Busy day running errands. not much to report. spent a good part of it trying to figure out a way to mail one of my tesla coils to Belgium for a talk I’m giving there in a couple of weeks. It’s no fun taking it on the plane with me anymore.. too many uestions about it. I always have to use the excuse “if I were goign to make something reallyu dangerous.. I wouldn’t makie it look really dangerous, now would I”.. works on US TSA folks.. not going to test that taking it internationally…

Around six folks started showing up for a SamStones potluck. We were getting low on stones with all the travel folks do over the summer.. so Jen brought over clay. Before we started with the clay we ate.. kids inside…

Adults banished to outside..

Wendy and Tim showed up. This was the first time we got a close look at Wendy’s new foreshortened fingers.. She los the ends of three fingers on her left had in mishap with an electric lawn mower a few weeks back. She’s handling it with characteristic grace and humor..   We’re discussing making some sort of cool prosthesis for her middle finger.. What cool powers can we give her ?

We were rewarded  with or outside dining with a really glorious sunset… we’ve been having them nearly every day now.. wonder what’s causing them ?

THen inside to begin th emaking..

It’s a nice process… shape the ball in your hand, press it between the website mold and the ‘Sam’ mold… then voila !

they then air dry a few days then Jen and Diane ink in the Sam imprint with Iron oxide glaze.. then they’re fired. We generally make about 300 per batch.. i think tonight we made fewer as it wasn’t a full batch of clay.. A whole lot of love goes into making every one.. It’s  a wonderful sweet and sad tradition…

nite all.. nite sam.. we were all thinking of you tonight

-me