stories

People, places, and and the uncommonplace telling stories as they travel with Morganica (Cynthia Morgan) in mind and memory; neighbors, friends, and findings

19 09, 2008

Optical delusions

2016-10-11T22:59:00-07:00

I’m back in Castuary (my term for that anxious period when the mold is in the kiln and you’re waiting to find out if you’ve just made heaven or hell in glass). As usual, it’s sending me into all kinds of odd musings. For example, I’ve run across two different perception phenomena during this Castuary. First is what’s called the [...]

Optical delusions2016-10-11T22:59:00-07:00
24 07, 2008

Mammarian musings

2022-02-03T07:16:55-08:00

(Warning: Squeamish waters ahead if you're the type who avoids intimate girl gabs) They say a skillful beater can pound and pound on an ounce of pure gold until it's so thin that it can cover an entire church dome. Obviously, they borrowed that concept for mammograms. "Are you trying to cover the whole damn cathedral?" I gasped, through gritted [...]

Mammarian musings2022-02-03T07:16:55-08:00
23 07, 2008

Scooter love

2016-07-14T23:59:24-07:00

The old man opened the trunk, and hauled out what looked like a lawn mower chassis. He set it on the ground, reached into the trunk again, and pulled out a padded seat. He attached it to the chassis and one of those powered chair scooter things began to take shape. He was dressed in a starched white shirt and [...]

Scooter love2016-07-14T23:59:24-07:00
16 07, 2008

Shooting wheat (er, oats)

2016-05-16T13:45:37-07:00

“I hope,” I said with an apologetic smile, “that I’m not hurting anything? It’s a beautiful field and I just couldn’t resist.” I’d been driving past this wheatfield since early spring, on my way to work. I’d watched pale green sprouts shoot into sturdy green stalks, frowned as weeds invaded the waving tangles of grain and settled into a kind [...]

Shooting wheat (er, oats)2016-05-16T13:45:37-07:00
14 07, 2008

SWK seeking contract killer?

2020-05-05T15:24:33-07:00

So now some poor soul in Hillsboro thinks I'm trying to off somebody. Headed over to the Cornelius Roadhouse tonight to meet Steve-the-kilngod and kick off the Intelligent Kiln Project (more about that later). Arriving, I realized that (a) I had no idea what Steve-the-kilngod looked like and (b) Cornelius Roadhouse is a big place full of guys waiting for [...]

SWK seeking contract killer?2020-05-05T15:24:33-07:00
9 06, 2008

Bee determined

2016-05-15T16:03:57-07:00

I was shooting the iris–great stuff–but the angry buzzing in the rhodies behind me was finally too distracting. Apparently wet rhododendron blossoms don’t lend themselves to easy nectar gathering. As I watched, bumblebees tumbled out of blossoms, righted themselves and headed back for more. They slid down the soggy petals, scrabbled for footholds, got stuck and buzzed themselves out. I [...]

Bee determined2016-05-15T16:03:57-07:00
3 06, 2008

Calendar dressing

2020-05-05T15:25:56-07:00

55F and rainy today in glassland, and the glasslanders were out in force trying to prove that it’s warm. As I’ve said before, born and bred northwesterners have been genetically modified to perceive “chilled and wet” as “warm and dry,” and there’s no sense in trying to convince them otherwise. An amazing number practice what I call “calendar-based dressing.” Calendar-based [...]

Calendar dressing2020-05-05T15:25:56-07:00
28 05, 2008

Heat-seeking missile of the furry variety

2016-05-15T15:49:49-07:00

So I get home tonight and run to check on my venting kiln–it’s the mold moisture release phase of the cycle–and close everything up for the duration. Thanks to traffic jams I’m very, very late, so the kiln is up to 1300F instead of where it should be. The inside ends of the firebricks propping up the kiln lid are [...]

Heat-seeking missile of the furry variety2016-05-15T15:49:49-07:00
27 05, 2008

Disappointed?

2016-05-15T15:49:45-07:00

And I thought the British were the masters of understatement. They ain't got NUTHIN on the Canadians, apparently. Here's a story about poor Fournier, the skydiver who's trying to break the freefall record. He planned to send himself aloft on a helium balloon, break off at 130,000 feet and freefall down. Just for reference, that's about 24.6 miles high. Airliners [...]

Disappointed?2016-05-15T15:49:45-07:00
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Or, to put it in plain English, folks: Ask first. This blog is first and foremost a personal journal, a chronicle of my work with a fairly difficult technical medium. I'm happy (thrilled, even) to share what I know, and I'll help you with your own journey all I can... as long as you respect my groundrules.

I don't sell ads, products or services, and unless disclosed I buy all products/services mentioned in this blog, with my own money. I don't claim to have invented processes, tools, new artforms, or techniques (unless I specifically say so). HOWEVER, my writing and art (and any errors of fact or fiction) are my very own, original work. Don't blame anyone but me if I get it wrong.
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