Category Archives: Nature

In a Beautiful World

Today is Adam’s birthday so I have to with him a happy birthday:


Cause All I Ever Wanted Was to Be Enough for You
Happy birthday Adam!

I hope your birthday is another big advance in your recovery and we will see you back in the pulpit soon!

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This is a comprehensive sweep of all the pictures from 2023 (except formal portraits) that I took in 2023 that were leftover and didn’t quite fit into other posts. It kind of is all over the place from short trips to church pictures to alternates for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

Let’s get at it:


In A Beautiful World

In A Beautiful World

A Red Cross
Came across this cross on a tenderloining road trip in northeast Iowa.

A Red Cross

Soul Antics

Soul Antics

Soul Antics

Soul Antics

Soul Antics

Alexis
These images were alternates for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM.

Alexis
There is a lot of my family in this picture. Starting with Alexis, obviously.

Alexis
But Teresa made the hat and the scarf.

Alexis
The bear belonged to my Mom.

Alexis
The coat belonged to my Grandpa Paris and my Mom frequently wore it.

Jewell, Iowa

Jewell, Iowa

Jewell, Iowa

Jewell, Iowa

Jewell, Iowa

Jewell, Iowa

Jewell, Iowa

Ron

Ron

Ron

Denise

Boone Street Photography

Boone FUMC Candlelight Service - 2023

Boone FUMC Candlelight Service - 2023

Boone FUMC Candlelight Service - 2023

Boone FUMC Candlelight Service - 2023

Boone FUMC Candlelight Service - 2023

Boone FUMC Candlelight Service - 2023

Boone FUMC Candlelight Service - 2023

Feels good that almost all the 2023 pictures are out there. Just need to share the rest of the Memphis pictures and get to those pesky formal portraits!

Ain’t No Hogback Bridge!

Today is Kanoa’s birthday, so I have to wish him a happy birthday!


Kanoa's Birthday Party
Happy birthday Kanoa!

I hope your day is spent with as much toys and playtime as you can handle!

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This post concludes the pictures I took on my little road trip that began in Nevada and ends in rural Madison County. Mostly with the Hogback Bridge and ends with the North River Stone Schoolhouse.

Here are some interesting facts about the Hogback Bridge and one of the ways that rich people tried to keep working class and poor people from voting in the 19th Century:

The Hogback Bridge was also built by Harvey P. Jones and George K. Foster in 1884 using the Town lattice truss with queenpost overlay. The Hogback spans 98 feet over North River, four miles northwest of Winterset. While most of the covered bridges were named for nearby landowners, Hogback was named for the hogback ridge at the west end of the valley (its convex curve resembling the curve of a hog’s back).

Farmers living near the bridges maintained many of them in order to defray a county poll tax of usually fifty cents. This tax was placed on men over the age of twenty-one and had to be paid before one was allowed to vote. Thus, any able-bodied man who could not afford to pay the poll tax, could grade the roads or paint the bridges to pay off his debt.
-Madison County Tourism website.

Unfortunately rich pricks are still trying to keep working class, poor people, and minorities from voting. They just using different tactics these days.

Here are some pictures:


Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

Madison County, Iowa

It was a good little road trip and I’m sure it did me some good to go on it. I hope it did you some good to see my pictures.

Home of the Blues – Day 2 – Big River Crossing

After getting breakfast on the 2nd day of the Liberty Bowl Road Trip, we hit the road and then hit our feet and did the Big River Crossing. The Big River Crossing is the longest public pedestrian bridge that crosses the Mississippi River. If you are looking for a bit of exercise and some beautiful views, I highly recommend it.

Here are some pictures:


Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2
Haters.

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2
Haters.

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2

But Jesse and I were just getting warmed up. Our next stop was to visit the dumbest or maybe the most brilliant… no the dumbest piece of art I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen a painting by Jackson Pollock), and I loved it!

Mostly Harmon Tunnel

After I left Winterset City Park I went to Pammel State Park. Which is a little south of Winterset. I sought out this park because I wanted to photograph Harmon Tunnel. Harmon Tunnel would not be exotic to most people, but in the Cyclone State, it is singular. Unique. The only one of its kind.

Here are words about it from the Madison County Park website:

The only highway tunnel in Iowa, greets all visitors entering the park. The tunnel pierces the base of the limestone backbone and provides access to the remainder of the park facilities. Historical Note: In 1858 the tunnel was originally dug by William Harmon and his sons as a small chute to carry water diverted from Middle River to power a saw mill that was eventually converted to a grist mill. The mill was abandoned in 1904 and the tunnel expanded in size to allow vehicle traffic in 1925. The tunnel has since been expanded and reinforced to accommodate modern vehicles.

Here are photos:


Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Pammel State Park - Madison County

Being from Boone, I’m not a stranger to driving through water on roads. Ledges has several of these. McHose used to have them before they closed down the backside road decades ago. But the one at Pammel State Park is a little different. It is much longer and it is the only way to cross from what part of the park to the other. Probably a blast to drive through fast. Hypothetically. Of course.

Still one last collection of pictures to share from this November road trip!

Winterset City Park

On that road trip I took back in November, after I left Nevada, I ended up in Winterset. I started my trip by tooling around Winterset City Park. The only City Park I’ve ever seen that rivals McHose Park for excellence. I started by hitting up Clark Tower and then worked my way back to the chainsaw sculptures and the hedge maze.

Here are the pictures:


Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Winterset, Iowa

Still a bunch more pictures from Winterset and Madison County left to share!

Food Truckin’: Winery Field Work

By the time this publishes, I will be in possession of my entries to the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. So it is safe to reveal what pictures got entered and what picture got shown the door. Which picture was told “You’re no good. Get outta here kid. You got no future!” I bet when the rejected image is revealed, there will be more than a few haters out there that will be filled with joy. That is okay. Marty McFly would go on to revolutionize rock music. Some day my photography will do the same.

Here is what I entered:


2024 Iowa State Fair Photography Salon
Class 11 – Colored Leading Lines – Selected for Display – Honorable Mention

2024 Iowa State Fair Photography Salon
Class 17 – Color Flowers, Plants & Trees – Not Selected for Display

2024 Iowa State Fair Photography Salon
Class 18 – Color Animals, Insects, & Wildlife – Selected for Display

2024 Iowa State Fair Photography Salon
Class 23 – Black & White Places & Landscapes – Selected for Display

This is where I tell you that next year I will put more effort into selecting my submissions. I might even look for the opinions of others. And like the mooks that you guys are, you will totally believe me. Then next year in June I will panic and select and order all my pictures in about an hours worth of time. Any ways, it was a good enough showing this year.

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Back in May Teresa and I met Lowell, Leah, and the rest of the Davis fan out at The Cellar Winery to watch the great Shannon Curfman rock the vineyard. A bonus to the fantastic music was food trucks. One food truck sold grinders which meant your boy had a chance to continue his quest to find a replacement for the grinder from Jennie’s Grinders. Widely, nay, universally considered the finest grinder the world has ever know.

Here are some pictures from the evening:


Food Truckin': Mojo's Grinder
Mojo Grinders

Food Truckin': Mojo's Grinder

Food Truckin': Mojo's Grinder

Food Truckin': Mojo's Grinder
Lowell and Leah checking out Shannon Curfman merch.

Food Truckin': Mojo's Grinder

Food Truckin': Mojo's Grinder
The grinder ended up being a little blah, but the onion rings were the truth!

Food Truckin': Mojo's Grinder

Food Truckin': Mojo's Grinder

Food Truckin': Mojo's Grinder

Food Truckin': Mojo's Grinder

Food Truckin': Mojo's Grinder

Food Truckin': Mojo's Grinder
It could have been better, but I still crushed it!

Food Truckin': Mojo's Grinder
The cookie was dang good too!

Food Truckin': Mojo's Grinder

Food Truckin': Mojo's Grinder
Shannon!

Food Truckin': Mojo's Grinder

Food Truckin': Mojo's Grinder

Food Truckin': Mojo's Grinder
Leah got this funnel cake monstrosity. I didn’t try it, but I bet it was deliciousness personified!

Food Truckin': Mojo's Grinder
A sign in the winery that I found amusing.

The ultimate verdict. It was an okay grinder, but not transcendent. The quest to find a replacement for Jennie’s Grinder will indeed continue. They need to take the kick up a notch and lightly toasted isn’t the way to go for a grinder. As you can tell in the picture the cheese isn’t fully melted. A grinder needs some texture.

But I would eat it again, but if Mojo Grinders comes back into my sphere of influence, I would probably try something else on the menu. Probably the Porker. I definitely get onion rings again. And that parmesan garlic sauce was fantastic!

Next Sunday, I will cover my State Fair food experience OR a food truck that I had up at Fridays on the Green! You will have to wait and see. I know… the suspense is already killing you. Can you imagine what it is doing to me!

A Scenic Valley

Now that all those glorious black and white images have been shared, time to start hammering away on pictures I took back in 2023. This collection of pictures I took of or near the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad back in October.


Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone &  Scenic Valley Railroad

Sometimes you have to go far from your home to take exotic and interesting photos. But sometimes you have to remind yourself that near where you live are things that are interesting and exotic to the rest of the world. I try to remind myself of that more and more often.

And Now I’m Pickin’ Her Apart

Today is Alexis’ birthday. So I need to wish her a happy birthday.


June  18
Happy birthday Alexis!

I hope it is a magical birthday! Dirty Slytherin…

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Time to share the final set of BLACK & WHITE pictures I took on the 4th of July that were alternates for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Most of these were taken at Scottie D.’s 4th of July Bash.


4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4th of July - 2024

4 days of glorious BLACK & WHITE images down! 3 more days to go.