tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44344775303245068262024-03-05T16:06:51.045-06:0042N ObservationsCOMMENTARY DESCRIBING 42N LATITUDE AND SURROUNDING AREAS.42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.comBlogger910125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-2747195450661471662020-08-10T05:34:00.000-05:002020-08-10T05:34:02.435-05:00Riveting Span over Pine Creek<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Iowa terms, 144 years is a long time ago. But that's when a Canton, Ohio bridge company made iron truss spans, rods and rivets for a bridge that was constructed over Pine Creek, northeast of Muscatine, Iowa. That single intersection truss bridge still stands and is now part of Wildcat Den State Park. Today the sun position was just so in illuminating the pitted bridge span surface and its shadow casting rivets. Almost a century and a half's worth of weathering and lichen growth adds rustic charm to the bridge aesthetics. Ultimately, those elements will lead to the bridge's structural demise - hopefully not for another 150 years.</span>42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com01901 Wildcat Den Rd, Muscatine, IA 52761, USA41.466823030047841 -90.86746676534421941.465335530047838 -90.869988265344219 41.468310530047845 -90.864945265344218tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-12853915515384081752020-08-09T18:53:00.001-05:002020-08-09T18:53:14.717-05:00Meet the Best Angler on the Cedar River<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few days ago this colorful heron filled itself with small fish caught from the Cedar River. The bird looks to be a Great Blue Heron based on its bill colors, head and neck feathers. The water's color is due to the reflection of nearby green foliage and seasonal algae.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The expert angler fished in the afternoon sun, below the low head dam at Palisades Kepler State Park near Mount Vernon, Iowa. Apparently unfazed by my approach, the heron made the choice of catching food versus fleeing. Smart bird.</span>42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-67665252970948009242020-06-28T05:30:00.000-05:002020-06-28T05:30:02.522-05:00Fishing Opportunity During the Pandemic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At some point during the COVID-19 pandemic, the loosening of shelter at home restrictions coincided with warm weather and sunshine in northeast Iowa. One of the joys of this new found freedom is fishing. Earlier this Spring, these two anglers tried their luck in Shell Rock just below the roller dam. While personal flotation devices were certainly within reach, and social distancing was practiced in the boat, the fish just were not biting that particular afternoon. These guys did not mind.</span>42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-65231478619213855962020-06-26T00:34:00.000-05:002020-06-26T00:34:01.795-05:00DEKALB Country in Northern Iowa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Corn is king in the Midwest. DEKALB seed corn is one of several leading brands grown throughout 42N country. In this particular field near Shell Rock, Iowa, some 203 miles from company <a href="https://www.dekalbasgrowdeltapine.com/en-us/dekalb.html"><span style="color: orange;">headquarters</span></a> in DeKalb, IL, there is no mistake as to what this farmer plants. I believe this display is also a weather station. </span>42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-29795053546966784672020-06-25T18:00:00.000-05:002020-06-25T18:00:06.504-05:00Glacial Deposit from 12,000 Years Ago in Iowa Fields<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During the last ice age, some 12,000 years ago, glaciers deposited granite rock on what would become Iowa fields. Typically the granite is well rounded and range from a few inches in size to several feet. Some house-size boulders can be found scattered around the state. A road trip in farming areas will usually yield sights of granite rock piles on the edge of farm fields. These piles represent the land owners collection of stones harvested over time as the fields are worked mechanically. With some analysis these granite specimens can be identified as originating from Minnesota or further north in Canada.</span>42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-84110801668228493592020-06-21T03:00:00.000-05:002020-06-21T03:00:07.601-05:00Venus Visits the Pleiades<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our closest planetary neighbor, Venus, passed near the Pleiades, an open star cluster in early April 2020. This alignment was a stunning sight with the naked eye as well as with any magnification. Just this week Venus and our Moon aligned for another great show - if you had a cloudless view. A host of comets were also predicted to offer a sky show this year but two have fizzled as they rounded the sun. However, there is another promising ice ball (Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) on its way and may be seen in the northern hemisphere during mid-July. We will see.</span>42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-2382458289819158422020-06-20T06:32:00.000-05:002020-06-20T06:32:13.701-05:00Grain Bins of Lisbon, Iowa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just north of Lisbon, Iowa is a farm with these grain bins on the property. Bins shelter harvested corn or soybeans for livestock feed or delivery to market. On this day, a cold front passed through and offered a more dramatic sky than normal.</span>42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-56846417355825032332020-06-19T06:03:00.000-05:002020-06-19T11:50:48.896-05:00World's Largest Umpire Calls Strikes and Balls in Ryan, Iowa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The world's largest umpire can be seen in Ryan, Iowa. Since 1981 the former Happy Chef icon from a restaurant in Cedar Rapids, has been calling outs in a second career at Ryan's baseball diamond. His right hand once held a big spoon as a restaurant chef. Restorers fashioned the spoon into a finger, added face mask and hat, and gave him a new paint wardrobe.</span></span>42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-70140619915268302712020-06-18T05:00:00.000-05:002020-06-18T05:00:00.296-05:00Over There: Mechanicsville's Spirit of the American Doughboy Statute<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Spirit of the American Doughboy statue in Mechanicsville, Iowa is a favorite photo target of mine. Although I have posted other photos of the E.M. Viquesney sculpture previously, this time the corn is coming up in the fields during Memorial Day weekend. The WWI doughboy is one of several statues sold to communities following the Great War for use in cemeteries, parks and near municipal buildings.</span></div>
42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-89231005566732927282020-06-17T01:23:00.000-05:002020-06-17T08:25:52.023-05:00Capcom to Iowa - We have Grain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Modern grain bins dot the Midwest landscape. Looking like huge Apollo command and service modules (or Orion capsules in modern space exploration terms), some bin complexes contain grain transport tubes that resemble construction cranes. In Iowa, these massive structures store corn and soybeans. This bin is one of several located near Haverhill.</span>42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-83206684478703984402020-06-16T17:10:00.000-05:002020-06-19T10:28:16.804-05:00Jesus of Haverhill, Iowa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Located in a small Catholic cemetery in Haverhill, Iowa is this life size crucifixion display rising out of the farmland. The rural area is dominated by corn and soybean fields, farms and grain elevators. A black and white treatment of the image brings out the contrast of the cross with the Jesus icon and clouds.</span>42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-2855528970759090792020-06-15T20:05:00.003-05:002020-06-15T20:05:21.892-05:00VIDEO: Memorial Day 2020 - Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, Iowa<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Memorial Day 2020 at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, Iowa. 90 seconds of flags flying over the veterans' headstones with ambient sounds of nature and nearby street traffic.</span>42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-58139809835423917822020-03-16T22:57:00.001-05:002020-03-16T22:57:20.728-05:00A View Through Maintenance Gate 8<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Accessing a clear view of a runway at the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa is limited. But there is just enough room to place a telephoto zoom lens through the opening to capture arriving and departing planes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last weekend was the start of local Spring Break. With the widespread corvid-19 making its rounds, the idea of social distancing is in full force. In this case it means many midwesterners have a chance to get away for a week against the risk of quarantine or a delayed return.</span>42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-41118927215045647072019-09-09T02:16:00.000-05:002019-09-11T13:08:41.806-05:00Photographing a Fast Moving 1946 Beech D18S Aircraft<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Several years ago, I photographed this 1946 Beech D18S with twin 450 hp engines at Blakesburg, Iowa's annual fly-in known as the <a href="http://www.antiqueairfield.com/flyins/2019-historic-airfield-rally.html"><span style="color: orange;">Historic Airfield Rally to Antique Airfield</span></a>. Now, through the magic of Photoshop, the image comes alive as it races to take off. See the original unedited photo below.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's a list of what was done to the top image to give it a more dramatic feel:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1. Zoom in and crop</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2. Straighten the ground perspective</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3. Increase sharpening</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now the magic..</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4. Select subject</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">5. Invert selection</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">6. With inversion fixed on the background, use the blur tool for the desired effect.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">7. Export as a JPG, save PSD file</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm sure there is fine tuning that could be applied, however this version turned out well. And, by the way, as a spectator on the field close to the grass runway, I can tell you that this plane books, as well as it should, with twin 450s delivering powerful thrust. It was quite the site with other spectators remarking that it resembled the body style of Amelia Earhart's <span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Model_10_Electra"><span style="color: orange;">Lockheed Model 10 E Electra</span></a>.</span></span><br />
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<br />42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-4252757841889740642019-09-08T03:30:00.000-05:002019-09-08T16:05:18.352-05:00Honoring an Iowa Soldier in Tennessee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have written <a href="https://42n.blogspot.com/2016/11/iowa-union-soldier-christian-brenner.html"><span style="color: orange;">posts</span></a> on the final resting place of Christian Brenner, a Union soldier from Iowa. My last visit to his Stone's River Battlefield National Cemetery grave in Murfreesboro, Tennessee was on Memorial Day 2019. To my surprise, every gravestone had a US flag in place for the holiday, which was once called Decoration Day, from Civil War era origins. During the Christmas season at the cemetery only the first third of gravesite rows have cedar wreaths placed on them. Those are part of the Wreaths Across America project. Christian's grave is further back from the main road so it doesn't receive a wreath along with hundreds of others. If present, a member of the <a href="https://42n.blogspot.com/2018/01/wreaths-across-america-and-other.html"><span style="color: orange;">42N staff</span></a> will make sure Christian's grave has some decoration placed on it for the season.</span>42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-7757506125575516562019-09-07T10:29:00.002-05:002019-09-07T10:29:25.949-05:00Woolworth Symbol Still Visible Despite a Tornado Strike<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last July 2018, an EF3 tornado ripped through Marshalltown, Iowa's Main Street. Despite causing unprecedented damage along the path, there were no casualties. At the former Woolworth building on Main Street there was considerable damage to the structure but the storm didn't knock it out. In the entry way, just off the sidewalk, the Woolworth symbol composed in a tile mosaic is still quit visible.</span>42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-75967470618552125922019-07-06T10:18:00.003-05:002019-07-06T10:18:34.096-05:00The Aging of a Chevrolet Loadmaster<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Nichols, Iowa a few old pickups are for sale. By their looks these trucks haven't moved in years, so are they really for sale? A closeup of the hood reveals layers of paint are keeping the metal intact from advancing rust. Vehicles from this era were made sturdy.</span>42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-49668168336918699482019-06-27T22:26:00.002-05:002019-06-27T22:26:24.441-05:00Landscape of Iowa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Near Lone Tree, Iowa the farm land is slightly hilly in a few parts. This field has grain bins in place to hold the next harvest. Now if only the rains would stop for more than a few days.</span>42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-63378590369230832792019-06-18T21:42:00.002-05:002019-06-18T21:45:01.805-05:00B-17 Aluminum Overcast Lands at Cedar Rapids CID<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another vintage WWII aircraft sighting this evening. This time it is the B-17 "Aluminum Overcast" at Cedar Rapids (CID). Yes, I saw the same flying fortress in Burlington, Iowa last year, and have seen it multiple times in Cedar Rapids. This week the plane's summer schedule had a last minute opening and fortunately was able to make another journey to the City of Five Seasons. In its one day appearance all flights were completely booked except for the last one of the afternoon. Storm clouds are on the horizon for tonight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Aluminum Overcast sits on the tarmac in CID following a day of flights around the city for paying passengers (and media.) Unfortunately, I arrived an hour after the tour closed. I also do not have media credentials but probably should get accredited. I was an Associated Press stringer in college - maybe that will count. The covers on the engines are new this year according to a local EAA event host. The covers are designed to minimize the effects of rain, wind, debris and flying critters on the aging plane when parked for the evening.</span></div>
42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-80898246883899554412019-06-16T22:18:00.000-05:002019-06-16T22:19:19.012-05:00Rollin' on the Ohio River<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Last October 14th I spotted a tug pushing barges on the Ohio River near Paducah, KY/Metropolis, IL. Just like those tugs on the Mississippi River these are hard working maritime vessels pushing loads of coal, salt, grain, scrap iron or other cargo to customers along the way. This particular boat is the <a href="https://www.waterwaysjournal.net/2018/02/19/master-marine-delivers-mv-tom-torretti/"><span style="color: orange;">Tom Torretti</span></a> of the Water Front Services Company based in Cairo, Illinois. The 67- by 28-foot fleet boat entered service in 2018.</span>
42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-20316624686357633682019-06-07T22:09:00.000-05:002019-06-07T22:09:18.150-05:00Onward into Illinois Young Abraham Lincoln<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ever wonder what the Lincoln family wagon train looked like? Here is a depiction of that family's journey as they crossed from Vincennes, Indiana into Illinois. This 1938 dedicated monument is on the west bank of the Wabash River while the huge George Rogers Clark memorial is on the Vincennes side. The DAR sponsored tribute to Lincoln shows the family on the move in 1830 guided by the spirit in the sky representing Abe's departed mother.</span>42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-35253896606060550132018-11-06T07:29:00.000-06:002018-11-06T07:29:00.559-06:00Only in Iowa - Seed Corn in Town<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many backyards in Iowa have vegetable gardens that include sweet corn. This display, however, takes the iconic plant to a new level. Where else but in a corn state like Iowa does the homeowner not only plant corn as a decorative crop in the front yard but finishes it off with a seed corn sign, like those found along countless rural roads?</span>42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0Lisbon, IA, USA41.9211198 -91.38544660000002341.8738583 -91.466127600000021 41.9683813 -91.304765600000025tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-28483766787356183832018-11-05T09:05:00.004-06:002018-11-05T09:05:51.005-06:00Color in the Neighborhood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mid-autumn and leaf color has peaked. In fact over the weekend when 1.5 inches of rain fell, most of the fall color is now brown, turning brown and on the ground. At the 42N latitude its been a short color season this fall. However, just a week ago this maple tree displayed its brilliant yellows just five houses away. Those leaves are now done, racked to the curb, and ready for pickup by the city's services. See you next fall.</span>42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-35746984510026835342018-09-29T19:10:00.003-05:002018-09-29T19:10:42.715-05:00Preserving Windmills from Iowa's Past<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For more than 100 years the Aermotor Company has been manufacturing windmills which are used primarily for pumping water to livestock. These icons of farms and ranches can be seen all over the country especially here in the Midwest. This non-working specimen is located at the Vinton Railroad Depot in Vinton, Iowa. The sails on the wheel are chained in place as to restrict movement and to help prevent long-term damage. The tail shows at least two bullet holes which qualifies it as an authentic and time-tested Aermotor windmill.</span>42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434477530324506826.post-60014512313241240592018-09-17T21:12:00.001-05:002018-09-17T21:16:55.810-05:00Seek American Legion Poppies from Jackson G Nyitrai<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On most Labor Day weekends, American Legion Post 305 member Jackson G. Nyitrai positions himself underneath the Mississippi River bridge at Marquette, Iowa. His mission is to offer red paper <a href="https://www.legion.org/poppyday/history"><span style="color: orange;">poppies</span></a> for a donation to those gathered at the annual flea market. An event that attracts hundreds of people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This year rain fell for most of the day, making the flea market crowd run for shelter below the overhead structure. Jackson, a retired US Navy service member who worked on ship boilers for many years, collects monetary donations to help fuel the Legion's local scholarships and honor flights to Washington D.C</span>. </div>
42Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107378533032598noreply@blogger.com0