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I got a call while I was having lunch with the Chief Photographer at the Jersey Cafe, a haven for former South Jersey residents. It seems the #1 fan spotted another "Mobile Big Thing." This large cow and Ice Cream Carton in front of the Kroger. She dropped everything and went up to the man handing out samples to find out how long he was going to be there and where he was going to be next. As you may recall #1 spotted the Kissmobile, the other "Mobile Big Thing." Now with those two and the Weinermobile it becomes a sub-class along with Stationary and Inflatables. Breaking new ground, thanks Karen! |
| I have lot's of cows on this site, not nearly as many bulls. Here's a good looking one. He is in a little park in the Village of Gilboa, (est.1837) OH. The part is on the corner of US-224 and Pearl. I wish we had more time to explore Gilboa, anytime a village have been around as this one means it has something pretty substantial to it. Maybe next time. |  |
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We were in the visitors center at Indiana Dunes State Park when lo and behold I spotted this pair of stuffed fish. Not the biggest fish I've been photographed with but big anyway. One in the background is a Catfish and I'm not sure what the other type is. |
| On the way back from Thanksgiving at Meg and Greg's (thanks for the hospitality by the way!) we dropped down on I-275 to Ecorse Rd west (M-17) to get this cow. I've got lot's of cows on this site as you can see below. This Carry Dairy cow is on top of a building that is not exactly a dairy. More of a "Party Store" as they are called in Michigan. Selling beer (of course), wine, cigarettes, milk and lottery tickets there are a plenitude of places like this. This almost like the drive thru beer stores in Ohio, note the One Way sign to my right. No expense spared!. |  |
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Halloween has gotten to be a bigger event then I remember as a kid. Oh, we dressed up, went begging, maybe even soaped a window or too, but I don't rememeber all the temporary shops that spring up. So many in fact they look like Starbucks. On Keystone and Ruth Drive in Indianapolis there are two shops across the street from each other (one of them next to a Starbucks, by the way.) Anyway after getting a Grande Pumpkin Latte low fat, etc coffee we stopped to grap this inflatable. |
| My favorite Birdog and #1 fan called me to say that this Serta Sheep was going to be in front of the hh gregg stores headquarters. Karen told me about other items as well, like the Kissmobile she spotted. hh gregg is a regional, going National, appliance and electronics store. They've had other inflatables our front in the past like the Sirius Satellite radio dog. |  |
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I've wanted this Inflatable for quite a while now. At times I've seen it up in front of one of the Chick Fillet restaurants. Without a doubt I saw this inflatable and didn't have a camera with me or my most favorite photographer. This time the planets were in alighnment and me, the inflatable and the photographer were all together. Yahoo!!!. |
| We took the ferry across Lake Michigan from Ludington, MI to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. If you didn't know, there are LOTS of Big Things in Wisconsin. In Manitowoc, the Cedar Crest Cow is out in front of the dairy. You can stop in the company store and have a great ice cream there. We passed on that, but right across the street is the cheese store. Lot's of varities, we even bought a cheese in the shape of a cow! The man in the store was very helpful with samples of cheeses and gave tips on the local sites as well. |  |
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I find a lot of Big Things using Roadside America sightings. This time I was looking for a giant flamingo and followed the directions to this place outside Oshkosh. Actually Vinland, Wisconsin. We were not prepared for what awaited us. This fish and the following duck, moose and elephant were all in a field outside M. Schettl Sales. And this was just the start. Check out the following 16 photos of Animals. There were more too, see Food and Drink. |
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The M in M Schettl Sales stands for Mel. He wasn't in at the time of our visit but we were given the run of the place by the manager on duty. Mel sells just about anything. These four animals were on trailers out in the field. Mel sells the trailers and the animals too. |  |
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The elephant was the last of the 4 Big Things out front. We then went into the fenced "park" on the other side of the building. That's where the flamingo is. Not to mention this bunny and many other treasures. If you are in need of a Big Thing I suggest you give Mel a call. |  |
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There are a lot of these chickens scattered around the country. I don't know that much about them but Mel has two of them in the park. |  |
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Now we've been taking these photos for a couple of decades and have not run into an abundance of Big Things like this. It's like eating all the chocolate you want. Almost an overdose of Big Stuff. Before we finished we had "battle fatigue." Mel tested our stamina with his assorment. |  |
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This Flamingo was the reason for the original stop and is located in the "park." This catfish chef is another treasure at Mel's. He had another building with lot's of stuff. Most is in the Food and Drink section. |  |
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We were on Route 21 from Oshkosh to spend the night at the Wisconsin Dells. As I've said some of the best Big Things are found unexpectedly as was the case with this Big Steer near Wautoma. He stands out front of the Silvercryst Steakhouse and Motel located on Silver Lake. Looks like a small resort town with good eats. I might vacation there sometime. |
| On the way out of Oshkosh we were passing through Omro and spotted this Big Pig outside the Piggly Wiggly supermarket on Route 21. Omro had a couple of slogans posted on the side of the road. "Bridge to the Future" and Picturesque and Proud." Sounds like a nice town. |  |
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Once we got to the Wisconsin Dells it was pretty late - we had dinner and turned in for the night. This was the large flamingo we came to town to find. The Dells are a great vacation spot. Lot's to do if you have children in the family. We went on a couple river tours and enjoyed ourselves. It is a classic resort town -- fudge and moccasin stores abound. |
| Leaving one of the river tours, which involved an ex-US Army amphibious duck we spotted this Trojan Horse at the Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park. A water park, go cart track, mini golf all rolled into one. Gives you an inkling of what the Dells has to offer. |  |
 | I like these Big Elephants. There is one close to home in Pendelton, IN and another at Jim Hipp's Nursery in Southwest Indiana. A big animal made ever Bigger is fine. This one in DeForest, Wisconsin is at the Citgo gas just off Intersate 90/94. We had to wait to take this image, some parents were taking photos of their kids with the elephant, then the dog walkers were next in line. I had to be careful where I stepped to get this image. |
| Let me introduce you to Sissy the Cow in DeForest Wisconsin. She is in front of Ehlenbach's Cheese Chalet just off I90/94 exit 126. Nice cow and an even nicer cheese store. We spent some time inside and, of course, bought some cheese. |  |
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In Madison Wisconsin we stayed the night at the Edgewater Hotel right on Lake Mendota. Our room overlooked the lake and we had dinner on the deck with a live band playing. One interesting thing about this hotel was the floors are backward. Our room was on the first floor and we had to go down to the 5th floor to get to the deck. I was a little confused when I went to get some ice. Oh, and we got these giant metal birds called Dreamkeepers outside an office building. |
| Meet Gertrude the Guernsey Cow. Looks an awful lot like Sissie the Cow just below. Maybe they're related? Anyway, she was the last Animal we visited on our Wisconsin trip. Gertrude is actually near Rockford, Illinois in Lockwood Park. I'll have to say that 4 days of Big Thing hunting was pretty exhausting. When Debbie asked me what the next object was and I told her a Big cow, she replied, "Another cow?" I knew at that point we should head home, and we did. |  |
| I picked up the location of this Muffler Man from "Roadside America" and thanks to GPS we found him. It wasn't easy but on the way we drove through orange orchards. It let me visualize what the LA area was like decades ago before all the development. At any rate it was near Mentone at the corner of Garnet Road and Mill Creek Road. If you go be sure to stop at the Greenspot store and get some of their "World Famous Jerkee (sic)" |  |
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California for Christmas 2008 and still in pursuit of Big Things. After lunch at Lucky Baldwin's in Pasadena (you have to go there, what a classic place) we were driving South on Fair Oaks and passed the Barn Burner BBG with this Big Chicken out front. A quick u-turn and the mini-van full of Hejls pulled into the parking lot to grab this image. |
| This turtle was an unexpected discovery. On our way back from New Harmony we were tooling along and sped past this cool turtle. We just had to turn around and grab this photo. Like the bull below, I've misplaced my notes on the exact locations. I think it was near Sullivan County park. It's really annoying not having the location. I need you to let me know where this turtle proudly sits. I promise you kudo's if you let me know! |  |
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This stork was a nice find. There is a car wash in Vincennes that has several Big Things, this stork is one of them. I don't know what's in the water in Southwest Indiana (besides Calcium from all the limestone) but whatever it is, they do like Big Things. This was a researched find but turned out better than expected as some of the best finds do. |
| I don't know what it is with the car washes in Southwestern Indiana. Maybe they are competing but there are a plethora of Big Things around car washes. Yogi here waves to all the passing motorists enticing them to come on in and leave with a clean car. |  |
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This was a nice find. Unexpected as some of the best finds are. I've lost my notes on this but as I recall it was in Mitchell, Indiana near Spring Mills State Park where we were planning to spend the night. This sad looking bull was abandoned out in front of a closed general merchandise store. I just realized that I neglected this poor bull as well with my lost details. How sad ! |
| We were in Southwest Indiana on the way to New Harmony, an Intentional Community founded to wait for the Second Coming. A very serene and holy place - you need to go there! Just north in Haubstadt, at the junction of I-64 and US-41 is the Jim Hipp Nursery. Believe me, this a "Target Rich" environment. I am pictured here with the buffalo that greets visitors. |  |
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Well at Jim Hipp's there are so many wonderful Big Things I almost couldn't figure out how to capture everything, so here's a double eagle (wasn't that a coin?) Pretty cool. And you know what? Jim Hipp lives on site. His house has a warning that it is off limits to visitors, he's had strangers wander into his kitchen. Imagine that! |  |
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From I-64 you can spot this fish (largemouth bass, let me know?) if you know where to look. Thankfully for my friends on "RoadsideAmerica.com" I know where to look. Doesn't everyone plan their trips around things that are larger than life?. |
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I have an elephant below that is on the Pendleton Pike here in the Indy area. Melinda told me about that Big Thing. She was an enthusiastic Big Dogger and gave me the Maritni elephant below as well as several other animal type Big Things. Thanks Melinda. |  |
| I really don't know why it's taken so long to have an image of me and Nipper on this web site. I've been surrounded by Nippers for years, many of them BIG but I never had my picture taken with one, must be taking for granted what you have. Trust me, don't take what you have for granted. I would like to have one of these BIG nippers at home but don't know where I would keep him. Maybe Julia's room. |  |
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We were leaving England and had some time at Heathrow before the flight. (I won't mention how much time Ben and Annie had due to flight delays) but anyway where else is there a store like Harrods in an airport. It would be like having a Neiman-Marcus at Kennedy Airport. At any rate this shop had cavier, chamapign and many of the finer things in life. I went to the 7-11. |
| We were in England and left our tour group to go to the Tower of London, you know where Cromwell spent some time enjoying the hospitality of the Crown. As usual we included a trip to the gift shop and right outside was this Bear Guard. What a surprise! Not quite a Beafeater Guard but I did get him to smile . |  |
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I was just up in Minneapolis and spotted this Big Thing which looks like a big Canadian Goose on Nicollet Mall. I think it was a Canadian Goose, it would have maybe been more authentic if there were a mess of cast goose droppings everywhere like in real life. |
| So, we were on our way up to Detroit to see the Davidsons. As we passed an exit I spotted this large rooster in a little park outside a restaurant. We made a note of the exit number and stopped by on the way home. I can't find the name of the restaurant right now and will update if I find my notes. It was a family style restaurant and would stop there to eat. |  |
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Oh boy, here was an unexpected treat. On the way to Charlevoix to get the Big Cherry Pie with the Davidsons (see Food and Drink) when fate struck and we got this Big Swan. Outside the Elk Rapids Chamber of Commerce building was this Swan (don't call it a Goose! Right Meg?). It has a history going back to 1966 when it was built to carry Miss Elk Rapids in the Cherry Festival and Harbor Days parades. |
| My first trip to the new Comerica Park in Detroit and here were some Big Tigers and Baseball Bats. 2 hours before the game and there were all these people. I may have to come back in February (brrrr!) to get a photo without the fans. The Tigers lost to the Bronx Bombers 5-1 who had 5 hits and 5 home runs. I miss Tiger Stadium where you were so close to the field but I liked the rest of the new ballpark. |  |
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We were at the Davidsons and were getting ready to go Up North when we spotted this inflatable out with a GTO show. Not exactly one of my best finds but I am addicted to Things Big and couldn't pass up the shot. We blocked the parking lot at the Starbucks while getting the shot. I was humming a Jan & Dean tune. |
| For Crying Out Loud is the title for this Field Art as we call it in Indiana. My best Birddog, Melynda told me about this Hippo a while ago but I didn't get it until recently. It's on a field belonging to a now retired auctioneer. We pulled into the muddy field and finally I had found a reason for the 4-wheel drive on my Cherokee. I don't know if this is larger than life but it's pretty camp. |  |
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We were going to the airport to pick Julia up on July 3rd. In case you didn't know, Indiana is fireworks state. You can buy all sorts of fireworks here. You just have to be careful since you cannot take the fireworks on the plane with you if you are leaving the state on a plane. You would be much better off driving your purchases out of state. |
| We had just started out on our drive to Michigan for some vacation time when we spotted the Sirius Satellite Radio Dog being set up in front of hh gregg on 96th Street. We pulled into the parking lot and got this image. The fellows setting this up asked if I knew the ex-RCA crowd now at Sirius, it wasn't until later that I wondered how he knew I was an RCA guy. (GPS=N39.92604 W086.09559) |  |
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Well, we made it "Up North" and were enjoying our vacation on Lake James outside Prudenville. I made a trip into town to go to Ford's hardware and spotted this chicken outside the Lake Break snack shop. You can get Ice Cream, Pizza, Ribs and of course Broasted Chicken. (GPS=N44.29840 W084.66456) |
| My Uncle Ed told me about this big cow in downtown Elsie, Michigan. On our way home from Prudenville we stopped at Ford Cemetary where my folks are buried, as well as many other family members. Aunt Libbie and Uncle Frank lived close by so I spent time as a youngster in Elsie. I didn't remember this cow, but it's right on W. Main outside the Elsie village hall. (GPS=N43.08859 W084.38794) |  |
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Muncie Indiana seems to have more Big Things per capita than most cities that I've visited. This Big Frog outside Dick Carnel's Ceramics, Tiles and Carpets at 2001 Cranville Ave is an example. Time your visit here right and you can go across the street to Miss Kitty's for karaoke on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Thanks to Steph for this sighting. |
| Sometimes it takes the cooperation of other people to get the special Big Picture. I owe the sighting for this big Terrapin to Julia since she sighted it at a Univ of Maryland football game. She saved it for me until Parents Weekend. Then Debbie talked to a couple of special people who were the ushers that allowed us to go onto the field in the endzone to get this image. Thanks Sid, you guys showed a great sense of humor! |  |
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Julia and Debbie were on their way from Maryland to Indy when Julia eyed this beauty at Exit 62 on I-70 (which just happens to be US-40, the National Highway. Rainbow Industries rents inflatables, tents, etc and this gorilla stood out front. We got this image on the way back after dropping Julia off at UMD. |
| It was early Sunday morning so I knew that I what I was seeing really was a Pink Elephant! This cute guy stands outside Wagon Wheel Liquors on SR67 in Fortville, IN comlete with glasses and a martini. Melynda, who told me about the chicken in Noblesville (see below) cued me in on this beauty. |  |
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We were winding up our "Big Thing Trek" and were looking for the big bull that our real estate agent Gail had told us about. Melynda included it on her map and we thought we had it with this cow outside Cohron's Manufactured Homes on SR67. Something didn't ring true since this cow and calves were in great shape, not as Gail described them. |
| Now here is the bull that Gail told us about. She said it is painted regularly and my guess is this one fits the bill. It was also dead-on with where Melynda has it one the her map. It stands proudly(?) outside Karmon's Produce on SR67 between Franklin Road and Post Road. |  |
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We were on our way from Indy to Prudenville along I-69. Right after I told Debbie and Julia they had to keep an eye out for Big Things, Deb spotted this inflatable at the "Huge Car Sale" near the US127 exit in Ithaca, MI. We got off at the next exit and circled back for this photo opportunity. |
| I recently moved to Indianapolis so there is a entire fresh stock of Big Things. Melynda, a co-worker, told me about this Big Chicken. And since I have a special affinity for chickens (see below on this page) Debbie and I had to hustle out to the Chanticleer Cottage in Noblesville Sunday morning to get this chicken. |  |
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There's a new Cabala's Outfitters at Exit 17 on US-23. This is in Dundee, Michigan, a place where I spent some time calling on Dundee TV back in the early 80's. Hi, Don! At any rate, I almost had to wait in line to get this photo op. Didn't get a chance to go inside but this place was huge. |
| Walking through the Minneapolis airport after we photographed the "double up" of Indians outside the Thunderbird Motel Mark spotted this Big Moose. "Hey," he said, "you need this for your photo collection." I agreed and here it is. |  |
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After Ernie and I got the famous Spoon and Cherry photo in the sculpture garden (see latest in Food and Drink)we were walking through the greenhouse enjoying the flowering plants. We stopped to chat with a gardener working in a water pond. Well, lo and behold , the pond was capped with this glass fish. Go and see it, pretty cool. |
| We were visiting Benjamin in November during Parents Weekend at JMU and were on our way to pick something up at the mall, when I innocently asked him if he had seen anything "Big" lately. He got quite excited and said that he had just spotted a big dinosaur in front of a car dealership. The rest was history. Now you see the photo. |  |
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On my way to play golf with Rick Smith at Beckett GC in Swedesboro when lo and behold I spotted this large Ram's head at the Dodge dealer. I got Debbie up early on Sunday morning to get this inflatable before it disappeared. |
| Down in Arkansas, Fayetteville to be exact, there is Tri State Poultry with this big Chicken outside. It took a few trys before I could get this photo. Rain, timing, etc. held me up. But it was worthwhile as you can see. |  |
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Along with the above photo this BIG turkey was out on display. We (Merdith the photographer, Ralph and I spent some time talking to an employee at Tri State about these birds. Seems that he was photographed with one of these birds himself for the local paper. Good story, stop in and hear it. |
| Here's a pretty good size Chicken outside Fisher's Market on Route 49 between Bridgeton and Shiloh in Hopewell Township. The store has a Black Angus on the roof too! This chicken has been stolen a number of times; it once showed up painted blue on the campus of the Universitiy of Delaware. Get it, the "Blue Hens." |  |
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Here's to you Hugo, my bird dog for this Big Chicken. Located in King of Prussia, PA he stands guard at the entrance to NorView Farms. The farms has it all. Hidden Valley Springs, fill your own containers and Petrucci Ice Cream stand, in season. At 670 N Henderson Rd. Chick, I mean, Check it out! |
| This Big Bird may not be yellow but he is big and watches over the activity on the Casino Pier amusement park in Seaside Heights, NJ. |  |
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If you are going cross country in Virginia, possibly taking a "shortcut" on US211 to "save time" and you are near Luray, VA, check out the Luray Reptile Center. It's not Disney but pretty cool nonetheless. |
| OK, if you weren't impressed with the Giant Croc, how about this Dinosaur. Imagine this "Big Guy" roaming the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia (pretty scary, eh?). |  |
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On top of finding the Luray Reptile Center on US211, I was lucky enough to find Yogi standing a little further down the road. I wasn't sure if he properly belongs in the "Animals" section or the "People" section. After all he did have his own TV show, eh Boo Boo. |
| Outside the Cowtown Rodeo is this (Cow?/Bull?), I don't know, call it a Cull or Bow. Horns and an udder, only in New Jersey. |  |
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Lucy here is a National Monument. I guess I didn't treat her with the proper respect because as I was paying the bridge toll into Margate, NJ I asked the attendant where the "big elephant" was. He looked at me with derision. |
| Along I-75 we saw a sign for "Sea Shell City." Who would have thought of sea shells in Cheyboygen County, MI. In addition, the sign boasted a 505 pound man eating clam. Who could resist? I know I couldn't. Here's the result, pretty impressive huh? |  |
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Virtually across the street from Zubler's Indian Village on M-55 in Houghton Lake, MI. (See the Big People page.) I didn't realize at the time how cool these double hits were. At any rate this flamingo is one of my all time favorites, it illustrates the absurd part of this hobby. If you still don't get it, study this image until you do. |
| This rooster was taken early in the morning while I was working (ha, ha!) in Alabama. It was somewhere on US-231 between Ozark and Troy. Evidently it was an artist type that put this in their front yard. Almost drove by but Jack asked, "do you want to go back and photograph that." He made salesman of the year! |  |
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Working (ha, ha!) in Everett, WA. This Seahawk was another double-up along with the Big Lumberjack. The people working inside this building were nearly as interested in me getting this picture taken as I was. Thanks Brian. |
| Give me a better example of a Big Picture than this. US-131 in Kalkaska, MI, late in the day, both me and the robin are relaxed. Check out the hat. (Another vacation hat picture with a twist.) |  |
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Another inflatable. A once in a lifetime shot for me since I got this one in St. Louis during a Grand Opening of a Circuit City Store, and a long way from home. Of course if you live in St. Louis you may see the KSHE pig around town. My guess is that KSHE is a rock 'n roll station. What do you think? |
| You can't understand the concept of "found art" until you face what I did with this cow. We were dropping Andy off for school and were walking out of a Best Buy store in Urbana, IL when lo and behold, across I-74 - a big cow. What an opportunity! I have a more entertaining image of this but the transfer service keep screwing it up. |  |
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If you don't think this is a great image "get outta town." That is what we say here in South Jersey. Even though the image was taken with the Robin in Kalkaska. get it both the Robin and this Trout are the state Bird and Fish of Michigan. I have this image as my wallpaper at work. |
| On the way to the Mystery Spot in the Upper Pennisula along US-2. When, wham we found this Big Thing. I like this deer as much as any other image I have. |  |
