Made In South Dakota

Last week

I was honored

to display my art in the 

Made in South Dakota Showcase

at the 

South Dakota Governor's Conference on Tourism.

What I loved,

was being surrounded by people

who have a love and fascination for South Dakota.

And South Dakota people

are fast friends . . . 

fast family, in fact.

Because we immediately

start asking where one is from,

start telling where we are from,

where we have roots,

and who we know and love

in the community

our new friend is from.

We find out a mutual affection for a person or a place

that has a fond spot in our memory.

We make the small world connections

and we are soon

united

as South Dakotans . . . 

practically family.

I had a wonderful place between down-home Lori & Roger Pietz's Kuchen Kitchen 

(South Dakota's state dessert)

-- kuchen means "cake" in German --

and sweet Kari from

Kari's Kreations

with all her lovely beaded accessories.

I bonded with Diane and Ann from the Ingalls Homestead

over our love for all things Laura Ingalls Wilder,

and, deep breath . . . . beagles.

I made fast friends with Kris

as we selected the best pieces

for her new store opening soon in Garretson, SD.

I knew I could talk for hours with Colleen

at Prynt Comm

when I picked up my business brochures.

People.

I met so many wonderful people.

With a desire to share their love of South Dakota.

Seeing the beauty right where you are.

That is one of the core messages

that I want to share.

When I become fascinated with the everyday ordinary beauty around me

and fall in love with the details that make

"home"

unique,

I live in a place of abundance.

I see the gifts of flowers or frost or sunsets and stars.

I savor the fragrance of the air when it is crisp and clean in the winter

or heavy with humidity and fresh cut hay.

I look at the pattern of a birthmark on my daughter's cheek,

or the salt and pepper tint of my husband's hair

and love that they are like nobody else.

I fall in love with my life.

That includes becoming fascinated with my home state.

I fell in love

with the Missouri River.

I could spend hours walking along the river

listening to the geese and ducks

and watching the eagles that take my breath away.

My week ended with a lovely

artist reception at Prairie Pages Bookseller.

In first grade, I was awarded

a shiny circle wrapped in aluminum foil

with a yellow construction paper circle

that said,

"Class Bookworm".

Prairie Pages,

was perfect combining my love for books, the prairie and art

all in one beautiful little bookstore.

An afternoon of smiles and hugs,

from new friends and old.

I met Lloyd.

He first talked to me about owls.

Because I live at White Owl, 

and he used to work at the Red Owl grocery store that is now Dakotamart.

He showed me his photo album in his pocket.

Told me about every picture.

My favorite was the sunflower

with the heart in the middle.

He is 82, loving the people and places around him, remembering it all with his camera.

We had so much in common.

He asked about how I got started taking pictures and making art.

I told him about how my eyes were opened up to the beautiful things

right where I lived and I fell in love with my life.

I told him I had a journey with God that opened my eyes.

He and I got a little misty eyed.

Misty eyes makes kindred spirits.

Lloyd made my day.

Along with Peggy and Kathy,

Kerry and Bobbi, Becky, Jim and Vicki,

Andrea, Ruby and Kristi, and Sage.

Great people.

Thank you so much to the 

South Dakota Department of Tourism

and to 

Prairie Pages Bookseller

for a warm welcome

and places to share my love of the South Dakota prairie.

Now,

it is good to be home.

I had a week of sipping hot lemon and ginger tea with honey,

nursing myself back to health.

January ends next week

and 

I am pleased to share

my next event for February: