Holiday Celebrations, Christmas too, in Siouxland, Adams Homestead

As the Christmas celebrations get geared up for surrounding communities and organizations it’s always fun to visit and see what if anything has changed from year to year. And it’s a nice break from the relentless political news that fortunately deserves to be covered but a break from is always good too.

The Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve is always fun to attend as its outbuildings are open to explore and their are carolers and activities for kids and adults to enjoy.

Photo Safari class at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Saturday Nov. 11, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

Photo Safari class at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Saturday Nov. 11, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

I personally like Christmas. The holiday and its sentimental depiction. When I lived in northern California and got the chance I would go into San Francisco to enjoy the ostentatious window displays that the large stores would put up. These days I enjoy a simpler look at Christmas decorations.

Photo Safari class at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Saturday Nov. 11, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

Photo Safari class at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Saturday Nov. 11, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

And of course no Christmas celebration is complete for kids without a visit with a jolly old elf and a chance to drop a line asking for those soon to be opened gifts.

Photo Safari class at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Saturday Nov. 11, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

And it’s a time for friends to get together and family to celebrate and create memories.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Photo Safari class at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Saturday Nov. 11, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

Photo Safari class at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Saturday Nov. 11, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

Photo Safari class at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Saturday Nov. 11, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

Photo Safari class at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Saturday Nov. 11, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

Enjoying the Light in Siouxland, Adams Homestead in SD

Sometimes while out shooting I just enjoy looking at light. And depending on what it falls on creates something that might be worth photographing. One such outing in Siouxland was at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, SD. I like the Adams Homestead. There are hiking trails that take you to the Missouri River, through a stand of cottonwood trees that have been standing for almost a century and to the homestead itself. The Homestead area over time has taken on a more park-like atmosphere which is nice but lacks its earlier charm of rustic chaos which I enjoyed photographing. But there is barn there still standing that I always visit and have photographed countless times with the look changing through the seasons and time of day and with and without much sunshine. I sometimes wonder if this is how artist Claude Monet felt when he visited the Giverny garden in France. While there is no comparison between my photographs and his paintings, it the continual visitation to a place to look, see and maybe record something not seen and seen many times. A thing of beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Window shopping at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota, Sept. 2, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Dreaming of Blue Skies in Siouxland, Adams Preserve, SD

With the 10 inches of recent snowfall shoveled off my sidewalks and temperatures predicted for Siouxland to hit the 40’s it’s hard not to be dreaming of blue skies and warm sunshine to hit one’s face and make you smile. Spring is coming. I keep saying that maybe more to give me hope although this hasn’t been a bad winter. But recent days of 60 degree weather sure can spoil a person and wish for spring to come a little sooner.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Fauna at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota, Sept. 2, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Some Days are just black and white days in Siouxland, Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve

Winter is a season that has its cloudy grey days as well as the sunshine days. In the winter the clouds usually help keep the temps a little higher than a clear blue sky day or evening sky. Shooting during overcast days during the winter season with brown tones and grey tones is not always that appealing, and so that might be a time to shoot in B&W. The Fuji cameras I am currently using allow the option. Previously when shooting Canon I could shoot in a monochrome setting or convert my images once in Photoshop. But Fuji, ever the purveyor of film emulsions and now simulations, allows one to shoot in B&W, make some adjustments and use a “red” filter, “green” filter or a “yellow” filter. Having cut my teeth on B&W and experimented with the 25 red and 15 yellow filters, I was game. There are times even in other seasons when B&W can be appropriate.

A visit to the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in Siouxland in January was an overcast day, with a fairly decent temperature for walking about and seeing what was there. And it never hurts to either try something different, or experiment a little if its been a while. It’s just nice to be outside and enjoying nature.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Although a dreary day animals are out at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux Cty, South Dakota Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

An overcast day makes the landscape look bleak at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

An overcast day at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Spring in Siouxland, Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve

No matter what time of year, I always like stopping by the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve. Walking through the homestead area this last time I visited I saw some new signage both for directions and for information giving some historical perspective about the family that lived there and preserved this area for its fellow residents of Siouxland. Plus with year round residents it now has (four-legged critters), it is fun to see them and the joy they bring to visitors.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Spring blooms brighten the day at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota Wednesday, May 25, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

New signage points out historical aspects of the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota Wednesday, May 25, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

New signage helps visitors find their way at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota Wednesday, May 25, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Spring brings a freshness to the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota Wednesday, May 25, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Light and shadow play at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota Wednesday, May 25, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Residents of the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve enjoy a spring day in North Sioux City, South Dakota Wednesday, May 25, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Bird houses adorn some of the trees at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota Wednesday, May 25, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Christmas celebration in Siouxland, Adams Homestead

The annual Christmas celebrations for various communities and places are kicking in and it’s difficult to get to them all, or then one hears about one you hope to get to next year. Late November the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve celebrated its annual Christmas event. The ground’s buildings are open and decorated. In the church people are caroling, and children can create decorations to take home and hang on their tree in the schoolhouse on the grounds. I took my Lifelong Learning Photo Safari class from the local community college there for an outing. Knowing there was something for every photographer in the group. Buildings, nature, people, artifacts. Something that might appeal to some aspect of what they like to photograph. Even though I try to encourage them to broaden their experience and sometimes pushing them to go outside their comfort zone for the experience. One never knows what might light a fire of interest if there is no exploration.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Photo Safari class at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota, Saturday, November 14, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Photo Safari class at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota, Saturday, November 14, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The Homestead House is decorated for Christmas at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota, Saturday, November 14, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The Homestead House is decorated for Christmas at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota, Saturday, November 14, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The Homestead House is decorated for Christmas at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota, Saturday, November 14, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Photo Safari class at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota, Saturday, November 14, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Photo Safari class at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota, Saturday, November 14, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Photo Safari class at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota, Saturday, November 14, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Photo Safari class at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota, Saturday, November 14, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Spring teasing Siouxland, Adams Homestead

Today in the Siouxland area it was another spring-like day, with the temperature reaching near 60 degrees fahrenheit. But in a couple of days, the temperatures will plunge stopping somewhere in the 30’s with the possibility of more snow. A couple of weeks ago Mother Nature teased Siouxland with warm temperatures and I took advantage of that day to go for a walk in the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve just across the state line in North Sioux City, South Dakota. The ground was still frozen then with just melted snow forming large puddles. The homestead area of the preserve is a fun place to walk around and to imagine what life must have been like then, in the late 1800’s when the family that owned the land first moved to the area. I really like photographing the red barn and trying to capture different images of it.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa