February Check-in

 

I brought in my little work-horse of a kiln so I could change the elements where the temperature is a bit more comfortable. Rick & Alice had removed the old elements in December when they were visiting, with all intentions of putting the new ones in. Unfortunately, I had ordered the wrong size. (Fortunately, they will fit the larger kiln.) 

I then ordered the correct elements. (They have tripled in price since the last time I bought the size for this little gal.)

Once I got the new elements in place, I decided to change the sensing rod for the kiln sitter. I then discovered that the old sensing rod was permanently fused to the collar that holds it in. So, I had to order a new Tube Assembly. The old tube was broken for years, but I was able to use it despite the break as it was supported by the kiln bricks that form the outer shell of the kiln.

The new Tube Assembly arrived and has been successfully mounted. Now to make the connections of the elements to the control box. That will wait until Sunday when I have more time so I can make sure I do it right without feeling rushed.

*** Frustrating update - because the parts are not labeled on the website as to which kiln-sitters they fit. I, of course, ordered the wrong one! It is too short and does not clear the bricks, so it is not useable for me. I have ordered the longer version and hope it will be here by Tuesday, USPS willing... they delayed the last one's arrival...****

~~~~~~ Update! The correct part arrived, has been installed, test firing completed, as well as a bisque firing and one glaze firing! ~~~~~~~~

Next, I tried creating a new Friend... This is one chunky, floofy-tailed squirrel! 

Stay tuned for more new Friends.

I hope you all are having a good start to the new year. We have had snow this winter, the first in 3 years! I know it is nothing compared to what is falling up in NY, PA, and elsewhere with it being measured in feet rather that fractions of inches. 

My heart goes out to all of you dealing with WAY TOO MUCH SNOW! 

(Not to mention the frigid temperatures!)

My Snow Day

I have lived in the South for over 11 years now, and although I feel I can most probably still drive in Northern snows OK, I prefer not to drive much in the snow down here.  That is for a number of reasons, #1 being that there is seldom enough snow to warrant the purchase of the big plows and sanding trucks like up North. #2 a large number of native Southerners are not accustomed to driving in the snowy conditions.  #3 if I don't have to go out in it, then I won't!  Nothing is open anyway! Because #4 they can't plow and sand the roads as well... because of #1...

 

As I walked out to clean off my car at 8 AM

 A few photos of the wintry wonderland in our yard...

A look at Dad's car before it was cleaned off...

The pots on the potting table, partially under the eaves...

 Then, what to do with an extra day off from work... play with clay!  

I have been having some technical difficulties with the handles on the large mug.  I re-worked the mold and hopefully they will stop cracking on me!

mugs!

 I was able to get a few more rounds of pouring done today... concentrating mainly on mugs, my orders are waiting, and my supply is in need of replenishing...

studio clutter!

Who knows what the weather has in store for us tonight... hopefully, we will miss out on the freezing rain and sleet... schools are closed again tomorrow... not sure if we'll be open yet, depends on the road conditions...

A South Carolina Snow...

Having grown up in a snow-belt area of Western NY state, snow should be no big deal to me. But we don't get a lot of it here.
As long as I have no place else I need to be, I am very content to look out the windows at the snow, it is a thing of beauty!
I did go out a while back and sweep the snow off the deck... a futile attempt to stay ahead of the snow... it had other ideas and 20 minutes later you could hardly tell I had swept!
They don't predict this to last, most of it is supposed to be gone sometime tomorrow...
The kids around are enjoying it!

"It always snows on the daffodils"

That is what my Mom always told us... but we grew up in western NY state! Here is a photo I took this morning of the snow on the daffodils here in SC! Yes, that yellow spot on the right is a daffodil face-down in the mulch, weighed down with the wet snow we got yesterday and last night. There is another on the left side of the photo as well... but with temps in the 40's today, the snow that weighed them down has mostly melted away.

We are lucky, our power was only off for about 6 hours last night. Some people may not get their power back until late Wednesday - and today is only Monday...

His Art teacher says he's talented!

This is DragonBen and his watercolor painting.

His painting was one of 5 chosen from his school to be on exhibit for National Youth Art Month. All of the schools (public, private and home) in Anderson County were displayed at the Anderson Arts Center Warehouse (a gallery).

The opening of the show was yesterday and we went in the rain/snow/sleet mix. There was a wonderful turnout despite the weather.

We are so very proud of DragonBen and his talents.

And I bet he has no school today because of the snow! I have not checked. They are listing colleges on TV right now...

(The title of this post is a modification of the saying on the t-shirts the young artists could buy 'My art teacher says I'm talented'... and they were the only ones who could buy them.)