A Day the Lord Made
Sunday was our scheduled day to enjoy God’s creation in the Black Hills. On our way to church, we drove the Iron Mountain Road. This is one of its three tunnels, built especially to frame the Shrine of Democracy in the distance.
During our early morning drive, we passed distant mountains decorated with lacy clouds.
The folks at church were kind and welcomed us so warmly. A couple of their pickup trucks outside had doggie friends in the back. The dogs paid us “no never mind” when we went in.
I know the doggies are friends because when church was over, they were in the same truck!
At church we met someone who knew sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski, who started carving the Crazy Horse Memorial in the late 1940s, and his wife Ruth, who worked alongside him in the project. Today four of their ten children and several grandchildren continue the project. Korczak Ziolkowski worked for Gutzon Borglum on the Shrine of Democracy. We visited the Crazy Horse Memorial in 1986, but this time we only took photos from afar.
We drove along Needles Highway  through its tight one-lane tunnel . . .
. . . and on to Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park, . . .
. . . where we had a picnic . . .
. . . and took a hike along the lake.
Theodore Reder built a dam across Sunday Gulch in 1881, creating Sylvan Lake.
Of course, he created the lake out of God’s creations. God even makes the ground beautiful.
From Sylvan Lake, we drove toward the park’s wonderful Wildlife Loop, where visitors see many, many native animals. I’m glad we weren’t having our picnic at one of these tables. Can you see the buffalo in the background?
At one stop, we saw some covered wagons . . .
. . . and some very tame bunnies. . .
. . . and this pretty pine cluster.
This buffalo was an undercover buffalo.
The prairie dogs welcomed us to their town.
I don’t know if the occupants of this duplex were nestled in their houses or away from home.
The scenes in Custer State Park . . .
. . . are always changing.
The friendliest beasts in the park are the donkeys.
This was my open window . . .
. . . and this was our son-in-law Nate’s.
You can imagine what we were singing at Custer State Park.
Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam
Where the deer . . .
and the antelope play . . . .
He sends forth springs in the valleys;
They flow between the mountains;
They give drink to every beast of the field;
The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
They lift up their voices among the branches.
He waters the mountains from His upper chambers;
The earth is satisfied with the fruit of His works.
Psalm 104:10-13
I have enjoyed vicariously travelling along with you on your trip. Thank you for taking us along and remembering us on the way. And for all the encouragement you give us in the lessons you so wisely interweave. Hope there are more travels yet on this journey.
Your comment was so sweet, Rhoda, and meant so much to me. What you said I did in these posts is exactly what I wanted to do. I appreciate the affirmation.