January in Iowa

January in Iowa

Brisk and Barren Beauty

January descends suddenly on the Midwest landscape, blanketing the rolling fields in glimmering white as far as the eye can see. Icicle laden barns in rural areas now sit solitary amid the still, silent beauty left behind in winter’s wake.

With bitter winds and drifting snow come empty roads that cut through naked forests standing guard over the dormant farmland now locked in frozen hibernation. Yet as harsh as January can be here, there’s a special kind of peeking sunshine that warms hearts during the coldest season.

Hearth and Home

That’s because January is when Midwest folk retreat indoors to frosty farmhouses, crackling fireplaces, and the embrace of family, friends, food and connection that rejuvenates spirits till spring’s thaw finally arrives.

There’s hearty stews simmering on antique stoves inside weathered kitchens where loved ones gather to break bread. And mugs of steaming hot cocoa or apple cider enjoyed on movie nights spent curled under thick blankets recounting childhood tales nearly as old as the homesteads themselves.

As the winds howl outside frosted windows, January swaddles itself in cozy comforters, uncertain what new weather the peculiar Midwest winter will yet whip up in the weeks ahead before its bitter reign ends. But for now, toes stay toasty near the glowing embers, thankful for the four walls that make every January bearable in the heart of this heartland.

Scroll to Top