Apr

Glass Floats? Finders Keepers!

by Joyce McGreevy on April 16, 2018

A glass float made for Finders Keepers in Lincoln City reflects a cultural tradition of the Oregon coast. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Several times a year glass floats like these are hidden along Lincoln City’s shoreline.
© Joyce McGreevy

A Cultural Tradition on the Oregon Coast

No one sees them, but dozens of Float Fairies roam this seven-mile stretch of the Oregon coast. Several mornings a year these anonymous volunteers stroll the shores of Lincoln City, carefully placing glass treasures among driftwood and seagrass. Soon, the Float Fairies blend in with us mere mortals who have come in search of these treasures.

Finders Keepers, a popular treasure hunt for handcrafted glass floats, originated in Lincoln City. Now in its 19th year and inspiring imitators, the event grew out of a cultural tradition.

A poster for Finders Keepers in Lincoln City reflects a cultural tradition of the Oregon coast. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Finders Keepers runs from mid-October to Memorial Day.
Treasures may include glass sand dollars, shells, and sea stars.
© Joyce McGreevy

Today, visitors come from all over, seeking their own brilliantly-colored, signed, and numbered glass floats.

Treasure Hunting

I, too, have come in search of treasure: treasured time with sisters. Having three sisters in Oregon, I’ve made my way from high-desert Bend to seaside Newport, then up the rugged coast to Lincoln City, where Carolyn lives.

Artist Carolyn McGreevy of Lincoln City celebrates Finders Keepers, a cultural tradition of the Oregon coast. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

“I love the coast life,” says Carolyn McGreevy at Lincoln City Public Library.
© Joyce McGreevy

A photographer of sea, sky, and stone, Carolyn charts the course of our glass float treasure hunt.

An ocean view from Lincoln City inspires seekers of glass floats at Finders Keepers, a cultural tradition of the Oregon coast. (Image © Carolyn McGreevy)

The world my sister sees. (Sunset at Lincoln City, Oregon)
© Carolyn McGreevy

First stop, North Lincoln County Historical Museum. There the Watson-Simpson Collection awaits us, resplendent as crown jewels.

Glass floats at North Lincoln County Historical Museum reflect a cultural tradition of the Oregon coast. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

The variety of sizes, colors, and provenance of glass floats is stunning.
© Joyce McGreevy

At first, fishermen crafted their floats from whatever glass was available to them—usually, recycled beverage bottles. Something about the sea stirs a terrible thirst, it seems.

Then, glass-making companies sprang up in Japan, Norway, Russia, and the U.S. Thousands of glassblowers found jobs making floats by hand. Circa 1890s-1930s, these floats are among the most ornate and coveted collectibles.

An 1877 S.H. Davis & Co. glass float in Lincoln City reflects a cultural tradition of the Oregon coast. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Patented in 1877, this is among the rarest of glass floats.
© Joyce McGreevy

A Fragile Industry

Later, companies switched to using industrial molds and machinery to mass-produce “improved” floats—cheaper, more uniform, less colorful. Eventually, companies phased out glass altogether.

Over time, the world’s fishing vessels began using plastic, aluminum, even Styrofoam floats. For generations of beachcombers, coveted glass floats became all the rarer—except in Lincoln City.

That’s where artist Jennifer Sears had a brilliant idea for celebrating the Millennium: commission local artists to create glass floats, each distinctive, then place them in the open for anyone to find.

People enjoy the beach in Lincoln City where Finders Keepers is a cultural tradition of the Oregon coast. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Finders keepers, yes—losers weepers, no! Not with miles of Oregon coast to enjoy.
© Joyce McGreevy

Playing with Fire

Soon we’ll play Finders Keepers. But first, says Carolyn, let’s see how glassblowing happens. We make our way to Lincoln City Glass Center.

There we watch as artisans gather molten glass, scooping it like honey from crucibles heated to 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Glassblowers Daniel Hogan, Steve Hagan, and Jolene Boyce at Lincoln City Glass Center make glass floats, continuing a cultural tradition of the Oregon coast. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Daniel Hogan and Steve Hagan face the heat. Wearing thick mitts, Jolene Boyce deftly flips a glass bowl.
© Joyce McGreevy

They roll the glowing mass across a marver, a special metal table, to distribute heat evenly. Then, as if adding sprinkles to ice cream, they dip the molten lump in crushed glass to add layers of color. At various points, the glass is returned to the crucible to keep it hot and malleable.

Glass floats and glassmaking tools at Lincoln City Glass Center reflect a cultural tradition of the Oregon coast. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

From crucible to kiln, glassmakers use an array of skills and tools to craft glass floats.
© Joyce McGreevy

As for the glassblowing, the artisans carry this out as nonchalantly as if they were chewing bubblegum, not working with bone-searing liquid fire.

A mobile made of glass floats at Lincoln City Glass Center reflect a cultural tradition of the Oregon coast. (Image © Carolyn McGreevy)

Fire-born, sea-inspired, a glass mobile inspires visitors to Lincoln City Glass Center.
© Carolyn McGreevy

Sailing, Sailing

All week, Carolyn and I tailor our adventures to the changeable coastal weather. On bright days, we look at tide pools, fishing boats, and bright pebbles.

Agates and other pebbles from Lincoln City beach shine like glass floats, part of a cultural tradition of the Oregon coast. (Image © Carolyn McGreevy)

Agates and other colorful stones cover Oregon beaches.
© Carolyn McGreevy

On blustery days, we head for Captain OverKeel Cabin and batten down the hatches. Its interior resembles an ancient sailing ship. There’s no cable TV, no wifi, just the magic of forgetting what century this is.

Captain OverKeel Cabin reflects vintage charm in Lincoln City, Oregon where beach-combing for glass floats is a cultural tradition. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

On a “dark and stormy night,” this snug vessel drifts safely toward dreamland.
© Joyce McGreevy

Up and at ‘em

Nobody sleeps in on Finders Keepers days. By Saturday, the Float Fairies have placed 300 treasures all over the beach. Locals and visitors will soon be out in droves.

To help us on our quest, we seek out local expert Eric Johnson. As public relations coordinator for Lincoln City, Eric is first to see the glass floats as they arrive from artists’ studios all over Lincoln County.

PR coordinator Eric Johnson of Lincoln City talks about Finders Keepers, a glass float treasure hunt that’s a cultural tradition of the Oregon coast. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Raised in Astoria, working in Cannon Beach and now Lincoln City,
Eric Johnson is truly a coastal citizen .
© Joyce McGreevy

Does he have tips for spotting glass floats in the wild?

The secret, says Johnson, is not to look too hard. You’re more likely to discover a float the less fixated you are. And stay safe. Floats are never placed in risky-to-access areas. Just get out there and enjoy the day.

Oh, I see: Instead of treasure-hunting to the point of frustration, simply notice the beauty all around you. Good life advice, too.

A glass float hidden on the Lincoln City beach reflects a cultural tradition of the Oregon coast. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Can you spot a glass float on this stretch of coastline?
© Joyce McGreevy

A handmade glass float placed on the Lincoln City beach for Finders Keepers reflects a cultural tradition of the Oregon coast. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Eureka!
© Joyce McGreevy

Finding Bliss

After combing the beach, antiquing in town, and sipping coffee by the fire, the prospect of a Lincoln City sunset draws Carolyn and me outdoors again.

And just like that, we find it—a gorgeous glass float!

A Finders Keepers glass float in Lincoln City reflects a cultural tradition of the Oregon coast. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Finders register their glass floats and post photos to Lincoln City’s Instagram.
© Joyce McGreevy

It’s in the hands of Todd Terrell, who marvels over its beauty with partner Rose Bliss. Their delight is what caught our attention.

Amber Bliss and Todd Terrell celebrate finding a glass float at Lincoln City Finders Keepers, a cultural tradition of the Oregon coast. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Oregonians Rose Bliss and Todd Terrell celebrate Finders Keepers.
© Joyce McGreevy

For one companionable moment, we share in the joy, happy as nine-year-old kids. That’s all it is—a moment, created by years of cultural tradition on the Oregon coast.

A lovely moment to share with your sis. If that isn’t finding treasure, what is?

Glass art in the pavement of a Lincoln City street reflects a cultural tradition of the Oregon coast. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Glass art graces sidewalks in Lincoln City.
© Joyce McGreevy

When will Lincoln City drop more glass floats? Find out here.

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

Joyce McGreevy 4 Comments

Clever Ideas/Cultural Heritage & Traditions/Nature Discovery/USA

Dec

Paris Honey: The Bees Knees

by Meredith Mullins on December 4, 2017

Bees in a beehive on honeycomb, part of discovering nature in Paris with urban beekeeping and the production of Paris honey. (Image © Shaiith/iStock.)

Paris Honey: The Bees Knees
© Shaiith/iStock

Urban Beekeeping Amid the Monuments

A hint of red berries. Deep molasses notes. A whiff of lychee. A dash of wet earth. A long clove finish. Are we tasting a Burgundy, a Southern Rhône, or a Bordeaux?

Actually . . . none of the above. In fact, we are talking about another kind of liquid treasure. Honey. Pure and (not so) simple.

In a city such as Paris, where gardens are a tradition and where residents tend to make the best of vertical space, bees are all the buzz. Paris honey is in.

Audric de Campeau of Le Miel de Paris at Ecole Militaire in Paris, discovering nature through urban beekeeping and the production of Paris honey. (Image © Le Miel de Paris.)

Hives atop the Paris École Militaire
Photo Courtesy of Le Miel de Paris

Paris would like to be the capital, not just of light and love, but of urban beekeeping.

The wide variety of flora, the frequent plantings in the city’s gardens (and private flower boxes), and the lack of pesticides allow bee colonies to thrive—a hopeful sign when bees in the countryside are declining, threatening the pollination that is necessary for agriculture.

Bee hives in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, a way of discovering nature with urban beekeeping and the production of Paris honey. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

The classic hives in the Luxembourg Gardens have been a part of the ecosystem since 1856.
© Meredith Mullins

Paris Past and Present Bee-Havior

Paris has a long history of beekeeping. The hives that are easily visible in the southwest corner of the Luxembourg Gardens were a part of a beekeeping project that began in 1856, followed by a beekeeping school that is still active today.

The more than 700 hives that now exist in Paris are usually somewhat hidden, to deter an errant bee swarm from attacking well-traveled tourist areas.

Bee hives on top of La Monnaie (the Paris Mint), discovering nature through urban beekeeping and the production of Paris honey. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Bees with a view—from the top of La Monnaie, the Paris Mint
© Meredith Mullins

However, you might be surprised to find that there are hives at several well-known Paris landmarks (mostly on rooftops).

Musée d’Orsay
La Monnaie de Paris (the Paris Mint)
Opéra Garnier and Opéra Bastille
Invalides (move over Napoléon)
Grand Palais
Assemblée Nationale (the National Assembly)
École Militaire (the Military School)
Institut de France
Le Bon Marche/Grand Épicerie store
Gare Austerlitz train station
High-rise buildings in the La Defense business area in west Paris
The headquarters of the French Communist Party (pourquoi pas?)

Audric de Campeau on the roof of La Monnaie, discovering nature via urban beekeeping and the production of Paris honey. (Image courtesy of Le Miel de Paris.)

An “office” in the sky
Photo Courtesy of Le Miel de Paris

Even hotels and restaurants are jumping on the beewagon. The Tour d’Argent restaurant, the Mandarin-Oriental, and The Westin Hotel (on rue de Rivoli) all have hives that provide an exclusive supply of honey to their chefs.

There is a beekeeper union (UNAF: Union Nationale de l’Apiculture Française), beekeeper associations, and a multitude of private hives with beekeepers of varying levels of expertise. A hive owner has only to acquire his or her materials, register the hive with the veterinary authority, and make sure the hive is 25 meters from a school or hospital.

Three jars of Paris honey, from the Musée d'Orsay, the Tour d'Argent, and Opera Garnier, discovering nature via urban beekeeping and Paris honey. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Exclusive Paris honey: from the roofs of the Musée d’Orsay, the Tour d’Argent, and Opéra Garnier
© Meredith Mullins

A Taste of Honey (Paris Honey: Le Miel de Paris)

So, how does an expert beekeeper make a mark in this new world of honey lovers?

Enter Audric de Campeau.

There are a few well-known beekeepers in Paris, but Audric is one of the most original. He eschews the traditional white beekeeper suit in favor of a stylish boater with a customized black net (and no gloves!).

Audric de Campeau works with bees on the roof of Boucheron near Place Vendome in Paris, discovering nature via urban beekeeping and the production of Paris honey. (Image © Le Miel de Paris.)

No traditional beekeeper suit for Audric de Campeau, as he works with his bees near Place Vendôme
Photo courtesy of Le Miel de Paris

And he is always with his trusty canine assistant Filou (although Filou understands the meaning of bee-ware and often keeps his distance from the hives, having been stung a few times).

A sign in French saying beware of bees, part of a trend of discovering nature via urban beekeeping and the production of Paris honey. (Image © Le Miel de Paris.)

Attention Abeilles (Bee-ware of Bees)
Photo Courtesy Le Miel de Paris

Audric knew, even as a teenager, that he was a farmer at heart. Nature was in his blood. He started growing grapes in the Champagne region at his family’s country home, and soon became captivated by the magic and mystery of bee colonies.

His passion convinced his parents to allow his experiments in apiculture, even though his father was allergic to bees.

Once Audric (and his bees) had become proficient at honey production, both his parents gently urged him to start selling his product. They said (diplomatically) that they could not keep up the pace of eating a kilo of honey a day.

Close up of bee hive, discovering nature via urban beekeeping and the production of Paris honey. (Image © Le Miel de Paris.)

A happy hive
Photo Courtesy of Le Miel de Paris

Audric went in search of places in the city for new hives. His love of history and architecture led him to the Paris landmarks. And his understanding of nature informed smart location choices near gardens like the Tuileries, which he calls “a fully-stocked fridge” of diverse nectars and pollens that bees need.

Audric de Campeau at the Institut de France, discovering nature via urban beekeeping and the production of Paris honey. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

An “Immortal” in his own right at the Institut de France
© Meredith Mullins

A Hive with a View

While most of the Paris bees have an incredible vista, the majority of bees’ working life is spent in the windowless hive. It’s the beekeeper who gets to have “an office in the sky,” as Audric likes to call it.

When Audric removes the roof of a hive to check on things, he is swept into another world. “It’s like opening a universe,” he says.

Audric de Campeau of Le Miel de Paris checking bee hives at Invalides, a way of discovering nature via urban beekeeping and the production of Paris honey. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Audric de Campeau checking the hives in a hidden corner of Invalides
© Meredith Mullins

You can tell by the way he senses what’s going on in the hive that he cares as much about the bees as he does about the honey they’re producing.

“It’s good for me,” he says. “You have to be calm and quiet when you’re working with a hive or the bees might kill you. It’s a good way to keep your stress level low.”

Audric de Campeau and Filou the dog at Invalides, discovering nature via urban beekeeping and the production of Paris honey. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

The Miel de Paris team—Audric and Filou (and the bees)
© Meredith Mullins

Oh, I See: Respecting Nature in the City

Discovering the hidden treasures of a city is a part of travel magic. The presence of bee hives in Paris—hundreds of little universes—as well as the resulting Paris honey, is one such improbable discovery. Urban beekeeping is here to stay.

However, it is the ability to cultivate these hidden treasures and respect their place in nature that makes them even more precious. Thank you, Audric, for showing us the way.

If video does not display, watch it here.

Visit Le Miel de Paris to find out more about Paris honey. Also Le Miel de Paris Facebook and Twitter.

Visit La Monnaie de Paris for more information about The Paris Mint (now open to the public).

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

Meredith Mullins Comments

France (Paris)/Nature Discovery

Oct

Traveling the World in Search of Weird Animals

by Meredith Mullins on October 30, 2017

Demonic eyes from one the weird animals found while traveling the world. (Image © Bastetamn/iStock.)

Creatures Destined for Halloween Fame

It all started with a Jerboa sighting . . .

This desert hopping rodent recently won the heart of the internet (and my heart as well). More cute than scary, Jerboas inspired me to expand my fauna horizons and begin virtually traveling the world in search of weird animals. And, apropos to the season, the results are creative fodder for last-minute Halloween costumes.

Four-toed jerboa, one of the weird animals found while traveling the world. (Image © Reptiles4all/iStock.)

The Jerboa—An Experiment in Mix ‘n Match

Long-eared Jerboas are such a mixture of parts, it’s as if they were drawn by a halluncinatory cartoonist. A rat head, cat whiskers, owl eyes, jackrabbit ears, kangaroo back legs, prairie dog front legs, and an oddly long tail.

They are found in Asian and African deserts. When fleeing from predators (or hurrying to an appointment), the Jerboa leaps and lands and leaps and lands (up to 10 feet with each hop), with kangaroo precision, appearing to be flying. You can almost see the cartoonist’s words floating above—Boing! Boing!

I thought not much could be weirder than the Jerboa, but I kept searching.

Tarsier, one of the weird animals found while traveling the world. (Image © Haveseen/iStock.)

The Tarsier—The Eyes Have It

This wide-eyed, tiny primate is, like the Jerboa, more cute than scary. It’s also a jumper and can jump more than 40 times its body length.

The Tarsier is found in the forests of Malaysian, Indonesian, and Philippine islands. It has the distinction of being able to turn its head 180 degrees in each direction—a truly all-seeing creature.

Does it remind you of anyone? (Hint: Star Wars)

While some say Yoda was based on Albert Einstein or was born directly from the creator’s imagination, the similarities between the Jedi master and the Tarsier have sparked some interesting discussions.

A Wolffish, one of the weird animals found while traveling the world. (Image © Paylessimages/iStock.)

The Atlantic Wolffish—A Fish with a Fang

There’s something about a fish with teeth that’s a bit disconcerting, especially one with fangs.

The Wolffish, sometimes called a devil fish or seawolf, looks ferocious with its large canines, powerful jaws, and thick eel-like body.

It is an aggressive predator, with a particular penchant for crunchy invertebrates such as sea urchins, shellfish, and crustaceans.

Wolffish don’t get out much. They keep to themselves in rocky cracks and crevices primarily in the cold water of the North Atlantic. The good news: they are so shy, they rarely take a bite out of a human.

King vulture, one of the weird animals found while traveling the world. (Image © Miroslav1/iStock.)

The King Vulture—Look Out Las Vegas

Let’s move from scary to showy.

The King Vulture looks like a Vegas showbird, with piercing red-ringed eyes and all the flash and color that might appear at the festivals of their habitat in Central and South America. Their face looks as if it’s adorned with an array of military braided cord as well as other striking splats of color.

They are the ultimate scavengers in their tropical lowland forests, and are called King because their size allows them to win a territorial fight over other, lesser, vultures.

In Mayan mythology, King Vultures often carried messages between humans and gods, a fitting task as they can soar for hours on air currents with very little effort.

Aye-aye, nocturnal lemur, one of the weird animals found while traveling the world (Image © Javaman3/iStock.)

The Aye Aye—Just Another Wide-Eyed Weirdo with Witch-Like Fingers

The Aye Aye lemur from Madagascar just begs for jokes about its name.

Knock. Knock.
Who’s there?
Aye Aye.
Aye Aye Who?
Aye Yai Yai Yai Yai. Will you stop with the knock knock jokes. (Bad lemur joke)

Aye Aye look cute and cuddly, but they are actually the world’s largest nocturnal primate. When they’re full-grown, they are around three feet in length, including their long tail.

They spend most of their time in the upper canopy of the forest—eating, sleeping, traveling, and mating in tree tops.

A knock knock joke is not completely out of line since they use their extra long 3^rd and 4th fingers to tap on trees to look for grubs and then extract them (a technique called percussive foraging).

They are endangered, primarily because the local people believe that an Aye Aye sighting will lead to the death of a villager. They also believe that the only response is to kill the animal as quickly as possible.

Hairy frogfish, one of the weird animals found while traveling the world. (Image © Atese/iStock.)

The Hairy Frogfish—A Fish that Fishes

One minute, the Hairy Frogfish looks like a sea monster having a bad hair day and the next it looks exactly like an ocean sponge or drifting seaweed near a coral reef. These pom-pom-like, spikey-haired creatures are masters of camouflage.

Hairy Frogfish are found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. They are voracious carnivores, eating everything and anything that comes within reach of their lightening mouth. Size doesn’t matter. They’ll eat fish even bigger than they are. They will even eat one of their own.

Oddly, they don’t much like to swim. They use their fins like legs to amble along the ocean floor, looking a bit like prehistoric dinosaurs thundering through a forest. You can almost feel the ocean floor shake.

They plant themselves in a prime feeding location and dangle their built-in wormlike lure to attract innocent passersby. Then . . . the big gulp, one of the fastest strikes of any animal on earth.

If this video does not display, watch it here.

A Parade of Weirdos

Traveling the world in search of weird animals yields an endless supply of fascinating creatures. The “Oh, I see” moments come quickly as we marvel at the range of animal life on our great planet . . . and the wonderful ways the strangest species adapt and survive.

Are they creepy or cute? You be the judge.

And, on a Halloween note, which one of these peculiar creatures will inspire your Halloween costume?

Knock. Knock.

Who’s there?