No sunny skies in Siouxland as spring showers continue, Woodbury County

This particular spring in Siouxland has seen a continuation of rainy days. While not unusual in itself, but it follows what seems a long feeling of winter into spring with snow showers and cold temps into April. So sunny skies such as these are not that common yet.

Older barns with newer accommodations in rural Woodbury County, Iowa Wednesday Sept. 27, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Traveling a gravel road in rural Woodbury County, Iowa Wednesday Sept. 27, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

And I am sure there are many of those days that will grace the Siouxland region in the weeks to come, but photographically speaking, it’s a bit of dreary weather. But sometimes one must be patient for that sunshine to appear and nurse those flower seedlings and grass to green up the hillsides and provide a bit of color. And when it does appear, all of this waiting will be forgotten.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

 

Early fall days in rural Woodbury County, Iowa Wednesday Sept. 27, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Winter Hangs on in Siouxland at Bacon Creek Park, Sioux City

Talking with friends and acquaintances everyone is agreed that winter is overstaying its welcome a bit too much. Another storm push with maybe 3-8 inches depending on where one lives could show up. On a walk at Bacon Creek Park recently I experimented a bit with a Holga plastic lens again. Personally, I am getting tired of the colors white and brown. But what can one say, just a day at a time.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Winter clings to the area around Bacon Creek Park in Sioux City, Iowa Wednesday, March 14, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

A local resident takes a walk as snow stills covers the ground at Bacon Creek Park in Sioux City, Iowa Wednesday, March 14, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Geese an over extended visit by winter at Bacon Creek Park in Sioux City, Iowa Wednesday, March 14, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Lingering Winter in Siouxland, Stone State Park

Winter is hanging out much too long this year in Siouxland. And it’s not only in Siouxland, but sometimes being selfish, I only care that it is lingering too long here. There have been brief moments of sunshine, and actual sun shining, but those seem to be few. Recently there was another snow fall. And the sky is grey and hazy.

I began looking at images as black and white, trying to see the possibility of grey tones.

Walking on a cold grey day at Stone State Parkin Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, April 1, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

On a recent hike before the snow in Stone State Park the browns and greys of this past winter still loomed large and didn’t create any excitement on my part. And with hazy, grey and overcast skies it’s sometimes hard to create images that have any kind of spark to them.

Walking on a cold grey day at Stone State Park in Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, April 1, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

But it was nice to get out of the house, go for a walk and breath some fresh air without the intake freezing one’s lungs, or walking, again, through snow drifts. I like winter, being outside and enjoying what it offers, but it’s time to move on, climb new hills and see what a reawakening or rebirth can is in the offering from spring. I just hope it shows up before summer is here, maybe in June.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Walking during a grey cold day at Stone State Park in Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, April 1, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Seeing what’s new in Siouxland, Maritime Museum at Arnolds Park

Sometimes on a limited time schedule, even a self-imposed one, I like to revisit places in Siouxland, such as the Maritime Museum in Arnolds Park. It has a rich history of the lake region with lots of memorabilia.

Previous photos and advertisement of the Queen cruise ship at the Maritime Museum in Arnolds Park, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

And with some new exhibits underway in the area I got to see a couple new things happening. BREAKING NEWS!!! that online and local media would be flashing across their screens. This not so much. It was fun to see one new item as work was underway and that was a honeymoon tent a couple used in the 1930’s or ’40’s after getting married. It probably made a very memorable experience and bonded the newly-weds even more. If you enjoy the outdoors what is a better way to begin a new life?

Some new items are being added to the Maritime Museum such as a honeymoon tent actually used by a couple in Arnolds Park, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Also underway next door to the museum and seen through a window but a wholly different exhibit depicts some of the history of the Arnolds Park Amusement Park which celebrated 125th anniversary a couple of years ago.

A facility next door to the Maritime Museum will house historical memorabilia like a slide and another item from a former Fun House from the Arnolds Park Amusement Park in Arnolds Park, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

And sometimes just looking around one gets lucky and can play a bit with available light to create something seen in one’s mind and then shared with others. Light is a beautiful thing and can make an image all the more interesting.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A shaft of light peers into the Maritime Museum in Arnolds Park, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Creating a Theme in Siouxland, Iowa Lakeside Labs

Sometimes when out photographing in Siouxland I will revisit a subject or see a new one and work to create a different image or selection of images. There are those days when the light helps you and others when you wished it helped you a little more. So it was visiting the Iowa Lakeside Labs in Wahpeton, Iowa, along East Lake Okoboji. At least I think it is the East Lake. After a couple of years of visiting I am still not certain. This time I concentrated on the stone of the buildings along with nature in its proximity. Winter season was still “in bloom” in the area there with the lakes completely frozen over with only water showing near the shoreline.

A research building at the Iowa Lakeside Labs in Wahpeton, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Research buildings at the Iowa Lakeside Labs in Wahpeton, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The sky and sunshine was a bit muted with the light diffused and so looked at angles and patterns.

One of the research buildings at the Iowa Lakeside Labs in Wahpeton, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

These buildings were constructed in the early 1900’s and has been a constant field study laboratory site and so many trees have sprung up around the buildings. I wonder if planted to partially shade them to help cool them in the summer, and partly by nature’s design rather than man’s.

A detail look at one of the research buildings at the Iowa Lakeside Labs in Wahpeton, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

A detail of nne of the research buildings at the Iowa Lakeside Labs in Wahpeton, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

I always find it a good exercise to try and see new in the places I have been. Challenging myself after a few visits when the time of year is full of browns and not spring’s new growth and greenery that helps spruce up a place as the life cycle continues.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Winter Clinging on in Siouxland, Arnolds Park

Driving to the northern area of Siouxland and visiting Arnolds Park and West Lake Okoboji I thought it was going to be a pleasant day out with sunshine and warmer temps. But somehow those weather forecasters didn’t cast very far. Most times when I check the weather there, I found it is about 10 degrees cooler or warmer, depending on the time of year. I was really surprised to see the lake still iced over and no clear water in sight except near the shoreline.

The lakes are still frozen over around Arnolds Park, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The Queen II, an excursion boat that takes visitors around the lake area was pretty well socked in. I was curious if the water always stayed clear like this or if someone makes the effort to keep the water from freezing right up the hull of the boat, which could probably cause problems during freeze and thaw situations. And it looks like it will be a while before the Queen will be making any excursions in the near future.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

The Queen II docked and surrounded by ice in East Lake in Arnolds Park Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Exploring Images in Siouxland

Slowly the weather is cooperating and letting people get about again, although it seems the cold weather in Siouxland just won’t finish. But occasionally the sun peeps out from behind clouds to remind us that spring is coming, albeit, very slowly. Recently on some outings I was looking for images and exploring what I liked about these. And again it was the light play and shadows.

Shadow play in Arnolds Park Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

And while in some photos I shot fairly tight, others I chose a more loose image including more information within the frame, hinting at something beyond within the context of where and what I was photographing. In some communities there are homeless living and as warmer weather and sunshine returns it makes it easier for them to find a place to hang out. I haven’t visited Council Bluffs all that much but would guess there are some points in the downtown area where people congregate more than others.

Park benches for pedestrians and others in the historic downtown of Council Bluffs, Iowa Monday March 12, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

And sometimes it is simply the play of light and shadow together creating an image or form and I found it visually amusing to include the straight line while the shadow bent to conform to the object it was seen on.

Shadow play in Modale, Iowa Monday March 12, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

I am hoping for more opportunity to find this kind of interplay but the forecast for the foreseeable is more clouds, snow, rain, snow and clouds. Ah spring, when are you going to get sprung?

 

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa