Category Archives: Nader

Photo Drop-off Road Trip I

If you or somebody you know is looking for a Thanksgiving Meal, my church is having it’s annual FREE Thanksgiving Meal again this year. Check out the flyer below for information:



I should be there for at least part of it. Hope to see some of you there!

+++++++

This is a collection of images from the road trip I took with Nader where I dropped off my pictures for the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. After we left State Center, we went down to Des Moines to drop off the pictures. We had a bit of time to kill before they Cultural Building opened up to take submissions. So we hung out around the Asian Garden in downtown Des Moines. After that we went to Hamelin to have a delicious tenderloin at Darrell’s Place. Then up to Audubon to check out Albert the Bull.

Here are some pictures:


Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines

Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines, Iowa

Hamelin, Iowa
Hamelin

Hamelin, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa
Audubon

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Still many more pictures from this little sojourn.

State Center Rose Festival

One of the things I like to do before I take my entries for the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon down to enter them is going to the State Center Rose Garden to photograph the roses. This year the due date for the Photography Salon happened to be the same date as the State Center Rose Festival. Since Nader went with me, we decided to walk around and check it out.

Not much was going on that early in the morning but the barbecue contest, but I took several pictures of it.


State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

State Center Rose Festival - 2023

Still plenty more pictures from this day left to share!

Birthday Road Trip Denouement

Here is the final collection of images from the birthday road trip I took with Jesse and Nader. On the way back we stopped at The Grotto of the Redemption. Nader had never been to it before, which was no shocker. But this was also Jesse’s first trip there.

But before we made it to The Grotto of the Redemption, we stumbled across an unincorporated town with a town sign that had a town sign I hadn’t harvested:


Langdon, Iowa - Unincorporated
Langdon, Iowa – Unincorporated
LANGDON
IOWA
EST. 1899 POP. 53

Maybe not a great town sign, but a solid town sign.

When we pulled up to The Grotto, I wasn’t sure if Nader was going to get out of the car. He was being a grumpypants and was pretty addicted to his phone. But he did finally get out of the car and then after he saw the Grotto he described it as the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen in his life. It is definitely beautiful.

Here are the pictures:


The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

The Grotto of the Redemption - 2023

I wonder where I will go for my birthday road trip in 2024?

Don’t You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Today is Nader’s birthday so I have to wish him a happy birthday.


I Scream: The Dairy Mart
Happy Birthday Nader!!!

I hope your birthday is fantastic!

+++++++

Time to finish off the February backlog. This is a collection of images that I took back in February that never made it into previous posts. Some are alternates for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Some are not.


Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

On to working on the March backlog!

Iowa State Fair Food Carousel

As I started looking through these pictures, I realize that I should have published this collection much earlier as the memory has become a bit foggy since the Iowa State Fair, which was 2 months ago. Something to remember for next year.

This food adventure is a collection of all the food I ate at the Iowa State Fair. I made 4 trips to the Iowa State Fair. One with Jen, Evie, and Layla. Another with Scottie D., Melissa, Austin, and Porter. Another one with Monica, Graham, Sabas, and Elainie. Then a final one with Jesse and Nader.

I ate a lot, so we better get to it!


Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

The first thing I had was the Deep-Fried Bacon Brisket Man-n-Cheese Grilled Cheese. Here is the description:

The Rib Shack’s signature Bacon Brisket Mac and Cheese is slathered between layers of American cheese and two slices of What’s Your Cheez Bacon Cheddar Bread. It is then deep-fried until golden brown and served with a signature raspberry chipotle BBQ sauce.

This was one of the 3 Finalists for Best New State Fair Food. Here are more pictures of it:


Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

I could only get Evie to take a nibble of it. This sandwich was pretty disappointing. It was bland and lifeless. The only thing that saved it was the raspberry chipotle BBQ sauce. However, it wasn’t the worst Best New Fair Food Finalist.

It was a short day at the Fair and the only other thing I had was ice cream:


Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

You know my policy on ice cream, so no reason to get into that.

On my next day at the Fair, the only food I purchased was the Grinder Ball from The Bacon Box. It was also a finalist for Best New State Fair Food.

Here is the description:

The Grinder Ball is a blend of bacon balls stuffed with mozzarella cheese, wrapped in bacon, rotisserie smoked and dipped in warm marinara sauce. The Grinder Ball is The Bacon Box’s new signature gluten-free take on the traditional State Fair Grinder.

Here are some pictures:


Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

No reason to sugar coat it, this thing sucked. Just absolutely terrible. Easily the worst food I had at the fair.

I didn’t purchase anything else, but the Roland-Story FFA gave Scottie D. and I some peach cobbler:


Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Seriously amazing. Maybe the best thing I had at the Iowa State Fair.

I also had some of Melissa’s Dill Pickle Flavored Cheese Curds from Brad & Harry’s Cheese Curds:


Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

These were great and I would definitely have again!

On my 3rd trip to the Fair, I started out with the Iowa Twinkie.

Here is the description:

“A Texas staple with an Iowa twist.” A smoked bacon-wrapped jalapeno stuffed with pulled pork, sweet corn, cream cheese and ranch seasoning. It is then glazed with Whatcha Smokin’ BBQ & Brew house-made Sweet + Sticky BBQ sauce and drizzled with house-made ranch dressing.

Here are some pictures:


Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

I voted for the Iowa Twinkie for the Best New Fair Food, but the Deep-Fried Bacon Brisket Mac-n-Cheese Grilled Cheese won. At least that awful Grinder Ball didn’t win.

As you know, I’m a big fan of the Italian Grinder. I’m still sad when I think about the loss of Jennie’s Grinders which was always my go to when I went to the Iowa State Fair until Jennie passes away a few years ago. I decided to give Aunt Mary’s Italian Grinders a shot.


Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

It was a solid grinder, but as those of us in the grinder biz say: INJGG. It’s Not Jennie’s Grinders Grinder. But I would get it again.

That was the final thing I ate on my third trip from the Iowa State Fair.

On my 4th trip to the Iowa State Fair, the temperature was off the charts hot. heat index was over 100 degrees, which isn’t great for appetite. So I mostly just drank a ton of water. I mean a ton of water. But I did eat a couple things.

The first thing I tried was the Dough Crazy Sweet Stick from Dough Crazy.


Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

While this thing was delicious, I don’t think I would get it again. It was actually TOO much. This was complete sugar overload.

Then I grabbed an Iowa State Fair staple on my way out the door. The Pork Chop on a Stick:


Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

Iowa State Fair Food - 2023

There was lots of successful eating at this year’s Iowa State Fair. I’m already excited to go back next year and eat some more!

Next Sunday’s food adventure will involve breakfast up in Minnesota!

Orange City Tulip Festival IV

Here is the final collection of images of my trip to the Orange City Tulip Festival with Jesse and Nader for my birthday road trip.

We start this collection where the last collection left off. Jesse shopping in an Orange City market:


Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

While this is the final collection of Orange City Tulip Festival images, it isn’t the end of the road trip images. More to come!

Orange City Tulip Festival III

We begin the third collection of images from the Orange City Tulip Festival where the second collection left off. Jesse, Nader, and I were wandering around the food court area admiring a truck that sold Belgian waffles. But I didn’t have any cause I had just knocked down a fried almond patty and it was like I was living in a whole new world.


Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023
Seriously? Who is surrounding by so much amazing food and then eats at Pizza Hut. Pizza Hut is so terrible we recently burned the Boone one down to the ground just to send a message to any other subpar pizza joint that is thinking of coming to Boone. Sleep with one eye open Pizza Ranch!

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Only one more collection of images from the Orange City Tulip Festival left to share. But so many more pictures from this road trip left to share! We’re just starting to get warmed up!

Orange City Tulip Festival II

I’m currently out of drone pictures, so thought I would move up the next post on the Orange City Tulip Festival a couple of days early.

We start this collection off where the collection ended. We had just got our poffertjes and had sat down to eat the deliciousness!


Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023
These buckets of water are throughout the parade route. Little kids clean the road before the Orange Festival Royalty walk through. I hope to get pictures of that next year.

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023
Fried Almond Patties are a game changer!

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023
The world needs more conveyor belts.

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Still a couple more collections of images from this trip left to share!

Orange City Tulip Festival I

Back in May I loaded the car up with Jesse and Nader and went on my annual birthday road trip. This time the main goal was to hit the Orange City Tulip Festival to check it out. We didn’t hit much of it. We left before the parade started, but we caught plenty of the sites and sounds.

Here is the first collection of images:


Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

Orange City Tulip Festival - 2023

There are still plenty more pictures left to share from this Orange City Tulip Festival adventure.