Category Archives: Self-Portrait

And I Thought My Heart was Detached

Seems like a good time to share some alternate images I took for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme LEADING LINES. I took all of these pictures on a hike through the backside of McHose Park.


Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

These pictures are almost 3 weeks old, but looking at them, it dawns on me that I should get some pants that fit better. No promises though. I’m still not finished with my cleaning out my closets project. I’m close though. Pretty dang close!

WPC – WEEK 441 – LEADING LINES

Today is Micky’s birthday so I have to wish him a happy birthday:


June 22
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICKY!

I hope your birthday is filled with all the outdoorsman adventures you can handle!

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It is the last Monday of the month and on the last Monday of the month I like to revisit our Frequently Asked Questions. Who asks these questions? I mostly ask them of myself. But that isn’t a Frequently Asked Question. These are:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE

What skill level photographer can participate?

THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE is open to photographers of all skill levels. From award winning photographers to professionals to the highly ranked amateurs to those that are just beginning to those who don’t even know how to focus a camera. All skill levels are encouraged and welcome. You can’t be too bad and you can’t be too good! Everyone has room to learn and be challenged!

Award winning photographers? Really?

Yes. I can think of at least 10 photographers that participate regularly that have won a photography award of some kind.

Is this a competition?
NO. It is a challenge. There are no winners and losers. Well the people that don’t participate are losers.

Is there a limit to the number of submissions I can have each week?

Yes. That limit is 2. If you send me more than 2, I will post the first 2 that you send. I’m not trying to harsh your photography buzz, but any more than that starts to overwhelm the other submissions and it takes me about 5 minutes to take a picture from my inbox to code it on the website. So I have to manage my workload.

If you are going to submit more than one picture, I strongly urge you to choose completely different subjects for each submission. If you are submitting multiple pictures of the same subject, make sure that each picture is saying something unique.

If I start to average like 45 participants a week, I will lower the limit to 1.

Can I send you several pictures and have you pick the best one?

No! No! NO! If those words come out of your mouth or your keyboard, I consider that to be a non-submission.

Do you ever question whether somebody’s submission fits the theme?

Meh. Only if I think somebody is clearly confusing this week’s theme with last week or next week’s theme. Otherwise, if the submission makes sense in your head, that is good enough for me. However, I would urge you to not try to fit your favorite subject into the theme every week. This isn’t a challenge to share a picture every week of your kid or your business or your pet. It is a challenge to take pictures of different things every week. Which isn’t to say subjects can’t be repeated, but you shouldn’t become reliant on the same ones.

Why can’t I submit after 11 AM on Mondays if the post doesn’t publish until 12:01 PM?

I go to lunch at 11 AM. I leave my office. I’m not near a computer. At 11 AM I hit “Schedule” and then I go throw food down my throat. 167 hours is more than enough time to send a submission. Okay, 166 hours and 59 minutes. You got me.

Do I have to wait until Monday morning to submit?

Absolutely not! In fact (AND CAN’T EMPATHIZE THIS ENOUGH) I appreciate the submissions that make it to me by Sunday evening. Makes the job of putting this together on Monday morning much easier!

Are there resolution requirements for submissions?

I won’t turn down submissions that are too small. I will probably ask you for a picture of greater resolution if it is really small. The typical 4 x 6 image posted to my website has a resolution of 1280 pixels x 853 pixels. While a 400 x 300 image might look okay on your phone, it looks like trash on a computer monitor. I prefer images that are at least 1000 pixels at their widest point, but don’t ban smaller pictures at this point. But don’t tempt me!

What format should my submission be?

.JPG but .PNG also works.

If I write a description of my image will you include that in your post?

No. Photography is art that should stand on its own. Only exception is the SLICE OF LIFE theme. But if you let me know where the picture was taken, I will include that. In fact, I appreciate you letting me know where a picture was taken. If you don’t let me know, I will assume the picture was taken in the state you live in.

When will you start accepting suggestions for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE themes?

I will take suggestions only and ONLY in the comments sections of the THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE posts the last week of October and the 1st week of November.

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LEADING LINES! They lead somewhere, but did they lead to being a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, February 19, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Mary Green – 1 week
2-Susanna Funk – 1 week
3-Stehanie Kim – 1 week
4-Becky Parmelee – 1 week (2)
5-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 2 weeks (2)
6-Deanna McClain – 2 weeks
7-Willy McAlpine – 3 weeks (2)
8-Sara Lockner – 5 weeks
9-Monica Jennings – 5 weeks
10-Suzie Brannen – 7 weeks (2)
11-Lowell Davis – 7 weeks
12-Michelle Haupt – 7 weeks
13-Alexis Stensland – 7 weeks (2)
14-Brandon Kahler – 8 weeks
15-Scott Degeneffe – 26 weeks (2)
16-Sabas Hernandez – 27 weeks
17-Mike Vest – 32 weeks
18-Sheri Fakhouri – 36 weeks
19-Logan Kahler – 37 weeks
20-Nathanial Brown – 38 weeks
21-Jesse Howard – 38 weeks (2)
22-Tamara Peterson – 41 weeks
23-Mindi Terrell – 53 weeks (2)
24-Linda Bennett – 82 weeks (2)
25-Sarah Toot – 83 weeks (2)
26-Angie DeWaard – 87 weeks
27-Dawn Krause – 91 weeks (2)
28-Kim Barker – 97 weeks
29-Joe Duff – 98 weeks (2)
30-Teresa Kahler – 109 weeks (2)
31-Carla Stensland – 109 weeks
32-Micky Augustin – 111 weeks
33-Andy Sharp – 112 weeks
34-Bill Wentworth – 113 weeks
35-Cathie Morton – 117 weeks
36-Elizabeth Nordeen – 118 weeks
37-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 120 weeks
38-Kio Dettman – 122 weeks (2)

Reminder. Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:


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. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
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 that 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. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.

There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.
3. Sometimes, for special people, for special circumstances, we can negotiate something.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks or the rules of the challenge or how to submit. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 123 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Summerset Trail – North of Indianola, Iowa) – 121 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 119 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 118 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 114 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 113 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Beardshear Hall – Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa) – 112 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Brookside Park – Ames, Iowa) – 110 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Lagomarcino Hall – Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa) – 110 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Houston, Texas) – 99 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 98 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 92 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Bandorama – Boone High School – Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa) – 88 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Ludlow, Vermont) – 84 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 83 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Terra Park – Johnston, Iowa) – 54 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Terra Park – Johnston, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Mayo Clinic – Rochester, Minnesota) – 42 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) – 39 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (The Waterfront – Ankeny, Iowa) – 39 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Ames, Iowa) – 38 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 37 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 33 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 28 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 27 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 9 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 8 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - LOWELL DAVIS
Lowell Davis (Bandorama – Boone High School – Boone, Iowa) – 8 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Clive, Iowa) – 8 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Clive, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Boone County, Iowa) – 8 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Des Moines, Iowa) – 6 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 6 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa) – 4 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Michigan) – 2 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Michigan)

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - STEPANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim (Downtown Brooklyn – New York City, New York) – 2 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee (Arkansas) – 2 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (McHose Park – Boone, Iowa)

36 participants! That is a slight dip from the previous weeks, but still a pretty great week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arkansas
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Michigan
+ Nebraska
+ New York
+ South Dakota
+ Texas
+ Vermont

Thanks to the travels of Sarah, we added Vermont to the list!

Here is the Year 11 list of states where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each state):

+ Arkansas (3)
+ California (1)
+ Colorado (2)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Iowa (307)
+ Kansas (12)
+ Michigan (4)
+ Minnesota (1)
+ Missouri (1)
+ Nebraska (10)
+ New York (5)
+ Pennsylvania (6)
+ South Dakota (2)
+ Texas (15)
+ Vermont (1)

15 states so far! No bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple states:

+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX)
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT)
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO)
+ Mary Green (MI, IA)
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN)
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD)

Sarah has trimmed Jen’s lead down to 1 state to be crowned the Queen of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Travel! I’ll keep workshopping that name.

There were no major milestones this week, but there are some big ones coming up!

There were some sad times though. Susanna couldn’t build on last week’s submission and her streak is over before it began. Jen and Deanna’s streaks both ended at 2.

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 442 - ROAD TRIP
ROAD TRIP

ROAD TRIP! What a great them for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE! One of my favorite themes every year. Since I’m pretty sure several of you are shut-ins, I like to see some of you actually leave the house now and again. Although I’ve mentally prepared myself for pictures of toy cars.

I look forward to your interpretation!

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 ROAD TRIP in this place in this place that is at least a trip on its best days next Monday.

Colon Scopin’

Not gonna lie. Going to state it right out in the open. This post isn’t for everybody. I was already told once that I overshared about this process, but it was a food adventure of sorts and the information I’m going to share fits into my future food adventures.

I started 2024 without really being to the doctor much over the last few years. If I’m being honest, much in my lifetime. But I’m getting old Auto Focus and the targeted ads when I listen to podcasts or peruse the internet or watching streaming services remind me of this fact every single day.

To start this year, I got a physical and since I haven’t been to the doctor much, he announced that this was the year that we were going to tune me up. So he scheduled me for a sleep study and a colonoscopy.

I was definitely dreading the colonoscopy. I have heard the hype about how awful it is for years. I don’t know what your experience with having something shoved up your butt is, but it was going to be a new experience for me. Not one I was looking forward to, like going to New Orleans for the first time. But when you are old like me, these are the kind of things you have to do.

Today’s food adventure is the prep I went through before my colonoscopy. I had my colonoscopy on Thursday. The prep started on Monday.

Monday Instructions

East absolutely nothing with seeds or corn: NO tomatoes, celery seeds, raspberries, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, popcorn, bread with seeds (whole grain), nuts.

This was particularly challenging for me because I eat a lot of raspberries and I enjoy a variety of nuts on the regular. Almonds. Pistachios. Walnuts. All favorites of mine. And, if you remember, a poppyseed kolache had made its way back for Nebraska with my name on it. Oh kolaches! So goooooooood! The no tomato part was also difficult cause I like a good tomato on my sandwich. Not tenderloins, but other sandwiches. I also have been eating lots of corn lately. I persevered though.

Tuesday Instructions

Milk of Magnesia: Take one ounce of Milk of Magnesia at bedtime. No seeds. No corn.


Colonoscopy Prep

I opted for the wild cherry flavored milk of magnesia. Only 1 ounce. It actually didn’t taste too bad. I don’t hanker for it, but it wasn’t bad.

Wednesday Instructions

Drink only clear liquids for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Solid foods including milk and milk products are NOT allowed. Clear liquids include water, juice, chicken or beef broth, plain Jell-O, Gatorade, popsicles, black coffee, teas, soda. PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM RED AND PURPLE LIQUIDS.


Colonoscopy Prep

Member’s Mark Chicken Broth and 7-Up. That is what I had for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Other than it wasn’t all that filling, it wasn’t too bad. I can recommend this chicken broth. It is pretty dang tasty. I actually like 7-Up. Of the clear citrus sodas, it is my favorite by far. I’ve never liked Sprite much. Sierra Mist was slightly better than Sprite, but not the best. It’s replacement Starry, I can live without.

3:00 PM: Take 4 Dulcolax tablets. Continue clear liquids.


Colonoscopy Prep

There isn’t much to say about these. They are tiny. You can’t taste them. They definitely do the job as a laxative.

5:00 PM Pour 64 oz Gatorade into large pitcher or container. Add 238 gm Miralax into the Gatorade. Mix Well. You will want to drink one 10-12 oz glass every 15-20 minutes until it is gone.


Colonoscopy Prep

I’m not a fan of Gatorade. It is one of those things that if my body needs it (like after a workout) it tastes fantastic. If I’ve been sitting around like a worthless couch potato all day, then it tastes like ass. My body rejects it.

“Dude, you haven’t earned this.”

I hear a lot of people struggle with this, but I was able to knock all this down fairly easily. Probably cause the other diuretics had been doing their work and I was getting pretty hungry. The broth wasn’t exactly filling me up.

NOTHING BY MOUTH AFTER MIDNIGHT.

THURSDAY INSTRUCTIONS

Day of the exam, 3 hours prior (3 AM): Take 10 0z of the Mag Citrate (set your alarm). If you have known kidney disease, please discuss with physician fist. DO NOT drink with water.


Colonoscopy Prep

I opted for the cherry flavored magnesium citrate. It actually went down pretty smooth. The taste wasn’t bad and I was so hungry by this point, 10 more ounce of liquid. If you have constipation, you could do worse. Flavor wise.

I’ve heard stories of people throwing this up, but really, I was so hungry. I downed that bottle like it was an ice cold Pepsi-Cola.

The colonoscopy experience itself was not anywhere near as bad as the hype. Teresa took me to the hospital and drove me home afterwards.

I checked-in. They took me back to the waiting room. I put on a gown that was a million times too short for me. They ran an IV. The first one in my life. That one took a little bit. Apparently my veins are a bit shy. But I’ve know that from every time I’ve ever gotten my blood drawn.

Then we walked back to the operating room. I lied down. The anesthesiologist told me the anesthesia might burn a little bit going in, but I didn’t feel any burn. Next thing I knew, they were waking me up and walking me back to my room.

Once I was situated there, they came in and told me that everything went well. They found one polyp, which is common, but shouldn’t be anything to be worried about. They would send it to get biopsied and then I would hear the results next week.

Then I got dressed and went home.

The following week they called me and told me the polyp was benign and that I wouldn’t have to go through this again for 10 years. Which is exactly what I was hoping to hear.

I’m not going to get on my soapbox and tell you that if you are over 45 years, you should get in and get a colonoscopy. But if you are starting to get an inordinate amount of ads in your feeds for bentcarrot.com, then it is probably time.

If I were you, I wouldn’t listen to me either, so like I said, I won’t preach. Cause you already know and one more person telling you won’t make a difference. But I might be the one person that you hear say, “it isn’t really all that bad”.

So it is like the poster says:



I also said that I was getting a sleep study done. I was lucky enough to get to do an at home sleep study and that was an awful experience. I wore a sensor on a finger and another one on my chest. It doesn’t sound like much, but I had the worst night of sleep ever.

When they rate how you sleep, it is on a scale of 1-35. 35 is the worst. I got a 31. Which is basically, “How are you still alive?”

So starting on Thursday, this is what I look like when I go to bed at night:


Colonoscopy Prep
Sexy Auto Focus

I have slept with it for 3 nights now. The first night was pretty awful. I might have just thrown in the towel, but the insurance company won’t pony up the cash unless I average 4 hours a night with this guy on for 3 months.

However, the 2nd night wasn’t too bad. The 3rd night I would characterize as not bad. I’m hoping in a week or so I can crank that all the way up to good.

The third and final health related thing that came out of my physical is I’m becoming increasingly more active trying to establish healthier habits. That includes both eating and exercise.

Last year I did change many of my eating habits. I wasn’t completely mindful about it, but I established a few guidelines with what I considered to be healthier eating. I won’t going into much detail, but I tried to limit the bad foods I ate. Tried to eat healthier snacks. Tried to stop eating by 8 PM. Tried to be more active. The active part can be hard for me because my job is a TON of sitting down. I try to take some brief walks on my 10 minute breaks.

And I did have some positive results. In fact in 2023 I lost like 30 pounds.

Exactly 1 person noticed.

Thanks Michelle!

From my physical my doctored said I should try Noom. It is that weight loss program that is based in psychology. I wasn’t eager for this, but I decided to give it a shot. As a bonus, I’m pretty sure I can get the Computer Mine to pay for it through our continuing education budget. So at worst case scenario, I shouldn’t be out any money.

The Noom system basically consists of 4 things you do every day:

1. Read lessons on forming good habits and nutrition.
2. Weigh yourself.
3. Track what you eat.
4. Track your exercise.

Which I suppose doesn’t seem like rocket science and I wasn’t looking forward to logging what I eat. But as it turns out, that part has probably been the most helpful part for me. I’ve really learned a ton. There are so many foods I thought were healthy that turns out, ain’t all that healthy. Some food I thought were pretty bad, actually a lot healthier than I expected.

I’ve been working the system for about 3 weeks now. I am down 6.7 pounds. Probably would have been more, but you know Super Bowl Sunday happened in there.

Now weight isn’t the only measure of health and isn’t even the best measure of health, but it is the easiest to measure. So I will continue to share this journey on hear. Congratulations! All of you just became my accountability buddies!

Super Bowl Sunday? Yeah, next Sunday’s food adventure will cover many of the delicious food offerings I experienced on Super Bowl Sunday. I attended 2 parties. That is a lot of food adventuring!

We Broke Up a Month Ago

I took a few pictures for the THE WEEKLY CHALLENGE theme CIRCLE a week or so back. Thought I would share with you all the ones that were good enough to make the cut. Most of these were taken in McHose Park, but a few were taken in other locations. But all in Boone.

Here are the alternates:


Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

I do love a good shape theme! It is a theme that makes you look at the world in a slightly different way (SPOILER: that is what all the themes should do) as you see how shapes fit together to make the entire picture you see. It is a great exercise to help you improve your compositional skills. Maybe next year I should do some combined shape themes. Like SQUARE AND TRIANGLE. A submission would have to include both of them. I’m starting to fall in love with my own idea. I’m sure that is the first time that has ever happened.

Liberty Bowl Road Trip Grub

When Jesse and I went down to Memphis to watch the embarrassing debacle that was the Liberty Bowl we made sure to eat a bunch of delicious food. Fortunately the Pastor at my church lived in Memphis for several years and he gave us several solid recommendations on places to eat.

Here are the pictures from my Memphis food adventure with Jesse:


Liberty Road Bowl Eats
On the road trip down, we stopped at an Imo’s pizza for a meal.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
St. Louis–style pizza is a type of pizza popular in St. Louis, Missouri, and surrounding areas.[1] The style has a thin cracker-like crust made without yeast, generally uses Provel cheese, and is cut into squares or rectangles instead of wedges.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
For supper that night we ate at Central Barbecue.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
The cole slaw was maybe the worst thing I’ve tasted in my life, but the rest was amazing!

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Breakfast the next morning in the hotel.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
B.B. King’s Blues Club with Andree and his brother.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
It was so dark in there, there aren’t many pictures.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
But the entertainment was hard to beat.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Breakfast again the next morning. We really didn’t eat supper the night before.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
More breakfast at Gibson’s Donuts.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
We got a free donut cause it was our first time.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Before the game we had brunch at Railgarten with some awesome people! Cyclone fans!

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Food was nothing special but it got the job done.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Also we met up with Jon and his friend.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Corky’s after the game!

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Give me a pile of everything that is delicious and bad for you!

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Way better coleslaw!

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

It was a great trip and so much great food! I would say that Corky’s was my favorite. But I don’t think we had a bad meal. That includes the lunch at A&W in Mount Pleasant, Iowa on the trip back.

That is the last food adventure I have to share right now. Maybe I will come up with one in the next few days. So I will have one to share next Sunday. Time will tell!

I Scream: Winterset Field Work

I am definitely starting to run low on food adventures, but I think that there are a few on my horizon. This food adventure took place in November. I cruised down to a state park near Winterset cause it was on my list of places I wanted to see in 2023. On my way home I stopped at a Mom and Pop ice cream shop called Frostee’s. It was the second to last day it was open in 2023. Here are some pictures:


I Scream: Frostee's

I Scream: Frostee's

I Scream: Frostee's

I Scream: Frostee's

I Scream: Frostee's

I Scream: Frostee's

I Scream: Frostee's
This year I should go back and buy a Frostee’s shirt!

I Scream: Frostee's

I Scream: Frostee's

I Scream: Frostee's
Even a gross Coke cup can’t ruin ice cream.

I Scream: Frostee's
Got a raspberry malt as I’m trying to take more risks.

I Scream: Frostee's

I Scream: Frostee's

I Scream: Frostee's

How was it? You know I have the Ted Lasso policy on ice cream:

Ice cream is the best. It’s kinda like seeing Billy Joel perform live. Never disappoints.
-Ted Lasso

Last year May 7 was the first day Frostee’s was open. I imagine it will open about the same date again this year.

Frostee’s is located:

101 East Green Street
Winterset, Iowa

There is one other picture to share from this trip. It wasn’t taken at Frostee’s but on one of the famous Bridges of Madison County. It made me laugh, maybe it will make you smile too:


I Scream: Frostee's

Next Sunday’s food adventure. Will cover the food I ate on my recent trip to Memphis.

WPC – WEEK 436 – BREAKFAST

Toda is Sheri’s birthday so I need to wish her a happy birthday!


June 5
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I hope it is as good of a birthday as is possible!

+++++++

BREAKFAST! Some say that is it the most important meal of the day! I don’t know that it is, but was it important enough to enough people to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, January 8, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week
2-Monica Jennings – 1 week
3-Suzie Brannen – 2 weeks
4-Lowell Davis – 2 weeks
5-Susanna Funk – 2 weeks
6-Michelle Haupt – 2 weeks
7-Alexis Stensland – 2 weeks
8-Brandon Kahler – 3 weeks
9-Mary Green – 4 weeks (2)
10-Scott Degeneffe – 21 weeks
11-Sabas Hernandez – 22 weeks
12-Mike Vest – 27 weeks
13-Sheri Fakhouri – 31 weeks (2)
14-Logan Kahler – 32 weeks
15-Nathanial Brown – 33 weeks (2)
16-Jesse Howard – 33 weeks
17-Tamara Peterson – 36 weeks
18-Mindi Terrell – 48 weeks (2)
19-Linda Bennett – 77 weeks (2)
20-Sarah Toot – 78 weeks
21-Angie DeWaard – 82 weeks (2)
22-Dawn Krause – 86 weeks
23-Kim Barker – 92 weeks
24-Joe Duff – 93 weeks (2)
25-Teresa Kahler – 104 weeks (2)
26-Carla Stensland – 104 weeks (2)
27-Micky Augustin – 106 weeks
28-Andy Sharp – 107 weeks
29-Bill Wentworth – 108 weeks
30-Cathie Morton – 112 weeks
31-Elizabeth Nordeen – 113 weeks
32-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 115 weeks
33-Kio Dettman – 117 weeks (2)

Reminder. Here is the updated list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:


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. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
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 that 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. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.

There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.
3. Sometimes, for special people, for special circumstances, we can negotiate something.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks or the rules of the challenge or how to submit. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 3 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Manchester, Iowa) – 5 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Manchester, Iowa)

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 108 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 83 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - MICKY
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 107 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 33 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 87 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 2 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 34 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 49 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - ELAINIE HERNANDEZ
Elainie Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 22 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 23 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - JOHNATHAN STENSLAND
Johnathan Stensland (Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 32 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 105 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 34 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 93 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - LOWELL DAVIS
Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 3 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 118 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 113 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 78 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 4 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 105 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 116 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 28 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 79 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania)

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (League City, Texas) – 94 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (League City, Texas)

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 37 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 3 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 3 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 109 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska)

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 114 weeks

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa)

WPC 436 - BREAKFAST - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa)

37 participants this week! That is definitely the high for this year! WooHoo!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Kansas
+ Iowa
+ Nebraska
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas

No new states added this week.

Here is the Year 11 list of states where submissions have been taken:

+ Kansas
+ Iowa
+ Michigan
+ Nebraska
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas

The big milestone this week is Linda hitting the Year and a Half Club! WooHoo!!

But it wasn’t all rainbows and puppies. Funk’s streak came to a screeching halt at 2 weeks. Hopefully she gets back on the mountain this week!

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 437 - RULE OF THIRDS
RULE OF THIRDS (SUGGESTED BY SARAH TOOT)

RULE OF THIRDS! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

I’m not explaining the themes this year, unless it is something technical.

Here is the definition of the RULE OF THIRDS from the SLR Lounge:

“In photography, the rule of thirds is a type of composition in which an image is divided evenly into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, and the subject of the image is placed at the intersection of those dividing lines, or along one of the lines itself.”

You will notice on the theme reveal image I have left the RULE OF THIRDS lines there so you can get an idea of where they are. Every camera gives you the ability to put these lines on the display screen before you take the picture.

I look forward to seeing your interpretation!

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 RULE OF THIRDS in this place that doesn’t follow many rules next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 435 – UGLY

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day! I forgot to mention this last Monday cause it had slipped my RADAR. The Computer Mine doesn’t care about civil rights all that much, so while government employees, schools, and bankers get the day off, I’ll be working it to the bone all day.

I don’t know if it the type of holiday where you say “Happy (insert holiday here)!” While it is definitely good to honor the man and all of the civil rights accomplishments this country has made over the years, there are large swaths of this country where basic human rights are not only being threatened, they are being walked backwards by regressionist political policies.

I mean, they are banning books! You want to know who the bad people are. Every single time in history, the bad people were the ones banning books! Always!

As always, I like to share a photo when celebrating a holiday. Here is a picture of the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee.


MLK Jr. Day

The Civil Rights Museum was built on the same property where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. One of those rare times where a place that was the scene of tragedy was turned into a place of veneration and education.

As you celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. today don’t act like the battle for basic human rights is over. The fight is as alive today as it was in King’s day.

+++++++

UGLY! This was a theme I thought I might struggle with. After all, I’m a person that doesn’t find much to be UGLY. I mean, more than a few of you have had me text you pictures of public bathrooms. I love old. I love rusty. I love the unusual. I love the weird. It is hard for me to find something that is UGLY. Besides racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, islamophobia, antisemitism, xenophobia, jingoism, misogyny… you know… the basic tenets of hatred. But to find out if other people took camera in hand to photography something UGLY, you will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, January 8, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Suzie Brannen – 1 week
2-Lowell Davis – 1 week
3-Susanna Funk – 1 week
4-Michelle Haupt – 1 week
5-Willy McAlpine – 1 week
6-Alexis Stensland – 1 week
7-Brandon Kahler – 2 weeks
8-Mary Green – 3 weeks (2)
9-Scott Degeneffe – 20 weeks
10-Sabas Hernandez – 21 weeks
11-Mike Vest – 26 weeks
12-Sheri Fakhouri – 30 weeks (2)
13-Logan Kahler – 31 weeks
14-Nathanial Brown – 32 weeks
15-Jesse Howard – 32 weeks
16-Tamara Peterson – 35 weeks (2)
17-Mindi Terrell – 47 weeks (2)
18-Linda Bennett – 76 weeks (2)
19-Sarah Toot – 77 weeks
20-Angie DeWaard – 81 weeks
21-Dawn Krause – 85 weeks (2)
22-Kim Barker – 91 weeks
23-Joe Duff – 92 weeks
24-Teresa Kahler – 103 weeks (2)
25-Carla Stensland – 103 weeks (2)
26-Micky Augustin – 105 weeks
27-Andy Sharp – 106 weeks (2)
28-Bill Wentworth – 107 weeks
29-Cathie Morton – 111 weeks
30-Elizabeth Nordeen – 112 weeks (2)
31-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 114 weeks
32-Kio Dettman – 116 weeks

Heading into this week, this is the 2024 THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE SUBMISSION MAP:



Maybe the map will get more filled in today!

Reminder. Here is the updated list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:


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. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
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 that 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. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.

There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 5.
3. Sometimes, for special people, for special circumstances, we can negotiate something.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks or the rules of the challenge or how to submit. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WPC 435 - UGLY - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 106 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Sommerset, Iowa) – 115 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 92 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 435 - UGLY - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 77 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY -  LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas)

WPC 435 - UGLY - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Boone, Iowa) – 33 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 435 - UGLY - LOWELL DAVIS
Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Rural Boone County, Iowa) – 21 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 82 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Iowa)

WPC 435 - UGLY - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (League City, Texas) – 93 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (League City, Texas)

WPC 435 - UGLY - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 117 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 435 - UGLY - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Rieman Music – Ames, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 435 - UGLY - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Mercy Hospital – Des Moines, Iowa) – 31 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Mercy Hospital – Des Moines, Iowa)

WPC 435 - UGLY - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa) – 4 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa)

WPC 435 - UGLY - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 22 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 33 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 435 - UGLY - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Ames, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 32 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 104 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 435 - UGLY - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 86 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 112 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 113 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 36 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 107 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Boone County, IA – 216th Dr. Near Ogden) 104 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Boone County, Iowa)

WPC 435 - UGLY - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 48 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WPC 435 - UGLY - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 78 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 27 weeks

WPC 435 - UGLY - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 108 weeks

34 participants! That is a pretty great week!

There were submissions this week were taken in the following places:

+ Kansas
+ Iowa
+ Nebraska
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas

No new states added this week.

Here is the Year 11 list of states where submissions have been taken:

+ Kansas
+ Iowa
+ Michigan
+ Nebraska
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas

There were some big milestones this week. Sarah joined the Year and Half Streak Club! WooHoo! Both Carla and Teresa both joined the 2 Year Streak Club! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all happiness and rainbows. Willy couldn’t build on last week’s submission. His streak is over before it even began.

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 436 - BREAKFAST
BREAKFAST

BREAKFAST! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

I look forward to seeing your interpretation!

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 BREAKFAST in this place that like a little #wafflelife next Monday.

#BreakfastBurritoLife: Boone Field Work

A few months back I stopped at an interesting breakfast joint that is only a few short blocks from my house. Weather or Naut is breakfast (and catering) business that serves breakfast from their driveway.

Here are some pictures from my breakfast burrito meal:


#BreakfastBurritoLife: Weather or Naut

#BreakfastBurritoLife: Weather or Naut

#BreakfastBurritoLife: Weather or Naut

#BreakfastBurritoLife: Weather or Naut

#BreakfastBurritoLife: Weather or Naut

#BreakfastBurritoLife: Weather or Naut

#BreakfastBurritoLife: Weather or Naut

#BreakfastBurritoLife: Weather or Naut

#BreakfastBurritoLife: Weather or Naut

#BreakfastBurritoLife: Weather or Naut

#BreakfastBurritoLife: Weather or Naut

#BreakfastBurritoLife: Weather or Naut

#BreakfastBurritoLife: Weather or Naut

#BreakfastBurritoLife: Weather or Naut

#BreakfastBurritoLife: Weather or Naut

#BreakfastBurritoLife: Weather or Naut

My breakfast burrito was delicious!

To cut to the chase of my review, I would definitely go back. In fact I have already been back!

They are currently closed for the winter and to do some remodeling, but I look forward to their opening again next year!

Weather or Naut is located:

1639 3rd Street
Boone, Iowa

Next Sunday’s food adventure will involve the Tenderloin Trail 2.0. For real this time.

‘Cause Someday I’ll Be Everything to Somebody Else

Time to clean out the April backlog. Lots of pictures that didn’t quite make their way into previous “An Artist’s Notebook” entries. Including some that were alternates for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE and some that were taken in Jester Park and some at the end of a flowertography road trip. And some that include Naima.


Dickcissel with Naima

Dickcissel with Naima

Dickcissel with Naima

Dickcissel with Naima

Dickcissel with Naima

April Movie Night

Jester Park Elk

Jester Park Elk

Jester Park Elk

Jester Park Elk

Jester Park Elk

Jester Park Elk

Jester Park Elk

Jester Park Elk

Jester Park Elk

Jester Park Elk

Jester Park Elk

Lucas County

Lucas County

Lucas County

Lucas County

Lucas County

Lucas County

It always feels good when the backlog gets a little more cleaned out!