Have you ever in your life met a person and known right from the start that you could be the best of friends. It wouldn't matter that the person was half your age or twice your age. Your had so many areas of common interest and you knew that you both could learn so much from each other.
I had that experience the first time I met this wonderful woman that I went to visit at Lake Huron in August. When I entered into her home my first impressions were immediately confirmed when I my eyes were immediately entertained with all manner of trays of stones and fossils, paintings of lake stones , shells and the most wonderful nature books.
She even had a fossil of a sea scorpion and a very old and beautiful book called The Universe, the infinitely great and the infinitely small. I listened to her rock collecting stories with great genuine enthusiasm. She told me how she would deal with her desire to go shopping by instead walking up and down the pristine beach in front of the home she and her late husband built searching for treasures. The shore of the lake did not disappoint her. She also described how there were times she could hear the lake throwing stones up onto the sandy beach as if to say here look at this one. At different times and years, completely different treasures would surface.
At her home she handed out some bags to my daughter and I and asked us if we wanted to go "shopping". Of course we did.
The brachiopod was my favorite find but I really think all these stones and fossils are so inspiring. I might try to use this as I prepare some fabric for indigo dyeing in the course I am taking.
I apologize for the heaviness of this post:)
Oh what a treasure indeed! Wow wow wow.
Posted by: Lisa at Lil Fish Studios | September 22, 2010 at 11:25 PM
That woman is the real treasure !!! Your meeting must have been a memorable day ... and I wonder what would be her reaction if she visited your stone-Museum home ! :)
Posted by: Nanou | September 23, 2010 at 01:20 AM
What a special friend and wonderful place for treasure. It's a joy to be able to see all that you found and your friend's treasures too. That book is amazing!
Posted by: joanie | September 23, 2010 at 01:54 AM
what a wonderful story, and so many beautiful stones. i think i always tend to be more of a shell collector than a pebble collector at the beach, but i do love a good rock when i find one.
Posted by: k | September 23, 2010 at 01:58 AM
Oh my God!I'm salivating! I love to search for little treasures! And I dream to find a place like this, with such beautiful stones and fossils!How lucky!
Posted by: Raf | September 23, 2010 at 02:11 AM
You are so lucky to have met someone like this. i too cannot picking up small treasures no matter where I walk. I have never seen such a beautiful variety of stones.
I found it was a lovely post and not heavy at all. Sometimes tough it is nice (helpful when you're down) to read of the lives of others.
Posted by: Holly McLean | September 23, 2010 at 07:55 AM
Wow, what an amazing collection! I'm a little sad, I live in Florida, and we don't really have any rocks...boo.
Posted by: Kate | September 23, 2010 at 08:08 AM
Stones and fossils are supposed to be heavy! What a treasure trove (I especially love the stones with holes in them!)
It sounds like you found not only beautiful things, but a lovely kindred spirit.
Posted by: nicole | September 23, 2010 at 08:10 AM
Gorgeous photos! This is such a beautiful entry. Thank you for sharing those treasures via your blog.
Posted by: Vanessa | September 23, 2010 at 09:26 AM
I stopped by this morning (now it's evening) & I was certain I had left my paw, but I think instead, I have lost my mind !!
from a natural treasures collector to another, these speak to me so loud. Your friend paints so well, and her art speaks to me as well.
xoxo
Posted by: Cozy Memories | September 23, 2010 at 11:45 AM
Ruth's painting is exquisite :) And so are all your newfound treasures!
Posted by: Geninne D. Zlatkis | September 23, 2010 at 12:15 PM
I am envious of that rock collection. Lake Huron is one of my favourite places to find rocks. The majority of my rock collection comes from Lake Huron actually. Thank you for posting such lovely photos. I'm also envious of your chance to actually handle such treasures.
Posted by: tara | September 23, 2010 at 12:26 PM
WOW!!
Posted by: Sharon | September 23, 2010 at 01:10 PM
Hello! I absolutely can relate to the enthusiasm of this post. I am a huge rock hound myself. My favorite is agate hunting on the Oregon coast. It was fun to see your treasures!
Posted by: Heidi | September 23, 2010 at 03:27 PM
My favorite is the Pucker Up stone - 12th photo, stone on left.
Posted by: Denise Leavens | September 23, 2010 at 03:32 PM
i'll bet you were like a kid in a candy store! wonderful.
Posted by: annri | September 23, 2010 at 06:50 PM
i can only say that i can hardly wait to go on my own shopping trip in october...north shore, lake superior...oh yeah
Posted by: jean | September 23, 2010 at 10:33 PM
Oh no apologies necessary! Beautiful stones - of the like I have never seen before!
Posted by: cari-jane hakes | September 24, 2010 at 06:59 AM
I love the heaviness of this post!!
Posted by: Johanna | September 24, 2010 at 09:09 AM
I am so inspired to go shopping around my house now! What a fantastic concept.
Posted by: Ruth | September 24, 2010 at 12:46 PM
the 6th image is that one of her paintings? I adore it, would love to see more.
Posted by: thenson | September 25, 2010 at 09:29 AM
My friend, Corey, is one of those special people who I knew right from the start, even though he was only 8 when we met. We've been friends for almost 20 years!
Also, "ROCK" is one of baby Julio's favorite words, and one of his favorite things. He was sitting on my lap when I first looked at this post, and he went happy-crazy! I've never seen him respond to anything on the computer like that. I'll have to show it to him again tomorrow.
I've got a few of those brachiopods somewhere, too! They're beautiful.
Posted by: Maiz | September 30, 2010 at 12:36 AM