Category Archives: Night

Iowa State Fair – Day 2 – Alpha

I told you I would give you the info on as many local area fish fries as I could, on this the opening day of Catholic Fish Fry season. Here is the list I have compiled:

St. Malachy, Madrid
Feb. 16 & 23 & March 8 & 22
4:30-7
Prices Unknown

Sacred Heart, Boone
Feb. 16 & March 1 & 15
5-7
Prices: Unknown

Saint Cecilia, Ames
Feb 23 & March 1 & 8
5-7 PM
ADULT: $12
CHILD: $5

Saint Thomas Aquinas, Ames
Feb. 16 & March 22
5-7
Adult $10
4-12: $5
Group of 4: $35

Assumption, Granger
Feb. 16 & 23 & March 1,8, 15, 22
5:30-7
Prices: Unknown

Sts. John and Paul Catholic Church, Altoona
Every Friday
4:30-7
Adults $14
Children 6-12 $6
5 and younger – FREE
1401 First Ave. S., Altoona

Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Catholic Church, Ankeny
Feb. 23, March 8, and March 22
5-7
Free Will Offering
510 E. First St., Ankeny;

St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church, Ankeny
Feb. 16, March 1, and March 15
4:30-7
Free Will Donation
1102 NW Weigel Drive, Ankeny

All Saints Catholic Church, Des Moines
Every Friday except Good Friday
5-7
Adults: $11
Children 5-12 $8
Under 5: FREE
650 NE 52nd Ave., Des Moines

Basilica of St. John, Des Moines
Feb. 16 & 23; March 1, 18, 15, & 22
4:45-6:30
Adults: $12
Children 4-10: $5
3 and Under: FREE
Max of $50 for families
1915 University Ave., Des Moines

Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Des Moines
Feb. 16 March 1 & 22
5:30-7
Adults: $12
Kids 5-11: $6
2926 Beaver Ave., Des Moines

St. Ambrose Cathedral, Des Moines
Feb. 16 & 23 & March 1, 8, 15, & 22
11:30-1
Flat $8
607 High St., Des Moines

St. Joseph Catholic Church, Des Moines
Feb. 16 – March 22
4:30-7
Adult: $13
Kids: $5
Under 6: FREE
Family Max: $40
3300 Easton Blvd., Des Moines

St. Mary of Nazareth Catholic Church, Des Moines
Feb. 16 & 23 – March 1, 8, & 22
5-6:30
Adult: $13
Couple: $25
5-12 $7
Under 5: FREE
4600 Meredith Drive, Des Moines

St. Theresa Catholic Church, Des Moines
Feb 16 – March 22
5:30 – 7 PM
Free Will Offering
1230 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines

St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Norwalk
Every Friday during Lent
5:30-7
Adult: $12
5-12: $10
720 Orchard Hills Drive, Norwalk

St. Boniface Catholic Church, Waukee
Every Friday during Lent
5-7
Adult: $12
5-7: $7
4 and under: FREE
1200 S. Warrior Lane, Waukee

Sacred Heart Catholic Church, West Des Moines
Every Friday during Lent
5:30-7
Adult: $14
4-10: $7
Under 4: FREE
Family Max: $45
1627 Grand Ave., West Des Moines

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, West Des Moines
Every Friday During Lent
5:30-7
Adults: $15
6-11: $5
Under 6: FREE
7075 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines

I think I’m going to hit up the fish fry in Boone tonight. FNSC is going high end the following Friday, but then I might be back on the Fish Fry Circuit the following Friday. I definitely want to hit the fry in Granger at some point. Maybe one in Ames. Maybe one down in Des Moines. What can I say? I like fish and some of the ones in the Des Moines area are very intriguing. Some have fish tacos. Who has 2 thumbs and loves fish tacos? You can’t tell but right now I’m pointing back at me with both my thumbs. Take my word for it.

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It feels like a good time to release some of the pictures I took on my trip to the State Fair with the Degeneffes. I went down there with them to help and document Austin competing in the State Fair barbecue contest. We got to the fairgrounds like 4:30 AM. Which seems early, but is a great time to roam the fairgrounds in the dark with virtually nobody there. It is actually kind of amazing, actually.

Here are some pictures:


Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

Iowa State Fair Degeneffes Trip - 2023

I hope somebody I know makes it to the State Fair barbecue contest again next year, so I can wander around the fairgrounds mostly alone again.

Still plenty more pictures to share from this trip to the fair to share!

2024 Photography 139 Calendar Rejects: The Ending

Time to share the rest of the images that were rejected for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. Some of these are similar to ones included in the calendar. They come from a wide range of projects. From auxiliary images from THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT to alternates for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE to some just good old flowertography


2024 Calendar Reject

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There is still one more post about the 2024 calendar left. Then we can put it to bed or up on some walls.

2024 Photography 139 Calendar Rejects: The Beginning

Time to share the final image for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. The December image. It is an image of an abandoned (methinks) church I found in northeast Iowa on a THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT road trip:


2024 Calendar - December
DECEMBER

I chose this image for December because I usually like to either use a cold picture or some religious imagery for the December image. This picture might not scream “Christ is born!” but it is of a church. Not a lines are straight.

TECHNICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: August 20, 2022 – 12:34 PM
LENS: 28-75 f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm
EXPOSURE TIME: 1/5000
ISO: 100

It was converted to black & white in Photoshop.

That is it, that is the final image for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. But while those 13 images were selected for the calendar, they weren’t the only ones considered. Not by a long shot. There were 73 other images considered and not included. But I would like to give them some love.

Here is the first collection of reject images:


2024 Calendar Reject

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2024 Calendar Reject

There still another 36 images that didn’t make the cut. That doesn’t mean that won’t make the cut next year. The cover image for the 2024 Calendar was rejected for the 2023 calendar. Share the rest on Tuesday. Maybe Wednesday.

WPC – WEEK 433 – HUMANS

It is time to share the July image from the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar image. It is a picture taken with Rodan139 of somebody setting off fireworks on the 4th of July in my neighborhood.


2024 Calendar - July
JULY

I chose this image since I felt the fireworks represented the 4th of July well.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

CAMERA: Hasselblad L1D020c
DATE: July 24, 2023 – 1010 PM
LENS: 28mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm
APERTURE: f/5.6
EXPOSURE: 3 seconds
ISO: 400

Tomorrow I will share the August image!

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HUMANS! They are all over the place! But are there enough of them kicking around to make HUMANS a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, December 25, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Evie Gorshe – 1 week
2-Mary Green – 1 week
3-Elainie Hernandez – 1 week
4-Willy McAlpine – 1 week
5-Alexis Stensland – 1 week
6-Scott Degeneffe – 18 weeks
7-Sabas Hernandez – 19 weeks
8-Mike Vest – 24 weeks
9-Sheri Fakhouri – 28 weeks (3)
10-Logan Kahler – 29 weeks (3)
11-Nathanial Brown – 30 weeks (2)
12-Jesse Howard – 30 weeks
13-Tamara Peterson – 33 weeks (2)
14-Mindi Terrell – 45 weeks (3)
15-Linda Bennett – 74 weeks (2)
16-Sarah Toot – 75 weeks (2)
17-Angie DeWaard – 79 weeks
18-Dawn Krause – 83 weeks
19-Kim Barker – 89 weeks
20-Joe Duff – 90 weeks (2)
21-Teresa Kahler – 101 weeks (3)
22-Carla Stensland – 101 weeks (2)
23-Micky Augustin – 103 weeks
24-Andy Sharp – 104 weeks
25-Bill Wentworth – 105 weeks (3)
26-Cathie Morton – 109 weeks
27-Elizabeth Nordeen – 110 weeks
28-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 112 weeks
29-Kio Dettman – 114 weeks (3)

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:


WPC 433 - HUMANS - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 433 - HUMANS - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 433 - HUMANS - CARRIE MOELLERS
Carrie Moellers (Mambai, India) – 1 week

WPC 433 - HUMANS - AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson (Jewell, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 433 - HUMANS - AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson (Ames, Iowa)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Michigan) – 2 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Michigan)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Goldie’s – Prairie City, Iowa) – 19 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 20 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Noel, Missouri) – 25 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 29 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 30 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 31 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS -JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Sun Records – Memphis, Tennessee) – 31 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS -JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Big River Crossing – Memphis, Tennessee)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Swede Valley Church – Rural Boone County) – 34 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 46 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 75 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Kansas City, Missouri) – 76 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 80 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 84 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 90 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (League City, Texas) – 91 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 102 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Hilton Coliseum – Ames, Iowa) – 102 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Story County, Iowa) – 104 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 105 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Saint Louis, Missouri) – 106 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Waukee, Iowa) – 110 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 111 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Tursi’s Latin King – Des Moines, Iowa) – 113 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 115 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Beale Street – Memphis, Tennessee) – 537 weeks

30 participants! That is a pretty great week, considering the holiday! Thanks to Cathie’s sister we end the year with a new country. India! I believe that to be the first submission from Asia ever for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Kansas
+ India
+ Iowa
+ Missouri
+ Tennessee
+ Texas

Here is the final calendar year list for states:

+ Arizona
+ Arkansas
+ California
+ Colorado
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Hawaii
+ Idaho
+ Illinois
+ Indiana
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Kentucky
+ Louisiana
+ Maryland
+ Michigan
+ Minnesota
+ Mississippi
+ Missouri
+ Montana
+ Nebraska
+ New Hampshire
+ New Jersey
+ New Mexico
+ New York
+ Nevada
+ North Carolina
+ North Dakota
+ Ohio
+ Oklahoma
+ Oregon
+ Pennsylvania
+ South Carolina
+ South Dakota
+ Tennessee
+ Texas
+ Utah
+ Vermont
+ Virgin Islands
+ Washington
+ Washington D.C.
+ Wisconsin
+ Wyoming

41 states and 1 district and 1 territory! That is pretty impressive! Over 80% of the way there!

The state nobody submitted from are:
+ Alabama
+ Alaska
+ Connecticut
+ Delaware
+ Maine
+ Massachusetts
+ Rhode Island
+ Virginia
+ West Virginia

Here is the final map for 2023:



The Outside of the United States map is currently:

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

The big milestone this week was Micky joining the 2 Year Streak Club! WooHoo!

But not everybody rang in the new year with their streak intact. Evie’s couldn’t build on last week’s submission. Either could Elainie. Or Willy. Or Alexis.

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 434 - Sunday Morning
SUNDAY MORNING – SUGGESTED BY SARAH TOOT

SUNDAY MORNING! What a great first theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

This year I’m not going to give a description of the theme. I’m going to trust you can figure it out on your own and through the theme reveal image. However, if you do have a question, don’t be afraid to ask.

Here is an updated list of the rules for Year 11:


1. The picture must 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 and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures.

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 SUNDAY MORNING in this place that likes to have plenty of submissions by Sunday morning next Monday.

Liberty Bowl Trip Cell Phone Pictures

Time to share the May image for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. It is a picture taken off of I-80 near the exit that takes you to the Amana Colonies:


2024 Calendar - May
MAY

I chose this picture for May because I usually put a picture in May that is a picture that I love that I think most people won’t. Frequently that is an image of ruins. Which of course I love. Particularly black and white picture of ruins.

TECHNICAL DETAIL

CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: August 8, 2022 – 9:06 AM
LENS: E 28-75MM f/2.8
FOCAL LENTH: 75mm
EXPOSURE: 1/1000
ISO: 100

Tomorrow I will share the June image!

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While the football game didn’t go the way I had hoped. It was a full on embarrassment, but that is how the cookie crumbles. It still was an incredible trip. Thought I would go ahead and share some cruddy cell phone pictures from the trip to start:


Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

I’ll get into details about the trip at a later date.

A Long Day…

Back on May 6 I had a pretty long day. I spent the morning into the early afternoon doing photography for Sleeping Angels. Logan assisted me on this project. After we photographed the Sleeping Angels Fun Run crossing the Mile Long Bridge, we headed down to Grimes and had lunch.

After taking Logan home I watched the Kentucky Derby. Then I headed to Marshalltown to have supper at Zeno’s with Jorge, Randi, and their brood, Clevenger, Hope, Cathie, Micky, Robyn, Katelyn, Aubrey, Michelle, Craig, Elizabeth, Alexander, and Nicholas.

The dinner is the annual end of the Witch Hunt. This year’s Witch Hunt went to Cathie. At the end of the dinner she was presented with The Broom. The travelling trophy for the Witch Hunt.

There was an incident that happened after dinner and while there is photographic evidence of what transpired, I’m apparently not allowed to share them…

After leaving Marshalltown I stopped at Iowa State to do a little night photography, before retiring to my house for some much needed rest.

Here are some pictures of the day.


Mile Long Graffiti

Mile Long Graffiti

Mile Long Graffiti

Mile Long Graffiti

Mile Long Graffiti

Mile Long Graffiti

Mile Long Graffiti

Mile Long Graffiti

Marshalltown, Iowa

Iowa State at Night

Iowa State at Night

Iowa State at Night

Iowa State at Night

Iowa State at Night

Iowa State at Night

Iowa State at Night

Iowa State at Night

Iowa State at Night

Iowa State at Night

Iowa State at Night

Iowa State at Night

Iowa State at Night

Iowa State at Night

Iowa State at Night

Iowa State at Night

Iowa State at Night

Iowa State at Night

Iowa State at Night

Iowa State at Night

Iowa State at Night

It was a pretty great day! Although any day that involves photography AND Zeno’s pizza is a great day!

WPC – WEEK 429 – HOMETOWN

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


Tenderloining - Claxon's Smokehouse & Grill
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRANDON!

I hope you birthday is as great a GODZILLA MINUS ONE!

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HOMETOWN! Everybody comes from one or consider where they currently live to be one! But did enough people get a picture that represent their HOMETOWN to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, November 27, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Sara Lockner – 1 week
2-Willy McAlpine – 1 week
3-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 2 weeks
4-Mary Green – 2 weeks (2)
5-Amy Peterson – 2 weeks
6-Susanna Funk – 3 weeks
7-Elainie Hernandez – 4 weeks
8-Alexis Stensland – 7 weeks
9-Scott Degeneffe – 14 weeks (2)
10-Sabas Hernandez – 15 weeks
11-Mike Vest – 21 weeks
12-Sheri Fakhouri – 24 weeks (2)
13-Logan Kahler – 25 weeks (2)
14-Nathanial Brown – 26 weeks
15-Jesse Howard – 26 weeks
16-Tamara Peterson – 29 weeks
17-Mindi Terrell – 41 weeks (3)
18-Brandon Kahler – 64 weeks
19-Linda Bennett – 70 weeks (2)
20-Sarah Toot – 71 weeks
21-Angie DeWaard – 75 weeks
22-Dawn Krause – 79 weeks (2)
23-Kim Barker – 85 weeks
24-Joe Duff – 86 weeks
25-Teresa Kahler – 97 weeks (2)
26-Carla Stensland – 97 weeks
27-Micky Augustin – 99 weeks
28-Andy Sharp – 100 weeks (3)
29-Bill Wentworth – 101 weeks
30-Cathie Morton – 105 weeks
31-Elizabeth Nordeen – 106 weeks (2)
32-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 108 weeks
33-Kio Dettman – 110 weeks

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 429 - HOMETOWN - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Boone, Iowa) – 2 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 2 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Michigan) – 3 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Michigan)

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk (Dallas Center, Iowa) – 4 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN -ELAINIE STENSLAND
Elainie Hernandez (Boone, Iowa) – 5 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - SCOTT DEGENEFE
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 15 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - SCOTT DEGENEFE
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa)

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 16 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 22 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa – Represents Boone, Iowa) – 25 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 26 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Boone, Iowa) – 27 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Boone, Iowa) – 27 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Boone, Iowa) – 30 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa – Represents Ogden, Iowa) – 42 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa – Represents Ogden, Iowa)

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 65 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 71 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas)

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas)

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN -SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 72 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 76 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 80 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Cozumel, Mexico) – 86 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Belize City, Belize)

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Texas – Representing Curlew, Iowa) – 87 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Texas – Representing Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 98 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Boone, Iowa) – 98 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Colo, Iowa) – 100 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 101 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 102 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 106 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa – Representing Bettendorf, Iowa) – 107 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa – Representing Ogden, Iowa) – 109 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 111 weeks

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa) – 533 weeks

30 participants! That is a fairly down week by current standards. I guess fewer people love the town they are in or the town that they came from than I would have suspected. That is okay. Hopefully we will rebound this week.

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Belize
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Mexico
+ Nebraska
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

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

41 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive! Over 80% of the way there! Every continental state west of the Mississippi is now accounted for.

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

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

The big milestone this week was Micky joining the Triple Digits Club! WooHoo! Also Jesse joined the Half Year Club!!

But it wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns. Jen and Amy’s 2 week streaks came to an end. Alexis’ streak ends at 7.

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 430 - LINES
LINES

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

But what is a LINES picture? Simply a picture where a major compositional element or the subject matter of the pictures includes LINES. And of course, there are all sorts of LINES.

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

There’s a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.
-Steven Wright

I look forward to your interpretation!

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge. There is a limit of 3 submissions per participant. To be considered the photographer, you have to be the one that takes the picture. Don’t be stealing the work of other artists. You can submit pictures for other photographers that took pictures with your camera or phone, but give credit where credit is due.

You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.

That is it. Thems the rules!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of LINES in this place that is nothing more than millions, maybe billions of lines of code next Monday.

But Don’t Tell Me You’re Sorry, Boy

Today is Veterans Day. A day that celebrates all those who served in the U.S. Military.


Buchanan County

Happy Veterans Day to all the veterans I know! And to the ones I don’t know too.

+++++++>/h2>

Time to hit up the backlog again. These pictures are from March and they just didn’t fit into any previous post. Some are sunset pictures. Some are from Gretchen’s birthday party. Some are pictures of gas stations.

Have a look:


But Don't Tell Me You're Sorry, Boy

But Don't Tell Me You're Sorry, Boy

But Don't Tell Me You're Sorry, Boy

But Don't Tell Me You're Sorry, Boy

But Don't Tell Me You're Sorry, Boy

But Don't Tell Me You're Sorry, Boy

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Gretchen's 2023 Birthday Party

Unfortunately I didn’t get any pictures of Gretchen or Maven. I kinda suck.

There are still plenty more images in the March backlog to share.

Happy Halloween – Late

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

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

Now time for my annual Halloween Candy Bar Power Rankings

CANDY BAR POWER RANKINGS


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

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

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

Here are some pictures of my favorite pumpkins.


Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

Garden Spirits - 2023

It was a great event! I definitely go back.

Oskaloosa Christmas Lighted Parade – II

Time to share the rest of the images from when Carla, Teresa, and I went Oskaloosa to check out the largest and oldest Christmas Lighted Parade in Iowa. I’m afraid the pictures don’t really do it justice. If you ever have a chance to check it out, I would highly recommend it. Just dress warm!


Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Oskaloosa Lighted Parade - 2022

Finding parking is particularly hard for this event as there isn’t a ton of parking in downtown Oskaloosa and the streets are packed for the parade. We got to the parade what I thought was plenty early, but still there was no parking to be found. Then as we were driving down a street that was a mere block away from the parade route, there was an elderly gentleman standing on our porch waving us to park in his driveway.

We parked in his driveway cause he couldn’t go to the parade but he wanted people to be able to park close to it and his driveway was open. It was very generous and we offered him money. But he wasn’t like the people that give up their yard for cars during the Iowa State Fair. He was just being generous. Teresa made him a card and mailed it to him.

The next trip I will cover is a trip I made to Clear Lake to see the Color the Sky Festival.