February was soooo cold that even the ducks couldn't get their ducks in a row.

Administrative Assistant

 Keely, our cat, is busy fulfilling her duties as an Administrative Assistant.  She is concentrating on assisting me to complete a proofreading project.

Getting Colder

7 Degrees and the Lili wants one more chance to show its colors, and the bunny rabbit gets tucked into his leaf bed.

 

Helpful Bluejay

 I needed help raking so this guy pitched in. He was awfully slow though.

Combining the beans

Combining the beans in North Liberty, Iowa.
 

Combining Corn

Our son Stephen called and told me that the field next to them was being harvested. I’ve got photos of the beans being harvested, now I have the corn. @ North Liberty, Iowa
 

Matching Trees

 I was trying to get a photograph of pelicans along the Mississippi River and wasn't having any success.  They were just out of range of my 500mm lens.  However, when I turned around the real picture was behind me. The matching trees.

Baled Corn stocks

Baled corn stocks along an Iowa highway.

Standing Alone

 Standing all alone in a cornfield.

Mississippi Palisades State Park

 Took a trip along the Mississippi River on the Illinois side and stopped at the Mississippi Palisades Park. There was color but I think the week of October 13th will be peak week.

Right Place Right Time

 On our way to Cedar Rapids, I saw this combine working to bring in the beans. I just had to have the photo so pulled over (just happened to have my camera and a long lens) and took this shot. Right place, right time.

Ellie

Granddaughter Ellie's senior picture.  I have taken the Senior Pictures for all of the grandkids, except Ellie.  COVID-19 got in the way. Ellie lives in Minnesota so my daughter and son-in-law, both who know their way around a camera, took the photos (Senior portrait by proxy). They sent them to me and I did the editing and put them on my online store (https://rallenhill.pixieset.com/).

 

Old Barn

An old barn along one of Iowa’s highways. There are fewer barns today than two weeks ago after the derecho came through and destroyed a lot of the barns.

Samuel Gallagher

Proud grandpa:

A New Visitor

A new visitor to the neighborhood.

Tucked in to Weather the Storm

This little guy was tucked in to weather the rain.

Left Over Wedding Guest

I’m always looking for new visitors in my tree. I saw this guy this morning. I’m not sure how I saw him since I’m vision challenged, but he landed so I could see him, opened his wings and held the pose. Perhaps he was a left over wedding guest from Mother Nature’s sponsored wedding yesterday?

Birds Singing A Song

Birds alive and singing a song.

New Web Banner

Currently working on a new logo/web banner.  Since I retired I've been catching up on a few things I've put off - including a nap or two.  I will try to blog a bit more.  I've got to say though, Facebook and Instagram have received most of my attention.  I will try to remember that - but, with the Blog I have 17 followers and on Facebook over 350.  I'll have to weigh where I put my efforts.  I hate to do a post and have to post it 3 times.

Retired

I retired from my credit union job on the 2nd of January 2018. I find myself beginning a new adventure - retired.  Although I'm retired from the credit union job I am still doing photography and writing projects and working on the at home projects that have often been ignored.  It seems we have a basement filled with projects.

I have also discovered that a chunk of my "social calendar" is being spent with doctors and dentists.  I am thankful for great insurance.

It is my goal to do more blogging and posting of photographs but will likely take me a month or two to acclimate.