Category Archives: Railroad

Fat Mum Slim – November 2022

Taking a Formal Portrait Sunday off to share November’s Fat Mum Slim Photo A Day Challenge images. Only one month left for this challenge as I’m not going to continue it into 2023. I think I’ve kind of run my course with it.

Here are the November images:


November 1
November 1 – A Collection

November 2
November 2 – A Book Cover

November 3
November 3 – A Shop Front

November 4
November 4 – A For Sale Sign

November 5
November 5 – A Bridge

November 6
November 6 – A Fence

November 7
November 7 – I Didn’t Make This

November 8
November 8

November 9
November 9 – An Unmade Bed

November 10
November 10 – Power Lines

November 11
November 11 – An Arrow

November 12
November 12 – In My Pocket

November 13
November 13 – A Closed Sign

November 14
November 14 – A Flock of Birds

November 15
November 15 – Hand Shadow

November 16
November 16 – Running Water

November 17
November 17 – Wrinkles

November 18
November 18 – An Empty Table

November 19
November 19 – Rocks

November 20
November 20 – Afternoon Light

November 21
November 21 – Half Full

November 22
November 22 – Graffiti

November 22
November 23 – An Ugly Food

November 24
November 24

November 25
November 25 – A Spiderweb

November 26
November 26 – A Funny Shape

November 27
November 27 – A Splash

November 28
November 28 – Something Hidden

November 29
November 29 – A List

November 30
November 30 – A Family Member

Here is the list of the December themes:

December 1 – I Love This!
December 2 – I Bought This!
December 3 – Starts with T
December 4 – I Held This
December 5 – Something Red
December 6 – Peace
December 7 – tree
December 8 – Looking Up
December 9 – Small
December 10 – Out + About
December 11 – Free Choice
December 12 – Lights
December 13 – Something Green
December 14 – Decoration
December 15 – A Star
December 16 – Candy Cane
December 17 – A Hat
December 18 – I Made This!
December 19 – Joy Is…
December 20 – Begins with S
December 21 – On the Floor
December 22 – A Gift
December 23 – A Tradition
December 24 – Someone I Love
December 25 – My Day
December 26 – This is Delish!
December 27 – Colourful
December 28 – A Book
December 29 – Us
December 30 – How I Relax
December 31 – Best Part of 2022

Seems like a pretty good list. I think I’ve already done some good work this month!

Buchanan County Aux – Vol. 3

This is the final collection of auxiliary images I took on my road trip to harvest the town signs of Buchanan County. It is pretty county with plenty of interesting things to see. And not even included in this series of pictures is perhaps the greatest tourist attraction of Buchanan County. Iowa’s Largest Frying Pan in Brandon.

Here is the final collection of images:


Buchanan County - Aurora
Aurora

Buchanan County - Aurora

Buchanan County - Aurora

Buchanan County - Aurora

Buchanan County - Aurora

Buchanan County - Aurora

Buchanan County - Aurora

Buchanan County - Aurora

Buchanan County - Lamont
Lamont

Buchanan County - Lamont

Buchanan County - Lamont

Buchanan County

Buchanan County
Dundee

Buchanan County

Buchanan County

Buchanan County

Buchanan County

Buchanan County

Buchanan County

Buchanan County - Masonville
Masonville

Buchanan County - Masonville

Buchanan County - Masonville

Buchanan County - Masonville

Buchanan County - Masonville

Buchanan County - Masonville

Buchanan County - Masonville

Buchanan County - Masonville

Buchanan County - Quasqueton
Quasqueton

Buchanan County - Quasqueton

Buchanan County - Quasqueton

Buchanan County - Quasqueton

Buchanan County - Quasqueton

Buchanan County

Buchanan County - Rowley
Rowley

Two things:

#1. I wouldn’t want to use an outhouse after a sasquatch.
#2. The Rowley Fire and Rescue sign doesn’t fill me with much confidence in their abilities.

The next time we hit the open road for auxiliary pictures from THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will visit Delaware County.

WPC – WEEK 374 – STRONG

Thanks to the three people that left ideas for themes for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. I am very grateful for your suggestions. I will consider all of them, except for Andy’s last one, which was ridiculous.

So was STRONG a strong theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, November 1, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Evie Gorshe – 1 week
2-Willy McAlpine – 1 week
3-Tamara Peterson – 1 week
4-Mike Vest – 1 week
5-Mary Green – 3 weeks (7)
6-Becky Parmelee – 3 weeks
7-Sabas Hernandez – 4 weeks
8-Jesse Howard – 5 weeks
9-Sara Lockner – 7 weeks
10-Suzie Brannen – 11 weeks
11-Brandon Kahler – 12 weeks
12-Linda Bennett – 15 weeks (2)
13-Sarah Toot – 16 weeks (2)
14-Monica Jennings – 16 weeks (2)
15-Angie DeWaard – 20 weeks (2)
16-Dawn Krause – 24 weeks (2)
17-Kim Barker – 30 weeks
18-Joe Duff – 32 weeks
19-Logan Kahler – 33 weeks (3)
20-Teresa Kahler – 42 weeks (4)
21-Carla Stensland – 42 weeks
22-Michelle Haupt – 43 weeks
23-Micky Augustin – 44 weeks
24-Andy Sharp – 44 weeks (2)
25-Bill Wentworth – 46 weeks
26-Cathie Morton – 50 weeks
27-Elizabeth Nordeen – 51 weeks
28-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 53 weeks
29-Kio Dettman – 55 weeks (2)

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


WEEK 374 - STRONG - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman – 56 Weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 374 - STRONG - MARY GREEN
Mary Green – 4 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - MARY GREEN
Mary Green

WEEK 374 - STRONG - MARY GREEN
Mary Green

WEEK 374 - STRONG - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson – 2 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley – 54 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth – 47 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 374 - STRONG - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett – 16 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 374 - STRONG - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler – 13 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner – 8 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler – 43 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard – 21 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker – 31 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez – 5 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - MYRIAH SHARP
Myriah Sharp – 1 week

WEEK 374 - STRONG - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp – 45 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen – 52 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen – 12 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings – 18 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee – 4 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin – 45 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland – 43 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 374 - STRONG - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 374 - STRONG - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot – 17 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton – 51 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt – 44 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff – 33 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff

WEEK 374 - STRONG - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause – 25 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 374 - STRONG - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler – 34 weeks

WEEK 374 - STRONG - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

26 participants! That is a good week! But a big fall from the 30 from the previous week.

There were submissions this week from (assumptions here) Pennsylvania, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Puerto Rico. My picture was taken about 5 miles from my front door.

There was the first ever submission from Myriah Sharp. Her picture was the one from Puerto Rico. San Juan, Puerto Rico to be exact.

Elizabeth reached a huge milestone. She is the third person to join the 1 Year Streak Club. WooHoo! Nice work Elizabeth!

But it wasn’t all good times, with good friends, and strong drinks in tropical locations. There was a streak bloodbath. Evie couldn’t extend her streak to 2 weeks. Willy couldn’t either. Vest also, a one week man. Jesse’s streak was snapped at 5 weeks.

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 375 - COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION

COMMUNICATION! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a COMMUNICATION photo? A COMMUNICATION photo is simply a photo where the subject or a major compositional element shows a form of COMMUNICATION. The theme reveal picture is of a sign that is COMMUNICATIONing that there are rules to using this parking lot. It is for church parking and no overnight parking is allowed. While signs are great at COMMUNICATIONing, there are all sorts of COMMUNICATION. The phone. A letter. A postcard. Talking. Just talking to somebody.

While considering possible subjects for your COMMUNICATION image, meditate on the following quote:

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.
-Epicetus

I look forward to seeing your interpretation.

RULES
The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge.

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

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 STRONG in this place that is filled with my every day strength next Monday.

*This is not to be seen as any kind of endorsement of astrology, which is complete and utter nonsense.

Buchanan County Aux – Vol. 2

Time for the second collection of auxiliary images I took while cruising around Buchanan County harvesting their town signs. A lot of these are still of the mill in Independence. Which is very photogenic and also doubles as a museum for local history. I recommend visiting it if you are in the area.


Buchanan County - Independence
Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Independence

Buchanan County - Hazleton
Hazleton

Buchanan County - Stanley
Stanley

Buchanan County - Stanley

Buchanan County - Stanley

Buchanan County - Stanley

Buchanan County - Stanley

Buchanan County - Stanley

Buchanan County - Stanley

Buchanan County - Stanley

Buchanan County - Aurora
Aurora

Buchanan County - Aurora

I still can’t put into words how much I love the Tin Man town sign in Stanley, Iowa. It will definitely be included in the book. The book that I will need to start making a rough outline for here in the new future. I need to set a goal date for when I want to have it done by. That will help make sure it is finished. That and the great team of people I have assembled to help me put it together. You know who you are.

Chickasaw and Howard County Aux – Vol. 4

A few months back I cruised around Chickasaw County and Howard County harvesting their town signs. The majority of the pictures from today’s collection were taken in Howard County in Cresco. Which is a cool little town, despite being so into wrestling. The Old Stone Church pictures were taken in Winneshiek County. It is in the middle of the country just across the border from Howard County.

I will have to go back and photograph that Old Stone Church again some day. It is very photogenic. Stone ruins out in a beautiful Iowa countryside. What isn’t to love?


Howard County - Cresco
Cresco

Howard County - Cresco
I’m curious what highway they are portraying going through Des Moines. My guess is 6.

Howard County - Cresco

Howard County - Cresco

Howard County - Cresco

Howard County - Cresco

Howard County - Cresco
Great name for an ice cream shop!

Howard County - Cresco

Howard County - Cresco

Howard County - Cresco

Howard County - Cresco

Howard County - Cresco

Howard County - Cresco

Howard County - Cresco

Howard County - Cresco

Howard County - Cresco

Howard County - Cresco
I’ve seen lots of towns with tanks or planes or helicopters or big guns, but WWI Mine?

Howard County - Cresco

Howard County - Cresco

Howard County - Cresco

Howard County - Cresco

Howard County - Cresco

Howard County - Cresco

Howard County - Cresco

Winneshiek County - Old Stone Church
Old Stone Church

Winneshiek County - Old Stone Church

Winneshiek County - Old Stone Church

Winneshiek County - Old Stone Church

Winneshiek County - Old Stone Church

Winneshiek County - Old Stone Church

Winneshiek County - Old Stone Church

Winneshiek County - Old Stone Church

Winneshiek County - Old Stone Church

Winneshiek County - Old Stone Church

I would definitely like to visit Cresco again and spend some more time there. It is on the list!

Chickasaw and Howard County Aux – Vol. 2

A few months back I tooled around Chickasaw County and Howard County harvesting their town signs. This is the second collection of auxiliary images I took on that trip. All of these are taken in Howard County. They were taken in Elma, Lime Springs, and the unincorporated town of Lourdes. Elma is a pretty cool little town. So is Lime Springs. Lourdes has a beautiful church. I would definitely visit this area again.


Howard County - Elma
Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Elma

Howard County - Lourdes
Lourdes

Howard County - Lourdes

Howard County - Lourdes

Howard County - Lourdes

Howard County - Lime Springs
Lime Springs

Howard County - Lime Springs

Howard County - Lime Springs

Howard County - Lime Springs

Howard County - Lime Springs

There are still lots of pictures left to share from this awesome trip. There are so many cool little towns in these two counties!

Fat Mum Slim – September 2022

Another month done in the Fat Mum Slim Photo A Day Challenge. I have to confess that I spent some time on the struggle bus this month. I don’t know if I lost some steam or if I just want feeling some of the themes. Being sick for a few days in September didn’t help either. With that being said, I think there is still some good work in there.

Here are the September images:


September 1
September 1 – Something I Saw

September 2
September 2 – Plastic

September 3
September 3 – Paper

September 4
September 4 – Somewhere I Went

September 5
September 5 – Hobby

September 6
September 6 – Green + Blue

September 7
September 7 – Before Bed

September 8
September 8 – An Emotion

September 9
September 9 – Opposites

September 10
September 10 – I Can Hear…

September 11
September 11 – Paint

September 12
September 12 – Symmetry

September 13
September 13 – Tasty

September 14
September 14 – Odd One Out

September 15
September 15 – A Food Shop

September 16
September 16 – 12:34

September 17
September 17 – Lucky

September 18
September 18 – Car Park

September 19
September 19 – What’s on TV

September 20
September 20 – Texture

September 21
September 21 – Nature

September 22
September 22 – Tree Trunk

September 23
September 23 – Crunchy

September 24
September 24 – I Can Smell…

September 25
September 25 – Laneway

September 26
September 26 – The Moon

September 27
September 27 – Open Door

September 28
September 28 – My Culture

September 29
September 29 – Not My Style

September 30
September 30 – Sentimental

As you can tell, the woman who runs this challenge is Australian and there were some terms in there I had to look up, cause I had no clue what a laneway is.

Remember, you can follow on for my daily posts on the dedicated Instagram Account.

@fmsbennett

These are the themes for October:

1. White
2. Black
3. Green
4. Red
5. Orange
6. Blue
7. Yellow
8. Purple
9. Aqua
10. Pink
11. Grey
12. Brown
13. Pop of Colour
14. Stripes
15. Floral
16. One Colour
17. Two Colours
18. Pattern
19. Black and White
20. Rainbow
21. My Fave Colour
22. Matching
23. Natural
24. Dark
25. Light
26. Pastel
27. Bright
28. Gold
29. Fresh
30. Mellow
31. Dots

Some good ones in there. Should be a good month!

Appanoose County Aux – Vol. 1

A few months back I cruised around Appanoose County harvesting their town signs. Found quite a few other things to photograph while I was there. Including, in this collection, a few outhouse pictures. I find the outhouse pictures to be poignant, moving, and funny. But some people might find them disagreeable. But they are not gross. All that being said, you have been warned.


Monroe County - Lovilia
Lovillia

Monroe County - Lovilia

Appanoose County - Moravia
Moravia

Appanoose County - Moravia

Appanoose County - Moravia

Appanoose County - Moravia
I’ve also read that this is a myth. More research might be needed.

Appanoose County - Moravia

Appanoose County - Moravia

Appanoose County - Moravia

Appanoose County - Moravia

Appanoose County - Moravia

Appanoose County - Moravia

Appanoose County - Moravia

Appanoose County - Moravia

Appanoose County - Moravia

Appanoose County - Moravia
There are 100 official Freedom Rocks, but there are a few not quite Freedom Rocks out there too.

Appanoose County - Udell
Udell – This bank still has better hours and customer service than my bank.

Appanoose County - Udell

Appanoose County - Unionville
Unionville

Appanoose County - Unionville

Appanoose County - Unionville

Appanoose County - Unionville

Appanoose County - Unionville

Appanoose County - Unionville

Appanoose County - Unionville

Appanoose County - Unionville

Appanoose County - Unionville

Appanoose County - Unionville

Appanoose County - Unionville

Appanoose County - Unionville

Appanoose County - Unionville

Appanoose County - Unionville

Appanoose County - Unionville
Heart shaped!

Appanoose County - Unionville

The picture of the Buxton sign is located in Monroe County. Buxton is a fascinating bit of Iowa history. I meant to visit the Buxton ruins once, but I just didn’t trust the road. Some day soon though.

Pufferbilly Days – Saturday Afternoon

On the Saturday afternoon of Pufferbilly Days I wandered around downtown for a bit. I watched the 1st Annual Mullet and Moustache Contest. I tried to watch the Spike Driving Contest, but the weather was so blazing hot, none of the people that signed up to compete showed up to compete. So there was nothing there to photograph.

Here are some pictures:


Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Pufferbilly Days - 2022

Still at least a couple more sets of Pufferbilly Days photos to share.

+++++++

This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is SIGNS:


WEEK 367 - SIGNS
SIGNS

SIGNS! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

But what is a SIGNS photo? Quite simply is is a photo of a SIGN(s) or of SIGNS. SIGNS. SIGNS. There are SIGNS everywhere. Messing up the scenery. Breaking my mind. Do this, don’t do that. Can’t you read the SIGN(s)?

But one thing you should definitely do is find an interesting SIGN(s) and photograph it in an interesting manner. Of course there is more than one definition of the term SIGNS.

Happy photo harvesting!

Mitchell and Floyd Aux – Vol. 2

Time for another collection of images from my road trip to Mitchell and Floyd County back in April. Most of the pictures were taken in Mitchell County.


Mitchell County - Saint Ansgar
Saint Ansgar

Mitchell County - Saint Ansgar

Mitchell County - Saint Ansgar

Mitchell County - Saint Ansgar

Mitchell County - Mona
Mona

Mitchell County

Mitchellville - Toeterville
Toeterville

Mitchellville - Toeterville

Mitchell County - Stacyville
Stacyville

Mitchell County - Stacyville

Mitchell County - Stacyville

Mitchell County - Meyer
Meyer

Mitchell County - Meyer

Mitchell County - Meyer

Mitchell County - Meyer

Mitchell County - Meyer

Mitchell County - Meyer

Mitchell County - Meyer

Mitchell County - Meyer

Mitchell County - McIntire
McIntire

Mitchell County - McIntire

Mitchell County - McIntire

Mitchell County - Riceville
Riceville

Mitchell County - Riceville

Mitchell County - Riceville

Mitchell County - Riceville

Mitchell County - Riceville

Mitchell County

Mitchell County - New Haven
New Haven

Mitchell County - Osage
Osage

Mitchell County - Osage

Mitchell County - Osage

Mitchell County - Osage

I really liked Osage. It is a town I would like to explore again in the future. It goes on the list! One more collection from this road trip to go!