Category Archives: Automobiles

Alexis, Art, Automobiles, Brandon, Carla, Christianity, Dahlia, Elainie, History, Holidays, Jason, Jesse, Johnathan, Jonah Kahler, K.J., Logan, Music, Olympic Sports, Russ, Sabas, Street Photography, Teresa

Forever A Cyclone State!

September 11, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

I need to start today’s post by remembering the victims of the terrorist acts on our country that happened on September 11, 2001. Hard to believe it was 23 years ago. I can still vividly remember almost everything about that morning. I’m sure almost everyone that was alive on that day can do the same thing. I won’t recount my experience. It was much different than most people on that day. Instead I will share this photo of a mural on the wall of the VFW in Valley Junction:

The victims of the day should never be forgotten. The heroes of that day should also never be forgotten.

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On Saturday, a redshirt-freshman-walk-on-kicker that has only been playing football for a few years, stepped up on the field in Kinnick Stadium and boomed a 54 yard field goal right through the middle of the uprights. A kick that would have been good from 64 yards. That kicks gave the Cyclones a 20-19 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Cyclones second straight win in Kinnick. Their 4th win in the last 6 trips to Kinnick. And in some ways, it provided a little bit of healing for my family. Not a ton, but some.

As many of you know, it was a terrible week last week for my family. That is an understatement. My brother-in-law Russ, the father of Brandon and Logan passed away on Saturday, August 31. Russ’ health was failing, but it still came as a shock and much quicker than I expected. Teresa called me early Saturday morning and gave me the news. God I wish that was the only one of those phone calls I got those few days.

On Monday, September 2, Jesse and I went to Perry to take part in the RVTV festivities that accompany Cy-Hawk Week. I have never went to a town that was hosting RVTV besides when Boone hosted them a few years back. I don’t think I’m saying anything that isn’t common knowledge, but Boone did a pretty poor job as a host.

On the other hand, Perry knocked it out of the park. There were several blocks of activities and vendors.

Jesse and I had stopped and were talking to a painter. She was telling her story about how she had found God and become sober 5 years ago. Then God called her to be a painter. As she was telling us that story my phone rang. It was Jason. I might have normally not answered my phone because of the conversation I was engaged in, but Jason doesn’t call often, so I figured it was important. So I excused myself from the conversation and took the call.

On the other end was Carla not Jason. Which worried me a little bit, but not completely uncommon. Carla sometimes loses her phone. But this wasn’t one of those times. Carla proceeded to tell me that Jason’s only brother Justin had been killed in a car accident.

Damn it! When it rains it damn well pours!

I gave Carla my condolences, I think. Poorly tried to explain how terrible all of this was. Thinking about Jason. And Johnathan. And Elainie. And Alexis. And Jason’s parents. And Justin’s wife. They had just been married a few months back. Then I hung up and inserted myself back into the discussion with the Christian artist and the colors she used reflected how much light was in her life compared to when she was abusing.

I went though the rest of the night taking pictures of the events. Eating at The Tin Pig.

The rest of the week kinda flew by. Jason and Carla went to Colorado for Justin’s ceremony. Russ’ visitation was on Friday night. His funeral was on Saturday, before the Cy-Hawk game.

For the funeral, the boys picked 3 different Rush songs to be played. “Tom Sawyer”, “Fly By Night”, and “Spirit of the Radio”. Since Adam is out the church brought in a Pastor from Bagley to do the ceremony. He did a good job and I was most impressed with how he incorporated the lyrics to “Fly By Night” into the service.

Start a new chapter
I find what I’m after
Is changing every day
The change of a season
Is enough of a reason
To want to get away

Quiet and pensive
My thoughts apprehensive
The hours drift away
Leaving my homeland
Playing a lonehand
My life begins today

After the funeral I hosted Brandon, K.J., Logan, Dahlia, Jonah, Johnathan, Elainie, Sabas, Jesse (briefly), and Teresa.

Once Scott, after losing one of his parents, asked me “when is it normal again?”

I told him what I think is as honest as I can be, “It never is normal again. You just have to adjust to what is now the new normal”.

I hope just watching the game and rooting on the Cyclones… All of us screaming at the television as the field goal was in the air… Freaking both Dahlia and Bokeh out… brought a small sense of normal to their worlds. And maybe just a touch of healing.

Here are pictures I took at RVTV in Perry on Labor Day:

After the game was over the family slowly dispersed. Before Brandon left, he stood up and looked at Bokeh and said, “You’ve got big shoes to fill. But you’ll get there.”

Then he said he was going to the cemetery on his way home to tell his Dad that the Cyclones had won.

Art, Automobiles, Black & White, Bokeh, Christianity, Jay, Monica, Railroad, Ruins, Self-Portrait, Shorty, Still Life, Willy, WPC - Alternate

Will Make You Miss My Wretched Heart

July 20, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

This collection of glorious BLACK & WHITE images i took on July 6. I had a fairly lazy Saturday. I took a mini-road trip over to Jefferson for some A&W and had Jay, Willy, Monica, and Graham over for watermelon. But that was about all I did all day.

This was Shorty & Doris’ farm.

Only 1 day of alternate glorious BLACK & WHITE images left to share, but it might take several days to share them all. We’ll see.

Automobiles, Street Photography, Teresa

Madrid Labor Day Festival – 2023

May 17, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

It had been a moment since I had been to the Madrid Labor Day Festival, so last year Teresa and I went down there to check it out. It was the day of their car show, which is enormous! Even a guy like me that really isn’t in to cars all that much was really blown away by how large it is. But let’s face it, I was really just there for the food.

Here are some pictures:

I’ll probably hit the Labor Day Festival up again this year. I’m a sucker for any place that has food trucks.

Art, Automobiles, Carla, Derrick, Elizabeth, History, Jen, Road Trip, Sara, Self-Portrait, Still Life

Eclipse Road Trip – Day 3

May 7, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

I woke up in the hotel in Normal, Illinois at about my normal time 5:45 AM or so. I packed up the tremendous amount of stuff I lugged into the hotel. A suitcase. A laptop. A CPAP. A camera bag. My ledger. Probably some other stuff as well. I figured nobody else would be up, so I hit the shower. Felt pretty dang good for a hotel shower. Much better than the whore’s bath.

Clean. Smelling good (in my humble opinion), I went down to check out the continental breakfast. We stayed at a Comfort Suites which is right in my hotel sweet spot. I like hotels that are “expensive” enough to have amenities. But not so expensive they start charging you for amenities. Basically I want free wi-fi and free breakfast. A pool is nice too, but I’m really here for the free breakfast. I don’t understand why the more expensive a hotel is, the more stuff they charge you for. If a hotel doesn’t have free breakfast this dog is out!

After I took most of my stuff to the car I went to the breakfast room. I was the first one there. I expected to be. There was no way all the Gorshes were ALL up and going.

Not gonna lie. First thing I did when I got settled in my room the night before was going to check out the breakfast layout. Before entering, saying a silent prayer that they would have a waffle maker. The conveyor belt pancake maker is okay, but if you know I’m all about that #wafflelife.

I’ve heard that all prayers are answered. Just many times the answer is “Not today bro.” But on this day, the answer was “I got you bro.” Staring back at me from the corner of the breakfast bar was a shiny, beautiful waffle maker! It was a great morning.

Here are some pictures from the trip home:

Not only did they offer regular old waffles. They also offered chocolate waffles! Bingpot! I know what you are thinking. Did he go original or did he go chocolate. He is trying to live somewhat healthier, maybe he went for neither and only had some fruit for breakfast. The suspense is killing you.

I went chocolate of course! If you are going to eat unhealthy, jump in with both feet! Besides calories that you eat in a different state don’t count. That is some kind of adultery loophole I saw on a sitcom once. But the exercise you do counts double. That’s just science. #chocolatewaffelife

While I was eating my waffle Dave showed up for his breakfast. Then Derrick and the dog showed up. I told them I was going to eject from the caravan and go ahead and hit the road because I was going to do some meandering on the way back and I was ready to hit the dusty trail and they wouldn’t be ready for a couple of hours. I got in the RAV4 and considered opening my Christmas present from Sara that Jen took all the way to Indiana to give to me. I took it all the way back to Iowa to open it.

My first stop in Iowa was in Le Claire. Le Claire is near the “Quad Cities” which means that it is Happy Joe’s country. I didn’t eat at Happy Joe’s because it wasn’t open for several hours, but I had to stop to at least take a picture of the sign to make Elizabeth (a noted Happy Joe’s fiend) jealous. Also, out of the blue on the trip Derrick told me really had been having a hankering for Happy Joe’s ham & sauerkraut pizza. I don’t think he stopped in Le Claire for some, but at least I let him know he had the option.

That is a mango-strawberry with banana smoothie. Don’t ever accuse me of drinking coffee!

Endorsed. Cody Road Coffee for smoothies.

Reminds me of Carla’s camper.

Also reminds me of Carla’s camper.

You know the theme from Golden Girls? I had no clue that was a song that existed outside of that show until a few months ago when I was listening to the Casey Kasem flashback countdown (a Sunday tradition in my sphere of influence) somebody requested it as Long Distance Dedication. My mind was blown. I also love Bob Ross. I’m not a Swiftie though. I’m a Lipsey. But Taylor Swift is cool.

If anybody is looking for a beer tap, I know a place.

This was in Aunt Hattie’s Fanciful Emporium Unique Gift Shop. Spoiler: Guess what I’m putting in the Computer Mine Gift Exchange this year!!!

Ya know your boy was checking out the sticker selection.

So true. I log onto Facebook everyday to read poorly informed political opinions of people I try to continue to respect. Or I never go on Facebook. One of those things is true.

I feel so seen.

What is the budget for the Computer Mine Christmas Gift Exchange again?

Give me a few more years before I start rocking this hat.

What did the seahorse do?

This book is in the Gorshe Library.

But not this one… yet.

I know these people.

Next stop was Antique Archaeology. I love hitting this store because it reminds me of my parents and the old Bennett Antiques & Primitives store.

Even though it is actually super touristy and the price on most things is outrageous.

I switched to YouTubeTV over a year ago now. I absolutely can’t endorse it enough. But the one thing is I don’t get now is the History Channel. I do miss this show and ANCIENT ALIENS of course.

I stopped in Belle Plaine for lunch. I’ve wanted to eat at the historic Lincoln Cafe for a minute, so I took this opportunity to stop there and eat on my way home. But that is a story for a future food adventure entry.

I hope somebody took them up on this.

Finally made it home. 1150.3 miles later.

That is all I have for cell phone pictures from this trip. But I have plenty of real camera pictures to share at some point in the future.

It was a phenomenal trip and I’m very thankful for the Gorshes letting me crash their eclipse party! Let’s do it again in 20 years.

Art, Automobiles, Black & White, Calendar, Movies, Pufferbilly Days, Street Photography

Pufferbilly Days Car Show – 2023

January 5, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

Time to share the October image from the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. It is a picture of a mural of Jack from THE SHINING near Graffiti Alley in Des Moines.

OCTOBER

I chose this image for October since it is an artistic depiction from THE SHINING, one of the 5 best horror movies every made.

TECHNICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: September 30, 2023 – 1:23 PM
LENS: 17-28mm f/2.8
APERTURE: f/5
EXPOSURE: 1/100
ISO: 100

Tomorrow I will share the November image from the calendar!

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Seems like a good time to start sharing pictures from Pufferbilly Days that aren’t related to the Photo Contest. I’m not a car person, per se, but I do like attending the occasional car show. Partially cause old cars are cool looking and partially because I have a few friends that display cars at car shows.

Here are some pictures:

Next Friday I will share some pictures from the Pufferbilly Days Parade.

Animals, Automobiles, Politics, Street Photography, Teresa

Stanhope Watermelon Day 2023 – II

December 15, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

Time for another collection of images from my trip to the Stanhope Watermelon Day with Teresa. This collection of images is of the parade. I’m not really a parade person. In fact few things are more boring than a parade. Well actually few things have greater gap between participating in and watching. Being in a parade is tons of fun. Watching a parade is tons of boring. Similarly to fireworks. Lighting off fireworks is tons of fun. Watching fireworks is boring. Baseball also fits into this category as well. But I digress.

Here are the parade pictures:

Still plenty more pictures to share from Watermelon Day. Including many pictures of delicious… delicious watermelon!

Art, Automobiles, Candid Portrait, Formal Portrait, History, Nader, Road Trip, Street Photography, Town Sign Project

Dysart Illusion Road Trip – III

December 12, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

This is the final collection of images from the road trip to Dysart to see their illusions I took with Nader. This collection starts in Traer, but also goes through the Matchstick Marvels Museum in Gladbrook.

Traer

Gladbrook

Toledo

A different town sign.

It was a good road trip, even if I confess, the Dysart illusions were a little bit of a disappointment. But the Matchstick Marvels Museum was definitely not a disappointment!

Art, Automobiles, Christianity, Road Trip, Ruins, Still Life, Street Photography, Teresa

Davis County Aux. – Vol. 4

November 15, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

Here it is. The final collection of auxiliary images I took during THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT. Finally being shared almost 14 months after I took them. Closing the book on pictures I took in 2022. To be honest there is one last collection of pictures I took in 2022, but I’m not going to share those. Those I will keep for me.

The final county of town signs I harvested was Davis County. A county I left for last because I wanted to save the Paris, Iowa (there are two unincorporated towns named Paris in Iowa) for the end because I have some family history on my Mom’s side of the family there. Paris is almost a ghost town now. There is a cemetery a couple miles down the road. There are a few houses and there are the remains of a general store. But it was still interesting to visit and I don’t regret leaving it for last, even though it really didn’t have a town sign.

Here is the final collection of images, starting at a general store in Cantril.

I swear Randall’s had this exact same signs when I was a kid.

The artist definitely spend most of their time and effort on the boobs.

Troy

This building housed the Troy Academy. Which was one of the first institutions of higher education west of the Mississippi.

It is also the subject of a painting by Buckley Moss.

Back to Bloomfield

Paris Cemetery

Marshalltown

It is a little sad to close the last page on this photo project. My original plan for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT was to turn it into a book. I have made next to no progress on that. None. I haven’t really made much or no progress on what was going to be my next photo project. I have let you down…

But maybe I will make progress on the book this winter. Stranger things have happened.

I’m not sure what will be posted on Wednesdays going forward. But there isn’t a shortage of RAW images waiting to be edited and shared!

Animals, Art, Automobiles, Christianity, Music, Road Trip, Still Life, Street Photography

Scott County Aux. – Vol. 3

October 4, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

Time to share another collection of images from my trip to Scott County to harvest their town signs. Most of these pictures are also taken in Le Claire and this collection ends in Davenport. It includes a brief stop I made at Antique Archaeology. The store made famous by the show American Pickers. It is a cool store and definitely worth the trip, but I think the downtown area of Le Claire is also worth the trip as well.

The collection starts where Volume 2 ended. With a great blue heron on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Pleasant Valley

Davenport

This is actually in Illinois.

Back in Davenport.

Still plenty of pictures from this road trip left to share.

Automobiles, Black & White, Boone FUMC, Logan, Naima, Nathanial, Still Life, Street Photography, WPC - Alternate

And Maybe I’m Just Not As Interesting

August 19, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

Time once again to clean up some backlog. These pictures I took during December of 2022, but they didn’t really fit into any previous posts. Some were taken at the Community Christmas Concert that I went to, to watch Logan and Nathanial and Logan work it. Some are alternates for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme WATER. Some are taken at the candlelight service at Boone First United Methodist Church. Some are just of Naima.

Apparently Logan and Nathanial and Janae did a pretty good job with the Christmas Concert video because now an independent movie company wants to come to Boone and shoot a movie based on seeing the video on the internet. It will be interesting to see if that actually happens.