Frosty Morning

RIP Rags

We love you and miss you, our dear kitty.

Merry Little Christmas Tree

Blizzard in Iowa

A blizzard in Iowa made for hazardous

yet beautiful conditions here last night.

We have a small pine in our front yard,

decorated with Christmas lights.

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

One Fine Spring Evening

My Colorful Hollyhock

I've heard others say that

hollyhocks are hard to grow.

I haven't had that problem.

Since the year I planted the first seeds

(and learned to be patient as the plants

are small and without flowers their first year)

I've had hollyhocks take over every location

in which they were planted.

I love the variety of colors

and the wonderful height they add

to my flower beds.

I have many hollyhock photos.

This one is photoshopped version of one of

the hollyhocks from my garden last summer.

I played with the colors and liked the results.

I thought it would make a

a fun and colorful print.



The Faces of Sandy Hook

These are the faces, the victims, of the senseless

act of violence in Newtown, Connecticut on

December 14, 2012.

These are the innocent faces of twenty children,

most ages 6 and 7, and seven adults,

employees at Sandy Hook Elementary

who died trying to protect these children.

These are the people we should never forget.

These are the names we should hold dear

in our hearts.

These are the victims of a horrible tragedy.

They deserve to be remembered.

The deserve so much more.

These are the innocent.

 

(Of course, these are not my own photos. I found them wherever I could on various web sites. I merely put together the photos together into this document.)

Prayers for Sandy Hook

Winter Trees



Mourning Dove on Trellis

I love when I am able to get close enough

to wildlife to get a good shot.

I was pleased that this mourning dove

remained calm as I took the photo

last summer.

Snowy Bridge

Does anyone recognize where this was taken?

I know, I took the photo, I should know.

But I don't know.

I've forgotten.

It's got to be somewhere in central Iowa.

Regardless, I like it.

I'm ready for snow.

Bring it on!

Crystal Ball

This "crystal ball" was hanging

in our front flower bed this last summer.

I loved the way it captured and reflected

all the colors around it.

I then used Photoshop to 

give the photo a stained glass effect.

It worked out well, bringing

so many various colors

that were being captured

by my crystal ball.

Rustic Barn

I love photos of old barns,

as any of you who have spent time looking

through my blog could see by now.

This is a photo that grew on me.

I wasn't thrilled with the results at first,

but over time came to really

love and appreciate

the rustic barn,

the corn field,

and the cloudy sky.

This barn is near Ledges State Park.



Santa's Elf

I was at a community Christmas event

earlier this week and in walked this elf.

I swear he just walked out of Santa's workship.

He was dressed from head to toe

as an elf, including elf shoes, elf ears,

the whole shebang.

I took this picture, which I think

is truly adorable, and I caught his smile.

"You caught me," is all he said

before handing me a candy cane.

It was a nice Christmas event,

and this elf straight from the North Pole

made it even better.

Thanks Mr. Elf.

Cardinal

Part of photography is luck:

being in the right place

at the right time

with the right lighting

under the right conditions.

This was a lucky shot.

Everything listed above fell together

and the cardinal cooperated.

It's one of my favorite photographs

I've ever taken.

It looks very nice matted;

we have the photo hanging in our entryway.

Contact me if you'd like to buy a copy

as it'd make a very nice Christmas gift.

Sunset at High Trestle Trail Bridge

Another, but different, shot of the

High Trestle Trail Bridge. I took this as

the sun was setting and there was

light peeking through the clouds,

reflecting off the water in the

Des Moines River below.

This was taken in July of 2011,

when there was much more water

in the river than what we had

this past summer or currently.

Ledges Steps Early Fall

High Trestle Trail Bridge

High Trestle Trail Bridge

Madrid, Iowa



Blessings

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope each and every one

of you is having a peaceful

and relaxing holiday with your

loved ones, reflecting the

blessings in your life.

For my overseas friends who

don't share this holiday with

the United States,

may you also have a wonderful

day and find some time to reflect

upon life and realize how

many wonderful gifts we

have all been given.

I really wanted to post some photos,

but there seems to be a glitch

in the program and it

won't let me add any photos.

So until I can again post photos,

please imagine the scene

most peaceful to you

and reflect upon it.

Blessings to each of you.

Downtown Des Moines Collage

I created this collage of various

photos I'd taken near

the downtown area of Des Moines.

The area is constantly

changing and improving.

There are so many beautiful

places to take photos.

Contact me if you'd like

to purchase a copy of this

unique Des Moines collage.



Doolittle Prairie

Doolittle Prairie in Story County



High Trestle Trail Bridge at Night

High Trestle Trail Bridge



Another central Iowa attraction that is worth the drive.

The bridge spans the Des Moines river between

Madrid and Woodward.

It was once a railroad bridge.

It's now for biking and walking.

The bridge is one-half mile long

and 13 stories high.

Don't let the height scare you

as the rails make it very safe.

The closest parking is on the Madrid side

of the bridge, but from the parking to

the bridge it's about 3/4 of a mile walk,

then another 1/2 mile across the bridge,

making it 2.5 miles by the time you've gone

across and back to your car.

That news isn't meant to deter anyone from visiting,

but merely to prepare them.

If you park in Madrid and walk or bike all

the way out, I believe it's about 4 miles to the bridge.

Here's my suggestion on viewing the bridge:

come out to the bridge not long before sunset,

see the bridge in the light (and hopefully in a gorgeous

sunset), then wait on the platform( from another old

rail road bridge) that is on the Woodward side. Take

a break, view nature, chat with others visiting,

and wait until it's completely dark.

Then go back across the bridge with the lights on.

It's incredible. You get to see the bridge in both

daylight and dark this way. It's worth it.

If you come and won't be heading back to your car

until after dark, bring a flashlight as the trail

is not lit from the bridge to the parking area.

Only the bridge is lit.

This bridge is definitely worth

taking the time to visit.

Veteran's Day Tribute

Veteran's Day--A Day to Remember All Vets

This truly is the

"Land of the Free"

because it is the

"Home of the Brave."

Thank you American service men and women

everywhere across our country, past and present,

who let me sleep peacefully at night

while you watch over us.

The photos I chose for today are

photos that represent the freedom

in the United States.

I'd have rather shown the faces of veterans,

but I don't have any photos of vets.

That makes me know my mission for

Veteran's Day next year.

Dandelion

I think dandelions are beautiful

with their bright yellow faces.

Today's weather was warm

and being outside made me think

that this was a nice photo for today.

Tractor in the Snow

Snowy Morning

 I'm not quite ready for winter or snow,

yet I love how fresh and clean

everything looks after a snowfall.

I took this photo last winter

one cold morning

just after the sun had come up.

Living in America

May the United States live on in freedom and glory.

May all those in office come together and work for the people,

for our great nation.

May the people come together and realize our part

in where our country is today.

May each of us accept

responsibility to help make the changes

we need to see in America

and not put that burden solely on our goverment.

And some quotes from some famous Americans:

"And I will do everything that I can

as long as I am President of the United States

to remind the American people that we are one nation under God,

and we may call that God different names

but we remain one nation."

~ Barack Obama

"There is not a liberal America and a conservative America -

there is the United States of America.

There is not a black America and a white America

and latino America and asian America -

 there's the United States of America."

 ~ Barack Obama

"It's time to fundamentally change

the way that we do business in Washington.

To help build a new foundation for the 21st century,

we need to reform our government

so that it is more efficient,

more transparent,

and more creative.

That will demand new thinking

and a new sense of responsibility

for every dollar that is spent."

~ Barack Obama

"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you;

ask what you can do for your country."

~ John F. Kennedy

"Government cannot solve our problems, it can't set our goals,

it cannot define our vision...Only a true partnership

between government and the people

can ever hope to reach these goals."

~ Jimmy Carter

"Government of the people,

 by the people,

for the people,

 shall not perish from the Earth."

~ Abraham Lincoln

"Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair;

the rest is in the hands of God."

~ George Washington

 

Spread Your Wings

Summer Shot

I needed to see another

beautiful summer shot

before winter sets in

here in Iowa.

Thankfully, I know

that winter will provide

another type of beauty

across our landscape.

Believe.

Steps in God's House

I've shown this photo before,

in a group with several others

I took at The Kathederal

in Des Moines.

I felt it was worth looking

at again, all by itself.

I love the symbolism with

the  dark and the light,

going up or going down,

in God's house.

Have you considered

the direction your life is

taking you?

Is it where you really

want to be?

Nature

Nature was created

with God's own hands.

How else could the

world be so beautiful?

Gorgeous Iowa Sunset

I think some of the

most gorgeous sunsets

can be found right here

in Iowa.

This one was amazing.

Sunshine through Old Barn

God Bless America

Land That I Love

I want to thank Christian Photo for giving

me the opportnity to have a photography

show during the month of October.

It has been a wonderful experience

and something that was on my "bucket list"

and can now be crossed off.

And thank you to all of you who have

visited Christian Photo, viewed my photos

there or taken a look at my work

here on my blog.

I appreciate that you

took the time to do so.

My sincere thanks go out

to all of you.

And Adam from Christian Photo,

you rock for making this happen!

State Fairgrounds: Agriculture Building

I know the Agriculture Building

at the Iowa State Fairgrounds

holds a lot of memories

for many Iowa residents.

I thought it was pretty with the

sun coming thorugh the trees.



Close Up

I was playing in Photoshop

and took the previously posted leaf photo

and cropped in close.

I really liked the results.

Do you have a preference?



The Beauty of Autumn

Indian Corn

Red Leaves after the Rain



Pumpkin

Here's a happy little pumpkin,

still in the field,

still on the vine,

waiting to be

chosen by some boy or girl,

as that perfect

Jack-o-Lantern pumpkin. 

It's only a few days until Halloween.

Have you chosen your pumpkin yet?

Still Autumn

I thought I needed some

fall color in here.

I took this photo

on a recent morning,

after it had rained,

and the sun was starting to come out.

The fog had lifted.

The leaves were glistening.

It was another beautiful morning.

Here's proof that not all the

autumn colors are gone.

There are still many

beautiful

trees and plants out there.

You just to have to open your eyes.

Photos for Sale at Christian Photo or Online

Just a reminder that for one more week

my photos will be displayed and for sale

at Christian Photo in Des Moines.

All are framed and ready to be hung in

your house! Please take a look at Christian Photo

if you've not had a chance, or if you had already

looked and considered purchasing something.

I recently put them all on sale, so if

you were holding off until later,

now is a good time to purchase a photo

at even better price.

Christmas is coming so a nice framed

photo for a loved one would be

a thoughtful gift. I have a lot of

outdoor scenery, flowers, a collage of

outdoor scenes, a collage of Des Moines scenes,

an Iowa State Fair photo, one of the National Cathederal,

and a variety of one of a kind photos.

Any of my photos can be bought

through me by contacting me at my

email address, alliecatphotos@gmail.com

I will ship unframed photos to anywhere

in the U.S. Prices vary so please

contact me if you're interested.

Thank you!

Beautiful Day

Winter Day at Jester Park

Here's a winter day at Jester Park

(yes, last winter--we're not quite

ready to have any weather

like this, and it is only fall).

If you've looked at many of my posts,

I've shot a lot of photos at Jester Park.

I also give it rave reviews.

It is one awesome county park,

filled with an abudance of wildlife,

so many places to camp, walk, golf, hike, play,

or shoot photos of the scenery along upper Saylorville.

I'll say it again: if you haven't been there before,

it's time you head up towards Granger

and check out Jester Park.

Drive slow and watch for wildlife.

Enjoy. Play. Take some photos.



Silo Silhouette

There are many beautiful places

in this world,

and I hope to someday

have the opportunity to see

more of them,

but for right now,

I'd have to say that living in

Iowa

gives me the opportunity to see

gorgeous scenery

every day of the year.