This week my daughter has been spending time in Florida with friends while Coleman and I remain at home. These wooden carved bears are located near the Disney Vacation Club kiosk area of in Walt Disney’s Epcot Canada Pavilion.
The Bear Statues feature rustic chainsaw-style carvings of a mother Bear standing upright alongside a smaller cub. This is a quiet charming photo spot located near the pathway and seating elements close to Disney’s Vacay club information center. They are intended to highlight Canada’s rugged wilderness and wildlife, matching the rocky landscape, pine trees of the pavilion’s back gardens.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura IV Filter attachment; Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
God Bless. Stay Cool. Stay Hydrated. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The Paroon Shark-Catfish at Disney’y Animal Kingdom is known affectionately as Mr. Catfish. He has been a consistent fixture, with his presence, on the Tree of Life circuit for approximately half a decade or longer.
Paroon Shark Catfish aka Pangasius sanitwongsei
For a long time he didn’t receive many visitors. Why do you ask? No one really knew he existed. He lives under a bridge constantly swimming in and out with rarely anyone looking down to notice him.
Signage for Paroon Shark Catfish Disney’s Animal Kingdom Walt Disney World Resort
People are looking downward and visibly seeing him nowadays, like my daughter saw him recently. Why is he just now getting noticed? He never had any signage to let people know he was there and what he was. Now he does as seen in the above image. Ever since the signage was put in place people are constantly stopping on the bridge, starring down at his swishy, enormous, cuddly tail. He captures people’s attention with his back-and-forth pattern.
Click on each image to enlarge. (By enlarging the image of the sign you should be able to read more about the Paroon Shark Catfish.
Location: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Walt Disney World Resort; 2901 Osceola Parkway; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA
God Bless. Have a pleasant and peaceful weekend. May it be filled with love, happiness, and laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
This week the Monochrome Madness is a free week (no theme) for us to make our own decisions on what to share in Monochrome. Following along with Leanne’s Night images without colour, I decided to also most nighttime images devoid of colour. I do not get out at night (except for the front porch) due to poor nighttime visibility. Therefore, I am sharing some images taken at night by my daughter while she’s “vacationing” without Coleman and myself down in Florida.
Here are my selections in Black and White …
The first stop on our journey devoid of colour is the Coca-Cola Rooftop Store & Beverage Bar. I posted a photo of the Coca-Cola Rooftop Store & Beverage Bar showing its signage on Wednesday for Wordless Wednesday. You may view it by clicking here.
Rooftop Beverage Bar with a souvenir CocaCola bottle
The next stop is at the Fall into Magic at Disney Springs, a part of the Walt Disney World Resort with mainly shops and entertainment venues.
Fall into Magic Disney Springs Lake Buena Vista, Florida
As we continue our journey devoid of colour at Walt Disney World Resort we come to the image below located inside Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion of an impressive pyramid structure is inspired by ancient Mesoamerican architecture and houses the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros boat ride.
Mexico Pavilion at Epcot
Our nighttime journey began on Tuesday, so far we’ve viewed one for each day of the week bringing us to today (Thursday evening).
The first image below is of the outside of The Seas with Nemo & Friends …
The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion
The dome structure in the background is the Spaceship Earth. It is a slow-moving, 16-minute dark ride housed inside the iconic 180-foot geodesic sphere located at Epcot in Walt Disney World Resort.
This last image is of Leaping Fountains located outside the Journey Into Imagination! Pavilion.
Leaping Fountains
The vibrant lighting used on the fountains adds to the magical evening atmosphere making it an amazing experience to watch.
Welcome back to the Which Way Challenge (previously hosted by Cee Neuner). This week our theme is Which Way Challenge CWWC 2026: Any Which Way with Autumn Leaves [10.02.2026-10.09.2026]. It will run for two (2) weeks. Your Which Ways can be Outdoors, Paved or Unpaved, Dirt Trails or any natural surface as long as they are in the displaying Autumn Leaves 🍂.
Mine are from 2021 and 2022 as the leaves in our area have not as yet displayed their Autumn colours. These were taken at the Fort Mill Access to the Catawba River and the Fort Mill Dam. Feel free to link to Dawn’s Festival of Leaves or other appropriate links.
Here are my entries …
CWWC Cee’s Which Way Challenge Deb’s Which Way with Autumn Leaves
Click on images to enlarge.
Thank you to those who have participated and supported the Which Ways Challenge. I appreciate y’all sharing your Which Ways with us.
For an idea of other’s Which Ways from this past week’s challenge, be sure to click on the following links below.
This week Terri, our host for The Flower Houris focusing on Floral ABC’s concentrating on WXYZ. This is the last week for the Floral ABC’s as we’ve come to the conclusion of the alphabet. Let’s have some fun. Here are my WXYZ Florals for this week’s challenge. It wasn’t too hard to locate flowers beginning with W or Y and Z but X was impossible to locate, henceforth, I didn’t find any Xflowers amongst my photo files.
Here’s looking at the W’s …
Wisteria sinensis
Wisteria sinensis, aka Chinese Wisteria Gastonia, North Carolina
Windowbox Woodsorrel
Aka Oxalis articulata, pink-sorrel, pink wood sorrel, windowbox wood-sorrel, sourgrass Gardner Park, Gastonia, North Carolina
God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Disney Springs; Disney World; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Walk/Hike. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Brian from Bushboys Worldhosts a monthly challenge called Last On the Card. His rules are simple to follow if you’re interested in participating.
Here are The rules: 1. Post the last photo on your SD card or last photo on your phone for the 30th or whenever your last photo was taken. 2. No editing – who cares if it is out of focus, not framed as you would like or the subject matter didn’t cooperate. 3. You don’t have to have any explanations, just the photo will do 4. Create a Pingback to this post or link in the comments 5. Use the tags The Last Photo and #LastOnTheCard
Here are my contributions …
From my Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max:
Sophia Ruthann attempting to stand without holding on in her new shoes.
No, I’m not near a Buc-cee’s. My daughter took a trip with a coworker and Coleman and are left at home on our own. She gets the trip and all I get is a few pictures to share.
Buc-Cee’s #63 – BRUNSWICK, GA
This is the Buc-cee’s convenience store they stopped at in Brunswick, Georgia on their way down to Orlando’s Walt Disney World.
Location: Buc-cee’s #63; 6900 Hwy 99; Brunswick, Georgia, USA
God Bless. Have a funtastic rest of your week and weekend ahead. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with w. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Coca-Cola Store Rooftop Bar; Disney Springs; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Love & Peace to y’all. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The Dairy Barn at Anne Springs Close Greenway was once a working dairy barn in its heyday. It was built in 1947 specifically designed to supply the cafeterias of the once massive Springs Cotton Mills network across York, Chester, and Lancaster counties.
The Dairy Barn Dairy Barn Entrance Anne Springs Close Greenway
Anne Springs Close, daughter of Elliot Springs and heir to the Springs Cotton Mills textile empire founded by her grandfather, Leroy Springs. She dedicated herself to preserving much of the land and its historical structures. She protected 2,100 acres of family land from developers trying to establish suburban development areas. In doing so, she founded the Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
The Dairy Barn
The Dairy Barn, later became known as the Farm Founders Dairy Barn. It is a fully renovated climate-controlled landmark, now celebrated as one of the area’s premier backdrops for indoor and outdoor weddings, corporate retreats, and community gatherings.
The Dairy Barn is perfect for both indoor and outdoor events. The downstairs accommodates more than 200 people seated. Its lovely outdoor patio area can be tented and will accommodate an additional 200 people seated. The upstairs loft accommodates up to 300 people seated theater/wedding style.
Besides special events, the Dairy Barn serves as one of the primary gateways to the Anne Springs Close Greenway trail network. [The Dairy Barn entrance leads to the Blue Star Trail connecting to several other trails as well as historic cabins, the swinging bridge.]
When not in use for special large events, the Dairy Barn venue coordinates community programs including indoor yoga sessions—such as Mindful Slow Flow and Evening Power Yoga. Hikers often park at the Dairy Barn entrance to explore the Blue Star Trail, visit the Comporium Amphitheater, pass by the resident donkey pasture, cross the local swinging bridge, and watch the water flow down the Spillway. [Coleman enjoys playing in the Spillway when the it’s full. He also loves to hike the many trails and enjoy all the Greenway has to offer.]
XingfuMama hosts the weekly challenge Whatsoever Is Lovely. The challenge is simple. Just reflect back over your week and see what is lovely, whether a thing or a moment, share in a post what is precious and lovely to you.
This week I am continuing with Whatsoever is Lovely to me; Beautiful Flowers & Butterflies #5. These images were taken on Coleman’s & my recent visit to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, North Carolina. The first area we visited was the Butterfly Bungalow. We had not previously visited the Butterfly Bungalowsince the times we’ve visited Daniel Stowe Conservancy before were in the Springtime.
For this post I am focusing on the Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus), one of the many varieties of butterflies maintained within the Butterfly Bungalow at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden.
Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)
The Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) is a one of the most fascinating butterflies in eastern North America due to its specialized lifecycle, unique hosting plants, and their use of mimicry to survive.
Spicebush Swallowtail on Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
The Papilio troilus, aka the Spicebush Swallowtail, or Green-clouded butterfly, is a common black Swallowtail butterfly only found in the Eastern United States and Southern Ontario, however, it can sometimes be seen in the American plains states, Cuba, Manitoba, and Colorado. .
Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)
It is normally found in deciduous woods, or woody swamps. There they can be seen flying low and fast through shaded areas.
Spicebush Swallowtail
The Papilio troilus has two (2) subspecies, Papilio troilus troilus and Papilio troilus ilioneus. The Papilio troilus troilus is the one seen in this area and pictured in these images. Papilio troilus ilioneus is confined to the Southeastern coastal United States, mainly throughout Florida, along the coast of Georgia, and in places in Texas.
Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)
The primary host plants for the Spicebush Swallowtail are most commonly the Spicebush ((Lindera benzoin) or WhiteSassafras (Sassafras albidum). Despite their preference to primarily feed Lauraceae plants, they do feed on Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), especially here in the Butterfly Bungalow. Anise Hyssop is widely known as one of the ultimate “pollinator magnets” that is typically added to gardens.
Spicebush Swallowtail on Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
The Spicebush Swallowtail love the Anise Hyssop for its perfect landing pads. The dense, structural spikes are composed of hundreds of tiny, nectar-rich tubular flowers. The Spicebush Swallowtail can easily grasp the stalks with their legs while their long proboscis probes from bloom to bloom. They also love the Anise Hyssop for its continuous energy. Anise Hyssop has an exceptionally long blooming window,The plant typically produces fresh flowers from June through September.
This blooming season of the Anise Hyssop provides a vital, reliable energy source for late-summer generations of butterflies preparing to reproduce or move through woodland edges.
Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) on Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Location: Butterfly Bungalow; Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Bely, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a lovely weekend filled with love, joy, and laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Central Ohio Technical College (COTC); Newark, Ohio, USA
God Bless. Have a pleasant and peaceful weekend. May it be filled with love, happiness, and laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Following along with Terri’s Autumn Floral theme, I took a Look Back into my archives for Autumnal Florals (not just Autumn colours, but taken in Autumn) taken in early Autumn. My selections were all taken at various times and locations during the month of October. I know it’s not October yet, however, it soon will be in only a few more days.
Taken October 3, 2023 …
Common Eastern Bumblebee on an Orange Sulphur Cosmos
… at The Garden in The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, North Carolina.
Taken October 6, 2025 …
Panicle Hydrangea
… by the Bridge at Goat Island Park and Greenway in Cramerton, North Carolina.
Taken October 22, 2024 …
A Green Aphid on a Yellow Tickseed Sunflower
… near Lake Haigler along the Haigler Loop Trail at the Anne Springs Close Greenway’s Lake Haigler Entrance in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Taken October 27, 2023 …
Gulf Fritillary Butterfly on Common Red Zinnias
… by the Gibson House at the Stables Entrance of the Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Welcome back to the Which Way Challenge (previously hosted by Cee Neuner). This week our theme is Which Way Challenge (CWWC) 2026: Any Which Way in the Evening (With or Without Rainy Weather) [09.25.2026]. Your Which Ways can be Outdoors, Indoors, Paved or Unpaved, Dirt Trails or any natural surface as long as they are in the evening. Your Choice is exactly that, Whichever Way you choose in the evening. As always Signs are always welcome.
Here are my entries … a Wet and Rainy Evening …
CWWC Cee’s Which Way Challenge Deb’s Which Way Challenge
Click on images to enlarge.
Thank you to those who have participated and supported the Which Ways Challenge. I appreciate y’all sharing your Which Ways with us.
For an idea of other’s Which Ways from this past week’s challenge, be sure to click on the following links below.
The Three Graces is a popular subject in classical art. The Three Graces have roots in Greek mythology, where they were known as the Charites. The Charites (known in Roman mythology as the Graces) were three goddesses who personified the ideas of beauty, grace, festivity, and joyous life in Greek mythology. They are often depicted embracing, as seen here, representing the unity and cyclical nature of giving and receiving.
The Three Graces Hearst Castle San Simeon, California
Antonio Canova, the renowned Neoclassical sculptor, created his famous version between 1813 and 1817. His interpretation is celebrated for its exquisite craftsmanship and the way it conveys emotion and movement in the figures. There are two versions of Canova’s “The Three Graces”; one of which is at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the other is at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
The Three Graces
This version of the “The Three Graces” located at Hearst Castle is a beautiful reproduction. It was selected by William Randolph Hearst to adorn his magnificent estate, tying into the classical grandeur he had desired to achieve.
Close-up of “The Three Graces”
William Randolph Hearst was an avid collector of art and antiquities, as well as classical sculptures like this one were a cornerstone of his collection, adorning the many gardens and grand rooms of his estate. It is truly a remarkable piece of sculpture to see as you tour the grounds of the Hearst Castle estate.
Location: Hearst Castle; San Simeon, California, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Walk/Hike. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The Faires-Coltharp Cabin is one of the oldest structures in York County, South Carolina. This old log cabin is a significant piece of history for the area dating way back to the 19th century.
The Faires-Coltharp Cabin
This historic structure is often referred to as the Jesse Faires House. Jesse Faires was born in 1789 and was a prominent figure in the local community, serving as a Justice of the Peace and a commissioner of roads. His family was among the earliest settlers in the area, contributing significantly to its development.
Faires/Coltharp Cabin
The Faires-Coltharp Cabin is a fantastic example of early 19th-century log construction in the Carolina Piedmont. It’s known for its sturdy hand-hewn logs and a large stone chimney, which you can see on the left side of the photo. It offers a wonderful glimpse into the daily life and craftsmanship of settlers from that era.
Faires-Coltharp Cabin
The Jesse Faires House located on the grounds of the Anne Springs Close Greenway was not originally built at this exact spot. It was originally by Jesse Faires around 1814 approximately three (3) miles from its present location site.
A Close-up of the Sign about the Faires-Coltharp Cabin
This historic log cabin was moved here to ensure its preservation and to share its story with visitors of the Anne Springs Close Greenway. It was relocated from its original site in York County to the Greenway in 1994.
Coleman on the Faires-Coltharp Cabin porch
The Anne Springs Close Greenway is dedicated to preserving natural landscapes and historical structures, making it the perfect home for such an important piece of local heritage.
Location: Faires-Coltharp Cabin; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a funtastic rest of your week and weekend ahead. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with w. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Unity Community; Gastonia, North Carolina
God Bless. Have a lovely weekend filled with love, joy, and laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Dan with No Facilities, the host ofCee’s Fun Foto Challenge is continuing with the theme of Where/What/When we do various things. This week’s focus is on Where/What/When We Vacation. This new series will continue for approximately two (2) more weeks. We are currently in the sixth week of the Where/What/When CFFC series. This theme was inspired by Dawn M. Miller.
I have scoured my archives and gathered a few images of Where/What/When I’ve Vacationed over the years. Let’s see where all these images will take us on this Vacation Memory Journey.
Hocking Hills KOA Campground Logan, Hocking County, OhioHume Lake Christian Camps Hume, Fresno County, CaliforniaKnotts Berry Farm Buena Park, CaliforniaGuggisberg Cheese Millersburg, Holmes County, OhioMile High Swinging Bridge Grandfather Mountain Banner Elk, North CarolinaLand of Oz Park Beech Mountain, North CarolinaCozumel Yucatán Peninsula Caribbean Sea Quintana Roo, MexicoColumbus Zoo and Aquarium Powell, OhioLake Fort Smith State Park Mountainburg, ArkansasStone Mountain Park DeKalb County, GeorgiaCarlsbad Caverns National Park Carlsbad, New MexicoSolvang, California ‘The Danish Capital of America.’Andrew Jackson State Park Campground Lancaster, South Carolina Costa Maya Cruise Port, MexicoHotel del Coronado Coronado, California The San Diego Wild Animal Park Escondido, California CFFC Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge Where/What/When We Vacation
Dale, the host of theCosmic Photo Challenge, has challenged us to post a few images of Fruits, Nuts, and Seeds for this week’s challenge. Some Fruits are edible for birds, but bitter or not recommended for humans. Seeds may be in seed pods and reproduce as flowers, while others may still be in fruit and if planted with produce more fruit. Nuts are not just for humans to eat, squirrels and other animals enjoy them as well. Coleman likes to gather nuts and seed pods when we hike along various trails.
Here are my contributions …
Yellow WatermelonSweetgum tree seed podsColeman holding an unripe Black WalnutBlack WalnutsHolly Berries, for birds not humans Prickly pears, fruits of the Opuntia cactusAmerican Beautyberries, aka Callicarpa americanaAcorn Cherry Tomatoes (Botanically a fruit)Peruvian pepper tree (Schinus molle)Unripe Privet BerriesJim’s Produce carries an assortment of Fruits, Seeds, and Nuts (also vegetables)Cosmic Photo Challenge #CosPhoChal Fruits, Nuts, and Seeds
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Be observant of all creatures large and small that call our Earth home. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Judy from Life Lessons blog hosts a weekly photo challenge called The Numbers Game.This week’s number is 753. Her instructions for playing along are listed below …
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 under that number and include a link to your blog in Judy’s Numbers 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. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I look forward to seeing y’all’s pictures forJudy’s Numbers Game. I appreciate y’all very much.
The Goethe House is famous as the birthplace and childhood home of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. He is one of Germany’s most famous writers. His most famous masterpiece literary work was Faust, a tragic play written in rhyme verse and split into two-part parts; it is about a brilliant scholar who makes a pact with the devil.
The Goethe House Frankfurt, Germany (colorized)
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born in this house in 1749 and continued to live there for the first twenty-six (26) years of his life. The Goethe House has had an interesting journey through history. The original house was largely destroyed during World War II. It was meticulously rebuilt between 1947and 1951. The rebuilding was based on the original plans, drawings, and furnishings that had been carefully preserved.
Original after digitization
Today, The Goethe House is a museum offering a fascinating glimpse into 18th-century life and Goethe’s early years. It is complete with period furniture, his writing desk , and other personal belongings. The reconstruction ensures visitors will be able to experience the authentic atmosphere of Goethe’s childhood home.
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”
These are Mules, even though I heard their owner refer to them as Jackasses. They are Mules, a hybrid. Simply meaning they have one parent that is a male donkey (a jack) and one parent that is a female horse (a mare).
Mules receive their size, strength, and speed from their horse side and inherit their endurance, patience, and a surprising level of intelligence from their donkey side. Their feet a much tougher than those of horses, making them excellent for navigating challenging terrain.
Sunday Stills Animal of the Month Antlers, Horns & Hooves
Terri has recently started a new theme for the Sunday Stillschallenge called Animal of the Month. This month this theme is focusing on Antlers, Horns & Hooves. I’ve decided to share some that are on supper The Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, North Carolina.
Here are my contributions …
Antlers, Horns & Hooves at The Schiele Museum of Natural History
Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy your week. Have a wonderful good and safe week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
These Canna Lily seed pods are on an Indian Shot plant which is overgrown since the landscaper hasn’t decided to trim it yet. Looking at these you might think they were dead. However, that is not the case with these Canna Lily seed pods.
This is perfectly normal for Canna Lily seed pods in late summer and early Autumn (late summer, almost Autumn here). These seed pods are maturing and drying out, which means the seeds inside are ready to be dispersed. It is a natural part of their life cycle.
Coleman by “The Passage” Sculpture Warlick Family YMCA Gastonia, North Carolina
“The Passage” was created by artist Andrew K. Crawford, is a truly thoughtful sculpture. The stacked boats are intended to symbolize the journey itself. Each boat represents a different stage or experience we encounter. The figure at the very top is usually interpreted as looking towards the future, reflecting on the path taken and the continuous process of growth and transformation. It embodies the spirit of community and personal development.
On Tuesday Coleman and I were enjoying a relaxing evening in the backyard. While waiting for Coleman to get our lawn chairs set up I noticed a rather nice size mushroom growing near the base of the tall shade tree in the backyard.
Not recognizing it I decided to look it up. I found out that it is a Dryad’s Saddle mushroom. It is also known as Pheasant’s Back mushrooms. It’s scientifically they are referred to as Cerioporus squamosus.
These type of mushrooms are saprophytic fungi which simply means they grow on dead or decaying wood, often growing at the base of trees or fallen logs. Typically when this type of fungi are at the base of a tree the tree is dead or dying. In this case the tree is still alive with green leaves in abundance. The other instance is that there could possibly be some compromised wood that the fungus is helping to break down.
Interestingly, these fungi help to recycle nutrients back into the soil making them a vital part of the ecosystem. If interested, the Dryad’s Saddle mushroom is edible , especially when it’s young and tender. Its flavour is described as mild and mushroomy, with a distinctive cucumber or watermelon rind scent carrying through to its taste when cooked. They are best to cook and eat when they are young, they tend towards toughness when they age.
Location: Unity Community; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a pleasant and peaceful weekend. May it be filled with love, happiness, and laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
XingfuMama hosts the weekly challenge Whatsoever Is Lovely. The challenge is simple. Just reflect back over your week and see what is lovely, whether a thing or a moment, share in a post what is precious and lovely to you.
This week I am continuing with Whatsoever is Lovely to me; Beautiful Flowers & Butterflies #4. These images were taken on Coleman’s & my recent visit to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, North Carolina. The first area we visited was the Butterfly Bungalow. We had not previously visited the Butterfly Bungalowsince the times we’ve visited Daniel Stowe Conservancy before were in the Springtime.
For this post I am focusing on the Dryas iulia, Aka Julia Longwing butterfly,Julia heliconian, the flame, or flambeau.
Dryas iulia
Dryas iulia is often misspelled incorrectly as julia. It is theonly representative in the genus Dryas. It is a species of brush-footed butterfly, native from Brazil to southern Texas and Florida. In the summertime it can sometimes be found as far north as eastern Nebraska. They are considered rare immigrants or temporary strays in both North and South Carolina. That doesn’t mean they won’t be spotted though. During the warm summer months, individual adults occasionally migrate or drift northwards from their permanent breeding grounds in southern Florida and southern Texas.
Julia Longwing butterfly
The Julia Longwing butterfly was are known for their striking bright orange wings. They can have black markings, and their have notably long and narrow forewings which gives them that “Longwing” moniker.
Julia heliconian
The Julia heliconian butterflies are extremely fast and erratic fliers; they were quite a challenge to capture with my camera. Their fast movements prevented me from being able to catch all of them clearly, however, I still did managed to catch a few good shots with my Canon.
Julia Butterfly
Besides being very fast fliers, they frequent clearings, paths, and margins of forests and woodlands. They feed on the nectar of flowers, like lantanas (Lantana) and shepherd’s-needle. They drink the tears of caiman, the eye of which the butterfly irritates to produce tears.
the flame
The Dryas iulia butterfly species is real popular in butterfly houses similar to the Butterfly Bungalow at the Daniel Stowe Conservancy. Their popularity is due to its longevity and its activity throughout the day. They were intensely fascinating to watch them zipping to and fro, hither and yonder faster than your (at least mine) eyes could follow them.
flambeau
These pictured here are maintained in the controlled environment of the Butterfly Bungalow inside the Gardens of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, North Carolina. The Dryas iulia are a featured seasonal resident of the Butterfly Bungalow at Daniel Stowe Conservancy. Since these butterflies thrive in tropical environments, the Garden imports them chrysalides as part of their summer pollinator exhibition. The warm, humid greenhouse enclosure provides an ideal environment for them to fly alongside other native and tropical species like the Zebra Longwing and Malachite.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Location: Butterfly Bungalow; Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Bely, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a lovely weekend filled with love, joy, and laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Whenever Coleman and I visit The Schiele Museum of Natural History we almost always walk along The Nature Trail (we only miss it if we arrive too late and it’s already closed).
Coleman Style
at The Schiele Museum
of Natural History
Whenever Coleman and I visit The Schiele Museum of Natural History we almost always walk along The Nature Trail (we only miss it if we arrive too late and it’s already closed).
Walking around the Nature Trail, there are strategically placed benches for one to Pull Up a Seat and rest a spell if desired or needed. On this adventure Coleman pushed his sister, Sophia, along the dirt trail. While walking he came across a bench where he stopped and Pulled Up a Seat keeping the stroller with his sister by his side.
Here’s my contributions of Coleman Pulling Up a Seat …
XingfuMama’s Pull Up a Seat Coleman Style at The Schiele Museum of Natural History
Welcome back to the Which Way Challenge (previously hosted by Cee Neuner). This week our theme is CWWC (2026): Any Which Way —Your Choice. Your Which Ways can be Outdoors, Indoors, Paved or Unpaved, Dirt Trails or any natural surface. Your Choice is exactly that, Whichever Way you choose. As always Signs are always welcome.
My choices for this week’s Which Way Challengeare a throwback in time to a trip cross country with my family in 1963. Back then we traveled by car in a 1962 Ford Galaxie 500 2-Door. These images were taken by my dad and originally developed into slides and were digitized after he passed. These were from our return trip to California after visiting family in the Carolinas.
Here are my entries …
CWWC Cee’s Which Way Challenge Deb’s Which Way Challenge Road Trip East to West
Click on images to enlarge.
Thank you to those who have participated and supported the Which Ways Challenge. I appreciate y’all sharing your Which Ways with us.
For an idea of other’s Which Ways from this past week’s challenge, be sure to click on the following links below.
This week Terri, our host for The Flower Houris focusing on Floral ABC’s concentrating on STUV. Let’s have some fun. Here are my STUV Florals for this week’s challenge. It wasn’t too hard to locate flowers beginning with S and T, but U was extremely difficult, henceforth, I didn’t find any amongst my photo files. V was hard to locate any type of flowers other than Violets.
God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Being a cool early evening on Tuesday, Coleman and I spent some time
outside in the backyard. I relaxed while he played with his bat and balls. Take a look at some of his antics and expressions as you see trios of balls (not all are t-balls).
Thursday Trios Coleman’s Antics & Expressions Playing Ball in the Backyard
Location: Unity Community; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Walk/Hike. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Today was slightly cooler than it has been all summer, giving us the perfect opportunity to photograph the surrounding foliage.
Dale, the host of theCosmic Photo Challenge, has challenged us to post a few images of foliage for this week’s challenge. Today was actually slightly cooler than it has been all summer, therefore, Coleman and I spent a couple of weeks in the backyard. While he was running around and playing I snapped a few pictures of the foliage surrounding us. I changed it up after a few minutes and shot in black and white.
Here are some of the Foliage I captured …
In Colour …
#CosPhoChal Cosmic Photo Challenge Foliage in Colour
Location: Unity Community; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Be observant of all creatures large and small that call our Earth home. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Dan with No Facilities, the host ofCee’s Fun Foto Challenge is continuing with the theme of Where/What/When we do various things. This week’s focus is on Where/What/When We Shop. This new series will continue for approximately three (3) more weeks. We are currently in the third week of the Where/What/When CFFC series. This theme was inspired by Dawn M. Miller.
I have gathered a few images of Where/What/When I’ve Shopped over the years. Most of my shopping these days are done online via Amazon, Walmart, and Harlequin. I do still get out for groceries and other necessary or essential various sundries.
Here are my contributions …
Harris Teeter Charlotte, NCBaby General Hospital Cleveland, GeorgiaAmazon.comGeneral Store Coshocton, Ohio The Shop Antiques, Refinishing Abilene, TexasJulian Pie Company Julian, CaliforniaLehman’s Kidron, Ohio https://www.lehmans.com/Ashe County Cheese West Jefferson, NC https://www.ashecountycheese.com/Deep Gap Cash Store Deep Gap, NCJim’s Produce Deep Gap, NCArtisan Open Market Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, SCThe Trailhead Store Daniel Stowe Conservancy Belmont, NCCee’s Fun Foto Challenge Dan’s CFFC Where/What/When We Shop
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Note: Outside the General Store in Ohio, the man on the left is my maternal grandfather. Coleman is outside the door of The Trailhead Store. Outside the Deep Gap Cash Store are my Great Aunt Sophrona (called Aunt Sophie, she’s my grandfather’s sister) and her husband (my great uncle.
Location: Unity Community; Gastonia, North Carolina
God Bless. Have a lovely weekend filled with love, joy, and laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. Mark 6:31-32
The Roman Pool at Hearst Castle is astonishing with its incredible mosaic tiles which were designed to evoke the feeling of ancient Roman and Greek baths. It is covered from floor to ceiling with eight types of mosaic tiles. Some of those tiles included elaborate designs depicting marine creatures and mythological figures.
Roman Pool Hearst Castle San Simeon, California
The Pool was created using more than a million glass and gold tiles which creates a beautiful shimmering effect. It was built for William Randolph Hearst by architect Julia Morgan. The construction of the Roman Pool was primarily undertaken during the late 1920s and early 1930s, culminating in its completion in 1934.
It is a stunning sight to see and learn about all the intricate design details and the length of time it took before completion. It’s amazing to see the reflections of the windows and statues captured by my dad with a 35 mm camera back in 1979.
Beth from Wandering Dawgsis this week’s host for the Lens-Artist Photo Challenge. She is asking us to select our favourite Bridges to share. She states that they “ any kind of bridge: natural bridges, foot bridges, swinging bridges, highway bridges, stone bridges, railroad bridges, or any other kind of bridge you can think of.” I’ve gathered a selection of Highway Bridges, Foot Bridges, Trestles, and a Swinging Bridge that I hope y’all will enjoy.
Swinging Bridge at Anne Springs Close Greenway can be trip to cross or fun depending on your outlook.
Swinging Bridge Lake Haigler Entrance Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, South Carolina
Foot Bridges oftenconstructed to accommodate crossing a creek or river to be easier and more accessible for animals, and humans. Coleman and I hike over these types of Bridges quite frequently.
Baxter Village Trail with Alona & Trisha Fort Mill, South Carolina
Glencairn Garden Rock Hill, South Carolina
Goat Island Park and Greenway crosses over South Fork Catawba River Cramerton, North Carolina
Trestle Bridges are made of many short spans supported by close frames. The purpose is usually to transport trains/train lines across a deep valley (like rivers and lakes) or ravines.
Showing both a Trestle and Highway Bridge Situated over the Catawba River Along the Piedmont Medical Center Trail from the Catawba River Trailhead Rock Hill, South Carolina
Other Trestles over the Catawba River …
Trestle Bridges Over the Catawba River Piedmont Medical Center Trail Rock Hill, South Carolina
Trestle Bridge over the Mississippi River …
Trestle Bridge viewed from the Tennessee Welcome Center after crossing the Mississippi River
Highway/Road Bridges are designed to a road and its traffic over an obstacle such as a river, a valley, or even another road. First, we’ll look at a Road Bridge that crosses over a creek and a trail. The trail is the Blue Star Trail, part of which runs parallel to Steele Creek and under a Road Bridge. The Blue Star Trail in one of 25 unique trails which allows hikers, bikers, and equestrian riders to explore over 40 miles within the Anne Springs Close Greenway.
Road Bridge over Steele Creek and Blue Star Trail
Now on to California Highway Bridges …
In the San Francisco-Oakland Area …
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, a double suspension bridgeSan Francisco–Oakland Bay BridgeSan Francisco-Oakland Bay BridgeSan Francisco Bay BridgeSan Francisco Bay BridgeGolden Gate Bridge, San FranciscoLAPC – Bridges California’s San Francisco Bay Bridges All taken in April 1979 by my dad.
And last, but not least, the amazing San Diego-Coronado Bridge which connects San Diego with the city of Coronado. Construction on the Bridge began in February of 1967 after years of debate over the need and logistics of a bridge being built to cross the bay. The Navy feared a bridge could collapse due to an attack or an earthquake thus trapping navy ships stationed at Naval Base San Diego. The Navy finally, in 1964, agreed to support a Bridge if there was a minimum of 200 feet (61 Meters) of 660 feet in the main span for sufficient clearance for the Navy ships operating out of Naval Base San Diego to pass underneath it. [Side Note: Before the Bridge was constructed the only way to Coronado from San Diego or vice-versa was by Ferry.]
San Diego-Coronado Bridge
The Bridge itself is 11,179-foot-long (3,407 m or 2.1 mi) and ascends from Coronado at a 4.67 percent grade before curving 80 degrees toward San Diego. The Bridge was finally completed and opened to the public on August 3, 1969. It opened during the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the founding of San Diego. When it opened, a toll of 60¢ was charged in each direction. The toll charges were supposed to end when the bond was paid, but continued until 2002. This Bridge has five lanes, two eastbound, two westbound, and a reversible middle lane which could switch to correspond with traffic needs.
An interesting fact: Before its official opening to vehicular traffic on August 3, 1969, the Coronado Bridge had a special “Bridge Walk” on August 2, 1969. Thousands of people, including many bicyclists, participated in this dedication event, getting a unique chance to experience the bridge on foot and by bike before cars were allowed on it. I had many friends that road their bicycles across the San Diego-Coronado Bridge on that special day celebrating the bridge’s completion and opening.
God Bless. Be Happy. Be Cool. Be a Blessing to those around you. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The “Birth of Venus” (Naissance de Venus) sculpture
Back in 1974 my family toured Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California. This trip was was approximately 5 1/2-6 hours long. The tour last around 60 to 75 minutes which doesn’t include the shuttle time from the visitors center to the hilltop. I’m not going to go into everything that is included in the tour for you to see. I’m only going to to tell you about the The “Birth of Venus” (Naissance de Venus) sculpture located in the Neptune Pool.
The “Birth of Venus” (Naissance de Venus) sculpture is a 20th-century Carrara marble work created around 1930 by French sculptor Charles-Georges Cassou. The sculpture was commissioned by William Randolph Hearst in 1927. Charles Cassou’s original marble group was exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1930 prior to being installed on the lower terrace of the pool opposite the Roman temple façade.
The “Birth of Venus” (Naissance de Venus) sculpture depicts Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty, emerging from seafoam while balancing on a scalloped shell. Cassou’s Birth of Venus serves as a focal centrepiece in its own fountain alcove against the hillside background. It is set apart from the Roman temple façade which features an older 17th-century relief of Neptune and two tritons.
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