Category Archives: Derrick

Roundball Oracles Year 19

It is time once again for the greatest sporting event of year. It is that time known as March Madness. The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Once again, I will be sponsoring a NCAA Tournament Pool. There is no cost to enter the pool, except for pride. And if pride is nothing to you, well done.

The winner gets a trophy. The dead last place person gets a trophy known as The Sara*. Nobody else gets a trophy. I’m not made of trophies people!

By winning, you get your name etched on the List of Immortals:

PAST ROUNDBALL ORACLE CHAMPIONS – LIST OF IMMORTALS

2023 – Will Baier
2022 – Ben Baier
2021 – Micky Augustin
2019 – Becky Parmelee
2018 – Paul Golden
2017 – Paul Golden
2016 – Michelle Haupt
2015 – Derek Dohrman
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

But I said that there are 2 trophies. The 2nd trophy, The Sara, goes to the adult that finishes dead last, while trying. A person can not tank on purpose and win The Sara. The reason The Sara winner has to be an adult is that I don’t want to mock children, to their face. Does that mean I have no problem mocking children behind their back? Does it make me a bad person if I say yes? Probably a better rule would be that to “win” The Sara, you have to be at least a teenager. I have no problem mocking teenagers to their face. At least, back when there was a Youth Group.

Past “The Sara” Winners:

2023 – Ben Baier
2022 – Joey Randazzo
2021 – Rachel Gildersleeve
2019 – Russell Kennerly
2018 – Robert Henning
2017 – Shannon Bardole
2016 – Laura Priest
2015 – Derrick Gorshe
2014 – Sara Lockner

The Sara doesn’t have the long storied history of the championship trophy, but it will get there. I have no doubts. This will be the 9th winner since its inception after all.

These were the final standings from last year:

1. Will Baier – 204
2. Toby Sebring – 200
3. Sarah Karber – 193
4. Tim Peterson – 189
5. Cathie Morton – 188
6. Elizabeth Nordeen- 185
7. Andy Sharp – 184
8. Russell Kennerly – 184
9. Linda Bennett – 183
10. Micky Augustin – 183
11. Carrie Baier – 180
12. Dawn Krause – 178
13. Corey Faust – 177
14. Jesse Howard – 176
15. Jason Baier – 173
16. Angie DeWaard – 171
17. Michelle Haupt – 170
18. Carla Stensland – 170
19. Jackson Faust – 168
20. Frank Meiners – 157
21. Lowell Davis – 155
22. Andree Jauhari – 154
23. Christopher D. Bennett – 154
24. Robert Henning – 154
25. Nader Parsaei – 147
26. Logan Kahler – 145
27. Rachel Gildersleeve – 145
28. Joey Randazzo – 144
29. Olivia Baier – 141
30. Jordan Toot – 141
31. JJ Baier – 141
32. Brandon Kahler – 136
33. Becky Parmelee – 131
34. Derek Dohrman – 122
35. Sara Lockner – 112
36. Shawn Lockner – 111
37. Ben Baier – 111

If you are a basketball fan, or are just interested in having fun, click on the link below to join my pool:

Roundball Oracles – Year 19

The rules are as follows:
Round 1 = 1 point + seed
Round 2 = 2 points + seed
Round 3 = 4 points + seed
Round 4 = 8 points + seed
Round 5 = 16 points + seed
Rounds 6 = 32 points + seed

The Play-in Games (AKA the First Four) don’t matter. You can wait for those games to complete before filling out your bracket. The deadline to fill out your bracket, is tip-off of the first game on Thursday. Roughly 11 AM.

Under special circumstances, I will allow you to turn in a paper bracket to me. So, don’t be afraid to ask.

Yes, your child can fill out a bracket. Your dog, no.

There were 37 competitors in 2023. A 1 person gain from 2022. Hopefully there is continued growth in participation this year, but I don’t know that I have 1 more friend than I did in 2023. It is possible I have gained even more friends since 2023. I might be a pretty great person.

*You have to be 14 years or older to win “The Sara”.

Postcard Collection 1

Today is Laura’s birthday, so I need to wish her a happy birthday.


Miller Family - 2020
Happy birthday Laura!

I hope your birthday is filled with all the triplet love and some from Nate too, that you can handle!

+++++++

As a few of you know, I am old school. I like to send postcards when I travel. And I like receive postcards in the mail from other people’s travels. I am currently covering my guest room door with postcards that I have received in the mail. I’m scanning both sides first and I’m sure this project will take years as I don’t really get very many postcards.

Here is the current collection of postcards that have made it to the door:


Postcard I Have Received

Postcard I Have Received

Postcard I Have Received

Postcard I Have Received

Postcard I Have Received

Postcard I Have Received

Postcard I Have Received

Postcard I Have Received

Postcard I Have Received

Postcard I Have Received

Postcard I Have Received

Postcard I Have Received

Postcard I Have Received


I do have several more left to add to the door, I just need to locate them and scan them and get them up on the door!

Calendar Favorites

Today is Lowell’s birthday so I need to wish him a happy birthday!


Day 138 - May 18, 2022
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOWELL!

If you don’t know, Lowell is not Kim and is not the tall guy.

It is one of my most profoundest birthday wishes that today is a good day.

+++++++

This is one of my favorite posts of the year. To share what people said was their favorite calendar image from the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. There is still 1 calendar left to distribute, but I don’t know when that will happen. I got a response back from most people I gave a calendar to. Some people must have just immediately thrown it in the garbage and never given it a second thought. But that’s okay. Maybe opens up new calendar recipients for 2025…*

Some of these picture below are of different people in the same family that got one calendar, in case you are wondering if I gave, say 6 calendars to the Baiers.

Here we go:

FRONT COVER
2024 Calendar Favorites
Brandon Kahler

2024 Calendar Favorites
Nora Yoon

JANUARY
2024 Calendar Favorites
Jay Janson

2024 Calendar Favorites
Jen Ensley-Gorshe

2024 Calendar Favorites
Sabas Hernandez

2024 Calendar Favorites
Sara Lockner

FEBRUARY
2024 Calendar Favorites
Jesse Howard

2024 Calendar Favorites
Kevin Krause

2024 Calendar Favorites
Layla Gorshe

2024 Calendar Favorites
Olivia Baier

MARCH
2024 Calendar Favorites
Andree Jauhari

2024 Calendar Favorites
Andy Sharp

2024 Calendar Favorites
Bill Wentworth

2024 Calendar Favorites
J.J. Baier

2024 Calendar Favorites
Kim Barker

2024 Calendar Favorites
Russ Kahler

2024 Calendar Favorites
Scott Degeneffe

2024 Calendar Favorites
Will Baier

2024 Calendar Favorites
Willy McAlpine

APRIL
2024 Calendar Favorites
Colleen Hobe

2024 Calendar Favorites
Joe Duff

2024 Calendar Favorites
Michelle Haupt

2024 Calendar Favorites
Monica Jennings

2024 Calendar Favorites
Teresa Kahler

MAY

2024 Calendar Favorites
Ben Baier

2024 Calendar Favorites
Fran Duncan

2024 Calendar Favorites
Beck Gorshe

2024 Calendar Favorites
Jason Carpenter

JUNE

2024 Calendar Favorites
Carrie Baier

2024 Calendar Favorites
Logan Kahler

2024 Calendar Favorites
Mike Vest

JULY

2024 Calendar Favorites
Jason Baier

2024 Calendar Favorites
Russell Kennerly

AUGUST WAS UNIVERSALLY UNLOVED

SEPTEMBER

2024 Calendar Favorites
Becky Parmelee

2024 Calendar Favorites
Elizabeth Nordeen

OCTOBER

2024 Calendar Favorites
Alexis Stensland

2024 Calendar Favorites
Derrick Gorshe

2024 Calendar Favorites
Jorge Rios

NOVEMBER

2024 Calendar Favorites
Carla Stensland

2024 Calendar Favorites
Elainie Hernandez

2024 Calendar Favorites
Jeanette Duff

2024 Calendar Favorites
Johnathan Stensland

2024 Calendar Favorites
Kio Dettman

2024 Calendar Favorites
Melissa Degeneffe

2024 Calendar Favorites
Nader Parsaei

DECEMBER

2024 Calendar Favorites
Anders Runestad

2024 Calendar Favorites
Dawn Krause

That is it. I’m done writing about the calendar until the next one comes out!

*This is facetious.

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!

Taco Tailgate 2023

This week’s food adventure is looking back on 2023’s edition of Taco Tailgate. If you have forgotten. Taco Tailgate is the annual tailgate event for an Iowa State football game where Jorge makes me tacos. He makes tacos for other people, but I think they are mostly for me.

This was a heavily attended tailgate. By far the largest of the 3 times I tailgated this year. In attendance were (but not all at the same time):

+ Yours Truly
+ Jorge
+ Randi
+ Jesse
+ Elainie
+ Sabas
+ Derrick
+ Rachel
+ Sean
+ A few of their friends.
+ Elizabeth
+ Micky
+ Robyn
+ Katelyn
+ Aubrey

And I’m possibly forgetting somebody. If I am, I’m sorry.

Here are some pictures:


Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

I also took a few pictures at the game with a little point & shoot. Here are a few of those:


Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

Iowa State vs Iowa - 2023

I’m not sure what next Sunday’s food adventure involves. Possibly pizza.

WPC – WEEK 427 – PORTRAIT

A reminder that if you are looking for a Thanksgiving meal or a place to volunteer on Thanksgiving my church is hosting it’s annual Thanksgiving meal again this year. Information below:



I will be there for at least part of the day!

+++++++

I haven’t selected the 52 themes for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. But here is a list of the suggested themes:

-Science
-Remorse
-Necessity, something critical to your way of life
-Monochrome
-Tourism
-Sentimental
-Dog
-Screenshot
-Anything in the world but a cat
-Roman Numeral
-Outside your home county
– Memories/Memorial/etc.
– Clothing
– Out-of-date (I was thinking specifically of technology or items like pay phones and outhouses here, but it could be more expansive)
– Hands
– Struggle (or challenge)
– A stranger
– Fashion
– Starburst
– Symmetry
– Rule of 1/3’s
– Wheels
– Self portrait
– Emotion
– 6:00pm
– Warmth
– Candlelight
– Window view
– Ugly
– Sunday morning
-ANIMAL or PET
-PASSION

Definitely several of these will make next year’s list! Obviously ANYTHING IN THE WORLD BUT A CAT is a no-brainer!

+++++++

PORTRAIT! Everyone has taken one or been in one. But did enough people take a PORTRAIT to make it a popular theme? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, November 13, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Susanna Funk – 1 week
2-Diane Sharp – 1 week
3-Suzie Brannen – 2 weeks
4-Monica Jennings – 2 weeks
5-Elainie Hernandez – 2 weeks
6-Sara Lockner – 2 weeks
7-Alexis Stensland – 5 weeks
8-Scott Degeneffe – 12 weeks (3)
9-Sabas Hernandez – 13 weeks
10-Willy McAlpine – 13 weeks
11-Mike Vest – 19 weeks
12-Sheri Fakhouri – 22 weeks
13-Logan Kahler – 23 weeks
14-Nathanial Brown – 24 weeks
15-Jesse Howard – 24 weeks
16-Tamara Peterson – 27 weeks
17-Mindi Terrell – 39 weeks
18-Brandon Kahler – 63 weeks
19-Linda Bennett – 68 weeks
20-Sarah Toot – 69 weeks (2)
21-Angie DeWaard – 73 weeks
22-Dawn Krause – 77 weeks
23-Kim Barker – 83 weeks
24-Joe Duff – 84 weeks
25-Teresa Kahler – 95 weeks
26-Carla Stensland – 95 weeks (2)
27-Micky Augustin – 97 weeks
28-Andy Sharp – 98 weeks (2)
29-Bill Wentworth – 99 weeks
30-Cathie Morton – 103 weeks
31-Elizabeth Nordeen – 104 weeks
32-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 106 weeks
33-Kio Dettman – 108 weeks (2)

The third week of each month I like to share a map of all the states that have had pictures taken in them that were submitted for this calendar year. Well, I checked my calendar and this is the third Monday of the month. Here is the map, heading into this week:



That is a lot of states filled in. In fact, going into this week, there are only 10 states that haven’t been visited and photographed by somebody that submits here. I don’t think there is any chance we will fill in the entire map this year, but we sure have gotten a lot closer than I ever would have guessed! There are 6 weeks left in this calendar year. I don’t anticipate any more states being filled in at this point. Maybe Indiana. But that is a pretty full map if it doesn’t change.

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 427 - PORTRAIT - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Sonnette, Montana) – 98 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SHNNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 107 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 84 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Jewell, Iowa) – 69 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 3 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Dobson Pipe Organ Builders – Lake City, Iowa) – 25 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT -  SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa)- 13 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Iowa) – 109 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 74 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Texas) – 85 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 23 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Manchester, Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Manchester, Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ELAINIE HERNANDEZ
Elainie Hernandez (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 14 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 25 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 64 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 24 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 96 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 78 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Iowa) – 104 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 105 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson (Idaho Falls, Idaho) – 1 week

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 28 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (UNI Dome – Cedar Falls, Iowa) – 99 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (UNI Dome – Cedar Falls, Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (east Des Moines, Iowa) – 6 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Ames, Iowa) – 96 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (New Jersey) – 70 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 40 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 20 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Nebraska) – 100 weeks

34 participants! A pretty good week by current standards!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Idaho
+ Iowa
+ Montana
+ Nebraska
+ New Jersey
+ 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 80% of the way there! Every continental state west of the Mississippi is now accounted for.

This is the list of states currently missing:
+ Alabama
+ Alaska
+ Connecticut
+ Delaware
+ Indiana
+ Maine
+ Massachusetts
+ Rhode Island
+ Virginia
+ West Virginia

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

+ Spain
+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Canada
+ Peru
+ France
+ Austria
+ Germany
+ Italy
+ Slovenia

The big milestone this week is Bill joining the Triple Digit Club! Also Cathie joins the 2 Year Streak Club. I forgot to mention it last week when Elizabeth joined it or a few weeks ago when Shannon joined and a few weeks before that when Kio joined it! Also, Dawn joined the Year and Half Club!

But it was all good news. Diane couldn’t build on her submission from last week. Monica’s 2 week streak went poof! As did Sara’s. And worst of all… Willy’s streak ends at unlucky 13.

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 428 - ANIMAL
ANIMAL

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

But what is a ANIMIMAL picture? It is simply a picture of an ANIMAL. That could be a live ANIMAL. It could be a stuffed ANIMAL. It could be a box of meat. It could be a pet. It could be a wild animal. It could be something related to an ANIMAL. The possibilities are endless!

While thinking about possible subjects for your ANIMAL picture, meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt that you will come up with a fabulous image:

Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.
-Anatole France

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. 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 ANIMAL in this place that loves dogs and so many other animals next Monday.

Happy Halloween – Late

Because last week was so messed up, I didn’t get my planned Halloween post put together, so here it goes.

I hope everybody had a good Halloween. I had 51 trick-or-treaters, which was less than last year, but about average.

Now time for my annual Halloween Candy Bar Power Rankings

CANDY BAR POWER RANKINGS


10. PayDay
9. Snickers Almond
8. Skor
7. Pretzel M & M’s
6. Twix Caramel
5. Snickers
4. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
3. Peanut M & M’s
2. Take 5
1. Whatchamacallit

Please respect my decision. There will be no interviews at this time.

About a week or so before Halloween I made a trip to the Reiman Gardens annual Jack O’Lantern thing with the Gorshes.

Here are some pictures of my favorite pumpkins.


Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

It was a great event! I definitely go back.

WPC- WEEK 422 – #INSTAGOOD

NOTE: – AT THE END OF THE MONTH I WILL BE OPEN TO 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. START THINKING OF THEMES YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR NEXT YEAR.

+++++++

Today is Becky’s birthday, so I must wisher her a happy birthday.


May 6, 2019
Happy birthday Becky!

I hope your birthday is as amazing as you can handle!

+++++++

#INSTAGOOD! A simple theme. Only asking people to submit the best picture they took this week. But did a bunch of people pick a best picture to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out! It will be exciting to see the best picture that people took last week!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, October 2, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Suzie Brannen – 1 week
2-Myriah Sharp – 2 weeks
3-Elainie Stensland – 2 weeks
4-Scott Degeneffe – 7 weeks
5-Sabas Hernandez – 8 weeks
6-Willy McAlpine – 8 weeks
7-Mike Vest – 14 weeks
8-Sheri Fakhouri – 17 weeks (3)
9-Monica Jennings – 18 weeks
10-Logan Kahler – 18 weeks
11-Nathanial Brown – 19 weeks
12-Jesse Howard – 19 weeks (2)
13-Tamara Peterson – 22 weeks
14-Mindi Terrell – 34 weeks (3)
15-Brandon Kahler – 58 weeks
16-Linda Bennett – 63 weeks (3)
17-Sarah Toot – 64 weeks
18-Angie DeWaard – 68 weeks
19-Dawn Krause – 72 weeks
20-Kim Barker – 78 weeks
21-Joe Duff – 79 weeks
22-Teresa Kahler – 90 weeks (2)
23-Carla Stensland – 90 weeks
24-Micky Augustin – 92 weeks
25-Andy Sharp – 93 weeks
26-Bill Wentworth – 94 weeks
27-Cathie Morton – 98 weeks
28-Elizabeth Nordeen – 99 weeks (2)
29-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 101 weeks
30-Kio Dettman – 103 weeks (3)

The third week of each month I like to share a map of all the state that have had pictures taken in that were submitted for this calendar year. Well, I checked my calendar and this is the third Monday of the month. Here is the map, heading into this week:



That is a lot of states filled in. In fact, going into this week, there are only 12 states that haven’t been visited and photographed by somebody that submits here. I don’t think there is any chance we will fill in the entire map this year, but we sure have gotten a lot closer than I ever would have guessed!

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 422 - INSTAGOOD - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 93 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - LORI BACKOUS
Lori Backous (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 102 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 79 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa)

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Boone, Iowa) – 64 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Texas) – 2 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Faribault County, Minnesota) – 20 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Iowa) – 8 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 104 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 69 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (League City, Texas) – 80 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - PEPPER DUNCAN
Pepper Duncan (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Santa Fe, New Mexico) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 18 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - DERRICK GORSHE
Derrick Gorshe (New Mexico) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe (New Mexico) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - EVIE GORSHE
Layla Gorshe (New Mexico) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Lake Christian Home – Holt, Michigan) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - ELAINIE HERNANDEZ
Elainie Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Eldon, Iowa) – 9 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 20 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 19 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD -
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 59 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Ada Haydn Park – Ames, Iowa) – 19 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 91 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 73 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Nerja Beach – Spain) – 9 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Cumming, Iowa) – 99 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Kansas) – 100 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 23 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 94 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD -
Alexis Stensland (Des Moines, Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Highway 330 – Iowa) – 91 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 35 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Kilmaine Saints band at Finola’s Bar – Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 65 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 15 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Nebraska) – 95 weeks

41 participants! I think that is a new record!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Kansas
+ Iowa
+ Minnesota
+ New Mexico
+ Pennsylvania
+ Spain
+ Texas

Thanks to the Gorshe trip to New Mexico, we have added another state to our list.

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
+ 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

39 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.

This is the list of states currently missing:
+ Alabama
+ Alaska
+ Connecticut
+ Delaware
+ Indiana
+ Maine
+ Massachusetts
+ Mississippi
+ Rhode Island
+ Virginia
+ West Virginia

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 big, huge, monster milestone this week is Elizabeth joining the Triple Digit Club! WooHoo!

The other big milestone was the first ever submission from Pepper Duncan. I know it was a bit of a accidental Snapchat fluke that lead to the submission, but maybe it is the beginning of big things in the future.

But it wasn’t all sunshine and flowers. Myriah’s 2 week streak came to an end.

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 423 - VINTAGE
VINTAGE – Suggested by Sarah Toot

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

But what is a VINTAGE image? It is simply a picture where the subject of a major compositional element is something that is VINTAGE. So what is VINTAGE? Is it just a nice way to say old?

Yes and no.

Old but not that old. But not new. Generally speaking to be considered VINTAGE, it should be no older than 100 years old. But not newer than 20 years old. Older than 100 years is an antique. Newer than 20 years old and looks old… well that is just retro.

While considering possible subjects for your VINTAGE image, meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt you will come up with a great picture:

It is easily overlooked that what is now called vintage was once brand new.
-Tony Visconti

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 VINTAGE in this place that is ran by somebody that is considered VINTAGE these days next Monday.

Lee & Van Buren County Aux. – Vol. 5

Today is Logan’s birthday, so I need to wish him a happy birthday. Happy birthday Logan!


Burgertime: Destination Grille

I hope your birthday is filled with many photo opportunities and barbecue opportunities!

+++++++

Today is also Derrick’s birthday. So… happy birthday Derrick!


Day 296 - October 23, 2021

I hope your birthday is filled with as much joy and melt-facing guitar solos as you can handle!

+++++++

Time to share the final collection of images I took while harvesting the town signs of Lee and Van Buren County. All of these pictures were taken in Van Buren County.


Van Buren County - Bentonsport
Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Keosauqua
Keosauqua

Van Buren County - Keosauqua

Van Buren County - Keosauqua

Van Buren County - Keosauqua

Van Buren County - Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh

Van Buren County - Cantril
Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Milton
Milton

Van Buren County - Milton

Van Buren County - Milton

Van Buren County - Milton

Van Buren County - Milton

Van Buren County - Milton
For the record… Edmund Burke was evil AutoFocus. And he also never said this.

Van Buren County - Milton

Van Buren County - Milton

Van Buren County - Milton
I wonder why steel cut was such a big deal.

Van Buren County - Milton

That burger I had at Misty’s Malt Shop in Keosauqua was fantastic! Easily one of the best burgers I’ve ever had from a restaurant.

Next time we hit the open road for auxiliary images of THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT we will hit up Louisa County and Des Moines County.

WPC – WEEK 408 – TIME

Feels like a good time to announce that I did get a picture in the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. I also got an Award of some kind:



I assume the Award isn’t as good as the award I got last year when I got 1st Place in the Iowa Places class. An award can range from an Honorable Mention to winning the whole darn shooting match.

I’ll be interested to see which picture got in. The only other person that has seen my entries said that 2 of them were so bad that not only should I be ashamed of entering them, I should be ashamed of even taking the pictures.

That might not be what they said, it is what I heard. And at the end of the day, isn’t that what matters?

So to say that I’m hoping one of those two unloved pictures made it, just so I can say “Ha!” wouldn’t be accurate. Cause that wouldn’t sound like me.

But in the end, I don’t know what picture got accepted. But I’ll share that after the Iowa State Fair is over. As is my way. Or you can go to the Iowa State Fair and find out for yourself.

But I’m not the only regular contributor to THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE to get pictures accepted to the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. Angie, Logan, and Nathanial all also got pictures accepted. I believe all of them got multiple pictures accepted and I think there were multiple awards in their as well. So congratulations to them! WooHoo!

+++++++

TIME! A great theme. But did many people make TIME to take a TIME photo and submit it? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, July 3, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Suzie Brannen – 1 week (3)
2-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week
3-Sabas Hernandez – 1 week
4-Sheri Fakhouri – 3 weeks (3)
5-Becky Parmelee – 3 weeks
6-Monica Jennings – 4 weeks
7-Logan Kahler – 4 weeks
8-Nathanial Brown – 5 weeks (3)
9-Jesse Howard – 5 weeks (2)
10-Tamara Peterson – 8 weeks
11-Alexis Baugher – 13 weeks (3)
12-Mindi Terrell – 20 weeks (3)
13-Brandon Kahler – 45 weeks
14-Linda Bennett – 49 weeks (2)
15-Sarah Toot – 50 weeks (3)
16-Angie DeWaard – 54 weeks
17-Dawn Krause – 58 weeks (2)
18-Kim Barker – 64 weeks
19-Joe Duff – 65 weeks
20-Teresa Kahler – 76 weeks (2)
21-Carla Stensland – 76 weeks
22-Micky Augustin – 78 weeks
23-Andy Sharp – 79 weeks (2)
24-Bill Wentworth – 80 weeks
25-Cathie Morton – 84 weeks
26-Elizabeth Nordeen – 85 weeks (2)
27-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 87 weeks
28-Kio Dettman – 89 weeks (2)

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 408 - TIME - ALEXIS BAUGHER
Alexis Baugher (Iowa) – 14 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - ALEXIS BAUGHER
Alexis Baugher (Iowa)

WEEK 408 - TIME - ALEXIS BAUGHER
Alexis Baugher (Iowa)

WEEK 408 - TIME - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (St. Petersburg, Florida) – 81 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 77 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Iowa)

WEEK 408 - TIME - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 50 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME -  LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas)

WEEK 408 - TIME - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 408 - TIME - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa)

WEEK 408 - TIME - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 88 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 51 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania)

WEEK 408 - TIME - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 9 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Wilton, Iowa) – 79 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Chicago, Illinois) – 1 week

WEEK 408 - TIME - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 77 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 408 - TIME - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 59 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 65 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME -ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 86 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 408 - TIME - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Texas) – 66 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Texas)

WEEK 408 - TIME - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Bridgewater, New Jersey) – 55 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 80 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME -  KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Iowa) – 90 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Council Bluffs, Iowa) – 6 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 46 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 85 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Treasure Island – Florida) – 6 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 21 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WEEK 408 - TIME - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Boone, Iowa) – 6 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 408 - TIME - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 408 - TIME - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 408 - TIME - DERRICK GORSHE
Derrick Gorshe (North Carolina)

WEEK 408 - TIME - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 5 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee (Bella Vista, Arkansas) – 4 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 4 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa)

WEEK 408 - TIME - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa)

32 participants! A pretty great week! Back over 30 participants. Where we belong! And thanks to Derrick’s trip to North Carolina, there is another state added to the map! WooHoo!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arkansas
+ Florida
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ New Jersey
+ North Carolina
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

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

31 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive! Over 60% of the way there!

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico (General)
+ Isla Mujeres, Mexico
+ Riviera Maya, Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

I took my picture standing in my backyard. I continue to not help expand the map.

The big milestone this week was that it was Derrick’s first submission this calendar year! Hopefully it will be the beginning of a beautiful friendship between Derrick and THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE! He joins Jen and Layla as the members of the Gorshe family to contribute this year.

But it wasn’t all fun, games, and Gorshes this week. Jen couldn’t build on last week and her “streak” ended.

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 409 - A SHAPE
A SHAPE*

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

But what is a A SHAPE picture? Simply put, it a picture where A SHAPE plays a heavy part of the composition. It doesn’t matter what SHAPE. Pick your favorite. A circle. A triangle. A square. A rectangle. A pentagon. A rhombus. A dodecahedron. Doesn’t matter. As long as it is A SHAPE.

While considering a possible subject for your A SHAPE picture, meditate on the following quote I have no doubt you will come up with a fascinating submission:

I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.
-Georgia O’Keeffe

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 A SHAPE in this place that holds some kind of shape next Monday.

*This image is not to imply that I condone the playing of golf. This picture was taken at a miniature golf course. The only acceptable form of golf.