Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Vanishing Industry in Cedar Rapids


Just outside of downtown Cedar Rapids is a complex of once lively manufacturing buildings. Now these structures are either being torn down or being renovated for other purposes. The point is that medium to large manufacturing companies that were present in many Midwestern cities are disappearing like this Cedar Rapids Inc., property. Business evolution continues but what skillsets or abilities have been lost or shipped outside our borders?

Monday, August 8, 2016

A Tree Grows Near Ely, Iowa


This maple tree is huge! It may be easily over a hundred years old and looks quite healthy. The giant tree resides on farm property just to the northwest of Ely, Iowa where it has enjoyed an undisturbed environment for decades. While not an apple tree this outstretched maple resembles those nasty trees in the Wizard of Oz movie. I'll just follow the yellow brick road.

Monday, August 1, 2016

P-51 Mustang and F4U Corsair at Dubuque


A photo from last weekend. A WWII era P-51 Mustang and F4U Corsair wait at the Dubuque Regional Airport for landing times at OSH16 Airventure. Both planes departed together (side by side) about 2:30 PM last Sunday. No doubt they caught up with the formation of T-6s headed that way. I did see the Corsair appear in other Oshkosh photos posted in social media sites last week.