Category Archives: Alexis

Alexis, Andy, Angie, Becky, Bill, Boone FUMC, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Deb, Elizabeth, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Sabas, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Street Photography, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 481 – CLOTHING

December 2, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

CLOTHING! What a great theme! But were enough people not nudists to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, November 25, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

*1-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA, DC, WA)
*2-Mary Green – 1 week (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR)
3-Monica Jennings – 1 week (IA)
4-Sara Lockner – 1 week (IA, BHS, MN, FL)
5-Sabas Hernandez – 2 weeks (IA, OH)
6-Jesse Howard – 8 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
*7-Suzie Brannen – 9 weeks (IA, MD)
*8-Deb Powers – 13 weeks (MT, IA)
9-Willy McAlpine – 20 weeks (IA)
10-Deanna McClain – 24 weeks (IA, MN)
11-Mike Vest – 27 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
12-Lowell Davis – 47 weeks (IA, MO, KS)
13-Brandon Kahler – 48 weeks (IA, MN)
14-Scott Degeneffe – 66 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
15-Sheri Fakhouri – 76 weeks (IA, NE, GA)
16-Logan Kahler – 77 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
17-Nathanial Brown – 78 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA,, WI, NY)
18-Tamara Peterson – 89 weeks (IA, MN)
*19-Mindi Terrell – 93 weeks (IA)
20-Linda Bennett – 122 weeks (KS, IA, MI, NY)
21-Sarah Toot – 123 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC, FL)
22-Angie DeWaard – 126 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN, FL)
*23-Dawn Krause – 131 weeks (IA, IL)
24-Kim Barker – 137 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
25-Joe Duff – 138 weeks (TX, NY)
26-Teresa Kahler – 149 weeks (IA, NE)
*27-Carla Stensland – 149 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
28-Micky Augustin – 151 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
*29-Andy Sharp – 152 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI, KS)
*30-Bill Wentworth – 153 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
31-Cathie Morton – 157 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
32-Elizabeth Nordeen – 158 weeks (IA, OH)
33-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 160 weeks (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO)
34-Kio Dettman – 162 weeks (IA)

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.

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 - WEEK 481 - CLOTHING - BECKY PARMELEE

Becky Parmelee (New York City, New York) – 1 week

Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 1 week

Mary Green (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Mary Green (Iowa)

Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Jesse Howard (Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa) – 9 weeks

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 10 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 14 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

Willy McAlpine (Iowa) – 21 weeks

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 25 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 28 weeks

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 48 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa) – 49 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Iowa) – 67 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 77 weeks

Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 78 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 79 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Boone, Iowa) – 90 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 94 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Linda Bennett (Missouri) – 123 weeks

Sarah Toot (Baltimore, Maryland) – 124 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 127 weeks

Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 132 weeks

Kim Barker (Iowa) – 138 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 139 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Iowa) – 150 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Iowa)

Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 150 weeks

Carla Stensland (Ames, Iowa)

Micky Augustin (Ames, Iowa)- 152 weeks

Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 153 weeks

Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa)

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 154 weeks

Cathie Morton (New Mexico) – 158 weeks

Cathie Morton (Phoenix, Arizona)

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 159 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Cancun, Mexico) – 161 weeks

Kio Dettman (Iowa) – 163 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Boone First United Methodist Church – Boone, Iowa) – 585 weeks

There were 35 participants this week. A pretty good week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arizona (1)
+ Iowa (34)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Mexico (1)
+ Missouri (1)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ New Mexico (1)
+ New York (1)
+ Texas (1)

Thanks go Cathie’s travels we added New Mexico and Arizona to the map. Thanks to Shannon’s travels we add Mexico to the map!

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

+ Alaska (1)
+ Arizona (1)
+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (16)
+ Georgia (3)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (14)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1797)
+ Kansas (63)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (2)
+ Michigan (13)
+ Minnesota (15)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (23.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (57)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (5)
+ New Mexico (2)
+ New York (22)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (40)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (5)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (69)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ Washington (2)
+ Washington D.C. (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (5)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (4)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ Mexico (1)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

39 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 1 District! 7 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA, WI, NY) – 14
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA, DC, WA) – 13
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI, KS) – 11
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC, FL, MD) – 8
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA, AZ, NM) – 7
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN, FL) – 6
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO, MEX) – 6
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI, NY, MO) – 5
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) -5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI) – 5
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK, KS) – 5
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK, NY) – 4
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK) – 4
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN, FL) – 4
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO, KS) – 3
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2
+ Kyle Sharp (IA, MO) – 2

Nathanial is clinging to the lead to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!”

There were a few big milestones reached this week. Suzie joined the Double Digit Streak Club! WooHoo. Logan joined the Year and a Half Streak Club! WooHoo! Woo!

But it wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns! Jen and Sara couldn’t build on their submission and their streaks are over before they began. I will assume that they have become devout nudists that have no time for your bougie clothing.

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:

SYMMETRY (SUGGESTED BY SARAH TOOT)

SYMMETRY! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY 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 see your idea of SYMMETRY in this place that isn’t very even keeled always in fashion next Monday.

Alexis, Bokeh, Johnathan

Bokeh: The Early Days

November 12, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Here are some pictures of some of the early days of Bokeh. Including when she met Johnathan for the first time. And when I bought her a pool, that of course, she doesn’t like.

Still plenty more pictures of the early day of Bokeh left to share.

Alexis, Anela, Bokeh, Jay, Kanoa, Teresa, Willy

Bokeh: The First Days

October 29, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Here is another collection of images of Bokeh’s first days. Some are from when Alexis brought over Anela and Kanoa to meet Bokeh. Some are from when Bokeh used to sleep on my desk. Now she sleeps either under the desk or in a bed to my right. Finally, some pictures of when I took Bokeh to crash Willy and Jay’s weekend culinary ritual known as “Lab”.

I have plenty more pictures of Bokeh’s early days left to share. The next collection will include when Johnathan came to meet her.

Adam, Alexis, Andy, Angie, Art, Bill, Birthdays, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Elizabeth, Joe Duff, Johnathan, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Micky, Mindi, Nader, Nathanial, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Still Life, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 476 – GLASS

October 28, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 3 Comments

REMINDER: THIS IS ONE OF TWO WEEKS WHERE YOU CAN LEAVE A SUGGESTION FOR THE THEMES FOR NEXT YEAR’S WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. YOU CAN DO THAT BY LEAVING A COMMENT ON THIS ENTRY ON THE WEBSITE. NO OTHER WAY. DON’T EMAIL THEM TO ME. DON’T TEXT THEM TO ME. LEAVE THEM IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF THIS POST.

YOU DON’T NEED TO SUGGEST SOME STALWARTS, BECAUSE THE FOLLOWING ARE ALREADY BAKED IN TO THE CAKE:
+ BLACK & WHITE
+ STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
+ ROAD TRIP
+ ART
+ MUSIC
+ #INSTAGOOD
+ SLICE OF LIFE

Today is Nader’s birthday, so I need to wish him a happy birthday.

Happy birthday Nader!

I hope your birthday is filled with all the movies you can handle!

+++++++

It is the last Monday of the month and on the last Monday of the month I like to revisit our Frequently Asked Questions. Who asks these questions? I mostly ask them of myself. But that isn’t a Frequently Asked Question. These are:

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 10 photographers that participate regularly that have won a photography award of some kind.

Is this a competition?
NO. It is a challenge. There are no winners and losers. Well the people that don’t participate are losers.

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

Yes. That limit is 2. If you send me more than 2, I will post the first 2 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 I start to average like 45 participants a week, I will lower the limit to 1.

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 every week. 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.

Do I have to wait until Monday morning to submit?

Absolutely not! In fact (AND CAN’T EMPATHIZE THIS ENOUGH) I appreciate the submissions that make it to me by Sunday evening. Makes the job of putting this together on Monday morning much easier!

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 widest point, but don’t ban smaller pictures at this point. But don’t tempt me!

What format should my submission be?

.JPG but .PNG also works. You will notice, dear Apple Cultists, that .HEIC is not on the list.

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. In fact, I appreciate you letting me know where a picture was taken. If you don’t let me know, I will assume the picture was taken in the state you live in.

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. Hey, that’s today!

+++++++

GLASS! What a great theme! But did enough people crack out the glass on a camera to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, October 21, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA)
2-Mary Green – 3 weeks (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR)
3-Jesse Howard – 3 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
4-Alexis Stensland – 3 weeks (IA)
*5-Suzie Brannen – 4 weeks (IA, MD)
6-Sabas Hernandez – 6 weeks (IA, OH)
*7-Deb Powers – 8 weeks (MT, IA)
8-Monica Jennings – 11 weeks (IA)
9-Sara Lockner – 12 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
10-Willy McAlpine – 15 weeks (IA)
11-Deanna McClain – 19 weeks (IA, MN)
12-Mike Vest – 22 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
13-Lowell Davis – 42 weeks (IA, MO)
14-Brandon Kahler – 43 weeks (IA, MN)
*15-Scott Degeneffe – 61 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
*16-Sheri Fakhouri – 71 weeks (IA, NE)
17-Logan Kahler – 72 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
18-Nathanial Brown – 73 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA,, WI)
19-Tamara Peterson – 84 weeks (IA, MN)
*20-Mindi Terrell – 88 weeks (IA)
21-Linda Bennett – 117 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
*22-Sarah Toot – 118 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
23-Angie DeWaard – 121 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN)
*24-Dawn Krause – 126 weeks (IA, IL)
25-Kim Barker – 132 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
26-Joe Duff – 133 weeks (TX, NY)
*27-Teresa Kahler – 144 weeks (IA, NE)
28-Carla Stensland – 144 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
29-Micky Augustin – 146 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
30-Andy Sharp – 147 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
31-Bill Wentworth – 148 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
32-Cathie Morton – 151 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
*33-Elizabeth Nordeen – 153 weeks (IA, OH)
34-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 155 weeks (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO)
35-Kio Dettman – 157 weeks (IA)

Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO 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.

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 158 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Honey Hollow – Summerset, Iowa) – 156 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Ames, Iowa)- 154 weeks

Cathie Morton (Epcot Center, Florida) – 152 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 149 weeks

Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 148 weeks

Micky Augustin (Ames, Iowa) – 147 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Iowa) – 145 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa)

Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 145 weeks

Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa)

Joe Duff (Texas) – 134 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas)

Kim Barker (Iowa) – 133 weeks

Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 127 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa) – 122 weeks

Andie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa)

Sarah Toot (Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 119 weeks

Sarah Toot (Tannersville, Pennsylvania)

Linda Bennett (New York City, New York) – 118 weeks

Linda Bennett (New York City, New York)

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 89 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 85 weeks

Nathanial Brown (New York City, New York) – 74 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 73 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Tybee Island, Georgia) – 72 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Tybee Island, Georgia)

Scott Degeneffe (Boone, Iowa) – 62 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Sioux City, Iowa) – 44 weeks

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 43 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 23 weeks

Deann McClain (Iowa) – 20 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 16 weeks

Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 13 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 9 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 7 weeks

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 5 weeks

Suzie Brannen (Iowa)

Mary Green (Iowa) – 4 weeks

Mary Green (Iowa)

Jesse Howard (Ames, Iowa) – 4 weeks

Jesse Howard (Ames, Iowa)

Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 4 weeks

Adam Gordon (Ames, Iowa) – 1 week

Adam Gordon (Ames, Iowa)

Kyle Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

Kyle Sharp (Boone, Iowa)

Johnathan Stensland (Iowa) – 1 week

Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa)

37 participants! That is a pretty good week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Florida (1)
+ Georgia (2)
+ Iowa (42)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ New York (3)
+ Pennsylvania (2)
+ Texas (2)

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

+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (12)
+ Georgia (3)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1535)
+ Kansas (59)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (11)
+ Minnesota (15)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (18.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (51)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (4)
+ New York (21)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (36)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (5)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (64)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (5)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

36 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 6 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA, WI, NY) – 14
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA) – 11
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI) – 10
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC) – 6
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO) – 5
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA) – 5
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) -5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI) – 5
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK, KS) – 5
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN) – 5
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK) – 4
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO) – 2
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2

Nathanial now has a commanding lead to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!”

The big… huge… milestone this week was Kio became the first ever member of the 3 Year Streak Club! WooHoo! WooHoo! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all warm fuzzies! Jen couldn’t build on her submission from last week and her streak is over before it began. Monica… oh Monica. Monica who even texted me on Saturday to verify the theme… Moncia’s streak is over at 11!

PLACES

PLACES! What a great them for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

This is a theme that was added because it was a class for the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. It ended up being by far the most popular theme in this year’s Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. So popular I think I’m going to split it into separate categories next year. Something like IOWA PLACES and NOT IOWA PLACES. Still thinking on it.

I look forward to your GLASS interpretation.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of PLACES in this place that is a place next Monday.

Alexis, Andy, Angie, Bill, Bokeh, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Elizabeth, Jen, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Sabas, Sara, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Still Life, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 475 – ANIMAL

October 21, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

ANIMAL! What a great theme! But were enough people get wild enough to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, October 14, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Johnathan Stensland – 1 week (IA)
2-Michelle Haupt – 1 week (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI)
3-Mary Green – 2 weeks (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR)
4-Jesse Howard – 2 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
5-Alexis Stensland – 2 weeks (IA)
6-Suzie Brannen – 3 weeks (IA, MD)
7-Sabas Hernandez – 5 weeks (IA, OH)
*8-Deb Powers – 7 weeks (MT, IA)
9-Monica Jennings – 10 weeks (IA)
10-Sara Lockner – 11 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
11-Willy McAlpine – 14 weeks (IA)
12-Deanna McClain – 18 weeks (IA, MN)
13-Mike Vest – 21weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
14-Lowell Davis – 41 weeks (IA, MO)
15-Brandon Kahler – 42 weeks (IA, MN)
*16-Scott Degeneffe – 60 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
17-Sheri Fakhouri – 70 weeks (IA, NE)
18-Logan Kahler – 71 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
*19-Nathanial Brown – 72 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA,, WI)
20-Tamara Peterson – 83 weeks (IA, MN)
*21-Mindi Terrell – 87 weeks (IA)
22-Linda Bennett – 116 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
23-Sarah Toot – 117 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
*24-Angie DeWaard – 121 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN)
*25-Dawn Krause – 125 weeks (IA, IL)
26-Kim Barker – 131 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
*27-Joe Duff – 132 weeks (TX, NY)
*28-Teresa Kahler – 143 weeks (IA, NE)
*29-Carla Stensland – 143 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
30-Micky Augustin – 145 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
31-Andy Sharp – 146 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
32-Bill Wentworth – 147 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
*33-Cathie Morton – 150 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
34-Elizabeth Nordeen – 152 weeks (IA, OH)
35-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 154 weeks (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO)
36-Kio Dettman – 156 weeks (IA)

Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO 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.

It is the third week of the month and on the third week of the month I like to share a map of all the states where people have submitted from heading into today. Here is that map:

36 STATES!

WPC - WEEK 475 - ANIMAL - MICKY AUGUSTIN

Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 146 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Summerset, Iowa) – 155 weeks

Kim Barker (Iowa) – 132 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa)

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 117 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas)

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 4 weeks

Suzie Brannen (Iowa)

Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 73 weeks

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 42 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 61 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa)

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 157 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 122 weeks

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

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 71 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

Joe Duff (Texas) – 133 weeks

Mary Green (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 6 weeks

Jesse Howard (Union Street Theater – Boone, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 11 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 43 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 72 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

Teresa Kahler (Iowa) – 144 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Iowa)

Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 126 weeks

Dawn Krause (Iowa)

Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 12 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Iowa) – 15 weeks

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 19 weeks

Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 151 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 153 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa)

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 84 weeks

Deb Powers (Iowa) – 8 weeks

Deb Powers (Iowa)

Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Carla Stensland (Bellevue, Iowa) – 144 weeks

Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 147 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 88 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Sarah Toot (Hanover, New Jersey) – 118 weeks

Sarah Toot (Hanover, New Jersey)

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 22 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 148 weeks

36 participants this week. It is hard to believe that STREET PHOTOGRAPHY was a more popular theme than ANIMAL. But here we are. I have to remind myself that not everybody loves animals. There are bad people out there.

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa (37)
+ Kansas (2)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ New Jersey (2)
+ Texas (1)

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

+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1493)
+ Kansas (59)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (11)
+ Minnesota (15)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (18.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (50)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (4)
+ New York (18)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (34)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (5)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (62)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (5)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

36 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 6 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA, WI) – 13
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA) – 11
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI) – 10
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC) – 6
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO) – 5
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA) – 5
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) -5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI) – 5
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK, KS) – 5
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN) – 5
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK) – 4
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO) – 2
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2

There were no major milestones reached this week. AND Johnathan and Michelle couldn’t build on their submissions from last week and their streaks are over before they began.

GLASS

GLASS! What a great them for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

The 2 week window for suggesting themes for Year 12 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE is nearly upon us. Suggestions have to be made in the Comments section of the last THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE post in October (will be October 28) and the first THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE post in November (will be November 4). That is the only way to make suggestions.

I look forward to your GLASS interpretation.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of GLASS in this place that has broken more than its fair share next Monday.

Alexis, Andy, Angie, Bill, Black & White, Bokeh, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Elizabeth, Jesse, Joe Duff, Johnathan, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Street Photography, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 474 – STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

October 14, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 4 Comments

Today is Sarah Toot’s birthday so I have to wish her a happy birthday.

Happy birthday Sarah!

That picture of us after seeing a American Idiot on Broadway is almost 13 years old. Guess we should get an updated selfie at some point. Anyways I hope your birthday is amazing and filled with fantastic food, music and friends!

+++++++

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY! What a great theme! But were enough people public enough to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, October 7, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Mary Green – 1 week (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR)
2-Elainie Hernandez – 1 week (IA)
3-Jesse Howard – 1 week (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
*4-Amy Peterson – 1 week (IA)
5-Alexis Stensland – 1 week (IA)
6-Suzie Brannen – 2 weeks (IA, MD)
7-Sabas Hernandez – 4 weeks (IA, OH)
*8-Deb Powers – 6 weeks (MT, IA)
9-Monica Jennings – 9 weeks (IA)
10-Sara Lockner – 10 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
11-Willy McAlpine – 13 weeks (IA)
12-Deanna McClain – 17 weeks (IA, MN)
13-Mike Vest – 20 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
*14-Lowell Davis – 40 weeks (IA, MO)
15-Brandon Kahler – 41 weeks (IA, MN)
16-Scott Degeneffe – 59 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
17-Sheri Fakhouri – 69 weeks (IA, NE)
18-Logan Kahler – 70 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
*19-Nathanial Brown – 71 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA,, WI)
20-Tamara Peterson – 82 weeks (IA, MN)
*21-Mindi Terrell – 86 weeks (IA)
22-Linda Bennett – 115 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
*23-Sarah Toot – 116 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
*24-Angie DeWaard – 120 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN)
*25-Dawn Krause – 124 weeks (IA, IL)
26-Kim Barker – 130 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
*27-Joe Duff – 131 weeks (TX, NY)
28-Teresa Kahler – 142 weeks (IA, NE)
29-Carla Stensland – 142 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
30-Micky Augustin – 144 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
*31-Andy Sharp – 145 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
32-Bill Wentworth – 146 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
33-Cathie Morton – 149 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
34-Elizabeth Nordeen – 151 weeks (IA, OH)
35-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 153 weeks (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO)
*36-Kio Dettman – 155 weeks (IA)

Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO 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.

WPC - WEEK 474 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - ALEXIS STENSLAND

Alexis Stensland (Ankeny, Iowa) – 2 weeks

Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 146 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 121 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa)

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 147 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Story City, Iowa) – 42 weeks

Carla Stensland (west Ames, Iowa) – 143 weeks

Carla Stensland (Ames, Iowa)

Cathie Morton (Hoyt Sherman – Des Moines, Iowa) – 150 weeks

Cathie Morton (Hoyt Sherman – Des Moines, Iowa)

Christopher D. Bennett (Des Moines, Iowa)

Dawn Krause (Near Pilot Mound, Iowa) – 125 weeks

Dawn Krause (Gustafson’s Pumpkin Patch – Iowa)

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 18 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 7 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

Elizabeth Nordeen (Ames, Iowa) – 152 weeks

Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 132 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas)

Johnathan Stensland (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

Kim Barker (Ankeny, Iowa) – 131 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 156 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 116 weeks

Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 71 weeks

Lowell Davis (Ames, Iowa) – 41 weeks

Mary Green (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Michelle Haupt (Lebanon, Missouri) – 1 week

Micky Augustin (Altoona, Iowa) – 145 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 21 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 87 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 10 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Paton, Iowa) – 72 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Yetter, Iowa)

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa)

Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 11 weeks

Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 117 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Adventureland – Altoona, Iowa) – 60 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Adventureland – Altoona, Iowa)

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Des Moines, Iowa) – 154 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 70 weeks

Suzie Brannen (Perry, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Perry, Iowa) – 83 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Manning, Iowa) – 143 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Manning, Iowa)

Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 14 weeks

37 participants this week! That is a pretty good week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa (41)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Missouri (1)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ Texas (2)

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

+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1456)
+ Kansas (57)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (11)
+ Minnesota (15)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (18.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (49)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (2)
+ New York (18)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (34)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (5)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (61)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (5)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

36 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 6 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

Nathanial now has a commanding lead to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!”

There were a couple of big milestones this week. Monica joined the Double Digit Streak Club! WooHoo! Kio joined the 3 YEAR STREAK CLUB!!! WooHoo! WooHoo! WooHoo! At some point, hopefully there will be “badges” for these accomplishments, but I have to get a new logo first. Priorities people!

But it wasn’t all glitter and rainbows! Elainie and Amy couldn’t build on last week’s submissions and their streaks are over before they began.

ANIMAL (Suggested by Shannon Bardole-Foley)

ANIMAL! What a great them for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE! Thanks to Shannon for suggesting it. Technically she suggested PET, but I changed it to ANIMAL because I felt it was more fair to people that don’t have pets.

And speaking of suggesting themes… The 2 week window for suggesting themes for Year 12 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. So suggestions have to be made in the Comments section of the last THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE post in October (will be October 28) and the first THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE post in November (will be November 4). That is the only way to make suggestions.

I look forward to your ANIMAL interpretations.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of ANIMAL in this place that loves almost all of them next Monday.

Alexis, Amy, Andy, Angie, Bill, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Elainie, Elizabeth, Football, Iowa State, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Lowell, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Street Photography, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 473 – PATH

October 7, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

PATH! What a great theme! But were enough people on the right one to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 30, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Suzie Brannen – 1 week (IA, MD)
2-Sabas Hernandez – 3 weeks (IA, OH)
*3-Deb Powers – 5 weeks (MT, IA)
4-Monica Jennings – 8 weeks (IA)
5-Sara Lockner – 9 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
6-Willy McAlpine – 12 weeks (IA)
7-Deanna McClain – 16 weeks (IA, MN)
8-Mike Vest – 19 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
*9-Lowell Davis – 39 weeks (IA, MO)
10-Michelle Haupt – 39 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI)
11-Brandon Kahler – 40 weeks (IA, MN)
12-Scott Degeneffe – 58 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
13-Sheri Fakhouri – 68 weeks (IA, NE)
14-Logan Kahler – 69 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
15-Nathanial Brown – 70 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN)
16-Tamara Peterson – 81 weeks (IA, MN)
*17-Mindi Terrell – 85 weeks (IA)
18-Linda Bennett – 114 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
19-Sarah Toot – 115 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
*20-Angie DeWaard – 119 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG)
*21-Dawn Krause – 123 weeks (IA, IL)
22-Kim Barker – 129 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
23-Joe Duff – 130 weeks (TX, NY)
24-Teresa Kahler – 141 weeks (IA, NE)
*25-Carla Stensland – 141 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
26-Micky Augustin – 143 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
*27-Andy Sharp – 144 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
28-Bill Wentworth – 145 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
29-Cathie Morton – 148 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
*30-Elizabeth Nordeen – 150 weeks (IA, OH)
31-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 152 weeks (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO)
*32-Kio Dettman – 154 weeks (IA)

Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO 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.

Mary Green (Iowa) – 1 week

Elainie Hernandez (Iowa) – 1 week

Jesse Howard (Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa) – 1 week

Amy Peterson (Ames, Iowa) – 1 week

Amy Peterson (Ames, Iowa)

Alexis Stensland (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa) – 1 week

Suzie Brannen (Perry, Iowa) – 2 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 4 weeks

Deb Powers (Saylorville, Iowa) – 6 weeks

Deb Powers (Saylorville, Iowa)

Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 9 weeks

Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 10 weeks

Willy McAlpine (McHose Park – Boone, Iowa) – 13 weeks

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 17 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 20 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 41 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 59 weeks

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 70 weeks

Lowell Davis (Iowa)

Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 69 weeks

Logan Kahler (Logansport, Iowa) – 70 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Juneau, Wisconsin) – 71 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Butler, Pennsylvania)

Tamara Peterson (Boone, Iowa) – 82 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 86 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 115 weeks

Sarah Toot (New York City, New York) – 116 weeks

Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania)

Angie Dewaard (Minneapolis, Minnesota) – 120 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Dawn Krause (Les’s Auto Repair – Boone, Iowa) – 124 weeks

Kim Barker (White Oak, Iowa) – 130 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 131 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas)

Teresa Kahler (Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa) – 142 weeks

Carla Stensland (Ames, Iowa) – 142 weeks

Micky Augustin (Story County, Iowa) – 144 weeks

Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 145 weeks

Andy Sharp (Salon 908 – Boone, Iowa)

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 146 weeks

Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 149 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Ames, Iowa) – 151 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 153 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 153 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

Christopher D. Bennett (Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa) – 576 weeks

37 participants this week! That is more like it!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa (38)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Minnesota (2)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ New York (1)
+ Pennsylvania (2)
+ Texas (1)
+ Wisconsin (1)

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

+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1415)
+ Kansas (56)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (11)
+ Minnesota (15)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (17.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (48)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (2)
+ New York (18)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (33)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (5)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (6)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (5)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

36 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 6 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

Nathanial now has a commanding lead to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!”

The big milestone this week was Kim joining the 2.5 Year Streak Club. WooHoo! WooHoo! Woo!

But it wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns. Michelle’s streak comes crumbling down at 39 weeks! The humanity!

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE! In fact, STREET PHOTOGRAPHY is my 2nd favorite theme, right behind BLACK & WHITE.

I don’t like to define the themes, but to prevent me from looking at a bunch of pictures of streets next Monday and me crying myself to sleep that night, I will provide a definition from Brittanica:

“Street photography, a genre of photography that records everyday life in a public place.

If you are looking for excellent examples of STREET PHOTOGRAPHY, the following submissions from this week are textbook examples of STREET PHOTOGRAPHY:

+ Elainie Hernandez
+ Monica Jennings
+ Logan Kahler
+ Nathanial Brown (both submissions)
+ Jesse Howard
+ Sara Lockner
+ Sarah Toots (New York City) – Could be on a cover of a book about STREET PHOTOGRAPHY.
+ Teresa Kahler
+ Carla Stensland
+ Elizabeth Nordeen
+ Christopher D. Bennett

There were a few others as well.

The most important part of this definition is in a public place.

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 see your idea of STREET PHOTOGRAPHY in this place that puts quite a bit of it out in this world next Monday.

Adam, Alexis, Andy, Angie, Bill, Brandon, Candid Portrait, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Elizabeth, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Music, Nathanial, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Still Life, Suzie, Tamara, Taylan, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 470 – MUSIC

September 16, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

MUSIC! A great theme! But did enough people hear it to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out! Am I silently judging anybody’s taste in MUSIC? You don’t have to scroll down. I am. I definitely in.

On a sad note, I learned today that my favorite record store and the place where I get many of the records for my NEW-TO-ME-VINYL FRIDAY stories on Snapchat closed down recently. Wax Xtatic in Marshalltown was awesome! And now it is gone. So I’ll be looking for a new independent record store to frequent. I’m open to suggestions.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 9, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Mary Green – 1 week (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR)
2-Elainie Hernandez – 1 week (IA)
*3-Deb Powers – 2 weeks (MT, IA)
4-Jesse Howard – 3 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
5-Suzie Brannen – 3 weeks (IA, MD)
*6-Amy Peterson – 3 weeks (IA)
7-Monica Jennings – 5 weeks (IA)
8-Sara Lockner – 6 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
9-Willy McAlpine – 9 weeks (IA)
10-Deanna McClain – 13 weeks (IA, MN)
11-Mike Vest – 16 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
12-Adam Gordon – 26 weeks (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN)
13-Lowell Davis – 36 weeks (IA, MO)
14-Michelle Haupt – 36 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI)
*15-Brandon Kahler – 37 weeks (IA, MN)
16-Scott Degeneffe – 55 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
*17-Sheri Fakhouri – 65 weeks (IA, NE)
18-Logan Kahler – 65 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
19-Nathanial Brown – 67 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS)
20-Tamara Peterson – 78 weeks (IA, MN)
21-Mindi Terrell – 82 weeks (IA)
22-Linda Bennett – 111 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
23-Sarah Toot – 112 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
24-Angie DeWaard – 116 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG)
25-Dawn Krause – 120 weeks (IA, IL)
26-Kim Barker – 126 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
27-Joe Duff – 127 weeks (TX, NY)
*28-Teresa Kahler – 138 weeks (IA, NE)
29-Carla Stensland – 138 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
30-Micky Augustin – 140 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
*31-Andy Sharp – 141 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
32-Bill Wentworth – 142 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
33-Cathie Morton – 146 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
34-Elizabeth Nordeen – 147 weeks (IA, OH)
35-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 149 weeks (IA, CA, NV)
36-Kio Dettman – 151 weeks (IA)

It is the third week of the month and on the third week of the month I like to share a map of all the states where people have submitted from heading into today. Here is that map:

36 states!

Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO 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.

Micky Augustin (Iowa)- 141 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Farmer’s Market – Bentonville, Arkansas) – 150 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Outside of Jane, Missouri)

Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 127 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Boone Theater – Boone, Iowa)

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 4 weeks suzi

Nathanial Brown (Albert Lea, Minnesota) – 68 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Pierce, Nebraska)

Linda Bennett (Kansas)

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 37 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 152 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 117 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 56 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 128 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 66 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

Adam Gordon (Iowa) – 27 weeks

Mary Green (Michigan) – 2 weeks

Mary Green (Michigan)

Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 37 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 1 week

Jesse Howard (Homecoming – Boone, Iowa) – 4 weeks

Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 6 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 38 weeks

Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 67 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa) – 139 weeks

Dawn Krause (Fraser, Iowa) – 121 weeks

Sara Lockner (Pork Tornados – Adventureland – Altoona, Iowa) – 7 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Iowa) – 10 weeks

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 14 weeks

Cathie Morton (Des Moines, Iowa) – 147 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 148 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 79 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Debb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

Andy Sharp (Boone First United Methodist Church – Boone, Iowa) – 142 weeks

Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 1 week

Carla Stensland (Springbrook State Park – Guthrie Center, Iowa) – 139 weeks

Carla Stensland (Springbrook State Park – Guthrie Center, Iowa)

Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 113 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 83 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 17 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 143 weeks

37 participants! That is a pretty solid week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arkansas (1)
+ Iowa (34)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Michigan (2)
+ Minnesota (1)
+ Missouri (1)
+ Nebraska (2)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ Texas (1)

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

+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1377)
+ Kansas (52)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (11)
+ Minnesota (13)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (17.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (45)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (1)
+ New York (17)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (29)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (4)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (54)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (4)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

36 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 6 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN) – 11
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA) – 11
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI) – 10
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC) – 6
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO) – 5
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA) – 5
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) -5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI) – 5
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK, KS) – 5
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG) – 4
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK) – 4
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO) – 2
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2

Nathanial has tied Jen for the top spot to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” However Andy and Scott are in striking distance.

The big milestone this week was Willy reaching the Double Digit Streak Club! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all unicorns and rainbows. Elainie couldn’t build on her submission from last week. Her streak is over before it began. Amy’s streak also came to a halting crash after 3 weeks! The humanity!

PARK

PARK! 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 see your idea of PARK in this place that that is a bit of a respite from the world next Monday.

Adam, Alexis, Art, Birthdays, Black & White, Boone FUMC, Christianity, Commercial, Formal Portrait, Iowa State, Linda, Mom, Nature, Night, Road Trip, Still Life, Teresa, Work, WPC - Alternate

In a Beautiful World

September 14, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Today is Adam’s birthday so I have to with him a happy birthday:

Cause All I Ever Wanted Was to Be Enough for You

Happy birthday Adam!

I hope your birthday is another big advance in your recovery and we will see you back in the pulpit soon!

+++++++

This is a comprehensive sweep of all the pictures from 2023 (except formal portraits) that I took in 2023 that were leftover and didn’t quite fit into other posts. It kind of is all over the place from short trips to church pictures to alternates for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

Let’s get at it:

Came across this cross on a tenderloining road trip in northeast Iowa.

These images were alternates for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM.

There is a lot of my family in this picture. Starting with Alexis, obviously.

But Teresa made the hat and the scarf.

The bear belonged to my Mom.

The coat belonged to my Grandpa Paris and my Mom frequently wore it.

Feels good that almost all the 2023 pictures are out there. Just need to share the rest of the Memphis pictures and get to those pesky formal portraits!

Alexis, Art, Automobiles, Brandon, Carla, Christianity, Dahlia, Elainie, History, Holidays, Jason, Jesse, Johnathan, Jonah Kahler, K.J., Logan, Music, Olympic Sports, Russ, Sabas, Street Photography, Teresa

Forever A Cyclone State!

September 11, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

I need to start today’s post by remembering the victims of the terrorist acts on our country that happened on September 11, 2001. Hard to believe it was 23 years ago. I can still vividly remember almost everything about that morning. I’m sure almost everyone that was alive on that day can do the same thing. I won’t recount my experience. It was much different than most people on that day. Instead I will share this photo of a mural on the wall of the VFW in Valley Junction:

The victims of the day should never be forgotten. The heroes of that day should also never be forgotten.

+++++++

On Saturday, a redshirt-freshman-walk-on-kicker that has only been playing football for a few years, stepped up on the field in Kinnick Stadium and boomed a 54 yard field goal right through the middle of the uprights. A kick that would have been good from 64 yards. That kicks gave the Cyclones a 20-19 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Cyclones second straight win in Kinnick. Their 4th win in the last 6 trips to Kinnick. And in some ways, it provided a little bit of healing for my family. Not a ton, but some.

As many of you know, it was a terrible week last week for my family. That is an understatement. My brother-in-law Russ, the father of Brandon and Logan passed away on Saturday, August 31. Russ’ health was failing, but it still came as a shock and much quicker than I expected. Teresa called me early Saturday morning and gave me the news. God I wish that was the only one of those phone calls I got those few days.

On Monday, September 2, Jesse and I went to Perry to take part in the RVTV festivities that accompany Cy-Hawk Week. I have never went to a town that was hosting RVTV besides when Boone hosted them a few years back. I don’t think I’m saying anything that isn’t common knowledge, but Boone did a pretty poor job as a host.

On the other hand, Perry knocked it out of the park. There were several blocks of activities and vendors.

Jesse and I had stopped and were talking to a painter. She was telling her story about how she had found God and become sober 5 years ago. Then God called her to be a painter. As she was telling us that story my phone rang. It was Jason. I might have normally not answered my phone because of the conversation I was engaged in, but Jason doesn’t call often, so I figured it was important. So I excused myself from the conversation and took the call.

On the other end was Carla not Jason. Which worried me a little bit, but not completely uncommon. Carla sometimes loses her phone. But this wasn’t one of those times. Carla proceeded to tell me that Jason’s only brother Justin had been killed in a car accident.

Damn it! When it rains it damn well pours!

I gave Carla my condolences, I think. Poorly tried to explain how terrible all of this was. Thinking about Jason. And Johnathan. And Elainie. And Alexis. And Jason’s parents. And Justin’s wife. They had just been married a few months back. Then I hung up and inserted myself back into the discussion with the Christian artist and the colors she used reflected how much light was in her life compared to when she was abusing.

I went though the rest of the night taking pictures of the events. Eating at The Tin Pig.

The rest of the week kinda flew by. Jason and Carla went to Colorado for Justin’s ceremony. Russ’ visitation was on Friday night. His funeral was on Saturday, before the Cy-Hawk game.

For the funeral, the boys picked 3 different Rush songs to be played. “Tom Sawyer”, “Fly By Night”, and “Spirit of the Radio”. Since Adam is out the church brought in a Pastor from Bagley to do the ceremony. He did a good job and I was most impressed with how he incorporated the lyrics to “Fly By Night” into the service.

Start a new chapter
I find what I’m after
Is changing every day
The change of a season
Is enough of a reason
To want to get away

Quiet and pensive
My thoughts apprehensive
The hours drift away
Leaving my homeland
Playing a lonehand
My life begins today

After the funeral I hosted Brandon, K.J., Logan, Dahlia, Jonah, Johnathan, Elainie, Sabas, Jesse (briefly), and Teresa.

Once Scott, after losing one of his parents, asked me “when is it normal again?”

I told him what I think is as honest as I can be, “It never is normal again. You just have to adjust to what is now the new normal”.

I hope just watching the game and rooting on the Cyclones… All of us screaming at the television as the field goal was in the air… Freaking both Dahlia and Bokeh out… brought a small sense of normal to their worlds. And maybe just a touch of healing.

Here are pictures I took at RVTV in Perry on Labor Day:

After the game was over the family slowly dispersed. Before Brandon left, he stood up and looked at Bokeh and said, “You’ve got big shoes to fill. But you’ll get there.”

Then he said he was going to the cemetery on his way home to tell his Dad that the Cyclones had won.