Diamonds Are Forever - Just Not For Tuesdays

Zsa Zsa Gabor was once asked whether a lady should give back the ring if the engagement is called off.   Her answer?  "Of course ‘dahlink’, but first, you take out all the diamonds.” 

 

You can collect diamonds the way Zsa Zsa did or you can grab a bucket, a shovel and a saruca and head to Crater of Diamonds State Park near the town of Murfreesboro in southwest Arkansas.  The 37-acre diamond field is the only diamond-producing area in the world open to the public. 

Sign at the county courthouse in Murfreesboro

Entrance to Visitors' Center and mine field

 

The first diamonds were found here in 1906 by the owner of the property.  After his discovery, John Huddleston sold his pig farm for $36,000 (nearly $1 million in today’s dollars).  Over the years the property changed hands a number of times – usually with a disaster of some sort being the catalyst for the change.  Although several spectacular and note-worth diamonds were found at the site, the diamond mine was never a commercial success.  Finally, in 1972 the State of Arkansas purchased the property for a state park. 

 

You can bring your own shovels and other equipment for diamond hunting or rent equipment at the park.  The three main techniques for discovering diamonds are surface searching, dry sifting or wet sifting.  Surface searching was my preference since I have a short attention span – I could wander around with a trowel and periodically dig up some lamproite.  Mike tried both dry sifting and wet sifting.  The result?  No diamonds from any of the prospecting methods.

 

 

The north "washing station", used for wet sifting

 

"Wet Sifting"

 

A saruca being used to "wet sift" for diamonds

 

Others, though, have had much better luck. 

     *   James Archer of Nashville, AR, after retiring from his job, came to the diamond
          field six days each week for thirty years.  He put seven children through college
          with his diamond finds.
     *   Shirley Strawn of Murfreesboro, AR, discovered a diamond in 1990.  It was
           graded the highest diamond ever graded by the American Gemological Society,
           a flawless, perfect diamond.   Shirley named her diamond the Strawn-Wagner
           Diamond, in honor of her great-great-grandfather, Lee Wagner.
     *   Lee Wagner, Shirley’s great-great-grandfather, had, himself, discovered a
           very impressive diamond – a 17.86-carat yellow canary diamond that today
           is on display at the Smithsonian.
     *   Less than two months ago, on July 31, twelve-year-old Michael, visiting the
           park from North Carolina with his family, found a 5.16-carat diamond.
     *   Diamonds found the day we were there:  none;  the day before we were
           there:  1;  this year to date:  366; all of last year:  530.

The diamond field is plowed every few weeks to help
expose stones to hunters

 

This shovel and sign marks the exact location where the Amarillo
Starlight diamond was found.  At 16.37-carats, it is the largest
diamond found since the site became a state park in 1972

If you don’t find your diamond in the Crater of Diamonds, it is possible to find one two miles north in the little town of Murfreesboro. 

A visit to the Pawn King store can get you diamonds, or tools, or the owner’s favorite – guitars.  (Regarding guitars, their brochure says “If it ain’t been in a pawn shop, it can’t play the blues.”)  Or, for $3,500 – the price of a reasonably good diamond – you can be the proud owner of a six foot tall black bear.  And in the spirit of “truth in advertising,” their brochure boasts “we cheat the other guy and pass the savings on to you.”

 

 

Another spot to shop for locally-discovered diamonds is Caddo’s Antiques.  Graded and authenticated diamonds are available, most on consignment.  The antiques in this shop are mostly glassware and china.  The shop sells just about everything else from tons of Razorback gear to holiday décor.  Two charming ladies sporting feathered hats are more than happy to help you.

Caddo's Antiques

 

Of course, all this diamond hunting is bound to make you hungry.  You can pop into Hawkins’ Get the Scoop Soda Shoppe for a sandwich or ice cream.  They feature the famous Blue Bell brand ice cream from Brenham, Texas.

Get The Scoop Soda Shoppe

 

 

Need more substantial fare?   Everything from sandwiches to “blue plate” specials to steak is on the menu at the Rattler’s Den Restaurant.  As their sign says, “Come Get a Bite!!!”

So, on this Tuesday, no diamonds – but we did find several more good Road Stories.



http://www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com/        Admission fee charged to enter
                                                                               the diamond field and/or to
                                                                               search for diamonds


Editor's Notes

Saruca Gem and Mineral Concentrator is a set of screens used for prospecting and mining gemstones and minerals, including rubies, sapphires, gold and diamonds. 

Lamproite is a type of igneous rock. When this magma is ejected to the surface of the earth in a volcanic eruption it picks up fragmented materials from the mantle and crust and carries them along in its current. When the magma travels through diamondiferous regions of the Earth diamonds may become imbedded in the material

UPDATE     UPDATE     UPDATE     Since we published this blog, a number of large diamonds have been found in the diamond fields.  On Saturday, September 28, 2013, a 2.13-carat champagne diamond was unearthed, and on Saturday, October 19, 2013, 14-year-old Tanya Clymer of Oklahoma City found a 3.85-carat canary diamond after only two hours of searching.  The yellow gem is teardrop-shaped and is about the size of a jelly bean.  Perhaps Saturdays are the best days to search for diamonds! 

MARAMEC - It Even Confuses Google!

Most people in eastern Missouri are familiar with Meramec:  Meramec State Park; Meramec Caverns; the Meramec River.  There is even a Meramec Street in south St. Louis, and Meramec Station Road in St. Louis County.  Fewer are familiar with MARAMEC.  In fact, if you type “Maramec” into Google, it will ask “do you mean Meramec?”

 

Maramec Spring, near St. James, MO, is a lovely spot to visit on a crisp fall afternoon.  It was designated a “Natural National Landmark” in 1971 and is the fifth-largest spring in Missouri.  It is open to the public; a nominal fee is charged.  The current fee is $5 per car.  It is owned and operated by The James Foundation.  The park includes 1,860 acres; 200 of these are open to the public.

 

Spring

     *   Beautiful, clear aqua-colored water
     *   100 million gallons of water flow from the spring each day
     *   Constant 56 degree water temperature
     *   The spring and caves are the result of Karst topography
     *   A paved walking path allows easy access to the spring and fish hatchery

100 million gallons of water flow from Maramec Spring each day

 

 

Fish Hatchery
     *   Both Rainbow and Brown Trout are raised here
     *   Hatchery produces 100,000 trout per year
     *   Administered by Missouri Department of Conservation

Trout Fishing
     *   Trout season opens March 1^st each year
     *   The .6-mile fishing stream is re-stocked each day of the season
     *   Requires a Missouri Fishing License and a Daily Trout Tag
     *   Missouri residents under 15 or 65 and over need only a Daily Trout Tag
             (check current regulations)

Camping
     *   58 camp sites, all adjacent to the Meramec River
     *   10 of the camp sites have electric service
     *   Camping season runs from the end of February to the end of October

Iron Works
     *   First successful iron mine / iron works west of the Mississippi River
     *   The Maramec Iron Works was built in 1826 and continued operating until 1876

The site of the original iron smelter

Another view of the remnants of the smelter

This stone was used for shaping metal rims for wagon wheels

The two-wheel charcoal barrow is pictured to the right of the
wagon wheel rim shaper in the picture above

The wheels on this wagon have metal rims made right here

Maramec Museum
     *   History of spring and of iron works

Powerhouse
     *   Built in the 1920s
      *   Used water from the spring to produce electricity

The powerhouse generated electricity from the flow of the spring

Picnic Areas
     *   Located primarily around the old iron works
     *   For a “bird’s-eye” view of the area, take a short drive to the “scenic overlook”
           where additional picnic tables can be found

Mom and Dad on the scenic overlook

View of the Meramec River from the scenic overlook

Cemetery and Pictorials
     *   Located a short distance from the scenic overlook, the cemetery dates back to
           the 1820s
     *   Take the gravel road to the left of the cemetery to view a series of pictures
           of what the village looked like in its heyday
     *   At its peak, the village had some 500 residents
     *   The only real physical remnants of the village are a few chimneys
     *   Be aware, there is a steep grade on the road from the cemetery to the old village

A family plot in the cemetery

 

Headstone of a child who died at the age of 1 year

 

A series of paintings along the road provides a glimpse
of what the village may have looked like

 

Ozark Agricultural Museum
     *   Farm machinery and implements from the mid- to the late 19^th century, including
          many made of iron mined and smelted right here

 

Many of the pieces were made of iron mined and smelted locally

 

Maramec Spring Park provides an interesting glimpse into Missouri’s past, and is worth a visit.  You might consider visiting during ”Old Iron Works Days” – this year held on Saturday, October 12 and Sunday, October 13 (hours 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm each day).  Live entertainment, demonstrations of blacksmithing, wood carving and other crafts, a Civil War encampment display, and food booths/vendors mark the occasion.  Admission is $15 per car load.  For more information on Old Iron Works Days, go to

http://www.maramecspringpark.com/maramec/oldironworks/flyer.jpg

From Jesse James at MERAMEC Caverns to the Fish Hatchery at MARAMEC Spring…Missouri has its share of interesting Road Stories. 

www.maramecspringpark.com                     6 miles south of St. James, MO on Highway 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some Times, Some Places, Some Things

When I realized that this was going to be posted on a Friday the 13^th, I considered writing about something frightening and appropriate for the date.  Then, as I was dusting my collection of carnival chalk figurines from the 1920s and 1930s (yeah, that’s pretty frightening - not the chalk figures, but the fact that I was dusting) I was reminded of how frighteningly quickly time passes.  Some of these figures are nearly a century old.

 

That brings us to today’s fun-but-not-frightening topic:  Some times, some places, some things.

 

As you can see in the sidebar of this blog, I buy “stuff.”  Each item is important in its own right because it captures a significant moment or special time.  Some of these treasures are not monetarily expensive but rich in memories.  Here are some of those special moments.

 

In the summer of 1987 I was in Egypt with my parents.  Mike had elected not to come on this trip.  (I’ve learned that he is not a fan of travel when the temperature will be extremely hot or when the journey involves interaction with reptiles.)  On this trip, the temperature was consistently above 100 degrees.  Though hot and stifling, it was a fascinating trip.  At that time, one could still visit many of the Pharaohs’ tombs that are now closed to the public.  One day, Mom and I were looking at the hawkers’ goods in the stalls just outside the entrance to the Valley of the Queens.  I became enamored with a necklace, but neither Mom nor I had any currency with us...why or how that happened, I can’t recall.  As I bemoaned the loss of this “treasure” Mom commented “you aren’t giving up that easily, are you?”  She proceeded to work out a “deal” – despite the language barrier between her and the seller – which everyone was happy with.  The cost?  One “steelie.”   Sometimes, a person just needs to be a little flexible and creative.   

 

(Editor’s Note:  A “steelie” is a pen.  The term comes from England and originally referred to a writing instrument with a metal or steel nib [tip] as opposed to a quill pen.  It is now used to refer to any pen, including ball point pens.)
 

 

The necklace Mom "negotiated" for me in Egypt

 

Yvonne on a camel in front of the Great Pyramid in Egypt

I’ve previously mentioned our amazing trip to Kenya during the winter of 2008.  We were two in a group of ten travelers.  Two others in the group, Rob and Jackie, from Boston, turned out to be some of the best traveling companions we have ever had the good fortune to spend time with.  Fun and funny, always in good spirits, inquisitive yet respectful of others’ culture and customs.  To put this in greater perspective, the airlines had lost Rob and Jackie’s baggage – ALL of it.  A photo safari in the Kenyan bush is not exactly an easy place to replace one’s wardrobe.  With a few borrowed items and some souvenir t-shirts, carried in Zip-Lock bags, they remained positive and absolutely delightful.  One afternoon, while roaming through a market with Rob and Jackie outside one of the safari lodges, I bought a beaded bracelet.  Mike, meanwhile, was “bargaining” on a set of four carved wooden bracelets.  These simple souvenirs remind me of the spontaneous fun these two intrepid travelers created, and remind me of the type of traveler I want to be.

 

Maasai villagers selling native crafts (photo taken with permission)

 

Beaded bracelet purchased in Kenya.  The word JAMBO
worked into the beads means "hello" or "good day" in Swahili

 

Carved wooden bracelet set that Mike "bargained for" in Kenya

There are many vistas of ancient temples and reminders of political upheaval in Siem Reap, Cambodia.  There is also a very real commercial city that supports a vibrant local population.  Mike and I got a glimpse of both sides when we visited the country early in 2011.  We were awed by the magnificence of the Angkor Wat Temple complex.  The temples were an amazing reflection of an ancient civilization.  In one of the temples, a Buddhist monk was praying and imparting blessings upon visitors.  In exchange for a small monetary contribution to his monastery, he would braid a “bracelet” onto the wrist of the visitor.  I thought the tiny threads would break or disintegrate quickly.  I’m still wearing it today, two-and-a-half years later.  (When hospitalized in Texas last year, I refused to let the ER staff cut it off my wrist.)  Something that appears to be fragile can be enduring…whether it is a wrist band woven by a monk in a temple, or the human spirit.

 

The Old French Quarter of Siem Reap presents the other side of the picture – people living ordinary, everyday lives.  The market stalls are a teeming outpost of commercial activity.  Brilliant colors form a background to the lively dealings of those selling their goods.  Wandering through the stalls is a sensory rush.  The sounds…the scents…the glimmer of jewelry…ah, yes!  I find a bracelet of dancing elephants that needs a home on my wrist.  Mike appears as I start discussing price with the vendor.  He loves to bargain, to dicker, to haggle.  To him, it is a game to be played.  I’m tugging at his sleeve, ready to agree to her price when a strident voice declares “You!  Go over there.  Husband and I are negotiating.  You go away.”  Hey, doesn’t she realize I’m on her side?  Apparently, the two of them understand the rules of this game.  I’m merely a spectator. 

 

Angkor Wat Temple complex near Siem Reap, Cambodia

 

Bracelet woven by a Buddhist monk, still in place after 2 1/2 years

  

Vibrant colors in a fruit market in the Old French Quarter, Siem Reap, Cambodia

 

Bracelet with "good luck" elephants from Siem Reap, Cambodia.
After 30 minutes of "give and take", both Mike and the woman
vendor felt satisfied with the outcome of the "game."

 

Often, it is not WHAT you buy, but the memories that are associated with the purchase that are the most meaningful.  Some times, some places, some things are so special, and they help shape your Road Stories.


 

Amazing Aviatrixes

Amelia Earhart was born and spent many happy childhood days in her maternal grandparents' home in Atchison, Kansas on the bluffs of the Missouri River.  Mike and I had the opportunity to visit the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum in June of 2013.  The memorabilia and pictures give a peek into the precocious child who would become America's heroine.

Amelia Earhart's birthplace, Atchison, KS

It was some time before flying was a singular passion. During her lifetime she was a nurse in Canada as well as a social worker in Boston.  At one time she was the part owner of a trucking company and later a part owner of a flying school. In 1924 she drove her Kissel automobile 7,000 miles across country from Hollywood to Boston via Canada.  Just imagine road conditions in 1924!  But it was her feats in the air - most specifically her solo trans-Atlantic flight (the second person, and first woman to do so) in 1932 - that engraves her image into our minds.

 

Earhart's first pilot's license

Costumes worn by Hilary Swank in the 2009 movie Amelia on
display at the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum

 

www.ameliaearhartmuseum.org   Atchison, KS   self-guided tour   admission charged

 

While visiting the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum I purchased an Earhart biography by Mary S. Lovell called The Sound of Wings.  This comprehensive biography led me to another work by Ms. Lovell, Straight On Till Morning, the definitive biography of Beryl Markham, another amazing aviatrix.

 

As a pilot Beryl Markham set all kinds of records, most notably being the first woman to fly solo over the Atlantic “the hard way” - east to west, against the prevailing winds. Though she broke numerous flight records, her real passion was training racehorses and indeed she broke all kinds of records in this endeavor, too.  She was also a talented writer.  Even Earnest Hemingway praised her writing.  She was a multifaceted, complex woman.

 

My first introduction to Markham was not through her amazing feats as an aviatrix but as a teller of tales of Africa.  Her engaging autobiography, West with the Night, relates her experiences growing up on a farm in Kenya where she lived within several cultures.  West with the Night captures the lyrical quality of Kenya. 

 

Mike and I had the privilege of visiting Kenya in early 2008.  Our initial travel date was delayed due to the State Department canceling travel to Kenya because of the political unrest associated with the Presidential elections in December 2007.  Even though we could see scars of the unrest, we felt safe and welcome.  We were asked by residents to assure other potential travelers that it was safe to visit Kenya. While we were there, tourists were scarce but animals were in abundance. The sheer number and diversity of animals was beyond our possible dreams. The vast beauty of the land was awe-inspiring.  I had the most peculiar feeling of being “spiritually” at home.

A pride of lions lounges in the grass on a warm afternoon,
ignoring the tourists in the raised-roof safari vans

Elephants by the hundreds roam through the nature parks

No two zebras have the exact same pattern of stripes, and the
stripes are slightly different on their left versus their right sides

Remember the old association game "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon"?  I suppose much of life is like that:  Somehow, everyone and everything is connected.   In the introduction of Straight On Till Morning, Ms. Lovell writes that her interest in Beryl Markham was piqued when her (now ex-) husband told her stories about an older woman who flew a Gipsy Moth airplane during the 1930s.  He had met this dynamic person while he was flying a Gipsy Moth during the filming of Out of Africa.  Ms. Lovell felt compelled to fly to Kenya to meet this enigmatic woman.

 

Lovell's book offers new insight because in addition to her very extensive research she had six weeks of personal conversations with Beryl Markham.  Lovell introduces the reader to the very personal side of Markham as well as the record breaking aviator.

 

Beryl Markham was a daring pilot who was deeply ensconced in Kenyan social life.  At one point she was a friend of Karen Blixen.  Karen Blixen is probably best known for her memoir Out of Africa.  The film version of Out of Africa focused on the relationship between Karen Blixen and Denys Finch Hatton.  Later, after the relationship between Blixen and Hatton waned, Beryl Markham also had a love affair with Hatton.

 

WOW!  The Road Stories these people could tell!

 

Karen Blixen's house, on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya

If you would like more information about these fascinating women, here are some resources:

Autobiographies
          West With The Night by Beryl Markham
          Out of Africa by Isak Dinesan (Isak Dinesan was the pen name under which
                                                                Karen Blixen wrote.)

 

Biographies
          The Sound of Wings:  The Life of Amelia Earhart by Mary S. Lovell
          Straight On Till Morning:  The Life of Beryl Markham by Mary S. Lovell

 

Novella /allegory
          The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery
            (This novella is included because de Saint Exupery was a pilot, a writer, and a

              friend of Markham.  Stylistically, literary authorities believe that de Saint Exupery

              “tutored” Markham while she was writing West With The Night.)

 

Films
          Amelia (2009) biographical film of Amelia Earhart, starring Hillary Swank
          Out of Africa (1985) starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford



The Acacia Erioloba (Giraffe Thorn) tree is seen across Kenya