OOOH, Enameling

So, the Chehalem Cultural Center, my new favorite place to be (except perhaps for the Beaverton Farmers' Market) has some kilns that in my mind defy logic for glass. They are tiny, have a high, medium, low knob and a pyrometer. For glass work this spells way more attention and bother than I am willing to put up with. I fussed about them for several weeks, wondering what good use could they be put to and finally came up with a couple of ideas. Precious metal clay and enameling! PMC is pretty pricey right now with what the silver market has done, but enamel has possibilities. We went to "Art in the Pearl" a couple of weeks ago and I chatted with an artist who had some pretty incredible enameled work about my interest in learning enameling with the intention of adding it to my classes at CCC. She recommended a book which I promptly ordered. Long story short, by the time I was near the end of the book I was hyper-ventilating, the cross-over between it and my glass, oh my! I was reading it at the Beaverton Library, on my way out I looked to my right and there on the wall was an incredible wall sculpture of enameled metal with the very techniques that I had been reading about. So, I have been to this library most weeks for this entire year and hadn't noticed it before, who knew. Anyway, I took this as a "sign" and that afternoon registered for an 8 week class in enameling. Can't wait!

New Job

A while ago I thought I was done being an employed person, it seems I was mistaken. I have recently started work with a W-2, time sheet and all once again. I am the new glass instructor at the Chehalem Cultural Center in Newberg, Oregon. For those of you in the Portland area it promises to be an upscale version of the Multnomah Arts Center, a refurbished school building with a wide variety of arts and cultural events and class offerings. In my quest to hype the center over the past few weeks I have learned that some people assume that with its Native American name, "Chehalem" that the center is focused on the Native American community--not so! It is an all inclusive arts, culture and local history with current event spaces for rent and huge plans for future facilities.

I am excited about my new role in this great center (although a bit disappointed in the sign ups for my new classes), but know that once we get rolling it will be great. I am excited about working with my new team headlined by my assistant/intern Ben, my new boss Karen, the big, big boss Robin and Pam who makes it all happen. What fun!

The Dog Days of the Market

Hard to believe that we are approaching the end of the season for the Beaverton Farmers" Market. This has been my fourth year. It is a happy place, and something I look forward to weekly without regard to sales. Last week was a bittersweet one, sales were better than the prior week for all of us (the week before had the Beaverton Parade so people couldn't "get there". This week was a nice, typical market weekend which I enjoy greatly, chatting with my market neighbors, Cyndi, Paula, Liz, and Shari, Shirley, Joe, Frank, Bo, Denny, Jackie, Lisa whose family has been doing her space and of course the "berry girls", sorry I haven't captured your names adequately. My close neighbors at the market grow amazing berries of all sorts and are part of the Russian "Old Believers" community. Their produce is great and they are nice neighbors.

So, I have slacked lately

I have neglected my website, I have no good excuse, as someone without a day job, what other priorities can I have. That said, there just aren't enough hours in a week do do what I want to do. I have been working on some commissions (a good thing), and teaching full classes (another good thing), but where have the rest of the past 3 or 4 months gone? I am going to, once again try to do better. We have exciting new toys to play with, I say we because Dan is every bit as excited about them as I am as compared to my earlier toys. Torches and an oxygen concentrator make for new horizons. It seems that when ever I fire them up Dan hears it and stands at my side until it is his turn. Too fun!

G.A.S.

I just got home from the annual Glass Art Society Conference, an international affair that draws hot glassers, torchers and fusers from around the world. The tagline for this year's event had a picture of a gas pump and said "get pumped". Boy howdy, once again I did. If dinner wasn't on the table right now waiting for me I would be ordering a new torch to enable the next phase of my glass addiction. Give me 30 minutes and it will be on its way!

Week 4 of the market,

Today was the fourth week of the Beaverton Farmers' Market, a place I love to be. I feel like I have my groove back, the first couple of weeks, with a modified set up and different inventory felt a bit odd, but today everything clicked. It is great to be back among my market friends and catch up on their lives. Paula has a new chicken coop and on Wednesday introduced her 16 (?) young hens to it. It is her daughter, Sparkle's project but it is at Paula's place so she is dealing with the "peckers", those that attack their coupe-mates and the injuries they inflict. Last year Shirley and Bo both had some health issues, but are doing well now. Today was Cyndi's birthday, and for her celebration she chose to spend her day at the market. It was nice to see Lisa and Dan, two of the five (that I know of) Providence people (or former Providence people) who spend their Saturdays at the market. I haven't seen the honker's wife yet, A few years ago there was an elderly couple who came to the market regularly. She would foray off into the rows of booths, he would sit in the car, and after a short time begin honking the car's horn. She shopped for a couple of hours so we were quite aware of his honking. He hasn't been there for a couple of years, but she has continued to be a regular, alas, I haven't seen her yet this year. Maybe it is the delayed season for fruits and vegetables, or maybe it is a life transition. At any rate I am glad to be back to the market.

Jumping!

I have been going to a circuit training exercise class off and on since the first of the year, and consistently for the past month or so. I was appalled to discover earlier in the year that I couldn't jump. If you are in my age category try it, can you do a two-footed jump and actually clear the ground? I am delighted to report that after some practice the jump has returned. While I won't out-rebound many on a basketball court I can get some air and am determined to maintain that ability. That feels good.

One Month In,/p> It has been one month since I was an employed person. Officially my position was eliminated, something I was able to embrace because after 33 years I was eligible for retirement. I don't feel ready to be retired so have taken to describing my status as on a "gap year". The first couple of weeks since I had on obligation so show up were a blur with the holidays, but the past two weeks have been different. I am learning to take a breath now and then and even sleep in on occasion. My success at showing up at the gym has increased and I am starting to feel relaxed.

One of my goals for a life with more available time is to improve how we eat, specifically to decrease the processed food we eat. I learned a lesson this week, don't bother trying to make tomato paste. Our local grocery store had a sale on tomatoes, January prices that would look good in August. Sadly, 5.5 pounds of tomatoes yielded somewhat less than a cup of paste. If tempted to try this, RESIST. It was a bad idea.

On the glass front I have been dodging a commissioned project for the past few weeks, but now have two of the three pieces in the kiln. it will be good to get these finished so I can play without the guilt, thus letting myself work on this post. Happy 2011 to all, I think it is going to be a great year.

Back at it

OK, I am writing this on an iPad, and given my limited HTML skills it might not go well so bear with me.

Art Court has started which means I am back at the Beaverton Farmers' Market. Our first week was spectacular, great weather, traffic and activity. this week, not so much so. for starters, my market neighbor, Cyndi wasn't there, her mom took a tumble and they were out late getting her checked out at the ED late the night before (she is doing fine). My canopy was soaked and so had to dry out in our living room and my sales didn't quite cover the price of admission. Oh well, some days are like that. Life is moving on for my market friends, Izzy and Steve are moving to California in late June, city TBD, Liz and Shari are likely moving to Arizona, Shirley's husband Ray is scheduled for a biopsy to stage his bladder cancer, Bo and Frank's granddaughters are way tall and growing up fast, Paula is sooo happy (David is a keeper). The market remains a happy place to be, and I have learned that life is all about change, but since I like it the way it has been, I just might have a bit of sadness to deal with as these changes unfold.

A New Season

We have been blessed with some perfect days lately, sunny, mid-seventies, which give hope amidst the other blustery days that bookend them. For me it is particularly enjoyable as I am just returning to an active life after three month of dealing with fractured ribs...not something I recommend to anyone.

The Beaverton Farmers' Market has started up again, and Art Court, the venue I am associated with at the market starts this week. I am looking forward to it, the market is a happy place to be with its own sense of community. Last Saturday, since I couldn't stay away from the market even if Art Court hadn't started yet, we rode our bikes to the market and did a bit of shopping. It was a nice intro to my future Saturdays of this summer. I saw some familiar faces--Paula, Lisa F., had some tasty samples and saw some market icons- market master, Ginger (who doesn't know who I am but was part of the Wilson High School Band parents group that I led), and of course the honker's wife, or perhaps more correctly by now, the honker's widow. Rather than referring you to age-old posts about the honker, in past years there was a car parked in the handicapped parking near where we are every Saturday. An elderly man sat in the passenger seat while his wife shopped and shopped at the market. He became bored/agitated, you can decide and started honking the horn of the car...continually. She returned to drop off purchases and dashed off for more shopping as the honking continued. Last year there was no honking and she had a different car, an older Volvo wagon with a large box in the back...hmm was the honker there or not?

Going for Gold!

I made my own run for gold this week. For the past several years I have done a lot of travel on Alaska Airlines and have enjoyed their MVP Gold status. 2009 was a different sort of year and as my boss told it, "my wings were clipped". I had resigned myself to moving back to the rank and file of fliers, but knew Dan and I would miss the perks this gave us--first class upgrades, no baggage fees, no change fees, etc. Well, Alaska sent me an email a couple of weeks ago suggesting that if I had a certain number of segments (that is one take off and landing) by mid-March they would make me "golden" again. I spent last Friday flying up and down the west coast and got my gold back. That means we need to make the most of our travel opportunities this year, wahoo!

Crime Scene

Got up early this morning to get to work on my last few outstanding glass orders of the year. I like early morning, the possibilities are exciting. Today I came downstairs to find evidence of an assault in our entry way. The victim, Frosty, a 3 ft. tall stuffed snowman who presides over winter from his perch on a sled near the stairs to our dining room had obviously been the victim of a serious attack. He had been knocked from his sled, lay sprawled across the entry way with the tassle from his hat dimembowled. A sad sight indeed. As is reported in criminology literature, the suspected perpetrator, Ollie spent a lot of time admiring his alleged handiwork. Frosty has taken another dive today, but as of this report is standing tall.

Ah, The Holidays

Much to my surprise Thanksgiving has come and gone. Dan's parents, sisters and their families come to our house and those who have been here before know the drill so it is pretty easy. Lee and Clare usually arrive Tuesday afternoon and have their annual visit with Sandy who keeps our lives in order. This year Sandy was gone by the time they got here, so they missed that catch up. The others start arriving Thursday morning. Dan and I start the turkey, cranberries, etc., but once the others arrive they get to work. This year Aaron peeled potatoes, and Matt riced and mixed them. As usual Clare did the salad, and suddenly it was dinner time.

Ollie is usually the life of the party, hasn't met many audiences he isn't prepared to wow with his acrobatics. Apparently Thanksgiving is different, he spent most of it hiding in the depths of our closet. Our guests all left by about 8 on Saturday. It took him until 8:30 to leave our bedroom, cautiously surveying the house to confirm his assumption that all of those extra people were gone. It took him another 30 minutes to get his swagger back, and 15 minutes more to assume command of the household. All is well.