Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography
This blog is for my insights on life, the Bible, hiking adventures with my grandson and whatever is important to me
Pull Up a Seat by a Window
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 50
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Cramer Memorial United Methodist Church; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
On a Parade Float
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 49
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera:Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Catawba Street; Parade Route; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Tis the Season for Parades and all things Christmasy. Enjoy your upcoming holiday. Have a wonderful weekend. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
What makes me smile? My grandson, Coleman makes me smile. Spending time in any one of our Warm Places makes me smile. Spending time out in nature, especially with Coleman, makes me smile and feeling all warm inside. Coleman loves to spend time by the Catawba River. There are several different areas by the Catawba River we enjoy spending time at. This week we enjoyed spending time on a warm sunny afternoon at Riverside Park and Greenway. It makes me smile when I am able to watch Coleman having a Funtastic time playing by the Catawba River. On this day he was having a fabulous time playing in the sand along the banks of the South Fork Catawba River at Riverside Park and Greenway.
Here are a spattering of photos depicting some of what makes me Smile and Warm Inside in one of our Warm places.
Lens-Artists Challenge #326-This Made Me Smile
Cosmic Photo Challenge-In My Warm Place
Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #247
Photo Credit: (c) 2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved
Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very muchg.
Kayaks on the River
Capturing kayakers enjoying an afternoon on the South Fork Catawba River as seen from the banks at Riverside Park and Greenway in Cramerton, North Carolina. Care to Pull Up a Seat and join the fun on the South Fork Catawba River?
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 48
Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #247
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: South Fork Catawba River; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #247
Photo Credit: © 2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: South Fork Catawba River; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. Have a wonderful week and enjoy nature. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Pulling Up a Seat
in
Downtown Cramerton
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 47
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Downtown Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The Ragtag Prompt of Seesaw fits right into some of the pictures of Coleman I took this past weekend at Goat Island Park and Greenway. The Goat Island Park’s Playground only opened back up this past weekend after having been closed for renovations to repair damage generated by the strong winds and storms which caused flooding to the Greenway’s Playground and a majority of the rest of the Greenway.
When we went to the playground Coleman was hoping to be able to not only play on the playground’s equipment, but also with other children. However, that is not exactly how it worked out. Yes, he was able to play on the various playground equipment including the Seesaw, but not with other children. Other parents or grandparents kept their children at a distance from other children playing in the playground. Thus the many facial expressions displayed by Coleman. He found it difficult to enjoy playing on the Seesaw especially when no other child would get on the Seesaw with him. I tried getting on the Seesaw with him, however, that didn’t work so we. My end sank all the way to the ground and he was stuck up in the air until I could manage to extend my legs for my end to go up. (Actually I ended up having to get off for his end to come down.) Here are photos of Coleman Pulling Up a Seat on the Seesaw.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 45
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Goat Island Playground; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Playground with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. Have a wonderfully funtastic day. I appreciate y’all very much.
Judy invites us all to play along with her each week for her Numbers Game. To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find that include that number and post a link to your blog in my Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title.
Once Silent, Now Lively
The playground at Goat Island Park and Greenway had been “Silent” since the winds and storms caused by Hurricane Helene came through our area flooding many a Greenway including Goat Island Greenway. While there is still work to be done around the Greenway and the playground area, enough has been done to allow the playground to mostly reopen with the exception of the big green slide and a few other insignificant areas (at least as far as the children are concerned). The Goat Island Park and Greenway’s Playground now welcomes children once again inviting them to play, climb, and enjoy its equipment; hence the Playground is Alive and Lively once more.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 45
Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2024 Week 45
Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #243
Photo Credit: © 2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Interesting and Beautiful Finds
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 45
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Pull Up a Seat
On A Trio
of Haystacks
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 43
Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
I miss Cee when I do not see her posts and pray she is well. I love Squaring for Becky & appreciate all she & Cee do for our blogosphere.
Autumn in the Greenway
I am also linking this post to Judy’s Numbers Game #44-165 using Autumn 🍂 as my theme for the Challenge.
Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2024 Week 42
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 42
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Lake Haigler and Stables Entrances; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful weekend. Take care. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
This is my Fifteenth & Final installment of my combination of Thursday Doors & Monday Window featuring Antique Automobiles.
My dad loved cars shows, history, and anything to do with FORD. He started working for a FORD dealership while in high school in Great Falls, South Carolina. He worked there until he joined the United States Navy in 1948. After leaving the Navy, he again went to work for a FORD dealership. This time he worked of Pearson Ford in San Diego, California and continued working for FORD until he retired.
This week I’ll be showing three Antique Automobiles from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The Haynes Automobile Company, better known as Haynes, was an American automotive manufacturer that was established in 1905. The company produced a range of cars that included open and closed top offerings such as the Light Six and Light Twelve. Haynes was operational until 1924, when the company declared bankruptcy, before being entirely dissolved in 1925.
The Oakland Motor Car Company located out of Pontiac, Michigan was an American automobile manufacturer and a division of General Motors. The company was named for Oakland County, Michigan where it was based.The first Oakland used a vertical two-cylinder engine that rotated counterclockwise. The Oakland’s were first produced in 1908 with a production of 278 vehicles. General Motors acquired the rights to the Oakland just one year later in 1909. GM continued production of the Oakland automobiles until 1931.
The American Locomotive Company (ALCO) was found in 1901. The company was successful in manufacturing locomotives which included massive steam trains that traversed America. Having succeeded in producing locomotives, the company began to build automobiles in 1905. They boasted that their vehicles were so well built that each one took 19 months to complete. In 1909 and 1910, ALCO won the Vanderbilt Cup, and it competed in the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911.
This car is one of 12 surviving Alcos and one of still fewer propelled by a 487 cubic-inch four-cylinder engine with dual-chain drive to the rear wheels. It resided at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum from 1961 through 2011, when it was purchased by its current owner.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 40
Photo Credit:©️1985 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with us. Thank sharing your time and thoughts with us. Have a wonderful weekend. I appreciate y’all very much.
Boone, North Carolina
Comparing the Doc Watson “Man of the People” Statue from 2016 to 2024. The first photo was taken when I was in Boone, North Carolina for a family reunion. [Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson is my fourth cousin].
The Statue was dedicated on June 24, 2011. It commemorates the Grammy Award-winning artist and Watauga County (Deep Gap) native Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson. The depiction of “Doc” Watson sitting on a bench playing a model of his favorite guitar, customized Gallagher was created
Alexander M. Hallmark, a local Blowing Rock, NC, Sculptor. The inscription on the statue reads Doc Watson / “Just one of the People.”
The bronze statue of Doc Watson is located at the Northeast corner of North Depot and West King streets in downtown Boone, North Carolina.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
This is my Fourteenth installment of my combination of Thursday Doors & Monday Window featuring Antique Automobiles.
My dad loved cars shows, history, and anything to do with FORD. He started working for a FORD dealership while in high school in Great Falls, South Carolina. He worked there until he joined the United States Navy in 1948. After leaving the Navy, he again went to work for a FORD dealership. This time he worked of Pearson Ford in San Diego, California and continued working for FORD until he retired.
This week I’ll be showing five Automobiles from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 39
Photo Credit:©️1985 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with us. Thank sharing your time and thoughts with us. Have a wonderful weekend. I appreciate y’all very much.
This is my Thirteenth installment of my combination of Thursday Doors & Monday Window featuring Antique Automobiles.
My dad loved cars shows, history, and anything to do with FORD. He started working for a FORD dealership while in high school in Great Falls, South Carolina. He worked there until he joined the United States Navy in 1948. After leaving the Navy, he again went to work for a FORD dealership. This time he worked of Pearson Ford in San Diego, California and continued working for FORD until he retired.
This week we are continuing with Antique Automobiles from the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation with four Antique Automobiles from 1903 – 1952. Displaying the Antique Automobiles from most recent to oldest.
An interesting fact about this 1940 Chrysler Crown Imperial is that it was an Official Parade Car which carried VIPs through New York City for almost 20 years.
It carried more than a hundred dignitaries including politicians, military leaders, diplomats. They rode in the car in ticker-tape parades through Manhattan’s famed “Canyon of Heroes.” Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ralph Bunche, Winston Churchill and A. Philip Randolph were just some of the parade car’s many distinguished passengers.
This 1903 Packard Model F is known as “Old Pacific.” In 1903 it became the second car to cross the United States.
Hope you enjoyed seeing the Antique Automobiles from the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. Next week I’ll be showing Automobiles from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. Till next time, stay safe. Stay Strong. Stay Enthusiastic and Stay Positive.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 39
Photo Credit:©️1985 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Location: Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation; Dearborn, Michigan, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation with us. Thank sharing your time and thoughts with us. Have a wonderful weekend. I appreciate y’all very much.
For Tina’s Lens-Artist Challenge this week I chose to show a recent neighbourhood belonging to a friend which we meandered around to check out the area. Our friend’s neighbourhood is in southern Lancaster County in South Carolina.
We enjoyed our stroll through the neighbourhood; hope you enjoyed sharing our walk.
Tina’s Lens-Artists Challenge #317 – Walking the Neighbourhood
Xingfumama’s Pull Up A Seat challenge
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Springdale, Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Waiting For Guests
Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Waiting
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 38
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Springdale, Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
This is my Twelfth installment of my combination of Thursday Doors & Monday Window featuring Antique Automobiles.
My dad loved cars shows, history, and anything to do with FORD. He started working for a FORD dealership while in high school in Great Falls, South Carolina. He worked there until he joined the United States Navy in 1948. After leaving the Navy, he again went to work for a FORD dealership. This time he worked of Pearson Ford in San Diego, California and continued working for FORD until he retired
This week we are continuing with Antique Automobiles from the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation with four Antique Automobiles from 1908-1949.
Next week I’ll be continuing with Antique Automobiles from the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan. Then the week after I’ll be showing Automobiles from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. Till next time, stay safe. Stay Strong. Stay Enthusiastic and Stay Positive.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 38
Photo Credit:©️1985 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Location: Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation; Dearborn, Michigan, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation with us. Thank sharing your time and thoughts with us. Have a wonderful rest of your week. I appreciate y’all very much.
Seven Arcade Games
Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location:Springdale, Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all.
Ritva with Ritva Sillanmäki Photography is hosting this week’s Lens-Artist Photography Challenge. She is challenging us to show Common Objects highlighting the ordinary we might not otherwise think to capture.
Here are my entries for Ritva’s Lens-Artist this week.
Lens-Artist Photo Challenge #315-Common Objects
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Here are my entries for Judy’s Numbers Game for this week. These are all from 2017, seven (7) years ago. Previous Memories.
Becky’s Squares-#Seven for September
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. Have a wonderful weekend. I appreciate y’all very much.
This is my Eleventh installment of my combination of Thursday Doors & Monday Window featuring Antique Automobiles.
My dad loved cars shows, history, and anything to do with FORD. He started working for a FORD dealership while in high school in Great Falls, South Carolina. He worked there until he joined the United States Navy in 1948. After leaving the Navy, he again went to work for a FORD dealership. This time he worked of Pearson Ford in San Diego, California and continued working for FORD until he retired.
Last week I began posting Antique Automobiles from Washington D.C. and this week we are at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan.
This week we are continuing with Antique Automobiles from the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation with four Antique Automobiles from 1911-1929.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 37
Photo Credit:©️1985 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Location: Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation; Dearborn, Michigan, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation with us. Thank sharing your time and thoughts with us. Have a wonderful rest of your week. I appreciate y’all very much.
Here are a few REDS for your selection to Pull Up a Seat and catch your breath. Maybe you’d enjoy taking a trip in a mini
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 37
Becky’s Squares-#Seven for September
Photo Credit: 1-4) ©️1979 Nornal H. Waters (my dad); 5)©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: 1-4) Minolta XG-7 35 mm; 5) iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
This is my Tenth installment of my combination of Thursday Doors & Monday Window featuring Antique Automobiles. For the past seven weeks I’ve been posting Antique Automobiles from California. Last week I will began posting Antique Automobiles from Washington D.C. and this week we are at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan.
First Ford Mustang
My dad loved cars shows, history, and anything to do with FORD. He started working for a FORD dealership while in high school in Great Falls, South Carolina. He worked there until he joined the United States Navy in 1948. After leaving the Navy, he again went to work for a FORD dealership. This time he worked of Pearson Ford in San Diego, California and continued working for FORD until he retired.
I have always loved Ford Mustangs, however, the closest I ever came to owning one was a toy orange mustang Ford came out with back in the 60’s.
I’d love a ride in a Ford Mustang; anyone want to Pull Up a Seat & ride along with me. [This one is NOT for riding in though.] We could ride in a different FORD, but it wouldn’t be the same as riding along the Pacific Coast Highway in an Antique FORD Mustang.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 35
Photo Credit:©️1985 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Location: Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation; Dearborn, Michigan, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation with us. Thank sharing your time and thoughts with us. Have a wonderful rest of your week. I appreciate y’all very much.
This is my Ninth installment of my combination of Thursday Doors & Monday Window featuring Antique Automobiles. For the past seven weeks I’ve been posting Antique Automobiles from California. Last week I will began posting Antique Automobiles from Washington D. C. and now continuing on from the East Coast before moving on to Dearborn, Michigan.
This week I decided to post photos of antique automobiles from the Rohr Museum of Antique Cars. I am not sure if this museum was apart of the National Museum of American History’s Smithsonian Automobile Collection in Washington D.C. or a separate museum possibly in Manassas, Virginia. I have googled the museum but cannot find any information regarding the Rohr Antique Automobile Museum. I do know my parents toured the National Museum of American History in D.C. and then drove through Manassas to my brother’s home before driving to Dearborn, Michigan.
In these photos you can see the Virginia license plates and the Rohr Museum Antique Cars sign hanging near a window. Next week I’ll be showing antique automobiles and such from Dearborn, Michigan. Stay tuned for further adventures into the Antique Automobile World.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-34
Photo Credit:©️1985 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Location: National Museum of American History; Washington D.C., USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
For this week in doing Cee’s Which WayMy Way I’m choosing a theme of Any Roads, Any Pathways, or Any Trails. Basically Any Which Way you choose; be sure we can see your Which Ways Clearly. And as always, signs are welcome anytime. I’d love for y’all to join me in posting your Which Ways you have Chosen to Share. Remember to link your Which Way posts to Cee’s Which Way here or if you wish you can link to My Which Way here.
Road Trippin’ USA #2
Which Ways
Washington D.C.
In the Summer of 1985 my parents went Road Trippin’ across the United States of America. They began their Road Trip leaving from their home in San Diego, California. They always planned what or whom they wanted to visit ahead of time.
On the road again, their next planned stop was in Washington D.C. after a side visit to my brother near Manassas, Virginia. My parents toured many of the historical sites and monuments around the area. Some of the sites were seen via a tour bus while others were seen via self-guided walking tour routes. They toured the Bureau of Engraving and Printing Building, the National Museum of American History, The Washington Monument, The Lincoln Memorial, The Smithsonian Castle, Capitol Hill and the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial Statue. What would be your interests if you toured Washington D.C. or your country’s Capitol?
Here you may see some of the Roads, Routes, or Pathways they took on their tour of D.C.:
The last photo isn’t exactly a pathway unless you consider going round and round on a merry-go-round one you’d also enjoy taking on occasion.,
Next week I’ll continue with their Road Trippin’ adventures for My Which Way of Cee’s Which Way Challenge.
Photo Credit: ©️1985 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35mm
Location: Washington D.C., USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
This is my Eighth installment of my combination of Thursday Doors & Monday Window featuring Antique Automobiles. For the past seven weeks I’ve been posting Antique Automobiles from California. This week I will begin posting Antique Automobiles from Washington D. C. and then moving on to Dearborn, Michigan.
Today’s featured Antique Automobile comes from the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C..
Willys MB
U.S. military vehicle of WW II
“Jeep”
The Willys MB was formally called the U.S. Army truck, 1/4-ton, 4×4, command reconnaissance. It was commonly known as the Willys Jeep, Jeep, or jeep. The Willys Jeeps were highly successful American off-road capable, light military utility vehicles.
There were greater than 600,000 Willy MB built to a single standardized design, for the United States and the Allied forces in World War II, from 1941 until 1945. It was highly regarded, by Dwight D. Eisenhower, as one of the five pieces of equipment most vital to success in Africa and Europe. In 1991, the MB Jeep was designated an “International Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark” by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
After World War II, the original Jeep continued to serve in the Korean War as well as other conflicts until updates were done with the M38 Willys MC in 1949and later the M38A1 Willys MD in 1952.
Interestingly enough, the Willys Jeep was the inspiration for recreational 4WDs and SUVs, making “four-wheel drive” a household term, and numerous incarnations of military light utility vehicles.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 33
Photo Credit:©️1985 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Location: National Museum of American History; Washington D.C., USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
California Marriott’s
Great America Addition #5
THE LOBSTER
Continuing our adventures from long ago at California’s Great America; we come to segment #5 of the series with The Lobster; won’t you Pull Up a Seat and ride with us.
At Marriott’s Great America in Santa Clara, California; The Lobster was located in the Yankee Harbor section of the amusement park. The ride in Santa Clara opened for the public in 1976. This Lobster was an Eyerly Aircraft Monster ride.
This Lobster has six (6) arms with the end of each arm having four (4) passenger cars. The Lobster in Santa Clara ride had to lower two arms at a time to allow for the unloading and loading of eight passenger cars simultaneously. This was repeated two additional times per cycle to complete the unloading and loading for all six (6) arms.
This outing was so long ago I do not remember if I rode this ride or not, but then again my dad did take the shot.
You can no longer ride this particular Lobster ride since the Santa Clara location of Great America closed, however, you may ride a similar one at the Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 32
Photo Credit:©️1979 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Converter: Wolverine Digital Converter
Location: Santa Clara, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for Pulling Up a Seat with Us. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
California Marriott’s
Great America Addition #4
Continuing our adventures from long ago at California’s Great America; we come to segment #4 of the series with a Ferris Wheel; won’t you Pull Up a Seat and ride with us.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 31
Photo Credit:©️1979 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Converter: Wolverine Digital Converter
Location: Santa Clara, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for Pulling Up a Seat with Us. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
To play along with Judy’s Numbers Game simply go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a choice of the photos you find under that number and include a link to your blog in my Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title.
I have chosen to pick a word to select my photos for this week’s Numbers Game hosted by Judy Dykstra-Brown’s blog. The Word I have chosen is Zoo. My selections come from four different zoos.
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Greenville Zoo
San Diego Wild Animal Park
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 31
Jez’s Water Water Evverywhere #230
Photo Credit: Sets 1-3) ©️2012-2022 Deb L. Waters; 4th Set)©️1979 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: 1-3) Canon EOS Rebel T3i; 4) Minolta XG-7 35 mm
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Zoos with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much. Have a wonderful day.
To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post your choice of photos you find under that number and include a link to your blog in my Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title.
Visiting the
Sequoia National Forest
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…” “You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So… get on your way!”HERE THERE
ANYWHERE EVERYWHERE
The places You’ll GO!
~ Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go
Dr. Seuss’s’ book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” is most often thought of as a children’s book, but it is sometimes given as a gift to a graduate. Inferring to the amazing places and things a graduate can do. Did you ever wonder what places your parents went to without you or without your knowledge? Have you ever wondered about the kinds of things they did either as they were growing up or after you became an adult?
It’s interesting to see some of the things my parents did with and without me in years past. I honestly don’t recall every outing or trip we took together as a family. What is more surprising though is I do not remember them going off for weekend outings or week long trips and leaving me home. Mind you now, most of these trips/outings, took place after I was out of high school and supposedly a grown adult.
Yes, I was an adult, but I was only working part time and going to school. As I look over my dad’s slides, I wonder where I was. What was I doing when they were off to the mountains or wherever they were off gallivanting around with their friends?
With all that in mind, these photos were taken when they went up to the Sequoias with their friends from church (just adults not children, well then we were all adults now).
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 30
Photo Credit:©️1979 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Locations: Sequoia National Park; Tulare County; and Hume Lake Christian Camps; Hume, Fresno County, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Sequoias with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much. Have a wonderful day.
California Marriott’s
Great America Addition #3
Continuing our adventures from long ago at California’s Great America; we come to segment #3 of the series with another roller coaster ride, won’t you Pull Up a Seat and ride with us.
Did you spot me on the ride? Let me know if you did. These were good times with family. Memories are a wonderful reminder of past experiences and remind us to be grateful for everything in our lives.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 30
Photo Credit:©️1979 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Converter: Wolverine Digital Converter
Location: Santa Clara, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for Pulling Up a Seat with Us. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
California Marriott’s
Great America Addition #2
This week we are continuing our adventures from August 1979 allowing y’all to imagine the experience and excitement of Pulling Up a Seat with us … Let’s Ride!
… California’s Great America’s Willard Whizzer Roller Coaster in Santa Clara, California. A transition roller coaster was introduced later on in 1986 called Grizzly Roller Coaster, which helped kids adapt from the kiddie roller coaster versions of Lucy’s Crabbie Cabbies and Woodstock Express to more grown-up thrills.
Willard’s Whizzer’s hills and ground-hugging curves gave riders a heightened impression of speed. Lacking inversions, the coaster has been a favorite of families. In the beginning, the ride didn’t have lap bars or seat belts. Small children rode side by side with a parent helping them to feel comfortable and protected. The forces of the ride were designed to keep well-behaved riders in their seats according to the laws of physics. For many children, at the time, this was their very first “big” roller coaster ride.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 29
Photo Credit:©️1979 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Location: Santa Clara, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Pathways and/or Passages
According the Oxford Dictionary, a Pathway is a path which you can walk along or a route you can take and a Passage is a way of exit or entrance; the act or process of moving through, under, over, or past something on the way from one place to another.
This week I am combining Cee’s Which Way with Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge doing it My Way. I have chosen to post pathways and/or passages at Marriott’s Great America in Santa Clara, California.
Aerial Views of
Pathways at
Marriott’s Great America
Pathways Around the Shops
and Places to
Pull Up a Seat
at Marriott’s Great America
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 28
Photo Credit: ©️1979 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35mm
Location: Marriott’s Great America, Santa Clara, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
California Marriott’s
Great America Addition #1
Pull Up a Seat on Willard’s Whizzer …
The Whizzer is a steel roller coaster located in the Hometown Square section of Marriott’s Great America. This one pictured here was taken at The California Marriott’s Great America amusement park in April of 1979.
The Whizzer, originally named “Willard’s Whizzer,” was one of two identical roller coasters built for each of the Marriott’s Great America parks. The Whizzer roller coasters made their debut when the parks opened in May of 1976.
The California Great America Whizzer operated from 1976-1988. My family visited the California location of Marriott’s Great America in Santa Clara, California in April of 1979. I am not sure if I actually Pulled Up a Seat and ride the roller coaster or not (I’m not too keen on large high-speed roller coasters.) The second location for Marriott’s Great America (currently known as Six Flags Great America) is in Gurnee, Illinois.
From the very beginning, both versions of Whizzer suffered with problems surrounding the braking system. The braking system would sometimes allow the trains to collide in the station. From 1976-1979, there were at least 11 recorded instances of station collisions on the California’s Great America version, resulting in an unknown number of injuries. The Illinois’ Great America Whizzer also had two station collisions which occurred less than a month apart in 1976. A total of 31 riders were injured in the Gurnee collisions.
The Steel Roller Coasters were manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf of Germany. These two versions of Whizzer were the last “Speedracer” models ever built.
If you want to have a chance to Pull Up a Seat on the Whizzer, you’ll need to visit the Gurnee, Illinois location of Six Flags Great America.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 27
Photo Credit:©️1979 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Location: Santa Clara, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
A Hodgepodge of Pix
A Hodgepodge of Coleman
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I look forward to seeing y’all’s pictures for Judy’s Numbers Game. I appreciate y’all very much.
Seats Around the Cross
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.
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.
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:
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.
Historic Windows/Doors
FDR’s The Little White House
Growing up we made several vacation trips to the Carolinas from San Diego. On one of our trips to the Carolinas we made a stopover in Georgia to visit Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s (FDR) The Little White House in Warm Springs.
When you arrive at The Little White House Historic Site you walk along the Avenue of Flags ( also called the Walk of Flags and Stones.)
The Walk of Flags and Stones at the Little White House serves as a tribute to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States. Each of the 50 states and Washington D.C. brought a native stone to be put on display at the site.
Moving Forward along through the Walk of Flags and Stones you may notice several stone benches in case you need to Pull Up a Seat and rest a spell. Another option, if you choose, would be to Sit on the bench just outside the front door of The Little White House.
FDR’s The Little White House was his personal retreat and is located in the Historic District of Warm Springs, Georgia. It is a single-story, plain Colonial Revival constructed of Georgia pine.
Architect Toombs expanded the residence in 1932 with a detached garage/servants’ quarters, a guesthouse in 1933 and the Georgia Wilkins Cottage in 1934. The Cottage was later converted into a museum by Toombs in 1959.
The Little White House was originally approached from the cottage area of the rehabilitation center via an unpaved road; it was more secluded than it is today.
While you’re touring The Little White House, you might as well took a look at some of FDR’s vehicles. One of those “vehicles” is the “Tally Ho” stage coach.
The “Tally Ho” stage coach came with the Warm Springs property. FDR and Eleanor dressed up as George and Martha Washington and rode in it for the parade to celebrate his election as NY Governor.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 23
Photo Credit: ©️1972 Nornal H. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Location: FDR’s The Little White House; Warm Springs, Georgia, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
The weather has been hot and Sunny 🌞 during the day and stormy at night. Decided to switch out the sand in my grandson’s “Turtle” for Water 💧 to allow him to enjoy 😊 water playtime in the Warm Sunshine.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 23
Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2024 Week 22
Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #223
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
Video created in Google Utilities -Highlight Video
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Choose Your Way
to the Land of Oz
Cee, I pray you’re better and home soon. In the meanwhile I’m continuing with the CWWC – Any Which Way in my Way until you are back well and able choose a theme. Anyone care to join me, let’s let Cee know we’re thinking and caring about her.
Back in the day there were three (3) ways you could choose from to get to Land of Oz. One could choose the Hot Air Balloon ride, the Gondola Lift, or a shuttle bus to reach the Land of Oz location in Beech Mountain.
The Hot Air Balloon ride up to the Land of Oz offers a different perspective, a different and unique experience and yet similar in approach to the Gondola Lift. Both the Hot Air Balloons and the Gondola Lift operate similar to a ski resorts ski lift would operate.
They are both aerial lifts that uses a continuous cable loop to transport passengers up a mountain. The cable is driven by a bullwheel at each end of the lift, which is usually connected to an electric motor or engine. The cable runs through sheaves at towers that support the cabins, or carriers, as they travel up the mountain. The cabins are attached to the cable by detachable grips that allow for secure boarding and exiting at slow speeds.
Having chosen our method of reaching the top of Beech Mountain for our Land of Oz adventure, we are delighted we are on our way up.
Up, up, up we go … look at our amazing climb through the air. It seems as if I chose to ride in a Hot Air Balloon while others in the family chose to ride in one of the Gondolas.
The Gondolas continue throughout the day to carry visitors to the Land of Oz.
Once you’ve completed your ride, follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City and your adventure begins.
When your tiredness overwhelms you, take a breather from following the Yellow Brick Road and sit a spell and enjoy the show.
The Magic Moment Show was staged every half hour. During the show Dorothy appeared with her friends to meet the Wizard and entertain the park’s guests.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 22
Photo Credit:©️1972 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Location: Land of Oz; Beech Mountain, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for joining our visit to the Land of Oz. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Historic Windows/Doors
The Dickey House is a historic home in Stone Mountain Park, Georgia. It was built in the 1840’s on a 1,000 acre plantation in Dickey, Georgia. The house was the manor house of the property. The descendants of the original owners lived in the home until it was moved 200 miles away to Stone Mountain’s Historic Square in 1961.
The roof, porches, and chimneys were removed and the house was quartered for transport, then reassembled by master carpenters. The house was filled with antiques from the 1800s and was considered a historic representation of the 1860s.
The Dickey House was the focus of the Stone Mountain “antebellum plantation” and the state’s effort to develop a tourist attraction at the site of the Confederate Memorial, a high-relief sculpture of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson that is carved into Stone Mountain.
The Dickey House opened to the public in 1963. More sophisticated than a Georgia “plain style plantation” such as the Tullie Smith House in Atlanta, and less grand than the Gone With the Wind image of Tara as the assumed typical antebellum plantation of the South, the Dickey Plantation, with its collection of period furnishings, collected outbuildings of the era, and gardens, provides a unique illustration of pre–Civil War architecture.
In November of 2023, Nearly 200 years of history went up in flames on a Tuesday morning when a fire broke out consuming the Dickey House in Stone Mountain Park’s Historic Square that predate the Civil War. The fire completely destroyed the home making it irreparable.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 22
Photo Credit:©️1972 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
The Land of Oz theme park based on Frank Baum’s Land of Oz books originally opened in 1970. In 1975 the Carolina Caribbean Corporation, the company who developed Beech Mountain into a tourist destination and built Oz goes bankrupt due to failed investments. The park had closed and after construction of the Emerald City it reopened in 1976 and later closed once again in 1980. The theme park was closed afterwards for many years. Oz then laid abandoned, succumbing to the harsh weather conditions and vandals.
The Land of Oz is a park in North Carolina dedicated to the iconic film Wizard of Oz. It’s a walk-through attraction that was once closed and now opens for the special Autumn of Oz event in the fall each year. The Autumn of Oz festival is currently held in September and the Land of Oz is only open for three weekends a year.
Pull Up A Seat Photo Challenge Week 22
Photo Credit:©️1972 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Location: Land of Oz theme park; Beech Mountain, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Land of Oz with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. Have a wonderful weekend. I appreciate y’all very much.
Zion National Park
In Monochrome
Resting up before the big hike climbing to the top, the Summit of Lost Peak.
on the Summit of Lost Peak
Wow, we made it the Summit. It took all our energy and determination, but we did it. Look at the views, they are so amazingly beautiful. It was worth the strenuous hike to see the spectacular view.
Pull Up A Seat Photo Challenge – Week 21
Becky’s #SquareRenew-Moving Forward
Photo Credit:©️1971 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Location: Zion National Park; near Springdale, Utah, USA
God Bless. Thank you for Moving Forward hiking up to the Summit of Lost Peak with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 