
Blend of mother/child with clouds and prairie grasses.
https://animoto.com/play/11nQyumaDdmvR0AZrv5Dbg
Planning, details, organization… and the day just flies right by.
A wedding celebration is wonderful, but we also need to remember that every day is a gift from God. May their love grow deeper with each passing year.
I’m reminded of that as my husband and I approach our 27th wedding anniversary. Our days may not be glamorous but are filled with laughter, love and adventure. Yes, each day is a gift…
A-h-h-h… Farewell to the Love Locks Bridge…
Paris, the city of love, will need to become creative again and find new ways to express affections due to the determination that the Love Locks phenomenon has caused a degradation of the heritage of Paris, the heavy weight upon the bridge is causing harmful damage and a safety hazard to tourists. The tradition of adding a padlock has been traced to an Italian teen novel titled I Want You published in 2006. ~USA Today
So, how do you correctly say “goodbye” when in France?
1. Say “au revoir” in any setting. This is the standard French translation of the English “goodbye” and it can be used in both casual and formal settings, with strangers and friends alike.
Pronounce au revere as oh duh-vwar.
2. Use “salut” informally. You can use salut as a way of saying “bye” when among friends or in other casual settings.
Pronounce salut as sah-loo.
3. While adieu is no longer as common as it once was, it can still be used in most contexts as a way of saying farewell.
A rough pronunciation of adieu would be and-joo.
This lonely accordion player will need to find a new location so he can continue to share his cheerful disposition. Bon voyage!
How to Say Goodby in French ~ WikiHow
https://animoto.com/play/eSuh6FH1Fkfe00aEhtpqSQ
Cole ~ Three weeks old.

Oh, how quickly bambinos change. Three short weeks since this little guy was welcomed into the world and he is already paying attention with eyes that seem to show wisdom beyond his days.
May your days be filled with adventure, fun and happiness.
Wedding dance images are always a favorite since the day is coming to a close and the stress is now gone. Time to relax and enjoy the moment. Add a Canon 580 EX2 off camera flash plus another 580 EX2 on camera bounced off the ceiling synced with Cybersync radio triggers and let the emotions flow.





May you continue the pursuit of happiness and sometimes pause to just be happy.

Excitement punctuates the air this time of year as optimistic young adults go separate ways to pursue their ambitions in life. One thing this particular group will always have in common is the ability to reflect upon their past together as students and members of this small rural community in northeastern South Dakota. Each has experienced their own kind of history which will affect how they react to the world ahead of them. Good, bad or indifferent… to each their own. Always know that your time spent together has been time well spent.
Best wishes to the Grant-Deuel class of 2015 and may your lives be blessed.
Dandelions, like all things in nature are beautiful when you take the time to pay attention to them.
― June Stoyer

Dandelions… What? You call this beautiful aromatic flowering beauty a weed?
Children say it best as they run up to you with a fistful of freshly picked dandelions and say, “For you, Teacher!” Meanwhile the rest of the afternoon may be spent itching the eyes and wiping a runny nose, but how can you refuse a gift.

While many people think of the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) as a pesky weed, it’s chock full of vitamins A, B, C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc. Dandelion leaves are used to add flavor to salads, sandwiches, and teas. The roots are used in some coffee substitutes, and the flowers are used to make wines.
In the past, dandelion roots and leaves were used to treat liver problems. Native Americans also boiled dandelion in water and took it to treat kidney disease, swelling, skin problems, heartburn, and upset stomach. In traditional Chinese medicine, dandelion has been used to treat stomach problems, appendicitis, and breast problems, such as inflammation or lack of milk flow. In Europe, it was used in remedies for fever, boils, eye problems, diabetes, and diarrhea.
Source: Dandelion | University of Maryland Medical Center
Dandelion wine, believed to be of Celtic origin, is regarded as one of the fine country wines of Europe. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was not proper for ladies to drink alcohol; however, dandelion flower wine was considered so therapeutic to the kidneys and digestive system that it was deemed medicinal even for the ladies. Source and wine recipe: Commonsensehome.com
Image by Joyce Meyer
Even the fluffy seed heads have a majestic, symmetrical pattern as they sway in the breeze, waiting to let loose the next generation. The result? A never ending supply of dandelion wine…
Our family get-togethers tend to NOT involve sitting around and visiting. Let’s run a marathon!
Ready and waiting for Randy to complete the first four miles as runners sprint by…
…and waiting. We notice the crowd has diminished.
Hooray!! He made it with his knees intact.
Bryon takes off and appears eager to attack his five miles.
What a perfect day for a run in Brookings, SD.
This hand slap appears to be choreographed as Julia begins her three mile section.
…hand slap and Angela begins her five mile challenge as the temps are climbing.
I hear the theme from Rocky playing through my mind… Go, Joyce!
I complete my three mile challenge and the temps continue to rise. I did it!!!
Liz is ready to rock on with the last six miles as the temps hit 80’s. Go, Liz!!
As we wait for Liz, the seniors with their daycare walking/training buddies walk the last bit of the path to the finish line.
What a super idea to pair young kids with elderly seniors to include them in the training and this event. Family members walk with parents/grandparents and the smiles are priceless.
Here she comes! Here she comes!!
The anchor of our relay team has made good time and we complete well before noon which was our goal. We all join in to run across the finish line together. I was hoping they’d play “We are the Champions” by Queen for us, but I just play it through my mind.
Kudos to the Brookings community for a well run event. Brookings, SD has been hosting the marathon since 1970 and I notice finishers from all over the country. What a fun morning and we’ll be back…
Now to celebrate our 48th out of 52 team finish and rehydrate…