Thank you!

No farms or barns today. Just a random image I took at my niece's high school graduation ceremony yesterday.

As a friend of mine said on their Facebook status, today is not just about BBQs and stuff. Today is about remembering our families and friends... heroes all... who have paid the ultimate price so we can have BBQs and stuff.

Thank you to all our veterans, and that you to all our current members serving our country.

Iowans are creative. Who knew?

This has got to be one of the best kept secrets in the USA today... Iowans are creative. If you recall the Iowa Moai that I reported on before, and you combine it with this barn mural, you get a sense pretty quick that Iowans are not bland and boring. Far from it.

If you're going to paint your barn, what color would you paint it? Red? White? Eh, if you want to be like everybody else. But, if you want to stand out from the crowd you go with an eye-catching American-flag-Statue-of-Liberty-holding-an-Apple mural. Works for me.

Of course, not to be outdone, another barn down the road from this one a bit has a reproduction of Grant Wood's American Gothic painted on the front. We'll see what I can do with that one in the not-too-distant future.

Take Advantage of Opportunities

It has been raining here almost every day for the last week and a half. So, when I woke up today and it was sunny and nice out I had to get going and go take some photos.

Drove up past Anamosa and headed east on Hwy 64 and came across this scene. I though it looked interesting with the contrasting colors... greens, browns, white buildings, blue sky, etc... so I had to get a few shots. The reflection of the silo in the puddle in the foreground didn't hurt any. There's even a bird sitting on the post, and if you look real close the horses up by the silo are watching me.

What draws your attention?

Is it always the grand and beautiful? Or, do the old and dilapidated sometimes intrigue you as well? I have to admit that I am often attracted to the old and dilapidated.

Two things caught my eye about this building. One, the new-ish sign at the top which is already falling apart (which is not in this photo), and two, the flag in the window over the door.

What is it about the flag? For me, it's the telling of a story. Somebody took pride in their business and this building at some point... and the business had failed. Could have been due to the flood a couple years ago, not sure. But, the business is no longer there nonetheless.

So, why hang a flag in the window? Was it already there and just forgotten? I'm thinking probably not. I'm thinking it was purposely put there as a last gesture from an indomitable spirit who was proudly proclaiming... in spite of their business setback... that their faith had not been shaken!

That's what I see when I view this old building.