Category Archives: Christianity

Monona County Auxiliary Images

A few weeks back a tooled around Monona County and part of Harrison County harvesting town signs. Here is a collection of the auxiliary images I took on that trip:


Monona County - Ute
The correct color tractor.

Monona County - Whiting
Restaurant & Malt Shop. Goodtime Charlie indeed!

Monona County - Whiting
They don’t make numbers high enough to count the number of drunk people that would hit this thing if it was in Boone.

Monona County - Whiting

Lewis and Clark State Park
Lewis and Clark State Park

Monona County - Onawa
Onawa

Monona County - Onawa

Monona County - Onawa

Monona County - Onawa

Monona County - Onawa

Monona County - Onawa

Monona County - Onawa

Monona County - Onawa

Monona County - Onawa

Monona County - Onawa

Monona County - Onawa
Onawa claims to have the widest main street in America. 150 feet wide. Eskimo pie was also born here.

Monona County - Turin
Turin

Monona County - Castana
Castana

Monona County - Castana

Monona County - Castana

Monona County - Castana

Monona County - Castana

Monona County - Castana

Monona County - Turin
Turin, again.

Monona County - Turin

Monona County - Turin

Monona County - Blencoe
Blencoe

Harrison County - River Sioux
River Sioux

Harrison County - Little Sioux
Little Sioux

Harrison County - Little Sioux

Harrison County - Loess Hills

Harrison County - Pisgah
Pisgah

Harrison County - Loess Hills

Here is a little more information on the Turin Man from clio.com:

In 1955, a skeleton was discovered in a gravel pit near Turin, Iowa. Experts first proposed that these remains were about 10,000 years old, going back to the “early people” of the ice age era. As archaeologists continued to excavate, they found in succession three more human skeletons. After months of rigorous reconstruction of the remains and scientific testing, experts concluded that the skeletons were likely a family unit about 6,000 years old. The site provided evidence of prehistoric burial practices with many similarities to ancient burials found throughout the eastern United States. The skeletons found here in Turin were the oldest human remains discovered in the state until August of 2011, when archaeologists excavated a 7,000 year old village in Des Moines.

Next set of auxiliary images we will peek at are from Shelby and Mills counties.

Southwest Iowa Auxiliary Images Vol. 5

It is time once again for another collection of auxiliary images I took the couple of times I went to southwest Iowa to harvest some town signs. I’m pretty sure all the towns are lines up correctly this time, but it was a long time ago. All these pictures were taken in Taylor County.


Taylor County - Sharpsburg
Sharpsburg

Taylor County - Sharpsburg

Taylor County - Sharpsburg

Taylor County - Sharpsburg

Taylor County - Sharpsburg

Taylor County - Gravity
Gravity

Taylor County - Gravity

Taylor County - Gravity

Taylor County - Gravity

Taylor County - Gravity

Taylor County - Gravity

Taylor County - Gravity

Taylor County - Gravity

Taylor County - Bedford
Bedford

Taylor County - Bedford

Taylor County - Bedford

Taylor County - Bedford

Taylor County - Bedford

Taylor County - Bedford

Taylor County - Bedford

Taylor County - Bedford

Taylor County - Bedford

Taylor County - New Market
New Market

Taylor County - New Market

I still have one more collection of images to share from this area of the state.

Jesus It’s Me Again

It is time for another collection of flower pictures I took in my Mom’s yard. There are only a few of them this time.
These pictures were taken on August 16, 2021:


Jesus It's Me Again

Jesus It's Me Again

Last Penny - 2021

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2021

My Mom’s house is set to go on the market tomorrow. It is a bittersweet moment, but it is definitely past time that the house becomes a home to a new person or peoples.

Today is Epiphany. And while I haven’t mentioned many holidays recently, Epiphany is the day that I have my Christmas decorations up. Although this Christmas season that consists of decoration a Nativity set in the yard and an outdoor tree that I put lights and decorations I didn’t care if they broke on. Epiphany, if you don’t know, is the celebration of the Magi visiting Jesus as a child. Strictly speaking, it was probably years after Jesus was born. Not the day he was born.

In Eastern Christianity, Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by John the Baptist.

Regardless of how and why Epiphany is celebrated, I thought today’s title was apropos. I don’t know that anybody has figured out where the names for these Thursday posts come from, but they are song titles. Since today celebrates the divinity of Jesus I thought I would share the song lyrics:

Lately Lord, I almost feel like dying
I wake-up like a child alone at night
Sometimes Lord, I just can’t keep from crying
And I can’t find the strength to carry on
Jesus it’s me again
Down on my knees again
Asking you please again
Reach out your hand
Jesus it’s me again
I am on my knees again
Asking you please again
Reach out your hand
Jesus it’s me again
I’m down on my knees
And I’m asking
To reach out your hand
Time to time I try to find a reason
To talk to you a time to before
But this time Lord, it’s more than I can handle
And I know I just can’t take it anymore
Jesus it’s me again
Down on my knees again
Asking you please again
Reach out your hand
Jesus it’s me again
I’m on my knees again
Asking you please again
Reach out your hand
Yes asking you please again
Reach out your hand

The song, while depressing on the surface, is a reminder to me that wherever you are, that is where God will meet you. And how many times should you forgive? Seventy times seven. Which doesn’t mean 490. It means infinite. Infinite forgiveness!

Southwest Iowa Auxiliary Images Vol. 3

The October image for the 2022 Photography 139 Calendar is of an abandoned farmhouse in rural Benton County.


2022 Calendar -October

Tomorrow I will share the November image from the 2022 Photography 139 Calendar.

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Way back on Monday I screwed a couple things up on THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. First, I incorrectly labeled the picture below as a submission from Logan Kahler, but it was Jesse Howard’s submission:


WEEK 328 - HOLIDAYS - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard

The second mistake I made was to have a communication breakdown with Elizabeth and I forgot to include her second submission of her Christmas tree and stockings and gifts:


WEEK 328 - HOLIDAYS - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen

I had a pretty good streak going of not messing up. It is a good thing that I recently added a proofreader to the staff that I will probably never use.

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It is time once again to share some auxiliary images from the couple of times I went to southwest Iowa to harvest some town signs. Once again, I think I have the towns lined up correctly, but this trip was a while ago.


Fremont County - Farragut
Farragut

Fremont County - Farragut
I love old neon almost as much as I love working neon.

Fremont County - Farragut

Fremont County - Farragut

Fremont County - Farragut

Page County - Yorktown
Yorktown

Page County

Page County

Taylor County and Adams County - Lenox
Lenox

Decatur County - Van Wert
Van Wert

Decatur County - Van Wert

Decatur County - Grand River
Grand River

Ringgold County - Beaconsfield
Beaconsfield

Ringgold County - Beaconsfield

Ringgold County - Beaconsfield

Ringgold County - Beaconsfield

Ringgold County - Beaconsfield

Ringgold County - Beaconsfield

Ringgold County - Beaconsfield

Ringgold County - Beaconsfield

Ringgold County - Beaconsfield

Ringgold County - Kellerton
Kellerton

Ringgold County - Kellerton

Ringgold County - Kellerton

Ringgold County - Kellerton

Ringgold County - Kellerton

Ringgold County - Kellerton

There still are plenty of auxiliary images from southwest Iowa left to share.

Southwest Iowa Auxiliary Images Vol. 1

The March image for the 2022 Photography 139 Calendar is a picture of a geranium dripping with water. This picture was taken in my yard.


2021 Calendar - March

Tomorrow I will share the April image.

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A few weeks back I prowled through several counties in southwest Iowa harvesting town signs. This is the first collection of auxiliary images I took on this trip. In all honesty, I might be getting some of the town locations for these pictures wrong. It has been a minute, as they say.


Adams County - Prescott
Prescott

Adams County - Prescott

Adams County - Corning
Corning

Adams County - Corning
I want to live in this store, just based on the name alone.

Adams County - Carbon
Carbon

Montgomery County - Villisca
Villisca

Montgomery County - Villisca

Montgomery County - Villisca

Montgomery County - Villisca
It looks like a town that had more than one ax murder.

Montgomery County - Villisca

Montgomery County - Grant
Grant

Montgomery County - Grant

Montgomery County - Grant

Montgomery County - Grant

Montgomery County - Grant

Montgomery County - Grant
I want to walk through that door so bad!

Montgomery County - Elliot
Elliot

Montgomery County - Red Oak
Red Oak

Montgomery County - Red Oak
I had some high hopes for this place…*

Montgomery County - Red Oak

Montgomery County - Red Oak

Montgomery County - Red Oak

Montgomery County - Red Oak

Montgomery County - Stanton
Stanton

Montgomery County - Stanton

Montgomery County - Stanton

Page County - Essex
Essex

Fremont/Page County - Shenandoah
Shenandoah

Fremont/Page County - Shenandoah
This sign must have been amazing in its heyday.

Fremont County - Imogene
Imogene

There are plenty more pictures from southwest Iowa.

* BUT… my source on the ground (Elizabeth’s friend) say it isn’t very good. Sigh.**
** Correction, and this is a direct quote: “She didn’t say it wasn’t good. She said it wasn’t great, and it was ok
If you are going to report, you need to get the story straight.”

NYC – Two

Here is another collection of images from my trip to New York City with Jesse back in 2011. Most of these pictures are taken around Ellis Island, but some are taken where all the white collar criminals hang out. It was scary hanging out in such a bad neighborhood, but we got in and out without anybody getting us involved in shorting stocks.



By adding these pictures to the Photography 139 Gallery, I was able to restore the following historic “An Artist’s Notebook” entry to its original glory:

MORE RANDOM NYC – ELLIS ISLAND AND FINANCIAL DISTRICT

Next Saturday’s walk down memory lane will also involve New York City.

NYC – One

The pictures in this collection are in a folder called New York City. These pictures are from a trip I took with Jesse to visit my cousin Sarah and her beau Tim. They live in Manhattan. We made this trip in 2011 and I thought that I’d probably go out and visit every couple of years. I haven’t been back since, and that is really pathetic.

There are also pictures in this collection I took with a pinhole camera.


Random New York City Images

Random New York City Images

Random New York City Images

Random New York City Images

Random New York City Images

Random New York City Images

Random New York City Images

Random New York City Images

Random New York City Images

Random New York City Images

Random New York City Images

Random New York City Images

Random New York City Images

Random New York City Images

Random New York City Images

Random New York City Images

Random New York City Images

Random New York City Images

Ground Zero

Ground Zero

Ground Zero

Ground Zero

Ground Zero

St. Paul's Chapel

St. Paul's Chapel

St. Paul's Chapel

St. Paul's Chapel

St. Paul's Chapel

Personal Photo Project of the Week #58

Personal Photo Project of the Week #58

Personal Photo Project of the Week #58

Personal Photo Project of the Week #58

Personal Photo Project of the Week #58

Personal Photo Project of the Week #58

Personal Photo Project of the Week #58

By adding these pictures to the Photography 139 Gallery, I was able to restore the following historic “An Artist’s Notebook” entries to their original glory:

PERSONAL PHOTO PROJECT OF THE WEEK #58

RANDOM NEW YORK CITY IMAGES

MORE RANDOM NEW YORK CITY – NEAR GROUND ZERO

The next time we take a stroll down memory lane, that memory lane will still be in New York City.

Pocahontas County Auxiliary Images Vol. 1

Several weeks back I cruised around Pocahontas County harvesting their town signs. Pocahontas County is the home of the most awesome statue in Iowa. It is also home to one of the worst statues in Iowa. In this collection you will see the most awesome statue in Iowa.


Pocahontas County - Rolfe
Rolfe

Pocahontas County - Rolfe

Pocahontas County - Rolfe

Pocahontas County - Rolfe

Pocahontas County - Rolfe

Pocahontas County - Rolfe

Pocahontas County - Rolfe

Pocahontas County - Rolfe

Pocahontas County - Rolfe

Pocahontas County - Rolfe

Pocahontas County - Rolfe

Pocahontas County - Rolfe

Pocahontas County - Plover
Plover

Pocahontas County - Havelock
Havelock

Pocahontas County - Havelock

Pocahontas County - Havelock

Pocahontas County - Havelock

Pocahontas County - Havelock

Pocahontas County - Havelock

Pocahontas County - Havelock

Pocahontas County - Havelock

Pocahontas County - Laurens
Laurens

Pocahontas County - Laurens

Pocahontas County - Laurens

Pocahontas County - Laurens
I want to meet Bob.

Pocahontas County - Laurens

There is one more collection of images from Pocahontas County still left to be shared.

WPC – WEEK 322 – RELIGION

RELIGION turned out to be a fairly popular theme.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions:


WEEK 322 - RELIGION - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth

WEEK 322 - RELIGION - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 322 - RELIGION - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 322 - RELIGION - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 322 - RELIGION - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 322 - RELIGION - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 322 - RELIGION - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 322 - RELIGION - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 322 - RELIGION - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 322 - RELIGION - CATHIE RALEY
Cathie Raley

WEEK 322 - RELIGION - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 322 - RELIGION - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning


Mike Vest

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 323 - REFLECTION
REFLECTION

REFLECTION! What a great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a REFLECTION picture? It is simply a picture that captures a RELECTION. You can find a REFLECTION in all sorts of things. A mirror. A mill pond. Tin foil. Mylar. Chrome. Bubbles. The options are nearly endless. Of course, there is more than one definition of the word REFLECTION.

Think on this quote when you consider all your possibilities for REFLECTION images:

We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.
Anais Nin

A proper REFLECTION on this quote will no doubt lead you to a great REFECTION image.

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 our idea of REFLECTION in this place that that is little more than a mirror held up to my life next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 321 – BUSINESS

At this time, BUSINESS doesn’t seem to be a popular theme.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions:


WEEK 321 - BUSINESS - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 321 - BUSINESS - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 321 - BUSINESS - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 321 - BUSINESS - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 321 - BUSINESS - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 321 - BUSINESS - SHHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 321 - BUSINESS - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 321 - BUSINESS - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

WEEK 321 - BUSINESS - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth

WEEK 321 - BUSINESS - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 321 - BUSINESS - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 321 - BUSINESS - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 321 - BUSINESS - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 321 - BUSINESS - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 321 - BUSINESS - MONICA HENNING
Monica Henning

WEEK 321 - BUSINESS - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 321 - BUSINESS - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 321 - BUSINESS - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 321 - BUSINESS - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

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 322 - RELIGION
RELIGION

RELIGION! What a great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a RELIGION picture? It is simply a picture of anything relating to the practice of a RELIGION. It can be a book used in the practice of a RELIGION. It can be a building that is used in the practice of a RELIGION. It could be a symbol of a RELIGION. It can be a picture of somebody practicing their RELIGION.

Think on this quote when considering your RELIGION image:

The only clear line I draw these days is this: when my religion tries to come between me and my neighbor, I will choose my neighbor… Jesus never commanded me to love my religion.
-Barbara Brown Taylor

Thinking on that quote will no doubt take you on an interesting path towards your RELIGION photo.

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 our idea of RELIGION in this place that that is based on its understanding of God next Monday.