That's me on the left and my mom at Yellowstone Lake - I probably have a pocketful of rocks that I picked up along the way. 

I’ve always been drawn to rocks and stones I find on hikes, on the beach or on a city street - wherever. If it speaks to me I pick it up and add it to the collection. Fortunate enough to be the daughter of an Air Force pilot, we moved a lot and I experienced many different places, cultures, and people. Born in Colorado, my love of nature grew out of hiking Quandary Peak with my Dad, wading in the icy Blue River, admiring the fiery red Indian Paintbrushes, the beauty of the golden aspen leaves in the fall.

My husband, Michael and I raised our two daughters in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts with the Appalachian Trail in our backyard. Once again, I found myself surrounded by the forests and streams - my cathedrals. Now living in Charleston, SC, the ocean, swamps, marshes and forests are all at our doorstep. Nature is everywhere and I’m so grateful to live this life!

Julie Arnet Kelley