Category Archives: Still Life

Birthdays, Elizabeth, Jesse, Lowell, Self-Portrait, Still Life, Street Photography, Tenderloining

RAGBRAIing: Winterset Field Work

September 29, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Today is Elizabeth’s birthday, so I have to wish her a happy birthday!

Happy birthday Elizabeth!!

I won’t tell you how old Elizabeth is, but she is younger than me and that is important. To her at least.

I hope your birthday was filled with all the junk you could jaunt. I know you didn’t get any Happy Joe’s Pizza, but hopefully what food you got was a decent compromise!

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A couple months ago Jesse and I went Winterset to check out their RAGBRAI festivities. Shockingly, this was the first time Jesse has ever been to Winterset. Not so shockingly, Winterset is one of my favorite towns in Iowa and I like to visit it at least once a year. Since we were there, we had to check out the food truck scene.

Here are some pictures:

Didn’t eat here, but took this picture for Lowell, who is a fan.

Mini donuts! Yes please, but not until dessert.

This is where I got my supper.

I can’t even remember what they were called…

But I called them delicious!

And a chance to drink soda from a glass bottle!

I’m sure this was a super heavy meal!

I love the Winterset Movie Theater!

Mini donut time!

I went for the Oreo donuts!

I wish I could remember the name of the truck where we got the steak nachos, but I did a pretty poor job of documenting it and months later it is information that has escaped my cranial cavity. Also my brain. I want to say Amos was in the name somewhere. Maybe Amos Fabulous Foods.

Either way if I ever saw this castle themed food truck again, I would crush another order of those steaky cheesy plate of goodness. Whatever it is called.

As for Donuts on the Roll! Yes please! It is pretty hard to screw up a donut and donuts fresh out of the fryer are truly one of life’s best treasures!

Next Sunday’s food adventure will also involve RAGBRAI.

Animals, Art, Christianity, History, Still Life, Street Photography

Clayton’s Hardware

September 24, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Back in March I took a little stroll around Woodward doing some street photography. I ended up meeting a guy that turned his old hardware store into a museum. The museum has since been closed, but he gave me a tour of it. It was a cool little adventure.

Here are some pictures of the day:

You never know what kind of fascinating people you will meet when you are out in the world!

Adam, Andy, Angie, Bill, Brandon, Candid Portrait, Carla, Cathie, Contests, Dawn, Deanna, Elizabeth, Jesse, Joe Duff, Jonah Kahler, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Lowell, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Pufferbilly Days, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Still Life, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 471 – PARK

September 23, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

PARK! What a great theme! But did enough people get in gear to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 16, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Sabas Hernandez – 1 week (IA, OH)
2-Alexis Stensland – 1 week (IA)
*3-Mary Green – 2 weeks (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR)
*4-Deb Powers – 3 weeks (MT, IA)
5-Jesse Howard – 4 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
6-Suzie Brannen – 4 weeks (IA, MD)
7-Monica Jennings – 6 weeks (IA)
8-Sara Lockner – 7 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
9-Willy McAlpine – 10 weeks (IA)
10-Deanna McClain – 14 weeks (IA, MN)
11-Mike Vest – 17 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
12-Adam Gordon – 27 weeks (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN)
13-Lowell Davis – 37 weeks (IA, MO)
14-Michelle Haupt – 37 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI)
*15-Brandon Kahler – 38 weeks (IA, MN)
16-Scott Degeneffe – 56 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
*17-Sheri Fakhouri – 66 weeks (IA, NE)
18-Logan Kahler – 67 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
19-Nathanial Brown – 68 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN)
20-Tamara Peterson – 79 weeks (IA, MN)
*21-Mindi Terrell – 83 weeks (IA)
22-Linda Bennett – 112 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
23-Sarah Toot – 113 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
24-Angie DeWaard – 117 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG)
25-Dawn Krause – 121 weeks (IA, IL)
26-Kim Barker – 127 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
27-Joe Duff – 128 weeks (TX, NY)
28-Teresa Kahler – 139 weeks (IA, NE)
*29-Carla Stensland – 1389 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
30-Micky Augustin – 141 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
31-Andy Sharp – 142 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
32-Bill Wentworth – 143 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
33-Cathie Morton – 146 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
34-Elizabeth Nordeen – 148 weeks (IA, OH)
*35-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 150 weeks (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO)
36-Kio Dettman – 152 weeks (IA)

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.

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:

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 38 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 68 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 118 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 2 weeks

“Bunny” (Jester Park – Iowa) – 1 week

Sara Lockner (Jester Park – Iowa) – 8 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Iowa) – 57 weeks

Cathie Morton (Altoona, Iowa) – 147 weeks

Adam Gordon (Ames, Iowa) – 28 weeks

Adam Gordon (Ames, Iowa)

Elizabeth Nordeen (Ames, Iowa) – 149 weeks

Jesse Howard (Hunziker Park – Ames, Iowa) – 5 weeks

Micky Augustin (Ames, Iowa) – 142 weeks

Michelle Haupt (Ankeny, Iowa) – 38 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 67 weeks

Andy Sharp (Bayliss Park – Council Bluffs, Iowa)

Deanna McClain (Eagle Point Park – Dubuque, Iowa) – 15 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Interurban Park – Camp Dodge – Johnston, Iowa) – 80 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Interurban Park – Camp Dodge – Johnston, Iowa)

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 140 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Linwood Cemetery – Boone, Iowa) – 11 weeks

Carla Stensland (Pufferbilly Days Parade – Boone, Iowa) – 140 weeks

Dawn Krause (Art in the Park – McHose Park – Boone, Iowa) – 122 weeks

Kio Dettman (McHose Park – Boone, Iowa) – 153 weeks

Kio Dettman (Opal Dubois Anderson Park)

Logan Kahler (McHose Park) – 68 weeks

Monica Jennings (Art in the Park – McHose Park – Boone, Iowa) – 7 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest – McHose Park – Boone, Iowa)

Mike Vest (Edgewood Park – Madrid, Iowa) – 18 weeks

Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 128 weeks

Deb Powers (Saylorville Lake – Iowa)

Mindi Terrell (Saylorville Lake – Iowa) – 84 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Saylorville Lake – Iowa)

Brandon Kahler (South Park – Story City, Iowa) – 39 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Colby Park – Windsor Heights, Iowa) – 151 weeks

Linda Bennett (Kansas)

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 144 weeks

Sarah Toot (Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey) – 114 weeks

Sarah Toot (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)

Joe Duff (Texas) – 129 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas)

35 participants this week. Not a great week. But not bad. Not a lot of people like nature all that much.

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa (35)
+ Kansas (2)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ New Jersey (1)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ Texas (2)

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

+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1377)
+ Kansas (54)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (11)
+ Minnesota (13)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (17.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (46)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (2)
+ New York (17)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (30)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (4)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (56)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (4)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

36 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 6 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN) – 11
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA) – 11
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI) – 10
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC) – 6
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO) – 5
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA) – 5
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) -5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI) – 5
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK, KS) – 5
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG) – 4
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK) – 4
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO) – 2
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2

Nathanial has tied Jen for the top spot to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” However Andy and Scott are in striking distance.

There were no major milestones reached this week. But a few streaks went kaput. Alexis couldn’t build on her submission from last week. Her streak is over before it began. Mary’s streak is gone after 2 weeks. Suzie’s streak is gone after 4!

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:

OUT-OF-DATE (Suggested by Angie DeWaard)

OUT-OF-DATE! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

What is an OUT-OF-DATE picture? A picture of something that is no longer necessary in these times.

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 see your idea of OUT-OF-DATE in this place that that is timeless next Monday.

Michelle, Still Life, Tenderloining

Michelle’s Family’s Chicken Tradition

September 22, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

A few months back I was invited to join Michelle’s family for their annual chicken making tradition. I don’t really have a way of describing it, so I’ll just share some pictures:

I can say that without a doubt it was one of the more delicious meals I’ve had this year!

Next Sunday’s food adventure will involve RAGBRAI!

Art, Black & White, Contests, Formal Portrait, History, Jesse, Monica, Music, Pufferbilly Days, Still Life, Street Photography, Travel

Home of the Blues – Day 2 – Sun Records II

September 20, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

A reminder that this weekend is Pufferbilly Days and with that comes the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. Here is a map of where to find all the entries:

Here is the flyer on how to vote for the People’s Choice Award:

Or you can click on this link:

People’s Choice Award Voting

To see all the submissions, click on this link:

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Entries

Big thanks to Monica for designing the flyers!

There were 162 entries this year! And this contest couldn’t have happened without so many wonder volunteers, but I’ll get into all that stuff in a future post.

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Now I proudly present the rest of the pictures from Jesse and I’s trip to Sun Records:

Liberty Bowl Road Trip - Day 2 - Sun Records

Still one more collection of images from Day 2 of the Memphis Trip left to share!

Art, Football, History, Iowa State, Still Life, Street Photography

Spring Game 2024

September 17, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

I sorta attended the Iowa State Spring Game this year. The weather was absolutely brutal and you literally learn nothing by watching the Spring Game. But on the positive, they had a really good sale right outside of Jack Trice Stadium.

Here are some pictures:

Even in terrible weather conditions, there is no bad day to be in The Jack!

Adam, Alexis, Andy, Angie, Bill, Brandon, Candid Portrait, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Elizabeth, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Music, Nathanial, Sabas, Sara, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Still Life, Suzie, Tamara, Taylan, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 470 – MUSIC

September 16, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

MUSIC! A great theme! But did enough people hear it to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out! Am I silently judging anybody’s taste in MUSIC? You don’t have to scroll down. I am. I definitely in.

On a sad note, I learned today that my favorite record store and the place where I get many of the records for my NEW-TO-ME-VINYL FRIDAY stories on Snapchat closed down recently. Wax Xtatic in Marshalltown was awesome! And now it is gone. So I’ll be looking for a new independent record store to frequent. I’m open to suggestions.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 9, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Mary Green – 1 week (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR)
2-Elainie Hernandez – 1 week (IA)
*3-Deb Powers – 2 weeks (MT, IA)
4-Jesse Howard – 3 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
5-Suzie Brannen – 3 weeks (IA, MD)
*6-Amy Peterson – 3 weeks (IA)
7-Monica Jennings – 5 weeks (IA)
8-Sara Lockner – 6 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
9-Willy McAlpine – 9 weeks (IA)
10-Deanna McClain – 13 weeks (IA, MN)
11-Mike Vest – 16 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
12-Adam Gordon – 26 weeks (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN)
13-Lowell Davis – 36 weeks (IA, MO)
14-Michelle Haupt – 36 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA, MI)
*15-Brandon Kahler – 37 weeks (IA, MN)
16-Scott Degeneffe – 55 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
*17-Sheri Fakhouri – 65 weeks (IA, NE)
18-Logan Kahler – 65 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
19-Nathanial Brown – 67 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS)
20-Tamara Peterson – 78 weeks (IA, MN)
21-Mindi Terrell – 82 weeks (IA)
22-Linda Bennett – 111 weeks (KS, IA, MI)
23-Sarah Toot – 112 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC)
24-Angie DeWaard – 116 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG)
25-Dawn Krause – 120 weeks (IA, IL)
26-Kim Barker – 126 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
27-Joe Duff – 127 weeks (TX, NY)
*28-Teresa Kahler – 138 weeks (IA, NE)
29-Carla Stensland – 138 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
30-Micky Augustin – 140 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
*31-Andy Sharp – 141 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI)
32-Bill Wentworth – 142 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
33-Cathie Morton – 146 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
34-Elizabeth Nordeen – 147 weeks (IA, OH)
35-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 149 weeks (IA, CA, NV)
36-Kio Dettman – 151 weeks (IA)

It is the third week of the month and on the third week of the month I like to share a map of all the states where people have submitted from heading into today. Here is that map:

36 states!

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

Micky Augustin (Iowa)- 141 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Farmer’s Market – Bentonville, Arkansas) – 150 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Outside of Jane, Missouri)

Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 127 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Boone Theater – Boone, Iowa)

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 4 weeks suzi

Nathanial Brown (Albert Lea, Minnesota) – 68 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Pierce, Nebraska)

Linda Bennett (Kansas)

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 37 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 152 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 117 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 56 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 128 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 66 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

Adam Gordon (Iowa) – 27 weeks

Mary Green (Michigan) – 2 weeks

Mary Green (Michigan)

Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 37 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 1 week

Jesse Howard (Homecoming – Boone, Iowa) – 4 weeks

Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 6 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 38 weeks

Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 67 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa) – 139 weeks

Dawn Krause (Fraser, Iowa) – 121 weeks

Sara Lockner (Pork Tornados – Adventureland – Altoona, Iowa) – 7 weeks

Willy McAlpine (Iowa) – 10 weeks

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 14 weeks

Cathie Morton (Des Moines, Iowa) – 147 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 148 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 79 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 3 weeks

Debb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

Andy Sharp (Boone First United Methodist Church – Boone, Iowa) – 142 weeks

Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 1 week

Carla Stensland (Springbrook State Park – Guthrie Center, Iowa) – 139 weeks

Carla Stensland (Springbrook State Park – Guthrie Center, Iowa)

Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 113 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 83 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 17 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 143 weeks

37 participants! That is a pretty solid week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arkansas (1)
+ Iowa (34)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Michigan (2)
+ Minnesota (1)
+ Missouri (1)
+ Nebraska (2)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ Texas (1)

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

+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ Alaska (1)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (11)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (15)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1377)
+ Kansas (52)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (11)
+ Minnesota (13)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (17.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (45)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (1)
+ New York (17)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (29)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (4)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (54)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (4)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

36 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 6 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

Nathanial has tied Jen for the top spot to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” However Andy and Scott are in striking distance.

The big milestone this week was Willy reaching the Double Digit Streak Club! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all unicorns and rainbows. Elainie couldn’t build on her submission from last week. Her streak is over before it began. Amy’s streak also came to a halting crash after 3 weeks! The humanity!

PARK

PARK! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

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 see your idea of PARK in this place that that is a bit of a respite from the world next Monday.

Brandon, Elainie, Sabas, Self-Portrait, Still Life, Tenderloining

Mexican I Scream: Marshalltown Field Work

September 15, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Back in early June I loaded up the RAV4 with Brandon, Elainie, and Sabas and we went to Marshalltown to visit my favorite record store, eat at Flying Elbow and try a Mexican Ice Cream joint. It was a short little trip. I highly recommend road trips with Brandon, Elainie, and Sabas.

Here are some pictures from the trip:

My burger from Flying Elbow!

No review, I’ve reviewed them in the past. They are fantastic!

Wax Xtatic. My favorite record store. Instrumental for New to Me Vinyl Fridays on Snapchat.

La Michacana Xtra

The review?

You know I have the Ted Lasso philosophy on ice cream:

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

But my Churro Split was fantastic! I will definitely be going back next time I go to Marshalltown for some new to me vinyl.

Next Sunday’s food adventure will involve Michelle’s family!

Adam, Alexis, Art, Birthdays, Black & White, Boone FUMC, Christianity, Commercial, Formal Portrait, Iowa State, Linda, Mom, Nature, Night, Road Trip, Still Life, Teresa, Work, WPC - Alternate

In a Beautiful World

September 14, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

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

Cause All I Ever Wanted Was to Be Enough for You

Happy birthday Adam!

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

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

Let’s get at it:

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

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

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

But Teresa made the hat and the scarf.

The bear belonged to my Mom.

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

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

Art, Christianity, Holidays, Jesse, Night, Road Trip, Still Life

Merry Christmas from Le Mars!

September 10, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

There is a line at the end of “A Christmas Carol” about Scrooge that goes:

And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!

It can definitely be said of the town of Le Mars that they keep Christmas well. Not only do they have Christmas Acres, they also have another random Christmas light display that doesn’t seem to have a name. They also pimp out their town park for Christmas better than any town park I’ve ever seen.

Here are the rest of the pictures I took on my road trip with Jesse to check out some Christmas lights:

I’d like to go see some Christmas lights again this year. Not sure where. Maybe Keokuk? Maybe the Christmas Train? Probably something much closer. We will see.