August 12-19, 2022 Fort Collins, Colorado

 Been in the high 90's and somewhat humid, with dark clouds in the afternoon, but very little rain.

A couple scenes from our evening stroll around old town. Some break dancing on the stage at the square and children running through the fountain when it was hot. Sunset.

John and Mandy came over for dinner. John served smoked ribs, butternut bisque, and grilled peaches with ice cream for dessert. Mandy brought a yummy salad with tomatoes from their garden. Dinner was wonderful and so was the company. Sunset was brief and not very colorful before the rain chased us inside.

I went down to Denver to the Glass Artist Fellowship meeting. It was fun to see everyone and to tour the new 40W Galleries. Laurie and Deb framed. The galleries are by Casa Bonita. The new management has painted it Pepto-Bismol pink. There is heavy equipment in front, they are doing extensive remodeling. Word has it when they reopen they will even have editable food. The inside is very unique, but the old owners sold the worst food possible. 

This piece is in the kiln ready for firing. It took forever to choose the colors, and then to line up all those little pieces. The second piece is still in progress, but getting close. 

The bike path on my evening ride. The colors are so much brighter  and richer to me since my cataract surgery. I can't stop just looking around in awe. Tues I drove down to Denver again for my check up on my eye surgery. It rained the whole way down. Downtown shrouded in clouds and rain. My eyes are now 20/20 without glasses. It is a miracle. Omni Eye Specialists did the surgery and I highly recommend them. 

Sunset. One of the picturesque alleys in old town Fort Collins. 

A couple of the latest steps in the current masterpieces. All three are each 10 inches across. The top left one, I did not put enough fiber paper in the mold and it is fused to the stainless steel casting ring. It is currently in the kiln again seeing if it will melt out of it, will see when it cools down tonight. 

We went up to Cameron Pass and hiked the Michigan Ditch trail. It runs along a canal that moves water over the divide into the Poudre River drainage. I have not hiked since before I injured my back, so wanted to go on a scenic easy hike. It was lovely. It rained, sun shined, hailed, grappled and thundered. 

Flowers seen today. 

More flowers seen today,

Noku Crags seen from the trail. I was taking this photo of the black cloud and this butterfly flew in front of the camera.. 

Creek draining in. More flowers along the canal.

My tomato plants are now taller than the fence. The cherry tomatoes are starting to turn red now. I only planted these on June 29, they are doing well. I dyed a big box of ponderosa pine needles I had to use this winter in baskets. Shown in the sun and the shade.

I made this 4 sided jewel, but last night made it into an 8 sided one, it is really sparkly as an 8 sided one. 

August 5-11, 2022 Fort Collins, Colorado

 101 degrees and sunny.

Free music in Old Town Square Thursday night. Friday night was first Friday so we toured the few galleries left, many of them have closed. One exhibit was in dark with this tesla coil art. It was cool, It does not show up will in photos. And there were mimes in the square. 

Bob  of Bob Younger Images had his photo studio open and was taking complimentary photos for first Friday. He does excellent work. We got the Subaru back from the shop. In November a huge 4 point buck ran out of the trees in Bears Ears national monument into the side of the car. The hood, both doors and fenders and a bit of the roof were damaged, and the rear view mirror was torn off. We waited until we got back to Fort Collins to get it fixed, Insurance paid for the whole thing. It looks new. 

Our friends Jim and Wes stopped by this evening to purchase my River glass piece. It was good to see them. Here they are with the glass. Sunset was lovely tonight. 

This is what is in my kiln now, It fired last night and I am waiting for it to cool off so I can see how they came out. Waxing gibbous moon in sunset.

These huge storm clouds must be the severe weather that there was a warning about tonight. This is what I am working on now. 

The first firing is done on these. There are some holes in them. The pattern bars did not spread as much as I thought they would. Will need another couple firings. Still putting this one together, deciding what colors to use. 

The waxing gibbous moon with cool clouds last night. My sister Judy is visiting. Judy and my brother Jerry at dinner. Great to see them. 

Judy, Sue and Jerry Palmer. Sunset. 

July, 29- August 1-4, 2022 Fort Collins, Colorado

 High of 74 and cloudy.

Sunset last night. There was a severe storm warning going on at sunset, heavy rain, thunderstorms, large hail etc. I was running around covering my tomatoes' and basil. We had a huge storm, but fortunately all we got was 2 inches of rain, and lots of lightening to watch to the east. There was 3 inch hall to the east and drifts of hail in  Estes park. Tonight John made smoked pork tamales with home made pico de gallo and I made the kale  basil quinoa salad last night. Really good dinner. 

I am going nuts in my studio. I have glass on all flat surfaces. I am playing with the jaws technique that I make the river pieces with. These are some variations I am working on. Takes forever. You place a piece, glue it down, wait for it to dry, then place the next piece. This one has taken me 3 days so far. 

Another new piece I am working on, same technique. It will be filled in around the center piece of dichro. Same as the other piece. Place a piece, glue it down, wait for it to dry, then add the next. Finally after 3 days I got all these put together. They are firing in the kiln right now. Not sure I will make many more of these, they are really time consuming and tedious. But they look cool. 

John cooking me birthday dinner. We had smoked pork tamales with three home made sauces and green beans. Delicious. Sunset tonight from my bike ride. I have not ridden my bike since I injured my back in June. Was fun to be out. 

Look Ma, no lens! I am getting cataract surgery done on my left eye on Wednesday. With luck, after that I won't need glasses. Fresh out of the kiln. These came out very nice. Going to smooth and polish he edges and slump some of them. 

I have these 6 pieces to smooth and polish the edges. Some will be slumped too. I am loving being in my studio. Sun on the bike path from my bike ride.

Sunset. I cut up this pattern bar piece on my wet diamond ring saw and am going to use it in another piece, not sure what yet. 

ARRRRGGGG! This broke in the kiln when I was slumping it. I suspect it had some water in one of the nooks and crevices from when I was washing it. The water probably expanded in the kiln. I had hoped I dried it enough, but I guess not. Sunset Monday night. Looks like we have a bit of smoke from the fires west of us. The sunset is a bit orange.

Our hotel room at Court Yard at Marriot. We are in town for my second cataract surgery. We had dinner in a Thai restaurant, this was in the case by our table. Did not know there were Thai mermaids. Dinner was very good. 

I had my second cataract surgery on my left eye. My right eye went from 20/400 before surgery to 20/40 and my left eye from 20/200 before surgery to 20/60 just the next day.. Both eyes are expected to continue to improve as they heal. I don't need to wear glasses anymore!! Sunset in Denver Weds night. 

Back in the 80's I used to go to the Riviera in Glendale. We saw the sign and checked it out.  It is now named Las Delicias and is remodeled. Back in the day there were piranhas in the fish tank. Looks like now they just have tropical fish.