Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain...

Ok, actually today I have to pay attention to the man behind the curtain because one day the wizard is going to expect me to remember all these things he told me 20 years earlier...

Today started with an early Christmas gift!  Seems like I've heard somewhere you are supposed to give gifts like you'd want yourself...enter the brand new Skutt Kiln. (Thanks dad...I will love it as much as you will!) 

And as with most other visits...dad's obsession with his impending demise and morbidity created an educational visit where I learned how to make the sausages, (so to speak) 

Step #1 - run the scraps of clay through the hammer mill...(engineered for corn, but works well with clay) 

Step #2 - Put the now "powder-like" substance in the giant mixer, along with a baby formula can full of bentonite (it's been a couple of years since I drank bottles, so apparently even 37 year old formula containers are acceptable measuring devices) 

Step #3 - Add water...using an equally specific tool for measurement as step #2, a 5 gallon bucket from Lowe's filled to the middle line of the E stamped on the bucket. (Who am I to judge? If it works...) 

Step #4 - Take heaping handfuls of muddy mess and drop it in the Pug Mill (no puppies were harmed in the making of this clay) 

Step #5 - Extrude it from the pug mill, cut off stacks and bag it.  After a little settling it's ready to go!  

Whew! That's a lot of work, but really cool to be a part of the process.  I didn't get any pots turned today, but managed to also learn how to mix and apply kiln wash to a few new shelves for the new kiln!  (Now I just need a few pieces to fire!) ha!  

I know one day I'll look back on these days and cherish them...because I already enjoy them so much right now.  Love you dad! (and thanks again for the Christmas Kiln!)