Moose Lake Agate Days -- Post 1

It was quite a haul last week making mineral art for the Moose Lake Show. I worked the museum on Thursday, but closed early since I had to drive the 400 miles to Moose Lake. I pulled in at around 3am eastern time. Overall the weekend went well, although sales were down from previous years. The major reason was the extreme heat. It was well over 100 degrees in the gym with nearly 100 percent humidity. Many people walked in the gym, and walked right back out. Since the extreme heat seems to be the rule, the event organizers are looking into renting portable air conditioners for next year.

This is the 44th year that the Carlton County Gem and Mineral Club has been hosting the show. Although other minerals are sold at the show, too, the main focus is the Lake Superior agate.

My booth is in one of the corners of the gym.  Here is a view from my seat next to the wall looking at the back of my booth.  Notice my new banner.  Thanks to Dave from Grand Rapids for making this as well as a bigger banner.

From my booth I took this picture showing some of the other dealers in the gym.

Agates, agates, and more agates.

Other rocks, too.

This is the largest Crowley Ridge agate (Arkansas) that I have ever seen.  It is a ruin agate since some of the banding broke apart and was re-cemented back together.

Agates, Used Lapidary Equipment, and Mineral Art

I had several people come into the museum yesterday with agates.  One woman wanted to remain anonymous, but she found this terrific shadow agate.

She also found this specimen.  At first we thought it might be thompsonite, but I'm thinking now it might be sagenite formation.

I acquired some used lapidary equipment last year.  My first thought was to set up a club or other method for people to access the equipment.  I checked into liability as well as maintenance cost etc. -- and this just would not be workable.  I have no choice but to sell the equipment inexpensively so that other rockhounds can enjoy it.  I researched how much it would cost new and used -- and I am undercutting the typical used price.  Due to the difficulty of shipping big equipment, if you are interested you would have to come by the museum to purchase and pick up the equipment.  All equipment is being sold as is.

First, here is a small trim saw.  The new and typical used price is below -- I'm selling it for $100.
                                 
              

5” Tiny Saw Lapcraft Trim Saw with blade (no hood)

$322

$150-225

$100

The 8" saw I'm selling for $225.

8” Lortone TSA Trim Saw with blade (no hood)

$598

$350-420

$225

I'm selling the four-wheel arbor for $250.

Four-wheel Star Diamond polishing/grinding arbor

$950

$400-500

$250

The flat lap is selling for $300.



Folmes 20 inch vibrating flat lap

$895

$450-500

$300

I forgot to research the price for this tumbler with two extra bins.  If you are interested, please send me an email to karen@agatelady.com.

Here is a large table lamp I finished late last night.

Summer Storm Clouds, Sunset, and More

The summer thunderstorms are starting to crank up. Yesterday it was hot with temperatures in the mid 80s. After I closed the museum, I watched the cloud updrafts build. Although he thunder clouds were to the south of Grand Marais and right over head we had blue skies, it was actually raining. The thunderstorms are rolling through again as I'm typing this update.

Here are a couple of cloud photos from last night's storm.

With the high temps and humidity, it was a bit hazy last night, but here is a shot of the coast guard station and inner harbor light -- taken from across the bay.

A flower among the pine.....

A sunset through the haze.....

I'm sure that some visitors to the Gitche Gumee Museum may be wondering why Candace is not working any more this summer.  Here is why.....

Grand Marais School Garden and Grounds

Yesterday I had Jill work most of the museum hours so I could take my car out of town to get the brakes fixed, as well as play golf one more time before Jill and her husband leave for a few weeks. The good news is that I met my goal to shoot 50 or less on nine holes, although I shot 107 for 18.  If it were not for the three holes that I did poorly.....     Of course, all golfers say this.

The bad news is that my new brakes cost a lot more than I was anticipating. Elijah from Fox River Auto gave me a little lesson on brakes. From now on I am going to get the calipers, pins, etc. cleaned once a year. He says that winter road salt and dirt clog up the brake mechanism, which causes them to wear unevenly. Also, the last time I had my brakes fixed they used really cheap break pads.  One of the front brake pads was broke since the glue joint let loose.  We'll see if I can triple the life of my brakes with annual maintenance.

After closing the museum I went over to visit friend, Renee, and her husband, Bob. We had dinner and then they wanted to show me the progress on the school's community garden.  Bob has a green thumb and has been helping to maintain the garden.  Kudos to Renee's daughter and son-in-law (Penny and Seth) who are superintendent and principal of the school, as well as their staff. They have received several grants this past year or so including one to create the community garden.

First, on the way over to the school I had to snap a few flower pictures in one of the yards.

Then we walked around the school grounds. Here is another picture of our new school sign. Notice that it says "thanks" for helping to preserve our school's funding. State budget cuts almost did our school in, but the community helped by writing letters and sending emails to preserve our island school funding. A hand full of isolated, small, and struggling schools in Michigan receive extra financial help.

The current school was built in 1928.  At the time the quality and design of the school was considered innovative and progressive.

The chimney of the previous school still stands to the south of the current school.  This was originally left intact because the swallows used to roost in their at night.  For a while back in the 1990s I lived in the house located right above the school.  We often watched the hundreds of swallows group, fly around, and descend into the chimney at dusk.  Due to cracking, the school had to put an insert into the chimney which prevented the swallows from using it for shelter.

A new playground was installed several years ago.

The community garden features a walkway, along which miniature fruit trees are planted.

Last year the school also  received a grant to install a windmill.  There was no wind last night so it wasn't turning, but the windmill generates a good part of the school's electricity.

The community garden includes several raised beds with several different types of vegetables as well as a cool strawberry bed (second photo below).

The highlight of the garden is the hoop house.

Lou Baily, who works at the school, designed the ventilation system.  If the conditions require it, the board with plastic attached can be lowered to the ground on both sides of the hoop house. 

Grand Marais Bay, agates, and a great Cribbage hand

I finally started the lecture series at the museum a couple of nights ago. I will be available to conduct the power point presentation that makes you think like an agate throughout the summer every night except Sunday, and perhaps next Thursday (July 14th) when I have to leave to drive to the Moose Lake show. While I am in Moose Lake, friend Renee will be working the museum. If you are in Grand Marais and are interested in the agate lecture, please be at the museum a little before 7:00 p.m. The lecture is a fundraiser for the museum, so if you attend I ask that you make a donation that you feel the information is worth. If you make a donation, you get a handout summarizing the information as well as the opportunity to select and keep a rock equal to the value of your donation.

First today I'll finish posting pictures from my walk along the Grand Marais bay the other night.  Another picture of the seagulls that took flight as I walked closer.

I noticed this log on the beach that appears to have an old log mark.  During the logging days the different lumber companies would mark their logs with a unique stamp.  I actually have a Michigan log mark book, which is not organized all that well.  It doesn't show a triple X mark for the U.P., but does show one for the Saginaw area -- the C.H. Plummer Company. 

More sunset photos.....

This one shows a fisherman out on the end of the breakwater.

And now a couple of agate photos.  Here is an agate found by Chris Gognon from Marquette.

Here are a couple found by Steve Hollingshead from Germfask.  The left specimen is a silicified fossil that does have some chalcedony pockets.  It is a pretty good looking owl don't you agree?  The candy striped agate is superb.

I played a game of cribbage with Renee the other night.  This had she had was so beautiful that I had to take a picture of it.  Notice her black pegs in the upper right -- before she took her count.  Notice my red pegs in the bottom left.  Yes -- she skunked me this game.