Kids make rock pets for vets

Pets have often been a traditional gift at Christmastime and two young girls have decided to continue that practice by giving pets to veterans and senior citizens for Christmas presents.

"We wanted to give them something special, and now they can take care of their pet rock," said 10-year-old Chloe Monselet, who was making the pet rocks with friend Saydi Carter, 9 years old.

The two Plains girls used stones they got from Mountain Range Materials, formerly Plains Ready Mix, which donated about 150 rocks, along with a few from the yard of Dave Williams, president of Joint Operation Mariposa, the nonprofit organization sponsoring the pet rock project. Williams bought the paint, googly eyes and markers for the project. It was Monselet who had the idea of painting rocks while she was talking with Williams about another Christmas art project.

The girls first washed and dried the rocks before applying any paint. The rocks ranged from about one and a half inches to about four inches. The girls painted the rocks different colors using an acrylic paint. They then hot glued "googly eyes" on each stone and used a marker to draw a mouth. Monselet and Carter also gave a name to each rock - Bob, Anna, Wobble, Blob, and Rock Hudson - which they put on the back of each stone. Most of them were designed with two eyes, though Chuck, the worm, had only one, and a blue triangular rock named Bart had three eyes. And each rock was smiling, though one had a tongue sticking out and one had a heart in its smile.

"I am beyond pleased. What a way to embrace the Christmas spirit and it's a great way to embrace the community spirit," said Williams, a professional artist who often uses his art skills for nonprofit fundraisers and events. Williams said that Monselet just thought it would be a good idea to make pets out of rocks. He said people have to smile when they see that little rock face stare up at them. "It's small and you can put it in your pocket, so you have your best friend with you," said Williams.

The girls made just over 60 rocks as stocking stuffers for the Santa Socks program for Sanders County veterans, working on them for about nine hours and finishing last Friday. JOM volunteers will hand carry the stockings to veterans from Plains to Hot Springs and down to St. Regis on Dec. 10. The girls also plan to deliver over two dozen pet rocks to the residents and staff of Clark Fork Valley Hospital's long term care in early December.

"It's a lot of fun and I like painting," said Carter. Monselet has made several paintings and painted a portion of the frame of the Green Star Family horse painting, done by Williams and Hailee Steinebach, in the Veterans Administration committee room of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

"It's hard not to like them," said Williams. "Once they put a face on them they take on their own personality."