Category Archives: Formal Portrait

Iowa State Fair – Day 3 – Alpha

On my third trip to the Iowa State Fair I started the day with Monica and Graham. Then at some point they disappeared and I finished the day with Sabas, Elainie, and Tiffany.

Here is the first collection of images from the day:


Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023
Hard to imagine a better kind of chick than a waffle chick.

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Iowa State Fair -Trip 3 - 2023

Still a ton of pictures from this day left to share!

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: Audubon Field Work

A couple months back Jesse and I hit the open road and ended up at The Feed Mill Restaurant in Audubon, Iowa. It was the 9th stop (technically 10th – but I’ll cover that) on the Tenderloin Trail 2.0. Leaving me just one stamp short of earning my Tenderloin Trail 2.0 shirt!

Despite being one of the closer Tenderloin Trail 2.0 restaurant stops to Boone, I didn’t know if I was ever going to be able to cross this one off the list. Their hours are pretty awful. They are only open a few hours a week. Which is too bad, because their food is excellent!

The Feed Mill Restaurant is inside Waspy’s Truck Stop and that gas station itself has really good food. There are two Waspy’s. One in Audubon and another in Templeton. If you are in the area, I think it is worth the stop. But you know me, I’m partial to food in gas stations. Casey’s Pizza. The Filling Station in Madrid. The Filling Station in Ames. Joe’s in Kansas City. You get the point.

Here are some pictures from the outing:


Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

As you know, in addition to being a noted tenderloin fiend, I also love me a great cheese curd. Fried or otherwise. If I remember correctly their cheese curds were muenster. It made a fine cheese curd, but it wasn’t decidedly different from your standard cheddar cheese curd. So I’m saying it was pretty great!

As for the tenderloin. It was a pretty great tenderloin! Now the question is, would I eat there again? Would I go out of my way to go there? Would I make a special trip to get this tenderloin?

It is a great tenderloin. The problem is that it is just down the street from Darrell’s Place and the Darrell’s Place tenderloin is the O.G. great tenderloin in Iowa. So being put in the situation of having to choose one, if I was in the area, I would choose Darrell’s Place.

That isn’t a reflection on The Feed Mill. Just nothing is Darrell’s Place.

The Feed Mill Restaurant is located at:

2079 US Highway 71
Audubon, Iowa

Located in Waspy’s Truck Stop.

But I’m not done with this post quite yet. Earlier I wrote that this was the 9th Stop on the Tenderloin Trail, but technically the 10th. That is because back in 2022 I visited the Wood Iron Grille in Oskaloosa with Carla and Teresa and knocked down their tenderloin. However, I didn’t have my Passport on me, so I didn’t get it stamped.

You can understand my frustration because it takes 10 stamps (out of 14, but really 13) to get the free shirt. So shortly after my trip to Audubon with Jesse I made a return trip to Oskaloosa with Teresa. With passport firmly in my hands.

I don’t need to cover the Wood Iron Grille tenderloin again, but I thought I could share 2 pictures from that trip:



The last bite of Tenderloin Trail 2.0.


The passport.

I got my shirt and this letter within a couple weeks of mailing in my Passport:



I’m not going to share a picture of the shirt yet. I have a whole photo session for that worked up in my head. Which means you will probably never get to see it, unless you catch me in the wild wearing it.

However, I would be a poor tenderloin enthusiast if I didn’t thank those people that helped me in fulfilling this dream. An accomplishment that some are calling “the greatest in the history of mankind”. So thanks to everyone who at least sat across from me while I knocked down a tenderloin on this trail:

+ Austin Degeneffe (Iowa Taproom)
+ Porter Degeneffe (Iowa Taproom)
+ Scott Degeneffe (Co-Founder of the Tenderloin Appreciation Society) (Iowa Taproom)
+ Jesse Howard (The Feed Mill, Birdies, Burgers & Brews, and The Pub at Pinicon)
+ Dahlia Kahler (Whatcha Smokin’)
+ Logan Kahler (Whatcha Smokin’)
+ Teresa Kahler (Whatcha Smokin’, Grid Iron Sports Bar & Grille, Stumble Inn, and Wood Iron Grille)
+ Nader Parsaei (Darrell’s Place, Birdie’s Burgers & Brews)
+ Carla Stensland (Wood Iron Grille)
+ Phil Webb (Grid Iron Sports Bar & Grille)

The only stop on the trail I made solo was PrairieMoon on Main.

You might be asking yourself what my future tenderloin plans are since I am eating healthier these days? It is true. I don’t really eat much fried food any more. Really hardly at all. That doesn’t mean tenderloins are off the menu. I have a plan for a more structured tenderloin quest this year. I want to make 1 special tenderloin trip a month. 1st on my list is the reigning 2023 Best Tenderloin at Cliff’s Place in Manning.

I haven’t had this month’s special tenderloin, so I’m going to effort to go to Manning next week and if that doesn’t work out, some place else. Also on my list are the 3 tenderloins on the Tenderloin Trail 2.0 that I haven’t tried. Jethro’s is also on the list, but I’ve had that tenderloin. It isn’t great. Plus my understanding is that the owner of Jethro’s is not a great person and I have limited desire to line his pockets with any of my green. Also on that list is the other finalists from last year. Plus any of the past champions that I haven’t tried.

Drop me a line if you want to go on one of these tenderloin quests. I already have you marked down Michelle. I haven’t forgotten.

The next food adventure I will share will be the last time I ate ice cream. At least I’m pretty sure the last time I ate ice cream.

And You’ll Be the One Who’s Crying

A couple Sundays back my church honored our Building Engineer. He retired after 43 years with our church. Which is amazing when you think about it. Yesterday was my 18th anniversary with the computer mine. I can’t imagine working another 18 years there. Let alone another 25 years. Wow!

I used it as an opportunity to take pictures for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme SUNDAY MORNING. Here are some of the alternate images I took for the theme:


Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

Ben's Retirement

It was a pretty great Sunday morning at the Boone First United Methodist Church!

And They’ll Think that I am So Exciting

It is time to share the November image from the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar image. It is a picture of the redbud trees in Red Haw State Park.


2024 Calendar - November
NOVEMBER

I chose this picture for November because it had purple in it.

TECHINICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: April 29, 2023 – 12:23 PM
LENS: 17-28mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 17mm
APERTURE: f/6.3
EXPOSURE: 1/160
ISO: 100

Tomorrow I will show the last image from the 2024 calendar.

+++++++

Now is the time to clean up the May backlog. These images were taken in May, but never really fit into a previous “An Artist’s Notebook” post. Some of are Naima. Some were alternate images for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Hopefully all are of interest.

Naima

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

Wolf, Iowa

Incline, Iowa

It definitely feels good to get some of the backlog cleared out!

Sausage Fest

Time to share the January image for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. It was taken on a foggy morning on the High Trestle Trail Bridge:


2024 Calendar - January
JANUARY

Part of the reason I selected this image for January was it suggested the cold of January to me. Especially since it was taken in January.

TECHNICAL DETAILS:

CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: January 3, 2023 – 12:32 PM
LENS: E 70/180mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 180mm
APERTURE: f/4.5
EXPOSURE: 1/500
ISO: 100

Tomorrow I will share the image from February.

+++++++

A few weeks ago I was invited by Michelle to attend one of her family traditions. Their annual making party. I took plenty of pictures. Here are a few of them:


Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

Sausage Fest

The sausage dried for 24 hours and was smoked the next day. I have some of it in my freezer just begging to be cooked up. Probably should do that soon!

Stanhope Watermelon Day – III

Time for another collection of images from the trip I made to Stanhope Watermelon Day with Teresa. This collection of images is from when we returned to Watermelon Day. After the parade we took off to Bradford for lunch. Then we came back for the free watermelon and the Foreigner cover band.

Here are some pictures:


Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Still one more collection of images to share from this day!

Minnesota Independence Day Road Trip – Day 1

Back in July I took a road trip up to Minnesota near the 4th of July to visit family. Here are a few pictures from Day 1 of the trip:


Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Independence Day Minnesota Road Trip - Day 1

Coming across Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store was a welcome surprise. Apparently Nora has wanted to go there forever, but Bethany has always shot her down, but this time I talked them into guy. Cause that is what I do. I make dreams come true. Especially dreams that involve candy.

A collection of pictures from Day 2 is still to come!

Dysart Illusion Road Trip – III

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.


Dysart Illusions Road Trip
Traer

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip
Gladbrook

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip
Toledo

Dysart Illusions Road Trip
A different town sign.

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

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!

Dysart Illusion Road Trip – I

Back in April I loaded up the car with Nader and we drop over to Dysart because I wanted to check out their collection of illusions. It turns out that many of them aren’t in great shape and I think 2 of them are completely gone. At least we went to where they are supposed to be on the map and there was nothing there.

Despite that disappointment, it was a really good trip.

Here is the first collection of pictures from the trip:


Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

It is tricky to photograph an illusion. Often the illusion doesn’t translate to photography. But I think you get the idea. There are still plenty more pictures to share from this road trip.