Deadwood and I Didn't Bust!!

The last couple of years,

 we have finished combining before the long weekend.

I love it....

It means I actually get to have fun on the LONG weekend!!

We hopped in the car and headed to the Black Hills!!

We spent on day in Rapid City,

 where

 Tracey told me about a quilt store I had not known about!!

The Quilt Connection

Arnold thanks you, Tracey!!

There was so much eye candy!!!

I had to buy this pattern.  

These round quilts are the creation of Joanne Hoffman who is from that area

I just loved the colors and symmetry of these ladies!!

But I controlled myself and enjoyed the teasing!!

Browns and blues...can't go wrong!!

The old fire hall has been repurposed as a restaurant and bar

There was an Artist Trading Post beside that...

Native star quilts.....

Czech glass beads of every color......

Leathers and buttons made of bones....

We toured the canyons back to Deadwood stopping at the Cosmic Mystery

This is where there is one spot that defies all gravity.

It forces you to lean as far as you can just to feel like you are standing straight!!

Just the weirdest but coolest thing!!

Was worth the 10$ to see water run up hill!!!

The second day we rented an UTV and did the trails in Spearfish Canyon.

This is how someone else returned their unit!!

We had no troubles at all...

It was crazy to see how much damage a tornado had done to the forest this summer...

Trees were down everywhere but the Forestry was quickly cleaning it up!

Good old green to the rescue!!

We didn't really know where we were going so just picked our way through trails...

weaving between South Dakota and Wyoming

We stumbled across a Ranger Station where you could see the world!!

I think I see home....

This is the 5th wettest year in the Black Hills. 

The cows were to their bellies in grass.

It was a fun day and no one had to come find us!!

On the way home we stopped at Watford City, ND at a new Deli chain

The Smiling Moose 

They had very interesting combinations of soups and sandwiches

Their marketing and logos were really cool

But the kids working the joint made the presentation very sloppy!! 

Looks like they dipped the mug in the soup to serve us!!

I guess they were trying to make us feel like we were at home!!

It was a nice little get away none the less!!

Christa

Deadwood but Not Bust....

One of our favorite places to go for a quick getaway 

is

 Deadwood, South Dakota

It's like stepping back into the Wild West...

It's just a short drive and before you know it...

You are in the beautiful Black Hills

 

Our hotel room had this pillow on the bed.

My first thought was what a gorgeous One Block Wonder that could make!!

 

No, Brenda...I didn't steal it!!

I would have needed at least four!!

Someone was selling blue jean quilts in the restaurant

 

I thought they were pretty cheap!

 

We love to do canyon tours so we headed for the waterfalls in Spearfish Canyon

 

It is still a WATER fall if it's dry???

We saw the mountain goats...

but not in the Mountains.....

in the middle of Deadwood!!

 

I always feel like it's not a vacation till my first(and only) margarita!!

 

We tried to rent a Side by side and do the canyon trails

 but

 they were all booked for the long weekend

 

So we just took some time to sit and enjoy the scenery

Till the people in the other rockers got up and left 

and

the strange man with his pants wide open started heading our way to chat.

That's when I told Arnold...let's hit the road!!

(there is ALWAYS a 'second story.'..which the girls at quilting are privy to!!)

It was super dry in South Dakota, too.

 

The smoke was extremely thick on Sunday.

You can barely make out the hills in the distance...

 

We met a man from Kansas. 

He was disappointed as he could hardly see Mount Rushmore.

We could hardly see Crazy Horse either.

 

I got to spend some time in at Fabric City in Rapid City, SD

I have been looking for a new sewing machine. 

I am leaning towards a Bernina 770QE. Very similar to my Pfaff. 

They were very informative there!!

I thought I took more pictures but the only one I found was of this pattern.

I was thinking of how much Lori would love it!

 
 

All in all....

It was a nice getaway!!

Christa

Ps.

 My condolences to Heather and Gordon Piermantier 

as their dog, Bandit 

made his way to the Dog Park in the Sky.

XXX           XXX

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XXX          XXX

Deadwood or Bust!!

 

It was Deadwood AND bust...good thing Arnold was lucky!!

 

(it's was his turn....I have been his sugar mamma for years now!)

 

 

 

One of our favorite places to go is Deadwood,SD

 

The drive is beautiful...

 



 

Since it rained, we hopped in the car and went for the weekend...

 

We labour enough all year

 

 without spending the long weekend doing it too!!

 

We stayed in Spearfish,SD at The Secret Garden B&B

 



 

It was historical home from the Patti Hearst Family built in 1892

 

It was a quaint sanctuary

 

very well preserved...

 

I loved how the keys were on a custom made holder

 

This was our first experience with a B&B

 

Breakfast was outside which was nice

but

13C(55F) is just a little too chilly for ME!!!

 

We headed off to the Crazy Horse Monument....

 

 

 

The sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski was asked to sculpt a replica of Crazy Horse

into a chosen mountain way back in 1948!!

 

 

Korczak had worked on Mt Rushmore when he was 16 years old

and

had the fortitude and drive to take on this new challenge.

 

He climbed 750 steps up a ladder daily to work on this project

AND

still managed to have energy to produce 10 kids!!!

 

 

He dedicated his entire life to this project.

 

He was an amazing sculptor.....

 

 

His family has carried on his torch,

 creating a source of income to complete this huge project

by

 building an interpertive center and university for Native people

 

 

The incredible arts of the Native people are displayed through out..

 

 

This star quilt was the first quilt I ever made...

 

 

I never knew the significance of it...

 



 

 

Their bead work is so detailed...

 

 

 

 

I loved this display of beads...too beautiful to use!!

 

I guess every hobby has it's stash!!

 

 

Artwork....

 

Rugs and dresswear...

 



 

It has taken 67 years to get it to this point...

 

 

And this is what it is destined to be one day....

 

 

You could take home your own piece of the 'rock'!!

 

That is one way to clear the debris...one rock at a time!!



 

It was amazing to see who far people had travelled...

 



 

 



 

 

We were probably one of the closest travellers!!



It is always a great escape!!

 

So glad it finally rained!!

Christa