Linn: I too have found the more I physically do, the more I feel physically able. I actually started weeding someone's garden while waiting for R - just because it was there and I LOVE weeding. I rather miss the stretching and bending exercise! But I do wonder if you are suffering from too many antibiotics and benadryl?? Take care!

Penny: Those recipes look great! Thank you so much. I purchased a few nice fresh local beets at the market so I shall look to doing this - after I get the needed work done in the pottery.

The kiln dys-functioned on Friday so the firing I was hoping to unload Sat morn for the market - Well, the kiln had still not gotten up to temp so I just turned it off. No time to fool around. I woke at 8:10 and was loaded and at the market and 8:55! Market starts at 9 so I set up FAST. Sold enough pots to be very happy.

I have sold enough, I think to pay for last year's clay order so I can feel OK about last week's new order of clay and that portable but good quality wheel I have been considering. With the clay and wheel on sale in Toronto, the shipping charge was, in the final analysis, far preferable to a trip to Toronto. I would have loved to visit the supplier ...

My goal for this week is to produce at least one kiln load to bisque. Oh, yeah, this morning I finally took time to check WHY the kiln did not do it's thing. Top element not working. However, when I unloaded it to check, the pots on the lower shelves were quite well fired! The top two shelves will have to be re-done. R is hoping to get the newer kiln functioning in the next few days. The plug is different so it needs a different outlet. Not major but time...

Laundry is growing again and another trip to the city may be in order - after pots are made and after I ascertain whet, if any, materials I need to make up new batches of glazes, including some test batches of never-used-before glazes.

The raccoons are growing by leaps and bounds. One is getting quite feisty - very adolescent - I want to do what I want and don't mess with me! He got out this morning and R worried and worried over it. So did those still inside, esp. one I suspect is his syb. That one just paced back and forth along one wall. After half an hour or so he came over to the water bucket and let me scruff him and put him back in. These guys are not ready and they know it. SO like human kids!

R brought a new feeding system. A former piece of, we suspect, marijuana growing stuff, It is a long plastic pipe with nice round holes about every foot along the length. It has large eyes screwed into one side which fit through the cage wire and a long stick goes through on the outside to hold it in place! 6-8 feeding stations along a plywood shelf. A tall plastic juice container that was sitting around wondering what purpose it could serve, will be great for filling the holes and the guys can easily reach in for the food between holes. Great use of "trash".

Saturday afternoon, we finally got to look inside the house we have been looking at for a couple months. Very small and a bit rough but very interesting (1899 vintage). Trying to work out the logistics that would be necessary to purchase the, way too large, property. Great spot for raccoons - lots of woods and barns and a pond. No cornfields in the area!   

Oh well, lunch and then pot, pot, pot. Hot day but will be cool out in the pottery.