2025 Wordless Wednesday: 14 May

Pond Slider

Pond Slider Turtle
South Fork Catawba River
Goat Island Park and Greenway

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday 

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #268

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

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV filter attachment.

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

God Bless. Have a sunshiny day. Observe Nature. Thankful for local wildlife. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Monday Portrait: 12 May

Plus Birds of the Carolinas

/Bird of the Week CXVI

Anas Platyrhynchos

The Anas Platyrhynchos also known as Mallards are one of several varieties of duck species, which include both resident and migratory birds. The Mallard is the most abundant duck in North America, often found in a variety of habitats. Even though apparently abundant, we have not seen many of the Mallards in or around the Catawba River.

The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is a widespread dabbling duck with a long body and high tail. The Mallard is easily identified by the male’s iridescent green head, white neck collar, and black tail curl. Females and juveniles have mottled brown bodies and dull orange bills. Both sexes have iridescent blue wing speculums. Mallards breed in fresh marshes surrounding lakes, ponds, beaver ponds, impoundments, open swamps, and such like areas, however, they do have a propensity to avoid nesting in brackish marshes. 

Coleman and I went hiking on the South Fork River Trail, a part of the Carolina Thread Trail, in Goat Island Park and Greenway on Saturday watching a partial day without rainfall (it rained again after we were safely home). While hiking the trail, Coleman and I were looking for the Turtles that often sun themselves on logs in the South Fork Catawba River. What were spotted prior to the Turtles were a pair of Mallards standing on a log checking out the River area. [This was the first time we’ve seen the Mallards in this region of the South Fork Catawba River.]

As we continued our hike we did encounter a lone Turtle sunning on a log which dove quickly into the river. But alas, we ventured on down the trail to find more Mallards on logs and in the river. It was fascinating to see and watch them especially since we had not previously seen the Mallards in this section of the Catawba River before.

Mallards feed in the water by tipping forward and grazing on underwater plants. They almost never dive. They can be very tame ducks especially in city ponds, and often group together with other Mallards and other species of dabbling ducks.

Mallards are able to live in almost any wetland habitat, natural or artificial. Look for them on lakes, ponds, marshes, rivers, and coastal habitats, as well as nearby city and suburban parks and residential backyards.

Monday Portrait

Birds of the Carolinas

Bird of the Week CXVI

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #268

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

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV filter attachment.

Settings: f/6.3 • 1/320 • 250mm • ISO800-2000

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

God Bless. Get outdoors and enjoy nature’s beauty and natural wildlife. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Monday Window: 13 May — Camaro Windows

Kitty by a Window – 2
— AI creation by P
R

The last of the cars we were able to see at the Cruz-In was this stunningly beautiful Classic Red Camaro. The sun shining down upon it was like it was saying look at me … am I not the best car you’ve ever seen.

1969 Chevrolet Camaro

Monday Window

Location: 151 8th Avenue; Downtown Town of Cramerton; Cramerton, North 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

2025 Macro Monday: 12 (on 13) May

Asiatic Lily Tiny Double You’
Lilium ‘Tiny Double You’

Macro Monday (MM)

Macro Monday 

Cee’s/Chris’ FOTD

Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters 

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera 

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; 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 Numbers Game #71 – 192

Judy from Life Lessons hosts The Numbers Game. I’m a week behind, but I figured better late than not at all. Her number for the Numbers Game Challenge #71 is 192. I didn’t have any luck finding photos matching 192, so I am doing as suggested in showing images of a common word.

 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 that include that number and  post 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. Here are my contributions to the album.

My Word I am using is Coleman. I am posting the images in a video format for your enjoyment.

Coleman at Riverside Park and Greenway

Judy’s Numbers Game-#71-192

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

Cameras: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment.

Location Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, 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.

2025 CFFC: Things Made of Plastic

For Children’s Entertainment

Aka Coleman’s Funtime

Plastic is rampant throughout the world. It is used in everything from tarps, bottles, food containers, to our automobiles, to our clothing, to makeup, and even in gum.

Alas, we are not here to discuss the various types of plastic, their uses, or whether or not the use of plastics are advantageous or disadvantageous.

In this post I am simply going to show you some of the many examples of Children’s entertainment (aka toys) which use plastic in their manufacturing and packaging of children’s toys.

Here are my entries …

To join in the Fun Foto Challenge click on the link below for further information & details about participating.

Dan’s CFFC-Things Made of Plastic

Photo Credit:©️2024-2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Locations: In Gastonia and Cramerton, Gaston County, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a fantastic week. Looking forward to y’all joining in the Which Way Challenge on Friday (your choice). Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Flower of the Day: 12 May

Lonicera japonica

Japanese Honeysuckle

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Cee’s FOTD

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

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV filter attachment.

Location: River Link Greenway; South Fork River Trail; 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 OWS: 11 May — Lines

Water Lines …

Lake at
Andrew Jackson State Park

Plant Lines …

Prairie Loop Trail
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Fence Lines …

Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Building Lines …

Diagonal, Straight,
Horizontal, & Vertical
The Farm
The Schiele Museum of Natural History

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Lines

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

2025 Silent Sunday: 11 May

Holding On

Coleman Swinging
& Holding On

Silent Sunday

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

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV filter attachment.

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

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

2025 Cell Pic Sunday: 11 May

Ligustrum sinense

Chinese privet
(Ligustrum sinense)

John’s CellPic Sunday 

Cee’s Flower of the Day

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 

Location: Along South Fork Catawba River; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA 

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

2025 Skywatch Friday/ Weekend Sky

These were all taken at various times on Thursday, May 8th showing the vast differences our sky may exhibit in less than twenty-four hours.

Thursday Morning – 6:35 am

Thursday Afternoon – 2:38 pm

Thursday Evening – 7:18 pm

Skywatch Friday-09 May

Hammad’s Weekend Sky

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Sky watching can be dramatic, colourful, and amazing to see the changes the sky displays from minute to minute and throughout the days and weeks. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Spring Festival — Week #8

Lilium ‘Tiny Parrot’

Spring’s Lilium ‘Tiny Parrot’ eight day blooming progression in a local neighbourhood garden.

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2025 #8

Cee’s Flower of the Day

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Seventh Street; Old Town; Riverside Community; 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 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Which Way with Shadows

Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). This week I have chosen Any Which Way with Shadows for 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 for this week’s Which Way Challenge – Any Which Way with Shadows …

My Which Ways with Shadows are a mixture of paved pathways, sidewalks, and dirt trails. Hope you enjoy the hike with Coleman and myself.

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.

Brian’s Road trips (through the windscreen #2)

GERIATRI’X’ FOTOGALLERY’s HIGHWAY SIGNS

Which Way Challenge (CWWC)-Any Which Way with Shadows

Photo Credit:©️2024-2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max and Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Locations: Gastonia and Cramerton, Gaston County, North Carolina, USA

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.

2025 Thursday Doors: 08 May

Boathouse Doors

The Boathouse is located in McAdenville, North Carolina. It is the focal epicentre for Catawba Riverkeeper’s outdoor recreation. The Catawba Riverkeeper’s mission is to preserve, protect, and restore local water quality.

Many activities are available to do at or around The Boathouse like …

Playing Outside

  • Renting a kayak, canoe, or standup paddleboard (or bring your own to enjoy an afternoon on the River.
  • Take a walk, run, or bike ride down the South Fork River Trail.
  • Go fishing along the banks of the South Fork River.

Relaxing … you may relax inside The Boathouse and enjoy the air conditioning while having a soft drink, beer, and/or snack. Or you may sit and relax outdoors around a picnic table.

Jam at the Dam listen to fantastic live music at one of the Catawba Riverkeeper’s live outdoor events such as once held last weekend while the Goat Island Games were being played. [Coleman and I missed this live music event, but we do listen to their live music shows at Confluence which is run by the Catawba Riverkeeper.]

Dan’s Thursday Doors

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: The Boathouse; 115 Willow Dr, McAdenville, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 SYW: Week of 05 May

There are two ways in which you can participate:
Leave your answers to this week’s questions in the comments box below or create your own post and link back to this one.
Ping-backs are activated, but don’t always work properly, so to play safe, leave a link in a comment or if you prefer, leave just the link so that I can see it.


Here are this week’s questions:

  1.  Have you ever danced round a maypole?
    The only time I can remember dancing around a Maypole was one year in elementary school.
  2.  Does the month of May hold any specific memories or events for you?
    The month of May holds memories and events special or significant to me.
    • 1) 8thmy sister-in-law’s birthday
    • 2) 2nd Sunday — Mother’s Day
    • 3) 10th — Loss of my Maternal Grandfather
    • 4) 19th — My Day
    • 5) 24th — My Dad’s Special Day
    • 6) 30th — Birth of my Daughter
  3.  Does your country celebrate a May Day holiday?
    I haven’t heard or seen anything regarding May Day holidays here in America. I think it is more of an individual or family event with some giving out May Day baskets.
  4.  Have you booked a vacation for this year?
    I have not booked a vacation for this year. I have dreamed about the possibility of taking a vacation. We all know that is not the same as actually taking a vacation. In reality, I have not had a vacation since 2020.

Gratitude:

“Gratitude opens the door to the power, the wisdom, the creativity of the universe. You open the door through gratitude.”

– Deepak Chopra

Share Your World – 05.05.2025

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing in my world. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Wordless Wednesday/FOTD: 07 May — Echinacea

Coneflower ‘Tomato Soup’
(Echinacea)

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday 

Cee’s Flower of the Day

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Centennial Center Park; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 CFFC: Transportation—Bridges and Ferries

Thank you Dan for keeping Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge alive, challenging, and inspiring. This week Dan is continuing with the Transportation theme. This week’s theme focus is on Bridges and Ferries.

I have so many photos of Bridges and Railroad Trestle Bridges that I could fill multiple posts with multiple images of Bridges. Instead of doing that, I have decided to make my entry selections of Bridges and Ferries from what I have within my archive files.

First off, I am selecting Bridges and a Ferry from our trip to San Francisco a long, long time ago (back in 1979). I do not exactly remember if this trip was strictly a family trip or one taken with my church youth group. I do remember that our church group visited and performed a Christian musical at a few churches up in the San Francisco and San Jose area some year.

On this trip we took the Harbor Emperor Ferry sightseeing around the San Francisco Bay Area viewing the Bridges, the infamous Alcatraz Island, and simply experiencing a wonderful time together as a family.

San Francisco Bridges & Ferry:

Next and lastly, I am travelling further back in time to the 1960’s. My family moved back to San Diego in 1958 shortly before I turned two (2) years old. During the 1960’s the only way to travel from San Diego to Coronado was by Ferry. The Ferries transported passengers and vehicles to and from San Diego and Coronado. They were they only source of transportation to visit the Hotel del Coronado, the Coronado Beach, the military installations including the Naval Amphibious Base (NAB), and the Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island.

The Construction of the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge began between 1967-1969. The Bridge was dedicated on August 2, 1969, with Governor Ronald Reagan providing the dedication address.

I remember travelling on the San Diego Ferries crossing over to Coronado to walk along the Beach with a group of friends. I remember riding the San Diego Ferry with my parents (my dad driving our car onto the Ferry). I remember riding the San Diego Ferry during its last days of operation in 1969 after the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge was completed. [Side Note: I have a certificate and poster verifying I rode the ferry on its last day somewhere in storage.]

Ferry service began once again in April of 1986. The current Ferry service is operated by Flagship Cruises & Events. They currently have two ferries in use, the Silvergate and Cabrillo. 

CFFC: Transportation—Bridges and Ferries

CFFC
CFFC

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #268

Throwback Thursday

Photo Credit: San Francisco) ©️1979 Nornal H . Waters … All Rights Reserved; San Diego; 1-2)©️Tiffany Waters; 3-6) San Diego Historical Society

Be sure to check out this week’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Which Way with Shadows coming up on Friday (posting just after midnight Early Friday morning).

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

2025 Monday Portrait: 05 May —

Eastern Gray Squirrel

From Hide – n – Seek to Portrait Posing, squirrels can be fascinating early evening entertainment. Enjoy!

That That’s all folks …

Monday Portrait 

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Monday Window: 05 May — Reflective Church Windows

Kitty by a Window – 2
— AI creation by PR

As Coleman and I were walking up from the River by the White Church Coleman noticed a wind chime. He decided to go check it out & see how the chimes sounded.

Coleman rings
the Wind Chimes
See the Sky
Reflected in the Window
Side Windows
of Cramerton Independent
Presbyterian Church

Monday Window

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

Camera: 1) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens; 2-3) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: 151 8th Avenue; Downtown Town of Cramerton; Cramerton, North 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

2025 MM: Mirror, Mirror Reflections

Margaret from From Pyrenees to Pennines is the host for this week’s Monochrome Madness . She has chosen to select Mirror as the theme for Leanne’s Monochrome Madness.

Here are my contributions for this Monochrome Madness Challenge.

Mirror and reflections in the Mirror at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Mirror & Mirror Reflections

The Water in the South Fork Catawba River
Reflecting the Landscape like Nature’s Mirror.

The River acting as
Nature’s Mirror

Building Windows sometimes reflect their surroundings like Mirrors Reflecting back at you.

Coleman
walking past a window
reflecting what it sees
similar to a Mirror.

Margaret’s Monochrome Madness-Mirror

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

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

2025 OWS: 04 May — Favourite Capture (this week)

Coleman
looking out over the
South Fork Catawba River @GoatIslandParkandGreenway

Debbie’s One Word Sunday

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

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment.

Settings: f/4 • 1/320 • 55mm • ISO100

Location: Centennial Center River Access and Observation Pier; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a lovely day. Relax and enjoy the outdoors. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Sunday Trees: Coastal Redwoods

In my youth my church youth group would go camping 🏕️ up in the Sequoia National Forest and sleep in big green military tents amongst the “gentle giants.”

Sequoiadendron gigantism
aka Giant Sequoia

Girls would be in one or two small army tents and boys would be in separate tents in a separate area of the camp. Each tent had a capacity of up to 21 people, however, I think we only had about a dozen teenagers plus 1-2 adult chaperones per tent. [Side Note: when I camp I still sleep in tents].

Sequoia sempervirens
aka Coast Redwood

It is amazing to walk amongst the Giant Sequoias often referred to as Coastal Redwoods, Coast Redwoods, and “Gentle Giants.” To look up at the sky through the center of a California Pacific Coast Redwood and walk amongst the trees so tall as if reaching up towards the heavens is mesmerizing.

Coastal Redwoods
aka California Redwoods

Sunday Trees

Photo Credit:©️2025 Fred Blackburn … All Rights Reserved.

Location: Avenue of the Giants; Humboldt Redwoods State Park; Weott, California, USA

God Bless. Do you have any giant trees in your neck of the woods? Coleman and I love to walk in the woods enjoying nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Benches around Centennial Center

Coleman’s Bonus Seating

Out front of
Mayworth’s Public House

115 Center Street

Jude’s Bench Anniversary Challenge

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 18

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion & Ultra wide Cameras

Location: Center & Eighth Streets; Downtown Town of Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Pull Up a Seat — Wherever You Desire and Enjoy a Time of Relaxation. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Cell Pic Sunday: 04 May

Centennial Center Park

From Centennial Center
Looking Outward

John’s CellPic Sunday 

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 

Location: Centennial Center; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA 

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

Coleman’s Hiding … Can You Spot Him?

Did you Find Coleman’s location? Let me know where you see Coleman hiding.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday 

SWS 

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

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment

Settings: f/5.6 • 1/320s • 250mmISO3200

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

God Bless. When’s the last time you played Hide & Seek? Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Festival of Spring Flowers

Water Lilies

Spring is the time when Water Lilies bloom, specifically between Early to mid-May to mid-June in our southern region of the United States. People in tend to get excited the closer it gets to blooming season. The blossoms of the water lilies are strikingly impressive especially in beauty or excellence when in full bloom.

Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies (Hymenocallis coronaria)

Fragrant Water-Lilies (Nymphaea odorata)

“Water Lilies’ is an extension of my life. Without the woter the lilies cannot live, as I am without art.”

Claude Monet

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2025 -Week 7

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 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Which Way with CFFC/CWWC Highways, Structures and/or Highway Signs

Good day! I trust everyone has had a wonderful week so far. Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). This week I have decided to combine the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) with the Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC). The theme is Any Which Way with (CFFC)/CWWC Highways, Structures and/or Highway Signs. Let’s see the amazing Which Ways y’all can come up with to demonstrate Highways, Highway Structures, and/or Highway Signs.

Here are my entries for this week’s combined CWWC/CFFC challenge.

I deeply appreciate and extend my greatest gratitude for all who have supported and participated in the Which Way (CWWC) Challenge. Be sure to click on the links below to see what others have as their Which Ways.

Brian from Bushboys World‘s: Let’s go (down the road apiece)

GERIATRI’X’ FOTOGALLERY’s Unpaved

Two-Sisters’s from Our Other Blog: Cee’s Which Way Challenge: Unpaved or Dirt Roads

Lisa from DailyMusings57’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Unpaved Road or Pathway

For further information about the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) click here.

Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Which Way with Highways, Highway Structures, and/or Highway Signs

Dan’s CFFC: Transportation—Highways and Structures

God Bless. Don’t let the Highways and Byways of Life get you down, instead be a friend bringing hope, happiness, and encouragement to those you meet along the Highways and Byways of your Life. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 SYW: Week of 28 April

Season??

Di from Pensitivity101 hosts the Share Your World Challenge , this week she is asking us about what Season we are experiencing in our part of the World.

There are two ways in which you can participate:
Leave your answers to this week’s questions in the comments box below or create your own post and link back to this one.
Ping-backs are activated, but don’t always work properly, so to play safe, leave a link in a comment or if you prefer, leave just the link so that I can see it.
(Instructions on how ping-backs work are found by clicking here. Thanks! )
To make it easy for others to check out your post, title or tag your blog post “Share Your World”.

Here are my answers this week:

1. What season are you in where you live, and what time is it?


Spring is in the air in my neck of the woods (area). The days are warming, the flowers are blossoming, Spring sports ⚾️ are active and Coleman is ready for sleeping past 5:30 am.

2. What is your favourite season of the year?

I like Spring, Summer, and Autumn. Do not care for the cold winter weather season. Spring is the season of warming and flowering. Summer leads to hotter weather, water fun, and the opportunity to be on a time-free schedule (or lack of a time consuming schedule). Autumn is the season of cooling weather, beautiful foliage colouring the landscapes. I maybe odd, but I actually prefer the Summer Season except for when the heatwaves rise towards extreme temperatures.

3.  Can you ski or ice skate?

Ski? I have never Snow skied ⛷️and do not have excellent balance for ice skating⛸️ . I have Waterskied 🚤 and enjoyed it tremendously in my youth.

4. When was the last time you built a snowman?

I’m not sure if I’ve built I snowman ☃️. I have made an igloo though in the early nineteen nineties with the Boy Scouts of America.

Gratitude:

“Love wholeheartedly, be surprised, give thanks and praise – then you will discover the fullness of your life.”

– David Steindl–Rast

Di’s Share Your World-28 April

God Bless. Enjoy life. Experience the wonders of your Season. Thank you for visiting and sharing in my world. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 April — Last on the Card

Brian from Bushboys World is the host for the Last on the Card ChallengeThe rules are simple, just post the last photo from SD card and/or the #lastphoto from your phone. It doesn’t matter if it was taken on the 31st or not. It can be The Last Photo whenever it was taken. No editing. No explanations needed. Create a Pingback to this post or link in the comments. Use the tags The Last Photo and #LastOnTheCard.

Here’s my Last Photos for April. 

From my Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

A Trio of Canada Geese
Goat Island Park and Greenway

From my Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Coleman

#LastPhoto

Last on the Card-April 2025

Thursday Trios

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

Location: 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 Thursday Doors: 01 May — in Monochrome

A few of our neighbours have been having construction or landscaping work down on their properties to improve their home and gardens. This truck was near the corner where I wait for Coleman’s bus to arrive bringing him back home.

Deason Landscape & Irrigation
Seen on 7th Street

Dan’s Thursday Doors

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera Muted B/W

Location: Corner of South Main & 7th Street; Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. What’s new or unusual in your neighbourhood? Have a great weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 #WordlessWednesday: 30 April

Norfolk Southern 8037

Early Morning Sunrise
Cramerton, North Carolina

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Railroad Tracks; Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Flower of the Day: 30 April

Lagerstroemia indica ‘Tuscarora’

“When Sun warms Earth,
Myrtle knows to shed her skin
and show her inside beauty.”

~ Margaret Simon

Thinking of summer nearing with the end of the school year approaching, Crape Myrtle’s beginning to bloom once again with the heat encroaching upon the earth surface displaying beauty in all its glory.

Tuscarora Crape Myrtle

“I have a secret
It’s a bit of gold
hidden away
only Myrtle knows”

~ Linda Mitchell

There are many times Coleman will walk on by the flowers in bloom and then there are times like these when he’ll stop, sniff the blooms and admire their beauty and fragrance.

Tuscarora Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Tuscarora

“Myrtle knows
Her dress is so last year.
Underneath—mottled beauty
For fashion’s new season.”

~ Rose Cappelli

Cee’s FOTD ( Flower of the Day) Challenge

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

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S75-300mm lens.

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

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

2025 #CosPhoChal: Pick a colour

—- Pick Green

Dale is hosting this week’s Cosmic Photo Challenge and she wants us to feature primarily one colour this week with her prompt of Pick a Colour. My pick is Green, Coleman’s favourite colour.

Mostly Green in the Garen
Daniel Stowe Conservancy
(Botanical Garden )
Canada Goose
nearly hidden by the Green Foliage
across the Green tinted River.
Coleman
in Green Camo
Camouflaged by the
Green Tree Leaves
Lush Green yard
with Coleman playing
in his Green Turtle
Green Focused
Color Pop of Coleman

Cosmic Photo Challenge-Pick a Colour

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

Cameras: 1) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens

Locations: In Belmont & Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Monochrome Monday Portrait: 28 April

Farm Portraits

Brother & Sister

and a Pony

Marvin Houston And Doyce Eileen Watson

These images were taken in 1934 in Coshocton, Ohio. They are of my mom when she was about two and a half (2 1/2) years of age and her older brother. When my mom was a young child she lived on a farm and as you can see from the bottom photo they had a pony cart they could ride in. My mom rode, my uncle (her brother) held the reins to drive the pony cart.

Monday Portrait

Monochrome Monday

Monday Monochrome 

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 17

Throwback Thursday

Photo Credit:©️1934 Harvey M. Watson … All Rights Reserved. 

Location: Coshocton, Ohio, USA

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

2025 Monday Window: 28 April

Kitty by a Window – 2
— AI creation by PR

Classic Car Windows

1992 Volkswagen Cabriolet

The First-generation of the Volkswagen Cabriolet was produced from 1979 to 1993. The Cabriolet was manufactured by Karmann in Osnabrück, Germany.

It was a popular convertible which replaced the Beetle Cabriolet. According to Volkswagen Newsroom the Volkswagen Cabriolet became the most successful cabriolet of its time. The 1992 model of the Volkswagen Cabriolet was the final year for the first-generation (Mk-1 based) Cabriolet. The 1992 Model had an optional driver’s airbag which would provided enhanced safety.

Cramerton Cruz-In

Some of the popular features of the 1992 Volkswagen Cabriolet were a multi-layered fabric soft top, a roll bar for safety, and a sporty driving experience. It was known for being an affordable and fun alternative, and its popularity helped to maintain the Mk1 Golf’s presence in the market.

Monday Window 

See Monday Window posts in Reader

Dan’s Thursday Doors

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: 8th Street; Downtown Town of Cramerton; Cramerton, North 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

2025 Flower of the Day: 28 April

Verbesina occidentalis

Aka Yellow Crownbeard,
Small Yellow Crownbeard,
Crown-beard

Cee’s/(Chris) Flower of the Day

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

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

God Bless. Admire the beautiful flowers wherever you go. Take Care and have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 OWS: 27 April —Texture

Textile & Visual

Physical Feels

& Visual Appearance

Rough, Hard, Bumpy, Rigid
Bryoria nadvornikiana,
aka horsehair lichens
Rough, Hairy, Fuzzy, Stiff
Dog vomit slime mold
Slimy, Spongy, Soft, Gelatinous
Juglans nigra,
aka Eastern American Black Walnut

Hard, Rough, Tough, Spherical
Walters(Waters) infant Gravemarker (my paternal Great Grandparents infant son)
Grainy, Rough, Weathered, Coarse,

“The friends whom I have are invaluable, and although not numerous they are sufficient for my enjoyment; and the texture of my own mind renders me very indifferent to the rest of the world.”

George Combe

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Texture

Photo Credit:©️2019-2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

2025 Sunday Trees: Washingtonia Robusta

Washingtonia robusta

The Mexican Fan Palm is known for its slender, columnar trunk that can reach 100 feet tall and swell slightly at the base. Its trunk is brown and bumpy when young, but smooths and grays over time. It has large, fan-shaped leaves that can grow 3–5 feet wide and have sharp spines at the base.

Washingtonia robusta is one of two species in the genus Washingtonia. The other species closely related to it is the Washingtonia filifera (California Fan Palm). Both Washingtonia are grown as ornamental trees. The Mexican Washingtonia has a narrower trunk (which is typically somewhat wider at the base), and grows slightly faster and taller; it is also somewhat less cold hardy than the California fan palm, hardy to about −8 °C (18 °F).

Aka the Mexican fan palm, 
Mexican washingtonia, or skyduster

The Mexican Fan Palm is normally grown in the desert areas of the Southwestern United States. Those areas include California, Arizona, and southern Nevada, as well as the extreme southwestern regions of Utah and Texas.

Both of the above locations for the Washingtonia robusta are located inland a short distance area from the Coast of the Pacific Ocean. The images were taken in Spring and Summer of 1979 by my father when we visited these places.

Sunday Trees

Throwback Thursday

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

Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm

Location: 1) Hearst Castle; San Simeon, California; 2) Ports O’ Call Village; San Pedro, California, USA

God Bless. Have a marvelous week. Explore Your World. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Silent Cell Pic Sunday: 27 April

One of My Favourite Places

Silent Sunday

John’s CellPic Sunday 

Sunny Sunday

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere

Photo Credit:©️2015 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 6 Plus

Location: The Lake; Andrew Jackson State Park; Lancaster, South Carolina, USA 

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

2025 Flower of the Day: 26 April

Coreopsis lanceolata

Aka Lanceleaf Tickseed, Sand Coreopsis

Cee’s FOTD

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Telephoto Camera

Location: Andrew Jackson State Park; Lancaster, South Carolina, USA

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

2025 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Unpaved Road or Pathway

Another week is almost over, you know what that means. It is time for the next Which Way Challenge (CWWC). This week I am combining the Which Way Challenge with Johnbo’s Lens-Artist Challenge #345. John has chosen a theme of My Go to Places which ties into my chosen theme of Any Unpaved Road or Pathway.

Go to Places change from time to time especially whenever our dwelling places change or as we progress through the ages. Our interests may change, our surroundings may change, regardless of how or when changes occur we tend to develop new ideas and locations for our “Go to Places.”

Currently, my “Go to Places” depends on Coleman’s interests and selection of the day. Whenever we go hiking we go to one of two Greenways within walking distance from our home. It just so happens that both of these “Go to Places” contain Any Unpaved Roads or Pathways. More often than not Coleman prefers to hike along unpaved nature surface trails or off the beaten pathways out in nature.

Here are our Unpaved Roads and/or PathwaysColeman leads the way to one of his favourite “Go to Places.”

Be sure to click on the links below to see what others have as their Which Ways.

Brian’s CFFC Trains: Tickets please (here comes the train)

Brian’s CWWC Trains: More trains (on the way)

Geriatri’x’ Photography’s Which Way With Trains And Trolleys

Chava61’s CWWC + CFFC: Trains, etc.

I deeply appreciate and extend my greatest gratitude for all who have supported and participated in the Which Way (CWWC) Challenge.

Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)-Any Unpaved Road or Pathway

Lens-Artists Challenge #345 – My Go-To Places

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

Location: Off the Beaten Path Trail; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take a hike/walk in Nature. Commune with the beautiful landscapes, the trees and flowers, and (maybe) natural wildlife. Refresh your soul. Renew your mind. Life is a journey … relax and enjoy it. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 CosPhoChal: Up, Down and Sideways … This Way and That Way

“I LOOKED UP THE WAY I WAS GOING AND BACK THE WAY I COME AND SINCE I WASN’T SATISFIED I STEPPED OFF AND [FOUND] ME A NEW PATH.”

MAYA ANGELOU

Whenever one goes hiking in the woods it is wise to be mindful of your surroundings. Pay close attention to your environment using all of your senses in order to identify potential hazards and navigate safely.

Thus look up to be aware of any changes in the weather; look from side to side observing for wildlife, uneven terrain, and potential hazards like deep drops or slippery rocks. Look downward and backward always being aware of your direction and the surrounding landscape, and use a map and compass if available.

Pay attention to the feel of the ground under your feet and the temperature to make certain you are staying on solid footing and avoiding cold and damp areas.

Up
Down
Sideways

Coleman and I go hiking/walking practically every week, sometimes several times during a week. Looking up occasionally ensures the weather is still good, no storms or cold temperatures encompassing. We always look around us being on the lookout for any wildlife (lizards, snakes, birds, etc.). Looking down the path to make sure no tree limbs, rocks, or other obstacles are on the trails to ensure our safety. We don’t want any preventable accidents like scrapped knees, arms or injuries to occur if at all possible.

“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing views. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.”

– Edward Abbey

Up
Down

Beauty is all around us, to see it all one must look up, down, sideways, and all around you or you might miss out on something truly special and beautiful.

“Life Is Meant for Spectacular Adventures. Let Your Feet Wander, Your Eyes Marvel, and Your Soul Ignite.”

– SLVCWRITER
WWW.BEMYTRAVELMUSE.COM

Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge-Up, Down and Sideways

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #266

Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2025 Week 16

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Set 1) Rocky Branch Trail; Set 2) Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Enjoy the beauty in Nature. Take a hike/walk. Find your inner peace. Always be aware of your surroundings. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Monochrome Madness: Free Week — Cloudy Skies

As I was sitting on the swing on the front porch keeping an eye on Coleman playing in the yard, I noticed the picturesque skyline filled with amazing cloudscapes. I grabbed my iPhone, changed the settings to muted black and white using the camera’s fusion mode I captured the view I was seeing .

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Hammad’s Weekend Sky

Skywatch Friday

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 Thursday Doors: 24 April

I haven’t really taken any pictures of doors since the Cruz-In (we’ll get back to those next week), so I went roaming through my archives to see what I might use that I do not believe I have used as of yet. I found a couple of photos my brother took and passed on to me that were taken in 1980 while he was in the Air Force.

Old Jail Cell Doors under bridge
Amsterdam, Netherlands. 1980

Dan’s Thursday Doors

Throwback Thursday

Photo Credit:©️1980 Larry D. Waters (my brother) … All Rights Reserved.

Location: Old jail cell under bridge; Amsterdam, Netherlands

God Bless. Take Care. Enjoy your Week. Make Memories. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

One-Liner Wednesday: 23 April

1linerWeds
(Badge by Laura
@riddlefromthemiddle.com)

“For in the true nature of things,
if we rightly consider,
every green tree is
far more glorious than if
it were made of gold and silver.”
— Martin Luther King Jr.

#1LinerWednesday

Sunday Trees

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera

Location: Rocky Branch Trail; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

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