During the cold winter nights this time of year in Siouxland and other northern realms, the holiday lights that people put up for display adds the festive feel for celebrating the Christmas holiday, both secular and religious. The lights make the dark nights a little cheerier and inviting and allow folk to just enjoy the moment of seeing the displays and forgetting about the ills of the world and the hope that maybe tomorrow will be a better day.
Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve began putting up outside lights last year during the pandemic to give people a safe environment to to enjoy the holiday and a reason to visit the preserve. Many times during the year I also visit, taking walks on the trails looking for critters, be it waterfowl, song birds or deer and turkey that inhabit the area.
This year the snow hasn’t visited Siouxland yet, but the first storm is predicted to hit within days, but on this particular night, the prairie wind was making its presence known as strands of lights whipped back and forth during wind gusts. I was just glad there was no stinging white particles hitting my face as I walked about enjoying the scene and trying to photograph the lights. Always challenging and best done when there is still some sky available for balance in an image. Yet even on a cold and blustery night, it was good to get outside and just enjoy the moment.
I live in the Siouxland area that encompasses a wide swatch of land in northwest Iowa, northeastern Nebraska and southeastern South Dakota. The people that inhabit this area are generous folk and your basic honest, Midwestern people you like to have as neighbors. I explore the area and share observations, mostly photographic, sometimes through video, and and short text. All images and video are copyrighted material of the author.
Jerry Mennenga, Sioux City, Iowa
jerrylmennenga@yahoo.com
lostinsiouxland 
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