My Rock Hounds

All little kids pick up rocks. Don't they usually stop when they get bigger though, surely by the time they turn 40? Or is it a genetic thing? It's hard to say, but I'm here to tell you that my three boys are in heaven living here. The rocks are considerably different than rocks in Maryland, Michigan or anywhere else we've been. Their interest is completely renewed, and our house is not big enough to store all the rocks!

I have to admit, we actually do have really interesting rock formations here in Saudi Arabia, as close as just a couple blocks away. There is an area of the compound called, " the Jebels," that is basically hills of fluted (?) limestone in the middle of the desert. The rock has been worn by the wind, much like Petra, into fascinating shapes. We have found rock climbing in the Jebels to be one of the Green Boys' favorite weekend outings. I say "outings," but seriously, it's just around the corner.


To begin with, the attraction was just the thrill of climbing on the neat rocks. They went to a several different spots and in the last area they made an important discovery: the landscape was littered with what looked to be undiscovered crystal geodes.


This area has been picked over really well over the last 50 years by tens of thousands of other rock hounds. We've been told that it's rare to find geodes anymore. However, there has been some drilling for water in that area recently, and we think it stirred the rocks up. Regardless, you would never believe how they brought home unless if you saw the picture...






Keep in mind that they have the third row seats put away, so that pile of rocks is about four feet deep! Don't they look proud?




After a minimal amount of pressure they agreed not to store the rocks in the house anywhere and devised a rather clever, but back-breaking system to transport them from the garage to the patio...through the house. I lost count of how many trips it took.







After getting the car unloaded they cracked a few open with an old crowbar they found in the desert (what ?!?) and then declared themselves Master Geode Hunters! Here is a sampling of their treasure:




When Steve's parents came in December, they were able to convince Grandpa to join in fun. Now that I think about it, there hasn't been ANY boy, father, or even grandfather that they have asked to join them that has turned them down. Maybe it's genetic after all...it must be something on the Y gene!