But one of the places we visited while in Virginia was the Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air & Space Museum – and, if you have been there, you will know that it is spectacular! The space is immense, but with sky walks, stairs and balconies, it is easy to navigate. There were a lot of people there the day we visited. The logical way the exhibits are laid out – and quality of the light and airiness of the space – contributed to a very pleasant experience.
Here are some more photos – but go there if you can.
Want to know how big the space shuttle is? That is my almost six foot tall person standing there under it.
Since the topic is related to Air & Space, let me mention the 80th birthday of Flash Gordon:
Flash Gordon is the hero of a science fiction adventure comic strip originally drawn by Alex Raymond. First published January 7, 1934. Ref. Wiki.
In the late 1940s, soldiers returning from World War II dreamed of the idyllic life: a happy family, a lovely suburban home. But the post-war period instead brought a housing crisis. In response, Lustron promised a dream house — signed, sealed, delivered.”
I think these homes are a wonderful example of mid-20th century style, design and ingenuity. It’s like IKEA for the 50s.
“It has a sort of late ‘40s, ‘50s new modern America appeal,” says Megan Wood of the Ohio Historical Society. “And you don’t have to paint it, you can clean the walls with windex, and you can hang things with magnets.”
I think it is interesting that out of 3000 homes built, about 1500 still survive, including the one pictured above, that is in Indiana.
I think these houses are charming and it is unfortunate that dodgy financing forced the company into bankruptcy in 1950.
“The Monastery of Saint Nicholas of the Cats is regarded as a sacred cat haven in Cyprus, as it’s name has been linked to felines for almost 2,000 years.
The original monastery was built in 327 AD, by Kalokeros, the first Byzantine governor of Cyprus, and patronised by Saint Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great. At that time, a terrible drought affected the whole of Cypus, and the entire island was overrun with poisonous snakes which made building the monastery a dangerous affair. Many of the inhabitants left their homes and moved off the island, for fear of the snakes, but Saint Helena came up with a solution to the plague – she ordered 1,000 cats to be shipped in from Egypt and Palestine to fight the reptiles.”
The monastery endures and today is run by six nuns and about seventy cats.
Today is Gilbert Stuart’s birthday. He was born in 1755 in Saunderstown, Rhode Island. In those years before paparzzi, he became one of America’s outstanding portraitists. Stuart is probably best known for his unfinished portrait of George Washington (above) that has become iconic, appearing on the dollar bill and elsewhere. It is probably the likeness most of us call to mind when thinking about Washington. The portrait was never finished, but Stuart did make copies of the portrait, selling them for $100 each (no Kinko’s either). Ref – Wikipedia
Stuart became very successful, recording likenesses of the rich and famous of his day, which can now be found in museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Portrait Gallery, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and other public and private collections.
I thought it was interesting that Stuart, “an artist accustomed to easily engaging and enlivening his clients with conversation and jokes, [he] was at a loss with Washington: ‘Anapathy seemed to seize him and a vacuity spread over his countenance, most appalling to paint.’ Yet, despite the struggle to capture the President’s elusive character, Stuart succeeded in executing the image that was then and is now considered to be a definitive and insightful likeness.”
This week we celebrate Thanksgiving. Thoughts turn to the pilgrims who traveled across the ocean seeking religious freedom in a new land, and learning how to plant fish along with their crops.
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 an armistice between Germany and the Allied nations came into effect. On November 11, 1919, Armistice Day was commemorated for the first time. In 1919, President Wilson proclaimed the day should be “filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory”.
For all of us who enjoy liberty resulting from others’ sacrifices, everyday is Veteran’s Day – and Thank You.
In this installment of the Bakery Blogumentary, I am featuring Zoss the Swiss Baker. Zoss is on the route I take to work every day, and it is an easy and quick stop for a croissant, a spinach tart for lunch, a box of cookies for the office (when the minions have been especially good) – so many wonderful things. Their bakery has a continental favor and it is THE place to go for Bavarian pretzels, palmiers, macaroons, croissants, chocolate papillons.
I would love to show you a photo of the hazelnut macaroon I purchased this morning, but it just disappeared somehow – sorry.
Perfect, flaky, buttery croissants.
These are chocolate papillons.
Selections from the pastry counters.
This post would not be complete without mentioning the bread and rolls that Zoss produces from their magical ovens. We are fortunate that Zoss bread is also available in local supermarkets so it is possible to find even when the mothership is closed. They always do something special for the holidays – I’m looking forward to that.
A team of six students from De Montfort University in Leicester have turned a historic map into a realistic and detailed 3D animation of Tudor London.
The video shows the area around Pudding Lane in the City of London before the Great Fire of 1666. Some of the buildings are hypothetical, but all streets are based on original maps of the area.
The animation has won the top prize in a competition to produce a 3D animation of a real historic setting, run by The British Library and video game developersGameCity and Crytek.
“The haze effect lying over the city is brilliant,” says Tom Harper, panel judge and curator at the British Library. “Great attention has been given to key features of London, complete with glittering window casements and other atmospheric cues.”
Gunsmoke and Knitting 