Formal Portrait, Jesse, Kalista, Kelly, Saydie, Taylan

The 2022 Howards – Vol. 2

November 20, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Time for another Formal Portrait Sunday. Last Sunday I accidentally refers to this collection as the 2023 Howards. My proofreader, that only proofreads after I publish alerted me to this right away. Obviously, I do not have access to a time machine. These pictures are from 2022. Sorry to those of you that hoped to borrow my time machine. When I have one, you will not know it though. Sorry about that too.

Here is a second collection of pictures from the 2022 Howard Family Photo Shoot:

Next Formal Portrait will also feature more pictures of the Howards.

Boone FUMC, Evie, Jen, Layla, State Fair, Street Photography, WPC - Reminder

Iowa State Fair – Irish Dancing

November 18, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Probably well past time I start sharing pictures from my trips to the Iowa State Fair. I went to the Iowa State Fair 3 times this year. The first time I went was on the first day of the Fair with Jen, Evie, and Layla for Evie’s dance performance with her Irish Dancing Group.

The first collection of pictures I’m going to share are from their performance:

As you surely noticed, Evie did lose a shoe during one her performances, but she mustered on like a champ. Layla got stung by a bee or wasp while watching the performance, so she earned a merit badge too.

Plenty more pictures from that trip to the Iowa State Fair left to share!

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This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE them is COMMUNICATION:

COMMUNICATION

COMMUNICATION! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a COMMUNICATION photo? A COMMUNICATION photo is simply a photo where the subject or a major compositional element shows a form of COMMUNICATION. The theme reveal picture is of a sign that is COMMUNICATIONing that there are rules to using this parking lot. It is for church parking and no overnight parking is allowed. While signs are great at COMMUNICATIONing, there are all sorts of COMMUNICATION. The phone. A letter. A postcard. Talking. Just talking to somebody.

Happy photo harvesting!

Flowers, Macro

Looking Out

November 17, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

I went out looking for the answers
And never left my town
I’m no good at understanding
But I’m good at standing ground

And when I asked a corner preacher
I couldn’t hear him for my youth
Some people get religion
Some people get the truth

I never get the truth
I never get the truth

I know the darkness pulls on you
But it’s just a point of view
When you’re outside looking in
You belong to someone
And when you feel like giving in
Or the coming of the end
Like your heart could break in two
Someone loves you
-Brandi Carlile

Thursdays are for flowers, so let’s get after it!

I love our Thursdays together. I love us.

Art, Black & White, Christianity, History, Nature, Railroad, Road Trip

Buchanan County Aux – Vol. 3

November 16, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

This is the final collection of auxiliary images I took on my road trip to harvest the town signs of Buchanan County. It is pretty county with plenty of interesting things to see. And not even included in this series of pictures is perhaps the greatest tourist attraction of Buchanan County. Iowa’s Largest Frying Pan in Brandon.

Here is the final collection of images:

Aurora

Lamont

Dundee

Masonville

Quasqueton

Rowley

Two things:

#1. I wouldn’t want to use an outhouse after a sasquatch.
#2. The Rowley Fire and Rescue sign doesn’t fill me with much confidence in their abilities.

The next time we hit the open road for auxiliary pictures from THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will visit Delaware County.

Art, History, Road Trip, Town Sign Project

Town Sign Project: Dubuque County

November 15, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Dubuque County is a large county. It has almost the most, maybe the most incorporated towns in Iowa. It is an absolutely beautiful county. Also, of all the “cities” in Iowa, Dubuque is my favorite. It is a river city, but not filthy like most river cities. Plus it has interesting things to do and the natural beauty and the community art is hard to beat.

Here are some facts about Dubuque County:
+ Population is 98,718. Making it the 9th most populous county in Iowa. Below Story County and above Pottawattamie County.
+ Largest town and county seat is Dubuque.
+ Established in 1834 as part of the Michigan Territory. Then became part of the Wisconsin Territory in 1836. Then part of the Iowa Territory in 1838.
+ The city of Dubuque was chartered in 1833. It was the first city in Dubuque.
+ Named for French trader Julien Dubuque, the first European settler of Iowa.
+ Home of Mines of Spain State Park, one of the prettiest stater parks in Iowa.
+ Home of the Fenelon Place Elevator.
+ Home of the Field of Dreams.
+ Home of University of Dubuque, Clarke University, Loras College, Emmaus Bible College and Divine Word College.
+ Major highways are: US-20, US-151, US-52, US-61, IA-3, IA-32, and IA-136.
+ Adjacent counties are: Clayton, Jackson, Jones, and Delaware.
+ Currently at peak population.

Dubuque County has a beautiful courthouse:

The Dubuque County Courthouse located in Dubuque, Iowa.

The Dubuque County Freedom Rock is located in Epworth, Iowa:

With Dubuque County conquered, here is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:

PURPLE=COMPLETED

97 counties completed. 98% of the Cyclone State conquered!

Here are the town signs of Dubuque County:

Dubuque, Iowa
DUBUQUE, IOWA
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Population: 59,667 (+2,030)

Asbury, Iowa
CITY OF Asbury
Welcomes You!
Population: 5,943 (+1,773)

Dyersville, Iowa – Partially in Delaware County
Welcome to Dyersville
Population: 4,477 (+419)

Epworth, Iowa
Welcome To EPWORTH
Population: 2,023 (+163)

Peosta, Iowa
Welcome to
Peosta
CROSSROADS TO THE FUTURE
Population: 1,908 (+531)

Farley, Iowa
FARLEY
welcomes you
Heart of the Cornbelt
Population: 1,766 (+229)

New Vienna, Iowa
WELCOME TO NEW VIENNA
THE eNVy OF IOWA
Population: 382 (-25)

Worthington, Iowa
WELCOME TO WORTHINGTON
Population: 382 (-19)

Holy Cross, Iowa
Welcome to Holy Cross
Population: 356 (-18)

Luxemburg, Iowa
Welcome To LUXEMBURG
Where Highways Meet
Population: 245 (+5)

Rickardsville, Iowa
Rickardsville
Welcomes You
Population: 202 (+20)

Sherrill, Iowa
Welcome To SHERRILL
Iowa’s Beautiful Hill Top Community
Population: 189 (+12)

Centralia, Iowa
CENTRALIA
Population: 116 (-18)

Bernard, Iowa
WELCOME To BERNARD
Est. 1880
Population: 114 (+2)

Sageville, Iowa
SAGEVILLE
Population: 95 (-27)

Zwingle, Iowa – Partially in Jackson County
WELCOME To ZWINGLE
Settled 1846
Population: 84 (-7)

Balltown, Iowa
Welcome To Balltown
Population: 79 (+11)

Graf, Iowa
WELCOME TO GRAF
Population: 76 (-3)

Bankston, Iowa
BANKSTON PARK RD
Population: 23 (-2)

Durango, Iowa
DURANGO
Population: 20 (-2)

Dubuque has a very solid collection of town signs. The only ones I think are bad are the ones that aren’t real town signs. Like Centralia and Bankston and Sageville. But the worst is clearly Bankston. Best I could find is a street sign that had the town name in it.

The best of show is a little harder. I really like the town signs of Worthington and Sherrill and Farley and Durango and Holy Cross and Luxemburg and even Dubuque. I also love the sign for New Vienna, but I have to give the purple ribbon to Rickardsville!

Rickardsville – Best in Show – Dubuque County

There were a couple of alternate town signs in Dubuque County:

Peosta – Alternate

Farley – Alternate

New Vienna – Alternate

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:

Best in Show – Adair County

Best in Show – Adams County

Best in Show – Allamakee County

Best in Show – Appanoose County

Best in Show – Audubon County

Best in Show – Benton County

Best in Show – Black Hawk County

Best in Show – Boone County

Best in Show – Bremer County

Best in Show – Buchanan County

Best in Show – Buena Vista County

Best in Show – Butler County

Best in Show – Calhoun County

Best in Show – Carroll County

Best in Show – Cass County

Best in Show – Cedar County

Best in Show – Cerro Gordo County

Best in Show – Cherokee County

Best in Show – Chickasaw County

Best in Show – Clarke County

Best in Show – Clay County

Best in Show – Clayton County

Best in Show – Clinton County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Decatur County

Best in Show – Delaware County

Best in Show – Des Moines County

Terril – Best in Show – Dickinson County
Best in Show – Dickinson County

Best in Show – Dubuque County

Best in Show – Emmet County

Best in Show – Fayette County

Best in Show – Floyd County

Best in Show – Franklin County

Best in Show – Fremont County

Best in Show – Greene County

Best in Show – Grundy County

Best in Show – Guthrie County

Best in Show – Hamilton County

Best in Show – Hancock County

Best in Show – Hardin County

Best in Sow – Harrison County

Best in Show – Henry County

Best in Show – Howard County

Best in Show – Humboldt County

Best in Show – Ida County

Best in Show – Iowa County

Best in Show – Jackson County

Best in Show – Jasper County

Best in Show – Jefferson County

Best in Show – Johnson County

Best in Show – Jones County

Best in Show – Keokuk County

Best in Show – Kossuth County

Best in Show – Lee County

Best in Show – Linn County

Best in Show – Louisa County

Best in Show – Lucas County

Best in Show – Lyon County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Mahaska County

Best in Show – Marion County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Mills County

Best in Show – Mitchell County

Best in Show – Monona County

Best in Show – Monroe County

Best in Show – Montgomery County

Best in Show – Muscatine County

Best in Show – O’Brien County

Best in Show – Osceola County

Best in Show – Page County

Best in Show – Palo Alto County

Best in Show – Plymouth County

Best in Show – Pocahontas County

Best in Show – Polk County

Best in Show – Pottawattamie County

Best in Show – Poweshiek County

Best in Show – Ringgold County

Best in Show – Sac County

Best in Show – Shelby County

Best in Show – Sioux County

Best in Show – Story County

Best in Show – Tama County

Best in Show – Taylor County

Best in Show – Union County

Best in Show – Van Buren County

Best in Show – Wapello County

Best in Show – Warren County

Best in Show – Washington County

Best in Show – Wayne County

Best in Show – Webster County

Best in Show – Winnebago County

Best in Show – Winneshiek County

Best in Show – Woodbury County

Best in Show – Worth County

Best in Show – Wright County

The next time we hit the open road for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT we will hit the open roads of Scott County.

Andy, Angie, Becky, Bill, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Drone, Elizabeth, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Nature, Panorama, Railroad, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Shannon, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 374 – STRONG

November 14, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Thanks to the three people that left ideas for themes for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. I am very grateful for your suggestions. I will consider all of them, except for Andy’s last one, which was ridiculous.

So was STRONG a strong theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, November 1, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Evie Gorshe – 1 week
2-Willy McAlpine – 1 week
3-Tamara Peterson – 1 week
4-Mike Vest – 1 week
5-Mary Green – 3 weeks (7)
6-Becky Parmelee – 3 weeks
7-Sabas Hernandez – 4 weeks
8-Jesse Howard – 5 weeks
9-Sara Lockner – 7 weeks
10-Suzie Brannen – 11 weeks
11-Brandon Kahler – 12 weeks
12-Linda Bennett – 15 weeks (2)
13-Sarah Toot – 16 weeks (2)
14-Monica Jennings – 16 weeks (2)
15-Angie DeWaard – 20 weeks (2)
16-Dawn Krause – 24 weeks (2)
17-Kim Barker – 30 weeks
18-Joe Duff – 32 weeks
19-Logan Kahler – 33 weeks (3)
20-Teresa Kahler – 42 weeks (4)
21-Carla Stensland – 42 weeks
22-Michelle Haupt – 43 weeks
23-Micky Augustin – 44 weeks
24-Andy Sharp – 44 weeks (2)
25-Bill Wentworth – 46 weeks
26-Cathie Morton – 50 weeks
27-Elizabeth Nordeen – 51 weeks
28-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 53 weeks
29-Kio Dettman – 55 weeks (2)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:

Kio Dettman – 56 Weeks

Kio Dettman

Mary Green – 4 weeks

Mary Green

Tamara Peterson – 2 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 54 weeks

Bill Wentworth – 47 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett

Linda Bennett – 16 weeks

Linda Bennett

Brandon Kahler – 13 weeks

Sara Lockner – 8 weeks

Teresa Kahler – 43 weeks

Angie DeWaard – 21 weeks

Kim Barker – 31 weeks

Sabas Hernandez – 5 weeks

Myriah Sharp – 1 week

Andy Sharp – 45 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 52 weeks

Suzie Brannen – 12 weeks

Monica Jennings – 18 weeks

Becky Parmelee – 4 weeks

Micky Augustin – 45 weeks

Carla Stensland – 43 weeks

Carla Stensland

Sarah Toot – 17 weeks

Cathie Morton – 51 weeks

Michelle Haupt – 44 weeks

Joe Duff – 33 weeks

Joe Duff

Dawn Krause – 25 weeks

Dawn Krause

Logan Kahler – 34 weeks

Logan Kahler

26 participants! That is a good week! But a big fall from the 30 from the previous week.

There were submissions this week from (assumptions here) Pennsylvania, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Puerto Rico. My picture was taken about 5 miles from my front door.

There was the first ever submission from Myriah Sharp. Her picture was the one from Puerto Rico. San Juan, Puerto Rico to be exact.

Elizabeth reached a huge milestone. She is the third person to join the 1 Year Streak Club. WooHoo! Nice work Elizabeth!

But it wasn’t all good times, with good friends, and strong drinks in tropical locations. There was a streak bloodbath. Evie couldn’t extend her streak to 2 weeks. Willy couldn’t either. Vest also, a one week man. Jesse’s streak was snapped at 5 weeks.

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:

COMMUNICATION

COMMUNICATION! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

While considering possible subjects for your COMMUNICATION image, meditate on the following quote:

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.
-Epicetus

I look forward to seeing your interpretation.

RULES
The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge.

You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of STRONG in this place that is filled with my every day strength next Monday.

*This is not to be seen as any kind of endorsement of astrology, which is complete and utter nonsense.

Black & White, Formal Portrait, Jesse, Kalista, Kelly, Saydie, Taylan

The 2022 Howards – Vol. 1

November 13, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

So here we are. Another Formal Portrait Sunday. I think I’ve finally figured out how I want to handle these in the future. I think I will still space them out, but not over so many posts. 2 to 3 posts per formal portrait sitting should be more than enough.

Here is the first volume of pictures from the Howards 2023 Photo Shoot:

There will be more of the Howards next Sunday!

Art, Black & White, Christianity, History, Railroad, Road Trip

Buchanan County Aux – Vol. 2

November 12, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Time for the second collection of auxiliary images I took while cruising around Buchanan County harvesting their town signs. A lot of these are still of the mill in Independence. Which is very photogenic and also doubles as a museum for local history. I recommend visiting it if you are in the area.

Independence

Hazleton

Stanley

Aurora

I still can’t put into words how much I love the Tin Man town sign in Stanley, Iowa. It will definitely be included in the book. The book that I will need to start making a rough outline for here in the new future. I need to set a goal date for when I want to have it done by. That will help make sure it is finished. That and the great team of people I have assembled to help me put it together. You know who you are.

Animals, Art, Event, Evie, Iowa State, Jen, Layla, Still Life, Street Photography

Renaissance Faire – Joust

November 11, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

A post on 11/11 that published at 11:11 AM (Central Time)? What does it mean? Absolutely nothing. Numerology is as much nonsense astrology and almost as much nonsense as trickle down economics. But nothing is as much nonsense as trickle down economics.

But happy Veterans Day. I don’t have a power rankings to coincide with Veterans Day. Maybe next year. I might be more about celebrating holidays in 2023. We will have to see what is in the stars.

This is the final collection of images from the Renaissance Faire I attended with Jen, Evie, Layla, and the twins. These are pictures of the joust, which was definitely the highlight of the day. The joust was definitely heavily scripted. Maybe not the joust part, but everything that surrounded it.

It was very professional wrestling. There was a bad knight. He wore Iowa Hawkeye colors, duh! There was a good knight. He wore Iowa State colors. Obviously.

After the jousting was done, the bad guys attacked the good guys and a fight broke out. Eventually the good knight prevailed and cut the throat of the bad knight. Fake blood sprayed everywhere. It is my deep regret that this took me completely by surprise and I did not get a picture of it.

However, if Evie dances at the Renaissance Faire again in 2023, I will definitely be ready for this fake blood explosion and will get a picture of it!

Here are the pictures of the joust (not on ostriches surprisingly):

People watching at a Renaissance Faire. It is fantastic!

Now that I have been to one, I know where better to sit and I know to get to the joust ring, plenty early. The next festival type pictures I will share will come from my trips to the Iowa State Fair. Probably. Maybe the Boone County Fair, but I don’t think I took many pictures at the Boone County Fair. It is a mystery. Like numerology.

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This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is STRONG:

STRONG

STRONG! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a STRONG picture? It is simply a picture of something that is STRONG. This one might be a bit more of an abstract theme than many. But remember there are all types of strength. Something or somebody can be physically STRONG. Things can smell STRONG. Food can have a STRONG taste. Many people are STRONG in their faith. There are plenty of ways to be STRONG. And there are many STRONG things out there.

Happy photo harvesting!

Flowers, Macro, Naima

Again Today

November 10, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

Broken sticks and broken stones
Will turn to dust just like our bones
It’s words that hurt the most now isn’t it
Are you sad inside, are you home alone
If I could just pick up the phone
Maybe you could see a better day
And you won’t waste away
Under my watchful eye
Because I’m your hero and you’re my weakness

Who’s gonna break my fall
When the spinning starts
The colors bleed together and fade
Was it ever there at all
Or have I lost my way
The path of least resistance
Is catching up with me again today

I’m broken down, not good enough
The broken promises add up
To twice their weight in tears which I have caused

I’m afraid to sink, I’m afraid to swim
I’m sad to say I miss my friends
I know that I’m supposed to step away
But they need me to stay and keep a watchful eye
On all my heroes and all their demons
-Brandi Carlile

Thursdays are for flowers. And sometimes, for pictures of Naima scratching herself. These flower pictures were taken in my yard on August 9.

I love our Flower Thursdays!