Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) Wednesday, 2026 June 18 — Congregating (of People & Geese)

Congregating of Family and Friends …

Congregating of Canada Geese …

Click on each image to enlarge.

Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP)-Congregating

Photo Credit:©️2016-2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

God Bless. Appreciate Friends and Family. Congregate together whenever and wherever possible. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) Wednesday, 2026 June 17(on 18) — Bounc(er)

Not sure if the shortened video will play or not, so let’s take a look at a baby in a baby Bounc(er).

Sophia in her Bounc(er)
A close-up of Sophia Ruthann
enjoying her Bounc(er)
Sophia Ruthann (at 6 months)
Standing & Bouncing
while leaning on the lounge chair

Click on images to enlarge.

Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) Wednesday – Bounce

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Home Place; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

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

Monochrome Madness #62 2026 June 17

Jugs, Jugs, & More

(Inside & Out)

This week’s host for Monochrome Madness is Brian from Bushboys World. He has chosen a theme of Jugs for this week’s challenge. Jugs have been around for ages and made from varies materials like clay, glass, and even plastic. I much prefer sun-dried clay or glass-blown jugs to the more modern lightweight high-density polyethylene (plastic) jugs.

These are a few of the Jugs I have found in my archives to share with y’all.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Brian’s Monochrome Madness #62-Jugs

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness (MM)

Photo Credit:©️2022-2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm & EF-S18-55mm lenes; Apple iPhone 13 Pro; Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Locations: As stated above. 

God Bless. Have a funtastic week ahead. May your week be filled with love, laughter, and happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Anyone wishing to join in and participate, please go to the Monochrome Madness page to find out how.

Wordless Wednesday — 2026 June 17

“Quail’s Cozy Pot”

A Quail found a Cozy Nesting Pot
A Cozy Flower Pot
Nest of Quail eggs
My Brother-in-laws Flower Pot

Click on each image to enlarge.

Photo Credit:©️2026 Wayne A. Wilson (via Trisha L. Wilson) … All Rights Reserved

Location: Bullhead City, Arizona, USA

God Bless. What’s growing in your Flower pots? Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Numbers Game 2026.06.16 — #129 — #746

Judy from Life Lessons blog hosts a weekly photo challenge called The Numbers Game. This week’s number is 746Her instructions for playing along are listed below …

To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find under that number and include a link to your blog in Judy’s  Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title.

Here are my contributions …

Click on each image to enlarge.

Judy’s Numbers Game #129-746

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

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Live life to the fullest. Make lasting memories. Take Care. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 CFFC: Crayola Green

Plus Going Green

for Sunday Stills

Monthly Color Challenge

Dan from No Facilities hosts the Fun Foto Challenge at and this week he is asking for our The Crayola Box of 8 – Green . I have gone into my recent files to see what I could locate to best represent this week’s theme. Thank you Dan for the link-up with CWWC with CFFC  for a Which Way Challenge theme of Any Which Way with Yellow along a Trail, Path, or Road. There is still time to participate if you’re interested. I am linking this post with Terri’s Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge-(Ever)Green.

Here are my entries …

Click on each image to enlarge.

Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC) – The Crayola Box of 8-Green

Terri’s Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge-(Ever)Green

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Anne Springs Close Greenway, Fort Mill, South Carolina; The Schiele Museum of Natural History, Gastonia, North Carolina; Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Trailhead Store Trail, Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Enjoy your week. May it be filled with love, joy, laughter, and lots of fun. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Monday Portrait #17 — 2026 June 15

Terry Leon Wilson

Forever in our Hearts

Terry Leon Wilson
July 21, 1954 – June 15, 2018

Eight years ago today we received a devastating phone call. A call that informed us of the passing, from this life, of Terry Leon Wilson. My daughter hadn’t seen her father since she was eight (8) years old, but that time span didn’t diminish the effects the news had on her (or myself).

He is one of the main reasons my daughter recently made a trip out west to Boulder City, Nevada. In the eight (8) years since his passing we hadn’t ever had the financial means to visit his grave. She met her Uncle Wayne (her dad’s only living brother) at the cemetery to be with her whilst she visited her dad’s gravesite.

The following are a few of the pictures she took while there …

Here are a few other photos from the cemetery …

Now for a few from our time with him …

Click on each image to enlarge.

Monday Portrait-2026.06.15

Photo Credit: The first two (2) Galleries ©️2026 Trisha L. Wilson … All Rights Reserved.

Location: First Two Galleries – Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery; Boulder City, Nevada, 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.

Macro Monday – 2026 June 15

Allium fistulosum

Click on each image to enlarge.

Click on image to enlarge. 

Macro Monday (MM)

Terri’s The Flower Hour-2026.06.15

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment. 

Location: The Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

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

One Word Sunday (#OWS) —2026 June 14 — Mural

Historic Landscape Mural 

The Mural pictured below is of an historic landscape which is painted on the side of a shipping container. It is located right next to the nature park’s gardens and playground.

McDowell Nature Center and Preserve

The Mural depicts a vintage steam train locomotive traveling along a railroad track chugging along beside a flowing woodland creek.

The Mural’s artwork serves as a historical callback to the early railroad lines that ran through the Piedmont region of Mecklenburg County, blending local transit history with the natural creek environments protected by the preserve.

Click on image to enlarge.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Mural

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

Location: McDowell Nature Center and Preserve; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors and Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thankful for the freedom to live and hike in God’s amazingly beautiful landscapes and forests. Thankful you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Silent Sunday: 2026 June 14

Flag Day

Flags Flying
at the
Southern Nevada Veterans
Memorial Cemetery

Click on image to enlarge.

Silent Sunday-2026.06.14

Photo Credit:©️2026 Trisha L. Wilson … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Plus

Location: Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery; Boulder City, Nevada, USA

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

Cell Pic Sunday: 2026 June 14

Memories … of a Time Gone By

These images came up in my memories … a look back to 11 years ago in 2015. This was of a quality time I was able to spend with my eldest granddaughter, Alona. Sadly, that’s not possible nowadays due to conflicts between my daughter and her father, who prevents her spending any time with us.

Click on each image to enlarge.

John’s Cell Pic Sunday-2026.06.14

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

Camera: Apple iPhone XR

Location: Dinosaurs Alive Exhibits; Carowinds; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Have an Adventure. Spend quality time with family and friends. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Pull Up a Seat Week 24— At a Museum, Coleman Style #1

Coleman Style

at The Schiele Museum

of Natural History

Coleman
Pulling Up a Seat
on a
Farmall Cub Tractor
Coleman
Pull Up a Seat
on a Tractor

XingfuMama’s Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2026-Week 24

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

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

The Green Berets — “De Oppresso Liber.”

U.S. Army
Special Forces Chapter 51, Las Vegas, NV
Liberator
Defender
Healer
Teacher
Builder
Soldier
“The Green Berets”

This Green Beret Memorial Statue is located in the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada. Thanks goes to my daughter for sharing this photo from her phone.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

Natalie’s Photographing Public Art Challenge

Photo Credit:©️Trisha L. Wilson … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Plus

Location: Southern Nevada Veterans
Memorial Cemetery; 1900 Buchanan Blvd,
Boulder City, NV 89005

God Bless. Take Care. Help those in need. Spread Love and Kindness all around you. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Thursday Trios: (on Friday) 2026.06.12

Trios of Bales

on Wagon Loop Trail

Coleman and I hiked along Wagon Loop a couple of weeks ago. Wagon Loop is one of 25 unique trails in Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

This trail follows part of Steele Creek and connects to Haigler Loop, Blue Star, Steele Creek, North Steele Creek, Ford Gap, Muscadine and Wild Azalea trails. You can access the trail behind the Williams Education Center or off Haigler Loop.

Can you spot all three?

The distance for the complete Wagon Loop trail is 1.4 miles in length.It meanders through forested landscapes, creeks, and open fields (like this field of cut and rolled hay bales). It is often combined with Muscadine, Billy’s Walk, and the Lake Haigler Loop trail for a longer hiking experience.

Three Hay Bales in a Field

As you meander along the Wagon Loop trail you’ll pass by several points of historical significance such as the Nation Ford Trail. The trails are well maintained, however, I would recommend you wear a good pair of hiking shoes. There are exposed tree roots and when the rains occur so does the mud along the trails.

A Trio of Hay Bales
(Oops, plus one)

There is a few to enter Anne Springs Close Greenway of $17 per adult, youth (ages 3-12) $8 (kids under 3 are free). The Greenway does offer memberships which I recommend if you live near the Fort Mill, South Carolina area. To find out more about the Greenway’s memberships click here.

Carol’s Thursday Trios-2026.06.12

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

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

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

What you Looking at?

Ragtag Daily Prompt

2026 June 12

Hirsute!

Excuse me,
Don’t Stare!
I can’t help it
if I’m Hirsute.

Ragtag Daily Prompt (#RDP)-Hirsute!

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Greenville Zoo; Greenville, South Carolina, USA

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

Which Way Challenge (CWWC) 2026: Any Which Way with Yellow along a Trail, Path, or Road

Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). I trust everyone has had a good week and able to spend some time to take a walk or hike in the vast outdoors. This week’s theme for the Which Way Challenge is CWWC: Any Which Way with Yellow along a Trail, Path, or Road.  The Which Way can be any Trail, Path or Road as long as the Which Way is clearly discernible. As always signs are always welcome.

For this week’s Which Way Challenge I am linking with Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC) – The Crayola Box of 8 Yellow. Please feel free to connect with his post by clicking here.

For further information regarding the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) feel free to check out the home page here.

And as a Bonus I’m adding a few Yellow Flowers … For Cee’s Flower of the Day, Bren’s Floral Friday, & Terri’s The #Flower Hour.

Click on each image to enlarge. 

Thank you to those who have participated and supported the Which Ways Challenge. I appreciate y’all sharing your Which Ways with us. 

For an idea of other’s Which Ways from this past week’s challenge, be sure to click on the following links below.

Brian’s On the road

Dawn’s Which Way: Bent Tree in GW National Forest in Summer

Geriatri’x’ Fotogallery’s At The Sea

Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC) 2026: Any Which Way with Yellow along a Trail, Path, or Road

Terri’s The Flower Hour #34

Cosmic Photo Challenge (#CosPhoChal)-What’s Flowering Where You Are?

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Bren’s Floral Friday

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

*** Note Next Week’s theme: CWWC: Any Which Way in Your Neighbourhood

Monochrome Madness #61 2026 June 11

The View From Underneath

Why go for the ordinary shot when you can capture the exceptional, unconventional, and unique beauty from a different and unusual perspective? I like to capture views from underneath bridges and/or trestles. The structural integrity and design in each bridge or trestle are unique and some with intricate characteristics and features.

Looking at the
structural design
underneath a Footbridge in
Goat Island Park and Greenway,
Cramerton, North Carolina
The Beauty of the
Catawba River Flowing
underneath a Street Bridge
and the Structural Design,
Strength of Lines, and
the Sound Engineering System.
Founder’s Trail,
Fort Mill, South Carolina
Sound Structural Engineering Design
strengthens the supporting
interlocking network
increasing the lasting
Capabilities of the Trestle Bridge.
Founder’s Trail
Fort Mill, South Carolina

The beauty of black and white/monochrome photography brings a unique perspective on how we see and experience the world around us. What will you photograph in monochrome this week?

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness (MM)

Photo Credit:©️2022-2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens; 2-3) Apple iPhone 13 Pro Ultra Wide

Locations: As stated above.

God Bless. Have a funtastic week ahead. May your week be filled with love, laughter, and happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Anyone wishing to join in and participate, please go to the Monochrome Madness page to find out how.

2026 Thursday Doors: June 11

Obscure or Not

Sometimes when Coleman and I are out and about hiking or visiting a museum like The Schiele Museum of Natural History I will try to capture objects, like doors, the majority of people wouldn’t ordinarily think to capture with their cameras. These I’m sharing today are ones more obscure than others you might expect to see.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Dan’s Thursday Doors-2026.06.11

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment; Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take Care. May your week by filled with love, laughter, and happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

One-Liner Wednesday 2026 June 10

Sadness through

a Baby’s Eyes

“Her Eyes Carry a Heavy,
Quiet Confusion
Forced Into
Arms
She Does Not Know,
Only to Return
With a Gaze That Begs

For Reassurance
That Her Safe World
Still Exists.”

Click on image to enlarge. 

#1LinerWednesday

Linda’s One Liner Wednesday

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

Wordless Wednesday — 2026 June 10

Creating a Pollinator Garden

Volunteers Creating
a Pollinator Garden
The Power of Pollinators

Wordless Wednesday-2026.06.10

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

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

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature’s beautiful creations. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

The #Flower Hour #34 — 2026 June 09

Fragaria virginiana

The Fragaria virginiana, is also known Scarlett Strawberry and Wild Strawberry. It is a flowering perennial that produces edible fruit. It spreads by runners making it an easy choice for use as groundcover. It can also be used as erosion control holding soil on slopes.

Fragaria virginiana

Wild Strawberries are native to North America, from Newfoundland and Alberta in Canada , south down Georgia, Tennessee, and Oklahoma as well as the states in between like North and South Carolina. The plant produces small white flowers in the Spring with tiny, highly flavorful red berries following in late spring and early summer. They are primarily pollinated by a diverse mix of native bees, hoverflies, and small butterflies.

North Carolina’s native
Wild Strawberry

These Scarlett Strawberries (Fragaria virginiana) are grown in the garden in The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, North Carolina. The Garden also contains several bee hives providing the bees which pollinate many of the flowers grown here.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #34-2026.06.09

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take time to Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Smell the amazing fragrance of flowers. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 CFFC: Crayola Yellow

Yellow Spotted

in the Neighbourhood

CFFC – The Crayola Box of 8

Dan from No Facilities hosts the Fun Foto Challenge at and this week he is asking for our The Crayola Box of 8 -Yellow. I have gone into my recent files to see what I could locate to best represent this week’s theme. I am also linking this Friday’s CWWC with Dan’s CFFC for a Which Way Challenge theme of Any Which Way with Yellow along a Trail, Path, or Road.

Here are my entries …

Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC) – The Crayola Box of 8-Yellow

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Unity Community; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Enjoy your week. May it be filled with love, joy, laughter, and lots of fun. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) Sunday, 2026 June 07 — Twelve

Twelve Tribes of Israel

While on a trip to Abilene, Texas to visit my maternal aunt (my mother’s sister) I went walking around her neighbourhood. I started out walking to try to get my 10,000 steps in like when I worked. (I got tired of just sitting around in her small home, I guess you could say I was restless.) Turned out that to reach my 10,000 steps I had to walk several blocks and keep walking some more. Now you’re probably wondering what all this has to do with the prompt Twelve.

It took walking more than Twelve long blocks to achieve my goal. Anytime I go walking, especially in a new area, I try to be observant of my surroundings and snap pictures of anything I find interesting. On this the Twelfth day of my visit, I came across a building called The Discovery Center. It had a wall mural of a dinosaur with a caption above it “In the Beginning God.” This captured my attention, so I thought why not go inside and see what it was all about.

12 Tribes of Israel Banner

The Discovery Center in Abilene is a Creation Museum dedicated to teaching the Bible and is based on a Creationist viewpoint of the Beginning of the world. It was established in 2001, featuring exhibits on biblical artifacts, fossils, Jewish history, and the RMS Titanic, alongside an onsite bookstore. One of the rooms inside the Discovery Center is called the Israel Room. The room has several displays depicting the history of Israel. The image above depicts a banner displaying symbols representing the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Each panel includes a name in Hebrew and a corresponding emblem based on biblical descriptions and traditional blessings.

Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) Sunday-Twelve

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

Location: The Israel Room; The Discovery Center; Abilene, Texas, USA

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

Monday Window – 2026 June 08

Kitty by a Window –
2 — AI creation by PR

For this week I chose one of my maternal grandfather’s photos of his Ford Model T. After he passed, when I was only 12, my maternal grandmother gave me many of my grandfather’s picture post cards. The post cards were significant because the had pictures of family, his military service, the family cemetery, and of places they lived. Those post cards are apart of our family history and I’ll treasure them always.

My maternal Grandfather’s
Ford Model T

Click on image to enlarge.

Monday Window-2026.06.08

Monday Window 

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters (from my Grandfather’s photos) … All Rights Reserved. 

Location: My Maternal Grandparents home; Stoney Fork, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have an adventurous week filled with love and happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Macro Monday – 2026 June 08

Xylocopa micans

on Cornus foemina

Xylocopa micans,
Aka Southern Carpenter Bee
feasting on a
Cornus foemina,
Aka Swamp Dogwood
or stiff dogwood

These Swamp Dogwood Flowers are located on the banks of Lake Haigler by the Hunter E. Martin Kayak Launch on Haigler Loop at Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

Cornus foemina,
aka Swamp Dogwood
or Stiff Dogwood

Click on image to enlarge. 

Macro Monday (MM)

Terri’s The Flower Hour-2026.06.08

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment. 

Location: Haigler Loop; at Hunter E. Martin Kayak Launch; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

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

Monday Portrait #17 — 2026 June 08

Patrick,

The Eastern Spiny

Softshell Turtle

Patrick is an Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle residing in an aquarium at The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium in Gastonia, North Carolina.

Patrick

Spiny Softshell turtles are found in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. The state of North Carolina considers these species of turtles to be of Special Concern. Patrick, like other Spiny Softshell turtles, does not have a hard shell covered in scutes. He is covered in leathery skin instead.

Monday Portrait-2026.06.08

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion

Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium; Gastonia, 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.

One Word Sunday (#OWS) —2026 June 07 — Swirl

Swirls in Nature

Whenever Coleman and I go hiking no matter where we go we can just about always discover swirls. Sometimes they can be swirly lines on bents (piers), or found naturally in nature, or sometimes they can be something simple as a child’s scribbles of swirls and squiggly lines.

Here are a few examples of Swirls we have discovered while hiking.

Swirly lines on a bridge bent
Avon and Catawba Creeks Greenway
Gastonia, North Carolina
Turkey tail
(Trametes versicolor)
Yes, Water ripples can be Swirls
The Pond; Nature Trail;
The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina

Now for the piece to resistance …

Swirls and Squiggles
made by Coleman
when he was 3.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Swirl (2026.06.07)

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

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

Silent Sunday: 2026 June 07

Baptisia alba

Baptisia alba, aka White Wild Indigo,
or White False Indigo
is a native herbaceous
perennial plant in the
bean family Fabaceae. 

It is native to central
and eastern North America
and is typically found in open
woodland areas prairies
with tall grasslands.
However, in this case the plant
is grown in the landscape
and garden areas of
The Schiele Museum of Natural History
in Gastonia, North Carolina.

Silent Sunday-2026.06.07

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Gardens; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, 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.

Cell Pic Sunday: 2026 June 07

Southern Nevada Veterans
Memorial Cemetery

Click on Image to enlarge. 

John’s CellPic Sunday-2026.06.07

Photo Credit:©️2026 Trisha L. Wilson … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Plus 

Location: Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery; Boulder City, Nevada, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a drive and/or a hike and see what nature has to offer. It’s a beautiful world just waiting to be explored. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Pure Blossom Shining Through the Gloom

Cape jasmine
(Gardenia jasminoides)

The snowy petals whisper grace,
And leave a perfume in this place.
These luminous and trusting blooms,
Are shining through the solemn glooms.

A sacred blossom, pure and white,
Unfolds its heart to meet the light.
The elegant and silent trust,
Will bloom in beauty since it must.

This graceful flower shows devotion,
To stir the spirit like an ocean.
It rests beneath the moonlit skies,
Where quiet magic never dies.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday-2026.06.06

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Garden in The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. May your day be filled with love, peace, happiness and an abundance of laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Pull Up a Seat Week 23— in a Greenway #2

Coleman Style In

Anne Springs Close Greenway

XingfuMama’s Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2026-Week 23

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

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

God Bless. May you have a lovely week filled with love, joy, and laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Floral Friday/The #Flower Hour — 2026 June 05

Monarda fistulosa

Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot) is also referred to as wild bee balm, Appalachian Bergamot, Eastern Bergamot. It is a hardy, perennial wildflower native to North America and is in the mint genus family. It has distinctive lavender-pink blossoms, aromatic foliage which has an exceptional ability to attract pollinators and historically has been used for medicinal purposes.

It serves as a pollinator magnet drawing an enormous amount of bumblebees, native bees, predatory wasps, and butterflies. [The Garden where these are planted also has a section of four beehives with plenty of bees to help pollinate the flowers grown therein.]

For those interested in expanding their palates, you might want to try tasting its edible leaves and flowers. They add a spicy, citrusy, oregano-like kick to salads, jellies, and meat dishes. Also may note that historically the leaves have been used, by indigenous peoples, to brew teas to treat colds, flus, and digestive issues.

Terri’s The Flower Hour #33

Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge-What’s Flowering Where You Are?

Also posting in remembrance of … 

Bren’s Floral Friday 

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Cee’s FOTD 

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment. 

Location: The Garden; In The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Which Way Challenge 2026 (CWWC): Any Which Way on an Interstate, Highway, or Paved Road

Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). I trust everyone has had a good week and able to spend some time to take a walk or hike in the vast outdoors. This week’s theme for the Which Way Challenge is CWWC: Any Which Way on an Interstate, Highway, or Paved Road.  The Which Way can be any Interstate, Highway, or Paved Road as long as the Which Way is clearly discernible. As always signs are always welcome.

For further information regarding the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) feel free to check out the home page here.

My entries this week were captured by my daughter on her recent adventure out west and driving through four states. I’ve already shared some of her photos and I will share more regarding one of the main reasons she went later on in the month.

Here are my entries … These include the Interstates, Highways, and Paved Roads she drove as well as some sights of the countryside seen through the windshield.

Click on each image to enlarge. 

Thank you to those who have participated and supported the Which Ways Challenge. I appreciate y’all sharing your Which Ways with us. 

For an idea of other’s Which Ways from this past week’s challenge, be sure to click on the following links below.

Brian’s Granite Lookout (a short hike)

Dawn’s Which Way: Bluebell Trail

Pepper’s Light and Shadows

Geriatri’x’ Fotogallery’s Nature Trails

Eliza’s The Boardwalk in the Dunes in Merlimont, France

Rich from Serendipity’s Trail Ways

Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)-Any Which Way on an Interstate, Highway, or Paved Road.

Photo Credit:©️2026 Trisha L. Wilson … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Plus

Locations: As Stated above with pictures.

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

***Note: Next Week’s CWWC: Any Which Way with Yellow along a Trail, Path, or Road [06.12.2026]

2026 FOWC — A Harvest of Pumpkins

Fandango’s One-Word Challenge

The FOWC prompt for Tuesday is Pumpkin. Know I’m behind a couple of days, but still wanted to share these Pumpkins with y’all.

Lake Haigler Entrance
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Fort Mill, SC
Autumn Festival
The Schiele Museum
of Natural History
Gastonia, NC
Autumn Festival
The Schiele Museum
of Natural History

Gastonia, NC
Autumn Festival
The Schiele Museum
of Natural History

Gastonia, NC

Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC)-Pumpkin

Photo Credit:©️2023-2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1-2 &4)Apple iPhone 14 Pro Ma; 3) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens

Locations: As Stated above.

God Bless. May you have a Stable of Love, Friendship, and Joy. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Monochrome Madness #61 2026 June 04

Water Flowing

Upward & Downward

This week’s Monochrome Madness is hosted by Leanne Cole. She has chosen to challenge us to post images which show water flowing. Mine not only includes waterfalls, but also Spillways, Oceans, Dams, Lakes, Rivers and Garden Fountains. Water flows in many different ways from straight upwards to upstream and downstream, including over rocks and barriers.

Now to show y’all my entries …

Click on each image to enlarge.

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness #61-Flowing Water

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere

God Bless. Have a funtastic week ahead. May your week be filled with love, laughter, and happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Anyone wishing to join in and participate, please go to the Monochrome Madness page to find out how.

Wordless Wednesday — 2026 June 03

Little Mount Rushmore 

Little Mount Rushmore 
Mesquite, Nevada

Wordless Wednesday-2026.06.03

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

2026 CFFC: Crayola Red

Dan from No Facilities hosts the Fun Foto Challenge at and this week he is asking for our The Crayola Box of 8 -Red. I have gone into my archives to see what I could locate to best represent this week’s theme. 

Here are my entries …

Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC)-Crayola Box of 8 Red

God Bless. Enjoy your week. May it be filled with love, joy, laughter, and lots of fun. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Last on the Card — May 31

Brian from Bushboys World hosts a monthly challenge called Last On the CardHis rules are simple to follow if you’re interested in participating. 

Here are The rules:
1. Post the last photo on your SD card or last photo on your phone for the 30th or whenever your last photo was taken.
2. No editing – who cares if it is out of focus, not framed as you would like or the subject matter didn’t cooperate.
3. You don’t have to have any explanations, just the photo will do
4. Create a Pingback to this post or link in the comments
5. Use the tags The Last Photo and #LastOnTheCard

Here are my contributions …

From my Canon EOS T7 (2000D):

The Pond
The Schiele Museum
of Natural History
Gastonia, NC

From my Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max:

Black cherry
(Prunus serotina)

Click on each image to enlarge. 

#Brian’s Last on the Card-2026 May 31

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

2026 LAPC #400: The Rule of Threes featuring Florals

Tina with Travels and Trifles is this week’s host for the Lens Artist Photo Challenge. She has chosen a. Theme of The Rule of Three, not to be confused with The Rule of Thirds. I quite frequently post for Carol’s Thursday Trios so finding groups of three’s isn’t difficult for me. Whenever I am out and about I always look for possible three’s to use later on. For this challenge I am foxing The Rule of Three’s in Floral settings.

Canna discolor
(aka Achira
or edible canna) Gastonia, NC

Flowering Dogwood
(Cornus florida)
Native to the

Eastern North America
Official Flower of Tennessee
Oakleaf Hydrangea,
Hydrangea quercifolia
The Farm at
The Schiele Museum

of Natural History
Rhododendron arborescens,
or smooth/sweet azalea

Tina’s Lens-Artist Photo Challenge (LAPC) #400-The Rule of Three

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #33

Carol’s Thursday Trios

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Photo Credit:©️2026 1&3) Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved; 2&4) Jim Elder … All Rights Reserved.

God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Monday Portrait #17 — 2026 June 01

Barbados Blackbelly Sheep

Barbados Blackbelly Sheep
The Farm
The Schiele Museum
of Natural History Gastonia, NC
Wait, I’m coming to see you.

Click on image to enlarge. 

Monday Portrait-2026.06.01

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens 

Locations: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, 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.

One Word Sunday (#OWS) —2026 June 01 — Straight

Straight to the Heart

Western Slope Vietnam War
Memorial Park
Fruits, Colorado

Click on image to enlarge.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday (OWS): Straight-2026.06.01

Photo Credit:©️2026 Trisha L. Wilson … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Plus

Location: Western Slope Vietnam War
Memorial Park; Fruita, Colorado, USA

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

Monochrome Monday(MM)/Monochrome Madness: 2026 June 01

Monochromatic at the Greenway

Visiting the Anne Springs Close Greenway, sometimes it’s nice to shoot in black and white instead of always in colour. The effects can be just as striking if not more dramatic and impressive.

These first images were taking while hiking along the trail towards and at Lake Haigler.

The next set of images were taken while Coleman was playing on the climbing structure in the Schroering Forest Playground.

Click on each image to enlarge. 

Monday Monochrome 

Monochrome Monday

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness 

Photo Credit:©️2017-2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved 

Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens; & Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

LocationsAs Stated Below Images. 

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.

Silent Sunday: 2026 May 31

Going for a Swim

Canada Goose Going for a Swim
Swimming Upstream
in the
South Fork Catawba River

Silent Sunday-2026.05.31

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: South Fork Catawba River; Goat Island 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.

Happy Birthday to My Baby Girl!

The Mother of

My Grandchildren

Where has the time gone? Years have flown by and now you’re a grown woman with children of your own. I’ve watched you grow, mature, and become an amazing mother. We may not always agree, but I will always be there for you and love you forever and always.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday-2026.05.30

God Bless. May your day be filled with love, peace, happiness and an abundance of laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Pull Up a Seat Week 22— in a Greenway #1

Coleman Style in

Schroering Forest Playground

Anne Springs Close Greenway

XingfuMama’s Pull Up a Seat #22

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

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

God Bless. May you have a lovely week filled with love, joy, and laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Floral Friday/The #Flower Hour/Spring Festival — 2026 May 29

A Garden of

Echinacea purpurea

Unlike Terri or Brian, I have not seen any dogwood trees lately. I have, however, recently visited the Garden inside The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History with a lovely variety of plants and flowers. I am focusing on the beautiful Echinacea purpurea, more commonly known as Purple Coneflower or Eastern Purple Coneflower.

One Purple Coneflower

Coneflowers are a popular native floral in a number of gardens (both private and commercial) in our part of the Eastern United States. They are a drought-tolerant perennial with daisy-like flowers. (It is a good thing these plants are drought tolerant since we are currently under water restrictions due to insufficient rainfall (even though it has rained here all week).

Two Purple Coneflowers

The coneflowers thrive in full sunlight and well-drained soil. All the plants and flowers in this garden are well cultivated and cared for. They have a long lasting blooming season from Summer throughout Autumn. Even though it is still Spring in our area, we have had summer-like weather and the coneflowers and other plants are thriving.

A Trio of Purple Coneflower

This year the garden’s Purple Coneflowers are in abundance and are a delightful attraction for pollinators (like butterflies & the bees in residence at the Farm) and provide seeds for birds. Coneflowers classic colour is purple, however, they also come in a variety of shades of pink, yellow, white, and orange.

An interesting fact about the coneflowers is that every part of the plant is edible. Now I have not tried eating them as of yet, but the vibrant petals are said to have a mild, sweet , floral flavour. They make a colourful garnish for salads, desserts, or charcuterie boards. The young. tender leaves can be eaten raw in salads or cooked similarly to spinach. While the coneflowers are considered safe and nontoxic for humans and pets, you would want to avoid high doses due to the fact it is possible for them to cause upset stomachs. For further information about its culinary and medicinal uses check out Eat the Planet.

Click on each image to enlarge. 

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #32

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2026 – Finale

Carol’s Thursday Trios 

XingfuMama’s Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2026 Week 21

Also posting in remembrance of … 

Bren’s Floral Friday 

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Cee’s FOTD 

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Garden; In The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Sunday Stills: 2026 May 29 (24)

Greenway Babies

Baby Horses and their moms …

Lily and
2 month old Murphy
(Born in 2024)

It’s been amazing to visit Baby Horses born at Anne Springs Close Greenway over the years. I was lucky to have captured Murphy and Forest with their mothers.

Fern and baby Forest
(Born in 2022)

Baby Alpacas …

Greenway Baby Alpacas

My Grand-babies …

Coleman (6 almost 7)
and Sophia Ruthann (5 months)

Terri’s Sunday Stills Challenge-All About Babies

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

God Bless. Treasure your “babies” always. Capture the memories. Love to y’all. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Thursday Trios: 2026.05.28

A Trio of Trios

Last Wednesday Coleman and I ventured over to Goat Island Park and Greenway for a relaxing afternoon after he got home from his final day of school for the year. We decided to take a walk along the Catawba River before heading to the playground to allow him some Funtime and to burn off excess energy.

You know what we saw? We saw a group of three Canada Geese enjoying themselves sunning and swimming along and in the South Fork Catawba River. We hadn’t seen the Canada Geese at the River since the freezing temperatures of winter came roaring in upon us. It was fantastic to see (at least a few of) them returning to the river and enjoying themselves in the waters of the Catawba River.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Carol’s Thursday Trios-2026.05.28

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

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

God Bless. Enjoy your Spring/Autumn Summer/Winter whichever the case may be. Get outdoors and commune with nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 LAPC #399: Stuck in Place

On Haigler Loop

 Egidio is this week’s host for the Lens-Artist Photo Challenge. She has asked us to limit our movement to within 10-15 steps in any direction from our focal point. Capture what we see from various angles and perspectives as we are Stuck in Place.

My images are all taken from within a few steps from Lake Haigler on the Haigler Loop Trail while hiking with Coleman.

I began taking pictures while Coleman sat on a bench looking out upon Lake Haigler.

The Spillway lock at Lake Haigler

Looking up from the same spot to capture what was hanging from the trees above the lake.

Fishing Bobbers stuck in the tree.

Then I turned around and saw interesting shoe prints on the trail. Here’s a comparison of the shoe print with Coleman’s shoe.

Coleman’s shoe
next to a Horseshoe imprinted
in the trail

Turning to the left and to the left we acquired these interesting views …

To the left …

A sign indicating
the direction to the
Lake Haigler Spillway

And to the right …

Where is Coleman going?
Not to the bridge,
but where?

Still to the right …

The Lake Haigler Spillway
Where’s the water?
The Spillway is so dry.

Insufficient rain,
no water is flowing
from the Spillway.

Egidio’s Lens-Artist Photo Challenge-Stuck in Place

Photo Credit:©️2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; and Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens & Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Haigler Loop Trail; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South 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.

2026 Thursday Doors: May 28

A & W

A & W

My daughter stopped here, at A & W, coming and going for a bit of stretching and refreshment on her mini-vacation out west.

A & W

Dan’s Thursday Doors-2026.05.28

Thursday Doors

Photo Credit:©️2026 Trisha L. Wilson … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Plus

Location: A & W Restaurant; 2020 N Townsend Ave, Montrose, Colorado, USA

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