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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Jul 11, 2009 11:04 Post subject: Re: Preparing to display at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2009 |
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Hugs to you Peter, and Nadia too!
We had a busy week of guests and had Kevin Schofield from HAMS over last night. ( Houston Area Mineral Society )
He is the last guest we will be able to show our whole collection to till after Springfield.
Jim and I pulled out the cart we had made special for moving minerals around in. We are underway to cull the minerals to a more realistic amount in each case. One cabinet of the Topaz shown earlier will now be divided into two cabinets.
Of course, things can always change, but we are down to the wire of photos, boxing up and storing our minerals till they are taken to the show.
As we lay out cases we find ourselve talking about what to add, photos to print out, etc. Jim and I seem to work really well when it comes to concepts. He respects my many years of operating art galleries, including my own. ( I worked at 6 before going into business for myself )
I find myself waking in the middle of the night with ideas and thoughts about labels and interesting additions. So very little sleep last night, up at 5 a.m.
In the mix of all this is our beloved Tour de France. We watch it three times a day, we can't get enough of seeing the racers. Jim and I were both racers of bicycles.
With 42 bicycles in our collection it is apparent that we are not solely into minerals.
So now that todays stage of the Tour is over, we can concentrate on our displays.
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We drop what we are doing, well...not literally, and stop to watch the Tour de France!! Go Lance! |
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Kevin and Jim looking at some of our thumbnails. |
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Kevin and Jim, last night. Kevin is with HAMS. |
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Just a test run on my necklace, a california tourmaline, over a 100 years old. The display card for the auction where it came from alongside. I will be matting the card, so it is more presentable. |
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Jim getting ready to empty the case and put minerals on the special mineral cart once we put boxes with padding on the top. |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Jul 11, 2009 13:17 Post subject: Re: Preparing to display at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2009 |
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Just got back from a run to the Hobby store to pick up supplies to use in our displays.
We will have photos and maps to put on the back wall of the cases and don't want them falling during the show, but don't want to have to scrape things off after either. I did quite a bit of research on what would, and would not, work.
Miscellaneous papers, cutting tools, bases and paints were part of the purchases of the day.
Jim is finalizing some cabinets, photographing them, sketching the layout with each specimen number on a pad of paper, and then packaging all items and marking the box with a case number from 1 to 53.
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Spray paints, wooden bases, rulers, xacto knives, adhesives and other things to be used in our cases. |
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Some of the various pieces of equipment we have to enhance our cases. |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Jul 12, 2009 12:03 Post subject: Re: Preparing to display at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2009 |
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After an exciting day in the Pyranees for the Tour de France, I was inspired to pull out my paintbrushes and start on the art for the display.
JIm has worked very hard this weekend, getting cabinets designed while I print out photos and add little touches to the lay out of the displays.
Everything is going smoothly, having a great time talking and renewing our passion for our minerals. When you get a display ready, you see them in a new light all over again.
Nice side benefit!
Some photos of today....
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Jim laying out some Shigar specimens. |
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At least the cat is in boxes and NOT in the display case! This is Adularia, a rescue cat we took in two years ago. |
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Some Californian minerals.... We will have labels and nice photos behind, to add interest also. But dealing with the final layouts now. |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Jul 12, 2009 12:06 Post subject: Re: Preparing to display at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2009 |
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Well on my way to having this one done....It takes me about 2 1/2 hours to paint a mineral if it isn't too varied in colour, etc.
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This is really quite fun, we play nice soft classical music and talk about life, minerals, children...and I paint. |
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Basic undercoat with the start of detail. |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Jul 16, 2009 11:09 Post subject: Re: Preparing to display at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2009 |
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I am glad we have no entertaining planned soon, our kitchen, dining room and sun room are a mess with boxes, flats, packing material, paints, glue, tape, photographs, minerals, labels, tack, hot glue guns, pens, pads of paper and basic clutter.
But that's okay, we need it that way to get the job done.
With our passion for the Tour de France, we find ourselves jumping to minerals during the breaks, but running back in to see the race otherwise. ( Go Cavendish! A Brit!!! )
( Go Lance too! A Yank! )
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Our Grandson is learning to paint minerals too. He attempts a Chrysoberyl sixling. |
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Ah, some clutter. It seems you must make a mess to organize correctly. |
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Well it seems Adularia is determined to be a part of the process, he thinks we are laying out beds for him to try out. |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Jul 16, 2009 11:12 Post subject: Re: Preparing to display at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2009 |
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...
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Jim is checking all numbers in and making diagrams of the layout of each mineral. |
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Some Madagascar minerals. |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gerhard Niklasch
Joined: 27 Mar 2009
Posts: 134
Location: Munich
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Posted: Jul 16, 2009 14:16 Post subject: Re: Preparing to display at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2009 |
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Exciting, educating, and entertaining to follow your progress...
Please do keep 'em coming!!
And make sure to put a little label on each case and cabinet:
"Adularia approved"! :)
Cheers, Gerhard
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Joan Kureczka
Joined: 29 Jan 2009
Posts: 63
Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Jul 17, 2009 08:12 Post subject: Re: Preparing to display at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2009 |
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Cases are looking great, Gail. Will you posted photos of all the final versions? Very nice benitoite singles.
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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Jul 17, 2009 08:31 Post subject: Re: Preparing to display at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2009 |
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Yes, I will post after ths show Joan, as I want people to have something to come see in person first. We will have nice photos, maps, etc. to make the cases look better too.
Thanks for the nice comment about the benitoite.
_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Jul 19, 2009 13:15 Post subject: Re: Preparing to display at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2009 |
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Busy weekend, we had a MAD meeting to attend at the Jim and Marjorie Ferguson home in East Texas yesterday. Dr. James Carter is a member of MAD and the Wall Street Journal weekend edition had a nice write up about the Apollo 11 moon landing, and Dr. Carter was mentioned for his accomplishments.
Jim is diligent in his task of putting together a New England case while I tend to lawn mowing. He is doing a super job on this case and as members of the Connecticut Valley Mineral club we thought it would be fun to show off some of our pieces from that area.
Both Jim and I lived in New England, he in upper state New York and me in the Boston, Mass. area.
Some new "teaser" photos below...
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Jim dressed comfortably for a Sunday of mineral work. |
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Jim remounting a tourmaline from Haddam, Connecticut near Gillette Castle. |
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Jim and Dr. James Carter at the MAD meeting yesterday. |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Jul 20, 2009 18:20 Post subject: Re: Preparing to display at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2009 |
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I found the case empty of minerals this morning so thought I would work on a Smithsonite display. I am also using a fleck stone spray product for some bases and canvas board to give them a slight stone look. They are drying outside and ready for coat number two shortly. I will then finish with a clear laquer to set the finish.
Jim finished up with the New England case last night. We are photographing each case, noting all specimen numbers and drawing the layout on a piece of paper with each number so as to quickly set up in Springfield.
I just got through laying out some Smithsonite, researching Smithson for a little write up about who the mineral was named after. Quite an interesting man, born in Paris, France to a Lord's mistress.
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Jim checks numbers and looks over a specimen. |
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Another piece for the New England display. |
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Some of the pieces we will have on display. |
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Some New England minerals |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Jul 20, 2009 18:24 Post subject: Re: Preparing to display at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2009 |
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wooden bases, inexpensive, then first coat of a stone spray purchased at a hobby shop. |
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First coat, about to add a second coat before the final laquer. |
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This is what I use to give porous bases a coating. |
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Some of our Smithsonites being considered for the display. |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Jul 23, 2009 14:19 Post subject: Re: Preparing to display at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2009 |
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Been diligent in designing cabinets, just started on this "The many faces of Rhodochrosite" one...this is a rough set up, just finding them and pulling them from cabinets to add to the case.
I spent yesterday packing minerals in flats and boxes and labeling them. That is very time consuming. I must say I admire dealers more and more as time goes on!
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Good luck pocket, SHM, Alma, Colorado. |
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hard working little fellow. |
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case with added rhodos, not finalized yet. |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Jul 24, 2009 12:06 Post subject: Re: Preparing to display at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2009 |
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Between my heavy schedule of working out at the gym and boot camp sessions I am trying to pack minerals and play with design, but am making headway.
I am off to teach cycling classes this weekend, which is not really a good time to be doing so, but it is my OTHER passion...
Jim will get quite a bit done while I am off I hope.
All those empty flats I have been bothered by, under the beds, in closets, attics, etc....no longer are a bother simply because we are going to be using them all finally!
Another start of a case of displayed minerals...
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A case of Colorado Rhodochrosites and a few other tidbits. |
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The very first mineral we ever purchased, this big hedgehog pocket SHM piece, I thought it was pretty and would make a nice coffee table decoration, Jim had studied rhodos from Colorado and wanted one for it's significance. Oh how I have changed! |
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My kitchen table is hopelessly covered in minerals ALWAYS! Alas, we can eat while watching t.v. now! |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Jul 24, 2009 12:08 Post subject: Re: Preparing to display at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2009 |
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Why....what is this???
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What is that blue tag in that box in front? |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Jul 26, 2009 09:54 Post subject: Re: Preparing to display at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2009 |
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Okay, the Tour de France ends today and we are glued to the television, but the rest of the day is packing minerals and going about the business of preparing the cases for the show.
Jim and I have been really working to design and pack, sketch and photo, the individual cabinet specimens.
This is work!!! I am excited to visit with many people who have written to me about coming to see the exhibit. Such wonderful letters of support, nice to see how many gracious people are in this business/hobby.
So.....
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Rough draft of our "cover" pieces case. |
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This beauty has two covers! |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Jul 26, 2009 11:05 Post subject: Re: Preparing to display at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2009 |
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Our first Rocks and Minerals cover, of a piece we own. |
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Lots of Descloizite to the right... |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Jul 26, 2009 11:09 Post subject: Re: Preparing to display at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2009 |
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More photos...
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The lighting doesn't really show the beauty of this piece, but hopefully will at the show. |
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Pyromorphite..cover piece. |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Paul Bordovsky
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
Posts: 46
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Posted: Jul 26, 2009 11:17 Post subject: Re: Preparing to display at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2009 |
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Hi, Gail.
Thanks for the interesting "rockumentary", on the preparation required prior
to displaying at a show. You and Jim are doing a great job on this major undertaking.
Hope all goes well at the show.
Paul
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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Jul 26, 2009 11:38 Post subject: Re: Preparing to display at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2009 |
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Hi Paul, thanks for the compliment.
It is a tremendous amount of work, something that I expect will be a once in a lifetime adventure. The big thrill for us is that Jim's parents will be there and they are very excited to see our minerals exhibited in this venue.
Jim's sister and her two sons are coming also, and our own son, Tom will be arriving.
Quite a family get together! Jim's sister is an excellent artist and makes beautiful jewelry also, so she will be there with her Syracuse group showing their wares. We promised to give them a tour of our exhibit.
We are working on our talk too, Jim and I are presenting on Saturday at one....How married couples can, and DO, collect happily together.
Our enthusiasm is equal and our hobby only enhances our love for each other.
So we view this hard work as an exciting adventure and a great chance to enjoy learning together. I am married to a wonderful man.
And...I am still walking on air that Lance is coming back to race in the Tour de France for his own team, Radioshack, next year. Woo hoo!!!!
_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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