When spring finally arrives in western South Dakota, often long, long after the actual equinox, certain signs fill the senses. The sight of an endless blue sky, the smell of green grass and branding smoke, the feeling of a light breeze through bedroom window at night, all combine to tell us winter might be gone at last. It is Mother Nature’s great sigh of relief.
We praise God for cowboys, kids, baby bison, cookouts, afternoon rains, lilacs, and longer days.
After a long winter, the trees have buds, though few leaves have presented.
It is my belief every child should spend time on a cattle ranch, even if it is just for a visit.
Sparkling water and the smell of pine trees bring joy to us on a Sunday afternoon drive through the Black Hills.
It is also my belief that even my “town girls” need to experience a day now and then of getting the kind of messy that leaves the bath water muddy and dark.
They need to smell like horses and have dirt under their finger nails.
Then they need to clean up nice for church the next day and chase each other around after breakfast.
We are grateful and blessed.
The kind of sleep we have after a full day of fresh air is the most restful. It is the peace we feel after a hard day of work with family and friends. Spring is finally here in South Dakota.
A HOUSE WITH CHARACTER 