Gem mining can be a dirty cold job, but someone has to do it!
Gem mining at the creek in Hiddenite's Emerald Hollow Mine was interesting and different. The cold water at first bothered us a bit, but after a while we got used to it and enjoyed the cool afternoon under the trees.
After visiting several different gem mines in the area, we always return to our favorite. . .Foscoe Gem Mine just a little south of Boone in North Carolina.Does anyone know what these are? Moths or butterflies? Do you know what they are called?
And of course Woody always travels with us. At times, having him with us on those long road trips has not been easy, quite difficult in fact, but he so enjoys walking the hiking trails with us, playing in the snow or just cuddling up next to the fireplace on a cold night.
Oh well I guess I will have to wait a few more months. If not in the fall, then it shall be for Christmas, but I hope to be up on my mountain soon.....
What a breathtakingly beautiful place you call home...the Blue Ridge Mountains...I can understand your sadness!!
ReplyDeleteI would love to visit the Emerald mine...that must be a fascinating experience!!!
Cheers
I would say they are butterflies. We don't have any like it in my region. My region has tons of Monarch butterflies. The gem mining looks fun.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you're not going back to the mountains this summer. The photos are just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI always wanted to stop and gem or gold mine. It looked so fun.
The pictures makes me long for the Great Smokey Mountains too.
Have a great summer with your family. That is what is important. Not where you are, but how you spend your time together.
OMG!!! That looks so fun! Gem mining... Intresting ! I think we all have our own place away from home! mine is visiting Jamaica.. Its beautiful and relaxing ... HOME!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Woody is cute; he looks like my dog Buddy. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat an endearing post. I am so sorry that you will not be able to "go home" this summer. I know the longing for a place...it can run deeper than anything else, except love of family...or a dog. :)
ReplyDeleteI love going "rock hounding" That's we used to call it when we went in search of gems. Did it a lot with my parents when I was a kid. It is a blast!
Also the top photo is a LUNA MOTH: you are lucky to have seem one as they are one THE most magical moths. Just Gooogle Luna moth and you can read about them. I used to know what the second one is but have forgotten.
Hope you are well, and I am sorry you can't go home just yet. You love of the mountain is so strong in your whole blog. I so relate that intense "love of place". Hugs and love to you, RainforestRobin :)
Thank you all for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed my photos and I wish you all a great summer!
ReplyDeleteThank you Robin for identifying the Luna Moth. Wow! I found some awesome websites and tons of information on this rare creature. Sad that they only live for about 7 days, for they are too beautiful to die so quickly. :(
If anyone wants more info on the LUNA MOTH, check out this great site
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/luna.html
Robin beat me to the "Luna Moth" comment. I remember the movie Dr. Doolittle...he flew home on a luna moth. Funny, but that's the first thing I thought of...Thanks sooo much for sharing - Luv Nards
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