2016-08-22 - Monday - Sunset

At Clayworks I've noticed some of the most beautiful sunsets in the city. Monday was no exception. When I notice one it always stops me in my tracks. You have to stop and enjoy it since it's very fleeting. This one only lasted about four minutes before it was completely washed out.

Best free show in town. Don't miss it.

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2016-08-21 - Sunday - More fish

Sunday I made some larger fish. They really give me the giggles, especially the one on the left. He just looks so surprised.

These are made with raku clay. With raku they can be really dramatic or junk. We'll see.

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2016-08-20 - Saturday - Horses and fish

Saturday I went to Home Depot to buy a five gallon bucket and found this life-size horse skeleton decoration. Pretty strange.

When I got to Clayworks on a  whim I started making fish. They made me laugh from the first moment I made them. I think it's a good sign when your work entertains you.

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2016-08-17 - Wednesday - Hot pots

Wednesday was another hot day in Charlotte. It's August, we expect that.

Thermometer in my car.

Wednesday night I threw some more raku pots.

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2016-08-14 - Sunday - Raku clay

I've been throwing a lot of raku clay lately and using some of it to make some urns for friends' pets. I don't really want to dwell in the urn-making business but I'm honored to make these final homes for well-loved pets.

For a guinea pig who loved carrots and parsley.

The back-right pot is an urn for a friend's dog.

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2016-08-13 - Saturday - Muddy Fun, raku pots, fortune

Saturday was Muddy Fun day! As usual, we had an enthusiastic group of students and great volunteers.

Later I threw some different forms in raku clay. I really do like throwing this clay.

Still later, I got another fortune.

I'm cautiously optimistic...


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2016-08-10 - Wednesday - Bisque kiln

Wednesday I loaded another bisque kiln with raku and cone 10 pots. I've been throwing a lot of pots and not glaze firing any of them. I need to relieve the log jam.

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2016-08-08 - Monday - Garden

Monday I checked on the garden after being gone for a week. Things are always changing in the yard so you have to pay attention.

The cranefly orchids were blooming and some kind of stinkhorn fungus was emerging.

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
    -- Ferris Bueller

I got this fortune Sunday night after just returning
from a week-long cruise... whatever.

Cranefly orchids blooming.
The wind was blowing, so check out the video below
for a better view of these delicate flowers.

Stinkhorn fungus.

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2016-08-07 - Sunday - End of the cruise

Sunday we got off the ship and headed home, but not before standing in long lines at customs. That's always fun.

We took our bus back to our car and headed north from Port Canaveral. It's about a nine-hour trip and we were glad to be home at the end of it.

My final thoughts on the trip were that I would not do a Caribbean cruise again. I am not a sun-worshipper like the folks partying on the deck, and I don't have too much to do on the islands. I would love to have tried some snorkeling, but the ulcer on my foot was acting up again and I couldn't do it.

The standouts for me about St. Thomas and St. Maarten/St. Martin were the iguanas and the bus tour, respectively.

I enjoyed the food and entertainment on the ship, but the best part of every day was sitting down with my family and in-laws at one large table and enjoying each others' company while eating.

Just like we do in PA and at the NJ shore.

Bon voyage.

2016-08-06 - Saturday - Day at sea

Saturday we took a behind-the-scenes kitchen tour. It was very interesting to see the inner workings of the machine that pumped out all that fresh food every day. With three kitchens, three dining rooms, and a large cafe the kitchens run twenty-four hours a day. I can't even imagine what it's like during dinner.

Three levels, three dining rooms.

Beautiful carvings.

A spotless operation.

Room temperature desserts staged.

A sea of shrimp cocktails.

The only low point is the pre-made crusts
for the bowling alley style pizza
they serve on the promenade.

All bread products are baked fresh daily.

Gearing up for our special lunch as part of the tour.

Our lunch/dessert buffet.

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2016-08-05 - Friday - At sea day

Friday was a sea day and it was beautiful. I spent some time on deck enjoying the color of the ocean and the sunlight.

I stopped by the Flow Rider again.

These look like postcard pictures.

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2016-08-04 - Thursday - St. Maarten/St. Martin

Thursday we docked at St. Maarten (the Dutch side of the island) and Karen and I took a bus tour. We visited the French side of the island (St. Martin) and heard about the history.

Crossing to the French side.

Back on the ship with basketball and the climbing wall.

Leaving St. Maarten.

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2016-08-03 - Wednesday - St. Thomas

Wednesday we landed in St. Thomas.

Ryan and Mereditth.

These ships are huge and top-heavy.

Meredith, Karen, and Stephanie.

Iguanas were everywhere.

The bay.

The way out.

Photogs everywhere.

Lots to photograph.

I spent a lot of time watching the employees
goof around on the Flow Rider.

Lamb for dinner.

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