Kootenay photos

We're having an amazing Indian summer here in the Kootenays.
Since it's a busy time for many of us, I'm just going to post some photos I've taken recently, 

enjoy.

My squirrel photo has become a Cover Squirrel for our  MAKE Team's FB page.
Nov2/12

     Red squirrels... cute but noisey (and nosey).

Kokanee spawning in Kokanee Creek

Clean dog.

Dirty dog... yup, rolled in the dirt right after his bath.

Cruising down the West Arm.

Johnson's landing from across Kootenay Lake.

Swimming in Kootenay lake.

Awesome views on Kootenay Lake.

Kokanee Creek Park.

Feathered visitors.

Osprey Ferry.

Beach day at Queens Bay.

One of our small Kootenay towns was featured on Global News:

Silverton... 

A sad time... goodbye Spike.

                                            It's important to be kind... even when it's so hard.              

Spike. October 1998- May 30, 2012

 Last night- May 29/12

  Here I sit, alone and heavy-hearted at my computer, listening to Spike crunching his dinner, then his claws clacking on the floor, as he pants his way along the rug path, to flop behind my chair.  He's done well for 13 1/2 yrs, but his days aren't so happy anymore… it's the time I've been dreading. When he was really ill a year ago, I made a video tribute for him. I guess I should finish it soon... will add it another day.

*********************

 A little about our dog- Spike.

He was born around Oct 31, 1998. We got him on my birthday in December. Dave had him in his arms, and our 2 boys bounced around them with joy, in the atrium of the bank where I worked. 

 He is part Akita, part border collie and the poor little guy could barely manage the stairs, so we had to pick him up, to join us on the couch. His belly dragged through the snow, when we took him outside. The boys would run up and down the hallway, Spike bounding behind them. The happy sounds of kids with a puppy, squeals, laughter, barking and growls. Then came the house training, little and big mistakes, chewed up shoes, and holy socks… when you could find them. What is it about socks and puppies anyway?

  Our little home in the woods was quite remote, and somewhat isolated, so we wanted a protector for our family and home. That he has been…and much, much more. His keen senses were always at work, listening, watching, smelling… everything. I remember a time that he treed a bear when I was out picking mushrooms in the nearby forest. He ran back to me to make sure I was heading for home, then ran back and kept the bear up that tree, until I was at the house, then he quickly came home. 

Always posing for me & my camera.

   If you've ever had a dog, you understand how big a part of the family they become. He has been an awesome companion to all 4 of us over the past 13 1/2 years. He learned to smile and talk to greet us when we get home.  Like any dog, he's always been ready to walk, eat, play, relax and snuggle, or do whatever we're doing.  He loved going to the beach, chasing sticks and swimming. His favourite thing was barking at and splashing the water.

  Strong, proud, happy, friendly and protective, he has developed into a very dignified dog. Even the vet commented on his good manners. He usually lays with his front paws crossed, with a gentle-manly air about him. 

     Spike has since retired, along with Dave. The kids have left our nest, and are starting lives of their own.  He sleeps a lot now, and can't hear anymore. His eyes are clouding up, and he doesn't get up or even talk, to greet me when I get home. He's reluctant to go outside at times. I think he's worried that we won't let him back in. He often lays on the bare floor, but it's so hard for him to get up.  (We've got runners all over the house, and a blanket for him to lay on… but he prefers the slippery floor.)  Our outside steps are carpeted, to make them easier for him to use as well. 

   Short walks to the mailbox have become his main outing, and yesterday even that seemed to be too much, however today was better. A dark cloud of dread has blown into my heart, and it's time to prepare, for the final part of his life. 

 I didn't think he'd make it through this past winter, but he is a trooper, and has fared well, however  I can see the downward spiral, spinning faster. The inevitable is staring me in the face, and I'm thinking it's time for him to be put to sleep.

 I have hopes that he will just go to sleep and not wake up, but I must seriously consider that it may not work out that way. My youngest son said it would be a shame if he was all scared and upset for the last part of his life- ie: a trip to the veterinarian's office.  We all agree on that.

Waiting for the vet... he doesn't know that, but I do.

  So I called the vet's office today to see what options are available, and he is able to come out to the house and put him to sleep, but then what to do with the remains? cremation? private or communal? burial? do I want the ashes back? etc. more morbid things to think about. Then there's the cost (I'm waiting for them to call back with a quote… our home is 30 km away from town, so it's not a short drive.) 

 A friend of a friend has been offered to humanely shoot him… got mixed feelings on that. I know he's an animal, just a dog, but I would like Spike to die peacefully here at home, as humanely and dignified as possible. 

  Now the sun has set, and he's starting to itch, scratch, pant and whine and the rain is pouring down. Gloomy weather, to match my mood.

                                                                                                                 ………

May 30… With our vet's assistance, Spike has moved on, peacefully, lovingly and dignified, like we all would want to…

Last look at the lake...

Glaze firing on Mother's Day.

Glaze firings always make me nervous. 

I just never know how they'll turn out.

I've been under-glazing and glazing some ceramic pieces I made a while back.

It takes 3 coats of underglaze, covered by 2 coats of clear glaze, 

to get full colour coverage.

Loading the kiln.

The dog vase, mug, bird and sunfaces are the pieces I am most anxious to see completed,

 as well as a "boob cup" that I'm firing for someone else. 

    
    Checking the witness cones before shutting the lid.

10 hours later, I've unloaded the kiln.

A successful cone 06 firing!

Here's all the glazed pieces that were in there.

The dog is adorable, the sunface mug turned out sweet.

 The colourful bird needs eyes, and the sunfaces need cords to hang by. 

It might be a while, before I get around to taking better photos,

 but some of these pieces might make it to my Etsy shop.

If you see something you'd like, contact me.

Simply charming...

The short version: I bought some charms and made simple, earrings with them.

The long version:

  I enjoy shopping for unique pieces to use in my jewelry.

Combining pretty charms, colourful glass, or precious stones, into a pair of earrings, is almost instant gratification.

 The other day, I received a new order of charms, and was anxious to go to my studio and make some new earrings. However, my son was on Skype, and we were having such a good visit, so I opened the packages, and we just kept talking.

    I have a couple of tools in my desk, so I made several pairs of earrings while we visited. 

They're simple, lovely, and Inexpensive.

Clay pieces often take weeks from start to finish. 

Paintings also take many hours to be completed.

Earrings are one of the few things I can make from beginning

to end, in one sitting AND they are easy to ship.

But, just adding a charm to an ear wire? Anyone can do that… if they want to.

Makes me reluctant to call them "handmade", however, not everyone is willing or has the patience,
to fiddle with tiny things. 

 So... 

A simple charm hanging from a hook.

Easy to make, and yet so pretty to wear.

It'll take time for me to get them all listed in my Etsy Shop, but I did 

add the butterfly earrings.

Things I'm working on...Ok, who changed the format?

Has Blogger changed the format? Or did I mess up my settings last time I was here?

I was just going to post some photos of pieces I'm working on... and everything here has changed.
Note: The blog looks the same to view, but the screens for updating and creating the actual blog has changed.

 I've been in my studio for about 10 hours, making a couple of pieces with my new Plainsman clay.
Finally have some photos to add. It's midnight, my eyes feel as gritty as my hands, and I'm too tired to be amused by the totally different look, but will just muddle my way through and hope for the best.
I'm listening to Susan Jacks... in case you're interested.

(I started these birds last weekend)

Made a small bear head, wallhanging...

I love the way his mouth turned out 

When hanging on the wall, this is how he'll look.

And I made a dog vase...

front view

side view

(Update- March 27/12-He's ready for a first firing and 

I've decided on a glaze ... it's called "Dalmation" how fitting.)

Update- May 15/12- see him finished and fired.

 That's how my day off was... fun :)

I'm off again tomorrow too, just not sure what to make next... 

(Update: I like this new format- especially for adding photos, now that I've tried it a couple of times :)

A little blue dog ... going to a new home

Sorry, this dog's not smiling right now. He doesn't like the title I've given him, and wants a real home and perhaps a name. He's a little dog with a big attitude. Note: He's featured in a Treasury Nov 18-20/09 http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=76102 I handformed him from earthenware clay, fired him in my kiln, painted him with acrylic paint, then used an outdoor glossy sealer to protect him. Approximate dimensions: Height: 1 1/4 inches 3.5 cm Width: 1/2 inch 1.5 cm Length: 1 1/4 inches 3.0 cm

I'm really hoping that the little blue dog will get to his new home

in time for Easter.

He was pretty excited to be leaving the studio where he was born,

Last night he said goodbye to his friends and

this morning we left our home (near Balfour, BC.) and took the

ferry across Kootenay Lake. It's a 45 minute ride, but it was a sunny

morning, and his first time on a ferry.

I took him to the Post Office in Crawford Bay, BC, (Canada) where

he's starting his trip across the contintent to New York.

He promised to let me know when he arrives safe & sound.

Doggie days

Well, today Midas has gone "home".
We've been doggie-sitting almost two weeks, for our elderly friend from Kalso.
She fell & broke her hip on May 19 and has just been moved to a 3rd hospital since then.
At least now she is close to her family. I'm sure this will help her recover quicker.

Anyhow, my husband (mostly) and I, have been looking after her year old golden retriever, Midas.

We have our own dog- Spike, he's an 11 yr old akita/border collie cross. He's not used to sharing his home & family, so I was a bit anxious about how it'd work out.

At 1st Spike was pretty grumbly, watching Midas ( who was constantly moving, ) was
tiring him out (us too)! We had to keep Midas in the fenced patio area (Spike's pen) and
put Spike inside the house, at the beginning.
When we tried to bring Midas in the house we learned that he was scared to go up our stairs. So we couldn't get him in the house the 1st couple of days.
One night we were out in the front yard, ( hoping to see the space station pass over us) and I managed to coax Midas up the front stairs, and got him used to them...so now we could bring him inside without a struggle. AND we got to see the space shuttle fly over us!

Anyhow, a couple of nights ago, I set my mind on getting him up the BACK stairs. So armed with a few Marrow bone treats, I tried coaxing & pleading...no luck.
He can be pretty stubborn, but he sure wanted the goodies!
I was determined to get him up the stairs, so I put one treat on each of the top 3 steps, just out of reach. While he was stretching (not taking his back feet of the ground) and trying to reach the nearest one, I slowly lifted his back leg off the ground & put it on the 1st step, then I did the same with his other rear leg. He started shaking & crouching, but I persisted and moved his front paws (one at a time) to the next step. It took a lot of doing, but I eventually manoevered him up four steps, and then he was so close to the top, he grabbed the treats and got onto the porch. So proud of himself!

Here we are 2 days later and he's running up and down the stairs like there was never an issue!

And just like that, he's gone, the long drive to his new home, where his own family will be around. "Mom" and Midas will be reunited in couple of days, to start a new chapter in their lives- "Recovering".