On to Ruthton

Yep, were in corn and soybean country.  The north/south and east/west grid of roads is pretty apparent.  Neat and tidy farms everywhere.  Harvest is underway and the grain elevators are busy.  Driving south from Aberdeen SD on Hwy 281 I was reminded of a cartoon by Gary Larson that hung in the administrative office where I worked at WSU Vancouver (Larson was a WSU Grad).  It depicted a large herd of cows, one of which was waving a WSU flag and saying, "I've got to be me".  Trying to stand out in a crowd seems to be pervasive human  and organizational trait.  For example, passing through Redfield, we were informed that it was the pheasant capital of the United States.  Further down the road Tulare claimed to have a prehistoric rock (Assuming that every rock I ever saw was prehistoric I didn't take the time to take a picture).  Huron claimed to have the largest pheasant in the world and then DeSmet wooed the traveler in to view the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Well, more power to them.

We're enjoying some quality time with my older sister here in Ruthton, MN.  We're also taking daily trips to Brookings, SD some 40 miles away to spend time with her husband who is in a nursing facility there.  Made an apple pie tonight.  Seems appropriate here in the midwest.  We'll be off on Monday morning, heading toward Duluth.  (Pictures: Pheasant capital, Wilder House, McCrory Gardens in Brookings established by SDSU and Ronda and Wayne)