Red Barns Sky Watch Friday ...

There's just something about a Red Barn.  The ones dearest to my heart are built years ago, that someone has just lovingly lapped on a fresh coat or two.  While many go for the browner shades, I will come to a dead stop in a Highway ditch for a closer look at a glowing classic Red Barn such as this.  I wasn't even looking at it's complimentary cloud backdrop.

This is the shade of both the nail polish and lipstick my Mother wore when I was a child.  It's the shade of Christmas.  It's the shade of my old Dining Room in Houston/West University.  It's the shade of my Geraniums.  And yes, here on The Prairie, it's the shade of my very own Barn.

Check out Sky Watch Friday ... today someone else cared to send you their very best.

Big Storm Cloud But Still No Rain ...

Here on The Prairie we don't do well without moisture.  As a child I remember my parents making calls out to my Great Grandfather's farm, continually asking the question, "Did you get any rain"?  My Uncle Don and his wife Josephine held this very valuable land at the time.  I'm sure they didn't have crop insurance.  And irrigation systems hadn't come into style.  


Now I understand the mechanics of being the World's Bread Basket ... it isn't going to happen this year.  Check out Sky Watch Friday to see what your Peeps are saying about their Sky.  

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.