Last morning at camp for 2010

There are bluejays, chickadees, woodpeckers, - hairy – all flittering about.  I put out piles of sunflower seeds earlier – on top of the altar, logs, stumps, and built a little cairn by the fireplace and loaded that with seeds.  I even put some on top of the mushroom that grows off the altar.  I couldn’t unscrew the top of the actual birdfeeder so it is empty as is most of the squirrel feeder that I am unable to reach.  There have been nuthatches also, as well as mostly gray squirrels with an occasional exception for a couple red squirrels.  A flock of 4 very large crows (or ravens?) have been swooping in and landing on the altar to feed, but then flying off again realizing it’s only seed.  I see some creature ate the little mouse that I found dead inside the camp.  Perhaps Cobby who was here early this morning.  

A big fat turkey just walked right through the front yard.  I’m surprised he’s all alone but I don’t see any others.  Damn!  Didn’t even get a photo.  First time I’ve seen a turkey here though we used to get visits from some fat white geese that live on the stream.  They were about the same size as this turkey and it was entertaining to watch them interact with Cobby.

Then there’s a still.  One or two birds flitter around the perimeter but all is pretty quiet.  The dracaena is still thriving and an sporadic blossom on a geranium.  But mostly there are colors of autumn – yellows, reds, oranges, browns, and a definite chill to the air.   It was nice waking up to the bright sunrise shining on the colorful trees across the stream this morning.  The water was very calm and reflected the reds and yellows beneath a thin layer of fog. 

The propane level is at 80%.  If we turn off the pilot light, we should be able to relight it in the spring and go for several nights before needing a refill. 

A gray squirrel found the seeds on the cairn and then moved onto the next stash on a stump just a few feet away. 

And then the activity begins again with the bluejays swooping in, the chickadess shortly behind them, the nuthatches, crows, a hairy.  Bird tv.  Gotta love it.

We got camp closed down for the winter.  I still need to go back out and pour some antifreeze down the shower drain because we ran out before we got that far.  Hopefully the mice that come and go won't decide to nest in the bed or anything.  

"Columbus" Day

I slept in till about 10 this morning, got up to a nice fire in the fireplace and coffee waiting for me.  Enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and then we went for a little hike up French's Mountain

Came home and enjoyed some grilled cheese sandwiches on the deck and then went down and hung out in the hammock swings for a while.  Won't be long before we have to put them away for the winer.

Gorgeous fall day!!!

Getting ready to glaze

I'm afraid the big easter egg falls into the category of "just because you can doesn't mean you should."  I glazed it with chun in hopes of toning it down a bit.  It's intended to be a plant pot.  In the far left  corner is a large pitcher with which I was very pleased.  A small pitcher, a couple of covered pieces and some mugs, oh yes, and the large platter in the back round out the collection.  

My newest piece

I love this piece I made the other morning when I couldn't sleep.  Yesterday I put some little round feet on the bottom.  I rather like it in the gray that it is right now but when it gets bisque fired it will turn to a flesh color.  I don't really have any glaze that would equal this gray.   In the past I've glazed these in different colors for each section but then the glaze kind of takes over.  I think I might try a single, subtle color glaze on this one and see if it brings out the detail work more.  I'll post a photo of the completed piece when it's done.

I love having the space to do handbuilding at home and can't wait till I can afford a kiln and a wheel!

I really kicked butt on throwing during this class session.  I must have 10 or more pieces - some quite large pieces - to glaze this week.  I find glazing the most difficult part of the whole process as you just don't know what's going to happen.  The glazes can be fine one firing and the next firing they'll run or turn icky shades.  The chun has turned a really icky mucus green in the past.  Last firing apparently the spambo ran terribly.  The cappuccino turns white instead of brown if you get it too thick.  And when you've worked really hard on a piece it stinks to have it ruined at the final step with crappy glaze results.  But I guess all we can do is hold our breaths and hope for the best.