Little Pasture on the Prairie

When I drove across the state of South Dakota to pick up a small flock of Clun Forest sheep in March – a breed I’d decided was perfect for me despite the fact I had never actually worked with or even seen any in real life – I was pretty sure I was going crazy.

LETTER

Congratulations, Colette and Callie of Schaffer Music Studio, on your fantastic recital Sunday night. It was the best one yet! I loved everything about it. I’ve attended every one of your recitals and have watched these young people progress from timid children to self confident youth.

Based on Science, Built on Trust

By Jill Kruse, DO As we approach the end of our 22nd season, I would like to thank our audience for trusting us to bring them health information that is current and accurate.

Dry skin? Join the club

An exceedingly common question I get in clinic, especially in the heart of a South Dakota winter, is how to remedy dry skin. And the questions aren’t just in clinic; my own kids, family, friends, everyone seems to have an occasional problem with dry and irritated skin.

Little Pasture on the Prairie

It happens every spring. The best laid plans dashed by unpredictable weather, equipment malfunctions, illness, or most likely all three. But really, the truth behind why spring always gets crazy when you are working on a ranch or farm, is that there’s more to do than can be done.

Stray Thoughts: Cherished Memories

When I was a kid, I spent an inordinate amount of time hunting frogs. We had a variety of local ponds and frogs were plentiful. We didn’t need frogs for anything, but we caught them because catching them was fun. It was not uncommon to return home with a bucket full of frogs.

Little Pasture on the Prairie

Last week, I brought home three orphan lambs to bottle feed, and this week I was expecting the sheep I brought home last month to begin having babies of their own.

Stray Thoughts: In Dreams

I had a dream that I ran my own Japanese restaurant. Now, I am less Japanese than most people…but that doesn’t mean it would be impossible for me to do so. Do I speak the language? No. Eat sushi? Again, no. But dreams don’t care about any such small details.

Reflecting on Progress

It’s human nature to tell stories about the past, and doctors aren’t immune to that impulse. The second year medical students rotating through my clinic have me reflecting on my own years as a fledgling physician, and the changes I’ve seen in my decades of practice.

Pain - It’s No Joke

There is an old joke where a man walks into his doctor’s office and says, “Doc, it hurts every time I do this. What should I do?” To which the doctor replies, “Simple, don’t do that!” While the advice seems trite and maybe even insulting, like most jokes, there is some truth in it.