'Random rocks of kindness' span border

Like colorful all-weather Easter eggs, painted rocks have been springing up all over eastern New Mexico and west Texas. We can thank three sisters who decided to jump head-first into a fad that seems to be stretching from coast to coast.

The concept is simple: "Paint, hide, find, rehide," Jana Dodd explains. "It's all about spreading smiles in your community, one rock at a time."

The three "Foster sisters" grew up spending summers in Portales with their grandparents, George and Clytie Calton, and Bill and Charlene Foster.

Dodd now lives in Floyd; her sister Jill McCall lives in Olton, Texas, and the third sister, Jodie Rhodes, lives in Avon, Ohio.

McCall went to visit Rhodes in Ohio over spring break and was introduced to a group called Northeast Ohio Rocks - folks who gathered palm-sized rocks, painted fun images on them, labeled them, and then "hid" them where they could be easily spotted.

"I loved the joy I saw it bringing to the people who were painting rocks and then especially the joy on the faces of kids when they found a rock," McCall said. "I knew it was something that all ability levels could do and that many people could enjoy."

When McCall got back to Texas, she enlisted Dodd and the two set up a group on Facebook that spanned the border called "Tex New Mex Rocks."

Two months later, they have more than 5,000 members, and if you haven't seen one of the rocks as you are out and about, well, you aren't looking.

"The actual painting of the rocks was what attracted me," McCall said. "It's a little canvas and it doesn't take much time to get one painted."

"I think people love such a simple, inexpensive activity that everyone can enjoy," Dodd said. "It has made me far more active and wanting to be outside, not only looking for painted rocks, but also rocks to paint. It is so nice for positivity to be spreading."

A room full of elementary aged children joined in the fun Tuesday morning at the Portales Public Library, painting rocks of their own that will be marked with a #PPL for Portales Public Library.

At least half of the kids said they'd already found other rocks; many had determined in advance what they'd paint - a turtle, a smiley face, a rainbow - and most had already given thought to where they'd be hiding their art.

If you want to join in the fun, Tex New Mex Rocks welcomes new members to its Facebook group. If you're a rock painting newbie, you can find all the information you need there as well.

"We created this group as a way for anyone at any age to participate in a random act of kindness," McCall said. "It's simple ... find a rock, paint a rock, hide a rock and then start over again."

Random rocks of kindness. I like it.

Betty Williamson has rocks on her radar. You may reach her at: [email protected]