Share a Smile, Give a Pearl
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and I wanted to throw out a great idea for a special Valentine’s gift that is sure to bring a little sunshine into that special lady’s life. (Hint hint husband!)
You see, a pearl is most certainly a thing of classic beauty. Its subtle elegance is something that no other gemstone can match. These stones use to only be available at the whims of nature. Fortunately though people have developed methods which allow them to cultivate, or culture, these fine treasures, enabling us to enjoy pearls more often.
The culturing process actually has quite a long history behind it that begins in Australia. William Saville-Kent discovered the methods behind pearl culturing. However two men from Japan, Tokichi Nishikawa and Tatsuhei Mise, are responsible for its true beginning as a commercial process.
In 1916 they were granted the patent in Japan for culturing pearls, and Nishikawa’s Father-in-law then began to applying the technology to akoya pearl oysters. This technology was then applied to the south sea oyster in 1917, however it took another 11 years before a commercial crop of pearls was produced.
The method for culturing pearls is surprisingly pretty simple. The oyster is brought up out of the water. At this time a small irritant, usually a piece of shell or oyster tissue is inserted into the oyster. The oyster then activates its natural defense system and starts to coat the intruder with a layer of nacre. It keeps doing so until a full pearl is formed.
This process, depending on the oyster and size of pearl desired, can take anywhere from 2 to 7 years. A common misconception of this process is that a grain of sand is used to “seed” the oyster. While sand can cause a pearl to be formed it is much more likely that a bead, piece of shell, or chunk of tissue was used. These provide more reliable pearls, and pearl shapes, great for pearl necklaces and pearl earrings.
The culturing of pearls has provided a unique opportunity for those who seek after this jewel. They are able to have a real pearl made through the same process as natural pearls however they don’t have to wait for the rare natural pearl to found. It also provides the chance to have longer strands of matching pearls. Whatever the case may be, the culturing of pearls has truly made the jewelry world a better place.
Apropos of Nothing-Blog Feature
I wanted to share a humorous site with you called The Apropos of Nothing. I contacted its author, and he kindly agreed to let me share a little of his work with you. In his own words, he is: ” Just throwing my thoughts out there and seeing what sticks to the wall.” Here is one of my favorite posts. Enjoy!
Thoughts That Haunt Me
Can you cry under water?
How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?
Why do you have to “put your two cents in”.. but it’s only a “penny for your thoughts”? Where’s that extra penny going to?
Once you’re in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity?
Why does a round pizza come in a square box?
What disease did cured ham actually have?
How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?
Why is it that people say they “slept like a baby” when babies wake up like every two hours?
If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?
Why are you IN a movie, but you’re ON TV?
Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?
Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?
If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him?
Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane ?
If the professor on Gilligan’s Island can make a radio out of a coconut, why can’t he fix a hole in a boat?
Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They’re both dogs!
If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn’t he just buy dinner?
If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables,what is baby oil made from?
If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?
Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?
Why did you just try singing the two songs above?
Does Mary Had a Little Lamb and London Bridge is falling down have the same tune?
Why did you just try singing the two songs above? Again?
Why do they call it an asteroid when it’s outside the hemisphere, but call it a hemorrhoid when it’s in your butt?
Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog’s face, he gets mad at you,but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?
Do penguins have knees?
Do dead people wear underwear?
Why do bugs fall on their backs when they die?
Miracle in Haiti
There is so much tragedy and sorrow surrounding the earthquake that devastated Haiti. However, amongst the sorrow, there are small shining moments of joy and hope. This is certainly one of my favorite moments.
I found this little story and thought I would share.
A Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime
People come into your life for a reason, a season, or
a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you
will know what to do for each person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON . . . It is
usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have
come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you
with guidance and support, to aid you physically,
emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a
godsend, and they are! They are there for the reason
you need them to be.
Then, without any wrong doing on your part, or at an
inconvenient time, this person will say or do something
to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die.
Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our
desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you
sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on.
When people come into your life for a SEASON . . .
Because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount
of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; things
you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional
foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the
person, and put what you have learned to use in all
other relationships and areas of your life. It is said
that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
Author Unknown