Winter Beauty
Tag Archives: prairie life
The Sun Sets on the Alibi
March is coming to a close and with it the sun is setting on an iconic establishment located in historic Gary, South Dakota. When Saturday, March 31, 2018 comes to an end, Bruce and Diane Melby will turn the page of a forty-one year chapter of their lives.
The Alibi was purchased from Jim and Karen Giesel in April of 1977 and since then Bruce and Diane Melby have dedicated their lives to providing a place for people from all walks of life to sit down, engage in lively conversation along with delicious food and beverages. For this we thank you.
It has been a landmark and meeting place for many purposes (Meet me at the Alibi!) and a safe, local hangout for young and old alike. For this we thank you.
Not only did they provide an establishment for food and drink but jobs for young people in the community, as well. These two are credited with teaching many youthful employees through the years how to deal positively with the public, work hard and still be able to laugh. This influence has had a tremendous impact on young lives beyond what a parent may be able to accomplish. For this we thank you.
While slaving away working incredibly long hours, they together raised five children who have grown into personable, hard-working, all-around awesome adults. I don’t know how they did it and I’m guessing they may look back and wonder the same. For this we thank you.
A loyal employee, Sarah Wynn, has been a key factor in the success of this business providing tremendous support with an amazing and diligent work ethic along with tremendous dedication to her job. For this we thank you.
The Alibi is a legend deserving of the Gary, South Dakota Wall of Fame. I will always hear the thud of cowboy boots walking across the old wooden floor, clink of coffee cups, chatter of lively conversations along with occasional outbursts of laughter ringing in my ears. While the business may close its doors, these memories and everything they represents will live on in our hearts forever. For this we thank you.
I leave you with this reaction from Bruce Melby when asked about retirement plans:
Looking for a business venture located in a charming historic community with great people? Opportunity awaits you in Gary, South Dakota!
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The Flag and Freedom
May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right ~Peter Marshall
Gary, South Dakota is the kind of community Norman Rockwell may have used as inspiration for a painting with picturesque surroundings, historic buildings and friendly people. The small town swells with pride and people during its annual flag waving July 3rd and 4th Celebration.
Our local American Legion and Legion Auxiliary organizations are made up of proud, selfless individuals who support our community, especially the youth, through summer baseball/softball programs as well as a Junior Legion Auxiliary organization. You will find these people volunteering their time at community events, parades, Veteran funerals, playing taps, etc. Click on the link for a history of the Peden-Cole American Legion web page thanks to the American Legion Centennial Project.
Much controversy has revolved around a professional football player kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality against people of color. This is his right… Maybe it was an efficient way to bring attention to his cause and he’ll go down in history books as some sort of hero. Or, maybe it backfired and came across as being selfish, bringing negative attention to his team. So much publicity involved not respecting the flag and the United States that it may have taken away from the actual purpose of his protest. Our country is all about standing up for what you believe in, but needs to be done in a way that conveys the actual point you wish to make. And above all, be kind.
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South Dakota Sunset
The parched prairie remains vibrant along this hillside near Gary, South Dakota. We work hard yet still find time to play hard…
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America the Beautiful
These words written in 1893 are still pertinent today.
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Winter… really?
Hard to believe the base for this composite image was captured May 1, 2017. No wonder we never get bored with our weather along the Minnesota/South Dakota border.
Click on image for a larger viewing window.
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The Silhouette
I have been photographing silhouettes for many years dating back to the days of film, yet never tire of them. Very simple in form while triggering the emotions, drawing you into a deeper, more meaningful moment or romantic story. Capturing silhouettes with a camera is quite simple as long as you expose for the sky turn off your flash.
Click on the following link for a more detailed tutorial on capturing silhouettes: How to Capture a Silhouette
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Nostalgia…
Maybe we all just long for some connection to a life where a rooster still crows in the yard…
As farms become larger and automated with huge equipment, (Hey, you don’t even have to steer the tractor these days!) the farmers of yesterday have found themselves in the category of nostalgia. Fewer farms today require daily manual labor of the past… cows to milk, a variety of animals to feed/butcher, eggs to collect and bailing hay meant stacking heavy bales on the hayrack by hand. Farm kids didn’t need the weight room to excel in sports as their daily chores took care of that. Kids were not asked to work, but rather expected to earn their keep. (as my father-in-law used to say)
Sounds like a tough way of life, but those who grew up on a farm “back in the day” most likely also have fond memories of life as well as a tremendous amount of respect for the parents who raised them.
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I believe in the magic…
We soon must trade in our fallen leaves for falling snow. Yes, that first magical snow where you go to bed in one kind of world and wake up in a winter wonderland. Children are excited (Ask any classroom teacher today!) and adults are scurrying about getting prepared for the worse case scenario of a raging blizzard. Stock up on groceries, fuel, get the snow removal equipment ready to go and the list goes on.
Whether we like it or not, I guess we all are excited about the first snowfall in our own little way. Call me delusional, but I prefer to believe in the magic…
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The earth has music…
The earth has music for those who will listen ~ George Santayana
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