Random Thoughts/Comments

• Good sermon from Gateway http://www.gatewaychurch.com/podcast "Big Questions: Should We be Green"
• Is it wrong to want to buy the book "Green Like God" in paper? I really don't like reading on a device and like holding a real book.
• Had fun teaching Heidi to make soap Saturday. I've discovered I am becoming a soap snob and even handmade soap that uses colorants or fragrance that aren't "natural" bother me. I use only essential oils and natural colorants like beet root and fair trade cocoa.
• I am looking for a good natural nail polish. My toes are naked for the first time in a couple years. Letting them be polish free for a week or so and then I'll get them painted before the wedding. Wonder if you could get permanent nail polish like you can get permanent makeup? Guess that would be a little freaky.
• Have almost been ran over in the parking garage headed into work twice this week. People drive too fast and I am not awake enough to get out of their way.
• Only my opinion but I am not sure vasectomies are a good idea. Post-vasectomy pain syndrome sure doesn't sound so good and some reports say it affects over 30% of guys having a vasectomy. And then talk of testicular backpressure, epididymal blowouts where the tube carrying sperm explodes, and other painful sounding complications. Uh. I am thinking that doesn't sound good. And then what about all the emotional considerations. And I don't have a bunch of research to back this up but I think women know when they are done having children, when they just can't fathom carrying another child. So at that point wouldn't it make sense for her to have her to be the one preventing herself from having more children. Yes, I know the procedure is easier on the guy than the woman but from what I've read I'd rather not ask a guy to take the risks of a vasectomy. But really, its up to him.
• I am looking forward to starting my Steak Tour around Austin soon. I've received many suggestions and haven't decided what all will be on my tour. III Forks, Perry's, and Ruth Chris for sure. So I need to save up some money or find some financial backing.
• There is something very lonely about being single during dinner time on a friday night. Doesn't help when one is reading a Rachel Ray magazine with all the pictures of families eating dinner together.
• I've been working on a glass series of jewelry with lots of blues and greens. Last night I drilled 8 donut shaped pendents and then was told the glass studio is going to retire the drill press (what I use to make donuts) b/c it is too dangerous. Yes, the clamps could come off and glass would come flying at your face.
• I am taking the month of August off from pottery but will start back up in September and will get ready for Christmas presents and another Open House around the holidays.
• The new Burlap to Cashmere CD is really good. Wish it had one or two more flamenco styled songs but its a good album. Has a Cat Stevens flavor, not sure I expected that.
• I understand the whole "no shampoo" bandwagon but I really don't have 2-6 weeks to let my hair look freaky and oily before it accepts the no shampoo lifestyle.
• Lily (niece) and my mom were walking in the neighbor and saw a girl walking a little black and white dog, Lily said "look, that girl is walking a cow." I think the kid spends too much time in chic-fil-a. :0)

Sophia pics up on photoblog

Isn't she just precious? :0) A few more pics over at http://m-photodesign.blogspot.com/

Sky Window

Took a glass class recently where we designed our own glass and then cut it up and reassembled it to make a "sky window." Was fun learning some new techniques. I seem to use a lot of pinks, blues, and purples.

The Crate

So, the crate...
After some creative use of an antique screwdriver as a crowbar and some pruning shears I was able to take apart the crate and unwrap my NEW GLASS KILN!

Here it is all set up. Many thanks to Thomas for all the help. The kiln sure isn't light!

And here's the safety equipment as I am firing it in my dining room. :0) Fear not. It's safe.

The inside of the kiln. All ready for firing. The inside is 14"x14" and 6" high. Plenty big enough for lots of fun.
Here it is firing it's first firing. Took 16 hours and ran it overnight checking on it every few hours. Just fired a few scrap pieces so nothing special. Will do a real firing soon. :0)