Iowa State Fair: Part I

Just yesterday the annual edition of the Iowa State Fair concluded; therefore, this week's posts will feature scenes from that wonderful event and provide viewers with some rather unusual shots as well as the more predictable sites.  Since fair food is such a popular topic, each day I will include some vendors' signs that boldly state the food or beverage offering, starting with the highly anticipated corn dog.  In addition, if you don't already know, I must note that this fair is widely known for its many delectable offerings 'on a stick,' such as pork chops on a stick, rice crispy squares on a stick, cheesecake on a stick, and various deep fried novelties on a stick!  Finally, after mentioning all of these calorie-laden treats and spending a couple days at this event, one thing that made me laugh was a t-shirt that some fairgoers were wearing as it announced, "I went to the Iowa State Fair and all I got was Type 2 Diabetes."  Enjoy this week at the fair.

Despite making his way through the crowd with a calf, this handler still managed to remain connected via his smart phone.

Tomato Season

This time of the year tables, sacks, sinks, gardens, buckets and stomachs all start to get full of tomatoes!   Each summer we eagerly await the ripe, juicy fruit and then seem to quickly get inundated with an abundant supply!  Nevertheless, this wonderful produce makes for great sauce, juice, salsa and more that tastes great during the long, cold winter. 

Sunflower: Extreme Makeover

In and around my parents' garden are several sunflowers, including this one that is starting to open.  Now, since we all have seen the traditional golden version I decided to provide a unique perspective and do something a bit bizarre.  And, because I am also trying to become more familiar with Photoshop, this was the perfect opportunity to practice a few new skills.  Enjoy!

Okoboji Sunset

One of the most peaceful times while at Lake Okoboji is watching the sunset and relaxing on a dock, in a boat or somewhere on shore.  These photos give a glimpse of that gorgeous time of day when the sun sets the sky on fire and then quickly vanishes.  How about taking a moment at dusk to pause and take in all the colors of the evening sky.

Scenes From The West

Today's photos are from a recent trip to Utah, Idaho and Wyoming with stops in Idaho Falls and, of course, Yellowstone National Park.  The picture featuring the falls is of the Snake River as it passes through Idaho Falls while the other two shots were taken in the park.  As you may know, fly fishing is extremely popular in that locale and anglers were out in full force.  One evening in Yellowstone, while driving from one waterfall to another, we encountered this group of elk and wanted to photograph them...along with 300 other tourists!  Their antlers were beautiful as the velvety coating shimmered in the evening sun.

Little Visitors: Summer Fun

Recently my nieces and nephews spent a few days visiting their grandparents and playing outdoors.  In a couple photos, the flowers provide a gorgeous background despite the absence of lush green grass.  Be sure to notice the photo of my youngest nephew (orange shirt) as his favorite stuffed monkey often accompanies him inside and out, including in this shot of him doing one of his favorite things, i.e., using the garage door opener as much as possible!  In another photo a large container of bubbles is present as they continue to entertain kids of all ages.  And, finally, one can't miss the older nephew as he only wanted me to photograph him while he was tangled in the swings -- hope he likes this picture!

Antler Drool

In honor of this, my 100th post, I decided to feature a photo that would have one hundred (or more) items; hence, more antlers!  This photo is different than previous antler photos as the effect gives this picture a unique perspective and clarifies the title of this post.  And, by the way, I don't have any idea about how many antlers are in the original photo ...nor do I plan to count them all!