Romancing the Stone

Romance brought me out here. Yep- I admit it. And since I've been here I have become more and more romanced by the Beauty All Around Me...

Stones. They dominate the scene here. In fact- they turned themselves inside out- to create the world. With Super Powers such as this, how could I not be swept off of my feet by them?

There is a special rock that continues to lure me out here as no other- the Fairburn Agate. When I was still in New Hampshire, it slipped itself on my finger, and it was love at first sight. From then on, I guess I was a goner! No two Fairburn agates are alike, and they continue to amaze and bedazzle me with their beauty and power.

The second one came to me when I had replanted myself in South Dakota, somewhere in Dakota Territory...

Up to this point I had only seen mostly polished Fairburn stones, and not that many of them. But I was determined to find one of my own.

I wandered around here and there, farther and farther afield. One hot summer's day, on my way back after several hours hunting- hot and tired, I saw this rock...sitting in the path. The same path I had just walked earlier! There it was- big as life, as if it had just walked there, and was waiting for the next available bus out of town. How could I have missed it earlier? It was as big as my fist. I was struck by it's beauty, but unsure if that really was a Fairburn. Ha!

I got home and dumped all my findings onto the porch, then jumped into the shower. Dried and jumping into fresh clothes, I was just in time as JhonDuane came up the porch steps. By the time I got to the door, he was already checking out my rocks. Before I had time to say anything, he picked up the potato-sized rock and raced to the kitchen to wash it.

"Aw, you don't want this old prairie agate do you?" he said, an odd lilt to his voice.

By this I already knew what it was.

Since then I cannot help but heed the siren's song of this ancient Fairburn agate. I go out to seek it at every chance available.

There are many places to search for Fairburn agates. I will not take the time to share this as there are many other sites more knowledgeable than this little blog regarding Fairburn agate beds. The reader has only to initiate a Google search to find them. It is enough to say that I have spent many happy hours in some of the most beautiful and remote places in Lakota territory hunting them.

Early this summer I tried a new location- in the Black Hills. It was one of the most beautiful places in the 'Hills that I have seen. Because of all the rain, June put on one of the most spectacular displays I have experienced since I have been here. Nature outdid herself! The spot itself is amazing! It is a place of peace and visual splendor.

After an hour or so of hunting in this lovely spot, I had some tiny treasures. No one of these were more than half an inch!

 















 















...and some- not as tiny!

By late afternoon it was time to head back to Rapid City, tired, but happy with my finds, and a peaceful heart.

It is no wonder that the Lakota spoke of the Black Hills as a place of sustenance and renewal!

Stalking the Wild Harvest: Part I

Euell Gibbons brought foraging for wild edible plants back to the mainstream in the "dominant culture" back in the late '60s-early'70s Stalking the Wild Asparagus.

However, what was a novelty and charming to many of his readers was 'ho-hum to those with whom he grew up, and many others for whom the bounty of Nature was not just a fun thing to do, but how you survived.

My Mother's Mother, "Tommy" Walsh raised awareness in my young life regarding the bounty that Nature provided. When we visited her at her home on Cape Cod, she would have jams, jellies and wine made from plants she had collected. She was considered somewhat "eccentric in my staid, proper and very modern New England family.

I remember that- one time she my brother Jimmy brought  home live conch shell  (think the shell in the movie Hawaii that the Indigenous Hawaiians blew on). She declared to the general congregation (my Mom- who was slightly scandalized and me and my siblings) that Native people ate conches. She said that she was going to boil it and eat it. She did. I had a taste. It was ok. Everyone else looked green.

Fast forward to the 60s-70s. Back to the land. I was THERE. I went out and STALKED the wild asparagus. Yummy!

                       ...and poke weed:

...and burdock root (where the burrs that stick on your animals come from).

When I lived in New Hampshire we always had a substantial garden.

We still enjoyed a bounty of Nature. The Bryn and Hilary and I, and sometimes their dad, would hike to the top of North Pack Monadnock in late August and pick the abundant blueberries growing there... although we probably ate more than we packed out!

Fast forward to: South Dakota. It seems to be in my blood that when things get green, I start looking for what I can harvest. This year's harvest started with the tinpsila, known as prairie or wild turnip in English- Pediomelum esculenta, member of the breadroot family. It forms a tuber that is dug, the outer husk removed braided into long braids where is dries and can be kept indefinitely. It can be eaten raw, ground into recipes, boiled, sliced and added to traditional soups stews- even ground into flour and added to thicken stock. So, on a beautiful, sunny June day, JhonDuane and I set out to: stalk the wild tinpsila!

Everything seemed glad to be alive on such a day! With all the rain we had this spring, the prairie was bursting with life- and flowers.

...and the flowers were- everywhere!

Penstemon

Blue Bells

Wild Prairie Rose

Coriopsis

Scarlet Globemallow

White Penstemon

Gumbo Lily

And, of course- there were millions of tinpsilas!

They are tough little guys to dig, and you need a special sort of shovel- such as you see below. Luckily, Jhon has a knack for digging them, not surprisingly, since he has done it since he was a little boy with his Unci- grandmother in Lakota.

 

Tinpsila

This one was about the size of my hand. They vary from little marble-sized guys, to the size of a fist.

After a  long hot day of digging, we loaded up the truck with our earthy treasures, and headed back to the house to peel and braid the roots for drying.

This takes hours and is hard on the hands, but- when they're done, the braid is beautiful, and will last for a long, long time. It was a really good day!

Cowboys and Aliens: Agate Fossil Beds National Monument

The Agate Fossil Beds National Monument in Harrison, Nebraska:

is a National Parks Service treasure! It is something that everyone should make the effort to visit, if they are anywhere close by.

There is far more history than I can properly relate in this brief blog, so read about it at the official site:

http://www.nps.gov/agfo/index.htm

Better yet, go see it for yourself. If you don't see it in person, you are cheating yourself of a wonderful and worthy adventure!

So... if you took the time and visited the above link, you will now know that the area was settled by a cowboy named James Cook, and his bride Kate Graham:

 The couple bought the ranch from Kate's dad, E. B. Graham.

James Cook was a curious and friendly man. He enjoyed a long friendship with Chief Red Cloud, who visited him along with his tiospaye on many occasions. James Cook also had a deep interest in paleontology, which he passed along to his sons...they in turn assisted the paleontologists who eventually came to excavate the rich fossil remains. What I present here is the barest of historic sketches regarding this remarkable national treasure.

As a result of James Cook's deep friendship with Chief Red Cloud, the museum has the most astonishing and powerful Lakota collection. For its size, I think the collection equals anything I have seen in much larger museums in quality.The pieces are so lovely, that viewing them actually gave me goosebumps!

JhonDuane is a Lakota artist who creates within the Lakota paradigm. It was so fitting therefore, that Jhon was asked to present what he does in this amazing location. It was a wonderful opportunity for tourists, and the local people alike to see the wonderful jewelry that Jhon creates. Naturally I was delighted when he invited me down to visit for the weekend. So, by first light on Saturday morning, I was out the door and into the adventure!

Here are some photos that Jhon sent via email upon his arrival. I was captivated at first sight by the beauty of the place!

The Visitor's Center

The Artists' Bungalow

The Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is a beautiful treasure that would seem quite hidden away from the beaten path. Yet many, many people still manage to find and enjoy it each year!

I arrived late in the day and quickly settled in. We had a delicious meal, and-- after a refreshing late day thunderstorm-- took a beautiful walk at sunset:

 

What a way to start a weekend!

A spectacular dawn gave way to a delicious breakfast on the patio. Then JhonDuane adjourned to the Visitor's Center, and I determined to hike the two informative walks offered on the grounds.

Both walks are wide and level ground or boardwalk, which makes it easily accessibly to the differently-abled. The walks are well-worth the effort. They offer great natural beauty, the bounty of fossils that are scattered as they were found at the two major digs on locations, and very adequate informative signage, explaining both flora, fauna- current and dinosauriana!

 

Ground Plum

Astragalus crassicarpus. Buffalo Apple, Buffalo Bean, Buffalo Pea, Milk Vetch. In the bean family. The Dakota and Lakota used the fruits as an important food source. The fruit pods can be eaten raw or cooked.

Some American Indians chewed small amounts of ground plum leaves for a sore throat. They used a decoction of boiled root for toothache and as an external application for insect bites. The Chippewa treated convulsions with dried and powdered root, and the root was used in combination with other plants for controlling bleeding from wounds. 

The Lakota used the plant as medicine for horses. The Dakota referred to the fruit as "Food of the Buffalo."

The early settlers, who ate them either raw or cooked. The fruit was sometimes made into spiced pickles. 

Prairie Lupine

 

My oh my! What an awesome way to spend a weekend!

oh...BTW- My drive home was lovely too!

  ps- Do you see the faces in the clouds?  ;^)