Massive Diamond Found

Miners in Lesotho have discovered a huge gemstone which may become the largest ever polished round diamond.

The stone weighs 478 carats and is the 20th largest rough diamond ever found, said Gem Diamonds.

The company said the uncut rock was recovered recently from the Letseng mine, owned by the company in Lesotho.

The diamond, which is as yet unnamed, has the potential to yield a 150 carat cut stone, and could sell for tens of millions of dollars, the company said.

"Preliminary examination of this remarkable diamond indicates it will yield a record-breaking polished stone of the very best colour and clarity," said the company's chief executive Clifford Elphick.

It would be bigger than the 105 carat round-cut Koh-i-Noor diamond, which is part of the British Crown Jewels.

It would still be dwarfed by the Cullinan diamond discovered in 1905, which was 3,106 carats uncut and yielded a teardrop shaped diamond of 530 carats called the Great Start of Africa.

Wedding Jewelry

My niece is getting married tomorrow
and I thought you all might like to see the jewelry I will be wearing.
I, of course, made all of the pieces myself.
What fun to have people compliment the pieces that I have made,
all the while thinking that they were purchased
at an expensive boutique!

August Flowers and Herbs - A Little Late

Snowball, Hysop, Day Lily, and Weeds

Roses and Rudbeckia

Snowballs

Queen Anne's Lace at the Edge of the Woods


My little English garden has been beautiful this summer
- despite having no attention from me.
The hollyhocks came up, but did not bloom.
The hardy hibiscus with the huge magenta blooms bloomed beautifully,
but I wasn't able to get out to make a picture.
Lest I should forget, it is in the front left wine barrel.
All of my lavender died this year.
A tragedy!

Here's hoping that next year will be better!

Camel Beauty Pageant

ABU DHABI - More than 10,000 camels from across the Gulf will be competing for millions of dollars in prize money at a beauty pageant for the “ship of the desert” in Abu Dhabi next week.

The contest is part of a camel festival being staged from Wednesday in the capital of the United Arab Emirates which aims to celebrate and preserve the region’s cultural heritage.

Camels from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia will strut their stuff before a panel of expert judges who will decide which owners should be awarded prize money totalling around 9.5 million dollars. One hundred cars are also up for grabs.

“Preserving the rich heritage of the UAE and passing it on to future generations constitutes one of the most important missions which people of the UAE wish to undertake, by connecting our culturally rich past with our aspired bright and prosperous future,” the official WAM news agency quoted festival organiser Mohammed al-Mazrouei as saying earlier this week.

Oil-rich Abu Dhabi, one of seven emirates that makes up the UAE federation, produced the world’s first test-tube purebred camel and has begun using remote-controlled robot riders in its camel races.

Le Jardin du Paris

Inspired by the beautiful gardens in Paris,
I've named this bracelet
'Le Jardin du Paris'.
The components are
Lucite Flowers
Swarovski Pearls
Swarovski Crystals
Gold Seed Beads
Gold Plated Beads
Mother of Pearl Flower Closure

What a joy to make!
What fun dreaming of a return trip to Paris!

A Wise Man

World's Longest Yard Sale

The World's Longest Yard Sale

now in it's 21st year, begins at the Ohio/Michigan border
and ends in Gadsden, Alabama, spanning 654 miles.

The sale, set for August 7th through the 10th this year,
officially begins the day after tomorrow,
but vendors in the Dunlap/Pikeville area began setting
up a month ago to get prime locations.

The rules of the show state that there can be no
used clothing or commercial vendors,
but there will be both - with all things in between.
Last year, we found a dried rat for sale.
That's pushing it a bit, in my opinion!

Our house is located directly on Highway 127.
We will not be selling, but will be out shopping.

See you on the road!