A Quick Hometown Trip

This weekend, my husband, my daughter, and myself, took a quick, less than 24-hour, visit to Northwest Iowa. My husband is from a tiny town called Cleghorn, which is only about 12 miles from the tiny town of Quimby, where I grew up. My husband typically works the weekends, but had a random PTO day on Saturday, and, since we hadn't seen his mom in quite some time, we decided to take a trip up North.

We both grew up in this area, but it's been a good two years since either of us has been back. My husband moved away 13 years ago, after we moved in together, but I left the area when I was 19. When I moved away, I vowed never to return because I hated it so much. It's a long story of why I hated my hometown, but suffice it to say that I have my reasons.

Anyway, as you all know from my myriad of nature posts here on my website, you know that I absolutely love nothing more than spending time out in nature, no matter the season. I also have a love of photography, and a better understanding of small town life...even if I have no desire to ever live in that type of setting ever again.

During our short trip, I took a walk on Saturday morning, and snapped some pictures that captures the feel of small town life. We also took a drive out into one of the county parks, and, wow, I have really forgotten how beautiful my native home is. I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them.

The First Trust & Savings Bank in Cleghorn, Iowa. I don't know how long this has been here, but I'm pretty sure its a very long time.

A few blocks from my mother-in-law's house sits a small, quaint church with beautiful stained-glass windows.

From the top-most part of Martin's Access, a county park north of Cherokee, Iowa. The verdant green provides the perfect forefront for the miles of rolling hills seen off in the distance.

This beautiful container of flowers was one of many that are interspersed throughout Spring Lake Park in Cherokee, Iowa.

Nature proves it cannot be stopped as it beautifully takes over the wooden stairs that lead up to a picnic shelter in Martin's Access.

A view up a majestic tree that, by sheer size, is known to have lived in this forest for a long, long time.

The water tower and grain silos of Cleghorn, Iowa, bathed in the morning light.

A shabby-chic garage across the street from my brother-in-law's house.

Another shot of the church's stained-glass windows.

A very large dandelion at Martin's Access. My daughter happily picked it while we all made wishes. It was large enough for everybody!