All things Easter

Coloured eggs, arts & crafts, little lambs and peace on earth.

And fingers crossed there's chocolate tomorrow morning too. Happy Easter to you and yours.

Potter Pop Quiz

Where is the potter these days?

A. In Alberta, doing gallery drop offs and sourcing out some new firebrick to build another kiln?

B. In Utah, catching up with the gang at USU and visiting artist Gail Nichols while she is there doing a workshop on soda firing?

C. In Sasktachewan, firing an anagama?

D. All of the above.

Have Garden, Will Grow

After a three year hiatus from our property, I am giddy with excitement to finally put in a garden. The last three summers have been spent either packing, moving, travelling, and touring, all which equates to a transient lifestyle not conducive to gardening.

I am by no means an expert gardener, but I think my thumb slightly turned a shade of green a couple summers ago when we housesat for some very special people here in the valley and I learned a whole lot more about organic gardening.

So with the snow NEARLY all gone, and more hours have been spent outdoors than indoors of late, I've dived into the gardening full force with the aid of many helpers, both young and old(er).

Isla and I spent the day sorting seeds and planting starters for our greenhouse that Grandpa Wes so competently put together for us. With the help of Sam and Grandma Lady, who happened to be around these parts this week, we've been getting things done around here. The Daddy sure will be surprised when he comes home next week. He's off on another clay adventure of sorts......more details soon.

That's my boy!

Pickup trucks

Racing Cars

Finding Rocks

Bugs in Jars

Cowboy hats

Pony rides

Making forts

Places to hide

Shiny pennies

Treasured toys

Pockets filled

That's my boy!

-Author unknown

Talking pots

'Talking Pots' - a potter's favorite pastime for sure. Cam and Robin have been talking pots for over two solid weeks now and are still going strong. Over breakfast they might talk about clay bodies or sought after mixing/pugging equipment, over lunch hour the topic of conversation typically turns to kiln design and wood and brick sources and finally around the dinner table it inevitably surrounds the fusion of food and pottery.

Interestingly enough I comprehend what they are talking about for the most part, even have been known to interject on the odd occasion. It no longer surprises me how ceramics can integrate into someone's life so completely and I find it wonderful to obverse two friends that can share their stories and enthusiasm for the medium.

Cam's purpose for coming out west was to kick start a project that he was awarded a grant for to explore, find some mentorship and create dialogue about the various approaches, techniques and firing methods associated with wood firing. All the 'pot talk' going on around here has got him geared up and excited about going home in a couple of days where he'll hit the ground running with a firing already booked for a week later. Coincidentally, Robin has reciprocally benefitted from the dialogue and energy in the studio, especially at this cross roads of having just finished graduate school and is confronted with what to do next?

And as delighted Isla was to give up her room for Cam while he has been here, I've been equally happy to share my husband with such a terrific and gracious a friend as Cam these last couple weeks. It has been terrific having Cam stay with us; helpful and courteous around the house, willing and keen to hang out with the kids and a superstar in the kitchen, all around it's been a fabulous experience for all parties involved.

Stump and puddle jumpers

We've had enough rain in the past week to wash away the snow cover on the forest floor and to expose our road. And although the dirty snow remaining holds fast to pockets along the ditches, we're simply ignoring its stubbornness and spending a whole lot of time outdoors these days.

Everywhere you look its 'sticky green' around our place, from the forest canopy to the mossy carpet. With the kids determined to make the most of the longer hours of daylight, they've tossed their toys aside for building forts and riding bikes. Its a delight to watch them at this age, thinking back to when we moved away when one was toddling, the other still swaddled. We've arrived at the age of climbing trees and building bike jumps.