Denice

Great looking jars of jelly, I have had gooseberry jelly but have never heard of Tayberry. What is the taste similar too? Denice

When the Coronavirus spread first started I was getting ready to start on tile project so I had taken a count of the different types of clay I had and weight. I also went through my chemicals and glazes to see if I was low on anything. I was going to do some testing and hate it when I am in the middle of mixing a glaze and missing a chemical. This has turned into a much longer shelter in, our county closed down a week ago and now they are talking about the state. My husband and I are in the almost 70 category, he has mild diabetes and I have MS so we have to be vigilant a in avoiding exposure. Thankfully we both have plenty of projects to keep us busy. Denice

No bears here, there is a private zoo a half mile from us with exotic animals, we will have to take a drive and see what animals are out and about. We often see a group of camels running across the fields, their size and strength is very impressive. The heron rookery by the creek is full this year, nice to have them back, they disappeared for a couple of years. The deer and coyotes are still playing hide and seek, I think the deer are winning. I see some hungry looking coyotes around, I have to keep a close eye on my dog. My husband loves to cook, so far he has made a loaf of farm type bread and a loaf of raisin bread. The raisin bread wasn't sweet and didn't have enough raisins any suggestions would be appreciated. We are trying to help keep some of the food places in business while everyone is sheltered in. Went through a drive thru at a chicken place the other day, haven't done that since we gave up fried foods twenty years ago. IHOP is delivering in our neighborhood so we are going to order a dinner from them. We have never had a meal there so that will be a whole new experience. Ordered groceries on line for the first time. we can pick them up Monday at noon, good thing I didn't need them this week. Denice

I don't have any snow views but I do have a field across the street full of wild life. It is turkey mating season, the male puts on a nice show but you can tell that the female is the boss. I finally finished glass casting done, it is time to start assembling and mortaring everything in place. That will have to wait until better weather. My husband has started working on the basement, it is unfinished so wiring, plumbing, framing and sheet rocking needs to be done. He has finished the storage room and wood working shop and is working on the bathroom now. I need to make some more tile for the shower, he changed the design and made it larger. I have the clay and glaze ready, I just need to start rolling and cutting. We are lucky we both have plenty of projects to keep us busy during the next three weeks of shelter at home. Denice

There are a lot of potters who drive to Wichita and make a day of it, usually they have a relative that lives here. My ceramic supplier does add some freight to the clay he sells, it is less than what I would pay for it. I ordered a 25lb block of Flinthill clay recently from Kansas City, it use to be carried by my supplier. I needed to replace a broken lid, it cost me $25 for the clay and $25 for the freight. I tried to talk my husband into taking a little trip to KC but he wasn't interested. Denice

Johnny K are tided my supplier is about 15 minutes away in traffic. There are only two ceramic suppliers in Kansas, I am lucky to live near one. I may pay a little more for my supplies now and then than I would on the internet but I want to keep these guys in business. Denice

I usually make my own glazes, I will buy premix if I need a small amount for a special project especially if it is a difficult color to obtain. My son wanted a set of mugs that was a bright orange, I wanted to make sure they would be food safe. After a little research I headed for the ceramic store and found the perfect glaze. It is not worth the time and effort to mix and test glazes for a one time project. Denice

I am going to try throwing again today, I tried a couple of days ago and it did not go well. My hand doctor told me it could be a couple of months before I get completely healed. I hope my hand will cooperate today if it doesn't I think I will start coiling again. Tried using my slab roller and couldn't turn the wheel with my right hand had to use my left hand and arm. Wish me luck! Denice

I would take my kilns into my local ceramic shops to have them repaired, new elements ect. My husband could of done it, if he wanted to but he was always too tired and stressed from work and would only repair what was necessary around the house. Now that he has retired he has worked on all three of my kilns, and practically rebuilt our refrigerator and wonders why he wouldn't tackle these jobs when he was working. He wrote technical manuals on buses, amusement rides, and airplanes so he had the knowledge to repair anything. His hobby is rebuild and restore old muscle cars, I always understood how he wanted to spend what little free time he had working on them. Denice

A glass of water and a small dark dark chocolate bar that I break up in to tiny pieces. Caffeine, sugar, antioxidants and sometimes lunch in one bar. Denice

I have a dishpan in my sink that I wash my hands in and any objects covered with clay. After the clay settles I pour the top clear water into my settling drain and the thick clay goes into the trash. I have only cleaned my 15 gallon settling system once and I had my son carry the clay gunk upstairs. If I get some funky smell coming up from my drain I pour some bleach in it. Denice

My first studio just had a bucket of water, that was alright I just did hand building. My second studio had cold water and I had a garden hose on a utility sink that drained out doors. My third studio had hot and cold water in a tiny sink and a simple bucket settling system where the clear water went into a floor drain. I built my current studio it has a nice large sink, hot and cold water. The drain line on the sink goes down to a settling system in the basement, the clear water drains into the sump pump. I am still very conservative with my water use I guess it is my training from my bucket days. Denice

Still down and out with my hand I hope the hand doctor gives me good news next week. Big excitement today was going grocery shopping, my husband scours the store for meals that are easy to make. He use to complain when I bought them but now that he is the cook those meals are pretty good. Denice

Unloading a kiln later today, my husband will have to unload it for me still on lifting restrictions. It is so hard to stay out of my studio, I have two more weeks to go. Denice

It was sad but I have accepted that life doesn't always come out the way you think it will. You have to accept the bumps and turns in life and find joy in other moments, I have the memories of past Christmas and that is enough. I hope everyone enjoys their holiday and appreciates every second of it. Denice

We don't exchange gifts anymore, I found out that my sister in-law threw our gifts away every year. I didn't ever give that many pieces of pottery as gifts, I will make a piece upon request. My son and his wife send a list of what to order from Amazon for them. Denice

Nothing going on in my shop just got the stitches out of my wrist and hand and it will be four more weeks before I can do much. What a bummer. Denice

I stocked up on it about 10 years ago right before a price increase so I still have plenty. Denice

Firing a bisque today, I wanted to get this done before I get my hand surgery done Wednesday. Having my carpal tunnel fixed in my right wrist and my flip finger, the surgeon said I should be as healed up with no restrictions in 6 weeks. Denice

I use to make these small kidney shaped sculptures that had designs carved on them. The gallery that I sold at wanted something small for people to buy, I wanted something that people could enjoy tactically. They sold quite well. Denice

It's kind of strange I like to see the balance and attention to design in the piece but I like to feel the imperfections in a hand made pot. When you pick up a factory made utility bowl it doesn't evoke any feelings it is so dead feeling you could easily toss it aside and let it shatter on the floor. When you pick up a handmade bowl you can feel the energy. you pour over it examining every nook and cranny and setting it down ever so gently. Denice

Marcia is that 7-9 inches of snow on top of what you have in your photo? That is pretty snow you have, we don't get enough snow for it to be pretty. We have a prediction of a half of inch Thursday but the weather man said it probably wouldn't happen. Some years we don't get any snow. With your new fuming set up you will be able to get a lot more work done. Have fun! Denice

Min that sounds like a wasp/bee we have around here, it is called a Cykada killer, it was imported here in the twenties when Kansas had the locust invasion. A sting from them will put you in the hospital. Just got back from the Senior housing, my mother in-law was eating dinner and couple of ladies sat next to her. They asked her where she use to live and she told them down the street, she asked them where they use to live. The one lady said she didn't remember and asked her friend, her friend told her she came from Timbucktoo! My mother in-law is 96 and has all her wits could barely keep a straight face, living in a senior village might be fun after all. Heading out to my studio. Denice