Rock Collecting

 I was cleaning and organizing my craft room and found a paper bag full of a collection of rocks.

Most folks would probably see this rock collection as ho-hum and ordinary.

This sentimental mom, however, saw them as precious reminders of when my kids were little and full of curiosity and wonder.

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   So what do you do when your kids are now adults and your left holding a bag of ho-hum looking rocks?

Do you dump them in the driveway to mix with the gravel? Or do you throw them behind the barn to become part of the landscape? Oh, the struggle was real.

   Each little rock was a souvenir of a special time in their childhood; and adventure that was important enough to reach down and carry a reminder of the day home with them. There was no way I was gonna part with them.

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   After thinking about it for a few days, I decided on a perfect way to display the kid’s rock collection.

   I found a few glass containers from around the house, then went outside and gathered up moss and small plants from the property.

I spent the rest of the day making a huge mess on the back porch, arranging the rocks with the plants and other found objects and now I have these fun little memory terrariums that I get to see and enjoy every day!

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    Then I found another treasure a few days later. 

Buried in a stack of paper was a handwritten note from my daughter to my son, discussing plans to play “school” after they were finished with their school work (we home schooled back then). The cutest part is how they chose to spend their recess time – washing rocks!

   My mind’s eye can still see them playing in the backyard with the garden hose, scrub brushes, and buckets full of sudsy water. Washing their treasured rocks, laying them out in a neat line for the sun to dry them and having a glorious time being kids!  

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TJ Foster

I was bitten by the collecting bug about 30 years ago and have been decorating my home with vintage doo-dads and second-hand finds ever since.
My hope is that Whimsybop will inspire you to see the beauty in old forgotten things, and to give second-hand treasures new life again.

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