A quick look into this flower and you can also see why this is often known as "Christ in the Cradle." The fragrance is also heavenly.
As you can tell the "After Image" above certainly looks much better. So that you can appreciate the view better, please click on either of the images and view them in a larger format. I think that I have developed a method of keep the shutters looking great.
Three days ago, July 26th I posted several images. Tonight I update you with the progress of this Night Blooming Cereus Plant and more specific, the flower. I have never lived through the bloom cycle so they may bloom tonight or quite soon. Anyway I will be keeping a close watch on these blooms. One plant has a potential of eight blooms while the other plant has two blooms. I have noted that the bloom stem has become quite curved so maybe this is progress and I can view the blooms very soon.
During my recent trip to Iowa I had the opportunity to meet BarackO. This dog wandered onto the Farm of one of my relatives about March 2008.
Our two plants have finaly matured enough to the point that they are now in their final count down to provide us a lovely show some evening very soon. Here you have two views of the flower buds which I acquired on July 23.
Here are three views of this plant which has eight flower buds. The other plant has two flower buds. suspect that they will be in full bloom soon. I just do not know when. I understand that the bloom buds take days to produce their lovely flower. These three images were captured on Sunday, July 26, 2009
Once you read the article I have linked above you might like to know that I intend to let others know when this flower will bloom. Please contact me if you are interested in viewing this special flower when it is in full bloom. Please remember that the blooms are good for only one night and it is late in the evening when it can be determined when it will bloom.
During the recent Holiday Trip to Iowa we stayed at the Home of my Sister-In-Law. There were several projects that her Sons and I completed. Here you see one of my nephews trim down a door while I, the Flower Child hold the door stable. It was a wonderful opportunity to interact with my relatives in the Holy Land a.k.a. Iowa.
This Church is officially named: St. Peter German Evangelical Lutheran Church and is located on U. S. Highway 52 between Guttenberg and Garnavillo, Iowa. The Flower Child grew up on a farm about one mile South of this Landmark. The church is no longer in service, but is lovingly maintained as a Museum by the local citizens. This limestone rock church was built in 1858, just twelve years after Iowa became a State. This church was a museum when I was a child in the mid 1940s.
Three of the Nephews were able to remove the forms from the parking pad at their Mom's House. The youngest one wanted to make sure that a picture was taken to document that he had participated. You can see him with the barn broom. Of course the Flower Child had to grab a tool to prove that he could also help. This event also took place on July 2nd.
During the evening of 2 July 2009 Volunteers from the American Legion, a Boy Scout Troup and others put up 108 Flags in the Central Park of Garnavillo, Iowa. These flags were put in place early so that they would be ready for the Fourth. 
Last evening I learned that the Bank where I do my checking had been taken over by the FDIC and resold to another Bank.
This morning while I conducted my errands here in Macon, Georgia I noted an unusual number of cars at the Security Bank Branch on Riverside Drive. This picture does not show an unusual number of automobiles at the Security Bank Headquarters on Forsyth Road however I did drive through the back parking lot and noted a large number of automobiles parked there. Many more than usual for a Saturday Morning. In fact there were a good number of automobiles from out of State. I got the impression that the FDIC was inside doing their job. For that I am grateful. 
Anyone who watches any television has heard the words that are the title to the Blog Post. I will change the wording a bit. "I Like The Way I Look." This evening my Bride joined me on a shopping trip to "The Shoppes at River Crossing," which is the newest Shopping Area in Middle Georgia. Here you see me modeling a new Sport Jacket by Nautica. It was a very good price so I could not turn it down. The main purpose of the trip was to acquire a new Suit, which you can view below.
The suit we chose was a deep Navy Blue, which is totally appropriate. While the trousers were being hemmed the Salesperson sold me a new shirt and two new ties. 
For some time I have been posting Middle Georgia Challenges. Today I will think outside of the box and pose a World Wide Challenge. Anyone can place their reply in the comments section of this Post and give the correct name for this device. The Winner, will of course be treated to a casual lunch at my expense. If the winner should reside outside of the Middle Georgia area I will remit appropriate funds to them so that they can have a casual lunch on me.
I, the Flower Child recently visited the heart of the cornbelt in Iowa and Illinois. The weather there was not as warm as the farmers need to insure a succesful crop of corn. When the corn is preparing to tassle it needs warm days. The high temperature was 80 degrees and the desired temperature is 90 degrees or even a bit warmer. I heard famers hope for warmer weather. I even hear one say that somehow this Global Warming situation must not be true in as much as the temperatures were not even up to normal in early July. 
You can quickly ascertain that I focused on homes and buildings at the North end of College Street in Macon, Georgia. It was a fun evening and I look forward to the 2010 Walk.
Of course no Walk would be complete without some stairs so I captured this image on Spring Street as we concluded the Walk back to the starting point at Rose Hill Cemetery. I have adjusted several of my images and entered them in various competitions. 
YOKOHAMA, Japan (July 21, 2009) Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) man the rails as the ship passes under the Yokohama Bridge. John S. McCain made the transit from Yokosuka to Yokohama, Japan as the first-ever U.S. Navy ship to participate in the annual celebration of the Yokohama port opening. This year's celebration marks the 150th anniversary of the port being opened. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Josh Cassatt/Released) 
A Water Meter
A Natural Gas Meter
An Electric Power Meter
This is a picture of the Clayton County, Iowa Court House in Elkader, Iowa. During my recent visit to spend time with my Siblings I traveled to Elkader to do some shopping. I also collected an abundance of pictures. As I passed this structure I decided that I would take a picture. 
While on my recent Holiday the Thiese Siblings visited Gunder, Iowa and dined at the Irish Shanti. Here you see the Flower Child just after he was served the Famous Gunder Burger. It weighs one pound. The side of Potato Salad must have been two full cups. A great meal and also a great challenge to consume, but I did. There were eleven of us and our host was my youngest Sibling who you can see to my left.
Gunder, Iowa is on the prarie of Clayton County. This view shot from a Corn Field also displays the Church in Gunder.
On July 9th we visited Froelich, Iowa and the Museum there in a former General Store. The Store was operated by John Froelich. In 1892 he developed the Gasoline Powered Tractor (Traction Engine). He never applied for a Patent and in later years he sold out to a company in Waterloo, Iowa. The firm was known "The Waterloo Boy Tractor Works."
This is the museum Froelich Tractor. The steering was quite primitive, but it did not travel fast so the need for a quick action steering system was unnecessary.
A replica of the first Traction Engine and this one is used for display in the museum outbuildings.
Here you see the Flower Child modeling the Froelich Traction Engine. To learn more about this tractor and the inventor please visit:
After visiting the Froelich Museum it was time for Alan to function at the home of the Host in Clayton County. Note that the lawn tractor is a John Deere. The Waterloo Boy Tractor Works later sold out to John Deere, which is now the most common tractor in the Midwest of the U.S.A.
This silo is 90 feet tall and is located on Eagle Avenue in Clayton, County near Luana, Iowa. It is located on one of my Sibling's farm.
This is a scene of a farmer near the Great River Road in Clayton County just North of Guttenberg, Iowa. The area is known as Clayton Ridge. The farmer is engaged in cutting forage for silage which will be stored in the silos in the following pictures.
The silage is used to feed out beef cattle or to provide forage for dairy cattle. Yes, it does ferment in the silos which also allows cattle to digest the forage more efficiently. 
