In the evening while observing the full moon in the sky I inadvertently captured the Neighbourhood windows across the street from us. It seemed like an amazingly picturesque scene.
The closest Shorelines we have near us are t hr e banks of the Catawba River, therefore I have chosen to show y’all what Coleman and I have seen recently on the Shoreline of the South Fork Catawba River. The first few photos are taken on the banks of the South Fork Catawba River at the Goat Island Park and Greenway.
Canada Geese on the Shoreline banks of the South Fork Catawba River
On both days the weather was Tepid which was a delightful experience and quite a contrast to our recent freezing weather of snow and freezing rain. The Tepid weather was just perfect, not too hit and not too cold.
This next set of images were taken on Monday of the South Fork Catawba River’s Shoreline from the Riverside Park and Greenway mainly featuring Coleman playing on the Shoreline banks.
Coleman playing in the sand along the Shoreline of the South Fork Catawba River
Cameras: Images 1-4 & 6-11) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; Image 5) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.
Location: 1st set of Images) Shoreline of the South Fork Catawba River, Goat Island Park and Greenway; 2nd set) Shoreline of the South Fork Catawba River, Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature’s beauty. Relax and have some fun. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
As Coleman and I were walking around Downtown Cramerton on the way back from Goat Island we walked through the backside of the businesses that run along Center Street. What we noticed were the Mural that were painted on the businesses back walls covering a good portion of the wall including the doors. The Mural pictured in the photos on the left are from the Skillet Southern Bistro’s back patio and outside dining area with plenty of room to enjoy the evening.
Skillet Southern BistroConfluence South ForkSkillet Southern BistroConfluenceWall Murals on the Backside of Businesses
The Mural pictured on the right are from the outside back wall of Confluence South Fork.Confluence is a place to gather for young and old alike. It is run by the Catawba Riverkeepers. It offers beer for adults, sells artwork created by a local artist and souvenirs. It holds concerts for all to enjoy some specifically designed for children. It offers the ability for visitors to rent disc golf discs, cornhole bags, and ping pong paddles to ball at Goat Island Park and Greenway located across the road from its location.
Docked Boats Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, USA Throwback Photo Sailboat In the Caribbean Sea off the Coast of Cozumel, Mexico February 2020 iPhone 11 Pro MaxBoating on Lake Wylie Taken from McDowell Nature Preserve Charlotte, North Carolina, USA July 2020 iPhone 11 Pro Max
Did you know that Barn Quilt Trails are located in 43 states of the United States of America and Canada has 3? Barn Quilts are believed to have originated in Pennsylvania almost 300 years ago when Europeans immigrated to America.
Have you ever wondered what a Barn Quilt is or their significance? A Barn Quilt is a large piece of wood painted to look like a quilt block and hung on the exterior of a barn, house, garage or other building. During the Revolutionary War, “Barn Quilts” were used to show American forces that an area was safe, secure, and supplies were available. Barn Quilts are a popular form of Americana folk art. They help to preserve the country’s quilting tradition and the regional heritage of various communities.
Barn Quilt Trails
Barn Quilt
Blue Ridge Parkway
North Carolina
The first Barn Quilt Trail was started by Donna Sue Groves. She came up with the idea while working for the Ohio Arts Council in the 1990s. Donna Sue shared her story in “Following the Barn Quilt Trail.” Soon barn quilts spread to other states, becoming driving tours, drawing in tourists and bringing the Appalachian way of life to the forefront. The Barn Quilts in the slideshow are located in the Ohio Barn Quilt Trails and the Appalachian Quilt Trail.
My Favorite Quilt
Even though this Quilt is not a Barn Quilt, it is extremely special to me. It was made by maternal grandmother with remnants of fabric used to make uniforms for me when I worked as a nursing assistant after high school. She lovingly made it with love to fit my bed. It was sewn on an old fashioned black Singer Sewing Machine to make each quilt top. She used colorful yarn to hand quilt and tie-off the quilt.
This past Sunday, November 5th was the end of Daylight Saving Time for this year. The time is set at 2 am, so the major people try to remember to set their clocks backwards before they go to sleep at night. Most of the time I forget and just change clocks ( the oven & microwave clocks) whenever I get around to it. Smartphone and other Smart technology devices automatically change their times alleviating our need to do so.
Is Changing Clocks backwards and forwards to compensate for Daylight Saving Time beneficial? Yes or No? In 1974 President Richard M. Nixon argued that it would Save Energy when he signed into law the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act during a fuel crisis.
Other benefits to Daylight Saving Time include:
Longer Daylight hours Promotes Safety
Daylight in the Evening makes it safer for joggers
It’s safer for those walking their dogs after work
It’s safer for children playing outside
Greater visibility reduces criminal activity
Reduce the Nation’s Energy Consumption
It promotes active lifestyles
What are some disadvantages to Daylight Saving Time?
Daylight Saving Time is bad for your health
Changing sleep patterns has negative consequences for our health
Increase in headaches after fall time changes
Increase in auto and work place accidents the day after time changes
Daylight Saving Time drops productivity
The Monday after is one of the most sleep-deprived days of the year
Increased “Cyber loafing” (wasting time browsing the internet)
Decreased quality of life
Increased susceptibility to illness
Increase in tiredness
Note: Till Roenneberg, a German scientist observed that the human circadian clock does not adjust to Daylight Saving Time.
I know for a fact that my grandson’s internal clock does not adjust to Daylight Saving Time. He will wake up on the same internal “time” schedule regardless of what the actual time is. Being on DST he wakes up around 8 am give or take a few minutes. Off of DST his body tells him to wake up around 7 am. If we did not change the time on clocks, he would be waking up at the same exact time year round.
For myself, I firmly believe that I do not adjust very well to DST. I am extremely more tired in the days and weeks immediately following when time changes occur. I do not have the desire to wake up when he does, however, I must as his 24/7 caretaker. I have less energy, especially after the fall time change. It is harder for me to be motivated and productive in my surroundings. I have less energy for hiking and outdoor activities which I know are beneficial for both Coleman and myself.
My entries today for the Ragtag Daily Prompt are a reminder of the times I enjoyed visiting the Museum of Man in Balboa Park in San Diego, California. I spent a lot of time walking around Balboa Park as a teen visiting all the various museums and just enjoying a fabulous time in the park. So many memories of long ago, but never far from my heart and mind.
I’d like to share some advice for everyone whether or not you are a hiker, enjoy visiting parks ( local, state, and/or national) please Leave No Trace.
What does it mean to Leave No Trace? The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace are as follows:
Plan Ahead and Prepare
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
I want to emphasize and strongly urge everyone especially to adhere to Principle #3– Dispose of Waste Properly.
Waste in Nature and along Nature Trails
Make sure whatever you pack in, pack it out. Don’t forget to inspect your campsite, food preparation areas, and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter. Inspect and Make sure the site is completely clean.
Utilize toilet facilities whenever possible. Otherwise, deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished.
Pack out any and all toiletries ( e.g.toilet paper) and hygiene products.
Carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes when you plan to wash yourself or your dishes. Be sure to use biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.
This is extremely important and were established by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, and built on work done by the United States Forestry Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management in the mid 1980’s.
There has been too many times I’ve taken my grandson hiking in local parks and greenways, state parks where we have seen trash discarded along the side of trails or in nearby waterways such as creeks, streams, rivers, and lakes.
I have been trying to teach and emphasize to him how important it is to leave what’s in the park or on the trail to leave it on the trail and in the park. I want him to learn the vital role he has in protecting our local, state, and national parks. I am trying to instill in him the effects his actions may have on the plants,, animals, other people, and even our entire ecosystem. He maybe too young to fully understand and appreciate the importance of Leave No Trace, however, he is not too young to know that it is important to not leave trash/waste behind.
Finding trash/waste along the trails we hike is sad to know that some are not contentious enough to leave an environment clean and not care how their actions may effect the environment or wildlife in the surrounding areas.
Coleman by the Waste Receptacle
Please use the waste receptacles provided in our many parks and greenways. If none are available, carry your trash items out with you and dispose of them later at a proper disposal area.
It just seems fitting that the Prompt for Wednesday is Cat. Coleman and I went to The Schiele Museum of Natural History and then across the road to the Gaston County Library. While we we walking around The Farm at the Museum I spotted a cat 🐈 roaming around behind the chicken coop.
Normally cats are not the type of animals one sees in The Farm. Goats 🐐, Sheep 🐑, Chickens 🐓, Rabbits, and Turkeys 🦃 are the farm animals that are kept and cared for here. Cats 🐈, however, are not what’s cared for here.
Evidently, this cat 🐈 thought it belonged roaming around at The Farm. Therefore, I snapped a few photos of it. Then, I read what the Prompt was and knew that it was fate that I spotted the cat 🐈 yesterday.
Hello, my community circle of friends. We do live in a big world in the atmosphere of Earth. We all share a common interest in a blogging universe. We want to share our voice, with the world. We may share it through our words, through our photography, or through our stories. Regardless of our methods we all share a love with our circle, our community of friends both online and in person, within our vast differences and our commonalities.
Thank y’all for being my friends, for being a part of my community, for being within my circle of friends, and sharing your photos, your gracious comments, your interests, your challenges and also your encouragement. I am blessed to be in this community, having each of you in my circle of friends. Thank you!
Here I sit thinking about what words to type regarding Climate. Where I live now the climate can change within a matter of minutes sometimes catching you unaware. It can be bright and sunny 🌞 needing shades 😎 in the morning, beautiful white ☁️ clouds ⛅️ rolling in the afternoon, and pouring down rain with thunder and lightning ⚡️ ⛈️ by early evening.
Now the Climate in the county where I lived when I was growing up you could travel to the beach, the mountains, and the desert all in one day. If you did ; the Climate would be so you’d need your bathing suit and sunglasses 😎 and sunscreen at the beach, a warm jacket 🧥 in the mountains, and possibly all of the above in the desert 🏜️ depending on time of day and how long you intended to be there. Now don’t forget to bring along an umbrella 🌂 ☂️ ☔️ because you never know when the rains will come tumbling down upon you.
From Morning to Afternoon (Rains came a few later):
Congratulations to me! I have successfully posted every day for the past three hundred sixty-five (365) days. One year ago, today I decided to make a commitment to post at least one blog post every day for a year. I thought it might be difficult, but you know what. It was too difficult at all. I actually found it very therapeutic to write or post something every day. Sometimes I would post something of interest to me, or a reflection of a past event. Then at other times I found it thrilling to participate in other bloggers challenges. For me, participating in other’s challenges was inspiring and encouraging to me. I have no plans to stop blogging or participating in challenges. Here’s to another year of inspiring and exciting blogging.
Please don’t troll on by, stop and have a look. Trolling doesn’t always have a negative connotation. Fishermen troll the waters while trying to catch fish. Bargain Hunters troll Flea Markets and Yard Sales for terrific finds to take home.
This troll I’ve had for a very long time. My small trolls are packed away somewhere in a box. This is a Troll I bought for my daughter when she was a little girl.
Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis) Andrew Jackson State Park Lancaster, South Carolina Lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina) Kings Mountain State Park Blacksburg, South Carolina Fern Forest Trail Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, South Carolina Fern Trail Crowders Mountain State Park Kings Mountain, North Carolina Whatever We May Face We Have NOTHING TO FEAR And Everything To Hope For In Christ
After a week of solid rainfall Coleman and I were itching to get outside to roam around in nature. It was decided on Friday that we should be adventurous, after errands were completed. Our errands took us down to Lancaster which is an hour and a half away from our current home. Coleman was being extremely patient, he deserved a break on the way make home. Therefore, to relieve his itch to run around, we stopped at one of his favorite places.
What is that favorite place, you ask? It is the expansive Anne Springs Close Greenway. It was an extremely hot 🥵 and humid summer day. We walked around along the trails, across the swinging bridge, and up to the Wildflower Meadow to observe which flowers were thriving.
Rudbeckia hirta L. AKA: Black-eyed Susan, Common Black-eyed Susan, Brown-eyed Susan, Blackeyed Susan Asteraceae (Aster Family)
These coneflowers are common in the Mountains and the western Piedmont of the Carolinas. They are abundantly growing throughout the Greenway’s grounds.
We took a short break for a bite to eat at the Greenway’s Canteen. Enjoying the cool air was nice, but Coleman was itching for a different kind of relief from the hot 🥵 sunny summer weather. What kind of relief do you think he was desiring?
He was itching to get relief splashing in the water at the Greenway’s Spillway. The Spillway was low, however, it still produced enough water flowing across for many to cool 😎 off and enjoy a splashing 💦 wonderfully amazing good time. Coleman delighted in sloshing and splashing through the Spillway’s water 💦.
For Coleman and me, The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium is just a short jaunt of a bus ride away. The bus stop is an even shorter jaunt away from our place than the Planetarium.
Bus StopColeman
The following is what we saw at the Planetarium when we jaunted out for an amazing adventure.
View from the Blue Ridge Parkway North Carolina View From Moses H. Cone Memorial Park – Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 294, Blowing Rock, North Carolina Stone Mountain State Park Roaring Gap, North Carolina
All photos were taken along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina back October of 2017 when my eldest son and I took a scenic drive on the Parkway to delight and enjoy the amazingly beautiful autumn views.
Tea is a refreshing drink that can be fixed many different ways. It can be made hot or cold depending on one’s preference. Various flavors can be added to it to soothe and calm one’s senses or just for the enjoyment of added flavor. Most of the time I prefer to drink ice cold tea. I usually drink black tea, but occasionally drink flavored white or green teas. When I drink flavored teas, my go to flavors are a combination of peach and mango. Even though a good percentage of people will brew hot tea to make ice tea, I have always used Lipton unsweetened instant tea. It is quick an easy to fix and can be used for hot or cold and flavors can be easily added however you desire.
Driven is having a compulsive or urgent quality; highly motivated and energetic. Do you have a Driven personality? What is the force behind being driven?
Not everyone has a driven personality. I currently do not myself. People with driven personalities are ambitious, persistent, and have a strong desire to succeed. They put in a tremendous amount of work in order to achieve their goals. You might wonder what traits appear in someone with a driven personality. Let me make a list for you containing some of these traits:
Workaholic
Persistent
Tenacious
Willing to try almost anything
Needs to be in control of their environment including the people in it
Projects power
Admires success
There are many different things which can be the driving factor for a successful person. What a person is driven by is affected by what they value. Below is a list of some of the things which successful people value and are driven by to succeed.
Hunger – hungry to do more, to do better, and to always push boundaries.
Thinking outside the box – they gave the urge to do something different, to carve their own path, regardless of the risks.
Their need to evolve, constantly – Evolve in their ideas, thoughts, and goals.
Their need to make a change in society – Always try to do things to help people. Always trying to make a difference not being concerned whether it is bug or small.
Money – It might not be what drives every successful person, however, it is important. It gives a person the freedom to do whatever they want without being accountable to anyone.
Freedom – Freedom lies in the mind, open to the thoughts of other people. Being free to new ideas and concepts.
Passion – it is important to be passionate about life and all you do.
Knowledge – To be successful, one always needs to be learning from people, from books, and from your own mistakes. One should never stop learning.
Don’t be addicted to money. Work to learn. don’t work for money. Work for knowledge.
Naps are beneficial and not just for children. Naps can be a way to refresh and recharge mid-day. They can give you the boosted energy you need to meet the demands of your afternoon and evening. They can help to improve your mood, mental awareness, and added energy levels. They help in reducing daytime sleepiness, also boosts your learning and performance. For children, they can improve their behavior and emotional self-regulation, as well as aid their memory and language learning.
My grandson, Coleman
Coleman doesn’t like or want to take naps if you suggest or tell him to take one. That being said, when he is worn out he will nap basically anywhere. Sometimes I just wish he would nap sooner so he would listen and follow instructions better, instead of falling asleep when he’s supposed to be eating.
Naps are not for everyone, but if you feel like you need to take a nap do not feel guilty about taking one. Remember naps are beneficial to the mind as well as the body.
Not sure if these all fit the category of abstract or not, but these are my entries anyway. What do you think? Will they suffice? Hope you enjoy them regardless.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Common Sunflower Helianthus giganteus, the giant sunflower or tall sunflowerSwamp Sunflower Helianthus angustifoliusI’m Grateful for you crosscards.com
It wasn’t hard to find logs while my grandson and I went walking through the backwoods of our neighborhood. The following is what we discovered.
Log 🪵 with Tree Fungus Stacked Fire 🔥 Logs 🪵Logs 🪵 in FirepitCut Logs 🪵Fallen Tree 🌲 Log 🪵More Cut Logs 🪵Loose Cut Logs 🪵 and Branches Logs 🪵 entwined with Green Leaves 🍃
Peek-A-BooTake your Best Shot …. If You CanGive it a try, but I’m not looking Oh, Alright Go Ahead and Take Your Photo My Grandson, Coleman loves to Visit the STABLES at Anne Springs Close Greenway
Mission Beach Boardwalk Sand in Mission Beach San Diego, Californiaca. 1920 San Diego Union-Tribune CollectionClyde Wilson Jr (My father-in-law) Sand at the BeachSeals on the Beach La Jolla Cove La Jolla, San Diego County, CailforniaLove San Diego written in the Sand. Pacific Coast Highway San Diego, California
For this challenge I went to my archives. I grew up in San Diego. California. I miss the beaches, the warm sunshiny weather, and friends I had there. Some still live there while many others have moved away, like me, due to the high cost of living.
Stone Mountain State Park stands prominently just beyond the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. Straddling the border between Wilkes and Allegheny County, Stone Mountain, NC is a beloved place for locals to hike, fish, picnic, ride horses, and survey the Piedmont spreading eastward.
The 15,000 acres encapsulated by Stone Mountain State Park includes historic sites where homesteaders settled in the 1800s, first-rate camping facilities, miles of trails for hiking or horseback riding, numerous streams, and extensive picnicking grounds for day visitors.
State Mountain State Park
ADDRESS: 3042 Frank Parkway, Roaring Gap, NC 28668
Original Shot on CanonBlack and White CopyOriginal Shot on CanonBlack & White CopyOriginal Shot on CanonCopy Black and WhiteOriginal Shot on CanonMonochrome CopyOriginal Shot on CanonMonochromatic Copy
All shots taken with a Canon EOS Rebel T3i camera.
Ragtag Daily Prompt for Sunday January 8th is FOLLOW. One of the things I think about when I hear the word follow is the song “I have Decided to Follow Jesus.” Following Jesus is something I try to dop on a daily basis, but I know I fail miserably at times. Most of us follow something or someone whether we realize it or not. Children follow their parents’ instructions; employees follow their employer’s rules and regulations, we all follow the laws of our governments, and when I go hiking with a group or just with my grandson, I follow the group leader or follow my grandson, Coleman.
Coleman leading the Way
This Sunday I had the opportunity to go on a short hike with my grandson and my granddaughter. It is a rare occasion when my granddaughter, Alona, is allowed to spend time with her mother or myself. Whenever possible I enjoy taking her out to the Greenway or to a State Park and spend time with her out in nature. Today, we took her to the Anne Springs Close Greenway to have her meet Forest, a foal at the Greenway Horse Stables.
On the trail by the stables, we followed Coleman, we followed Alona, and sometimes we followed their mom to know the direction we should go. Most of the time Coleman is the one who runs ahead and leads the way on the trails.
Wherever the paths my lead you, I trust you’ll follow the path with the least resistance and follow you heart whenever possible. May God guide your paths, may He bless you and keep you safe and fill your life with love and happiness.
Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate each and every one of y’all.
Photo Credit: Deb L Waters
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