Category Archives: Road Trip

Back in Black and White

Here is another collection of alternates for last week’s BLACK AND WHITE theme for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Some were taken on my way back from Manhattan, Kansas. Some were taken around my house. Some were taken around my Mom’s house. Some were taken out by Don Williams.


Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Back in Black and White

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2020

Digging for God - 2020

Digging for God - 2020

A Proud Assertion - 2020

Back in Black and White

I can’t wait for BLACK AND WHITE to be a theme in the next set of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE themes!

+++++++

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


WEEK 267 - ANIMAL
ANIMAL

An ANIMAL picture is any picture of an ANIMAL or something related to an ANIMAL.

Happy photo harvesting!

Rodan139: Loess Hills

One of my goals when I was on vacation was to hit 5 State Parks that I’ve never been to before. I made this goal, but not quite like I anticipated. The two parks I definitely wanted to hit were Mines of Spain and Preparation Canyon. The other 3 were to be somewhat negotiable. In the end, I hit 3 State Parks I’ve never been to and 2 State Forests I haven’t been to.

1. Mines of Spain
2. Walnut Woods
3. Preparation Canyon
4. Loess Hills State Forest
5. Pilot Mound State Forest

In retrospect, it is kind of shocking that I’ve never been to Pilot Mound State Forest, considering it is in Boone County, but it is also exciting to think that there are places in my own backyard that I still haven’t really explored.

The drive to Preparation Canyon was very rainy, but not very long. I consider the three most beautiful parts of Iowa to be northeast Iowa, the Loess Hills and the Des Moines River Valley. The Loess Hills area did not disappoint, even if the part of Preparation Canyon I saw wasn’t overly impressive. However, I have no doubt that I’ll revisit this area again in the future and see Preparation Canyon from a different perspective.

However, the Loess Hills State Forest did not disappoint. In fact, it might have been even more beautiful than I expected. Here are some pictures from the area taken from Rodan139:


Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

Loess Hills

The last few images is of one of the infamous unmaintained roads of Monona County. I badly wanted to go on it, but it had been raining all day and that road was all mud. You couldn’t even walk on it. The other problem is that I drive a Camry. Not exactly built for what basically amounts to an off-road adventure.

This concludes the drone pictures from my vacation, but there are still plenty of vacation pictures to come.

Sorrow and Gladness – 2020

In early August I went on a small road trip with my Mom. The end goal was to see some buffalo at the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge. However, on the way there, we made a stop at the rose garden in State Center. Early August has the potential to be too late for roses, but I was pleasantly surprised at how good of shape the roses were.

Here are some rose pictures and one clematis picture:


Sorrow and Gladness - 2020

Sorrow and Gladness - 2020

Sorrow and Gladness - 2020

Sorrow and Gladness - 2020

Sorrow and Gladness - 2020

Sorrow and Gladness - 2020

Sorrow and Gladness - 2020

Sorrow and Gladness - 2020

Sorrow and Gladness - 2020

Sorrow and Gladness - 2020

Sorrow and Gladness - 2020

Sorrow and Gladness - 2020

Sorrow and Gladness - 2020

Sorrow and Gladness - 2020

Sorrow and Gladness - 2020

Sorrow and Gladness - 2020

Sorrow and Gladness - 2020

Sorrow and Gladness - 2020

Sorrow and Gladness - 2020

Sorrow and Gladness - 2020

Just Exists - 2020

I should probably get the sunflower pictures from Badger Creek Park at some point.

Town Sign Project – Vol. 11

One of my goals for my vacation was to get 20 new town sign pictures for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT. I thought I would hit this easy, because I had two road trips planned to completely opposite sides of the state. However, on my trip to Mines of Spain, I took zero town sign pictures. I cut that trip shorter than originally intended because of Naima’s leg injury. However, I did get one town sign picture on a small trip on the Tuesday of my vacation. 19 town sign pictures on my trip out west. Then one more for good measure on the Friday of my vacation.

I’m going to start this post though with 4 pictures I took on a trip down to the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge back in early August.


Colfax, Iowa
Colfax, Iowa – Jasper County
Population – 2,093

Mingo, Iowa
Mingo, Iowa – Jasper County
Population – 302

Prairie City, Iowa
Prairie City, Iowa – Jasper County
Population – 1,680

Rhodes, Iowa
Rhodes, Iowa – Marshall County
Population – 305

My takeaway from these town signs is that on Rhodes has an interesting sign. In some ways, a rather disappointing collection. Another thing of note. Rhodes has a tank in their downtown. One thing I’ve noticed in recent years is how many small Iowa towns have retired military equipment just sitting in the middle of their town.

On Tuesday I took a trip down to Jester Park and to Walnut Woods. I captured one town sign on this trip:


Booneville, Iowa
Booneville, Iowa – Dallas County
Unincorporated

Booneville is an unincorporated town in Dallas County. It consists of a restaurant, a post office, a Methodist church, and a small RV park.

Then, on my trip to Preparation Canyon State Park, I took 19 town sign pictures. A ton of them in rain, so many of the signs are wet, but not in a flattering way.


Arcadia, Iowa
Arcadia, Iowa – Carroll County
Population 484

Arion, Iowa
Arion, Iowa – Crawford County
Population – 108

Boyer, Iowa
Boyer, Iowa – Crawford County
Unincorporated

Carroll, Iowa
Carroll, Iowa – Carroll County – County Seat
Population – 10,103

Carrollton, Iowa
Carrolton, Iowa – Carroll County
Ghost Town

Charter Oak, Iowa
Charter Oak, Iowa – Crawford County
Population – 502

Denison, Iowa
Denison, Iowa – Crawford County – County Seat
Population – 8,298

Dow City, Iowa
Dow City, Iowa – Crawford County
Population – 510

Dunlap, Iowa
Dunlap, Iowa – Crawford County
Population – 1,042

Kiron, Iowa
Kiron, Iowa – Crawford County
Population – 279

Lidderdale, Iowa
Lidderdale, Iowa – Carroll County
Population – 180

Moorhead, Iowa
Moorhead, Iowa – Monona County
Population – 226

Mt. Carmel, Iowa
Mt. Carmel, Iowa – Carroll County
Unincorporated, maybe?

Ricketts, Iowa
Ricketts, Iowa – Crawford County
Population – 145

Schlewswig, Iowa
Schleswig, Iowa – Crawford County
Population – 882

Soldier, Iowa
Soldier, Iowa – Monona, County
Population – 174

Vail, Iowa
Vail, Iowa – Crawford County
Population – 436

Westside, Iowa
Westside, Iowa – Crawford County
Population – 299

Willey, Iowa
Willey, Iowa – Carroll County
Population – 88

This is not a disappointing collection of signs. I’m in particular a big fan of the Ricketts sign. It has many of the elements I love. It exists. It is fun. It has a slogan. It includes advertising for a town event that happened decades ago.

Then finally, one last sign. I stumbled across this on the Friday of my vacation. It is a town I have been to plenty of times as it is only a few miles from Boone. However, they never had a town sign. Until apparently very recently.


Fraser, Iowa
Fraser, Iowa – Boone County
Population – 102

All population figures come from the 2010 census.

On this trip, I realized that I need a slightly new strategy for tackling this project. I ordered an Iowa Gazetteer. I’m going to keep in the car and compile lists of towns in counties before I even leave for these trips. I hope to do an entire county on a trip. Without leaving random towns missed here and there. Right now, I don’t have any counties completely knocked off. Not even Boone County. I don’t even have the Boone sign for this trip. Ames, is another one, you would think is a no-brainer. But I don’t have that one either. You can see, I have plenty of sign hunting to do in just my own back yard.

You can check out all the signs that I have captured so far, you can click on the link below:

Town Sign Project

There are 121 pictures so far, but I bet I can get that number close to 200 by the end of the year.

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

I suppose I should report on how I did on my vacation goals from last week:

1. I want to visit 5 state parks I have never visited. Including Mines of Spain and Preparation Canyon.
I DIDN’T EXACTLY HIT 5 STATE PARKS. BUT I DID HIT 3 STATE PARKS AND 2 STATE FORESTS. SO I’M COUNTING THIS IS AS A WIN.

2. I want to add at least 20 new signs to THE TOWN SIGNS PROJECT. A project I’ve mostly ignored this year, despite the fact that this would have been a good year to work on it.
I BELIEVE I GOT 21 OR 22 NEW TOWN SIGNS. SO ANOTHER WIN.

3. I want to finally meet Jen and Derrick’s dog.
I NEVER EVEN CONTACTED THEM. MY FAULT, BUT I’M LEERY TO ENTER THE COVID DRENCHED TOWN THAT IS AMES. PLUS I’M PRETTY SURE THAT DERRICK’S PHONE DOESN’T WORK.

4. I want to finally tackle those POSTCARD PROJECT pictures that I have put off for like 3-4 years now.
I TACKLED ABOUT 5 OF THESE. SO WIN.

5. To play with a new lens I hope to purchase between now and then, but the verdict is still out on what new lens I’m going to purchase.
OH YEAH. DEFINITELY PLAYED WITH THAT LENS. PROBABLY A REPORT ON THAT LATER THIS WEEK.

6. Take some near full moon photography. The next full moon is September 2. Which is a Wednesday. But I figure there will still be plenty of moonlight left on September 4.
ANOTHER FAIL. IT WAS TOO CLOUDY ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY TO TACKLE THIS. AFTER THAT, THERE WASN’T ENOUGH MOON. NEXT FULL MOON IS OCTOBER 1. THAT IS A THURSDAY, WHICH ALL OF A SUDDEN IS SEEMING LIKE A REAL GOOD REASON TO HAVE A 3 DAY WEEKEND.

4 out of 6, I’ll consider that a success. There were a couple other failures out there, that weren’t stated goals. I wanted to go to Pike’s Peak State Park, but I cut my Monday road trip short because Naima hurt her leg the night before, so I felt it was best to get back early to check on her condition. She might have been milking it as she seemed fine by 8 PM Monday night. But probably not.

I also wanted to take Rodan139 out to the High Trestle Trail Bridge again, but it rained about every day of my vacation. So that didn’t happen. It’s all good though.

I did make accomplish my number one goal from the week though. That was visiting Mines of Spain. I was originally going to do this on Tuesday, but I ended up going on Labor Day so that Teresa and my Mom could go. I didn’t want to get stuck in a State Park with a ton of people, plus I wanted to get there with some good soft morning light. This meant leaving at 5 AM. My sister and Mom didn’t seem to understand that I was serious about this, until I showed up at their door at 4:55 AM.

I’ll go into more details about that trip later, but here are some pictures from Mines of Spain taken by Rodan139. Mostly at Horse Shoe Bluff, but also around the Julien Dubuque Monument:


Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

Rodan139: Mines of Spain

I will definitely need to visit this park again. I considered this a good scouting trip, but now I have more ideas of how to best drone photograph the park.

2010-03-17, 2010-03-20, & 2010-03-25

Covering 3 folders in this walk down to Memory Lane since a couple of them had barely any pictures in them. The pictures in the folders 2010-03-17, 2010-03-20, and 2010-03-25 involve mostly a series of publicity stills I took for an ACTORS production and a cruise around Boone County I took with Jay.


A Clockwork Couch

WEEK 11 - MOTION - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT

Geri Derner

Odie John Lofton

Cheryl Rogers

Melissa Krepfle

Amanda Green

Belinda Merritt

Josh Van Waes

Troy Rutter

Lanette Woodard

Jarius Davis

Toons Promo

Shannon Bardole

Christopher D. Bennett

Wild Goose Chase

Wild Goose Chase

Wild Goose Chase

Wild Goose Chase

Wild Goose Chase

Wild Goose Chase

This collection of pictures really made me want to support local arts more. I don’t know that was ever supportive of the local arts in a way I should. I want to go see some community theater productions. I want to go see live local music. When this virus gets managed, I think this is one of my goals. One of the things I want to do. Support some local artists!

By adding these pictures to the Photography 139 Gallery, I was able to restore the following historic “An Artist’s Notebook” entries to their original glory:

RWPE #11 – Motion

A Clockwork Couch

ACTORS

Wild Goose Chase

Next Saturday’s walk down memory lane will involve Shannon and Jill. But not together.

WPC – WEEK 249 – ROAD TRIP

Once again, no problems reaching double digit submissions! 38 straight weeks! Once again, I didn’t have to send out any reminder text messages this morning.

Not going to lie, even though this week’s theme couldn’t be easier, I worry that the streak might end at 38. I guess we’ll find out.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions:


WEEK 249 - ROAD TRIP - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 249 - ROAD TRIP - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 249 - ROAD TRIP - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 249 - ROAD TRIP - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 249 - ROAD TRIP - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 249 - ROAD TRIP - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 249 - ROAD TRIP - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 249 - ROAD TRIP - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 249 - ROAD TRIP - AARON BARNETT
Aaron Barnett

WEEK 249 - ROAD TRIP - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 249 - ROAD TRIP - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard

WEEK 249 - ROAD TRIP - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard

WEEK 249 - ROAD TRIP - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 249 - ROAD TRIP - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

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 250 - ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT! What a great theme! But what is an ABSTRACT picture? Think of it like this, rather than taking an accurate picture of a subject, you are taking a picture that breaks the composition down to colors and shapes.

There are a couple of easy ways to do this. First, take an out of focus picture of something. Bright and colorful subject work best for this method. The reveal picture, for example, is an out of focus picture of flowers.

Another method is to take a long exposure and move the camera around.

Another suggestion is to just take a picture of an existing ABSTRACT piece of art. Once again, ABSTRACT is where the subject isn’t depicted as it actually exists. For example, there are a ton of ABSTRACT pieces of art hanging up all over the walls of just about every office. Including the computer mine.

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

+++++++

HOUSEKEEPING


A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.

Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge due date.

OR

I now allow people to text me their submissions. In the past, I had made exceptions for a couple people that aren’t real computer savvy, even though it was an inconvenience for me and required at least 3 extra steps for me. I am now lifting that embargo because I have a streamline way of uploading photos. I’m not giving out my phone number, but if you have it, you can text me.

It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Nobody showed class, taste, and sophistication this week by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. I’ll try and do better next week.

+++++++

That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a very abstract Monday!

Such a Classic Waste of Cool

Another week of working from home almost in the books. I don’t even know how long it has been now. I don’t that much has changed. I still listen to 96.1 in the morning. In the afternoons, there isn’t really anything designated any more. I’ve been listening to podcasts I suppose. But not exclusively.

One positive or one thing I’ll miss when I get called back to working in the office is this: I’ll missing sitting under my cherry trees with Naima and eating my lunch. Listening to the birds. Feeling a warm breeze. It is very peaceful, but also makes it hard to go back to work when my lunch is over.

I have been working on the basement, but the project has become more ambitious than expected. There will be pictures when it is done, but it is several weeks out, at least. I’d guess I’m about 35-40% done.

Logan helped me big time last Saturday with the interior of the project. The Citywide Cleanup was also a big help. Lots of stuff hit the curb and are now on the ash heap of history. Although I’m still finding plenty of stuff that needs to hit the dusty trail. Andy helped me get rid of some of that too.

+++++++

I took several YELLOW pictures for this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. I’d like to share the one’s that didn’t make the cut for Monday’s reveal at this point:


Such a Classic Waste of Cool

Such a Classic Waste of Cool

Such a Classic Waste of Cool

Such a Classic Waste of Cool

Such a Classic Waste of Cool

Such a Classic Waste of Cool

Such a Classic Waste of Cool

Such a Classic Waste of Cool

Such a Classic Waste of Cool

Such a Classic Waste of Cool

Such a Classic Waste of Cool

Such a Classic Waste of Cool

Such a Classic Waste of Cool

Such a Classic Waste of Cool

I always have fun playing with the “creative” settings on my camera.

+++++++

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


WEEK 249 - ROAD TRIP
ROAD TRIP

A ROAD TRIP is any photo that involves a ROAD TRIP. Doesn’t have to be a large ROAD TRIP. The reveal photo was taken when I went on a ROAD TRIP to get gas. A ROAD TRIP photo doesn’t even have to be taken on a ROAD TRIP. It can be taken showing planning for a ROAD TRIP or preparing for a ROAD TRIP.

Happy photo harvesting!

WPC – WEEK 248 – YELLOW

No problems reaching double digits for 37 straight weeks! I didn’t even have to send out an reminder text messages this morning!

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions:


WEEK 248 - YELLOW - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 248 - YELLOW - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 248 - YELLOW - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 248 - YELLOW - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 248 - YELLOW - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth

WEEK 248 - YELLOW - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 248 - YELLOW - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 248 - YELLOW - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

WEEK 248 - YELLOW - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 248 - YELLOW - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker


Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 248 - YELLOW - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 248 - YELLOW - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 248 - YELLOW - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 248 - YELLOW - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 248 - YELLOW - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard

WEEK 248 - YELLOW - JODIE CUE
Jodie Cue

WEEK 248 - YELLOW - JODIE CUE
Jodie Cue

WEEK 248 - YELLOW - JODIE CUE
Jodie Cue

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 249 - ROAD TRIP
ROAD TRIP

ROAD TRIP! What a great theme! It might be one of the harder themes consider the current public health environment, but just getting in your car and getting groceries or gas is a ROAD TRIP these days. Even showing the planning on a ROAD TRIP that you will be able to take some day is a good ROAD TRIP image.

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

+++++++

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.

Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge due date.

OR

I now allow people to text me their submissions. In the past, I had made exceptions for a couple people that aren’t real computer savvy, even though it was an inconvenience for me and required at least 3 extra steps for me. I am now lifting that embargo because I have a streamline way of uploading photos. I’m not giving out my phone number, but if you have it, you can text me.

It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Nobody showed class, taste, and sophistication this week by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. I’ll try and do better next week.

+++++++

That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a very trippy Monday!

Pandemic Birthday

Let me start by saying thanks to everybody that wished me a happy birthday on Monday via text or phone call or Instagram messenger or card in the mail or via haircut or Teams. I’m sure some people even wished me a happy birthday on Facebook. I guess I’ll find out if I ever go on Facebook again.

Even thanks to the people who wished me Happy birthday on the wrong day.

It was a unique birthday. I know that numerous people have celebrated a pandemic birthday this year and many of you will celebrate one in the future. Mine wasn’t necessarily all that bad.

To start with, I took my birthday off. I know I couldn’t do all that much, but I just didn’t want to sit in my office all day. Staring at the walls. The same 4 walls.

I got lucky that on Sunday the new SSD arrived for my work from home computer. I was able to upgrade my work from home computer with the SSD, plus more RAM, and a better processor. I was able to get that work done on Sunday, so I didn’t even step foot in my office all day on Monday.

I slept all the way until 7:30. I got up and ate a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios and watched THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA on Amazon Prime. It wasn’t exactly the movie that I was expecting. It had a weird ending.

Then I took Naima for a car ride. We stopped at the Jay Carlson Wildlife Area and the Harrier Marsh. She got a good run in at both locations.

Then I went home and had a quick lunch. I had decided to go for a short road trip. I knew I couldn’t travel very far, but I wouldn’t to do something I would enjoy. I decided to make a trip to Rolfe, Iowa to see the greatest piece of art ever constructed my the hands of man.

I took several pictures, have a look:


Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Birthday Road Trip - 2020

Since I was on kind of a time crunch, I didn’t harvest many signs for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, but I did get three bagged:


Bradgate, iowa
Bradgate

Callender, Iowa
Callender

Gowrie, Iowa
Gowrie

When I got back home, I loaded Naima up in the car again and we went over to my Mom’s for my birthday dinner. We had homemade pizza made with the “family sauce recipe”. It doesn’t really belong to the family, but came from a family friend.

On the pizza was sausage, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, and sauerkraut. Delicious!

My Mom also made me a birthday cake. My favorite kind of cake, Mayonnaise Cake! Delicious!

After dinner, we watched the remake of OVERBOARD. I’m not really quite sure how that happened, but maybe I was feeling some 80s nostalgia. Actually, I know I’ve been feeling some 80s nostalgia lately. I recently watched the entire series TEEN WOLF. Entirely based on my fondness for the original TEEN WOLF and my fascination with the absurdity of TEEN WOLF TOO.

After the movie I went back home and finished my day off responding to some text messages before calling it a night.

Pandemic birthday could have been worse, and parts of it were pretty great!

+++++++

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


WEEK 245 - SELF-PORTRAIT
SELF-PORTRAIT

A SELF-PORTRAIT image is simply a picture of yourself. Or a picture of somebody taking a picture of themselves.

Don’t forget that Monday is Memorial Day. While the banks take holidays, Photography 139 never takes a day off. The grind is real! Plan on getting your submissions in accordingly.

Happy photo harvesting!