
This was taken in the late winter, 2006. I was out running my two Border Collies, Franny and Zooey, at Clay County park, just west of Vermillion, SD, and brought my mom's 3MP camera along to record the event. I rarely brought a camera with me on hikes, as I was usually too busy contemplating something or other to care much about picture taking. There's something about those hills along the Missouri. They seem embued with a natural enchantment. I look upon them and instantly my heart is inspired by the promise of freewheeling leisure and exploration, sensing that God smiles when his creation is enjoyed so. The Missouri river is my earthly Eden, and will remain so until the day I die. After the dogs had exhausted themselves in the woods, chasing deer and rabbits to their hearts' content, I would bring them down to the riverside to drink. On hot days they would wade in chest-deep, but no further (Bordie Collies do not enjoy the water as other breeds do, partly because they don't trust the water, and partly, I think, because they don't like to get wet unnecessarily). On this day it was quite cool, so Franny approached the water daintily at first and only waded in a little in order to assuage her thirst. I liked the lighting of this shot, which was taken just before sundown, as the golden light skimmed the river surface.