Saturday, June 28, 2008


Did I mention it was raining?
This is quite the year for rain in the midwest. It just keeps coming. So far, six inches has fallen here and fallen quickly.

First Firing-
This was my first glaze firing in my kiln this summer. I was testing all the glazes I have now.
The figure was done with underglazes and the background pieces were done with various glazes, two for each one. In addition, the buttons were done vertically, hanging in the kiln, so the effects of some of the same glazes were different, due to gravity and flow. The leaves were made using a candy mold and then just one hole, so technically, they are beads.
I had minimal loss, and I think it's not bad for a first try. I'd work on more today, except it's raining .. a lot... today. We had 3 3/4 inches overnight and are prob up to 2" so far this morning, with more to come.
It's a good day to quilt instead.

Sunday, June 22, 2008


Kansas City-

Not a town I know a lot about and I decided it was time to do something about that. I had a few ideas about what to see, and a few loose plans. I headed to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. It's a good solid art museum that briefly touches on everything important without being outstanding in any given area. Someone has a good collecting sensibility there and I'd suggest it as a good way to spend a few hours and see solid art from most major movements. I didn't get a sense of surprise there, however. Parts of it were under construction and they were very busy setting up for a party to be held there on saturday, so it was a bit difficult moving around the building itself (but the smell of fresh flowers was lovely) And I was reminded of how wonderful it is to be at an art museum that has art students frequent it on a regular basis. The guards are always much more relaxed about those of us who like to study the art closely. One of my favorites was Thomas Hart Benton's painting.
I've been working on a painting which is my way of working out some possibilities for my quilt work. I've been struggling with a concept and it was with great pleasure that I saw how one artist solved this problem. So, if not a surprise, at least a sort of validation and that was well worth the hours spent there.

Los Lonely Boys!

My sister sent us their first CD for Christmas back when they were a popular Bar Band in Austin, Tx on the very edge of breaking into the big time. I had the chance to see them in Kansas City this weekend. I'm looking forward to their new CD coming out soon. Check them out!http://www.loslonelyboys.org/

Wednesday, June 11, 2008


High Water-
I showed the effects of all the rainfall in our area in past entries, but I never walked down to the lake near my home to see the changes locally. So, yesterday,I did that and even a month after the major flooding occured, we STILL have high water! Those who have boats at docks have problems getting to the docks. Some solved the problem by having a canoe to ferry themselves back and forth.
You can see in the photo that the power pole that normally is at least 10 ft from the waterline is submerged. I wonder what all this prolonged water will do to the trees?

Sunday, June 08, 2008


The Wilderness Road festival-
The festival is being held this weekend at the Reeds Spring Saddle Club arena. It is celebrating the making of the road, right after the civil war, which connected the rural Ozark mountain folks to Springfield, Mo, the nearest railroad stop. There are musicians and storytellers, the 'oldies" from the community, just telling what life was like earlier in this area, and some general civil war and geneology information. It's not a big festival, partly due to struggling to find a good home for it, but there's a lot of dedicated people trying to make this happen and grow.
Pictured above is the bluegrass band "Missouri Boatride". On the far left, playing the mandolin, is Mr. Webb. He was originally in a band called, "the Dillards". You might know them as "the Darlings" from the Andy Griffith show. As you can see, maybe the lighting isn't the most professional, but I loved the shadows cast on the tent above. You can see them every other saturday night, playing on the back of their old chevy truck, at the Kimberling City shopping center parkinglot from 8-10, bring a chair. Come listen to a legend.