Corning Museum of Glass

 This week the kids are off of school. Rather than stay home and get on each other's nerves, we decided we should do SOMEthing. My husband said we should go down to Corning to go to the glass museum. So off to Corning we went.

Corning is a charming old city. The main shopping area is on

Market Street.

There are many shops and restaurants. All housed in beautiful old buildings.

The weather was splendid. It was warmer than Buffalo, since we have the lovely Lake Erie keeping things cool. It comes in handy in the summer months. But in spring, it's annoying.

The Corning Museum of Glass is quite an incredible place. Big V and Little V took the wall instead of the sidewalk. (I know, they look like the same size, but one is older.)

 This sculpture greets you as you walk in the front door.

It is made of 500 individual blown glass elements and weighs 1400 pounds.

There were some pretty incredible pieces of glass.

Art.

Ancient. (like, 50-75 A.D. ancient)

Venetian.

Tiffany.

Roman.

Extravagant!

Tiffany.

Whimsical.

We went to a Hot Glass Demonstration.

The man who is blowing and shaping the glass is called a "gaffer". His name is Chris. He put the glass in a mold of sorts that puts a pattern on the glass that grows and stretches as the glass is blown.

He continues to shape and blow the glass thru the hollow steel tube the glass is attached to. The tube is constantly turned to create a centrifugal force. If he stops turning the glass, it will fall off the tube in a blob on the floor. He puts it back into the oven to keep it hot. If it cools too much while he works it, it will crack.

On the screens above the work area, they showed the view from inside the oven.

It seems as though Corning Glass made the windshields for the space shuttles and they can withstand 4000 degrees, Fahrenheit. So, they are able to make a camera that can withstand the 1200 degrees inside this oven.  I thought this was quite a view.

He took a small blob of glass and turned it into this bowl in about 15 min. Chris has been blowing glass for 15 years. He made it look very easy, but the other man, who was announcing the show, said it is very difficult.

The ride home was quite picturesque. I love the rolling hills and farmland.

Spring means the gray trees will soon be green. They each take their turn to produce a show. Some start ealier than others. Among the trees waiting for their turn, would be a shock of this beautiful chartreuse. Wish I could bottle that color. It was gorgeous. I doubt my pictures will do it justice. Its hard to take a good picture at 75 mph. Lol.

I love a green farm field high on a hill. It makes me want to run through it all - Maria from The Sound of Music- like. Singing. Twirling. Wind in my hair. Do, Re, Mi!  

When we got home, we found our cherry tree in full bloom.

When we left yesterday, about 1/3 of it was in bloom.

We have been having some screwy springs as far as cherries in my yard are concerned. The weather gets too warm too soon and then turns cold. Tomorrow night we have to be concerned about frost. If that makes all the blossoms fall off, then I don't think we will have any cherries. Last year, the cherries came out, but it wasn't sunny and/or warm enough to ripen them. By the time the weather was good, the cherries were moldy. It was very disappointing. Even the birds didn't want them. A couple of years ago we nearly filled a 5 gal bucket. All the neighbors got a container full. I hope we have a good year this year. I would like to freeze them for the winter. Or maybe make a chutney or jam. One thing I do know is there are plenty of bees doing their job out there.

I may be sleeping outside tomorrow night with a fire in my firepit under the tree. ; )

I'm giving thanks today for a great trip to Corning. We had fun together as a family, and I know that the older my kids get, those times will be fewer and farther between.

Thanks for checking in. Enjoy your spring!

Estate Sale Scores

 Lately I've been on an estate sale kick. I don't know why, but I can't stay away! Here are some of the things I've collected of late.

A lovely vintage bird cage, that I was so thrilled to find. I'm salivating just looking at this picture. LOL!

I've seen photos of them in books, magazines and catalogs. Some have plants in them, or fake birds in nests. I think I might line the bottom with vintage sheet music. It would break up all the cream paint and add some interest. Maybe an orchid would look good in there. Hmmm...

Some pretty vintage towels. I'm not sure why I bought these. I swear I saw a craft to make with them, but I can't remember what it was...

This stunning ring I found in a ziplock bag. I paid $5 for it. It is solid gold and covered in genuine stones- pearls, jade, citrine, amethysts and an emerald.

It is 5 rings all joined together in the back. It has two missing stones, but I think I should be able to get them replaced easily enough. It would be worth it for the price I paid.

This adorable little step ladder. I was thinking of putting potted plants on it out on the patio this summer. Maybe clay pots with red geraniums in them.

A cool gold chain with big links. I think it will be a good chain to take apart and turn into other jewelry.

A $5 grab bag full of goodies. I can't believe the treasures that were in this bag. Nicole and I have been going to these sales together a lot, and she bought a grab bag too. But Poor Nic, she got the Charlie Brown bag. She really had nothing but junk in her bag. We laughed til we cried about the comparison of the two groups of items. It really was hilarious. I suppose you had to be there (since she used language I shouldn't repeat here).  :)

I especially liked this broken double strand necklace (the detail in the links is amazing) and...

...some gorgeous faceted carnelians. I have already started a project using them. I'll show you when it's all done!

This strand of crystals was not in the grab bag. These were on a thread, but it seems as though they were a necklace that someone put on thread so as not to lose them. I haven't yet decided what to make with those, but I'm liking the way the carnelian project is coming out, so I may head in that direction with the crystals as well.

These two beauties were not purchased at an "estate sale" but were purchased from an "estate".

My friend's grandparents are downsizing. I've been admiring these planters on their front porch for the past 17 years, since they lived on the street behind me and I would walk past their house. I always oogled them from the road. Well, somehow, I found favor with the family and they allowed me to purchase them before an auction or garage sale. I'm so excited about these. Sorry the pictures are bad. They are currently in storage in my screen porch.

I also got a vintage galvanized watering can and small galvanized bushel shaped bucket with a handle. Another thing was some old transit tokens. I had found one from Honolulu in a jar of buttons I bought last year and came across some more recently. I will have to take more pictures tomorrow and have another quick post. I have to work for the next two days so hopefully I'll have time. 

I also borrowed some old cameras from my Dad today, and I want to try a new technique I saw using them. Hopefully this weekend I will have some cool pictures to post. Stay tuned!

I have to say that I am thankful to have some cash to spend on things I don't need but love. Who needs food, right? Lol!