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A Bit from a 2009 Sunset Abandoned Building Adventure...

This building is located in the county of Massac...  I had the opportunity to photograph it in 2009 on the "Laidlaw Sunset Adventu...

Favorites from this Year - Afternoon with the Abletts




Three of my favorite faces!  This year we did our second shoot together in April while these three siblings were together for Spring Break... This shoot took place in Downtown Paducah - our last shoot took place a couple of years ago in Metropolis... 
To See More of the Abletts, Click Here




See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

My First Trip to Arnold's Meat & 3 - Nashville, TN


On a recent trip to Nashville, Evan insisted that we try to have lunch at Arnold's before leaving town... 




Arnold's Country Kitchen on Urbanspoon
As we arrived I couldn't help but notice that there was a line out the door and nearly to the street.  You'll forgive me for not having a photo of that, I was busy spewing curse words and insisting that this food could not possibly be worth this line, especially on the last day of the trip when I was starting to become anxious to be back in my "bubble of home"...

As it turned out, I was as wrong as wrong can be my friends... 

Not only is it worth standing in line, it's worth the drive to Nashville if you're in that region of the country... You MUST check the hours first though, they're not open on weekends - Phenomenal food, absolutely the best Turnip Greens I have ever eaten, an interesting atmosphere and an overall great experience....


Below is a video I was able to find online to give us a little more background on the place .... enjoy!



Arnold's Meat and 3 on Facebook

Arnold's on HollyEats...




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See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

More Winter Storm Cleon... Now That It's Over...


Looong Icicles... 
Our Neighbors' Snowman 


A view up Girard Street...

The Metropolis Bridge 

See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

A Sunday Drive - part 4 - Standard Oil Products, Vienna, IL







You know I do LOVE old buildings ... This is the Standard Oil Products building - you'll find it in Vienna, Illinois... I popped this image into my Cafe Press store, Flawn Ocho and came up with a deck of cards, flip flops, magnets and quite a few other goodies you'll find by clicking here... 

Standard Oil Products Playing Cards

Standard Oil Products Magnets
Standard Oil Products iPad Sleeve
Standard Oil Products Flip Flops

See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

A Sunday Drive - Part 3 - Makanda Smiley Face Water Tower









I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this smiley face water tower!  I skimmed around to see if I could find in what year it was erected and I could not - however I did learn that it gained it's bow tie in 2004 in memory of lifelong resident, Paul Simon.  Makanda has a fascinating history, you can read more about it here...

There are TWENTY-SIX smiley face water towers in the U.S. and FIVE of them are in Illinois... 
Get the low down here... 

See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

A Sunday Drive - Part 2 - A Country Scene









See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

A Sunday Drive - Part 1 - Fall Leaves


We took off for a little drive on Sunday afternoon to grab a bite to eat in Carbondale and hit a couple of sales at Target... I caught some lovely changing colors and country scenery along the way... enjoy! 






See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

Today's Sunrise - 11/04/13 - Metropolis, IL


I arrived to "the porcho" this morning just in time to have my ciggy and first few sips of java while watching the sky and fall colors come to life...
Enjoy!

this morning's sunrise
See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

Strong Little Flowers...


I've been a bit overwhelmed with things, but in an effort to get back on track I wanted to bring you these lovely flowers.  As cold as it is in the mornings when I'm on the patiocho for my java and ciggy, I am simply thrilled and amazed that I still have some fantastically bright and beautiful flowers blooming. 
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See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

(Pt. 5) 2013 Massac County Homecoming Parade - From the Inside...






To scroll through the completed photos you can go here ---> 2013 Homecoming Parade Photos at KCoJax Candids.  Be sure to like the KCoJax Candids Facebook page while you're there so you don't miss anything... Please feel free to tag the photos in the Facebook page folder, use them as your profile picture, share them and have a hay day!


If you wish to purchase a print of the photo, you can see all photos here-->  2013 Massac County High School Homecoming Parade on SmugMug -


In my merchandise shop at Cafe Press I have created an item or two... My challenge with that is that I try to choose a fantastic landscapish scene, but I do want you to be aware that merchandise can also be created for you... i.e.  if I happened to catch a great candid of your child on their school float - I can make that into a magnet, deck of cards, java mug, etc for you, post it for you, send you the link to it in my Flawn Ocho store and you can order it right from there and have it shipped directly to yourself or someone else. Kaboom, done! And the shipping time is rather quick!



Sample Custom Merchandise Keychains
Market Street - Homecoming Parade - 2 MagnetsMarket Street - Homecoming Parade - 1 3.5" Button




See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

(Pt. 4) 2013 Massac County Homecoming Parade - From the Inside...




I do not know who this little crazy-haired fellow is and if I would've hollered out and called him "Bozo the Clown" he would've have no idea what I was talking about ... and that makes me a bit blah.. haha, but this energetic kid caught my eye as he was running down the street after the parade... 


This is one of my favorite shots of the day... I LOVE CANDID! I think I caught a woman I may recognize attempting to hide her face as she saw me come out of the window with the camera...  


The group from Metropolis Nursing and Rehab... 



See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

(Pt. 3) 2013 Massac County Homecoming Parade - From the Inside...







See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

(Pt. 2) 2013 Massac County Homecoming Parade - From the Inside...









See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

2013 Massac County Homecoming Parade - From the Inside...


I always, always, always (since I moved back to Metropolis) shoot the Massac County Homecoming Parade from the vicinity of Lower Ferry Street... Usually around the corner of "Fast Eddie's" (now Fat Edd's) so that I have the entire two block stretch to run to and fro if I need to, the lighting is perfect, the buildings are lovely - it's just "the spot"... 

This year I'm part of a couple and Evan was going to parade along for 920WMOK as that IS the radio station where you can hear EVERY Patriot football game... so after a little mulling it over - I grabbed a bag of candy, put my camera around my neck and hopped in the jeep and I am SO unbelievably glad I did!!!!

Here are a few shots that could NEVER have been if I'd done it the way I'd always done it ... More to come later in the day ... Be sure and tune in to the Facebook Feed for KCoJax Candids for more of Homecoming and local whatnot.  I've also posted a video there taken by Michelle Longworth of the parade yesterday... 

Enjoy! 









See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

Tractors, Tractors Everywhere!


One of my favorite portions of the parades around here would have to be the parade of tractors...  These people work hard in the good, the bad and the ugly of weather to prepare their farms and plantings and harvests and whatever all it is that they have to do to get us our groceries...







See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

Peeking Down a Country Lane...







See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

Karen and Kara - If YOU Ate Today... Thank A Farmer! - 2013 Metropolis Labor Day Parade




I believe this shot is my absolute favorite from the 2013 Metropolis Labor Day Parade.... 

As these two beauties approached, I was pretty sure I knew the older one... and I use the term loosely - because every time I see her I walk away thinking that girl hasn't aged since 1986...

I was happy to find later in the day that I was correct when the driver's brother, Steve commented on the photo... Pictured here, Karen Schwetman Womack and her youngest daughter, Kara.

If You Ate Today... Thank a Farmer! 


See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

Don't Horse Around at the Top of the Stairs...
Don't Text and Drive...
Don't Judge ANYONE But Yourself...
Have a Grand and Groovy Day!
and if you liked it, share it...

please and thanks! 

Mendy and Devin Parading for Leaps & Bounds - 2013 Metropolis Labor Day Parade




I can barely remember a time when I didn't know Mendywright - one of my oldest and dearest friends ... 
I was thrilled to see she and Devin come in to view... Parading for Leaps & Bounds, a fantastic children's consignment store in the "Old Sister Shop" - near Big John's on 5th street in Metropolis... 

-Click Here to See Leaps & Bounds on Facebook-



save imageSee more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

Don't Horse Around at the Top of the Stairs...
Don't Text and Drive...
Don't Judge ANYONE But Yourself...
Have a Grand and Groovy Day!
and if you liked it, share it ... 
Please and Thanks! 

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