Category Archives: Billy

Minnesota Independence Day Road Trip – Day 2

Time to share the February image from the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. It is a picture of a strawflower bulb that was taken in my yard:


2024 Calendar - February
FEBRUARY

This image was placed in February as February houses Valentines Day and I like to think that flowertography is considered romantic.

TECHNICAL DETAILS:

CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: June 7, 2023 – 7:43 PM
LENS: 105mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 105mm
APERTURE: f/2.8
EXPOSURE: 1/125
ISO: 100

Tomorrow I will share the March image!

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My second and final day on my Independence Day Road Trip to Minnesota involved going to the Mall of America amusement park. But it started with breakfast:


Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

It was a great trip! I should have stayed longer. Next time!

Minnesota Independence Day Road Trip – Day 1

Back in July I took a road trip up to Minnesota near the 4th of July to visit family. Here are a few pictures from Day 1 of the trip:


Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Coming across Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store was a welcome surprise. Apparently Nora has wanted to go there forever, but Bethany has always shot her down, but this time I talked them into guy. Cause that is what I do. I make dreams come true. Especially dreams that involve candy.

A collection of pictures from Day 2 is still to come!

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Today is the birthday of the Miller Triplets. So I must wish them happy birthday!


Baby Tri-Force 1st Birthday Party
Happy birthday Doris, Jimmy, and Billy!

This picture was taken at their 1st birthday party in 2019 so that makes them… 5! They are 5 years old?!? How did this happen!

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Back in February I purchased a new lens. It was a Sigma 150-600mm DG DN OS Sports Lens. At one point, I was going to write a long post on it with a collection of the first images I took with it. But here it is. Halfway through October and the lens is old news now, so real need to go into too much details about the specifications of the lens. But I still want to share some of the first images I took with it. I went down to the Kate Shelley High Bridge and went to Lake LaVerne and took a few pictures of Logan.

Here are those pictures:


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On the day I went to Lake LaVerne I also hit up the Ames Library. I took pictures there for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme BOOKS. I didn’t use any of those images. Here is a collection of those:


Ames Public Library

Ames Public Library

Ames Public Library

Ames Public Library

Ames Public Library

Ames Public Library

Ames Public Library

I do love that lens. It is kind of a limited purpose lens, but I should find more of those limited purpose opportunities.

Salad Shooting: Ames Field Work

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


Baby Tri-Force 1st Birthday Party

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I have marked it on the calendar Jay.

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

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

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

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

Or one last example…

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

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

Here are some pictures of my Clayton Farms Salads experiences:


Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

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

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

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads
Southwest Salad

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

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

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

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads
Caesar Salad

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads
Garden Salad

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

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

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads
Crunchy Asian Salad

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads
Mediterranean Salad

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

Salad Shooting: Clayton Farms Salads

I’d rank the salads like this:

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

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

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

You can find Clayton Farms Salads here:

2435 Grand Avenue
Ames, Iowa

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

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

Fran & Pepper 2022 – Vol. 3

I need to start today’s post by wishing Laura a happy birthday. Happy birthday Laura!


Miller Family - 2020

For most people I wish them a birthday full of joy. For Laura, I just hope she got some rest.

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Time once again to share a collection of pictures from my photo shoot with Fran and Pepper from a few months back. After all, it is Formal Portrait Sunday.


Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

Fran & Pepper - 2022

I thought this was going to be my last collection of images from this photo shoot, but I have a few more to share. So one more Formal Portrait Sunday on the horizon!

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party – 2022

A few months back I picked up some cakes and Jim and went to the Wolf Lodge near Kansas City for the birthday party of the triplets and Jonah. I didn’t get to spend much time there cause Jim is kind of like Cinderella. He expires after being away from home too long.

I also didn’t get many pictures because we drove 4 hours to catch the last 25 minutes of the party. The rest of the day was spent in the Wolf Lodge water park area and I didn’t take any pictures there.

Here are some of the pictures I took:


Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Triplet + Jonah Birthday Party - 2022

Despite its brevity, it was a good trip. I wish I had some pictures of the kids playing in the water park, but I didn’t get any. I wonder what will happen with the birthday parties this year?

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


WEEK 386 - BOOKS
BOOKS

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

But what is a BOOKS image? Simply put, it is any image where the subject or a major compositional element is a BOOK or BOOKS.

Happy photo harvesting!

Westhaven Christmas

I hope everybody had a wonderful Christmas. This little picture is my way of saying Merry Christmas to all of you:


Merry Christmas - 2022
Merry Christmas!

I would like to share a Christmas Devotional with you:

Merry Christmas
By Rev. Ronald Carlson Jr.
Dean of the Cabinet and District Superintendent of Riverview Park District
“Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them.”
– Luke 2:18 (CEB)
In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. 2 This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. 3 Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. 4 Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. 5 He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom. 8 Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. 9 The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. 11 Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. 12 This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, 14 “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” 15 When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” 16 They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. 18 Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. 20 The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told. Luke 2:1-20 (CEB)
Luke says it all… perfectly.

Let us pray.

O almighty God, by the birth of your holy child Jesus, you gave us a great light to dawn on our darkness. Grant that in his light we may see light. Bestow on us that most excellent Christmas gift of love to all people, so that the likeness of your Son may be formed in us, and that we may have the ever brightening hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen (The Book of Worship 1965, ALT.)

On certain holidays, I like to share some power rankings. I’m not going to go in depth on this as I originally intended. When I made some plans for this, I didn’t realize a new season of JACK RYAN and EMILY IN PARIS were both being released this weekend!

But without further adieu, here is my Christmas Movie Power Rankings.

CHRISTMAS MOVIE POWER RANKINGS
10. Meet John Doe (1941)
9. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
8. Gremlins (1984)
7. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
6. Die Hard (1988)
5. Elf (2003)
4. A Christmas Story (1983)
3. Scrooged (1988)
2. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
1. It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

Please respect my decision. There will be no interviews at this time. Maybe next Christmas I will go in depth on this list.

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Time to reveal the June image for the 2023 Photography 139 Calendar:


2023 Calendar - June
June

This image was my submission for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme SLICE OF LIFE. That theme is named in honor of my Dad’s postcard company. This image is my interpretation of his style of postcard designs. However, you can look at this and know it wasn’t that hard for me to put this together in Photoshop, but try to think of how hard a similar design would have been to make in a darkroom.

You might have noticed that usually the June image in the Photography 139 Calendar is Black & White. That is because I affiliate my Dad mostly with black & white photography because he had a black & white darkroom in our house at 415 Greene. The 38th anniversary of his death was on Friday. He was born in June and that is why this homage is the June picture for the 2023 Photography 139 Calendar.

There are no technical details for this image since it is a composite image.

Tomorrow I will unveil the July image for the 2023 Photography 139 Calendar.

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Once again I am going to skip Formal Portrait Sunday. Instead I’m going to share some pictures from when I got together with some of Olivia’s family for Christmas at Westhaven a couple weeks ago. Not everybody could make it because of illness, but sometimes in life you have to be happy for who is there and not be sad about who isn’t there.

Here are a few pictures from the celebration:


Shorty Christmas

Shorty Christmas

Shorty Christmas

Shorty Christmas

Shorty Christmas


Triplets man… So much energy!

WPC – WEEK 379 – WATER

It is that time of year. You know what time. The time where I start to reveal the images for the 2023 Photography 139 Calendar! The following image is the picture that graces the cover:


2023 Calendar - Front Cover
Front Cover

I took the picture of this mural in a back alley in the downtown business district of Le Mars, Iowa. I like the cover image to have some kind of message to it. Edgar Allan Poe is one of my favorite writers and I definitely agree that “there is no beauty without some strangeness”.

Just look at my friends. All of them beautiful. All of them strange.

Here are some technical details:

CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: March 11, 2022 – 3:19 PM
LENS: Sigma 17-28mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm
APERTURE: f/3.2
EXPOSURE: 1/200
ISO: 100
EXPOSURE BIAS:+.7
FIELD OF VIEW: 65.5 degrees
HYPERFOCAL DISTANCE: 8.15m

I think I put together a decent calendar this year and if you haven’t seen it yet, I can’t wait for you to see it!

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Seems like a good time to reveal the 52 themes for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:

1. Trains, Planes, and Automobiles
2. Reflection
3. Red
4. Silence
5. Books
6. Play
7. Frame
8. Music
9. Store
10. Sunrise, Sunset
11. Purple
12. Competition
13. Blue
14. Humans
15. Odd Camera Angle
16. Scenes from your Couch
17. Friends
18. Road Trip
19. School
20. Ruins
21. Happy
22. Park
23. Texture
24. Slice of Life
25. Flower
26. ‘Scape
27. Wild Card
28. Time
29. A Shape
30. Guilty Pleasure
31. Liquid
32. Self-Portrait
33. Negative
34. Art
35. Shadow
36. Nature
37. Shoes
38. Sky
39. Black and White
40. Architecture
41. Religion
42. #instagood
43. Vintage
44. Favorite Sports Team
45. Signs
46. Food
47. Portrait
48. Animal
49. Hometown
50. Lines
51. Street Photography
52. Green

Looks like it ill be a good year!

Special thanks to Sarah Toot, Angie, and Andy for making suggestions for this set of themes. I used or modified and used several of their suggestions. After I trimmed the list to 52 themes, I ran it through the random generator 8 times to set the order.

Hoping Year 10 will be the best year yet!

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WATER? It is everywhere? But as a theme, is it wet behind the ears, or was it popular. You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

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

1-Sarah Karber – 1 week
2-Jesse Howard – 4 weeks
3-Willy McAlpine – 4 weeks
4-Tamara Peterson – 6 weeks
5-Sara Lockner – 12 weeks
6-Brandon Kahler – 17 weeks
7-Linda Bennett – 20 weeks
8-Sarah Toot – 21 weeks
9-Monica Jennings – 21 weeks
10-Angie DeWaard – 25 weeks
11-Dawn Krause – 29 weeks
12-Kim Barker – 35 weeks (2)
13-Joe Duff – 36 weeks (2)
14-Logan Kahler – 38 weeks (3)
15-Teresa Kahler – 47 weeks (2)
16-Carla Stensland – 47 weeks
17-Michelle Haupt – 48 weeks
18-Micky Augustin – 49 weeks (2)
19-Andy Sharp – 50 weeks
20-Bill Wentworth – 51 weeks
21-Cathie Morton – 55 weeks
22-Elizabeth Nordeen – 56 weeks
23-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 58 weeks
24-Kio Dettman – 60 weeks (3)

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


WEEK 379 - WATER - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen – 57 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine – 5 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard – 26 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp – 51 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin – 50 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler – 48 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 379 - WATER - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman – 61 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 379 - WATER - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 379 - WATER - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff – 37 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland – 47 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 379 - WATER - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett – 21 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 379 - WATER - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 379 - WATER - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 379 - WATER - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler – 39 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 379 - WATER - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber – 2 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson – 7 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth – 52 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 379 - WATER - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause – 30 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 379 - WATER - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker – 36 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings – 22 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez – 1 week

WEEK 379 - WATER - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt – 49 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton – 56 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen – 1 week

WEEK 379 - WATER - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee – 1 week

WEEK 379 - WATER - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard – 5 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot – 22 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler – 18 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley – 59 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner – 13 weeks

WEEK 379 - WATER - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest – 1 week

29 participants! That is a great week!

We had submissions (mostly assumptions on my part) from Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas, and Texas this week.

I took my picture inside my house.

We had some pretty big milestones! Angie joined the Half Year Club as her streak reached 26 weeks.

Bill joined the 1 Year Club as his streak reached 52 weeks!

And there was no bad news! There wasn’t a single streak snapped this week! WooHoo!

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WEEK 380 - EXPLORE
EXPLORE

REMINDER: Next Monday is the day after Christmas. It isn’t a holiday per se, but most people don’t work. I don’t work at my day job. I might just go on a road trip that day. What I am saying is plan to get your submission in cause you might not get any kind of reminder.

EXPLORE! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is an EXPLORE picture? Simply put it is a picture taken of somebody that is EXPLOR(E)ing or trying to at least. See Billy’s efforts in the theme reveal image. It can be of something you found when you were out on the EXPLORE. Or it could be a picture of things you use when you are out on the EXPLORE. There are so many possibilities!

While considering possible places for you to EXPLORE, meditate on the following quote:

Not all those who wander are lost.
-J.R.R. Tolkien

I look forward to your interpretation.

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge.

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

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 EXPLORE in this place that I hope more than I just get lost in next Monday.

Selfie Project – December

I’ve decided to do the SELFIE PROJECT in 2022. I usually don’t do this in back to back years, but I thought I would give it a shot.

Here are my favorite SELFIE PROJECT images from December:


Day 335 - December 1, 2021
December 1

Day 336 - December 2, 2021
December 2

Day 337 - December 3, 2021
December 3

Day 338 - December 4, 2021
December 4

Day 343 - December 9, 2021
December 9

Day 345 - December 11, 2021
December 11

Day 346 - December 12, 2021
December 12

Day 347 - December 13, 2021
December 13

Day 348 - December 14, 2021
December 14

Day 350 - December 16, 2021
December 16

Day 353 - December 19, 2021
December 19

Day 354 - December 20, 2021
December 20

Day 355 - December 21, 2021
December 21

Day 356 - December 22, 2021
December 22

Day 358 - December 24, 2021
December 24

Day 360 - December 26, 2021
December 26

Day 361 - December 27, 2021
December 27

Day 363 - December 29, 2021
December 29

Day 364 - December 30, 2021
December 30

Day 365 - December 31, 2021
December 31

To check out all THE SELFIE PROJECT images from 2021, click on the link below:

Selfie Project – 2021

I took several selfies that couldn’t be included in THE SELFIE PROJECT cause there can only be one per day, but I would like to share some of my favorite alternates:


Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Selfie Project - Alternate

Hopefully the 2022 SELFIE PORTRAIT PROJECT goes off without a hitch.

Natuation

Last Saturday I went down to Manhattan, Kansas to watch Nate graduate from Kansas State University with a degree in Food Science. He will be finding another job soon and hopefully moving closer.

Here are some pictures from the party:


Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

Nate's Graduation Party - 2021

I transported the cake from Boone. Don’t worry, I didn’t make it. Dutch Oven did. It will be fascinating to see where life takes Nate, Laura, and the kids next!

+++++++

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


WEEK 327 - CANDID PORTRAIT
CANDID PORTRAIT

CANDID PORTRAIT! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a CANDID PORTRAIT image? A CANDID PORTRAIT image is simply an image where the person that is the subject of the photo isn’t posing for the picture. It doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t know their picture is getting taken, but they definitely aren’t posing for the picture. They are just being themselves. Which is why I prefer CANDID PORTRAITS a gazillion to one over formal portraits. But that is just me.

Happy photo harvesting!