We spent time at my grandparents’ South Dakota farm this weekend.  My sister brought my nieces to visit from Raleigh, NC.  The little city girls loved running on the farm.  In princess dresses, no less.  Why not?

The apple tree was still full of fresh, ripe apples.

The soybeans were almost ready for harvest.

Chad went to inspect the fields.  Mom remembers walking the rows as a child picking weeds.  Now they rent out the farm land to a neighbor.

We walked out to Grandpa’s lake.

He grew up on this farm and always dreamed of damming up a creek and having a lake on the property.

After many years of planning and being awarded a Ducks Unlimited grant, his dream came true in 2006.

The beautiful lake is his pride and joy.  He loves nothing more than having people come out to the farm to go fishing on his lake.

My uncle keeps the out buildings freshly painted.  The old chicken barn gleams in the sunshine.

My littlest niece loved all the dandelions on the farm.  Poof poof.

When we were kids, Grandpa planted a special tree for each of the grandkids.  My cottonwood stands tall and proud on the corner of the yard.

Late September is a beautiful time on a South Dakota farm.