Where did the week go? Since opening the kiln on Monday I haven’t worked on pots at all. Photographing the new work, deciding which pieces would go to Jonathon’s Gallery in London, Ontario, pricing them, finding or buying boxes and bubble wrap, a whole day wrapping and then, yesterday, labelling the boxes and delivering them to our local 7-11 postal outlet, have occupied me.  It was a huge relief to get that done, and I enjoyed an outside meal with friends for her birthday last night. Today, I’m toast.

Phoning my Berlin brother John, assembling a blog, doing a load of laundry, taking a wander around the garden and harvesting almost the last tomatoes, is all I’m up to today. Maybe it’s the upcoming elections in BC and in the States and Trudeau telling us that we should forget Thanksgiving have made me glum.

But having some potters drop by to collect wadding for our soda firing, and locals pop in to purchase teeny plates and more (so happy you have the green and red Christmassy plates Cathy and Dave!) led to our having some different people to chat with this week.

Here are some pieces, besides the loon and other birds that I showed in my last blog, that were in the recent firing. There were two nice big dinner plates which were repeats of two designs I really liked from last month. One I call ‘Rain Forest’ as it has my favourite jagged green leaf motif with rambling branches.

And the other is that bright green with dark green leaves and stems and random red berries. Originally it was inspired by a red rhododendron but it’s equally Christmassy now! There’s one teeny one left using the same design.

Speaking of the teenies, I made another lay-out of the new sixteen. I think I should have it printed so that I can refer to my colour choices any time without going to my iPhoto library.

I made three small yunomi to match some slab plates. I feel that together they make a little set for a snack.

Here’s one of those oval slab plates..

There are three of those in my 21 pieces that are hopefully wending their way, by rail or truck? to Ontario. They should get there in the first week of October I’m told. Here are all the pieces fondly, carefully and thoroughly wrapped in paper and bubble wrap.

Finding boxes that are the right size to be double-boxed is an interesting exercise. I hope I made the right choices to ensure their safe journey. Please let me know, Jonathon and Brian, when they arrive. You can see where my thoughts are today.

But tomorrow, for sure, I’ll get back to that stoneware….