Grandchildren's Back to School

Addie started first at Merriman Park Elementary.  This is her first year here, she is in Kindergarten.

Addie and her teacher.

A squeeze and goodbye to Asher and a squeeze and goodbye to Claire.

The mandatory picture with Mom and Dad.

A great first day!!

Walking home after school with Carter and Claire.

The next week it was Asher's and Claire's turn for their first day.

Asher is excited to use his fireman lunch box.  Yes, his shirt does say, "Sister for Sale".

Claire is a big girl now and she get to go to preschool with Asher.  Her bag has cupcakes.

They grow up too fast for grandma.

A trip through the Finger Lakes Wineries

I had finally depleted my supply of California wine, so to stock up we decided to give the New York Wineries a try in the Finger Lakes area.

It was a beautiful day.  

At the first winery, Heron Hills, we decided to have lunch at the Blue Heron Cafe, before tasting.

Lunch was good, the view was amazing.

View from the tasting room. I sampled, Bob bought.

Heron Hill Winery for over 35 years has set the highest quality standard for wine quality, customer satisfaction, and tasting room experience.

Our next stop was Vinifera Wine Cellars, owned by Dr. Frank Konstantin.

Dr. Konstantin, a professor of plant science who held a PhD. in viticulture, moved to the area to teach at Cornell University's Geneva Experiment Station.

The winery quickly earned a reputation for spectacular Rieslings and its original planting of vines formed the backbone of New York's world-class wines and champagnes.

The old farmhouse.  It was made of stone.

Last stop Hunt Country Vineyards.

More modern than the other two. They achieved a wide reputation as a pioneer producer of Vidal Blanc Ice Wine.

Enjoyed the day.  Since I was the only taster, as Bob was the designated driver.  I was forced to try many delicious tastings.  Needless to say, a well deserved nap was in order when we got home.

The Corning Glass Museum

Now that I am into glass, we had to make a stop at The Corning Glass Museum.

Founded in 1951 by Corning Glass Works as a gift to the nation for the company's 100 anniversary. The Corning Museum of Glass is a not-for-profit museum dedicated to telling the story of a single material: glass.

Besides the galleries there are many live glass demonstrations. The one below is of the Hot Glass Show. We also saw Flame work Demo, Optical Fiber Demo, and Glass Breaking Demo.  Demonstrations last between 15 and 30 minutes.

The first exhibit we saw was  Masters of Studio Glass: Richard Marquis.

As an artist, Marquis is admired for his understanding of color and form as much as for his humor and willingness to experiment.  As a glassblower, he has influenced an entire generation of artists working in glass who aspire to his technical mastery and the originality of his vision.

This exhibit changes bringing works of other glassblowers in, who have mastered the art of studio glass.

We took a tour of the museum to get an overview. 

Going first to the Ben W. Heineman Sr. Family Contemporary Gallery.

Pieces I liked.

Dale Chihuly

Howard Ben Tre

Two others that I didn't get the name of the artist.

The second gallery that we went to on the tour was: Origins of Glass.

It showed the progression of Glass in art through the ages.

Hellenistic glass

Glass in the Islamic World

The Rise of Venetian Glass

19th-Century European Glass

Brooklyn Flint Glass ca 1823.

Frederick Carder's Gallery.

Carder (1861-1963) was an experienced designer who was familiar with the technical processes of glass making.  In his years with Steuben Glass Works, he explored new forming and decorating techniques, made blanks for cutting and engraving, and produced cut and engraved glass. In 1933, Frederick Carder was promoted to design director at Corning Glass Works.  He supervised the production of large-scale architectural pieces and made one-of-a-kind objects.  Carder retired at the age of 96.

You could also take classes during your visit.  I took bead making.  I made one bead.  It was harder than it looked, but it was fun.  The instructor said the learning curve is quick.

Some of the things you could make.

Love, love, loved the museum.

Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art

Most Native American peoples weave baskets using various forms of grasses and shrubs, everything from sea grass, used by Eskimos and Aleuts, to willow, bracket fern and redbud used in California and the Great Basin.  Fewer use materials derived from trees.  On the Northwest Coast, cedar tree bark and spruce root is the foremost material used for baskets.  Across the continent, in the Eastern United States, a number of peoples use strips of thin wood derived from the indigenous black ash to make both plain and decorated splint baskets.

A Splint Baskets

A painted pony.

Splendidly Dressed

Beautiful dresses and robes.

 Jewelry

Shoes

Winter wear

California Cultures & Great Basin Cultures

Chilkat Robe, 1850

Tlingit, Southeast  Alaska

Ancient Southwest Culture

Northwest Coast Cultures

Northwest Coast produced many great artists, especially master carving.

Woodland Cultures

The Woodland Indians of eastern North America ingeniously incorporated European goods such as glass beads, silk ribbons and cloth into their arts,.

The End to the Fenimore Museum.  I Loved It.