Monthly Archives: August 2012

B.L.A.S.T. Gardens

The Elephant and the Chlorophytum comosum

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B.L.A.S.T. Gardens                    Chlorophythum comosum                       Spider plant

 Chlorophytum comosum (Spider plant) is a plant that is native to tropical and southern Africa. The Spider plant is one of the most popular indoor house plants because they are very easy to care for.They enjoy indirect sunlight because midday sun may scorch their leaves. The Spider plant should be allowed to dry out between waterings, can be repotted in any season, and new plants can be started from their plantlets. They really enjoy and thrive in day temperatures between 65 – 75 degrees and night temperatures between 50 – 55 degrees. Spider plants are known as super eco-friendly, air purifiers. They add oxygen to the air as they remove formaldehyde.

Three Spider plant types are:

Mandaranum : A dwarf that grows approximately 4 to 6 inches and are dark green with a yellow stripe.

Vittatum : Grows approximately 4 to 8 inches and are pale green with a white central stripe.

Vagiegatum : Grows approximately 10 to 16 inches long and 1 inch wide, with white edged leaves.

                                                                                                                                                       Elephant fact.

Did you know elephants perform death rituals? Sick elephants are cared for by herd members, bringing it food and helping to support him/her as it stands. In death, the herd will try to revive it with food and water for a while. Then herd will become very quiet when they really understand their herd mate is gone. The herd will then dig a shallow grave and cover the deceased elephant with dirt and branches, and will stay to guard the grave for days afterwards. Herd members close in relationship with the deceased peer can show signs of depression. Even herds that come across an unknown elephant that has died will show it similar respects. There are also reported cases of elephants burying dead humans they have found in this way.

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New Orleans Collection, Shot Glasses

Southern Comfort

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Object      : Double Shot Glass
Culture     : North American
Country    : U.S.A.
Date         : c.1900
Material    : Glass
Collection : B.L.A.S.T. Drinking Vessels

 

Southern Comfort is an American liqueur made from neutral spirits, fruit, spice and whiskey flavourings. The brand was originally created by bartender Martin Wilkes Heron at McCauley’s Tavern in the French of New Orleans in 1874. The original form of the drink was called “Cuffs and Buttons”, and upon popularity became known as the Grand Old Drink of the South.

Southern Comfort is used in the creation of a number of cocktails.

One of the first Southern Comfort-based cocktails marketed, the Scarlett O’Hara, was concocted in tribute of releasing the film adaptation of Gone with the Wind in 1939.

Southern Comfort
Cranberry juice
Garnish with Fresh Lime

Shot Glasses, Tankards and Stiens

Tiny Tankards

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THE B.L.A.S.T. MUSEUM COLLECTION



 

Object : Tankard
Culture : American
Country : U S A
Date : c.1985
Dimensions : H : 1.25 in.   X  W : 1.50 in.
Material : Ceramic

These little shot tankards are National Football League collectibles. During the 1980,s these tankards were sold as gum ball machine novelties at the staggering price of .50 cents.

New Orleans Collection

WHO DAT ! WHO DAT !! WHO DAT !!!

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For the love of my city…
This one goes out to all you Saints fans with a toast from the B.L.A.S.T. Museum !

Object      : Tankard
Culture     : Who Dat Nation !!
Date         : 20th Century
Country    : U.S.A.
Collection : B.L.A.S.T. Museum Tankards and Steins

 

 

SHOUT OUT IF YOU LOVE NEW ORLEANS, NFL FOOTBALL, AND THE SAINTS !!!
HERE’S TO THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AND NFL FOOTBALL !!
ALL SAY ! …
WHO DAT ! WHO DAT ! WHO DAT !!!

B.L.A.S.T. Gardens

Here Dwells A Toad

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                        B.L.A.S.T. Gardens

Fowler’s Toad      [Bufo fowleri]   (Spring or American Toad)

 

 

Fowler’s toads are really cool and fun to find in the garden. They serve as an eco-friendly way to eliminate unwanted garden pests.  They love to dine on mosquitoes and other harmful insects that may cause damage to plants and flowers.

Here Dwells A Toad, is home to a Fowler’s toad, and is an attraction of the future B.L.A.S.T. Museum  expansion, B.L.A.S.T. Gardens. He/she is a free ranging toad in the flower garden but can usually be found at home taking a nap.

Decanters

Marc Rio

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Object        : Bottle
Culture       : Croatia
Country      : Italy
Date           : [20th Century]
Dimensions : H : 31in. X  W 6in.
Collection   : B.L.A.S.T. Museum

 

 

 

Maraschino liqueur, is a distinctive cherry liqueur. It’s flavor comes from Marasca cherries.Their crushed pits and honey give an almond-like flavor to Maraschino cherries.

Historically, Marasca cherries are grown in the Croaition region of Zadar. At the beginning of the 16th century monks of the apothecaries of the Dominican monastery at Zara (Zadar – Croatia) created the recipe for this liqueur. Believed to have medicinal powers it became the drink of choice by many kings and privileged men.

The goal of a man named Ernest Wiegand in aiding cherry farmers with how to preserve their Queen Anne cherries in an alcohol-free way. In America the controversy of Prohibition arose, and with the ban of alcohol, so went the the liquor soaked cherries. Wiegand devised a process of soaking the fruit in a brine with calcium salts to compete in a growing maraschino market. Doing so he created the modern maraschino cherry.

Today Maraschino liqueur is used to create many cock tales and the cherries are famous garnishes.

This decanter is still being researched by B.L.A.S.T. Museum Investigators and information will be  updated soon.

Dedications

Moai

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Object       : Drinking Vessel / Cup
Country    : United States of America
20th Century

Modeled for the South American, Chilean Polynesian Culture.

The Vessel Cultural Exchange Collection

 

 

 

 

The Moai are the 887, giant stone heads on Easter Island.
Modern excavation has lead to discovery that some are full figured and standing figures that have been covered by earth over time.

These monolithic human figures were created by the Rapanui people during ancient times, between 700 – 1100 A.D. and are believed to be stone representations of deceased ancestors and chiefs.

Easter Island is a Chilean Polynesian island located in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. It is one of the most remote inhabited islands in the world.  Easter Island is also investigated by scholars in belief that it may be a place on earth past visited by ancient aliens, because the production, transportation, and placement of the 887 statues is considered to be one of the most remarkable creative and physical feats known to man. The tallest erected, called Paro,  measures almost 10 metres (33 ft) in height and weighs 82 tons. The heaviest erected, shorter but squatter, Ahu Tongariki, weighs in 86 tons. Another unfinished sculpture, if completed, would be approximately 21 meters (69 ft) tall with a weight close to 270 tons.

The Aku Aku Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada has been pinpointed by V. C. E. Investigators as being famous for serving house specials in Moai and Tiki style cups.

Dedicated in memory of Mr. Edward Trufant.
I might have been 15 years old when he gave them to me. I was able to restore this one after the Wicked Storm Sisters, Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma , and Rita destroyed my city.

3 In One Collection, Tankards and Stiens

Thermal Tankard

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Object    : Thermal Tankard
Country  : USA
Culture   : USA
20th Century
B.L.A.S.T. Museum

 

 

 

This thermal tankard is a modern style blended with historic design. A cross between a tankard and a thermos, with the ability to handle both hot and cold beverages. B.L.A.S.T. Museum Investigators have determined that this one may have also been used as a coffee pot.

This object is still under research and will be updated soon.

Beer Presentation, Smooth Tradition and Strong History

Kash

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This one for my boy.

 Chef Leslie Nailer

 

 

 

 

 

The word cash that is used to refer to currency by Americans is derived from the word Kash.

Kash is an ancient beer and it was used to pay workers and builders of the Great Egyptian Pyramids. Stone cutters, slaves, architects, and even public officials were often paid with beer.Two containers of kash equalled minimum wage for an Egyptian laborer’s day of work.

Egyptians were brewing and distributing at least six varieties of beer by 3,000 B.C.

…And check this out.

  •  Egypt : If a man offered a lady a sip of his beer they were betrothed.
  • Mesopotamia : Tavern owners found guilty of overcharging patrons for beer were sentenced to death by drowning.
  • Ancient Babylonia : A bride’s father would supply all the ‘honey’ beer the groom could drink for one month after the wedding.  Because the calendar was lunar based, this month was referred to as the “honey moon”.
  • Ancient Babylon : Babylonians were dead serious about beer making. To regulate quality, it was decreed that any commercial beer maker who sold unfit beer was to be drowned in that very libation.

This stamp seal from Tepe Gawra depicts two figures drinking beer using traditional straws and container dates to 4000 B.C.

Beer was prominently featured in Sumerian and Mesopotamian texts and art such as this Lapis Lazuli seal from the Royal Cemetery at Ur. This seal dates to the Early Dynastic Period, Mesopotamia 2600-2350 B.C.

Decanters

Black Cat Wine

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Object      : Bottle
Country    : Germany
Culture     : Zell
Date         : 2000
Collection : B.L.A.S.T. Storage Vessels

 

 

 

 

 

Zeller Schwarze Katz or Black Cat Wine is a German product credited to Romans. Durning ancient  German times Romans established and developed a viniculture and wine making region in a village belonging to the Mosel river region called Cell or Cella (Zell).

The iconic black cat logo serves the region and has been traced to a fable. Legend says that a fierce black cat guarded a barrel of Zeller wine stored among many barrels of wine in a cellar, so many locals believed the wine inside the barrel to be special.

This Riesling-blend is a wonderful wine during and after a meal.