2025 LAPC #376 — Wings

Feathered or Not

Beth from Wandering Dawgs is this week’s host for the Lens-Artist Photo Challenge . She is challenging us to show off Wings of any kind. I am displaying Non-Feathered Wings as well as Wings on a variety of Feathered Friends with Wings.

Let us first take a look at some of my Feathered Friends that grace my pathways.

Female Northern Cardinal
grace my porch railing
enjoying a nice snack.
A Northern Mockingbird
stopped by for a visit.
A Lovely Mourning Dove
graces us with a beautiful song.
A Chipping Sparrow
(Spizella passerina)
graces our pathway
while on a hike.

Now to display a few Non-Feathered Wings Landing and Taking off from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

Beth’s Lens-Artist Photo Challenge #376-Wings

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Locations: Feathered Friends) Cramerton, North Carolina, USA; Non-Feathered Wings) Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

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

On the Move by Curb Walking

Curb Walking

for — LAPC

#SWS

This week John from Journeys with Johnbo is the host for the Lens-Artist Photo Challenge. He has challenged us to post photos of our being On the Move. He has shown us some of the typical ways that people choose to travel (Aka being On the Move). Some of the typical means of being “On the Move” are traveling by car, by train, by airplane, or by a cruise ship or another type of boat.

However, I am not going to show you any typical form of being “On the Move.” You might ask what are some other ways one can be “On the Move?” Well, some of the other methods are walking, running, skiing, skipping, skating, swimming, or our favourite hiking. Even though hiking is Coleman and my favourite method of getting from point A to point B and sometimes C in one day, that is not the method or means of being “On the Move” I am going to show you today.

What method of being “On the Move” am I going to discuss with y’all? Let me tell you. The method is called Curb Walking. Ever heard of Curb Walking? I hadn’t really heard much about it or how or why it is done.

Curb Walking is a unique type of walking which involves walking with one foot on the Curb and the other foot on the street. Ever tried Curb Walking? If you did; did you enjoy it? Was it Beneficial?

My daughter, Trisha, Curb Walking with Coleman close by (not that he’d be much help if she fell, but he’d try).

The uneven gait of Curb Walking is thought to help the pelvis (of pregnant women) to open and shift, which is predicted to encourage the baby to move lower and into a better position for birth.

Curb Walking around the playground at Goat Island Park and Greenway.

Curb Walking can help create flexibility in the hips and pelvic floor over time. It can also be a part of overall exercise for endurance. However, it is not a guaranteed way to start labor.

How long should you Curb Walking when you first start? It is recommended to begin with 10 minutes. When you are Curb Walking you should listen to your body and take it slow at first. You may gradually increase the duration and frequency (emphasis on gradual). It is suggested to aim for a total of 30 minutes of Curb Walking on the majority of days for overall fitness.

Before beginning Curb Walking (especially while pregnant), it is highly recommended (if not crucial) to consult your doctor or midwife prior to your first time. (My daughter, however, consulted her physician after her first adventure into Curb Walking). Everyone’s personal health and pregnancy situation is different, so it is best to consult with your medical professional ahead of time. ( I do need to mention she consulted her physician the next day & it was favorable for her to Curb Walk.)

If your doctor gives you the go ahead to begin Curb Walking, it is advised to start between 37 and 39 weeks to specifically try and induce labor. (She is so tired of being pregnant and so ready to meet her daughter.)

John’s Lens-Artist Photo Challenge #374-On the Move

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday-2025.11.22

Bonus:

Becky’s November #Shadows

I love multi-linking to various challenges.

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Enroute & at Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take Care. Be safe. And have some fun walking around your surroundings. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Shhh … my daughter doesn’t like her picture taken & doesn’t know I took these.

2025 LAPC #369 – Dreamy

Lens-Artists

Photo Challenge #369

Ann-Christine from Leya is this week’s host for the Lens-Artist Photography Challenge. She has chosen a theme of Dreamy which is different and thought worthy for determining what to post. I think I might have figured out a couple of options.

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”

Henry David Thoreau
Coleman
beyond a
Field of Wildflowers

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

Harriet Tubman
South Fork Catawba River

“Dream what you dare to dream. Go where you want to go. Be what you want to be.”

Earl Nightingale
Coleman
waiting on the
Bank above the
South Fork Catawba River

Ann-Christine’s Land-Artist Photo Challenge #369 -Dreamy

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: South Fork Catawba River; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Dream a little Dream or two, make your Dreams a Reality. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Looking Back to Autumn Leaves

LAPC #368 —

Lens-Artists Challenge

# 106: Autumn Plus

Festival of Leaves Week #3

This week John from Journeys with Johnbo is hosting the Lens-Artist Photo Challenge. He has come up with the “Looking Back” theme of Autumn. With mainly the Northern Hemisphere being in the Autumnal Season and the Leaves are changing colours, it seems appropriate that we show off our Fall/Autumn colours. I am linking up with Dawn’s Festival of Leaves, which I feel is definitely appropriate due to the Autumn Colours of Leaves being displayed. You can find out more about Dawn’s Festival of Leaves challenge here.

Here are my entries for these challenges …

Click on each image to enlarge.

John’s Lens-Artist Photo Challenge #368-Autumn

Dawn’s Festival of Leaves 2025-Week #3

Photo Credit:©️2022-2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i and Apple 14 Pro Max

Locations: The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina and Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina

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

2025 Cell Pic Sunday — 05 October

Cramerton’s Story Walk

with John Steiner

Good Day Everyone! Welcome to my post for John’s Cell Pic Sunday. Previously on September 7th I ran a post introducing the Story Walk that was coming to Cramerton. At that time the Story Walk posts were in the ground waiting for the Story Walk story to be attached. You may view the original Story Walk post here.

During the following Monday I had an amazing opportunity to meet up with John from Journeys with Johnbo blog and his lovely wife, Lynn. We met at the entrance to Goat Island Park and Greenway and walked the trail to the Riverlink Greenway Trail. We walked the trail together enjoying the time together and discovering each story aspect along the Story Walk trail.

Walk along with us as we visit the Story Walk together. Below are some highlights of the Story Walk.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Thank you John and Lynn for meeting up with me and letting me show you What Everyone Should See (LAPC #367). I really enjoyed our visit together.

I am linking up with John from Journeys with Johnbo blog’s CellPic Sunday. I am also going to link a day early to Judy’s Numbers Game.

John’s Cell Pic Sunday-2025.10.05

Joanne’s Lens-Artist Photo Challenge #367

Judy’s Numbers Game #93-215

Photo Credit:©️2022 Deb L. Waters … Al Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Story Walk; Riverlink Greenway Trail; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Longing for Times of Bygone Days

Egidio from Through Brazilian Eyes is this week’s host for the Lens-Artist Photo Challenge with her theme of Longing. I took some time thinking about what I wanted to select to showcase a few things I am Longing.

Longing for times of bygone days, remembering the good times, the friendships made, the experiences I’ve had over the years are memories I treasure forever.

“Oh, how I miss the old days -those carefree moments, those unforgettable experiences, and those precious friendships that made life so incredibly beautiful.”

balmyquotes.com

I decided to make my selections in Black, White, and Shades of Grey/Gray linking with The Cosmic Photo Challenge & Six Word Saturday challenges.

Longing for road trips, traveling to the mountains, beaches, and favourite places; recalling some of my favourite things.

Showcased in the above gallery are images of a rode trip where my eldest son and I drove through part of the Blue Ridge Parkway stopping at various mileposts to catch a glimpse of the magnificent views. A short distance from a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway is where my maternal ancestors lived which emphasizes the significance and importance this area is to my heart.

“Sometimes you will never know
the value of a moment
until it becomes a memory”

— Dr. Seuss

Memories of bygone days are ones I’ll always cherish, but not all would be worth repeating. Memories of friendships that have stood the test of time are ones worth treasuring.

The above images are a small depiction of bygone days of wonderful events I miss from my childhood. Events of bygone days are lovely to remember, but learning from them and looking forward is extremely essential.

“Sometimes, I wish I could rewind back to the old days and press pause … just for a little while.”

Treasure Simplicity

Here’s to making sure the present are good ‘ole days filled with love, family, and happiness.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

Lens-Artists Challenge #365-Longing

Cosmic Photo Challenge-Shades of Grey

Photo Credit:©️1978-2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

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

2025 LAPC #364 — A Quiet Moment

Quiet Moments can be found in many different and wonderful ways and places. It does not matter where you are, there can always be times for quiet moments.

In the featured image Coleman enjoying some quiet moments communicating in his own way with a horse.

“Let a horse whisper in your ear and breathe on your heart. You will never regret it.”

live-love-lope.tumblr.com

Quiet Stillness Brings Peace and Calmness to the Soul like the peace and calmness felt when by a river.

South Fork Catawba River

“In the stillness of quiet, if we listen, we can hear the whisper of the heart giving strength to weakness, courage to fear, hope to despair.”

— Howard Thurman

And then Quietly Moments can be found relaxing in a rocking chair …

Coleman –
A moment of Quiet

“Finding some quiet time in your life, I think, is hugely important.”

Mariel Hemingway

Ritva’s Lens-Artists Challenge #364 – Quiet Moment

Photo Credit:©️2023-2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Spend time communing with nature. Find some time for Quiet Moments through out your week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Searching for Things (Here, There, and Beyond)

Lens-Artist Photo Challenge

Anne from Slow Shutter Speed is the host for this week’s Lens-Artist Photo Challenge. She has chosen a unique theme of a Virtual Scavenger Hunt with several ideas for us to select from while searching for our “Scavenger” items.

Here are my “Scavenger Hunt” findings:

Glass Display case with Keys & Locks
(A set of keys & Something glass)
New Braunfels Railroad Museum
New Braunfels, Texas
A Goat
(Something with green eyes)
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Fort Mill, SC
Lady shooting Pictures
(Something with a camera)
Cramerton, NC

Anne’s Lens-Artist Photo Challenge #363-Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Photo Credit:©️1979-2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

God Bless. Have a funtastic week & fun Scavenging to find things to capture. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 LAPC/Sunday Stills: August —Tan, Beige, and/or peachy shades with Lines, Colors & Patterns

This week I am combining the Lens-Artist Photo Challenge with Terri’s Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge .

As Coleman and I walked through the woods and around the newly renovated playground at Goat Island Park and Greenway, I noticed all the lines and patterns in the equipment along with all the shades of tan, beige, and every shade of light brown imaginable.

Tan, Beige?, &
all sorts of
shades of light brown

The slide on this playground was once green, and very much broken after Hurricane Helene. It took months and months of waiting for a new slide to arrive and installation to be complete. The months and months of waiting due to delays upon delays was difficult and disappointing for the children (you know how impatient children of all ages can be). It doesn’t matter whether you call the new slide tan or beige or whatever floats your boat, it only matters that the children once again have a slide to play on.

Coleman
excited to be able
to slide down
the new slide.

Looking carefully at the slide and playground equipment one may notice all the curvy lines all forming patterns in various aspects of the equipment.

Leaving the playground for a short walk we encounter more tan, beige, & light brown as well as some interesting lines and patterns.

Can you see all the lines, patterns, and various shades of beige, tan, and light brown? This afternoon was a pleasant and delightful afternoon spent with Coleman and his exuberance.

Terri’s Sunday Stills: Monthly Colour Challenge -August_Tan, Beige, and/or peachy shades

Lens-Artists Challenge #359 – Tools of Photo Composition: Lines, Colors, and Patterns

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL Filter attachments.

Location: Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Get Outside and enjoy the beauty in Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Monochrome Monday(MM)/LAPC: 14 July

The Silence

of an

Afternoon Walk

On Sunday, Coleman and I took a detour on our walk home from church. We stopped by the local Goat Island Park and Greenway to get a short hike in and permit him to play for a little while before heading back home.

Instead of just using the main camera on my iPhone, I decided to use the fusion camera to do a bit of black and white photography.

The Calmness of the
South Fork Catawba River

On Early Sunday afternoons we experience the Silent peaceful serenity surrounding the River and Trails.

Coleman
sensing silent reflections
in the
South Fork Catawba River

While crossing the bridge over the river one can see the small white church we attended. All is calm and quiet as almost everyone has gone home.

Cramerton Independent Presbyterian Church
as seen from the Goat Island Bridge

Cramerton Independent

Presbyterian Church

Silence surrounding
the White Church

 Stupidity Hole’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #356 – Quiet Hours

Weekly Prompts Color Challenge:  Black & White

Monday Monochrome

Monochrome Monday

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #272

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

Location: Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

A Restful Peaceful Mellow Feeling

The World in its vastness may not seem a calm and mellow place to find peace and rest. However, there are some amazingly wonderful places out there in this big beautiful world where you can find respite from the hectic stressful times life throws your way.

Moon & World
Planetarium Show at
The Schiele Museum of Natural History

Taking time to get away from every day normalcy is a privilege and often a personal necessity.

I feel the most calm and mellow when I am out in nature camping in my favourite campground away from any and all folks or situations which would be stressful.

My Campsite at
Andrew Jackson State Park

Naturally, a bit of rest in a hammock would be nice and relaxing allowing for me to mellow out and enjoy my time in nature’s outdoors.

Hammock in
Andrew Jackson State Park

Of course, whether I am on my own or with Coleman a hike along a trail is sure to be had. Hiking out among the trees in nature always brings about calmness and tranquility. Our hikes sometimes brings about interesting sights and experiences, like gnomes or even Stitch.

Stitch in
Anne Springs Close Greenway

The Vast Outdoors is where Coleman feels calm, relaxed, and mellow. He dislikes being in doors and much prefers being outside and preferably in the woods surrounded by trees and water.

Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #352-Mellow

Weekly Prompts Weekend Colour Challenge-Blue

Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP)-Folk

Photo Credit:©️2019-2022 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

God Bless. Stay Calm. Mellow out and relax. Take Care. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 LAPC #343 – Seen on my Last Outing with Coleman

Leya is this week’s host for the Lens-Artist Challenge. She has selected a theme of Seen on my Last Outing.

My last outing was on Friday after I picked Coleman up from the school bus stop. After stopping at home to allow him to change into shorts, gather drinks and snacks we proceeded to hike downtown to Goat Island Park and Greenway for a relaxing afternoon of hiking and fun.

What we saw when we first approached Goat Island were the Canada Geese out soaking up the warm sunshine.

Continuing on our way we gaze over the South Fork Catawba River from the bridge as we cross over into the Greenway.

Next up, we saw a bicyclist riding along in front of us on the paved Greenway trail.

Hiking along we saw Sasquatch and more Canada Geese.

Isn’t it amazing the variety of interesting things we see on our various outings we take when we venture outside. The interesting “thing” we saw next was not in our normal per view of subjects seen on any of our adventures previously.

We spoke with the man in the River as curiosity plagued us to know what he was doing standing in the middle of the River. He informed us he was searching for golf discs that might of missed their target and landed in the river instead of the disc golf catcher.

Venturing on, Coleman and I spotted trash discarded by the trail (someone didn’t adhere to the Leave No Trace rule).

Trash by trailside

Before continuing on our hike, Coleman decided to throw sticks in the river. He likes to see the splashes that occur when he throws objects into the water.

And coming back around to the beginning of the trail, we see some newly grown mushrooms and a couple of disc golf catchers.

As we are at the end of our adventure and what was Seen on our Last Outing, you might like to venture over to Leya’s blog to see what she saw on her last outing. Thank you Leya for hosting this week’s challenge. Click here to check out Leya’s post.

Lens-Artists Challenge #343 – Seen on my Last Outing

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #264

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL & 4-Star Filter attachments. 

Location: Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 LAPC #341 — A Few of My Personal Favourites

Good Day! Tina with Travels and Trifles is this week’s host for the Lens-Artist Photo Challenge. Tina has opted to choose a theme of Personal Favorites. She would like us to show what images are our ultimate favorites. I have several favourites, too many to include here. My top two (other than of Coleman) are shown first and foremost. They remind me of wonderful times of enjoyed at Andrew Jackson State Park in Lancaster, South Carolina.

Lens-Artist Challenge #341-Personal Favorites

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Capture Nature’s Beauty. Enjoy the Outdoors. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 LAPC/Monday Portrait: 17 March

Affection Between

a Boy (aka Coleman)

and a Horse

For this week I am combining Monday Portrait with the Lens-Artist Photography Challenge. This week’s Lens-Artist Challenge #340 is hosted by Ritva with a theme of Portraits.

My Portraits for these challenges were taken when we visited the Horses at Anne Springs Close Greenway. Coleman loves visiting the Horses whenever an opportunity presents itself. From the images you can visualize how much he loves visiting the Horses and the respond affectionately towards him.

Here are my entries:

Monday Portrait

Lens-artists challenge #340 – Portraits

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina.

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

2025 LAPC #335: Color vs Black & White Comparison

Off and on I will choose to edit a photo into one on the black and white/monochrome features which I can easily access. I have selected four different images for comparisons for this challenge.

First selection is of a Horse at Anne Springs Close Greenway Stables:

Next up is of a Goat at The Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm at Anne Springs Close Greenway.

Thirdly, is a comparison of the coast of Costa Maya, Mexico which was taken from a cruise ship in 2020.

And lastly, one of my favourite photos of a rose.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #335: Exploring Color vs Black & White

Cee’s Flower of the Day

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

2025 LAPC #332 — Shoot From Above

Looking Down at the Valley

Ritva is this week’s host for the Lens-Artist Challenge and she has chosen a theme of Shoot From Above. I do not always shoot from above, however, on occasion I have a fantastic opportunity to do just that.

Here is remembering one of those occasions …

A Look from
Mount Jefferson State Natural Area
West Jefferson, Ashe County, North Carolina
 

More Shots from above at The Peak at Mountain Jefferson State Park

These were taken in August of 2017 when my eldest son and I drove the Blue Ridge Parkway and visited Mount Jefferson, North Carolina. I was in the area for a family reunion in Deep Gap, North Carolina. While in the area, we decided to do some sightseeing and a little hiking. It was a fun weekend of one on one time together.

For my information regarding Mount Jefferson State Natural Area and what the area has to offer click here.

Lens-artists Photo Challenge #332 – Shoot From Above

Throwback Thursday

Photo Credit:©️2017 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

Location: Mount Jefferson State Natural Area; West Jefferson, Ashe County, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take a Hike. Get Outdoors. Enjoy the Beauty all Around. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 LAPC: Five Elements

Wood, Metal, Water, Fire and Earth

Here is my entry for Sofia’s Lens-Artist Photo Challenge. Thanks for the Challenge.

Wood, Water, Earth, Metal
Earth, Metal, Water, Wood
Metal, Wood, Water, Earth
Earth, Fire, Metal, Water, & Wood
Fiery Red Sky
Earth, Fire, Water
Wood, Metal, Fire, Earth

Sofia’s Lens-Artist Photo Challenge

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

2024 LAPC #323: Silence

Silence in Nature

Can you hear the Silence?

“It is in the still silence of nature where one will find true bliss.” ©️(j.j.c) Pinterest

Gaze upon the River
and enjoy the Silence

 “Be still and know that I am God”  

Psalm 46:10
A Quiet Walk in Nature


 “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him”

Psalm 62:1
In the Silence Comes Wisdom

“Silence provides a tranquil space that promotes a sense of peace, tranquility, and mental clarity.”

Whisperroom
A Silent Playground
Waiting for Children

“In the midst of chaos, silence is the key to serenity.”

Infinity Learn

Lens-Artist Photo Challenge-Silence

LAPC

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Locations: Riverside Park and Greenway plus Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2024 LAPC/ Judy’s Numbers Game

 “The Numbers Game #43”. Today’s number is 164. 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 my 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.

This prompt will repeat each Monday with a new number. If you want to play along, please put a link to your blog in comments below. Instead of using the number #164 I am using a theme of Looking Back and linking it with the Lens-Artist Challenge.

For this week I decided to take a Look Back at a place we visited on our way back from Texas in January of 2019. On our way back to South Carolina my daughter and I stopped at the Babyland General Hospital in Cleveland, Georgia.

BabyLand General Hospital located in the North Georgia Mountains. It is a Southern Style home filled with Cabbage Patch Kids which will capture the imagination of your entire family.

Cabbage Patch Kids came on the scene in the early 1980’s and were extremely popular with children (and their parents). They were so popular, they became a popular collectible. Cabbage Patch were all the rage for little girls and boys. My eldest son had a boy Cabbage Patch and my daughter had a girl Cabbage Patch doll. There were nine years apart, so when she was little she got to play with his Cabbage Patch as well as her own. For more information about the BabyLand General Hospital click here.


Below are my contributions to the Challenges:

These are some of the photos we took while visiting the BabyLand General Hospital of the many Cabbage Patch Kids and accessories.

Lens-Artist Photography Challenge #320-Looking Back

Judy’s Number Game #43-164

Throwback Thursday

Photo Credit: ©️2019 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: iPhone XR

Location: BabyLand General Hospital; Cleveland, Georgia, USA

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

2024 LAPC #317 – Walking Around the Neighbourhood

For Tina’s Lens-Artist Challenge this week I chose to show a recent neighbourhood belonging to a friend which we meandered around to check out the area. Our friend’s neighbourhood is in southern Lancaster County in South Carolina.

We enjoyed our stroll through the neighbourhood; hope you enjoyed sharing our walk.

Tina’s Lens-Artists Challenge #317 – Walking the Neighbourhood

Becky’s Squares 

Xingfumama’s Pull Up A Seat challenge

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Springdale, Lancaster, South Carolina, USA

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

2024 LAPC #315: Common Object

Ritva with Ritva Sillanmäki Photography is hosting this week’s Lens-Artist Photography Challenge. She is challenging us to show Common Objects highlighting the ordinary we might not otherwise think to capture.

Here are my entries for Ritva’s Lens-Artist this week.

Coleman
in the bottom
of the Oven
Railroad Crossing
Sign in rear
of house

A “Missing Man” table,
also known as “Fallen Comrade”  table.

Lens-Artist Photo Challenge #315-Common Objects

LAPC

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

2024 LAPC #314: Shorelines

I once lived very close to Southern California beaches, but I have not lived there for many years. Pacific Beach, Mission Bay, Coronado Beach, and La Jolla Shores are some of my favourites and hold precious memories.

For years I have enjoyed the peacefulness of God near the shorelines of a couple different lakes. One of my all time favourites is the lake at Andrew Jackson State Park in Lancaster County, South Carolina.

Another lake my grandson and I have enjoyed relaxing, observing nature, having fun is Lake Haigler at the Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

One last “lake” to share with y’all is one we visit and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the beautiful atmosphere is at Little Glade Millpond off the Blue Ridge Parkway in the North Carolina Mountains.

I could sit at the shore of a lake anytime anywhere. I dream of walking along the shores of the California coastline. I have fond memories of doing just that. Someday, I hope to take my grandson to see & play in the Pacific Ocean. What shoreline do you wish you could walk along everyday? Click one of the links below to join the challenge & link your own adventures along Shorelines.

Lens-Artist Challenge: Shorelines

Anne’s LENS-Artist —Shorelines

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere

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

2024 Numbers Game #34-155/LAPC/MM — What’s in a Garden?

Welcome to The Numbers Game #34”.Today’s number is 155. 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 my 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.

This week I am combining Judy’s Numbers Game with Leanne’s Monochrome Madness and Leya’s Lens-Artist Photo Challenge . I am choosing to use the Word Garden for this week’s challenges.

Glencairn Gardens

Glencairn Gardens is ideal for a Spring stroll through the gardens of blooming azaleas, pansies, wisteria, and periwinkle. When visiting the Gardens be sure to meander through the Veterans Garden which pays tribute to Veterans of all branches of service. Also, during Spring, you be able to enjoy the blossoms of Viburnum, Pink and white Dogwoods, Redbuds, peonies, magnolia trees, and flowering Yoshino and Kwanzan cherry trees.

There is beauty to be seen no matter when one decides to visit Glencairn Gardens. Summertime brings on the colourful bright blooms of crape myrtles, daylilies and hundreds of other annuals.

The trails through the Gardens pass by several fountains, ponds, as well as the vast variety of flowering plants and trees. we enjoy strolling pass the Fountains, especially when they are flowing during the springtime. We always stop by the Veterans Garden when we go visit and remember our family members who have served in our Armed Forces.

Glencairn Gardens began in 1928 as a backyard garden by David and Hazel Bigger who lived in the h9use that serves as the park’s welcome center. It was the inspiration for Rock Hill’s annual Come-See-Me Festival which is a festival celebrating music, frogs, and fun. The Bigger’s gifted this Gardens to the City of Rock Hill through a deed in 1958. The peak blooming season is from the end of March to the middle of April. The Veterans Garden was created with the partnership with The American Legion Post 34 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2889. It h9onors women and men from the past, present, and future who served in the United States armed forces.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #311 – What’s in a Garden?

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Judy’s Numbers Game #34 — 155

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Photo Credit:©️2019 & 2023 Deb L Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Apple iPhone XR and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300 mm and Canon EF-S18-55mm lenses.

Location: Glencairn Gardens; Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA

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

2024 LAPC #310: Zigzags

This week, Patti of https://pilotfishblog.com has asked us to show some of our Zigzags.

Zigzagging brush
Staggered Boats form Zigzags

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #310-Zigzag

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing with us your time and thoughts. Remember you may click on each image for enhanced visibility. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 LAPC #309 – Balconies

PR from the blog flightofthesoul wants us to show balconies we’ve come across on our adventures or in our localities. I had to search through my photos to find some balconies. Luckily, I managed to find a few.

PR’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #309 – Balconies

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

Sunday Stills/OWS/CPC — Bright Flowers & Wings

Flowers & Wings

in the Bright Sunshine

Fiery skipper
on Zinnia violacea

Wings on Bright Flowers

Wings on a Zinnia
Birds in Flight
Canada Geese
Black-Eyed Susans
Zinnias

Terri’s Sunday Stills-Wings

One Word Sunday-Bright

The Cosmic Photo Challenge-What’s flowering where you are?

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #308-Perfect Pairs

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

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

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thankful for a slight break from all the rain. Wish we could have a break from this extreme heat. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Disneyland Parade — 1979

Here Comes

Mickey & Minnie

and Friends

Disneyland’s first parade was held on Sunday, July 17, 1955. The Opening Day was dedicated  at an “International Press Preview” event which was open only to invited guests and the media. 

The dedication and other special events of the opening were televised nationwide and anchored by three of Walt Disney’s friends from Hollywood: Art Linkletter, Bob Cummings, and Ronald Reagan. It was broadcast live by ABC. Even though the Special Event was by invitation only, many people succeeded in sneaking into the park soaring the number of attendees to an astounding 28,000 people.

Disneyland has been having parades at the amusement park since that very first day except during the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020 when the park was closed. The theme of the parades change periodically with the seasons and significant historical events of the times. The Characters Parade occurred most years, as well as an annual Christmas parade and were popular among the tourists visiting the park.

In 1979, the Dumbo Circus Parade theme featured the same basic “Character Parade” floats with added circus decor. This particular theme parade only ran in 1979.

Although none of the floats were captured by my dad on this particular visit to Disneyland, many of the Characters were captured by his 35 mm camera. I am so glad that I am able to digitize his slides for preservation and am able to share them with all y’all.

Lens-Artist Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Tourist Attractions

Cosmic Photo Challenge-Motion

Throwback Thursday

Photo Credit: ©️1979 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm

Location: Disneyland; Anaheim, California, USA

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

2024 LAPC #298: To Be Young Again

We can’t go back to being young again, but that doesn’t stop us from feeling young once again. When we reminisce we remember how we felt when we were young, the excitement of getting on a bus for a week of adventure with friends.

Youth group loading
onto the church bus
for a time of fun and
adventure in the desert.
Children from an Orphanage
in Tecate, Baja California.

We remember the fun times of venturing into Baja California ( or a place we’d never been to before), of sharing our time and helping others. We remember the dreams and ideas we had, the places we wanted to see, the things we wanted to do.

A Young Family
resting a spell
by the church’s Chuck Wagon

We remember sharing our love,passion, enthusiasm, and experiences with children and families. We remember how it was when we were young and smile at all our happy memories.

Done with reminiscing for a while; we share our memories, our stories, our experiences with the young of today … our grandchildren. Just maybe they will find joy and excitement in doing some of the same things we enjoyed doing when we were young.

Coleman
and his
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks

Lens-Artist Photo Challenge #298 -To Be Young Again

Becky’s Squares-Renew

Dan’s  Thursday Doors

Ludwig’s Monday Window

Photo Credit: 1-3)©️Nornal H. Waters (my dad); 4) ©️Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

2024 LAPC #296 —

Abstracts

Here’s showing y’all my contributions to Ritva’s Abstract challenge for this week’s Lens-Artist Photography Challenge.

Bougainvillea spectabilis,
AKA great bougainvillea
View of the Atlantic
from up Top
of the
St. Simons Island Lighthouse
St. Simons Island Lighthouse

Lens-Artist Challenge #296-Abstracts

God Bless. Have a fabulous week. Get Outdoors and Enjoy our beautiful Earth 🌎. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Rocking My World

Whoever said ROCKS needed to be shared for What Rocks Your World? Hey there everyone, I gotta to be one that’s different … willing to Rock the boat (per se.)

Yes, I could do a whole post about Rocks and places of Rocks, however, why should I ? Especially when What Rocks My World isn’t a What but a Who.

Coleman Rocks My World

Lens-Artist Photography Challenge (LAPC) #295 – Rock Your World

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

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Backyard Patio; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

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

2024 LAPC #293: Water Flowing Through the Spillway

We had a very beautiful sunny weekend. It was warm and windy day. We decided it was a lovely day for hiking at Anne Springs Close Greenway. Due to the massive abundance of vehicles parking at the Lake Haigler Entrance for the Artisan Market I chose to park at the Dairy Barn Entrance. There was another reason for parking at this entrance as well; they charged extra at the other entrance because of the Artisan Market. Who wants to pay extra? I certainly didn’t, not in addition to my membership for the Greenway.

The Dairy Barn Entrance has a few different trails that can be accessed with various sites and scenery to observe. We hiked down the Blue Star Trail which leads down to the Greenway’s Spillway passing horses and the Faires/Coltharp Historic Cabin along the way.

Coleman loves to stop and watch the horses. Moving along, to crossover the Spillway we had to walk across the Swinging Bridge. We stopped on both sides of the Spillway to observe the water flowing down, around, and under the Swinging Bridge.

Coleman
crossing the
Greenway’s Swinging Bridge
Lovingly Watching
the Water Flowing
Through the
Greenway Spillway

Anne’s Len-Artist Photo Challenge – Water in Motion

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #214

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

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens and Altura CPL Filter.

Location: Swinging Bridge; Dairy Barn Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

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

2024 Monday Portrait: 03.25

Throwback Family Portraits

Through the Ages of Time

For this week I selected photos which were handed down to me by my maternal grandmother after my maternal grandfather passed. The last selection was one of my father’s photos I received after he passed.

I am so thankful for the many photos that I have received and will treasure them always. Each one tells a little piece of my families history.

Jeramiah Watson Family
My Maternal Great Grandfather & Family (My Grandfather, Harvey Martin,
is second from left)
Family of Jeramiah Watson
My Maternal Great Grandfather
( Pictured with his Second Wife
and Children)
Doyce Eileen Watson
First Grade – 1938
Coshocton, Ohio School Class
(My Mom’s Class Picture)
John Thomas Waters
( My Paternal Grandfather) &
Nornal Hule Waters
( My Father)

Monday Portrait

Lens-Artists Challenge #292: People Here, There and Everywhere

Ragtag Daily Prompt-Age

Throwback Thursday

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

2024 LAPC #290: Circular Wonders

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #290: Circular Wonders

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

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

2024 LAPC: Tools of Photo Composition

Radiating Light

Through the Trees

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #289 – Tools of Photo Composition

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

2024 CFFC: Favorite Scents

Scents and Sounds

Hear and Smell My Favourites

Scents of Country
Scents of a
Warm Crackling Fire
Scents of Freshly
Cooked Turkey Stew

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge-Favorite Scents

Lens-Artists Challenge #287 – Sound

Photo Credit ©️Deb L. Waters

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

2024 LAPC: 02.12 — Weather

Today was rainy again but we had some beautiful weather with clear blue skies over the weekend at the

Anne Springs Close Greenway.

Lens-Artists Challenge-Weather

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

2023 LAPC: Last Chance — Part I

2023 — A Year in Review — Second Chance/LastChance

Posting a Year in Review is something I have never done or dreamed of doing before. It is, however, a chance to reflect on the past year and reflect on the choices I’ve made. Why was one picture chosen previously, but not this particular one? Isn’t this picture worthy of being shared as well? I have decided to divide this challenge into two parts. Part One will be covering the first six months of 2023 giving a second/last chance to a select chosen photo from each month. In Part Two, I will dedicate to the last six months (including this one) of 2023 breathing life into previously passed over photos.

January 2023:

Honoring All Veterans
Veterans Wall
Glencairn Gardens
Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA

February 2023:

Coleman
Climbing the Bridge
South Fork River Park
4185 Mountainview St
Gastonia, North Carolina 28056

March 2023:

Coleman In
Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens
Belmont, North Carolina, USA

April 2023:

Coleman
The Schiele Museum of Natural History
Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

May 2023:

Yellow Daylily
Gaston County

Warlick Family YMCA
Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

June 2033:

A Greenway Horse
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

Lens-Artist Photo Challenge—Last Chance

God Bless. May your New Year be Blessed, Be Prosperous, and Full of Happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all.

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.

2023 LAPC #263: Faces in a Crowd

Anne Springs Close Greenway Hiking Club
York Technical College Graduation Ceremony
Four Generations

Lens-Artists Challenge #263: Faces in a Crowd

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

LAPC #257: Simplicity Photography 

Russula emetica
Cosmos bipinnatus
‘Pink Popsocks

Lens-Artists Challenge #257: Simplicity Photography

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

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

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

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

LAPC #251: Buildings and Other Structures

Barn at
Greenway Stables Entrance
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Fort Mill, South Carolina
Gazebo at
Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens
Belmont, North Carolina
Fort Mill Dam
Fort Mill, South Carolina
Old School in
Watauga County, North Carolina
[This is an old school my
maternal grandfather &
ancestors attended.]
Elizabeth Freese Elementary School
San Diego, California
[This is the elementary school
I attended from Kindergarten
through sixth grade.]
2912 E Street House
San Diego, California
[This is the home
where I often visited

my maternal grandparents]

Annd of Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #251

Throwback Thursday

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