Category Archives: Carla

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 10 – WORK

There was a bit of a falloff in participation this week, but that was to be expected. I fear this week’s theme will really scare people. That is okay, everybody needs to get out of the comfort zones once in a while.

This week’s submissions:


WEEK 10 - WORK - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 10 - WORK - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 10 - WORK - LAURA MILLER
Laura Miller

WEEK 10 - WORK - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 10 - WORK - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest

WEEK 10 - WORK - SHANNON BARDOLE
Shannon Bardole

WEEK 10 - WORK - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett


Angie DeWaard

WEEK 10 - WORK - BECKY PERKOVICH
Becky Perkovich

This brings us to the time where we reveal this week’s theme…


WEEK 11 - RELIGION
RELIGION!

I told you it would be something that isn’t in everybody’s comfort zone. However, I hope there is still a good amount of submissions.

Time for a definition:

religion – noun – a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

And of course… time for a couple of housekeeping notes from PHOTOGRAPHY 139’S SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION.

Michael Houlihan has become the latest person to show taste, class and sophistication by becoming a Photography 139 subscriber. So if you see Michael prowling the mean streets of Ames, Iowa you can give him a knowing glance and of course, the super secret Photography 139 handshake.*

Other sidenote, only 1 person responded positively to the return of the Proust Questionnaire, therefore it will not be making a December return. Take that Proust!

*A loyal subscriber has volunteered to create a Photography 139 handshake. They will then run their creation by my handshake expert. It is possible, that there will be a video on how to do the handshake in the nearish future.

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 9 – FOOD

A pretty fair amount of submissions this week. I hope the momentum continues next week with a subject matter many people are less familiar with than FOOD. There is also, not one, but TWO first time contributors in this week’s submissions! Hopefully they feel inspired to keep submitting, even though this week’s theme will be harder. Hooray!

This week’s submissions:


WEEK 9 - FOOD - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 9 - FOOD - LAURA MILLER
Laura Miller

WEEK 9 - FOOD - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 9 - FOOD - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 9 - FOOD - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard One

WEEK 9 - FOOD - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard Two

WEEK 9 - FOOD - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 9  - FOOD - MONICA HENNING
Monica Kewer

WEEK 9 - FOOD - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest

WEEK 9 - FOOD - SHANNON BARDOLE
Shannon Bardole

WEEK 9 - FOOD - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 9 - FOOD - BECKY PERKOVICH
Becky Perkovich

WEEK 9 - TERESA KAHLER - FOOD
Teresa Kahler

Time to reveal next week’s theme. My clue earlier was that it was something that many people aren’t as familiar with as they are food. Of course, that doesn’t include anybody with in the sound of these words.

Next week’s theme!



WORK!

WORK – /werk/ noun – Activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.

Hopefully the enthusiasm for this project carries over!

Time for a quick housekeeping note from Photography 139’s Shameless Self-Promotion Division. We are pleased to announce that a new email subscriber has been added: Laura Miller of Manhattan, Kansas. I believe her to be the third person that resides in Kansas to subscribe to this here blog. If you see her out and about, give her the knowing glance AND feel free to teacher her the super-secret Photography 139 handshake. Welcome aboard Laura!

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 8 – WATER

I was a bit worried about this week. Early this morning there were zero submissions. I thought that this week might be strike 1 against the Weekly Photo Challenge, but slowly a few submission came in.

Here are those submissions:


WEEK 8 - WATER - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 8 - WATER - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 8 - WATER - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest

WEEK 8 - WATER - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 8 - WATER - BECKY PERKOVICH
Becky Perkovich One

WEEK 8 - WATER - BECKY PERKOVICH
Becky Perkovich Two

WEEK 8 - WATER - MONICA KEWER
Monica Kewer One

WEEK 8 - WATER - MONICA
Monica Kewer Two

WEEK 8 - WATER - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland One

WEEK 8 - WATER - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland Two

This brings us to the time where we unveil this week’s theme. It is an easy one!


WEEK 9 - FOOD
FOOD!

There should be a ton of submissions for this theme! Almost everybody I know eats! And the majority of those people eat food!

food – noun – Any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink, or that plants absorb, in order to maintain life and growth.

It is also time for a quick housekeeping note from Photography 139’s Shameless Self-Promotion Division:

We are pleased to announce the addition of a new member of the email subscription family… Elizabeth Nordeen. Therefore, if you see Elizabeth Nordeen out and about (when she goes out and about) give her a knowing look and feel free to teach her the super-secret Photography 139 handshake.

Welcome aboard Elizabeth! We know you won’t openly regret it!

Weekly Photo Challenge Week 4 – GREEN

Pretty good participation this week. I have no complaints.

The submissions for GREEN:



Angie DeWaard


Michelle Haupt


Monica Kewer


Monica Kewer


Monica Kewer


Mike Vest


Christopher D. Bennett

It is time to reveal this week’s theme…



WILD ANIMALS!

Time for a definition…

A wild animal is defined as an animal which lives in nature (is not provide shelter by a human), is responsible for getting its own food and water (is not provided food or water by humans), and is not cared for by humans.

However, as always, interpret the theme as you will. Deadline for submission is noon next Monday. Email them to bennett@photography139.com.

One quick housekeeping note. Last week was a very successful week for the recruitment division of Photography 139. They added 4 new email blog subscribers. If you see the following people on the streets, extend them a heartfelt greeting. For they are now part of the family:

-Carla Stensland
-Joseph Lynch
-Jorge Rios
-Anders Runestad

Also I forgot to mention a couple weeks ago that Melissa Degeneffe also became an email subscriber. You can also give her the secret handshake if you see her out and about.

If you have stumbled upon this blog post, you too can become an email subscriber by emailing bennett@photography139.com or by leaving a comment in the comments section.

Party of Another Kind

While I prefer the kind of party where a bunch of people show up at my house and do a bunch of work to my house, other people prefer parties where cake is served and people have polite conversation. Back in August we had such a party for my Grandma’s 90th birthday.

Here is a photo from that event:


Those of us that could make it to Grandma's 90th Birthday Party
Mom’s Kids

Pictured are all of my Mom’s kids that could make it. Me, Logan, Teresa, Alexis, Carla, and Jason.

I wish I could remember who took this picture so they could get credit, but I can’t…

PARTICULARS

CAMERA: SONY SLT-A65V
FOCAL LENGTH: 20mm (30mm – 35mm equivalency)
ISO: 250
APERTURE: f/5.6
EXPOSURE: 1/60
DATE: 08/23/15 – 17:31
NO GPS DATA

Painting Vol. III

Here are more painting pictures. YEAH!!! These are from my other sister Carla:



Jesse, trying to break my window. Jeff watches on.


Anders, painting away!


Anders and Ian painting away!


Melissa and Scottie D. painting the east side of the house.


Anna painting!


Teresa cutting some plastic as Willy and I hold it.


The north wall.


Alisa and Erica painting the front “porch”.


Jeff and Terrence painting.


Teresa painting.


Teresa painting.






Alisa and Erica painting the gate. Terrence supervises.


South wall.


I think Shannon is in there somewhere.




Note the excellent scallop work that Carla did!


The front porch.

Painting!

The great national nightmare, or maybe it was just my nightmare, is finally, virtually over. The 2 day house painting party this weekend is over and my house is painted!

Just a couple splashes of paint here and there, and hanging a few things up and it is over.

So thanks a million to my amazing Saturday Painting Crew:

  • Jesse
  • Teresa
  • Baier
  • Will
  • Ben
  • Monica
  • Jeff
  • Scottie D.
  • Melissa
  • Porter
  • Dalton
  • Anders
  • Ian
  • Mom
  • Shannon

Equally as great was my awesome Sunday Painting Crew:

  • Willy
  • Jesse
  • Derrick
  • Teresa
  • Carla
  • Jen
  • Evie
  • Layla
  • Jay
  • Kelly
  • Anna
  • Anthony
  • Alisa
  • Erica
  • Shannon
  • Jeff
  • Terrence
  • Mom

I’m in such good spirits that I’ll even thank the people that just stopped by to gawk:

  • Terry
  • Grandma
  • Sherrie
  • Steve
  • Andy (In fairness Andy would’ve helped if there were any work left to do).

 
Since I wasn’t able to photograph anything on Saturday on Sunday because I was covered with paint, at this time I don’t have any pictures of the actual painting to share. However, I do have some pictures of the aftermath. Some of the things might make you wonder about the cleanliness and skill level of my people. You should know that many of them are highly skilled painters: Derrick, Baier, Carla, and to my admitted shock Willy (to name a few), but everybody contributed on some level. Therefore, imperfections, spills, messes, I actually love these things. These are reminders that on one beautiful fall weekend 15 people on Saturday and 19 people on Sunday decided to come to my house and help me paint rather than do something that society may have considered more fun and more interesting. Society can go suck an egg!

I call it the house that love painted and that is even at least partially true. If nothing else, I have at least a healthy start to my Birthday Party Invite List. Don’t worry, there will be other chances to earn a coveted invite to The Party of 2016*. Not many granted, but I’m sure those chances will be out there.

Any way, here is a collection of photos of my Painting Party Aftermath:



A piece of tape leftover from where Alisa and Erica did a crackerjack job of painting the front porch!


An unintended sweet design left behind from Carla painting the house numbers!


Paint left behind from where my frog rain gauge sits. Possibly left from when Anna or Willy painted the rain spout? Actually that is probably my spill.


That cardinal even looks sweet on the brick.


Normally I would be sad if my beautiful, lush lawn looked so downtrodden and pathetic, (I pay good money for somebody else to fertilize it for me) but this is actually a sign of how many people were there painting my house at any given time. Can’t hate on that.


Cleaning out paint trays lead to this sweet white streak of grass.


The gold paint. The finishing touch that really adds some flair. Alisa and Erica also knocked it out of the park with this paint and my gate. Shannon also rocked the front threshold with this paint.

Another awesome aspect of this painting project was how much equipment I was loaned. One neighbor Stan loaned me 2 scaffoldings. The other neighbor Roger loaned me a ladder.


Stole the idea of using dish tubs to hold paint from my mission trip to South Dakota. Fortunately while painting cedar siding sucks, it doesn’t suck as bad as painting stucco.


More than a few people were infatuated with my house’s “nipple”. It is my kitchen vent. Don’t be weird, creeper. Either way, Anders and Ian did a dynamite job of painting it.


Just a few of the ladders that were used in the project. Not pictured is 1 of 2 family heirlooms used in during the project. A ladder my Grandpa Bennett bought in 1969 to paint the house at 415 Greene Street.


A few of the rollers that survived usage by Teresa the Roller Killer.


It took about 10 gallons of cardinal paint, 3 gallons of white paint, and 1 gallon of gold paint to complete this project.


Lots of experimental painting was done by me on this project. Some paint tools are excellent. Some are a waste of money. Such a waste of money.


On Saturday night I bought a gallon of gold paint and a whole set of paint brushes to use with the gold paint. When the time came around to use the gold paint, all those brushes, except one had been used for cardinal. This solo cup is an artifact left behind by Alisa and Erica from painting the gate gold.


Earlier this year I moved this wood pile from where it is pictured to the brick patio for use in the Firetub. I have had exactly zero social fire tub fires this year. Will and Ben moved the pile back to its original location. Very thankful I didn’t have to do that. Although since I am retiring the Firetub this fall, I should have one last social fire soon. What will become of the Firetub? Stay tuned. Same bat time. Same bat channel.


The other family heirloom that was used in this painting project. This step stool also belonged to Grandpa Bennett. When it isn’t being used in painting projects, it holds frog statues. It will no doubt be used when I complete Fall/Winter House Project #2 sometime soon-ish.


This was the Painting Party Cafeteria. Many a burger and dog were consumed here over stimulating conversation. Such as what do you do when you have to go to the bathroom on a 100 mile run? Loyal Instagram followers will recognize the chairs I stripped and painted John Deere colors and the plastic chairs I did a very poor job of painting Iowa State colors. The bench was built by Teresa. It normally is housed between the cherry trees and holds rain gauge no. 2 and more frog statues. Naima enjoyed her time in the cafeteria. Especially when Evie tried to bribe her with a hot dog to go on a walk.


This dog. She was in heaven with so many people around. She converted a couple of kids that were afraid of dogs and was a wonderful playmate for Layla and Evie as well. She even tried to help with the painting.


I set up the tent for its annual airing out and as a place for children to play. I think Jay might have been the one who played with it the most. Willy and Jesse helped set it up. It is always my pleasure helping people learn survival skills.


Naima’s tail got an extra shade of gold when she tried to help with the gate painting.


The best part of painting during the fall is that it doesn’t matter what happens to the flower that surround my buildings. I would have photographed the hosta that Melissa dumped (much to the chagrin of Scottie D.) quite a bit of white paint on, but we all know that hostas are weeds. So who cares what happens to them? Not this guy!


I did almost all the scraping myself. Let me tell you, scraping cedar siding is the worst. Here is just a small sampling of the piles of scraped paint chips that surround my house.


I think I had 5 paint trays going all at once on Sunday. Might have been 6.

So once again. Thanks to everybody that helped me with this project!

If you are wondering what the house actually looks like now, you might have to visit**. Or maybe that will be covered in a blog post in the future. I don’t know what the future holds.

*Actually, I can’t guarantee that the party will be that great***, but the invitations will be very amusing to at least 3, maybe 4 people.
**But don’t ring my doorbell, that freaks me out.
***Although the partial party playlist was endorsed by Anna and she knows about such things. I’m sure.

Phonetos – Vol. 1

Although I haven’t touched the real camera lately, I have sorta documented some stuff with my cruddy camera on my phone. Thought I would post some of those from the last few months. Remember, these are taken with a cruddy camera phone.

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve already seen many of these. Feel free to carry on.



Best donuts. Ever.


Our waiter at Pig Ate My Pizza. Carrying Naima’s favorite toy.


This was apropos of that weekend. I love John Cusack.


Iowa State Relay for Life


Such a great game!


Naima had Willy protect her while we watched the ISU-Oklahoma game.


I still don’t think they’ve done anything about this building.


Dre’s Birthday. Watching a little March Madness.


Layla’s Melancholy Lion.


Network Engineering Night at Welch Ave.


Missouri.


Cousins.


First birthday party I’ve been to that was on the grounds of a federal prison.


Naima.


New love. Rico’s Tacos.


ISU Spring Game.

Confirmation Sunday with my Confirmation Mentee Mitchell.


Derek. Winner of this year’s Roundball Oracles.


Uncola at the Otho Pub.


Carla’s Art.


Logan really enjoyed his first Adobe experience.


Jim. The last night of bowling. Ever.

Dinner with a member of the Illuminati.


Miss May.


Bulletin from Pastor Sarah’s amazing Superhero Sermon Series.


The wall from the Citywide Youth Group.

More soonish…

Photo(s) of the Day 0007


Brandon with his Championship Trophy.
Brandon Kahler – 2014 Roundball Oracles Champion
I apologize for taking so long to reveal the champion of Year 10 of the Roundball Oracles. But I think my post college basketball season depression (or PCBSD as mental health professionals call it) was even greater this year than in years past. You know, something to do with having to play the “What If” game over and over and over again. Cyclone fans know what I’m talking about.

That being said, I’m proud that this is the first time in the storied 10 year history of the Roundball Oracles that somebody that shares my DNA has been able to hoist the unnamed championship trophy.

Past winners have included co-workers, high school locker partners, former roomies, father-in-laws, and once… even a woman!

So I’m excited this year that somebody with Bennett DNA coursing through their veins will be the reigning Roundball Oracles Champ! All is right in the world.

I know that there is a fair chance that you are wondering: “That is great, but I’d really like to know how some of my other favorite Oracles fared this year. I really root for Russell Kennerly. I like underdogs. He is like the Mid-Major of the Roundball Oracles.”*

So without further adieu, I present to you the final ranking of Year 10 of the Roundball Oracles!

Rank    Oracle Score    Correct    Champion Last Year
1. Brandon Kahler 255 40 Florida 18th
2. Michael Augustin 241 42 Florida 31st
3. Paul Golden 235 41 Michigan State DNP
4. Jordan Toot 228 39 Florida 9th
5. Jon DeWaard 224 39 Florida 5th
6. Mark Wolfram 222 38 Florida 8th
7. Lowell Davis 216 40 Florida DNP
8. Andree Jauhari 210 38 Iowa State 28th
9. Derrick Gorshe 208 38 Iowa State 14th
10. Carrie Baier 205 37 Michigan State 19th
11. Robert Henning 205 36 Florida 10th
12. Bill Wentworth 204 38 Florida 15th
13. Nate Miller 203 36 Iowa State DNP
14. Frank Meiners 201 38 Michigan State 11th
14. Jesse Howard 201 37 Kansas 3rd
16. Corey Faust 200 36 Iowa State 7th
17. Humble Narrator 196 36 Iowa State 33rd
18. William Mcalpine 196 38 Florida 1st
19. Angie DeWaard 191 35 Arizona 6th
20. Sean Clubine 189 36 Syracuse 13th
21. Carla Stensland 189 35 Iowa State DNP
22. Ben Baier 188 35 Arizona 32nd
23. Jackson Faust 185 36 Florida 16th
24. Michelle Haupt 181 35 Arizona 26th
25. Elizabeth Nordeen 181 35 Iowa State 21st
26. Russell Kennerly 180 34 Florida 24th
27. Olivia Baier 178 34 Arizona DNP
28. Jason Baier 175 35 Florida 24th
29. Tim Peterson 175 34 Iowa State 22nd
30. Becky Perkovich 175 35 Iowa State 27th
31. Shawn Lockner 173 33 Wisconsin 4th
32. J.J. Baier 164 24 Michigan 29th
33. Ryan Halvorson 163 33 Arizona 18th
34. Dawn Krause 149 32 Arizona 23rd
35. Will Baier 147 23 Iowa State 34th
36. Sara Lockner 143 28 Florida DNP

 

This year might have been the closest year ever. It literally came down to Wisconsin’s last second shot rimming in and out, giving Kentucky the victory in the Final Four. If that shot drops, Micky wins.

But the shot didn’t fall and Micky waits another year, while Brandon’s name is carved onto the List of Immortals!

Roundball Oracles Champions

2014 – Brandon Kahler
2013 – William McAlpine
2012 – Lowell Davis
2011 – Carrie Baier
2010 – Mark Wolfram
2009 – Mark Wolfram
2008 – Mark Wolfram
2007 – Tim Peterson
2006 – William McAlpine
2005 – William McAlpine

However, there is 1 more bit of business before I let you go about your merry business. In the pre-tournament post I indicated that I might create a travelling trophy. I am not doing that… at least not yet. I did award a trophy for last place this year. It is an experimental tradition. But I may in the future present a last place trophy to the lowest placing adult that gave full effort to win.

This year’s winner…


Sara with her last place trophy.
Sara Lockner… the Best Loser
I am already pumped for next season. I think the Cyclones will be even better next year and if they can make it through the tourney without an injury, I expect to see them in the Final Four next year. So I’ll be seeing you next year in Indianapolis!

*Inside joke that 3 people will get and 1 of them doesn’t even subscribe to this blog!