Sky Watch Friday ...

Yesterday I followed this cloud for a while as I was making my way home from Henry, SD.  The Lorinda Cemetery is five miles or so from the farm my mother and her 4 siblings were born on.  I really should make a road trip out there with her when she returns from my Brother's place in Pierre.  They are fishing for Walleye and Salmon on the Missouri River  ...  a sure sign of summer on The Prairie.  Here, East River, we are feeding the pheasants, watering the sun flowers and praying for a nice steady rain for the gorgeous corn fields we're surrounded by.  
At Sky Watch Friday you can check out another sky, another story, and another's prayers.  

Mount Rushmore Sky Watch Friday ...

We took a road trip this week out to the Black Hills with Mom, my Step Son, Brad, and his kids, Ian and Liliya, who live in Houston.  We visited Chief Crazy Horse's monument, rode the 1880 Train through Custer State Park, took the trail along Roughlock Falls, drove through Spearfish Canyon, and when you have a Geologist in the family you always visit the rock shops. But the true highlight of a trip to the Hills is always Mount Rushmore, the work of Gutzon Borglum, a Danish/American Sculptor, and his son, Lincoln.  Construction of this mighty granite memorial to presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln began in 1927 and was completed in 1941.  There are monumental skies from all around the world at http://www.skyley.blogspot.com.  

Sky Watch Friday ...

A shot of the bluffs from the boat, Nebraska side of the Missouri River, Yankton, SD. 

Appreciate what's going on above ... visit Sky Watch Friday for another's view.

Growing Sunflowers Part Two ...

This weekend I transplanted my sprouted Sunflower seedlings.  I've had about 30 of them growing all together in one large pot.  They are the tallest greens just between the St. Francis and the metal rose.  I've put 6 or so in here and will let them all go for a while, then thin them out to the strongest 3.  More than that in this pot with everything else would be too crowded.  The stalks grow pretty thick.  I have Verbena, Aster and a Daisy along with them.

The Sunflowers will take a while to stabilize ... they don't really like being transplanted and will droop a bit in the heat of the sun.  Water them lightly every other day the first week.  I've put a very mild dose of Miracle Grow on all of mine.

Let me know how yours are doing, OK ?  Love from The Prairie.  xoxo.

Following Clouds ...

When I am following clouds and I find a view like this, I will always stop.  I love the pattern of the brand new foliage the corn brings to the photograph.  I also love the texture of the many shades of green in the grass and trees ... I love the browns and exactly where they are placed.  And the sky ???  I love it's power.

Check out Sky Watch Friday and see what someone else on the other side of the World found for you.  And follow your clouds while you follow your dreams. 

Accepting Sky Watch Friday ...

Wednesday afternoon the southern sky did this.  Mom and I drove into it while the turbulence before me took on the appearance of a certain turbulence inside me.  I am quite all right with the issue ...  acceptance is the key.  I see that in the very corners of my Photograph as well as in my Heart.  


At Sky Watch Friday there are other Hearts and Photographs.  Take them in.  Put yours out there.  And have a nice weekend.  Love from The Prairie.

Sky Watch Friday ...

When you visit me on The Prairie I'll take your photograph by the Pheasant located on Highway 212 in Tinkertown, South Dakota.  We'll be on our way to The Double R in Henry for a fantastic dinner.  


We are in Spearfish for a long weekend with the Wentzell's.  It's rainy and we may see a snowflake or two million.  Not to worry ... we are hunkered down for the maiden voyage of their double slide out Timberline Riverside with a Maid.  There are five cell phones in the house, 5 computers, one Kindle Fire, an Eden Pure, a great stereo system and a cherry cheesecake.  The only thing missing is HDTV.  I think we'll live. 


Check out the rough life of another Sky Watch Friday friend who thought of you with every click this week.  PS ... I'm the Maid.

Forever Yours, Dick ...

My Uncle Dick, a retired United States Air Force Colonel, was buried here at Mount Hope Cemetery on Monday.  When I read in his Obituary that the Honor Guard from Elsworth Air Force Base would participate in his graveside service I knew it was important to us as a Family.  What I didn't know was just how important my Uncle Dick was to the USA.


My cousins, Kathy and Doug, decided on circle seating which included Dick's coffin and family friend, Pastor Steve.  Kathy opened with a story of her Father skipping out on his farm chores to sit out on The Prairie, and how he decided to be a Bus Driver after a Greyhound went by.  We went on to sing, share stories, laugh, and cry.  My Mother said that one could not ask Dick the time of day without hearing how his watch was made.  I spoke of our shared love of Photography and his sense of class in everything he did, including the measurement of the trunks of all of our cars and the suitcases that had to fit inside after road trips to Dayton, Ohio had come to an end.  Ron mentioned the model planes displayed in his office that he had made of each of the 54 planes he had flown during World War II.


Kathy read a letter written to my Grandmother by Dick's Commanding Major General when it appeared Dick would complete rigid training and win his wings.  He wrote that it took an "inherent something" to fly for the Air Force, and that in addition to precision, "daring and coolness" would be a major factor in the success of the entire war effort.  Dick went on to fly dangerous missions over Europe.  He flew the President of South Korea to President Kennedy's funeral, and took President Nixon somewhere he couldn't talk about.  When we grilled him as both children and adults on the Air Force's UFO files he would smile, say he didn't know a thing, then cast a grin that said he did.


When we arrived at Mount Hope the Honor Guard was positioned for their detail, a precision march and pall bearing sequence, to the back of the herse where upon opening the door, the Corporal Lead Guard said "He is ours now".  After bringing him to the open gravesite, the six men performed the flag fold and a three volley rifle salute.  A lone bugler played the perfect Taps and the flag was then presented to Kathy by the Lead Guard who said, "On behalf of the President of The United States and a grateful nation I wish to present you with this flag in appreciation for your Father's service".  I've heard this statement many times but it seemed I was hearing it for the first time.


War is out there.  Too many reasons prompt power hungry nations and greedy people to fight.  As today's War takes on a smoke screen posture of dying down, other issues gain momentum that will likely lead to destruction and death.  I know I would feel much safer if my Uncle Dick was still in the air.  May he rest in peace, Forever Ours.