Henry & Jefferson County Aux. – Vol. 3

Time for another collection of images from when Teresa and I made a road trip to Henry County & Jefferson County to harvest their town signs. Many of the pictures in this collection were actually taken in Van Buren County.


Henry County - Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant
Henry County - Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Salem
Salem

Henry County - Salem

Henry County - Salem

Henry County - Hillsboro
Hillsboro

Henry County - Hillsboro

Henry County - Hillsboro

Van Buren County - Stockport
Stockport

Van Buren County - Stockport

Van Buren County - Stockport

Van Buren County - Stockport

Van Buren County - Stockport

Van Buren County - Stockport

Van Buren County - Stockport

Van Buren County - Stockport

Jefferson County - Fairfield
Fairfield

Jefferson County - Fairfield

Jefferson County - Fairfield

There is still one more collection of images left to share from this trip. Maybe not the most interesting pictures, but of the most interesting thing we encountered on this road trip.

Rodan139: Boxholm

Today is Nate’s birthday, so happy birthday Nate!


ANGER - NATE MILLER

I hope your birthday is as wonderful as you want it to be!

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I did have submissions from one person come in a tad bit late for PARK. Normally, I would tell that person to pound sand. You were late, there is a deadline. You missed it. However, since it was Funk and she was on top of a frigging mountain and therefore, not with a bunch of cell phone service (also it is a little cold up there), I will allow it. Here are the submissions from Susanna Funk.


WEEK 402 - PARK - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk (Mt Baker National Recreation Area – Washington) – 1 week

WEEK 402 - PARK - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk (Mt Baker National Recreation Area – Washington)

WEEK 402 - PARK - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk (Mt Baker National Recreation Area – Washington)

These are the first submissions from the state of Washington this calendar year! WooHoo!

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I recently took Rodan139 for a flight around Boxholm, Iowa. I didn’t plan ahead very well, so the battery was low and the flight was short. But I’ve found that many times the first time I take a drone to an area it seems to be more recon for a second flight later. But I still think there are some good pictures in the collection.


Rodan139: Boxholm

Rodan139: Boxholm

Rodan139: Boxholm

Rodan139: Boxholm

Rodan139: Boxholm

Rodan139: Boxholm

Rodan139: Boxholm

Rodan139: Boxholm

Rodan139: Boxholm

Rodan139: Boxholm

Rodan139: Boxholm

Rodan139: Boxholm

Rodan139: Boxholm

Rodan139: Boxholm

Rodan139: Boxholm

Rodan139: Boxholm

Rodan139: Boxholm

Rodan139: Boxholm

Boxholm always holds a special place in my heart. It is where Shorty and Doris lived after they left the farm and it it where Tim lives now. I’ve attended many a family gathering in Boxholm. Great memories in that town!

WPC – WEEK 402 – PARK

I should start this entry by hoping everybody had a good Memorial Day!


And You Left Me There Cryin' Wonderin' What I Did Wrong

I know, I shared that exact same picture on Saturday. But I like it and it seems to fit Memorial Day.

I’d like to take this little piece of this website to share the poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McCare:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

This poem inspired the wearing of poppies as a rememberance symbol for those who died in war.

From the History Channel website:

In the spring of 1915, bright red flowers began poking through the battle-ravaged land across northern France and Flanders (northern Belgium). Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, who served as a brigade surgeon for an Allied artillery unit, spotted a cluster of the poppies shortly after serving as a brigade surgeon during the bloody Second Battle of Ypres. The sight of the bright red flowers against the dreary backdrop of war inspired McCrae to pen the poem, “In Flanders Field,” in which he gives voice to the soldiers who had been killed in battle and lay buried beneath the poppy-covered grounds. Later that year, a Georgia teacher and volunteer war worker named Moina Michael read the poem in Ladies’ Home Journal and wrote her own poem, “We Shall Keep the Faith” to begin a campaign to make the poppy a symbol of tribute to all who died in war. The poppy remains a symbol of remembrance to this day.

Now you are wondering about Moina Michael’s poem. Here it is:

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet – to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.

We cherish, too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.

And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We’ll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.
I hope you have learned a little something today.

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It is the last collection of submissions of the month, so it is a good time revisit the THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE FAQ:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE

What skill level photographer can participate?

THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE is open to photographers of all skill levels. From award winning photographers to professionals to the highly ranked amateurs to those that are just beginning to those who don’t even know how to focus a camera. All skill levels are encouraged and welcome. You can’t be too bad and you can’t be too good! Everyone has room to learn and be challenged!

Award winning photographers? Really?

Yes. I can think of at least 5 photographers that participate regularly that have won a photography award of some kind.

Is this a competition?
No.

Is there a limit to the number of submissions I can have each week?

Yes. That limit is 3. If you send me more than 3, I will post the first 3 that you send. I’m not trying to harsh your photography buzz, but any more than that starts to overwhelm the other submissions and it takes me about 5 minutes to take a picture from my inbox to code it on the website. So I have to manage my workload.

If you are going to submit more than one picture, I strongly urge you to choose completely different subjects for each submission. If you are submitting multiple pictures of the same subject, make sure that each picture is saying something unique.

If participation rates climb, that limit of 3 is subject to lower.

Can I send you several pictures and have you pick the best one?

No! No! NO! If those words come out of your mouth or your keyboard, I consider that to be a non-submission.

Do you ever question whether somebody’s submission fits the theme?

Meh. Only if I think somebody is clearly confusing this week’s theme with last week or next week’s theme. Otherwise, if the submission makes sense in your head, that is good enough for me. However, I would urge you to not try to fit your favorite subject into the theme. This isn’t a challenge to share a picture every week of your kid or your business or your pet. It is a challenge to take pictures of different things every week. Which isn’t to say subjects can’t be repeated, but you shouldn’t become reliant on the same ones.

Why can’t I submit after 11 AM on Mondays if the post doesn’t publish until 12:01 PM?

I go to lunch at 11 AM. I leave my office. I’m not near a computer. At 11 AM I hit “Schedule” and then I go throw food down my throat. 167 hours is more than enough time to send a submission. Okay, 166 hours and 59 minutes. You got me.

Are there resolution requirements for submissions?

I won’t turn down submissions that are too small. I will probably ask you for a picture of greater resolution if it is really small. The typical 4 x 6 image posted to my website has a resolution of 1280 pixels x 853 pixels. While a 400 x 300 image might look okay on your phone, it looks like trash on a computer monitor. I prefer images that are at least 1000 pixels at their largest point, but don’t ban smaller pictures at this point.

What format should my submission be?

.JPG but .PNG also works.

If I write a description of my image will you include that in your post?

No. Photography is art that should stand on its own. Only exception is the SLICE OF LIFE theme.

When will you start accepting suggestions for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE themes?

Suggestions are closed for next year’s list. It will be a minute before they open up for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

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PARK! A great place to spend some time. But did many people spend time in a PARK and get a picture for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, May 22, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Suzie Brannen – 1 week (3)
2-Melissa Degeneffe – 1 week (2)
3-Scott Degeneffe – 1 week
4-Mary Green – 1 week (3)
5-Stephanie Kim – 1 week
6-Sara Lockner – 1 week (2)
7-Becky Parmelee – 1 week
8-Nader Parsaei – 1 week
9-Nathanial Brown – 2 weeks (3)
10-Tamara Peterson – 2 weeks
11-Sabas Hernandez – 4 weeks
12-Mike Vest – 4 weeks
13-Alexis Baugher – 7 weeks (3)
14-Jesse Howard – 7 weeks (2)
15-Mindi Terrell – 14 weeks (3)
16-Monica Jennings – 19 weeks
17-Brandon Kahler – 39 weeks
18-Linda Bennett – 43 weeks
19-Sarah Toot – 44 weeks (3)
20-Angie DeWaard – 48 weeks
21-Dawn Krause – 52 weeks (3)
22-Kim Barker – 58 weeks
23-Joe Duff – 58 weeks (2)
24-Logan Kahler – 61 weeks
25-Teresa Kahler – 70 weeks (3)
26-Carla Stensland – 70 weeks
27-Micky Augustin – 72 weeks
28-Andy Sharp – 73 weeks
29-Bill Wentworth – 74 weeks
30-Cathie Morton – 78 weeks
31-Elizabeth Nordeen – 79 weeks (2)
32-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 81 weeks
33-Kio Dettman – 83 weeks (3)

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:


WEEK 402 - PARK - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (McHose Park – Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 402 - PARK - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone National Little League Park – Boone, Iowa) – 53 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone National Little League Park – Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 402 - PARK - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (South Side Park – Slater, Iowa)

WEEK 402 - PARK - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Hunziker Park – Ames, Iowa) – 49 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 59 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 74 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Jester Park – Polk City, Iowa)

WEEK 402 - PARK - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 62 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Iowa)

WEEK 402 - PARK - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Mindi’s Animal Habitat – Iowa) – 15 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Terra Park – Johnston, Iowa)

WEEK 402 - PARK - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Terra Park – Johnston, Iowa)

WEEK 402 - PARK - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Neil Smith Trail – Iowa) – 20 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Iowa)

WEEK 402 - PARK - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Ada Haydn Park – Ames, Iowa) – 73 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 80 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Johnston, Iowa) – 2 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Arnolds Park Green Space – Arnolds Park, Iowa) – 5 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - MELISSA DEGENEFFE
Melissa Degeneffe (Porter’s Badass Campsite – Rural Boone County, Iowa) – 2 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Porter’s Badass Campsite – Rural Boone County, Iowa) – 2 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Dickcissel Park – Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 402 - PARK - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Jester Park – Polk City, Iowa) – 71 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Jester Park – Polk City, Iowa)

WEEK 402 - PARK - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Donovan Park – Houston, Texas) – 59 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Donovan Park – Houston, Texas)

WEEK 402 - PARK - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Arnolds Park – Arnolds Park, Iowa) – 71 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Opal Dubois Anderson Park – Boone, Iowa) – 84 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Opal Dubois Anderson Park – Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 402 - PARK - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Memorial Park – Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 402 - PARK - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 44 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa)

WEEK 402 - PARK - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa)

WEEK 402 - PARK - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 5 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park – Rural Warren County) – 82 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Municipal Park – Pennsylvania) – 45 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania)

WEEK 402 - PARK - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Pattee Park – Perry, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Pattee Park – Perry, Iowa)

WEEK 402 - PARK - ALEXIS BAUGHER
Alexis Baugher (Inis Grove Park – Ames, Iowa) – 8 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - ALEXIS BAUGHER
Alexis Baugher (Inis Grove Park – Ames, Iowa)

WEEK 402 - PARK - ALEXIS BAUGHER
Alexis Baugher (Inis Grove Park – Ames, Iowa)

WEEK 402 - PARK - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Ada Haydn Park – Ames, Iowa) – 40 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Chalco Park – Omaha, Nebraska) – 75 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Iowa) – 79 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Jester Park – Polk City, Iowa)

29 participants! That’s a pretty great week, considering the holiday weekend and all!

There were no new states added to the map this week and at this point, I’m betting new states added will be an increasingly rare thing. Time will tell.

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Nebraska
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

+ Arizona
+ Arkansas
+ California
+ Colorado
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Nebraska
+ New Jersey
+ New York
+ Nevada
+ Michigan
+ Minnesota
+ Missouri
+ North Dakota
+ Ohio
+ Oklahoma
+ Pennsylvania
+ South Dakota
+ Texas
+ Utah
+ Washington D.C.
+ Wisconsin
+ Wyoming

25 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive! Over halfway there!

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

I took my picture about 24 miles from my front door, so I continue to not contribute.

There were no major milestones this week. However, there was a blood bath of streaks being snapped. Suzie, Stephanie, Becky, and Nader couldn’t build on last week’s submission. That wasn’t totally unexpected for Stephanie and Nader. Nathanial’s 2 week streak no more. Most heartbreaking is that Jesse’s 7 week streak is just a memory now.

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:


WEEK 403 - TEXTURE
TEXTURE

TEXTURE! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what in Wes Wallace is a TEXTURE image? Well, let’s start with the definition of TEXTURE: the structure, feel, and appearance of something (as a fabric) the smooth texture of silk. wood with a rough texture. In photography that means: the visual depiction of variations in the color, shape, and depth of an object’s surface. What you are trying to do here is to convey the feel of the surface of an object through photography.

While considering possible topics for your TEXTURE submissions, meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt you will come up with an amazing image:

I search for realness, the real feeling of a subject, all the texture about it… I always want to see the third dimension of something.. I want to come alive with the object.
-Andrew Wyeth

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. There is a limit of 3 submissions per participant. To be considered the photographer, you have to be the one that takes the picture. Don’t be stealing the work of other artists. You can submit pictures for other photographers that took pictures with your camera or phone, but give credit where credit is due.

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

That is it. Thems the rules!

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 TEXTURE in this place that is a little rough around the edges some next Monday.

WEEK 403 – REVEAL

If you are reading this, then I got too busy this morning to compile and code the submissions for last week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t get started on this week’s theme.

Hopefully I will publish this week’s submissions later tonight. I’m guessing around 8:01 PM.

So without further adieu, here is this week’s theme:


WEEK 403 - TEXTURE
TEXTURE

TEXTURE! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what in Wes Wallace is a TEXTURE image? Well, let’s start with the definition of TEXTURE: the structure, feel, and appearance of something (as a fabric) the smooth texture of silk. wood with a rough texture. In photography that means: the visual depiction of variations in the color, shape, and depth of an object’s surface. What you are trying to do here is to convey the feel of the surface of an object through photography.

While considering possible topics for your TEXTURE submissions, meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt you will come up with an amazing image:

I search for realness, the real feeling of a subject, all the texture about it… I always want to see the third dimension of something.. I want to come alive with the object.
-Andrew Wyeth

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. There is a limit of 3 submissions per participant. To be considered the photographer, you have to be the one that takes the picture. Don’t be stealing the work of other artists. You can submit pictures for other photographers that took pictures with your camera or phone, but give credit where credit is due.

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

That is it. Thems the rules!

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 TEXTURE in this place that is a little rough around the edges some next Monday.

Salad Shooting: Ames Field Work

Today is Colleen’s birthday, so happy birthday Colleen!


Baby Tri-Force 1st Birthday Party

I hope it is as magical as you want it to be!

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On the health spectrum, this post is about a food item that couldn’t be more on the opposite end of the “healthy eating” spectrum than a tenderloin if it tried. Not that a tenderloin is the most unhealthy thing you can eat. That is probably cheesy fries. But it is no secret that any fried food is unhealthy. Delicious, but unhealthy.

Now a salad? They are usually pretty healthy. Unless you add unhealthy elements to it, like fried chicken. And then coat it with ranch or Caesar dressing. Or any salad dressing with the word “creamy” in it. However, I think we can all agree that ranch dressing does not belong on salad. It only belongs as a dipping sauce for things like onion rings and fried mushrooms and fried cheese and buffalo wings. Caesar salad doesn’t belong anywhere.

Ames recently had a new salad restaurant open. It is extremely unique. It is drive-thru only. Why? Because they grow all the greens inside the building.

This is what their website (https://www.claytonfarms.com/salads) says:

Welcome to Clayton Farms Salads, a drive-thru restaurant that is all about fresh, healthy, and smart eating. Our greens are grown onsite, ensuring that our salads and smoothies are the freshest in the world. Whether you’re on the go or simply looking for a quick and nutritious meal, we’ve got you covered with our delicious menu options. From bright and colorful salads, to refreshing and energizing smoothies, we’ve got everything you need, to fuel your day the healthiest way. So why wait? Swing through our drive-thru to taste the difference yourself, or to order delivery!

I think it is a brilliant idea! If you can keep up with demand. Despite that, I have a couple friends who loaded up their haterade with extra hate just to make sure they had enough hate for this restaurant. They are actively rooting against Clayton Farms Salads being successful. One has gone so far as to proclaim:

October of 2024, gentlemen. Mark me. “Salad Dreams” or whatever its called will have shuttered by then.

I have marked it on the calendar Jay.

They started with 4 salads and recently added a 5th salad:
+ Garden Salad
+ Caesar Salad
+ Crunch Asian Salad
+ Southwest Salad
+ Mediterranean Salad

To cut to the chase, it is the best salad(s) I’ve ever had in my life. The freshness of the greens is incredible and it makes a huge difference in the taste. I put the experience like this… it must be what it would be like to not be from Iowa, visit Iowa and then stop at a Peaches and Cream corn stand. Pick up some corn and go home and cook it. For them, it would be like eating corn for the first time in their life.

I’m not trying too hard to rely on Plato’s ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE for this example.

So let me put it another way. It is like the difference between cooking with produce you purchased at a big chain grocery store vs with ingredients you bought at a farmer’s market. If you know anybody that works in a grocery store warehouse, ask them about the room they use to ripen bananas. It will blow your mind.

Or one last example…

It was like the first time I got a watermelon in Muscatine County in the height of watermelon season.

That is what my first salad at Clayton Farms Salads was like. It was like I had never had a salad before. (By looking at me, it is possible you think that I’ve never had a salad in my life, but I love vegetables. I also love a good order of cheesy fries too.)

Here are some pictures of my Clayton Farms Salads experiences:


Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads
“Our greens are BETTER” is an understatement.

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads
This guy is a member.

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads
Southwest Salad

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads
All the salads come with Salad Girl Dressing which is an organic line of dressings.

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads
Even their forks are compostable.

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads
Caesar Salad

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads
Garden Salad

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads
Farmer’s Punch – also delicious.

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads
Crunchy Asian Salad

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads
Mediterranean Salad

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

I’d rank the salads like this:

1. Garden Salad – romaine, sunflower microgreens, red onions, green onions, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, pistachios. and lemony herb dressing.
2. Crunch Asian Salad – romaine, pea microgreens, purple cabbage, edanmae, carrots, green onions, red bell peppers, mandarin oranges, sliced almonds, crunchy chow mein noodles, toasted sesame ginger vinaigrette.
3. Mediterranean Salad – butterhead/arugula, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese, garbanzo beans, red bell peppers, red onions, sliced almonds, lemony herb dressing.
4. Caesar Salad – romaine, broccoli microgreens, cucumber, parmesan cheese, croutons, lemony Caesar dressing.
5. Southwest Salad – butterhead, radish microgreens, orange & yellow bell pepper, black beans, red onion, sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, butternut squash, avocado, pepitas, cilantro, chili limon dressing.

I’m not going to lie, when you add protein to the salad, it isn’t cheap. Each salad runs almost or over $15 after you add chicken. A dollar more if you add steak. At this point, I consider a meal that is under $15 as affordable. If I get a meal for less than $10, I alert the media.

The ultimate verdict is, would I pursue this meal? Yes I would. In fact, since I’m currently working in Ames 5 days a week, I pretty much eat here once a week.

You can find Clayton Farms Salads here:

2435 Grand Avenue
Ames, Iowa

They are open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 8 PM.

The next food adventure will be a road trip double dip.

And You Left Me There Cryin’ Wonderin’ What I Did Wrong

Today is Jason’s birthday. Happy birthday Jason!


June 14

I hope your birthday is as amazing as you want it to be!

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Time to clean up the backlog. These images are from September that never quite fit into any previous posts. Some are alternates for THE WEEKLYPHOTO CHALLENGE. Another is a photo I took of Ron for last year’s Computer Mine Holiday Card.


And You Left Me There Cryin' Wonderin' What I Did Wrong

Railroad Bridge near Jefferson

Railroad Bridge near Jefferson

And You Left Me There Cryin' Wonderin' What I Did Wrong

And You Left Me There Cryin' Wonderin' What I Did Wrong

And You Left Me There Cryin' Wonderin' What I Did Wrong

And You Left Me There Cryin' Wonderin' What I Did Wrong

And You Left Me There Cryin' Wonderin' What I Did Wrong

And You Left Me There Cryin' Wonderin' What I Did Wrong

And You Left Me There Cryin' Wonderin' What I Did Wrong

And You Left Me There Cryin' Wonderin' What I Did Wrong

And You Left Me There Cryin' Wonderin' What I Did Wrong

And You Left Me There Cryin' Wonderin' What I Did Wrong

And You Left Me There Cryin' Wonderin' What I Did Wrong

And You Left Me There Cryin' Wonderin' What I Did Wrong

Ames, Iowa

Boone Scenic & Valley Railroad

Boone Scenic & Valley Railroad

Boone Scenic & Valley Railroad

Boone Scenic & Valley Railroad

Boone Scenic & Valley Railroad

Ron - 2022

Maybe you are wondering about the George A. Wyman sign. Don’t worry, I’ll feed you baby birds. From the Wiki:

Wyman used his 1902 California machine for his crossing of the United States. The California had a 200 cc (12 cu in), 1.5 hp (1.1 kW) four-stroke engine attached to an ordinary diamond-frame bicycle. Wyman’s machine was equipped with 28 x 1.5 in. tires, wooden rims, a leading-link front suspension fork, a Garford spring saddle, a Duck Brake Company front roller brake, and a 1902-patent Atherton rear coaster brake. A leather belt-drive with a spring-loaded idler pulley directly connected the engine output shaft to the rear wheel.Using a standard steel bicycle frame, the California weighed approximately 70–80 pounds (32–36 kg) without rider, and was capable of approximately 25 mph (40 km/h) using the 30-octane gasoline of the day, with a range of 75 to 100 miles (121 to 161 km). Throttle control was not yet perfected, and engine revolutions were mainly controlled by means of a spark timing mechanism. The wick-type carburetor was crude, consisting of a metal box with internal baffles stuffed with cotton batting. With no float chamber, the rider had to open the gasoline tap periodically to admit fuel into the carburetor.

For such a long trip, Wyman carried a remarkably small amount of gear. A set of warm clothing, money, water bottle, cans for spare oil and gasoline, a Kodak Vest Pocket camera, a cyclometer, various bicycle tools and spare parts, and a long-barreled .38 Smith & Wesson revolver constituted his total luggage.

Wyman departed from Lotta’s Fountain at the corner of Market and Kearny streets in San Francisco at 2:30 P.M on May 16, 1903.[4] He had previously agreed to keep a diary of his journey for later publication in The Motorcycle magazine, a periodical of the time. The first part of his trip took him across the Sierra Nevada, through the Nevada desert into Wyoming, then on through Nebraska to Illinois.

As the dirt trails and wagon tracks of the day were often impassable, Wyman rode the railroad tracks for over half of his journey. During the first part of his trip, he frequently slept in railroad company housing or at rooming houses located in division settlements (small municipalities founded by the railroad). His motorbike suffered several breakdowns along the way, requiring him to make improvised repairs until he could get to a larger town to obtain new parts. As he neared Aurora, Illinois, his engine’s crankshaft snapped, and after pedaling his way to Chicago, Wyman was forced to wait there five days for a new crank to arrive by railway express.

After leaving Illinois, Wyman traversed the states of Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania before entering New York state. Outside of Albany his engine lost all power, and he was required to pedal his heavy motorbike the remaining 150 miles (240 km) to New York City using a cycle path reserved for licensed cyclists.

On July 6, 1903, Wyman arrived in New York City, completing his transcontinental crossing and becoming the first person to cross the North American continent aboard a motor vehicle. His journey took a total of 51 days to cover some 3,800 miles (6,100 km). Afterwards, Wyman’s motorbike was placed on display at the New York Motorcycle Club while Wyman recovered from his grueling journey. While in New York, Wyman was present for the inauguration of the very first nationwide motorcycle organization, the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM)[14] at the Kings County Wheelmens’ Club in Brooklyn; it was reported at the time that his hands were still in bandages from the trip. Wyman later returned to San Francisco by train. His California motorbike was put on display in San Francisco at Golden Gate Park for a special exhibition commemorating the trip.

This is actually something Jesse and I have talked about doing as well. Not on a motorcycle, but driving across the country. We’ve never done anything about it, but maybe will someday.

Here is more information on the route he took:



From: https://wymanmemorialproject.blogspot.com/

It is hard to read, but the towns we care about in the Cyclone State are:

Council Bluffs
Woodbine
Denison
Ogden
Boone
Ames
Marhalltown
Tama Reservation
Cedar Rapids
Clinton

He stayed the night in Ogden. I hope he ate at Zeno’s when he was in Marshalltown!*

*That is a joke, don’t email me telling me that Zeno’s didn’t exist back then, because I will only reply back that Zeno’s has always will always exist.

The Windy City: Day 1C

Today is Kalista’s birthday, so happy birthday Kalista!



Hope your day is as amazing as you want it to be!

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We begin where we left off last Friday. Kim, Lowell, Tony, and I were hanging out by The Bean after having supper at Giordano’s.


Chicago, Illinois
The Bean is one of the few touristy things I’ve seen in my life that didn’t disappoint. But something else on this trip did disappoint.

Chicago, Illinois
Underneath The Bean.

Chicago, Illinois
In Las Vegas I never found a mailbox. I marked this one so I could actually mail postcards from Chicago this time.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois
I loved this clock.

Chicago, Illinois
I think the Nederlander Theater was called The Orient Theater, before they realized that was racist.

Chicago, Illinois
Jagged Little Pill was playing, which Jesse wants to go see in Minneapolis.

Chicago, Illinois
Right next door to it is a Garrett’s popcorn, which I would go to twice on this trip.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois
The historic Chicago Theater.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois
I wanted to hit up the Torture Museum so bad, but I never made it. And that is what regrets are made of.

Chicago, Illinois
Reverse angle, Chicago Theater.

Chicago, Illinois
There was a wide variety of acts that played here while we were there.

Chicago, Illinois
Window shopping at the Torture Museum.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois
Across the street from the Chicago Theater was this alley with a bunch of sweet murals.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois
This mural may have given me nightmares.

Chicago, Illinois

After this we went back to our hotel rooms. I think Tony and I watched the Minnesota Timberwolves get crushed in their playoff game. I dozed off after a pretty good Day 1 in Chicago.

Next Friday we will start in on Day 2.

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REMINDER THAT NEXT MONDAY IS MEMORIAL DAY. WHILE YOUR BANK AND THE GOVERNMENT AND A BUNCH OF OTHER BUSINESSES TAKE THE DAY OFF, THERE IS NO REST FOR PHOTOGRAPHY 139. RISE AND GRIND EVERY SINGLE DAY. I DON’T KNOW WHAT MY PLANS ARE FOR MEMORIAL DAY (OTHER THAN MAYBE SLEEPING LATE AFTER WHAT I HOPE IS AN EPIC MOVIE NIGHT ON SUNDAY) BUT IT MIGHT INCLUDE A ROAD TRIP OR A BARBECUE OR A FEW OTHER OPTIONS THAT MIGHT KEEP ME BUSY. LIKEWISE YOU MIGHT BE ENGAGED IN A SIMILAR ACTIVITY ON MONDAY MORNING. YOU MIGHT NOT GET A REMINDER AND YOU MIGHT NOT BE IN A POSITION TO SUBMIT. PLAN ACCORDINGLY.

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


WEEK 402 - PARK
PARK

PARK! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what in the John Culbertson is a PARK image? Simply put, it is a picture taken in a PARK. And there are all sorts of PARKs. There are city, state, national, baseball, softball, playgrounds, nature preserves, urban, pocket, sculpture gardens, cultural… just to name a few. Of course, there is more than one definition of PARK.

Also, if you take a picture of a PARK, let me know the name of the park and I will include it in the entry on Monday. If you don’t, I might ask you.

PARK has only been a theme one other time in the 10 year history of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE/RANDOM WEEKLY PHOTO EXPERIMENT. I was actually surprised, because I thought that it had never been a theme before. I guess this makes it the second time.

Here are some previous submissions that will hopefully inspire your submission this time:


WEEK 195 - PARK - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin – Week 195

WEEK 195 - PARK - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley – Week 195

WEEK 195 - PARK - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker – Week 195

WEEK 195 - PARK - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp – Week 195

WEEK 195 - PARK - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett – Week 195

Happy photo harvesting!

Mainstream Kid

I’m gonna fit in
I’m on the list
I’m gonna to get in
Haven’t you heard
And don’t you know who I am?
I’m with the Joneses
I’m their best friend

I’ve come to saturate the market
To perpetuate the hip kid
I was born so I can fall in the line
I am a legend in my own mind
Can I blend in with your kind?
-Brandi Carlile

Thursdays are for flowers! This Thursday I’m sharing pictures of some of the flowers I planted in Round 1 of flower planting. All of these flowers were purchased at Salama Greenhouse, of course!


Mainstream Kid

Mainstream Kid

Mainstream Kid

Mainstream Kid

Mainstream Kid

Mainstream Kid

Mainstream Kid

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

So Does Hope - 2023

So Does Hope - 2023

I love flowertography season!

Rodan139: Sleeping Angels II

When I was originally contacted by the Sleeping Angels to photograph their event, it was because they wanted pictures of them crossing the Mile Long Bridge. It was kind of touch and go with whether the weather was going to cooperate. You can’t fly a drone in rain and the forecast called for it to rain off and on all day. Fortunately, the predictions of rain were inaccurate. There were a few sprinkles off an on, but there was no rain when we got to the bridge.

The other weather concern was wind. A drone shouldn’t be flown under very windy conditions, unless you want it to come crashing to the ground and then you will find yourself buying a new drone. But fortunately there was only a light wind.

Logan and I set up and waited. Hoping they would arrive before the batteries were expired. Fortunately, they did.


Rodan139: Sleeping Angels - Mile Long Bridge

Rodan139: Sleeping Angels - Mile Long Bridge

Rodan139: Sleeping Angels - Mile Long Bridge

Rodan139: Sleeping Angels - Mile Long Bridge

Rodan139: Sleeping Angels - Mile Long Bridge

Rodan139: Sleeping Angels - Mile Long Bridge

Rodan139: Sleeping Angels - Mile Long Bridge

Rodan139: Sleeping Angels - Mile Long Bridge

Rodan139: Sleeping Angels - Mile Long Bridge

Rodan139: Sleeping Angels - Mile Long Bridge

Rodan139: Sleeping Angels - Mile Long Bridge

Rodan139: Sleeping Angels - Mile Long Bridge

Rodan139: Sleeping Angels - Mile Long Bridge

Rodan139: Sleeping Angels - Mile Long Bridge

Rodan139: Sleeping Angels - Mile Long Bridge

Rodan139: Sleeping Angels - Mile Long Bridge

Rodan139: Sleeping Angels - Mile Long Bridge

Rodan139: Sleeping Angels - Mile Long Bridge

Rodan139: Sleeping Angels - Mile Long Bridge

If you look closely, you can possibly pick out Dawn and Kevin who were on the ride. I can’t. But maybe you can.

Here is the video that Logan made from the video he took at the event:



He does good work. If you are reading this entry from an email subscription, the video won’t show up. You have to click one of the links in the email to go to the website to watch the video. It is definitely worth your time.

This is the last drone collection from the Sleeping Angels Fun Run, but there is one more collection of earthbound images left to share.

Henry & Jefferson County Aux. – Vol. 2

Time for another collection of images from my road trip to harvest the town signs of Henry and Jefferson County I took with Teresa. The majority of these pictures were taken in Mount Pleasant. We met up with Doug and Jodie for lunch in Mount Pleasant. Afterwards, Doug went back to work and Jodie gave us a tour of Mount Pleasant. This was the highlight of the trip.


Henry County - Winfield

Henry County - New London
New London

Henry County - New London

Henry County - New London

Henry County - New London

Henry County - New London

Henry County - New London

Henry County - New London

Henry County - New London

Henry County - Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Mount Pleasant

Henry County - Mount Pleasant

The statue of Belle Babb Mansfield is located on the campus of Iowa Wesleyan. That school recently went out of business. Like a couple weeks ago. Which is a shame, because of the rich history of Iowa Wesleyan. It was founded in 1842. The only college in Iowa older than Iowa Wesleyan is Loras College in Dubuque. It is older than the University of Iowa by 5 years. Iowa State University by 16 years. Northern Iowa by 34 years. Drake by 39 years.

Iowa Wesleyan was Iowa’s first co-educational institution. The oldest west of the Mississippi River. Its campus houses the summer of of Abraham Lincoln’s son Robert Todd Lincoln. Notable alumni include Belle Babb Mansfield, Davey Lopes, Dana Holgorsen, James Van Allen and Peggy Whitson.

The school will forfeit on its loan and the campus will become property of the United States Department of Agriculture.

With its closing, Clarke University in Dubuque becomes the 2nd oldest college in Iowa.