2025 Monday Window: 20 October

Kitty by a Window – 2 
— AI creation by PR

Then — & — Now

Hoover High School – San Diego
1974 (My Alma Mater)
1974 Main Entrance
Modernized Herbert Hoover High School
— San Diego, California

Click on image to enlarge. 

Monday Window 

Monday Window

See Monday Window posts in Reader

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

2025 OWS: 12 October — (Remember the) Fallen

Our Fallen Brothers

Our Fallen Brothers is called Marine Corps Interrogator Translator monument, it honours those who died in combat. The monument is a 38,000 pound stone and is etched with the names of nine Marines who died in combat, some in World War II, Vietnam, Korea, and Afghanistan.

Marine interrogators and translators worked to question prisoners of war in their native language and translate the information for intelligiance purposes.

The Marine Corps Interrogator Translator Monument serves as a symbol of their sacrifice. This Monument is one of several Memorial Monuments honouring Fallen Soldiers located within the Lejeune Memorial Gardens in Jacksonville, North Carolina near Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base.

Always Remember our Fallen.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Fallen

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 7 Plus

Location: Marine Corps Interrogator Translator Monument; Lejeune Memorial Gardens; Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Remember the Fallen. Honour their Sacrifice. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Forty-Three Years Ago …

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.

Monochrome Castle Ruins in Germany

These ruin images were captured by my dad when he and my mom visited my brother stationed in Germany while serving in the United States Air Force. These are various perspectives of the Heidelberg Castle Ruins they saw during their visit.

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness #44-Ruins

Sarah’s Monochrome Madness-Seen in Black and White

Photo Credit: ©️1979 Nornal H. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Minolta XG-7 35mm camera

Location: Heidelberg Castle; Heidelberg, Germany

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

2025 CFFC: September 23 — Subjects Framed by Things

Dan from No Facilities hosts Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge each week beginning on Mondays with a new theme each week. Dan is doing an excellent job since taking over the challenge and is keeping it fresh and alive continuing Cee’s legacy. This week Dan has chosen the theme of Subjects Framed by Things. He has given examples of doors, windows, bridges, and more that subjects can be used to be framed.

Here are my entries …

Click on each image to enlarge.

Dan’s Fun Photo Challenge-Subjects Framed by Things

Photo Credit:©️1979 -2025 Deb L. Waters & Nornal H. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

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

Hope to see y’all on Friday with the Which Way Challenge (CWWC)The theme for this week will be … Which Way Challenge (CWWC): Any Which Way (Your Choice).

2025 Monday Window: 22 September

Kitty by a Window – 2
— AI creation by PR

Church Windows

Shining Star Fellowship Church

Monday Window 

See Monday Window posts in Reader

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

Location: Shining Star Fellowship Church; S. 3rd & Palm; Abilene, Texas USA

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

2025 Monochrome Madness (MM) — Symmetry

Dawn from The Day After hosts this week’s Monochrome Madness. She has chosen a theme of symmetry. Symmetry refers to an objects balance and harmonious proportions, having its parts similar corresponding to one another. The image below I think is my favourite symmetrical photo I have and even though I have others I’m saving them for another time.

Gateway Arch
St. Louis, Missouri

Dawn’s Monochrome Madness-Symmetry

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness #43-Symmetry

Photo Credit:©️1985 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.

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

2025 Thursday Doors: 11 September

I had planned a different post for this week’s Thursday Doors, but then I realized this Thursday is 09.11. I therefore, decided to delay that post until next week and chose instead to Remember our Fallen Heroes from that fateful day on 09.11.2001.

I will never forget that horribly tragically devastating day of loss when 2,977 innocent lives were taken at the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and on Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Remembering the 343 firefighters, 60 police officers, 8 paramedics, and thousands of civilians, each one someone’s parent, sibling, friend, or child. 

I Remember the Lives Lost.

I Remember the Sacrifices Made.

I Remember the Heroes Who Answered the Call.

I Will Never Forget.

North 321

Volunteer

Fire Department

I am thankful for our Firefighters, Police Officers, Paramedics, and the many Volunteers that serve to keep our communities safe. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to serve. Thank you for the kindness you demonstrate to everyone, especially the kindness shown to my grandson by several firefighters and police officers.

These were taken at North 321 Volunteer Fire Department in Lincolnton, North Carolina.

North 321 Vol. Fire Dept.
Coleman being shown
the ins and outs
of the Fire Engine
Coleman
allowed to sit inside
the Brush 100
Coleman
delighted to see
the inner workings of
the Fire Department Vehicle

Click on images to enlarge. 

Dan’s Thursday Doors

Thursday Doors
Thursday Doors

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

Location: North 321 Volunteer Fire Department; Lincolnton, North Carolina, USA 

God Bless. Have a fantastic weekend. Hope to see y’all on Friday for the Which Way ChallengeThis week the Which Ways will be CWWC: Any Which Way Capturing People Unaware.  Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Thursday Doors: 14 August

Reed Gold Mine

State Historic Site

The Reed Gold Mine is the site of the first documented gold find in the United States. The discovery of gold from this mine gradually influenced gold mining to nearby counties and eventually into other southern states. During the gold mining peak years, it was second only to farming in the number of North Carolinians it employed. The estimated value of gold recovered reached over one million dollars a year. North Carolina led the nation in gold production until 1848, when it was eclipsed by the great rush to California.

Reed Gold Mine State Historic Site
Reconstructed Building at

President James K. Polk
State Historic Site

The Reed Gold Mine is located in Midland, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, and has been designated a National Historic Landmark because of its importance and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. At this location there is an underground mine that is open for self-guided tours, historic structures, a visitor center, trails, monuments, and outdoor exhibits.

Dan’s Thursday Doors: 08.14.2025

Photo Credit:©️2014 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens

Location: Reed Gold Mine State Historic Site; President James K. Polk State Historic Site; Pineville, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a fantastic weekend. Hope to see y’all on Friday for the Which Way Challenge. This week the Which Ways will be your choice. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Monday Portrait: 08.11

Robert Palone

Palone Barber Shop

Nowata Museum

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.

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?

Monday Portrait

Photos were given to me by the Palone family.

Location: Delaware, Oklahoma, USA

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

2025 OWS — Double the Trouble … Twice the Fun?

Not exactly Mirrored Image
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Twice the Froggin’ Good Time
Cozumel, Mexico
Double the Fun
with matching Canoes
Warlick Family YMCA
Double the Beauty
Lady’s Glove
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Double

Photo Credit:©️2020-2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

2025 Cell Pic Sunday: 08.10

Throwback to 2017

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden

Remembering a fun family trip with my daughter and granddaughter to the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, South Carolina. This upcoming week my granddaughter will turn twelve (12). These are memories from when she was four (4).

Alona
on an
elephant sculpture

Her mom and I took her down to Columbia, South Carolina to visit the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. It was a special time and memories I will always cherish. [She currently lives with her father & he does not allow her to visit with us even though there is a shared custody agreement.]

Alona enjoyed being able to pet the goats and other animals in the children’s petting area.

Alona
riding a Giraffe
on the
Merry-Go-Round

As well as the merry-go-round and all the amazing animals located within the Zoo.

Alona
on a
Gorilla sculpture

Every time we came near any of the animal sculptures she thought she had to go up and climb on them. It made for some interesting poses (or lack of posing).

Alona on
Happy the Tiger
in the
Riverbanks main plaza

After a long tiring day, we stopped at the entrance/exit area for one final photo opportunity before traveling back home through Great Falls, Lancaster, and finally to get home in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
Columbia, South Carolina
with Alona

John’s Cell Pic Sunday-2025.08.10

Throwback Thursday (on Sunday)

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 7 Plus

Location: Riverbanks Zoo and Garden; Columbia, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Memories are precious. Treasure your memories. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 A Welcoming Bench in a Garden

Roscoe Village

Memorial Garden

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.

Click images to enlarge.

Jude’s Bench Challenge 

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 32

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.

2025 Thursday Doors: 07 August

Moses Cone Carriage House

The Moses Cone Carriage House is a significant historical structure located within the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park and just a short hike from the Cone Manor.

The Moses H. Cone Memorial Park and the Moses Cone Carriage House is located near Milepost 294 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Moses Cone Carriage House

The Cone Carriage House was part of the expansive Flat Top Manor estate, built by textile magnate Moses H. Cone and his wife Bertha at the turn of the 20th century. 

The estate included the manor house, about 500 acres of farmland, Flat Top Mountain, Rich Mountain, and a vast system of carriage trails.

Carriage House

The Carriage House housed carriages and other equipment used to maintain the estate’s approximately 25 miles of carriage trails. The Carriage House has been preserved as a historical structure within the park, it might possibly be used for maintenance or interpretive exhibits related to the estate’s history.

Front of Carriage House

The Carriage House may not be a prominent visitor attraction on its own, however, it contributes to the overall historical and natural experience of the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, which also includes the Flat Top Manor (the Cone’s former residence), orchards, lakes, and extensive carriage trails. 

Note: This section of the Blue Ridge Parkway is open for the public.

Dan’s Thursday Doors: 2025.08.07

Throwback Thursday

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 7 Plus  

Location: Moses Cone Carriage House; Moses H. Cone Memorial Park; Milepost 294; Blue Ridge Parkway; Watauga County, North Carolina, USA 

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

2025 Wordless Wednesday: 06 August

Hidden Between Green and Brown

Look 👀 Closely
to see who’s Hidden
at Andrew Jackson State Park

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday-06 August 2025

Photo Credit:©️2019 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Apple iPhone XR

Location: Andrew Jackson State Park, Lancaster, South Carolina, USA 

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

2025 CFFC: 28 July —Time of day_Morning …

Hike in the Mountains

Dan Antion is the host for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge. This week he is continuing with a perspective theme of Time of Day focusing on Morning.

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 BackAlligator 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.

Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC)-Morning

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 7 Plus Wide and Telephoto Cameras

Location: Bluff Mountain Overlook; Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina, USA

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

2025 LAPC #357 — Into the Woods — Through the Trees

… A Hiking we shall Go

in Kings Mountain State Park

Let’s take our hearts for a walk in the woods and listen to the magic whispers of old trees…

WILD WOMAN SISTERHOOD

Taking a hike through the woods surrounded by encompassing trees is one of the most invigorating and inspiring activities one could experience and one I truly love to undertake as often and as long as I am able to do so.

I find peace and tranquility while I am hiking through the woods. It is a fascinating opportunity to admire and explore all the beauty nature has to offer. It is a time to renew the(my) mind, relax one’s(my) body, and recharge the(my) spirit within you(me).

“Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”

John Muir

All the ins and outs, the twists and turns of a trail remind me that my path in life is not always (or necessarily) meant to be a straight pathway on life’s journey. Only God knows what pathway I should be on and whether I venture off the path or not, God is always there to guide me through life’s trials and triumphs.

“It is a surprising and memorable, as well as valuable experience, to be lost in the woods any time.”

Henry David Thoreau

Whenever I go into the woods I seek to obtain peace and tranquility. The woods are an escape from daily routines and aggravation. The calmness I feel amongst the trees is overwhelming and enhances a sense of calming relaxation, reflection, and revitalization.

“In Every Walk
With Nature
One Receives Far More
Than He Seeks.”

— John Muir

This adventure into the woods was a solo (Coleman was on 11 months at the time) outing I took to get away from the stress and tension within my environment. I ventured onto the trails in Kings Mountain State Park for some time in the woods communing with God and nature.

I hiked along the Lake Crawford Trail twisting and turning along the natural path enjoying the beautiful views along the way. I especially liked viewing the spillway cascading downstream and the amazing views looking out over Lake Crawford.

Click on each image for enhanced enlarged viewing.

Egidio’s Lens-Artist Photo Challenge #357-Into the Woods

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere (WWE)

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

Location: Lake Crawford Trail; Kings Mountain State Park; Blacksburg, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy nature’s beauty. Thankful for the freedom to be outside and in the woods. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Numbers Game #82-204

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.

Judy’s Numbers Game #82-204

#SimplyRED22

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Photo Credit:©️1974-2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

2025 OWS: 13 July — Seaside

I have not been to the ocean in years, but we venture to lakes and rivers which are nearby. Here’s a look 👀 at our “Seasides”.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Seaside

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #272

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

Birds of the Week #CXXIV —

Nycticorax nycticorax

Black-crowned night heron

The Black-crowned Night Heron was previously described as Ardea nycticorax, based on specimens from southern Europe. The Swedish naturalist, Carl Linnaeus, placed it in the genus Ardea; the same grouping as herons, cranes and egrets.

It is currently placed in the genus Nycticorax that was described in 1817 by the English naturalist Thomas Forster.

The Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, including parts of Europe, Asia, and North and South America. 

Black-crowned night herons do not fit the typical body form of the heron family. They are relatively stocky with shorter bills, legs, and necks than their more familiar cousins, the egrets and “day” herons. When they are in a resting position their posture is somewhat hunched, but when they are hunting they extend their necks and look more like other wading birds.

These Black-crowned Night Herons can be spotted along Paradise Point at Mission Bay in San Diego, California.

Bird of the Week CXXIV

Photo Credit:©️Valerie Williams Jenkins

Location: Paradise Point Mission Bay; San Diego, California, USA

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

2025 The Numbers Game #79-200

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.

Judy’s Numbers Game #79-200

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

2025 The Numbers Game #77-198

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 titleThis 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.

Judy’s Numbers Game #77-198

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

My Dad — My Forever Hero

HN Nornal Hule Waters

U.S. Navy Veteran

May 24, 1929 – December 31, 1996

USS Consolation

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.

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.

2025 Spring Festival #10 —

Limonium perezii &

Calandrinia ciliata

Welcome to my Week #10 Floral contribution to Dawn’s Spring Festival 2025.

Beautiful Sea Lavender and Red Maids of are a Spring delight along the La Jolla Shores for visitors and locals to enjoy and admire. [In my youth I used to spend a tremendous amount of time along the sands and in the water at La Jolla Shores. At that time I didn’t pay no mind to the floral landscape, but I greatly appreciate its beauty nowadays.]

Limonium perezii
aka Perez’s sea lavender
and seafoam statice

Sea lavender blooms intermittently for months and nearly year round in frost-free coastal climates. Their dry, papery petals retain the colour well, making them an excellent choice for dried arrangements. They are also ideal for seaside gardens or decorative containers.

Perez’s sea lavender
& Red Maids

Sea Lavender (Limonium perezii) is primarily pollinated by bees, butterflies, and other flying insects. These insects are attracted to the beautiful clusters of small, fragrant flowers that grow on the plant.

Red Maids
Aka Calandrinia ciliata

Red Maids might be considered weeds in some places, however, in the majority of areas they are considered wildflowers.  Red Maids sure have beautiful deep pink flowers that open mostly in the afternoon. 

The leaves are edible and cattle love them, but the black oil-rich seeds are what made the plant a substantial part of Southern California Indian diets. The leaves, especially the young leaves and young shoots, may be eaten fresh, although due to their content of oxalic acid, should be eaten sparingly.

The wildlife-friendly plant grows up to about 8″ tall and makes a good ornamental in the garden that is easily plantable by seed.

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2025 #10

Spring Festival 2025

Cee’s Flower of the Day 

Cee’s FOTD

Photo Credit:©️2025 Ron May … All Rights Reserved. 

Location: La Jolla Shores; La Jolla, California, USA

God Bless. Admire the flowers, watch them grow and bloom. Nature is a beautiful artist painting amazingly beautiful flowers and beautifully colourful landscapes. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 CFFC: Things Made of Fabric

We all use and/or see items made of Fabric every day.

From Quilts:

To Dolls:

To Clothes:

And Even Flags:

I’m sure y’all can figure out and find many other Things Made of Fabric. For information regarding joining in the Fun Foto Challenge check out Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge Home Page Here.

Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge-Things Made of Fabric

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge

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

2025 Throwback Thursday Doors: 15 May

Ford Model T

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.

Dan’s Thursday Doors

Throwback Thursday

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.

2025 Numbers Game #72 —193_12 May

Good Day everyone! I pray everyone and everyone is blessed, safe, and happy.

Judy from LifeLessons is the host for The Numbers Game. This week’s number is 193. Her instructions on how to join the Game and play along our 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 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.

Click on images for enhanced viewing.

Judy’s Numbers Game #72 – 193

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

2025 SYW: Week of 05 May

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:

  1.  Have you ever danced round a maypole?
    The only time I can remember dancing around a Maypole was one year in elementary school.
  2.  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) 8thmy 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
  3.  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.
  4.  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.”

– Deepak Chopra

Share Your World – 05.05.2025

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing in my world. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 CFFC: Transportation—Bridges and Ferries

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 Ferries from 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. 

CFFC: Transportation—Bridges and Ferries

CFFC
CFFC

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #268

Throwback Thursday

Photo Credit: San Francisco) ©️1979 Nornal H . Waters … All Rights Reserved; San Diego; 1-2)©️Tiffany Waters; 3-6) San Diego Historical Society

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.

2025 Sunday Trees: Coastal Redwoods

In my youth my church youth group would go camping 🏕️ up in the Sequoia National Forest and sleep in big green military tents amongst the “gentle giants.”

Sequoiadendron gigantism
aka Giant Sequoia

Girls would be in one or two small army tents and boys would be in separate tents in a separate area of the camp. Each tent had a capacity of up to 21 people, however, I think we only had about a dozen teenagers plus 1-2 adult chaperones per tent. [Side Note: when I camp I still sleep in tents].

Sequoia sempervirens
aka Coast Redwood

It is amazing to walk amongst the Giant Sequoias often referred to as Coastal Redwoods, Coast Redwoods, and “Gentle Giants.” To look up at the sky through the center of a California Pacific Coast Redwood and walk amongst the trees so tall as if reaching up towards the heavens is mesmerizing.

Coastal Redwoods
aka California Redwoods

Sunday Trees

Photo Credit:©️2025 Fred Blackburn … All Rights Reserved.

Location: Avenue of the Giants; Humboldt Redwoods State Park; Weott, California, USA

God Bless. Do you have any giant trees in your neck of the woods? Coleman and I love to walk in the woods enjoying nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 The Numbers Game #70-191

 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

Judy’s Numbers Game #70-191

Throwback Thursday

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

2025 Monochrome Monday Portrait: 28 April

Farm Portraits

Brother & Sister

and a Pony

Marvin Houston And Doyce Eileen Watson

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.

Monday Portrait

Monochrome Monday

Monday Monochrome 

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 17

Throwback Thursday

Photo Credit:©️1934 Harvey M. Watson … All Rights Reserved. 

Location: Coshocton, Ohio, USA

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

2025 Sunday Trees: Washingtonia Robusta

Washingtonia robusta

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 robusta is 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.

Sunday Trees

Throwback Thursday

Photo Credit:©️1979 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm

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.

2025 Thursday Doors: 24 April

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

Dan’s Thursday Doors

Throwback Thursday

Photo Credit:©️1980 Larry D. Waters (my brother) … All Rights Reserved.

Location: Old jail cell under bridge; Amsterdam, Netherlands

God Bless. Take Care. Enjoy your Week. Make Memories. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 CFFC/Numbers Game — Air Travel through the Years

For this post I am combining Dan’s CFFC-Air Travel with 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 Lessons gives 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 CFFC theme 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.

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, Arizona to 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.

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.

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.

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.

There are many others I could have selected, however, I think these give a nice variety to Air Travel through the Years.

Dan’s CFFC-Air Travel

Judy’s Numbers Game #69-190

Throwback Thursday

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.

2025 LAPC #344: Abandoned

Anne is the host for this week’s Lens-Artist Challenge with the theme of Abandoned

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.

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 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

My dad took the photos and it appeared our immediate family didn’t get a group photo.

Lens-Artist Photo Challenge-Abandoned

Throwback Thursday

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere

Photo Credit: ©️1963 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) for all but the abandoned photos.

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.

2025 OWS: 06 April — Creepy

Witch at Land of Oz
(click on image for enlarged viewing)

This is a throwback photo my dad took back in 1972 on a visit to The Land of Oz. The Land of Oz Theme Park was once a thriving tourist attraction in Beech Mountain, North Carolina. The theme park was inspired by the Wizard of Oz. It operated from 1970 to 1980.

Janet’s One Word Sunday-Creepy

Throwback Thursday

For further information about OWS check out Debbie’s One Word Sunday.

Photo Credit:©️1972 Nornal H. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm

Digitization: Wolverine Convertor

Location: The Land of Oz Theme Park; Beech Mountain, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you Janet for hosting these past three challenges. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Remembering Cee — Your Friendship & Inspiration Lives On

In Memory of Cee

Cee Neuner 1960-2025

Even though I only knew Cee for a relatively short time she had been an inspiration, an encourager, an amazing friend, and all around lovely person to call my friend. I will miss you Cee!

Yellow Rose of Friendship

I’ve been participating in Cee’s blogging challenges since 2022. Not long, but seems like she’s been my friend forever. I know she’s looking down upon us and her legacy and inspiration will live on forever and always.

Gulf fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) on a Red Zinnia Elegans
(Zinnia elegans)

“Let no one weep for me, or celebrate my funeral with mourning; for I still live, as I pass to and fro through the mouths of men.”

Quintus Ennius

I believe Cee knew we would cry, but also that she wouldn’t want us to wallow in weeping/mourning. I believe she would want us to remember her live and keep her legacy going on into eternity.

Viburnum macrocephalum
aka “hydrangea viburnum
,”
Chinese snowball

“People touch our lives if only for a moment, And yet we’re not the same from that moment on, The time is not important, The moment is forever.”

Fern Bork

Cee touched my life as well as many others on and off of WordPress. She will live on through each and every one of us. She has impacted our/my lives with her wisdom, kindness, compassion, and her love.

Helianthus aka Sunflower

“Say not in grief ‘he she is no more’ but live in thankfulness that he she was.”

Hebrew proverb

Cee may have left her earthly home, but she is not really gone. She continues to live on in our hearts and minds. Let’s keep her legacy alive and continue on with love and kindness and respect for one another.

Gaillardia pulchella
aka Indian Blanket

I know my emotions and tears have been overflowing this week after hearing the news regarding Cee. I will never regret knowing Cee & sharing in her photo challenges, sharing comments & soaking in her advice and knowledge. Even though we never met in person, I feel like I knew her (at least a part of her) and know that I loved her, her spirit, her courage, and her passion. May she continue to live on through all of us.

God Bless. Thinking & prayers for you, Chris & family. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

P.S. I’ve tried working on this ever since I read Becky’s guest post from Chris. I’ve cried, I’ve tried to write & I’ve cried some more. I wrote a little more & than I had Chris’ post on Cee’s blog & I cried some more and even as I complete this post. I will always remember Cee and how she touched my life.

2025 Which Way Challenge (CWWC): March Week 4 — Any Which Way with Bridges

Deb’s/Cee’s Which Way Challenge

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.

Here are my entries for this week’s Which Way Challenge.

Swinging Bridges:

Road Bridges & Trellises:

Trail Bridges:

Throwback Bridges:

Be sure to check out these other Which Ways. Thank you for participating in the Which Way Challenge.

Tgeriatrix’s Animals on the road

GERIATRI’X’ FOTOGALLERY’s ANIMALS ON THE ROAD

Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)-Any Which Way with Bridges

Photo Credit: 1-8) ©️2022-2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

2025 CFFC: Fun with Food

Fun with Outdoor Cooking & ??

Thank you Dan for continuing Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge, can’t say it enough how much it is appreciated and challenging.

This week Dan has chosen the theme of Fun with Food and I have chosen to taken the Fun with Food Outdoors. My selections vary from cooking on open fires, to eating, and some cooking demonstrations. It’s all good and fun and what more fun can be had then by the fresh air and the smell of hot Food cooking over an outdoor fire-pit.

I enjoy camping and cooking on an open fire whenever feasible. Most of these are from years back when I practically lived in the campgrounds. The two photos from the President James K. Polk Historic Site were taken during a Presidents’ Day Celebration in 2014.

The images taken at Andrew Jackson State Park (AJSP) were taken either while camping in or at the Andrew Jackson Birthday Celebration in 2018-2019. I have spent quite a bit of time camping over the years and a lot of time spent in AJSP. I also whenever I am able volunteer at various events held at AJSP as a member of Friends of Andrew Jackson State Park (AJSP).

Hopefully one day in the future I’ll be able to take Coleman camping. He wants a tent and to go camping, I’m just not sure he would stay in the tent at night and not wander off.

Dan’s CFFC: Fun with Food

Throwback Thursday

Photo Credit:©️2014-2022 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

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

2025 OWS: 9 March — Haze

Hazy Skies

Over the

Blue Ridge Mountains

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.

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.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Haze

Throwback Thursday

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 7 Plus

Location: Blue Ridge Parkway; North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have you had any hazy days lately? Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Monochrome Madness #29 – Chair or Chairs

Chairs are Everywhere

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 Seat and 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 Seat on my paternal grandparents front porch.

My dad and Paternal Grandfather
Great Falls, South Carolina

Now over to y’all to show us some Chairs by clicking here.

Brian’s Monochrome Madness #29-Chair/Chairs

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

XingfuMama’s Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 9

Throwback Thursday

Photo Credit: 1-5)©️2020-2025 Deb L. Waters … 6) ©️1978 From my Dad’s Slides

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.

Rocky Shores of the Catawba

Greetings my friends and fellow bloggers. We’ve had some days where the weather’s been a bit warmer, but do not be fooled. Some cooler days are still gonna be hanging around reminding us that Winter is in no way over yet.

Sitting here enjoying the peace and quiet of the evening’s (Coleman’s asleep) fleeting moments; I’m reflecting and remembering a Spring hiking adventure Coleman and I took to the Fort Mill Dam. My memories fade from time to time, however, the wonderful feeling my memories of time past spending time together will always remain with me (and hope with Coleman as well.)

On this day in 2021 (Coleman was only one year and ten months old), Coleman and I decided to visit the Fort Mill Dam while his mom was working. We dropped his mom off at work and then using directions she gave me (keyed into GPS) we proceeded to locate the entrance to the parking lot for the Fort Mill Dam.

As usual, for us, we walked down to the water to look around. However, we are never satisfied until we hike around the entire area. Therefore, we wandered past the main access to the Catawba River and ventured downstream to get a closer look at the Dam. The area closest to the dam is rather Rocky according to my memory and these photo images I snapped on the particular day.

The vast amount of rocky shoreline did not prevent Coleman from investigating the area surrounding the Dam. He climbed up and down and all around the rocks. We saw quite a number of Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) on the rocks and in the water. Coleman had an amazing time visiting the Fort Mill Dam and hiking around the river. He loved watching the various species of birds flying to and fro over the water as well as swimming in the river. Oh, it’s good to reflect and recall memories we are forging together.

Ragtag Daily Prompt-Rocky

Ragtag Daily Prompt-Memory

Photo Credit: 2021 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.

Location: Catawba River Access; Fort Mill Dam; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Be Grateful for the Memories and the loved ones you share with them. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Seeking Hands — Helping Hands

Loving Hands

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.

Here are my entries for week’s Monochrome Madness hosted by the Blog Stupidity Hole.

Undelible (indelible) Bond of Love

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness #28 -Hands

Stupidity Hole’s Monochrome Madness-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.

3 + 3 Horses X 3

Thursday Trios

Three Przewalski’s Horses
( aka “the Last Wild Horse”)
San Diego Wild Animal Park
(Currently Known as Safari Park)

Three Horses
approaching the Stables
at Anne Springs Close Greenway

Three Horses
Munching on Hay
in the Pasture at
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Carol’s Thursday Trios 

Photo Credit: 1) ©️1978 Nornal H. Waters; 2)©️2021 Deb L. Waters; 3) ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1) Minolta XG-7 35 mm; 2) Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max; 3) Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Locations: 1) San Diego Wild Animal Park (Aka San Diego Safari Park); Escondido, California; 2-3) Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

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

World Cancer Day February 4, 2025

World Cancer Day

Today (yes, I know I’m behind in getting this posted) is World Cancer Day. Cancer has affected millions of people worldwide. It is estimated that about Twenty (20) million new cancer cases occur and close to 9.7 million cancer related deaths each year. Even though the number of Cancer related cases and death are outrageous, that is not my main focus for discussing World Cancer Day.

Like it or not the majority of us have been affected by Cancer. Some suffering or are currently experiencing Cancer, while others have friends and/or relatives battling cancer’s effects and treatment side effects.

My mom, in January 2019,
laying in a hospital
bed afflicted by the
debilitating effects of
Cancer
with my niece holding her hand.

I’ve known and currently know way too many family and friends who have suffered in one manner or another with the debilitating and devastating effects of the horrendous numbers of Cancer diseases which affect too many people to even consider imagining. It is mind boggling.

My dad died from Cancer on December 31, 1996. He had prostate cancer, cancer in his lymph nodes, kidney cancer, and lastly bone cancer. He suffered for several years and through the prescribed treatments, surgeries, and medications and yet cancer after cancer continuously infected his body. He never let himself get defeated. He never wavered in his faith in the Lord.

  • My mom died on January 18, 2019 from Cancer. She too suffered through various types of Cancers, including the cancer related surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy. After having taken care of my dad and watch him suffer through the endless treatments and debilitating side effects; she chose not to undergo any more treatments when she was diagnosed with cancer, once again, in 2018. Through it all my mom learned to Trust in God. She stated that Trust meant to
    • Total
    • Reliance
    • Under
    • Stress and
    • Trial

This meaning of Trust could be applied regardless of our circumstances. God is faithful to Not allow us to go through anything He won’t be right there beside us comforting us, strengthening us, and guiding us every single day of our lives.

My former spouse died of Cancer on June 15, 2018, his younger brother died of cancer this past year.

I have numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins as well as too many friends to count who have suffered from Cancer, some still managing through the effects of Cancer and others who are no longer with us in body, but will always be with us in spirit.

World Cancer Day’s theme for 2025-2027 is “United by Unique.” It places people at the centre of care and explores new ways of making a difference. This theme highlights the importance of personalized care and treatments to cater to each individual’s unique needs.

World Cancer Day aims to

  • Raise Awareness Globally of
    • The Importance of Prevention
    • Early Detection
    • Available Treatments
  • Promoting Prevention and Early Detection
    • Significance of Prevention through Lifestyle Changes
    • Screening and Early Detection
    • Prioritize Cancer Prevention
  • Supporting Those Affected by Cancer
    • Support Provided to those currently fighting Cancer
    • Provides a sense of Community and Solidarity
    • Need for Improved Access to Cancer Care
  • Advocating for Better Treatment and Funding
    • Advocating for increased investment in Cancer Research
    • Amplifies Demand for Better Health Care infrastructure
    • Push for International collaboration
  • Uniting the Global Community
    • Uniting People Across Borders
      • Cancer knows no boundaries
      • Impact is felt by millions — geographically, socially, and economically
    • Tackling Cancer is Global issue
      • Requires Collaboration
      • Build a Global Movement for Change

You and I may not be personally suffering with Cancer, but we can be there for someone we know who might (or is currently) experiencing fighting Cancer. How can we be there for someone? What can we do?

There actually are many different ways that we (you and I) can offer and/or provide help to someone with Cancer. We can provide practical support, offer emotional support, and by simply being a good listener.

Practical support includes running errands, providing a meal, assisting with household chores, caring for children or whatever means would best benefit the person you choose to support.

Emotional support includes being a good listener, no judgements and being aware of their thoughts and feelings. Letting a person know you’re willing to listen if and when they are ready to talk. Sometimes a hug will mean a great deal to someone in need. Let people know you care, whether telling them face to face or sending them a card or message. And no matter what a person situation or circumstance might be, always remember to Pray for them.

Let’s not forget that not just the afflicted need our support, but also the families and caregivers also. Pray for all those affected by Cancer; the patient, their families, their caregivers, and their doctors. Prayers are a tremendous gift one can offer to someone in need, to someone fighting this Cancer battle on a daily basis.

God Bless. Thank you for listening. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 SYW: February 3

Sharing my World

on February 5th

Pensitivity101 is the host for Share Your World and is asking us to share about our school days. She welcome all to Share their World. This is a special way we may earn more about each other and connect in a small way.

Here are this week’s questions:

  1.  What can you remember about your last day at school/college? My last day of school/college was a long long time ago. It was a day to stand, sit, and wait for the graduation ceremony to end. My High School graduation was held in the Starlight Bowl Balboa Park’s Amphitheater. The highlight of the ceremony some might not consider a highlight, but instead an embarrassment. There were a couple of streakers who ran across the stage.
  2.   Were you close enough to walk to school or did you need transport? For my elementary school, I walked a 0.5 miles extremely long blocks to and from school every day which took a minimum of ten (10) minutes depending on traffic lights. For my Junior High School, I walked approximately 14-15 minutes for O.6 miles each way. I walked past the shopping center and a small strip mall and a long block of houses before entering the school grounds. Now for my High School, I did not live close enough to walk. My high school was near my dad’s work, so he drove me to school and dropped me off on the side street. At the end of the school day, I rode the city bus to my neighbourhood and walked the rest of the way home.
  3.   Did you have a favourite teacher? I’m not sure that I remember many of my teachers names. My eighth grade history teacher would give me extra credit to improve my grade. I didn’t care much for history back then, but I did enjoy doing research. This teacher allowed me to research a person or historical topic and write a report on the subject. I had a teacher in high school that allowed a few students a pass from being in the classroom. The only condition was you had to attend a Kiwanis luncheon downtown (yes, we got to eat at the luncheon), listen to a guest speaker and then talk about what the speaker spoke about at the next class session with a written report to turn in to him.
  4.   Would you like to go back to school? At this present stage of my life I have no desire to go back to school, however, that doesn’t prevent me from reading, researching, writing, or whatsoever is appropriate to keep myself learning new ideas and experiencing new things and having adventures learning in nature with my grandson.

Gratitude:

‘Today I choose to live with gratitude for the love that fills my heart, the peace that rests within my spirit, and the voice of hope that says all things are possible.’

– Anonymous

Share Your World-February 3, 2025

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing in my world. I appreciate y’all very much.

Hiking through a Lush Green Canal Trail

Coleman and I love to go hiking and whenever I am Willing to go hiking, he is always Willing to put on his hiking boots rearing to go on a hiking adventure. No matter when or where we might venture on our adventures I am usually almost always Willing to bring my Canon along to take photographs of the amazingly beautiful nature surrounding whatever hiking trail we choose to tackle for the day.

Most often than not Coleman and I close to hike in a local Greenway, Nature Preserve, or a State Park. Coleman is always excited and rearing to go out for a hike. He distastes being cooped up indoors. The majority of Greenways or State Parks are filled with Green trees, lawns, and vegetation. It’s like walking through a lush Green forest snapping photographs one by one with my Camera. I often take photographs with my iPhone as well as my Canon.

For this post I am combining several challenges into one post. I Willing chosen to select Photographs with plenty of Green using Green and Hiking as my theme for Judy’s Numbers Game.

Here are the Photographs with Green I am Willing to share with y’all for Judy’s Numbers Game, the RDP prompt of Photograph, Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge of Green, and lastly, but no less important FOWC prompt of Willing.

I trust you have enjoyed seeing the Photographs of the lush Green trees as we hiked the Canal Trail at Landsford Canal State Park I do Willingly captured for your viewing pleasure. Click on any image for an enhanced view. Be sure to take a look at each Photograph Challenge I’ve included to get a look at what others have posted.,

Ragtag Daily Prompt-Photograph

Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge-Green

Fandango’s One-Word Challenge—Willing

Judy’s Numbers Game #59-180

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

Camera: Apple iPhone 13 Pro Wide Camera

Location: Canal Trail; Landsford Canal State Park; Catawba, South Carolina, USA

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

2025 OWS: Square Windows & Tiles

Debbie from Travel With Intent is the host for the One Word Sunday Challenge. She is giving us an opportunity to continue to share square (s) with Becky’s GeometricJanuary challenge ending and a new month of blogging adventures beginning.

Old Town Edinburgh, Scotland

My entry for the One Word Challenge:

A Throwback
of my parents trip
to Germany &
Scotland in 1975.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Square

Throwback Thursday

Monday Window-February 3

Monday Window

Photo Credit:©️1979 Nornal H. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Minolta XG-7 35mm

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

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

2025 Thursday Doors + GeometricJanuary

1941 Home

San Diego, California

Lots of Lines, Ovals, Rectangles, Squares & more within the home structure and surrounding landscape.

My maternal grandparents home in 1941 with my mom & her younger brother.

Dan’s Thursday Doors 

Becky’s GeometricJanuary

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Throwback Thursday

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