Iowa State Fair – Day 1 – Beta

Today seems like a good day to share the rest of the pictures from my day at the Iowa State Fair with Jen, Evie, and Layla. We saw some big chunks of the Fair and ate some great food and made some great art!

Here are some of my favorites:


Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023
You may recognize this artist’s style. Some of her work hangs up at Jimmy’s Barbecue.

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023
I love this idea.

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023
I’m a sucker for a picture of people looking at art.

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

I have a standing, handshake deal, with Evie (and hopefully Layla is in too) to go to Snakes Alive this year and get our picture taken with a snake. This going to Day 1 of the Fair with the Gorshes has become one of favorite little traditions!

Couldn’t Love You More

If you kissed the sun right out of the sky for me
And if you told me all the lies that I deserve
And if you laid all night in the rain for me

Well, I couldn’t love you more
Just couldn’t love you more
I couldn’t love you more

And if you loved me ’til my eyes gave no more shine for you
If you walked beside me all the long way home
And if you wasted all of your time on me

Well, I couldn’t love you more
Just couldn’t love you more
I couldn’t love you more
Just couldn’t love you more

And if you gave me all the things I’d never ask of you
And if you showed me all the ways you have to cry
And if you laid all night in the rain for me

I couldn’t love you more
Just couldn’t love you more
Just couldn’t love you more
John Martyn

I’m not going to cover much about this song. If you are a music lover, and you haven’t heard it, I would urge you to track it down and listen to it. The emotional delivery of the artist will blow you away!

But Thursdays are for flowers! This flowertography session consists of flowers in my yard. Coneflowers, sunflowers, daisies, lilies, oh my!


Happy Things - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Couldn't Love You More

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

The warm weather lately has really triggered my urge to do some flowertography. I almost bought some flowers the other day, just to feed the beast. But I didn’t. However, I have today and tomorrow off and depending on how this morning went, I just might.

RAGBRAI – Jefferson

RAGBRAI came through Greene County and Boone County and Story County last year. I’m not much of a cyclist (maybe that will change this year, but probably not) but I do enjoy a good photography opportunity and anything that resembles a party.

On July 25, the cyclists left Carroll and ended in Ames. In the morning, Logan and I loaded up in the car and went to Jefferson to get some pictures of the cyclists and the party in Jefferson.

Here are some pictures:


RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

RAGBRAI - JEFFERSON - 2023

They also made stops that day in Glidden, Rippey, and Luther before ending the day in Ames.

I wish that I would have checked out more of the stops. Something maybe I can do this year.

In case you don’t know what RAGBRAI is, from their website:

RAGBRAI, Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, is more than just a bike ride, it is an epic eight-day rolling festival of bicycles, music, food, camaraderie, and community. It is the oldest, largest, and longest multi-day bicycle touring event in the world.

This years route goes through the following towns:
+ Glenwood
+ Red Oak
+ Atlantic
+ Winterset
+ Knoxville
+ Ottumwa
+ Mt. Pleasant
+ Burlington

I’m thinkin of following it from Atlantic to Winterset OR Winterset to Knoxville. It might depend on what towns it passes through on its route. It might depend on what towns they pass through. Those have yet to be revealed.

I still have a couple more collections of images to share from this day. Maybe get some of you interested in tagging along this year. In a car. Like I said, my cycling skills are limited at best.

For You

I took a few pictures for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme RULE OF THIRDS. Mostly around Memorial Park, but a couple at Franklin and a couple in downtown Boone. Here are some that I liked, but not enough to submit for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:


Rule of Thirds Alternate

Rule of Thirds Alternate

Rule of Thirds Alternate

Rule of Thirds Alternate

Rule of Thirds Alternate

Rule of Thirds Alternate

Rule of Thirds Alternate

Rule of Thirds Alternate

Rule of Thirds Alternate

Rule of Thirds Alternate

Rule of Thirds Alternate

Rule of Thirds Alternate

Rule of Thirds Alternate

Rule of Thirds Alternate

Rule of Thirds Alternate

Rule of Thirds Alternate

Rule of Thirds Alternate

Rule of Thirds Alternate

Rule of Thirds Alternate

We did so well with the rule of thirds, I think next year I will have to make the golden ratio or the golden spiral a theme. What do you think?

WPC – WEEK 438 – CIRCLE

EDITOR’S NOTE: It is possible that this will publish late this week. I am getting my taxes done at 11 this morning and when this publishes is dependent on how long that takes. BIG BUCKS! NO WHAMMIES!*

CIRCLE! 360 degrees of fury! But is there enough fury in a CIRCLE to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

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

1-Myriah Sharp – 1 (2)
2-Elainie Hernandez – 2 weeks
3-Sara Lockner – 2 weeks
4-Monica Jennings – 3 weeks
5-Suzie Brannen – 4 weeks
6-Lowell Davis – 4 weeks (2)
7-Michelle Haupt – 4 weeks
8-Alexis Stensland – 4 weeks (2)
9-Brandon Kahler – 5 weeks
10-Mary Green – 6 weeks (2)
11-Scott Degeneffe – 23 weeks (2)
12-Sabas Hernandez – 24 weeks
13-Mike Vest – 29 weeks
14-Sheri Fakhouri – 33 weeks (2)
15-Logan Kahler – 34 weeks (2)
16-Nathanial Brown – 35 weeks
17-Jesse Howard – 35 weeks (2)
18-Tamara Peterson – 38 weeks
19-Mindi Terrell – 50 weeks (2)
20-Linda Bennett – 79 weeks (2)
21-Sarah Toot – 80 weeks
22-Angie DeWaard – 84 weeks
23-Dawn Krause – 88 weeks
24-Kim Barker – 94 weeks
25-Joe Duff – 95 weeks (2)
26-Teresa Kahler – 106 weeks
27-Carla Stensland – 106 weeks (2)
28-Micky Augustin – 108 weeks
29-Andy Sharp – 109 weeks
30-Bill Wentworth – 110 weeks
31-Cathie Morton – 114 weeks
32-Elizabeth Nordeen – 115 weeks
33-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 117 weeks
34-Kio Dettman – 119 weeks (2)

Here is the 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 8 Pro.
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:


WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - JASON STENSLAND
Jason Stensland (Lake Waubay, South Dakota) – 1 week

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - JASON STENSLAND
Jason Stensland (Lake Waubay, South Dakota)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -
Elainie Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -  SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Johnston, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 4 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Clive, Iowa)- 5 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - LOWELL DAVIS
Lowell Davis (Ames, Iowa) – 5 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 5 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 5 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Ogden, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Ames, Iowa) – 6 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa) – 7 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 24 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 25 weeks

WPC - WEEK 438 - CIRCLE - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 30 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 34 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 35 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Jefferson, Iowa) – 36 weeks

WPC - WEEK 438 - CIRCLE - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Ames, Iowa) – 36 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 39 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 51 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 80 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (New York City, New York) – 81 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Des Moines, Iowa) – 85 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 89 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 95 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -  JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (League City, Texas) – 96 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -  JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (League City, Texas)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Ankeny, Iowa) – 107 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 107 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Ames, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 109 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Mason City, Iowa) – 110 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska)- 111 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE -
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 115 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 116 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 118 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) 120 weeks

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 438 - CIRCLE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (McHose Park – Boone, Iowa) – 542 weeks

38 participants! That is a new high for this year!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Nebraska
+ New York
+ South Dakota
+ Texas

Thanks to Jason’s trip to South Dakota and Sarah’s trip to New York, we can add those to this year’s list!

Here is the Year 11 list of states where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each state):

+ Hawaii (2)
+ Iowa (195)
+ Kansas (8)
+ Michigan (2)
+ Nebraska (6)
+ New York (1)
+ Pennsylvania (5)
+ South Dakota (2)
+ Texas (9)

The big milestone this week was the first ever submission from Jason! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all good news. Myriah couldn’t build on last week’s submission and her streak was 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:


WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES
TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES – POTENTIAL PUFFERBILLY DAYS CLASS

TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

I look forward to 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 TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES in this place in this place that was heavily influenced by a book on trains next Monday.

*There were no BIG BUCKS! But there were also NO WHAMMIES! But at least I didn’t owe any money.

Liberty Bowl Road Trip Grub

When Jesse and I went down to Memphis to watch the embarrassing debacle that was the Liberty Bowl we made sure to eat a bunch of delicious food. Fortunately the Pastor at my church lived in Memphis for several years and he gave us several solid recommendations on places to eat.

Here are the pictures from my Memphis food adventure with Jesse:


Liberty Road Bowl Eats
On the road trip down, we stopped at an Imo’s pizza for a meal.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
St. Louis–style pizza is a type of pizza popular in St. Louis, Missouri, and surrounding areas.[1] The style has a thin cracker-like crust made without yeast, generally uses Provel cheese, and is cut into squares or rectangles instead of wedges.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
For supper that night we ate at Central Barbecue.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
The cole slaw was maybe the worst thing I’ve tasted in my life, but the rest was amazing!

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Breakfast the next morning in the hotel.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
B.B. King’s Blues Club with Andree and his brother.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
It was so dark in there, there aren’t many pictures.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
But the entertainment was hard to beat.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Breakfast again the next morning. We really didn’t eat supper the night before.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
More breakfast at Gibson’s Donuts.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
We got a free donut cause it was our first time.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Before the game we had brunch at Railgarten with some awesome people! Cyclone fans!

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Food was nothing special but it got the job done.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Also we met up with Jon and his friend.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Corky’s after the game!

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Give me a pile of everything that is delicious and bad for you!

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Way better coleslaw!

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

It was a great trip and so much great food! I would say that Corky’s was my favorite. But I don’t think we had a bad meal. That includes the lunch at A&W in Mount Pleasant, Iowa on the trip back.

That is the last food adventure I have to share right now. Maybe I will come up with one in the next few days. So I will have one to share next Sunday. Time will tell!

George Perry Floyd Square – I

Back in July when I went up to hang out with my Minnesota family, I made a stop at George Perry Floyd Square to just see it, experience it, and photograph it. It was one of the most powerful experiences I had in 2023.

If you don’t know what George Perry Floyd Square is, here is some info from the Wiki:

George Floyd Square, officially George Perry Floyd Square, is the commemorative street name for the section of Chicago Avenue in the U.S. city of Minneapolis from East 37th Street to East 39th Street. It is named after George Floyd, a Black man who was murdered there by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on May 25, 2020. The streetway and memorial site is centered at the 38th and Chicago intersection.

Public outrage over Floyd’s murder resulted in the largest mass protest movement since the civil rights movement, largely over issues of systemic racism and police brutality. In the following weeks, racial justice activists and some community members erected barricades to keep 38th and Chicago street intersection closed to vehicular traffic for over a year during 2020 and 2021. Artists and demonstrators installed several exhibits, paintings, sculptures, and other works of art to memorialize Floyd and visualize racial justice themes.

To be honest I didn’t know about everything that would be there. I had seen pictures of the painting on the side of the building and the memorial in front of the building and I wanted to see that. Much of everything else I saw was a surprise.

Here is the first collection of pictures:


George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

George Floyd Square

Still a ton of pictures to share from this experience!

Iowa State Fair – Day 1 – Alpha

Time to start sharing pictures from my numerous trips to the Iowa State Fair last year. Once again, I made a traditional visit on Day 1 of the Fair with Jen to watch Evie and Layla dance with their Irish dancing group. They performed early in the morning at the Mid American Stage. The bad thing about this is that the Mid American Stage faces east. I repeat, they performed in the morning. If you don’t know, the sun rises in the east. In the morning. That is just science.

I bring this up because it had to suck for them dancing while staring into the sun. I’m going to share pictures from their performance, and as you will see right away, they are dancing with their eyes closed… cause they were staring into the sun.

Here are some pictures from their performance:


Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Gorshes Trip - 2023

After the performance we hung out at the fair for a few hours. I have plenty of pictures to share from that as well!

Both Sides Now

Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
Looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun
They rain and they snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way

I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It’s cloud illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way that you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I’ve looked at love that way

But now it’s just another show
And you leave ’em laughing when you go
And if you care, don’t let them know
Don’t give yourself away

I’ve looked at love from both sides now
From give and take and still somehow
It’s love’s illusions that I recall
I really don’t know love
Really don’t know love at all

Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say, “I love you” right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I’ve looked at life that way

Oh, but now old friends they’re acting strange
And they shake their heads and they tell me that I’ve changed
Well something’s lost, but something’s gained
In living every day

I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all

It’s life’s illusions that I recall
I really don’t know life
I really don’t know life at all
-Joni Mitchell

This might not be a straight love song, like the other journal titles. But it is definitely one of the best songs ever written. It was written by Joni Mitchell when she was 24, but it feels like it is written by somebody that is much farther along on their life’s journey. The song was originally recorded by Judy Collins, before Joni Mitchell recorded itself. It has been reported that it has been covered over 1500 times. If I was in a band or had a drop of musical talent, I would cover it in a heartbeat as well.

The song has a connection to multiple aspects of the songs I have been using for flowertography journal entry titles. In 2022, Joni Mitchell made her first appearance at the Newport Folk Folk Festival since 1967. Her first full-length concert since 2000. Brandi Carlile was the force behind Mitchell’s return to the stage. Of course “Both Sides Now” was one of the songs she played.

Another connection is that “Both Sides Now” makes an appearance in FLORA AND SON. After being aghast at Flora’s terrible taste in music, Jeff gives her “homework”. Her homework is to listen to the song “Both Sides Now”. The song makes Flora cry. (Side note: In the original screenplay for FLORA AND SON this song was supposed to be “Couldn’t Love You More” by John Martyn. – This isn’t the only song that was changed from the page to the screen, but that is a story for another day.)

However, FLORA AND SON is not the movie I affiliate “Both Sides Now”. That movie is the 2021 movie CODA. A movie that would win the Oscar for Best Motion Picture. CODA (in addition to having a musical definition) stands for Child Of Death Adults.

A rudimentary Google search will come up with following storyline of CODA:

Ruby is the only hearing member of a deaf family from Gloucester, Massachusetts. At 17, she works mornings before school to help her parents and brother keep their fishing business afloat. But in joining her high school’s choir club, Ruby finds herself drawn to both her duet partner and her latent passion for singing.

Side note: The actor that plays the “duet partner” is Ferdia Walsh-Peelo who was the star of SING STREET.

That synopsis leaves a lot to be desired. It doesn’t cover Ruby’s (played by Emilia Jones) relationship with her music teacher (played by Eugenio Derbez). Or more importantly the friction between Ruby and her parents, played by Troy Kotsur and Marlee Martin. Ruby is the only person in her family that can hear, which makes it hard for her to share her passion for music with her family. Plus they rely on her heavily to communicate with the outside world.

I don’t want to give a way much more of the story, but “Both Sides Now” is the song that Ruby performs that reaches her family.

CODA streams on AppleTV+ and I highly recommend it.

Thursday is for flowers. Today’s flowertography collection was all taken in my yard:


Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Soul Expansion - 2023

Next Thursday’s flowertography session will involve more flowers from my yard.