America's Heartland.
Home of corn, soybeans, hogs, Iowa caucuses, University of Iowa. Where American Gothic was painted. The setting for the Field of Dreams. Land of small towns where no one locks their doors.
Home to Buffalo Bill, Grant Wood, Elijah Wood, Cloris Leachman, Herbert Hoover, Ashton Kutcher, Johnny Carson and John Wayne.
Home to authors John Irving, John Cheever, Jane Smiley, Philip Roth, Michael Cunningham, and Paul Harding.
And home to me.
Although, many of the landmarks of my youth have disappeared, a few still remain. Like the University of Iowa in Iowa City. I have many fond memories of traversing that campus.
Or napping on the lawns in between classes.
When I drive across the state, it never ceases to amaze me of its beauty and openness. So much land.
So much fun.
Iowa.
Home of beautiful farmland, barns, long country lanes. And once home to me. And John Wayne.
A long long time ago.
It's fun to visit and yet always sweet to return home after traveling. Do you ever return to your childhood hometown? I'd love to hear!
Sharing with Wordless/Wordful Wednesdays and Outdoor Wednesday
and Project Alicia
Later friends,
29 comments:
this was great. laughed at the land of the bald! :)
i only get home every 3-5 yrs. used to try more often but once my mother was gone too... it gets harder to pick up and go with all the animals we have too...
The colors in that third shot are incredible - beautiful landscape.
Lovely... and yes the baldies are funny!!! I get to go "home" to England but it's weird b/c there is no "home" now since my Mom is in a nursing home. There's not a family homestead, and my sisters homes are not mine... anyhoodles.. I enjoy going over there and staying with old friends who make me feel very at home :)
I live just a stone's throw from the town I grew up in so I guess I am visiting every day:) Lovely photos...love those wide open spaces and skies. Looks like you had a wonderful visit..
Wonderful photos. Of course, the bald one cracked me up. Your men are good sports!
What beautiful photos! And I love the one of 'your men'! Very handsome indeed! I am anxious to travel back to Arkansas to visit my home...but it is always bittersweet! ♥
I haven't in many years. Don't really ever plan to. No really good memories to be revisited there. Can one "really" go home, I wonder?
Brenda
I do, at least a couple of times a year, and as much as I love where I am now, there will never be any place like it to me.
Wonderful photographs Reena, and welcome home!
Gorgeous photography! and the last photo is SO fun!
Hello Reena,
I get back to my hometown quite often. Now when I am there I am like a tourist...taking photos of things I took for granted as a young girl.
Janet xox
Haven't been to my hometown in many years. Enjoyed these views.
Love it! Such fun.
xo
Neat pics, love the blad headed shot.
These photos are all so beautiful. I love the snort.. and laughed. Blad is beautiful on men I think, young middle or old.
Gorgeous pictures!
My husband was born in Sioux City and he doesn't have much hair either. What's up with that? :)
I love bald men -- my husband being a baldy! Nice glimpses into Iowa, thanks!
After being gone for a Navy life for 26 years, we moved back home to be closer with family. It's been ten years now and this home is where we've lived the longest. I guess we've gotten over the wanderlust, because we have no intentions of moving. That is until we are no longer capable of taking care of our property. Then, we'll move yet again ~~ back to the coast somewhere I think.
Lovely photos. Thanks for stopping by the other day. I'm running a little behind on commenting.
Haha. I love that last shot. :)
I live in my home town... so things never seem to change around here.
Marla @ www.blueskiesphotoblog.com
I would just love to travel across America one day. I believe I must have had an earlier incarnation there as it feels so much like home to me.
Love the colors in your images Reena, and those are some courageous gentlemen :-))
P.S. Thanks for your supportive note on GLP
i do now, about once a month, since we're only an hour away and mom and dad are still there :)
and iowa really is an expanse of land....especially if you have to drive all the way through it :(
love the green color in some of these shots! welcome back!
one of my best friends is from Iowa!
My boss' wife went to Luther College in Decorah, and her father, a Lutheran minister, spent most of his career in Iowa. Such nice people. You did your home state proud with these beautiful photos. I go back to Baton Rouge about 4 times a year to visit my mom. The area is not the same since Katrina and Gustav passed through. I still love it, though. :)
I live in my hometown. I am NYC born, bred and likely I'll die here too .. its my kinda town .. ;)
A revisit to the familiar - good times. Loved the picture of kids racing. I am follower # 91.
- Joy
Reena, it gets to be a small world sometimes! My step children and granddaughters live in West Des Moines. This is the first year in many that we haven't headed up there during the summer. We've spent lots of time there over the years and I'm sure we'll be there lots more. Glad you and John Wayne had a good trip. That's such a tiny little house.
Good thing you went before this week. They are under a heat warning there now... ugh. Hope my grandkids are staying indoors today.
Love the baldy shot... heh heh... did they use SPF50?
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