The Crystal Hunt with Grana Lisa
- Thomas Smugala
- Apr 7
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 16
My heart races when I think about crystals. Crystals are nature's crazy geometry obsession. Most forms are perfect hexagonal prisms—six-sided towers capped with pyramid-like tips. They're not just pretty; they result from atoms locking into a repeating pattern under pressure, like 3D printing that builds itself. Natural crystals are fascinating and come with a mix of quirky and mind-bending traits. And the 573 is loaded with crystals—just about any creek, any gravel bed, or pile of dirt…you can find crystals. We decided to go on a crystal hunt and turn it into a story to remember. Meet Grana Lisa, Nylah, and Zayleigh—crystal hunters.
THE GREAT CRYSTAL HUNT
Once upon a time, Nylah, and her older sister Zayleigh, were sprawled on the living room floor, doodling cats and dogs (a popular pastime at those ages), when their grandmother burst through the door like a whirlwind wearing a bright tie-dye tee shirt twisting her hair into long, groovy pigtails. "Pack your boots, girls!" their grandmother Lisa hollered. "We're going crystal hunting—Grana Lisa style!"
Now, Grana Lisa wasn't your average grandma. She drove a big American SUV with a bumper sticker that read "I Love Rock Hounding," wore mismatched socks (one polka-dot, one striped), and carried a leather pouch she swore was magic. "It's for all the crystals' vibes we find," she'd wink, but we all know it held the girl's peanut butter and jelly sammiches, as she called them. Nylah and Zayleigh adored her.
The girls scrambled into the truck, clutching cute little clear backpacks Grana Lisa had handed them. "Where are we going?" Zayleigh asked, her brown eyes wide. "Old Man Miller's Creek," Grana Lisa said, cranking the engine. "Rumor has it, there's lots of crystals hiding in that creek. Plus, I've got a hunch—and my hunches are never wrong."
Nylah bounced in her seat, clutching her big magnifying glass up to her eye. "I'm gonna find the biggest ever prettiest crystal and name it Sparklebutt!" she declared.
Grana Lisa giggled. "That's the spirit, kiddo!"
"I'm gonna find the biggest ever prettiest crystal and name it Sparklebutt!"
"Crystals love hiding where the earth gets messy,"
The creek was a half-hour drive through twisty backroads, past fields of sleepy cows and a barn painted with a faded Drink Coke ad. When they arrived, the sun was high, glinting off the water like it was winking at them. Grana Lisa hopped out, grabbed her "magic" pouch, and led the way, her sneakers sneaking along the forest. "Crystals love hiding where the earth gets messy," she said. "Let's go, girls!"
The girls rushed into the dried-out creek and began looking for treasure.
The girls rushed into the dried-out creek and began looking for treasure. Nylah plugged along, pushing the dried leaves away and exposing a gravel bar. Zayleigh, meanwhile, poked at the pebbles with a stick, giggling every time she saw something shiny. "Grana, is this treasure?" Holding up an old bottle cap. "To a trashman, maybe!" Grana Lisa teased, stuffing the cap into her bag.
"Grana, is this treasure?" Holding up an old bottle cap.
"To a trashman, maybe!" Grana Lisa teased,...
Then, suddenly, Nylah yelped. "I got something!" She tugged free a small, milky crystal with sharp edges holding her magnifying glass to get a better look. Grana Lisa squinted, then whooped. "That's crystal, Nys! Look at those hexagons—nature's little architect at work." Nylah beamed, cradling it like a trophy.
Then, suddenly, Nylah yelped. "I got something!"
Zayleigh wasn't far behind. "Gran! Gran! They are everywhere!" She held up a small crystal that caught the light, flashing sparkles into the universe. "Eureka!" Gran crowed, doing a little jig. "Told ya I had a hunch. That's going in the Hall of Fame—aka my windowsill."
Zayleigh held up a small crystal that caught the light, flashing sparkles into the universe.
The 573 has some of Missouri's oldest rocks, tied to volcanic and tectonic activity billions of years ago...
Soon, they all had their fill of crystal hunting for the day and made their way back to the truck. As they piled back in, dirty and triumphant, Grana Lisa handed them each a tiny crystal from her pouch. "For luck," she said. "Did we do good, Gran?" Zayleigh asked. "Good? You're legends now," Grana Lisa said, ruffling their hair. "Next time, we hunt for geodes—we'll bring a hammer!"
Lisa Lindsey, Zayleigh Kemp, and Nylah Kemp.
My name is Lisa Lindsey, and I was born and raised in Fredericktown, Missouri. I'm married to Michael Lindsey, who is also a lifelong resident of Fredericktown. We met when we were teenagers but didn't start dating till 2012 and have been married since 2017. We have six wonderful children: I have three sons—Austin (30), and twin boys, Dalton and Clayton (25). Mike has three daughters—Marissa (25), Katie (22), and Mollie (18). We are blessed with seven grandchildren and are excited to welcome two more grandsons very soon.
Mike has worked for Union Pacific Railroad for 18 years and plays drums for the Blackbird Strut Band on the weekends. I was the proud owner of Lisa Jane's Coffee House for three years. I recently decided to sell the business so I could focus on caring for our two beautiful granddaughters, Zayleigh (5) and Nylah (3), for whom we were granted guardianship earlier this year.
Zayleigh will start kindergarten in August, and Nylah will begin preschool. Both girls are eagerly looking forward to their new adventures. One of our favorite shared activities is rock and crystal hunting, a passion I've cherished since childhood.
My love for rocks and crystals began when I was a little girl. My mom used to take me to the creek to swim, and while we played, she would search for beautiful stones—some shaped like faces or animals, others simply sparkling in the sun. That joy and curiosity stayed with me; I've passed it down to my children and grandchildren. We especially love going on crystal-hunting adventures together. I'm planning a trip to Arkansas to dig for quartz crystals—something I've always enjoyed and can't wait to experience with my granddaughters. There's nothing better than the thrill of the hunt and finding those hidden treasures that adorn my home inside and out.
The 573 has some of Missouri's oldest rocks, tied to volcanic and tectonic activity billions of years ago in the St. Francois Mountains. Here, crystals like quartz and feldspar formed as magma cooled deep underground. Slow cooling lets bigger crystals grow—like the quartz, you might find in granite intrusions. Later, hot fluids from these igneous events circulated through cracks, depositing minerals.
Each crystal type reflects its environment: quartz in geodes from slow silica buildup, galena from hot metal-rich fluids, or barite from groundwater chemistry. Time's the real player here—some of these processes stretched over eons, with conditions shifting as seas retreated and mountains eroded. Missouri's mix of ancient seas, volcanic roots, and mineral-soaked waters set the stage for crystal diversity.
Smash certain crystals, and they'll spark or flash in the dark. Scientists think it's electrical charges snapping back together after being ripped apart—crystal lightning in miniature. Some people believe crystals have healing powers due to their electric properties. Crystals are basically the eccentrics of the mineral world—beautiful, bizarre, and full of surprises. Crystals are brilliant! Get Out There and get ya some!
Get Out There! Draw something. Find something. Volunteer for something. Do something. Do anything. Take that class. Get that new job. Start that new business. What one person can do, another can do. That sunken sofa will be fine without you.
Pics & Words - T. Smugala
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