#50: Lead

I am back, at least temporarily. 

Harebell

The transition went fairly smoothly, no bumps at least as far as moving is concerned. I am hoping the change of all the official stuff (taxes, DMV, plates, etc) go as smoothly, but that will take some time to swing. In the mean time there's job applications to fill out. 

It turns out the woods behind the house were once part of the local mine, and had a small railway running through it. The mine closed in 2001, but the rail has been taken up and a trail remains. Whoohoo! woods to play in, right at my back door!   

While waiting on callbacks from various places of employment, I went out and took some photos of the local flora. 

There were a few critters too, a chipmunk or three, and a small gray snake that I have met a couple of times out there, but no one wants to stop and pose. I guess I will just have to settle for the plants, since they don't move very much. 

The trail goes across the mountain, clear into Deadwood. I walked across the other day, it took about an hour and a half. I guess it depends on how fast you walk and how many times you need to catch your breath (I needed to a couple of times coming back--it was steep at the end!) 

Tansy... DO NOT EAT!! ;)

There are whole fields of purple pea flowers, I suspect someone planted sweet peas a long time ago and just forgot about them. 

There are also lots and lots of tansy. It's pretty and dries well for dried bouquets, but a bit on the poisonous side. It was reportedly used back in the day to induce miscarriages, but often it was fatal for the mother, as well. 

The hill, as well as the front yard, has chicory growing on it. It's pretty but doesn't make very good cut flowers, as the stuff pretty much wilts when you pick it. 

There were also patches of thistles and a few sprigs of yarrow here and there. I can only imagine what the place looks like in spring when the other stuff starts blooming. 

Sweet pea... no not Popeye's swee'pea.

B&M Shaft & Headframe

We are right next to the old mine, so of course there are bits and pieces of mine stuff still floating around. 

This was used to move stuff kind of like an elevator, and was apparently called a "headframe". 

It's fenced off, so this is about as close as you can get. Still, looks pretty neat even from a distance. 

....And this....is the hole.... 

Also fenced off, although I can certainly see why. ;) 

Where are all these grasshoppers coming....
......oh. Nevermind. 

Almost forgot to mention the bugs. I saw beetles and ladybugs, and ants....and grasshoppers. I have never seen so many friggin grasshoppers in my life. They were everywhere. But, there were no mosquitoes and no ticks. So I can't complain too much.

More coming soon!

Aye,

Kraneia