CMMC November Close Up: End of Summer

With the first hard freeze of the season earlier this week, we have definitely said good-bye to summer here in central Iowa. The forecast calls for a few more warmish days but the nip in the air says it is definitely autumn.

The pictures are posted in response to Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge – November Close Up or Macro. The first photo in each row was taken in late September. The others were all taken in toward the end of October.

I think you should be able to click on one photo to see the full image and then scroll through all of them.

ADDED: So interesting that the images are square when post is read through the WordPress Reader. When read on the Another LQQK page, the photos are cropped round and can be pulled up one by one in their original rectangular shape. – Teressa

CMMC October Letter Q or U

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Another week for an eclectic mix of pictures in response to Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge! The October letter of the week is a “Q” or an “U” somewhere in the word. I considered sharing only photos that could be loosely connected to an aquatic theme. But couldn’t resist a few letter “U” pics that are definitely not aquatic.

The first three pictures – aquatic, blue heron watching Canada Geese, and gulls – as well as the last picture – sunset – were are all taken at Big Creek State Park in the last month.

The bed tuft picture was taken at the Brooklyn Bedding mattress factory in Mesa, Arizona in May.

I found the bathtub in a sunflower field at Center Grove Orchard in September.

The sunflower bud was shot in July in the sunflower fields near Badger Creek State Park, Iowa.

The white buffalo was part of the “OrigamiintheGarden²” exhibit at Reiman Gardens, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

CMMC October Pick a Topic

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Rather than choosing one topic for Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge this week, I decided to just share photos that came to mind after seeing her October Pick a Topic Picture. It’s an eclectic group!

The bicycle metal work sign in Cee’s photo reminded me of metal work at a petroglyph site near Gila Bend, Arizona.

The colors of the shirts in Cee’s photo caused me to pull the purple leaf and cherry tomatoes pictures I took in my sister’s backyard last weekend.

The handprints on the side of the table made me smile because I had stopped to take pictures of handprints on the Neal Smith Trail when out walking on Tuesday – the day before Cee shared her picture!

The number of signs in Cee’s photo sent me looking though pictures I took at Center Grove Orchard a month or so ago. Nothing says fall in Iowa like corn mazes!

CMMC October Color Oranges and/or Light Green

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A little bit of autumn (2011 and 2021), some Halloween (2015), flowers from three seasons (2016, 2021, 2011), a monarch butterfly (2021) and a view of my cul-de-sac (2021). All for Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge – October Color Oranges and/or Light Green.

CMMC October Close Up – Leaves

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Posted in response to Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge – October Close Up or Macro. I put all the photos in one ‘gallery’ so you should be able to enlarge any one of them then scroll through the rest. While you’re at it, you might notice the shapes, the textures, the shadows or the light, and the colors.

CMMC: September Autumn

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Raccoon River, Walnut Woods State Park, West Des Moines, Iowa. September 30, 2021.

Cee’s theme for the Midweek Madness Challenge is Autumn or Spring. I decided to stick to Autumn and use pictures I have taken in the last several weeks.

Some of the apples were ripe for picking at Center Grove Orchard when I was there in mid-September. That morning’s excursion ended at the Hay Café for lunch. The fresh, chunky applesauce was good; the warm apple crisp was even better. I might need to go back soon.

Though not advertised at the orchard when I was there, I found the pumpkins.

Pumpkin on Vine. Center Grove Orchard, Cumming, Iowa. September 14, 2021.

When searching for fall color on the 20th of September, I found these red sumac leaves at the center of the plant.

Sumac. Big Creek State Park, Iowa. September 20, 2021.

On the last day of September I found these beauties – some kind of a vine that winds around tree trunks in the woods.

Leaves, Light and Shadow. Summerset State Park, Iowa. September 30, 2021.

Leaves, Summerset State Park, Iowa. September 30, 2021.

CMMC September Alphabet: Words with Letter O

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The current theme for Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge is Words that Have the Letter “O” Anywhere in the Middle. Finding the first picture of a Sunflower with its Shadow and Pollen felt a like a triple win when browsing my digital files.

The globe in front of the Agricultural Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds rotates randomly as it floats on water. When I look at the second picture of the globe, I see a hand (upside down South America) holding a heart (reflection of building and trees).

Thinking of hearts, here’s an old picture of heart-shaped cookie cutters.

These spools of thread were set up on embroidery machines to embroider logos on mattress coverings at Brooklyn Bedding in Mesa, Arizona.

When the words “Crayola Crayons” crossed my mind this morning, I knew I’d have to dig out the boxes of color crayons for a picture. I think that the old box of 16 was in a care package I received when I was in college way back when!

Thanks, Cee, for another fun challenge!

CMMC September Pick a Topic: Weathered

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This picture of an old church was my first thought when I saw the photo for September’s Pick a Topic for Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge. Her picture is of a roof with small structures on top that need a coat of paint.

Birdhouse. East Boulder River, Montana. May 12, 2021.

My next thought was to take pictures of bell towers (didn’t happen). Then I thought of roof structures in general, perhaps ones with triangular shapes.

Shingles. Big Creek State Park, Iowa. September 20, 2021.

It wasn’t until this morning – five days after the challenge was issued – that I thought of a more general theme of “weathered.”

Picnic Table. Big Creek State Park, Iowa. September 20, 2021.

Since I was walking at Big Creek State Park, I turned my camera to picnic tables and grills.

Picnic Grill. Big Creek State Park, Iowa. September 20, 2021.

CMMC September Color: Dark Green

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“Glorious Greens,” Iowa State Fair, 2021.

Knowing I would find all kinds of things to photograph at the Iowa State Fair in mid-August, I looked ahead at Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenges to have something in particular to watch for. Prize winning vegetables in the Agricultural Building fit September’s color challenge: dark green.

Winning Watermelon, Iowa State Fair, 2021.

Warty Type Pumpkins, Iowa State Fair, 2021.

CMMC September Close-up or Macro: Water Droplets

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It’s Close-up or Macro week for Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge. I waited for the rain to subside yesterday before heading over to Big Creek State Park for a walk with camera in hand.

Water droplets looked like miniature gloves when hanging from what remains of small flowers.

Finely spun spiderwebs glistened with the tiniest of water droplets.