tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345243622011-08-16T00:33:11.143-07:00Hi,<br/><br/>This blog was created mostly to keep friends and family informed about what I'm doing. It's not really a forum for discussion or links to other sites, it's more like a diary or journal of what I'm doing.<br/>Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.comBlogger8031100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-9588453408573794852009-10-27T05:00:00.000-07:002009-10-27T05:00:12.231-07:00

Whenever it's reasonably convenient, Linda and I snap a shot of the capital buildings in states we visit. Being in Springfield, Illinois, it was nearly mandatory. When visiting the Lincoln Presidential Library, you can almost see the dome; we had to take a shot or two.-----------------------------------------Actual date of these events: 2009-03-14

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-64427568146289376932009-09-02T05:00:00.000-07:002009-09-02T05:00:08.970-07:00

While many states understandably claim Abraham Lincoln, Illinois is the Land of Lincoln and Springfield is home to his presidential library and museum. I visited the museum a couple of years ago and wanted Linda to have that experience as well.I think that Linda would agree that it's not like many museums. Yes, there are a number of exhibits of collections of items like dresses from the time. On

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-40406426237114786592009-09-01T05:00:00.000-07:002009-09-01T05:27:58.147-07:00

Somewhere before Columbus, Indiana, Linda and I were getting a little hungry. It was lunch time and we were on the road, trying to put some miles behind us. We pulled off at a convenient exit to grab a bite. The sign said, if we went this way, we'd find some familiar fast food (I forget what brand name it was,) so we did. We drove a mile or so and still didn't see a sign of that brand but there

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-52724116790094417082009-08-08T05:00:00.000-07:002009-08-09T12:06:25.671-07:00

Columbus, Indiana, is located about forty miles south of Indianapolis along I-65. Linda suggested we stop to take in the sights of the community. One of her relatives lived in Columbus some years ago and Linda thought I'd like to see the town. On top of that, Columbus is now home town to the former Rushville Rocket, Tony Stewart. I didn't expect to see Mr. Stewart but figured it more likely to

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-20645246603638973812009-08-07T05:00:00.000-07:002009-08-07T05:00:00.277-07:00

Linda and I found the capitol grounds in Columbia, South Carolina, richly decorated with markers commemorating various aspects of their history. The capitol building itself is a fine looking building. There's a very nice monument to the "Thin Blue Line," their law enforcement. The South Carolina State House also claims to be the only state capitol in the nation to have a monument dedicated to the

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-45030253256944633782009-08-06T05:00:00.000-07:002009-08-06T06:01:08.930-07:00

Because I'd visited to Fort Sumter a couple of years ago, I'd claimed to have been to Charleston; now I know that I'd not really begun to experience the city. Linda and I came into the city from the south, making our way through the narrow streets of the peninsula. The colorful homes and shops felt like they'd been there a long time. A horse drawn carriage carrying tourists edged over to let us

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-6267466800138618672009-07-26T05:00:00.000-07:002009-07-27T05:48:28.314-07:00

Just south of Charleston, South Carolina, is the beach community Folly Beach. Linda and I took a spin around town but found it challenging to find public access to the beach. We DID find the path up to where we could see the Morris Island lighthouse. It took a walk of about a quarter mile to reach the point where we could see the lighthouse. The wind whipped over the ocean and dunes putting salt

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-13794890011979322222009-07-25T05:00:00.000-07:002009-07-26T16:23:20.328-07:00

Honestly, Linda and I both had expectations of a lighthouse more like we saw at Tybee; clearly, the two lighthouses will not be confused. The Harbour Town lighthouse is a much more modern structure finished in 1970. While a little disappointed, it was still pleasant to stroll around the harbor. The shops were closed but we peeked in a few. There was live music flowing out of somewhere. All in all

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-17319209851561214942009-07-24T05:00:00.000-07:002009-07-24T05:00:04.579-07:00

Linda and I drove into the historic district of central Savannah with its square parks surrounded by homes, businesses, and churches well over a century old. Each little park was named and often had a distinctive feature like a fountain or statue, many with azalea's in bloom. Designed so that traffic going parallel to the river passed cleanly along the sides of these squares, they were centered

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-5538820949388365072009-07-23T05:00:00.000-07:002009-07-23T05:00:05.041-07:00

Just beyond the mouth of the Savannah River lies Tybee Island, Savannah's beach playground. When Linda and I stopped at the visitor center in Savannah, one of the workers there spoke about spending time relaxing on the broad beach like someone who'd done it and enjoyed it. We parked the car and headed out on the pier to catch a better view of the beach and some spring sea breeze. Pelicans were

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-2497471123850430812009-07-22T05:00:00.000-07:002009-07-22T05:00:04.330-07:00

At the mouth of the Savannah River sits historic Fort Pulaski National Monument, one time guardian of Savannah. Today, it's a handsome, very well maintained example of fortress design, complete with moat, ammo bunkers, and several period piece cannon atop the walls. The defeat of this fort by new technology during the Civil War signalled the end of an era in fortress design. "The Battle of Fort

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-957161050743840102009-07-21T05:00:00.000-07:002009-07-21T05:00:04.668-07:00

Linda and I got up early to see the sun rise over the ocean. When we first went out, there was very little light in the sky. I turned back from the ocean to get the shot of the moon over a couple of homes. As we waited, a rich red worked its way up the sky. The tide was coming in too so the beach before me kept shrinking as the waves rolled a little close. Before long, the waves had reached far

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-10971429381885067232009-07-20T05:00:00.000-07:002009-07-20T05:00:00.818-07:00

Linda and I pulled in at our stop for the evening at beautiful Jeckyll Island. No, the striking building with the tower and croquet on the lawn was not where we stayed. It looks like a beautiful place to spend some time but ... hmmm... there's gotta be a reason we didn't stay there. Ah! It lacks a view of the ocean.Actually, the Jekyll Island Club Hotel is the centerpiece of historic district of

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-44460079501981237162009-07-19T05:00:00.000-07:002009-07-19T06:31:04.515-07:00

I know, I should have had a better backup strategy for just such an occasion. It's taken me over a month to get everything back to where I feel I can resume fairly normal operation. Just this morning, I found the software that makes it easy for me to assemble the multipanel images I enjoy. Now, I have a lot of catching up to do!

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-65621352569999384122009-06-06T05:00:00.000-07:002009-06-07T10:19:28.030-07:00

St. Simon's Island, along the southern coastline of Georgia, is a beautiful place to spend some time wandering. Linda and I started out near the handsome lighthouse and ended up having a bite to eat at one of the neat little eateries near the shore. My fried green tomato sandwich and sweet potato fries hit the spot. It was a nice place to pause and soak up a little coastal flavor.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-46229081032821787382009-06-05T05:00:00.000-07:002009-06-07T09:43:29.793-07:00

St. Mary's, Georgia, sits about as far south along the Atlantic coastline of Georgia as you can get. As such, it's has wonderful docks filled with boats and seabirds. St. Mary's is also the gateway to the Cumberland Island National Seashore, a popular National Park Service destination that time didn't allow us to visit. Just getting to visit St. Mary's was a real treat and certainly a different

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-47488603698480143222009-06-04T05:00:00.000-07:002009-06-06T08:41:09.026-07:00

More then one person questioned why we were going to make it a point to stop at the Okefenokie Swamp on our trip to the southeast. After having spent a couple of hours roaming the grounds at the entrance and taking a little boat tour, Linda and I both felt that it had been time well spent. It wasn't in it's full summer glory and signs of last years fire were still evident but it was still a place

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-43717729315222790402009-06-03T20:18:00.000-07:002009-06-05T09:10:55.048-07:00

Seventeen years ago, my kids and I brought home a pair of kittens. One was a grey on grey tiger pattern with peachy undertones; we named her Smokey. She spent virtually her whole life in that same home; she did strike out on her own in the urban jungle for a full week once but never showed an interest in going back.Several years ago, she was diagnosed as diabetic so we started a twice daily pill

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-43132512768771446042009-06-02T05:00:00.000-07:002009-06-03T03:33:36.770-07:00

Linda and I went to Atlanta with only one real committed activity: attending the Kobalt 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. (Yes, we had other things in mind.) When I go to a race, it's pretty much an all day event. One of the activities that I enjoy is roaming around the various activities outside the tracks. Generally, I see at least some of the RaceDay television show

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-20072066319281373082009-06-01T05:00:00.000-07:002009-06-01T05:00:03.174-07:00

"The World's Largest Drive-in Restaurant," The Varsity, has been asking that question for over eighty years and people have been stepping up to tell them. Linda and I stopped in to experience this Atlanta landmark. As you can see, we were not alone. As we drove in, all of the drive up slots were taken so we headed to the upper deck of their two story parking ramp. Inside, the counter is wide and

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-51975965510051759212009-05-31T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-31T05:00:00.768-07:00

When in a capitol city, Linda and I like to get a photo of the capitol building. This handsome structure is the capitol of the great state of Georgia. Unfortunately, we were unable to enter the building but did get to roam the grounds a bit. Near the building itself is a very nice statue and ring honoring former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter. It is a very nice tribute recognizing

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-59895811072514458162009-05-30T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-30T05:00:01.071-07:00

Much like I like to see different NASCAR tracks, Linda and I like to see different Major League Baseball venues. If possible, we like to see a game and sample the foods offered. (Remember the goetta in Cincy?) The season hadn't started yet so the best we could do was tour Turner Field. We right down on the edge of the field, into the locker room and press box, some very nice facilities for fans

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-73508246093824649952009-05-29T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-29T05:00:00.715-07:00

It took us way longer than I'd expected but we did find the track. You'd think that a HUGE oval, high-banked race track and surrounding grounds would have been easy to find, wouldn't you? Alas, it was not. Linda and I were passing near Talladega so we (more she than me) thought it would be good to swing by and see it, even from the gates. I'd seen it on Google Earth so I knew that it was north of

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-20689282153175565082009-05-28T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-28T05:45:12.939-07:00

As Linda and I were looking ahead on our route, the Kymulga Grist Mill And Covered Bridge showed up as a possible place of interest. Having seen most of the bridges of Madison county, it would be interesting to see how they're done in Alabama; they're similar... but different. The bridges I've seen in Iowa have little to no exposed metal. This bridge, built about the time of the Civil War, is one

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-40404621008006235802009-05-27T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-27T16:09:48.889-07:00

... but this is not a little breakfast. As Linda and I were crossing Mississippi and Alabama, we thought we should stop and get a bite to eat. Out in the country, at an interchange that wasn't closely related to any town sat a gas station and one of the regional chain restaurants; I forget the name. We stopped in, took a booth, and looked at the menu. When asked if this selection came with eggs,

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-13553680902580622542009-05-26T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-26T05:00:01.116-07:00

When in Tupelo, you nearly have to stop at the birthplace of The Kind of Rock 'n Roll. It's not too hard to imagine a young boy running out the front door, jumping off the porch, and off to who knows what. Imagining that young boy would grow into a superstar takes a little more imagination but he did.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-32971170856663845192009-05-25T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-27T04:25:11.073-07:00

Just outside Tupelo, Mississippi, Linda and I saw an exit for the Natchez Trace Parkway. I'd heard of the trace but didn't really know much; Linda was in the same boat so we took the turn to find out a little bit. The visitor center and parkway headquarters were a couple of miles up the parkway so we stopped in. There, we learned about the long history of the trace as a path taken over the

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-25582524349366408902009-05-24T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-24T05:00:00.168-07:00

Linda and I next turned our attention to Beale Street and finding a bite to eat. At the corner where we first set foot on Beale, we found the Blues City Cafe, a busy, local looking place. Not wanting to jump at the first place that we saw, we moved on down the street. Wonderful bluesy music was rolling out of the various joints as we strolled down the street. Like Bourbon Street in New Orleans,

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-75477483678950652472009-05-23T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-23T07:23:19.930-07:00

Neither Linda nor I had set foot in Memphis so, when the opportunity to change that presented itself, we took it. Our first stop was Graceland, former(?) home of Elvis Presley, The King of Rock 'n Roll. We arrived late in the day so we didn't go through the house itself; neither of us felt it a priority but it was something that, when in town, we wanted to at least be able to say that we'd seen

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-83822977046426303332009-05-22T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-22T13:56:30.839-07:00

I recently was given a set of "screw in close up (macro) lenses." When Linda and I have gone to photography day at Living History Farms, we've run into the same guy showing how to take those really close up photos. He taught us how to take them with our point and shoots two years ago. This past year, he told us about these lenses that are sort of like reading glasses for the camera; they screw

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-17256134586273686392009-05-21T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-21T20:58:08.021-07:00

Remember those free tickets from a post or two back? We used them to see the Chops take on the Lake Erie Monsters. These team names are ... interesting. The game was fast paced and entertaining, as usual. It was tied at the end of regulation AND the overtime. It took a shootout but the Monsters pulled it out to win, 3-2.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-62385281517690974292009-05-20T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-20T05:00:00.504-07:00

Linda and I went north to see her nephew, Jacob, play hockey again. This time, I got down a bit closer to the ice to take some better photos, a bit more eye level than my usual perspective. One of the challenges about hockey photography is that, as a fan in the stands, I'm generally shooting through the glass... glass streaked by high pucks and the occasional face. Anyway, Jake played well but,

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-91527606207656994222009-05-19T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-19T05:05:56.629-07:00

Had so much fun last time, we went back to see the Chops take on the Houston Aeros. This time, we had Linda's brother, sister-in-law, and youngest nephew, Jacob, along. The were coming down to play in a hockey tournament the next day and took advantage of the opportunity to see the Chops. The weather was so bad that, at the second break, they announced that, as a token of appreciation to those

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-31021254967561309162009-05-18T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-18T05:13:08.227-07:00

Linda and I went back to Wells Fargo arena to see our hometown Chops host the Rockford Icehogs. (Anyone else impressed with the team names in the American Hockey League?) As usual, the pace of the game was quick and the play was fluid. I'm always impressed with the ability of these guys to pass the puck. The Chops play a physical game so there was a fight before the night was done. In the end,

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-62635033395091278442009-05-17T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-17T05:00:00.278-07:00

Lincoln and Ames high schools had the special opportunity to play a basketball game at the Wells Fargo Arena. While Linda and I have enjoyed seeing the Railsplitters play at the Round House, seeing them play at the Well against standout Harrison Barnes was not to be missed. We arrived and, to my surprise, I was instructed to acquire my credentials in order to bring my camera. Fortunately, it was

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-83577042819648881632009-05-16T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-16T07:07:15.134-07:00

Linda's nephew, Jake, plays hockey so, when the opportunity to go see him play came up, we made the drive. We arrived at the ice arena, met family, and settled in to see Jacob play. He's one of the bigger kids out there. He skated well and made some nifty moves with the stick. As a defenseman, he often positioned himself between the puck and the goal without apparent concern that it might sting

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-83844547564807966802009-05-15T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-15T05:12:22.569-07:00

Okay, I wasn't really driving while taking these shots but winter passengering didn't read well either. Fortunately, Linda is comfortable driving in the winter and that lets me pull out the camera from time to time. As you can see in the bottom photo, we encountered vehicles that were in need of tow trucks. The night before, a pretty good storm went through with a good deal of blowing snow.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-25435150615782911772009-05-14T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-14T05:00:00.956-07:00

Ashley and Travis' dog was going to be in his first show here in Des Moines so Linda and I drove over to the fairgrounds to see how he did. That's him in the ring in the upper shot. When it was all said and done, he collected a few nice ribbons and seemed to have a good time; not bad for his first show and all.Dog shows are pretty interesting visual environments; so many varieties of dogs getting

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-11276623059337935132009-05-13T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-13T05:00:00.379-07:00

Linda and I returned to the Knapp Center to see the Drake Bulldogs battle the Wichita State Shockers. The visitors made two out of every three shots in the first half building double digit leads a couple of times in the first half but only took a four point lead into the halftime break. In the second half, the Bulldog defense tightened and the Shockers only made one third of their shots count.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-23421468377254975482009-05-12T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-11T21:39:37.379-07:00

A bright, beautiful January day with fresh snow... time to take out the camera! I went roaming around the capitol grounds and, after seeing the statues and sledders, this image was the one that really caught my eye. Usually, the reflection is of the capitol building; this seemed a bit more interesting that day... and I still like it today!

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-9691340410826501072009-05-11T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-11T05:00:01.278-07:00

Linda and I had seen the Iowa Chops play an exhibition game at the old KGGO arena; we wanted to see them at their official home, Wells Fargo Arena. The Manitoba Moose were in town so we took the opportunity to see how they'd play. As we'd seen at the exhibition game, the Chops played a fast and physical game and the Moose responded in kind. It was a very close and entertaining game until a rush

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-84060861346342192272009-05-10T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-10T05:00:00.071-07:00

Shortly after this colorful shot, these lovely bits were bubbling nicely on Linda's stovetop, melding into a very tasty mass of cajun inspired dinner. It took a while to get it all chopped up right and then waiting for the flavors to blend but in the end, the payoff was worth it. It was a nice last meal of 2008.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-46021009768413779732009-05-09T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-09T07:36:49.519-07:00

The men's Bulldog basketball team got their tenth win showing some excellent defense against the Missouri State Bears, 67-49. I've been trying to get images of the team members in some game action this year. By the numbers, 3 is Craig Stanley, 23 is Josh Parker, 22 is Bill Eaddy, and 44 is Adam Templeton. Most of these guys are new to the lineup this year so it's been fun to watch their game

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-18636099524931172372009-05-08T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-08T05:00:00.455-07:00

Linda was driving us to a family get together so I had time to play a little more with my camera. I'd never tried setting it for black and white so I gave it a try. It was fairly late in the day and we were goin' a mile a minute (or more) so I wasn't sure what I'd get just shooting out the window. When I got home, this image really caught my eye. I'm not sure that I'll be taking a lot of black

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-13067738790266238062009-05-07T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-07T05:00:01.074-07:00

Linda and I try to get to at least one game by each of our home town teams each season so we stopped in to see the 2008-09 Iowa Energy NBA Developmental League team. Not being big fans of the NBA, the names weren't familiar but the play was entertaining. It's interesting to see the difference in style of the NBA versus the NCAA games at the Knapp Center. The individual talents that are showcased

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-58623230741833158732009-05-06T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-06T05:00:00.868-07:00

Linda and Ashley were going to be working on Christmas treats so, of course, I hustled on over to "help." I generally got to help photo document the process; Ashley had brought her camera as well so there were plenty of shots being taken of the proceedings. My cooking help was generally the tasks given to trustworthy early elementary school age kids: unwrap the chocolates, carry the cookies to

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-1354309041940308802009-05-05T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-06T04:26:12.344-07:00

Linda's Christmas tree had so many fun angles and nice little corners to shoot that I brought out my camera and took a few shots. It got me thinking about how our respective trees decorations differed. Mine have always been pretty stock, pretty standard collections of similar / identical balls, garland, what have you; looking around Linda's tree, I didn't see two ornaments that were the same.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-23588802546748033172009-05-04T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-04T17:27:45.724-07:00

Josh Young led the Drake Bulldogs with a 26 point contribution to win 84-73 over Georgia Southern. Josh has been an exciting player the last couple of years and lived up to that reputation in this game. Josh maintained his high caliber of three-point shooting making four of seven from long range as well as ten of twelve from the free-throw line.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-84337414835106164442009-05-03T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-03T05:00:00.815-07:00

Linda and I went to see the first round men's basketball game but arrived in time to see an NCAA men's basketball record tied. Ben Woodside of North Dakota State University put on an amazing performance in the early game against Stephen F. Austin University. Woodside put on an impressive display scoring 60 of the Bison's 111 points. Along the way, he MADE 30 of 35 free throws tying the NCAA

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-85529663203641142412009-05-02T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-02T05:00:00.532-07:00

Linda and I returned to the Knapp Center to see the Drake Bulldogs take on Texas-Pan American in the opening round of the Iowa Realty Invitational basketball tournament. The game was hard fought and Drake trailed often and, with under four minutes left in the game, was down 49-56. The 'dogs showed some grit and fought their way back to even the score at 57 before scoring the final basket of the

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-34070819116012483852009-05-01T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-01T05:32:22.033-07:00

Last year, the Drake men's basketball team did SO well that Linda and I wondered what the team would be like this year. We finally got to see a game and were treated to that familiar Knapp Center energy. With the Bulldogs winning three of the first four games, the crowd was already enthusiastic. Most of the players were familiar; it was good to see them back on the court. The game was generally

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-79941395740637316742009-04-30T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-01T05:07:18.747-07:00

Linda and I braved a chilly day to see the final home game of the Drake football season. Morehead State was in town and the Bulldogs were looking to get back above .500 for the season. Drake got off to a slow start and fell behind 0-3 at the end of the first quarter. The second went more Drake's way as they scored 17 while giving up two more field goals. Morehead scored a touchdown in the fourth

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-7762354651336750022009-04-29T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-29T05:23:01.502-07:00

Earlier in the season, Urbandale opened their new football stadium and track. Linda and I thought about going one evening but it was pouring rain so we opted out. This time, it was a beautiful autumn evening AND part of the 4A playoffs. This game pitted the Johnston Dragons, who we'd seen play earlier in the season, against the Dowling Maroons, a local team with a long history of success. The

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-64540364880240789672009-04-28T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-28T05:00:01.473-07:00

Mom and Dad came to town and Linda and I took them out to Howell's Dried Florals and Greenhouse. One of the Register's 100 Places to Visit, it had a number of things to attract us. Linda and I enjoy looking around at the various items. Mom liked browsing through the dried florals. Several of the items in the barn reminded Mom and Dad of things they or their parents had used at one point or

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-20977399138847146342009-04-27T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-27T19:32:00.056-07:00

TWO games in ONE day? Yep... without really trying! Linda and I like to get out on nice autumn days and this was one not to miss. We sat in the sun at Drake Stadium and watched the Bulldogs match wits with Davidson, a pretty consistent power in the Pioneer League. The game was a pretty even affair but ended with Drake up 20-17... my favorite ending!Later that afternoon, we hooked up with a friend

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-89782343214246562009-04-26T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-27T05:00:15.744-07:00

The Waterloo Black Hawks play hockey at Young Arena and one of their traditions is to blast Glenn Fry's Party Town over the public address system as the crowd keeps rhythem with their cowbells. This evening, Linda and I brought Ashley and Travis to the game. Buying tickets so late limited our seat selection but it turned out to be quite an evening. We were down near the glass way down in a corner

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-22075294920681787652009-04-25T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-25T08:42:05.901-07:00

Ashley wanted a photo to use on her blog and asked Linda and me if we would take some photos for her. She had a general look and location in mind so we felt like we had a decent chance of pulling this off. As I understood it, the top image is reasonably representative of what we were aiming for. My shots were mostly just for my benefit; Linda had the responsibility for the project camera and the

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-84043049298217629942009-04-24T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-25T06:33:51.895-07:00

Linda and I visited Ashley and Travis and got to meet their puppy Mowgli, a male Canaan dog. He's a playful dog with a very nice near white coat. The hair of his coat feels a little coarse or stiff but lays down smoothly so he's nice to pet. He's learning a lot... and so are Ashley and Travis; Cesar Millan's Dog Whisperer has shown them several good (and bad) ideas for raising a dog you'd want to

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-65220989380158947532009-04-23T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-25T06:12:06.414-07:00

A while back I posted a night photo of the Grundy County Courthouse. Linda and I were passing through in the morning so I took this shot to supplement the earlier post. I like all the variety in surfaces of this courthouse. Most of the newer structures are pretty boxlike; this has curves and the clock tower; pretty asymmetric to keep my eye entertained and my mind wondering about the layout.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-54912918766064530172009-04-22T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-22T05:00:01.634-07:00

In the spring, Linda and I went to see the Johnston Dragons win the state baseball championship. This fall, the football team was off to a great start and, this weekend, was going up against another highly rated team, Ankeny. Having not been to the Johnston field, we set out for our second high school football game of the year. The teams looked sharp and generally played well. Johnston never

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-67120917810772643242009-04-20T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-22T04:32:08.840-07:00

Montezuma is the county seat of Poweshiek County and this is their courthouse. It looks more like a school than what I think of as a courthouse. Maybe it looks more New England than Midwestern to me. Whatever it is, it's a nice looking courthouse located on the square.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-40491757688989705842009-04-19T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-19T07:20:32.399-07:00

In 1948, construction of their home near Quasqueton began. The Frank Lloyd Wright designed home and boathouse were to be set along the Wapsipinicon River. Mr. Wright chose and positioned practically every detail of this property including the plants in the yard and the vases on the shelves. Contruction started by stripping the area to bedrock and then building it back up again; quite a project.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-45895482994077624622009-04-18T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-18T05:00:00.741-07:00

While not the world's largest, this skillet in the small town of Brandon lays claim as the largest in the state; I've seen no other make such a claim so I'm going to to with them.Statistically, the bottom of the pan is eight feet across; the sides taper up and out to open that up to over nine feet at the top. The handle is five feet long. Overall, the pan weighs in at about one thousand pounds.If

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-318563156461617452009-04-17T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-17T05:00:01.066-07:00

Linda and I stopped by to see Valerie for a bit and ended up going out to an apple orchard to pick some apples. Val was wanting to make applesauce so we loaded up a few bags and set her up. It was a nice autumn afternoon and, as you can see, the trees were heavy laden. It did take a little while to get to the trees that had fruit but, once there, it was easy pickin'. It was nice to get to visit

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-57311730967049580282009-04-16T05:00:00.001-07:002009-04-16T05:00:00.379-07:00

Anamosa is the county seat of Jones County and this is their courthouse. Set back on a hill overlooking the highway, it's an imposing structure. I like the mature trees and the detail on the building. It's what I've come to expect in courthouses in Iowa.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-65657570283050786192009-04-15T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-15T05:00:00.377-07:00

Maquoketa is the count seat of Jackson County and this is their courthouse. This is one of the more recent constructions we've seen and, unfortunately, it's not among my favorites.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-63773023526550978952009-04-14T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-14T05:00:01.397-07:00

This is the Maquoketa Public Library and it is one of the surviving Carnegie Libraries in Iowa. It has the look Linda and I have come to recognize in many of the libraries built in the early twentieth century. This library still serves its community and appears to do it well. There were people coming and going as I approached to take the photo. I like to see that on going support and the long

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-64717940412938291482009-04-13T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-13T05:00:01.158-07:00

Maquoketa is home to the Decker Hotel, another of the Register's 100 Places In Iowa. Linda and I stopped in to take a look at this gem on the prairie. The exterious looks like most buildings on main streets in midwestern towns: very vertical, two or three stories. The lobby was very welcoming, clean, and comfortable. Having read some of the reviews, it looks like this would be a nice spot to

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-78417990121734855642009-04-12T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-12T05:00:00.738-07:00

Gehlen House, in St. Donatus, is a bed and breakfast promising a quiet break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The community seems to have a connection with Luxembourg but I'm unable to find anything specific. St. Donatus is best known in that part of the world and the Gehlen House website advertises Luxembourg hospitality. The setting is Iowa small town and the Kalmes restaurant

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-38363866841196072692009-04-11T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-11T07:08:48.406-07:00

One of the Register's 100 Places in Iowa, Our Lady of the Mississippi is set on a bluff overlooking the river valley a few miles south of Dubuque. Besides the obvious service in their faith, the nuns are also known for an item on the list of 100 Things You Must Eat, Trappistine Creamy Caramels. Linda and I have found them in shops in Dubuque in the past but it was nice to stop at the monastery.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-63665895341580391432009-04-10T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-10T05:00:00.762-07:00

Dubuque is the county seat of Dubuque County and this is their courthouse. This gold-capped Beaux-Arts courthouse reminds me of the pyramids of Egypt (not that I've been there, but you may see what I'm talking about too.) I like the contrasting red and white blocks that come together to form this hall of justice.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-16239058783345866152009-04-09T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-09T05:00:00.909-07:00

Park Farm Winery, near Durango, is one of the 100 Places in Iowa. It took a little gravel jammin' in the beautiful autumn hills to find this gem but, when we got there, it was a nice stop. It was pretty apparent that they were preparing for some sort of elegant reception but we got to roam around a bit, admiring the handsome grounds.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-13369391467810889182009-04-08T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-08T05:00:00.527-07:00

Saint Boniface Church in New Vienna is one of the Register's 100 Places in Iowa and it's not hard to understand why. From the outside, it's a beautiful structure in a lovely setting; inside, it's a well loved house of worship. I recall three alters, the stations of the cross, and a general sense of welcome and reverence.We arrived at the church a few minutes after a classic car club from along

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-73880893141916297852009-04-07T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-07T05:00:00.857-07:00

Elkader is the county seat of Clayton County and this is their courthouse. Located astride the Turkey River, this community experienced some of the flooding earlier in the year. By the time Linda and I arrived, the waters had receeded and cleanup had already made the town presentable; I do remember seeing some high water marks out around the ball fields but that's why the parks and ball fields

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-69363524882888134682009-04-06T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-06T05:00:01.419-07:00

Yes, there is a Pikes Peak State Park in Iowa. Another of the Register's 100 Places in Iowa, this park provides to pretty amazing views of the river and striking leaves on the overlooking hillsides. The image in the upper right is Wyalusing in Wisconsin.While Linda and I were standing, admiring the view, a bald eagle soared by about one feet in front of us. Pretty cool!We followed a couple of

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-31329763743831236502009-04-05T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-05T05:00:02.975-07:00

One of the Register's 100 Places in Iowa, Effigy Mounds National Monument was not the easiest place to get to see. The climb from the entrance to the first mounds was significant; it was pretty with the turning leaves but the incline was not easily overlooked. Once we were at the top of the bluff, the trail wound through the woods, passing by various mounds. There are some two hundred mounds in

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-61621890796829425442009-04-04T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-04T05:00:01.176-07:00

"Have you had a burger at Pete's?" they asked. "If you're ever in Prairie du Chien, you have to stop at Pete's Hamburger Stand and have a burger." If you've read much of my blog, you know that, if I was in Prairie du Chien, I was gonna stop at Pete's. Well, Linda and I were in Prairie so we looked up Pete's and tried the burgers. I'm not sure how they're prepared but they are tasty and moist.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-78187507992773298632009-04-03T05:00:00.001-07:002009-04-03T05:00:01.067-07:00

While we were in the area, Linda wanted to be sure that I got to see Wyalusing State Park. Located on the bluffs overlooking the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers, it has many nice trails and some pretty spectacular views. As we went from place to place, Linda would sometimes mention some experience she'd had in prior visits. It was nice to get a geographic context for some of

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-18682921550730147432009-04-02T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-28T18:41:25.476-07:00

Scattered across the hills surrounding Gays Mills, there are several orchards producing some VERY nice apples... and LOTS of them! Linda and I got to stop in at three and saw some pretty interesting and sophisticated operations. I enjoyed seeing the processes that bring the apples from the tree through to the bag ready to take home. We also enjoyed a few of the apple products offered: apple

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-3285452335913668692009-04-01T05:00:00.000-07:002009-04-01T05:00:01.119-07:00

Linda and I crossed The River into Wisconsin and were treated to some pretty interesting sights. One of the more unexpected was the tobacco barn; I'm clearly ignorant regarding tobacco and Wisconsin agriculture because I'd never have mixed the two.The Kickapoo River Museum in Gays Mills was also a little treat to find. The pond and spillway around the museum were very attractive. I'm not sure

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-82016361774777125192009-03-31T05:00:00.000-07:002009-03-31T05:00:00.831-07:00

Waukon is the county seat of Allamakee County and this is their courthouse. Waukon is a pretty nice looking town to pass through and probably a nice place to live. That said, not a lot caught my eye to comment on further.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-4423330691262045472009-03-30T05:00:00.000-07:002009-03-30T05:00:00.897-07:00

One of the 100 Places in Iowa, the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in centered in a storefront but includes a handful of outbuildings situated on the lots around it. By the time Linda and I arrived, the indoor exhibits were only open for another ten minutes so we opted for the displays outdoors. Outdoors, Linda and I got to see a replica of a home the original settlers in the area would

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-36038161610123676822009-03-29T05:00:00.000-07:002009-03-29T05:00:00.998-07:00

Decorah is the county seat of Winneshiek County and this is their courthouse.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-41095316028850594412009-03-28T05:00:00.000-07:002009-03-28T23:43:03.492-07:00

While Mabe's may call it regular, it's one of the best thin crust pizza's I can remember having enjoyed. Linda and I enjoy pizza from time to time and made sure we'd be ready to try this item from the 100 Things to Eat. It more than met our expectations. I can (and have) recommended this stop to friends heading up to the Decorah area.This photo is of the storefront on Main Street. Unfortunately,

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-68557499164133892612009-03-27T05:00:00.000-07:002009-03-27T05:00:01.031-07:00

North of Decorah is an uncommon seed store dedicated to saving and sharing heirloom seeds. The Seed Savers Exchange has been around over thirty years, growing varieties not found in your typical garden and presenting information on how to do it yourself.I believe the first time I heard of seed savers was at work when a friend of mine talked about getting seeds to build a little patch of prairie

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-29298391626736027312009-03-26T05:00:00.001-07:002009-03-26T05:00:01.286-07:00

St. Wenceslaus Church, in Spillville, is one of the 100 Places in Iowa. Built in 1860, it is the oldest Czech Catholic church in the United States. Nearly 150 years old, it's a beautiful house of worship sitting on the crest of a hill in town.Beside and behind the church is a graveyard with very old and distinctive markers. As you can see in the image, many are the more familiar carved stone

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-35465042424373370712009-03-25T05:00:00.000-07:002009-03-25T05:00:00.748-07:00

Spillville, Iowa, is the home of the Bily brothers known for their wonderful hand carved clocks. Carved during the first half of the twentieth century, many are now on display at the museum. Linda had taken her son and daughter through the museum years before but, unfortunately, we weren't able to take the tour this time.Coincidentally, the building housing the Bily Clock Museum also served as

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-60849443894151067382009-03-24T05:00:00.000-07:002009-03-24T05:00:01.033-07:00

A few miles outside of Festina, Iowa, along a dusty gravel road sits what has been billed as the Smallest Church in the World," one of the 100 Places in Iowa to Visit. I've read that the interior measures twelve by sixteen feet and that that steeple is forty feet tall. Having stepped inside for a bit, I can vouch that the four pews are regular size but only seat one or two people making room for

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-91652023969632888532009-03-23T05:00:00.000-07:002009-03-23T05:00:01.920-07:00

Fall in Iowa can really be a very colorful, pretty time of year. Linda has made fairly regular trips to "The River" over the years and is now including me. I really have to say that 2008 was a very good year to make the trip. The colors were so bright and varied across the landscape that it looked more like a painting or quilt made to show what it could look like. It was beautiful. Check back and

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-26417714843847678122009-03-22T05:00:00.000-07:002009-03-22T05:00:00.636-07:00

West Union is the county seat of Fayette County and this is their courthouse. This is a nice looking courthouse and I like that people enjoy decorating the grounds, at least for the fall season. It felt like part of the community and really did look like a good part of the town.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-66520183762342482092009-03-21T05:00:00.000-07:002009-03-21T12:08:00.086-07:00

Linda and I stopped by the Little Brown Church in the Vale and checked off another of the 100 Places in Iowa. As you can see, the church is set in a nice wooded little area. A mile or more outside of Nashua, it's a nice, quiet corner of Iowa. The church was open so we went inside to take a look around. It's a nicely maintained house of worship little changed over the years, I'm sure. After the

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-65241935502080885522009-03-20T05:00:00.000-07:002009-03-20T05:00:01.632-07:00

Allison is the county seat of Butler county and this is their courthouse. Located at the north end of the business district, it's very easy to find. The main thing that I know about Allison is that it's the home town of Linda's son-in-law so it was nice to get stop by.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-40705327359729906462009-03-19T05:00:00.000-07:002009-03-19T05:00:01.938-07:00

At the end of last season, the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League chose not to renew their contract with the local Iowa Stars. Fortunately, the Annaheim Ducks picked up the contract and we get to have near NHL caliber hockey in town. To avoid having issues with memorabelia should the Ducks drop us, a new, independent name was sought. When the team was named the Iowa Chops, some people

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-84645655923801240212009-03-18T05:00:00.000-07:002009-03-18T05:00:01.105-07:00

Yes, Linda and I have been to see Albert before ... but we were in Audubon and we don't really know more to do in Audubon. Besides, he's on the list of 100 Places in Iowa; he can get a revisit. I like this photo better anyway.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-84568610312875382872009-03-17T05:00:00.000-07:002009-03-17T05:00:00.487-07:00

The library in Audubon has an uncommonly prominent location in the community. It sits in the square in the middle of town while the courthouse is across the street. In most communities, we've seen the courthouse in the square and the library a block or so away. I like the setting for this library but it is a little different than most.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-53882764392030142022009-03-16T05:00:00.001-07:002009-03-16T05:00:00.930-07:00

Audubon is the county seat of Audubon County and this is their courthouse. Unfortunately, the only claim to fame that either I or Wikipedia know about Audubon is that it is home to Albert the Bull. Linda and I stopped by and saw Albert about a year ago ... before I realized that Audubon is a county seat.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-46800765777735447932009-03-15T05:00:00.000-07:002009-03-15T05:00:00.232-07:00

Stanton, Iowa, has a pair of water towers that beg the question: why? Shaped like a coffee pot and companion cup, these two remind you that Folgers Coffee's Mrs. Olson was born Virginia Christine Kraft in this neat, Swedish town. The towers are not close together and take a little looking to find (odd in an Iowa community) but, clearly, I found them.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-40124300347203284082009-03-14T05:00:00.000-07:002009-03-14T05:00:00.174-07:00

Corning is the county seat of Adams County and this is their courthouse. Birthplace of long time Tonight Show host, Johnny Carson, Corning is located on the slope of one of the rolling hills in the area. This relatively modern courthouse is located near the top of the hill and has a night park area on the slope below.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-25279210805328037802009-03-13T05:00:00.000-07:002009-03-13T05:00:01.667-07:00

Creston is the county seat of Union County and this is their courthouse. It's also situated at a railroad crossroads with Amtrack passenger service and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe. While we were there, we had to wait for at least one train at a multi-track crossing. My recollection is of several sidings or a switchyard near the center of town. It was clearly a railroad town.

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34524362.post-53028970279312319392009-03-12T05:00:00.000-07:002009-03-12T05:00:00.710-07:00

Linda and I wandered through Knoxville a while back and saw their unique sunken football field. Where most fields we'd encountered were set at ground level with stands rising up from the sidelines, Knoxville had dug their field down into the ground and carved shelves along the sides where fans could bring blankets or lawnchairs to sit and watch the game. We decided that sometime soon, before they

Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359406996404791248noreply@blogger.com0