Holy Cow!  Has it really been 30 years since I stayed up all night to see shy Diana wed Prince Charles?  She was so young and innocent (Sadly naive, as it turned out).  Her dress was unforgettable:  yards of antique lace, billowing balloon sleeves, and a bridal train that flowed regally behind her the full length of the chapel aisle.  (I’m guessing 50 yards.)  Pure romance!  So here I am anticipating the marriage of her handsome son, William.  Will I get up early Friday morn to watch?  You betcha!!  I’m waiting to see her dress and revel in the pomp and ceremony of another royal wedding.  I might even wear my high school tiara just for the fun of it (well, maybe).   To honor Diana and to celebrate William and Kate I’m posting blue sapphires and diamonds—all that glitters with romance!  For the princess in all of us…....

A Walk with Bethany, Age 5

“Have you ever seen a caterpillar?”  “Yes.”  “They come from a cocoon.”  “Yes, I know.”  “Moths come from cocoons; butterflies come from a chrysalis, not a cocoon.”  “Really?  I didn’t know that.”  “And their egg is as small as a period.  The sun has to dry their wings before they can fly. Like fairies. I saw a yellow butterfly with black spots in our yard.”  “A Monarch.”  “Do you know the names of all the butterflies?”  “No, just the Monarch.”  “They have black spots on them to scare away enemies.  Do you know why?”  “To scare away enemies?”  “Yes, they think the black spots are eyes staring at them.  Moths sleep during the day and come out at night.  Butterflies sleep at night, like us, and come out in the day.”  “How do you know so much?”  “I have a book.”  “Have I told you that I love you?”  “Uh huh.”  “Good, because I really do.”

This was a conversation with wonderful Bethany, our kindergartner.  Not just “deep thoughts from Marci” as someone who shall remain unnamed (although sometimes he is referred to as SDJ, Stewart, Dale, or Doug) suggested!

A lady came into the store wearing a necklace that was the first diamond Dale sold from his store in Blackfoot, Idaho.  She is still wearing it and it is still beautiful!  She said that at the time she couldn’t imagine that her husband had bought her a diamond; she thought it was a CZ and threw it in the drawer!   That was back in 1963; forty-eight years later this lovely lady wears her beautiful diamond with a story to tell.

February--the month of all things romantic.  Ladies, sometimes we have to come right out and tell our men that we’d like something that doesn’t add pounds, doesn’t wilt, and doesn’t use a cord!  PLEASE, GET ME SOMETHING THAT SPARKLES!!!  My first Valentine’s gift was an automatic thing-a-ma-jig that sews on buttons and I don’t mean a needle and thread!  I couldn’t believe it!  It was my first clue that my new husband loves all kinds of gadgets.  I, on the other hand, love jewelry.  Give me something that sparkles on my ears and I’m a happy girl.  Sometimes we just have to ask for what we want, and SAY IT OUT LOUD!

Doug gave us the go-ahead to do a 2 for 1 sale to celebrate Dale’s 47^th anniversary.  People are getting great deals, but here is my favorite story.  A darling lady came in to buy a baby gift for a new great-grandchild.  She discovered the 2 for 1 sale on pearls and knew a great deal when she saw it.  But here’s the fun part.  She is taking a vacation back “home” where she will get to show off her new grandchild and her new pearls!!  She’s definitely a young at heart, GREAT great-grandma!!