Page 97 - Designing Ways 289

TAIL OF
THE DOG

Semi-precious eggs

A Serpentinite was pale green with stone, weight like gold? Petrified
very precious inheritance from
dark green splodges.
my mother was her collection
wood - brown smoky opaque cognac
of semi-precious stone eggs.
is obvious – grey with black dots.
These lived in a basket, a bit like a coloured stone. The Dalmatian stone
large bird’s nest, on the dining room My mother’s descriptions were vivid. Thulite is opaque pink and white,
table. The collection grew over the A pale pink translucent Rose Quartz slight grey speckles.
years and was much admired. formed the basis of the collection.
Added to this was another translucent
stone - turquoise Amazonite - an Children love playing with these eggs,
I think it began with gifts from opaque turquoise stone, with white they lay them out in rows, choose
Rhodesia, where there was a gem fault lines. Citrine is a honey yellow different colours, and invent all sorts
collector who turned and polished translucent stone, Dumortierite is a of games. Adults take them out of the
egg-shaped stones, and sold them brilliant cornflower blue stone. Unakite nest, look at them, comment, and
as souvenirs of travel to this country. is opaque green, pinkish terracotta they are always a talking point.
Over the years, I added to the speckled striped stone, very unusual.
collection, as did others. Banded Jasper is a bit like Tiger’s
Eye, distinct bands of brick red, grey I bless my mother for many things,
and white. Cobra Jasper is beautiful but the basket of eggs is a very
A New Zealand visitor was so grey, mottled with brown and dark tangible reminder of meals around
impressed that he sent my mother a splodges. Moss Agate is beige, with her table, and pleasant times with
Kiwi egg – shaped out of Serpentine, brown speckles, some clear spots. her many friends. The eggs are my
with greenish stripes. The Kiwi egg friends too.
was smaller and a bit more pointy
than the Rhodesian eggs, but lived Unusual eggs are Fools Gold – or
happily in the basket. The local Iron Pyrites. A heavy silver metallic Gill Butler

Make your office your happy
Malachite
place, every day.

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