It’s been good to get back to routine this week. The rain’s been pouring down and when it’s dry it’s cold so there are no distractions outside. I can just see the tips of Spring bulbs poking up and there’s a lot of yard clean-up to do. I’ve been photographing the super variety of birds at our feeders.

In the studio I needed to start by throwing bodies for more jugbirds for the airport crafts shop. Five have been assembled and today I attached their handles. Then I threw another five and it felt good to be back at my wheel with CBC Radio for company. I’ve made drawings for the toucan I intend to make next. It’ll take several thrown parts, a large bill/spout obviously and some ingenious way to fill it and pour from it. The colours will be astonishing!

Before Christmas I was in the Lougheed Mall, of course, and was pleased to see that our floor ‘mural’ mosaic has been cleaned. So I took some new photos. Several years ago ceramic artists associated with the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts were invited to create a circular floor piece. The theme was ‘The Arts in Burnaby”. My contribution, separated from other curved works by trees made by John Cloutier, depicted the buildings of the Shadbolt complex. You can see the Burnaby Art Gallery, Mather House where pottery classes take place, the Ombu kiln for wood and soda firing etc.

To see the full artwork check the floor in the Mall outside London Drugs.

On a walk between showers the other day Al and I came upon a new sign next to my other public art piece. In 2001 the City of Port Moody commissioned me to design two planters which were originally installed on traffic islands on St. George street. I chose to have concrete forms made to represent the base of beehive burners that used to stand in the Inlet for the logging industry. One of these was eventually destroyed by an errant driver so the other one now stands on the Inlet trail, near the industry remains it refers to.

My photo from last spring shows me with my great-niece Gabriella and daughter-in-law Jennifer next to the planter.

Thanks for the photo, Tasha!