Sorry I am getting late to posting, but I figure I would go ahead and tell about my week last week before i start my internship this week.
By this time, the Napoleon Parlor as well as the Dining Room and Library are starting to take shape more and more. The time is counting down until Villa Finale opens to the public. Docent training is on-going apparently, but that will be discussed later. On this day, I was joined by a lady who generally works at the visitor center named Diana who was helping place items back in cases. Tobin joined us later as she was cleaning furniture for Meg. I was told to put a variety of items back into a two-shelved case. This included dog and human band figurines from germany, various silverware, etc. etc. My favorite was a tiny album shaped like a suitcase which stated "somebody's luggage" and contained various photos of Tom Thumb (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Tom_Thumb) and his wife, seemingly pre- and post wedding. Apparently, after finding a news clipping in the case, Mr. Mathis was a fan of Gen. Tom and his wife as well. It perhaps has something to do with his impersonations of Napoleon Bonaparte of which Mathis is an obvious huge fan of.
I was told that I, or Tobin, could clean the giant mirror that lined the back wall of the room. Since Tobin was cleaning, I was going to attempt it. Halfway up the ladder, my father's infamous fear of heights caught up with me and the fact I have very bad balance made me come down. Tobin, on the other hand, had no problem accomplishing this task, climbing up the ladder barefoot and straddling the top as needed. My feet are definitely better on the ground.
Did I mention this was the first day I experienced air conditioning in the house? So nice! Everyone was enjoying the difference from hot and sticky air to the cooler environments. Mostly my day was spent cleaning and putting things back together.
More to come,
Ellen
Monday, August 23, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Day 5: Things are taking shape
In my absence due to my schedule at work, things had begun to move along in the shaping of the house museum between the Tuesday I was there and the Thursday upon which I returned to do my internship work. Meg said that the movers had come and moved all the major pieces into their respective rooms, meaning that the Napoleon Parlor which I have spent so much time in looked a bit different.
As I entered the room, I noticed a new face, a woman in her late 20s-early 30s with short clipped brown hair and dark complexion, cleaning objects. Meg announced that although she was not a student (she is actually a free-lance photographer), she would be interning just for the experience. Unfortunately, I cannot remember her name. I know it starts with a "V" and she is a lovely lady from Spain. Another older woman in her 50s joined as well, named Rebecca, who I learned was from Louisiana and is a HUGE LSU fan. She asked me if I went to "Bama" and I replied, no, I went to South Alabama, but I did have friends who went there. She was nice about it, but underneath, I could tell she wasn't a big fan of the school. She told me at least 2 of her children went to LSU. Later, I discussed with Meg that LSU fans were an unique brand.
We all cleaned figures from the Napoleonic collection that Mr. Mathis had collected over the years. He apparently had an intense interest in Napoleon that lasted all his life which drove him to buy many pieces featuring the likes of the small general including, as Chris the grounds manager put, "pieces of gift shop junk".
Lunch came around (finally) as I was tired from closing at work the night before. Meg, Chris, and I sat in the parlor and ate lunch while talking. I found out Chris had a link to Sigourney Weaver through his wife's cousin, who had directed her in a film called Girl in the Park. I would die for him to be able to get Sigourney's autograph for me. Meg knows very well it is my holy grail of photographs and to attain it, I will die happy.
After lunch, Meg invited me to the kitchen for a treat of ice cream (donated by whom I do not know, but it was blue bell and that had me sold) before I went back to cleaning objects. We chatted a bit about dogs and my father, who I told her had a similar fascination with objects like Mr. Mathis, except his came in phases, instead of one long run. After the chat, I went back to cleaning and was joined by the other intern while we listened to the radio that Joe, the electrician from Boston who enlightened us with mob stories over lunch, had brought.
More to report as it comes!!
-Ellen
As I entered the room, I noticed a new face, a woman in her late 20s-early 30s with short clipped brown hair and dark complexion, cleaning objects. Meg announced that although she was not a student (she is actually a free-lance photographer), she would be interning just for the experience. Unfortunately, I cannot remember her name. I know it starts with a "V" and she is a lovely lady from Spain. Another older woman in her 50s joined as well, named Rebecca, who I learned was from Louisiana and is a HUGE LSU fan. She asked me if I went to "Bama" and I replied, no, I went to South Alabama, but I did have friends who went there. She was nice about it, but underneath, I could tell she wasn't a big fan of the school. She told me at least 2 of her children went to LSU. Later, I discussed with Meg that LSU fans were an unique brand.
We all cleaned figures from the Napoleonic collection that Mr. Mathis had collected over the years. He apparently had an intense interest in Napoleon that lasted all his life which drove him to buy many pieces featuring the likes of the small general including, as Chris the grounds manager put, "pieces of gift shop junk".
Lunch came around (finally) as I was tired from closing at work the night before. Meg, Chris, and I sat in the parlor and ate lunch while talking. I found out Chris had a link to Sigourney Weaver through his wife's cousin, who had directed her in a film called Girl in the Park. I would die for him to be able to get Sigourney's autograph for me. Meg knows very well it is my holy grail of photographs and to attain it, I will die happy.
After lunch, Meg invited me to the kitchen for a treat of ice cream (donated by whom I do not know, but it was blue bell and that had me sold) before I went back to cleaning objects. We chatted a bit about dogs and my father, who I told her had a similar fascination with objects like Mr. Mathis, except his came in phases, instead of one long run. After the chat, I went back to cleaning and was joined by the other intern while we listened to the radio that Joe, the electrician from Boston who enlightened us with mob stories over lunch, had brought.
More to report as it comes!!
-Ellen
Friday, August 13, 2010
Day 4: Enter Tobin
Day 4 at the museum included a new guest, the old summer intern, Tobin, who reminded very much of a sprite from Greek mythology. It included filling in many past perfect (collections program) forms for very many collection objects. Nothing new, but work. I got to clean porcelain dishes and discovered the wonder of popsicles in the freezer! According to Tobin, we were allowed up to 10 a day.
Tobin filled me in on many good localities in San Antonio to visit while I am here (if I am not here past December) including telling me to eat a local burger place I am excited to one day try (Chris Madrid's) and telling me that sweet tea is a delicacy in San Antonio, there are no Taco Bells in San Antonio because of the popularity of the local Taco Cabana, which, as Tobin says, "kicks Taco Bell's ass". Also that San Antonio has heat wave days like hurricane days in Alabama, and I must make it to Schlitterbahn, which is a dream of mine.
Tobin filled me in on many good localities in San Antonio to visit while I am here (if I am not here past December) including telling me to eat a local burger place I am excited to one day try (Chris Madrid's) and telling me that sweet tea is a delicacy in San Antonio, there are no Taco Bells in San Antonio because of the popularity of the local Taco Cabana, which, as Tobin says, "kicks Taco Bell's ass". Also that San Antonio has heat wave days like hurricane days in Alabama, and I must make it to Schlitterbahn, which is a dream of mine.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Day 3: Cataloging and Cleaning
Sorry that I am a little late with this posting. I was exhausted Thursday night and been working and dealing with the passing of my grandfather most of today.
Thursday I got a break from primarily cleaning objects and actually got to start working on the objects catalog for Meg. I know it sounds thrilling, but its just part of the work I will be doing one day in a beginning museum job. I cataloged an assortments of old candy molds and various shaped cookie cutters from Mr. Mathis's (the late owner of the house) collection as well as dusted and cleaned them. One of the electricians looked over at me and went, "cookie cutters? sheesh!" which made me smile. As with archaeology, you have to love your work to enjoy it and even with these small things, I enjoy it.
At lunch we discussed Man vs. Food and Meg found out I don't like potatoes. She was as shocked as anyone else. Apparently her husband is a big fan of potatoes, and I explained to her that only in awfulforyou form do I eat them, but she wasn't the only one to quandry why I hated them so. As to quote Da, "You are Irish! How can you not like potatoes?!"
At then end of the day I cleaned a giant vase/urn that had different scenes upon it as well as a Devil's head upon the handle. Kind of creepy. I got to leave early as Meg had a meeting at the Visitor's Center a few blocks over.
On a side note, I am going to miss my grandfather. I know he wasn't in the best place for the past 3 years, but I know now he is happy and at peace for once. One of the most patient men I ever knew in my life, I remember him asking us if we wanted a cold drink anytime we visited him and proceeded to tell me that there was tea or beer or whatever I liked in the fridge, a man who always asked me if I was reading Blondie when I read the comics at my great-grandmother's house, who told fantastic stories in his prime like my father, was always glad to see you, and made one hell of a gumbo. I am glad to say I am related to him.
Robert James Ferrill
November 21, 1927-August 6, 2010
Thursday I got a break from primarily cleaning objects and actually got to start working on the objects catalog for Meg. I know it sounds thrilling, but its just part of the work I will be doing one day in a beginning museum job. I cataloged an assortments of old candy molds and various shaped cookie cutters from Mr. Mathis's (the late owner of the house) collection as well as dusted and cleaned them. One of the electricians looked over at me and went, "cookie cutters? sheesh!" which made me smile. As with archaeology, you have to love your work to enjoy it and even with these small things, I enjoy it.
At lunch we discussed Man vs. Food and Meg found out I don't like potatoes. She was as shocked as anyone else. Apparently her husband is a big fan of potatoes, and I explained to her that only in awfulforyou form do I eat them, but she wasn't the only one to quandry why I hated them so. As to quote Da, "You are Irish! How can you not like potatoes?!"
At then end of the day I cleaned a giant vase/urn that had different scenes upon it as well as a Devil's head upon the handle. Kind of creepy. I got to leave early as Meg had a meeting at the Visitor's Center a few blocks over.
On a side note, I am going to miss my grandfather. I know he wasn't in the best place for the past 3 years, but I know now he is happy and at peace for once. One of the most patient men I ever knew in my life, I remember him asking us if we wanted a cold drink anytime we visited him and proceeded to tell me that there was tea or beer or whatever I liked in the fridge, a man who always asked me if I was reading Blondie when I read the comics at my great-grandmother's house, who told fantastic stories in his prime like my father, was always glad to see you, and made one hell of a gumbo. I am glad to say I am related to him.
Robert James Ferrill
November 21, 1927-August 6, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Day 2: New Faces, New Objects to Clean
I returned to Villa Finale amidst the heat and humidity of the Texas summer day. The lights are still off and the air conditioning is still cut. However, my place in the Napoleon room was in front of a nice big fan and I enjoy the cooling breeze thoroughly. I also bought my off! clip-on to help me to not be eaten alive by mosquitoes. Luckily, my plan worked.
I started off by cleaning a large metal and glass hanging lamp. It wasn't too bad, but the dust under the gilding was ridiculously hard to get out. Q-tips only do so much!! I got to meet the rest of the Villa Finale staff and they were all very nice. Lunch went by quietly and I learned that the grounds manager, Chris, was a former collegiate-level diver and that divers are about as rowdy as any other athletes.
I finished up my day by cleaning a chandelier, which is much harder than it seems, and cleaning a bronze figurine. I was so afraid i was going to break something on the chandelier since the wiring is fragile and it consisted of large teardrop glass fragments. Oh dear.
I was told that Thursday I may not actually be cleaning anything! Moving things? Maybe.
--Ellen
I started off by cleaning a large metal and glass hanging lamp. It wasn't too bad, but the dust under the gilding was ridiculously hard to get out. Q-tips only do so much!! I got to meet the rest of the Villa Finale staff and they were all very nice. Lunch went by quietly and I learned that the grounds manager, Chris, was a former collegiate-level diver and that divers are about as rowdy as any other athletes.
I finished up my day by cleaning a chandelier, which is much harder than it seems, and cleaning a bronze figurine. I was so afraid i was going to break something on the chandelier since the wiring is fragile and it consisted of large teardrop glass fragments. Oh dear.
I was told that Thursday I may not actually be cleaning anything! Moving things? Maybe.
--Ellen
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