06 October 2011

SkyWatchFriday: Rocky Mtn Autumn, Butte Scenes

One day, afternoon temps were in the 80s. The next day fall came, and now it's light rain, highs in the 50s, and snow predicted by the weekend. Ah, but a lovely time of year with stormy mountain sunrises:

And nice sunsets as seen from uptown Butte America:

Fall colors are looking good, with most of the aspen groves well into the change:



And the ground glowing red with the bright leaves of Grouse Whortleberry:

Bull elk are beginning to whistle (aka "bugle") and rub their antlers on trees to lose the velvet:

Back in town, we now enjoy the new and improved (lots roomier) Quarry Brew Pub (with Vince at the taps):

Chuck & Lyza have plans for a restaurant and apartments on the spacious upper floors. Love that fire escape:

After beers, it's time for supper. Last week we visited an old Butte standby, the Pekin Noodle Parlor:

Lit up with a cheery neon sign:

The Pekin proudly proclaims its history:

And check out the cool, curtained private dining rooms. Given the population of Butte c. 1911 (lots of miners & prostitutes) you have to wonder what those rooms have seen:

As the expression goes, "Tap 'er light!"*

*  derived from the need to tamp blasting powder into a shot hole at a stope face in a mine; adapted to mean "Take it easy".

13 comments:

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

It's been way too long since I've feasted my eyes on golden aspens in the fall. Thanks for the memories!

STARWATCH

Sky above, earth below,
Watch the stars begin to glow.

Earth below, sky above—
Watch the stars with me, my love!


© 2011 by Magical Mystical Teacher

Western Sunset

From The Heart said...

All the photos are great...but those Aspens!!!! Gorgeous!
Blessings,
Shirley

Should Fish More said...

Looks good, Pat. I'm in Seattle, to Portland tomorrow, then next week on my long roadtrip south and east.
See you in the Spring.
Mike

Sylvia K said...

Fantastic captures, gorgeous skies and such beautiful aspens! Thanks for sharing the beauty! Have a great weekend!

Sylvia

The Equestrian Vagabond said...

Beautiful pictures - as usual!
- The Equestrian Vagabond

Tatjana Parkacheva said...

Nice post and photos.

Regards and best wishes

~ Sheepheads said...

You know ER,

Following your work always reminds us of how fortunate we are to be here. ~GT

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Very pretty! We were in Butte 2 weeks ago and love traveling to Montana, the Rocky Mountains, is like paradise on earth~

BLD in MT said...

Last week I traveled about western Montana from the bottom to the top and then on down again through Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Rocky Mountain National Parks. The changing colors of the aspens as we past was so stunning I could hardly believe my eyes. There is little prettier than a mountain covered in gold like that.

Great photos as always EcoRover.

troutbirder said...

Red skies, yellow hills, good beer, some conniviliaty and a little history to boot. Life looks good in Butte these days...

Crafty Green Poet said...

I love your photos of the sky and the autumnal colours!

The Pekin Noodle Bar looks like a nuce place to eat, I like the idea of the curtained off private dining rooms,

secret agent woman said...

The leaves are turning here, too. Those yellow aspens are lovely.

The Equestrian Vagabond said...

Love those colors!
It's chilly here at night now, (FINALLY!), sometimes a touch of frost. Many of our trees leaves already turned brown - my theory is, they got so much rain and grew so much this spring that there wasn't enough water to sustain that growth - but some have just started turning yellow. I am so giddy - it's my favorite time of year!
- The Equestrian Vagabond