2012…one of the warmest winters in recent memory. I remember last year as I visited my daughter in Iowa City, where she is attending the University of Iowa, snow was everywhere! We arrived right after the infamous storm the stranded drivers on Lakeshore Drive in Chicago…only after dumping considerable snow on Iowa.
This year is different. Some areas covered with a thin coating of fresh snow, others hardly a dusting. The scene is still stunning and striking to a woman from Los Angeles. For someone who has spent most of her life on the west coast, close to the ocean, it is always a treat to have those giant, fluffy, heavy, wet flakes make an appearance while I am visiting.
I want to dance in the street and stick out my tongue to catch a quick taste of winter. This year we had about an hour of snow, it was perfect. 
The country-side got more snow than Iowa City. There is something about the patterns formed by the cornstalks not yet plowed-under and the dusting of white that provides a stunning contrast. Or perhaps it is my child-like amusement at, cows in the corn, that makes me romantacize about the pastoral settings I see when driving the country roads. 
Do you think this cow had a bit of attitude?
The farmer actually stopped to talk to us while I was taking this picture. He thought we had broken down and was amused and probably disturbed that I was photographing his bovines. I loved the way most of his herd had a big white stripe down the middle. I thought they had a special look. They kind of reminded me of giant hamsters. The farmer scratched his head and told me the were a cross between an Angus and a Belgian breed. He preferred this particular strain of ungulate and had kept this breed on his farm for many years…tastey I suppose…who knew.
I love to look for wildlife too. Quite often the local animals are easier to spot in the snow. I didn’t see much this year, but I did see an eagle and these wild turkeys.
To me, traveling is always and adventure. There is always something new to learn about Iowa for a Woman from Los Angeles.
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Lovely!! Theadora