Saddles are more than just tack, they’re an intimate part of a riders story - So much history is behind the scenes of this beloved piece of western heritage-the creation of the saddle maker, miles of moving cattle, brandings, training, fears overcome and confidence boosted; memories of childhood. ‘The Hand’ belongs to my brother, made by Brice Roghair (my brother-in-law) of…
The clouds of South Dakota rarely disappoint and this evening was no exception. As my family and I sat down to supper, I looked out the kitchen window and was completely lost in the majestic array of the heavens. The clouds seemed to shoot out of the top of the tree, imitating the foliage below. I excused myself from the…
I didn’t grow up with horses and wasn’t really one of those horse crazy girls. Now I can’t imagine my life without them. I've learned so much about trust and patience from our horses. A day with them will clear just about any blues.
In order to see the Milky Way, one needs to be far from light pollution to allow the camera a long exposure time to fully capture the colors. Here is the Milky Way reflecting off the water of a stock dam out on the South Dakota prairie. …
Saddles are more than just tack, they’re an intimate part of a riders story - So much history is behind the scenes of this beloved piece of western heritage-the creation of the saddle maker, miles of moving cattle, brandings, training, fears overcome and confidence boosted; memories of childhood. 'The Rancher' is my husband, Marty's, saddle, crafted by his brother, Brice. Marty's…
I never fail to spot Big Horns in Badlands National Park when my husband is with me. While I pay special attention to the landscape, he searches for wildlife. Nestled among the sweet clover, this older ram relaxes as he watches the landscape.
On my first trip to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, my husband and spotted a small band of the wild horses along the river. We hiked in and spent a good portion of our afternoon with them. This old and beautiful gray stallion was a favorite. With burs in his mane, he gives off a wild and free appearance.
“My Savior God to Thee, how great Thou art, how great Thou art!” St. Pete’s stands as a beacon on the prairie, seen from 30 miles surrounding it’s hilltop vista. Each day witnessing the fierce beauty of the changing seasons.
Needles Highway is one of my favorite drives through the Black Hills, especially the area surrounding Cathedral Spires. On this particular day, I had been setting up my art show booth at the Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival, the end of September. I wanted to venture out to Cathedral Spires in the evening in order to capture the eastern sky that…
Vibrant wildflowers grace the floor of Badlands National Park in spring. Hiking along Castle Trail brings many joyful sites of their natural habitat. Stemless Point-vetch blooms create a bright contrast to the surrounding rugged landscape.
This is the view from my favorite hill on the ranch, Glorious Splendor. The storm rolled by the Great Plains near Okaton, South Dakota, at sunset, releasing what meteorologists call virga, a streak of precipitation that evaporates before reaching the ground. Red tones highlight the late winter grasses as the colors in the sky explode from the setting sun reflected…
One of South Dakota’s most iconic agricultural landscapes. Found in the rolling hills west of the Missouri River in Jones County, where both farmers and cattle ranchers make full use of the land in order to feed the world.
