Let the Mystery Be

Lately I've been going through a phase. Perhaps this is partly to do with the tumultuous manner in which the year has unfolded from February onward. Since the house fire that burned down my former NH home- the Isaak Foster Homestead, there seems to have been some inner change going on behind the curtains that define my perceivable life.

tu·mul·tu·ous/t(y)o͞oˈməlCHo͞oəs/Adjective

1. Making a loud, confused noise; uproarious: "tumultuous applause".

2. Excited, confused, or disorderly.

Like the Phoenix, consumed in flames, a rebirth seems to be taking place... complete with labor pains- letting go of the old to allow room in for the new. It seems that I have been holding onto things that I don't need to.  Continuing along the same road is apparently no longer an option- the old is gone. It seems appropriate that- with Autumn season is upon us, and the trees gracefully shedding their no longer needed attire, that I shed a few things too.

One thing I am shedding is the need to know, well-  everything! Especially worry. All my life I have been watching and worrying about everything around me- trying to take into account every aspect of my reality, thinking that, if I can only- through diligence and concentration perceive every possible pothole in the road-  I can control my destiny. The harder I try to live in a mindful way (and I don't say that there is anything wrong with that) the more chaos is thrown in my path.

Recently, I have come to suspect the the Universe is laughing at me behind my back in that regard. Finally, I am beginning to get the joke, and am starting to laugh too! There is a message in here somewhere... lol!

I am reminded of the 1960's movie Inside Daisy Clover. In the last scene, Daisy- completely dis-infatuated with the film industry and the desire to be a star, has left the gas oven on, after an unsuccessful suicide attempt. She leaves her house to hitch a ride. As she is walking away, the house blows up behind her. She never even looks back. Like Daisy, I am walking away.

It is in this spirit that I went on a foliage tour through the Black Hills. It was a great day...

Labor (Not) Day

Labor Day weekend was pretty good this year...

In previous years it has buzzed by me with hardly a blink of my eye. When I lived in New Hampshire I was a mom, and so had no holidays or days off. Then- later, I was a freelancer, and had no holidays off.

After that I started to work full-time for someone other than myself, but couldn't afford to do anything. Finally, I have realized that- you don't have to spend a lot of $$$ to have fun on a holiday... so I did! On a beautiful sunny Saturday, I met JhonDuane in Hot Springs, and we traveled South to Chadron, Nebraska, for the yearly Chadron Rock Swap.
 
We arrived in Chadron in the late morning. The town was alive with yard sales, historic society open houses and bake ice cream socials. We took our time and enjoyed all the town had to offer before finally traveling on to the park.

There are all manner of vendors at this wonderful outdoor event, from raw material (ie rocks) for sale, to fossils, slabs, cabochons, jewelry and everything in-between!

Here Dale and JhonDuane visit with a Choctaw lady.

It's always fun to go around and see what folks have to offer. I usually go around once just to see what everyone has, doubling back if there is something in which I am really interested. That doesn't happen too often, so I am usually content to just admire the offerings, and move on.

JhonDuane however, almost always discovers great "finds"! He has a discerning eye, and so I am content to learn by watching him.

Sometimes the best viewings and transactions are made away from the main thoroughfare.

Here, Gary McFarlane- The Agate Works - tempts Jhon with his incredible cabs!

Once acquaintances were renewed and transactions completed, it was time to move on...

But not before stopping to view the park's unique offerings- such as early farming equipment...

But the original, and most significant reason for the park's existence is the monument to the Red Cloud's 1876 Treaty.

Once we had paid homage to this remarkable monument, we traveled North for a little rock hunting...

This is the famous Pasture 27, known for it's Fairburn finds.

See that blue strip on the horizon? That is where these rocks came from!

No Fairburns this time, but it was fun looking!

We continued Northward. The long, late day shadows looked beautiful to my Easterner's eyes.

By now we were hot and hungry.

So- first we sank into the cooling waters of Cascade Falls...

and then grilled our simple meal... and talked until a million stars came out...
... to light our way home.