On Monday evening I received a message from my daughter to meet her at the Atrium Health Hospital in Pineville, North Carolina. We previously arranged, when necessary, for Coleman to spend the night with one of our neighbors whom Coleman adores.
On Wednesday evening, Coleman was brought to the hospital to see his mom. He was not told in advance what he would be seeing when he arrived in her room.
Here he is Pulling Up a Seat on her hospital bed …
Coleman Monster Big Brother
At this time, I’m not allowed to post any pictures of whom he was able to meet for the first time (More about that in a future post). Let’s just say, Coleman is a Monster Big Brother now.
Location: Atrium Health Pineville Hospital; Pineville, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Rejoice in God’s wonderful blessings and new life. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Dan, the host for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge is asking us to share photos of Sporting Venues (actually I’m a week late), a specific type of Cultural Venue. Here are my contributions …
Typical Sporting Venues …
Stadiums …
Ohio State University Stadium Texas Rangers Stadium Old San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium
The top two (2) stadiums are ones my cousins and nieces attend to watch their local sporting events. The third (3rd) stadium in San Diego is the old stadium which served as a venue for both the San Diego Padres and the San Diego Chargers. I only attended Padre games here.
Non-typical Sporting Venues …
Racetracks …
Cajon Speedway El Cajon, California
My dad loved watching car races. He grew up watching NASCAR races. The Cajon Speedway was an oval racetrack near El Cajon, California. The racetrack was originally a 0.25 mile dirt oval track which opened in 1961. In 1964 the track was expanded to a 0.375 mile dirt track and then was paved. The track was located between Gillespie Field and the San Vicente Freeway. The track held many Stock Car races throughout the years. Some of the more notable events were USAC National Midget Series, NASCAR Winston West Series, NASCAR Southwest Series, and the USF2000.
The Cajon Speedway ceased operations after the 2004 season and was demolished sometime after the lease ended in 2005. At this time it is unsure if or when a new NASCAR short track will be built on the property.
Horse Shows …
Horse Shows
The top two (2) are from a horse show held on the grounds of the Lake Haigler Entrance for Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The third (3rd) is of a horse show held at the San Diego Wild Animal Park (now known as the San Diego Safari Park) in 1978.
Water Sport Venues …
Water Sport Competitions
The first two (2) are of my eldest son’s high school CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) swim finals competition held in 1998 in Long Beach, California. My son competed in the butterfly event and the 4 x 100 meter medley and the 4 x 400 meter medley relays. The third (3rd) is from a paddling competition at the Port O’ Call, San Pedro, California.
Youth Baseball/T-ball Venues …
Here we have Coleman at his T-ball practice and one of his games on the local T-ball field. The last is of our local high school’s baseball field.
This week John from Journeys with Johnbo is the host for the Lens-Artist Photo Challenge. He has challenged us to post photos of our being On the Move. He has shown us some of the typical ways that people choose to travel (Aka being On the Move). Some of the typical means of being “On the Move” are traveling by car, by train, by airplane, or by a cruise ship or another type of boat.
However, I am not going to show you any typical form of being “On the Move.” You might ask what are some other ways one can be “On the Move?” Well, some of the other methods are walking, running, skiing, skipping, skating, swimming, or our favourite hiking. Even though hiking is Coleman and my favourite method of getting from point A to point B and sometimes C in one day, that is not the method or means of being “On the Move” I am going to show you today.
What method of being “On the Move” am I going to discuss with y’all? Let me tell you. The method is called Curb Walking. Ever heard of Curb Walking? I hadn’t really heard much about it or how or why it is done.
Curb Walking is a unique type of walking which involves walking with one foot on the Curb and the other foot on the street. Ever tried Curb Walking? If you did; did you enjoy it? Was it Beneficial?
My daughter, Trisha, Curb Walking with Coleman close by (not that he’d be much help if she fell, but he’d try).
The uneven gait of Curb Walking is thought to help the pelvis (of pregnant women) to open and shift, which is predicted to encourage the baby to move lower and into a better position for birth.
Curb Walking around the playground at Goat Island Park and Greenway.
Curb Walking can help create flexibility in the hips and pelvic floor over time. It can also be a part of overall exercise for endurance. However, it is not a guaranteed way to start labor.
Trisha Curb Walking around the Playground
How long should you Curb Walking when you first start? It is recommended to begin with 10 minutes. When you are Curb Walking you should listen to your body and take it slow at first. You may gradually increase the duration and frequency (emphasis on gradual). It is suggested to aim for a total of 30 minutes of Curb Walking on the majority of days for overall fitness.
More Curb Walking Starring my daughter.
Before beginning Curb Walking (especially while pregnant), it is highly recommended (if not crucial) to consult your doctor or midwife prior to your first time. (My daughter, however, consulted her physician after her first adventure into Curb Walking). Everyone’s personal health and pregnancy situation is different, so it is best to consult with your medical professional ahead of time. ( I do need to mention she consulted her physician the next day & it was favorable for her to Curb Walk.)
If your doctor gives you the go ahead to begin Curb Walking, it is advised to start between 37 and 39 weeks to specifically try and induce labor. (She is so tired of being pregnant and so ready to meet her daughter.)
Location: Enroute & at Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Take Care. Be safe. And have some fun walking around your surroundings. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Shhh … my daughter doesn’t like her picture taken & doesn’t know I took these.
Judy from Life Lessons blog hosts a weekly photo challenge called The Numbers Game. This week’s number is 218. Her instructions for playing along are listed below …
To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find under that number and include a link to your blog in Judy’s Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title.
Please click on photos to enlarge.
Here are my entries …
Gastonia Bus Terminal Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra)Rooftop Garden Schiele Museum Adventure Center Anne Springs Close Greenway Railroad Trestle ASCGRailroad Trestle ASCGGarden Thyme Schiele Museum North Carolina Transportation Museum Schiele Museum of Natural History Schiele Museum of Natural HistoryColeman Trisha & AlonaAlonaAlona & Coleman Watson Family Reunion 2016John & Jeramiah Watson (My Great Uncle & Great Grandfather)
Judy from Life Lessons blog hosts a weekly photo challenge called The Numbers Game. This week’s number is 217. Her instructions for playing along are listed below …
To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find under that number and include a link to your blog in Judy’s Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title.
Open Food Market in Germany Bakery in San Francisco, CABirkholm’s Bakery & Cafe Solvang, CAJack’s Grocery Julian, CAAshe County Cheese West Jefferson, NCJim’s Produce Deep Gap, NCHarris Teeter Charlotte, NCColeman in Harris Teeter Gastonia, NCAunt Sophrona in front of Deep Gap Cash Store Deep Gap, NCMy Grandpa Harvey Watson & eldest son Marvin Watson Corner Store Coshocton, Ohio
Earlier this month I shared this same New Home Construction featuring its windows. ( You may check it outhere. This week I am featuring the progress on my friend’s New Home Constructionand some of its doors on the interior as well as the exterior.
My friends are so excited, their house passed final inspection and they’ll be moving into their new home soon. The brick has been painted white. All the doors are hung as well as the ceiling fans. Everything is new, exciting, and welcoming for my friends to make it homey.
I became a mom to my first born son and I have loved you since you were a tiny baby growing inside of me. You are my first rainbow 🌈 baby and you may never understand the significance of your birth or the images I still carry in my mind and heart of your sister or brother who never came to live amongst us in this vast world of ours.
I have watched you grow from infancy into adulthood admiring each and everyone of your life’s accomplishments. I have watched you strive to, grow, learn, develop, and thrive in each and every aspect of your life and I am proud of the man you have become today.
I might not have agreed with all of your life’s decisions, but I will stand by you till the end of time. You are my son, a part of me, and no matter what I will always love you forever and always.
Happy Birthday John!
John Thomas Waters III My First Born Son October 7th, 1982 —-
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Judy from Life Lessons blog hosts a weekly photo challenge called The Numbers Game. This week’s number is 214. Her instructions for playing along are listed below …
To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find under that number and include a link to your blog in Judy’s Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title.
Please click on photos to enlarge.
Here are my entries …
My Brother, LarryMe & my Kids at the San Diego ZooJohn, Alona, & Trisha John, Trisha, & DavidTrisha & AlonaTrisha & Alona Trisha & AlonaAlonaPaul (my ‘son’ from another mother)Debbie Kiggans & myself Trisha & Coleman Coleman Coleman My mom & my daughter My Uncle Marvin & my mom
Who was Robert Palone and Why is the Palone Barber Shop in a Museum? Those are two excellent questions. Let me begin by telling you about the Palone Barber Shop in relation to Robert Palone.
Robert Palone owned a Barber Shop where he was a renowned barber for nearly sixty (60) years. [That’s a long time to successfully run a business and work in a field.] He was admired and respected by his customers and his community. Prior to owning and operating a barber shop, Robert served in the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean War.
Nowata Museum Delaware, Oklahoma
Besides being a Barber and owning his own successful Barber Shop; Robert and his wife, Lorene (McKee) Palone owned and operated the Landers Brothers Grocery Store in Delaware, Oklahoma. Robert Palone and Lorene McKee were married on June 26, 1950. In 2020 they celebrated their seventieth (70) wedding anniversary, a milestone in and of itself. Robert passed away just two shirt months after their 70th anniversary. [Side Note: I was supposed to be able to meet them in person and join the family in their celebration, however, with the COVID-19 lockdown that occurrence didn’t happen.]
Lorene McKee Palone lived another four years after his passing. After which the Palone family donated everything you see in the second image which was once owned by Robert & Lorene and was used and contained within the Palone Barber Shop to the Nowata Museum. The Nowata Museum is run by the Nowata County Historical Society in Delaware, Oklahoma. Everything that was furnished by the Palone family was used to construct a new exhibit depicting a mid century barber shop.
Robert Palone Robert & Lorene Palone (my cousins)
Let’s now move on to who Robert Palone and his significance to me personally. Robert connects to me through his wife Lorene’s mother’s side of the family. Lorene’s mother was my maternal grandmother’s sister. Therefore, Lorene is my maternal cousin making us family and hence, making Robert my family as well. Do you understand now who Robert Palone is and his story’s importance to me?
Good friends of our are having their dream home built from scratch, the ground up.
The front of the home
They have been monitoring the construction progress from the beginning being observant and taking note to ensure everything is being done to their satisfaction.
The Back of the House
It won’t be much longer, barring complications or inspection delays, before they’ll be able to move in and add their own finishing touches the inside of their new home.
Looking back to a trip my daughter and I took to visit (meet in person) cousins from my mother’s side of the family in Coshocton, Ohio.
Memorial Garden Roscoe Village Coshocton, Ohio
There is an area in Coshocton known as the Historic Roscoe Village. The Historic Roscoe Village is an 1830 Restored Canal Town. Roscoe Village began as a small port town in 1816 after a bankrupt merchant bet that rural farmers would rather do business there than have to shell out 25 cents for the ferryboat to Coshocton.
Today, the restored Roscoe Village stands as a testament to Ohio’s bygone Canal era.
My daughter relaxing on a Welcoming Garden Bench
The Frances Montgomery Memorial Garden is one of nine gardens in Roscoe Village and is located near the Visitors’s Center. This Garden is dedicated to honor Mrs. Frances Montgomery and her passion for gardening. The Gardens are planted throughout this restored 1800’s canal town.
The flower beds were created in the early 1970’s by Frances Montgomery out of her love for gardening. Many of the gardens have historical significance and assist in the education mission of Roscoe Village.
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Commune with Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Judy from Life Lessons blog hosts a weekly photo challenge called The Numbers Game. This week’s number is 206. Her instructions for playing along are listed below …
To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find under that number and include a link to your blog in Judy’s Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title.
We have had several thunderstorms this week, so therefore we haven’t been out and about much. Instead I’m reminiscing about a trip I took a few years ago with my oldest son for his birthday adventure. Since he wanted to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway, I was more than happy to ride along with him.
My entries for this week’s challenge are views from just one of our stops we sidetracked on during his Mountain adventure.
Taken at 10:54 am (late morning) in 2017
Bluff Mountain Overlook is located at Milepost 243.4 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is a popular destination along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Bluff Mountain is visible from the Bluff Mountain Overlook. It offers breathtakingly spectacular views.
Foggy Morning Mountain View
On a clear day, Bluff Mountain’s visibility is remarkably satisfying and amazingly delightful to gaze upon from the Overlook. At this point in our adventure clear visibility was not to be had, but that did not deter ills from looking around or venturing on a short hike along the Bluff Mountain Trail which is easily accessible from the Bluff Mountain Overlook.
Alligator Back
Bluff Mountain Trail passes through grassy meadows and includes a challenging switchback ascent called Alligator Back. Alligator Back is a short twenty (20) minute walk from Bluff Overlook.
The Predators
Until recently Predatory Birds and Mammals, those which preyed on other animals or were in conflict with humans, were termed “Varmints” and killed on sight. Fortunately, modern Ecology proves the vital interdependency of all wild plants and animals. Today Hawks and Owls, Black Bears, Bobcats, Foxes and Snakes continue to roam Parklands like this and help preserve the delicate balance of nature. [Informational notice on sign.]
Panoramic View from Bluff Mountain Overlook
We hiked all around the overlook investigating the Predator area scenic views. To the right in the photo above and in the picture below is my eldest son, John. He is not normally into hiking, but he accommodated me in my thrill to explore the sights and perspective landscapes available to observe, explore, and admire.
My eldest son, John
As we drove further along the Blue Ridge Parkway our visibility improved dramatically unlike when we parked here at this location and the Air Bellows Overlook.
Air Bellows Overlook Parkway Milepost 236.9
Looking forward to checking out all your Morning Scenes. Hope to see y’all on Friday for the Which Way Challenge. This week we’ll be including Shadows in our Which Ways. Interested in finding more details about the Which Way challenge click here.
Coleman’s special day adventures began with a short hike through the🌲trees 🌲…
Coleman’s 6th Birthday Adventure
Next up on his special day adventures were a little bit of splash Funtime in the Greenway’s Spillway … but first he needed to cross the swinging bridge …
Greenway’s Swinging Bridge
Now to see his Splashtime Funtime …
Coleman’s Funtime 💦 Splashing 💦 in the Spillway
The water level of the Greenway’s Spillway was really super low, however, that did not prevent Coleman from cooling off and having a Splashing good time on his Special Day Adventure.
Location: Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a funtastic weekend. Get Outdoors and Enjoy some Adventures. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Cruise Ships by the Dock Cozumel, Mexico Kayaks by Lake Haigler Turtles in the South Fork Catawba River Water Reflections in a Bird BathOn the Queen Maryalongside the Pacific Ocean World War I Army Camp Harvey M. Watson Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge
Judy from Life lessons hosts The Numbers Game . She has chosen the number 204 for this week’s #82” Numbers Game challenge. To play along, go to your photos file folder and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find that include that number and post a link to your blog in my Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title. This prompt repeats each Monday with a new number. If you want to play along, please put a link to your blog post here.
Here are my contributions to the album.
Germany Faires/Coltharp Cabin#SimplyRedNornal, Dalline, & Eddie WatersAlonaAlona & ColemanAtlantic Ocean Alex Marina Murrells Inlet, South CarolinaAmerican PekinDiscovery Center Creation Museum Abilene, TexasHylotelephium cauticolaAnne Springs Close Greenway Coleman McDowell Nature Preserve New Braunfels Railroad Museum Greenville ZooThe Schiele Museum of Natural History
Hiking along the trail with Coleman we pass by this barn where horses are tended to by loving caring Greenway Stables staff. Here you see the view we see from the trail.
Anne Springs Close Greenway Barn Greenway Stables Entrance
Below is a closer look at one of the barn doors.
Barn Quilt & Barn Door
And lastly, let’s get an enhanced view of the Red, White, and Blue Barn Quilt for one of two Squares for Becky’s #SimplyRED!
Red, White, and Blue Barn Quilt
Now for a child’s Barn “built” by Coleman. This Little Tike Barn & Farm set once belonged to his Uncle John who is pictured in yesterday’s #SimplyRED!
Cameras: 1-3) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens; 4) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Locations: 1-3) Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina; 4) Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a funtastic weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
To play along, go to your photos file folder and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find that include that number and post a link to your blog in my Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title. This prompt will repeat each Monday with a new number. If you want to play along, please put a link to your blog in comments.
Here are my contributions to the Numbers Game Challenge … Click on photos for enlarged and enhanced viewing.
To play along, go to your photos file folder and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find that include that number and post a link to your blog in my Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title. This prompt will repeat each Monday with a new number. If you want to play along, please put a link to your blog in comments.
Here are my contributions to the Numbers Game Challenge … Click on photos for enlarged and enhanced viewing.
The Vessel, Created by Thomas Heatherwick and Heatherwick Studio, is an iconic New York City experience designed to be entered and explored. It was built as part of HudsonYards in Manhattan, New York City, New York. The elaborate honeycomb-like structure rises 150 feet and consists of 154 flights of stairs, 2,500 steps, and 80 landings for visitors to climb. It is the main feature of the 5-acre (2.0 ha) Hudson Yards Public Square.
This theme challenge to see time to think about what to reflections to use, especially since I just recently posted a water reflections post. Looking through my archives I realized the majority of my reflections are water reflections. So what to use, um, um, what should I use?
Let’s go ahead and show a few of my favourite Water Reflections …
Lake Haigler Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, SCGateway Arch St. Louis, MissouriPond Reflections in San Antonio, TexasReflections
Now let’s explore other objects that may at times reflect images …
A Horse’s Eye
Sunglasses
A Car Hood & Windshield
How about looking at Window Reflections …
Fire Station Window Reflections
And lastly, Ever think about Reflections in your Television Screen?
To play along, go to your photos file folder and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find that include that number and post a link to your blog in my Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title. This prompt will repeat each Monday with a new number. If you want to play along, please put a link to your blog in comments below.
Here are my contributions to the Numbers Game Challenge … Click on photos for enlarged and enhanced viewing.
To play along, go to your photos file folder and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find that include that number and post a link to your blog in my Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title. This prompt will repeat each Monday with a new number. If you want to play along, please put a link to your blog in comments below.
Here are my contributions to the Numbers Game Challenge …
My dad is the very first military veteran I ever met. I have of course had other very close friends and relatives who were also military veterans, however, they do not compare to the importance of my very first military veteran.
In honor of the United States Celebration of Memorial Day and in memory of my father’s birthday I am dedicating this post to my late father, Nornal Hule Waters.
Nornal Hule Waters was born and raised in South Carolina. After completing high school he joined the United States Navy on September 24, 1948 when he was nineteen (19) years of age. He attended basic training in San Diego, California at the Naval Training Center (NTC) located in the Balboa Park area. His specialized training was conducted at the Balboa Naval Hospital.
After completion of his training at Balboa Naval Hospital he was stationed on the USS Consolation where he served as a hospital corpsman. Nornal dedicated four (4) years of his life to the United States Navy before his discharge on September 12, 1952.
HN Nornal Hule Waters US Navy 1948-1952 Korean War Veteran
He served his country with honor aboard the USS Consolation during the Korean War. During his time of service he was issued fuel rations which he had to use sparingly.
Fuel Rations
Nornal Hule Waters, my father, my Forever Hero, my Korean War Veteran. He loved his country and his family. He was a man of Honour.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting, for listening, and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Ford introduced the Model T in 1908. It was Ford’s universal car that put THE WORLD ON WHEELS. Henry Ford wanted the Model T to be affordable, simple to operate, and durable. The vehicle was one of the first mass production vehicles, allowing Ford to achieve his aim of manufacturing the universal car.
Ford Model T
This particular Ford Model T was owned and operated by my late maternal grandfather, Harvey Martin Watson. It is one of the earliest automobiles which I have photos of that were given to me by my maternal grandmother after his passing in 1968. I cherish all of my grandfather’s photos, they contain so much family history within them.
1925? Ford Model T with my Maternal Grandfather, Harvey Martin Watson and oldest son Marvin Houston Watson
On another note; my Paternal Great Grandfather, Thomas E. Waters also owned a Ford Model T. I have a photocopy (somewhere in my files) of a newspaper article from June 1928 which states that my Great Grandfather, Thomas E. Waters was racing his Model T against a car my Grandfather, John Thomas Waters drove. They were racing down the old country road between Lancaster and Bethune, South Carolina when the Model T flipped killing him and injuring his daughter, Francis Penelope Waters (My Paternal Aunt). This is a sad, but true story which I hadn’t known about until I began researching our family history. Model T’s were not designed for speeding down old country back roads.
God Bless. Be careful driving through the back country. Be safe. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
There are two ways in which you can participate: Leave your answers to this week’s questions in the comments box below or create your own post and link back to this one. Ping-backs are activated, but don’t always work properly, so to play safe, leave a link in a comment or if you prefer, leave just the link so that I can see it.
Here are this week’s questions:
Have you ever danced round a maypole? The only time I can remember dancing around a Maypole was one year in elementary school.
Does the month of May hold any specific memories or events for you? The month of May holds memories and events special or significant to me.
1) 8th — my sister-in-law’s birthday
2) 2nd Sunday — Mother’s Day
3)10th — Loss of my Maternal Grandfather
4) 19th — My Day
5) 24th — My Dad’s Special Day
6) 30th — Birth of my Daughter
Does your country celebrate a May Day holiday? I haven’t heard or seen anything regarding May Day holidays here in America. I think it is more of an individual or family event with some giving out May Day baskets.
Have you booked a vacation for this year? I have not booked a vacation for this year. I have dreamed about the possibility of taking a vacation. We all know that is not the same as actually taking a vacation. In reality, I have not had a vacation since 2020.
Gratitude:
“Gratitude opens the door to the power, the wisdom, the creativity of the universe. You open the door through gratitude.”
Thank you Dan for keeping Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge alive, challenging, and inspiring. This week Dan is continuing with the Transportation theme. This week’s theme focus is on Bridges and Ferries.
I have so many photos of Bridges and Railroad Trestle Bridges that I could fill multiple posts with multiple images of Bridges. Instead of doing that, I have decided to make my entry selections of Bridges and Ferriesfrom what I have within my archive files.
First off, I am selecting Bridges and a Ferry from our trip to San Francisco a long, long time ago (back in 1979). I do not exactly remember if this trip was strictly a family trip or one taken with my church youth group. I do remember that our church group visited and performed a Christian musical at a few churches up in the San Francisco and San Jose area some year.
On this trip we took the Harbor Emperor Ferry sightseeing around the San Francisco Bay Area viewing the Bridges, the infamous Alcatraz Island, and simply experiencing a wonderful time together as a family.
San Francisco Bridges & Ferry:
Next and lastly, I am travelling further back in time to the 1960’s. My family moved back to San Diego in 1958 shortly before I turned two (2) years old. During the 1960’s the only way to travel from San Diego to Coronado was by Ferry. The Ferries transported passengers and vehicles to and from San Diego and Coronado. They were they only source of transportation to visit the Hotel del Coronado, the Coronado Beach, the military installations including the Naval Amphibious Base (NAB), and the Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island.
The Construction of the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge began between 1967-1969. The Bridge was dedicated on August 2, 1969, with Governor Ronald Reagan providing the dedication address.
I remember travelling on the San Diego Ferries crossing over to Coronado to walk along the Beach with a group of friends. I remember riding the San Diego Ferry with my parents (my dad driving our car onto the Ferry). I remember riding the San Diego Ferry during its last days of operation in 1969 after the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge was completed. [Side Note: I have a certificate and poster verifying I rode the ferry on its last day somewhere in storage.]
Ferry service began once again in April of 1986. The current Ferry service is operated by Flagship Cruises & Events. They currently have two ferries in use, the Silvergate and Cabrillo.
Be sure to check out this week’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Which Way with Shadows coming up on Friday (posting just after midnight Early Friday morning).
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find that include that number and post a link to your blog in my Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title.This prompt will repeat each Monday with a new number. If you want to play along, please put a link to your blog in comments below. Here are my contributions to the album.
Here are my entries for this week’s Numbers Game …
These images were taken in 1934 in Coshocton, Ohio. They are of my mom when she was about two and a half (2 1/2) years of age and her older brother. When my mom was a young child she lived on a farm and as you can see from the bottom photo they had a pony cart they could ride in. My mom rode, my uncle (her brother) held the reins to drive the pony cart.
The Mexican Fan Palm is known for its slender, columnar trunk that can reach 100 feet tall and swell slightly at the base. Its trunk is brown and bumpy when young, but smooths and grays over time. It has large, fan-shaped leaves that can grow 3–5 feet wide and have sharp spines at the base.
Washingtonia robustais one of two species in the genus Washingtonia. The other species closely related to it is the Washingtonia filifera (California Fan Palm). Both Washingtonia are grown as ornamental trees. The Mexican Washingtonia has a narrower trunk (which is typically somewhat wider at the base), and grows slightly faster and taller; it is also somewhat less cold hardy than the California fan palm, hardy to about −8 °C (18 °F).
Aka the Mexican fan palm, Mexican washingtonia, or skyduster
The Mexican Fan Palm is normally grown in the desert areas of the Southwestern United States. Those areas include California, Arizona, and southern Nevada, as well as the extreme southwestern regions of Utah and Texas.
Both of the above locations for the Washingtonia robusta are located inland a short distance area from the Coast of the Pacific Ocean. The images were taken in Spring and Summer of 1979 by my father when we visited these places.
Location: 1) Hearst Castle; San Simeon, California; 2) Ports O’ Call Village; San Pedro, California, USA
God Bless. Have a marvelous week. Explore Your World. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
I haven’t really taken any pictures of doors since the Cruz-In (we’ll get back to those next week), so I went roaming through my archives to see what I might use that I do not believe I have used as of yet. I found a couple of photos my brother took and passed on to me that were taken in 1980 while he was in the Air Force.
Old Jail Cell Doors under bridge Amsterdam, Netherlands. 1980
For this post I am combining Dan’s CFFC-Air Travelwith Judy’s Numbers Game #69-190. While searching through my photos and archives to find which selections I might like to choose, there’s so many from years back to present it is difficult to limit my choices. Therefore, I decided to combine the two challenges to show y’all some of what I’ve seen in the manner of Air Travel through the years.
Judy with Life Lessonsgives us the option of picking a word or words instead of numbers, so that is exactly what I have chosen to do. Dan with No Facilities hosts CFFC(Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge) with themes focusing on Transportation. This week’s CFFCtheme is focusing on Air Travel . Therefore, my focus for the combined challenges is on Air Travel through the Years.
Let’s begin our Air Travel way back in 1976 … for an amazing Air show by the Thunderbirds.
Thunderbirds Air Show Randolph Air Force Base 1976
Moving onto 1984 … we pay a visit to the San Diego Air & Space Museum when my dad took my eldest son to the museum in Balboa Park in San Diego, California.
Nornal H. Waters (my dad) and his grandson, John 1984
From San Diego, we travel to Tucson, Arizonato the Pima Air & Space Museum. This is one of the many stops my parents took on a cross country road trip in 1985. My dad loved anything to do with automobiles, trains, and airplanes.
Pima Air & Space Museum Tucson, Arizona 1985
We progress to 1987 with a visit to March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California. This was an outing my husband and I enjoyed with our son for him to see the many military Airplanes the museum had on display.
Terry Leon Wilson, and our son John 1987
Flying way up high in the sky; Up, Up, and Away in Hot Air Balloons we watch the many Hot Air Balloons at the International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2002.
Hot Air Balloons International Balloon Fiesta Albuquerque, New Mexico
Transporting ourselves from one coast to another and through the years we arrive in 2011 at MMS Aviation in Coshocton, Ohio. MMS Aviation is a Christian organization whose mission is to prepare people and airplanes for worldwide missionary service. Friends of ours told my daughter and I about a museum they have we could visit and view the different aircrafts used by missionaries.
MMS Aviation Coshocton, Ohio 2011
Jumping or rather soaring into a new decade to 2023, my daughter, grandson (Coleman) and I stop at the local Gastonia Municipal Airport. Coleman was excited and overwhelmed to be able to see the Airplanes up close. We went into the office to make sure it was okay for him to see the aircraft and were pleased to have one of the pilots give us a tour. She explained about the aircraft and even allowed Coleman to sit in one of the Airplanes.
Gastonia Municipal Airport Gastonia, North Carolina 2023
There are many others I could have selected, however, I think these give a nice variety to Air Travel through the Years.
God Bless. Stop on by Friday for the next Which Way Challenge (CWWC) which will be featuring Any Unpaved Roads or Pathways. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Thinking about what I might want to use for this challenge took some thinking on my part. Then it took some searching through my archives to find exactly what I was looking for to use. The first set of photos are shared photos from a private group I belong to on Facebook called I Remember Springs Park, Lancaster, SC. These images show what the Abandoned Springs Park Pool looks like in recent years.
Springs Park Pool Lancaster, South Carolina
This next group of images are from a time when my family along with my dad’s brother’s and sister’s families and my dad’s aunts and uncles as well as my dad’s parents all met up at Springs Park to enjoy a summer day filled with fun, swimming and picnicking in the park.
Springs Recreation Park Lancaster, South Carolina July 1963
Springs Park has been abandoned since its closure in 1989 and the property is in a state of total disrepair. Springs Recreation Park opened in 1924 and operated until 1989. In its heyday, it was a popular amusement park destination for local residents. It offered a variety of recreational activities, including swimming in an Olympic-style swimming pool, skating in an outdoor skating rink, it had its own bowling alley, miniature golf course and amusement park rides for children of all ages to enjoy.
The Olympic-style pool (16 feet deep) was half-surrounded by an ancient Greek-style amphitheater with a triple-decker high dive platform. It has been stated that the amphitheater was made to house 5,000 onlookers. The Springs Park also featured a Carousel, a small Ferris Wheel and a mini train. I remember the Park also had a “kiddie” pool alongside the Olympic-style swimming pool.
I was young at the time we visited the Park and remember playing in the “kiddie” pool with my younger cousins. I didn’t get to visit Springs Park often because we only visited it when we came to the Carolinas to visit my dad’s family. I still remember getting together with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins and having a fabulous fun-filled day playing, swimming, and simply enjoying time with family.
Bonus: My Family at Springs Park …
John Waters, his brother Woodrow Waters, his sisters Vermel Waters Hunter, & Frances Waters NealJohn & Alma Waters, my paternal grandparents Aunt Vermel (Waters) & her husband, Fred HunterUncle Woodrow & his wife Mary Bost WatersAunt France’s Waters Neal & her daughter, Debbie Aunt Dalline (Waters) & “Shorty” Lebonville Uncle Eddie Waters & his wife Barbara Barbara (Farmer) Waters, Dalline (Waters) Lebonville, & Doyce Eileen (Watson) Waters My mom, my dad’s sister, & his sister-in-lawWaters Family Gathering at Springs Park Lancaster, South Carolina
My dad took the photos and it appeared our immediate family didn’t get a group photo.
Location: Springs Recreation Park; Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a blessed Easter and a funtastic Spring Break (if you’re able to have one). Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Welcome back to the Which Way Challenge. Another week has passed and we’re almost through with one-quarter (1/4) of 2025. Hope you’re all doing well and will be joining in on the Which Way Challenge .
This week I have chosen a theme of Bridges. As you can see from my images the Bridges can be of a variety of types from Road Bridges to Swinging Bridges to Garden Bridges. Any type of Bridge will be suitable for this post.
Judy Dykstra-Brown with the blog lifelessons hosts a challenge called The 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.This prompt will repeat each Monday with a new number. If you want to play along, please put a link to your blog in comments below. Here are my contributions to the album.
This week’s number is 184. Here are my entries for this week’s Numbers Game #63 challenge.
This week’s images are a mixture of places I’ve visited throughout the years. From California to Mexico; from Georgia to the Carolinas and northward up to Ohio. And of course, I had to include a picture of Coleman. I hope you enjoy and decide to play along as well.
Debbie’s One Word Challenge theme this week is Haze. My entries this week are from a trip with my eldest son in 2017. He had a birthday wish to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway.
We drove to the Parkway beginning our trip in Lancaster, South Carolina driving through Chester to the US-321N. This direction led us through Blowing Rock before traversing over onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. We (He) drove the Parkway from this southern point all the way to the North Carolina/Viginia Border. We did not drive the Virginia portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
We stopped at various milestones along the parkway for breaks, hiking, and to check out the scenery. At a few stops we incurred a bit of Haze which impaired the views somewhat.
Stone Mountain Overlook Bluff Overlook/Doughton Park Devils Garden Overlook Raven Rocks OverlookBalsam Grove/Pisgah Inn Observation DeckPisgah National ForestAlong the Blue Ridge Parkway
We stopped more on the way back southbound than we did going northbound. Our northern most stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway was at Stone Mountain Overlook at Milepost 232.5. We stopped here shortly before proceeding to Stone Mountain State Park in Roaring Gap, North Carolina where we hiked the Stone Mountain Loop Trail. We had great views of Stone Mountain, saw the Middle and Lower Waterfalls, and visited the Hutchinson Homestead. The Hutchinson Homestead is a mid-19th century farm with well maintained old buildings, a large meadow with terrific views of Stone Mountain State.
Our next stops were at Devils Garden Overlook at Milepost 235.7; Doughton Park at Milepost 241.1; Bluff Mountain at Milepost 243.4; Raven Rocks Overlook at Milepost 289.5; Moses H. Cone Memorial Park (not pictured) at Milepost 294.1; Craggy Gardens (not pictured) at Milepost 364.6; and Mount Pisgah at Milepost 408.6.
It was a long enjoyable drive and valuable experience full of memories spent with my eldest son. As you can see from the images some of our views were obscured and opaque due to the hazy atmosphere.
The host this week for Monochrome Madness is Brian from bushboy.blog. Brian has chosen a theme of Chair or Chairs for this week’s challenge. Let’s play along and discover what Chairs we can find.
Everywhere Coleman and I go there’s always someplace Coleman can find to Pull Up a Seat …
We might find a Chair to Pull Up a Seat at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden …
Belmont, North Carolina
Or we might find a Chair to relax in The Center …
Downtown Cramerton, North Carolina
We could locate a table and Chairs to Pull Up a Seatand enjoy a refreshing drink and snack before continuing on a hike …
Lake Haigler Entrance Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, South Carolina
Then there’s a chance we could spot a couple of Chairs on display in an office setting at a museum …
The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, North Carolina
Coleman and I enjoy Pulling Up a Seat in a camping Chair at a State Park after a long hike around the lake …
Andrew Jackson State Park Lancaster, South Carolina
But a fond memory of a place of comfort was the opportunity to Pull Up a Seaton my paternal grandparents front porch.
My dad and Paternal Grandfather Great Falls, South Carolina
Now over to y’all to show us some Chairsby clicking here.
Cameras: 1-4) Canon EOS Rebel T3i; 5) Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max; 6) Minolta XG-7 35mm (my dad’s).
God Bless. Pull Up a Seat for a spell. Enjoy the peace and comfort of a day’s journeys ending. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Welcome back to the Which Way Challenge . For this week you may choose Any Which Way, just be sure your Which Ways are clearly distinguishable.
For this week I have chosen to show various Which Waysin Black and White/Monochrome. You do not need to post Monochrome Which Ways unless you desire to do so. My Which Ways consists of paved roads, pathways, sidewalks and tracks. Choose your own Which Ways, you your image, be creative, be uniquely you in your inspired style and selections.
Ports O’ Call; San Pedro, CaliforniaThe Rose Garden; The Huntington Library; San Marino, CaliforniaRoad in Germany Hare Snipe Creek Greenway Trail; Raleigh, North Carolina Lejeune Memorial Gardens; Jacksonville, North CarolinaRiverbanks Zoo; Columbia, South CarolinaTrain Tracks in Lineberger Park; Gastonia, North Carolina Warlick YMCA; Gastonia, North Carolina Warlick YMCA; Gastonia, North CarolinaWarlick YMCA; Gastonia, North CarolinaPearson Ford; 12th and Broadway; San Diego, California (1941)2912 E Street; San Diego, California
That’s all for this week. Next week will be CWWC: Any which way with lines.
With much appreciation for those who entered this past week, click on the links below to check out their Which Ways.
Which Way Challenge (CWWC): February Week 4 — Any Which Way — Your Choice
God Bless. Looking forward to seeing y’all’s Which Ways. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
While I focused a few of my images specifically on the Hands, others I chose to capture the whole experience of Coleman using and/or displaying his Hands.
God Bless. Take Care of Yourself and Each Other. Help one another. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 