WPC – WEEK 411 – LIQUID

LIQUID. You are mostly LIQUID. I’m mostly LIQUID. But did LIQUID get the creative juices of a bunch of people flowing this week? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, July 24, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week
2-Evie Gorshe – 1 week
3-Sara Lockner- 1 week
4-Becky Parmelee – 1 week
5-Willy McAlpine – 2 weeks
6-Scott Degeneffe – 3 weeks
7-Mike Vest – 3 weeks
8-Mary Green – 3 weeks
9-Suzie Brannen – 4 weeks
10-Sabas Hernandez – 4 weeks
11-Sheri Fakhouri – 6 weeks (3)
12-Monica Jennings – 7 weeks
13-Logan Kahler – 7 weeks (2)
14-Nathanial Brown – 8 weeks (2)
15-Jesse Howard – 8 weeks
16-Tamara Peterson – 11 weeks
17-Alexis Stensland – 16 weeks (2)
18-Mindi Terrell – 23 weeks (2)
19-Brandon Kahler – 48 weeks
20-Linda Bennett – 52 weeks
21-Sarah Toot – 53 weeks (3)
22-Angie DeWaard – 57 weeks
23-Dawn Krause – 61 weeks
24-Kim Barker – 67 weeks
25-Joe Duff – 68 weeks
26-Teresa Kahler – 79 weeks (2)
27-Carla Stensland – 79 weeks
28-Micky Augustin – 81 weeks
29-Andy Sharp – 82 weeks
30-Bill Wentworth – 83 weeks
31-Cathie Morton – 87 weeks
32-Elizabeth Nordeen – 88 weeks
33-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 90 weeks
34-Kio Dettman – 92 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:


WEEK 411 - LIQUID - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 93 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Des Moines, Iowa) – 91 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 89 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 88 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 84 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 83 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Moscow, Iowa) – 82 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Eureka Springs, Arkansas) – 80 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Iowa) – 80 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Iowa)

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (League City, Texas) – 69 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Dallas Center, Iowa) – 68 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 62 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Between Cambridge and Huxley, Iowa) – 58 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 53 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas)

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas)

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Sedgefield Country Club Golf Course – Greensboro, North Carolina) – 54 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Sedgefield Country Club Golf Course – Greensboro, North Carolina)

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Story City, Iowa) – 49 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Urbandale, Iowa) – 24 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Urbandale, Iowa)

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Urbandale, Iowa)

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 17 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (east Des Moines, Iowa)

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Swaledale, Iowa)

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 12 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Guthrie Center, Iowa) – 9 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Ames, Iowa) – 9 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 8 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Des Moines, Iowa) – 8 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 7 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 5 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 5 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Near Boone, Iowa) – 4 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 4 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Ledges State Park – Iowa) – 3 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee (Arkansas) – 2 weeks

WEEK 411 - LIQUID - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Madrid, Iowa)

31 participants! That is a pretty significant dip from recent weeks and the 35 of last week, but still a pretty great week of participation! Getting near that 30 participant average!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arkansas
+ Kansas
+ Iowa
+ Nebraska
+ North Carolina
+ Texas

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

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

32 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive! Over 60% of the way there!

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico (General)
+ Isla Mujeres, Mexico
+ Riviera Maya, Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

I took my picture about 15 miles from my front door. I continue not to help expand the map.

There were no huge milestones reached this week. But on the other hand there were a ton of streaks snapped. Oh, that is a bad thing. Jen, Evie, and Sara all turned out to be one and done. Mary had 3 week steak go belly up. Oh, the humanity!

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 412 - SELF-PORTRAIT
SELF-PORTRAIT

SELF-PORTRAIT! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

I know what a few of you are thinking. You hate SELF-PORTRAITS or the cellular phone derivative the selfie. This is either because you don’t know you are a total smoke show and don’t like having your picture taken or you know that you are a total smoke show and don’t like sharing your smoke-showness with the rest of the world. Keep that smoke-showitude to yourself. Or you are in the witness relocation program and are worried that if your smoke-showness gets out in the world the mafia hitmen or whomever will come and extinguish your smoke show forever.

These are the only 3 possible reasons. However, if you are one of these people, I have good news for you! A SELF-PORTAIT doesn’t just have to be the standard selfie, where you are standing next to your friend, dog, or significant other. Where you hold your phone out in front of you and take a snap. That certainly works and I wouldn’t poo poo that one bit.

However, a SELF-PORTRAIT might not include your face at all. It might be a picture of your hands or your ear or whatever body part. It might not even include you at all. You could take a picture of another person taking a SELF-PORTRAIT. Just please don’t take a picture of you in your bathroom mirror with your dirty toilet in the background. Or do, I won’t judge. I might mail you some toilet cleaner, but I won’t judge.

You’ll figure it out.

While considering possible ways to do your SELF-PORTRAIT, meditate on this following quote and I have no doubt you will come up with an interesting image:

POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD

It is literally impossible to be a woman. You are so beautiful, and so smart, and it kills me that you don’t think you’re good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we’re always doing it wrong.

You have to be thin, but not too thin. And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to say you want to be healthy, but also you have to be thin. You have to have money, but you can’t ask for money because that’s crass. You have to be a boss, but you can’t be mean. You have to lead, but you can’t squash other people’s ideas. You’re supposed to love being a mother, but don’t talk about your kids all the damn time. You have to be a career woman but also always be looking out for other people. You have to answer for men’s bad behavior, which is insane, but if you point that out, you’re accused of complaining. You’re supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you’re supposed to be a part of the sisterhood.

But always stand out and always be grateful. But never forget that the system is rigged. So find a way to acknowledge that but also always be grateful. You have to never get old, never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line.

It’s too hard! It’s too contradictory and nobody gives you a medal or says thank you! And it turns out in fact that not only are you doing everything wrong, but also everything is your fault.

I’m just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us.

Now I know that sorta singles women out, but I think parts of it Ken speak a bit to men who sometimes wonder if they are Kenough. I’m here to tell you brother, you are Kenough.

And for the record, if there are any women out there that have seen the BARBIE movie and need some of the intricacies of it (like the 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY parody opening) mansplained to you, I’ve got your back. I’ve been told I’m pretty good at mansplaining. I think that was a compliment. Don’t tell me if it is not.

Sorry, were you talking? I was just thinking about Matchbox 20 and how they are my jam.

And I’m a little bit angry, well. This ain’t over, no, not here. Not while I still need you around. You don’t owe me, we might change, yeah. Yeah, we just might feel good I wanna push you around. Well, I will, well, I will. I wanna push you down. Well, I will, well, I will. I wanna take you for granted.

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 SELF-PORTAIT in this place that is a millions of lines of code to make one giant selfie next Monday.

Food Truckin’: Ames Food Truck Park Field Work

Several weeks back I went to the Ames Food Truck Park to get lunch during another arduous day at the Computer Mine. The Food Truck seems to me mostly empty during the work week, but on this day there was a food truck there by the name of Chicago Treats. I pulled over and ambled up to the truck to check out their offerings.


Food Truckin': Chicago Treats

Food Truckin': Chicago Treats

Food Truckin': Chicago Treats

Food Truckin': Chicago Treats

Food Truckin': Chicago Treats

Food Truckin': Chicago Treats
I got the Italian Beef because of the show THE BEAR.

Food Truckin': Chicago Treats

Food Truckin': Chicago Treats
The guy working was super nice and seemed passionate about his food.

Food Truckin': Chicago Treats
So the sandwich actually wasn’t great.

Food Truckin': Chicago Treats
The seasoning on it was so strong it actually burned my mouth, but not in a good way.

Food Truckin': Chicago Treats
The fries on the other hand were the truth.

Food Truckin': Chicago Treats
So goooooood!!!!

Food Truckin': Chicago Treats

Food Truckin': Chicago Treats
And weird was it wasn’t like a hot burning. But just way too strong.

Food Truckin': Chicago Treats
Picture by former miner Jesse.

Food Truckin': Chicago Treats
Last bite.

Food Truckin': Chicago Treats
A very messy sandwich to eat.

The short version is that I would give Chicago Treats a second chance, but I would not get the Italian Beef again. I would order those fries again in a second.

Next Sunday’s food adventure will involve the Tenderloin Trail 2.0.

Baby Got Rack Jr. – Boone County Fair

I announced a few weeks back that Baby Got Rack was not competing this year at this year’s Boone County Fair barbecue contest. However, that didn’t mean that there wasn’t plenty of people in the Photography 139 orbit competing to root for.

For starters, Logan entered and competed in his first ever barbecue contest. Logan has always been a pretty good cook and if you follow his Snapchat stories, you know that he has become very passionate about smoking in the last few years. He and Nathanial talked a big game about entering this year, but Nathanial got stuck in Florida and so Logan flew solo.

Secondly Scottie D.’s oldest progeny Austin decided he wanted to compete in the Youth division. Austin has a test run the previous Saturday and devised his recipe himself by picking the barbecue products in Scottie D.’s arsenal that had the coolest logos. A sound strategy if I have ever heard it.

Here are a few pictures from the barbecue battle:


Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023

Austin one Grand Champion, even though he technically wasn’t eligible for it. But that is just how good he is!

Austin will be going down to compete at the Iowa State Fair on the Tuesday of the Iowa State Fair. I’ll be going down to photo document it and because I never turn down a free trip to “the Best State Fair… our State Fair is a great state fair. Don’t miss it. Don’t even be late. It’s dollars to doughnuts at our state fair. It’s the best state fair… in our state”!

As of the publishing of this blog, it is unclear whether or not Logan is going to go down to compete at the State Fair. Although I’m pretty sure Logan is competing at the Pufferbilly Days Barbecue Contest. Scottie D. is not competing at it because he is running it. Last I heard, Nathanial was considering it. I won’t be able to check much of it out because I’ll be dealing with the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest at the same time.

One other thing. Scottie D. threw his car in a Car Show that was going on during the barbecue competition. He won some kind of chairman’s prize or something. The guy needs to add on to his palatial estate just to house all his trophies.

The Windy City: Day 6

Time for the final collection of pictures from my work trip to Chicago for the Computer Mine. Day 6 was the last day of The Big Convention. It is the slowest day and ends with everybody leaving except for me, Lowell, Kim, and Tony. We sit around for anywhere between an hour to 4 hours waiting for the crates for our equipment to be brought so we can pack up and hit the road. In Miami it was close to 4 hours. In Chicago it was about an hour.

Here is that collection:


Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois
What was left in the snack closet.

Chicago, Illinois
A Computer Mine competitor.

Chicago, Illinois
People in Chicago don’t even care about the White Sox.

Chicago, Illinois
Another Computer Mine competitor.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois
Next year the Big Convention is in New Orleans.

Chicago, Illinois
Best part of the Big Convention.

Chicago, Illinois
Being torn down.

Chicago, Illinois
Tony sent this picture to his mom. She didn’t enjoy it.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

All in all it was a good trip. But it is time to start sharing pictures of different trips that I have taken. Still haven’t shared pictures from the Christmas Lighted Parade in Oskaloosa…

Every Time I Hear That Song

A love song was playing on the radio
It made me kind of sad because it made me think of you
And I wonder how you’re doing but I wish I didn’t care
Because I gave you all I had and got the worst of you

Didn’t it break your heart
When you watched my smile fading
Did it ever cross your mind
That one day the tables would be turned
They told me the best revenge
Would be a life well lived
And the strongest one that holds
Would be the hardest one to earn

When I woke up in the morning I was choking on some words
There were things unsaid between us
There were things you never told
Now that’s twice you broke my heart now
The first was way back when
And to know you’re still unhappy
Only makes it break again

By the way, I forgive you
After all, maybe I should thank you
For giving me what I’ve found
‘Cause without you around
I’ve been doing just fine
Except for any time I hear that song
Oh, any time I hear that song
-Brandi Carlile

Thursdays are for flowers! Time to once again share some tulip pictures from my trip to Pella.


Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

I still have about 170 pictures from Pella to curate, edit, and share. But I think next week I will share a collection of pictures of flowers from my yard.

Des Moines & Louisa County Aux. – Vol. 3

Today is Russell’s birthday, so I need to wish Russell a happy birthday, so happy birthday Russell!


Civil Rights Museum

I’m not sure I’ve seen Russell in person since before the pandemic. That seems like something that should be remedied. Either way, I hope your birthday is filled with all the joy you can handle.

+++++++

Time to continue with the auxiliary images from my trip to Des Moines County and Louisa County to harvest their town signs. Last time we left off, we were in Grnadview. After that, I took US-61 down to Wapello.


Louisa County

Louisa County - Wapello
Wapello

Louisa County - Wapello

Louisa County - Wapello

Louisa County - Wapello

Louisa County - Wapello

Louisa County - Wapello

Louisa County - Wapello

Louisa County - Wapello

Louisa County - Toolesboro
Toolesboro

Louisa County - Toolesboro

Louisa County - Toolesboro

Louisa County - Toolesboro

Louisa County - Toolesboro

Louisa County - Toolesboro

Louisa County - Oakville
Oakville

Louisa County

Louisa County

Louisa County

Louisa County - Morning Sun
Morning Sun

Louisa County - Morning Sun

Louisa County - Morning Sun

Louisa County - Morning Sun

Louisa County - Morning Sun

Louisa County - Morning Sun

Louisa County - Morning Sun

Louisa County

Louisa County

Louisa County

So we should probably discuss some of the history in some of these pictures.

Here is some information on the Toolesboro Mounds:

The Toolesboro site consists of seven burial mounds on a bluff overlooking the Iowa River near where it joins the Mississippi River. The conical mounds were constructed between 200 B.C. and 300 A.D. by a local Hopewell group. They include some of the best-preserved and accessible remnants of Iowa’s Hopewell culture, a Middle Woodland people who hunted, gathered and gardened. At one time, there may have been as many as twelve mounds, but subsequent settlement and excavation have reduced that number to the present seven. As of yet, no village site near the Toolesboro mounds has been located, which is attributed to the shifting path of the Iowa River which has obliterated possible village sites on the flood plain over the last 2,000 years.

Of the seven mounds, only two are visible on the grounds of the Educational Center. The rest are off in the woods, and are separated by a wire fence from the Educational Center. One of the mounds maintained near the center, known as Mound 2, is the largest of the remaining mounds, measuring 100 feet in diameter and eight feet in height. This mound was possibly the largest Hopewell mound in Iowa.

And the Littleton Brothers… well…

The largest loss of life known in the history of all U.S. wars from any immediate family were the six local Littleton Brothers. All six were lost to the Civil War and the story just recently discovered and documented.

Here is some information on the Littleton brothers from the website (http://civil-war-picket.blogspot.com/):

James and Martha Littleton, the boys’ parents, moved to Louisa (Lew-I-zuh) County in about 1840, six years before Iowa became a state. The young Littleton brothers likely helped on a 200-acre farm.

Toolesboro used to be a busy hub, said Wagner, who lives in Illinois City, Ill.

The 1860 census that shows the family was listed as mulatto, which traditionally refers to a person with one white parent and one black parent. There’s debate today on that point.

The Littleton memorial will have a panel saying James came from free slave roots. “Records indicate Louisa County abolitionists had helped the family get settled there.”

But oral history within the Nicewanner family, as descendants of Permelia, states that James actually had Native American roots on one side, said Wagner.

Doug Jones, an archaeologist and Iowa Freedom Trail project manager for the State Historical Society of Iowa, said the little information he has on the Littletons is “quite intriguing.”

“There was a mulatto settlement, and we don’t know much about the settlement.”

Only one of the Littleton brothers, John, had children, and that daughter died before having any of her own. James and Martha Littleton died before the war.

Here’s what is known about each of the brothers’ service records (thanks to the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum for much of the following information):

— George Handy Littleton: George, 33, a cooper, volunteered from service from nearby New Boston, Ill., in March 1862. He is described as having brown eyes and dark hair and complexion. He was with Company B of the 65th Illinois Infantry. Captured by Confederates at Harpers Ferry, W.V., he was later paroled and discharged for disability in Chicago, according to official records, for a disease contracted before service. Woodruff said other material indicates Littleton got sick while in service. “We do not have the exact date or know where we died,” said Woodruff. The Columbus Gazette indicated George died soon after returning home. His grave has not been found.

— John Littleton: Enlisted in August 1862 with Company F of the 19th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He suffered a severe thigh injury during fighting at Prairie Grove, Arkansas, on Dec. 7, 1862. He died in Fayetteville, Ark., of wounds on December 18. It’s possible he may be buried among 800 unmarked graves at Fayetteville National Cemetery.

— Kendall Littleton: Also of the 19th Iowa, Kendall was killed in action on Dec. 7, 1862, at Prairie Grove, Ark. His remains were likely later moved to Fayetteville National Cemetery, and are marked as unknown.

— Noah Littleton: Survived the fighting at Prairie Grove but drowned March 1, 1863, in the White River in southern Missouri. His remains were disinterred and he is buried at Springfield (Mo.) National Cemetery. He, too, served in the 19th Iowa.

–Thomas Littleton: A member of the 5th Iowa, suffered a head wound at Iuka, Ms. He was taken prisoner in Chattanooga, Tenn., in November 1863. The private died of chronic diarrhea at Andersonville on June 16, 1864, and is buried at the national cemetery there.

— William Littleton: A corporal with the 8th Iowa, William was wounded at Shiloh in 1862 and died in December 1863 of diarrhea at Jefferson Barracks, Mo. He is buried at the national cemetery there.

There is still plenty more pictures left to share from this trip!

Rodan139: Tree in the Middle of the Road

It is confession time. I haven’t always been great with the organization of my drone photos. I am much better now as I treat them the same as how I treat all my other pictures. Recently I came across some drone photos that I thought I had lost I took on a road trip with Logan and Brandon. They are the famous Tree in the Middle of the Road located roughly in Audubon County. Kind of in the middle of nowhere.

Here they are:


Rodan139: Tree in the Middle of the Road

Rodan139: Tree in the Middle of the Road

Rodan139: Tree in the Middle of the Road

Rodan139: Tree in the Middle of the Road

Rodan139: Tree in the Middle of the Road

Rodan139: Tree in the Middle of the Road

Rodan139: Tree in the Middle of the Road

Rodan139: Tree in the Middle of the Road

Rodan139: Tree in the Middle of the Road

Rodan139: Tree in the Middle of the Road

Rodan139: Tree in the Middle of the Road

Rodan139: Tree in the Middle of the Road

Rodan139: Tree in the Middle of the Road

Rodan139: Tree in the Middle of the Road

Rodan139: Tree in the Middle of the Road

Rodan139: Tree in the Middle of the Road

Rodan139: Tree in the Middle of the Road

The legend of this tree that is in the middle of an intersection is ” The story is when the county lines were being established the surveyor placed a green cottonwood stick into the ground at the exact point where the lines crossed and grew into the present tree.”

Directions to the tree:

From U.S. Highway 71 at the town of Brayton, travel east on County Road T to F-65 and follow the green “Tree in the Road” signs on the gravel roads.

From Exira, go east on F-58 and follow the green ”Tree in the Road” signs. As you approach the curve take the gravel off the west side of Littlefield Park.

WPC – WEEK 410 – GUILTY PLEASURE

Today is Dahlia’s birthday so I need to wish her a happy birthday. Happy birthday Dahlia!


Easter - 2022

Enjoy life without spreadsheets and emails and meetings and call centers and bills and jobs as long as you possibly can!

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This is your reminder that if you are interested in entering the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest, the deadline is Friday:



I’ve already heard from a few of you that you are entering and I am excited. Hopefully this is a popular year for the photo contest!

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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 7 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. But if you let me know where the picture was taken, I will include that.

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

I will take suggestions only and ONLY in the comments sections of the THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE posts the last week of October and the 1st week of November.

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You are probably wondering if you are every going to get to see this week’s submissions. It is one of my GUILTY PLEASURE(s) to make you wait. But were there a ton of people that were willing to share the shame of their GUILTY PLEASURE with all of us? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, July 17, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Willy McAlpine – 1 week
2-Scott Degeneffe – 2 weeks
3-Mary Green – 2 weeks (3)
4-Mike Vest – 2 weeks
5-Suzie Brannen – 3 weeks
6-Sabas Hernandez – 3 weeks
7-Sheri Fakhouri – 5 weeks
8-Monica Jennings – 6 weeks (2)
9-Logan Kahler – 6 weeks (2)
10-Nathanial Brown – 7 weeks
11-Jesse Howard – 7 weeks
12-Tamara Peterson – 10 weeks
13-Alexis Stensland – 15 weeks (3)
14-Mindi Terrell – 22 weeks (3)
15-Brandon Kahler – 47 weeks
16-Linda Bennett – 51 weeks
17-Sarah Toot – 52 weeks (2)
18-Angie DeWaard – 56 weeks
19-Dawn Krause – 60 weeks
20-Kim Barker – 66 weeks
21-Joe Duff – 67 weeks (2)
22-Teresa Kahler – 78 weeks (2)
23-Carla Stensland – 78 weeks (2)
24-Micky Augustin – 80 weeks
25-Andy Sharp – 81 weeks
26-Bill Wentworth – 82 weeks
27-Cathie Morton – 86 weeks
28-Elizabeth Nordeen – 87 weeks
29-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 89 weeks
30-Kio Dettman – 91 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 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 81 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Sommerset, Iowa) – 90 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 67 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Boone County Fair – Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 52 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 4 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (J.C. Newman Cigar Company – Tampa, Florida) – 8 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (John’s Pass – Treasure Island – Florida)

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Near Boone, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 92 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 57 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Texas) – 68 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 6 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE -EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa) – 3 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Clive, Iowa) – 4 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Ames, Iowa) – 8 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 7 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 48 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 7 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone County Fair – Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 79 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Infamous Ink – Boone, Iowa) – 61 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 2 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Road to Newton, Iowa) – 87 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 88 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee (Arkansas) – 1 week

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 11 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 82 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Ames, Iowa) – 16 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Ames, Iowa)

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Iowa) – 79 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 23 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Maryland) – 53 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Maryland)

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Maryland)

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 3 weeks

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 83 weeks

35 participants!! WooHoo! Another great week! Nearly tying a record currently held by FLOWER. Lots of guilty people out there! Also exciting is that thanks to Sarah Toot’s travelling ways, we’ve added Maryland to the map!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arkansas
+ Florida
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Maryland
+ Nebraska
+ Texas

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

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

32 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive! Over 60% of the way there!

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico (General)
+ Isla Mujeres, Mexico
+ Riviera Maya, Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

I took my picture about 1 mile from my front door, so I continue not to contribute.

The big milestones this week were Evie had her first submission of the year! WooHoo! Linda joined the 1 Year Streak Club! WooHoo! Another exciting development was that there were no streaks broken this week. WooHoo!

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 411 - LIQUID
LIQUID – SUGGESTED BY SARAH TOOT

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

But what exactly is a LIQUID image? Simply put it is an image where the subject or a major compositional element is a LIQUID. And there are so many LIQUID(s) out there. From water to Jones Soda to AE Chocolate Milk to Jagermeister to some kinds of soap to lotion. There are just so many possibilities!

While thinking about possible subjects for LIQUID meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt you will come up with a fascinating image:

Time is liquid. One moment is no more important than any other and all moments quickly run away.
-Kurt Vonnegut

I look forward to 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 GUILTY PLEASURE in this place that will hold only a little bit of judgment on your pleasures next Monday.

Taco ‘Bout It: Ames Field Work

This post isn’t a new food adventure. This is a place I’ve eaten at frequently, but I don’t think I mention it enough and I feel like I should put on record that I love me some Rico’s Tacos! Sometimes I take them for granted and I certainly don’t hit it enough. But I’ve started to get it back into my regular rotation since I’ve been working from the Computer Mine for two months or so at this point.

Plus another impetus is that while I love tacos, I often forgot about Taco Tuesday. But in the last few weeks Elizabeth has taken it upon herself to remind me that it is Taco Tuesday. This isn’t because of Rico’s. And may God have mercy on your soul if you think Taco Tuesday means Taco Bell or Taco John’s whichever one of those hellholes does the Taco Tuesday thing. I don’t eat at either of them. Well… to be honest I occasionally (when I’m not eating healthy) will go through Taco John’s for a heaping bowl of Potato Oles. I’m not proud of this fact, but they always give Naima a treat in the drive-thru and if you think that doesn’t count big time in getting me to go to a restaurant you have not been paying attention.

But I digress…

When Elizabeth sends me a message about Taco Tuesday, she is talking about the taco special at Whiskey River. The fact that I have hit up the delicious Whiskey River tacos a few times in recent weeks is not what this food adventure is about. The Whiskey River tacos are great. Rico’s Tacos are better.

So when I went to Rico’s recently, I decided to document it and make a formal endorsement. There isn’t much that I have formally endorsed. I should compile that list some day. I know it goes deeper than Little White Lye Soap, but not much deeper.

Rico’s pictures:



Rico’s is a food truck, but it never moves.


You can get other things from Rico’s but tacos is in the name!


Note the Mango Jarritos.


They give you a beeper that notifies you when your food is ready.


So ready for some tacos!


I went for one azada, one pollo, one adobada, and one chorizo.


So good!


Making me so hungry!

Taco 'Bout It: Ricos Tacos
Mango Jarritos is the best and so few places stock it.

Taco 'Bout It: Ricos Tacos
I might have licked the container. No shame!

This is an endorsement, so you don’t even need to ask if I would pursue Rico’s Tacos. I pursue them on a consistent basis.

Rico’s Tacos can be found at:

624 East Lincoln Way
Ames, Iowa

They are currently open 11 AM to 8 PM Tuesday through Saturday.

The next food adventure will also involve a food truck.

Boone Art Center Gallery Three

Time to share a third collection of found art that I’m calling THE BOONE ART CENTER PROJECT. Like the first two galleries, most of these pictures were taken from Old-30 east of Boone of artwork painted on the side of railroad cars. However there are a couple pieces that were not taken there. One was taken in downtown Boone and another was taken southwest of Boone.


Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

Boone Art Center

I currently don’t have enough found art to make a 4th gallery, but it is surely only a matter of time!