Paragliding In The Tetons

Although I have no desire to participate in and know very little about paragliding, I definitely was intrigued by these men who were enjoying an afternoon of flying among the rugged peaks of Grand Teton National Park located just minutes outside of Jackson, Wyoming.  Take a look at the guy who is waiting to take off as you will get an up-close view of his gear, including what resembles a huge backpack, several ropes and some type of parachute.  From the man in flight, you can see that he is flying feet first and seated in a harness.  This particular day the winds were light which I understand is important for paragliding as high winds can create dangerous situations for pilots.

 

 

Little Fur Balls

With warm weather come various waves of farm kittens, including this group of three.  Unlike last year, this summer their mother is caring for her young, and she appears in the photos looking as if she is worn out!  In one picture she seems to be 'catnapping' -- forgive me but I just couldn't resist!  Another interesting detail to notice is that the black and white little feline has one blue eye and one green eye.  Quite a playful crew.

 

 

Iowa State Fair: Food Finale

 

Hope you have enjoyed the sites of the fair as much as I enjoyed taking the pictures and featuring a few each day.  Today finishes this year's tour with a focus on more culinary delights, including fried cheese curds, red velvet funnel cakes, a 'Raging Bull' smoothie and more.  Just thinking of that smoothie makes me laugh, and I wish I would have seen someone order it as I would have inquired about the taste and any lingering effects.  See you next year at the fair!

Iowa State Fair: Midway & Mac N Cheese

In this post I felt obligated to include images of some basic components of any fair -- the midway and a vendor selling all sorts of 'TREASURES.'  In addition, the food feature includes a unique macaroni-and-cheese option along with an ice cream dessert...on a stick, of course!   Hmmmm...wonder if the "mac-n-cheese bites" originate in a box?

 

 

 

Iowa State Fair: BIG Pumpkins & More

 

As you may already know, several "biggest" competitions occur at the Iowa State Fair, including the biggest rabbit, ram, bull and boar; however, pumpkins also get in on the act with the largest weighing over a thousand pounds.  Be sure to notice that even the eighth-place winner tipped the scale at over six hundred pounds!  Today's photos also include a shot of the many dahlias on exhibit in the horticulture building (yes, the butter cow is also here) plus another that shows various entries of soybeans, oats and corn.  Finally, my favorite photo is of the yellow pig that holds a chalkboard announcing the day's special.  If you look carefully, you will notice that this little porker is anchored to the trailer with a gray bungee cord that actually looks as if she is wearing a necklace to complement her outfit!

 

 

Iowa State Fair: Sky Tram & Food

One of the many options for fair goers is viewing a portion of the grounds from above while seated in what resembles a ski lift.  And, of course, maintenance is required to keep the tram operational and safe; hence, one of today's photos shows what we saw upon our early morning arrival as two workers wore safety harnesses and floated above us servicing the overhead ride.  In another photo of the crowd one can easily view the tram as well as the glistening golden dome of the capitol -- be sure to spot it.  Finally, today's food photos feature signs for pork chops on a stick, fried candy bars and salt water taffy.  Which would you select?

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.