With the migrating waterfowl like the American White Pelicans passing through Siouxland, I sometimes get confused about what birds find a home in this area and those that are passing on to another destination. Like the majority of Canada geese that use Siouxland as flyover country, but others call it home.
As I occasionally check various locations around the area to see who’s hanging out, sometimes I am delighted, other times disappointed when I find nothing. But then there is another day, and these critters like we humans are dealing with roller coaster weather than runs cold, then hot, dry, then wet, which probably interrupts their travels as much as it does our daily lives. And some of us are not traveling as far.
Wishing these critters a safe journey and fair winds as they journey to their summer destination.
As I continue to wander around the Siouxland area I come across bits and pieces of history, mostly cemeteries that I am not acquainted with, in outlying smaller communities. Grant Cemetery in Monona County sits on a hill outside of Rodney, Iowa. A nice tribute to those who have passed on. One setting of the grave sites of some early pioneers under an expansive tree, looking west and forever seeing a sunset they possibly witnessed many times from this hill as they settled into a new place to begin their new lives.
Taking a drive in the last few days the Siouxland area is finally starting to turn a little green. A few farmers are beginning to get into their fields to prepare for spring planting. Winter seems to have lasted longer than previous years although that is probably more of an impression than reality. Until recently some overnight lows still hit the 20’s, but the highs in the 50’s are welcome.
But soon more fields and meadows will turn to that emerald green and life will seem renewed as it starts all over again.
Again I am always amazed at finding places by serendipity, even though I later found it on a map, although I don’t know that I would have stopped after looking at the map. The small Iowa community of Ticonic was a former settlement along the Illinois Central Railroad line. From the few houses and only church now located in Ticonic, it is hard to tell what kind of community it may have once been. It definitely is peaceful during the daytime and was a pleasant stop on a wandering kind of day as I ventured out into Siouxland with finally warmer temperatures and a countryside that is beginning to look like spring.
A few days ago the Siouxland region received a slight blizzard. Whiteout conditions for practically all of northwest Iowa and I and many others had the pleasure of clearing 14 inches of snow from our walks and driveways. Mother Nature’s way of ensuring people get a little exercise during the colder months. And now the temperatures are dropping again to below zero. All of this following the little rodent’s (Punxsutawney Phil) prediction of an early spring. And thinking of spring has me thinking of once again getting out and getting lost on some of Iowa’s back roads looking for scenics and other out of the way areas that I can photograph and share.
I really like to be shooting all the time, but that isn’t always possible, but then it doesn’t hurt to daydream a little in anticipation of hitting the road again.
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 