Flax {A Field of Blue}

Summer is well under way by the time the flax bloom.

You can also see ripening wheat in the background,  soon ready for harvest.

To all the farmers in Jones County, who do their part to help feed us and the rest of the world - Thank You!!

A Show in the Heavens {Timeline of the Storm Rolling In}

Wednesday night (6/22), we had a spectacular show in the heavens!

I'm always amazed at how drastically the colors and light change as the evening deepens into night. 

9:23 pm.
The reflection of the setting sun on the clouds headed toward the east. 
 

9:28 pm. 

The sunset behind Okaton, SD. 

9:34 pm. 

The same reflecting clouds from the first picture, only the colors have changed as the sun dips farther into the horizon.

9:47 pm. 

And then the sky started to rumble and the lightning to strike.

9:55 pm.

The clouds grew thicker and the lightning closer. 

 10:02 pm.
Instead of seeking cover, I kept right on shooting because the colors were beautiful and the lightning majestic.

Happy Father's Day!

I've learned about fatherhood by watching two of my favorite men. 

My dad, who showed me how to keep trusting the Lord through difficult times.

August 1983.

And my husband, who has shown me what servitude looks like. 

August 2013.

May 2016.

Happy Father's Day! I have great respect and love for you both.

Tonight's Storm

It's been pretty dry in central South Dakota for the past few weeks. And hot. 

As I type this we are enjoying some delicious rain. So grateful! 

The storm rolled in while we were at my son's T-ball game. I was so glad I had my camera with me. 

Clouds coming in behind Dakota Mill & Grain in Midland, SD.

I love these "cotton ball" clouds.

A quick stop at Stamford.

Pasque Flower {South Dakota State Flower}

It's been on my list for the past year to shoot the Pasque flower. Since it's the South Dakota state flower and supposedly a prairie flower, I figured it would be easy to find around my ranch. 

Not so much. 

I searched our most flourishing wildflower pasture and could not find it. 
I talked with several lifelong residence of the area and not one of them have ever seen it out here on the prairie.  

I saw several photos from the Black Hills area of Pasque flowers and contacted someone I knew as to where I might find them. I was given a great location! I ended up being a few weeks too late and found only two. 
But, that's two more than I could find in Jones County!

 

 

The Land and Sky Project {To Be Continued}

I've been working on, what I call, 'The Land and Sky Project." I plan to use these photographs for my 2017 calendar, as well as an application for my first solo gallery show. The later may not happen until next year, but I have high hopes. :)

One of the advantages of living in the country on a cattle ranch is that the sky is at my disposal. I get to literally step right out my door, or even just shoot out my window, to capture some grandiose skies. This is my favorite part about living in South Dakota.

Here are a few I captured the past few weeks.

This one I shot just south of my house. I had to cross the road in order to avoid power lines in the image.

Some days, I like to just enjoy the beauty of the sky without taking pictures. Last Thursday was such a day but as I watched the sky, I just couldn't leave my camera in the bag. I quickly grabbed it, as well as my tripod and headed out across the road to these clouds. This shot was taken close to the same spot as the previous picture.

Then I turned around and saw how the thunderheads were in vibrant pink over the dam on the east end of my property. 
For anyone local, who drives the highway past my house, you will be familiar with this dam. Have you ever seen it so pink?!

This land and sky that I'm surrounded by leaves me breathless.
How great is the Creator who made it all!