This is our last day at Toadstool. I still have some work to finish up so John is going to do some scouting for our ride out and to see if he can find a good place to rockhound.
During his travels he sees cattlemen moving cattle and some pretty birds to take pictures of for me. When we visited the Agate Fossil Monument, there were signs talking about the invasive thistle growing in the area. They are introducing certain bugs that lay their eggs in thistle. I commented, “Where are all the finches?” Finches love thistle.
John found that they are enjoying the thistle, at least in this area of Nebraska.
He also got a nice shot of an Eastern King bird. So stately, wouldn’t you say?
John finds rockhounding spot and a bonus along with it. Now I know I said I wasn’t going to post any more pictures of pronghorns, but I just can’t resist posting this one. It’s a BABY PRONGHORN! OMG! The cuteness factor is over the top.
He said this little one was curled up and wasn’t any bigger than 24 inches around and about 15 pounds. It could fit in my lap!!!
The area for picking rocks is bigger than I thought it was going to be. This area of Nebraska is in an ash fallout area, meaning they got all of the dust and none of the flow that makes cool rocks.
We managed to find a handful or two of stuff.
On our way back to camp we see a Golden Eagle surveying his domain. They are more common out west than they are in the east. They like these wide open fields for hunting wabbits.
The clouds have been building all day. Soon after we get home a big thunderstorm rolls through. As the storm rolls away from us the sun is beginning to set and we are blessed with this awesome rainbow. My daughter said it looks like an alien abduction with a rainbow beam.
As our friends Sue and Candy know, clouds can mean a gorgeous sunset if they don’t totally hid the sun. We have spent many evenings in Quartzsite waiting for Mother Nature’s show. Sometimes the show is on the rocks and not the horizon. Who knows where it will be.
So begins our sunset watch.
Mother Nature builds her sunset shows gradually, layer by layer.
We are now reaching the point where it is going to turn into something spectacular or it will just fade away. The anticipation is killing you, I know. What will it be?
Ah, tonight she chose to set the sky on fire. Very satisfying.
