Upper Plains Gothic…

I just returned from a two week trip to South Dakota attending a conference, visiting family, friends, and shooting loads of photos. I spent most of one week sorting through my grandfather’s letters, newspaper clippings, photographs, and books. Under lamplight, in a quiet basement office, Grandpa guided my research from beyond yonder. This research led to many discoveries and even more questions.

My mind’s eye is somehow seeing everything torn, creased, faded, scratched, or yellowed. I saw my new photographs in the same way when I got home to Vermont.

Perhaps that’s why I find myself looking backward. The past has a clarity I can no longer see in the present. —Kristin Hannah/The Nightengale

A special thanks to everyone who made my trip so quite special.

Jo and Mark, there are far more photographs I want to share. Your dedication to Herrick’s history is inspiring, and the dance hall is gorgeous. When you offer memberships, please let me know.

“Heading To Norden”

I woke up thinking about the Saturday nights of my teenage years and the dancehall at Norden, Nebraska was front and center in my hippocampus. I was so pleased to discover that there are still dances there all summer. The 2013 schedule is readily available online. It was a lot of fun dancing with those cowboys. This joint was something—benches lined the walls and those cowboys and ranchers would two-step over to us, put their hands out, tip their hats and try to teach us to dance. I can picture my friends dancing with these old guys and laughing so hard at the spectacle of it all. It was so much fun! So, this painting of mine must’ve been inspired by those memories whether I knew it at the time or not. I never would’ve had the confidence to wear boots with a skirt then, but I do now—no matter how ridiculous it looks. Have a fabulous Saturday night wherever you are!