Trees and Nativities

In 2009 the South Dakota Hall of Fame began what I hope is a long tradition of featuring decorated Christmas trees and nativity scenes.  Thirteen trees and over a hundred nativity scenes are on display until early January.  Enjoy... Just received word that the nativity scenes will stay on display until the end of January...now you can really enjoy! 

 #1 - Oak by Amish and Vaad Framing

 #2 Bent Spatula

#3 - River City Band Festival

#4 - 4-H Extension Office

#5 – Chamber of Commerce and Dayle Chilson

#6 – Prime CattleWomen

#7 – South Dakota Hall of Fame

#8 – Pat Blum - nativity scenes. Just a few of the over 100 on display.

#9 – Blum Brothers

#10 – River City Wood Carvers - People's Choice Award Winner

#11 – Welcome West Plaza

#12 – Sanford Hospital

#13 – Kiwanis

#14 – Dakota Milestones

Spectacular, huh?

People's Choice Award

For the second year, the South Dakota Hall of Fame featured Christmas trees decorated by area individuals and organizations. This year's display included 13 trees and about a hundred nativity scenes.

New to the event this year is a People's Choice award.  And the winner is.....River City Wood Carvers.  Hall of Fame President and CEO, Todd Knutson presented the award to Dr. Tom Stone of the River City Wood Carvers.

The winning tree was decorated with hand carved and painted wooden ornaments, large wood shaving curls and hand painted gourds - a lovely South Dakota tree.

KIP Salad Supper

The KIP Ladies have been around a long time and do lots of good things around town.  The salad supper is a major fund raiser for this group, so come on out and support them.

Spring Time in the neighborhood

Apple blossom time...

Exclusively Yours

I love Jo Stadler for two reasons....well, actually for three reasons:
1. Cold brewed coffees
2. My favorite pasta

3. She opened the cutest gift shop

Uniquely Yours just off I90 exit 284, Kimball, SD. Next to John's Tire, near the Clark gas station.

Osage Lakota Artworks

I'm knowing Laurie Apple will be gettin' some of my money at her newly opened business, Osage Lakota Artworks. Formerly an e-based business, Osage Lakota Artworks is now a bricks and mortar offering wonderful beadwork, canes, beading supplies and prairie turnips.

Located just off Interstate 90 exit 284 at Kimball, SD, near the tractor museum.

Busy, busy

Senior Project and Scholarship night tonight.

FFA Banquet tomorrow night.

Especially touching to hear Dave Lehr's tribute to his wife Sarah.  He said the scholarship given in her memory was for a student with a "can do" attitude.  He said that is what Sarah was all about, a can do attitude. Amen.

Today's the Day

J-A-N-S Frosty King is opening today. I was advised to come early and stand in line, and no I was not going to get free food for being first in line. In fact, I was advised that I would probably not be first in line.  Taking camera, photos will be posted.

Walking for Love

A wind-blown Dan Lyons walked into Kimball mid-afternoon yesterday, stayed for supper and visited with us, spent the night and left early today. Walking to White Lake in a light rain.  Expected over there early afternoon.

Dan is an extraordinary guy. He left Olympia, Washington earlier this year, taking a northern route to avoid bad weather on a southern route. Headed to West Palm Beach, Florida.  Walking to raise awareness about Locks of Love, a program that provided a hair piece for his 17 year old daughter during her fight against breast cancer. Dan's on his fifth walk across the US. He started walking to bring awareness, but also to clear his head. You see, Dan lost his daughter to breast cancer and not long after that, his dear wife to a drunk driver. Dan walks so we can know.

Dan Lyons

 photo courtesy of Billings Gazette

 Who's Dan Lyons and why are we getting together with him?

Well, Dan is from California, and he's walking across the US to bring awareness to the Locks of Love program. He lost his daughter and wife to cancer, and is himself a cancer survivor.

Please join Dan for dinner and a brief presentation on the Locks of Love program at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 28th, at Ditty's Diner. Dan is not soliciting funds, but has information on how to donate to Locks of Love.

Let's show Dan some good Kimball hospitality.

Spring at Christiansen Park

Christiansen Park, named in honor of Helen Christiansen who donated the land for the park, is a tiny bit of tree-shaded oasis in downtown Kimball. Purple phlox and other perennials have been poking their heads up.

Prairie Quilts

Our little community says *we love you*  211 times. That's how many quilts were dedicated.  They are heading to new homes around the world.

Around town

Saw these lovelies on latest walk around town. Tulips are pretty, but lily of the valley are my favorite flower...thus, making me love muguet de bois perfume as a teenager. 

Mural and phlox

I just love the mural at the downtown city park in Kimball, SD...and the phlox that grow there...

Eleven Days

Eleven days till my favorite summer hang out opens.  Easy on-off at I90 exit 248, Kimball,  South Dakota.

Springness

Signs of spring as seen around town this week...

 

Parking

Guessing the person in the red truck was late for the city council meeting, and our only police officer did not notice because he was at said meeting. On the other hand I've noticed this style of parking in other parts of town. It's nice living in a small town.

New Friends

Linda and Sonja are just the sweetest ladies. They own the The Quilt Shop on Main Street in Chamberlain, South Dakota.

Walked in there to buy buttons and emerged an hour later with two new friends, the cutest vintage buttons and some "other stuff". The most amazing thing happened in that hour...we found out how much we love our little towns and want to see them prosper. I'm thinking I'll be seeing more of Sonja and Linda, and I think you should, too.

That Dreams sign tacked to the face of the step leading to their shop says it all.

Local Theater

Looking forward to The Batchelor King tonight.

click image to enlarge

Roaring

Heard roaring today that reminded me of when I lived near Lake Michigan. The wind would come up, white caps would appear on the lake and lots of interesting stuff would be churned up onto the beach.  That spring roaring lasted 24 - 48 hours and then it was over, until the next time.


Heard that same roaring today, but no lake around.  Spring prairie winds.  It is blowing out there and it's a bit of a warm day. Friends here were surprised that today's winds sound just like lake winds. 

76°F | Current: Sunny Wind: S at 37 mph Humidity: 39%