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12/27/2021 We’ve moved into Louisiana and specifically Lake Bistineau State Park. We are using this place as a home base to see things in Shreveport. What we are immediately greeted with is an abundance of tiny little frogs. Super hard to see because of their size, but once you start looking, they are everywhere! They were almost like grasshoppers as you walked through the woods.
12/27/2021 We’ve moved into Louisiana and specifically Lake Bistineau State Park. We are using this place as a home base to see things in Shreveport. What we are immediately greeted with is an abundance of tiny little frogs. Super hard to see because of their size, but once you start looking, they are everywhere! They were almost like grasshoppers as you walked through the woods.
The night time also brought out some eight-legged residents.
The night time also brought out some eight-legged residents.
12/28/2021 More from the world of tiny frogs and eight legged creatures!
12/28/2021 More from the world of tiny frogs and eight legged creatures!
It’s been a while since we’ve been able to leave the front door open and enjoy some warm air.
It’s been a while since we’ve been able to leave the front door open and enjoy some warm air.
Here’s a page from the world of “Perception vs. Reality”. We are staying at a place called “Lake Bistineau” and when I picked this campsite, I specifically picked it because the map showed it next to the lake. However, when we arrived, we found out that the lake (obviously man made) had been drawn down and for quite some time to boot. Here’s our view of the “Lake”. It was interesting to see the dark water line at the base of the trees as you look across the forest.
Here’s a page from the world of “Perception vs. Reality”. We are staying at a place called “Lake Bistineau” and when I picked this campsite, I specifically picked it because the map showed it next to the lake. However, when we arrived, we found out that the lake (obviously man made) had been drawn down and for quite some time to boot. Here’s our view of the “Lake”. It was interesting to see the dark water line at the base of the trees as you look across the forest.
I never tire of seeing the sunset somewhere new.
I never tire of seeing the sunset somewhere new.
12/29/2021 This science museum in Downtown Shreveport is called Sci-Port. Out front they have a fun little leverage experiment to see if you can lift a fully dressed small block V8 engine. Turns out that Grace cannot get ‘er done!
12/29/2021 This science museum in Downtown Shreveport is called Sci-Port. Out front they have a fun little leverage experiment to see if you can lift a fully dressed small block V8 engine. Turns out that Grace cannot get ‘er done!
Nor can Dylan.
Nor can Dylan.
Why do we dress in all green?
Why do we dress in all green?
Of course, it is to play with green screen effects! It’s always a reliable source of humor.
Of course, it is to play with green screen effects! It’s always a reliable source of humor.
This demonstration shows just how powerful the absence of air can be. There is an air chamber attached to the top of this chair and when you push a button, all the air is removed from the chamber and as a result, you and the chair go up like an elevator. Nothing more than the absence of air is lifting you.
This demonstration shows just how powerful the absence of air can be. There is an air chamber attached to the top of this chair and when you push a button, all the air is removed from the chamber and as a result, you and the chair go up like an elevator. Nothing more than the absence of air is lifting you.
I’m still not sure what “science” we are looking at here, but this was like a giant snow globe that you could crawl under and stick your heading into viewing ports while the “snow” danced around.
I’m still not sure what “science” we are looking at here, but this was like a giant snow globe that you could crawl under and stick your heading into viewing ports while the “snow” danced around.
This amazing blend of art and science is called a “Foucault Pendulum”. There are a lot of big words and equations that are used to describe how and why it all works, but I’ll spare you all that (mainly because I don’t understand it) and here’s the short and easy version: The giant pendulum swings from the ceiling while the ornate floor, with upright rubber mallets moves along with the Earth’s rotation underneath it. As the Earth rotates, the pendulum strikes the standing mallets at certain intervals throughout the day and they in turn strike a xylophone like key and a musical tone is heard every time one falls. On paper, it sounds boring as heck, but in person, it was great fun to watch.
This amazing blend of art and science is called a “Foucault Pendulum”. There are a lot of big words and equations that are used to describe how and why it all works, but I’ll spare you all that (mainly because I don’t understand it) and here’s the short and easy version: The giant pendulum swings from the ceiling while the ornate floor, with upright rubber mallets moves along with the Earth’s rotation underneath it. As the Earth rotates, the pendulum strikes the standing mallets at certain intervals throughout the day and they in turn strike a xylophone like key and a musical tone is heard every time one falls. On paper, it sounds boring as heck, but in person, it was great fun to watch.
This giant mural painted on the wall depicts multiple different birds in their natural habitat. At first glance, it appears to just be art. However, stand in this garden like opening and tap a picture of one of the birds on the provided touch screen……a spot light shines on the bird you have just selected and a speaker plays the sounds that bird makes. Quite ingenious way to bring a mural to life.
This giant mural painted on the wall depicts multiple different birds in their natural habitat. At first glance, it appears to just be art. However, stand in this garden like opening and tap a picture of one of the birds on the provided touch screen……a spot light shines on the bird you have just selected and a speaker plays the sounds that bird makes. Quite ingenious way to bring a mural to life.
Towards the end of the day, we attended this live science demonstration. Any time there is fire and liquid nitrogen involved, it’s got to be good, right?
Towards the end of the day, we attended this live science demonstration. Any time there is fire and liquid nitrogen involved, it’s got to be good, right?
12/31/2021 Today’s destination is an interesting one because it’s an art gallery. I say “interesting” because art is always VERY personal and if the gallery (or museum) doesn’t have something that suits your taste for whatever reason, you’re probably not going to enjoy it or get a lot out of it. No offense to Shreveport, but I’m not expecting a whole lot out of an art gallery in this small city. I would later come to regret my pre-judgement of this magnificent place as it might be one of the finer art gallery or museum experiences I’ve had to date. Quite literally, if I only had one day in Shreveport and I had to pick only ONE thing to do, without question, this would be it!
12/31/2021 Today’s destination is an interesting one because it’s an art gallery. I say “interesting” because art is always VERY personal and if the gallery (or museum) doesn’t have something that suits your taste for whatever reason, you’re probably not going to enjoy it or get a lot out of it. No offense to Shreveport, but I’m not expecting a whole lot out of an art gallery in this small city. I would later come to regret my pre-judgement of this magnificent place as it might be one of the finer art gallery or museum experiences I’ve had to date. Quite literally, if I only had one day in Shreveport and I had to pick only ONE thing to do, without question, this would be it!
Dylan, Grace and I couldn’t get enough of the floor in this room. No matter where you stood or walked, it always looked like it was changing its pattern. Picture is out of focus, but look at the left side of the floor and then look at the right side…..it’s not the same….but it is the same….and it would change based on where you moved….and as you moved!
Dylan, Grace and I couldn’t get enough of the floor in this room. No matter where you stood or walked, it always looked like it was changing its pattern. Picture is out of focus, but look at the left side of the floor and then look at the right side…..it’s not the same….but it is the same….and it would change based on where you moved….and as you moved!
One of those rare moments where you ARE allowed to touch something in an art gallery.
One of those rare moments where you ARE allowed to touch something in an art gallery.
On top of the artwork contained within its walls, the building itself was just stunning. The attention to detail was second to none. I don’t think I saw a single flaw in any of the woodwork anywhere inside.
On top of the artwork contained within its walls, the building itself was just stunning. The attention to detail was second to none. I don’t think I saw a single flaw in any of the woodwork anywhere inside.
When it comes to art, I am a pretty simple human. I don’t want to guess or interpret what the artist was thinking at the time. Nor do I want to have a deep thought conversation about how it makes me feel. What I DO like seeing in artwork is a moment in time capture through the artist’s medium. They can play with the colors and/or lighting to make the art their own (i.e. take a cloudy day and make it sunny), but I LOVE artwork that makes me feel like I am right there with them. This was one of those pieces! Just extraordinary how you could feel like you were there in the garden with these people.
When it comes to art, I am a pretty simple human. I don’t want to guess or interpret what the artist was thinking at the time. Nor do I want to have a deep thought conversation about how it makes me feel. What I DO like seeing in artwork is a moment in time capture through the artist’s medium. They can play with the colors and/or lighting to make the art their own (i.e. take a cloudy day and make it sunny), but I LOVE artwork that makes me feel like I am right there with them. This was one of those pieces! Just extraordinary how you could feel like you were there in the garden with these people.
….and this one defies logic. The signage tells a story about how the artist actually created a graph on the canvas before beginning the painting in an effort to make sure all the proportions were correct and accurate. However, the really inspiring thing about this one was the use of reflective materials in the paint to force the viewer to see how the light moves through or reflects off the water. Crushed pearls and titanium were mixed into the paint to make this happen and I’m here to tell you that this picture cannot do the artwork justice. Honest to goodness, I still cannot believe how it’s possible that this is an oil on canvas painting.
….and this one defies logic. The signage tells a story about how the artist actually created a graph on the canvas before beginning the painting in an effort to make sure all the proportions were correct and accurate. However, the really inspiring thing about this one was the use of reflective materials in the paint to force the viewer to see how the light moves through or reflects off the water. Crushed pearls and titanium were mixed into the paint to make this happen and I’m here to tell you that this picture cannot do the artwork justice. Honest to goodness, I still cannot believe how it’s possible that this is an oil on canvas painting.
Another one of those things that we’ve all heard about or even seen and to me, simply can’t be explained; the eyes in the painting that are ALWAYS looking at you….but in this case it’s the guy and the gun. No matter where you went, this guy and his gun were ALWAYS looking at you…..ALWAYS!!!! How is that done with a 2D medium?!?!
Another one of those things that we’ve all heard about or even seen and to me, simply can’t be explained; the eyes in the painting that are ALWAYS looking at you….but in this case it’s the guy and the gun. No matter where you went, this guy and his gun were ALWAYS looking at you…..ALWAYS!!!! How is that done with a 2D medium?!?!
This painting takes command of the room as soon as you walk in. First, it is massive. Second, until you get closer, you’d swear that it was a photograph. Third, it’s so visually inviting that it almost makes you feel like you could just step in and start hiking those mountains. I literally couldn’t tell you what else was in this room because I didn’t want to stop enjoying this one.
This painting takes command of the room as soon as you walk in. First, it is massive. Second, until you get closer, you’d swear that it was a photograph. Third, it’s so visually inviting that it almost makes you feel like you could just step in and start hiking those mountains. I literally couldn’t tell you what else was in this room because I didn’t want to stop enjoying this one.
This room did an exceptional job of changing my perspective on “Art”. Personally, I’ve never been somewhere that presented a firearm as “art”. Naturally I’ve known about firearms getting artistic engravings or decorative plating or carved wood handles…or…or…or….you get the idea. However, to see it on this scale and in one place at one time forced me to rethink what art can be. A lot of these firearms had nothing decorative about them at all, they were just being presented as art in their own right.
This room did an exceptional job of changing my perspective on “Art”. Personally, I’ve never been somewhere that presented a firearm as “art”. Naturally I’ve known about firearms getting artistic engravings or decorative plating or carved wood handles…or…or…or….you get the idea. However, to see it on this scale and in one place at one time forced me to rethink what art can be. A lot of these firearms had nothing decorative about them at all, they were just being presented as art in their own right.
Others, like this Colt 1905 had been so skillfully engraved that you almost forgot that you were looking at a firearm.
Others, like this Colt 1905 had been so skillfully engraved that you almost forgot that you were looking at a firearm.
Oh….and Grace likes bunnies!
Oh….and Grace likes bunnies!
New Year’s Eve and the best I could come up with was a New Orleans style “King Cake” complete with tiny plastic baby.
New Year’s Eve and the best I could come up with was a New Orleans style “King Cake” complete with tiny plastic baby.
Dylan and I are out walking Bear and have discovered a fun little educational nature trail for little kids. All kinds of fun sculptures and informative signage.
Dylan and I are out walking Bear and have discovered a fun little educational nature trail for little kids. All kinds of fun sculptures and informative signage.
I'm calling this piece, “Frog and Fungus”.
I'm calling this piece, “Frog and Fungus”.
1/5/2022 Louisiana State Exhibit Museum. Like most other state museums, this is a walk through the history of Louisiana. Lots of large and well-done dioramas in this very large and circular shaped building. Really, for me, the building was almost the stand out star of the show. Incredible detail down to the door hinges and switch plates. Almost like it was meant to be a theater of some sort.
1/5/2022 Louisiana State Exhibit Museum. Like most other state museums, this is a walk through the history of Louisiana. Lots of large and well-done dioramas in this very large and circular shaped building. Really, for me, the building was almost the stand out star of the show. Incredible detail down to the door hinges and switch plates. Almost like it was meant to be a theater of some sort.
Apparently, someone manufactured cars in Louisiana at one point in time. Who knew?
Apparently, someone manufactured cars in Louisiana at one point in time. Who knew?
Outside, Grace has “recycled” mother nature’s gifts to make herself a head decoration.
Outside, Grace has “recycled” mother nature’s gifts to make herself a head decoration.
…and we’ve found this perfectly intact molt that an insect has left behind.
…and we’ve found this perfectly intact molt that an insect has left behind.
Moving on from the State Exhibit Museum, just a short drive away is the Shreveport Water Work Museum. At one point in time, this was where all of Shreveport’s drinking water was processed, but it’s now a place you can go to see how water was (and still is to some extent) processed and made ready to push out into city for all to consume.
Moving on from the State Exhibit Museum, just a short drive away is the Shreveport Water Work Museum. At one point in time, this was where all of Shreveport’s drinking water was processed, but it’s now a place you can go to see how water was (and still is to some extent) processed and made ready to push out into city for all to consume.
It can be a self-guided thing, but we got lucky and there was someone on-duty to walk and talk us through things.
It can be a self-guided thing, but we got lucky and there was someone on-duty to walk and talk us through things.
This was a great visual aid. It’s a clear Plexiglas model of how the water flows through all the different levels of processing.
This was a great visual aid. It’s a clear Plexiglas model of how the water flows through all the different levels of processing.
Here we are…..hoping that the tour does NOT take us down there!
Here we are…..hoping that the tour does NOT take us down there!
I genuinely love these kinds of places. Not only are they a reminder of how things were done before all our modern safeguards were in place, but also a place where you can walk right up to the “stuff” and see it. It’s not behind glass or trying to be perfectly preserved for future generations.
I genuinely love these kinds of places. Not only are they a reminder of how things were done before all our modern safeguards were in place, but also a place where you can walk right up to the “stuff” and see it. It’s not behind glass or trying to be perfectly preserved for future generations.
Yep, all this just so you can turn on a faucet and have water.
Yep, all this just so you can turn on a faucet and have water.
1/6/2022 Something you should know about Shreveport is that it is home to Barksdale Air Force Base. Why is that important? ……because Barksdale is home to one of only two B-52 Bomber wings in the Air Force. We have seen them in flying around while we drove around the area for our various activities and they are quite a sight for sure. Tonight, I am out walking the dog around sunset and this one passed in front of us.
1/6/2022 Something you should know about Shreveport is that it is home to Barksdale Air Force Base. Why is that important? ……because Barksdale is home to one of only two B-52 Bomber wings in the Air Force. We have seen them in flying around while we drove around the area for our various activities and they are quite a sight for sure. Tonight, I am out walking the dog around sunset and this one passed in front of us.
….and I’ve marched further into the woods to find what’s left of the lake.
….and I’ve marched further into the woods to find what’s left of the lake.
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