We experienced massive earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, and windstorms.  We saw early people, pioneer settlers and miners, gold, silver and more.  We are finishing a seven week tour through parts of Nevada and California, celebrating the best of the West in six western towns.

The people, the history, the geology, mineralogy and more!  A big thank  you to Shoshone, Beauty, Logandale, Pahrump, Goodsprings, and Joshua Tree.  It has been a great trip.

Critical, but stable was the report for several days.  About three weeks ago we reported a fellow rockhound and vendor friend, Al, that had fallen I’ll at a show and airlifted to another hospital. Al has been through heart surgery and a pacemaker and is off to rehab.  We are thankful for his ongoing recovery and ongoing prayer support.

The same day Al fell ill, the wife of one of that club’s members passed.  Life is short. Make peace with God, who is love, love your neighbor as yourself and have a forgiving spirit.

Today we are in Shoshone, California for the Old West Days celebration.  Music, food, arts, crafts, history, tours and more.  Ye-Haw!

The Gypsum Queen mine was in operation at the same time the Cubs won the World Series in 1908.  Fragile walls of gypsum, mined to make plaster, collapsed, killing two men, contributing to the mines closure.

Selenite, crystal gypsum, forms in layers within the sediment of this ancient lake bed.  This beautiful crystal gets it’s name from the Greek, seline, for the moon.  Ancient people believed Selenite was frozen moonlight.  Others believed Selenite allowed it’s owner to have clearness of thought or wisdom.  We collect it because it is beautiful.

Today begins the craft and art show as part of Old West Days celebration, here in Shoshone. As one of the gateways to Death Valley National Park, we expect a busy weekend.