#Buy Specimen Cabinet

[labotronicsscientific]

Vented stainless steel specimen cabinet

Labotronics Vented Stainless Steel Specimen Cabinet is equipped with a with a low-noise centrifugal exhaust fan and a UV light sterilizing device to ensure safety by utilizing ozone disinfection and sterilization technology to vent out harmful gases within the cabinet. It has adjustable and replaceable shelves and dimensions of 900 × 450 × 1900 mm.

[the-oblivious-writer]

Oh the Guilt

Sam Carpenter x Reader

One-shot

Summary: no

Warning(s): major character death and mourning/grief

Notes: Based off of this request: hey! i saw your requests are open (i am indeed busting). i was wondering if you’d do some angst with either sam or tara? maybe sam/tara spending the holidays alone because they falsely accused reader of being gf and pushed them away/broke up w them. but it only ended up putting r in danger and leading to their death? love me some good ol angst if you’re up for it! have a great holiday season :)

The Christmas lights blur through her tears as Sam clutches your photo to her chest, fingers trembling against the worn edges. Her apartment feels too quiet, too empty, the silence broken only by the distant sound of people celebrating that makes everything worse. It wasn't supposed to be like this.

Sam stares at your sweater draped over her couch - the soft blue one you always wore when it got cold, the one that still holds traces of your perfume. She doesn't deserve its comfort, but she pulls it on anyway, drowning in fabric and guilt and memory.

"We’re specimens to you, aren’t we?" Sam's voice had cracked like breaking glass, fear masquerading as anger. "I’m not letting Tara get hurt again!"

You'd reached for her, confusion and hurt painting your features. "Sam, please. You know me. I would never-"

"I thought I knew Richie too," she'd snarled, backing away from your touch. "Get out. Get out!”

The door had slammed with such finality. She'd thought she was protecting herself, protecting everyone. Instead, she'd handed you to them gift-wrapped - alone, vulnerable, perfect prey.

By the time Sam realized her mistake, she was cradling your broken body in the rain, red seeping into puddles around you both. Your fingers had weakly brushed her cheek, still trying to comfort her even then.

"Not your fault," you'd whispered, but those words haunt her worse than any ghostface ever could.

Now Tara brings food she doesn't eat, Kirby tries to coax her out, but Sam remains suspended in amber, preserved in the moment she lost you. Your clothes hang in her closet like ghosts. She wears your sweaters to sleep, buries her face in the fabric and pretends she can still feel your warmth.

The Christmas tree in the corner - the one you'd insisted on buying together - stands half-decorated, just as you'd left it. Tinsel dangles like broken promises. The star you'd picked out remains in its box, because finishing it without you feels like accepting you're gone.

Sam traces the words of your last text message: "I love you. We'll talk soon." Her phone screen has cracked from how many times she's dropped it, hands shaking too hard to hold on.

She knows she should let others in. Knows you'd want her to live, to heal, to forgive herself. But every time Tara hugs her or Kirby offers support, it feels like betraying your memory. Like she doesn't deserve comfort after what she did to you.

Sometimes, in the depths of night when the walls feel like they're closing in, Sam swears she can feel you. A whisper of movement in her peripheral vision, the ghost of your touch against her shoulder, the way the air shifts as if accommodating your presence.

"I see you everywhere," she whispers into the darkness, clutching your sweater like a lifeline. "The coffee mug you chipped is still in the cabinet. Your stupid action movies are still in my queue. I can't… I can't delete them."

The apartment creaks, settling into winter's grip, and Sam lets out a broken laugh. "Remember how you used to say these old buildings had character? God, you'd make up stories about the noises - ghosts having dance parties, you said." Her voice catches. "Is that what you're doing now? Dancing without me?"

Sam reaches out, fingers trembling in the empty air where she imagines you might be. "I fucked up. I fucked up so bad. I was so scared of losing everyone that I pushed away the one person who…" She chokes on the words. "The one person who never gave me a reason to doubt them."

The Christmas lights flicker, and for a moment, Sam's heart stops. She's learned to find meaning in these small disturbances, these tiny rebellions against reality. "I know what you'd say. That I need to forgive myself. That I need to let people in." Tears track down her cheeks. "But how can I? How can I when every time I close my eyes, I see you bleeding out in my arms?"

Something shifts in the room - maybe the heating kicking in, maybe something more. The tinsel on the half-decorated tree sways gently. Sam watches it, transfixed. "If you're here… I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry. I should have trusted you. Should have protected you. Should have been there when…"

The star for the tree - your star - sits in its box on the coffee table. As Sam watches through tears, a draft from somewhere catches the lid, lifting it slightly. Her breath hitches.

"You want me to finish it, don't you? The tree?" Her laugh is wet, broken. "Always so stubborn about traditions." She reaches for the star with shaking hands. "I don't know if I can. It feels like accepting you're really…"

The room grows impossibly still, as if the very air is holding its breath. Sam could swear she feels the phantom pressure of your hand over hers, guiding her toward the tree. The sensation is so vivid she gasps.

"Okay," she whispers, standing on unsteady legs. "Okay, baby. For you." She clutches the star to her chest, your sweater hanging loose on her frame. "But I'm not ready to let you go. Not yet. Maybe not ever."

As she reaches up to place the star, the Christmas lights seem to glow a little brighter, and for just a moment, Sam swears she can feel your arms around her waist, your chin on her shoulder, just like before. Just like always.

"Stay with me?" she asks the empty room, knowing the answer, dreading the silence. "Even if I don't deserve it?"

The lights flicker once, twice - like a heartbeat, like a promise - and Sam breaks down sobbing, sliding to the floor beneath your half-finished tree, beneath your star, beneath the weight of a love that even death couldn't quite end.

———

A/N: first request filled, ob-la-di (sorry if this sucks, I’m half-asleep)

[averageanonymous]

Summary: Aziraphale and Crowley have agreed that they won't buy each other gifts for frivolous human holidays. That certainly isn't going to stop them, though.

i.e. Brief Valentine's Day Fluff 🖤🤍

☆~☆~☆~☆~☆

Aziraphale could feel it. This was the one. Settled in a corner, surrounded by arrangements that were full of pink hearts and red balloons, it alone was unadorned. It didn't need any embellishment. The plant was gorgeous. A large, well-established Monstera deliciosa, also known by the name “Thai Constellation” Monstera. They were popular, but this particular variation was quite rare. Its enormous fenestrated leaves, spackled with white and yellow variegation, were full of life, lush, and verdant. Aziraphale had only the most basic experience in caring for houseplants, but he could recognize a beautiful specimen when he saw one. And this one was nothing less than perfect. 

He eagerly made his purchase, and then, upon exiting the nursery with it on a cart (to "take to his car," naturally) he surreptitiously miracled it straight to the bookshop, returned the cart, and began the walk back home. 

His mind wandered as he walked. He thought he had some black and silver ribbon in the back of the shop. He might tie a nice bow around the Monstera’s pot. Or perhaps that would be too much. Maybe somewhat too obvious a gesture. Best to keep it simple. A nice surprise (Oh, my dear, I just happened to wander by a nursery, I spied it through the window, it was nothing, really, didn't even have to go out of my way…) to complement a lovely glass of wine at the bookshop (one of his finer vintages, the ones he kept in the cabinet up in his room) after they went out for a splendid dinner (at the Ritz, of course) and had a quiet stroll through the park (nothing like a casual moonlit stroll to settle a full stomach). 

Aziraphale smiled to himself. He felt almost giddy. There was a fluttering in his middle, what he thought humans referred to cleverly as butterflies in the stomach. He wouldn't think that after literally thousands of years that going out for an evening with Crowley could affect him in such a way. Yet here he was. 

He reached the bookshop. A quick change into his evening attire, a check on the certainly-not-a-Valentine’s-gift Monstera, and he'd be off to the Ritz to meet up with Crowley. He took the steps with a skip, opening the door with a joyful flourish. And froze.

The Monstera had made it to the bookshop just fine. It sat, lovely green shining in the late afternoon sunbeams that filtered through the windows. And standing there, staring at it wide-eyed, was Crowley. 

“Crowley!” Aziraphale cried in alarm, “You were- I thought- Well, you- Ahm,” he trailed off, wringing his hands slightly, and finished weakly, “Weren't we supposed to meet at the restaurant?” 

Crowley gaped at him. Gaped at the plant. Looked between them several times. Then crossed the room in three determined strides and pulled Aziraphale into a crushing embrace. 

“No gifts, angel,” Crowley growled into Aziraphale’s shoulder, arms squeezing him until his lungs began to protest. “That's what we agreed. No. Bloody. Gifts.” 

“Oh, this isn't a gift,” Aziraphale wheezed, “I just…happened…by…” 

Crowley released Aziraphale just enough to let him breathe properly. Aziraphale looked up at him, feeling his face warm under Crowley's bright gaze. “Do you…like it?” Aziraphale asked hesitantly. 

“She's gorgeous,” Crowley said with a shake of his head. He set a hand on Aziraphale’s cheek, and Aziraphale leaned into it, turning just enough to press a kiss to the Demon's palm.

“Incorrigible angel,” Crowley muttered softly, “you just can't help yourself, can you?” 

Aziraphale chuckled, “Old habits, I suppose.” 

Crowley rolled his eyes, pulled Aziraphale back into his arms, and pressed a kiss to his lips that promised more later. 

“Come on, then,” Crowley finally said when they drew apart, both a little flushed and out of breath, “The Ritz won't wait forever.” Then he took the angel's hand in his and dragged him out of the bookshop to the Bentley. 

He opened the door for Aziraphale and Aziraphale was about to thank him when he noticed a black box on the seat. It was a few inches deep and around six inches long. He leaned in and took it, raising an eyebrow at Crowley as he straightened. 

“No gifts, hm?” Aziraphale said coyly. He lifted the lid. The smell of chocolate wafted out.

“It barely counts,” Crowley huffed as Aziraphale lifted the small stack of artisan chocolate bars from the box. Each was wrapped in thick, beautifully designed paper with detailed descriptions of the origin of the ingredients, the flavors that could be detected in each bar, the journey those ingredients took to become the precious ounces of chocolate in his hands. Crowley would have had to search for these chocolate bars. They were practically art themselves. 

“Crowley,” Aziraphale sighed, “You're far too good to me.” 

“Oh, shut up,” Crowley huffed, a smile tugging at his lips. “Will you please get in so we can go, angel.” 

So Aziraphale did, gently placing the chocolate back in its box, and laying it in the back seat so he was free to reach across and take Crowley's hand in his, lacing their fingers together. The butterflies fluttered pleasantly in his stomach. His heart beat a joyful rhythm in his chest. Aziraphale sighed contentedly. It was going to be a wonderful night. 

-----

Thanks for reading! Happy Valentine's Day!

[thebashfulbotanist]

Connecting with nature

Since the pandemic began, we’ve seen an unprecedented number of people wanting to connect with nature. This is a bit of a double-edged sword! It’s got a lot of biologists very worried, to be honest, because we’ve seen an explosion in people feeding wildlife, buying exotic pets, collecting specimens and decorative knick-knacks made of wild animals and plants (sellers always say these are ethical - but people lie on the internet!),  getting too close to wild animals for pictures, trampling the ground around ancient trees, walking off-trail and over-harvesting plants while foraging, and buying illegally-harvested houseplants. 

If you know people doing things like that, we’d suggest encouraging them to connect with nature in some more positive ways. We’re going to focus on botany-related topics, both because that’s our area of expertise, and honestly, also because animal-related topics can get a bit distressing, since people’s attempts to connect with nature via animals can often cost the animals their lives. 

 A lot of the connection with nature we see happening right now involves taking. Here are some ideas that we’ve discussed that involve giving back, or simply leaving the environment untouched. 

-Plant native plants! This is one of the best, most helpful ways to restore the environment. It’s extra important if you live on land that belongs to First Nations and Native American peoples. Practicing the 50-mile rule, where you focus on planting species that grow within 50 miles of where you live, is one of the most powerful ways to support native pollinators and birds, too.

-Learn about how plants were managed and used historically in your area. We LOVE ethnobotany! Sometimes, historic management practices aren’t the most effective anymore, and older medicinal uses might be dangerous. But that doesn’t mean learning about them isn’t valuable! This is a wonderful way to learn about where you live, the land you’re inhabiting, and cultural connections that surround you.

-Consider taking photos, not plant parts. We’ve written about how to properly collect and mount plant specimens before, but often in the field, we don’t collect at all - we take photos. In fact, in rare plant surveys, collecting is forbidden and often illegal! Collecting may be required for certain studies, but for recreation, photos are all you need, and they do a much better job of showing what the plant looked like in life. Mounted plant specimens lose their color, they need to be properly sterilized, and they need to be kept in dry, temperature-controlled cabinet. 

-If you mount plant specimens or forage, when possible, try to take from a garden, not a park or public space. Whether you grow native plants or nonnative ornamentals, this is a good way to control your impact. 

-Follow plant collection laws. It’s often illegal to collect from parks and wildlands unless you have specific permits. Even common plants may be over-collected, as we’ve seen with salal, bear grass, and moss. Permits help control the amount of plants removed, so land managers are aware of when to restrict access.

-Volunteer in land restoration efforts. A lot goes into keeping parks and wild lands in good condition. Depending on where you live there might be invasive plants to remove, drainage areas to maintain, native plants to restore, controlled burns to monitor, and much more! These programs lost a lot of volunteers in 2020-2022, and they could really use your help. 

-Look for volunteer programs with local university herbaria and botany programs. Do you like to travel? Do you like to work with rare plants? Do you just like archiving and working with records from past centuries? There is undoubtedly a volunteer program out there for you! Botany isn’t as glamorous as large carnivore research, for instance, so it can be tough to find volunteers willing to travel and work hard for free in the name of plant research. But it’s also really rewarding, and you might get to see a large carnivore (we’ve seen bears and wolves!) in the process!

-Try botanical drawing. This is a hard skill to master. Botanical drawing involves representing plant parts with incredible clarity and accuracy. But it’s also rewarding!

-Learn to identify plants, pollinators, and plant pathogens. Hone your observation skills! This is trio of skills that is incredibly valuable in researchers and lay people alike. A lot of rare plant research hinges on the interaction of plants with pollinators and the effects of pathogens on those plants, so learning what you’re looking at can make you an very powerful resource in the botany world.

[stpauligirl]

Weird asks:

44. do you collect anything?

46. A christmas song you secretly like?

(I will put this under a cut because long and probably uninteresting to most.)

44. Do you collect anything?

I don't collect anything in the Complete-Set-Gotta-Get-Them-All sense, but there are certainly things I like to gather.

For travel souvenirs I like to get something for the kitchen. Usually a coffee mug, so that when I'm having my morning coffee I can be reminded of the place I visited. Or one time I got a really nice wooden rolling pin. Last fall I came home from a trip with a bowl in my suitcase.

When I was a little kid I had a rock collection. I liked to take them out and examine them, admire them, and arrange them all this way or that. Then put them all back into the special box to be stored under my bed.

As an adult I am indulging in things that bring me joy so I have allowed myself to start building up a rock collection again. Except now I go to Gems & Minerals expos and purchase "specimens" instead of traipsing around fields and digging my precious little stones out of the dirt. I recently bought myself a glass-topped display case to hold my collection. I call it my "Cabinet of Curiosities" and it sits out in my office where I can look at it every day.

Books. I used to have quite an impressive collection of fiction and literature, but eventually we moved to an apartment where I simply didn't have the space to keep them all anymore. I whittled it down to just my favorites, and then next time we moved my entire book collection fit into a single box.

Now that we finally bought a home I feel like it's time for me to rebuild my collection. Plus, we've got built-in bookshelves that are just begging to be filled.

So now I have started buying books again (mostly secondhand) as opposed to reading ebooks on my tablet. Makes me feel good.

[This is a photo of my book collection at its height, about 10 years ago.]

46. A christmas song you secretly like?

Girl, all of them! I especially love the really old ones. When I was growing up Christmas meant we would take out mom's vinyl Christmas records. Mostly old crooners like Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley, and Pat Boone singing Christmas classics.

But I have to admit a particular soft spot for "Do You Hear What I Hear?"

[void-of-unparalled-chaos]

So glad to see someone acknowledge repatriation efforts! I feel like a ton of people think that it's the scientists and academics who are the problem, but in my experience, the overwhelming majority of them are all for repatriation and are actively working towards it. Major setbacks are typically at a governmental level, and even if we manage to fix that mess, it's still going to take time because well...

You would think that academic and museum collections would be organized. As someone who has actively worked in curation, I am telling you they are not and that also causes issues for repatriation.

In the case of the paleontology curation I used to work with, it was a bit more straight forward than it would have been with Archaeological artifacts (paleo has less governmental protections than arch, which is fucking awful in many ways but slightly beneficial in terms of repatriation efforts). The collection had lost funding about 30 years prior and just regained it when they hired myself and my PI.

During those thirty years, most of our specimens sat stagnant in the cabinets, but a ton of it also went missing. There were also a lot of fossils that didn't have all of their proper information recorded such as when/where it was recovered or what it was. This causes issues, because typically (at least by USA law), the ownership of a fossil is whoever's land it was found on, and ownership of land changes hands over time. If we want to repatriate something, we need to know who we are repatriating it too, hence the need for a recovery time and location. Then there was all the missing stuff. We could look at our papers and see that we are supposed to have 45 specimens from Morrocco, but sometimes they just aren't where they are supposed to be. It will say on paper that they are in cabinet C7 but sometimes they aren't, and now you have to figure out where they went.

Despite this we were still successful in begining the repatriation process for some fossils, and to my knowledge, at least a few of them have already been sent on their way!

Archaeology has these same issues with that extra level of governmental restrictions. An example: my university.

My university has an active archaeology program and is also home to the state repository of archaeological artifacts. This unfortunately includes human remains, specifically Native American remains which were sourced unethically back in the 30s 40s and 50s. Even with the law now in favor of their repatriation, it's super difficult to figure out where exactly they belong because many of these skeletons were shoved in cabinets in the back of one of the classrooms without proper identification information and were forgotten about until they were rediscovered just recently.

The department wants to repatriate them, but they have NO IDEA who these people were, nevermind what tribe they were from. I don't know what specifically is being done right now, but I know the remains were relocated to a safer, more proper storage location. I believe the possibility of genetic testing has been discussed, but in order for that to work the tribes in the area would have to agree to be tested too, and people don't always want to provide their genetic information. Basically the department is at an impasse last I checked.

All this is to say that the majority of scientists and academics are trying, but repatriation is not as straightforward as you might be led to believe. Keep putting preassure on the right people to get those governmental restrictions redacted, and don't buy artifacts from shady people, especially Native American ones if you live in the USA. If for whatever reason one comes into your possession, I strongly urge you to give it to the correct people so that steps to repatriate it can begin.

“The entire British museum is an active crime scene” - John Oliver

[grex-statera]

Chapter 11: Curse Continued - Summer, Year 1

Ellie woke up in cold sweat, gasping for air. It was around early afternoon when she came to.

She examined herself for any injuries, whatsoever. She seemed perfectly okay, except for the lingering feeling of dread in her chest.

She went down to her porch, removing her front door barricade. She made sure to peek first before going out.

It looked like a perfectly ordinary day outside. A sense of relief washed over her.

She made her way to her porch table and unlocked her phone:

1 missed call and 1 message from Dad

2 missed calls and 1 message from Abby

Dad: Hey champ! How're things? Don't over-work yourself or else! Call me back soon, love you!

Abby: Hang out at the saloon tonite?? Junimokart tourny leah vs. sam? Loser buys pizzaza lol

Ellie sat on her porch chair, feeling dumbfounded. What the hell happend last night?

She was sure it wasn't just a hallucination of some sort - the barricades were real.

She took her sword from a cabinet in her living room and then steeled herself to check out the coop.

Her chickens looked unharmed and were happy to see her. She inspected them closely, one-by-one.

After cleaning the coop and feeding the chickens, she took one last look around. In a far corner, there was a jet-black egg with red markings on it. It was warm to the touch.

Ellie stared at the specimen in her hands - she's never seen anything like it.

Ellie: ...I should probably bring this to Rasmodius.

She went back to the farmhouse, showered and ate brunch.

Ellie: Hi dad, sorry. Passed out last night. Not over-working, promise!

...

Ellie: Can't hang out tonight, sorry :( have to do something

Abby: Whoa she lives! Aw ok then..

She put the black egg in a Tupperware with a dishcloth in it, then took her sword and started the trek.

+++++

Rasmodius: A witch, you say?

Ellie: Yes! And she looked... Weird. Bad.

Rasmodius: Fledgeling, I must correct you. Wizards, witches and others in pursuit of knowledge of the elementals and the divine are not different from each other. Yes, I do suppose that the person you encountered is a witch, however, not all witches are akin to her. The person you have seen must be someone corrupted with too much void essence.

Ellie: Void essence?

Rasmodius: Yes. Tell me, what is the deepest floor you have reached in the mines?

Ellie thought for a bit.

Ellie: Around, uh, floor 70 something? The monsters become more tough the deeper I go down.

Rasmodius: Yes, I understand. Remember that glowing specimen you have brought me before?

Ellie: The solar essence?

Rasmodius: Yes. Solar essence is the concrete materialization of light. As with other elements, this also has it's opposite - the void essence. Once you reach the deepest parts of the mine, you will most likely encounter the Shadow People.

Ellie: Shadow People?

Rasmodius nodded.

Rasmodius: They are an ancient race of beings born from excess concentration of void essence. They used to be docile creatures, curious of humans. However, nowadays, they will often attack humans on sight. This drastic change in behavior was caused by the bitterness from the elemental wars and maybe some other influence. Be very careful, Elliot.

Ellie put her hand over her heart, the creeping dread making her feel uncomfortable. Rasmodius looked at her, concern showing on his face.

Rasmodius: Tell me what you are feeling.

Ellie: I don't know, Rasmodius... I feel kind of helpless and... Sad? I don't know how to describe it.

Rasmodius thought for a while.

Rasmodius: I will try to concoct a potion to make you feel better. I shall deliver it to you once ready. Take this egg with you, and if you want to, you may incubate it. It will bring you no harm.

Ellie: Alright. Thank you, Rasmodius.

Ellie returned home, feeling a bit scared and quite disappointed. She lied down her bed and stared at her ceiling. Her phone vibrates with a message:

Seb: Hi. U alright? Gonna play solarion tmrw w/ sam. U can come if u want.

Ellie: Hi, cant maybe. Not feeling good. Have fun tho :)

Seb: Okay. Gws..

For some reason Ellie lost her appetite. She felt weirdly cold, but didn't have a fever.

She watered her crops, took a shower, then went to bed.

+++++

For the next few days, Ellie would just wake up to check up on her crops and chickens then hole herself up in her house. The feeling of dread felt like a weird band around her chest. She couldn't breathe much.

Her friends have resorted to texting her:

Leah: Hi, are you alright? Haven't seen you in a while! Miss you, hang out soon.

...

Abby: Wmovie Wednesday feat. atomic blonde dont miss it!!!

...

Abby: Heyyy u okay???? Do u want us to come over??

...

Seb: Hi, u alright? Haven't seen u in a while.. Mom's asking if u wanna come over for Maru's bday today

Ellie couldn't bring herself to respond to her friends. She felt faint whenever she thought about interacting with another person. She grew restless with paranoia.

While Ellie wallowed in her despair, someone knocked on her door.

She mustered all of her strength available to open it.

Lewis: Hello, dear. How are you doing?

Ellie: Hi. I'm pretty sick. Did you need anything?

Lewis: I see. I was going to invite you to the Luau tomorrow, but nevermind. My dear, you look so pale. Do you want me to ask Dr. Harvey to come here?

Ellie: Sorry, I don't want to see anyone right now.

Lewis looked at her, concerned. Ellie looked as if all of the life had been sucked out of her.

Lewis: Alright, well if you start to feel better, don't forget to check in with Dr. Harvey. I'll be going now.

Ellie silently closed the door. That very short conversation with Mayor Lewis made her feel heavier. She dragged herself upstairs to her bedroom and fell asleep.

+++++

Abby: Ellie!!! We brought you soup from the Luau! It's pretty good this year! Wanna open up??

Sam: Do you think she's at home?

Seb: You know what, let's just give her the soup when she's alright.

Abby: We're already here, though. Let's just leave it in her fridge.

Seb: Abigail, we are NOT breaking in someone's house.

Abby: Seb, stop being so dramatic! We're FRIENDS, we're not breaking in. It's not like we're gonna steal anything either.

Sebastian's thoughts went back to a few days prior.

Ellie: I do have some days when I don't really wanna... See people...

...

Seb: Maybe she just doesn't want to see people right now.

Sam: No way, man. Ellie ain't as reclusive as you.

Sam chuckled while elbowing Sebastian's arm. Sebastian rolled his eyes.

Sam: Come on, let's go inside.

The inside of the farmhouse was clean and tidy. Abigail made her way into the kitchen and left the soup container in Ellie's fridge. She found a sticky note pad and a pen and left a note about it.

Sebastian and Sam went to the living room. Sam sat on the sofa.

Sam: Hey, it's quite nice in here. Maybe we should ask Ellie sometime if we could hang out at her house.

Seb: Ugh.

Sebastian went over to a small cabinet with picture frames displayed on it. They were pictures of Ellie and her dad. Sebastian can't help but smile.

Nearby, Ellie had a small bookshelf. Sebastian scanned her collection of books - mostly fiction. Sebastian has read at least about half of the stuff in it. She had good taste, he decided.

Seb: Are we done yet?

Sebastian turned to see that Abby and Sam were sitting on the sofa, pretending to be asleep.

Seb: Ugh, you guys are insufferable.

Abby giggled.

Abby: So where's her bedroom?

Sam: Probably upstairs?

Seb: Alright, NOW that's definitely breaking in.

Sam: Dude, could you chill? I told you: we're VISITING our FRIEND. Jeez.

Seb, sighing: That's probably invasion of privacy, man.

Abby: Nah. Stop being a baby. Come on!

Abby made her way upstairs, followed by the two boys.

Abby: Ellie! Sorry we barged in like this. We're worried about you!

Abby knocked on Ellie's bedroom door, slowly opening it.

Elliot was sleeping like a rock, bundled under a thick blanket and hugging a pillow. She looked very peaceful.

Sebastian had the urge to run his hand through her hair.

Wait, what?

Sebastian felt himself blush.

Seb, clearing his throat: Guys, we should probably not wake her up.

Sam: Yeah. How long do you think she's been asleep? So that's why she wasn't responding to our texts.

Abby made her way to Ellie's bed. She placed a hand on Ellie's forehead, checking for fever.

Abby: Hm, well she's not hot so that's good. I just-

Abigail turned to face the boys when she saw a huge figure looming behind them.

Rasmodius: I demand to know what you are doing in this abode!

The three friends ran out of the house as fast as they can in fear and panic. When they were near the bus stop outside of the farm, they paused to catch their breath.

Sam: HOLY SHIT WHO WAS THAT??

Abby: Oh my god, I don't know. Wait, wait. Lemme just-

Abby tried to lean on a fence, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.

Seb: I told you that was a bad idea. Breaking in.

Sam: Dude, have you SEEN the other guy? You think there's just some random-ass guy wearing a cape that's living in Elliot's house?????

Oh no, Sebastian thought, is Elliot in trouble?

Seb: Ughhhh. Should we... Man. We should report this to Lewis.

Abby: Wait! Wait... I know that guy.

Seb and Sam: What????

Abby: Yeah. He's the weirdo who lives in that tower in Cindersap. I've seen him before.

Sam: So he's not a random creep?

Abby thought for a bit.

Abby: No, I don't think so. Ellie's probably gonna be fine.

Seb: Abby. Not that I don't trust you, but we should still definitely report this shit to Lewis. I'm worried.

Sam: Yeah, alright. Let's go then.

The three friends started to walk back into town.

Sebastian took one last look toward the farm then caught up with Sam and Abby.

[plantcompany]

Boost Your Office Aesthetics: 4 Striking Indoor Plants for Decoration

As a business professional, you understand the importance of creating a pleasant and inviting office environment. One effective way to enhance your office aesthetics is by incorporating striking indoor plants into your decor. 

Not only do these plants add a touch of natural beauty, but they also offer numerous benefits, such as improved air quality and increased productivity. 

In this article, we will explore six stunning indoor plants you can buy just by typing Buy indoor plants online NZ and get the one perfect for decorating your office space. 

So, let's dive in and discover how these botanical wonders can transform your office.

Callisia 

Callisia, also known as the Turtle Vine, is a beautiful trailing plant that adds a touch of whimsy to any office setting. Its delicate leaves feature shades of green, purple, and silver, creating a beautiful contrast. 

Callisia is low-maintenance and thrives in bright, indirect light. Its cascading foliage looks stunning when placed in hanging planters or on shelves, adding a unique visual element to your office space. To buy indoor plants online NZ, consider browsing reputable websites that offer a wide selection of plants.

Begonia

Begonias are known for their vibrant and colourful blooms, making them an excellent choice for adding a pop of colour to your office. With various begonia species available, you can choose from different flower shapes, sizes, and colours to suit your preference. Begonias prefer bright, indirect light and moderate humidity. 

Their compact size makes them ideal for desk spaces or decorative accents on tables and shelves. When buying indoor plants online, look for reliable sellers who offer a range of begonia varieties.

https://proce.vn/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/5-loi-ich-cua-cay-xanh-trong-van-phong-1.jpg

Cactus

Cacti are trendy, incredibly resilient, and low-maintenance, making them perfect for busy professionals. These unique plants come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from small, spherical varieties to tall, columnar specimens. Cacti thrive in bright, indirect light and require minimal watering. 

They can be placed on desks, shelves, or windowsills, adding a desert charm to your office space. When purchasing cacti online, choose a reputable seller offering healthy and well-cared-for plants.

Pothos 

Pothos, also known as Devil's Ivy, is a versatile and easy-to-grow plant that adds a touch of lushness to any office space. Its heart-shaped leaves come in various shades of green, making it a visually appealing option. Pothos can thrive in multiple lighting conditions, including low-light environments, making it a suitable choice for offices with limited natural light. 

This plant is also known for its air-purifying qualities. Consider buying a hanging pothos plant and placing it near a bookshelf or on top of cabinets to create a cascading effect.

Final Thoughts

You can transform your workspace into a visually appealing and refreshing environment by incorporating these six striking indoor plants into your office decor. To buy indoor plants online NZ, explore reputable websites that offer a wide selection of healthy and well-cared-for plants. Embrace the beauty and benefits of indoor plants, and watch as your office comes to life with nature's touch.

Source:Boost Your Office Aesthetics: 4 Striking Indoor Plants for Decoration

[newsbites]

News from NL, Canada, 14 June

Fluorspar Holdings Pte Ltd has received court approval to buy the inactive fluorspar mine in St. Lawrence, once owned by Canada Fluorspar.

Previously, the mine could not compete with cheaper fluorspar from other countries and faced environmental regulations that limited impurities. However, the high-grade ore available locally and the world-class geology of the deposit that lends itself to acid-grade fluorspar now favor mine operations. Fluorspar Holdings Pte Ltd has already seen success with a similar operation in South Africa and expects good returns from the St. Lawrence.

2. Newfoundland and Labrador's economic investment is expected to increase by 11% this year due to a rise in population.

Nova Scotia has found ways to speed up housing construction to accommodate the growing population in the Atlantic provinces.

Investment in the mining sector, particularly in the search for gold, has increased while investment in oil and gas has decreased.

3. Bernard Doyle was acquitted of manslaughter in the death of his 17-month-old stepson in 1996 after being imprisoned for three years.

Doyle's case was one of more than 200 that were examined again as part of a government review into earlier convictions mentioning shaken-baby syndrome.

The decision to acquit Doyle restored dignity and respect to him, but he still feels responsible for his stepson's death.

4. A family in Newfoundland discovered a sheet of bedrock with a fern-shaped fossil on top of it while tending to their vegetable garden.

The discovery is believed to be one of the most important fossil sites in the world, with some specimens belonging to a group of lifeforms known as charnids from the Ediacaran period, roughly 560 million years ago.

The paleobiology team from Memorial University expects to uncover hundreds of fossils and is urging anyone who finds a similar fossil site to contact them so they can come take a look.

5. The Capital Subaru Arena is opening in St. John's, Newfoundland, with the aim of making ice-based activities more accessible to younger athletes and persons with disabilities.

The new arena will not only be used for hockey, but also for ice skating and learn-to-skate programs.

The building is fully accessible and can be converted for sports such as sledge hockey.

6. Derrick Bragg, a cabinet minister, has publicly revealed his cancer diagnosis.

[the-ghost-king]

you can easily buy human remains... there's a lot of variation about the ethics of doing so but it's quite simple really. mueseums may occasionally sell pieces, for example a urologist was able to buy napoleon's penis from a traveling collection. there's also "antique stores" that sell old medical belongings and study pieces, so in addition to old apothecary cabinets you might be able to buy a jar of teeth or something. universities or hospitals which are shutting down also do "clearance" sales of sorts in which they'll sell old equipment and sometimes that includes preserved specimens. most of these remains are either going to be so old data never existed on them or was otherwise lost or destroyed, or they'll be from people who willingly donated themselves to be studied, archeological remains are also pretty commonly in circulation.

it's a little more complicated than that as sometimes you'll need to have a special license or a government clearance to own something or another but it's honestly not as difficult as one might think. grave robbing is really something else... but from my (loose) understanding if you have some licensing or credibility and you know the right people/businesses owning human remains isn't extremely difficult to do.

or in his case he might just ask the skeleton for their arm or something...

could you imagine if maria did get to raise her kids their whole lives tho? "nico stop bringing human remains in the house" and "bianca stop calling your dad for money"

[supersonicart]

William Basso.

Distinct, haunting visions from artist William Basso who says of his work:

"My work is a combination of various artistic disciplines including drawing, sculpture, photography, collage and painting. Used together, these allow me to create images of mystery, wonder, delight, sorrow and fear, which often take place in intimate stage-like settings.

The characters in my work exist in a distant, half-remembered, autumnal place where even Halloween can last forever. Images emerge through a cross-referencing of many artistic influences, memories and ideas. Ancient and flickering, monochrome films of the fantastic and macabre play continuously, running through rusted projectors. Long, silent corridors are hung with varnished, cracked paintings and brittle prints from another age, while rows of tall, wooden cabinets display bones and other arcane specimens behind panes of misted glass. In a lonely field of dry grasses under an overcast sky, sits an abandoned theater where puppets, props and painted backdrops are quietly waiting with peeling paint and thick dust. Up in a darkened attic, an antique trunk contains time worn books and comics, richly illustrated. It is here in this world of my subconscious that a childlike sense of fantasy and imagination can mingle with adult anxieties or dreams."

BUY PRINTS | FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM

[userkhael]

rainbow

Summary: Henry and you always wanted to have kids right away but it's been two years into the marriage and no babies. Until...

Pairing: Henry x Reader

Warning: RPF, FLUFFIEST FLUFF IN FLUFF LAND

Word Count: 1400+

A/N: It's been so long since I wrote a one shot so here it goes. Also this is not beta'd, there will be errors. Thank you in advance to your comments, likes and reblogs ❤️

Two years after getting married, you didn't know how doting your husband can be until he noticed the symptoms first. After some false positives and multiple visits to the fertility clinic, your obstetrician said you're just too stressed and shouldn't pressure yourself getting pregnant. Both Henry and you had busy months, a year even. Sexy times are not as spontaneous but your passion for each other still burned hot. He always talked about having your baby in his arms and how his eyes light up at the thought. 

Oddly enough, he's been tracking your period like clockwork, knowing your fertile days and whatnot. Henry wanted a baby right away but you've always known you wanted to wait. So when your period is late for a week, he can't contain himself. He'd gone out of his way to buy an enormous amount of pregnancy tests.

"What are you gonna do with that many? I only need at least three."

He's frantic, pulling out God-knows-what from the grocery paper bag. I wanted to laugh at him but he seemed so into it, so serious. Grabbing three pregnancy kits, you stuff it under the cabinet under the sink, willing to wait for another week. It's not new you're late. You've been late for more than half of your period and that doesn't always mean pregnant. Working on a new project at work must be taking its toll on you. Hormones, stress and a lot of stuff can contribute to periods being late but no, you wouldn't tell your husband that. He stopped in the middle of his dungeon searching just for these kits.

He looks up at you and nods, urges you to the bathroom to take the test.

"It's too early to tell, Henry. We can do it next week."

He shakes his head and one thing you discovered about your husband is that aside from being a fine specimen of nerd, he's also a bit pushy when he set his mind to it. And now he's demonstrating it but you are not in the mood to say yes to him.

"I told you, I've been  more than a week late before. I wasn't pregnant."

"Well, were you fucked by me before? No, right? So, please, do a test babe." The way his eyes snapped when he realized he said something nasty is just so funny at this point.

You snorted and walked to the bathroom as your big bear of man trails behind.

"Are you really going to be in here watching me pee on a stick?"

He shrugged his shoulders and didn't move from where he's standing. You roll your eyes at him, knowing how pathetic he can be sometimes. Sitting on the bowl while looking up at your husband is not something you always see and his eyes went wide when you actually did not pee on a stick.

"Now, we wait for two minutes." 

He fidgets from where he stands and he looks so adorable, with his muscles bulging and his stubble growing by the hour. He peeks at the stick every two seconds and it took everything in me not to push him outside the door.

"Can you calm down? I know it's nothing." I don't want to get my high hopes and we're like this a few weeks ago, waiting results on a stick and got a false positive. The trauma is not something I would want on anybody else wanting to have babies. You bite your nails and Henry must have noticed how tense you are.

Henry walks to you and he caged my face in his hands, kissing the tip of your nose.

"Are you scared, baby?" You look up to his blues and nod just a little.

"I'm scared it's going to be just like before. I just want to give you what you've been wanting for so long." He pulls you in, your face buried on his stomach while you're sitting on the toilet bowl, your nerves not making you stand up. He rubs your back, up and down, knowing he's the only comfort you have.

"I'll still love you no matter what. Even if there were no babies. Even if it's just us and Kal. I will still be here for you. Okay?"

He looks down at you and tears formed in your eyes. Feeling needed and loved is a wonderful feeling even after at these times where hope is somehow lost.

Your timer beeps and you held to him for a few minutes longer before standing up and checking three kits you used. You gasp, not knowing if you should laugh or cry at the absurdity of the situation.

"Three positives, babe." Henry whispers in your ear.

"We never had three positives before. Can you go get some more?" I can't look away at three pink sticks in front of me saying "Pregnant". We had one positive the last time we did this but never three. Henry scrambles with more tests in his hands and I used all of them. Waiting for the result while we hug and kiss each other is so therapeutic while waiting for another three results.

When all of them came back positive, Henry stepped out and I can hear him grabbing the car keys.

"C'mon, let's go to the doctor."

You stand there, frozen, at the possibility of life growing inside you and by the man you love the most. It took you a few seconds to realize Henry is honking so you dash to get your jacket and joined him in the car.

"Are you ready?" He asks, his breath catches and a smile on his lips. I don't know if he's asking me about now or about the future ahead of us because I wasn't fucking ready. Not one bit.

- 9 months later -

Henry tried so hard to be at ultrasound appointments and baby clothes shopping but he's working on a project that he can't leave for at least a few weeks after you give birth. It's been hard, not having his warmth around. He's so excited to meet our little one. But I kept a secret from him all during the course of this.

You're scheduled to have a C-section today and your mother-in-law was kind enough to drive you to the hospital. Henry called multiple times after you told him you'd finally deliver the baby and was confused at the timeline. He did everything he can to fly home and he said he'd be here in a few hours. Few hours seem to be forever when you're finally wheeled inside the operating room. Henry's brothers and their wives calmed you down and you couldn't thank them enough for the support. Also they kept the secret from Henry and didn't say a word.

When the epidural kicks in, you were groggy and the operating room lights seems a bit distorted. Your doctor speaks to you often, telling you you're doing great. And then finally, you heard little cries boom inside the room. You wished Henry was right here with you, kissing and hugging you. But he'll be here any minute now.

A few hours pass by and you felt like you've slept for eternity. You open your eyes just as two nurses bring in your babies. One wrapped in pink and other one in blue. You and Henry had twins but he had no idea. He had already been away when the babies are big enough to know through ultrasound.

Henry's mother gushes and cries when she sees her grandchildren. His father just held my hand and smiled. I'm in pain, too much pain but I held my baby girl while they cooed over my baby boy. And that's when the door opened once more, disheveled looking Henry rushing to the hospital bed.

"She's here." Teary eyed, he buried his nose on baby girl's head and kissed you on the lips.

"I have to tell you something..." You said in a weak voice but Henry just whipped his back just in time to see his family holding another baby.

His jaw drops and steps back, his mouth still open. He stood there, now his hand over his open mouth, still in shock.

He clears his throat and points at the baby being carried by his Mom. "Baby, is that ours too?"

You nod, trying not to laugh at his reaction but genuinely falling even more in love at how he looks at your children.

"We had twins and I have no clue?" He said once again and now baby boy is in his arms while tears are streaming down his face.

"Come here..." You say and both of you cried, foreheads bumping into each other, waiting for this precious moment for so long.

You kissed with tears in your eyes and heart full of love. They say forever takes a lifetime but you know, forever meant this moment.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Benjamin and Hayley’s antiques-filled home is a playful celebration of the gothic and the curious. Plus, this has to be one of the best I’ve ever seen. The 1 bdrm. apt. is on the ground floor of an impressive five-story 1840s house  

The couple were immediately struck by its grandeur. From the minute they walked in and clocked the height of the ceilings. Benjamin says he was ready to buy.

A huge display cabinet contains pharmacy jars, specimens and optical lenses. On the bottom shelf are two death masks.

Quirky touches abound in the living room where a sphinx reclines in front of a fairground mirror and witches’ balls and a cobbler’s shop sign hang from the ceiling.

The entrance hall with its enormous double front door had already been converted into a kitchen when the couple moved in. The kitchen walls are a fresh and airy light blue to complement the woodwork.

The sign for ‘Cheap Funerals,’ that hangs in the window, appeals to Benjamin’s sense of humor and is one of his favorite objects

The huge apothecary chest takes up most of the wall opposite the kitchen cabinets and is used to store shoes. Sitting on top are some of Benjamin’s many pharmacy dispensing jars.

‘I’m just attracted to things that are odd,’ Benjamin explains. Hayley’s used to it, but she says they agreed that the next time they move, he will tone it down and live in a normal house. (Noooooo!)

Benjamin gilded patches of the plasterwork on the ceiling. The bed is a reproduction, based on an Anglo-Indian design, and was bought at auction. The opaline glass and bronze lantern is 20th-century English.

Even the bathroom is filled with Benjamin’s collections. The mirror frames are carved bone and were probably made by prisoners of war. The chair is a French commode.

https://www.homesandantiques.com/interiors/homes/a-gothic-antiques-filled-victorian-apartment-in-lowesoft

[cnestus]

oh yeah, you'll want to use proper entomological pins. they come in a variety of sizes from #000 to #6 going from thinnest to thickest but generally #2s are a good all-purpose pin size to buy:

once the insects are pinned, you'll want to put them in an insect box or insect drawer. official insect drawers are the nicest option since they have glass tops and can be put into specially made cabinets, but they are also extremely expensive unless you want to make them yourself. i used to have a couple dozen drawers and a very large cabinet for them but i donated most of that stuff when i moved states so here's my downsized personal collection and example drawer:

those yellow squares are insecticide strips to keep out dermestids. this reminds me i should replace them, it's been a while.

the cheaper option is an insect box, usually called a Schmitt Box, like you can see on top of the cabinet in the above photo. they're smaller and usually don't have the glass top usually. they can be made out of wood or cardboard though the cardboard ones while cheap are very prone to letting in specimen-eating pests. they usually come with foam bottoms that you can stick the pins into.

as for where to buy entomology supplies, unfortunately Bioquip, the company that supplies most of the united states with pins and boxes and everything else, went out of business recently. there are other companies out there still making and selling these things but i don't have any specific recommendations, and it would also depend on where in the world you live.

for insect boxes though, if you want to go cheap but classy, you can always go the super classic route of finding some old cigar boxes at a thrift store and then buy some 1/4-1/2 inch thick foam and glue that to the bottom.

(tagged on this post)

@notahorseindisguise sure, just like a general guide on insect pinning? i can do that.

the nice thing about insects is that once they dry they'll stay exactly as they were positioned indefinitely, so the trick is to pin them when they're still pliable. if you're trying to pin an old, dried insect, you can rehydrate them by putting them in an airtight container with some wet paper towels or sponges for 12-24 hours but probably not much longer than that or you'll risk them molding. i spray some ethanol in there too to be safe. as an example, here's my rehydration box with some bee samples:

once your insect is ready to curate, put the pin through the thorax to the right of the midline like in my previous post. now, i'm of the philosophy that if you're pinning an insect, you ought to curate it as best as you can so that its death wasn't in vain, so while the specimen is still pliable, secure it to a thick piece of foam and use more pins to position all the legs and antennae into as pleasing an arrangement as possible. here's a botfly i arranged:

besides the aesthetic reasons, this will also help with future identification if that's a possibility since often insects die curled up with important diagnostic features covered up or otherwise hard to see, so at least unfurling the legs a bit and making sure the wing venation is visible on insects where that's important is a good idea.

sometimes you get a longhorned beetle with very long antennae. this is why you want to have a lot of pins on hand:

for insects that are too small to pin without risking obliterating their thorax, you'll want to point-mount them, which means gluing them to a small paper triangle and pinning that:

i rarely see people do it but you can sometimes curate point-mounted specimens too if they're the right size, though you'll want to do it under a microscope:

then let your specimens set in a nice dry area for at least a day or two:

after that you just need to label them (probably for another post. this one is long enough) and they're good to go. once they dry out they're pretty much good to last forever as long as you keep them protected from mold and pests, so the preservation part is handled just by keeping them in an airtight container if possible or at least one with desiccants/pesticides as needed. at the very least try to toss the specimen box in a feezer for a few days at least a couple times a year. otherwise your nicely curated specimens will end up as dermestid shit:

i think that about covers it! it is worth noting that some soft-bodied insects will shrivel horrible when they dry out. small soft insects like silverfish, termites, springtails, most kinds of larvae, etc should go into a vial of alcohol rather than be pinned. same goes for most non-insect arthropods like spiders and centipedes and millipedes which will also fall apart when they dry. also some larger semi-soft insects will need to be stuffed to keep their abdomen from shriveling up, primarily larger grasshoppers, crickets, stenopelmatids, mantids, and stick insects. i made a post about how to do that here.

[lale-txt]

OPKisstober Day 4 // Stolen

w/ Luffy word count: 617 warnings: none but some non-descriptive bugs i guess??

_________________________

You certainly had enough of looking at beetles in various shapes and sizes, but you for sure couldn't get enough of the shimmering eyes of your captain, his face pressed against the glass of the cabinet that held probably a specimen of every single beetle up and down the Grand Line.

"Hey y/n, have you seen that one? With the big horns? Who do you think would win in a fight, me or them?"

Taking a long dramatic pause you looked back and forth between Luffy and the one particular bug he was pointing at, eagerly waiting for your response. Who allowed him to be this cute, was all you could think about in this moment; also toughts and prayers to every insect in the world that was brave enough to start a fight with your captain.

"I have a rough time deciding, but I think you could probably win this one, Luffy", you think out loud, pinching him in his soft cheeks while his sweet smiles widens. He truly had the ability to lighten up the room, to make you feel like everything is really gonna be okay. Spending a day off with him was like a dream. Though you loved your crew and sailing the seas with everyone, you also cherished the rare moments were it was just the two of you.

"Luffy, I'm gonna check out the museum shop. I assume you want to stay here a little longer?", you suggested which made him nod vigorously, eyes fixed again at the bugs as if they were a big chunk of meat prepared by Sanji. You smirk a little. "I'll meet you outside in a bit then."

You spend so much money in the museum shop that you surely will get in trouble with Nami later tonight, but you just couldn't leave without buying some souvenirs for the crew (and yourself of course). Also, hopefully Luffy will be excited when you hand him the plushie of the one particular beetle he was having wrestling fantasies about.

"Sorry for the wait!", you apologize when you see your captain already waiting for you outside at the stairs. It looks like he was daydreaming, when he suddenly looks up and greets you again with this big, warm smile of his and two waving hands.

"Let's go eat, y/n! I could eat a whole village!", Luffy exclaims, his stomach growling as if by command which made you both laugh out loud.

"Just one second, I got you something, Luffy!" Just as you were reaching for the bag, he suddenly comes a step closer to you, facing each other. Surprised about the sudden intimacy, you try to keep your cool, looking at him with wondering eyes.

"I also got you something, y/n. Close your eyes and hold out your hands for me."

Oh my, please don't let it be a bug, please don't let it be a bug, please don't let it be a bug.... sending a little prayer, you hesistantly close your eyes and stick out your hands, preparing yourself for the worst.

Turns out heaven got another plan for you, because otherwise your hands wouldn't suddenly be in Luffy's, squeezing them tight. And his lips, oh his lips... the second they touch yours, your whole body feels like it's on fire, as if it was struck by lightning. Was this a dream?

Everything was happening so fast and the moment you open your eyes again, still stunned, all you can see is your captain running, looking over his shoulder with a big grin and his cheeks blushing a little, gesturing you to follow him already.

"Food, now!! Come, y/n! I know what's for desert!"

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Saturday 9 August 1834

7 35

1

quiet night cutting nails and preparing another linen for cousin very fine morning F72° at 9 am - very hot in the night – breakfast at 9 –out at 11 35 A- and I with George and laquais de place (in landaulette and [pair]) chez Paturlet and compagnie Place St. Pierre no. 1  buying shawl for Miss W- of Cliff Hill and for Marian – then at a print shop or 2 and home at 2 ½ - A- had cold fowl – out again at 3 20 – bought plan of Lyons and at the musée from 4 20 to 5 – the silver shield found in the Rhone sold by the authorities of the city for a great price to government and gone to Paris – government wants the large picture, view of the taking of Lille by Louis 14 – but not to be sold unless for a large sum – the cabinet (a large handsome Noyer armoire) of 15,500 medals not to be seen but by express permission of the authorities of the city – 2 good pictures by Rubens and 1 or 2 by the old Italian masters, otherwise nothing very particular - from 5 to 5 25 in the musée of natural history in the same building (old convent of dames de St Pierre) this musée has made great acquisitions this year and is being newly done [?] - the mineralogical part all yet to place in the handsome Noyer armoires of 500 to 600fr. a piece - very fine fossil fish from the country of Dorset and several things from England - said I had chez Lafont mineralogist on the quai but found him too dear - for a smallish specimen of iron from Chessy asked 6/. because the mine of this iron Epuisé [épuisé] - asked 40/. for a quartz crystal very large and fine but not worth so much - from  the musée del histoire natural to the bank of Guerin and co. – got 1990/. for £75 exchange 25/20 - did not go out of the carriage - sent for someone to come to me - then to the Jardin des plantes – rather a nice pretty promenade for the people, overlooking from the top part great part of the city - then to Léonard Drivon, an ingenious velvet-weaver, the inventor of the means of weaving velvet 1 1/2 aune wide - began 8days ago and will finish in 8 months, 45 ells of this, vert émeraude, at 250/. l’aune for the King of England to his salon with - much interested - the weft is divided into toile which forms the piece and poile which stars up thro’ the toile, is cut, and forms the nap or velvet - the battant (beam) weights 150 lbs. the poile is raised on a brass wire round with a small grove in it on one side, and the 2 other sides flat and brought to an edge opposite the round part - this grove is by a lean forward of the beam brought to the top, and a small tool runs along and cuts the poile and thus forms the velours or nap - it takes 6 ½ ells of poile to make 1 ell of velvet - the man and his daughter (aetatis 16) have 50/. an ell for weaving and can weave an ell in a week - only invented the means of weaving velvet so wide, 5 years ago - was doing some for Charles X, but when he was déchée, his order countermanded - he had his frames to knock up and thus lost 4000fr. by the revolution - the négocians do not manufacture themselves - the workmen find loans and house room and everything for so much an ell - Leonard has all the workmen in this building, under him - and he has one ½ and they the other of what is paid for weaving - setting a frame to waistcoat piece of velours broché, costs 400/. or 500fr. so that in fact, the master workman does not gain enough - his wife upstairs (2 stories) with the people weaving these waistcoat pieces - she can earn 15/. a week having 9/. an ell for the piece she is doing - left A- downstairs with Leonard and went to see the waistcoat weaving  - the frames (the mechanism at the top, to form the pattern) very complex – Leonard is employed by M. Montera and co. rue des Feuillans – he deals in all sort of soierie – a great whole sale warehouse but will sell by retail - cheaper than the retail shop – A- and I will go and see - home again at 7 ½  dinner at 7 ¾ - A- much better today – wrote all the above of today till 12 tonight – very fine day – very hot – I am now sitting in my dressing gown in a state of solution - F72 ½° at 11 ¼ pm - A- in bed by 10 ½