Last Week

 Did a craft fair on the weekend. Wasn't bad as far as sales. Saw lots of people I hadn't seen in years. Fun social event, some networking and a day out.

 Playing around with low fire clay and glazes. Lots of colour!! The customers like it more than I do.

 More of my student Violet's tiles using traditional designs. These are for sale $25 each mounted in a hangable beautiful alderwood frame.

 Helped two kids make these volcano bases today. I'll fire them then they can turn them into their science fair projects.

 This is why I am not getting any 'work' done. Spending all day out there planting/transplanting. Have to get up a couple times to put wood in the fire during the night but no biggie. Worth all the lost sleep. I'll have a couple of thousand plants in here before long.

First flowers on the hanging basket tomatoes. Usually about 6 weeks from the first flowers to the first red fruit. With all the sun we get you can see the plants growing from one day to the next.

Still Summer.....but the end is near.

 Harvest of first eggplants. Already dried and canned 60 lbs. of tomatoes, most of broccoli, cauliflowers and loads of mixed vegies. Garden looking a bit on the worn side. Still lots to go!

 Fall scarfs.

 Otter Falls. This beautiful waterfall used to be on the Canadian $5 bill. When they built a hydro damn on the river and messed it up they changed the bill! It had been raining when we went up there so the falls were 'on'.

Alaska Highway going North just out of Haines Junction, Yukon. Nice! Once our chickens are all in the freezer it becomes the time for lots of trips around the Territory. Trying out some new fly patterns. Drawing the same conclusion....it isn't the fly, it's your ability to cast and knowing how to 'fish' the fly.
Next week we'll be going South on the highway to Liard Hot Springs. Can't wait!

Big Fly Order Finished!

There were so many boxes of flies that it was difficult to photograph them. From the smallest grayling/trout fly to the huge pike flies, here they are. Or were....all are now in the store in Whitehorse. After 30 years this is the last order for Sports North. They sold their building and are winding down the business in November and moving to Costa Rica!! Meanwhile there won't be any place to buy fishing stuff left. Who knows what will be happening next year!!
Back at the ranch I will start making pottery again tomorrow. It was -15 last night but will be warming up over the next week. Also silk scarves will get underway. Lots of developments coming up for the Summer.
Today was a typical Yukon spring day. Blue sky and lots of warmth in the sun.The swans are back. Won't be long and we will have leaves and all the birds will be back. Then the next flock will be the tourists. That will really be Summer!

Back to Silk Painting

Top photo is my already painted scarves curing. They have to cure for at least 24 hours before they are steamed. Also some other ones that are outlined waiting for the dye. All those pails below them are my glazes. I am in my Winter quarters now. Or I should say, crammed into my Winter quarters. All the pottery stuff and the silk stuff and the wool/dog fur stuff. A wood stove and an old cook stove that I use as a work table. All I can say is that it is a heck of a lot better than having to try and work in the house!! I have to haul water in but at least it goes out on its own. I have electricity....a very long extension cord. So there are lights and I can run one tool at a time. Luckily I throw my pots on a kick wheel. It is warm though.
Couldn't resist the temptation to do some tropical fish. Outside it is -12 and SNOWING. Tomorrow is pricing and packing pots for Sunday's sale in Tagish. I usually get really good support from my friends and neighbors. This time I have the cream of the crop for them!!