Carla, Dahlia, Formal Portrait, Jesse, Logan, Nader, Road Trip, Scottie D., Still Life, Tenderloining, Teresa

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: Audubon Field Work

January 21, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

A couple months back Jesse and I hit the open road and ended up at The Feed Mill Restaurant in Audubon, Iowa. It was the 9th stop (technically 10th – but I’ll cover that) on the Tenderloin Trail 2.0. Leaving me just one stamp short of earning my Tenderloin Trail 2.0 shirt!

Despite being one of the closer Tenderloin Trail 2.0 restaurant stops to Boone, I didn’t know if I was ever going to be able to cross this one off the list. Their hours are pretty awful. They are only open a few hours a week. Which is too bad, because their food is excellent!

The Feed Mill Restaurant is inside Waspy’s Truck Stop and that gas station itself has really good food. There are two Waspy’s. One in Audubon and another in Templeton. If you are in the area, I think it is worth the stop. But you know me, I’m partial to food in gas stations. Casey’s Pizza. The Filling Station in Madrid. The Filling Station in Ames. Joe’s in Kansas City. You get the point.

Here are some pictures from the outing:

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

As you know, in addition to being a noted tenderloin fiend, I also love me a great cheese curd. Fried or otherwise. If I remember correctly their cheese curds were muenster. It made a fine cheese curd, but it wasn’t decidedly different from your standard cheddar cheese curd. So I’m saying it was pretty great!

As for the tenderloin. It was a pretty great tenderloin! Now the question is, would I eat there again? Would I go out of my way to go there? Would I make a special trip to get this tenderloin?

It is a great tenderloin. The problem is that it is just down the street from Darrell’s Place and the Darrell’s Place tenderloin is the O.G. great tenderloin in Iowa. So being put in the situation of having to choose one, if I was in the area, I would choose Darrell’s Place.

That isn’t a reflection on The Feed Mill. Just nothing is Darrell’s Place.

The Feed Mill Restaurant is located at:

2079 US Highway 71
Audubon, Iowa

Located in Waspy’s Truck Stop.

But I’m not done with this post quite yet. Earlier I wrote that this was the 9th Stop on the Tenderloin Trail, but technically the 10th. That is because back in 2022 I visited the Wood Iron Grille in Oskaloosa with Carla and Teresa and knocked down their tenderloin. However, I didn’t have my Passport on me, so I didn’t get it stamped.

You can understand my frustration because it takes 10 stamps (out of 14, but really 13) to get the free shirt. So shortly after my trip to Audubon with Jesse I made a return trip to Oskaloosa with Teresa. With passport firmly in my hands.

I don’t need to cover the Wood Iron Grille tenderloin again, but I thought I could share 2 pictures from that trip:

The last bite of Tenderloin Trail 2.0.

The passport.

I got my shirt and this letter within a couple weeks of mailing in my Passport:

I’m not going to share a picture of the shirt yet. I have a whole photo session for that worked up in my head. Which means you will probably never get to see it, unless you catch me in the wild wearing it.

However, I would be a poor tenderloin enthusiast if I didn’t thank those people that helped me in fulfilling this dream. An accomplishment that some are calling “the greatest in the history of mankind”. So thanks to everyone who at least sat across from me while I knocked down a tenderloin on this trail:

+ Austin Degeneffe (Iowa Taproom)
+ Porter Degeneffe (Iowa Taproom)
+ Scott Degeneffe (Co-Founder of the Tenderloin Appreciation Society) (Iowa Taproom)
+ Jesse Howard (The Feed Mill, Birdies, Burgers & Brews, and The Pub at Pinicon)
+ Dahlia Kahler (Whatcha Smokin’)
+ Logan Kahler (Whatcha Smokin’)
+ Teresa Kahler (Whatcha Smokin’, Grid Iron Sports Bar & Grille, Stumble Inn, and Wood Iron Grille)
+ Nader Parsaei (Darrell’s Place, Birdie’s Burgers & Brews)
+ Carla Stensland (Wood Iron Grille)
+ Phil Webb (Grid Iron Sports Bar & Grille)

The only stop on the trail I made solo was PrairieMoon on Main.

You might be asking yourself what my future tenderloin plans are since I am eating healthier these days? It is true. I don’t really eat much fried food any more. Really hardly at all. That doesn’t mean tenderloins are off the menu. I have a plan for a more structured tenderloin quest this year. I want to make 1 special tenderloin trip a month. 1st on my list is the reigning 2023 Best Tenderloin at Cliff’s Place in Manning.

I haven’t had this month’s special tenderloin, so I’m going to effort to go to Manning next week and if that doesn’t work out, some place else. Also on my list are the 3 tenderloins on the Tenderloin Trail 2.0 that I haven’t tried. Jethro’s is also on the list, but I’ve had that tenderloin. It isn’t great. Plus my understanding is that the owner of Jethro’s is not a great person and I have limited desire to line his pockets with any of my green. Also on that list is the other finalists from last year. Plus any of the past champions that I haven’t tried.

Drop me a line if you want to go on one of these tenderloin quests. I already have you marked down Michelle. I haven’t forgotten.

The next food adventure I will share will be the last time I ate ice cream. At least I’m pretty sure the last time I ate ice cream.

Birthdays, Candid Portrait, Jay, Jesse, Olympic Sports, Still Life

A Miniature Birthday

January 20, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

Last year the only real birthday celebration I had was playing miniature golf with Jesse and Jay at Jester Park. I’m not old and unathletic enough to play real golf yet. Maybe I’ll get there in the next few years, but until then the occasional stroll around a miniature golf course is good enough for me.

Here are some pictures from the day:

Jesse came out as the victor. Jay finished last. I look forward to playing miniature golf again this year. Maybe.

Amanda, Dahlia, Greyson, Logan, Pufferbilly Days, Street Photography

Pufferbilly Days Parade Two

January 19, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

Time for another collection of images from the Pufferbilly Days Parade:

Still one more collection of photos from the parade left to post.

Flowers, Macro, Mom, Naima

I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)

January 18, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

I get along without you very well
Of course, I do
Except when soft rains fall
And drip from leaves, then I recall
The thrill of being sheltered in your arms
Of course, I do
But I get along without you very well

I’ve forgotten you
Just like I should
Of course, I have
Except to hear your name
Or someone’s laugh that is the same
But I’ve forgotten you just like I should

What a guy
What a fool am I
To think my breaking heart
Could kid the moon

What’s in store?
Should I phone once more?
No, it’s best that I stick to my tune

I get along without you very well
Of course, I do
Except perhaps in spring
But I should never think of spring
For that would surely break my heart in two
-Written by Hoagy Carmichael
-Inspired by poem by Jane Brown Thompson
-Recorded many times but perhaps most famously by Chet Baker and most successfully by Red Norvo

This is another song that is featured in FLORA AND SON. It clearly isn’t an original song as Hoagy Carmichael was born in 1899. “I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)” isn’t his most famous song. That is probably “Stardust” famously recorded by Willie Nelson and many, many, many others or “Georgia on My Mind” made famous by Ray Charles.

If that wasn’t enough to make Hoagy Carmichael a legend, Ian Fleming described James Bond as looking like Hoagy Carmichael.

“I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)” also has a fascinating history. Check this from The Wiki:

“I Get Along Without You Very Well” is a popular song composed by Hoagy Carmichael in 1939, with lyrics based on a poem written by Jane Brown Thompson

Thompson’s identity as the author of the poem was for many years unknown, even to Carmichael; he had been handed the poem anonymously at an event at Indiana University, and the poem only noted the author as “J.B.”. Carmichael noted J.B.’s name in the song’s sheet music as the author of the poem that inspired the lyrics, and asked for help to identify “J.B.”. However, it wasn’t until the mid-1950s that a positive identification was made. Jane Brown Thompson died the night before the song was introduced on radio by Dick Powell.

What an amazing story! And an amazing song!

But how does it fit into the movie?

I’m not going to get into the full story of the movie, but to understand the scene blow it should be sufficient for you to know that the movie is about Flora, who takes up guitar to win her ex-husband back. She starts taking online guitar lessons from Jeff. This scene is the interaction from their second lesson.

From the screenplay and no apologies to any James Blunt songs:

INT. FLORA’S TINY KITCHEN – LATER 31
Flora has changed into clothes that don’t leave much to the imagination, and put on a lot of lipstick and eye shadow on. She pours, lights up, and waits by the computer. Checks watch. Then she suddenly remembers about the No Wine Rule, and moves the bottle and glass behind the well out of frame to the side of the screen. She picks up her guitar and readies herself. Takes a swig. She clicks on her email and opens a Zoom session. Jeff is waiting there.

FLORA
Hiya. I can’t believe you got back to me.
JEFF
You’re a challenge. I like challenges. Shall we begin?
FLORA
Let’s rock!
She picks up her guitar.
JEFF
Let’s find out who you are, Flora. What’s your all time favorite song?
She thinks hard.
FLORA
I’m more into dance music. Oh, “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt.
Jeff’s face falls.
JEFF
Okay, we may have a problem here.
FLORA
Why?
JEFF
That’s not an acceptable song.
FLORA
It’s catchy.

JEFF
So was Cholera.
FLORA
I don’t know that one.
JEFF
If you’re going to learn how to play songs we’ll have to raise the bar a little bit.
FLORA
So what have you written then?
JEFF
I’m a teacher.
FLORA
Exactly. So shut up, criticizing Blunt. YOU do it.
JEFF
Do what?
FLORA
Write a song that reaches millions of people’s hearts. And makes them weep.
JEFF
Making people cry isn’t an achievement. Bullies do it every day.
FLORA
Let’s hear one of your songs then.
JEFF
We’re here about you. Not me.
FLORA
Jesus, it’s a guitar lesson, not a therapy session.
JEFF
Wrong. Lyrics have to be more than “You’re beautiful”. Or a series of platitudes to lonely women telling them how great they are. That’s not a love song. It’s a self help group.

FLORA
You don’t know the first thing about women if you think that.
JEFF
I know that grown up women don’t just want to hear how stunning they are, like some creep in a bar trying to pick them up.
FLORA
Jesus Christ, It’s just a bloody.. Song.
JEFF
No! It’s never just “a song”. It’s a three and half minute pause in time, in which to do something wonderful. Something touched by God.
FLORA
Oh no. Are you some sort of Christian evangelist dude?
Suddenly, and frustrated, Jeff begins plucking a familiar song. “I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)” by Hoagy Carmichael.
He sings the first verse and chorus. He is a fantastic singer.
JEFF
I get along without you very well
Of course I do
Except when soft rains fall
And drip from leaves, then I recall
The thrill of being sheltered in your arms
Of course I do
But I get along without you very well

The chord rings out. In song terms, this is a slam dunk. No question. Flora is blown away. Also, we have travelled round him, and now, all screens are gone, and they are sitting fact to face across her kitchen table.
FLORA
Jesus Christ.
JEFF
Right?

FLORA
That’s unbelievable.
JEFF
So simple. So direct. Nothing about beauty.
FLORA
You are a genius. What are you doing hanging around the internet teaching muppets like me with a song like that?
He starts to realize she thinks he wrote that. He lets it go for a minute.
JEFF
Do you really like it?
FLORA
It’s stunning.
JEFF
It’s never just “A song”. It’s three and half minutes in which time shuts down. It’s all we’ve got.
She feels his passion for this.
FLORA
You’ve got to get that out there into the world.
JEFF
Do you think it would sell like “You’re Beautiful”?
FLORA
Maybe not as much as that. I still like the other song too. Is that allowed?
JEFF
No! That’s Stockholm syndrome. Don’t worry- we’ll de-brainwash you. By the time you’ve finished here you just won’t have time for childish jingles and cliches.

The line:

“No! It’s never just “a song”. It’s a three and half minute pause in time, in which to do something wonderful. Something touched by God.”

Maybe my favorite line from any movie I saw in 2023.

Next week we will share one last song that appears in FLORA AND SON.

But Thursdays are for flowers! This flowertography session consists of flowers from my yard and includes a bonus picture of Naima.

The pink lily is sort of a miracle flower for me. I transplanted it from my Mom’s yard. It didn’t come up in 2022. But then there it was in 2023!

Next flowertography session will involve more flowers from my yard.

Boone FUMC, Candid Portrait, Formal Portrait, Music, Still Life, Teresa, WPC - Alternate

And You’ll Be the One Who’s Crying

January 17, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

A couple Sundays back my church honored our Building Engineer. He retired after 43 years with our church. Which is amazing when you think about it. Yesterday was my 18th anniversary with the computer mine. I can’t imagine working another 18 years there. Let alone another 25 years. Wow!

I used it as an opportunity to take pictures for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme SUNDAY MORNING. Here are some of the alternate images I took for the theme:

It was a pretty great Sunday morning at the Boone First United Methodist Church!

Art, Candid Portrait, Jesse, Road Trip

Rancho Deluxe – II

January 16, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

Time to share the rest of the collection from my trip to Rancho Deluxe with Jesse on our way up to Minnesota. Definitely something you should visit if you like art at all.

I definitely want to visit this place again… and again… and again!

Alexis, Andy, Angie, Bill, Black & White, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Elizabeth, Funk, History, Holidays, Jen, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Photoshop, Sabas, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Self-Portrait, Shannon, Sheri, Suzie, Tamara, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 435 – UGLY

January 15, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day! I forgot to mention this last Monday cause it had slipped my RADAR. The Computer Mine doesn’t care about civil rights all that much, so while government employees, schools, and bankers get the day off, I’ll be working it to the bone all day.

I don’t know if it the type of holiday where you say “Happy (insert holiday here)!” While it is definitely good to honor the man and all of the civil rights accomplishments this country has made over the years, there are large swaths of this country where basic human rights are not only being threatened, they are being walked backwards by regressionist political policies.

I mean, they are banning books! You want to know who the bad people are. Every single time in history, the bad people were the ones banning books! Always!

As always, I like to share a photo when celebrating a holiday. Here is a picture of the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Civil Rights Museum was built on the same property where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. One of those rare times where a place that was the scene of tragedy was turned into a place of veneration and education.

As you celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. today don’t act like the battle for basic human rights is over. The fight is as alive today as it was in King’s day.

+++++++

UGLY! This was a theme I thought I might struggle with. After all, I’m a person that doesn’t find much to be UGLY. I mean, more than a few of you have had me text you pictures of public bathrooms. I love old. I love rusty. I love the unusual. I love the weird. It is hard for me to find something that is UGLY. Besides racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, islamophobia, antisemitism, xenophobia, jingoism, misogyny… you know… the basic tenets of hatred. But to find out if other people took camera in hand to photography something UGLY, you will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, January 8, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Suzie Brannen – 1 week
2-Lowell Davis – 1 week
3-Susanna Funk – 1 week
4-Michelle Haupt – 1 week
5-Willy McAlpine – 1 week
6-Alexis Stensland – 1 week
7-Brandon Kahler – 2 weeks
8-Mary Green – 3 weeks (2)
9-Scott Degeneffe – 20 weeks
10-Sabas Hernandez – 21 weeks
11-Mike Vest – 26 weeks
12-Sheri Fakhouri – 30 weeks (2)
13-Logan Kahler – 31 weeks
14-Nathanial Brown – 32 weeks
15-Jesse Howard – 32 weeks
16-Tamara Peterson – 35 weeks (2)
17-Mindi Terrell – 47 weeks (2)
18-Linda Bennett – 76 weeks (2)
19-Sarah Toot – 77 weeks
20-Angie DeWaard – 81 weeks
21-Dawn Krause – 85 weeks (2)
22-Kim Barker – 91 weeks
23-Joe Duff – 92 weeks
24-Teresa Kahler – 103 weeks (2)
25-Carla Stensland – 103 weeks (2)
26-Micky Augustin – 105 weeks
27-Andy Sharp – 106 weeks (2)
28-Bill Wentworth – 107 weeks
29-Cathie Morton – 111 weeks
30-Elizabeth Nordeen – 112 weeks (2)
31-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 114 weeks
32-Kio Dettman – 116 weeks

Heading into this week, this is the 2024 THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE SUBMISSION MAP:

Maybe the map will get more filled in today!

Reminder. Here is the updated list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:

1. The picture must 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 and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.

There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 5.
3. Sometimes, for special people, for special circumstances, we can negotiate something.

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

Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 106 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Sommerset, Iowa) – 115 weeks

Kim Barker (Iowa) – 92 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa)

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 77 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas)

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Boone, Iowa) – 33 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Boone, Iowa)

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Rural Boone County, Iowa) – 21 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 82 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa)

Joe Duff (League City, Texas) – 93 weeks

Joe Duff (League City, Texas)

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 117 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Rieman Music – Ames, Iowa) – 1 week

Sheri Fakhouri (Mercy Hospital – Des Moines, Iowa) – 31 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Mercy Hospital – Des Moines, Iowa)

Susanna Funk (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Mary Green (Iowa) – 4 weeks

Mary Green (Iowa)

Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 22 weeks

Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 33 weeks

Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

Brandon Kahler (Ames, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 32 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 104 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 86 weeks

Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 112 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 113 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 36 weeks

Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 107 weeks

Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Carla Stensland (Boone County, IA – 216th Dr. Near Ogden) 104 weeks

Carla Stensland (Boone County, Iowa)

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 48 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 78 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 27 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 108 weeks

34 participants! That is a pretty great week!

There were submissions this week were taken in the following places:

+ Kansas
+ Iowa
+ Nebraska
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas

No new states added this week.

Here is the Year 11 list of states where submissions have been taken:

+ Kansas
+ Iowa
+ Michigan
+ Nebraska
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas

There were some big milestones this week. Sarah joined the Year and Half Streak Club! WooHoo! Both Carla and Teresa both joined the 2 Year Streak Club! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all happiness and rainbows. Willy couldn’t build on last week’s submission. His streak is over before it even began.

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:

BREAKFAST

BREAKFAST! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

I look forward to seeing your interpretation!

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 BREAKFAST in this place that like a little #wafflelife next Monday.

Still Life, Tenderloining, Teresa

Like a Big Pizza Pie: Webster City Field Work

January 14, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

It has been a minute since I shared a food adventure with all of you. Truthfully I haven’t been on a food adventure for a minute. This is partially as I have been efforting to eat healthier and partially because of the time of year. But don’t worry, I still have several food adventures left in the hopper to share. Hopefully I get out there and have some more food adventures soon though.

A couple months back for our post worship service meal Teresa and I were going to go to a restaurant in Duncombe that was a finalist for Best Tenderloin in 2023. The restaurant is called Stumpy’s Bar & Grill. I wanted to get there sooner rather than later because there is a chance they are going to get kicked out of their building by the owners of the building. The Duncombe American Legion. When you read the news stories the American Legion makes it clear in no uncertain terms that they don’t like the owners of Stumpy’s and giving them the boot is a personal decision.

Stumpy’s is still open, so they must have worked out their differences.

However, on this day we walked in. Their Facebook page indicated that they were serving food. But I guess we should have called. Anyways, they were crazy rude in the way they told us that they weren’t serving food. So I have mentally crossed Stumpy’s off the list of tenderloins I need to try.

The nearest town to Duncombe that had open restaurants was Webster City, so we travelled there and went to Leon’s Pizza. It was a win!

Leon’s is an old time restaurant. It has been open since 1972. It feels like a small town mom and pop restaurant. Exactly my favorite type of restaurant.

Here are some pictures:

Like a Big Pizza Pie: Webster City Field Work

For an appetizer we got the Sampler Platter. $10.95. Then we got the large Deluxe Pizza. $23.75.

The ultimate review is, would I eat here again? Would I search it out? Would I go out of my way to eat at Leon’s Pizza?

You’re darn tootin’ I would! I’m frankly surprised I haven’t eaten there again already.

Leon’s Pizza serves more than just pizza. They also serve burgers, sandwiches, chicken, and other things.

Leon’s Pizza can is located at:

643 2nd Street
Webster City, Iowa

Our next Food Adventure will involve the Tenderloin Trail 2.0. Possibly it’s conclusion!

Animals, Flowers, Nature

High Trestle Trailin’ It!

January 13, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

Back on June 23 I took a little jaunt out to the High Trestle Trail Bridge. If you are going to go out there, it would be tragic if you didn’t take a picture or three. So I took a few. Here are some of those pictures:

It has been awhile since I’ve been out there. Maybe I should go tomorrow. Anybody know what the weather is supposed to be like?

Dawn, Iowa State, Music, Pufferbilly Days, Street Photography

Pufferbilly Days Parade One

January 12, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

I am the opposite of what you would call a fan of parades. They don’t usually entertain me much. They are one of those things that is way more fun to be in than to watch. Like playing baseball versus watching baseball. Like lighting off fireworks versus watching fireworks.

But I did go down and take some pictures of the Pufferbilly Days Parade because, while they are often boring, they can be a source of some interesting pictures.

Here is the first collection: