Frozen Pots update

Disappointment! When my frozen pots thawed the reptilian texture was completely gone.  Here they are leather hard, trimmed and decorated with no sign of the texture.

Tulips carved and painted with white porcelain slip on stoneware pot. 

White porcelain slip texture experiment on stoneware plate.

Hattie with a favorite toy.

Sapphire, Amber and Ruby (peeking over the bench)

Crazy Dog Lady

I've officially joined the ranks of crazy dog ladies, closely related to crazy horse ladies. I put a down payment on five yearling Katahdin wethers and have two months to get fencing up, loafing shed built,  feeders, etc. The chocolate and spotted boys in the photo are mine along with three whites. Hattie will be in charge of their daily routine, adding to her duck responsibilities. She'll be a happy dog. Is there anything I won't do for my border collie? I had a choice between these Katahdins or Black-bellied Barbados, two breeds of hair sheep. The Kats have dog experience and are less skittish than Barbs, so the Kats won out. We are looking forward to bringing these boys home.

Frozen Pots

There was another hard freeze last night and the duck pool is a big ice cube. A few warm days last week lured me back into the mud room but unfortunately my clay hadn't dried before this latest cold snap hit. I found my pots covered with an unusual texture this morning. I have no idea how this will play out after they thaw and are trimmed. It might be very interesting.

Then there is Hattie. She's a wild thing with her toys, flinging them by the rope while spinning in circles and circling around me. It's like a dance performance. When she does it with the Jolly ball on a long rope it's a real show.

Spinning like a top, only one rear paw stationary, the rest of her a blur....

Hooper's Day

 Remembering Hooper today, her indomitable sunny spirit and drive.  I miss you girl.  💕

Sequim Candle Vigil

A small crowd showed up at Sequim's main intersection last night in support of the Women's March on Washington. I estimate it was >50 <100, but a good turnout considering the event was publicized by word of mouth and Sequim is largely pro Trump. What luck, eh? We moved to WA looking forward to living in a blue state after so many years in AK and AZ, and ended up in a conservative area. Oh well. This event was a gathering more than a protest. No permit was acquired so signs were forbidden (hurrah to the two women who bucked the rules) as was marching and chanting. Some of us wore pink pussy hats to signify our purpose (thanks to the generosity of the woman who sewed a bunch and handed them out), we waved our candles at passing cars and let out cheers when supporters honked, laughed at the ones who flipped us off, and it was mostly quiet fun with like-minded souls for an hour. 

Women Unite

Women marched worldwide today and it was amazing. This is one of my favorite signs from the march in London.

Thinking about women

Stories from the Rare Historical Photos website. 

Links go to the stories behind the photos. 

Women being arrested for wearing one piece swim suits, 1920s

Jewish woman being chased during pogroms

French resistance fighter

Russian snipers, 775 confirmed kills

Women protest the forced wearing of hijab after Iranian Revolution, 1979

2017, A New Year

Louisville Flood 1937

Trump Tower, Mumbai 2016

New Work (Greenware)

Here are pictures of some of the porcelain stuff I've been working on for months. I'm not sure if I've posted them before, but if so here's a second look. I'm still not ready to fire. The kiln shelves need an application of kiln wash and a few pieces still need more drying time.

We had a little snow yesterday making for a cold, gray day. Cold weather puts a damper on my clay work. I can get the air temperature in the mud room to a comfortable level when I'm working but the clay and water stay cold making for stiff hands, and it takes forever for anything to dry.

Winter Weather

We haven't gotten snow yet but it's been cold, and expecting colder still next week. I pulled out this sweatshirt we bought for Tux when she was too sick to stand the cold weather on our travels. It never fit Tux properly and I bought a different one for her, but now it will help Hattie until hers arrives from Amazon. Tomorrow morning we have a nosework fun match and she might need it to stay warm while we're waiting in the cold. She's such a pampered house dog now!

Hattie models a sweatshirt

Hattie's Birthday

Hattie is four years old today! She got a fish burger / fried egg "cake" with a sweet potato candle to share with Tux. They wolfed it down and wanted seconds.

Now getting a little more comfortable with the camera, I think she'll be a top model before long. She has a bit of a street urchin look, don't you think?

We have a nosework fun match this Sunday to raise money for the spring UKC meet where she can earn nosework certifications. Wish us luck!