Welcome to No Dak

I'm finally getting around to uploading all the pictures we took in North Dakota. I'm sure that you've all been anxiously waiting for them....and, I'm sorry to disappoint, but they're not all that great. I had all these intentions of spending a day just snapping pictures to share when I got home, but didn't get around to it. So, here are a few of my favorites that I did take. Enjoy the tour....As we crossed the border into North Dakota, the kids were patient enough to stop (one more time) and take a picture....after about 12-13 hours on the road, it was a welcome site. The kids were a little disappointed when I told them we still had 6-7 hours to Grandma and Grandpa's house!

Yes, I took this one while driving....I thought it kind of funny that as we crossed into ND this was my GPS picture the ENTIRE time we drove across the state. Occasionally, it would show a small body of water off to the side, but mostly, just the purple STRAIGHT line.

This is how we know we're close to Grandma's house....the OREO cows!! Their true name is a Belted Galloway cow, but around these parts, they're known as the Oreo cows. There is a pasture just a mile or two from town and they are peacefully grazing there, just minding their own business. The kids think they're pretty cool and almost positive that these cows are solely responsible for the cream in the Oreo cookie. I won't tell them, if you won't....

These are a staple on every farm - grain bins. They are everywhere. And, so are the GREEN, GREEN fields and the trees that line the acres and acres of open land. The trees are specifically planted to line the roads and are called shelterbelts. They are used to keep the soil from eroding away and keep the ice and snow to a minimum along the roadways.

Hay bales line the fields. I remember on my grandpa's farm, as a child, we used to jump across these. They still make me sneeze like crazy, but way back in those days, I didn't care if my eyes swelled shut - we jumped on them anyway!

Okay, now the truth comes out. Even though I grew up here in these miles and miles of green lush earth, I did NOT grow up on a farm. We lived in town - I walked to school (in mile high snow, barefoot, both ways...at least that's what I'm telling my kids) and though many of my friends lived on farms, I really don't know the first thing about farming. But, I do know that these fields of yellow-blooming something-or-other are BEAUTIFUL. If I had to make an educated guess, I would say that it's an alfalfa field....but, seeing I am/was a city girl, don't take my word on it. Whatever it is, I thought it was a pretty site.

We had a fabulous time....I'm sure that Grandma was not sorry to see us go, however. We disturbed her peace and quiet and destroyed her house. The kids played in the orchard, swam everyday, and blew over $120 at the local Dairy Queen. I enjoyed seeing my family, visiting with friends, and attending the All Class Reunion. Most of all, I enjoyed giving my kids a little piece of what I grew up with....a couple of weeks of slower life, good people, and good old fresh air. We miss it already....

I've updated our slide show at the top of the blog with pictures from our trip....please, stop by and have a look.