Mama Diaries

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Mister Miner and Winners of the Giveaway

Thanks to everyone who visited and left comments on my last blog post! The winners of my book, That Mama is a Grouch, are Tracy Terry and Barbara in Caneyland.  Congratulations, ladies! 

Now for the story. My ten-year-old son has always been fascinated with rocks and minerals. He considers himself somewhat of an expert. So when one of my friends, who is also a rock hound, invited him to go on a crystal dig, he couldn't resist.

We drove to a location about two hours from our home, near the border of Georgia and Alabama. After pulling down a dirt road and driving in a field, we found the perfect spot. (At least that's what my rock hound friend said.) We got out the picks and shovels and started digging. And digging. And digging.

We finally hit a patch that made a scraping sound when we dug against it.

"We found it!" my friend said. "The mother load!"

I looked into the red pit and raised my eyebrows. It just looked like a bunch of Georgia clay to me. I shrugged and got down on my hands and knees to pick through the dirt.

Two seconds later, my son came up with a nicely formed prism. "Look, Mama! This has to be worth at least a hundred dollars!"

I shook my head. "I don't think so, Bubba. But keep digging. Maybe you'll find something that is."

More digging revealed even more crystals. By the time we were done, we had filled two cloth bags.

"Mama, we're rich!" he said.

"Dude, we're hardly rich. Those aren't diamonds," I said.

He frowned. "Where can we mine diamonds?"

"Africa," I said.

"Mama, can we go to Africa?"

Uh, right.

For those who like pictures, here's some of our stash.  (We're still trying to get the red clay off of the crystals.)

  

22 comments:

  1. Well, at least he found some pretty rocks.
    And if you were to go to Africa, I'm sure digging for diamonds would not be high on your list of things to do!

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  2. You got a big haul indeed. And yeah, mining in Africa is not good for one's health

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  3. You do get up to some different situations with your children.
    This was an excellent post and one could imagine the scene.
    Congrats to the winners also.
    Yvonne.

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  4. But Bubba had fun and in that way he's rich!

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  5. Aw, sounds like Bubba had fun! And LOL, yeah, I can see why going to Africa wouldn't exactly be the easiest thing to accomplish... XD

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  6. I wish I could remember where they have the 'dig' that actually does contain gems. I'd meet Bubba there and we'd both be in rockhound heaven. I can remember being tweenish-aged and my stepdad wanted to toss my rock collection. Each one had some special memory attached to it's collection; or had been a gift from friends/family.
    When he asked me why he shouldn't just toss it, I blurted out "I'm attached to them for, for........... sentimental reasons!"
    I still hear that occasionally, lol.

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  7. You may not be rich but I'm sure you could sell them to jewelry makers if you wanted the extra cash. (Once the clay is all cleaned up, of course.)

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  8. You say for those who like pictures, and I smile.

    Big smile.

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  9. That's a cute story. I'm glad he found some crystals, at least. Too bad they couldn't have made you rich! :)

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  10. Perhaps you can make some interesting jewelry with some of them?
    I am so excited to be a book winner! The way you write here in your blog, I just know it will be clever and cute! A perfect new book to read with my three year old granddaughter! And an autographed keepsake for her when she's older!
    I still have books that were mine when I was a small child. Read them with my two and have reading them with Baby Ruth. She can make yours part of her own forever collection!!

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  11. I am sure the crystals will be nice when they are all cleaned up... it is funny what our children value as being rich... but I bet you had a moment with him that you will always treasure... money and diamonds can't buy that xox

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  12. If you guys come to New York and visit "Howe Caverns" they let you sieve out minute Gold particles from a bucket full of water and dirt.

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  13. Next time escort your son to Africa mam...ha ha ..

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  14. I loved exploring the outdoors as a child. I had a collection of stones, shells, and leaves.

    Congrats to Tracy and Barbara.

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  15. Congrats to the winners! Very cool to go on a dig. My kids would have loved that when they were younger.

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  16. My boys love finding cool rocks. Once my oldest son unearthed a huge purple amethyst! That sight sounds really fun:)

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  17. Those are cool looking rocks.

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  18. How wonderful, I'm delighted to have won.

    Loving all these adventures you have. I look forward to reading of your exploits should you ever make it as far as Africa.

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  19. Congrats to the winner!

    It is so much fun to go looking for rocks. Love all the crystals. I know there are parks in the USA where visitors can look for and keep the diamonds/gems they find. Someone was just in the news last week for finding a very large one. Sounds like Bubba would love to visit that one! :)

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