Blog header photo is mine taken a couple years ago here at home. - Photos posted on my blog are mine unless stated otherwise. BH

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Steam punk at the Museum

A trip to Science Museum of Va.

Steam Punk on display.

clicking on some of the pictures should enlarge.  Overlay is not enabled. This way Clicking again will make larger to better see wording on some of the posts













Mary Shelley lived through hard times in her life. 





Wells time machine

Next is Jan Metzinger's shoe machine.
Inventor of Surinamese and Dutch descent
He patented the shoe lasting machine.
Made shoes more affordable and decreased the price.
March 1883, he received a patent for his machine.
The machine held the shoe on a last or a foot form which was made of wood on display at the museum, the leather pulled down around the heel, the nails then driven in.  It had the capacity to produce hundreds of shoes a day. I didn't get exact number.    

short video clip of shoe making machine

The light made hard to get good pictures of some things like the not so Fresnel lens here.
Not invented by Fresnel
Genevieve - she said she could hear the ocean inside.
Some interesting facts in the displays 


We purchased the collection.

So much more to see and read about but would take too long on my post.  
I purchased a steampunk owl picture and a cat, here is only the owl. 

Science Museum of Va housed in what used to be Union station of Richmond.
I remember catching I believe it was twice a train for a school trip.  That was a long time ago.


Bye for now.
My ride awaits, husband and car that is.


Thursday, February 22, 2024

skating, old picture and beach.

 Hi there, been almost a month since last post.  Haven't had anything too much to post about so I thought I would wait and put all in one post.    Been a few places around our county sightseeing, Sunday drives. Took the grand girls to VMFA to an art class and they enjoyed that.  It was a three-hour class, so husband and I grabbed a bite from the little cafe there, took in some exhibits and enjoyed the day. 

Opa and Genevieve are taking skating classes.  Yes, that's right, Opa.  I can't believe he wanted to do it,   So far, only sprained his wrist a little.  He didn't do as he was instructed by putting his hands up instead of down when he fell.  He didn't fall hard.  He doesn't go that fast, yet.  Genevieve is getting much better at it.  It's something to do for her when it's rainy or stuck inside. 

Opa, Genevieve is near the wall on right. 

All ages out there. I think Opa is the oldest and tallest kid out there.  It's great.  He will try anything. 
Genevieve going around near wall.  Just call me chicken.  I am scared for my knees to fall. I think I will get a pair of skates for my driveway. 

St. Valentines day came and went before I knew it.  How come the time seems to zoom now?
These months are just slipping by.
I love that these roses had a scent.  Some I have received in the past had no scent.   I want flowers and I want the sweet scent of them too.  

While out on one of our day trips.  We stopped at this antique store that is going out of business as we were coming back from Farmville Va.    Seems I am   always drawn to pictures like this of olden times, old fashioned ladies in the long dresses, horses and Buggys.  It was $5.00 and a good deal.  The lady at the shop cleaned this picture with spray Pledge, it doesn't hurt this type of picture, which is on cardboard, nothing expensive at all but it was so dark.  Maybe whoever had it had a stove that put off soot or something, I don't know.  It was just very dirty.  The spray pledge works on some things especially one like this on paperboard. When we returned home, I went over it with a glaze I use for my diamond art.  It brightened up a lot.  


After the diamond art glaze applied below.
I am going to work on the frame color a little bit and then hang it somewhere.
I may put one more coat

We rode to Colonial Beach, and it was so cold and windy, but I loved it.  Dressing warm and looking for shells, driftwood and pretty rocks which we found. 
Genevieve dressed warm.
The water was moving. 
We go here a lot.  It's somewhere to ride that is not too far from us and while there we stopped in Willys to get a bite to eat.  

Long shadows


Not sure if this is going to be a time share, hotel or what.  I think there will be shops and eatery or two downstairs.  There is more building going on behind it.  I look forward to staying a night or two if it's a hotel.  Looks more like apts. I didn't get any closer to read the signs as it was getting windier and colder. We will be back soon.  



Til next time
Betsy
🏖


Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Winter time and taking it slow

 I have been lazy lately, not wanting to do much of anything except that needs to be done.    Time to sit back and rest up for the next season.  Hasn't been too terribly cold this past week.  I am hoping for more colder temps and more snow.  

Meanwhile I have been working on my bead picture.  I love doing this, relaxes me.

These are the square beads; I think I like working with the round ones better.
Gotta make sure the squares stay lined up.  Some of mine aren't. 
Enjoying one of my favorite snack foods while beading, pistachios.   
I have enough hobbies going on at the moment, but I had to order alcohol paints.
I am going to do a picture with them next.  I saw where they can be mixed with some clear glue to make some nice little stained-glass pictures or suncatchers.  I like working with real stained glass but it's too cold at the moment to take that back up in the garage.  I have two unfinished small ones that I need to solder. 
I found this on Pinterest and so many more ideas than I needed at the moment.  Glue and alcohol paints are what I am going to use.


on to other things like getting up from here and getting a little exercise.  Getting the last few items to the attic from Christmas would be nice.  Yes Christmas, it has been a while.  No hurry, obviously.
This box has my two elves that my Granddaughter found for me, one last year I saw in a window in Fredericksburg Va.  she found the same one here in a thrift store and had her mom get for me. 
The other one is one she found for me this Christmas.  She said there is a male elf and I told her to put a bug in Santa's ear for this year.  I love these, so colorful and fun. Here boxed to return to storage. 
I just noticed a little mending needing to be done on the apron with flower trim.


Some candles I made from old pickle jars and glue, Epsom salt, more glue and snow with an addition of sparkles.  Winter sparkle I call them.  I make sure I seal well so none of the fluff I call it comes off and it doesn't.  I use real votives for light inside and battery if I have them. 
Nice glow they give and not just for Christmas.  I guess I could actually add a little heart to the front.
Well this is what I have been up to for the moment anyway.  I have been reading in between.  Taking some ideas from my Cosy book.  

That's it for the moment.  
Betsy 😄