Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography
This blog is for my insights on life, the Bible, hiking adventures with my grandson and whatever is important to me
Hiking 🥾 Trails marked on Tree Barks:
Denzils Nature Challenge #22: Tree Bark
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
Dale of The Cosmic Photo Challenge prompt is Freestyle this week.
Since this is freestyle week I decided to let you visit with me on one of the hikes Coleman and I took this past week. This hike was a little bit different in that we had my daughter, Coleman’s mom, along with us. On Tuesday we needed to be out of the home for awhile because a pest control company was going to come in and spray per the Complex management.
Therefore, we decided to go hiking in one of Coleman’s favorite places. The place we chose was Anne Springs Close Greenway about twenty minutes or so from our residence. Mind you now my daughter is not fond of hiking at all. When we arrived, we should them my membership card and proceeded to park. We thought Trisha, my daughter, was just gonna sit and relax near the canteen while Coleman and I hiked. It didn’t exactly go like we had thought. You see, Trisha brought her dog along with on our adventure ( he had to be out of the home as well).
Chewbacca, Trisha’s dog, decided he wanted to hike with us, therefore she had to tag along. We walked down to the lake and proceeded along the trail, Lake Haigler Loop, around the lake.
Coleman loves to run along the trail. I prefer a slower pace since I normally take many photos along the trail of the various sites we see. Often we observe different angles around the lake, seeing flowers, butterflies, sometimes turtles, bees, and even dragonflies.
At other times we see amazing reflections in the water.
I love seeing various creatures feasting on the nectar of wildflowers her at the Greenway.
Further down the trail as we hike around the lake I notice what appears to be a shape of a triangle formed with the reflections in the lake.
As we keep going I slow down observing butterflies flittering to and fro. Naturally I stop to snap a photograph. Meanwhile, my daughter’s trying to convince me to stop taking pictures. Guess what? She didn’t convince me, not one single solitary moment.
Next on our hike we come across a dragonfly and several turtles along the edge of the lake.
By this time my daughter is tired and wants to get this hike over with. Naturally, Coleman and Chewbacca want to keep going. They’re enjoying the outdoors adventure. Hence, we keep chugging along.
After awhile we decide to pull up a seat and relax a bit before finishing our hike. But first there’s more to observe as we near the picnic tables along the backside of the lake.
Finally to a spot to snack relax near the water’s edge.
The Cosmic Photo Challenge: Freestyle
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2023-Week 29
Alive and Trekking’s Which Way Photo Challenge.
Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i and iPhone 14 Pro Max
I hope you enjoyed trekking along with us on our hike around Lake Haigler. God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all.
Sunday Stills-Doubles
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️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.
WHATSOEVER IS LOVELY CHALLENGE-2023 WEEK 29
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️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.
Ludwigs Monday Windows
Photo Credit : Deb L. Waters
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
Debbies One Word Sunday: Empty
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
In a maze one chooses to go this way or that way. Sometimes the way you choose leads to a dead end and sometimes other choices lead you on the path that leads you out of the maze. In life it is similar; we decide which pathway we want to venture on. Sometimes the choices we make lead us to no where and other choices lead us to a more fulfilling path for our lives.
Alive and Trekking’s Which Way Photo Challenge.
John’s Cellpic Sunday
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History’s Nature Trail; Gastonia, North Carolina
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Maze at The Schiele Museum with us. I appreciate y’all.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max f/1.8 1/120 6.86mm ISO50
God Bless. Thank you for visiting with me. I appreciate y’all.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting with “our Squirrel.” I appreciate y’all.
Sunday Stills-Tiny or Small
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all.
Please don’t troll on by, stop and have a look. Trolling doesn’t always have a negative connotation. Fishermen troll the waters while trying to catch fish. Bargain Hunters troll Flea Markets and Yard Sales for terrific finds to take home.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
Alive and Trekking’s Which Way challenge
Photo Credit: (c) Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Location: Anne Springs Close Greenway, Dairy Barn Entrance, Fort Mill, South Carolina
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thanking for visiting the Greenway with me. I appreciate y’all.
Johns Cellpic Sunday
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
The following are the two photos I’ve been enjoy on my desktop from June 16 through the present July 15th.
Clare’s Share Your Desktop
Photo Credit:©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved
Camera: 1st – Canon EOS Rebel T3i 2nd – iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
Have you ever seen a metal driver’s license? I had never seen one before myself until I started going through my dad’s old photo albums. This particular album had various items my dad saved over the years.
According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, from 1933 to 1957, motorists were required to carry their South Carolina driver’s license on a stamped brass tag, usually carried on a key ring. This required drivers to turn off the ignition to show an officer their license. The brass tags were not used during the time immediately before and after World War II when metals were scarce.
The stamped brass South Carolina Driver’s License Tag included the year of expiration on top, followed by the driver’s name, address, city, & state. On the bottom of the Brass Tag is stamped South Carolina Driver’s License.
My dad’s Brass South Carolina Driver’s License tag was definitely an interesting item for me to discover. I have barely started going through this photo album with the various items he saved over the years. Stay tuned for more interesting discoveries.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all so very much.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2023-Week 28
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Subject: Trisha Lynn Wilson, my daughter and Coleman’s mom.
Location: Playscape, The Schiele Museum, Gastonia, North Carolina
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
Johns Cellpic Sunday
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Debbies One Word Sunday: Two
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Location: Last 2 – Rankin Lake Park, Gastonia, North Carolina Shot on Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
Soaring through the Clouds:
My grandson kept watching the skies today. He has amazing vision and can see much better than I, so much so he’ll point to where things are in the vast sky when I can only hear and am unable to see. He recognises the sound of airplanes ✈️ and wants me to capture them on camera. Unfortunately I only had the camera on my iPhone today. You’ll need to click on each photo and look closely by zooming, if necessary, to be able to the various images of aeroplanes.
Hammad Rais’s Weekend Sky #106
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge (FOTD)
Photo Credit: (c) Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: The Schiele Museum, Grist Mill Area, Gastonia, North Carolina
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
These particular Venus Fly Trap plants are on display in an aquarium in The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium in Gastonia, North Carolina.
Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD) Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for visiting with me. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm Lens
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
While Coleman and I were visiting The Schiele Museum Nature Trail; I took several shots of Coleman’s actions.
Cosmic Photo Challenge-Three shots from one spot.
Photo Credit:©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Natural Amazement, The Schiele Museum of Natural History’s Nature Trail, The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Gastonia, North Carolina
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Natural Amazement with Coleman and myself. I appreciate y’all.
Back of Firetrucks:
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: North 321 VFD Station 10, Lincolnton, North Carolina
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
After a week of solid rainfall Coleman and I were itching to get outside to roam around in nature. It was decided on Friday that we should be adventurous, after errands were completed. Our errands took us down to Lancaster which is an hour and a half away from our current home. Coleman was being extremely patient, he deserved a break on the way make home. Therefore, to relieve his itch to run around, we stopped at one of his favorite places.
What is that favorite place, you ask? It is the expansive Anne Springs Close Greenway. It was an extremely hot 🥵 and humid summer day. We walked around along the trails, across the swinging bridge, and up to the Wildflower Meadow to observe which flowers were thriving.
These coneflowers are common in the Mountains and the western Piedmont of the Carolinas. They are abundantly growing throughout the Greenway’s grounds.
We took a short break for a bite to eat at the Greenway’s Canteen. Enjoying the cool air was nice, but Coleman was itching for a different kind of relief from the hot 🥵 sunny summer weather. What kind of relief do you think he was desiring?
He was itching to get relief splashing in the water at the Greenway’s Spillway. The Spillway was low, however, it still produced enough water flowing across for many to cool 😎 off and enjoy a splashing 💦 wonderfully amazing good time. Coleman delighted in sloshing and splashing through the Spillway’s water 💦.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
John’s Cellpic Sunday
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
From my iPhone 14 Pro Max:
From my Canon EOS Rebel T3i:
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
The Misadventures to our Adventures began on Late Sunday morning, 2023 June 25th. Deciding not to use to much of my daughter’s gas (No car of my own), I chose to take my grandson to the South Fork Trail and Blueway Access to do some hiking. However, when we arrived, we encountered the Danger Trail Closed signs preventing us from hiking the South Fork Trail.
Upon seeing the Danger Trail Closed signs, we climb back into the car, and I search for where to go next to try to accomplish our hike for the day. I looked up the Carolina Thread Trail and it was closed for the day as well. The next stop on our Misadventure to Adventures was the McDonald Field at the Pharr Family YMCA. There didn’t appear to be a trail that we could hike at that location just a short Fit-Trail. Therefore, we decided to get back in the car and figure out where to try next.
After a short drive Coleman and I arrive at our fourth destination of the day, The South Fork River Park. This location looked more promising. So once again we climb out of the car, load ourselves with our backpacks (mine with camera equipment, his with snacks) and proceed to locate the trailhead. We found the trailhead with no problems and proceeded to hike on the natural surface trail which was approximately 1.25-mile loop trail and also included 800 feet of river frontage. The day was hot and humid; however, I believe Coleman enjoyed his time hiking by the riverfront.
Coleman enjoyed hiking by the river. He probably would have liked it better if I had allowed him to get in the river, but we were not prepared for that adventure. Even though this was a wonderful adventure, our day was not over yet.
On our way back to the car, Coleman heard some noise and thought we should investigate what was making the bleat or baaing sound. Located just across the road from the parking lot was a farm with several goats. I was not sure at first how close to allow Coleman to get to the goats. Turns out the farmer was out in the yard and heard Coleman approaching the gated area. The farmer was friendly and gave permission for him to pet the goats. He liked that idea but was a little shy about doing so.
This turned out to be a pleasant day even though it started out with a few mishaps. Once back in the car, the afternoon was still bright and calling for more adventure. I drove us to another park for more hiking and adventure. I will leave those tells for another day.
Lens-Artists #255: Telling a Story
God Bless. Thank you for partaking in our misadventures to adventuring. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Fire Station 10 North 321 VFD Lincolnton, North Carolina
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Fire Station with Coleman and myself. I appreciate y’all.
Jez’s WWE challenge
Photo Credit:©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: Photos 1 & 4 – iPhone 14 Pro Max
Camera: Photos 2 & 3 – Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Terri’s Sunday Stills Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Crowders Mountain State Park Visitors Center, Kings Mountain, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting with me. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Cameras: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for visiting with me. I appreciate y’all.
Jez’s WWE challenge
Johns Cellpic Sunday
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time. I appreciate y’all.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Altura Macro Wide-Angle EF-S18-55mm lens for Canon
God Bless. Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate y’all.
For Coleman and me, The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium is just a short jaunt of a bus ride away. The bus stop is an even shorter jaunt away from our place than the Planetarium.
The following is what we saw at the Planetarium when we jaunted out for an amazing adventure.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
God Bless. Thank you for sharing in our Planetarium visit. I appreciate y’all.
Interesting Facts:
Red clover is a good pollen and nectar source for bumblebees.
Red clover’s flowers and leaves are edible, and can be added as garnishes to any dish. They can be ground into a flour.
The flowers often are used to make jelly and tisanes, and are used in essiac recipes. Their essential oil may be extracted and its unique scent used in aromatherapy.
It is widely grown as a fodder crop, valued for its nitrogen fixation, which increases soil fertility. For these reasons, it is used as a green manure crop.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Cosmic Photo Challenge-Summer Views
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for sharing in my summer views. I appreciate y’all.
Ludwigs Monday Windows
Photo Credit : Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for following along with my blog. I appreciate y’all.
Slender Vervain is a perennial that spreads by rhizomes and is native to South America. Is an annual north of zone 7 but needs winter protection in that zone. It has naturalized from southeastern North Carolina to Florida and is very tolerant of heat and drought.
These Verbena rigida are in the garden in front of The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium in Gastonia, North Carolina.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit :©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
God Bless. Thank you for visiting with me. I appreciate y’all.
Except for a few clouds it was a beautiful day even though it was a bit humid. Coleman and I still loved being hiking outside in nature.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Cameras: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. Enjoy your day! I appreciate y’all.
Johns Cellpic Sunday
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Coleman
trekking along the trails
at
Crowders Mountain State Park
Kings Mountain, North Carolina
It was a beautiful day for hiking until the rains came pouring down. Luckily Coleman and I completed our hike and were headed to the car before the rains began pounding down upon us.
Posting for Alive & Trekking’s Which Way Photo Challenge.
Photo Credit: (c) Deb L. Waters
Cameras: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Altura Wide-Angle Macro Lens with Fisheye Attachment for Canon.
God bless. Thank you for sharing in our hiking adventures. I appreciate y’all.
All photos taken of Robinwood Lake from the Warlick YMCA in Gastonia, North Carolina were shot with my iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #178
God Bless. Thank you for visiting Robinwood Lake with me. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for visiting with me. I appreciate y’all.
These Vintage Oars and Paddles are just a few of the ones on display at the Warlick YMCA located in Gastonia, North Carolina. These evoke the memories of summers on the lake canoeing and kayaking and having the most fabulous time of one’s life.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
