Sunrise hike along the river this weekend here in Sioux Falls. Too beautiful not to share a couple of images with you.

I went out before sunrise, temps just above zero Fahrenheit. Went with a friend, and we walked for about an hour, just walking, talking quietly, and observing.

I suppose you could say we didn’t see anything, since all we saw was the prairie. And the plants and animals that fill it, each subtly fitting into the tawny landscape.

The pheasant that erupted from the tall grass in front of us. The unionidae mussel shells left by raccoons, mink, and otters. The beaver trails up the banks and the logs they gnawed. Bundles of leaves high in the riverside trees, surrounding families of squirrels huddled together for warmth.

The quiet goodness of friendship.