Monday, November 30, 2009

Grandsons


Grandson James holding brandy-new grandson Daniel.
(Click on the photo for a larger image).

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Looking Through the Christmas Tree


My Grandson James was lying on his back and looking up into the Christmas tree. My first inclination as a Grandpa was to to tell him, "Get out of there before you to tip over the tree." Then I thought - I was a kid once too - so, I managed to get myself (mostly my head) under the tree (with a camera of course) and took a look at the view. Here's the view... it was cool.
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Saturday, November 28, 2009

My Mother - A Photographer?


Yellowstone Lake Circa 1948

It's unfortunate that I am just discovering that my mother was quite the photographer. As I go through her albums there are a lot of good photographs. I always knew that my Aunt Mary took and developed her own photos, and I recently discover that my Grandmother Myers did the same thing. As I think back my mother did seem to have a camera in her hands a lot. I don't think she developed her own (I would have remembered that I think). She was great at labeling and dating - something I think I'll try to do better at so that when my kids and grand kids look at my photos 50 years from now they won't say who's that or what's that, or why did he take that picture? - they'll probably say that anyway -


Moon on Yellowstone Lake Circa 1948

Friday, November 27, 2009

Kooking, Karing and Konversation


Kooking, Karing and Konversation - it all happens in our Kitchen - the hub of all the activity...
(Click on the photo to view a larger image.)

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!!


Stuffed and ready to go - I am thankfull for this turkey who gave his life so that we may feast!!
(click on the photo to view a larger image).

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Grandma's Elves


Grandma's Elf James...


Grandma's Ef Katharine...
Grandma gets a lot of help this time of year as Thanksgiving and Christmas draw near.
(Click on a photo to view a larger image).

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

For Rent


It appears that the previous tenants of this nest are looking to rent out their digs while they winter down South...
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Monday, November 23, 2009

USO


"Cigar, cigarette...cigar cigarette?"


In true USO fashion local celebrities were in attendance at the 1st Anniversary celebration of the opening of the Sullivan Brothers Museum. Manning the serving line are KWWL (NBC) local anchorman Ron Steele, and Betty Grable impersonator waving as they noticed I was taking pictures. To Ron's right is a Clark Gable impersonator - I believe his moustache was from an eyebrow pencil. My favorite - the "Cigarette Lady" -

Sunday, November 22, 2009

A Night at the Hollywood Canteen


The Liberty Bells as seen on a video feed to a large screen in the lobby of the Grout Museum.


One of the Singers.

We attend an event last night, A Night at the Hollywood Canteen, at the Grout Museum in Waterloo, Iowa. This event was in celebration of the 1st anniversary of the opening of the Sullivan Brothers Veterans Museum. As part of the entertainment a group of performers, The Liberty Bells, came in from New York to put on an USO Show.

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

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Remaining Color


As we get closer to the snow falling the colors are turning shades of brown. Every once in a while though you can spot a touch of red.
(Click on the Photo to view a larger image).

Friday, November 20, 2009

Combines


You see a lot of these in Iowa this time of year. This is a smaller model - I swear there are some that are so large you could sleep a family of 4 in them.
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Lights


What more can I say? They're lights... Ok, I'll try - we went to a 6th Grade Band Concert at Roosevelt Middle School in Cedar Rapids. The cornerstone was laid in 1921 and the school opened as a Junior High in 1923. It was built in an era when they built school buildings that looked like a school building. The auditorium spanned 2 floors and was equipped with a sound booth and several of these lights. They reminded me of some of my old theatre days so I took the photo. I knew I could say more...
(Click on the photograph to view a larger image).

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Cornet Player


Grandson James (the young man in the middle) playing his cornet at his 8th grade concert. The music was good - and, they DID NOT play Twinkle, Twinkle...
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Mother and Son


Daniel with his mother Cheri...
(Click on the photo to view a larger image)

Interesting Lines


I was sitting in my son's apartment and just happen to notice these shapes and lines and how they just seemed to fit together - so, I took a photograph...
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Monday, November 16, 2009

Brandy New Toes


These brandy new toes belong to Daniel Mason... who was born on 11/7/2009. The photograph makes them look huge when in reality they are teeny tiny toes...
(Click on the photograph to view a larger image).

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Daniel Mason


Granddaughter Katharine is coaxing our newest grandson (grandchild #7) to take a bottle. She was successful. We have 5 granddaughters and now 2 grandsons. Our grandson James is estatic because now he has an ally... Welcome to the world Daniel Mason...
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Walk in the Woods


Helen and I went to visit my cousin Tom in Webster City, Iowa before he returned to California (he had come back to Iowa for my mother's funeral) - and he took us on a walk along the river. In the middle of no where (woods wise) stood a lone chimney. Tom had done a bit of reseach and found out that this had been a rendering plant a long time ago - long before laws existed about thowing "stuff" [I won't describe] into the river. The chimney and a broken up foundation is all that remains.


A titlting chimney...
(Click on a photo to view a larger image).

Friday, November 13, 2009

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Shreaded Wheat


It's not really shredded wheat - but, I always thought it looked like giant shredded wheat.
(Cleck on the photo to view a larger image).

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Why I Carry A Camera

People often ask me why I always carry a camera. I kid around and say that if an alien space craft lands in front of me I want to be able to record the moment. Well, an alien didn't appear in front of me, but there was a barn fire along the interstate. My wife and I were coming home from Webster City and noticed the billowing smoke. As we got closer it was evident that it was a barn on fire - since I had a camera - I pulled over along the highway (to my wife's dismay) and took these pictures...






Took this one with my 100-400 MM Lens. If you click on the photo you can see a larger version and can almost [almost] feel the heat.
(Click on a photo to view a larger image).





Monday, November 9, 2009

Bean Harvest


We have had good weather and all of the farmers are harvesting like mad men to get the crops in before it gets wet and/or snows...
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Gotta Go...Gotta Go...Gotta Go...


A Photo my mother took of her niece in 1948...


My version 2009...
(Click on a photo to view a larger image)

Loving Couple


Mother and Daughter



Mom and Dad
I had a portrait session last night and these are 2 of the 266+ photos that were taken. My son-in-law, Tom, daughter Jessica and my wife Helen were my crew. I appreciated the help toting all the the stuff and Tom and Jessica shot some pictures...
(Click on a photograph to view a larger image).

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Fire Bush


The fire bush in front of our house is losing its leaves and we noticed that there is a birds nest in the middle. Sure was a good place for a bird motel as we never knew it was there...
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Friday, November 6, 2009

Who Pulled the Plug?


They have lower the Iowa River in Iowa Falls to make some repairs on a sewer pipe which runs beneath the river. I guess it's easier if they drain the water first.
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Young Photographer


A young photographer in the making checks the results of a photo....
(Click on the photo to view a larger image)

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Bird Buffet


The birds love harvest time in Iowa because once a field is cleared they have their own (very large) buffet. There seems to be a disagreement with the 2 birds in the foreground.
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Squeezed In


American Legion Post 191 - Webster City, Iowa. It looks like it was squeezed in between the two larger buildings.
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Monday, November 2, 2009

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Jessica


Son-in-law Tom used my camera to photograph my youngest daughter..over 30, but still my baby...
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).