We were on our way back from a couple nights at the Cape May Inn, a Christmas present from our children and decided to mosey back along the shore. We skipped the Wildwoods but went through Stone Harbor, Avalon and stopped for lunch at Mike’s Seafood in Sea Isle. Right by the parking lot was this mounted lobster.
Sea Isle Lobster
Willa was spending the day and we decided to get some exercise at Waltz Golf Farm. Two minature golf courses, a driving range and Turtle Creek Golf make up the Farm. While there we spotted this chicken so Willa and I posed for this photo, putters in hand.
Waltz Golf Farm Chicken
We were in California visiting Julia, Dan and the kids. Mid-week, while they were working, we took a side trip to the Paso Robles wine area. Walking through town we saw this large flip-flop in front of Kahuna’s Surf store on 12st Street across from City Park.
Paso Robles Flip Flop
We were on our way to Santa Barbara to meet up with Julia for lunch on the pier. Julia drove up earlier to meet with a donor and let us know about this Big Rubber Duckie in Oxnard. We jumped off The 101 and circled back to the Re-Bath location. They call themselves the “World’s Largest Bath Remodeler.” I don’t know if that is true, but this is probably the largest Rubber Duck I’ve seen.
Oxnard Rubber Duck
On our way to visit Chris and Rick ianchesn Mter, Vermont we passed Creative Custom Woodward in Housick Falls, NY with not only these Big Chairs but probably an acre or two of regular sized Adirondack chairs displayed and ready for sale. We stopped on our way home to grab these photos. A little farther along Rt. 22 there was a farm market where we picked up some sugared donuts and apple cider.
NY Chairs
We were lucky enough to spend a day with Willa and decided to visit the Crayola Experience in Easton, PA. Well, first we found what must be the World’s Largest Crayon so naturally Willa and I had to have our photo taken by the Chief Photographer. Shortly after we found another Big Crayon and gave Willa her first solo Big Thing photo. Who knows maybe the Big Thing bug may bite her. This not the first time she’s been in a Big Thing photo, but the first solo shot. I think she did pretty good. She even had a matching outfit!
Crayola
I think I may have sparked a flame. First Willa with Big Things, now her sister Lucy spots a Big Chicken in downtown Clare, Michigan. She was nice enough to pose for a photo she sent to me.
Lucy’s Big Chicken
We were in Los Angeles visiting Julia and Dan and took some special time with Calvin by going to the LA Zoo. While there we ran across this Big Snake. He seemed pretty harmless and let me pet him.
Big LA Zoo Snake
We arrived in Corning, NY planning to go to the Corning Glass Museum but wanted to grab some lunch first. Had a good meal at Market Street Brewing Company, sitting outside in great weather. Before the museum visit we stopped at the Corning, Corelle & More shop around the corner on Pine Street to get a few replacement items. When, WOW! here was this measuring cup. And not just any big measuring cup, but a Guinness Book Certified World’s Largest Measuring Cup. What a find!
World’s Largest Measuring Cup
Stopped by Booth Electric Supply in Elmira, NY to grab this big business symbol at the corner of E 2nd St and Hwy 14 (Clements Center Parkway.) I noticed a couple of guys in the building looking to see what we were doing. I stopped by to introduce myself and give them a business card. They said they have a good number of people stopping to get their photo taken. They gave me a pen and wished me well in my search for other Big Things. Thanks guys!
Big Electric Plug
Elmira, NY. Maple Lawn Dairy Restaurant. A Big Polar Bear. Do I need to say more? Couldn’t miss this one.
Rooftop Polar Bear
On after our visit to the Champions Golf Tour event at the En-Joie Golf Club in Endicott, NY we were on out way to Corning, NY and just had to stop by the Blue Dolphin Diner in Apalachin, NY. Right off exit 66 on the Southern Tier Expressway (NY-17) it was an easy-off and easy-on stop to get this Dolphin.
Blue Dolphin Diner
The Chief Photographer and I were spending a few days at her sister’s vacation cabin on the Juniata River near Thompsontown, PA. Sunday afternoon we drove into Millersburg where our brother-in-law Tony spent his early years. We visited the local landmarks, saw Tony’s childhood home and had lunch at Max’s Grille downtown. While in town we visited the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art. Ned was an artist specializing in forest animals. On the way to the Center we spotted this homage to the St. Louis Cardinals on State St near Rising Sun Road. Just had to get this image.
Big Cardinals Fan
Next to the Big Valvoline Guy was another inflatable – this dog. This made it a two-fer! When we were getting this image a nice young man working at the Valvoline Instant Oil Change business came out and offered to take our photo together. I appreciated the offer.
Valvoline Big Dog
While on our way to the Greek Festival at St. Sophia Church in Norristown we were driving on Ridge Pike and spotted this Big Valvoline Guy. I whipped into the parking lot to grab this image. I always like to get these unplanned shots!
Valvoline Big Guy
We were heading cross country in Florida on our way to meet up with some PA neighbors that spend 4 or 5 months down south to avoid our winter weather. Driving along the US-441 in Mount Dora I spotted this billboard held up by a Big Pencil. I made a quick U-turn and pulled into the parking lot of Charlie Johnson’s Building office. As we were walking up we met Carl Ludecke, the VP and son-in-law of Charlie. He was a wealth of information about the billboard: erected in 1987 for about $30,000, grandfathered in and now worth a whole lot more. Income from the sign is “Better that Social Security!”
Charlie Johnson’s Pencil
After a lunch of Fish ‘n Chips at Bull’s Head Public House, a real style English pub we walked on down Main Street to the Julius Sturgis pretzel Bakery. While no longer an active bakery it is the site of the first commercial pretzel bakery dating back to 1861. Tours allow visitors to understand the history and to actually get a hands-on lesson in pretzel twisting. Of course there is a gift shop and an opportunity to purchase pretzels. Tom Sturgis Pretzels company in nearby Shillington, PA continues the family tradition. This area of Pennsylvania is home to many pretzel companies. The first annual Pretzel Fest was held last September in Reading and features a great number of bakers. We were there!
Julius Sturgis Pretzels
We were in Lititz, PA to take in the “Fire and Ice Festival” which is an annual event. Most of the businesses in town commission an ice sculpture reflecting their business. It’s nice to walk through town and see the sculptures. Unfortunately we were there on Monday, the last day and temperatures were high enough to cause some melting. We spotted these big knitting needles in front of a yarn store named “Ewebiquitous.”
Fire and Ice Festival
On our way to Boyertown, PA to visit a gift shop for a little Christmas shopping and we spotted this Big Boot. I thought it was a permanent Big Boot but as we got closer it turned out to be an inflatable. A little disappointed but it was one of the better inflatables I’ve seen. We didn’t stop to see Santa but we did discover the Jukebox Restaurant in Boyertown. 7 kinds of soup (I had Crab Bisque,) great place, we need to go back.
Boyertown Boot
On our way to look for a little pine tree for the front of the house we stopped by Bustards Christmas Trees close to home to see what they have to offer. Since we are fairly new in the area we had not shopped at Bustards before. After pulling in I saw this inflatable that I know I had to get. Bustards is a very friendly place and their motto “Real Trees make Scents” appeals to me.
Bustards Snowman