Historic Homes: Pedigrew Heights

Today was so beautiful I could not pass up going for a walk in one of my favorite parts of town. The Pedigrew Heights Historic District. There are so many beautiful and interesting homes in this area.

looking toward down town from the intersection of 8th and Summit

Not the prettiest but certainly the most mysterious.

According to this historical marker the wife of the original owner was tried and originally convicted of killing their young house servant. The conviction was overturned because of prosecutorial misconduct resulting in a retrial at which she was found guilty only of assault.

 So many different style porches and balconies. The little balcony above makes me wonder if it was used more as a look out or sentry post than a place to enjoy the sunrise.

Alright, I know I have posted photos of this home before but the cozy porch just demands attention.

 I do wonder if all three entrances on the home above are original to it's design. Maybe a guest entrance, family entrance and servants entrance. But why they are all three so close together has me a bit baffled as this is a rather large home.

I hope you have enjoyed these beautiful homes.

Sunday in my City: Winter Walk

Yesterday I decided to head down town to try and find the shots I wanted for Scavenger Hunt Sunday and was glad to see that although the temperatures were cold and the wind was blowing a bit making it feel even colder there was still a good amount of people enjoying the shops and sights.

This cute little Scotty wanted to play with a group of children coming out of the toy store. Just after I passed the children convinced the little Scotty's master to let him visit a bit. As for me, I had gotten most of the shots I had gone after so it was time for me to head home.

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Night Life: Old Skoolz

A Thursday night at  Old Skoolz 

For those that are a bit old school and are looking for an enjoyable night of fun interaction and live entertainment, visiting Old Skoolz in Sioux Falls is definitely a must. The warm atmosphere of this wine house & pub had me feeling as if I had stepped into the legandary Cheer's with it's relaxed decor, the tinkle of drinking glasses, laughter and friendly conversation. Then the music began and I knew this was going to be a memorable evening.

With a style reminiscent of the great Bob Dylan, Mr. Todd's moving acoustical performance evoked a wide range of emotions. I am most positive I could have sat and listened to him sing all night.

Also preforming with Mr. Todd was Blind Owl Berkness, talk about a fun wild time. From Folk to Bluegrass and Irish Drinking songs and a lot of fun in between this entertainer had the house laughing and at times even singing along.

Good friends, good spirits and good music what more could anyone wish for? I will definitely be going back and watching to see where these two will be preforming next.

Weekend Reflections: Big Sioux River

 

Winter has finally come to Sioux Falls with frigid temperatures and yes finally snow. I had planned on taking today to go out and about with my camera and get some shots to share but with the winds kicking up I became a big chicken and decided to stay indoors. So instead today I am pulling from my archives. This reflection has been just waiting patiently for me to post it. It was taken in late fall at the Big Sioux Recreation Area. 

Be sure to visit Jame's blog for more fantastic Weekend Reflections.

Ice on the Big Sioux River

Generally by this time of year the Big Sioux River is frozen solid, but with our mild winter there are only patches of ice.

My daughter couldn't resist tossing a rock onto the ice. As the rock slid across the ice and landed in the rivers current with a splash I thought, 'oh cool I want a shot of that'. So at my request she tossed a few more rocks. This is what I managed to get.

Sunday in My City: Norlin Greenway Park

With our mild winter getting out and enjoying the parks hasn't been as difficult as it generally is. For those that enjoy peaceful walks or bike rides the Yankton trail through Norlin Greenway Park is a great spot to go.

The walk is rather easy without the normal foot or more of winter snow on the ground. 

The park sits along the Big Sioux River just off of 26th Street in central Sioux Falls. It always amazes me how serene it feels to wander the trails in our many parks and feel as if you are miles from the hectic hustle of the city.

Although there is no snow on the ground much of the river at this point is covered in ice.

While most of the park benches have been stored for the winter months there are still a few spots to sit and rest while you enjoy the beauty.

If you have enjoyed Sunday in my city you may enjoy visiting Unknown Mami's 

Ice Cyrstals in the Sky

Last Sunday night we were treated to a beautiful sight here in Sioux Falls.  I was taking the trash out when I saw light streaks across the sky. A neighbor thought it was an Aurora Borealis display but it looked more like the moon light was reflecting off thin cirrus clouds to me. I ran back in the house and quickly grabbed my camera and tripod.

The streaks had gotten larger at the back of the building but were still difficult to capture. I headed to the west side of the building in hopes of getting a better shot of them in the moonlight. I was rewarded with this beautiful sight.
I am not sure if that is a shooting star, meteor or maybe just a plane in the top center portion of the photo. My sister thinks the helicopter looks like a UFO in this shot. I just laughed and told her well it is a pretty one.

I was so intent on trying to get just the right aperture, shutter speed and ISO that I didn't even notice the Life Light Helicopter was in the air. Near the tree line just below the helicopter is one of the the light streaks that I had noticed on the east side of my apartment building. I am pretty sure the white specks in this shot and a few others are stars. I do know that they aren't specks on my lens because they do not show up on all of the shots.

Here you can see the halo has become more distinct and a few stars are still visible as is the cirrus streak.

I find this shot rather puzzling, exciting and eerie at the same time. It is puzzling to me because of the odd almost water stain mark that appears in the upper left corner. All I can think of is that it must have something to do with the formation of maybe lower ice crystals in the sky? Or could it possibly be that my lens was starting to fog up?
I love the circular green and purple reflections from the helicopter in combination with the moon and halo, it kind of makes me think of a sun spot.

I still have a lot of learning to do when photographing night shots, like remember to be dressed appropriately as well as all the technical stuff. I had been in such a hurry to get the shots I failed to grab my warm coat and gloves. Needles to say I rushed to get the shots and didn't make as many adjustments as I would have done if I had been dressed warmly. At least a few of the shots turned out half way decent. I hope you have enjoyed these photos.
It looks like winter has finally come to Sioux Falls.
Stay warm and enjoy!

Sunday in My City: Abandoned Farm

I took a little trip to the outskirts of the city where I found this old abandoned farm.

As I walked around I could not help but wonder about the story behind this farm. Dilapidated and forgotten there is still a certain charm to the old homestead. One day I hope to go out and take some portrait shots at this location.

Please stop by Unknown Mami's to link up and visit more cities.