Sometimes the world gives me a big dope slap and reminds me to stop and look around.  This photo comes from exactly that kind of moment.

It was late afternoon and I was on an ATV, returning to the shop from doing some work on one of our prairies, when I suddenly realized that the light around me was pretty stunning, and the clouds and prairie weren’t too shabby-looking either.  Fortunately, although I didn’t have my “good” camera with me, I did have the sense to carry my little digital camera with me, and I was able to squeeze off a few shots before the light went away.

Restored sand prairie in late autumn - Platte River Prairies, Nebraska.

Even in the late fall after everything is well past blooming, and even most of the fluffy seeds have fallen, prairies are still beautiful.

I can’t imagine working anywhere else.