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.