Alyice on May 3rd, 2008

It’s A Beautiful Day!

It is a beautiful day here in South Dakota. The weather reader in my car says its 45 degrees Fahrenheit but with the sun beating down on us it feels more like 65 degrees. The wind is strong today which makes a light coat a necessity but I can’t complain. It sure beats the snow!

When we left our home state nine years ago I really wanted to move to Seattle, Washington but my husband felt the constant rain and gloomy skies would play havoc on my depression so we moved to Wisconsin and spent a year in Tennessee before settling on South Dakota. Little did we realize what gloom and doom awaited us during the winter months.

The first two years in South Dakota were a refreshing break from Wisonsin’s long, harsh winters as winter started late, ended early, and was by all accounts mild in comparison. But things changed this year for the residents of South Dakota. This winter has been incredibly difficult and very isolating. It started early, is ending late, and the in between time has been filled with lots and lots of dark, dreary skies and months so cold that going outside was often difficult.

It is winters like this that make moving back to the warmth of the west coast so appealing—but luckily that feeling passes as soon as the snow melts and the sun begins to shine.

It truly is breathtaking to drive along the country roads with nothing but pastures, prairies, farm lands, country animals, and blue skies. There’s just something utterly calming about the whole experience. I could bask in the view for hours as I listen to the wind rustle through the trees, the birds sing, and the cows moo.

I guess that’s why I long so much for a farm of my own—it would be like owning a little piece of heaven on earth.

Until next time…