Wow! It really happened! Mid 70˚s and overcast when I got up Friday morning then the wind picked up blowing in cold air and knocking pecans out of the trees. At 12:45 PM and it had already fallen to 57˚, predicting a low of 52˚ that night. I had the door open in the morning but had to close it after a while because it was getting chilly in the house. I picked up over three gallons of just the big ones and didn't even canvas the whole yard. The dog was not impressed. She doesn't like the cold wind but much to my surprise it did not deter her from wanting her evening walk however fast it was.
While it was in
the mid-50s yesterday when I got up, it warmed up quickly and turned
into a gorgeous day with a clear blue sky and low humidity. I picked
up another five plus gallons of pecans throughout the day under
various trees and spent several hours over at the shop with the long
handled nippers trying to restore a little order around the shop and
in the back. A drop in the bucket. I also poured some wax in some of
my reproduction molds as long as I was over there. And Marc
reinvested the cracked heron box. The heat and pressure from the
setting investment ran the crack all the way across the bottom and
spawned a new crack off the old one.
Since I can only see the bottom
of the box now I have no idea if the cracks ran all the way down the
back side to the top. If it comes out OK, I really hope the heron
head inlay still fits as I really don't want to have to do a bunch of
grinding again.
I've been doing
more playing with the modeling glass but I'm hampered by my lack of
color choices. I don't want to invest a lot of money in opaque
powders unless I'm going to use them. Glass powder runs from about
$18 - $25 for a one pound jar. Five colors could easily put me over
$100. I've got the bases for all 5 feathers done so now I'm ready to
add the top layer of powder and they'll be ready to fire along with
another dozen color samples, and the pansy and lichen though I still
have some detail to add to the face of the pansy.
the white is
pieces of high fire fiber paper which is supporting the edges while
it dries and fires
I probably could
have gotten that done if I hadn't spent another hour over at the shop
with the long handled nippers and picked up another 3 gallons of
pecans.
Minnie waiting
patiently while I pick up yet more pecans
The things you are able to make never cease to amaze me.
ReplyDeleteA pint's a pound the world around! It's late and I'm less rational when it's late, but I had to laugh at that little thing that shapes our work. $. Really nice cotton thread starts at $20 to $30 a pound. Just think, if we could buy raw material for pennies, we could be mad artists all day and night. Just saying.
ReplyDeleteGood Lord! Your ennui has gone with the heat! Wish I could say the same. I can't wait to see how your newest work comes out.
ReplyDeleteThe blue of that heron box is just lovely.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it just wonderful when it gets cooler? I really hope that amazing heron box will work out.
ReplyDeleteit only lasted 2 days. back to being hot and humid, wearing my summer clothes.
DeleteI wondered what happened to the heron box now I know. I love to read about how you do the process. I never knew it was so involved. We don't pick up our pecans. Usually a bunch of people come by and ask if they can pick up pacans. Some people pick up pecans for a living. They sell them to Pape on the other side of town.
ReplyDeleteI pick up all the pecans from my four trees and the one in my neighbor's yard and there's another native in the next block that I gather from but can only get the ones that fall in the ditch. I crack enough of the hybrids for us to have all year and to give away and the rest and all the natives I sell. it's a chance to make a little extra pocket money, some years more than others depending on how prolific the crop for that year is.
DeleteWish I had pecan trees! We have Hickory trees here. The nut meant is hard to get out of the shell and not as tasty as pecan.
ReplyDeleteI'm really intrigued by that modeling glass - can't wait to see what they look like! We had a gorgeous Saturday which we spent over at Mike's dad's house. I just love his front porch - if I could move that to my house I would a contented Bug.
ReplyDeleteWell, halleluiah! You have to strike while it's cool enough to want to be outside! What a joy to be picking up pecans...I have to try and beat the deer to my pears, as they are too high for me to reach and I have to wait until they hit the ground. Fingers crossed the crack problem is solved on the heron box.
ReplyDeleteCrap on toast! You and that afib. You can't catch a break with that can ya? Did you call your doctor about it? You should, especially if it lasts half an hour or more. Mine comes and goes. Lasts maybe a minute or two.
ReplyDeletehave not called. I have another appointment in about two weeks. he has told me that it is not a life threatening condition, more quality of life, and as long as I take the de-coagulant I'm protected from stroke. mine generally last about a half hour or three to four hours. it's up to me how much I want to tolerate or if I want to have the ablation for afib which is more invasive, longer, more complicated. not up for that right now. I think I just need to steer clear of the Orange Menace.
DeleteAs long as you are taking steps to be safe then that's good. I was a little worried there.
DeleteOK -- I kind of messed up my response to you over on my blog. I hadn't blown up the train map, and when I did, THIS is what I found. Yes, it's coming through Wharton. It just isn't stopping there. But the route that's shown on their map matches your description exactly. Yee-haw!
ReplyDeleteDoesn’t that cool air bring back energy. You certainly are a busy lady.
ReplyDeletefor a few days anyway.
DeleteA busy couple of days! The lichen and pansy look terrific, and I hope the heron box works out OK without extra grinding. Minnie is so funny how she doesn't like a chilly breeze -- though, as we've discussed, dogs DO have their preferences when it comes to weather!
ReplyDelete