Follow up

What a day and night. We just finished loading two kilns and I threw 40 mugs this evening after spending the day finishing the flasks, assembling the goblets and wedging 100lbs of clay for mugs and mixing a glaze..

I am grateful for Rowan. After putting in a really hard day at the Oasis, she came home and rallied me to finish what I had to do and worked side by side with me until we were done.

We had a canine visitor today..this lovely little lady wandered into the yard, all mellow and good natured. We have NO idea where she came from, so rather than let her wander out onto the streets and get hit, we called the local police and they delivered her to a local vet who will look after her until the owner comes looking. She was very sweet..and I think quite elderly..gray from her head to her feet.

And speaking of animals, this is Tuna Fish the Cat, waiting at the line..the border to the studio. She knows she isn't allowed in, so she waits right at the door when she thinks we are looking and wanders in when she thinks we aren't. Smart Cat.

A moment of reflection

Last year at this time we were returning from our Honeymoon in Ireland. What a beautiful peaceful time that was. It took me nearly 4 days to slip into vacation mode and I think I managed to hold on to it for about a month after we returned. I swore upon returning that I would find a way to be able to do it again, if not Ireland, then a least a real non-working vacation. So far this year I have not been able to do it. Life throws so many little complications at us.

I am finding it difficult to believe it is July. This year seems to have been a constant struggle. Not a lot of down time and I think I need some..though my failed responsibilities are pressing down on me pretty hard right now. I have a few unpaid bills, not too many, but they are weighty. I have been working hard to bring stock up for the next couple weeks worth of shows, including Pennsic, which is the biggest event we do all year. I've been looking forward to it as something of a lifesaver. If it performs even half as well as last year we'll be all caught up and perhaps a little ahead. If it performs as well as last year we'll really get ahead.

So here is what things look like for us. This week has been a lot of throwing and trimming and adding handles. I did 80 wee bowls, 30 tasting cups, 10 goblets, 20 XL tankards with handles big enough that even the most giant of men should be able to get their whole hands into. 8 ginormous soup mugs, they'll hold about 25oz. I did 7 flasks/Costrels which need to be finished today. I need to mix 2 glazes and glaze a load of work for Sunday so I can ship some of it out on Monday before we leave for Brushwood. I also need to do a bisc kiln before I leave so the work I made this week will be ready to glaze when I get back next week. I should also throw about 100 mugs over the next two days so I can bisc them before I leave and glaze when I get back.

Now while I am doing this, Rowan has been in The Creative Oasis every day keeping it organized and staffed. She's been trying to fill in the gaps in the schedule we will have when we go to these events. There are a few big holes we just haven't figured out how to fill.

On top of all this preparation, It's Arts Festival week so we have upwards of 200,000 visitors coming to town. I'm going to try to take advantage of this by opening our sale tent this weekend, see if I can make a few more sales before I pack it all up and drive away on Sunday.

Then kids are all working extra shifts this week, so they are scarce, but fortunately they'll all have great paychecks.

At some point there will be a vacation.

*sigh*

Oh Ireland I miss you!