Walking to stones

We walked.  We walked everywhere.  No car. 
We walked in the woods, we walked around the lake.
We walked to the woods, we walked to the lake.

Da had long legs, so he was usually way in front, often out of sight. 
It was O.K. He taught us how to look for a snapped twig, or some disturbed grass. 
Never even considered getting lost!

Many times, we walked to stump pond and blueberry island.  This took us along the main road to New Hampshire. 
Each time we went through this area, he would point Northwest, and tell us about the abandoned quartz mine deep in the woods.  I wanted to go there, really wanted to go,! He always said that I was too small, and a female, so I would not be able to get there easily! (?) 
If he only knew the places I was going alone at my tender age!?

So, what was left was a lifelong need to find that mine!  At least a love of rocks, gemstones! 

My sister and I would spend away the time gathering tiny bits of garnet from  sand in our front yard.  We loved the red, and that, if t pieces were larger, they would have some worth. 
Was this like panning for gold?

I collect rocks, my sister collects rocks. 
Now I want to collect, and to 'know' the rocks of our earth.  I have several good books. 
I have some apophilite, stilbite, ruby, quartz, malachite, and a herkimer diamond. Currently, I wear a kionite.

I want to go to mines and find my own.  So much to learn!

Today the Postmistress, Cyndi, gave me two quartz crystals she 'mined' in Arkansas!

I have been a maker of necklaces from semi-precious stones.  It is one of my artistic, creative outlets.  I will post some photos here soon.  I realize I never introduced myself to the blog community as an artist!