Location: Goat Island Entrance; Downtown Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy the rest of your week and have a marvelous weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy all of Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Our neighbour’s home has been under construction for a major renovation project since springtime. The whole inside was gutted and renovations began with brand new plumbing, wiring, electrical, and such forth (basically taken down to the bare roots of the building).
We’ve been quietly watching the workers coming and going every day except Saturday and Sunday until recently. Now workers are working almost every single day. The owners come by every Thursday/Friday evening to check on the construction progress. I know they are anxious to be able to get back into their home.
Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a fantastic week ahead. Be Kind. Love your Neighbour. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Sweet Autumn Clematis is a fast growing deciduous perennial vine which is adored for its masses of small, fragrant white flowers in late summer and fall. The Sweet Autumn Clematis plants are in abundance everywhere around here.
While being appreciated for their beautiful flowers which grow vigorously and abundantly, they are considered an invasive plant species in many parts of the Eastern and Midwestern United States. The plants aggressive self-seeding and rapid growth can lead to it escaping cultivation and outcompeting native vegetation.
Sweet autumn clematis Clematis terniflora with Eremnophila aureonotatawasp
The Clematis terniflora (Sweet autumn clematis) flowers are excellent magnets for attracting pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. As you can see from the images it also attracts wasps like the Eremnophila aureonotata, aka the gold-marked thread-waisted wasp. The Eremnophila aureonotata are in the family Sphecidae (“thread-waisted wasps”) which belong to the order of Hymenoptera (“ants, bees, wasps and sawflies”).
Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Stop and smell the flowers. Capture their beauty. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Early every morning when Coleman and I walk to the bus stop we look up in wonder at the Morning Sky.
Most mornings lately we have had cloudy skies; some white clouds and some dark thunderous clouds, but today not so.
Today, the skies were clear with “stars” shining brightly. What I did not realize until after Coleman was on the bus and I was back home was that the brightest “Stars” we were seeing were not actually “Star” at all.
What we really saw in the early morning skies were the planets Venus, Jupiter and more dazzling images.
Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful weekend. Take time for yourself and relax. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). This week I have chosen Any Which Way with People for this week’s theme. The Which Way can be any path, sidewalk, trail, or road as long as the Which Way is clearly discernible. For further information regarding the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) feel free to check out the home page here.
Goat Island Park and Greenway Cramerton, NCGoat Island Park and GreenwayCramerton, NCAnne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, SCAnne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, SCAnne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, SCBaxter Village Trail Fort Mill, SCDaniel Stowe Botanical Garden (Conservancy)Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, SCAnne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, SCAnne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, SCThe Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, NCCarthage, Illinois Baxter Village TrailFort Mill, SCCarowinds Charlotte, NCLand of Oz Beech Mountain, NCWhich Ways with People
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.
Coleman’s favourite things are Trains of any kind. He can play with or watch trains go by all day long if he could. When we are at the bus stop very early in the mornings we are able to watch the trains go down the track, not every day, but most mornings and quite often in the afternoons as well.
This morning Coleman noticed the Train was not moving …
… it was merely standing still …
… Not moving at all … Coleman decided there was something wrong …
… then he noticed a light shining on the train … The Railway workers were inspecting the Train.
Note: They got it rolling again before he arrived back after school.
Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature. Capture the beauty all around you. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: The Garden; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Stop and smell the flowers. Admire their beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Sport according to the Cambridge dictionary it is defined as “all types of physical activity that people do to keep healthy or for enjoyment.” And according to Reverso dictionary it is described as “activity for pleasure or exercise.” (Hiking is a sport enjoyed by many.) Other dictionaries define it as “An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.”
However, for me, I am using it in the context of physical activity done for enjoyment and to keep healthy which can be done individually or in a group.
Here are my contributions …
Cornhole ( considered a sport due to its competitive nature) …
Coleman playing Cornhole
Horseback Riding … ( a Sport due to requirements of significant physical exertion, mental skill, and discipline from the rider) …
Alona on horseback Coleman on horseback Horseback riding
Baseball (a competitive team sport) …
Coleman playing T-Ball
Disc Golf (an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which individuals compete for entertainment) …
Not exactly the way Disc Golf is played
Kayaking (a water sport that involves paddling a kayak, a small, narrow watercraft propelled by a double-bladed paddle and a seated position with legs extended forward.) …
Coleman in a Kayak (and no he didn’t go out alone)
Other Fun “Sports/Games …
HikingBicycling Exercising Coleman Following the LinesColeman playing Hopscotch Coleman playing Hopscotch
Hope y’all don’t mind I took a loose meaning to the term Sport and not the normal say people ordinarily think of it.
I am not often out at dusk anymore, my vision hinders me from seeing well in the dark. Therefore, I went searching through my photo archives to figure out what images might be appropriate to use for this week’s CFFC.
The selections I have chosen to use are from the Life in the Waxhaws Lantern Tour held at Andrew Jackson State Park in Lancaster, South Carolina. These are from the Lantern Tour held on November 11, 2017.
Andrew Jackson State Park holds the Life in the Waxhaws Lantern Tour in November every year. All the reenactment participants are volunteers as well as some being members of the Friends of Andrew Jackson State Park.
The Life in the Waxhaws Lantern Tour is a candlelight, living history program at Andrew Jackson State Park in Lancaster, South Carolina, that reenacts the daily lives and experiences of early settlers on the American frontier during the late 18th century. The reenactments give a glimpse into what Andrew Jackson experienced in his boyhood and how the events shaped the community. It also demonstrates how the Revolutionary War impacted community and insights into how the frontier setting prepared Andrew Jackson for his later life.
Life in the Waxhaws Lantern Tour Andrew Jackson State Park Lancaster, South Carolina
Click on each image to enlarge.
Note: Look carefully at the sixth image (the 3rd one down on the right hand side) behind and to the left of the fire. I am one of the reenactors for this Life in the Waxhaws event.
This year’s Life in the Waxhaws Lantern Tour will be held on November 22, 2025 between 7:00pm and 8:30pm at Andrew Jackson State Park. Click herefor further information regarding this year’s Lantern Tour.
Location: Riverside Park and Greenway; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy all of Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
I do not really care for early mornings, however, that is beside the point. We all must do what we must do even if that means getting up early when we would rather sleep in a tad bit longer.
A few years ago we lived in the countryside and we were blessed with seeing deer in the early mornings.
Good Morning, Hope you don’t mind our passing through so early. Just wanted to stop by to say Hello.
We currently live in a small town and when school is in session it is still pretty dark outside. These are some of what we see while we are waiting for the school bus to arrive.
Early Morning Skies, Early Morning Passenger Trains, and finally the yellow school bus.
God Bless. Rise and Shine and Give God the Glory (even though we crave sleep). Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Good Day! As I right this this evening it is trying to rain, we’ve seen the dark clouds rolling in, heard the thunder banging like drums overhead, but yet to see the rain. I am thankful for the lovely sunshine we enjoyed today.
It was such a beautiful day and we hadn’t been out and about for the past week with all our on again off again thunderstorms; therefore, it was an excellent day to wander down to the river for a bit of hiking and Coleman playtime in the sandy river banks. Coleman is fascinated by the rippling effects of the water when he throws wood into the river.
I decided to capture his water ripples in black and white thereby linking this post to Jez’s Water Water Everywhere, Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Repeat and Monochrome Monday.
Location: South Fork Catawba River; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a hike/walk out in Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Early in the mornings and in the afternoons while waiting for the school bus to arrive we watch the trains go chugging along down the track. The speed at which it moves varies from time to time and sometimes we notice the graffiti artwork painted on different railway cars. These are a few examples of the artwork we’ve seen.
Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). This week I have chosen Which ways on a cloudy or stormy day for this week’s theme. The Which Way can be any path, sidewalk, trail, or road as long as the Which Way is clearly discernible. For further information regarding the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) feel free to check out the home page here.
Whether traveling by car or hiking on foot there are times we run across storms and/or clouds in our pathways/roadways. These are a few examples of what we have endured in our adventures.
US 321 Blowing Rock, NC October 9, 2017
US 321 Blowing Rock, NC October 9, 2017
NC State Hwy 74 Charlotte, NC September 16, 2024
W. Wilkinson Blvd Cramerton, NC September 26, 2024
Camera: Apple iPhones 7 Plus; 14 Pro Max; and 16 Pro Max
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Hike/Walk. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Note: Next week we will be looking at Any Which Ways with People.
This week Leanne is hosting the Monochrome Madness challenge. She has chosen a theme of Movementto spark our interest and inspire our creativity.
Here are my selections for the challenge …
We arrive at the Town’s concert early not just to obtain our choice seats, but also to allow Coleman to run around with friends and burn off excess excitement and energy prior to the start of the concert events.
Coleman Rolling on the Grass SS 1/800s
Coleman enjoys rolling down the slight hill in our Centennial Center Park.
Coleman hopping on One Foot SS 1/320s
He was challenging a friend to hop on one foot and she was trying to show him how to do cartwheels. They had a fun time playing together last Friday evening.
SS 1/250sSS 1/1100sColeman and his friend Running around before the Concert SS 1070s
Before long it was time for the Rick Hubbard’s Kazoobie Kazoo Kids Show. Rick was an outstanding guest musician entertaining the audience and involving the kids in attendance in his show. Here he is playing both a banjo and a Kazoo while entertaining everyone in attendance.
Rick Hubbard Kazoobie Kazoo Kids Show SS 1/320s
The second event for the evening was a Concert by the Caleb Davis Band. Prior to any show the band warms up making sure their sound system is working properly and their instruments are properly tuned and ready for the show.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV filter attachment.
Location: Centennial Center; Downtown Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature. Capture the beauty all around you. 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. Get Outdoors. Enjoy all of Nature’s Beauty. 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. Take time to admire Nature’s Beauty. Smell the flowers. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
This American Green Tree Frog paid us a visit and chose to hang around for a while. It was to our surprise when we opened the front door and saw him looking at us looking at him. To him, it was the most natural thing in the world for him to hang around on our front storm door.
Dryophytes cinereus aka American green tree frog
The American Green Tree Frog is a common adaptable amphibian found in the Southeastern United States. [We had previously seen them in our yard blended in with the grass, but not usually hanging on our front door.] They are known for their bright green colour, large toe pads, and ability to change color based on temperature and activity.
The American Green Tree Frogs are often found near water sources like ponds, lakes, and marshes. [I know we live near a river and frogs are quite frequently spotted in the area, but on our door was unexpected.] They play a role in controlling insect populations. [This is always a good thing.]
These frogs eat small insects and other invertebrates like crickets, moths and flies. They can often be found clinging to windows or walls, trying to feed on insects that are attracted to light. [We learn something new everyday. Now we now that it is normal behavior for the Green Tree Frog to cling onto our storm door especially since it is a glass door.]
Location: Our Home; Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Be kind. Love your Neighbour (even strange ones). Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
In the evening while observing the full moon in the sky I inadvertently captured the Neighbourhood windows across the street from us. It seemed like an amazingly picturesque scene.
Location: AJSP Lake; Andrew Jackson State Park; Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Get Outdoors. Take a Hike. Enjoy all of God’s Beautiful Creations. 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. Have a funtastic rest of your week and weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Andrew Jackson State Park; Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take time to smell the flowers. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
This morning a flatbed tractor trailer came to deliver a pallet of wood to the house across the road which is be renovated from the inside out. Coleman with his natural curiosity and helpful nature decided to investigate. When the truck driver was done with his delivery he began to toss straps across the flatbed trailer to tie down the rest of his load. As I stood watching, Coleman thought he needed some assistance and proceeded to cross the street and give his willing assistance in fastening the straps from the other side of the truck hooking them together as the driver instructed. The truck driver was polite and good natured willing to allow Coleman to assist him and show him kindness.
Original
Sepia toned
Black & White
Faded, color focused with a slight splash of colour
Colour focused with a splash of Blue, & rim of Smoke effect & a tweak of swirling
Guess I got carried away experimenting with a few effects for the image. I’m leaving y’all with a collage of Coleman being a good assistant.
Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy all of Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Remembering a fun family trip with my daughter and granddaughter to the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, South Carolina. This upcoming week my granddaughter will turn twelve (12). These are memories from when she was four (4).
Alona on an elephant sculpture
Her mom and I took her down to Columbia, South Carolina to visit the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. It was a special time and memories I will always cherish. [She currently lives with her father & he does not allow her to visit with us even though there is a shared custody agreement.]
Alona petting an Anglo-Nubian goat
Alona enjoyed being able to pet the goats and other animals in the children’s petting area.
Alona riding a Giraffe on the Merry-Go-Round
As well as the merry-go-round and all the amazing animals located within the Zoo.
Alona on a Gorilla sculpture
Every time we came near any of the animal sculptures she thought she had to go up and climb on them. It made for some interesting poses (or lack of posing).
Alona on Happy the Tiger in the Riverbanks main plaza
After a long tiring day, we stopped at the entrance/exit area for one final photo opportunity before traveling back home through Great Falls, Lancaster, and finally to get home in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden Columbia, South Carolina with Alona
Location: Riverbanks Zoo and Garden; Columbia, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Memories are precious. Treasure your memories. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
God Bless. Stop and smell the flowers. Admire their beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The Moses Cone Carriage House is a significant historical structure located within the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park and just a short hike from the Cone Manor.
The Moses H. Cone Memorial Park and the Moses Cone Carriage House is located near Milepost 294 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Moses Cone Carriage House
The Cone Carriage House was part of the expansive Flat Top Manor estate, built by textile magnate Moses H. Cone and his wife Bertha at the turn of the 20th century.
The estate included the manor house, about 500 acres of farmland, Flat Top Mountain, Rich Mountain, and a vast system of carriage trails.
Carriage House
The Carriage House housed carriages and other equipment used to maintain the estate’s approximately 25 miles of carriage trails. The Carriage House has been preserved as a historical structure within the park, it might possibly be used for maintenance or interpretive exhibits related to the estate’s history.
Front of Carriage House
The Carriage House may not be a prominent visitor attraction on its own, however, it contributes to the overall historical and natural experience of the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, which also includes the Flat Top Manor (the Cone’s former residence), orchards, lakes, and extensive carriage trails.
Note: This section of the Blue Ridge Parkway is open for the public.
Location: Moses Cone Carriage House; Moses H. Cone Memorial Park; Milepost 294; Blue Ridge Parkway; Watauga County, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a funtastic week. Get Outdoors and enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). This week I have chosen Any Which Way with Shadows and/or silhouettesfor this week’s theme. Shadows can be on any path, sidewalk, trail, or road as long as the Which Way is clearly discernible. For further information regarding the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) feel free to check out the home page here.
Here are my entries …
Coleman’s Shadows/Silhouettes
Coleman
Taken at Goat Island Park and Greenway at the end of the Riverlink Greenway Trail located in Cramerton, North Carolina.
Coleman’s arm over his Shadow/Silhouette
Trees and their Leaves Shadows
Coleman hiking down to the Spillway amongst many Shadows
The above Shadows were captured at the Lake Haigler Entrance of the Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Thank you to all who have supported and contributed to the Which Way Challenge this past week or at any time. Be sure to check out other Which Ways by clicking on the links below.
Cameras: 1-2) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments; 3-7) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Locations: As Stated Above
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy a hike/walk in Nature. Admire Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Look all around, there’s Brown everywhere you look out in nature. From the ground, to boardwalks, and even to the varying kinds of animals which roam around in the woods, in farms, and even in many greenways. Here are a few examples of Brown I have discovered.
Tree & Pinecones at ASCGBoardwalk at AJSPBench in the Sand at Riverside Park & Greenway Single Leaf on a limb at Goat Island Park & Greenway Single Leaf on a limb at Goat Island Park & GreenwayNorthern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) aka Bobwhite quailAnolis carolinensisASCG HorsesGiraffes at the Greenville ZooColeman on a log surrounded by Brown leaves
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Explore Nature. Capture its Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Andrew Jackson State Park, Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy all of Nature’s Beauty. 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 206. 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.
We have had several thunderstorms this week, so therefore we haven’t been out and about much. Instead I’m reminiscing about a trip I took a few years ago with my oldest son for his birthday adventure. Since he wanted to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway, I was more than happy to ride along with him.
My entries for this week’s challenge are views from just one of our stops we sidetracked on during his Mountain adventure.
Taken at 10:54 am (late morning) in 2017
Bluff Mountain Overlook is located at Milepost 243.4 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is a popular destination along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Bluff Mountain is visible from the Bluff Mountain Overlook. It offers breathtakingly spectacular views.
Foggy Morning Mountain View
On a clear day, Bluff Mountain’s visibility is remarkably satisfying and amazingly delightful to gaze upon from the Overlook. At this point in our adventure clear visibility was not to be had, but that did not deter ills from looking around or venturing on a short hike along the Bluff Mountain Trail which is easily accessible from the Bluff Mountain Overlook.
Alligator Back
Bluff Mountain Trail passes through grassy meadows and includes a challenging switchback ascent called Alligator Back. Alligator Back is a short twenty (20) minute walk from Bluff Overlook.
The Predators
Until recently Predatory Birds and Mammals, those which preyed on other animals or were in conflict with humans, were termed “Varmints” and killed on sight. Fortunately, modern Ecology proves the vital interdependency of all wild plants and animals. Today Hawks and Owls, Black Bears, Bobcats, Foxes and Snakes continue to roam Parklands like this and help preserve the delicate balance of nature. [Informational notice on sign.]
Panoramic View from Bluff Mountain Overlook
We hiked all around the overlook investigating the Predator area scenic views. To the right in the photo above and in the picture below is my eldest son, John. He is not normally into hiking, but he accommodated me in my thrill to explore the sights and perspective landscapes available to observe, explore, and admire.
My eldest son, John
As we drove further along the Blue Ridge Parkway our visibility improved dramatically unlike when we parked here at this location and the Air Bellows Overlook.
Air Bellows Overlook Parkway Milepost 236.9
Looking forward to checking out all your Morning Scenes. Hope to see y’all on Friday for the Which Way Challenge. This week we’ll be including Shadows in our Which Ways. Interested in finding more details about the Which Way challenge click here.