54th Gem and Mineral Show hosted by the Orcutt Mineral Society. That number says a lot that this show has been going on for over half a century. After a two-year hiatus, the show is back, and I suspect it will be better than ever. Sherry and I will be there with lots of new glass art, minerals and jewelry for you to see (and buy, of course). Our cousin, Diana, will be premiering at the show with unique jewelry and art. She has some designs that I guarantee you have never seen before. She utilizes unique mediums and artistic processes that are proprietary (she won’t tell you how she does it!).

The flyer here gives a plethora of information. Friday -Saturday-Sunday at the Nipomo High School. We won’t be hard to find as we are located just as you enter the show area from the parking lot.

Each year we spend a week at Pismo Beach, either before or after the show. This year is no exception. We look forward to some beach time after the show and cooler weather. I read that this past month has been one of the hottest on record. This time of year, the beach can be so cool that a jacket can be needed any time of the day.

Our trip will include a visit with family and a dinner show (melodrama and food from their snack bar) that is always corny but fun. A pre-trip to Bakersfield to visit more family will set the tone or a great trip.

Hope to see you there.

Looking down into the vertical shaft of 900 feet at the Cero Gordo Mine was dizzying. To think that the mine owner had recently gone down that shaft with another to install 850 feet of rope light on the same hoist equipment, originally installed over 100 years ago, is astounding. We just completed a three-week trip that began with a tour of this now closed mine near Lone Pine, California. It was part of a field trip with the Lone Pine Gem and Mineral Society, of which we are members.

The highlight of our trip was rockhounding with our friends Thomas and Riley, in Nevada. They own a gold mine that began soon after the gold rush of the 1800s. Thomas, shown above at the mine opening related many stories of playing in the mine as a child, then owned by his grandfather. We are pictured in the mine, behind us the shoot holds back tons of gold ore just waiting to be mined. Thomas is an accomplished silversmith along with credentials and accomplishments too long to mention. Here is their website if you interested in learning more about them: DeepWellDesigns.com.

I am fascinated by early American petroglyphs, pictured above. We took a side trip from our time in Cedar City, Utah to see the petroglyphs outside of Parowan. American history, culture, geography, etc. is an endless discovery that we never tire of. Three fabulous shows were in that trip as well.

We are home for almost two weeks, busy getting ready for our next show in Nipomo, California, hosted by the Orcutt Gem and Mineral Society. This is their first show in three years, due to the pandemic.

Hope to see you there.

I am happy to live in the United States of America and have our freedom.

June 14th is Flag Day. We fly our flag daily and it is lit at night.

June is a “home” month for us. A lot of yard work, projects, oil changes, had to get new tires, jury duty, a death in the family – and not even halfway through the month. The yard looks good and we enjoy being home in June.

We will end the month with a rockhounding trip hosted by the Lone Pine Gem and Mineral Society, then off to Bridgeport, California for their 160th annual 4th of July celebration. It was a rare event that was NOT cancelled during the pandemic. They have the best fireworks and many events over the four-day weekend.

Hope your summer is blessed.