Category Archives: Naima

I Fall to Pieces

I fall to pieces
Each time I see you again
I fall to pieces
How can I be just your friend?

You want me to act like we’ve never kissed
You want me to forget (to forget)
Pretend we’ve never met (never met)

And I’ve tried and I’ve tried
But I haven’t yet
You walk by and I fall to pieces

I fall to pieces
Each time someone speaks your name (speaks your name)
I fall to pieces
Time only adds to the flame

You tell me to find someone else to love
Someone who love me too (love me too)
The way you used to do (used to do)
But each time I go out with someone new
You walk by and I fall to pieces
You walk by and I fall to pieces
-Written by Hank Cochran & Harlan Howard
-Made Famous by Patsy Cline

I do love the song “Crazy” but “I Fall to Pieces” is really my favorite Patsy Cline song.

But Thursdays are for flowers. And most of this flowertography session took place in my yard, but there are some bonus pictures (including one of Naima) that I took at Dickcissel.


Happy Things - 2023

Happy Things - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

A Yellow Flower

Dickcissel Park

Dickcissel Park

Dickcissel Park

The next flowertography collection will be less experimental. A bit more macro.

I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What an amazing story! And an amazing song!

But how does it fit into the movie?

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

The line:

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

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

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

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


Not All Love Stories - 2023

Morning Glory

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Naima

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

Next flowertography session will involve more flowers from my yard.

And They’ll Think that I am So Exciting

It is time to share the November image from the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar image. It is a picture of the redbud trees in Red Haw State Park.


2024 Calendar - November
NOVEMBER

I chose this picture for November because it had purple in it.

TECHINICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: April 29, 2023 – 12:23 PM
LENS: 17-28mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 17mm
APERTURE: f/6.3
EXPOSURE: 1/160
ISO: 100

Tomorrow I will show the last image from the 2024 calendar.

+++++++

Now is the time to clean up the May backlog. These images were taken in May, but never really fit into a previous “An Artist’s Notebook” post. Some of are Naima. Some were alternate images for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Hopefully all are of interest.

Naima

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

Wolf, Iowa

Incline, Iowa

It definitely feels good to get some of the backlog cleared out!

The Weekly Photo Challenge Year in Review

As yesterday closed the book on Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE, now seems like a good time to review all that happened.

There were 59 different people that submitted photos. Ranging from submitting 1 picture to 124 pictures.

There were 2,311 photos submitted.

The average week was 31.1 participants.

The average week had 44.4 submissions.

The most popular week was Week 422. The theme was #INSTAGOOD. There were 41 participants.

The most popular week by submissions was Week 405. The theme was FLOWER. There were 62 submissions.

3 themes tied for least popular theme by participants. TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES; REFLECTION; and SUNRISE, SUNSET each has only 25 participants.

TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES was the least popular theme by submissions. It received only 30 submissions.

Here is my favorite submission from all 59 different people that submitted and some statistics about each participant.


WEEK 397 - FRIENDS - HEATHER COURTNEY
Heather Courtney
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - PEPPER DUNCAN
Pepper Duncan
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - COREY FAUST
Corey Faust
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 423 - VINTAGE -  ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon
1 week – 2%
3 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 423 - VINTAGE - HARRISON GORSHE
Harrison Gorshe
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 382 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WPC 433 - HUMANS - CARRIE MOELLERS
Carrie Moellers
1 week – 2%
1 submission
Current Streak: 1 week

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - MIKE PARMELEE
Mike Parmelee
1 week – 2%
1 submission
Current Streak: 1 week

WEEK 418 - SKY - ERNIE REDD
Ernie Redd
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 426 - FOOD - DIANE SHARP
Diane Sharp
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - JULIE SHARP
Julie Sharp
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - LORI BACKOUS
Lori Backous
2 weeks – 4%
3 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - MELISSA DEGENEFFE
Melissa Degeneffe
2 weeks – 4%
3 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - DERRICK GORSHE
Derrick Gorshe
2 weeks – 4%
2 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - LAYLA GORSHE
Layla Gorshe
2 weeks – 4%
2 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 388 - FRAME - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber
2 weeks – 4%
2 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 405 - FLOWER - JOHNATHAN STENSLAND
Johnathan Stensland
2 weeks – 4%
2 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - NADER PARSAEI
Nader Parsaei
3 weeks – 6%
3 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 421 - RELIGION - MYRIAH SHARP
Myriah Sharp
3 weeks – 6%
5 submissions
No current streaks

WEEK 394 - BLUE - PORTER DEGENEFFE
Porter Degeneffe
4 weeks – 8%
4 submissions
No current streaks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe
6 weeks – 12%
6 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 406 - 'SCAPE -AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson
10 weeks – 19%
14 submissions
Current Streak: 1 week

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN -ELAINIE STENSLAND
Elainie Stensland
12 weeks – 23%
15 submissions
No current streak

WPC 430 - LINES - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk
14 weeks – 27%
19 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe
19 weeks – 37%
22 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 387 - PLAY - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee
23 weeks – 44.2%
26 submissions
No current streak

WPC 430 - LINES - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri
29 weeks – 56%
53 submissions
Current streak: 29 weeks

WPC 430 - LINES - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe
32 weeks – 62%
46 submissions
Current streak: 19 weeks

WEEK 409 - A SHAPE - MARY GREEN
Mary Green
32 weeks – 62%
68 submissions
Current streak: 2 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner
33 weeks – 63%
39 submissions
Current streak: 1 week

WEEK 416 - NATURE - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine
34 weeks – 65%
37 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 395 - ODD CAMERA ANGLE - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen
35 weeks – 67%
50 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland
35 weeks – 67%
72 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 408 - TIME - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez
43 weeks – 83%
43 submissions
Current streak: 20 weeks

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings
43 weeks – 83%
60 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 399 - SCHOOL - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell
46 weeks – 88%
124 submissions
Current streak: 46 weeks

WEEK 423 - VINTAGE - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown
47 weeks – 90%
77 submissions
Current streak: 31 weeks

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard
49 weeks – 94%
62 submissions
Current streaks: 31 weeks

WEEK 396 - SCENES FROM YOUR COUCH - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest
50 weeks – 96%
50 submissions
Current streaks: 25 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler
51 weeks – 98%
55 submissions
Current streak: 1 week

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler
51 weeks – 98%
81 submissions
Current streak: 30 weeks

WEEK 416 - NATURE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson
51 weeks – 98%
56 submissions
Current streak: 34 weeks

WEEK 395 - ODD CAMERA ANGLE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin
52 weeks – 100%
55 submissions
Current streak: 104 weeks

WEEK 418 - SKY - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley
52 weeks – 100%
55 submissions
Current streak: 113 weeks

WEEK 420 - ARCHITECTURE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker
52 weeks – 100%
60 submissions
Current streak: 90 weeks

WEEK 396 - SCENES FROM YOUR COUCH - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett
52 weeks – 100%
52 submissions
Current streak: 537 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett
52 weeks – 100%
91 submissions
Current streak: 75 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman
52 weeks – 100%
107 submissions
Current streak: 115 weeks

WEEK 404 - TEXTURE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard
52 weeks – 100%
59 submissions
Current streak: 80 weeks

WEEK 423 - VINTAGE - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff
52 weeks – 100%
71 submissions
Current streak: 91 weeks

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler
52 weeks – 100%
111 submissions
Current streak: 102 weeks

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause
52 weeks – 100%
89 submissions
Current streak: 84 weeks

WEEK 395 - ODD CAMERA ANGLE - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton
52 weeks – 100%
58 submissions
Current streak: 110 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen
52 weeks – 100%
72 submissions
Current streak: 111 weeks

WEEK 416 - NATURE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp
52 weeks – 100%
72 submissions
Current streak: 105 weeks

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland
52 weeks – 100%
90 submissions
Current streak: 102 weeks

WEEK 406 - 'SCAPE - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot
52 weeks – 100%
96 submissions
Current streak: 76 weeks

WEEK 385 - SILENCE - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth
52 weeks – 100%
54 submissions
Current streak: 106 weeks

Here are a few quick stats from last year:

+ 44 different participants
+ 1811 photos submitted
+ Least popular theme for participation was ROCK with 16 participants
+ Most popular theme for participation was SELF-PORTRAIT with 31 participants
+ Least popular theme for submissions was ROCK with 20 submissions
+ Most popular theme for submission was LINES with 51 submissions
+ The average week had 24.6 participants
+ The average week had 34.8 submissions

To put in perspective compared to last year:

+ 15 more different participants.
+ 500 more submissions.
+ The most popular theme had 10 more participants.
+ The most popular theme by submissions has 11 more submissions.
+ The average participation was up almost 7 participants per week.
+ The average submissions was up nearly 10 per week.

Hopefully Year 11 has a similar amount of growth!

‘Cause Someday I’ll Be Everything to Somebody Else

Time to clean out the April backlog. Lots of pictures that didn’t quite make their way into previous “An Artist’s Notebook” entries. Including some that were alternates for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE and some that were taken in Jester Park and some at the end of a flowertography road trip. And some that include Naima.


Dickcissel with Naima

Dickcissel with Naima

Dickcissel with Naima

Dickcissel with Naima

Dickcissel with Naima

April Movie Night

Jester Park Elk

Jester Park Elk

Jester Park Elk

Jester Park Elk

Jester Park Elk

Jester Park Elk

Jester Park Elk

Jester Park Elk

Jester Park Elk

Jester Park Elk

Jester Park Elk

Lucas County

Lucas County

Lucas County

Lucas County

Lucas County

Lucas County

It always feels good when the backlog gets a little more cleaned out!

When You’re Wrong

“Don’t go borrowing trouble”
That’s what you used to say
But we don’t keep in touch
The way we used to nowadays
Your eyes are not as bright
As I remember them to be
The light inside’s grown dim
And that’s hard for me to see

The creases on your forehead
Run like treads on a tire
The white stripe running through your bangs
A long and twisted spire
You’re sweeping up the flies
And you’ve been vacuuming the fires
And you lay down every night
Next to a goddamn liar

When the day is winding down
My heart abandons me for you
You forgot yourself so long ago
And I wish I could too
But you live inside a quiet hell
No one can pray away
Leaving would be easy
I understand why you won’t stay

You’ll be wrong if you were thinking
That we all don’t fade away
Like dew drops in the dawn
Like sunbeams through the haze
It’s a long way to be sinking
Holding tightly to the weights
Of the one who pulls you down
While you slowly waste your days

You may be here today
But tomorrow you’re a ghost
I guess the most someone can hope for
Is to find a place to lay
Someone to tell your secrets to
When the nights get long and blue
Someone strong enough to lean on
When the roses fall away

Strong enough to love you when you’re wrong
-Brandi Carlile (Although mostly written by the Hanseroth Twins

In that Stereogum interview Brandi said the following about this song:

CARLILE: This is one of those situations, without being too abstract, where I share a life with several families. And I share songwriting with the twins. I didn’t pen this one, but I mean it. I think it’s absolutely for me when I sing it. It’s about balancing intense pain and anger, which I feel like are packaged as one emotion in this song, with acceptance and empathy, which is really hard to do. When I sing this song, I am angry and really hurt by this person’s choices and their existence. And then, on the other hand, I’m accepting their decision and empathizing with the things that led them to making that decision. And that’s, I think, really important because that’s the only way to put one foot in front of the other. That’s kind of a classic… This is Al-Anon language for me, which I basically grew up marinating in. I feel really raw when I sing this song because I can understand it and fathom what’s been written in a really big way.

You believe that there are only 3 Brandi Carlile songs (sorta) to use as flowertography entry titles? Makes me sad and excited at the same time! Intense pain and anger. Acceptance and empathy. All flowing at once.

But Thursdays are for flowers. This flowertography collection was taken on June 16th. In my yard.


Unceasing Effort - 2023

Unceasing Effort - 2023

Unceasing Effort - 2023

Unceasing Effort - 2023

Just Exists - 2023

Just Exists - 2023

Last Penny - 2023
This stargazer lily blooming this year was a very nice surprise. I would almost say a much needed miracle.

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Not All Love Stories - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

On this day I also took a couple of pictures of Naima I would like to share.


When You're Wrong
Naima hadn’t been on a leash in years. And she had no problem make herself at home in Stan and Noreen’s yard.

When You're Wrong
She knew better to into the street, unless she was angling for a car ride. And she loved car rides!

I need to thank Sara yet again for the memorial ornament she gave me for Naima. It is something I definitely treasure!

Next Thursday’s flowertography journey will actually leave my yard. It will go all the way to the State Center Rose Garden!

WPC – WEEK 425 – SIGNS

NOTE: – THIS IS ONE OF TWO POSTS WHERE YOU CAN SUBMIT SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR’S THEMES. THE LAST MONDAY IN OCTOBER AND THE 1ST MONDAY IN NOVEMBER ARE WHEN SUGGESTIONS CAN BE MADE. THOSE SUGGESTIONS HAVE TO BE MADE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF THOSE POSTS. NOT VIA EMAIL, TEXT MESSAGE, TEAMS, PHONE CONVERSATION, SNAPCHAT. ONLY IN THE COMMENTS SECTIONS OF THOSE 2 POSTS.

THANKS TO ANDY AND JOE WHO MADE SEVERAL STRONG SUGGESTIONS IN LAST MONDAY’S (ACTUALLY TUESDAY’S) COMMENTS SECTION!

+++++++


Thank you to everybody that has helped me with Naima’s passing either through helping with her remains to bringing me food to offering to talk or offering to attend a service or to just having kind words or to posting your own pictures of Naima. It all has been helpful.

I had Naima’s remains cremated and I’m not 100% sure what I’m going to do with the ashes yet. But I’ll figure that out in due course.

Below is sort of the THE 9 EMOTIONS PROJECT image I made of Naima for one of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE themes in Year 7.


WEEK 243 - EMOTIONS - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT

Don’t think this will be the last time I share a story about Naima, but I do want to share a story about when I told my 85 year-old neighbor Stan about Naima passing. She was in many ways also his dog. Back when he and his wife were in better health, they would make special trips to Ames to buy Naima treats.

Stan had a dog well before I moved in and he has never really got over that dog’s passing. He has told me before and he told me that again.

He told me that he will miss her. That she was the best dog that loved everybody and didn’t have a mean bone in her body. Of course all of that is true.

Because he doesn’t move very well any more, he kept dog treats for her on his window ledge so if he saw her out he didn’t have to go inside to get her treats.

Stan’s wife has dementia and I’ve had the same conversation with her about Naima in the past couple of years at least 50 times. She always would say that Naima is the most beautiful dog she’s ever seen. She is the most beautiful color. She wished all dogs were that color.

Stan was the first person to ask me if I was getting another dog. Which I suppose I will. I guess it isn’t a shocker that Stan was the first person to ask. Naima was his dog as well and he will miss not having a dog too.

I told him I thought I would, but it wouldn’t be anytime soon. There was a 5 year gap between Karma and Naima. There were a lot of reasons for that gap. Most of those reasons aren’t around any more.

He told me okay, he would get rid of Naima’s treats cause he didn’t think they would still be good by the time I got another dog. I told him that was okay. Maybe early next year would be the right time.

The conversation did check off another box of closure for me. A bigger box than you would probably expect.

+++++++

SIGNS! They are everywhere if you open your eyes! But did many people find SIGNS to photography to make SIGNS a popular theme? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, October 29, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Amy Peterson – 1 week
2-Mary Green – 3 weeks
3-Alexis Stensland – 3 weeks
4-Scott Degeneffe – 10 weeks
5-Sabas Hernandez – 11 weeks
6-Willy McAlpine – 11 weeks
7-Mike Vest – 17 weeks
8-Sheri Fakhouri – 20 weeks (2)
9-Logan Kahler – 21 weeks
10-Nathanial Brown – 22 weeks
11-Jesse Howard – 22 weeks
12-Tamara Peterson – 25 weeks
13-Mindi Terrell – 37 weeks (2)
14-Brandon Kahler – 61 weeks
15-Linda Bennett – 66 weeks (2)
16-Sarah Toot – 67 weeks
17-Angie DeWaard – 71 weeks
18-Dawn Krause – 75 weeks
19-Kim Barker – 81 weeks
20-Joe Duff – 82 weeks
21-Teresa Kahler – 93 weeks
22-Carla Stensland – 93 weeks
23-Micky Augustin – 95 weeks
24-Andy Sharp – 96 weeks
25-Bill Wentworth – 97 weeks
26-Cathie Morton – 101 weeks
27-Elizabeth Nordeen – 102 weeks
28-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 104 weeks
29-Kio Dettman – 106 weeks

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 425 - SIGNS - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Iowa)

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - Elainie Hernandez
Elainie Hernandez (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Iowa)- 1 week

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee (Arkansas) – 1 week

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - JULIE SHARP
Julie Sharp (Whatcha’ Smokin’ – Luther, Iowa)- 1 week

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa) – 4 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa)

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 4 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Kansas City, Missouri) – 11 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Kansas City, Missouri)

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 12 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Spain) – 12 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Spain)

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 19 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 21 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa)

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 22 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Lake City, Iowa) – 23 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa) – 23 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 26 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)- 38 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 62 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Poconos, Pennsylvania) – 67 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (New York City, New York)

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 68 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania)

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa) – 72 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Ames, Iowa) – 76 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa)

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 82 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS -
Joe Duff (Museum of Fine Arts – Houston, Texas) – 83 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Webster City, Iowa) – 94 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Iowa)

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Ames, Iowa) – 94 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 96 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 97 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Iowa)

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 98 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Anaheim, California) – 102 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 103 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 105 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 107 weeks

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Webster City, Iowa) – 529 weeks

35 participants! That is a great week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arkansas
+ California
+ Iowa
+ Missouri
+ Nebraska
+ New York
+ Pennsylvania
+ Spain
+ Texas

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

+ Arizona
+ Arkansas
+ California
+ Colorado
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Hawaii
+ Idaho
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Kentucky
+ Louisiana
+ Maryland
+ Michigan
+ Minnesota
+ Mississippi
+ Missouri
+ Montana
+ Nebraska
+ New Hampshire
+ New Jersey
+ New Mexico
+ New York
+ Nevada
+ North Carolina
+ North Dakota
+ Ohio
+ Oklahoma
+ Oregon
+ Pennsylvania
+ South Carolina
+ South Dakota
+ Tennessee
+ Texas
+ Utah
+ Vermont
+ Washington
+ Washington D.C.
+ Wisconsin
+ Wyoming

40 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive! Over 75% of the way there! Every continental state west of the Mississippi is now accounted for.

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

+ Alto del Perdon – Spain
+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico (General)
+ Isla Mujeres, Mexico
+ Riviera Maya, Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Ontario, Canada
+ Vallunareju Norte – Peru
+ Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
+ Puenta de la Reina, Spain
+ St. John pied de port, France
+ Vienna, Austria
+ Munich, Germany
+ Rome, Italy
+ Cannes, France
+ Koper, Slovenia

The major milestone reached this week was Tamara hitting the Half Year Streak Club! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all good news. Amy couldn’t build on her submission from last week.

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 426 - FOOD
FOOD – SUGGESTED BY ANDY SHARP

FULL DISCLOSURE: Andy didn’t exactly suggest FOOD. He suggested like 10 different versions of FOOD and I just combined them all into FOOD.

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

But what is a FOOD image? Simply enough, it is a picture of FOOD. Or a picture of a place that serves FOOD. Or a picture of something that is involved in the preparation of FOOD. You won’t be judge on the quality of FOOD you photograph. Or judged at all for that matter.

While considering possible FOOD to photograph, meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt you will create a fascinating image!

Part of the secret of success is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.
-Mark Twain

I look forward to seeing 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. There is a limit of 3 submissions per participant. To be considered the photographer, you have to be the one that takes the picture. Don’t be stealing the work of other artists. You can submit pictures for other photographers that took pictures with your camera or phone, but give credit where credit is due.

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

That is it. Thems the rules!

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 FOOD in this place that definitely eats next Monday.

Post 5,005

I need to start this milestone post by wishing Elainie a happy birthday!


Day 57 - February 26, 2022
Happy birthday Elainie!

I hope your birthday is amazing!!

+++++++

Today is also Layla’s birthday!


Day 278 - October 5, 2021
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAYLA!

I hope you have an awesome birthday!

+++++++

Can you believe that this is the 5,005th entry in the blog known as “An Artist’s Notebook”? Every 250 posts or so I like to take a moment to reflect on where this post has been and post a lot of meaningless stats. I meant to post this post on Sunday night when it would have been Post #5,000, but you know how my week went. Not great.

As always on these posts, I like to start by quoting the very first “An Artist’s Notebook” entry that published on August 9, 2006. That first post that published 6,296 days.

That post that started with these words:

So here is the first journal entry. I felt like having as pretentious sounding name as possible for my journal. I have a few goals about this journal. My main goal is just to actually write in it. My second goal is to be as truthful as possible towards my true thoughts and feelings. I have another journal on another website, but it is really just a collection of sarcastic statements and cheap jabs at open faced sandwiches. This journal is meant to be about what my achievements and failures are in the world of art. What projects I am working on and what I have accomplished and what I have failed to accomplish. What I am photographing and what I am thinking about entering in photo contests. What I am thinking about. It might not always make sense. It might just be things I need to write down because they strike me as poignant or inspirational. This is in a small way an online “idea box”.

Since those words, I have posted 5,005 journal entries. (Normally I would do this little exercise on post #4,750, but I was in Vegas at that time.) This website is still something of an “idea box”. Sometimes I’m just working stuff out here. I don’t know why, sometimes I need to work stuff out in public. But this website is definitely more than just an “idea box”. It is a place where I post a few thoughts and a ton of pictures. I’ve gone through a few photo projects on these pages. From THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT to the 9 EMOTIONS PROJECT to THE SELFIE PROJECT to the POSTCARD RECREATION PROJECT to name just a few. This website has also created a community with THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Which is one of my proudest achievements. Even if it sputtered and spit and barely survived in its first few years.

5,005 posts. I can’t even measure the elevation changes my life have taken since then. Major ups. Major downs. Peaks and valleys. 5,005 posts and I vow to keep on chugging along.

On these reflective posts, I like to publish a bunch of statistics that me and Joe Duff find interesting. So I might as well get to it.

Every post in “An Artist’s Notebook” is tagged with at least one Category. It is one of the easiest ways to navigate around the website. They are listed at the top of each post. Here are some statistics about Categories:

THE TOP 10 MOST USED CATEGORIES (RANK IN POST #4757 & INCREASE SINCE THEN)
10. Carla – 582 (#8 – +52)
9. Teresa – 590 (#9 – +65)
8. Road Trip – 611 (#6 – +42)
7. Macro – 627 (#10 – +132)
6. Formal Portrait – 638 (NR)
5. Jesse – 684 (#4 – +54)
4. Art – 744 (#5 – +122)
3. Animals – 790 (#3 – +65)
2. Flowers – 958 (#2 – +77)
1. Black & White – 1,212 (#1 – +220)

Dropping from the from the Top 10 was Shannon, a category that was #7 in Post #4757.

The 5 categories that have the best shot at making the Top 10 in Post #5,250 are Shannon, Nature, WPC-Submissions, and Candid Portrait.

It should be noted that some of these increases are caused by my working on the categories on some older posts.

THE TOP 10 NON-HUMAN CATEGORIES
10. Photoshop – 432 (#10 – +43)
9. Candid Portrait – 475 (NR)
8. Nature – 538 (+101 – #8)
7. Road Trip – 611 (#5 – +42)
6. Macro – 627 (#6 – +132)
5. Formal Portrait – 638 (#8 – +191)
4. Art – 744 (#5 – +122)
3. Animals – 790 (#3 – +65)
2. Flowers – 958 (#2 – +77)
1. Black & White – 1,212 (#1 – +220)

WPC-Submission fell out of the Top 10. It was ranked #7 in Post #4757.

The categories that are just right outside of the Top 10 are Still Life, Naima, History, and Self-Portrait and Christianity.

THE TOP 10 HUMAN CATEGORIES
10. Vest – 350 (NR)
9. Jay – 353 (#6 – +5)
8. Micky – 359 (NR)
7. Logan – 380 (#9 – +61)
6. Kim – 395 (#7 – +53)
5. Mom – 464 (#5 – +6)
4. Shannon – 576 (#2 – +37)
3. Carla – 582 (#3 – +52)
2. Teresa – 590 (#4 – +65)
1. Jesse – 684 (#1 – +54)

Dropping from the rankings was Willy and Derrick.

The categories that have the best shot at cracking the next Top 10 are Willy, Derrick, Jen, Andy, and Sara.

If you are wondering what is your best way to improve your Photography 139 Score and crack the Top 10, it is simply to be active in THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE or go on trips with me or participate in various other photo projects or be related to me. Now these aren’t necessarily the 10 people that have influenced my photography the most, but these are the 10 people that have made the largest imprint on this website.

I can tell you the people that have influenced my photography the most, but that is a tale for another time. But I’m pretty sure you can guess who.

If you have spent any time on the Photography 139 website, you know that on the left sidebar, the “Top 100 Categories” are listed. I thought I would give a little bit of coverage to the Bottom 10 of the Top 100. There are currently 203 categories used on the website. I could cover the Bottom 10, but they are mostly people that either very recently came into the life of this website by birth (Jonah Kahler) or another way (Nathanial, Mindi, Fran). Or people that I thought would be a bigger part of my life and then weren’t. No need to cover those people. The Category that is #203 probably needs to be purged.


THE BOTTOM 10 OF THE TOP 100

#10. Andree – 77
#10. Flat Earth Joe – 77
#10. Self-Portrait Project – 77
#9. Photo Journal – 79
#8. Commercial – 83
#7. Sabas – 84
#6. Becca – 89
#3. Pufferbilly Days – 91
#3. Pastor Sarah – 91
#3. House – 91
#1. Faust – 92
#1. Writing – 92

The following categories have either fallen out of the Bottom 10 of the Top 100 or climbed out of it:
Kelly, Lowell, and Suzie.

The following categories have the best shot at dropping back into the Bottom 10 of the Top 10:
Sarah Toot, Lowell, Suzie, Russell, and Nate

The following categories have the best shot at climbing up into the Bottom 10 of the Top 10:
Layla, Kelly, Vacation, Saydie, and Kalista

“An Artist’s Notebook” is part of Photography 139. The 139 comes from Psalm 139:1-12. The Photography part comes from the fact this website is supposed to be filled with photography. So, what are the most popular photo galleries on the Photography 139 website? Glad you asked:

TOP 10 PHOTOGRAPHY 139 PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERIES (LAST 365 DAYS)

To View the Gallery, Click on its Representative Image

Now I don't want your sympathy
10. Naima – 64,796 views

Tenderloin Trail 2.0 - Stumble Inn
9. Tenderloining – 75,558 views

9 Emotions Project - Elainie
8. 9 Emotions Project – 81,405 views

Day 267 - September 24, 2022
7. Selfie-Project – 2022 – 88,632 views

Rodan139: Water Works Park
6. Drone – 99,708 views

WEEK 364 - COLORFUL - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
5. Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 9 – 108,852 views

Anita, Iowa
4. Town Sign Project – 118,563 views

Las Vegas, Nevada
3. Las Vegas 2023 – 169,257 views

Plymouth County - Le Mars
2. Town Sign Project Auxiliary Images – 219,546 views

WEEK 414 - ART - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
1. Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 10 – 323,781 views

Galleries that fell out of the Top 10 are:
Christopher D. Bennett, Miami Beach, Jayton Poole, and Alexis Pregnancy Photo Shoot – 2020

Galleries that fell just outside of the Top 10 are:
Sleeping Angels – 2023, Weekly Photo Challenge – Year 6, Photo Journal Rejects, Iowa State Cyclones Football – 2008, and Christopher D. Bennett.

But what are the most popular single images of the last 365 days? Don’t worry, I’m gonna feed you baby birds.

Top 10 Photography 139 Images

Sleeping Angels Fun Run - 2023
10. Sleeping Angels Fun Run – 2,772 views

Maven's Birthday Party - 2022
9. Maven’s Birthday Party – 2022 – 2,820 views

Community Thanksgiving - 2022
8. Boone FUMC Thanksgiving – 2022 – 3,073 views

Color the Wind - 2023
7. Color the Wind – 2023 – 3,149 views

Celtic Dancing - Renaissance Fair - 2022
6. Renaissance Fair – 2022 – 3,302 views

Fran & Pepper - 2022
5. Fran and Pepper – 3,687 views

World Food Festival - 2022
4. World Food Festival – 2022 – 3,754 views

Howards - 2022
3. Howards – 2022 – 3,976 views

Boone County Fair Barbecue Contest - 2023
2. 2023 Barbecue Contests – 4,168 views

2023 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship Game
1. Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship – 18,045 views

If you are interested in checking out some of the milestone posts of the past, I got you. Click on any of the links below to check them out:

Post 1
Post 750
Post 850
Post 1,000
Post 1,101
Post 1,200
Post 1,447
Post 1,718
Post 2,500
Post 3,000
Post 3,252
Post 3,751
Post 4,000
Post 4,250
Post 4,500
Post 4,757

I think that is enough. We will check back in, in another 245 posts.

Farewell Naima

I have to report the news that Naima passed away last night and for that reason I’m not necessarily in the mood right now to share this week’s FAVORITE SPORTS TEAMS images. I will do that later tonight or more likely tomorrow.

Instead, I’m going to share pictures of Naima:


Photo of the Day 0003 - May 5, 2014

FRAMED - ALTERNATE

Colorful - Alternate

Naima's Dickcissel Adventure

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel Park

Naima

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima and Noreen

Naima at Dickcissel Park

Naima

Naima

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima enjoying a car ride.

Naima + Snow

Slow, Restrained Melody

A Jazz Standard

A Jazz Standard

Naima - Red Filter Test

2019 Blizzard

Naima Orange Filter Test

Naima Orange Filter Test

Naima Blue Filter Test

Naima Blue Filter Test

Yellow Filter Test

Naima vs. Mother Goose

#totallyfiltered

Naima at Dickcissel - May 2019

Multifarious

Logan's Toy

Hasbro

Wild Goose Chase

The New Hotness

The New Hotness

Naima at Dickcissel

I Don't Know Why You're Mean to Me

A Spectacle Monopolized

Black and White Alternate

Black and White Alternate

Girl Don't Play the Fool Now

Girl Don't Play the Fool Now

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Ledges

WPC - ANIMAL ALTERNATE

WPC - Food Alternate

WPC - Food Alternate

Lensbaby Velvet 85mm f/1.8

Lensbaby Velvet 85

Lensbaby Velvet 85

Tamron 17-28 f/2.8 Di III RXD Lens

Sigma 105mm f/2.8  DG DN Macro Art Lens

Sigma 105mm f/2.8  DG DN Macro Art Lens

Assemblage

You're So Good When You're Bad

Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Lens

Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Lens

I Read All of Your Self-Help Books

I Read All of Your Self-Help Books

Naima

Naima in the Snow

SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Now I don't want your sympathy

Day 190 - July 9, 2021

She truly was a great dog! She had no enemies and truly loved everyone. Her groomer called her a natural therapy dog and this was definitely the truth. She was spoiled from every direction. From my family to friends to my neighbors to complete strangers. She will be missed by so many people.

+++++++

So you can get started on this week’s theme:


WEEK 425 - SIGNS
SIGNS

SIGNS! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a SIGNS image? It is simply an image of a SIGN(S) or a singular SIGN. That is all there is to it.

Don’t You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

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


I Scream: The Dairy Mart
Happy Birthday Nader!!!

I hope your birthday is fantastic!

+++++++

Time to finish off the February backlog. This is a collection of images that I took back in February that never made it into previous posts. Some are alternates for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Some are not.


Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

Don't You Think I Loved You Too Much to Think I Deserve Nothing?

On to working on the March backlog!