Hanging out with Family in Siouxland, Hillview Recreation Area, Hinton

Elk resting in their enclosure at the Hillview Recreation Area near Hinton, Iowa Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, no matter which one but especially around Christmas, life seems very frenetic with so many places to go, people to see and things to do. The media extolls this as does so, so many advertisers. Last minute deals, hurry.

The ultimate quandary about life is that time is infinite, yet also finite.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

And in the mix is lost the the time and opportunity to just stop a moment, relax and just enjoy the quiet of family and friends, resisting the call to go somewhere or get one more deal.

Hanging out in Siouxland, Hillview Recreation Area, Hinton

A turkey vulture makes some noise after noticing a someone on a trail as it sits perched in a tree at the Hillview Recreation Area near Hinton, Iowa Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Sometimes when I go out to walk about or travel to some place in Siouxland I never know what to expect or what I might find. And that to me is a joy in and of itself. There are days I might feel as though what I had anticipated didn’t happen and feel I missed out on something. But one can never know what might be around a bend or over a hilltop when exploring.

A turkey vulture sits perched in a tree at the Hillview Recreation Area near Hinton, Iowa Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A turkey vulture prepares to leave its perch in a tree at the Hillview Recreation Area near Hinton, Iowa Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Wile taking a short hike through the Hillview Recreation Area I came upon a few turkey vultures sitting in treetops and sadly disturbed a couple feeding on something in a field. As I appeared the ones on the ground lifted off. I felt bad disturbing their meal and was mad at myself for not being ready in photographing them as they lifted off the ground. They really are large birds as one get a bit closer to seeing them. I slowed down on the trail and tried to use some foliage to limit their view of me as I made my way to where I could take some photographs. But they are sharp-eyed creatures and I could only get so close before they left and found a higher perch to watch their surroundings, maybe also lamenting the fact that their lunch was still laying in a field.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A turkey vulture leaves its perch as another one flies by at the Hillview Recreation Area near Hinton, Iowa Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Turkey vultures leave their tree perch to relocate onto a hi-line power pole at a walker passes by on a trail at the Hillview Recreation Area near Hinton, Iowa Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Turkey vultures relocated to a hi-line power pole after seeing a walker on a trail at the Hillview Recreation Area near Hinton, Iowa Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)