Category Archives: Boone FUMC

Adam, Andy, Boone FUMC, Holidays, Still Life, Street Photography

Community Thanksgiving 2024

December 7, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Time to share some pictures from the actual Thanksgiving Community meal served by the Boone First United Methodist Church. All in all the album of pictures from my time (me not pictured) helping with the meal has 563 images in it. I probably could have taken more, but I left about 12:30ish to get to my family Thanksgiving at Carla’s house.

Here are some of my favorite images:

If you want to look through all 563 pictures, just clicking on any image in this post will take you to the gallery.

All in all, we served between 600-700 meals this year.

But perhaps the most important development of the year is that the inflatable turkey finally has a name. The turkey was a gift from my Mom close to 10 years ago and it never had a name. I’m not into naming things that will never know they have a name. I would never give a name to a car or to a fish or to a cat or to an inflatable turkey. But the kids that were working the outside crew have deemed the inflatable turkey “Bartholomew”. Henceforth, that is how he will be known.

Another, not major development, but a change this year is that Jennifer from the Chamber loaned us the barricades and cones used for Pufferbilly Days. Such a big improvement over the half saw horse things the city has begrudgingly loaned us the last several years.

I already look forward to next year’s Thanksgiving meal. If you want to get involved, I know a guy you can talk to.

Alexis, Andy, Angie, Becky, Bill, Boone FUMC, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Deanna, Deb, Elizabeth, Jesse, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Lowell, Mary, Micky, Mindi, Monica, Nathanial, Sabas, Sarah Toot, Scottie D., Shannon, Sheri, Street Photography, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, Willy, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 481 – CLOTHING

December 2, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

CLOTHING! What a great theme! But were enough people not nudists to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

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

*1-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA, DC, WA)
*2-Mary Green – 1 week (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR)
3-Monica Jennings – 1 week (IA)
4-Sara Lockner – 1 week (IA, BHS, MN, FL)
5-Sabas Hernandez – 2 weeks (IA, OH)
6-Jesse Howard – 8 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN)
*7-Suzie Brannen – 9 weeks (IA, MD)
*8-Deb Powers – 13 weeks (MT, IA)
9-Willy McAlpine – 20 weeks (IA)
10-Deanna McClain – 24 weeks (IA, MN)
11-Mike Vest – 27 weeks (IA, MO, OK, AR, KS)
12-Lowell Davis – 47 weeks (IA, MO, KS)
13-Brandon Kahler – 48 weeks (IA, MN)
14-Scott Degeneffe – 66 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL, MN, WI)
15-Sheri Fakhouri – 76 weeks (IA, NE, GA)
16-Logan Kahler – 77 weeks (IA, MN, MO)
17-Nathanial Brown – 78 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL, IL, KS, NE, MN, PA,, WI, NY)
18-Tamara Peterson – 89 weeks (IA, MN)
*19-Mindi Terrell – 93 weeks (IA)
20-Linda Bennett – 122 weeks (KS, IA, MI, NY)
21-Sarah Toot – 123 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC, FL)
22-Angie DeWaard – 126 weeks (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN, FL)
*23-Dawn Krause – 131 weeks (IA, IL)
24-Kim Barker – 137 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
25-Joe Duff – 138 weeks (TX, NY)
26-Teresa Kahler – 149 weeks (IA, NE)
*27-Carla Stensland – 149 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO)
28-Micky Augustin – 151 weeks (IA, IL, FL, AK)
*29-Andy Sharp – 152 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI, KS)
*30-Bill Wentworth – 153 weeks (NE, MO, FL)
31-Cathie Morton – 157 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
32-Elizabeth Nordeen – 158 weeks (IA, OH)
33-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 160 weeks (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO)
34-Kio Dettman – 162 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:

WPC - WEEK 481 - CLOTHING - BECKY PARMELEE

Becky Parmelee (New York City, New York) – 1 week

Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 1 week

Mary Green (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Mary Green (Iowa)

Monica Jennings (Iowa) – 2 weeks

Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 3 weeks

Jesse Howard (Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa) – 9 weeks

Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 10 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa) – 14 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

Willy McAlpine (Iowa) – 21 weeks

Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 25 weeks

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 28 weeks

Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 48 weeks

Brandon Kahler (Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa) – 49 weeks

Scott Degeneffe (Iowa) – 67 weeks

Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 77 weeks

Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 78 weeks

Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 79 weeks

Tamara Peterson (Boone, Iowa) – 90 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 94 weeks

Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

Linda Bennett (Missouri) – 123 weeks

Sarah Toot (Baltimore, Maryland) – 124 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 127 weeks

Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 132 weeks

Kim Barker (Iowa) – 138 weeks

Joe Duff (Texas) – 139 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Iowa) – 150 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Iowa)

Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 150 weeks

Carla Stensland (Ames, Iowa)

Micky Augustin (Ames, Iowa)- 152 weeks

Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 153 weeks

Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa)

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 154 weeks

Cathie Morton (New Mexico) – 158 weeks

Cathie Morton (Phoenix, Arizona)

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 159 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Cancun, Mexico) – 161 weeks

Kio Dettman (Iowa) – 163 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Boone First United Methodist Church – Boone, Iowa) – 585 weeks

There were 35 participants this week. A pretty good week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arizona (1)
+ Iowa (34)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Mexico (1)
+ Missouri (1)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ New Mexico (1)
+ New York (1)
+ Texas (1)

Thanks go Cathie’s travels we added New Mexico and Arizona to the map. Thanks to Shannon’s travels we add Mexico to the map!

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

+ Alaska (1)
+ Arizona (1)
+ Arkansas (20.5)
+ California (3)
+ Colorado (10)
+ Florida (16)
+ Georgia (3)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (14)
+ Indiana (6)
+ Iowa (1797)
+ Kansas (63)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (2)
+ Michigan (13)
+ Minnesota (15)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (23.5)
+ Montana (4)
+ Nebraska (57)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (5)
+ New Mexico (2)
+ New York (22)
+ North Carolina (2)
+ Ohio (5)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (40)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (5)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (69)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ Washington (2)
+ Washington D.C. (1)
+ West Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (5)
+ Wyoming (1)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (4)
+ Canada (2)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Ireland (3)
+ England (2)
+ Mexico (1)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Scotland (1)

39 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 1 District! 7 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, PA, WI, NY) – 14
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL, IN, WV, PA, DC, WA) – 13
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI, KS) – 11
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL, MN, WI) – 9
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ, NC, FL, MD) – 8
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA, AZ, NM) – 7
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO, KS, MI, CAN) – 6
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL, SCT, ENG, MN, FL) – 6
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV, AR, MO, MEX) – 6
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA, MI, NY, MO) – 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
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK, NY) – 4
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL, AK) – 4
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN, FL) – 4
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO, KS) – 3
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN, MO) – 3
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO, FL) – 3
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 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
+ Evie Gorshe (IA, IN) – 2
+ Layla Gorshe (IA, OH) -2
+ Deb Powers (MT, IA) – 2
+ Kyle Sharp (IA, MO) – 2

Nathanial is clinging to the lead to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!”

There were a few big milestones reached this week. Suzie joined the Double Digit Streak Club! WooHoo. Logan joined the Year and a Half Streak Club! WooHoo! Woo!

But it wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns! Jen and Sara couldn’t build on their submission and their streaks are over before they began. I will assume that they have become devout nudists that have no time for your bougie clothing.

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:

SYMMETRY (SUGGESTED BY SARAH TOOT)

SYMMETRY! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY 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 see your idea of SYMMETRY in this place that isn’t very even keeled always in fashion next Monday.

Andy, Boone FUMC, Candid Portrait, Holidays, Still Life

Community Thanksgiving Prep 2024

November 30, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

On Thursday the Boone First United Methodist Church held its annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner. I helped on Thursday, but I also helped on Wednesday. Wednesday there is tons of prep done. I was there for the turkey carving and the pie cutting and the roll bagging and the general setup.

Here are some pictures I took of the prep work on Wednesday:

I still have a TON of pictures from the actual dinner left to share. I’ll share those next Saturday!

Animals, Boone FUMC, Flowers, Holidays, Macro, Still Life

Truly

November 28, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

It is Thanksgiving! So I need to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I used to use this Thanksgiving entry to list some of the blessings in my life. I fully intended to do that again this year, because it has been 3 years since I have done that. I just looked back at the one I did in 2019. The year before the pandemic. 4 months before the pandemic. And it is actually quite startling the amount of people I featured as my blessings that I don’t see any more. For a wide variety of reasons. But my life is still filled with blessings. Maybe next year I will share them again.

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Girl, tell me only this
That I have your heart for always
And you want me by your side
Whispering the words, “I’ll always love you”

And forever
I will be your lover
And I know if you really care
I will always be there

Now, I need to tell you this
There’s no other love like your love
And I, as long as I live, I’ll give you all the joy
My heart and soul can give

Let me hold you
I need to have you near me
And I feel with you in my arms
This love will last forever

Because I’m truly
Truly in love with you, girl, yeah
I’m, I’m truly love you, yeah
Head over heels with your love, with your love

I, I need you
Oh, and with your love, I’m free, yeah
I’m, I’m truly
You know you’re alright with me, me, yeah

Truly in love with you, girl
Truly head over heels
Head over heels with your love, yeah, yeah, yeah
Truly, head over heels with your love, baby
Truly, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah
Mmm, with you, yeah, yeah, yeah
-Written and Performed by Lionel Richie

Who doesn’t truly love Lionel Richie?

But Thursdays are for flowers! This flowertography session took place in my yard.

Our next flowertography session also took place in my yard!

Art, Birthdays, Black & White, Boone FUMC, Flat Earth Joe, Nader, Road Trip, Street Photography

Nader Road Trip: Creston Murals II

November 27, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Don’t forget that if you are looking for a place to eat Thanksgiving, my church is hosting a free Thanksgiving Community Meal. See information below:

I’ll be there for at least part of the meal. So if you see me, say “Hi!”

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Today is Joe’s birthday. I haven’t seen Joe for a few months, but I hope he is doing well and I need to wish him a happy birthday.

Happy birthday Joe!

I hope it is a great birthday and hope the globalists don’t get you down.

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Time to share another collection of the sweet images of the sweet murals in the sweet town of Creston.

Still one more collection of images from Creston left to share. I might even explain why Creston has such wonderful murals, if you are lucky.

Birthdays, Black & White, Bokeh, Boone FUMC, Nature, Willy

Bokeh: Even More Early Days

November 26, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

I keep forgetting to announce this. But if you are looking for a place to eat Thanksgiving, my church is hosting a free Thanksgiving Community Meal. See information below:

I’ll be there for at least part of the meal. So if you see me, say “Hi!”

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Today is Willy’s birthday so I need to wish him a happy birthday.

Happy birthday Social Wolf!

I just hope you don’t injure yourself on your birthday. See you tonight at Great Plains!

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Time once again to share some more pictures of the early days of Bokeh. These were taken on June 5. Also a few bonus cloud pictures thrown in.

Still many more early days of Bokeh pictures left to share!

Andy, Angie, Boone FUMC, Carla, Contests, Dawn, Monica, Nathanial, Pufferbilly Days, Teresa

Behind the Scenes of Judgement Night

September 28, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

I didn’t take a ton of behind the scenes pictures of the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. Not as much as I’m used to taking. But I took a few.

Here are a few of them from the judging night.

I have to be thankful to the judges:

Melissa Bell
Nathanial Brown
Angie DeWaard

And very thankful for the people assisted with administrative functions:

Teresa Kahler
Andy Sharp
Carla Stensland

And thankful for Monica for providing the meal.

There were 162 entries this year. Judging lasted almost 5 hours. If I’m being honest, the night of the judging is by far my favorite night of the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. I love the first time I get to see the pictures. And there is definitely a sense of relief when we tear down at Art in the Park and we’re done for the year, but judging night is my favorite. Just hanging out with other photographers and talking photography.

I like to tell people that I don’t judge the photos. My job is to judge the judges. And I’m always fascinated with the pictures they pick as the winners and what pictures I think they are missing out on. This is why I sometimes play with the idea of giving out The Chairman’s Award. An award for the picture I think the judges missed out on. But that would mean I would have to do some judging, which I don’t want to do. Yet I do. But I don’t. It probably won’t happen.

We grew by 41 entries this year. I don’t think we will grow by another 40 entries next year. But I hope we do. And if we do I think I will need to make some adjustments to the way we do the judging. I have some ideas on how to increase the efficiency, while giving the judges the time to give each photo the proper amount of time they deserve. I’ll keep tossing these ideas around in my head. Then I will toss them at the heads of other people.

I didn’t really make many changes to the photo contest this year. About the only thing I changed was adding “Honorable Mentions” to the mix. That was definitely a great idea, and maybe one year too late. I’ll definitely bring that back. But I might change how the Overall and the Best in Show prizes are awarded.

Still one more post about the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest still to come!

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!

Adam, Boone County Fair, Boone FUMC, Street Photography, Teresa

Boone County Fair Parade – 2024

August 3, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

For the first time in a long time I went to the Boone County Fair Parade. Or more specifically, for the first time ever, I was in the Boone County Fair Parade. I’ve been in the Pufferbilly Parade many times, but the Boone County Fair Parade? Not until this year.

I walked and handed out candy with the Boone First United Methodist Church float. Of course I took a ton of pictures. Here are a few:

There are still plenty more Boone County Fair pictures left to share. I spent more time at the Boone County Fair this year than, well a really long time.

Art, Black & White, Boone FUMC, Still Life, WPC - Alternate

But She’s Beautiful, She Looks Kind

July 23, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

Time to start sharing the final alternate images for the glorious theme of BLACK & WHITE. All of these images are related to the Boone First United Methodist Church in one way or another. I started my day by worshipping an awesome God at Boone FUMC. Then I spent part of my evening at a 30 mile radius church picnic thing. I didn’t take any pictures there cause I was busy talking with Kio, Shannon, Adam, (and others) while dominating the water balloon toss. And I mean dominating. I almost worry the other competitors felt bad about how thoroughly dominated they were. Some will probably never touch a water balloon again.

Here are some pictures, mostly from the church:

We apparently ran out of “O”s for God and had to use a zero.

There are still a ton of pictures from this day left to share. The rest are from Logan’s surprise birthday party. It will probably take 2 days to share them!