Wired and Ready

Our old electric kiln is ready to go! Yesterday we fired the last bisque in the gas kiln. We actually have two electric kilns, the one to the right needs a little work. Jeff will do the repairs at some point and we can fire back to back if need be. While the electrician was here we had some more outlets put in the basement. We were using a couple of extension cords down there, one was to run the dehumidifier, and that made us nervous. Little by little this old house will be brought up to the 21st century!

These little salt and pepper pigs came out of the last firing. They are rather tedious to put together. Smaller isn't always easier.

Last week I was assembling a few more and I ended up with an odd number of bodies, so I decided to have some fun with the oddball...

I turned him into a bull! He has larger holes on his back and he will make a great red pepper flake or Parmesan cheese shaker. Isn't he the cutest thing?

Time Adjustment

I am not a fan of daylight savings time. It seems the older I get, the harder it is to adjust to the time switch. My typical waking time is 7:00 am. Which means that I am now waking at 8:00 am. Eventually I will shift back to 7:00, probably as it becomes lighter in the morning.

One reason that I mention this is, remember that propane tank delivery? We were scheduled for today, but the gas company mentioned that if they could squeeze us in they would come sooner. Jeff and I had to head to Charlotte on Monday so I figured I would call the company and check on the schedule. It would be my luck for them to come the one day out of the month when we weren't home. I woke at 8:00 am, had a cup of coffee, called the gas company at 9:00 am. Of course they bumped the delivery up to that day! But they would come before noon, so we were still good to go. Jeff went outside to set the burners for the kiln in place... THE TANK WAS ALREADY THERE.

They must have come early.
While we were sleeping an hour later than usual.

So now they have to come back and connect the gas line and do the pressure test. Which may take another week.

Boo to daylight savings time, and Boo to the gas company for not calling ahead to let us know you were coming.

On a happy note... pigs are happening in the studio again. Salt and Pepper pigs.

And a new white and blue spotted pig. Have a great day... the weather has been awesome here.

Progress...

The weather has finally been cooperating and things are moving along here at the pottery. The siding is all up and the last two windows are installed. Jeff got the rest of the insulation stapled in and has begun hanging the remaining two walls of the sheetrock. We are closed in and ready for winter.

 The guy that has taken care of our lawn and land clearing came with his tractor and started preparing our kiln site. Next, we build forms and pour the pad. Right now I feel like we are being pulled in ten different directions at once. We have too many deadlines to meet by the Thanksgiving holiday and some of them aren't going to happen. Sometimes you have to take a deep breath, keep moving forward, and do the best you can. Everything always falls into place in the end.

Did I mention that this week is the Celebration of Seagrove Potters? I managed to squeeze in a couple of hours to print our holiday ginkgo bags. The show kicks off Friday, November 20th with the gala evening (advance ticket purchase required) and then the potters market on Saturday and Sunday. I will be at the show while Jeff keeps our gallery at 505 E Main open. The show is less than a mile down the road from us at the historic Luck's Bean plant on NC Hwy 705, here in Seagrove NC.

If you can't get to the show, my Etsy shop is open 24-7. That's where you'll find these sweet little salt and pepper pigs.