Searching for Sunflowers

I am an East Texan living in Sioux Falls for a little while.  I never dreamed how beautiful and captivating this state could be. Some of the sights that I was privileged to experience were along the beautiful drive to Pierre and back via I-90 and Hwy 14, riding through the Crow Creek and Lower Brule Indian Reservations, exploring Pierre, and taking in the Missouri River, rolling hills, and fertile fields.  We were searching for sunflowers, but discovered so much more.

Train trestle over the Missouri River at the visitor's center

Another view of the Missouri River and the little town of Chamblain

Dino stands outside the Lakeview Sinclair Gas Station. 

That's me in the middle of all those sunflowers!

The evening sun over the field makes wonderful light for capturing sunflower shots.

South Dakota State Capitol building with the glare of the morning sun.

Trying to be creative in capturing a Burch tree on the grounds of the capitol.

Missouri River at the end of the road (Lower Brule Indian Reservaton.)

Closeup

Squirrel playing on the grounds of South Dakota's State Capitol.

Curious cow on a ranch outside Pierre, SD.

Harrisburg Harvest Festival

Me with the 1,400 lb celebrity pumpkin

This last weekend we had an enchanting day at the Harrisburg, 
South Dakota annual Harvest Festival.  

As we drove into the Country Apple Orchard a young man waved us to parking, much like at a county fair. We walked amid mature apple trees of all varieties and planted in neat rows in fields. The apples were in abundance on the ground and on the trees. 

Adults and children were roaming the pumpkin patch looking for just the right pumpkin to take home. It was entertaining to watch little kiddos try to carry a big heavy pumpkin to their wagon. One little boy was so determined to carry it all on his own. One family asked me to take a picture of their family all together with his camera.  As they knelt down to let their toddler sit on the dad's lap, I noticed mommy was holding a small baby, a sweet smiling family of four.

Honey Crisp Apples

The air was filled with the smell of apple spice and kettle corn. We enjoyed goodies from the General Store including a pie wedge full of apple slices and a large moist pumpkin muffin.

Kids were enjoying inflatable slides and bouncers. A lawn tractor pulled children along in make-shift barrel cars like a train ride.  I watched them gleefully climb and slide down large bales of hay and riding the small ponies.  

One of the highlights of the festival was the pumpkin and watermelon judging contests. Half-ton pumpkins and 100 pound watermelons were brought in using low boy trailers and heavy duty trucks.

It was amazing to see all this first hand! I took home
lots of pictures and a large bag of beautiful 
Honey Crisp apples, our favorite kind.

Little Red Wagon of Pumpkins

Creepy hand picking apples.

How to move a big pumpkin...

Need a lift to the pumpkin patch or apple orchard?  This tractor is over 50 years old.

Climbing hay bales - what fun!

All aboard the kiddo express.