Lost Iowa Barn

I love the old barns in Iowa.

I love the craftsmanship,

I love their character,

I love the uniqueness.

Wouldn't you have loved

to have seen this barn

just after it was built,

with a farmer and his family

beaming with pride,

knowing how much this barn

will mean to their livelihood?

Sadly, we're losing these barns.

This barn no longer stands.

Did the wind and weather take it?

Nope.

It was bulldozed.

The barn boards weren't salvaged.

One morning it was there,

that night it was gone.

In it's place will be 54 condominiums.

And we call this "progress."

Corn Stubble

Blooming Peony

No mere mortal

could ever make 

art so sweet

as what God above

provides for us.

Looking Up

Glip-Gliding Away

St. Malachy's Catholic Church

Golden Tree at Sunset

Archways

The Budding Rose

Lines Written in Early Spring

Lines Written In Early Spring

by William Wordsworth

I heard a thousand blended notes

while in a grove I sat reclined

in that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts

bring sad thoughts to the mind.

To her fair works did Nature link

the human soul that through me ran,

and much it grieved my heart to think

what man has made of man. 

Through primrose tufts in that green bower

the periwinkle trailed its leaves

and 'tis my faith that every flower

enjoyed the air it breathed.

The birds around me hopped and played,

Their thoughts I cannot measure,

but each motion that they made,

it seemed a thrill of pleasure.

The budding twigs spread out their fan

to catch the breezy air,

and I must think, do all I can,

That there was pleasure there.

If this belief from Heaven be sent,

if such be Nature's holy plan,

have I not reason to lament

what man has made of man?

Mr. Finch

Corn Thief

Missing Summer

There's always excitement

(and some extra sleep)

when we see the announcement

that school is cancelled.

Yet it's early March.

Almost spring!

So on another snow day here in Iowa,

I'm really missing summer and the flowers

we grow in our garden.

Hollyhocks and using "found" objects

in the garden are amongst my

favorite things of summer.

Des Moines River Valley

Snowy Creek II

Stone Arched Wall

"Hey!" 

I went on taking photos,

not realizing the voice was directed at me.

"Hey!"

This time I looked.

There stood a state police officer,

glaring at me. I was mortified.

"What do you think you're doing?"

I quickly explained I was just taking some photos.

He quickly yelled that I was just trespassing.

I left quickly, apologizing left and right.

Ooooooops.

I'm a good, law-abiding citizen most

of the time. I just didn't notice

the "no trespassing" signs.

Wooded Path

Mile Long Bridge at Saylorville

Moonlight in the Clouds

Downsidedown World

Upside Down World

Peaceful Evening at Saylorville

Pedestrian Bridge

Be the Bridge