So were do people who are surrounded by beauty year round go to vacation? Why, South Dakota of course. My little family and I go to a small town in South Dakota. Then we head out a few miles to the middle of nowhere to their old family farm. Ahhhhh, peace, quite, calm. It's the best. I love the sound of the wind slipping threw the tall grass. This is an image I took last year at sunset. I look at this image and my cares slip away.....

This morning I had the pleasure of visiting the Beltrami Humane Society. We spent the morning photographing the special needs animals and dogs that have been there for awhile. It was all I could do to resist the urge to scoop them all up and take them to my loving home. Since that's not an option, I did the next best thing. Showcase these amazing animals with great photography. Here are my two favorites from the session. I absolutely fell in love with this pair of dogs. They are still a little timid around strangers but how can you not love them? And this cat was soo curious and full of spunk. I love the markings on her. For more information on how to adopt these loving animals contact the Beltrami Humane Society.

In an effort to become more healthy, I've decided to take up running. It all started late this winter when an old client of mine told me about this race his company was sponsoring. He told me that he was going to run the race. For some reason that clicked in my head. I needed to run this race!
Yes me, the girl that hasn't ran anywhere in my life. Not counting those agonizing hours spent in school gym class, I had not ran anywhere.
I had less than two months to train on my abandoned treadmill. It wasn't going to be easy but if John could do it, figured I could too. Every day I got on the dreadmill and plugged away. On May 11th I ran/walked my first ever 5k race. For those of who don't know, that's 3.2 miles!
I felt soo good meeting that goal and way faster than I thought.
Now it's July and I'm proud to say I've got my second 5k behind me. I still had to walk/run it but I'm pretty amazed I didn't drop dead from the heat.
What an amazing group of people runners are. Everyone was so pumped up to be there and encouraged each another to the finish line. I was inspired  to see all walks of life running in this race. Old, young, super fit and people like me. I also saw a woman who had a large brace on her
knee walking the course! How amazing is that? I can't wait for the next one. This time I hope to have my daughter running at my side. I don't ever
have to be the fastest. I win every time I cross that finish line.