Category Archives: Flowers

Beginning to Feel the Years

You carry me along with you
Keep my spirit strong, you do
Maybe I was meant to be
Under your lock and key

The hard times that I had
Really, don’t seem all that bad
Yesterday is long ago and far away
And I’m beginning to feel the years
But I’m going to be okay
As long as you’re beside me along the way
Gonna make it through the night
And into the morning light

There are things I’ve said before
I don’t mean them anymore
Yesterday is long ago and far away
And I’m beginning to feel the years
But I’m going to be okay
As long as you’re beside me along the way
Gonna make it through the night
And into the morning light
-Brandi Carlile

Thursdays are for flowers and this Thursday I’m going to share another collection of tulip pictures I took when I went to Pella the week before their Tulip Festival.


Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still so many tulip pictures to share. Isn’t flowertography season the best!

WEEK 403 – REVEAL

If you are reading this, then I got too busy this morning to compile and code the submissions for last week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t get started on this week’s theme.

Hopefully I will publish this week’s submissions later tonight. I’m guessing around 8:01 PM.

So without further adieu, here is this week’s theme:


WEEK 403 - TEXTURE
TEXTURE

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

But what in Wes Wallace is a TEXTURE image? Well, let’s start with the definition of TEXTURE: the structure, feel, and appearance of something (as a fabric) the smooth texture of silk. wood with a rough texture. In photography that means: the visual depiction of variations in the color, shape, and depth of an object’s surface. What you are trying to do here is to convey the feel of the surface of an object through photography.

While considering possible topics for your TEXTURE submissions, meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt you will come up with an amazing image:

I search for realness, the real feeling of a subject, all the texture about it… I always want to see the third dimension of something.. I want to come alive with the object.
-Andrew Wyeth

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 TEXTURE in this place that is a little rough around the edges some next Monday.

Mainstream Kid

I’m gonna fit in
I’m on the list
I’m gonna to get in
Haven’t you heard
And don’t you know who I am?
I’m with the Joneses
I’m their best friend

I’ve come to saturate the market
To perpetuate the hip kid
I was born so I can fall in the line
I am a legend in my own mind
Can I blend in with your kind?
-Brandi Carlile

Thursdays are for flowers! This Thursday I’m sharing pictures of some of the flowers I planted in Round 1 of flower planting. All of these flowers were purchased at Salama Greenhouse, of course!


Mainstream Kid

Mainstream Kid

Mainstream Kid

Mainstream Kid

Mainstream Kid

Mainstream Kid

Mainstream Kid

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

So Does Hope - 2023

So Does Hope - 2023

I love flowertography season!

WPC – WEEK 401 – HAPPY

I mailed out a postcard to the entrants of last years Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest last week. I hear they still haven’t arrived in people’s mailboxes. Thought I would share the postcard here, since many of you entered last year or have kids or grandkids that entered. Or hopefully many of you are thinking of entering this year for the first time. Monica designed the postcard. Have a look:



There are 6 Photo Classes this year:
+ Animals
+ Black & White
+ People
+ Places
+ Plants
+ Trains, Planes, & Automobiles

There are 3 Age Divisions:
+ Youth (7-12)
+ Teen (13-17)
+ Adult (18+)

Hopefully many of you enter again and many more of you are inspired to enter this year. Or inspired to have your kids or grandkids enter.

+++++++

REMINDER THAT NEXT MONDAY IS MEMORIAL DAY. WHILE YOUR BANK AND THE GOVERNMENT AND A BUNCH OF OTHER BUSINESSES TAKE THE DAY OFF, THERE IS NO REST FOR PHOTOGRAPHY 139. RISE AND GRIND EVERY SINGLE DAY. I DON’T KNOW WHAT MY PLANS ARE FOR MEMORIAL DAY (OTHER THAN MAYBE SLEEPING LATE AFTER WHAT I HOPE IS AN EPIC MOVIE NIGHT ON SUNDAY) BUT IT MIGHT INCLUDE A ROAD TRIP OR A BARBECUE OR A FEW OTHER OPTIONS THAT MIGHT KEEP ME BUSY. LIKEWISE YOU MIGHT BE ENGAGED IN A SIMILAR ACTIVITY ON MONDAY MORNING. YOU MIGHT NOT GET A REMINDER AND YOU MIGHT NOT BE IN A POSITION TO SUBMIT. PLAN ACCORDINGLY.

HAPPY! Many people claim to like to be HAPPY, but did many people actually get a picture of somebody that is HAPPY or of something that makes them HAPPY? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, May 15, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Nathanial Brown – 1 week
2-Tamara Peterson – 1 week
3-Sabas Hernandez – 3 weeks
4-Mike Vest – 3 weeks
5-Alexis Baugher – 6 weeks (3)
6-Jesse Howard – 6 weeks
7-Mindi Terrell – 13 weeks (2)
8-Monica Jennings – 18 weeks (2)
9-Brandon Kahler – 38 weeks (2)
10-Linda Bennett – 42 weeks
11-Sarah Toot – 43 weeks
12-Angie DeWaard – 47 weeks
13-Dawn Krause – 51 weeks (2)
14-Kim Barker – 57 weeks
15-Joe Duff – 58 weeks
16-Logan Kahler – 60 weeks
17-Teresa Kahler – 69 weeks (2)
18-Carla Stensland – 69 weeks (2)
19-Micky Augustin – 71 weeks
20-Andy Sharp – 72 weeks (3)
21-Bill Wentworth – 73 weeks
22-Cathie Morton – 77 weeks
23-Elizabeth Nordeen – 78 weeks
24-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 80 weeks
25-Kio Dettman – 82 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 401 - HAPPY - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 58 weeks

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - NADER PARSAEI
Nader Parasei (Orange City, Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 72 weeks

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 79 weeks

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa)

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Rural Boone County, Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - MELISSA DEGENEFFE
Melissa Degeneffe (Ankeny, Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - MELISSA DEGENEFFE
Melissa Degeneffe (Erb Pond – Boone County, Iowa)

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - ALEXIS BAUGHER
Alexis Baugher (Iowa) – 7 weeks

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - ALEXIS BAUGHER
Alexis Baugher (Iowa)

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - ALEXIS BAUGHER
Alexis Baugher (Iowa)

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Nebraska) – 74 weeks

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Iowa) – 70 weeks

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Iowa) – 83 weeks

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Iowa)

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Iowa)

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 43 weeks

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa)

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa)

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 44 weeks

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania)

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania)

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Living History Farms – Urbandale, Iowa) – 48 weeks

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Orange City, Iowa)

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Texas) – 59 weeks

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Texas)

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 73 weeks

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Iowa) – 70 weeks

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Iowa)

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Iowa)

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - SHANNON  BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 81 weeks

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 4 weeks

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Iowa)

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Iowa)

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Iowa)

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Ottumwa, Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Ottumwa, Iowa)

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Ottumwa, Iowa)

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 14 weeks

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 61 weeks

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (West Bend, Iowa) – 7 weeks

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Iowa)

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 52 weeks

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa)

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa)

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 39 weeks


Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 78 weeks

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee (Arkansas) – 1 week

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Roland, Iowa) – 19 weeks

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim (Brooklyn, New York) – 1 week

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 4 weeks

34 participants! That is an amazing week! I know for sure it is the high for this calendar year and it might be the highest of all-time. I’ll have to check my records and get back to you.

Particularly exciting was first ever submissions from Nader and Melissa. I don’t expect Nader to be a regular contributor, but you never know. But with Melissa, there is some hope!

Also, Stephanie had her first submission this year. I don’t know if this will lead to regular or even irregular submissions or not. We will just wait and see.

There were no new states added to the map this week and at this point, I’m betting new states added will be an increasingly rare thing. Time will tell.

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Nebraska
+ New York
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

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

25 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive! Over halfway there!

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

I took my picture about 175 miles from my front door, so I continue to not contribute.

There was one major milestone this week! Dawn joined the 52 Week Club! One straight year of weekly submissions. Congratulations Dawn!

There were no streaks snapped!

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 402 - PARK
PARK

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

But what in the John Culbertson is a PARK image? Simply put, it is a picture taken in a PARK. And there are all sorts of PARKs. There are city, state, national, baseball, softball, playgrounds, nature preserves, urban, pocket, sculpture gardens, cultural… just to name a few. Of course, there is more than one definition of PARK.

While considering a possible subject for your PARK submission, meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt you will come up with an inspiring image.

The fundamental idea behind the parks is native. It is, in brief, that the country belongs to the people, that it is in process of making for the enrichment of the lives of all of us. The parks stand as the outward symbol of the great human principle.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

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 PARK in this place that I believe brings a bit of respite for some next Monday.

The Things I Regret

Today is the birthday of somebody very important! You all know who it is! Happy birthday Steph!


Stephanie Kim - 2009

I hope your birthday is everything you want it to be! It has been way too long since the last time I saw Steph. That is probably mostly my fault.

+++++++

There’s a hole in my pocket where my dreams fell through
From a sidewalk in the city to the avenue
There’s a leak in my dam ’bout the size of a pin
And I can’t quite remember where the water’s getting in

But when you’re wearing on your sleeve
All the things you regret
You can only remember what you want to forget
You feel it tugging at your heart
Like the stars overhead
‘Til you rest your bones on the killing bed

With the weight of the world resting on my back
And the road on which I’ve traveled is as long as it is cracked
But I keep pressing forward with my feet to the ground
For a heart that is broken makes a beautiful sound

I walk through my days like a ghost in a dream
But the field carries on and my past follows me
It’s hard moving on from the things you done wrong
When they play in your head like an old fashioned song
-Brandi Carlile

Time to share another collection of tulip images from my recent road trip to Pella.


Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still so many pictures from this trip to share. So many pictures!!

The Eye

It really breaks my heart
To see a dear old friend
Go down to the worn out place again

Do you know the sound
Of a closing door?
Have you heard that sound somewhere before?

Do you wonder if she knows you anymore?

Did you think the bottle
Would ever ease your pain?
Did you think that love’s a foolish game?

Did you find someone else to take the blame?

I am a sturdy soul
And there ain’t no shame
In lying down in the bed you made
Can you fight the urge to run for another day?

You might make it further if you learn to stay

I wrapped your love around me like a chain
But I never was afraid that it would die
You can dance in a hurricane
But only if you’re standing in the eye
-Brandi Carlile

Time to start sharing tulip pictures I took from my recent trip to Pella!!!


Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still Laughing - 2023

Still so many pictures to share from Pella. So… so… many!

Rodan139: Red Haw State Park

A couple weeks back I crossed one off one of my travel goals for 2023. I visited Red Haw State Park near Chariton. I wanted to visit it and at this time of year because of its bountiful supply of pink blossoms. I was going to try to hit it last year, but it was hit by a tornado on March 5. The damage was severe enough, that the park was closed most of the year.

You can definitely still see the the damage done by the tornado. However, the purple blossoming trees are still plentiful and it was beautiful to see.

Here are a few drone photos:


Rodan139: Red Haw State Park

Rodan139: Red Haw State Park

Rodan139: Red Haw State Park

Rodan139: Red Haw State Park

Rodan139: Red Haw State Park

Rodan139: Red Haw State Park

Rodan139: Red Haw State Park

Rodan139: Red Haw State Park

Rodan139: Red Haw State Park

Rodan139: Red Haw State Park

Rodan139: Red Haw State Park

Rodan139: Red Haw State Park

If you are in the area, it is definitely worth a visit.

Wherever Is Your Heart

I think it’s time we found a way back home
You loose so many things you love as you grow
I missed the days when I was just a kid
My fear became my shadow, I swear it did

You made me feel like I was always falling
Always falling down without a place to land
Somewhere in the distance I heard you calling
Oh it hurts so bad to let go of your hand

Even when you’re high, you can get low
Even with your friends you love, you’re still alone
We always find the darkest place to go
God forgive our minds, we were born to roam

Wherever is your heart I call home
Wherever is your heart I call home
Though your feet may take you far from me, I know
Wherever is your heart I call home
-Brandi Carlile

It is officially flowertography season! You might be expecting me to start unloading a ton of tulip pictures from my road trip to Pella. But I’m not. I took nearly 500 pictures in Pella. It is going to take me a minute to sort through all of those. I also hope to take a road trip up to Orange City and get to know their tulips as well. So don’t worry tulip junkies. There are tulip pictures coming. So many tulip pictures. But for today we are going to start with the hard core flower action that is going on in my yard. Now there isn’t much. Mostly the plants are starting to reach for the sky and getting ready to create flowers. However, there are some flowers in my yard right now. Mostly cherry blossoms. Also, lilacs that are getting ready to bloom.

I have yet to make my trip to Salama Greenhouse to buy annuals to plant, but that is definitely in the cards very soon.

Here are some flowertography pictures from my yard:


Wherever Your Heart Is

Shy and Lowly - 2023

Shy and Lowly - 2023

Shy and Lowly - 2023

Wherever is Your Heart

Wherever is Your Heart

Wherever is Your Heart

Wherever is Your Heart

Wherever is Your Heart

Wherever is Your Heart

Wherever is Your Heart

Wherever is Your Heart

Wherever is Your Heart

Wherever is Your Heart

Wherever is Your Heart

Wherever is Your Heart

Wherever is Your Heart

Wherever is Your Heart

Wherever is Your Heart

Wherever is Your Heart

Wherever is Your Heart

Wherever is Your Heart

I don’t know if I will have a ton of cherries this year or not. Last year I didn’t, but there appears to be many more blooms this year. Although the trees definitely need some pruning. I’m not really sure what to do about these trees. I’m going to have to think on it.

I’m also excited to be around for lilac season this year. Last year I missed most of it because I was in Miami Beach for work. Not this year my friends!

WPC – WEEK 398 – ROAD TRIP

ROAD TRIP! What a great theme and an even better way to spend a day or two. Nothing calls to me like the open road.
But did it call to many other people? Or did people stay firmly entrenched on their couches? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, April 24, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Heather Courtney – 1 week
2-Scott Degeneffe – 3 weeks
3-Jesse Howard – 3 weeks
4-Alexis Baugher – 3 weeks
5-Mindi Terrell – 9 weeks (3)
6-Suzie Brannen – 14 weeks
7-Monica Jennings – 14 weeks
8-Tamara Peterson – 25 weeks (2)
9-Brandon Kahler – 35 weeks
10-Linda Bennett – 39 weeks (2)
11-Sarah Toot – 40 weeks (2)
12-Angie DeWaard – 44 weeks
13-Dawn Krause – 48 weeks
14-Kim Barker – 53 weeks (2)
15-Joe Duff – 55 weeks (2)
16-Logan Kahler – 56 weeks (2)
17-Teresa Kahler – 66 weeks (2)
18-Carla Stensland – 66 weeks
19-Micky Augustin – 67 weeks
20-Andy Sharp – 69 weeks
21-Bill Wentworth – 70 weeks
22-Cathie Morton – 74 weeks
23-Elizabeth Nordeen – 75 weeks
24-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 76 weeks (2)
25-Kio Dettman – 79 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 398 - ROAD TRIP - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - WILLY  MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - MIKE PARMELEE
Mike Parmelee (Arkansas) – 1 week

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - ALEXIS BAUGHER
Alexis Baugher (Iowa) – 4 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - ALEXIS BAUGHER
Alexis Baugher (Iowa)

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - ALEXIS BAUGHER
Alexis Baugher (Iowa)

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Iowa) – 4 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Iowa)

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 4 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Iowa)

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 10 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP -MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 15 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Iowa)

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 26 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 36 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Iowa)

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Iowa)

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 40 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas)

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (New Jersey) – 41 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (New Jersey)

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Mexico) – 45 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Mexico)

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 49 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa)

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 54 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Texas) – 56 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 57 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Iowa) – 67 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Iowa)

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - ROAD TRIP
Carla Stensland (Iowa) – 67 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - ROAD TRIP
Carla Stensland (Iowa)

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - ROAD TRIP
Carla Stensland

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 68 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 70 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Nebraska) – 71 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Illinois) – 75 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 76 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa)

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa)

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 77 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Iowa) – 80 weeks

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Iowa)

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Iowa) – 502 weeks

31 participants! That is a great week! I believe it ties the high for this calendar year. Strange that more people love the open road than love their friends, but maybe it isn’t so strange.

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arkansas
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Mexico
+ Nebraska
+ New Jersey
+ Texas

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

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

24 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive!

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Thanks to Angie’s vacation, Mexico has been added to the list of international places!

I took my picture 87 miles from my front door. So Angie isn’t the only world traveler.

The big accomplishments this week… Mindi joined the Double Digits Club! WooHoo! Tamara joined the Half Year Club! WooHoo! Mike Parmelee had his first submission of the year! WooHoo! I finally got Alexis’ last name right! WooHoo !

But it wasn’t all unicorns and double rainbows. Heather wasn’t able to build her submission from last week into a streak. And most tragically, Suzie’s 14 week streak is a goner. ROAD TRIPs are her Waterloo.

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 399 - SCHOOL
SCHOOL

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

Let me tell you about IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY!

Iowa State University (ISU) is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. It was founded in 1858 as Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm, and it became the first land-grant institution in the United States in 1862, thanks to the Morrill Act.

Today, ISU is a comprehensive university with more than 35,000 students and offers over 100 undergraduate majors, 112 master’s degree programs, and 83 doctoral degree programs. The university is organized into eight colleges: Agriculture and Life Sciences, Business, Design, Engineering, Human Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, and Graduate.

ISU is known for its strong programs in agriculture, engineering, and science, and it has a reputation for being one of the top public universities in the United States. The university is home to several research centers and institutes, including the Bioeconomy Institute, the Ames Laboratory, and the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Biorenewable Chemicals (CBiRC).

The university’s mascot is Cy the Cardinal, and the school colors are cardinal and gold. The Cyclones, ISU’s athletic teams, compete in the Big 12 Conference and they completely dominated the Cy-Hawk Series with Iowa Hawkeyes this year.

Overall, Iowa State University is a well-respected and prestigious institution of higher education, offering a wide range of programs and opportunities for students to excel both academically and professionally.

Wait. Wait. Sorry. I’ve just been told that there are more SCHOOL(s) in the world than just Iowa State. I’m not entirely sure why. But I guess you can take a picture of some other stupid school nobody cares about.

SCHOOL! So what in the Terrence Allen is a SCHOOL picture? Simply put it is any image that involves SCHOOL. From a building to a playground to schoolbooks (before they all get banned) to report cards to teachers to really anything related to a SCHOOL. There are all types of different SCHOOL(s). Pre, secondary, high, middle, junior, dance, Sunday, vocational, technical, and even sometimes I take people to SCHOOL on the basketball court. It does NOT have to be Iowa State, but I mean, why would you take a picture of some lesser school? But you do you bro.

While considering how you are going to incorporate Iowa State into your SCHOOL picture, mediate on the following quote and I have no doubt you will come up with a great picture:

Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.
– Malala Yousafzai

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 SCHOOL in this place that I like to think has a bit of educational value next Monday.

Just Kids

Were we just kids, just starting out
Didn’t we know then love was about
Were we just fooling, playing around
Were we ever gonna get out of this town

All in a moment, all in a sound
All in a day’s work, we’re tumbling down
Down by the old school, trash in the street
Searching the eyes of the strangers we meet
Asking will it get better?
Will we be alone?
Turning the wheels of our bicycles home
Over the rainbow, out in the snow
-Brandi Carlile

Thursdays are for flowers. Today’s flower collection was taken back in January. A bouquet thrown in the snow.


Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Just Kids

Would you believe that I’m out of flower pictures?