organic gemstones
What makes a gemstone? To be considered a gem, a substance has to be beautiful, usually in terms of its color and the way it reflects light. It also has to be rare and durable. Gems are either minerals, which have a regular internal structure and fixed chemical composition, or organics, which are produced by plants and animals. Carved fossils are considered organic gemstones. Come see, you’ll be surprised!
Citrine
What is citrine? How do pearls form? What is the “king of gems? If you like gemstones here are a few answers for you, beginning this week with citrine. Citrine belongs in the quarts family and is colored golden by the iron content. It derives its name from its color – citron being the French for lemon. Citrine, like other quartz, is a seven on the Mohs scratch hardness scale. It’s great colored gemstone for November.
---Just Marci’s Musings
A Dream
Today my “alter ego” walked into the store. She lives my dream life – except my reality gets in the way. She lives in the countryside and rides Tennessee Walkers—those gorgeous horses that SCARE me-- thus, my dose of reality. Doug has a new ring designed with a slightly “American West” theme that is so-o-o beautiful and every horsewoman’s dream! The good news is that this can be anybody’s REALITY!
-- Just Marci’s Musings
huge yellow diamond
A 43.51-carat yellow diamond (just a little bauble) known as the "Golden Eye" was seized in a federal drug and money-laundering investigation in northeast Ohio. It’s going on the auction block with the minimum starting bid at $900,000. Get out your penny jars!
Geraniums
Geraniums mark SUMMER in my backyard. Pots overflowing with petunias, marigolds, vines, and bold, beautiful geraniums create my own little bit of heaven. On a beautiful summer morning I love sitting among my flowers, under the quakies, reading my kindle. All those beautiful colors repeating themselves in nature, teaching us mere mortals about design, balance, color, gifting us with beauty all around. Aaah, Summer
r!
Aspen Hill
Driving up Ashton Hill awakens in me that feeling of being ”whole”, nurtured by God’s creations. I imagine the delicate leaves of the quaking aspens applauding life as the sun warms the morning. I feel the nurturing boughs of the tall pines enfolding me, whispering, “Isn’t life a blessing!” I love, love, love the mountains of Idaho and the Aspens of Island Park.
Moon Watch
Grab your Honey, look heavenward, and whisper softly, “Look! It’s OUR moon! Oooh! July 20th marked the Apollo 11 moon landing mission in 1969, when Neil Armstrong spoke the famous words, "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind." The estimated global audience at that moment was 450 million listeners. But tonight it’s just you and me, Babe!
Breakfast on the Boulevard
My friend Vaunita loves to cook and share her food. Every Fourth of July for the past umpteen years (I wish I could you exactly how many) she has cooked a free big, county breakfast for friends and neighbors before the parade. Her husband, Monte, helps by hauling tables, setting up chairs and doing a lot of heavy work that has to happen so the fun can begin. “Breakfast on the Boulevard” has gradually grown way beyond the fences of their neighborhood. Vaunita’s and Monte’s enthusiasm, hard work, and welcoming breakfast perfectly celebrate our Great American Story.
Spring Savings Event
Spring is here? Please, promise me that spring is here! Even if the weather isn’t cooperating, we’re celebrating anyway with our annual SPRING SAVINGS EVENT—buy one piece of beautiful jewelry and get another for ½ off. Dale’s fans, you know how this works! This is a “can’t miss” event and we are ready to make some swingin’ deals. See us all week long and get beautiful for spring!!!
Marriage Fan
OH, THE WEDDING!! I confess that I’m a Royal fan (as opposed to a royal pain, which I’m not!) I started watching BBC America at 10 pm and didn’t go to bed until 7 the next morning! Kate looked absolutely perfect. Her tiara, loaned to her by the Queen, was beautiful in its design and simplicity (if that many diamonds can be called simple!) Her dressed was perfect for her. And who wouldn’t love a 1910 carriage pulled by four white horses? Then there were the vintage autos and, the final touch, the Austin-Martin. And the HATS!! I don’t understand the British fascination with hats. Who would want a snail perched on their forehead? Still, the hats were a fascinating show. And I loved it all! Every bride is a princess at heart. And I believe that marriage is a wonderful, sometimes challenging, perfecting way for two people to live together. So, I confess, I’m a marriage fan, with or without the carriage and white horses.