Snakes and Stones

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

A beautiful if too reluctant model...:)

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Thanks!

Took this photo below just for fun!
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_fk6gtt.jpg

Photo #261
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_wssqsd.jpg
Some Desert Jasper (from Madagascar) and a Fire Het Clown.

Photo #262
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_s4hrwb.jpg
Another Fire Het Clown with some Agate from Utah.
Due to the high polish on the stones: the camera could either focus on the agate or the snake, but, not both. I picked the snake. :)

Photo #263
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_vkctfe.jpg
Pastel ball python with some Chalcedony.
Chalcedony is very hard, but, very brittle, and can shatter during the mining process.
Sometimes the pieces I get for tumbling are so sharp and irregular that they do a lot of damage to the tumbling barrel.

Thanks LS! You’re taking it all to the next level. Always a pleasure.

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Thanks LS! You’re taking it all to the next level. Always a pleasure.

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Thanks! The creative process can be a lot of work, but, I have fun! :)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_a2ekoi.jpg

Photo #264
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_dh7nhx.jpg
In order to see the detail on this dinosaur bone I had to hit it full-force with the camera flash (which washes out the colors a bit).
Alternate views of the piece on the bottom below:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...kee_bosqom.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_fkf1bg.jpg

Photo #265
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_jutbgz.jpg
Here is some tumbled/polished local Serpentinite I collected (with a Het Pied serpent), the green color can vary greatly from piece to piece.
I also tossed in a few pieces of clear quartz in the photo...which I can also find in my area, but, is a rarity.

Little video of me collecting some of this rough material (lazy mans rock-hounding).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZEZ1o9LrVI

Serpentinite is a difficult material to tumble because it is prone to fracturing along softer yellow/orange veins (none shown in photo above: usually lost in tumble).
If the orange mineralization is not too collected in one spot, sometimes I can keep it (as shown below).
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_n6wlxw.jpg
I have tumbled Serpentinite from different parts of the USA, I think the material in my area is the most difficult. :)

I went to Mystic CT the other day, I visit the Aquarium and the surrounding shopping village about once a year to check it out.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_k8tqda.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_gdpuhc.jpg
Halloween is a great time to go for me to go to Mystic because I find more interesting things to look at.
I am always curious what sort of 'snake-themed' things I can find in the various stores.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_lsjswf.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_m4hslp.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_tuxws5.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_atpa3g.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_s5zmw7.jpg
This year: there were Two 'Haunted bookstores' set up in the town.
I know they had been working on these for a while.
The smaller book store had a section of old (early 1900's) 'paranormal/metaphysical' books. ($$$$$)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_iibojm.jpg
The larger one was more of a tourist trap with a built-in coffee shop.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_tuu4yx.jpg
Both of these stores were pretty interesting, although the outside of the buildings were deliberately fashioned to look 'abandoned'-
which could be problematic because even with an 'open' sign, people walked by these without a second glance...
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_pfvuhq.jpg
Some of the decor in these bookstores was on the spooky side as well. I bet some smaller kids would be traumatized lol...
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_e7k908.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_krhbsz.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_woarja.jpg
Of course snakes had to make an appearance. I am glad they are fake ones in these jars...
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_tobisi.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_yahfow.jpg
:)

My gf has an odd sense of humor:
I thought she would find it funny when I told her there was apple pieds in a bowl in the kitchen for her.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_mxjiuw.jpg
She was not amused. :)