Penny Mac
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Macro Monday: 07.08
Category: 2024 Photography Challenges
2024 Silent Sunday: 07.07
Ceanothus ‘Julia Phelps’
Photo Credit:©️1979 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35mm
Location: Santa Barbara, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Long Forgotten Christian-themed Amusement Park
Heritage USA
In Monochrome
Leanne’s Monochrome Madness is a non-themed week; my own theme this week is surrounded by photos I’ve recently digitized about Heritage USA. To make viewing easier, I have made a slideshow of the monochrome photos in the beginning and ending with the original photos from my dad’s slides.
Heritage USA was a Christian -themed amusement park opened in 1978 by televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, founders of The PTL Club. At its peak, it was the third-largest park in the USA behind Disney World and Disney Land, with almost 6 million visitors annually.
In the late 1980’s, Heritage USA was rocked by two debilitating scandals all while they were in the middle of a massive expansion. The organization had its tax-exempt status revoked after Jim Bakker was indicted on various federal fraud charges. Later he was accused of sexual improprieties with an encounter with a church secretary.
To add to the problems Heritage USA was experiencing, the park was heavily damaged by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, it shut down for good shortly after.
In this present day and age, only a few remnants of the park are still visible. The abandoned 21-story Heritage USA Hotel stands as an eerie and empty shell looming over the suburban landscape. The Upper Room Chapel was purchased sometime after the park’s closing and is maintained as a prayer room for a local ministry. The Heritage Grand Hotel is now the Heritage International Ministries Conference Center.
Photo Credit: ©️1980 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Location: Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Floral Friday: July 5th —- Colouring Flowers #27
Sunny Sunflower Sends
Sunshine to your Soul
God Bless. Enjoy Nature. Take time to Smell the Flowers. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
2024 Last Photo on the Card — June
Brian from bushboy.blog asks us to share each month what photos are the Last on the Card or Last on our smartphones or tablets.
This month is going to be a little different for me since I haven’t been anywhere to use my camera this month. I have been busy digitizing my dad’s old slides. I hope it’s alright to post the last picture from the last roll of his I converted to digital format.
From my Dad’s Minolta XG-7 35mm:
of him taking the photo
is in the mirror.
From my iPhone 14 Pro Max:
Photo Credit: 1) ©️1980 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved; 2) ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm and iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your Last on the Card with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 CWWC: July Week 1 – Dirt Paths, Dirt Roads, Roads and Signs
This week I’m continuing Cee’s Which Way Challenge doing it My Way. Therefore for this the first week of July, I have chosen a theme of Dirt Paths, Dirt Roads, Roads and Signs. I welcome anyone who desires to join me on this week’s Which Way Challenge.
to the Boat Dock
to the Catawba River
between the Trees
along the Catawba River
& Great Falls Dam
by Road
Great Falls, South Carolina
Let’s Go Fishing …
Photo Credit: ©️1963-1980 Nornal H. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Location: Catawba River; Great Falls Dam; Great Falls, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Great Falls Dam. Enjoy the beautiful great outdoors. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 FOTD: 07.04
Hospital Gardens
Huntersville Oaks
Huntersville Oaks is a short-term nursing and rehabilitation facility located in Huntersville, North Carolina. Huntersville is in northern Mecklenburg County just north of Charlotte, North Carolina.
My paternal grandfather stayed here receiving short-term medical care during the summer of 1980. When he was released, my dad took him back to his home in Great Falls, South Carolina.
Photo Credit:©️1980 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35mm
Digitally converted using Wolverine digital converter.
Location: Gardens at Huntersville Oaks; Huntersville, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Thursday Doors Plus Monday Window #1
Antique Car Doors & Windows
This is be the first in a line of Antique Car Doors and Windows that I’ll be posting from my dad’s photo albums of old slides. My dad worked for FORD most of his adult life except during his service in the U.S. Navy. He loved to attend car shows of any kind. These weekly features will be from an Antique Car Show he attended somewhere in California ( I’m guessing here since all the cars have California license plates.) The cars appear to possibly be from a private collection.
Do you like to attend cars shows? I have attended car shows in the past, however, I do not plan a whole day or outing around a car show like my dad used to do.
Photo Credit:©️1980 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Wordless Wednesday: 07.03
Water Tower
Great Falls Water Tower
Great Falls, South Carolina
Photo Credit: ©️1978 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Location: Great Falls, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Numbers Game #28 — 149
Judy’s Numbers Game can bring about interesting results and insights from those who choose to participate. The challenge is alive, let’s join the fun. In searching for the #149 and its variations the results that popped are displayed below in this post.
#149. Around the Greenway
#149 Deviations Around Gastonia
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 OWS: 06.30 — Star
Star Reflections
Debbie’s One Word Sunday’s word this week is Star. Here are my interpretations on Star for this week’s challenge.
Using a Star Filter
Canon Photography
Altura ⭐️ Star✨ Filters
Star Reflections
in Robinwood Lake
Star Flowers
Eastern Bluestar
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: 2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i and iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with y. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Monday Window: 07.01
Huntersville Hospital
This hospital is currently known as Atrium Health Huntersville. It was formerly operated under the name of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority and was formerly known by Carolinas HealthCare System.
This was how it looked in the summer of 1978 when my paternal grandfather was receiving medical treatment here. My dad and his brother both visited frequently and stayed with him periodically until he was able to return home.
Photo Credit:©️1978 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Location: Huntersville Hospital, Huntersville, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Appreciate them. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Monday Portrait: 07.01
Cool Cat
Cool cats like to keep cool by hiding in the underbrush in shady areas. Can you spot me?
Maybe if I move a little bit you’ll be able to see me. However, I would appreciate it if you keep the dog away from me. I prefer to stay where I am at and not get in an entanglement.
Enjoy your day! I’m just gonna stay here and relax for a while longer.
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Macro Monday: 07.01
Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much. Have a wonderful day!
2024 Cell Pic Sunday: 06.30
Tuscarora Crape Myrtle
Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2024 Week 26
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: New Hope Acres; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. Enjoy the beauty all around you. Take time to admire nature’s wonderful creations. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Silent Sunday: 06.30
Seats Around the Cross
1978
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 26
Photo Credit:©️1978 Nornal H. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Weekend FOTD: 06.29/30 —— Zinnia
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Discovering Aspects of Using Pixlr’s Camera
Pixlr is a photo editing app available for smartphones and PC’s. It has several different editing apps available including background removal, a great number of filters and effects to try to enhance your creativity. What you see here is just my playing around with the Pixlr camera and a few effects. I was not doing anything except discovering what the effects might look like and exploring their effect on my photo of Coleman. I am not sure that I would use all of these effects, but I might try some more at a later time.
Photo Credit: (c) 2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Floral Friday: 06.28 —Colouring Flowers #26
Flowers, Fruit, & Birds
Via Zen Color App
God Bless. Enjoy Nature. Take time to Smell the Flowers. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
2024 CosPhoChal/Weekend Sky —- Sunrise/Sunset
Lancaster, South Carolina
Andrew Jackson State Park
Lancaster County, South Carolina
Cosmic Photo Challenge-Sunrise/Sunset
Photo Credit: 1-2)©️2024 Shirley Hunter; 3-4)©️2021 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Locations: Lancaster County, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Birds of the Carolinas #12
Northern Cardinal
Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) are just one bird species out of hundreds that you might see feasting from your bird feeder in South Carolina.
Northern Cardinals are common backyard birds in North America and can be found in many locations in South Carolina, including Seabrook Island, Lexington, and Lancaster County.
Male Northern Cardinals are known for their bright red feathers, black eye masks, and short crests. Females are brown with red accents and crests.
Northern Cardinals are seed and berry eaters, but also eat insects, spiders, centipedes, and snails. They prefer to forage on the ground rather than in feeders.
Distinguished by their “mohawks” and reddish-orange beaks, both genders remain year-round residents in South Carolina.
Northern Cardinals are non-migratory birds, meaning that once you draw them to your yard they are likely to stay there year-round.
Natural fruits that attract these birds include blueberry bushes, mulberry trees, and other dark-colored berries. Bird seeds that have been known to attract Cardinals include black oil sunflower, cracked corn, suet, mealworms, peanuts, safflower, striped sunflower, and sunflower hearts and chips.
In many cultures throughout the world, the vibrant red color of the cardinal is a symbol of good luck and abundance. It is also said to represent vitality. If a cardinal crosses your path, it is meant to give you strength and hope.”
Photo Credit: ©️2013 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved
Location: Lancaster County, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Thursday Doors: 06.27
Doors of Hearst Castle
Hearst Castle, known formally as La Cuesta Encantada (Spanish for “The Enchanted Hill”), is a historic estate in San Simeon, located on the Central Coast of California.
Conceived by William Randolph Hearst, the publishing tycoon, and his architect Julia Morgan, the castle was built between 1919 and 1947.
Currently, Hearst Castle is a museum open to the public as a California State Park and registered as a National Historic Landmark and California Historical Landmark.
Interestingly, Hearst, his castle and his lifestyle were satirized by Orson Welles in his 1941 film Citizen Kane. Hearst sought to suppress this film and Welles’ allusions to his art collections ( paintings, statues, pictures, etc) and his references to acquiring so many acquisitions to equal enough for ten museums being the loot of the world.
Photo Credit:©️1979 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Location: Hearst Castle; San Simeon, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting Hearst Castle with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Don’t Be Square —- Enjoy Plants Thriving
Plants Thriving
Around the Neighbourhood
AKA Annual Sowthistle,
Common Sowthistle
Grape Velvet
AKA Lemon Daylily, Lemon Lily,
Yellow Daylily
AKA the Spear thistle, Bull thistle,
or Common thistle
AKA Prairie fleabane, Daisy fleabane, Common Eastern fleabane
Sunday Stills: June-Plant Life
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Huntingtowne Neighbourhood; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Plants in my neighborhood. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Words for Thought #24
—- Romans 8:32 (NIV)
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. Have a wonderful week and enjoy the Outdoors. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Judy’s Number Game #27 – 148
A Scattering of Pix
from Here to There
From Here —- Road Work in the Neighbourhood …
Huntingtowne Neighbourhood;
Gastonia, North Carolina
Taking a Break … Maneuvering around the Roadwork …
Huntingtowne Neighbourhood;
Gastonia, North Carolina
From Over Yonder … Looking Over the Geological Layers of the Grand Canyon …
Moving Further Westward … Wishing we could Cool off in this Magnificent Historical Pool …
San Simeon, California
Deciding that won’t be allowed … Returning to our own Carolinas … to be Refreshed in the Catawba River …
Piedmont Medical Center Trail;
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Back Here … Thinking of Family.
Lancaster, South Carolina
Photo Credit: 1-2)©️2024 Deb L. Waters; 3-6, ≠5) ©️1963-1979 Nornal H. Waters; 5)©️2022 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Thank you for Scattering the Pix with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Rectangular Monochrome Monday Windows
This is Great Falls Elementary School (formerly called Mebane Grammar School.) This is the school my dad attended when he was growing up in Great Falls, South Carolina.
Lens-Artists Challenge #305-Rectangles
Photo Credit:©️1963 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Location: Mebane Grammar School; aka Great Falls Elementary School; Great Falls, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Macro Monday: 06.24
Delicious Delectable Devoured
Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. Enjoy Nature. Smell the fragrant flowers. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 PULL Up a Seat – Week 25
Coleman’s Choices
This week’s Pull Up a Seat selections were determined by Coleman. We walked around the neighbourhood and after walking for several blocks he decided he wanted to Pull Up a Seat at the picnic table outside of the Walmart Neighborhood Market which is used mainly by employees.
We get up and continue on our walk where he sees a rock he figures would be a nice place to Pull Up a Seat. We hadn’t walked far when he chose to sit a spell, but I was fine with that since I had taken a tumble upon the uneven torn up asphalt.
After catching our breath, we continued walking ending up at the school playground. Coleman always finds places he can Pull Up a Seat in a playground.
Sometimes he chose the slide …
… Or at the top of a climbing structure …
… Or on a Swing.
It doesn’t seem to matter to him where he Pulls Up a Seat. He’s having fun, so it doesn’t matter to me either.
Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Thank you for walking with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Signs to Welcome your Presence
Everywhere you go there are signs to Welcome your presence. Welcome you to come into a store, Welcome you to a town, Welcome you to a Greenway, and even Welcoming children to a Playground.
Let’s start with our Welcome to a favourite store in Amish Country, Ohio called Lehman’s. Lehman’s provides products that Amish and Englishers alike desire to purchase and meets the needs of those desiring a simpler lifestyle.
Kidron, Ohio
Next up is a Greenway constructed in the last five years in Lancaster. The Lindsay Pettus Greenway was intentionally designed as a hard-surface trail to ensure that people of all mobility levels can smoothly access the trail. By doing so, everyone can connect to places of interest and engage with nature. This Greenway is a place where everyone can freely enjoy over two traffic-free miles of nature in the heart of Lancaster County.
The Lindsay Pettus Greenway
Lancaster, South Carolina
On one of our visits to the North Carolina mountains we stayed in West Jefferson while attending a family reunion in Deep Gap. After the reunion, we walked around the Historic Downtown area of West Jefferson and discovered many interesting places and sights including the Ashe County Cheese Factory. The Ashe County Cheese is just a short ways down a side street from this sign. There you may watch cheese being made & then go straight across the road and buy some freshly made cheese in any flavour that suits your palate.
Historic Downtown
West Jefferson
West Jefferson, North Carolina
Here we are in the city we currently reside. Welcome to our area of the world.
Gastonia
Main Avenue
Gastonia, North Carolina
One of the places my grandson, Coleman, likes me to take him to is the Playground at the local YMCA. Approaching the Playground we notice the sign Welcoming us (especially children) to the Playspace.
to Your
Playspace!
YMCA
Gastonia, North Carolina
Time for us to go home and relax. You are Welcome to visit our area anytime.
Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Welcome
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Weekend FOTD: 06.22/23
Hydrangea Nikko Blue
Photo Credit:©️Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Huntingtowne Neighbourhood; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 FOWC-Cemetery
Familial Grounds
This FOWC is in alignment with the latest of my dad’s slides I have recently (just yesterday) digitized. They are of the familial burial grounds of my paternal grandparents.
of my paternal grandparents
My father took them on one of our trips to visit his dad, his brother, his sister and her family. The location of the cemetery can be walked to through a path off of the street below my grandparents home.
Jan. 18, 1904 – Aug. 3, 1970
My paternal grandmother
This was the first time we (my immediate family) had been to the cemetery since my paternal grandmother’s passing in 1970. When she passed, my dad was the only one of us that could fly back for her funeral service.
This view allows us to see both the Headstone and my paternal grandmother’s Foot Marker in the Greenlawn Cemetery.
Photo Credit: ©️1972 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Location: Greenlawn Cemetery; Great Falls, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the cemetery with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Slow Streaming Over Stones
Upper Waterfalls
Stone Mountain State Park
Leanne’s hosting Monochrome Madness with the theme of Waterfalls this week. To join the challenge just post photos of waterfalls on your blog and tag Monochrome Madness or leave a pingback to Leanne’s Monochrome Madness post.
My eldest son and I took a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway back in the Fall of 2017 as a way to celebrate his birthday. During our drive we stopped at several overlooks prior to stopping at Stone Mountain State Park in North Carolina. At Stone Mountain State Park there is the Upper and Lower Waterfalls you may hike towards.
We hiked along Stone Mountain Loop Trail to view the Upper Waterfalls. I took several photos along the route as we watched the Waterfall cascading down over Stone Mountain.
Enjoy the view, however, I would prefer you not to YAWN during the viewing. I would hope it would not bore you but rather enable you to dawn a smile instead.
Can you just visualize the water streaming down over the stones?
The Waterfall slowly increases its strength and speed as it continuously cascades down the Mountain.
Monochrome Madness-Waterfalls moving
Jez’s Water water Everywhere #224
Photo Credit:©️2017 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 7 Plus
Location: Stone Mountain State Park; Roaring Gap, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for viewing the Waterfalls at Stone Mountain State Park with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Floral Friday: Colouring Flowers #25
Pot of Flowers & Strawberries
Via Zen Color App
God Bless. Enjoy Nature. Take time to Smell the Flowers. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
2024 OWS: June 16 — Green
Green in the Garden
Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Green
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Words for Thought #23
— 1 Thessalonians 5:11
New International Version (NIV)
Photo Credit: ©️1979 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Location: Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument; Hearst Ranch; San Simeon, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. Have a wonderful week and enjoy the Outdoors. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 LAPC #304: Behind
Ritva is this week’s host for the Lens-Artist Photography Challenge; she has chosen the theme of behind. What backgrounds to choose may seem easy, but some thought process may determine just the right background & balance you what to achieve and capture when you are snapping your photos.
Beckhamville, Chester, South Carolina, USA
BATTLE OF BECKHAMVILLE
May 1780
Inscription.
British under Houseman surprised and
defeated by band of 33 patriots under
Capt. John McLure with 9 Gaston
brothers and neighbors, who struck
first blow for liberty and resisted
attempt to subject people to oath of
allegiance to king.
Erected.
By Citizens of Chester County
Mary Adair Chapter DAR
May 10, 1942
This Historical Marker was taken by my father in the summer of 1963. It is located at 34° 35.424′ N, 80° 55.194′ W in Beckhamville, South Carolina. Beckhamville is located in Chester County just south of Great Falls where my dad grew up. You can find the Marker at the intersection of State Highway 97 and State Highway 99, on the left when traveling east on State Highway 97.
The Battle of Beckhamville is recorded to have been fought during the Revolutionary War around June 6, 1780. This was following the disasters at Charleston and Waxhaws where Patriot forces struck a blow against the British in South Carolina.
On June 6, 1780, Captain McClure and his small force, wearing hunting shirts, wool hats and deer-skin caps and each armed with a knife and rifle, attacked Houseman and routed about 200 of the gathered loyalists at Alexander’s Old Fields. The Battle of Beckhamville’s victory helped solidify resistance to the Crown in this up country area.
Beckhamville was also known by Beckham’s Old Field and Alexander’s Old Field. Chester County has battlefields, historic markers, monuments, cemeteries, and stories that relate to the important role this area played in our winning our Independence from England.
DAR stands for the Daughters of the American Revolution. The DAR strives to promote the historic preservation, education, and patriotism.
Lens-Artists Challenge #304 – Behind
Photo Credit:©️1963 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Location: Beckhamville, Chester County, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for taking a trip with me to visit an historical marker near my father’s hometown. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Monday Portrait: 06.17
Coleman’s Water 💦
Antics and Expressions
Here you go Clare —- Coleman’s latest … May his antics and expressions bring a smile and a bit of laughter to your day.
Antics and Expressions
in the Water
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Backyard Turtle 🐢 Pool; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Silent Sunday: 06.16
Raised Garden Display
San Diego County Fair
Del Mar, California
Photo Credit:©️2024 Ron May … All Rights Reserved
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 CWWC: June — Week 2
Bridging the Waters
of Time
Thru Architecture
While on our San Francisco Bay Discovery Cruise we were able to see beautiful views surrounding the Bay. We were able to view unique perspectives of the amazing architectural features of the Bay Area Bridges.
Looking at The Golden Gate Bridge from the waters below …
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the one-mile-wide (1.6 km) strait connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
The structure links the U.S. city of San Francisco, California—the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula—to Marin County, carrying both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1 across the strait.
The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is made up of two (2) bridge segments: a skyway structure/single anchored suspension bridge between Oakland and Yerba Buena Island, and a suspension span from the island to San Francisco. The two (2) are connected by the world’s largest diameter bore tunnel.
The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is the region’s workhorse bridge, carrying more than a third of the traffic of all of the state-owned bridges combined. It is also a jewel along the San Francisco waterfront.
The Eastern Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge underwent an extensive replacement renovation to replace a seismically unsound portion of the Bay Bridge with a new self-anchored suspension bridge (SAS) and a pair of viaducts. The span replacement took place between 2002 and 2013, and is the most expensive public works project in California history. The Eastern Span replacement upgrade was part of a plan to make the bridge more seismically sound. The replacement was necessary due to an earthquake of unanticipated magnitude of the horizontal motion caused by the Loma Prieta Earthquake causing significant damage to the Bay Bridge. It also caused section of a major highway along the bay (a portion of it double-decked) to collapse; repairs on these were completed by the late 1990s.
The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. The Bay Bridge is significant for its influence in the California Bay Area.
Architectural Design
The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge’s multi-modal design is a direct example of the mindset of commuters during the 1930s. Constructed in 1936, the bridge was used to support the increase of automobiles and public transit lines in the early half of the 20th century.
Today the Bridge continues to pay a vital role in transportation as it serves as a major freeway connector for many who travel to and from the Bay Area.
Looking through the my dad’s old slides the photos of these Bridges reminds me of a 70’s song by Simon and Garfunkel called “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
Cee’s Which Way Challenge -June Week 2
Lens-Artists Challenge #303 – Connections
Whatsoever Is Lovely Challenge-2024 Week 23
Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #224
Photo Credit:©️1979 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35mm
Location: San Francisco Bay; San Francisco, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for connecting with us and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Weekend Sky #130
Colourful Sunset
Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all
2024 PULL Up a Seat: Week 24
Seating inside Hearst Castle
Hearst Castle is located up on a hill in San Simeon, the land was originally purchased by George Hearst. After his & his wife’s passing, the ownership of the property was transferred to William Randolph Hearst, their son.
William Randolph Hearst expanded on the property growing it to encompass approximately 250,00 acres. In 1919, Hearst collaborated with San Francisco architect Julia Morgan to build what would later become one of the world’s greatest showplaces and later an accredited museum.
The site originally known as “Camp Hill” was renamed “La Cuesta Encantada” which is Spanish for The Enchanted Hill.
After the passing of William Randolph Hearst, the estate opened its doors to the public in 1958. Hearst Castle comprising 90,000 square feet and Hearst’s world-class art collection. The property includes its own theater, billiard room, beauty salon and pair of dazzling swimming pools.
Among the rooms you can view while touring the Castle are:
- Grand Social Rooms of Casa Grande —the largest house at Hearst Castle.
- Assembly Room — located on the ground floor.
- Refectory — where Hearst hosted lavish dinner parties and social occasions.
- Billiard Room — where guests could relax and play billiards and pool.
- Theatre — Hearst joined his guests here to watch movies and newsreels.
- Doge’s Suite — here guests can admire the magnificent painted antique ceiling, marble balcony and Mountain View’s.
- Main Library — It has an impressive collection containing more than 4,000 books.
- Gothic Suite — located on the third floor it contains Hearst’s most treasured collections and sacred objects.
There are many more areas and rooms you may tour at Hearst Castle. The sculptures and architecture are amazing to see. As you can see, the various rooms have a variety of seating selections; each selection was once used by the vast number of guests visiting the property.
When touring the Castle ( depending on your choice of tour) you may learn about the paintings, sculptures, antiquities, tapestries and other works that comprise Hearst’s collection.
The Enchanted Hill doubled as a museum, bringing together centuries-old masterpieces in one stunning setting. These historic objects can still be viewed today among Hearst’s gardens, guest houses and Casa Grande.
Even though you can view and admire the numerous spacious rooms and seating arrangements around Hearst Castle, they are only for admiration and not for tourists to currently use.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 24
Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (aka, FOWC) – Roomy
Photo Credit:©️1979 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Location: Hearst Castle; San Simeon, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Thursday Doors
Historic Tack Shed Doors
At the Greenway Stables you’ll always need a place to store your tack and what better place than in an historic tack shed.
Now for a closer inspection …
And for a bonus Let’s cool off with a Kona Ice. Shall we?
Photo Credit: 2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Thursday Trios: 06.13
Welcome to Our Hive
Bee 🐝 Happy
Photo Credit: 2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm; Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
2024 Monochrome Madness #10: People
Throwback to 1974/5
Aboard the Queen Mary
I have been reminiscing about the good old days as I go thru processing my dad’s old slides into a digital format. These are from 1974 and 1975 when we toured the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California.
Here I am looking out over the ships railing into the parking lot waiting for everyone to climb aboard.
Other people are milling about conversing with one another as they wait for the tour to proceed.
Let’s take a gander over yonder at the Pacific Ocean . Isn’t it amazing how vast and beautiful the views are watching the ripples in the ocean waters.
Hey look, there’s a father and son looking out over towards Long Beach.
What do you know? Seems somebody took a photo of my mom and dad.
Are you ready? The tour is over and people are waiting for us to disembark.
Thank you for joining us on our tour of the Queen Mary.
Photo Credit:©️1974-5 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35mm
Location: Aboard the Queen Mary; Long Beach, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Birds of the Carolinas #10
Barred Owl
Strix varia
The Barred Owl is often spotted in the various Greenways throughout South Carolina. Two of the Greenways they have been seen in are; 1) Lindsay Pettus Greenway located in Lancaster and 2) Anne Springs Close Greenway located in Fort Mill.
The Barred Owl (Strix varia) is the most commonly seen owl in South Carolina since they are often active during dawn and dusk. It is a large, round-headed owl with no ear tufts and a reasonably long, rounded tail. Its back is a mottled brown, the belly is buff coloured with vertical streaking, and the chest is horizontally barred. It has a yellow bill and dark eyes.
The barred owl is distributed throughout most of the eastern United States, as well as much of southern Canada. Barred Owls live in large, mature forests made up of both deciduous trees and evergreens, often near water. They nest in tree cavities. They usually choose cavities six to twelve metres above the ground in tall trees.
Barred Owls can be found in many areas around the state. Still, the best places to find this owl are Sumter National Forest, Francis Marion National Forest, and Clemson Experimental Forest. In Lancaster and York Counties the Barred Owls are seen in the area Greenways near Lakes, Creeks, and Rivers. Most often spotted nestled high up in trees along the water banks.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 