p.quinn

Skywatch.....What Day Is This????

Ok. 

I guess if we are being technical, I would have to call this Skywatch Two Weeks Ago Tuesday!

But I'm not feeling technical at the moment.

I'm just feeling glad to be able to upload photos.

Besides, the day doesn't matter---I just wanted to share these......

This was from the week before I left for my Mom's the first  time.

I was having all sorts of frustration then, too, so I just kinda junked it all for a little while and headed out with camera in hand to see what I could see.

Lots of rather strange clouds, for sure.

These were hanging out over an area that was severely burned in the Grizzly Gulch Wildfire of 2002.

Thousands of huge pines used to cover that whole area.

If you can believe it, those hillsides are looking much better than they did for the first couple of years after the fire....

And this funky little cloud is floating above the Adams House Museum which is just about a block away from where I live.

They say this house is haunted.

They also say that a long ago owner used to say that to keep pesky neighborhood kids away.........

Smart woman.

Now for some wildlife.

Yay.

I was pleased, when out on the trail I saw this and finally  had my camera along....

He had gotten in a partially fence yard and couldn't figure out how to make his escape.

Turkeys aren't very bright.

Also in that yard were these....

{kinda tame} Bunnies!

Hundreds of them.

Or so it seems.

They are all over the yard because they multiply like...well...rabbits.

Their owner, Carl, catches them with a long handled fishing net.

Really.

Tourists get awfully excited when they stroll along the trail and see all those rabbits.

But this next one is what really got me  excited......

A Chuckie!

That's a Woodchuck to everyone else.

Isn't he sweet?

I hadn't seen a Chuckie in three or four years.

At least.

The last time I even heard one was two years ago.

They just keep getting pushed further and further back in the trees....

Sorry for the lovely propane tank, but when I saw a Chuckie, I didn't really care where he was.

These were both shot on zoom, across a creek and through some trees as it was.....

My walk took me past the storage sheds.

I stood for awhile outside my unit and silently communed with all my treasures on the other side of that locked door.......

Now for some odds and ends from my jaunt.

And I do mean odds..........

Strong winds?

Busy coons?

Nothing escapes me.

Absolutely nothing.

I'm not sure which is worse.

The side view....

Or the rear.

Pretty groovy.

As are these.

Ok.

Now a couple prettier ones....

 

Then it was time to go home.

I was feeling some better by that time.

Actually, I was feeling much better after I saw this bright blue OK on the ground.

I took it as a sign.

Who left it for me?

Oh, who cares.

It just made for a nice sight.

All done.

 

I am linking this post to:

{no, I'm not....this public computer won't let me...}

Now go check out skies from all around the globe!

Skywatch Friday!

When I started out on my walk, I never dreamed I would have such glorious blue sky to show by the time I was done....

As a matter of fact, I almost didn't even go out for my walk and photos today....

The temperature never got out of the 30s.

It rained, it snowed, it blowed.

Shortly after I went out, it looked like this.

I almost went back home.

I'm glad I didn't.

Because I would have missed this happy fellow.

At the smorgasbord for birds.

I would never have seen these cheery daffodils.....

These what-ever-they-ares....

{anybody have a clue?}

Or this lovely example of Deadwood sidewalk.....

{yes, that really is a city sidewalk}

And I would have missed all of these beauties!

They always say that if you don't like the weather out here in the Black Hills, wait five minutes.

Today was a perfect example of just that.

Though snow was still filtering down like fairy dust, the sun came out and the sky turned blue.

By then it was getting late, but I made a mad dash for Mount Moriah once again.

You see, around the first of May comes the end of peace and quiet in the cemetery.....

The tourists will be returning.

I wanted one more walk up there alone.

I wanted one more hike up to Seth Bullock's grave.

When I reached the cemetery parking lot, I was dismayed to see several cars, and worse yet, the gift shop was already open for the season.

Yep.

We have a gift shop at the cemetery.

I don't want to talk about that.

Admission was still free though as the ticket booth hadn't opened yet.

Yep.

We charge to get into the cemetery.

I don't want to talk about that either.

{Peace and quiet isn't the only reason I go in the off season.............}

This new addition greeted me at the entrance....

Kinda struck me as a bit humorous.

Either I was venturing into Wanda's Cut Hut and didn't need an appointment.....

Or I should be worried if I was allowed to walk-out.

And heaven forbid I should need facilities.

Anyway.

I entered.

I caught sight of the Yates Shaft of the now defunct Homestake Gold Mine way off in the distance.....

And White Rocks towering up over the top of Mount Moriah.

I have actually climbed White Rocks.

Once.

About five or six years ago.

It practically killed me.

I was down on my hands and knees before I reached the top...

Clawing at every rock and root I could find.

But, oh!  The view when I reached the top took my breath away.

{what was left of it...}

Then I had to crawl back down....................

I want to try to make it back up there again, this time with my camera...

Seth Bullock's grave is quite a trek up from the top boundry of the cemetery on what is basically a slightly enhanced fire trail.

This sign points the way to where to depart the cemetery and pick up the trail.

Seth and his wife, Martha, have quite an impressive stone surrounded by a fancy wrought iron fence.

Seth Bullock holds a big place in Deadwood history, arriving here in 1876.  Among other things, he was Deadwood's first sheriff, the first Forest Supervisor of the Black Hills, and a close personal friend of Teddy Roosevelt.

Seth built a luxury hotel in Deadwood which bears his name {it is still here and is now a casino...} where he died in 1919 in Room #211.  Some say Seth haunts the hotel and this rumor was featured on the "Unsolved Mysteries" tv program many years ago.

Even though it is such a climb to visit Seth, he still gets his share of visitors.

And as is the custom, they like to leave him little gifts....

Like silk flowers and rocks.....

Coins.....

And cigarettes.

Go figure.

Me?

I have a custom of sitting on a bench ever so thoughtfully provided there and enjoying a bag of M&M's with Seth.

Today I had to brush off a dusting of snow before I sat down.

It was a cold perch. 

Then it was time to head back down the hill.

The big birds were wheeling up in the sky as usual.

And I passed many of these.

No, we aren't planning to host a big BBQ.

These are called slash piles and they are made when the US Forest Service thins an area to help with fire prevention.  The piles will eventually be burned, usually during the winter when there is plenty of snow on the ground.

{click and make bigger...you can see snowflakes!}

Before I got to the bottom, another brief flurry of snow hit, glistening as it stuck in the pine needles.

Finally I was back down out of the cemetery and on the street, headed for home.

{yes, they let me walk-out, and yes, this post will end some time soon...}

I noticed my shadow growing long on this stone retaining wall....

 

And the lilacs there....tiny leaves almost out!

Yay!

While intent on photographing the lilacs, to borrow a line from the poem The Night Before Christmas...

"When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter..." 

Finally the clatter got my attention.

I turned around....

My camera was set on macro!

Crap!

{somewhat} Fast re-set of functions and.....

Bingo!

Finally! 

Something more than tracks left behind in the mud!

There were five!

Look hard...you will find them all....

And as always, there was one that was a little braver than the rest, who stayed behind when the others put up their tails and fled.

Yep.

There's one in every crowd.

 

I am linking this post to:

 Now go view skies from all around the globe!

 

 

 

Skywatch Friday!

This Is Lame!

Alert

Well, isn't that just swell?

It wasn't such a wonderful day in the neighborhood today....

We have been under a winter storm watch all day, lasting into tomorrow morning.

The temperature this afternoon was in the low 30s with strong winds and snow flurries, so I weenied out and stayed in the house.

I trotted out the back door, aimed upwards, aimed downwards and ran back in the house.

At that time, the snow was still pretty much melting as it hit the ground...

But not any more.

Tonight it is very white out there.

The snowplows have been rumbling up and down the street all evening.

We could get up to a foot of snow by tomorrow.

How will the Easter Bunny find his way?

By looking for the {dirty} welcome mat, that's how!

 

I am linking this post to:

 Go check out skies from all around the world!

 

Skywatch Friday!

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood....

Especially after four inches of snow on Thursday.

It was mostly all melted by this afternoon, so I set out, camera in hand, to see what I could capture for Skywatch Friday!

This is where I headed.

It is one of my favorite places to walk.

 

More than two hours and 157 photos later, I returned home....

{you can relax...I'm not showing all 157...}

It is gorgeous on this little-traveled road.

So much beauty if you will only take the time to look and see.

Plus it has one of those handy dandy traffic mirrors.

I think I'm still allowed to walk here.

Although with all those sweet rolls I've been eating lately, I can't be too sure....

I was once again hoping to come across some deer to photograph.

I saw some in this area earlier in the week, but of course I didn't have my camera with me.

And I saw a few today.

With their white tails waving at me as they ran in the opposite direction!

Since they are deer and I am only a stupid human, they spotted me long before I saw them and that was the end of that.

So, once again, this is what I have to show in the deer sighting department.

The big fellows were riding the drafts again today.

Do you know how hard it is to focus on a bird circling way up in the sky?

Very.

The chipmunks have come out for the summer!

I almost missed him I was so busy looking at something else.

He practically had to stand up on his hind legs and wave his paws to get my attention.

{sometimes that is just what it takes with me....}

Notice how he has his cheeks stuffed with dinner?

I want this.

It has laid beside the road for years now.

If I could lift it up {and had a place to put it} it would be mine, all mine....

Can't you just see it in a flower garden???

I can.

I'm pretty sure this is how my chunk of bricks started out life.

Ok.

Moving along.

Now you will think I am downright certifiable.....

I want this, too.

Every time I walk by, I slow down and gawk.

I'm sure it is full of treasures.

And vermin.

{please click to make bigger}

But look at that side yard!

All the rock terraces that someone built long ago...

Can you imagine what it looked like in the day?

I can.

I could sit out front on my funky {hard} stone bench and watch the world go by.

Or my house fall the rest of the way down.

Whichever happens first.

In the backyard there are piles and piles of stuff I would just love to sift through...

I mean, look at those spindles!

And there is a tiny little shed.

Which would be my studio.

It has very cool architectural details....

Such as this inspired patch job.

But wait!

If you think that is inspired, get a load of this....

I think an artistic soul once called this place home.

I could, too.

All I would need are a hammer and some nails.

And about a million dollars.

At least.

And best of all, my humble new abode sits on Dudley Street.

Just icing on the cake.

Am I crazy?

Don't answer that, please.

Now here are a few photos that I just plain liked...

{because this post isn't quite long enough yet}

 

Strange combo, I know.

And, to finish off the walk, my feet.

Once again.

 

 The end.

~~~~~

Now here is my third and final tease...

Be sure to check back this weekend...

~~~~~

I am linking this post to:

Go check out skies from all around the globe!

Skywatch Friday!

Yes, I promise this was taken today.

Yes, I promise that I did not go out on one dreary day, take a whole bunch of photos and try to pass them off as what seems like an endless string of yucky Fridays.

Late in the afternoon when the rain stopped, I put on my layers {and hat} and headed out, camera in hand.....

My.

I certainly look tall, don't I??

In the city parking lot, I noticed this.....

Good thing they were driving a van, wouldn't you say?

Maybe they can get one of those boys to wash it.

The sky finally started to clear nicely.....

Clear enough to see the tiny sliver of moon almost directly overhead.

But there was still plenty of evidence of the afternoon's showers....

Drops clinging to the naked tree branches....

And puddles.

Reflecting me.

Maybe one day soon, my foot/blog-thingy photos will feature something other than my mudders........

Something without holes..........

 

I am linking this post to:

Go see skies from all around the globe!

Skywatch Friday!

Yep.

Still on the gray and murky side here in Deadwood.

As a matter of fact, it started to sprinkle rain just as I went out to get these photos.

I caught a raindrop hitting the water in this puddle {by accident...} as I stopped to snap a shot of this reflection!

Here is another cool water related thing I saw.....

Water freezing under an overhang of rock!

You can see the drips to the left and the top center if you look closely or enlarge the photo.....

So is it freezing from the ground up?

Or did it freeze down from above and then break or melt off?

Who cares!

It is downright cool!

And here is yet another water phenomenon....

Me!

In a puddle.

Now that  is art.

Next is something that I just had to throw in......

How do you explain that??? 

It wasn't there the last time I walked by.

And it isn't exactly anywhere that a person could have placed it...

The branch that is jammed right through the ornament is hanging out in space over a creek.

Ponder that for awhile.

Then I saw this guy.....

I love seeing the big birds riding the drafts.

It almost  makes me want to fly........

And even though it did spit rain for almost my entire walk, there were a couple redeeming features....

I found two pennies under a parking meter.

And I was battling mud, not snow!

Yay!

 

I am linking this post to:

Go view skies from all around the globe!

 

Skywatch Friday!

Back to a more wintry sky in Deadwood today.

Well, for pretty much most of the week actually.

And from the sound of it, next week as well.

Crud.

It was supposed to start snowing this afternoon.....

It didn't.

But you could see the moisture in the air as you gazed out across the hillsides, which I tried to capture in my photo.

{much more noticeable if you click on the photo and make it larger....}

There have been a few flurries tonight, but so far, that has been it.

Maybe up to half a foot by the end of tomorrow.

Yay.

Yep.

A rather murky day.

And down below?

Murky there, too.

I was hoping that I wouldn't fall in..........

 

I am linking this post to:

Go check out skies from all across the globe!

Skywatch Friday!

Oh, it was beautiful in Deadwood today!

Look how that snow is disappearing from the hills!

I went back up to Mt. Moriah Cemetery.

This time, though, I went on in........

I was hoping to have the place to myself, as is often the case during non-tourist months, but that was not to be this time.

The peace and quiet of the cemetery was being interrupted by several groups of sightseers, one of which included some rather noisy and boisterous children.

However, there was an intrusion I didn't mind.....

The whole cemetery was alive with squirrels!

Frolicking, chattering squirrels.

Everywhere, squirrels.

Oh the ruckus that erupted when another squirrel came and threatened to relieve this fellow of his lunch!

I could tell that they are used to having the place all to themselves now.

Running right by me on the pathways, just inches from my feet.

That will all change when the tourists come back.......

Yup.

They will make themselves scarce.

But for today, the cemetery was full of squirrels.

There is a flag that flies at Mt. Moriah 24/7.

The stiff breeze was catching it pretty good today.

At the base of the flag, there is a scenic overlook of Deadwood.

But here is what you see if you look down at the overlook......

On another day, I will show you what you see by looking out.

Soon......

 

I am linking this post to:

Go check out the skies from all around the globe!

Skywatch Friday!

Another glorious Friday!

Unless you count the wind.

Wheeeeeee!

Several of the photos I took were blurry due to me being blown by the wind....

But this one turned out just fine! 

One of my favorite spots, I'm sure you will see photos from this vantage point from time to time.

Where am I?

Way up at Mount Moriah Cemetery.

Yep.

Our most famous residents, Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane, are buried here.

And how did I get there?

By starting at the bottom, of course!

Just one of many sets of metal stairs located around Deadwood, fondly referred to as "The City Steps".

I think they were the inspiration for StairMaster.

Really.

Especially when you climb them two stairs at a time.....

You don't have to be a mountain goat to live here.

But it helps.

 

I am linking this post to:

Go view skies from all around the globe!

Skywatch Friday!

Hallelujah!

Blue sky!

Can you believe it?!?

A truly glorious day in the Black Hills.

The hillside in my photo used  to be covered with pine trees.

They were obliterated by the Grizzly Gulch forest fire in 2002.

Now it is hard for me to remember what it looked like before the fire....

The section of trail that I was on today is usually pretty good for viewing wildlife.  I was hoping to show you some deer and wild turkey photos.

But today was not to be the day.

The turkeys were there.

I could hear them.

I stood waiting, listening, trying to make out where they were.

Finally.

W..a..y up on the hillside I noticed movement!

I was hoping they were making their way down to the creek, but I was just a few minutes too late.

They were heading up, not down.

This is all I could get at maximum zoom......

{look closely....there are two turkeys....}

And as for the deer?

This is as close to a deer sighting as I could get!

Better luck next time...............

 

I am linking this post to:

Go view skies from all around the globe!