Caleigh O'Shea's Blog, page 40

Sunday’s Gem — Ruby

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ~Albert Einstein

One of four “precious” gemstones (the others being Diamond, Sapphire, and Emerald), Ruby is red Corundum, an aluminum oxide mineral with chromium responsible for its rich, red color.

Considered by many to be the most powerful gemstone in the universe, Ruby ranges from an orangey-red to a purplish or brownish red. The most prized color is “pigeon’s blood,” pure red with a hint of blue.

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Unheated rubies from Mozambique; photo from http://www.gemstoneuniverse.com

Ruby is a 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness (1-10), surpassed only by Diamond. Its name comes from the Latin rubeus, or red. The finest stones seem to come from Burma, though Thailand, Ceylon, Pakistan, and other countries also are sources.

A stone of nobility, Ruby has long been a talisman of passion, protection, and prosperity. Ancient Hindu peoples believed that casting Ruby into water would cause it to boil; long ago Greeks claimed pressing it into wax would melt the wax. The Chinese Emperor Kublai Khan is reported to have offered a city in exchange for a large Ruby.

Ruby is thought to be the fourth gemstone in the breastplate of the Hebrew High Priest. From olden times through the Middle Ages, Ruby served as an amulet to ward off plague, banish sadness and foolish thoughts, and bring its wearer peace. Even today, legend holds that as long as you have a bit of Ruby, you’ll never be poor.

Ruby is the traditional birthstone for those born in July. It’s a traditional gift for the 15th or 40th wedding anniversary, and it makes a beautiful Valentine’s Day present!

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Isn’t this a lovely specimen? Thanks to the Gemological Institute of America Inc. for this photo.

Metaphysical healers say Ruby can heal or balance the Base Chakra, located at the base of the spine. When this area is in balance, one regains physical strength and stamina and has a rekindled sense of security and self-power.

Feng Shui experts say Ruby is fire energy, Yang in nature, associated with the south area of a home or office.

While not usually a meditation stone because of its invigorating properties, Ruby is beautiful in jewelry. Wear it in a ring on your left hand, or as earrings or a pendant. Keep your Ruby separated from softer gemstones or they might be scratched.

Note: The claims here aren’t meant to take the place of medical advice. They’re based on folklore and other sources, and likely “work” best if one’s belief is strong enough!

 

Touring the Land of Lincoln

No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.  ~Lin Yutang, Chinese writer and inventor

I’ve been from coast to coast and north to south across these great United States, but I imagine that, despite its faults, Illinois always will hold a special place in my heart.

And since this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge is Tour Guide — what’s special about the place where we live — I’ve prepared a number of photos to show off some of the Land of Lincoln in its glory. If you click the first photo, you can view them as a slideshow. Please enjoy:

Right on Schedule

I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in. ~George Washington Carver, African-American botanist and inventor

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Dallas was making a terrible barking racket yesterday morning. At first, I thought he’d cornered a squirrel, but then I caught sight of these migrating birds. Geese, perhaps?

Racing for the outside, I was stunned at how many there were filling the sky overhead, snaking their way to points northwest of here. And the noise they were generating! Well, listen for yourselves:

https://player.vimeo.com/video/254210788

Isn’t Nature amazing?!!

 

Making Music Together

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Son, dog, and music

Just three special things I love

Making my life full.

The idea behind Beloved, this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge theme, is to display a photo of something that is dearly loved. Well, gee, that’s not hard, is it? We all have something or someone we love. Here are the instructions if you’d like to join the fun. And before you ask, Dallas does not sing to my flute; he seems to have a preference for brass instruments!

Stepping into Bravery

Courage is being afraid but going on anyhow.  ~Dan Rather, American journalist and TV news anchor

My flute teacher has been trying for weeks to tell me I’m ready to play in a group.

That a real band setting will teach me things I can’t learn by doing only private lessons.

Logic tells me she’s right, but oh my. I’ve been playing less than two years. Who’d want me in their band?

Well, it turns out my teacher has just the right group in mind.

It’s a symphonic band at a nearby college, one that meets weekly and is comprised of a variety of student music majors on secondary instruments, students of other majors who miss playing in a band, and community members who might not have touched their instruments for decades.

In short, a little better than beginners, but in no way professionals.

You’ll be fine, she said.

And my blogging friend Dawn echoed those sentiments. We’re all scared the first time, she said, but it gets easier.

Okay, I thought, I’ll give it a try. I’ve never known musicians to be cruel, critical, or belittling.

Still, just thinking about this gave me the shakes.

That jittery feeling in your stomach that questions whether you’ve lost your mind.

I mean, it’s one thing to play for myself — and by myself — in a lesson.

It’s another entirely to play in public with others.

Fortunately, age has taught me that if you want to do something but are afraid, do it anyway. One gets courage from taking baby steps and succeeding.

This week was our group’s first rehearsal.

We sightread the four pieces our director has chosen, introduced ourselves, did some warmups and tuning. Just like I remember band practices.

Nobody made fun of anybody else. Nobody complained about the pieces … or the two concerts we’d be giving this semester. Nobody fussed about having to sit next to somebody who might not play as well as they.

Time flew, and just like that, rehearsal was over.

I walked to my car humming Tricycle, one of the songs we’d been playing (particularly hard to count as it’s in 5/4 time).

And I couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear.

Band is so much FUN!

Various Rainbows

Rainbows make me smile

Storm finished; sunshine returns

Easing the tension.

These shots were taken at different times of the year following different storms. Rainbows in the sky promise a spell of quiet, happiness, and peace.

Note: This collage is my interpretation of Variations on a Theme, this week’s topic in WordPress’s 2018 Photo Challenge. It’s not too late to get in on the fun, you know!

You Can’t Fix Rudeness

Whoever one is, and wherever one is, one is always in the wrong if one is rude. ~Maurice Baring, English man of letters (poems, novels, essays, war correspondence)

Dallas here.

While Mama is otherwise occupied, I thought I’d interrupt my afternoon snoozle for a few thoughts. I know you’ve missed hearing from me!

During the Christmas holidays, Mama and The Kid (AKA Domer) went to the movies — some action flick about a Jedi. And when they came home, they were steamed.

Here’s what I overheard them tell Grandma:

The Kid wanted to arrive at the theater fashionably late (thereby missing all the ads for snacks and getting to choose seats away from the coughing kids), but Mama wanted to get there early (so she could pick from ALL the seats and stake her territory, daring anybody to sit next to her).

My Mama’s like that, you know!

Anyway, The Kid caved, and they got there early. Mama picked the seats (well, sort of. I understand it’s called a compromise).

Have you ever noticed how people seem to gravitate to those already seated? You’d think that, with an empty room, folks would sit as far from each other as possible, but no. They belly right up next to perfect strangers, bringing runny-nosed children, immense tubs of buttered popcorn, and gallon-sized cups of soft drinks.

(If I’d known food was involved, I’d have gone!)

The movie was just about to start when a skinny dude and his whale-sized friend (who wafted cigarettes and body odor in his wake) crossed in front of Mama and The Kid, claiming seats two away from Mama.

That was their first mistake.

The next was when the Whale pulled up his hood and whipped out his cell phone. Every theater tells you to turn those devices off, but Moby-Dick kept scrolling, texting, and pretending he was a Popular Person.

And he’d commandeered his seat plus half the one to his right, dangerously close to Mama’s space.

As the movie progressed, Moby made all kinds of sucking noises on his drink. Swirled the slushee stuff in the bottom, yanked the straw up and down.

Guess he didn’t care that some people wanted to see and hear the Jedis, not his culinary feast.

Or that Mama was ready to punch out his lights.

When he finished guzzling, he traipsed in front of Mama and The Kid again to get a refill, which he brought back with a box of candy to rattle and chomp.

And when Mama and The Kid heard snoring, they glanced around and there was Moby — slumped in his two seats, mouth open, and having a snoozle of his own!

Mama was really furious by this time. Fortunately, the credits started to roll, Moby stirred awake, and The Kid got Mama out of there.

I guess the moral is this:

The test of good manners is to be patient with bad ones. ~Gabirol (Solomon ben Yehuda ibn Gabirol), Jewish poet and philosopher

Shhhh….

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Bunny in the grass

I’m watching him for you, Mom

Never fear — I’m here

Note: This was taken in August, 2016, as my Sheltie silently sneaked up on a rabbit in the yard.

Note 2: This is my interpretation of Silence, this week’s topic in WordPress’s 2018 Photo Challenge. Take a photo, follow the instructions, and play along!

Sunday’s Gem — Garnet

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ~Albert Einstein

Most of us think of Garnet as being a blood-red gemstone that’s the birthstone for January.

But did you know Garnet comes in lots of colors, ranging from pinks and purples, to oranges, browns, and vibrant greens? I didn’t either.

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Orange, yellow, red, green, and purple African Garnets. Thanks to http://www.geology.com for this photo.

Ranging around 7 on the Mohs scales of hardness (1-10), Garnet is a sturdy mineral, popular in jewelry and boasting a long history going back 5,000 years.

The word “garnet” is thought to come from the uncut stone’s resemblence to pomegranate seeds.

Africa is the source of the world’s largest supply of Garnets, though other sources include India, the Soviet Union, Brazil, and the U.S.

Ancient Egyptians prized Garnet and included these semi-precious stones in the tombs of Pharoahs for enjoyment in their afterlife. Ancient Romans carved Garnet into signet rings. Asiatic peoples wore them for protection and used them as weapons. Christians and Muslims used Garnets as talismans during the Crusades. A red Garnet was included on the breastplate of the Hebrew High Priest. And it’s said that Noah used a Garnet on the ark to light its way.

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Check out this stunning Georgian Garnet necklace, circa 1820 from the United Kingdom. Price: just over $8,000. Available at http://www.1stdibs.com

In addition to its uses in jewelry, Garnet has found a purpose in watch gears, scientific instruments, sandpaper, and abrasives.

Garnet is traditionally given for a second wedding anniversary.

Feng Shui experts see red Garnet as fire energy, which should be placed in the south area of a home or room. Garnet is associated with the base chakra, the foundation for the body’s physical and spiritual energy. An out-of-whack base chakra manifests in low energy and enthusiasm, self-doubt, and immune system disorders.

Set at least three Garnets on your desk to improve your business. Put some beneath your pillow to cure depression and ward off nightmares. Boost your popularity and self-esteem by wearing Garnet jewelry. Garnets are said to provide protection on trips and bring constancy to friendships.

Note: The claims here aren’t meant to take the place of medical advice. They’re based on folklore and other sources, and likely “work” best if one’s belief is strong enough!

Battling the Elements

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Whether hot or cold

Some flowers survive and thrive

In any weather

Note: I took a photo of this Snapdragon right after Thanksgiving. It’s still clinging to life, despite a few brutally cold weeks in Illinois.

Note 2: I’m participating in WordPress’s weekly Photo Challenge for 2018. This week’s topic is Weathered. Want to join me??