Country Candids

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“Prairie Loneliness”

Although there is a feeling of loneliness here as in many places on the plains, it was not always this way- At one time there was “Life” here, complete with all of its struggles and victories, joy and sorrow swirled with accomplishment. Some might think why go through it all to end up as this, but the legacy born and released here has spread far and wide to take root elsewhere.

This post is from the early days of Country Candids back in 2011 and is what we were/are all about.

#PrairieLoneliness     #CountryCandids    #Legacies      #BobHoffman  

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"The Cleansing"  The prairie has a way of cleansing itself at the end of a life-story, when all the souls have left, and all that remains are memories and skeletons.  Sometimes the flow of time will eddy around one of these cold, lifeless ruins, and we can get a glimpse of the past-  The scary side of what Nature does to reclaim these, is offset by knowing that the memories born here can only be degraded or extinguished by humans- #Cleansing  #CountryCandids    #DriveByShootings   #BobHoffman

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“Relinquished Testament”   Although the spirit remains, the body begins to crumble after many years of service on a journey that many have traveled on the high plains. This one is  St Paul Lutheran in Jud, North Dakota. Organized in 1899 and built in 1912, sadly closed in 1995.  Moving into its quiet time after the lifetime of service, it still has the power to reach out and grab you when stumbling across its path- #CountryCandids     #Testament       #RestingButStillStrong       #BobHoffman

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"Restless"  Although time and the passage of it, are a human concept, it is easy to imagine this lost soul as -restless- and frantic for direction. Back when there were occupants here, each fall when the north wind grew teeth and the grass lost color, there would be a growing sense of urgency and a whole lot of chores to prepare for all that a North Dakota winter could throw at you. Just as late in the year, the anticipation of spring and rebirth would bring another set of rituals in a never ending circle that could be counted on year after year- ‪#‎NorthDakotaDriveByShootings‬      ‪#‎CountryCandids‬   https://www.etsy.com/listing/265243942

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"Melody From the Past" Standing here framing this photo story, listening to the whistling wind playing a harmony through the windows, wondering if memories are somehow also riding the breeze out and away forever-  This one found in Bremen, North Dakota, Wells County- ‪#‎Countrycandids‬     https://www.etsy.com/listing/268167380

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"Stark Devotion" The weathered and withered remains of these places of devotion show the stark realities of population loss on the plains- They are symbols of faith and a spirit that cannot be denied by time or the movement of people- This struggling survivor resides in Kief, North Dakota- ‪#‎Countrycandids‬     ‪#‎Starkrealities‬   https://www.etsy.com/listing/269053974

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"Restless"  Although time and the passage of it, are a human concept, it is easy to imagine this lost soul as -restless- and frantic for direction. Back when there were occupants here, each fall when the north wind grew teeth and the grass lost color, there would be a growing sense of urgency and a whole lot of chores to prepare for all that a North Dakota winter could throw at you. Just as late in the year, the anticipation of spring and rebirth would bring another set of rituals in a never ending circle that could be counted on year after year-

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CountryCandids

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“Bleeding Heavens”  This photo chronicle is synonymous with Country Candids as it was conceived back when Country Candids was first born- A North Dakota sunset can be wildly captivating and make one realize that North Dakota has many natural resources, both visual and material- North Dakota is also famous (as far as sunsets go), for having the latest sunset time on the summer solstice (June 23) in the contiguous, lower 48 States. The sun sets at 10:03 PM Central Daylight Time (CDT). This is due to Fortuna's location at the far western edge of the Central Time Zone. Although other communities in the lower 48 States are located farther north, none of them are located as far west in their respective time zones. Fortuna's westerly location in the time zone gives it the latest local time when the sun sets on the summer solstice.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CountryCandids

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"A Century of Memories" St Olaf Lutheran Church, Grand Forks County, North Dakota- Founded in 1886 by Norwegian immigrants, minutes for meetings of St. Olaf Church from 1886 until 1937 were recorded in Norwegian.  the first marriage performed here was on June 29, 1890. While there never was a cemetery, there is one grave of an infant. Sadly in 2015 this vital place of gathering on the prairie changed roles from one of service to memories- Country Candids was told of this impending demise in early September 2015 and visited this church on September 10, 2015 around noon to bid farewell and hopefully to make it a little easier for St Olaf to live on in memories- Memories can live on forever, but it takes work, as even they will begin to erode with the onslaught of time-    

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CountryCandids

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"Out of the Mist"

Photograph of a Dakota rural church shrouded in fog-This place of gathering and worship on the Dakota plains stands bravely against the harsh elements of a Dakota December-although scarred from the effects of time, it still stands, not only physically but as a symbol of the strength of faith on the plains-

https://www.etsy.com/listing/215937740

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"Prairie Angels"

Photograph of a North Dakota Sundog. These angels will appear out of nowhere especially in North Dakota with the cold temps from time to time- Makes one wonder about about all the special phenomena on the plains- www.etsy.com/...

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Prairie Lifeline

Photograph of a North Dakota sunset and train. Seems like traveling on the Dakota plains, it's never long until you either see a train or encounter a railroad crossing. Most people take for granted our way of life never giving a thought about just how important this way of transportation/distribution really is- Coupled with another of North Dakota's natural resources (sunsets) makes for a real -Prairie Lifeline https://www.etsy.com/listing/221783578

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"Remembering Paradise" Paradise school district#18 in far eastern Eddy County, North Dakota- Records seem to indicate that this school may have started out as Greb school#18 in April 1895, with eight school children enrolled. Then a name change to Paradise school #18 in August 1900 with the actual township being recorded as Paradise Township in March of 1905-

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"West Prairie Lutheran Church"

Black and white photograph of a country church on the Dakota plains. Standing alone against a turbulent/stormy sky, with just a ray of sun peeking through signaling possible hope.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CountryCandids

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"Trails End"

Black and white photograph of an abandoned house on the Dakota prairie with a feeble trail leading to it. The journey really is over in more ways than the trail-

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CountryCandids

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For Whom The Bell Tolls

Photograph of an abandoned barn. As the photo shows, time is indeed short for this ravaged prairie relic-The Bell Tolls for Thee-

https://www.etsy.com/listing/186512162

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"Afternoon Promise"

"Afternoon Promise" Photograph of the late afternoon sun filtering through barren trees and painting its soothing colors on anything in it's path with the promise of another day! Now Available at http://lnkd.in/b-G2WHg