Still alive!! sort of…….

Over the last few months it's been a little nuts and then there is that thing called winter.  Winter just takes time, lots of time.  Hauling wood, putting on 10 layers of clothes, warming the truck and just getting around……. and that shoveling thing, over it!  Just digging out the chickens was an Olympic event this year.  Hibernation rocks! 

So here are the "Cliff's Notes" of late.  

First off ….. the taxes are done!  #1 reason to keep this blog up to date, to keep track of myself….. apparently I need a leash.  During the three day pencil sharpening and eraser blitz I found myself referring to the blog several times trying to figure out why I had road tolls to the East Coast twice in a week….. 2014 was that kind of year! 

My job as Ceramic Tech, is rocking my world.  Love it, nuff said.   

I have fallen down the rabbit hole of glaze testing, re-calculating and testing again.  

I did have a panic attack when they moved a desk in and told me to use it.  

I use it to store my lunch and coat. 

This counter is where I spend most of my time. 

See all those glaze tests…..  It's been a challenge as we use brown stoneware.  For so many years I have predominately used white stoneware and porcelain in my personal studio.  Gear shift and there was a bit of gear grinding! 

 mix 7500 grams and put the new glazes to work….. 

did I mention we keep 38 glazes on the rack? 

Soooo this job is why this blog has been languishing the past few months.  I never dreamed a little 25 hours a week job would be so demanding.  And then there is that gallery I opened, which is why I got the job to pay the rent at the gallery, and then one has to make pots to fill the gallery.  Right now I pretty much eat, sleep and dream about ceramics.  But garden season is here so I need to squeeze out another few hours each week.  Arghhh!  And the river is running and so are the steelhead and I have to squeeze in time to get a line wet.  Blog?  

And then I decided I needed to do the 100 mug challenge…..

And then I needed to go to NCECA in Providence ….. 

and it rained every day…… but it was so worth going! 

And then I got two pots into the Best of Ohio, opening in May.  

If you're in Columbus, check it out! 

Ohio Designer Craftsmen

And then I got in to "All Things Considered" at A Grand Hand in Minn. 

and then traveling to the Fruitlands Gallery at Harvard….. and that is the only way I will ever get to Harvard! 

And then I was asked to demonstrate carving at Touchstone for the big Throwdown weekend….. 

ok I am really excited about this! 

And then the dishwasher broke and I really didn't mind washing dishes for 4 months because my hands loved the warm dish water instead of a cold glaze bucket.  But then Butch flipped out and ordered a dishwasher online!  Just looked at picture on website and whipped out his credit card.  And then it appeared…. and I'm really on the fence over this thing. 

and then my diet changed ….. who needs a dishwasher? 

and I will try to do better keeping this blog up to date with the day to day drivel of my fantastic life or maybe cone 6 glazes and clay….. 

and did I mention the Christmas decorations are still up……