Step Two.

 Make apple sauce.

Step One

 Step one - pick the apples

Ancient Perfume Flasks

 I am currently in Los Angeles and yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit Getty Villa which opened as a museum back in the mid 60's.  One part of the exhibit showed ancient perfume flasks and there was a short video showing how they made them.

These flasks help perfumes and were all made in about the same way.  I was fascinated as I watched the video .  These two pictures are of the finished flasks.  You can see the different shapes and colors they were found in.  

To make these flasks they put together a mixture of something like dung, sand, and clay to form the core.  They mixed the ingredients until they were totally moldable and then formed a cylindrical shape they then placed a long like metal rod to.  They let the core dry enough to shape it with a knife into the perfect shape they wanted.  They might scrape off enough material to make a narrow top with a wider bottom or they might make it so it is about the same shape all the way down.

Once the shape is satisfactory, they dipped it in glass that is a solid color.  Once they've got the base done, they got a different colored glass and carefully dripped it on as they swirled the base so it spiraled around the container.  They might do two or three colors by the time they were done with it.  Once the colors had been applied and they spiraled around the container, they took a sharp object and used it to move the colors down or up so they formed interesting patterns.

Once the patterns were completed and satisfactory, they would shape the mouth of the jar.  Once it was completed and the glass cooled, they would pull the metal rod out and any core that came with it.  If there was still core left, they would tap the container lightly and dump the dust out.  Now it was done and they could fill it with perfume and add a stopper.

I love knowing how they did this.  I hope you enjoyed the description. Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great weekend.

What Type Of Shoe To Wear For Working Out

I am fully aware that there are all sorts of shoes one can buy to workout in. I've been told I need this shoe for this, or this for that but I can't afford to buy different shoes to do cardio, weights, walking etc but in general one should look at what exercises make up the majority of your workout.

I tend to go after a shoe that I can wear for all the different types of exercising I like to do.  One can look for a general shoe to use when working out at the gym but it really depends on what type of workouts you mostly do.

In general the shoe should have a closed toe, be comfortable, provide good support for the whole foot, and have a solid heel.  It should also be breathable, with the proper curve on the sole for the activity.  If your workout consists mostly of aerobics, workout machines or light weightlifting, a cross training shoe is the best choice because it has a low arch to provide good balance, a sole with little to no curve so it grips the floor better and lets a person raise to their toes when they are conditioning or using weights.  

In addition, cross trainers are firmer than running shoes, act as better shock absorbers than weightlifting shoes, and offer good lateral support.  Its advantage is that these shoes can be worn for a variety of exercises so they are not as specialized as others. If you don't want a cross trainer, look at a minimalist exercise shoe which are quite light and flexible with a little bit of cushioning but again, these shoes can be used for a variety of workouts.

If the workout consists mostly of heavy weightlifting, you might want to invest in a weightlifting shoe because it has sturdy soles with a lift in the heal so you have a larger range of motion in your ankle or calf.  This allows you to perform lower squats, while allowing better stability in the larger lifts such as a front squat, or a squat snatch.

On the other hand, if you go to the gym to run, walk, or use treadmills, you might think about using a running shoe. A running shoe is designed to keep you from being injured, improve your comfort, and improve your performance.  It  provides both support and the cushioning needed when you are running around the track or outside while allowing you to do mat exercises to stretch out after warming up or at the end.  When selecting a running shoe, choose it based on your gait, not the name or brand.

When you go to buy a new pair of shoes, you need to make sure they fit snugly so you are ready to go. Your feet want to feel locked in. Furthermore, you need to make sure to wear the type of socks you will be wearing when you work out.  This is so the shoes fit properly with the socks you use.

No matter what shoes you choose, you need to monitor them.  It is important to check them regularly to see what shape they are in. You are looking to see if the shoe is wearing out by looking at the amount of wear at the heel or if the inside cushioning is showing signs of wear, it might be time to replace them.  Once source recommends replacing shoes every 300 to 400 miles of use.  In addition, if you experience pain while you wear them or after you wear them, that is another sign they need to be replaced. 

Personally, I go with the cross trainers because I do a variety of workouts but I don't run and I'm not into heavy weightlifting, so these are perfect for me.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear. Have a great day.

Best Material For Exercise Clothes Part 2.

 Not all of the materials used to make exercise clothing are made out of synthetic fabrics.  Some are made out of natural fibers which is great since there are some folks out there who have issues wearing many of the fabrics mentioned in part one.

One of the natural fibers is merino wool and before you go no way, they've actually improved it so it is not as itchy as it used to be.  Merino wool exercise clothing can be worn in both cool and warm weather even though most associate wool with the fall and winter weather.

This type of wool is both thinner and softer than regular wool.  In addition, it is great at wicking sweat away from your body and it does double duty.  When the weather is cooler, the waviness of the fibers traps the warm air produced by your body and when the weather is warmer, the fibers draw the sweat and moisture away from your body.  Although wool is really great, you are more likely to find exercise clothing made out of a mixture of the wool and polyester or some other similar fabric because merino wool is expensive.  

Then there is clothing made out of bamboo which provides a luxurious alternative to polyester and other synthetic fibers.  Bamboo is an environmentally, sustainable, plant used in so many things from paper to  cutlery, to furniture.  The pulp is easily made into a lightweight natural fiber that is often used in activewear.  Furthermore, bamboo like merino wool is mixed with other fibers and is more expensive than other fibers.  Bamboo wicks moisture, helps keep down the odor, helps regulate your body temperature, and is extremely soft.

It is easy to find clothing made of cotton but you do not want to wear cotton when you are actively exercising and working up a sweat.  Although it is light and breathable, it is wonderful at absorbing any moisture and sweat produced by your body.  This means the clothing just gets heavier and heavier because the only place the moisture goes is into the fabric.  Furthermore, if you work out when it is extremely humid, you are going to feel like you are wearing a heavy towel by the end of the session. Now if you plan to do a light workout and won't be sweating, cotton is just fine and it is so easy to take care of.  Cotton washes well and easily releases any odors and smells absorbed during the day.

If you work outside and the weather is cooler, you might want to consider Gore-Tex.  Gore-Tex is normally found in outdoor clothing, shoes, hats, and gloves.  We see it more often in shops that specialize in outdoor stuff.  Technically, Gore-tex is actually a fabric membrane rather than a material. It is waterproof, windproof, and breathable at the same time.  It coats fabrics where it repels moisture, and allows vapor to pass through and evaporate.

The final material one finds in exercise or active wear is mesh.  Mesh is great in warm weather or when you need a bit extra air flow.  Mesh adds breathability and coolness to workout clothing.  In addition, it is usually made from polyester or nylon and you will seldom find anything made completely out of mesh.  Clothing with cutouts made of mesh are best worn in warm or hot, humid climates, or if you sweat a lot or need to allow more moisture to evaporate.

So now you know the different types of materials used in exercise, workout, or activewear and you know what type to choose in the various situations.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  I hope you have a great week.

Go Camping

 Get away from others by camping.

Still Time To.........

 There is still time to enjoy the outdoors