Candles

Fall Colored Candles

Red Bottle

Red Top on A Perfume Bottle

Tis The Season

Perhaps All The Signs Will Go Away Next Week

Painted Moon

Painted Moon

What's Over Here?

M--m-m What's Over Here?

All A Twitter

I was all excited - came home for lunch and there was a Bluejay...

Wandering around the yard...

He then jumped into the bird bath...

He was joined by a friend...

And THEN...THREE!!!

Boo!!!

Spinning Her Web

A Spider spinning her web across the street...

Through the Woods

Candlesticks

Des Moines River Valley

Des Moines River Valley

Blessing of the Animals

We had a Blessing of the Animals in our church last Sunday.  It was kinda chaotic - but fun.  As the kitty was receiving his blessing he was a bit concerned about the black lab in line behind him.  All in all it was a  successful ceremony as none of the animals ate each other, or did any biting.

Moon Shot

I took this last weekend on a clear night.  You can almost see the man in the moon....

Cabin

 

This is where we camped - unfortunately the restrooms

were a ways down the trail...

Sunrise Over Briggs Woods

Yesterday's sunrise over Briggs Woods in Webster City, Iowa.  It was a great day.  My 86 year old Aunt even went on a hike with us down and up a hill to look at the colors and a waterfall hidden back in the woods.  My cousin Dan says it was 1/2 mile total - I think it felt like at least 2 miles - he's probably closer...

Camping With Family and a Bug or Two

Stew Cooking On The Fire

Peak Weekend for Colors

We are at Briggs Woods in Webster City, Iowa camping with my Aunt and cousins.  Those that know me will wonder "Camping?" Since the Holiday Inn is generally as rough as I want to go.  On the plus side we are not in a tent and on the ground, but in a cabin and in a bed.  On the downside there is no running water and the potty is down the trail, but again on the good side the stew cooked on the campfire was delicious, and spending time with family has made me feel warm on the inside, as the fire was warming my toes.  I can hardly wait until tomorrow when I can do some exploring, and take some more photos.  If y'all are wondering how I can post from the "woods" - I am using a VirginMobile Broadband2go USB Connection to access the internet.  If I couldn't connect here I'd have to go into town to the coffee shop and find a wireless connection so I wouldn't miss a day of posting.  I will post more photographs - but, for now, I'm trying not to think about having to go the bathroom... damn, I thought about it...got to run...

Look Before Crossing

He first looked left and then right - hopped and then flew away...?  I thought he was looking to see if traffic was coming...

Prancing Bluejay

This Bluejay was prancing across the front yard yesterday.

WWII Vet

A short story - before the photo - While attending the Memorial Day Service in 2009 I took some photographs of some of the people who were attending the services.  I took a photograph of an elderly gentleman who I presumed was a  WWII Vet and filed the photo away in my files.

Spring ahead to the fall of 2009 - the magazine Our Iowa was soliciting photographs for their annual photography contest and one of the categories was "Iowa People".  I went through my files and decided that the image I captured of a WWII Vet epitomized the service of Iowans - hence the People of Iowa.  I live in Waterloo, Iowa among the history of the sacrifice of the Five Sullivan Brothers so the choice of a veteran was easy.  My opinion was the photograph brought this service to life. The photograph was published in the April/May 2010 Issue of the Our Iowa Magazine as one of the finalists.

I entered the same photograph in this year's National Cattle Congress Photo Contest (Honorable mention).  Last Saturday I received a call from a Carolyn Troudt, daughter-in-law of Robert Troudt, the veteran in the photograph.  She wanted to know if I was the Robert Hill who took the picture of the Veteran who's photo was in the Our Iowa Magazine and in last month's Cattle Congress.  I said that I was and she said there sure were a lot of Robert Hills in Waterloo, was glad she found me and wanted to thank me for honoring her father-in-law and told me that he wanted to meet me.  Well, yesterday was that day.

Robert Troudt arrived with his daughter and daughter-in-law and he spent an hour and half sharing his WWII Stories - some of which his daughter's hadn't heard before.  I know y'all have heard the phrase the "Pointy end of the spear" when the military moves into a campaign, well, Robert Troudt was the point.  He went out ahead of his company as a scout, EOD Technician, sniper, and who knows what else.  He told a story about how he shot a python that dropped on him from a tree - unfortunately he was in the middle of 70,000 enemy soldiers.  He made it back to camp and told me that it took 6 villagers to bring the snake back.  They made a billfold for him out of that snake. (Probably a lot of billfolds)!!

He's a true hero, modest, soft spoken, and I have no doubt that he was a badass in the jungle.  He was a delight to visit with and here is the original photo and yesterday's photo.

WWII Vet Robert Troudt

Robert Troudt

Just Can't Help Myself

I just can't help myself - when a brilliantly colored Cardinal lands on the feeder and "poses" - I just have to take a photo...

1st Iowa Bath

Samuel Clayton came to visit and had his 1st Iowa bath - in the kitchen sink where there have been a lot of  babies bathed.  Carrying on the tradition...  He was so content he fell asleep.

Another Bird Watcher

My daughter is visiting this weekend with our newest grandson and she brought along Scooby.  He's sitting in my chair watching the birds at the bird feeder.  I don't think he's thinking about taking a picture, but perhaps about lunch...

Creek

Creek running through Hope Martin Park in Waterloo, Iowa

Petunia

Petunia's hanging in there - frost will claim them soon...

About To Spread In The Wind

Regal Pose

I am thoroughly enjoying the activity outside my front window.  The hair reminds me of the sixties...

Bluejay

When I drove into the driveway there was a cardinal and a bluejay - just waiting for their picture to be taken.  Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera at hand, and by the time I retrieved the camera from the backseat the cardinal had moved on.  The bluejay stayed around a bit...

Bettendorf Waterfront Convention Center

A piece of art in front of the Bettendorf Waterfront Convention Center

Crochet In The Dark

I've never seen such a thing - a crochet hook with a light...

Beach Baby

Grandson Daniel, visited this week and got to play with grandma and grandpa...

Another Cardinal

What's that...?