WIRES AND CRYSTALS

Christmas Doll for Granddaughter

2011-12-18T06:44:00.000-08:00

Child friendly bed doll. I hope she likes it

NEW ITEMS!!!!!

2011-06-09T17:34:00.000-07:00

Check out the new OOAK Barbies, many of those planned for the future and a few Mikelman Candi dolls as well. I have a sequin in mind for the holidays. New 7 point star afghan, it took some time but the result was spectacular. I have more quartz from Jim Coleman as well as amethyst, I have pendants planned for Christmas. So drop by often you never know what you might find.

INTRODUCING AMETHYST

2011-03-26T07:57:00.000-07:00

I've had my eye on this miner for a while and he and his wife have proven to be honest businessmen. From the Jim Coleman mines where I get that AAA quality Quartz crystals,I'm proud to introduce this beautiful Amethyst to Wires and Crystals. I will start selling the clusters and large Amethyst points first. I did get a nice supply of Jewelry points perfect for pendants and earrings. Look for those items around the holidays. As always thanks for stopping by.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011

2011-01-10T13:39:00.000-08:00

A new year and I have a part time job at the college. That helps my family and gives me more money for my interest. I'm going to try and buy Quartz crystals and Amethyst this year.
As far as my coins go the goal is 1921 D a very hard year to get, good grade will just have to do
Proud to see silver in the $30 range though I would collect them even if they had no value. Beautiful coin and it makes an impressive circulated set. Plenty of yarn for Barbies and afghans, and new shawls and jackets. I have plans for learning new things this year.

UNITED KINGDOM NOW OPEN

2010-11-12T09:26:00.000-08:00

Wires and Crystals is now open for business in the United Kingdom. Shipped flat rate priority.
Up to four pounds is about $15.00. The UK prices reflect this shipping price.

Uno Riverboat Gambler

2010-10-11T08:48:00.000-07:00

Before

After He does have blue eyes. I have been looking at the leather work the painting. I hope I can also paint and sew that well. I am proud that my hsuband at least is encouraging. My husband said Uno means one.

Vinicio Celeste

2010-10-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

I only have one cutting of Vinicis Celeste available for saile at :
http://wiresandcrystals.ecrater.com/p/9326647/16-vinicio-celeste-plumeria-cutting

OOAK BARBIE PARADISE CROCHET VOL 82 1920 'S GATSBY GIRLS

2010-07-22T16:29:00.000-07:00

I have just started this art form. I think I will go with the crochet since I can't sew a straight line. Maybe I wll try sewing next year. Maybe tiny little crystal necklaces. Who knows.The reroot is interesting and I plane to try different material for their hair.

PLUMERIA RAIN SHOTS

2010-07-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

Beautiful in the rain.
Available for sale
http://wiresandcrystals.ecrater.com/p/4143567/brandis-sunrise-plumeria-cutting

NEW CRYSTALS

2010-02-27T11:22:00.000-08:00

03/25/10 I have to say this is the most beautiful crystals I have seen yet.
These were iron oxiode encrusted. I used Iron Out as Rodney Moore
suggests. I run them through a dishwasher and sonic cleaner. Most comes out like the pictures above. There is skeletal. :O I find myself wondering what the crystals went through. Everything about them says something huge happened. I long for fossilized Venus clam shells. I can see the imprints of the dog tooth calcite. There is Hematite looks like quicksilver
in the cracks and crevices. These have sharp clear lines and great clarity. I am going to make some wraps. I think I will try putting groups of crystals together for the wedding groups. I may try my hand as some crochet gloves as well.

NEW HOMEPAGE GRAPHICS

2010-01-09T21:03:00.000-08:00

Thanks for noticing. I scoured the Internet for dragon pictures and tried a few but "Merlin's Dragons" certainly caught my attention. I hope you all agree.

BARBIE CROCHET-ROYAL MASQUERADE BALL GOWN

2010-01-06T13:12:00.000-08:00

In celebration of Madi Gras and Valentines day Barbie is all decked in her Aqua and Green Masquerade Ball Gown.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2010-01-01T11:52:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a prosperous New Year. Looking forward to 2010 with the addition of some new and exciting crystals (I hope, it's always a hunt). New jewelry, new dolls and new wedding crochet items.

Snow!!!!!

2009-12-05T04:58:00.000-08:00

Dotted Delight Barbie

2009-11-28T12:18:00.000-08:00

This Barbie, done in pearlized pink beads should be ready next week. Watch for her in the store.

Barbie for Chrstmas

2009-11-10T07:12:00.001-08:00

I have some other costumes to crochet for the store though I do plan on a blue one for next Christmas for the store. There is also plans for Cleopatra, a Japanese Kimono and an Native American. collector's Barbie

New Items coming this Month!

2009-11-04T07:14:00.000-08:00

We've been busy and I'm adding collector's crochet fashion dolls. You can thank my grand daughter for that. I figure whatever doesn't sell in the store she'll love in her ever growing Barbie collection. My husband , recently laid off, is creating acoustic guitar lamps. Very cool, he's not sure if he wants to deal with how to ship them so they might not make it to the store, but they will make it to the flea market. The holidays are coming!

Magic Crystal

2009-07-25T07:06:00.000-07:00

I sense the power through Magic Crystal
The warmth exuded in your caress
The tenderness you have and show
When I feel your hands upon my breasts. Within the realms of dancing skies
The joy that’s bubbling deep inside
I feel your whisper soft and warm
As you exhale at my side. A rapturous enlightened moment
Caught in this ebb and flow
They’re those feelings deep within
The sensualness that glows. Floating on golden wings
Like an eagle soaring high
Motion in our souls
Carried on loving sighs Flying through the mist of clouds
Raindrops soft upon our skin
Soothe within the raging fire
Are we ending… or do we just begin?

© Elga~Indigo~

Check out the new crystals

2009-06-15T06:15:00.000-07:00

I have added some new crystals. They are all beautiful and unique. These are from Jim Coleman's
mine in Arkansas. These have that gem quality clarity that make them extra beautiful.

Please Bear with me

2009-06-08T20:43:00.000-07:00

My mom passed away on May 25th 2009. So please bear with me. I know she is no longer in pain but I miss her terribly.

Ocean Jasper

2009-05-08T03:53:00.000-07:00

I'm back and I found lots of ocean jasper. Hope it tumbles up some lovely pieces for wire wrapping. There was black sand. The first time I have seen it there. All sparkly. Wonder if it's from a volcano.

Raw Lapidary Material

2009-03-27T07:39:00.000-07:00

Check out the new category at http://wiresandcrystals.ecrater.com/ A little early with some great slabs and tumbled rocks for display. This is where I 'll list all the tumbled stones, raw lapidary slabs, and seashells for your own creations from gems and minerals. I'm hoping to add jewelry with the new material before the end of the year. I just had back surgery for Lumbar Spinal Steno sis, a disease that narrows the spine and pinches the nerve. I'm hoping the surgery cures it.

Tumbled Agate and Jasper

2009-03-16T07:18:00.000-07:00

I have started listing tumbled agate and jasper came out beautiful.

Plumeria Infloresence in the Winter

2009-01-17T04:44:00.001-08:00

After Hurricane Ike many of my plumeria branches were broken. Some were so beaten up I couldn't save them. This is one that made it. And it's blooming. I have no idea which one it's from, I was running out in the storm rescuing branches. The ones that I could lay down on the ground bloomed after the storm. Some of them I had buried in the ground in pots and I couldn't lay those down.
2/11/09 Unfortunately the infloresence turned black and shriveled like it was fried. The rest of the plant seems ok so far.

The Quartz Page

2009-01-02T05:37:00.000-08:00

I found this great new link about Quartz crystals, and by now you gotta know it's my absolute favorite mineral. I especially love the formation page which discusses the formation types. I know that most people like the metaphysical aspects of crystals but they come in so many forms it cool to read about how they came to be.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2008-12-30T20:49:00.000-08:00

To everyone have a safe and prosperous New Year. I'm going to be introducing some new agate and jasper jewelry in 2009 and working more with the gold wire. I hope to get some crosses designed this year as well. I have a few wire wrap thoughts in mind in both silver and gold. And adding a few for men as well. A new tree design as well. Thanks for your support and continue to stop by just to see what's going on.

A Happy Customer Merry Holidays to you all!

2008-12-04T06:30:00.000-08:00

Dear vickie_miller,

Hi Folks,
just dropping a note to say that the crystal arrived today and that i left positive feedback, want to add an extra thank you for the little crystal and card you placed in the package as well. the pendant is Beautiful and my youngest Daughter will cherish it. was on the top of the Christmas list to the north. have a safe Holidays!

Thank you very much!
James

A New Miner

2008-11-04T11:03:00.000-08:00

Well it's sadly finally happened that Rodney Moore isn't selling his mine run crystals at this time. ;( I found another miner who is also currently usning heavy equipment to do his mining. his name is Jim Coleman and the first 10 lb batch has yeilding a lot of water clear jewerly points, but no clusters of note. I will try another batch and see if I get clusters next time. I think the heavy equipment miners are definitly on to something.

Back to Normal

2008-09-29T05:57:00.000-07:00

We are back to normal, or at least we have electricity.It will probably take a while to be normal again. More traumatic than I had expected what if it had been a Cat 3 or 4? I'm thinking solar power. It was the loss of lights for so long that was most detrimental. My poor grandson just started Kindergarten this year and it is hard for him to go back (sighs) Still there are about 250,000 people without power yet. So many underestimated Ike. We are blessed and I remain thankful for the support my family and I have had.

Hurricane Ike

2008-09-26T14:15:00.000-07:00

Sorry for being away so long we were hit hard by Hurricane Ike still not 100% only half our house has power right now but we still have a house and we are all alive so we are more blessed than some. Please bear with me during this transition.

iOFFER ITEMS

2008-07-29T09:29:00.001-07:00

Desert Rose Babies and a Albino

2008-07-11T13:43:00.000-07:00

My Desert Rose and the new babies look an albino.

Desert Rose

2008-06-27T12:16:00.000-07:00

Adenium obesum, the Desert Rose is a perennial found in semi-arid regions of the Arabian Peninsula and Est to Southwest Africa.

It is a multi-trunked shrub or small tree growing about half as wide as it does high. It will grow from 5 to 8 feet in the wild. The trunk form, foliage, and flowers are all very attractive. Each desert rose creates its own sculptural design. The base is large (obesum) and in various shapes.

The shiny long green leaves are attractive. Leaves normally fall in Winter. Adenium Obesum produces exotic 2 " pink and white, open-trumpet shaped flowers throughout the year in full sun. The Desert Rose produce a massive stem when growing older, but will start blooming when quite young, at only 6 inches tall. It makes a nice Bonsai.

Do pruning after the plant's rest period. Heavy pruning should be kept to a minimum. New shoots can be pruned regularly. The sap is poisonous, so clean hands after pruning.

Hardiness zones 9 -11, (4°C/40°F,-5°C/25°F) in Winter. Extended periods below 40°F (4°C) might kill some of the branch tips. In Summer, if possible, move outdoors to a sunny or partly shaded location. Needs lots of light and fresh air. Keep in a bright location in Winter. Idealy, growing temperature should not be below 54°F. However, in the Winter, keeping it cool, between 54-61°F. Give the plant a needed rest.

Use a mix of 2 parts peat moss, and one part sand, slightly alkaline soil. Fertilize monthly during Spring and Summer. Water when growing, keep on the dry side in Winter. The tree needs perfect drainage. It will lose leaves if overwatered..

These are my Desert Rose the Pink and White is a Florida rescue plant after the hurricanes a couple of years ago. Look for Desert Roses like this one for sale at the end of August or September. These make a great house plant and do well in pots and Bonsai pots too.

Brandi's Sunrise and Vinicio Celeste Plumeria Blooms

2008-06-08T13:03:00.001-07:00

Blooms opening this morning and fully open this afternoon. Beautiful and they smell so good.

My first blooms of the year.

2008-05-31T07:58:00.000-07:00

It's been a slow start for my plumerias. This is one I want to name after my grandkids.
Vinicio Celeste which is a combination of both their names.

Madi Gras babies

2008-05-31T07:53:00.000-07:00

From Randy at the Florida Plumeria Society new Madi Gras seeds planted 10 8 germinated and 5 are now growing.

Sam Houston Race Track Swap Meet

2008-05-17T06:40:00.000-07:00

Sunday May 18, 2008
Sam Houston Race Track
Houston,TX
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

We will have the 1957 Chevy there. There's lots of old cars and car parts to look at.
A lot of hand-made stuff to see too. Hope to see you there!!!

May starts the Plumeria Sales

2008-05-12T16:14:00.000-07:00

Check out the Plumeria Society of Americas' website to find great plumeria sales.
Gem Show start in June. I will post dates, times and locations later this week.

Maybe just leave things alone for a while.

2008-04-23T09:24:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking all the time about what the best way to put some more traffic at my store. eCrater is a good site and I could just wait until things pick up. Maybe a coupon program or a free crystal with every purchase. I was doing this on ebay and people love the extra. but there was one who took advantage of it and I stopped doing it. I liked matching the extra crystal with the purchased crystal in some way. If they bought a large Isis face then I might give them a tiny little Isis face. Well they are all good crystals and how hard is it to count to five. She said the large one wasn't an Isis but every thing said and done it was. One bad apple shouldn't spoil the whole bunch.

Changes In the Future

2008-04-21T11:16:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's time to think about my own webspace. The community thing isn't working out quite like I had thought it would. I have met some great people though....I just don't know if I'm ready for that yet.

Cash and Treasures

2008-04-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

Cash and Treasures April 16, 2008 The Travel channel(215) 9:00pm CT
Rose Quartz - Georgia

Kirsten is in Georgia, at the famous Hogg Mine, searching for Star Rose Quartz.

This is the miner that I get my Quartz Crystal from,
I have gotten some of the Star Rose Quartz in some of the mine run boxes that I buy from Rodney Moore.
I will post some pictures later tomorrow. It's in my personal stash. I had hoped to find someone who could cut this quartz or teach me how to make cabs or something. What beautiful beads and jewelry this will make someday. Amethyst too from Jackson Crossroads. He's definitely worth watching and he's very knowledgeable.

Cash and Treasure is one of my favorite shows so I can dream about all the places I will travel to and what treasure I will find when I go there.

Low Price Quartz Crystal/ Plumerias

2008-04-04T14:37:00.000-07:00

Got a new batch of crystals coming to find more treasures. I have listed some that I have kept stashed for the swap meets. These are at the swap meet prices too. Not as much overhead. I will be listing more of these during the weekend as well so check back often.
I have added a new category that I'm calling "Odds and Ends", where you will find my other passion Plumerias. The cuttings and rooted cuttings are all from plants that are about 13 years old. I'm a member of the Plumeria society of America, and have aspirations of registering a new variety. I thought this would be a great way to immortalize my daughters.

The items pictured are available for purchase
http://wiresandcrystals.ecrater.com/

The Story of Isis

2008-03-27T10:37:00.000-07:00

It was suggested that I post some myth and lore about some of the crystal and minerals.

Let's start with my favorite the Isis Face Crystal. This is a crystal with a five sided facet and is said to put you in touch with your feminine side.
I have several of these crystals and amethyst for sell in my shop at
http://wiresandcrystals.ecrater.com/

The Story of Isis

When Osiris was born many signs and wonders were seen and heard throughout the world. Most notable was the voice which came from the holiest shrine in the temple at Thebes on the Nile, which today is called Karnak, speaking to a man called Pamyles bidding him proclaim to all men that Osiris, the good and mighty king, was born to bring joy to all the earth. Pamyles did as he was bidden, and he also attended on the Divine Child and brought him up as a man among men.

When Osiris was grown up he married his sister Isis, a custom which the Pharaohs of Egypt followed ever after. And Seth married Nephthys: for he too being a god could marry only a goddess.

After Isis by her craft had learned the Secret Name of Re, Osiris became sole ruler of Egypt and reigned on earth as Re had done. He found the people both savage and brutish, fighting among themselves and killing and eating one another. But Isis discovered the grain of both wheat and barley, which grew wild over the land with the other plants and was still unknown to man; and Osiris taught them how to plant the seeds when the Nile had risen in the yearly inundation and sunk again leaving fresh fertile mud over the fields; how to tend and water the crops; how to cut the corn when it was ripe, and how to thresh the grain on the threshing floors, dry it and grind it to flour and make it into bread. He showed them also how to plant vines and make the grapes into wine; and they knew already how to brew beer out of the barley.

When the people of Egypt had learned to make bread and cut only the flesh of such animals as he taught them were suitable, Osiris, went on to teach them laws, and how to live peacefully and happily together, delighting themselves with music and poetry. As soon as Egypt was filled with peace and plenty, Osiris set out over the world to bring his blessings upon other nations. While he was away he left Isis to rule over the land, which she did both wisely and well.

But Seth the Evil One, their brother, envied Osiris and hated Isis. The more the people loved and praised Osiris, the more Seth hated him; and the more good he did and the happier mankind became, the stronger grew Seth's desire to kill his brother and rule in his place. Isis, however, was so full of wisdom and so watchful that Seth made no attempt to seize the throne while she was watching over the land of Egypt. And when Osiris returned from his travels Seth was among the first to welcome him back and kneel in reverence before "the good god Pharaoh Osiris".

Yet he had made his plans, aided by seventy-two of his wicked friends and Aso the evil queen of Ethiopia. Secretly Seth obtained the exact measurements of the body of Osiris, and caused beautiful chest to be made that would fit only him. It was fashioned of the rarest and most costly woods: cedar brought from Lebanon, and ebony from Punt at the south end of the Red Sea for no wood grows in Egypt except the soft and useless palm.

Then Seth gave a great feast in honour of Osiris; but the other guests were the two-and-seventy conspirators. It was the greatest feast that had yet been seen in Egypt, and the foods were choicer, the wines stronger and the dancing girls more beautiful than ever before. When the heart of Osiris had been made glad with feasting and song the chest was brought in, and all were amazed at its beauty.

Osiris marveled at the rare cedar inlaid with ebony and ivory, with less rare gold and silver, and painted inside with figures of gods and birds and animals, and he desired it greatly.

"I will give this chest to whosoever fits it most exactly!" cried Seth. And at once the conspirators began in turn to see if they could win it. But one was too tall and another too short; one was too fat and another too thin - and all tried in vain.

"Let me see if I will fit into this marvelous piece of work," said Osiris, and he laid himself down in the chest while all gathered round breathlessly.

"I fit exactly, and the chest is mine!" cried Osiris.

"And the chest is mine!"
"It is yours indeed, and shall be so forever!" hissed Seth as he banged down the lid. Then in desperate haste he and the conspirators nailed it shut and sealed every crack with molten lead, so that Osiris the man died in the chest and his spirit went west across the Nile into Duat the Place of Testing; but, beyond it to Amenti, where those live for ever who have lived well on earth and passed the judgments of Duat, he could not pass as yet. Seth and his companions took the chest which held the body of Osiris and cast it into the Nile; and Hapi the Nile-god carried it out into the Great Green Sea where it was tossed for many days until it came to the shore of Phoenicia near the city of Byblos. Here the waves cast it into a tamarisk tree that grew on the shore; and the tree shot out branches and grew leaves and flowers to make a fit resting place for the body of the good god Osiris and very soon that tree became famous throughout the land.

Presently King Malcander heard of it, and he and his wife, Queen Astarte, came to the seashore to gaze at the tree. By now the branches had grown together and hidden the chest which held the body of Osiris in the trunk itself. King Malcander gave orders that the tree should be cut down and fashioned into a great pillar for his palace. This was done, and all wondered at its beauty and fragrance: but none knew that it held the body of a god. Meanwhile in Egypt Isis was in great fear. She had always known that Seth was filled with evil and jealousy, but kindly Osiris would not believe in his brother's wickedness. But Isis knew as soon as her husband was dead, though no one told her, and fled into the marshes of the delta carrying the baby Horus with her. She found shelter on a little island where the goddess Buto lived, and entrusted the divine child to her. And as a further safeguard against Seth, Isis loosed the island from its foundations, and let it float so that no one could tell where to find it.

Then she went to seek for the body of Osiris. For, until he was buried with all the needful rites and charms, even his spirit could go no farther to the west than Duat, the Testing-Place; and it could not come to Amenti.

Back and forth over the land of Egypt wandered Isis, but never a trace could she find of the chest in which lay the body of Osiris. She asked all whom she met, but no one had seen it - and in this matter her magic powers could not help her.

At last she questioned the children who were playing by the riverside, and at once they told her that just such a chest as she described had floated past them on the swift stream and out into the Great Green Sea.

Then Isis wandered on the shore, and again and again it was the children who had seen the chest floating by and told her which way it had gone. And because of this, Isis blessed the children and decreed that ever afterwards children should speak words of wisdom and sometimes tell of things to come.

At length Isis came to Byblos and sat down by the seashore. Presently the maidens who attended on Queen Astarte came down to bathe at that place; and when they returned out of the water Isis taught them how to plait their hair - which had never been done before. When they went up to the palace a strange and wonderful perfume seemed to cling to them; and Queen Astarte marveled at it, and at their plaited hair, and asked them how it came to be so.

The maidens told her of the wonderful woman who sat by the seashore, and Queen Astarte sent for Isis, and asked her to serve in the palace and tend her children, the little Prince Maneros and the baby Dictys, who was ailing sorely. For she did not know that the strange woman who was wandering alone at Byblos was the greatest of all the goddesses of Egypt. Isis agreed to this, and very soon the baby Dictys was strong and well though she did no more than give him her finger to suck. But presently she became fond of the child, and thought to make him immortal, which she did by burning away his mortal parts while she flew round and round him in the form of a swallow. Astarte, however, had been watching her secretly; and when she saw that her baby seemed to be on fire she rushed into the room with a loud cry, and so broke the magic.

Then Isis took on her own form, and Astarte crouched down in terror when she saw the shining goddess and learned who she was.

Malcander and Astarte offered her gifts of all the richest treasures in Byblos, but Isis asked only for the great tamarisk pillar which held up the roof, and for what it contained. When it was given to her, she caused it to open and took out the chest of Seth. But the pillar she gave back to Malcander and Astarte; and it remained the most sacred object in Byblos, since it had once held the body of a god.

When the chest which had become the coffin of Osiris was given to her, Isis flung herself down on it with so terrible a cry of sorrow that little Dictys died at the very sound. But Isis at length caused the chest to be placed on a ship which King Malcander provided for her, and set out for Egypt. With her went Maneros, the young prince of Byblos: but he did not remain with her for long, since his curiosity proved his undoing. For as soon as the ship had left the land Isis retired to where the chest of Seth lay, and opened the lid. Maneros crept up behind her and peeped over her shoulder: but Isis knew he was there and, turning, gave him one glance of anger - and he fell backwards over the side of the ship into the sea.

Next morning, as the ship was passing the Phaedrus River, its strong current threatened to carry them out of sight of land. But Isis grew angry and placed a curse on the river, so that its stream dried up from that day.

She came safely to Egypt after this, and hid the chest in the marshes of the delta while she hastened to the floating island where Buto was guarding Horus.

But it chanced that Seth came hunting wild boars with his dogs, hunting by night after his custom, since he loved the darkness in which evil things abound. By the light of the moon he saw the chest of cedar wood inlaid with ebony and ivory, with gold and silver, and recognized it.

At the sight hatred and anger came upon him in a red cloud, and he raged like a panther of the south. He tore open the chest, took the body of Osiris, and rent it into fourteen pieces which, by his divine strength, he scattered up and down the whole length of the Nile so that the crocodiles might eat them.

"It is not possible to destroy the body of a god!" cried Seth. "Yet I have done it - for I have destroyed Osiris!" His laughter echoed through the land, and all who heard it trembled and hid.

Now Isis had to begin her search once more. This time she had helpers, for Nephthys left her wicked husband Seth and came to join her sister. And Anubis, the son of Osiris and Nephthys, taking the form of a jackal, assisted in the search. When Isis traveled over the land she was accompanied and guarded by seven scorpions. But when she searched on the Nile and among the many streams of the delta she made her way in a boat made of papyrus: and the crocodiles, in their reverence for the goddess, touched neither the rent pieces of Osiris nor Isis herself. Indeed ever afterwards anyone who sailed the Nile in a boat made of papyrus was safe from them, for they thought that it was Isis still questing after the pieces of her husband's body.

Slowly, piece by piece, Isis recovered the fragments of Osiris. And wherever she did so, she formed by magic the likeness of his whole body and caused the priests to build a shrine and perform his funeral rites. And so there were thirteen places in Egypt which claimed to be the burial place of Osiris. In this way also she made it harder for Seth to meddle further with the body of the dead god.

One piece only she did not recover, for it had been eaten by certain impious fishes; and their kind were accursed ever afterwards, and no Egyptian would touch or eat them. Isis, however, did not bury any of the pieces in the places where the tombs and shrines of Osiris stood. She gathered the pieces together, rejoined them by magic, and by magic made a likeness of the missing member so that Osiris was complete. Then she caused the body to be embalmed and hidden away in a place of which she alone knew. And after this the spirit of Osiris passed into Amenti to rule over the dead until the last great battle, when Horus should slay Seth and Osiris would return to earth once more.

But as Horus grew in this world the spirit of Osiris visited him often and taught him all that a great warrior should know - one who was to fight against Seth both in the body and in the spirit.

One day Osiris said to the boy: "Tell me, what is the noblest thing that a man can do?"

And Horus answered: "To avenge his father and mother for the evil done to them."

This pleased Osiris, and he asked further: "And what animal is most useful for the avenger to take with him as he goes out to battle?"

"A horse," answered Horus promptly.

"Surely a lion would be better still?" suggested Osiris.

"A lion would indeed be the best for a man who needed help," replied Horus; "but a horse is best for pursuing a flying foe and cutting him off from escape."

"...the time had come for Horus to declare war on Seth..."
When he heard this Osiris knew that the time had come for Horus to declare war on Seth, and bade him gather together a great army and sail up the Nile to attack him in the deserts of the south.

Horus gathered his forces and prepared to begin the war. And Re himself, the shining father of the gods, came to his aid in his own divine boat that sails across the heavens and through the dangers of the underworld.

Before they set sail Re drew Horus aside so as to gaze into his blue eyes: for whoever looks into them, of gods or men, sees the future reflected there. But Seth was watching; and he took upon himself the form of a black pig - black as the thunder-cloud, fierce to look at, with tusks to strike terror into the bravest heart.

Meanwhile Re said to Horus: "Let me gaze into your eyes, and see what is to come of this war." He gazed into the eyes of Horus and their color was that of the Great Green Sea when the summer sky turns it to deepest blue.

While he gazed the black pig passed by and distracted his attention, so that he exclaimed: "Look at that! Never have I seen so huge and fierce a pig."

And Horus looked; and he did not know that it was Seth, but thought it was a wild boar out of the thickets of the north, and he was not ready with a charm or a word of power to guard himself against the enemy.

Then Seth aimed a blow of fire at the eyes of Horus; and Horus shouted with the pain and was in a great rage. He knew now that it was Seth; but Seth had gone on the instant and could not be trapped.

Re caused Horus to be taken into a dark room, and it was not long before his eyes could see again as clearly as before. When he was recovered Re had returned to the sky; but Horus was filled with joy that he could see, once more, and as he set out up the Nile at the head of his army, the country on either side shared his joy and blossomed into spring.

There were many battles in that war, but the last and greatest was at Edfu, where the great temple of Horus stands to this day in memory of it. The forces of Seth and Horus drew near to one another among the islands and the rapids of the First Cataract of the Nile. Seth, in the form of a red hippopotamus of gigantic size, sprang up on the island of Elephantine and uttered a great curse against Horus and against Isis:

"Let there come a terrible raging tempest and a mighty flood against my enemies!" he cried, and his voice was like the thunder rolling across the heavens from the south to the north. At once the storm broke over the boats of Horus and his army; the wind roared and the water was heaped into great waves. But Horus held on his way, his own boat gleaming through the darkness, its prow shining like a ray of the sun.

Opposite Edfu, Seth turned and stood at bay, straddling the whole stream of the Nile, so huge a red hippopotamus was he. But Horus took upon himself the shape of a handsome young man, twelve feet in height. His hand held a harpoon thirty feet long with a blade six feet wide at its point of greatest width.

Seth opened his mighty jaws to destroy Horus and his followers when the storm should wreck their boats. But Horus cast his harpoon, and it struck deep into the head of the red hippopotamus, deep into his brain. And that one blow slew Seth the great wicked one, the enemy of Osiris and the gods - and the red hippopotamus sank dead beside the Nile at Edfu. The storm passed away, the flood sank and the sky was clear and blue once more. Then the people of Edfu came out to welcome Horus the avenger and lead him in triumph to the shrine over which the great temple now stands. And they sang the song of praise which the priests chanted ever afterwards when the yearly festival of Horus was held at Edfu:

"Rejoice, you who dwell in Edfu! Horus the great god, the lord of the sky, has slain the enemy of his father! Eat the flesh of the vanquished, drink the blood of the red hippopotamus, burn his bones with fire! Let him be cut in pieces, and the scraps be given to the cats, and the offal to the reptiles!

"Glory to Horus of the mighty blow, the brave one, the slayer, the wielder of the Harpoon, the only son of Osiris, Horus of Edfu, Horus the avenger!"

But when Horus passed from earth and reigned no more as the Pharaoh of Egypt, he appeared before the assembly of the gods, and Seth came also in the spirit, and contended in words for the rule of the world. But not even Thoth the wise could give judgment. And so it comes about that Horus and Seth still contend for the souls of men and for the rule of the world.

There were no more battles on the Nile or in the land of Egypt; and Osiris rested quietly in his grave, which (since Seth could no longer disturb it) Isis admitted was on the island of Philae, the most sacred place of all, in the Nile a few miles upstream from Elephantine. But the Egyptians believed that the Last Battle was still to come - and that Horus would defeat Seth in this also. And when Seth was destroyed forever, Osiris would rise from the dead and return to earth, bringing with him all those who had been his own faithful followers. And for this reason the Egyptians embalmed dead and set the bodies away beneath towering pyramids of stone and deep in the tomb chambers of western Thebes, so that the blessed souls returning from Amenti should find them ready to enter again, and in them to live for ever on earth under the good god Osiris, Isis his queen and their son Horus.

Sour Mash Hog

2008-03-22T07:30:00.000-07:00

An interesting blog about a mountain man that lives in a log cabin and writes stories. He sells t-shirts too, I like that Betty Boop t-shirt and hope to get to buy it, maybe payday. :)
http://sourmashhog.blogspot.com/

Busy busy today, the grandbabies are at their dad's house but will be back tomorrow. My oldest daughter, Amber , and her husband Phil will be here tomorrow. I gotta call mom. Put my plumerias out in the yard yesterday, need to put the house plants out too. The sun is shining I'm gonna go outside.......later.

Favorite Crystals

2008-03-21T11:05:00.000-07:00

Love these. The first one is a Payson Diamond that weighs 54g. Has druzy that gives it a real special shine. The second I call fairy clusters becuase they look so delicate. These came from some long ago ocean. The next cluster looks like flowers but is actual called Lightbrary an interesting formation type.The last one is an empathetic window with an inclusion. These are my favs lets see yours.

Favorite Crystals, Rocks and Minerals

2008-03-21T10:41:00.000-07:00

Lots of pictures of petrified wood, from Texas and Utah. I have some of the rare pink petrified wood. I can't wait to see how that will slab. I think I will tumble some of it for pendants and beads for braclets and earrings.Also some of my favorite crystals in the next post.

Wires and Crystals

2008-03-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,
This is a blog about Quartz crystals and minerals. Quartz has proven to be my favorite because of the intricate formations. Very mathematical and beautiful.All these are available in my eCrater store. http://wiresandcrystals.ecrater.com/

I also want to show my rock tumbling, agate slabs and wherever the gems and minerals path takes me, welcome to the journey. I'm so happy you could make it.