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©)

Enjoying a Lingering Siouxland Christmas, Sioux City

While out for a walk recently during a snow fall I saw a neighbor still had some Christmas lights up. People in Siouxland like their holidays. Many decorate their homes around a holiday theme with some already putting up red stringed lights for Valentines Day. But I was glad to see these Christmas lights as I neared home. Reminding me of the season and the phrase of “leaving a light on in the window” so as to guide a traveler to a destination. And to add a little light to a somewhat dreary day.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Even though it’s after Christmas, some neighbors have left a few outdoor lights up and it adds a nice ambience while walking around the neighborhood in Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, Jan. 22, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Exploring Siouxland in Winter, downtown Sioux City

After being snowbound and wanting to avoid below freezing temperatures, I finally exited my home to explore a bit of Siouxland via downtown Sioux City. Previously I had been out for a walk when temperatures were milder and the temps in a reasonable 30 degree range. And it was nice to look at some sculpted art pieces that sit next to the Sioux City Art Center.

Two sculpted art pieces sit outside the Sioux City Art Center in Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

A sculpted piece of art sits outside the Sioux City Art Center in Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

But this last walk downtown was after a 12 inch snowfall and temperatures that again reached into the teens with overnights near or below zero. A blue, sunny sky added to the Art Center’s sculptures that sit on its grounds. On the overcast day which I later chose to walk about downtown enhanced these less colorful pieces of art that adorn the downtown streets. And in a way the colorless sky and overcast added to the effect of these pieces by helping declutter the background for the most part and let the pieces stand alone to be admired.

jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Art sculpture displayed in downtown Sioux City, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

 

Art sculpture displayed in downtown Sioux City, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

 

Art sculpture displayed in downtown Sioux City, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

 

Art sculpture displayed in downtown Sioux City, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

 

Art sculpture displayed in downtown Sioux City, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

 

Contrasting Seasons in Siouxland, Morningside College

A number of Siouxland colleges have outdoor performing areas that are utilized in more accommodating months of the year, basically when it is warmer. Morningside College is no exception and hosts free performances over the summer. And so I find it interesting to contrast the recent snow storm and a couple of performances that occurred last summer. Time and place, it always seems to matter.

And it makes looking forward to those warmer months a cheerful thought as the temperatures dip again to below freezing and me reaching for another cup of coffee.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

 

An outdoor performing arts theatre looks very different during a blizzard on the campus of Morningside College which resulted in 11 plus inches of snow in Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, Jan. 22, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

A nice crowd turned out for the U.S. Air Force Heartland of America Band concert for the 4th of July celebration at Morningside College’ s Buhler Outdoor Performance Center in Sioux City, Iowa Tuesday, July 04, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Benches at an outdoor performing arts theatre on the campus of Morningside College look different without patrons attending a show during a blizzard that resulted in 11 plus inches of snow in Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, Jan. 22, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

 

Attendees of the U.S. Air Force Heartland of America Band keep the late afternoon sun off with a “patriotic” umbrellas at a 4th of July celebration concert at Morningside College’ s Buhler Outdoor Performance Center in Sioux City, Iowa Tuesday, July 04, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

A shortened performance of the popular Cats production over the weekend at Morningside College at the Betty Ling Tsang fine art series in the Buhler Outdoor Performance Center in Sioux City, Iowa. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Winter’s Magic and Art in Siouxland, Sioux City

During the last snow storm Sioux City and the Siouxland region had I was fascinated with some of the scenes I saw just blocks from my house. Prior to the snow there had been freezing rain and together the two created a sort of “live” pencil art exhibition turning the campus of Morningside College into a living exhibit. Except for a few other braves souls I was one of a few to witness this and enjoyed the scenes as I walked about seeing nature creating its own art under less than pleasant “human” condition.s

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Snow encrusted trees look like pencil drawings on the campus of Morningside College during a blizzard that resulted in 11 plus inches of snow in Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, Jan. 22, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

Snow encrusted branches of a tree on the campus of Morningside College during a blizzard that resulted in 11 plus inches of snow in Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, Jan. 22, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

Snow encrusted trees on the campus of Morningside College during a blizzard that resulted in 11 plus inches of snow in Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, Jan. 22, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

A snow encrusted pavilion on the campus of Morningside College during a blizzard that resulted in 11 plus inches of snow in Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, Jan. 22, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

Nature’s Beauty after a Snow Storm in Siouxland, Sioux City

Sometimes the silver lining in a storm shows itself afterwards although that might be putting a nice spin on such an event. After a recent blizzard event in Siouxland and the more than 11 inches that fell in Sioux City, a couple days later nature gave the residents a show, although brief. The day started somewhat overcast and cloudy and soon sun began to appear. Many tree tops were still covered with frozen rain (ice) prior to the snow and with the sunshine it created a magical but brief visual.

Sunshine created a magical winter wonderland after a blizzard in Sioux City, Iowa Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

 

Sunshine sunshine created a magical winter wonderland after a blizzard in Sioux City, Iowa Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

I had debated going out that day to look for photos and decided I would stick around the house and pursue other necessary chores and then peeked outside and saw the transformation that lasted maybe an hour or two. But even though I wasn’t in the country looking over a field that might have been a bit more grandiose in scale and image, I was happy to see the sunshine returning and giving the day a short, bright appearance that put a smile on my face.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa