It's
hot. In fact I think we are having some of our hottest weather so far
this year, at least equally hot...in September. And it's only getting
hotter as the week goes on. My oft wrong weather app says 98˚ by
Saturday but all the other predictors are saying 102˚. Plus even
though the wind yesterday was out of the east it was hot and dry and
you could almost see things getting desiccated. And still no rain.
We've had three little pisses of rain all summer. Huge swaths of
grass in people's yards are brown and dead if they are in the sun all
day or even half a day. I'm back to leaving the hose on and moving it
every 30 minutes or so all day. That week of cool mornings, and by
that I mean in the mid-70s, is over. It was still hot, getting into
the mid 90s during the day but the first several hours of the day
were so nice while I've been working in the shop and I could hold out
til about 1:30 or so.
I got the heron head fitted Tuesday. It sits in the recess but
has a little bit of rocker to it which is bad as it could set up
enough stress after I glue it in to cause it to crack and while I can
locate the pivot point, nothing I seems to do makes it go away so I
put it aside in frustration for now.
Most
of the day yesterday I was back to grinding grinding grinding as the
two gray slabs were out of the kiln and the mold was not level on one
of them so it was thicker at one end than the other. I've about got
it to a uniform thickness so now I just need to take it down a little
more and then start on the second one which I'm working on today.
You
might remember I reported that a huge limb broke off one of the pecan
trees but hadn't disconnected completely being supported by a lower
branch as it was. Well, Monday, it broke the rest of the way off and
the heavy end has fallen into the crook of the trunk for which I am
grateful as my azaleas could have been crushed. No damage to them but
oh so bummed out to see that the fallen limb was loaded with nuts.
Loaded.
And
the rangoon creeper is doing its best to creep over to the cedar
tree.
I got up this morning to find another pecan branch down in the back yard. I'm wondering if I'll have any pecans this year with the branches dropping like crazy. Box is looking good. That blue on the box itself sets the head off very nicely.
ReplyDeleteAll those nuts are probably what helped drag down the branch. The heron head looks great! Hope you can get it to balance out. Can you use some kind of filler underneath, aside from glue, to stabilize it?
ReplyDeleteLOVE the heron head. You will figure it out. You always do, Ellen.
ReplyDeleteSame heat here. Supposed to get up to 99 Saturday and Sunday. No rain in the forecast. How ironic that we were so worried about Dorian and we aren't even going to get a drop. That's life. I'll gladly take this, however, over what's happening in the Bahamas.
That box is turning out to be one of my favorites! Bummer about the pecans :(
ReplyDeleteI love that picture of the Rangoon creeper - reach for the sky little buddy! Reach for the sky!
The creeper has aspirations. The heron head looks really good against that blue. Hope you can find the high spot. And bummer about the pecan tree branch.
ReplyDeleteSad news about the branch but maybe now the tree can grow better?
ReplyDeleteI remember reading about the rangoon creper or some component being researched as an anti-tumor agent.
And your heron box is stunning.
It's been hot here too. We have occasional shading from the clouds but it's not enough. It's like a blast furnace. I love the background with the heron. It's so pretty. Looks like the Rangoon is infatuated with the Cedar. Better be careful there.
ReplyDeleteMy hickory is also loaded with nuts and the noise is constant as they fall off the branches. It must be a good year for nuts. I hope you can salvage part of your pecan tree.
ReplyDeleteThe heat has been horrible this year. It seems to get be getting worse and one has to wonder where this is going. The scientists have painted a very grim picture and I fear for my children and grandchildren.
Your art is looking beautiful and I have no doubt that you will find a way through your problem.
Now that I see the blue as a glass box, it is stunning. I hope you find the rocker pivot quickly.
ReplyDeleteThat rangoon creeper is kind of amazing and purposeful. The heron box looks beautiful. I'm sure you'll figure out the rocking.
ReplyDeleteThat creeper is amazing! And determined. That heron box is spectacular! If we had that kind of heat in September, I'd dig a hole in the back yard and bury myself.
ReplyDelete