It's been a fairly low key week here at the pottery. I've finished up making pots for the next firing and gotten all the work done around the kiln so I can load as soon as I am ready. I have one more load of pots to bisque fire over the weekend.
There will be 4 or 5 different clay bodies in this firing (I've lost count but I've kept good notes). Honestly I have a feeling that most of these will not be what I'm looking for. I made some more pots using the white stoneware (B-Mix) that I complained so much about. I do like the fired result of that clay so maybe it's a matter of me changing some of my working habits to get it to work for me. I wedged some grog into that body as well to see what the fired result will look like. I'm not sure if I'll get speckling from the grog or not. I know there are commercial versions of the B-Mix with sand and grog.
I've started going to Bikram yoga classes. This is a type of yoga that is done in a room that is heated to 105 deg F. It's a 90 min class and we do the same sequence of poses in each class. Some of you know that I was into CrossFit for a number of years. I haven't been doing that for over a year now so the Bikram is a welcome addition to my life. I certainly need to be exercising to stay in shape as I am getting older. A friend of mine introduced me to yoga in my 20's but I really did not take classes or pursue it too much. My wife Sarah has had a daily yoga practice for years and also teaches. She practices the Iyengar style of yoga.
I am finding that being in that room for 90 minutes is a great experience. I am able to let go, be present, work on the poses, sweat, be quiet, and go inward. It is both physically and emotionally challenging. Here's a picture of Sarah in pose, Peety often joins in.
Sorry no yoga pics of me! Ha. Just envision me drenched and dripping of hot sweat. Right, not pleasant. Aren't you glad I spared you?