Butterflies and the Gold Nugget Mine

 "So what's today's plan?" asked Mr. Pinker as we sat at camp enjoying the day. 

"Hmm, I am not for sure, " I replied. "First, how do you feel?" I inquired. The day before Mr. Pinker had been feeling a bit poorly with tummy troubles. We spent the whole day at camp with an occasional stroll around the campsite. 

" I feel fine and dandy! " Mr. Pinker exclaimed . 

"Well, then I want to go on a ride out and about, but I let's get something to eat first."

Mr. Pinker began bustling about in the camper preparing   Mediterranean salmon wraps for lunch. After eating , we began to pack up the side by side for a day's adventure. I pulled on my coat because there was a chill in the air. 

" I think we will go explore the Gold Nugget mine. " Do you have everything ? " asked Mr. Pinker. 

"Oh, wait!" I exclaimed. "I forgot my quilt blocks. " I sprinted back to the ole' truck camper and in two shakes of a lamb's tail, I was exiting with pretty peach quilt blocks in hand. 

Mr. Pinker eyed me . "Why do you need quilt blocks when we are going up in the mountains ? asked Mr. Pinker as he shook his head. 

"You will see. " I said with a grin. 

Soon our side  by side was puttering down the  rocky road, across washes and over the hills to New Water Mountains Wilderness.

It was not long before we reached the old  site of the Gold Nugget mine which was abandoned long ago. 

"Oooh let's stop at the old shack, " I told Mr. Pinker. 

The old mining cabin had certainly seen better days. But it was interesting to look at. "Look at the sink counter, " I told Mr. Pinker. 

"Looks like they had some form of electricity at some point whether by generator or "what not" as I eyed the remnants of old electrical outlet boxes.  

"Isn't the fireplace magnificent"  said Mr. Pinker . It has quartz rock in it. 

There were several rooms in the cabin. The outside of the cabin had rock walls splattered with  peach and silver paint where vandals had made their marks. 

As far as the inside goes, you could see the skeleton of the house with wood studs, rusty tin walls behind the rock , some insulation and once plastered walls. 

According to one blog, several stories have been told about the widow who lived in the house. One story said she hide her treasures in the old walls while another tale is that she left cabin  with treasure in tow to Yuma. Whether any of this is true, I have no idea. 

An abandoned gear in the desert. 

Not far from the cabin, was the mine. We first made our way to the large deep shaft mine where a hoist was still in place. "I am surprised this is not covered, " I said quietly. 

The retaining wall near the hoist of the mine shaft . 

Mr. Pinker picked up a pebble and threw it down the mine shaft. " This mine is about 50 feet or so deep, " he speculated. I backed up. As sure-footed as I am , I did not want to accidentally slip . 

One of the deep shafts of the old Gold Nugget Mine. 

"Let's see what else we can discover, "  I said to Mr. Pinker . We began to explore the many trails along the Gold Nugget Mine. 

Trails and landscape along the mine. 

One side of the mountain had loads of these black rock. The landscape was scattered with beautiful cacti including cholla. 

"Whoa there Nelly," I chimed to Mr. Pinker as we drove along the trail. "Stop right here!" I jumped out admiring the tall saguaro nestled among the black rock. " Just perfect!" 

"What are you doing now? " asked Mr. Pinker . 

"It is photo shoot time! " Hee! Hee! I pulled out my black calico butterfly block  which I  appliqued on a pretty peach fabric. 

Nearby was a gorgeous yellow shrub. Do you know what it is called? My yellow butterfly fluttered onto the bush. These blocks are 15 1/2" squared unfinished. 

"Look over there, " said Mr. Pinker. My gaze followed his pointed finger to an ocotillo in bloom

Ocotillo cactus bloom. 

"Now you are getting the hang of it, hun", I replied as I smiled at Mr. Pinker. "My red butterfly will look perfect with the bloom. 

Mr. Pinker stopped at a mining marker but chose to walk beyond it to look at a pile of rocks. 

My blue butterfly that I appliqued yesterday looked mighty handsome with the marker. 

As I carried a handful of butterfly blocks, we explored more mining shafts. This one was not as deep - well not anymore. 

We soon made our way to one of the ditches where the miners had sampled a quartz vein. 

A butterfly fluttered into the pile of quartz rock. 

A tailing pile of quartz . Some of the rocks have minerals like iron in them. 

Mr. Pinker enjoyed looking at the holes and where they were dug - like this one. 

This is where a sampling was done following the quartz vein. 

I spotted the ore pile and knew it was perfect for another butterfly block. 

Ore dug out of the ground when the miners were in search of gold. 

The fabric in this block reminds me of the 1970's. I swear my sister had some curtains in this pattern. 😀💛  

Over 10 years ago, I bought a big bag of butterfly wings at the thrift store and have slowly been appliqueing them into quilts. This is just one of the butterflies in found in the bag. 

As I was focused on the photo shoot. Mr. Pinker spotted a Trumpet plant. I had never seen or heard of one, but he quickly told me about it. 

The Trumpet Plant grows in highly mineralized soil. Old timers used to say that if you find a trumpet plant you may find gold. 

The thickness of part of the stem is the "trumpet" in the Trumpet plant. 
"Let's head back to the retaining wall, " I told Mr. Pinker. I have butterflies to photograph. 

With a nod of his head, we were soon back at the deep mine shaft. I spread the 7 butterflies onto the ground to be photographed. 

" Are these all of your blocks?" asked Mr. Pinker.

" No , I still have one more to applique," I replied. " I am going to have 8 butterfly blocks and 8 flower blocks unless I change my mind." 

" Sounds lovely, " said Mr. Pinker as he scanned the "butterfly block ridden " ground.  " Are you ready to head out? " he asked. 

" I have a rumbly in my tummy . " I said with a chuckle . I am getting hungry. 

We decided to make our way back to the camp. Rather than going down the same rocky trail, we chose to travel another  well traveled path. 

As we puttered along the dusty trail, I yelled "STOP!" 

Mr. Pinker screeched the side by side to a stop. With a smile on my dust covered face, I said, "I want to take a photo of that magnificent saguaro arch. " 

I jumped out of the side by side and ran over and started snapping photos.   The saguaro was dying and had fallen over.  

This is a look at the inside of the saguaro. 

As I chattered about the saguaro, I looked up to see Mr. Pinker not paying one bit of attention.😏😄 He had his binoculars out spying a rock formation.  I jumped back into the side by side and Mr. Pinker wheeled the side by side into a wash. "Well , as long as it does not rain and there is not a flash flood, we are "A OK" . 

 

"Sounds comforting," I replied. 

"I am going to go check out the rock formation. Will you be ok here?", he asked. 

"Sure , I said . "Take your  time. " I pulled out my 8th butterfly block and began to take small nips of the fabric with my needle and thread as I appliqued it.  

Soon I heard the crunch of feet on small rock and I knew Mr. Pinker was returning before I could finish my applique. "Oh well," I sighed. 

It was getting evening and our bellies continued to growl. We slowly made our way back to camp. We passed one vehicle , but it had seen better days. The things you will see in the middle of nowhere. 

Once we returned to camp, I finished the green butterfly wings . It was a good day indeed.  Oh and I did satisfy the rumbly in my tummy with some enchilada soup. Yum! Yum! 

Soooo... to make a long story short. I bet you are wondering what my Slow Stitching project is today. Hee! Hee! I will work on butterfly bodies and then begin the embroidery work on the antennas.  Gotta finish these little  butterflies don't I? 

That's my story and I am sticking to it!   Hee! Hee! 

Thank you so much for dropping by. I wish you an awesome day, Sweeties! 

 As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"Genius is the Gold in the mine, talent is the miners who work to get it out "-Marguerite Gardiner

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my baby sister, Amy. Love and miss you, Amo. 

☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃

I am joining these lovely ladies' link parties. I hope you check them out; they always have so many wonderful projects going on and provide the opportunity for other needle workers to meet.

Frederique at   Quilting Patchwork Applique for Patchwork & Quilts - Saturday

Kathy at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday

Kate at Life in Pieces for  Stitching Stuff ( Sunday) 

Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh Scrap - Sunday 

Melva at Melva Loves Scraps for Sew & Tell- Sunday

Brenda at Songbird Designs for Monday Musings

Judy at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts for Design Wall Monday

Carol at Quilt Schmilt  for To Do List Tuesday 

An upside down heart found on the porch of the mining cabin.