Snakes and Stones

[Lord Sorril]

Photo #243

Brazilian Agate (center ring), and some white Banded Agate from Western USA.

Ball Python is another 100% Het Lav Albino, 50/50 Het Albino & Pied.

[Lord Sorril]

Photo #244

Here is another 100% Het Lav, 50/50 Het Albino/Pied (she is growing large-fast), and a big chunk of tiger eye.

Photo #244 is going to be my last photo of my 2021 set.
I have a few more photos, but, I think I could have done better with them, and I have since sold the snakes included--so no reshoots possible.

I currently have 12 clutches incubating and easily another 10 on the way...so there will be no shortage of future ball python subjects to photograph.

[Bogertophis]

That looks more like a beautiful satin pillow with embroidery on top than a chunk of tiger eye. Very healthy looking snake, all too happy to "model" for you.

You certainly deserve a rest- thank you for posting all these- and we'll be eagerly awaiting the next ones.

[Spicey]

Sorry, nikkubus. Caught the error right afterI made it but lost the post.

[Lord Sorril]

I had a few vacation days this week and I noticed that the Brimfield Antique Show (Brimfield, MA, USA) was starting today. I took my gf and we spent a few hours there looking through the various vendors displays.

The Brimfield Antique Show/Flea Market is notorious for being huge (500+ vendors) and having high end items that are usually overpriced. It is nice to take a look every now and then. The last time I was there was about a decade ago.

We are not so interested in antiques as much as natural things: plants/animals/rocks...sometimes we find things that are a bit of both.

I snapped over 600 photos during my trip today, just a few shown below.

The 'Show' itself extends along Route 20 in Brimfield and has vendors on both side of the street for about a mile.

A lot of the vendors have random stuff.

A few of the vendors had stones and/or stone carvings.

Fossilized whale ear bones? That is new to me.

Fossilized vertebrae (probably whale as well):

One vendor was from Indonesia and he had stone skulls and polished pieces of Bumblebee Jasper, it is relatively rare in the USA.



There were a lot of overpriced skulls, various animals, but, mostly cattle.

I was looking for snake-themed items and I was hard-pressed to find any.
The only one I found was in relation to the Chinese Zodiac (carved out of onyx)

Unfortunately there were some poorly preserved snakes/reptiles as well:

More than one vendor was carrying them.

I think they are neat to look at, but, I would never buy any and they kinda make me sad.

Same goes for skeletons as well...

I would much prefer to look at replicas.

There was quite an array of unusual items...like this sculpture from Bali.

And this Monkey Kampala skull (cursed of course).

Some stuff was just straight up weird and/or creepy.



It was 92F and my gf were hungry and thirsty.
I bought us Lemonades and watched the girl make them:
1 half lemon juiced, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 2 cups of ice, 2 cups of water. You can imagine how they tasted...weak...
As for food: With so many vendors and people there was quite an assortment to choose from, any where from Brussel Sprouts to Lobsters.


All the foods were overpriced, so we let our stomachs rumble.

In the end: What did we buy?
My gf recognized the novelty of the Bumblebee Jasper stones we had seen and she wanted a miniature skull carving.
I also bought her a Heart made from the same stone.

I was going to title the photo: 'Love, Death, and Snakes', however, I only had one snake cooperate...so it is now called 'Love, Death, and Snake' lol...

[Bogertophis]

Wow, that event looks like a lot of fun to poke around- I enjoy antiques & weird* stuff. (*some does appear to be over the top & icky) And one good thing about shopping for snake-themed items is that you hopefully won't have to over-spend, eh? Since there typically isn't much...except those awful specimens in jar- they make me very sad too.

Pity the food & refreshments were overpriced & all- hey, I like brussels sprouts, but I've never seen nor imagined a stand that serves them. That's most unusual.

Alas, way before I got to the last of your post, I was thinking that snake-themed or not, I'd also have come home with some Bumblebee Jasper.

Your posts are always interesting, never dull!

[Snagrio]

Isn't overpriced food typically the norm for such places? It's by design to gouge the desperate and unprepared. Same story with any location for big gatherings and events, temporary and permanent (festivals, fairs, amusement parks, museums, zoos, ect.).

[richardhind1972]

That looked a great day out

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[Lord Sorril]

Wow, that event looks like a lot of fun to poke around- I enjoy antiques & weird* stuff. (*some does appear to be over the top & icky) And one good thing about shopping for snake-themed items is that you hopefully won't have to over-spend, eh? Since there typically isn't much...except those awful specimens in jar- they make me very sad too.

Pity the food & refreshments were overpriced & all- hey, I like brussels sprouts, but I've never seen nor imagined a stand that serves them. That's most unusual.

Alas, way before I got to the last of your post, I was thinking that snake-themed or not, I'd also have come home with some Bumblebee Jasper.

Your posts are always interesting, never dull!

Thanks!
The closest thing to 'Snake-themed items' in antiques I can usually find is serpents or dragons. I have seen some nice dragon themed antiques over the years with significant price-tags... Having two cats which are intent on destroying anything that exists within my house---I often pass on anything that is 'breakable'.

I have no issue with brussel sprouts-except their smell, taste, and existence.

I have been bidding on rough Bumblebee Jasper on Ebay for a while (for tumbling), but, I am not willing to pay more than $20/lb--so I have been out of luck. Considering I can buy a finished small carved skull for $25 and a really nicely patterned heart for $12--I am in no rush.

Isn't overpriced food typically the norm for such places? It's by design to gouge the desperate and unprepared. Same story with any location for big gatherings and events, temporary and permanent (festivals, fairs, amusement parks, museums, zoos, ect.).

I don't mind getting gouged a little when I am out at an amusement park or fair--if I am spending several hours there-I consider it 'part of the experience' and a cost I normally factor in. I think the Disney parks in Florida are the worst offenders in terms of gouging I've seen. Otherwise I visit a lot of places and I am used to the extreme markup. I typically buy a burger and I expect to pay $8-12, but, at Brimfield I saw prices ranging from $17-23 which was a bit much for a quarter pounder...

That looked a great day out

Thanks, it was HOT! By the time we left it was noon and most people were sitting in the shade unable to move. Since you can be a mile away from your car lugging something you bought-it can be a bit exhausting for many visitors.

[Albert Clark]

Thank you for the journey and escape into a realm that is often overlooked. Lol.