Majestic Mountain Views

Every time we travel to the Black Hills 

of South Dakota we see some gorgeous scenery!

This trip we were in some different areas,

so it seemed a little new to both of us.

The highlands (or northern part of the hills)

were just getting ready to turn color...

another week and it will 

be in full fall color!

I don't know if I was more excited to find this gorgeous

barn along Rochford Road

or 

capturing a mountain lion on my camera

after he just caught his dinner!

We all had the best time 

telling stories by the campfire

and imagining that "big cat"

is just over the bluff ready

to pounce on the first person

to walk to the house alone!! :)

We took the scenic ride home

through Spearfish Canyon...

never a disappointment...

always lovely - any time of year!!

P.S  Please "Do" something you love this week!

I'm linking this post with Kim Klassen's

Texture Tuesday...

My barn shot was transformed with her

great textures, namely "Autumn Burst".

Kim has a great message this week and for some

reason this message is showing up in strange places 

for ME this week, and I am being especially

mindful of it...

so....

hop on over to Kim's blog

DO it - right now

and then

find your passion!

A day of Remembrance....

9/11/01  will live forever

in our memory...

along with the heroes of that day...

Rest in Peace.

I don't think I've said it for awhile...

"Thanks for stopping by!"

Thanks for checking in on us,

and catching the latest glimpse

of our country life...

it's not always exciting...

not exactly news-worthy...

just a different view

of a different place

from where you are...

Just know that you are

always welcome

and 

we are so happy you are here!

A simple life is it's own reward.

                                                     -George Santayona

Have a simply wonderful Saturday!

Five Star Weekend

Our roots are deep here in the prairie of South Dakota...

Both of us born and raised on the east side of the Missouri River,

and 

both of us LOVE to visit the west side, more 

specifically, the Black Hills!

Sall lived in the hills and raised his kids there,

so he knows the area like the back of his hand!

When we arrived at Borderland Ranch, he said he'd

driven by this place many times. 

This Labor Day weekend it was our family's 

place to gather and break bread and share 

memories and laughter...

Our niece Rachel picked a great spot!

It had plenty of space, lots of character, 

all the conveniences of home, quiet places for sleeping newborn babies,

fun places for toddlers to climb and hide,

a huge kitchen for constant grazing,

indoor and outdoor places-you never

got tired of moving around and just taking 

in all of the scenery!

The property has all kinds 

of old farm buildings on it

(Sall and I felt right at home)

Old and new cabins are available.

There's a running crick that crosses through...

horses, chickens and goats

share the ranch...

Our families filled the main house 

and the large guest house...

We enjoyed cool evenings out on the deck

with great bonfires close by....

Inside... the house was filled with 

charming country antiques,

comfy over-sized couches to watch television,

shelves filled with books and board games,

and even a guitar and a piano.

Nobody would be bored at this ranch!

Borderland Ranch comes highly recommended

from this family.

We will definitely be lining up another

reunion trip to the Black Hills

(as soon as I recuperate from this one)

:)

Weekend get-a-ways are a great 

way to leave your troubles behind

and re-group!  Which is exactly what we did!

(Thanks Rachel, for your leadership

and getting us all together!)

We landed safely back home on the prairie...

 it feels good to be home...

we'll light the fire in the pit 

and think about all the 

fun we had together!

Y'all come back SOON!

Hugs,

Joining with 

LaurieAnna and Farmhouse Friday

Amy and Fall Farm Friend

Sherry and Home Sweet Home Friday

grab a cup of coffee and join us!

Turning 4 in the Black Hills of South Dakota

Labor Day weekend was a blast for all of us,

but turning 4 in the beautiful Black Hills was extra special!

Our girls arrived at the farm Friday evening,

the first thing Domino wanted to do was pick corn!!

Warning: 

this post has a lot of pictures!

If you don't want to see cute kids in the corn field, scroll quickly!

(Grandma just couldn't resist all the sweetness!)

Grandpa was taking it off the stalks...

Domino would run it back to the buckets....

Back and forth she went

having a gas!!

Grandpa would stop and count...

"we're taking this to the hills

to share with your cousins!" he tells her.

Domino thought her

sister should try it right now!

How many do we need Grandpa? All of it?

Zelda says, "you guys keep pickin', I'll be 

right here eatin'!"

Pretty good stuff Grandpa!

Mmmmm....

REAL Good stuff!!

"are you sure our cousins like sweet corn?"

"cause I could just take care of this for them!"

We managed to get the corn picked and packed into coolers.

The next morning it was up early and off the the hills!

Zelda was the first one ready!

(and always the first one ready to get out also!)

First stop:  Wall Drug!

It's a great place to be a real pioneer...

or a cowgirl!!

Donuts, lunch and souvenirs and it was

back in the truck till our destination!

We were all a little dismayed by how hard it 

was to find the house we were all gathering at.

The hills are a maze of  curvy hilly roads and it's 

very easy to get lost!!

We found Borderland ranch, and all of us 

fell in love with the house...big and little!!

It was set up for all sizes of guests and the kids

loved the playhouse...

Right next to the campfire pit...

a house just your size, filled with doll furniture and strollers

roasted marshmallows right outside your door!

What else could a 4 year old dream of?

Sunday was a full morning of fishing in Ditch Creek.

Dogs and kids got to dip their toes in the freezing cold creek bed!

It's been 10 years since Sall and his kids have been 

to the Black Hills together!  This trip was a dream come true

for all of them!

Fishing, campfires, reminiscing with family...

It just doesn't get any better...

OH WAIT....

A welcome-back-to-the-farm

Birthday Rootbeer Float!!

Happy Fourth Birthday Domino!

I bet you're going to remember this one!

Hope you all had 

a Happy Labor Day!

(I'll post more pictures of 

our fun destination real soon!)

Coons Can't Spoil My Holiday

Happy Friday All!

Wow, the end of another week...

September starting, along with the South Dakota State Fair...

ARE YOU GOING TO THE FAIR?

We are looking forward to a long weekend

with the Colorado branch of the Sall Family!

Haven't seen them in a coon's age

(that's mountain talk for "years")

speaking of coons...

we have some of those little *#$%heads in our garden

feasting on some of the best sweet corn I've ever tasted!!

There's nothing more aggravating than going out to pick

sweet corn and finding ear after ear tossed to the ground!

The little bandits take a little nibble and if it's not up the their

standards they leave it on the ground and haul the good stuff

off to their little hiding place!

"I'll take that to-go please"

All right, can you tell I'm a little 

torked about the thieves in the garden?

Anyway, we are picking our sweet corn

FINALLY from our garden! 

It is super delicious and sweet 

and we are taking several dozen to feed the

family at our reunion this weekend

in the Black Hills.

Peppers, Tomatoes, Walleye and Sweet Corn...

won't that be a good feast?

My head is spinning with things I need to pack

for this trip and I will probably pack way too much (as always)!

food and fishing poles and sweatshirts

and CAMERAS!!

some cash for a Wall Drug Donut or two,

and we probably don't need anything else!!

Mmmmm I'm looking forward to a change of scenery!

What are your plans for this Labor Day Holiday?

I'm already dizzy with excitement,

better get my packing done!

I'll be ready to catch up with y'all

as soon as we are back!

Relax and enjoy the Looooooong weekend!

Hugs,

I'll be linking with Vintage Inspiration Friday and Farmhouse Friday
click the links for more interesting and fun posts!!

* photo source - via internet