The Shop Lore: The Spencer Opal Mine & Sox the Manx
THE LORE: THE IDAHO FALLS MOTEL AND THE STUBBY-TAIL KITTEN
While researching for free rockhounding places, we found out about the Spencer Opal Mine near Idaho Falls, Idaho. We stayed at a motel right on the river. When we arrived and got checked in, we went out for a smoke. We had noticed a few stray cats around. We went to our room and got settled in, then went to dinner and out to a picnic table by the falls.
We heard a little “mew” coming from the balcony rooms. There on the corner by the railing was a little kitten with a tail about 2 inches long. We went up to the balcony to check on the kitten.A black and white kitten with an A-shaped white chest and belly—point at top, down and around her little chin.A black spot on the tip of the nose.Her left front paw had a little “footy sock” and so did her right. On one back leg, a knee-high, and the other, a spotted sock. I told Bob to go down to the
motel room and grab the deli sandwich so I could feed the beautiful kitten some lunchmeat.The kitten took right to Janyce. The kitten followed us down the two flights of stairs and into our motel room. We found out it was a female. She snuggled right into Janyces chest.That's when we decided she needed rescuing.Obviously, she ended up with the name Sox.
We were there all weekend, spending all daylight at the mine hunting for opal from their tailings pile. We'd get back to the motel and Sox would be there. We were having Subway, so Sox got some fresh meat and we were vegetarians for the meal. We go to our room and Sox walks right in, jumps up on the bed, and curls up with Janyce. She melted like butter on a griddle. She said, “Oh no, we have Nay Nay, our Egyptian Mau cat that was purchased for me for Father's Day because I missed Rufus so much. She was about 1 year old.”
The first night, Sox slept outside. She was waiting at the door in the morning. She looked up at me and gave a little “mew” as I was going to get coffee. I asked the attendant about the cats and he said they put out dry food now and then, and they don't belong to anyone. Every time we came in and out, she would follow—sometimes from the other side of the parking lot.
Long and short of it: came time to go. Check-out time. Janyce does the driving. Sox follows us to the car. I sit in the passenger seat with my door open and looked at Janyce. I said, “You do know she is coming home with us, right?” I looked down at her big green eyes and said, “Well, I promise I will feed you if you want to go. You are welcome to join us.” And she put her little socks on the door jam and hopped in and crawled under my seat.
🪨 The Rescue Loop: See the exact opal stones we pulled from the tailings pile on the trip Sox chose us. No factory shapes. Just pure, rescued Relics ready for a home.
The Yellowstone Highway and the Highway Potty Break
We went to Walmart and got a pet porter, food, and other essentials and put her in it. She started crying every few minutes. I said, “Honey, let's let her out. We will be driving for a while.” She said, “Oh no, then we will never get her back into the carrier” Finally, she agrees to let Sox out. When I do, Sox immediately walks over and curls up in Janyce's lap and looks up at her like, “I promise, Mom, I will be good,” and lays her head down and purrs herself to sleep.
About an hour later, I had fallen asleep, and I feel little paws on my right shoulder. I look over to see Sox perched up on my suitcase, paws on my shoulder, staring out the window making short “mews.” I said, “Honey, she needs to potty. We are on the highway headed to Yellowstone Park on the way home.”
We find a place to pull off. I open the door and down a trail she goes. Janyce flies into a panic. I say, “Don't run after her. Let's quietly walk down the trail. Just let her do her business. She did ask to go with us at the motel.” After a short walk away from the noisy highway, I see a little black figure in some bushes, sitting motionless. Sure as heck, it was her. She came trotting out and walked right back to the car. Crazy.
We found out later that she is a full-blooded stubby-tail Manx with no back problems, and that is rare. Not actually a typical cat. She loves to sleep on the dining room table while I cab stones.
🛠️ The Custom Shop Loop: Trust the hands that rescue. Send us your rough stone or your own raw memories, and we will cut your personal Memories in Stone.
The Universal Rescue
Everything needs a little rescuing, and we are rescuers. Whether it is a piece of rough opal from a tailings pile or a stray Manx kitten with a two-inch tail sitting by a motel railing, we take in the leftover can'ts.
When you bypass the standard “Jewlery” stores and adopt one of the Relics off our site, you aren't just making a purchase. You are taking home a piece of a 33-year partnership. You are wearing a stone pulled from the same tailings pile where Sox decided she was coming home with us. You are the final step in the rescue. Everything needs a home, and everything can be rescued if you care enough to put in the work.
Keep Exploring
🪨 Adopt a Rescue: Our shop is full of rescued, one-of-a-kind stones waiting for their next chapter. Browse All Collections →
📖 Read the Logbook: The Universal Rescue doesn't stop at the opal mine. From shelter dogs to 58-pound boulders, read the raw history behind the Rockhound Studio bench. Read the Logbook →
Handcrafted by Bob and Janyce — Inspired by Sox 🐈
Keep Exploring
Adopt a Rescue — Find your next piece.
Read the Logbook — Stories from the shop floor.
Handcrafted by Bob and Janyce — Inspired by this stone 🪨
Keep Exploring
Adopt a Rescue — Find your next piece.
Read the Logbook — Stories from the shop floor.
Handcrafted by Bob and Janyce — Inspired by this stone 🪨