It’s echo time! This time the prompt is “Fauna”. When I read the word “fauna” I had absolutely no idea what it meant so I had to look it up. In case you were as clueless as me, fauna means a collective group of species that live in a certain region and/or time.

Calf © Alyice Edrich, 2010

This little guy surely fits that definition.

He and his kin can be found throughout the state of South Dakota as cattle ranches and crop farms make up most of the state.

When I first moved to South Dakota, I was in awe of all the open space, all the farms, all the livestock. It simply bewildered my mind to see so much wide open space; space that hadn’t been touched by industrial parks or smog-filled cities, space that wasn’t overcrowded with foliage and trees and stuff.

Cattle & The Land © Alyice Edrich, 2010

It was in some small way, healing to my soul.

For the first two years, I made my husband take me up dirt roads just to get a glimpse of the livestock or to bask in the beauty of the land.

For just a few minutes a day, I felt as though all the pains of the past were being washed away, as though new life was being breathed into my very soul, and I was thankful.

Thankful to God for carrying us through every one of life’s storms. Thankful to be blessed with wonderful children. Thankful to be married to my best friend, a man who put up with my quirkiness and flaws and never held them against me. Thankful for the opportunity to be there in that very moment.

Though I find myself itching to move back to the big city, or to at least live on its shirttails, I can honestly say that I am glad we were here to experience those first two years. And glad that my children have been blessed with the opportunity to grow up in a slower paced environment in which they felt safe and connected—to the land, to the people, to family.

Until next time…

The Book Shop © Alyice Edrich, 2010

Though we live in small town Beresford, we must do our shopping and eating in nearby Sioux Falls. This charming bookstore is just one of the shops located in old downtown–where history meets the present. It’s one of my favorite places to walk on a cool summer’s afternoon. The buildings date back to the early 1900′s, the streets are aligned with life-size sculptures that change on a yearly basis, and a free trolley ride tells us all about the history of the nearby landmarks. Walking into this bookstore, holding books that have been read by others, and discovering treasures that cannot be found in other retail outlets is always the perfect way to end the day.

What, in your neighborhood, holds a special meaning and why?

Until next time…

Took hub 1 hour to dig out that path before he hired the snow guy.
© Alyice Edrich, 2010

Sadly, South Dakota has nothing for its citizens to do during the winter months except movie theatres, shopping, and eating out. Unless, of course, you’re into bar hopping and gambling.

Our Backyard © Alyice Edrich, 2010

This winter, alone, we’ve experienced 3 blizzards, 2 ice storms, and several days where the drifts were so bad that driving was near impossible. Winter started earlier, it’s ending late, and the average temperature has been between 20 and -20 degrees—and that’s not counting the windschill factor. I guess we’re lucky though, in our neck of the woods we haven’t lost electricity—just a few flickers here and there.

The Garden Area © Alyice Edrich, 2010

Currently, our backyard has five feet of snow, making it impossible to venture into. Not only can’t we find our vegetable garden (we leave the fence up year round) but we can only see half of the clothesline.

Hubby After First Blizzard © Alyice Edrich, 2010

Until next time…