Minerals and Gemtones and Rocks, Oh My!

Day 170.
Minerals and Gemstones and Rocks, Oh My!

One of my favorite places to buy jewelry making supplies is Fall Hill Bead and Gem in Little Falls, NY. I love this place because it is an adorable, locally owned shop with some of the coolest rocks and gemstones. I have loved gemstones, crystals and the like for my entire life. Quick aside...when I was little (maybe second grade) I had to write a report for school and I wanted to write about gemstones. I told this to my mother, who at the time worked for an airline and had some amazing travel privledges. Her answer..."ok, let's fly to the Smithsonian tomorrow so you can do some research"...can you believe that actually happened? Somewhere there is a photo of me standing next to a giant wall of pyrite at the museum...that's one trip I will never forget.

Anyhow, back to Fall Hill Bead and Gem, when I was visiting the shop this weekend I took note of some cool stones and the location was marked "Arkansas". Then I saw some others right there marked "Arizona", "Illinois", "Michigan" and more respectively. I commented to the store owner, Kim, that I thought it was really cool she had a little "made in America" section going (whether by chance or design). I've talked with Kim about this blog several times as I've looked for U.S. made items. Kim responded "I was actually thinking about you when I set that display up, I kid you not!" How cool that I played some tiny part in her setting up a display with American stones for sale! Here are a few of the cool rocks I found in this store.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3ohz6QDD0I&list=UUT1YM3wP3OHyE8b10Izq3Yw&index=1

Too cool!

Taking a Tour of a Maple Sugaring Operation

Day 169.
Taking a Tour of a Maple Sugaring Operation

This time of year something special happens in the Northeastern parts of the United States (and Canada and a few select locations where the weather conditions are right). When the days are warm and the nights are cool in the early spring sap starts to flow from the maple trees. Maple producers gather the sap (often you will see buckets hanging from trees that symbolize the season or more commonly now a tubing network that more efficiently collects the sap) and then they boil it down in an evaporator to remove most of the water and leave behind the sweet maple sugar that becomes real maple syrup. Have you ever wondered what this transformation looks like? I recently paid a visit to my friends Vern Duesler and his sons at Mud Road Sugar House for a tour of their operation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpHAyz0aE5w&list=UUT1YM3wP3OHyE8b10Izq3Yw&index=1

Congratulations to Mud Road Sugar House on 25 years of open houses (held last week) and thanks for showing me around! The last several weeks have been very busy for maple producers in New York as the official maple weekends took place in mid-March, but the season is still very much in full swing, so if you have a chance I encourage you to visit a local maple producer and taste a product that is always a sweet treat!

My Little Dish

Day 168.
My Little Dish

While shopping I found these adorable little dishes that are attractive, practical, made in the USA and even made using recycled materials (gotta get behind that!) and thought they were too cute!

 

So I gave some thought to what I could do with mine...

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrLbh2DcB_0&list=UUT1YM3wP3OHyE8b10Izq3Yw&index=1

 

How sweet!

 

For the Love of Elephants and Art

Day 167.
For the Love of Elephants and Art

I don't often find myself speechless, but that's how I felt upon receiving a most special and treasured gift...an original piece of art in pastel done by one of my favorite artists, Sharon Knettell. She was gracious enough to create this for me as a prize recognition for my efforts with this very blog. You see, when I started this blog it was in response to a challenge she initiated on her own blog. Let me share a little more about this experience with you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hww_ZOM0C8&list=UUT1YM3wP3OHyE8b10Izq3Yw&index=1

Sharon, I cannot thank you enough. This is so beautiful and I am humbled and honored to have my image featured in this piece.

I will treasure this always.

Wrap It Up!



Day 166.
Wrap It Up!

Yesterday I had occasion to gift wrap 14 shoeboxes...the reason why is a story for another day, but I'll leave you guessing and just say that none of the boxes actually contained shoes.

 

 

However, the point of my post isn't the boxes, it's the paper I used to wrap them. When asked to complete this task I went off in search of some fun, festive wrapping paper and found the perfect style in this gift wrap from American Greetings.

 

 

 

I really like the neon stars and the holographic pattern of the design and best of all...

 

 

 

Another great and practical find made right here in the USA. It took four rolls to wrap all the boxes, so I'm glad I could feel good about it while buying all the gift wrap that was needed. These will be perfect!

Easing my Stress

Day 165.
Easing my Stress

The other day I was visiting one of my favorite local salons. I noticed a poster for some products from the Aveda line that they carry and was intrigued. It seemed like a "stress fix" was exactly what I was in need of, so I purchased the soaking salts and body lotion to take home and try.

 

 

 

Let me tell you, I am thoroughly impressed! The soaking salts were great...they were much finer granules than the salts I was previously using and I like that because they dissolved in the water very quickly and provided a very soothing lavender aroma that certainly did ease some stress. The body lotion was also a great choice. The same fragrance was offered up in a conveniently sized bottle I'm planning to carry in my purse. What I liked best about these two items I tried...

 

 

 

 

I definitely found some great products in this line and am feeling a little more relaxed as well!

 

Urgent Care, Please (aka Soup for One)

Day 164.
Urgent Care, Please (aka Soup for One)

I'm still sick. I have been sick since Thursday and been fighting a fever for at least the last three days. After another sleepless night of aching, coughing, having to soothe my sore throat with popsicles because drinking water feels like knives going down the back of my throat and wishing my ears would pop because they are feeling such pain that seems to follow the sore throat, this morning I finally decided it was time to take a trip to urgent care...except our urgent care is no longer there! When did that happen?! I got to the building, went to check in and was told that they are now "convenient care" and that means they will take me be appointment (apparently, when it's convenient). They have time for me in either an hour and a half or tomorrow (sigh). So I decided that since I have a little time on my hands before getting my medical care I would tell you about a far nicer form of "urgent" care...chicken noodle soup. Other than popsicles, this past weekend I've basicly been living on Campbell's chicken noodle soup. Ever since I was little that was the food that made me feel better when I was sick and the hot broth is quite soothing on a sore throat. However, for the first time I've examined the package and am pleased to report that this is what I saw on the soup can label...

 

In the middle of the cold and flu season while waiting for access to the other forms of care, I'm glad that this is an immediate thing I can use to make myself feel better.