Stargazing in the Nevada Desert - Mount Irish Petroglyph Site

The Nevada desert has a way of surprising you, no matter how often you visit. It’s full of out-of-the-way landmarks that don’t make it into travel brochures. One of those places is the Mount Irish Petroglyph Site,  located about 120 miles north of Las Vegas in Lincoln County, Nevada, a spot where ancient stories are carved into stone. 

The petroglyphs aren’t just art either. They’re the effort of people who lived here long before modern society. Stories in stone, inspired by the same vast desert landscape you’ll experience when you visit.

And yes, there’s something about standing out there, far away from city lights and noise, that makes time feel different. The night sky looks endless, and the stars feel more present than anywhere else—not just visually, but spiritually. It’s not just about seeing the petroglyphs or the stars; it’s about feeling like you’re part of an existence so much bigger than your day-to-day.

Stargazing around Mount Irish - Lincoln County, Nevada

Mount Irish Petroglyph Site

Here, among the petroglyph-covered rocks, you can look across the landscape and also gaze up at the same stars that inspired ancient hands to carve their stories into stone. There’s a quiet magic in standing where history was made, as constellations light up the night and bridge the gap between past and present.

• Accessibility: It is recommended that when traveling out there, a sturdy two wheel drive vehicle may be sufficient to navigate the roads to the site but 4WD vehicle is preferable. And don't forget your camping gear and supplies. Especially if you don't have room to sleep in your vehicle.
  
  

Nearby locales:

Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge

A calm oasis of sorts about 30 miles south of Mount Irish Petroglyph site, this refuge offers more than wildlife sightings.. it’s also an amazing place to camp at and stargaze.

Tikaboo Valley

The vast expanses of Tikaboo Valley, known for their eerie beauty and famed proximity to Area 51, are a magnet for both stargazers and UFO enthusiasts. Out here, beneath a dome of uninterrupted starlight, the sense of the infinite is undeniable. And who knows? You might just catch sight of unidentified objects traversing the night sky.

Best Times of Year to Visit Mount Irish

What month is best for stargazing at Mount Irish?

The best time of year to visit Mount Irish for stargazing is from April to June. That time of year has many reasons why it is a great time of year for stargazing there:

Stable weather conditions that give a clear view of the sky.

You'll have more hours of darkness if you're something who enjoys stargazing for hours on end.

The area around Mount Irish is known for its dark night sky views, making it an excellent location for stargazing year-round.

Some tips to help with your stargazing experience:

Plan your visit during a new moon phase for the darkest skies possible.

The summer months (late spring to early autumn) offer views of the Milky Way's core stretching across the southern horizon, especially around midnight or later.

The best stargazing opportunities at Mount Irish coincide with new moons and meteor showers throughout the year. The Perseid meteor shower, peaking around August 12, offers a spectacular summer display with up to 90 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. The Geminid meteor shower, peaking on December 13-14, provides a winter stargazing spectacle with potential rates of up to 150 meteors per hour.

For the Geminids, be prepared for cold temperatures, as winter nights in the Nevada desert can be frigid. Despite the chill, the Geminids are known for their distinctive greenish hue, making them particularly captivating.

Aligning your visit with these celestial events can significantly enhance your stargazing experience at Mount Irish under Nevada's dark desert skies, offering not only dark skies but also the added bonus of meteor showers

Recommendations of what to bring with you

• Bring a Red Flashlight: As simple as covering a flashlight in red cellophane. Preserves your night vision.
• Seating: For if you plan to be stargazing for a while.
  
• Layers, Winter Gloves, and Handwarmers or other supplies for warmth: Desert nights can surprise you with their chill. 
• Binoculars or Telescope

Related Links:

https://www.rachel-nevada.com/places/irish_petroglyphs.html
https://travelnevada.com/stargazing/dark-sky-parks-in-nevada/
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/nevada/mt-irish-petroglyphs
https://www.summitpost.org/mount-irish-nv/714172
https://www.gjhikes.com/2019/11/mount-irish-site-vi.html
https://lincolncountynevada.com/exploring/rocking/rock-art/mount-irish-rock-art-site/

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - 1980 TV Adaptation of the Washington Irving Story

Looking for a Halloween flick that's less scary and with a bit of comedy? This 1980 TV adaptation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a more lighthearted take on the book and yet is still a spooky treat. Jeff Goldblum stars as the awkward Ichabod Crane, a schoolteacher who's more interested in books and teaching than brawls. He's got his hands full with the local tough guy, Brom Bones (who is played by Dick Butkus), and the beautiful Katrina van Tassel (Meg Foster).

The movie has a few laughs, from Ichabod's clumsiness to some of his interactions with the schoolchildren and townspeople. But don't worry, there are still enough spooky scenes to keep things interesting. The Headless Horseman might not be the scariest portrayal ever in film adaptations, but the directing and story style of this film keeps the character and film's atmosphere eerie enough.

So grab a snack, turn off the lights, and watch an adaptation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow that you'll definitely keep in your Halloween playlist.



--

In addition to this film adaptation of the book, you can read the full eBook for free at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41

Also available are the Paperback Version of the original short story and the Little Golden Book based on the adaptation by Disney.

--

In The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Irving localizes the story by tying it to the ghostly sightings of Hessian soldier by many from the American Revolutionary War. Hessians were German mercenaries who fought for the British, and in Irving's tale, the Headless Horseman is said to be a decapitated Hessian whose ghost haunts the area around Sleepy Hollow (Tarrytown).

Irving's story is set in a real place, and local legends of ghosts and supernatural occurrences already existed in that Sleepy Hollow region following the years after the violent Battle of White Plains, the battle in which many, including many Hessians, were killed or missing.

The stories of the sightings of the Hessian came from citizens starting around the late-1770s were straightforward. Irving's portrayal of the headless horseman was a bit more detailed for story's sake though.

But the spectre that citizens of the time saw was very much real and not overly detailed, past being brief or semi-brief sightings. Expectedly, there are still claims of sightings in the natural (wooded) areas in parts of Sleepy Hollow and into Tarrytown.

Self-Sufficiency in a Pinch: Growing Foods from Grocery Store Items

During a crisis or when there are problems with the supply chain, seeds can run out quickly because many people are trying to buy them all at once. This can make it hard for anyone who wants to start a garden.

One way to deal with this issue, even though people are still buying things in a panic, is to buy grocery store items that you can plant. For example, you can save seeds from fruits and vegetables you buy, like tomatoes or peppers, and use them to grow your own plants. This can help you have a garden even if regular seeds are hard to find. Plus, growing your own food can be a fun hobby or a full-on endeavor to provide for yourself and your family.

Whole Grains

Whole grains like brown rice, wheat berries, popcorn, quinoa can be planted.

Ensure the grain is undamaged and in its whole form. Such as with the bran intact)

Beans, Lentils, and Peas

Dried beans, lentils, and peas can be planted, as long as they are whole and not split.

Soaking them before planting helps in their growth.

Nuts and Root Plants

Peanuts - If not roasted then they can be planted.

Root plants such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, ginger, turmeric can be grown.

Grocery store products may have chemicals to prevent sprouting, but washing and storing them in a dark place can counteract this.

Other Root Vegetables - Carrots, beets, celery, turnips can be planted directly and will root and grow with minimal care.

Green Onions

Green onions can be replanted. Just cut the greens and plant the 'bulb' section in soil.

Another upside is that they can continuously regrow, allowing for repeated harvests throughout the season or for planting more.

Onions and Garlic

Onions and garlic from the store can also be planted.

Seed onions and garlic from a garden center might produce better results, but grocery store varieties will work in a pinch as long as they look healthy.

Harvesting and Planting Seeds

Seeds from grocery store produce like melons, peppers, okra, avocados, pumpkins, squash, and tomatoes can planted too. Of course, for a lot of varieties of these, whether they grow or not depends on your growing zone.

Even if some of these are hybrids, they can still be grown, though the plants that grow from the may be different from the item you bought.

Spices

The spice aisle is another source for seeds.

Seeds like dill, caraway, coriander, sesame, and black pepper can be planted.

Bird Seed and Livestock Feed

Bird seed and Chicken Scratch feed can also provide viable seeds.

These can include corn, oats, wheat, barley, sorghum, milo, millet, and sunflower seeds.

In a pinch, grocery stores offer a variety of items that can be used to start a garden when seeds are unavailable.

The Regrower’s Handbook: A Beginner’s Guide to Self-Sufficiency. Use Your Groceries to Regrow Fruit, Vegetables, Herbs and Mushrooms From Roots, ... Seeds (Homesteading Handbooks by Kelly Reed)

---

With a bit of thinking, sourcing seeds from unexpected places like whole grains, beans, root vegetables, spices, and bird seed can help maintain self-sufficiency or even a gardening hobby.

By thinking outside the box and using these different items, you can still grow your own food and be more self-sufficient, even when traditional seeds are hard to find. It’s a great way to make the most of what you have.

The Delaware - Tribal Names, Locations and History

The Delaware (as the English called them), also known as the Lenni Lenape, are a tribe the Northeastern Woodlands. The Delaware people have a rich cultural heritage that is seen in the many names that have defined their social and geographic distribution.

Origins of the Delaware Name

The Delaware River, so named in honor of Virginia's second governor, Lord Delaware, is where the name "Delaware" originates. The Delaware people are known by a variety of other names, though, which are a reflection of their varied contacts as well as the viewpoints of nearby tribes and settlers:

Abnaki (Wabanaki): Meaning "Easterners," this term refers to the Delaware’s position relative to other Algonquian tribes. It’s essential to differentiate this from the Abnaki of Maine.  

A-ko-tca-ka'nea: The Mohawk term meaning "One who stammers in his speech," with similar names used by the Oneida and Tuscarora.

Delua (Delaas): A Spanish adaptation used in Texas.

Anakwanoki: A Cherokee attempt at the Wabanaki name.

Lenni Lenape: Their self-designation meaning "true men" or "standard men," highlighting their identity as "original people."

Loup: French for "wolf," a name given by French settlers.

Mattawa (Matha, Mathwa): The Nanticoke term for the Delaware.

Nar-wah-ro: The Wichita name for the Delaware.

Tca-ka'-nea: A shortened form of the Mohawk name mentioned above.

Historical Location of the Delaware

The Delaware people lived in a large territorial region that included several of the modern states and locations:

New Jersey: The entire state was originally part of Delaware territory.

Long Island: Specifically, the western end.

Staten Island and Manhattan: Included in their traditional lands.

New York: Parts west of the Hudson River.

Pennsylvania: Eastern sections.

Delaware: Northern parts.

Neighbor Tribes in History

Munsee (Minassiniu, Minisink, Minsi, et al.)

Meaning "people of the stoney country," the Munsee subtribe had a somewhat independent identity and included groups such as Catskill, Mamekoting, and Waoranec. Four Munsee tribes were collectively known as the Esopus.

Unami (Wename)

Known as "people down river," the Unami subtribe's name first appeared in records from 1757. Before their resettlement to Oklahoma, they were known for groups like Aquackanonk, Assunpink, and Hackensack.

Unalachtigo

The name translates to "people near the ocean." Some sources conflate this subtribe with the Nanticoke due to cultural similarities. They included groups like Amimenipaty and Hopokohacking.

The Lenape, whose roots trace back over 11,000 years, inhabited and controlled a sprawling territory that extended from present-day upstate New York down to Delaware. Their named the territory Lenapehoking, which translates to "land of the Lenape." This name, of course, reflects their deep historic connection to the land.

1981 Creek Nation Festival - Mvskoke Media Vault

Step back in time with the 1981 Creek Nation Festival, a cherished event that brought together communities to honor heritage and camaraderie. Watch to learn about the historic celebration, highlighting the activities and spirit that made it truly special.

In 1981, the Creek Nation Festival in Henryetta, Oklahoma, was a beacon of cultural pride, rooted in the humble beginnings of a rodeo committee. This annual gathering evolved into a longer event, drawing participants from across the nation to partake in various festivities.

From parades showcasing Native American cultures to friendly competitions in sports like horseshoe pitching and softball, the festival offered something for everyone. The Indian rodeo, a highlight of the event, captivated audiences with thrilling displays of skill and talent.

Beyond the excitement of the activities, the festival served as a unifying force, fostering a sense of community among attendees. Families came together to celebrate heritage, forge new friendships, and create lasting memories against the backdrop of cultural celebration.

As the sun set on the Creek Nation Festival, participants departed with cherished experiences and strengthened connections. The legacy of the festival has inspired reverence for tradition and unity among Native American communities ever since. The festival is interchangeably called the Creek Festival and the Creek Nation or Muscogee Nation Festival.

People mentioned:

Steve Wilson: Creek Nation Festival Coordinator.

Chief Richard Larney: Police Chief of Henryetta, Oklahoma and a Creek Nation council member. He serves as the parade marshal.

Princess Leslie Ann Baricello: 1981 Creek Nation Princess.

Queen Denson: 1981 Creek Nation Rodeo Queen.

Chief Tom Palmer: Chief of the Seminole Nation.

Mary Ann Harshaw: 1981 Miss Cherokee.

Nancy Sudol: Miss Indian Oklahoma.

Parisa Blaine: 1980-1981 Choctaw Nation Princess.

Francine Allen: 1980-1981 Chickasaw Nation Princess.

Randy Lombard: Winner of the 1981 Creek Nation Festival Golf Tournament.

Moni Daniels: Achieved a hole-in-one during the Saturday afternoon of the festival.

Be sure to subscribe to Mvskoke Media on YouTube