Hey, You Looking at Me?Maybe You’d Like a Frontal Snapshot?Or Perhaps I Should Come a Little Closer?Is This Close Enough? Let’s Make a Deal, I’ll Give You One More Shot … This is My Final Pose!
One never knows where Coleman will decide to Pull Up a Seatfor a spell. The first two are of places he chose to Pull Up a Seatat the Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia and the third one is of his selection in the Greenway.
Toby Keith sings “Don’t Let the Old Man In”Toby Keith (Image from Public Site)
Toby Keith Singing “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue”
Remembering and Honoring Toby Keith. Sad to hear of his passing from Stomach Cancer. Gone too soon, but his legacy will forever remain in our hearts and memories.
All photos obtained from public websites. Videos linked from YouTube.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
American Black Bear Ursus americanusThe Kermode bear, sometimes called the spirit bear (Ursus americanus kermodei), is a subspecies of the American black bear.Coleman Exploring the American Black Bear Ursus americanus
Describe an item you were incredibly attached to as a youth. What became of it?
The item I am most attached to from my youth is a stuffed monkey. Yes, I said a stuffed monkey. It is not just any ordinary stuffed monkey. It is a vintage red and white Mr. Bim The Monkey rubber face plush toy. I’ve had him since I was about five years old, (I really do still have him.)
The Mr. Bim The Monkey was a plush toy made to resemble a real chimpanzee from the 1947 children’s show Howdy Doody. (As a sign note, I still have a 45rpm with the Howdy Doody song.) In the 1950’s the Rushton Toys Co. produced a chimpanzee plush named Zippy Zip, which became popular with children. Mr. Bim Monkey stands roughly 18 inches tall. The majority of the 1960’s Mr. Bim the Monkey plush toys were black and yellow with red suspenders with a yellow banana in its right hand. The red suspenders had bells attached on them.
Above shows Coleman holding my Red and White Mr. Bim The Monkey. He is over fifty (50) years old. His suspenders have broken due to lots of love and play. His bells have long since vanished and he is a little dirty from lack of cleaning. However, he’s been a faithful companion throughout the years.
Friday was the first day of 2024 without too many clouds or rainstorms. The first time since before winter that we could see the aircrafts flying over our area. Blue skies and semi-warm weather warms the body and the soul.
I was just thinking about the many times Coleman and I have enjoyed hiking together along the Catawba River when the RDP (Ragtag Daily Prompt) appeared showing the today’s prompt to be River. Our minds seem to be in sync on thinking about River.
We’ve had a tremendous amount of rainfall recently and so I’ve been remembering beautiful sunny days spent with Coleman at the Catawba River. I’ve had photos of the Catawba River come across in my Google photos app as memories.
These are some of the memory photos that I’ve enjoyed looking over this week.
I didn’t think I would have any snapshots to contribute to this Cosmic Photo Challenge, then with our latest storms a vital bridge at my favorite greenway collapsed with severe destruction which is interfering with hikers and mountain bikers using sections of the Greenway trails.
I did not own a computer until around 2005 or 2006, I’m not sure exactly which year. It was given as a gift to aide in my ancestry research. I also a card program on it to make my own cards, postcards, and magnets.
The computer was nothing like the laptop I currently own. It was old and bulky having several wires to connect to the keyboard and the internet via a wireless hotspot on my phone.
The computer was a beige box shaped computer monitor with an upright Pentium-equipped tower computer manufactured by Gateway. I do not recall if it was installed with Microsoft 95 or 98. I do know it was slow at times but it worked and I had never owned a computer of any kind before. I never even used a computer until my oldest son was in high school and the high school is also where I occasionally used a computer.
A pizza-box form-factor desktop computer manufactured by Gateway, circa mid-1990s [wikipedia]
When I received the Gateway computer I was also given several discs and the instruction manual. Among the discs were several which helped with my ancestral work, Plus an encyclopedia and other learning resource discs.
At the time of owning the Gateway computer I only owned a very basic phone, I think it was a Nokia possibly the Nokia 3220.
Nokia 3220 Similar to my first cell phone
Times have changed, advances have been made, and I have learned and adapted to the technological changes and advances over the years.
I currently own an HP laptop and an iPhone smartphone. Technology and I have come along way over the years. Does one ever forget their first computer or first anything? Maybe, maybe not.
1. Who is your oldest living relative (aunt, grandparent etc)?
My oldest living relative that I know of is my Aunt Mary Dalline, my dad’s sister. There may be an older relative that I am unaware of and which I do not have a relationship.
2. How often do you visit them or is distance a factor?
I haven’t really visited her since my uncle died in 2019. I keep in touch with my cousins (her children online), however, since my mom died in 2019 there has not been the closeness as there was before.
3. Have any of your family lived to be 100?
I’m not sure if any of my relatives lived to be 100, but I do know my 1C1R’s husband lived to 99.
4. Would you like to celebrate your 100th birthday?
I do not plan on celebrating a 100th birthday because I do not believe I would live that long.
National Park Service Doughton Park Visitor Center
In front of the Doughton Park Visitor Center are welcoming chairs and a table to rest a bit and enjoy the view or perhaps to wait for the Park store to open if you are camping in one of their many campsites.
Doughton Park is located off of the Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 238.5 – 241. Besides the beautiful scenery surrounding this Park one may choose to explore The Brinegar Cabin, observe craft demonstrations, and talk a gander down one of several diverse hiking trails.
This area has one of the Parkway’s largest campgrounds, a popular picnic area, and more than thirty (30) miles of hiking trails where one may access forested slopes, streams, and backcountry in Basin Cove.
Doughton Park Legend
Originally called The Bluffs, 6,000 acre Doughton Park was created in the 1930s when the Blue Ridge Parkway was routed through this part of North Carolina. It was one of the first parts of the Parkway to be completed and remains its largest recreation area. In the 1950s, it was renamed for Robert Lee Doughton (1863-1954), a local landowner and politician, who was instrumental in getting the Parkway built. Mr. Doughton lived in the nearby Laurel Springs, North Carolina. [Note: the Laurel Springs area is also the area where my maternal grandfather grew up.]
The northern and western borders of Doughton Park are formed by the Parkway itself, which here follows the crest of the mountains, traveling at more than 3,000 feet above sea level through rolling highland meadow. The other borders of the Park are traced by steeply descending mountain ridges: Flat Rock Ridge along the southern side of the Park and Cedar Ridge along the eastern side. Within these borders is the rugged and remote watershed of two mountain streams, Basin Creek and Cove Creek. Together, the double valley – or double gorge – is known as Basin Cove.
In October of 2017 my eldest son and I took a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway meandering the scenic route enjoying the beautiful Autumn colours. I allowed him to drive as he had never previously driven the Parkway. We stopped at several mileposts along the way observing the beautiful landscape. At various mileposts including Milepost 238.5 – 241, we stopped, stretched our legs, and proceeded to hike along several of the many trails found along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I do not recall which trail we hiked at Doughton Park, however, I do know we visited The Brinegar Cabin. I encourage y’all if you are ever in the Western Part of the Carolinas to take a scenic drive along The Blue Ridge Parkway.
Views from the Backyard (1-2) Views from the Front Yard (3-4)
We have been having a lot of rain throughout the year. This is today’s view of our rainy weather. I am thankful it is not as devastating here as for some of my friends in San Diego, California. I do long for a California visit to see old friends and acquaintances. It will have to wait for another time. In my dreams the weather is perfectly sunny ☀️, not too hot 🥵 , not too 🥶, but just right. No jacket or sweater necessary. A time to enjoy the beautiful beaches, take a hike in the desert or the mountains or possibly both. In my dreams, the days are filled with love and happiness surrounded my friends I care deeply about. Hopefully, one day it will come to pass.
When one thinks (at least I do) of San Diego, I think of beautiful sunshiny days enjoying the beaches, observing the animals at the zoo and the milder warm days strolling through the countryside.
I do not, however, think about drastic changes in the weather’s atmospheric composition to cause severe flooding and damage to the homes, roads, businesses around this fine city.
Click on each photo to enlarge for better viewing.
The Great Flood of 2024 A Thousand-year Storm Event San Diego, California
On January 22 I received messages from my friends revealing the devastating effects of the latest rainstorms inundating the Southern California areas especially San Diego, my former hometown. The upper left photo is from the area where I once lived, shopped, worked and dined. In all my years living in Sunny San Diego, I never saw this catastrophic damage due to flooding occurring. Some roads like Stadium Way and the Fashion and Mission Valley shopping centers located in the area have previously had some flooding ( usually attributed to it being built in a river bed.) However, nothing this devastating in over a thousand years.
I encourage y’all to pray for the families affected by the flood damage. Some folks lost everything. Pray the city rally’s to provide the food, clothing, and shelter needed by those affected by the flooding. Pray for them to have strength and endurance to see them through this difficulty. Pray the Lord will guide and comfort them and cover them with His grace and love.
Burial Place for Asa and Irene (Watson) Watson [Not an error… Watson married Watson.]Gragg Cemetery Sands, Watauga County, North Carolina
The Gragg Cemetery is one of several burial sites for my maternal paternal (my mother’s father’s) ancestors. Asa and Irene Watson are my second great aunt and uncle on my mother father’s side of the family. I have not been to visit the cemetery since before the shut down in 2020. This photo was taken when I visited the Watauga County, North Carolina area back in March of 2012. I have been limited recently in my transportation resources, but I hope to visit the area soon (probably not until spring … I do not want to drive in snowy conditions.)
1. Do you find yourself smiling at people for no apparent reason?
No, I do not think I do. I might smile whenever I see a friendly face in passing, or return a friendly smile, but other than that I think not.
2. If someone smiles at you in the street, do you return it?
Yes, I would return a smile to someone across the street, up the road, or on a trail if I encountered a friendly smile.
3. Do you feel comfortable on a crowded street?
No, I do not feel comfortable on a crowded street, on anywhere where there are crowds. Since Covid began, I afford crowds at all times.
4. Would you prefer a walk in the woods, a walk on the beach, or a walk round a town seeing the sights?
I most definitely prefer a walk in the woods. I thoroughly enjoy communing with nature and the wondrous beauty which God has created.
Gratitude:
“Each person on this planet is here a purpose … That purpose is to care for other people and to help this world become a better place through service to others.”
1. Do you use an air freshener in your home? If so, do you prefer a solid gel, spray, timed release, potpourri or something else?
I use air fresheners in my home in the form of sprays and plug-ins. I prefer the apple cinnamon scents; however, I do occasionally use other scents just no flowery scents due to allergies.
2. When good weather permits, do you open your windows to let in the fresh air?
When the weather permits, usually in the spring, summer, and early autumn I enjoy having the windows open to allow fresh air to fill the rooms.
3. With the extreme variants in weather these days, do you feel the cold in the Winter months?
The apartment we are living in does not have very good insulation or airtight doors and windows, therefore, we feel the extreme cold this winter. In other places we have lived we didn’t feel it so much in the home only when we went outdoors.
4. Which would you prefer…to curl up in front of a log fire or log burner, turn the heating up, or go to bed early with extra blankets.
I would love to curl up in front of t of a log fire 🔥 or log burner, but since I don’t live in a home that has a fireplace I contend with going to bed under a pile of thick warm quilts. I prefer to conserve energy thereby reducing heating costs, so therefore I do not turn the heat up on the thermostat.
Gratitude:
“Grumbling and gratitude are, for the child of God, in conflict. Be grateful and you won’t grumble. Grumble and you won’t be grateful.”
Write about your first name: its meaning, significance, etymology, etc.
דבורה
Currently I go by Deb more often than not. It is a shortened version of my given first name of Debbie. The name Debbie is a nickname for Deborah. However, it is not a nickname for me, but instead it is my given name.
The above name is the Hebrew spelling for Deborah/Debbie. In Hebrew it is the name Dēvōrah, which means “bee” or “swarm of bees.”Another meaning for Debbie/Deborah is one who has strong desires and aspirations.
Debbie embodies qualities of diligence, social connectivity, and a vibrant spirit. Historically’s, the name Debbie is associated with women’s empowerment. Biblically speaking, Honey and honeybees are used as images to convey God’s love, strength, wisdom, things of great worth, and even references to Christ. In the Bible, Deborah is the name of a prophetess and judge who led the Israelites to victory over the Canaanites. One can learn more about Deborah in the book of Judges in the Old Testament.
[As a side note, when I was in college I knew several people who were studying Greek and by assisting them while they studied I learned to spell by name in Greek, Δεββι. Afterwards I would often spell my name using the Greek lettering instead of the English letters. I liked the way Debbie looked spelled Δεββι.]
The name Debbie/Deborah gained usage among English Christians following the Protestant Reformation. In particular, it became significantly popular among the Puritans. The name became a popular choice for American parents and also for fictional characters. In the United States, the name was extremely popular between the 1950’s through the 1970’s.
Personality wise, Debbie would signify you are strong in material matters, determined and stubborn. ( I guess this means I come by my stubbornness naturally.) You have a good business ability. You are a good worker, steady and practical, a builder who takes responsibility well. You are a doer, down-to-earth, serious-minded, reliable and self-disciplined. (I’ll need to remember all these personality traits if I ever decide to apply for another job.)
Personally, even though I’ve always known Debbie was another form of Deborah, I always hated being called Deborah/Debra while I was in school and would insist that that was not my name.
Harvey Martin, Doyce Eileen, and Myrtle Melvina Watson Coshocton, Ohio, USA
This is a portrait of my mom when she was about four (4) years old standing on the foot rail of a car between her mom and dad (my maternal grandparents) in front of their home on Water Street in Coshocton, Ohio.
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 