Times of Old

Times of old fill me to the brim of excitement

As I am lost in the raucous history of now deserted places from times past.

Seeping into my bones are the emotions left behind 

In old shuttered buildings

And melancholy creaking trees 

That whisper age-old secrets

Into my ear

Like a tickle,

A hoarse laugh,

A message driven by horse and carriage--

Across miles vast.

Now a ghostly row of dilapidated buildings,

This stop is not one openly sought,

But for us history-loving folk,

 This meager row inspires in us

An ecstatic giddiness,
A wonderment over the secrets held here
(For there must be many)

As we relive a part of history

 Through the touch of a lens,

Through tromping across historic ground--

From which we are left
Brimming with awe.

Week in Photos

We took a short trip to the mountains earlier this week.  Although it was a quick jaunt there and back--the entire trip lasting no more than three full days--its brevity was fully reconciled by its quality.  Here are some images that I took during a few of our hikes/walks in the High Sierras:

Eureka Lake
(located in Plumas-Eureka State Park)

Ladybug with unique eye spots
(edge of Eureka Lake)

View of Eureka Lake from trail to Eureka Peak
(Entire hike is close to 2,000 feet in elevation gain in under 2 miles;
hike loops around the peak; we did not know about the loop, so we didn't "finish" the hike.
Instead of following the trail around the peak, we retraced our steps back after reaching the summit.)

Gold Lake
(Lakes Basin area)

Eye-catching growth
(Jamison City area)