would you prefer to give your child a party, or take them and a few friends on a special outing?

A party is nice, but also a lot of work and expense. When my children weren’t so young, I took them out to a restaurant of their choosing. I remember, in my teen years, my parents took me out for my birthday at the restaurant of my choice with cake and present(s) at home afterward.

A Red Rose Bud for my birthday
(Not really my rose, but I can dream)
Photo Credit: (c)Deb L. Waters

As a side note, today’s my birthday. I spent the day with my grandson, Coleman (But then again, I usually do). We took the city transit bus into downtown. His first time on a bus ride. First time for both of us in this area (we only moved here in February). We rode the bus downtown and then walked a short distance and hiked the Highland Rail Trail. (He loves to go hiking). The paved trail was just 1.8 miles in length one way. We stopped shy of the end of the trail and walked back to the bus station to wait for the bus to return home. (Coleman was ready to go.) After my daughter got home, she insisted on us going out to eat for my birthday. We hadn’t done that in over three years. We went to a new to us restaurant called Noodles & Company. World Kitchen. It serves many different times of noodle dishes. Italian, Asian, Vegan, and more. I had the Zucchini Pesto with Grilled Chicken. It was delicious. My grandson had the kids grilled chicken, but he was too antsy to sit still and eat. (He fell asleep shortly after we got back home). I did very much appreciate her thoughtfulness. My sons couldn’t bother with acknowledging my birthday. I am thankful for my online friends new and old who sent their birthday greetings. No body wants to be forgotten on their birthday even if they don’t care for celebrations.

#Keepitalive 

#SYW

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time with me. I appreciate y’all.

Wordless Wednesday: 2023 March 1st_Slight Breeze…Flags Waving

Flags Flying High
in the Breeze

Wordless Wednesday

Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters

Gpd Bless. Thank you for your visit. I appreciate y’all.