Meanderings of a Mermaid

So many gorgeous minerals are found on earth. Here is just one example of misolite. Delicate and spectacular, this prized specimen was on display at an Indian mineral exhibit. (Tucson gem and mineral show 2010). For scale, it is over two feet long. At the Arizona Mineral and Fossil Co-op, this fellow was a little under dressed for the occasion. If you look carefully under the belly you might pick out the baby wooley mammoth. Just for scale, these two are a tad over two feet long! And just when you thought nature by itself is not gorgeous enough, we came across this lovely carving. Now wouldn't that cup of coffee taste great in the morning served on this lovely fossil table? A huge fossil ammonite at one end echoes the smaller sliced and polished ammonites in the table top. By evening we'll switch over to using these lovely wine goblets. Beautiful earth tones in the agate invite caresses and the enjoyment of yet another glass.

Time has come to prepare for a road trip. The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show beckons once again. Every year in early February the promise of sparkly gems and exotic minerals is too hard to resist. The fact that it is almost February again just blows me away. We all know that as we age it seems that each year goes by faster and faster. This year was a particularly momentous one for me. Over the past year I enjoyed getting acquainted with many new friends, as I spread my wings and flew into early retirement. I moved to a new home and began the routine of being a snowbird. It was a time to move out of places and a time to snug into new ones. The treasures encountered along the way were the relationships with friends. This year I lost one good friend, a traveller who enjoyed exploration and learning as much as I did. His spirit for adventure will guide me for a long time yet. The path ahead follows a curvy road. It may not be smooth either. I have seen enough and experienced enough to know...

More shots from the Tucson Gem and Mineral show. Honestly, I ran by this one and failed to inquire as to the mineral. Lovely though. My guess is pyromorphite. And this is a typical scene of some of the tent trade shows. Mixed in with the small tents are some giant ones. And usually there is a community hall or sportsplex invilved as well. In other cases the venues are based at prominent hotels, and many of the guest rooms open up thier doors, beco,ming exhibit and trade show venues. Ballrooms, conference rooms, foyers,... are all full of displays. My friends know I am a knit addict and collect yarn as I travel. In Arizona I picked up this new yarn: Araucania's sugar cane (100%) yarn "Ruca" , otherwise known as taly. I don't know if I could tell it apart from bamboo yarn. Simply lovely and I can't wait to get this onto the needles. I would say the colours are a little livelier than what is presented in the photo. Now this dreamy yarn is by Cascade Yarns, called...

I wish I could say I've been at my camp. The truth is there are three jobs on the go and no time for me. I haven't been to camp since Thanksgiving in early October and miss it a lot. I will have to go for Christmas or New Year's , depending on when the most reasonable weather comes along. The work on my Nunavut rocks and minerals book has been kicked into high gear, as we approach the end of editing and other team members scramble to contribute their parts. (illustrations, photos, layout desing, etc.). It's fun work and I would love to be able to do this full time. The work in my basement started again in November after a lengthy break. So I have been spending many an end to an evening moving boxes of rocks from one end of the basement to another. There are no light rocks. All rocks are heavy. Once the rooms are all set up and furnoshed, many of the better rocks and minerals will come out to play and be on display. Also as the general contractor for that job, I am or...