This Week

For several years, it has been our custom to vacation in Helen Georgia during the week of July 4th. Last year the heat took more of a toll on me than I was willing to admit, even at the time, and we decided to consider moving our regular Helen trip to a cooler time of the year.

Also, we had family visiting from out of town.

The one thing I missed most was visiting Zuzu's Petals Rock Shop.

But I must remind myself that sometimes change is necessary and "to everything there is a season." [Ecclesiastes 3] 

I am behind a bit this month in regard to blogging. I've occupied a good bit of time this last week in word studies and hopefully I'll get around to writing about some of that.

The topics have ranged from the seven declarations made from the cross, to circumcision of the heart, and then some.

More soon. God willing.

The Bug

Another thing that was interesting while we were on vacation was the giant bug we saw hanging out on the porch outside the hotel. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice hotel, but I'd never seen a bug like this, ever in my life. And the thing was huge.

At first hubby thought it was a moth. But it's neck was too long and it had huge pinchers. I guess they're called mandibles, but anyway... the thing must have been almost 4 inches long.

I'm not bug lover but I am curious and determined and I decided I was going to find out what sort of bug that was. I asked a couple locals, including the desk clerks at various times over the weekend but even they had never seen a bug like this.

Finally, on the last night we were there I got out the laptop and started searching online. Well, turns out the thing was a male Dobsonfly They can get up to 5 inches long with their mandibles increasing that length by another inch. Though the females only have short pinchers. Fearsome looking things but evidently pretty harmless.

All that is to say that once I get my mind set on solving a puzzle, it's very difficult for me to let it go without solving it.

Mystic Opal

First, let me mention that I bought a beautiful Ethiopian Opal while on vacation in Helen Ga this past weekend. Needless to say, I was excited to stop by ZuZu's Petals Rock Shop. My plan was to purchase something to match the Lapis Luzuli (which I often hear called lapis or lapisluzi) earrings I bought last year but when I saw the opal I knew I had to have it. Funny how things work out in such a cosmic kind of way. Things happen the way they're supposed to happen. There's a serendipitous aspect to life, which by no means rules God out of the equation, but to me seems all the more indicative of His guiding hand. The key, I think, is yielding to it... being open to it.

This is a bit sad, but I cannot remember the lady's name who owns and runs the shop. And if by chance she reads this, I really wish she'd send me an email and refresh my memory.

Oh, and I also bought a nice little Agate bracelet. Really cute. (At least I think it's agate. I have a hard time remember the names of things unfortunately)

ZuZu's Petals - Related posts: July 6, 2009 August 1, 2008


"Into The Mystic"
The Wallflowers




Now, here's something I wrote a while back....

"Small Ones"

Small ones came
On winter snow
From places
Only angels go
The reason why
They did not know

She saw him walk
This barren land
Watched him fly
The mountains grand
Wondered when
He'd take his stand

Which one did cried
Those secret tears
That spill at night
From childhood fears
Denied in vain
As daylight nears

A task too great
For such a heart
The boy too big
For such a part
In wars that children
Never start

Yet had he known
The watchers 'round
Had sent the other
Hurled to ground
The worth of which
Be still unfound

Laid there to claim
If but he would
It was a thing
Not understood
Hid just within
Deep shaded wood

Who with willing
Eyes might see
The one that casts
Love's gaze on thee
To draw you near
And given free

The question rendered
Could he know
And gather to him
Secrets shown
Why too she came
On winter snow

© Rachelle

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Zuzu's Petals

All year I've looked forward to going back to Zuzu's Petals... a Rock Shop in Helen Ga. I figure it would be pointless to try to describe how that little shop makes me feel. I just know when I walk in, there's a sense of happiness that comes over me. I'm not a geologist and surely no expert when it comes to all that. I wouldn't even say I'm one of those 'chakra' whatever kind of people. I just know certain rocks and crystals seem to effect me. And I know that there's a certain sense of serendipity or synchronicity about some things. I found the place by accident last year, and as I said, have looked forward to this years vacation so I could go back. I bought a very nice fossil piece. Orthoceras. You can see some here. I wasn't aware of the 'healing' properties until I got it back home and looked it up. I also bought some lovely lapis earrings. Next year I hope to purchase something to match or compliment them.

Anyway. Zuzu's Petals was sort of my trip to the milkyway for the weekend, you might say.

Other links for ZuZu's Petals August 1, 2008 and July 4, 2011 and Septarian

You might also like: Polishing

"Drops of Jupiter"
by Train

Prisoners Of Perception & Not Just Rocks

We are prisoners of our false perceptions.
Held behind bars, not of steel but of our own making.

With the expectation of sensory evidence
we remain closed off from those things
that would otherwise enable us to stroll through stardust
and swim to bottomless blue depths.

That which we imagine is not mere imagination,
but rather a memory of that place
from which we've come and will some day return.

Let us not be prisoners.
Rather let us step through walls and railings.

© Rachelle LeCount

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"The World I Know"
by Collective Soul

Lyrics:
Has our conscience shown?
Has the sweet breeze blown?
Has all the kindness gone?
Hope still lingers on
I drink myself of newfound pity
Sitting alone in New York City
And I don't know why

Are we listening
To hymns of offering?
Have we eyes to see
That love is gathering?
All the words that I've been reading
Have now started the act of bleeding
Into one...into one...

So I walk up on high
And I step to the edge
To see my world below
And I laugh at myself
While the tears roll down
'Cause it's the world I know
Oh it's the world I know

I drink myself of newfound pity
Sitting alone in New York City
And I don't know why..don't know why...

So I walk up on high
And I step to the edge
To see my world below
And I laugh at myself
While the tears roll down
'Cause it's the world I know
Oh it's the world I know

So I walk up on high
And I step to the edge
To see my world belo
And I laugh at myself
While the tears roll down
'Cause it's the world I know
Oh it's the world I know

---------------------------

Now I want to comment on something:

I was thinking this morning, back to summer vacation, and how I have a kind of hankering to go back to Zuzu's Petals Rock Shop in Helen Ga. The place gave me a nice feeling when we were there.

Something about that place. Just can't quite figure out what it is, other than to say there's a happy feeling to it. Maybe it's just me and the way I perceive and experience things, or maybe it's the lady who runs the shop or all those nice stones and gems and cyrstals. Or perhaps, it's the combination of those things. Whichever the case, I like the vibes. There's something there that I, personally, experience as a little more magical than just rocks.

Backlinks - ZuZu's Petals: July 6, 2010

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