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".