Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography
This blog is for my insights on life, the Bible, hiking adventures with my grandson and whatever is important to me
Photo Credit:©️1978 Nornal H. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Location: San Diego Wild Animal Park ( Now known as San Diego Safari Park); Escondido, San Diego County, California, USA
God Bless. Take Care. Stay Warm. Stay Safe. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Who begins counting down to Christmas in August? Amazingly some people do, even Google & Siri are already counting down to Christmas. It’s not even Halloween or Thanksgiving yet. Why Count down to Christmas so early? Some people use an Advent Calendar to count down to Christmas, but they only start the count down at the beginning of December.
Retailers begin selling Christmas decorations in August to spread out demand and avoid the last-minute shopping rush.
Thinking about Christmas in August helps people to avoid last-minute holiday travel expenses, as well as helps you to budget your finances. Spreading out the cost of the Holidays helps to reduce strain and stress on yourself and your budget.
Mentioning Stress, why stress yourself out over Christmas? Save early — Plan ahead — Shop early — Make gifts ahead of time or perhaps throughout the year. These ideas help to give yourself a peace of mind and you’ll be more likely to enjoy the Christmas holiday season with friends and family.
Christmas 1978
Speaking of family, these photos with Santa Claus were taken in Germany in December of 1978. The first photo shows Santa’s arrival. The next photo shows my niece, Jennifer, on Santa’s lap. The third photo is of my niece, Sherry, on Santa’s lap. And the fourth and last photo is of my brother with his daughters and other children (probably at a Church Christmas party). [My brother was stationed in Germany while in the U.S. Air Force.]
Merry Christmas! Well just relax — you’ve got plenty of time to get ready for Christmas ( that is if you start early).
Photo Credit:©️1978/9 Nornal H. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Location: Wiesbaden Air Base; Wiesbaden, Germany
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
… On a Horse
Where one decides to Pull Up a Seat is as individual and unique as you are. For a unique experience why not select a horse of your choosing to Pull Up a Seat, let’s ride. Giddy Up Horsey!
These horses and their riders all apart of an equestrian exhibition at the San Diego Wild Animal Park in May of 1978. They were captured on 35 mm film by my dad as my parents were delighted with watching the show.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 33
Photo Credit:©️1978 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Location: San Diego Wild Animal Park (now known as San Diego Zoo Safari Park); Escondido, San Diego County, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for Pulling Up a Seat with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Numbers 33:2
We are all at different stages of our journey of life. We have differences and similarities in our journeys. Just as Moses recorded the stages in the Israelites Journeys, so we record, in our blogs, our journeys through our various stages in our lives for ourselves. We share our thoughts we have recorded regarding our experiences along our journey with each of you, our blogging community, with our friends, and those we love and care about deeply.
Photo Credit: ©️1978 Nornal H. Waters ( My dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35mm
Converter: Wolverine Digital Converter
Location: San Diego Wild Animal Park (now known as San Diego Zoo Safari Park); Escondido, San Diego County, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. Have a wonderful week and enjoy the flowers. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find under that number and include a link to your blog in Judy’s Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title.
I’m using a Word in place of the number 154 this week. My Word I’m choosing to use is Julian.
Visiting Beautiful Julian
From where I used to live in San Diego; we would drive east on I-8 towards the mountains for a day of exploring, hiking, and a stop for Apple pie Julian Pie Shop before returning home. The first half ( more or less) are from our day trip back in 1978. The rest of the photos are from a virtual trip I took with a friend of mine from San Diego this past weekend.
Julian is a popular destination in the beautiful Cuyamaca mountains. It is approximately 0ne (1) hour and six (6) to fourteen (14) minutes away from the Allied Gardens Neighborhood in San Diego. The route we took takes us through the backcountry and into the Cuyamaca mountains past Cuyamaca State Park and Stonewall Peak (both wonderful places for hiking.)
When visiting Julian it is like stepping back in time to the days of Julian’s beginning rooted in the 1870’s gold rush. You can see where gold was discovered plus several historical buildings which date back to the 1870’s. When you go hiking in the area, you won’t want to miss stopping by Lake Cuyamaca for relaxation and great photo opportunities of the amazingly beautiful scenery. If you’re inclined to go out on the lake the area does have boat rentals or you might decide to fish along the bank.
Judy Dystra-Brown’s Numbers Game #33-154
Photo Credit: ©️1978 Nornal H. Waters ( my dad) and ©️2024 Felix Navarro … All Rights Reserved.
Location: Julian, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting Julian with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. Have a great rest of your week. I appreciate y’all very much.
Peafowl
Peafowls is the common name for two bird species of the genus Pavo and one species of the closely related genus Afropavo of the family Phasianidae (pheasants and their allies.) Phasianidae includes male peacocks, female peahens, and their young which are called peachicks.
It is the male Peafowls which are referred to as Peacocks. The males are the ones who have the vibrant blue and green coloring, long tails and dramatic displaying to attract mates. Mating season occurs between March and September.
Peacocks are polygamous birds that mate with multiple females during the mating season and have multiple partners throughout the breeding season. After mating season, the Male Peacocks shed their tail feathers and grow new ones before the next breeding season.
Photo Credit:©️1978 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Location: San Diego Wild Animal Park; Escondido, San Diego County, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Entertainment at Wild Animal Park
Photo Credit:©️1978 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35mm
Converter : Wolverine Digital Converter
Location: San Diego Wild Animal Park; Escondido, San Diego County, California, USA
God Bless. Thank for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Photo Credit:©️1978 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35mm
Converter : Wolverine Digital Converter
Location: San Diego Wild Animal Park; Escondido, San Diego County, California, USA
God Bless. Thank for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Epiphyllum
This Epiphyllum was captured by my dad while walking along the Epiphyllum Trail at the San Diego Wild Animal Park (Now recognized as San Diego Zoo Safari Park).
The Epiphyllum Trail is located between Walkabout Australia and Condor Ridge at the Wild Animal Park. The Trail is a beautiful tribute to these orchid cactuses. The Epiphyllums bloom in April and May to an unforgettable glorious burgeoning of brilliant tropical jewel-toned blossoms.
Photo Credit:©️1978 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35mm
Converter : Wolverine Digital Converter
Location: San Diego Wild Animal Park; Escondido, San Diego County, California, USA
God Bless. Thank for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Equestrian Show
Photo Credit:©️1978 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35mm
Converter : Wolverine Digital Converter
Location: San Diego Wild Animal Park; Escondido, San Diego County, California, USA
God Bless. Thank for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Psalm 75:6-7 (NIV)
Photo Credit: ©️1978 Nornal H. Waters ( My dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35mm
Converter: Wolverine Digital Converter
Location: San Diego Wild Animal Park (now known as San Diego Zoo Safari Park); Escondido, San Diego County, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. Have a wonderful week and enjoy the flowers. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Photo Credit: ©️1978 Nornal H. Waters ( My dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35mm
Converter: Wolverine Digital Converter
Location: San Diego Wild Animal Park (now known as San Diego Zoo Safari Park); Escondido, San Diego County, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Catalpa bignonioides
Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2024 Week 30
Photo Credit: ©️1978 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35mm
Location: San Diego Wild Animal Park (Currently called San Diego Zoo Safari Park); Escondido, San Diego County, California, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful weekend. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
African Dancing
& Drums
in May 1978
On our visit to the San Diego Wild Animal Park (Currently referred to as San Diego Zoo Safari Park) in May 1978; we saw some amazingly talented and delightful entertainers which included talented musicians and dancers from Africa. They were extraordinarily awesome-inspiring and spectacular performers to watch. They captivated and thrilled audiences throughout the day. Click on each photo for larger viewing.
Photo Credit: ©️1978 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35mm
Converter: Wolverine Digital Converter
Location: San Diego Wild Animal Park; San Diego, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and watching the dancers performance with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. Have a delightfully amazing weekend. I appreciate y’all very much.
Photo Credit:©️1978 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35mm
Converter : Wolverine Digital Converter
Location: Julian, California, USA
God Bless. Thank for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Julian Mountain Flowers
Photo Credit:©️1978 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35mm
Converter : Wolverine Digital Converter
Location: Julian, California, USA
God Bless. Thank for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Round Table Windows
With Solvang being the Danish Capital of America, the Businessmen’s Association thought it would be too their advantage to capitalize on their natural advantages and adopt Danish style architecture in their buildings and in the remodeling of old buildings. Danish architectural styles had been developed in Solvang from its earliest stages of development, however, there was a more intensive effort conducted after their business meeting in 1946.
The Round Table Pizza building originally housed the Roeser Milling Company building (built in the 1930s). Back in the late 1970’s, tourists loved to stop for a bite at Round Table Pizza helping to contribute to their booming business. It is no longer in operation in Solvang, California, but there are plenty of other eateries to delight your appetite.
Photo Credit:©️1978 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
This week I’m continuing Cee’s Which Way Challenge doing it My Way. Therefore for this the second week of July, I have chosen a theme of Any Roadways or Pathways with Cars and/or People. Remember signs are always welcome. I welcome anyone who desires to join me on this week’s Which Way Challenge.
Here is my entry for this week. These are from a trip to Solvang, California back in September of 1978. Solvang is known as “Danish Capital of America” because of its Danish heritage and European-inspired culture, architecture, and museums.
Solvang is a sun-soaked slice of Danish culture in the Santa Ynez Valley, where California wine cellars mix with European bakeries and shops. It’s where you can drink, dine and shop like a Dane without ever leaving the California sunshine.
The name Solvang means “sunny fields” in Danish. The city of Solvang was founded in 1911 by a group of Danish immigrants who purchased 9’000 acres of land near the Old Mission Santa Inés and built a community to preserve and promote Danish culture.
An interesting note (especially for Hallmark fans), A still from “A Very Charming Christmas Town,” the Lifetime Christmas movie set in Solvang.
Photo Credit: ©️1978 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Location: Solvang, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. Take Care Cee! Chris thank you for taking good care of our friend. I appreciate y’all very much.
This week PR from the blog Flights of the Soul is hosting Monochrome Madness with the theme of Sculptures. Let’s see y’all’s monochrome sculptures and don’t forget to link to Flights of the Soul’s blog.
My selections for this week’s challenge were captured on film in 1978 in Solvang, California many years ago.
This Statue is a milestone marker indicating the distance from Solvang to Copenhagen, Denmark, a mere 11270 kilometers apart.
The Bronze Statue of Hans Christian Andersen is located in Hans Christian Andersen Park in Solvang, California. This Park is a tribute to the renowned Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen and was founded in 1970.
Solvang is known as the “Danish Capital of America” with its strong Danish heritage and European-inspired culture. It was founded in 1911. It wasn’t incorporated as a city until May 1, 1985.
Besides the Statue of Hans Christian Andersen there is a museum dedicated to him you might be interested in visiting. The monument of Hans Christian Andersen Denmark’s renowned Fairy Tale Writer was created by Henry Luckow Nielsen of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Photo Credit: ©️1978 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Location: Solvang, California, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. Take Care Cee! Chris, thank you for taking good care of our friend. I appreciate y’all very much.
Water Tower
Great Falls Water Tower
Photo Credit: ©️1978 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Location: Great Falls, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. Have a wonderful week and enjoy the Outdoors. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Photo Credit ©️1978 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm
Location: Huntersville Oaks; Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Huntersville Hospital
This hospital is currently known as Atrium Health Huntersville. It was formerly operated under the name of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority and was formerly known by Carolinas HealthCare System.
This was how it looked in the summer of 1978 when my paternal grandfather was receiving medical treatment here. My dad and his brother both visited frequently and stayed with him periodically until he was able to return home.
Photo Credit:©️1978 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.
Location: Huntersville Hospital, Huntersville, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Appreciate them. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Seats Around the Cross
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 26
Photo Credit:©️1978 Nornal H. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 