[Nerida]

Yes it does, doesn't it? I think maybe because it is....

[barbie biggs]

Dear Nerida:
I am so happy that you are engrossed in the beauty of your pearls. I too seem unable to stop looking. I am still (mooning over) my oval exotics. I pulled out two sets of earrings from the smallest strands but have had poor Mia holding the mediums for me forever. I know I want to use a celtic knot for a triple, but I can't let the ones I have go back to be put into the necklace. Like you I have them on my desk and they are completely distracting. Your new SS's are quite beautiful. Hope you will have lots of fun watching over them. Sometimes I think it's more fun to look than to wear. No, that can't be right. Can it?
Good luck with the planning!
barbie
Thank you for sharing your pictures with us, they are great!
Please don't forget to show us your earrings.

[Nerida]

Barbie - I think you may be right. I find that I am often holding (touching, feeling) a strand in my hand - almost like Tibetans with their prayer beads!! I was out and about selling yesterday at a fair all day, family & paperwork today, so hopefully I will get back to the earrings tomorrow.

[barbie biggs]

Dear Nerida:
Hope you had fun at the fair yesterday! Any pearls in sight? I loved your comment about Tibetan prayer beads. I've been debating praying for either deliverance from my pearl obsession, or, the opportunity to make something like a rosary from Freshadamas. I'll have to ask my Buddhist brother in law if he has any interesting ideas about Tibetan prayer beads I could reinterpret in pearls.
barbie
Still sighing over your new SS's.

[Nerida]

Hi Barbie - most of the pearls selling at the fair were mine, thankfully! It was not a trade fair - but a market fair at one of our lovely schools close by (do your schools do festival days like that?).

Deliverance from the pearl obsession? No, you know you really don't want that to happen! Think of all the treasures you'd miss out on seeing!

My non-Buddhist son was teaching at a Tibetan monastery last year, so I visited for a while - prayer beads are very soothing, but made from pearls??? too good to be true!

[Nerida]

PS when my son eventually wakes this morning, I will ask him again about prayer beads - the number is quite specific, as each "bead" is one syllable of the mantra. In bracelets, there is one extra bead for a mistake/distraction you've made in the mantra, in the long strands I think there are 3 extra.... I'll confirm a little later..