More Fall Color

This is Estes Park in Iowa Falls, Iowa. I believe this might have been the peak for fall color - next - the browns of late fall - and then, oh no, the whites of winter... This 365 Project has 67 days left - then I'll have to ask myself whether or not I wish to do a second year 365 Project...

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Fall Refelected

The fall colors are reflected in the Veteran's Monument in Iowa Falls, Iowa.

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Wet Leaf Advisory

Yesterday morning as I was listening to the weather report the weather lady gave a "Wet Leaf Advisory". Now I've got to say in my 58 years I have heard of rain advisory, snow advisory, fog advisory, hail advisory, winter storm advisory - but, never, that is NEVER - have I ever heard of a wet leaf advisory. I know the announcer and the weather lady had good intentions of reminding us that there was a vast amount of wet leaves in the road and that they were slippery if you tried to stop quickly. It just hit my funny bone and I must have giggled a good ten minutes - I guess I'm still giggling...
(Click on the photo to view a larger image of the wet leaves).

Virginia Harlan Hill

I had to attend a credit union meeting in Des Moines on Thursday and on the way home I felt an over-whelming urge to stop in Iowa Falls. We had to put my mother in Hospice a couple of weeks ago, and as I was returning to Waterloo I wasn't going to stop in Iowa Falls because I had a board meeting to attend - but I felt compelled to stop.

When I arrived at the nursing home I could tell that my mother was in her final stages. I sat with her about 10 minutes and then took her hand and told her it was ok to go. I told her to make sure to say hi to Uncle Oliver (he died 2 weeks ago), to Dad and to Jesus...she took one more breath and was gone.

I believe 4 things (1) there was Divine Intervention in my urge to visit Iowa Falls - God said, "Get your butt to Iowa Falls!!" - and I listened; (2) my Mother was waiting for me to tell her it was ok to go, and (3) there was a flock of people waiting to meet her in heaven and (4) my last words to her were, "Say hi to Jesus." And she promptly delivered the message. The care center, Heritage Care Center held a short bedside service and all of the nurses, CNAs and even the house cat Skat and Oreo the Dog attended. It is a moment etched in my mind forever.

We will be having her services on October 31^st - yes, Halloween. It's All Saints Day Eve and my mother loved to dress up for Halloween - in addition to my sister and I she raised several generations of kids and I sometimes think she enjoyed Halloween more than the kids. And, as my sister remembers she was always the first one to the door for the trick or treaters. So - next week as we celebrate the the life of my mother, Virgina Hill, remember her when the Ghosts, Goblins, princes and princesses come calln' at your house...

(Click on the collage to view a larger image - which are a collection of some of my favorite photos of my mother)

Time

Time is valuable - I always try to cram as much as I can into the time I have - but, frankly, this morning I didn't want to get up. Unfortunatly, or fortunatly, depending on how you look at it, I have this internal alarm clock that always seems to go off BEFORE any time I have set on the alarm clock.

And, good grief, my internal alarm goes off and what do I think of - I need to take a picture of the alarm clock before it goes off... Maybe I'm thinking too much about taking photographs...
(Click on the image if you have a burning desire to view a much larger version of this photo).

Keeping Me Awake

Attending a lending compliance seminar in Des Moines - Coffee keeping me awake.
(Taken with my iPhone Camera)

Parachuting Platform (and you thought it was a windmill)

I had the opportunity recently to visit the farm where I grew up. We moved off the farm when I was 10 - this is the windmill - which is still pumping water - that I used as a parachuting platform when I was 8 or 9. The story can be found here:
http://mymindswindmills.blogspot.com/2006/10/lifes-lessons-learned-from-parachuting_27.html
(enjoy)

Neighborhood Color

Neighborhood color - taken with my Canon 7D
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Cameraphone Photography

I'm playing aroound with three new concepts: (1) Posting from my iPhone, (2) using a new camera application called Best Camera, and (3) using the camera on my iPhone.

There's an article in this months american PHOTO which talks about the artisitc potential of camerphone technology and I thought I'd give it a try - I'm certainly NOT giving up on my digital SLR, but thought this might be fun to explore.

Sent from my iPhone - Excuse typoes - big fingers-little key board

Where Are We Going?

"Where are we going?"
"I heard there was a new place up river."
"Ok...should we tell the others?"
"No...."

And so the two mallards leave the group in search of new opportunity.

This and That

Our Church, Trinity Episcopal Church in Waterloo, had (or is having) a "This and That" rummage sale. Part of the sale is selling raffle tickets (with a state permit) to win a fully furnished doll house. I don't know who wants to win it more - the mothers - or the daughters...


One lady donated the house and others furnished a room.


Note the eager eye of a young lady in the window. Actually - it's my granddaughter and I coerced her into looking into the house through the window.

Iowa River Iowa Falls

One of my favorite views - the Iowa River at River Bend in Iowa Falls, Iowa. It was a cloudy day yesterday, but still a gorgeous view.


The Boat Club.
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Duck Itch

I can relate as my back frequently itches. Good thing I don't have to use my nose to scratch!!
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Hey Back there - Get in Step

Geese marching in formation (with one exception).
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Now - where'd that Piece of Corn Go?

I was out taking pictures last night and at one of my stops a lot of ducks came over to the car - obvisously people have been feeding them - and this guy just had an unusual pose.
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Hello There

My Aunt Helen had a talent of being able to find unique items. I'm not sure if this is a flower pot, bird bath, or a rodent's house - but, I am sure I've never seen anything quite like it.
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Blessing the Animals

Yesterday was Bless the Animals Sunday and we had a lot of our furry friends in atendnace.


This was the only cat - everyone else brought a dog. I wonder what the cat was thinking...? It was a successful Sunday as not one of the "guests" ate another "guest".
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Learn more about The Blessing of the Animals at: http://www.saint-augustine.org/_sep02/ef0902g.htm

Fall Color Briggs Woods

Fall colors at Briggs Woods, Webster City, Iowa.

This photo won first place at the Linn County Photo Club October monthly photo contest.

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Railroad Tressle

Railroad tressle Webster City, Iowa.
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Scarey

This guy in the tree across the street keeps getting scarier!!!

Taking A Break

This little guy has been busy digging holes and burying his winter food stash - but decided to take a snack break.
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Low Flying Witch

It seems a low flying witch got caught up in our neighbors tree...

Fall Color

Fall is here - hope to be able to photograph more than 1 leaf...
(Click on the photo to view a really large image of this leaf).

Casting Spells

This witch is on our front steps wating to cast spells on the postman who brings us bills. The last postman who brought us bills close to halloween is pictured below...

Flower Girl

I wonder if they know how many bees are in that flower arrangement above their heads?

World Class Knitter

My wife Helen won 1st place in the National Cattle Congress Knitting Contests. She entered 6 projects and was awarded not one blue ribbon mind you, but 4, yes 4, blue ribbons and 1 2nd Place ribbon. She entered 6 projects and only 1 did not receive a ribbon (what happened?) She is a world class knitter - and the ladies at our church affectionately refer to her as the "Knitting Doctor"... they frequently bring projects to Helen that they have gubbered up for her to fix... The Doctor is in...


Pink Scarf...

Booties...

Felted Purse

Pumpkin Hat

I, on the other hand, placed 3rd in the Nature Category for my Wasp climbing a leaf photo.

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Old Electric Fence

A "retired" electric fence. I remember as a kid touching an electic fence to see what would happen. What happens is ...it hurts!!! (I wasn't bright as a kid - I jumped off a windmill at age 8...read my other blog Windmills if you want to learn more about it.. http://mymindswindmills.blogspot.com/2006/10/lifes-lessons-learned-from-parachuting_27.html

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

Sometimes the Photos Just Come to You

Sometimes the photographs just come to you. As I was driving into my driveway the Sheriff had a young man bent over the hood of the squad car searching his pockets. Moments later, I assume an undercover officer, arrived and got into the guys face. And, again, moments later another squad car arrived. Now if I were to make up a story based upon what I observed at the end of my driveway, this young man had either purchased drugs or sold drugs and was observed doing so by the undercover officer. When asked to stop the young man didn't until he was in front of my driveway where he was searched, cuffed, had his car searched and then towed. Or...he could have had open warrants, didn't stop and his piece of crap van died at the end of my driveway. Whatever the story - what was I supposed to do? I had a camera - and it was taking place right in front if me. So, I took pictures... In the event it really was an undercover officer I won't publish that photo. PS I live in a good neighborhood - the riff-raff just got caught here...
(In the event you want to view a larger image - just click on the photo).

Fact or Fiction?

The valley on the old farmstead...




While I was visiting the old farmstead I related a story my Dad had told me that the "James Gang" camped here, either on their journey to, or from, Northfield, MN. The owner said, "I have head that too!" So - urban legend, fact, or fiction?
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Where I grew Up: Then and Now

I grew up on this farm until I was 10 years old (1961). This picture is from 1946.


I recently had the opportunity to meet the current owner of the farmstead and she invited me back to visit the old place. The first thing I noticed is that the rooms felt MUCH smaller than I remember. I imagine it's because I was a lot smaller. The owners are remodeling the entire house and I know my folks would be pleased. My dad is the one who initially added electricity and indoor plumbing to the place. Times have changed...


My dad and uncle built this fireplace in the 1950s - they would be pleased to know that it still works and is being used.
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Another Wasp

Wasp on a flower...


Same wasp - a bit closer.
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Did you Hear the One About the Cat?

We visited my mother in the nursing home yesterday. These 2 birds seemed to be deep in conversation - at least the one on the right...
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Spreader

Stopped on our way back from Des Moines yesterday and took some photographs. We've been driving by a place for years which has some old farm equipment and yesterday it just seemed the right time to stop.
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Nile Kinnick

We had a reception at HyVee's Iowa Pride Museum. The photo is of a bronze statue of Nile Kinnick. He was a student at the University of Iowa and won the 1939 Heisman Trophy. He died during a training flight while serving as a U, S, Navy pilot in World War II. Kinnick was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951, and the University of Iowa renamed its football stadium "Kinnick Stadium" in his honor in 1972.
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Des Moines Skywalk System

I am in Des Moines, Iowa attending the Iowa League of Credit Unions annual convention. This is a photo of a leg of the skywalk system. Certainly appreciate not having to walk outside.
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In the Bushes

Who (or what) is that is the bushes? and, what is he doing?
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