Gophers, Cones and Leaves...Oh My!

I am temporarily using an electric kiln here in the mountains, as I have no place (yet) to place my gas kiln. This has made me make some adjustments to my work schedule and firing habits, among many other considerations. Today I went outside to load the kiln for a bisque firing. I made heart ornaments and pendants and really wanted to get them done for Valentine's Day. Just because. The electric kiln will not fire without a pyrometric cone placed in the "kiln sitter" My cones are gone! I tore the place apart looking and they did not turn up. Maybe a bear ate them? This is a minor tragedy. I broke a bigger cone down to size and inserted it so I could at least start the kiln. Shheesh. I am frustrated. No place up here to go buy more cones. I will have to watch the kiln very carefully, as I do anyway. Hopefully I can get some work done today. 

I am on my 36th bag of leaves raked up from my property. My cabin is a leaf magnate and believe me, I am not picky about leaves. But I do like to walk outside without wading through a pile of them. Just when I think I am finished with it, the wind blows and there they are. 

I think I also may have gophers. My little shiba inu dog, Davie has been digging like a dervish. He might be after something! Or maybe he is just a jerk. Layla has stayed in the yard all week! I am even afraid to write this, perhaps jinx it??? I should by some fairy dust and sprinkle it around and make a wish.   

I am so very tired of being cold. I think someday someone will find me shriveled and dessicated in a corner with all my blankets.

Merry Christmas and Thank You to all!

Merry Christmas!

I want to thank all of my faithful customers and friends for their support this year. I appreciate it more than I can say. I know this has been another tough year, but we made it!

Today here in the mountains it is COLD! Big surprise. It is sunny and beautiful, but the wind is so cold it takes the enamel off your teeth. I went to Trader Joes (down the mountain) this morning with my sister Cathy. It was pleasant weather in Redlands, where she likes to shop. When I got home I was freezing! Thought I would just snuggle inside today. But my dog Layla dug under the fence (again) and I had to round her up. I also had to fix the hole. By the time I was finished, I was done. It is just too cold.

I didn't work today, didn't even go down to the dungeon. Maybe tomorrow if the wind stops. I really miss being able to work all day every day if I choose. I really like making pottery.

I hope you all have wonderful Holidays!

Sandy

Cold, cold weather.....and stuff

Some background, so you know why I am so surprised with the weather..
I moved to Crestline from my home in Long Beach last June. I had lived in Long Beach my entire life (with short exceptions). Long Beach has an average temperature of 72 degrees all year. I had never experienced a major change of seasons. Crestline, being at 4500 feet in the San Bernadino Mountains, has seasons. I am living through Fall now. It is beautiful, all the leaves dropping and the smell of wood fires in the air. It is way colder than I am used to. I had to buy long underwear!!! Last night, it was supposed to snow but did not, at least here in the Valley of Enchantment (where my cabin is).

Because I am used to even weather, I am having trouble with my pots drying. It is much dryer here, so I have to cover pottery with plastic so it does not dry too fast. When it is really cold, I guess I have to put a heater in the Dungeon (my studio has earned this nick-name) so pots will not freeze when drying. I found this out when I threw 10 dinner plates and 6 of them cracked all the way across! I was stunned! I hope I can figure out how to dry them successfully soon...this gets expensive! My hands also freeze. They are always in water, whether throwing pots or painting them. This makes it a little slower going. I can't use (yet) my large gas kiln, there is really nowhere to put it. I am using a very small electric kiln. It works, but I can't make as much pottery as I used to. This frustrates me a little.

My dogs keep digging out of the yard which they never did in Long Beach. I have to stop working and chase them around until they are back in the yard. Stella and Dave have developed a taste for paper and eat my bills...Layla is being very good except when she gets out.

I just finished my HOME SHOW at my daughter Carly and her husband Aaron's home in Long Beach. I had a good show and enjoyed seeing some of my old customers. And I got to spend a day and night with my daughter!!!!!

This Saturday the 26th I will be participating in the 2nd annual Small Business Saturday. This is the first year I have participated. It is an event to promote small businesses encouraging shoppers to shop small and shop local this holiday season. I am offering 10% off all etsy orders on Saturday ONLY. To redeem this offer use coupon code SBS2011 when checking out.

My last show of the year is December 10 and 11 in San Francisco at the KPFA craft fair. I am looking forward to it and then I plan to concentrate on some very big pots!

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!