The SFU Archaeology Department’s Christmas party was last Saturday and Al had decided that he’s recovered enough to join his old friends and colleagues after so many months of being under the weather. Talking about weather, there then came lots of doubt about whether we could get up the Port Coquitlam hills to attend said party. Luckily we were offered a ride with four other archaeologists in a slippery-road-worthy vehicle. Thank you so much George and Cathy!
My reason for mentioning this is because, imagine my delight, the turkey gravy for the party was served in two of my jugbirds. It really is a particular pleasure to see old friends being appreciated by their owners, also old friends.. er, long-time friends. Jon and Cathy tell me that they bought the Rufous-sided Towhee jugbird at a Fraser Valley juried show at Maple Ridge Art Gallery, probably a decade ago. The English Green Woodpecker Jon bought in my studio quite recently, happy to remember seeing them back in England.
Then I spotted a painted and sgraffitoed platter. They had bought that at a show of mine at Port Moody Arts Centre in 1998, before I became obsessed about birds. I must remember to transfer drawings to plates more often. The gnarly tree was drawn on a sketching trip to Coquitlam’s Riverview Arboretum.
In 1983, apparently, I gave some of our close friends a little bowl filled with something. On this day I found it filled with coffee spoons. At the time I was firing cone 6 Kenzan porcelain in an electric kiln. So yes, we enjoyed an evening with longtime friends and I had the added pleasure of finding my old friends.
Just to note just how unusual the weather is here in Port Moody this year I’ll add these photos.
Coyotes wander along the street and this cold Varied Thrush sat in our tree for a long time. Sun is going down at 4.15pm as I walked back from the Arts Centre and the snow on Golden Ears looks spectacular from our front porch.
