Autumn's Embers

Late in the Fall, there came a warm, windy wonderful day, full of the energy and the last of Autumn's embers. It was impossible to stay inside at such a time, so– with a light heart, and no idea of where I would go– headed out.

The little car took me south through Custer, down Lame Johnny Creek road (one of my favorites) and on to Hot Springs. Once there I decided to visit a place I had on my bucket list, and I was glad I did.

The Nathaniel and Mary Whitney Preserve at Cascade Creek is protected by the Nature Conservancy- one of my favorite organizations, and great stewards of the wild places and wetlands, protecting and preserving the integrity of valuable water sources, of this continent and around the world.

Every magical pathway curve held magic– the water was melodic and hypnotic in the late day light. The final magic hour crescendo blazed a rich symphony of brilliant color, as I was again reminded, that in this special place– beauty surrounds us!

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Winds of Change: Fall 2013

The late Autumn presents us
all her glory, offering us nourishment for both body and spirit
to sustain us through the long, dark, cold winter nights.

With Autumn's changing leaves, the offspring of the summer comes to fruition, for us to view in all it's loveliness!

Food for the body...

The Beauty of Cascade Springs, Fall 2013

A Wakan and healing pool

...food for the Spirit!

Even the little fish seemed to enjoy our visit!

So, this Fall, we in Lakota land– have welcomed back one who is so dear to us!

How nice to experience the joy of family in such a special Wakan place!

It is easy to find peace and replenishing of the spirit
in such a spot!

The Spirits fill the air, honoring us with their presence...truly,
Beauty Surrounds Us!

Hail to Spring!

There are many vignettes in a Black Hills springtime, which are here, then gone in the blink of an eye. It is the tempestuous nature of the spirits that live here. It is one of the things I love best- it reminds me of the tiny little spot I occupy in the Universe...

Take, for example, today. It was a partly sunny day all day, in the mid 70s. After dinner there was a change in the air...

 
..."Get ready" it said,...
so I did...










...and it came- 3/4 inch hail!

 Hail to Spring!

Spring Forward

I love Spring in the Black Hills. It's so dramatic- with changes happening from moment to moment. This year, Spring has "sprung" forward with a vengeance. By mid-March things were getting decidedly toasty. Everyone said it would pass, and we would surely get a blizzard. But, now that it is mid-April, and the lilacs are out, well- the odds are against it.

So it was in this frame of mind that I ventured out to Custer State Park to look for signs of Spring- flowers, baby Buffalo, shedding Buffalo!

The drive to the park was every bit as interesting!

The residents were accommodating, but..

...that's close enough!

The park was brilliant in it's early season splendor.
Water in abundance, and- due to the high elevation- stil plenty of snow and ice around the edges.

Still, shadows gather quickly in the 'Hills, and it is best to keep moving, so as
 not to get caught
by nightfall...

When the shadows get longer, one never knows...

what the shadows may bring...

...and had best not be caught up in them...
So with the setting sun I headed back north for the evening....But the weekend was not over yet!

The next day was even warmer- high 70's! So JhonDuane and I agreed to meet at a favorite picnic spot, to take full advantage of the cool pristine waters as they flow from the deep underground of the 'Hills...

A picnic always tastes better next to a bubbling spring-especially after your feet have cooled down...hard to believe this was the last day of March!
After a great picnic, a satisfying nap- it was time to call it- a very fine weekend, indeed!

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!