Apple Tree

This morning I awoke to a surprise out my kitchen window and in front of the door. The old apple tree has finally given up. It came down in the 50 MPH gusts we were having all night. Fortunately it looks like it did minimal damage to the house..there's a bit of crumpled, but still hung and useful gutter, but no holes, torn shingles, etc.

Looks like it's time to learn how to use a chainsaw :)

Salt Plates only a partial FAIL

As I unloaded the refired kiln today I noticed something strange. I had red pots in my electric kiln!

yep..The plates straightened up a little..2 more are salvaged, but almost all of them have a red tint/wash effect. The question is why?

I have heard that if you fire a kilnload of reduction copper red pots that don't go red, you can refire them in a bisque and they will go red for you.

Here's the problem...There was no copper in the initial firing..Coleman Apple Celadon..1% Iron, no Chrome. the plates were a nice pale green color. The top photo -the plate on the right, shows the original color.

I added the same recipe, but with 2% Copper and 1% cobalt carb to the surface of the already fired plates, put them into the electric kiln and fired them to cone 6.

I got red!

Anyone know why?

Greenback Blues

Feeling it hard today..it's a beautiful day and the sunshine makes me happy, but I'm bummed out about our finances. The big picture isn't so bad, but as always it's the cash flow....flowing out more than in right now. I need that shop in the backyard NOW. A few weekend sales would trake care of the whole mess.

*sigh* new clutch in the Neon $670

Both the blazer and the truck have to be inspected last month..yep..just noticed, no time now..

Ro is heading off to another money sucker...Nationals for Cath's Cheerleading Squad.. Ocean City Maryland, hotel for 2 nights on the beach..$250 plus gas plus $110 entry fee for Cath PLUS $40 just to get in the door as a spectator.

Morgan killed a tire on the blazer last week. $75

Morgan has a Tae Kwon Do tournament this weekend $40

I spent $30 on hangers for the plate show, maybe someone will buy a few :)

Time to pay the mortgage and the phone bill as well as another installment on the gas and oil bills.

OH yeah..groceries. ugh.

So yeah. Let's hope for good sales this weekend. Next weeks expenses won't be nearly this bad.

Anyone need some mugs?