Birthday Greetings

Today's post is in honor of my mother's birthday.  She loves to work with the youth of our community, is an avid supporter of the girls' and boys' high school athletic teams, and each spring she plants hundreds of blooming things to adorn her outdoor space.  If you see her, be sure to extend a hearty happy birthday wish.

A Path

"As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought 

will not make a pathway in the mind.  To make a deep physical path,

 we walk again and again.  To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives."

                                                         --Henry David Thoreau

Need Your Vote!

For the "Iowa People" category, this photo is a finalist in the annual Our Iowa photo competition.  As the caption states, this shot was taken during the 2014 Edgewood Rodeo Days parade and includes a glimpse of Miss Rodeo Iowa 2014 along with members of a local riding club.  

Of course, if you are a subscriber, I would appreciate your vote.  To do so via email, type in the subject line "Vote Iowa People" and in the message type "I vote for # 1."  Send to hotline@OurIowaMagazine.com

Or, mail your ballot to Focus on Iowa Photo Contest, Iowa People Category, Our Iowa, 1606 Golden Aspen Drive, Suite 109, Ames, IA 50010.

Searching for Eggs

A sure sign of Easter is when little ones scurry around the yard in pursuit of hidden eggs.  Recently I spent an afternoon with my nephew and niece and thoroughly enjoyed watching them dart from place to place all the while shrieking and shouting out clues regarding eggs that they had just spotted. 

Following the hunt, they hurried to the kitchen table anxious to open the plastic eggs.  Candy, little toys and a few coins were some of the surprises that delighted this adorable duo.

Easter Wishes

"Do not abandon yourselves to despair.

We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song."

                                          -Pope John Paul II

Cityscapes Exhibit

Yes, I live in small-town Iowa but definitely enjoy spending time in a city, including Chicago.  And with so many architectural masterpieces in that locale, I always allow time to photograph the sites.  This particular image features the John Hancock Center along with a neighboring high rise.  Recently this shot earned Special Recognition in an online art exhibition showcasing Cityscapes.  To view the many wonderful entries, visit the following site:  www.lightspacetime.com/cityscapes-art-exhibition-april-2015/

Hank by Stephanie Funke

3rd Anniversary

If you are a loyal follower, this image is familiar as it's been featured a few times on this blog.  Because it shows the delicate intricacies of ferns emerging from their winter slumber and remains one of my favorite photos of the plant world, I decided to post it again as I note the third-year anniversary of this endeavor.  Yes, this photo is on the very first post I created...and then nervously clicked on 'publish' to share it with the world.  Stay tuned for more interesting shots, including some from a visit to Florida.