Glassblowing at Jamestown

Today is a most beautiful day in Williamsburg - blue skies, sunny, warm but not hot, and dry. We took advantage of it by going on a bike ride to Jamestown Island. As we approached the island, we found that the Scottish Games Festival is going on this weekend right across from the Jamestown Settlement museum; however, since it cost money, we just enjoyed hearing the bagpipes playing in the background as we rode on to the island. This is the first time that we had a chance to go to the Glasshouse of 1608, where they still to this day do glassblowing. Here are some photos, but you really have got to go check this out sometime (or some other glassblowing house near you if you don't get to the 'Burg), because it is really fascinating how they make things. They heat the glass really super hot until it becomes malleable (and temporarily red-orange), and then they craft it together with metal rods of some sort (obviously they don't use their bare hands). (I'm not real clear on all the details beyond that except that they use a kiln and let it harden overnight.)

This is a beach near the glasshouse, which sits along the James River:

I don't think this bamboo is native, but it was pretty!

We rode to the island's visitor's center entrance:

This is a thistle. Ben knew this - I didn't. As he noted, "This is the stuff that Eeyore eats!" I guess if you're brushed up on your Winnie-the-Pooh knowledge, then perhaps you know what we're talking about; if not, you can be satisfied to know that they are somewhat sharp, pom-pom looking purple things (that apparently are well-liked by bumble bees, since this one didn't move the entire time we were taking pictures and looking at it):