Don't cry......

"Don't cry because its over, smile because it happened" Dr Seuss

I am going to try to live my life with those words in mind from here on out. My birthday was this past Saturday and I left the 40's behind and am moving on to the next decade of my life. The 40's were the years of transition for me.....seems everything in my life changed during those years. My marriage ended, my parents both passed away, I moved from the farm/ranch life to the urban life, starting life anew with a 40 hr work week, issues with my kids during those teen years, etc., etc., etc.

Its now time to move on to the next phase of life...the 50's. Oh..did I just say that? Will take me a little while to get used to that number! But...age is just a number and we are only as old as we feel. I will look back on the life behind me and smile...because although it had its share of heartache...it was those life experiences that made me into the person I am today. I am looking forward to bigger and better things ahead in 2010!

Your time....

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." ~~ Steve Jobs ~~

Morning Sky......

This morning as I looked to the eastern horizon, this is the view that I was blessed with! It was so pretty...grabbed the camera and wanted to share it with you!

"I love the sweet smell of dawn--

our unique daily opportunity to smell time, to smell opportunity--

each morning being a new beginning"

~~Emme Woodhull-Bache

Beaver Creek Bridge

Sometimes, if you aren't sure about something, you just have to jump off the bridge and grow your wings on the way down. ~Danielle Steel~

Beaver Creek Bridge, located in Wind Cave National Park near Hot Springs, SD. Bridge was built in 1929 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is the only bridge of this arch type in SD.

Be yourself....

"Be yourself. Above all, let who you are, what you are, what you believe shine through every sentence you write, every piece you finish."

~John Jakes~

Last Sunday, I went on a short outing with my friend Jann to Mt Rushmore. It was different than most other times I had been there, as it was quiet and deserted, compared to the busy summer months when it is packed with visitors! No matter the time of year, its always a pleasure to see the monument!

January thaw....

The bitter cold has moved on and temps have warmed to above freezing. Everyone is smiling!! Snowmobiling is a huge winter sport in the Black Hills and the hills are busy with those out enjoying the trails, skiing, snowshoeing, etc., whatever their winter sport of choice is! With all of the recent abundant snowfall (esp in the northern Black Hills), its a winter lovers paradise!!
This photo was taken late in the fall at Roubaix Lake, before the snow blanketed the area.