Santa Elena Canyon

I have spent many years as a cartographer working for The Gousha Mapping Co., Rand McNally, Schearer Publishing Co., J. C. Graphix, you name it I have probably worked there making maps! I made the change to jewelry making about 4 years ago. I love gemstones and was having problems finding settings and that is how we got started with casting our own. If you can't find what you want just design and make the pieces yourself. There is a lot more to this story and I will try to update soon.

A couple of years ago Varm and I and our dog Cleo set out for Big Bend in west Texas to do some rock hunting. This was a pleasurable trip and we had so much fun camping and collecting rock specimens to tumble when we got back home. From central Texas we ventured west on Interstate 10 to Balmorhea where we camped at the beautiful Balmorhea State Park. Early the next morning we headed south for Big Bend Nat'l Park stopping at every rock shop along the way. We also stopped at the Woodward Ranch to go rock hunting! What a wonderful experience that was. We camped out in the Big Bend National Park after driving all around the Park. It was so massive and beautiful especially Santa Elena Canyon. We headed for home the next day. I will never forget the fun we had on this trip. I have added a story about our topaz hunting adventure in Mason County Texas.

We are animal lovers! Cleo is our 6 year old black and white rat terrier pound puppy who wants to run the whole household. Nicknames: Cleopotimus, Itchy Butt (she has allergies) and many others. Mmah (Emmah) is our 3 year old Jack Russel terrier who climbs trees to check her territory. She has taken on all critters that invade her space and she doesn't back down. Her tree climbing days are over. On July 4, 2007 she fell out of the tree while showing off and dislocated all the toes on one foot and earned herself a trip to the vet. Nicknames: EmmieLou when she is feeling a little bit country, EmmieBoohoo when she is feeling a little bit sad about not climbing that tree anymore! and so on! She loves us unconditionally! Cats Rosie and Zoey are old maid sisters born in 1992 in the attic over Hondo Crouch's kitchen. They have never seen a highway. Cats Di and Dodi born in 1997 and named for Princess Di and Dodi Al Fayed who were tragically taken in that awful accident. Unfortunately Dodi passed on today 2/14/07 from a back injury that he just couldn't deal with anymore. We will miss him. Then there was Mr. Brooster, the rooster who is no longer with us. He was the last of the flock and he tried to make me into one of his own! He hated bare legs and we would do some fighting in the summertime!

In 2008 we made a trip to New Mexico to pick up supplies and enjoyed it so much that we try to make that buying/vacation trip at least twice a year. We are hoping to make a trip back to the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas this year, 2009. Our plans for a trip through Arizona to the Grand Canyon have been put on hold, maybe this fall. So much to do! In April of 2009, we did make a trip to the Alpine, TX gem and mineral show. We took a nice drive in the area and hit all the rock shops! Decided to see what the Marfa lights were all about and were very amazed at what we saw. Not sure if this happens all the time but we were watching quite a light show that left us wondering "what did we just see?" Quite amazing is all I can say!