two steps forward and one step back

Well, the kiln is only half working. First was a programming error...heating 5˚ an hour instead of 500˚ an hour for that segment. Marc reprogrammed it, all seemed well until we checked it again later at 1370˚ with the FTH error message...failure to heat, which meant it couldn't heat up as fast as it was programmed for. Front loading glass casting kilns have heating elements in the top, all three sides, and the door. Turns out only the top and door elements are coming on which means it takes longer to heat up. We think we can still get the pieces cast for this box with the kiln as is, it will just take a longer firing schedule. Once we've got all the pieces cast then he can take his time trying to figure out why the side elements aren't coming on when they're on the same circuit as the door, especially if he has to replace the coils.

The test firing is done, the face with flowers on a heart mold cool enough to take out of the kiln and it looks fine, has a little devitrification which is why it looks cloudy at the point, probably from being at a particular temperature for too long.

So the first two pieces for the box, the inlay and the top, are now in and the kiln started. Fingers crossed!

Chloe has totally ignored the scratchy cardboard, even with a sprinkle of catnip. And I'm still not convinced this cat isn't pregnant. I swear her little nipples are getting bigger and her belly is firm though when I squish around on her tummy, I don't feel any lumps in there either.

Today's predicted high is 98˚ with a real feel of 107˚. Currently 91˚, real feel 103˚. No rain forecast til Friday.

I'm at loose ends waiting for these two pieces to come out which will be several days. I should be doing a drawing or a new watercolor but I'm sort of paralyzed with indecision. I've got two books from the library and can't even settle down to read for more than 30 minutes at a time.

recently hatched baby anole.

catching up

I can't believe it's been two weeks already since I got back. In some ways that is no time and others, worlds away. The very next day after I returned, we drove two hours to Galveston to spend the day with family from Dallas and the Houston area on the beach.

My grandgirl Robin left with us at the end of the day for her week. And just as she left, my sister's two (bigger but still small) black and white dogs came for their 10 day stay.

They're still here. Minnie has grown since she appeared in the yard four weeks ago but not a whole lot.

 And I've worked some days at the store. And caught up on the dangling threads I left to what remains of my business. I have even pulled out the waxes I made years ago of the tree bark around here and that is sitting on my table as I write. It is time to start some new work.

We are entering high summer. These are the dog days. This week we will see triple digits perhaps as high as 106˚. Corn is being harvested and the cotton is starting to pop. The birds are raising their last broods.

It is very dry even though we did get half an inch last Tuesday, the first rain in 7 or 8 weeks. Water is evaporating out of the turtle pond and water lily pond at a surprising rate.

The plumerias, still recovering from being froze to the ground winter before last, should be blooming but they're not. The altheas that didn't bloom in the spring like they were supposed to are putting on sparse flowers now. The yellow butterfly ginger is putting out it's first blooms and the morning glory bush is also blooming.

 

There's more but that's enough for now. It's too damn hot to be outside for any length of time.