Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Sincerity or Sarcasm?




















I drove by this coffee shop yesterday and took note of their sign. As I thought about it I had to turn around and take another look. I don't know these people so I can't make any guesses as to whether or not they are being sincere, "Thanks for All Your Support", Or, Sarcastic, "Thanks for all your support we are now closed!" Perhaps they are just victims of a bad economy and bad spacing on their sign.
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Monday, March 30, 2009

Framed














Here are my appliance pictures from last week printed, matted, framed and hung in the kitchen. You may pick up on the fact we like the color red.
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).




Sunday, March 29, 2009

A Snowy Spring Morning




















Woke up this morning to snow. Perhaps this is Old Man Winter's last feeble attempt to hang on. (one can only hope).
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Antique Butter Churn




















This is my wife's antique butter churn. Every once in a while she makes butter with the grandkids so they can learn about the past and the effort it takes to put food on the table.
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Friday, March 27, 2009

Mr. Toaster





















...continuing with the "kitchen" theme here is the toaster (and yes, it really is red).
Click on the photo to view a larger image.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Mr. Food Processor




















I seem to be making my way around the kitchen. Here is Mr. Food Processor AKA Kitchen-Aide. Tomorrow I'll introduce you to Mr. Toaster and perhaps on Saturday Mr. Microwave. Actually - I'm printing all of these, framing them, and doing a display on one of the kitchen walls (I imagine that will be photo of the day too.)
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

I'm A Little Tea Pot...




















I'm a little tea pot, short and stout...
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Concrete Frog




















This frog stands guard at our front door. To understand where he comes from follow this LINK.
(Click on the photo view a larger image).

Monday, March 23, 2009

Yellow Tulips




















Oz Girl, a fellow 365 Blogger, gave me the idea to use poster board as a background. My wife had brought home some tulips for a center piece, and put them in a red vase - it just screamed "photo op"... I ran to Hobby Lobby, purchased some foam core board, ran home again and took this picture. I softened it a bit in photoshop - but, I like it. Do you?
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Inaugural B-B-Q




















We had a birthday party for our oldest daughter and my mother-in-law and the spring weather was so nice we broke out the grill, cleaned it up and had the first B-B-Q of the season.
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Saturday, March 21, 2009

First Day of Spring














Do we dare put the snowblower away for the season?
(Click on photo to view a larger mage).

Friday, March 20, 2009

Bird(s)
















































I had heard that there were Eagles near a lake in Waterloo and thought I'd go out and take a picture. Perhaps I thought that since they are our national symbol, that they would just strike a pose. Well... no Eagles - but I did see a gull, a hawk, a robin and a sparrow. I wasn't about to come home without any pictures, so here are 4 bird pictures [perhaps I am over-compensating for no Eagle pictures]. I'll keep trying for the Eagles...
(Click on a photo to view a larger image).

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Cross




















We had choir rehearsal last night and this was the sunset behind the cross. God was painting.
(Click on the photo for a larger view of the image).

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Foot




















Someone (my youngest daughter) didn't want her picture taken. Here's a picture of her foot...

Brief survey- I have posted this photo at a lower resolution, so when you click on the photo you do not get the screen filling version as I have previously posted. Which do you prefer, larger version, this version, or does it make a difference? It doesn't make a difference to me... post a comment and let me know... thank you (1) for visiting, and (2) for the comments...

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Happy St. Patrick's Day




















An interesting builing in Mendota Heights, MN - I added the green tint because it's St. Paddy's Day!! The normal color appears below.





















(Click on the photo for a large view of the image.)

Monday, March 16, 2009

Car On Ice














58 Degrees and melting... Not so sure I would drive my car out onto a frozen (and melting) lake!! But, hey - those Minnesotans are a tough bunch when it comes to ice fishing!!
(Click on the photo to view a larger image before the car sinks).

Sunday, March 15, 2009

3 Kittens Yarn Shop













For years my wife's favorite (or one of her most favorite) yarn shops has been 3 Kittens in Mendota Heights, MN. They used to be in a much older building that seemed to go on forever with nooks and crannies everywhere. They recently relocated to a new building. As in the past I took my camera to shoot pictures while she browsed (and bought) the yarn and assorted knitting "stuff".












A Button Display...
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Barn Door New Prague, Minnesota






























We are in New Prague, Minnesota staying with my youngest daughter. We're going to celebrate our Granddaughter Ania's 12th birthday today. The daily photo must continue - here is a picture of a barn door in New Prague. I obviously can't read...
(Click on the photo for a larger view of the image).

Friday, March 13, 2009

Blacks Building


















Black's Building in downtown Waterloo was completed in 1914 and is part of the skyline in Waterloo. People in NE Iowa know this building. The Department Store is long since gone and now it's an office building. I understand that there will be a new "fancy" restaurant on the top floor. I was downtown yesterday and took a picture.
(Click on the photo for a larger image).

Here is an older image I found online...

Thursday, March 12, 2009

What A Difference A Day Makes














We had an extreme drop in temperature yesterday. Our flooded area is now an ice rink.


(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Wet Feet




















Apparently not all ducks take to water. It appears that she doesn't want to get her feet wet..
(Click on the photo for a larger view of the image).

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Spring Flooding














This is the park behind the Credit Union - not a lake, although it appears to be one. Last year in June the water was 20 feet deep and we had to evacuate. Everyone is anxious as the water is rising...
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Monday, March 9, 2009

Photo Competition




















I belong to the Linn County Area Photo Club and we have monthly photo competitions. This month's theme was Still life and/or Glassware. The photos are peer judged.

At this month's meeting my photo Relax was judged a 1st Place photo.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Stone Fountain




















Here is a fountain from a home show. I often wonder about the work it takes to set something like this up. This was one of MANY working fountains and stone displays...
(Click on the photo for a larger view of the image).

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Cosmetic Universe














We went to our Grandson's 11th birthday party and I noticed this painting on the fireplace mantle. I inquired and discovered that James had done this painting as an art project at school. When I asked what it was [grandpas always have to ask such things] he told me the name of the painting was Cosmetic Universe. So, here is a photographic reproduction of Cosmetic Universe by James M. Cummings.
(Click on the photo for a larger view of the image).

Friday, March 6, 2009

Quilt




















The Grout Museum has a WW II Quilt Display and this is a quilt made entirely from Navy Petty Officer Chevrons.
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Cute Kid



















This has not been "photoshopped" other than cropping the photo.  I was horsing around with some of my "rejected" pictures and cut myself out of a couple and stuck them on this photo.  As I was contemplating a picture for today I thought - why not take a picture of me in front of me. Yes, the baby is me at 13 months.  The note on the back from my mother indicates that the picture was taken July 10, 1952.  The other two were taken the day I got my wireless remote for my camera.
(If you'd like a larger view you can click on the photo).

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Coffee Pot




















We love our coffee!! The downside being we go through a lot of coffee pots. We had a Bun for awhile, but it finally died after years of loyal service. We've had subsequent pots and either they poured poorly or had other issues - like dripping slowly or burning up. This is our recent acquisition - a percolator. The sound takes me back to my childhood and the smell is glorious. One question - why do they only give you a 6 inch cord?
(Click on the photo for a larger view of the image).

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Wall Writing














I don't read graffiti so I have no idea what this says - but, its style captured my attention.
(Click on the photo for a larger view of the image).

Monday, March 2, 2009

Mother Nature's Ice Cubes














Mother Nature has left her ice cubes laying out next to the Cedar River...
(Click on the photo for a larger view of the image).

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Fountain




















This was a sculpture/fountain in the lobby of the Continuing Education Building on the Kirkwood Junior College Campus in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.





















here is another view...
(Click on the photo(s) for a larger view of the image).