While it has been a while since I wrote, luckily, it has been boring, uneventful stuff keeping us busy. Larry’s health issues have pushed our nerves a bit lately. We had a two-week nail biting period waiting to see if his platelet levels had increased from a new low. If not, we would have had to make a zipping trip to Atlanta, GA, the closest location of our HMO, for a possible blood transfusion.
Once that resolved itself, we had a water-retention issue that kept us “packed and ready to head to CA” for about 10 days.
As soon as we heard the platelets were up again, we moved forward to tackle our local transportation problem. For five years we have enjoyed our faithful friend Doodlebug, a classic 1986 EZGO convertible.
Doodlebug has toted us around the park to visit friends, to the Escapees office to pick up mail, and Larry with fire ant poison and hoses to care for our half-acre yard. Doodlebug has assisted with numerous yard-sales--moving tables and merchandise from the back sheds to the front yard. With the help of a little red wagon-trailer, we have filled a cubic yard’s worth of mole holes in the lawn. Doodlebug has been a necessary fixture in our lives.
Others may have laughed at our classic car; we have enjoyed numerous evening rides through the park—with the wind blowing though our hair. It’s been a lot of fun--including the night we had smoke rising up from under the seats, and even the night I had to push Larry part-way back to the house. She has had her issues, but it was always fun. Doodlebug has slowed down the past few years. We replaced most of the batteries last year even though we knew her days were numbered—but hoping for a few more months of fun and enjoyment.
And last month, then the unthinkable happened! Doodlebug suffered severe spinal failure! Alas, her days ended quickly—with a bang. Good-bye old friend!
As soon as we knew Larry’s platelets were back up, we headed out to find a new friend as I missed our evening drives. We found another companion, Doodlebug New, in Conroe, TX. Conroe Golf Cars even delivered our new fancy 2006 SUV (Snappy Utility Vehicle) pick-up. We opted for a truck bed so Larry can continue his yard duties, smile.
That’s our laid-back Livingston (LBL) pink flamingo relaxing in the banana-yellow hammock. The plain-vanilla car needed a touch of real class—class that is only obtainable with a flamingo on board!
We are back to riding to pick up mail in the 100 degree weather and to the egg man to buy fresh eggs. Larry has been taking me out for my evening rides. I love it!
I have also been busy working with the new potter’s wheel and kiln.
This is the first glaze firing. It did a terrific job! I was so pleased when we opened the kiln. Finally, a GREAT firing!
As I write this, the kiln is firing its third glaze firing. I have had some difficulty due to the hot weather. The kiln’s electronic controllers require the room be less than 110 degrees—and that is almost impossible these days. The garage reaches 110 and up by noon. It cools down into the 90s about 9 pm. So, I’ve been firing at night—all night! I check and log in the kiln temperature every hour , and I am standing by when it is due to shut off—about 11 hours after starting. And then comes the next 8-10 hours of cool-down time before opening the lid. It is like Christmas morning—so hard to wait to open my big present. Good pottery is like wine, it can’t be rushed!
We have a topical storm headed this way on Friday, so I decided to stay up tonight instead of Thursday night. If “Don” gains strength in the Gulf and comes ashore over Galveston as a hurricane, we may have to head north in the camper for a few days. I want the pottery load safely packed away by then, smile!
Whoops, time to go check the kiln temperature.
Its 1306 degrees and only about 848 degrees to go……at about 160 degrees per hour.
I will take photos when we open the kiln tomorrow afternoon. It is always a big surprise!
P.S. The kiln ran until 5:15 a.m. Long, long night!
And another successful firing! Aren’t they pretty?
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