AUTUMN THEME TODAY

I saw these at one of the supermarkets.

I am fascinated by the 'bumpy' pumpkins that look like there are peanut shells growing all over them.  They are actually called Peanut Pumpkins and have been in France since 1883.  They were introduced to the United States commercially in 2010.  The bumpy-looking skin appears on the surface of a seemingly regular pumpkin when sugar extrudes through the skin.  It begins to crackle and form the peanut shell-like shapes even after the pumpkin has been harvested.

So, no Monday Recipe Post today but here is a video on how to use one of these Peanut Pumpkins.  If you can't open the video you can look at it here.



I am supporting the following memes as they become available, with many thanks to all our hosts.

Maggie at Mosaic Monday

Jesh at Seasons

Tom at Tuesday's Treasures

N.C. Sue at Wordless (on Tuesday) at Image-in-ing

Betty at Wednesday Around the World

The National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC

There is always plenty to see when we take a trip into Washington DC.  This day we were meeting up with Gregg's cousin and her husband who were in town attending a conference.  Their time was tight but we popped into the city so that we could see them before they had to go off to their next event. 

 Because we decided to go in early and didn't have as much traffic as we thought, we had time on our hands before we met up.  We were not far from the Air and Space Museum, which was great because it had been a couple of years since the last time we visited this particular museum.

Above is the Viking Lander.  I took a photo of the explanation which is below.  Sorry but I didn't get it all in frame, and if you enlarge the photo you should be able to see it a little more clearly.

Lunar Module LM-2
explanation below.  Again, please enlarge photo to read.

I moved to the States just before the museum opened in 1976, and I remember being in total awe of all the flying machines, including those launched into space.  

It also has a mock-up deck of an aircraft carrier where you can be piped on board, and see planes land on a huge screen, almost like being there.  We didn't check that out this time.

I am not sure what the spaceship is above but below is....

Telstar

As we walked outside there were beautiful skies overhead.

With many thanks to our hosts of the following memes, which I am joining in with today.

Jesh at Seasons
Tom at Tuesday's Treasures
N.C. Sue at Wordless (on Tuesday) at Image-in-ing

Betty at Wednesday Around the World
The team at SkyWatch Friday

MORE FROM HISTORIC CLIFTON, IN VIRGINIA

A few of the historic houses found in Clifton, Virginia, ending up with an old baptist church that is now closed, and possibly under renovation.

With many thanks to our hosts of the following memes, which I am joining in with today.

Jesh at Seasons

Tom at Tuesday's Treasures

N.C. Sue at Wordless (on Tuesday) at image-in-ing

Betty at Wednesday Around The World

A FEW TREASURES FOUND AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART IN WASHINGTON DC - PART 2

I didn't share all the photos I took when we last visited the art gallery, so thought I would do another post today.

Venice: The Dogana and San Georgia Maggiore
Oil on canvas, 1834
Turner, Joseph Mallord William
British 1775 - 1851
Widener Collection

Maria Teresa de Borbon y Vallabriga, 
later Condesa de Chinchon
Oil on Canvas 1783
Francisco de Goya
Spanish, 1746-1828
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection

Ginevra de' Benci
Oil on Panel c. 1474-1478
Leonardo da Vinci
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund

I was in awe to see a painting on display by Leonardo da Vinci.  It is the only one in America painted by the artist.  Ginevra de' Benci was a Florentine noblewoman who at the age of sixteen was married to Luigi Niccolini in 1474.  It is suggested that this may have been an engagement or wedding portrait, or commissioned by Bernardo Bembo, the Venetian Ambassador to Florence and Ginevra's close friend and admirer.

I was surprised that I could walk behind the painting to see the reverse side.  It showed that on the back was a wreath of laurel and palm encircling a sprig of juniper.  A scroll bears the Latin inscription, "Virtutem Forma Decorat" -  "Beauty Adorns Virtue."

Astonishingly, and I didn't know until I read this information on line a few days after our visit, on the front of the painting you can actually see Leonardo's fingerprints on the paint surface. These show how the artist used his hand as well as a brush to blend colors and create soft, delicate edges.  I dearly want to go back to the gallery to see this painting again, and look for those fingerprints.  I took a photo of the explanation which you can see below.  It will be easier to read if you enlarge.  You can read more here.

The Black Hat

c. 1890

Mary Cassatt

American, 1844-1926

Pastel

Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, 1985

On the Stile 

1878

Winslow Homer

American 1836-1910

Watercolor, gouache and graphite on wove paper

Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon

Mount Corcoran

c. 1876-1877

Albert Bierstadt

American, 1830-1902

Oil on Canvas

Corcoran Collection (Museum Purchase Gallery Fund)

That's all for today's post.  I have more photos to share another time.

Jesh at Seasons

Tom at Tuesday's Treasures

N.C. Sue at Wordless (on Tuesday) at image-in-ing

Betty at Wednesday Around The World