The desire to travel has no correlation with positive impressions despite the travel industry’s ardent efforts to convince us otherwise. I’m often moved to action by emotional responses that would have the experts gnashing their teeth (in which I happen to take a bit of pride).

National Geographic ran “The Emptied Prairie” in January 2008. From the title down, there was nothing on pages 140 – 157 that remotely resembled the enticingly glossed travel magazines in the same row of offerings that day in the book store. I could have been transported to any number of magical destinations, delivered there by the heady claims of paradise and rejuvenation, discovery and adventure. Instead, I plucked the mundane. The Emptied Prairie left me morose. And hell-bent to see North Dakota exactly as Nat Geo had depicted it – gray, cold, forlorn.

Our backgrounds dictate how we receive input and mine told me there was a “spin” on this story. I too live in a prairie state. Signs of human migration wrought from disappointment dot the landscape here as well. My hometown of Soper, Oklahoma has a population of 300; the High School serves 85 students. The town is in the most impoverished county in the state. On a gray, rainy day it too appears to be on its last leg and a sense of melancholy and abandonment strikes the bone.

As much as the Nat Geo article and photographs smacked of gloom and despair, my life has proved the glamorous to be at times a bit rough around the edges and the forlorn to be enticing.

The photographs that follow are what I found (Nat Geo eat your heart out). I have only one thing to say; I want to go back.

Hopperstad Stave Church is in Moorhead. Viking Ship Park & Hjemkomst Center

These two scenes of structure were on the way to Fargo.  I can feel the cold and bite from the wind as I look upon them now. They both captivated me.

Hopperstad Stave Church from a different angle and interpretation

a Fargo windowpane reflects the winter scene

In-between the somewhere's of North Dakota

North Dakota became the 39th state admitted to the union on November 2nd, 1889. AAA has named the state the most affordable state in which to vacation. And explorers William Clark and Meriwether Lewis, along with the Corps of Discovery, spent more time in (what is now) North Dakota than any other place on their journey.

Want to see North Dakota for yourself? Check out these links. Or simply, hit the road and wing it!

North Dakota Dept. of Tourism

Medora, North Dakota

North Dakota’s Enchanted Highway

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Over the short span of 4 years, Lynda Dunham-Watkins has become a nationally recognized sculptor.  The Texas Commission on the Arts chose her to be a Texas Original Artist. She’s got a hand-painted tree ornament hanging in the House chamber of the Texas capital of Austin.  Lynda’s won every category she’s entered in the International ProSculpt competition; first place in 2006 in the Beginner category, first place in 2007 in the Intermediate category, and first place in 2009 in the Advanced category. She’s represented by two galleries. The Philbrook Museum of Art has invited her for two years running to display in their prestigious Festival of Trees.

Now she’s turned her attention to one-of-a-kind jewelry utilizing her hand created/painted/sculpted beads of polymer clay, and wire.

If you want a truly unique piece of art for someone special on your list this year, purchase something of Lynda’s.  She’s on the designer fast track. Anything of hers will be a better long-term investment than the stock market.

If you have questions of her, or see something here that’s already sold when you get to her website or Etsy store, email her at: wtklnsbl@sbcglobal.net. She’ll make you another one (they’re all handmade so it’ll be similar but not identical) in a heartbeat. Right Mom?

Her Website, Expressions in Clay: http://www.lyndawatkinsartdolls.com/index.html

Etsy StoreFront: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=34079085

Blog: http://www.claymama1.blogspot.com/