Making time . . .

I find that time gets away from me . . . too many things to choose from! But I always will make time for my obsessions.

My newest passion and total obsession is pottery. YES pottery thrown on the wheel, glazed and fired in a kiln. 40 years ago I took lessons - drove with my friend weekly to a studio 30 minutes from home, all winter long it seems now. I loved it then but of course was also working full time and was busy with life, so put my interest aside. 

About 3 months ago I got the bug again and approached a friend who had a studio full of pottery equipment including a good quality wheel and an older manual electric kiln. I bugged her often enough to sell it to me that she gave in, and it is all set up in my husband's shop at home, and he has graciously allowed my mess to take over! But there is a plan afoot to move me out of the shop  and into my own pottery studio, which he will build and I will love!

I have sold a dozen or so pieces of pottery which is so exciting, and of course in order to feed my passion I must sell more and more and more! If you like something, please send me a message to untrainedunafraid.artist@gmail.com or message me on FB at www.facebook.com/untrainedunafraid.artist and I will get back to you.

Prices will be very reasonable as I get established and practice practice practice. Local people can arrange to come to my home to have a look and make a purchase. I will mail in Canada and add the cost of postage to your total. Payment can be made by e-transfer or with cash or credit card in person with Square.

Hurray for Rain! →

On the west coast of British Columbia, and Vancouver Island in particular, we expect to have rain. We have gum boots, rain coats and pants, umbrellas, waterproof everything - or we get wet and don't mind so much. In my case, going for a walk in the rain means dressing accordingly. My companion Buster the dog gets his curly hair wet and shakes it off and gets a good towelling when we get home.

Over this past summer, from May 1st to the end of August, we had almost no rain, we had severe water restrictions, brown grass and dying gardens, dirty cars and lots of dust, all very unusual. This was brought on by changing weather patterns, including no snow pack in our mountains - the snow pack we depend upon to give melt-water in the spring and summer to keep water levels in lakes, rivers and reservoirs topped up.

For the past week we have had rain again, and it has refreshed us all - people, gardens, animals, forests and streams. Luckily, where I live, our rain was steady and had time to soak in rather than run off the concrete-hard surface of the ground. So every night, and during every day, some rain fell, and the plants in the garden stood up and breathed again, the ground softened, and the dust was washed off. Aaahh!! back to near normal.

We here in my part of the world have taken rain for granted, cursed it often, prayed for it occasionally, but really haven't appreciated it as much as we obviously should. Until it wasn't available we paid little attention to it. Sure, we would listen to the weather reports to plan long weekends and special occasions, but mostly the weather just happened. I think, after this summer of drought, more of us will give the rain and what it offers us more deference. I think we will be happier for it and not grumble about it so much. Some of us will even try to save some for "non-rainy" days in the future.

Water is so precious and for those of us who have given it little thought, this dry summer has reminded us that there are huge areas of the world, and millions of people who live there, where our rain would be a miracle. So best we remember that and use our precious gift with more appreciation! no more "rain rain go away, come again another day" - you can stay around for awhile now!