Tag Archives: featured

Pufferbilly Days Parade – 2022

This year was the first year I made it to the Pufferbilly Days Parade where I wasn’t in it, since I don’t know when. At least a decade. I decided I better photograph it.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the parade:


Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

Pufferbilly Days Parade - 2022

There is generally nothing I find more boring than a parade, except for maybe fireworks. But I got enough enjoyment from going. At least from seeing the people I knew that were in it.

+++++++

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


WEEK 369 - VIOLET
VIOLET

VIOLET! What a great theme for year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what exactly is a VIOLET photo. It is simply any picture where the color VIOLET (or purple if you will) plays an important part of the composition. It can be a picture of something that is VIOLET. Or it can be surrounded by VIOLET. Heck, you can crack out a VIOLET filter and make everything VIOLET.

Happy photo harvesting!

Fist City

Usually on these Flower Thursdays, if the is more than one type of flower in the pictures, I take the blog title from a Brandi Carlile song title. Then I include some of the lyrics from the song. I point this out because I don’t really point this out. I like to leave as much mystery as I can, but recently I was contacted by somebody that thought that those little tidbits of lyrics were a poem I wrote. I do have a certain amount of writing skills, but poetry isn’t in the arsenal. While I enjoy poetry and have my favorite poets, to write poetry takes a level of vulnerability I’m not will to get to or to show the world. And that is as vulnerable as I’m going to get on the subject.

However, today’s post doesn’t come from a Brandi Carlile song. It comes from a Loretta Lynn song. Everybody knows “Coal Miner’s Daughter”. Most people know “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man”. More people should know “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind)”. “You Ain’t Woman Enough” is an undeniable classic. I absolutely love “You’re The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly”. But “Fist City” is the Loretta Lynn song I don’t think gets enough love and I’ve chosen to highlight here. An absolute banger from the beginning to the end!

It is my small tribute to Loretta Lynn after her recent passing.

You’ve been makin’ your braggs around town
That you’ve been a lovin’ my man
But the man I love
When he picks up trash
He puts it in a garbage can
And that’s what you look like to me
And what I see’s a pitty
You better close you face and stay outta my way
If you don’t wanna go to fist city

If you don’t wanna go to fist city
You better detour around my town
‘Cause I’ll grab a you by the hair a the head
And I’ll lift off of the ground
I’m not a sayin’ my baby’s at saint
‘Cause he ain’t
And that he won’t cat around with a kitty
I’m here to tell you gal to lay off a my man
If you don’t want to go to fist city

Come on and tell me what you told my friends
If you think you’re brave enough
And I’ll show you what a real woman is
Since you think you’re hot stuff
You’ll bite off more than you can chew
If you get to cute or witty
You better move your feet
If you don’t wanna eat
A meal that’s called fist city

If you don’t wanna go to fist city
You better detour around my town
‘Cause I’ll grab a you by the hair a the head
And I’ll lift off of the ground
I’m not a sayin’ my baby’s at saint
‘Cause he ain’t
And that he won’t cat around with a kitty
I’m here to tell you gal to lay off a my man
If you don’t want to go to fist city

I’m here to tell you gal to lay off of my man
If you don’t wanna go to fist city

“But the man I love, when he picks up the trash, he puts it in a garbage can, and that’s what you look like to me.”

OR

“If you get cute or witty, You better move your feet, if you don’t want to eat a meal that’s called fist city.”

Pure poetry to my ears.

However, Thursdays are for flowers. Here are some flower pictures:


Last Penny - 2022

Last Penny - 2022

Last Penny - 2022

Last Penny - 2022

Last Penny - 2022

Last Penny - 2022

Last Penny - 2022

Last Penny - 2022

Last Penny - 2022

Last Penny - 2022

Last Penny - 2022

Last Penny - 2022

Last Penny - 2022

Last Penny - 2022

Nature's Amen - 2022

Nature's Amen - 2022

Nature's Amen - 2022

Nature's Amen - 2022

Nature's Amen - 2022

Nature's Amen - 2022

Nature's Amen - 2022

Nature's Amen - 2022

Nature's Amen - 2022

Nature's Amen - 2022

Still plenty more flower pictures left to share on future Thursdays, methinks.

Although… one more thing. I do think that any Loretta Lynn tribute would be a failure if it didn’t mention that she was the most radio banned country artist in history. At least 13 of her songs were banned from radio stations here and there. But by far her most banned song was “The Pill”.

I thought I would share the lyrics to a song that got banned from at least 60 radio stations in the 1970s, and many radio stations still won’t play it today.

You wined me and dined me
When I was your girl
Promised if I’d be your wife
You’d show me the world
But all I’ve seen of this old world
Is a bed and a doctor bill
I’m tearin’ down your brooder house
‘Cause now I’ve got the pill

All these years I’ve stayed at home
While you had all your fun
And every year that’s gone by
Another baby’s come
There’s a gonna be some changes made
Right here on nursery hill
You’ve set this chicken your last time
‘Cause now I’ve got the pill

This old maternity dress I’ve got
Is goin’ in the garbage
The clothes I’m wearin’ from now on
Won’t take up so much yardage
Miniskirts, hot pants and a few little fancy frills
Yeah I’m makin’ up for all those years
Since I’ve got the pill

I’m tired of all your crowin’
How you and your hens play
While holdin’ a couple in my arms
Another’s on the way
This chicken’s done tore up her nest
And I’m ready to make a deal
And ya can’t afford to turn it down
‘Cause you know I’ve got the pill

This incubator is overused
Because you’ve kept it filled
The feelin’ good comes easy now
Since I’ve got the pill
It’s gettin’ dark it’s roostin’ time
Tonight’s too good to be real
Oh, but daddy don’t you worry none
‘Cause mama’s got the pill
Oh, daddy don’t you worry none
‘Cause mama’s got the pill

Amazing that a song that is 50 years old is still so timely.

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!

Town Sign Project: Henry County

Several weeks back I cruised around Henry County with Teresa harvesting their town signs. It was a good trip as we met up with Jodie and Doug Cue for lunch in Mount Pleasant. The only trip where I met up with somebody who lived in the county where I was harvesting.

Here are some facts about Henry County:
+ Population is 20,387. Making it the 33rd most populous county in Iowa. Below Buchanan County and above Winneshiek County.
+ The largest town and county seat is Mount Pleasant.
+ Formed on December 7, 1836 as part of the Wisconsin Territory and then became part of the Iowa Territory on July 4, 1838.
+ Named for General Henry Dodge.
+ Home of Iowa Wesleyan.
+ Home of the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion.
+ Major highways are US-34, US-218, US-27, IA-16, and IA-78.
+ Adjacent counties are Washington, Louisa, Des Moines, Van Buren, and Jefferson.
+ Population peaked at 21,463 in 1870.

Henry County has a pretty blah courthouse:


Henry County Courthouse
The Henry County Courthouse in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.

The Henry County Freedom Rock is located in Winfield, Iowa:


Henry County Freedom Rock

Henry County Freedom Rock

Henry County Freedom Rock

With Henry County conquered, here is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:


Town Sign Project - 91 Counties
PURPLE=COMPLETED

91 counties completed. 91.9% of the Cyclone State conquered!

Here are the town signs of Henry County:


Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Mount Pleasant, Iowa
MT. PLEASANT
Population: 9,274 (+606)

New London, Iowa
New London, Iowa
Welcome To NEW LONDON
Population: 1,910 (+23)

Winfield, Iowa
Winfield, Iowa
Winfield
Est. 1882
Population: 1,033 (-101)

Wayland, Iowa
Wayland, Iowa
Wayland
Est. 1880
Population: 964 (-2)

Salem, Iowa
Salem, Iowa
SALEM
FOUNDED 1835
Population: 394 (+11)

Olds, Iowa
Olds, Iowa
WELCOME to Olds
Population: 163 (-66)

Hillsboro, Iowa
Hillsboro, Iowa
HILLSBORO COMMUNITY CENTER
Population: 163 (-17)

Rome, Iowa
Rome, Iowa
Welcome to Rome Chicauqua
Est. 1846
LAND OF THE FREE
BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE
Population: 114 (-3)

Westwood, Iowa
Westwood, Iowa
CITY OF WESTWOOD
EST. 1892
Population: 101 (-11)

Mount Union, Iowa - Unincorporated
Mount Union, Iowa – Unincorporated
Mt. Union
Founded 1904

Swedesburg, Iowa - Unincorporated
Swedesburg, Iowa – Unincorporated
Welcome to SWEDESBURG
MUSEUM & GIFT SHOP

Henry County has kind of a mediocre collection of town signs. Not terrible, but not outstanding. The worst one is easily Hillsboro as they didn’t have a real town sign at all. Oh Heavenly Hillsboro! Do you a hole in your head or your head in a hole!

There are a couple of town signs I like in Henry County. Olds has a solid sign. As does Rome and Westwood. I definitely like Salem’s hard to find town sign. But I’m giving the purple ribbon to Swedesburg.


Swedesburg, Iowa - Unincorporated
Swedesburg – Best in Show – Henry County

There was one alternate town sign for Henry County:


Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Mount Pleasant – Alternate

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:


Fontanelle, Iowa
Best in Show – Adair County

Nodaway, Iowa
Best in Show – Adams County

Harpers Ferry, Iowa
Best in Show – Allamakee County

Centerville, Iowa
Best in Show – Appanoose County

Audubon, Iowa
Best in Show – Audubon County

Norway, Iowa
Best in Show – Benton County

Gilbertville, Iowa
Best in Show – Black Hawk County

Moingona, Iowa
Best in Show – Boone County

Readlyn, Iowa
Best in Show – Bremer County

Stanley, Iowa
Best in Show – Buchanan County

Storm Lake, Iowa
Best in Show – Buena Vista County

New Hartford, Iowa
Best in Show – Butler County

Manson, Iowa
Best in Show – Calhoun County

Coon Rapids, Iowa
Best in Show – Carroll County

Anita, Iowa
Best in Show – Cass County

Lowden, Iowa
Best in Show – Cedar County

Dougherty, Iowa
Best in Show – Cerro Gordo County

Washta, Iowa
Best in Show – Cherokee County

Fredericksburg, Iowa
Best in Show – Chickasaw County

Murray, Iowa
Best in Show – Clarke County

Rossie, Iowa
Best in Show – Clay County

Strawberry Point, Iowa
Best in Show – Clayton County

Low Moor, Iowa
Best in Show – Clinton County

Ricketts, Iowa
Best in Show – Crawford County

Dexter, Iowa
Best in Show – Dallas County

Weldon, Iowa
Best in Show – Decatur County

Oneida, Iowa - Unincorporated
Best in Show – Delaware County

Terril, Iowa
Terril – Best in Show – Dickinson County
Best in Show – Dickinson County

Ringsted, Iowa
Best in Show – Emmet County

Clermont, Iowa
Best in Show – Fayette County

Marble Rock, Iowa
Best in Show – Floyd County

Popejoy, Iowa
Best in Show – Franklin County

Tabor, Iowa
Best in Show – Fremont County

Scranton, Iowa
Best in Show – Greene County

Beaman, Iowa
Best in Show – Grundy County

Menlo, Iowa
Best in Show – Guthrie County

Stanhope, Iowa
Best in Show – Hamilton County

Britt, Iowa
Best in Show – Hancock County

Ackley, Iowa
Best in Show – Hardin County

Modale, Iowa
Best in Sow – Harrison County

Swedesburg, Iowa - Unincorporated
Best in Show – Henry County

Lime Springs, Iowa
Best in Show – Howard County

Bradgate, iowa
Best in Show – Humboldt County

Ida Grove, Iowa
Best in Show – Ida County

Millersburg, Iowa
Best in Show – Iowa County

La Motte, Iowa
Best in Show – Jackson County

Lynnville, Iowa
Best in Show – Jasper County

Lone Tree, Iowa
Best in Show – Johnson County

Anamosa, Iowa
Best in Show – Jones County

Webster, Iowa
Best in Show – Keokuk County

Titonka, Iowa
Best in Show – Kossuth County

Springville, Iowa
Best in Show – Linn County

Lucas, Iowa
Best in Show – Lucas County

George, Iowa
Best in Show – Lyon County

East Peru, Iowa
Best in Show – Madison County

Leighton, Iowa
Best in Show – Mahaska County

Pleasantville, Iowa
Best in Show – Marion County

Haverhill, Iowa
Best in Show – Marshall County

Malvern, Iowa
Best in Show – Mills County

Riceville, Iowa
Best in Show – Mitchell County

Onawa, Iowa
Best in Show – Monona County

Melrose, Iowa
Best in Show – Monroe County

Grant, Iowa
Best in Show – Montgomery County

Conesville, Iowa
Best in Show – Muscatine County

Paullina, Iowa
Best in Show – O’Brien County

Melvin, Iowa
Best in Show – Osceola County

College Springs, Iowa
Best in Show – Page County

Mallard, Iowa
Best in Show – Palo Alto County

Kingsley, Iowa
Best in Show – Plymouth County

Plover, Iowa
Best in Show – Pocahontas County

Bondurant, Iowa
Best in Show – Polk County

Walnut, Iowa
Best in Show – Pottawattamie County

Malcom, Iowa
Best in Show – Poweshiek County

Maloy, Iowa
Best in Show – Ringgold County

Nemaha, Iowa
Best in Show – Sac County

Elk Horn, Iowa
Best in Show – Shelby County

Orange City, Iowa
Best in Show – Sioux County

Collins, Iowa
Best in Show – Story County

Tama, Iowa
Best in Show – Tama County

Gravity, Iowa
Best in Show – Taylor County

Creston, Iowa
Best in Show – Union County

Agency, Iowa
Best in Show – Wapello County

New Virginia, Iowa
Best in Show – Warren County

Kalona, Iowa
Best in Show – Washington County

Humeston, Iowa
Best in Show – Wayne County

Badger, Iowa
Best in Show – Webster County

Buffalo Center, Iowa
Best in Show – Winnebago County

Castalia, Iowa
Best in Show – Winneshiek County

Sloan, Iowa
Best in Show – Woodbury County

Joice, Iowa
Best in Show – Worth County

Woolstock, Iowa
Best in Show – Wright County

The next time we hit the open road for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will visit Jefferson County.

WPC – WEEK 368 – RUINS

The old. The forgotten. The abandoned. The falling apart. The rusty. The dilapidated. I love that stuff, but were RUINS a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, September 26, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1+ Sara Lockner – 1 week
2+ Willy McAlpine – 1 week
3+ Suzie Brannen – 5 weeks
4+ Jesse Howard – 6 weeks
5+ Brandon Kahler – 6 weeks
6+ Linda Bennett – 9 weeks
7+ Sarah Toot – 10 weeks
8+ Sabas Hernandez – 12 weeks
9+ Monica Jennings – 12 weeks
10+ Angie DeWaard – 14 weeks
11+ Mary Green – 14 weeks (2)
12+ Dawn Krause – 18 weeks
13+ Kim Barker – 24 weeks
14+ Joe Duff – 26 weeks
15+ Logan Kahler – 27 weeks
16+ Teresa Kahler – 36 weeks (3)
17+ Tamara Peterson – 36 weeks
18+ Carla Stensland – 36 weeks (2)
19+ Michelle Haupt – 37 weeks
20+ Micky Augustin – 38 weeks
21+ Andy Sharp – 39 weeks
22+ Bill Wentworth – 40 weeks
23+ Cathie Morton – 44 weeks
24+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 45 weeks
25+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 47 weeks
26+ Kio Dettman – 49 weeks (6)

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 368 - RUINS - BEKCY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee – 1 week

WEEK 368 - RUINS - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner – 2 weeks
WEEK 368 - RUINS - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen – 6 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS -BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler – 7 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett – 10 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS -LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett

WEEK 368 - RUINS - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot – 11 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot

WEEK 368 - RUINS - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez – 13 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings – 13 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard – 15 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - MARY GREEN
Mary Green – 15 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - MARY GREEN
Mary Green

WEEK 368 - RUINS - MARY GREEN
Mary Green

WEEK 368 - RUINS - MARY GREEN
Mary Green

WEEK 368 - RUINS -DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause – 19 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS -DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause

WEEK 368 - RUINS - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker – 25 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff 27 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS -LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler – 28 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS -LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler

WEEK 368 - RUINS - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler – 37 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler

WEEK 368 - RUINS - TAMARA PTERSON
Tamara Peterson – 37 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - CAR;A STENSLAND
Carla Stensland – 37 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - CAR;A STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 368 - RUINS - CAR;A STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 368 - RUINS - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt – 38 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin – 39 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp – 40 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth – 41 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton – 46 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen – 46 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley – 48 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman – 50 weeks

WEEK 368 - RUINS - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 368 - RUINS - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman

WEEK 368 - RUINS - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett – 472 weeks

26 participants this week! A good, but not great week. But I’ll take it.

Submissions from (most of these are assumptions) Pennsylvania, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, California, and Iowa this week. My picture was taken about 30 miles from my front door.

Congrats to Linda who joined the double digit streak club!

It wasn’t all fun and games this week though. Willy couldn’t extend his streak to two weeks. Jesse’s 6 week streak is a pile of rubble. Ruins, one might say.

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 369 - VIOLET
VIOLET

VIOLET! What a great theme for year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what exactly is a VIOLET photo. It is simply any picture where the color VIOLET (or purple if you will) plays an important part of the composition. It can be a picture of something that is VIOLET. Or it can be surrounded by VIOLET. Heck, you can crack out a VIOLET filter and make everything VIOLET.

While considering possible subjects for your VIOLET submission, meditate on the following quote:

I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it.
-Alice Walker

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 VIOLET in this place that is very purple next Monday.

The Howards – Volume 6

It is another Formal Portrait Sunday. This will be the 6th and final collection of images from the Howards 2021 Family Photo Shoot. In fact this is the final collection of Formal Portrait images from 2021. Might be the final collection of images I share from 2021. There are a few miscellaneous pictures from 2021 out there, but I’m not sure I will share those. It might be a game time decision in the next couple of weeks.


Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Howards - 2021

Next Formal Portrait Sunday we will check in with Jayton’s Senior Picture Photo Shoot one last time. Probably.

Selfie Project – September 2022

I knew September was not going to be as busy as August, but looking at these pictures it is hard not to wonder if I ever left my house. Being sick for about 4 or 5 days didn’t help, but really… I’ll try to do better in October.

Here are some of my favorite selfies from THE SELFIE PROJECT in October:


Day 244 - September 1, 2022
September 1

Day 245 - September 2, 2022
September 2

Day 246 - September 3, 2022
September 3

Day 247 - September 4, 2022
September 4

Day 248 - September 5, 2022
September 5

Day 250 - September 7, 2022
September 7

Day 251 - September 8, 2022
September 8

Day 252 - September 9, 2022
September 9

Day 253 - September 10, 2022
September 10

Day 254 - September 11, 2022
September 11

Day 256 - September 13, 2022
September 13

Day 257 - September 14, 2022
September 14

Day 258 - September 15, 2022
September 15

Day 260 - September 17, 2022
September 17

Day 261 - September 18, 2022
September 18

Day 262 - September 19, 2022
September 19

Day 266 - September 23, 2022
September 23

Day 267 - September 24, 2022
September 24

Day 268 - September 25, 2022
September 25

Day 271 - September 28, 2022
September 28

Day 272 - September 29, 2022
September 29

While there can only be one picture to represent every day, thought I would share some of my favorite alternates from September.


SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

I will try to be more active again in October, but I make no promises. Maybe the slacker lifestyle agrees with me?

Taco Tailgate – 2022

Last Saturday before the Iowa State-Baylor football game we rekindled the old tradition known as Taco Tailgate. It was in the new lot (D1), but it was still as great as ever. Here are some Taco Tailgate pictures:


Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022

Iowa State vs Baylor - 2022


We don’t have the most elaborate setup, but we get to tailgate so rarely. However, we might tailgate again later this year and there will be more things added to the setup. More and more.

+++++++

This is your reminder that this week’s WEEKLY PHOTO PROJECT theme is RUINS:


WEEK 368 - RUINS
RUINS

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

But what is a RUINS photo? It is simply a picture of something that has been abandoned, forgotten. Something that is rusting. Dilapidated. No longer being properly maintained. Or improperly maintained. This is one of my Top 5 favorite themes! It can be an old building. An old car. Just for examples. But there are a lot of things out there that have been abandoned. Forgotten. That are wasting away. Waiting for you to immortalize them through the art of photography.

Happy photo harvesting!

Losing Heart

I don’t mind
If my heart don’t beat and
The sun don’t shine
They’ll get theirs
You’ll get yours and I’ll get mine
It used to be that everything was easy
Now it’s lost and nobody believes me
Am I losing heart
Have I frozen it, oh yeah
Am I pushing too hard
Have I started to forget
I’m alright

Thursdays are for flowers. This Thursday flower collection is from my yard again. A few dahlias, but mostly gazanias.


Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2022

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2022

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2022

I think there are a few good ones in there. I could even see one of them making the calendar.

I’m sure I have plenty more flower pictures to share on future Flower Thursdays.

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.