Falling For Summer All Over Again

It doesn't seem to matter how many times I have seen the Falls in the past, they are always a refreshing sight for me, and one of the reasons to love Sioux Falls in the summertime.

Last weekend I had the chance to visit the Falls and was pleased to see that not only did the Big Sioux River have a good amount of water but the park was lush and green as ever.

It is always a pleasure to see and talk to people visiting the park. Many live locally and are just out to enjoy the beautiful summer weather, while others have traveled many miles and are awestruck by the beauty of this location.

Each time I see this spot I can't help but wonder how amazing it must have looked to the early settlers.

That is it for this week, I hope you have enjoyed my favorite South Dakota Park. Thank you for stopping by, I wish you well on your virtual travels.

Down town Sioux Falls on a summer afternoon

If you enjoy shopping, relaxing and people watching Philips Avenue has it all!

Shops with frequent resting spots along the way!

 Sidewalk cafe's!

 Retro Dinner!

 Amazing artwork!

You can see more of the sculptures HERE.

What are your favorite things about your cities Down Town area?

Falls Park

During my recent visit to Sioux Falls I headed to my favorite photo spot, Falls Park. 

After all the snow the area got last winter I was rather surprised to see the river so low. Although I was reminded that there had been a drought the previous year.

 The Queen Bee Mill ruins make the perfect setting for a bit of theater. Here the Bare Bodkins Theater Company is wrapping up a performance of Romeo & Juliet.

Summer Skies

The other day I received this gorgeous sky shot from Paula Grove of Sioux Falls. She told me that the picture did not quite do the scene justice as the suns rays were much more visible in person. With a slight enhancement of the original image I hope the edited version more closely captures what she saw when she was taking the photo.

Summer At Tut Hill Gardens

This photo was taken last July at Tut Hill Gardens in Sioux Falls. Each year during the spring and early summer months this place is overflowing with vivid colors.

Sergent Floyd Riverboat Museum and Welcome Center

Last summer on our way down to the Omaha zoo we stopped at the Sergeant Floyd Welcome Center. Although we were a little disappointed that the welcome center and museum were closed for repairs we still enjoyed the stop. The welcome center is off I-29 just inside Iowa about an hour and a half from Sioux Falls. 

Photos by Niki: Falls Park

One of my favorite destinations in Sioux Falls whether it is for a fun family outing, quiet sunrise or sunset walk or just to capture a few photos of the magnificent scenery is Falls Park. I would like to thank Niki for sharing these two photos of the falls with us. I absolutely love the perspective in both photos.

Summer Sights

Pulling from my archives I would like to share some of the summer things around Sioux Falls that I have been missing since moving to Virginia. 

 Driving a short five minutes to photograph open pasture lands and beautiful horses.

 Spending a quiet afternoon at Arrowhead park.

Wild daisy's and long photo walks along the Big Sioux River.

Last but not least beautiful sunsets undisturbed by the city skyline.

To all my friends and family in Sioux Falls; I miss you all.

Open Invite: If you have a photo of the Sioux Falls area you would like shared here please email me with the photo and any description you would like included with the photo. Be sure to include your name so I can properly credit you.

Fawick Park Controversy

The other day Ms. Solitaire mentioned our outing to Fawick Park and reminded me of these photos. Tomorrow is her birthday and since I can not be there to help her celebrate I would like to share this as a sort of toast to my dear friend. I hope you enjoy these photos taken last June. 

View of down town from center of Fawick Park

Fawick Park sits on the edge of the Big Sioux River in down town. Although small the park has become home to a number of fun events especially throughout the summer months. Moonlit movies, Big Band and Jazz concerts are just a few of the event to be enjoyed at Fawick park. 

View of the Big Sioux River from the edge of Fawick Park

This park however was at the center of a great art controversy for a number of years. The cause of the controversy, a full size replica of Michelangelo's Statue of David. Donated by inventor Thomas Fawick to the city of Sioux Falls and Augstana College the statue was placed in Fawick park. Click here to learn more of this controversy. If you happen to be in Sioux Falls I just discovered that there is an exhibit of the first car invented by Thomas Fawick at the Old Court House Museum. Check out their Facebook page here for more info.

View of the 10th St overpass from the edge of the park along the Big Sioux River

Many felt that although this statue is a magnificent piece of artwork it did not belong in a public park near one of the busiest streets connecting down town to the east side of the city. The statue was actually removed for three years while the park was undergoing a needed clean up and renovation and many did not want it to return to the park but placed in a less conspicuous place. After much debate the statue was finally returned to Fawick park in 2000 where it still stands today.

My dear friend enjoying a lovely afternoon at Fawick Park

 Since this blog must abide by blogger TOS I have censored the next few photos.

 The size of this fabulous replica is staggering as you can see in this last photo.

I personally am not offended by the statue but understand that it does cause discomfort to some. What do you think?

Sunset

This lovely sunset photo comes to us from Nicole Burgess and shows the beauty of sunset as seen on the north west edge of Sioux Falls.

The Little Things

copyright Nicole Burgess

Very few people will argue that it is the little things in life that add to the quality of ones life. I find that is also true of where one lives. It is the little things that we often take for granted that make our communities so special.

Coming originally from Southern California where life is lived at a much faster pace, one of the first things that shocked me and at the same time gave me a very good feeling about moving to the Midwest was the grocery store. It wasn't so much the physical store but the kindness with which one is met in the grocery store. 

People smile, say hello and on occasion strike up conversations with complete strangers. When I first moved to South Dakota Sunshine and HyVee, the two larger grocery stores in eastern South Dakota both provided their customers with a service that completely shocked me. The 'sacker' not only bagged your groceries but they then would push the full shopping cart to your car and load the groceries into your car. While they don't all do this now they do offer drive up service where you can leave your shopping cart with the clerk and drive to the drive up where store personnel will then load the groceries into your car. Now that is service!

Then when I found out HyVee was open 24 hours a day. I was in heaven! Ok, so maybe most people don't like to go grocery shopping at 2am. But when you are a night owl and tend to get the munchies at 2am for anything that ISN'T in your house, an all night grocery store is heaven sent. 

When Nicole contributed this photograph  I was immediately reminded of how special it was to live near a HyVee grocery store. Being away from the Midwest now for two whole months I am shocked at how much I had come to take these things for granted, after 18 years in the Midwest.

Falls Park 2002

Photos taken in 2002-3 with a my first digital camera.

This beautiful old building is now home to the Overlook Cafe.

I hope you have enjoyed today's look back.

Over the next few weeks I will be digging deep into my archives and sharing some of my first digital shots of the Sioux Falls area.
May your week ahead be blessed!

Nita

Good News

I am happy to say that I will NOT be ending this blog! After a lot of thought I have decided to open the blog up to share photos sent in by other Sioux Falls residence. I am also inviting others to become guest bloggers here on Sioux Falls Daily Photo. So If you are in the Sioux Falls area and have photos you would like shared or would like to become a guest blogger click here to let me know.

With that said here is a shot I took last year while enjoying a walk down town.

New City, New Home, New Life

My life has definitely turned upside down. For years I figured I would most likely spend the rest of my life in the quaint city of Sioux Falls. Yet in a matter of just a few months after the death of my husband, everything in my life has changed. For 19 years  South Dakota has been our home and now my youngest daughter and I have packed up and moved all the way to Norfolk, Virginia to live with my oldest daughter and her family.

Leaving behind family, good friends and all that we had become accustom to has been difficult. The major redeeming factor is that we are now with family that for the last four years we only saw for short visits once or twice a year. Although I am sad to be leaving behind some very dear friends and most importantly three of my wonderful grandchildren, I am happy to have the chance to spend time with my other three grandchildren. I also find myself rather excited for the new adventures that are sure to be found.

I am not sure if I will be keeping this blog and asking the many friends back in Sioux Falls to help supply photos for the blog or if I will be closing this blog. All I can say for now is that I will be taking lots of photos of the Sioux Falls area each year when I return to visit family and friends.

The Thinker

 

If I was more of a political thinker I might be able to come up with a clever saying to go with this photo, but alas I am not. Any suggestions?

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.