Tomorrow I shall drive out to Abbotsford to join Dave Dobie and Herman Venema in loading the salt kiln on Herman’s property. On Wednesday when we’re salting it’ll be the first time I’ve been able to participate in a salt-only firing in 2 1/2 years, since the fabulous month-long residency in Medicine Hat in 2010. Since then I have had pots fired in salt, mainly in Vincent Massey’s kiln and without my help but this will be an important test of firing conveniently near my home. My 44 pieces are all sprayed with slips, bisqued, lined with glaze and now wadded and packed up for the one-hour drive.

Meanwhile I have done a bisque and glaze-firing of earthenware. Those pieces are almost cool enough to take out of the electric kiln. Al says he’ll take photos of my 16 jugbirds and the 7 plates painted in a ‘Painting Raid’ in November while I’m out salting on Wednesday. Eric, Monique and Renée plan to pop out here to collect them on Thursday.

It’s all rather late for the Granville Island galleries but I will be delivering work to them within the week.

The other photo below was sent to me from Cambridge and shows that 6 of my original 12 jugbirds at Primavera are gone. I don’t expect to hear from Jeremy Waller until after Christmas but if he wants more I can take some over next year. Al and I think a trip to Eastern Europe would be fun.

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