2016-03-08 - Tuesday - Salt firing

Tuesday night we finished firing the salt kiln by adding salt and soda to it. I don't have any photos of the salting since I was one of the salters.

These photos show Adrienne, Cindy, and Daniel spraying soda into the kiln. Adrienne pulled the brick, Cindy sprayed the soda, and Daniel held the sprayer can up so she could reach. If you've never sprayed soda in a kiln at cone 9 or 10, there are some interesting things to note.

1. When you spray the soda to a count of five, you then have to quench the brass sprayer nozzle in a bucket of water before spraying the next one to avoid it melting.

2. The light you are seeing in the photos is solely from the glow of the hot end of the brick Adrienne is holding (with a glove) in her hand. 2300+ degrees will do that.

.

2015-06-06 - Saturday - Charlotte Squawks

Saturday night we went to see Charlotte Squawks XI with our friends, Tom and Lisa, and their sons, Christopher and Daniel. The show was amazing, as always and our faces hurt from laughing so much.

We started out at the Epicentre (yes, I know, we were probably the oldest ones there!) at Libretto's pizza for supper and then off to the show. When it was over the parking deck wasn't moving at all so we strolled back over to the Epicentre and hit Moe's Southwest Grill while the traffic dispersed.

It was a late night, but a fun one spent with good friends.

First row seats.

Apparently a lot of fingerprints on the lens.

Karen, Tom, Lisa, Daniel.

Tom, Daniel, Christopher, and Lisa.

.

October 16 - Wednesday - EcoFab Fashion show

Wednesday night I went to the Mint Museum to see the EcoFab Fashion show.  My friends Elaine and Penny both designed dresses for the show.  Many people from Clayworks were in attendance and we had quite a cheering section.  The dresses were very well made and the models had fun displaying them.

Some of the Clayworks cheering section in the lobby.

Jose Fumero in one of his own creations.
That's Dorothy on the right.

Minke and Daniel.
Minke is wearing Elaine's dress.

Minke with Elaine, the designer.

"Make sure you get the ankle bracelet!"

The back.

Elaine discussing her work.

This skirt lit up.

This is Penny's dress.

Those are clay leaves on the back that
make a faint wind chime noise with movement.

Hey, there's Minke and Daniel again.

Kim and Rae discussing the whole affair.

.

April 18 - Saturday - Around and about

Saturday I was out in the yard working on clearing some of the weeds from the neglected garden beds.  Some of that Johnson grass is so well-established it's like trying to pull out a clump of pampas grass.  I ended up cutting what I could with the hand clippers.

While I was manually harvesting the grass in (what was) the path between the beds I found a trail that the rabbits were using.  The under-grass was all hollowed out by rabbit traffic.  My fear was accidentally opening up another nest with infant rabbits as I did several years ago.  Saying I was cautious would be an understatement.  I was watchful with every move I made since I was worried about rabbits, mice, chipmunks and snakes.  When I got about seven feet into the twelve foot path an adult rabbit burst out of the far end of the path and ran around behind the garage.  That was my cue to quit.

I headed out to the front yard to pull weeds.  I weed the front almost daily.  I think they spring up while we're sleeping.  Since expanding the natural area to most of the front yard last Fall, the weeds are trying to have a party.  It's an uphill battle.

In the evening we got together with some friends for dinner at the Landmark Diner.  They have a HUGE menu and a killer dessert case.  I don't believe anyone left the table hungry.

I also tried using the panoramic function on my Android phone that I didn't know I had, until Karen showed it to me.  Being the gadget geek that I usually am, I'm embarrassed I didn't know about it.  Oh well.

I'm hoping chipmunks live in here.

Lady bug nymph (right) and
pupating relative (left) on my oregano.

On to the front yard...

The autumn ferns are doing quite well.

The hostas have exploded.

One of two oak leaf hydrangea.

On to supper...

My choppy panoramic shot.
Karen, Tom, Daniel, Lisa, Christopher, (me), Chip, and Pam.

.

February 21 - Thursday dinner with good friends

Thursday I drove from where I was working in Wadesboro directly to Local Dish in Fort Mill, SC to have dinner with good friends.  It was nice to see Minke, Elaine, and Daniel again as its been a while.  It was fun to catch up over a fine meal.

Afterwards we took a stroll around downtown and looked in shop windows.  Fort Mill has quite a quaint downtown.

After a relaxing meal and walk, all too soon it was time to rush off again back to regular life.

Minke, Daniel, Elaine

A nice old building.

.

Saturday - terra4m Sale and dinner at the Kelley's

Saturday was the first terra4m sale of 2011.  It was a nice spring-like day with temperatures in the high sixties.  We were pleased to have several friends stop by and visit with us.  We didn't break any records, but it was so nice to sit in the sun and spend some time with good friends.  Unfortunately our good friend Elaine, the other member of terra4m was unable to attend the sale and we missed her.

Tom and Lisa invited us over later to cook some steaks and we were quick to accept.  Their sons, Daniel and Christopher were having some fun with a stuffed monkey that was part of a Valentine's Day gift.  We all had several fits of giggles being silly with the monkey.

All in all, a good day.  I hope yours was too.

Shelley, Lisa, David, (customers), and Becky.

My display.
Thanks to Kim for sharing her shelves with me again!

Becky's birds.

Kim and the Mullins' returning from the car
after finalizing commission plans for a new birdbath.

Kim's birdbaths.

The rest of Kim's work.

Tom and Lisa visited us on the bike.

Stephanie and Meredith watching Tom and Lisa leave

Christopher with...  "The Monkey".

Daniel and Christopher with some monkey business.

We're all so proud.

Tom.

.

2010-08-03 Tuesday - NASCAR Speed Park

I have fallen way behind again on posting, so please bear with me while I catch up on a few days.
Before we even went to the shore, my friend Tom and I took our respective kids (who not so little anymore) to the NASCAR Speed Park at Concord Mills.  Tom tries to take the boys up there every summer and we don't know how much longer they will want to go there, so we have to take advantage of it while it lasts.
We had a nice time and ate at the food court, played some video games and spent some time just being kids.  Now Christopher is off at college and Stephanie will be going next year, so who knows when we'll be back there.

Me, Christopher, Stephanie, Tom, Meredith, Daniel.

.

Meredith, Stephanie, Daniel, Christopher.

.

 Racin'.

.