Another pretty day in the west as we head off to Garnet Ghost town. It’s not far, but it’s back windy, windy roads where the land rises and falls—lots of rises.

You have to wonder why people made a town back there. Easy. Follow the gold. The river winds, too, and panning for gold led settlers to this isolated, hilly, forested spot.
They’ve faithfully preserved cabins, the big hotel—which was pretty damn fancy in its day—the saloons, always a big draw—the general store, the stables, the smithy.
We’ve been here before, but it’s just fascinating. And considering Kat, we drive down to the handicapped parking area. Otherwise it would have been a long, difficult walk down, and a seriously arduous climb back up for her. The park official got it, let us park there. And if they needed the space, would come find us so Jason would take the car up, park, come back, go up again and bring it down (good daddy).
Fortunately, they didn’t need the space during our visit.
We stop in the little gift shop—I pick up a geode for Colt. Onto the store where once upon a time you could by a can of coffee for a quarter, shaving soap for ten cents.
I’m delighted with the table strewn with old shoes and boots. And a dress shoe prominently displayed.
Miscellany/Kat Bet you can get a saw headboard on etsy! Caption & commentary by Laura/Photo by Kat Shoes!/NR Dress shoe/NR Highlander/BW Ready for a scrub and seasoning/Kat
We’ve got wringer washers, and incomprehensible—to me—tools, a pair of ancient skis so long the tips must have arrived five minutes before whoever wore them.
The Wells Hotel—designed and built by Mrs. Wells who married Mr. Wells, an Irish immigrant when she was 14 and he 29 (then had NINE children)—was considered the premiere hotel in the area. Three floors—with the attic level provided for miners or travelers to just lay out their bedrolls. The wallpaper—some of which was custom made—is mostly gone now. Let me just say the spirits aren’t. It felt very crowded and active in there, but if a hotel in a ghost town isn’t haunted, what’s the point?
It has a parlor, a huge kitchen area, and the rooms upstairs are certainly tiny by today’s standards. There are one or two larger rooms I imagine cost considerably more.
And the facilities only a short walk outside.

The ground shoots up or rolls up, and little cabins still dot the rises. The trees cover the steep juts, giving the town that isolated, intimate feel. I love The Newlywed Cabin. Garnet was a rare thing—a family mining town with family and community picnics and events. Whenever someone got married, they could use the cabin until they built their own—or somebody else got married.
A nice boost for the happy couple.
Kat takes plenty of rests on benches, and wisely doesn’t climb too high.
Garnet gallery:
Homesteader/BW Bellows/j a-b …as tall as BW/Kat “Let’s lean the hoop by the sapling” A good idea at the time. Caption by Laura/Photo by NR Stable/j a-b
We get back a little late, and decide to grab food from the buffet and take it home. They’re great about this, have take-away boxes, so we have a little post-day trip lunch at our own table.
Time for Mama to rest.
I start a new book. Decide quickly it’s just too hot to read outside, but I have a nice bed to stretch out on while I relax with a book.
Refreshed, Kat’s ready to start the puzzle we picked up in Missoula. Hey, I’m game.
This one’s 1500 pieces, and HARD! I can’t remember having a frame take me so long to put together. Lots of lovely but blending colors. This one’s going to take awhile.
But it’s dinner time. I’m still full from lunch, but off we go (Jason on foot). I work up a little appetite wandering around taking pictures of flowers, and the big berries (?) on a very cool tree.

But even with that, I decide I can only manage a salad—and fries. Always room for a few fries.
They are delish.
Today’s #Food-a-rama
Breakfast/Kat Omelet/BW Fish over cake o’rice/Kat Guess who ordered these?/Kat Seared scallops/BW Salmon over cake o’corn/Kat Jenga of greens and fries/Kat Dessert/Kat
Not much of a sunset—the sky went soft and blurry, with a tint of rose. Dusk lingers while we finish the meal. But why not have dessert?

Well, if you insist, I can eat a scoop of sorbet. Which is also delish.
It’s cooled off enough I walked back to the car for my jacket before dessert. And now, ready for home, it’s night, and there’s that slice of moon, with Jupiter and Venus bright.
We have so many trees at home—comes from living in the woods—that I rarely see so many stars. It’s a treat.
Back for another shot at the puzzle. Whew! I’m on a purple area that has a zillion shades. Kat worked on a green area—a zillion shades. She is far more advanced than me.
Now workout’s done, and Kat and BW are back from breakfast—I think Jason on foundation work, and BW’s heading down to the river to take some photos. Kat’s already at the puzzle. I may have to give that some time.
Tonight, we paint!
Nora
In today’s #randomkatness:
