Bonnie is outside “rooting“.
Rooting is defined at this location as either gardening OR searching and cleaning the barn. I am fairly happy in my barn and can find at least half the things I need in it (this is a good percentage for a guy). Bonnie, on the other hand, feels compelled to enter my venue, namely the barn, and “straighten it up”. She often says things to me like: “Don’t you think you should neaten this barn up”, or “This barn is a mess”. I tell her that there are spiders in my barn, and she HATES spiders, but this seems not to work very well as a repellant. I mention that if she moves things I may not be able to find them, but again this seems not to work very well. I recall giving up on discouraging “rooting” in 2008 (the fall, I believe).
Rooting requires moving things, including buckets and rocks around. When this happens my percentage of being able to find things declines to about 40%.
I do not discourage this womanly behavior, as I know it makes her feel good, productive, and improves her well-being. She discovers new rocks and is happy moving things she has already moved on previous rootings (Word says this is not a verb, but I KNOW it is) Another advantage is she is not disturbing me while I watch NASCAR, Deadliest Catch, or Chopper (guy shows). I’m usually wire-wrapping jewelry out of some Michigan stones while I watch these shows, so you know how hard-working I am.
What is in this barrel of rocks that are covered with saw mud?
Today, after a good rooting session in the barn, she came up the driveway with a paper barrel in her wheelbarrow. I
A sample of the edge (about 2" thick) revealed interesting dendrites and pattern.
do not recall seeing this barrel for a number of years, but I can recall buying it about 10 years ago at a sale in Grand Rapids.
The Owyhee and one of the Brazilian Agates.
She found several nice Brazilian Agates and about a ten pond slab of Owyhee Picture Jasper, a better then average root. There are multiple types of Owyhee from Oregon and I am not an expert as to precisely what it all is, but it is all of interest, and makes wonderful pictured cabochons. I know this rough is at least 30 years old. I do not know whether this material is still available or not. Thus far I have not found any on line. If anyone knows exactly what this jasper is, let me know and I will edit this blog. There is probably much more Owyhee in the one slab then I can use in my lifetime.
This will be great lapidary and barter material, don't you think?
So, to sum this up I guess it pays to let your wife be happy in her “straightening and rooting” endeavors. Good things can sometimes come of this affliction.