End of May, 2020

Do your days seem to run into each other now? Life moves on and we are coping just fine, staying busy sometimes (well, Bob is ALWAYS busy) and other times just reading. We aren’t big daytime TV watchers; both of us are products of our childhood when our parents limited television to after-dinner hours.

Our park has opened the pool and Bob and I have started swimming each evening after dinner. Well, floating, to be honest. We float on a pool noodle and talk with friends or make new friends...there are rarely more than a half dozen people in the pool at a time. We maintain social distancing, wear masks when entering or leaving the patio area, and enjoy a warm dip as the sun starts to set. It’s a lovely way to end a hot day.

Other than that, we have started to spruce up the place on the outside. Bob has been painting over the brown stripe that dates this house so much with a light gray. A big improvement. I’ll post a photo when it’s all finished. Plus, we have purchased some desert-hardy plants for the “front yard,” a 6 x 11’ gravel area in front of the house. We have a new little burro as a lawn decoration, and Bob built a miniature fence section over which the burro can hang his head.

I’ve done a little weaving and have just finished this inkle band. The gray really tones down the Pepto Bismal pink, doesn’t it?

Bob has finished salad bowl #2 out of what will be a 4-bowl series. A lot of people have been amazed  at his bowl making and have asked how this is done, so here are the steps.

First Bob chooses his woods.

Next the wood is cut into segments, 12 per ring.

This bowl will have three rings in graduated sizes, plus a base. They are glued together and clamped for drying.

The rings are ready to be sanded, using Bob’s handy-dandy ring-holder.

 (HDRH.)

The HDRH holds the rings flat against the lathe’s orbital sander, also made by Bob.

The rings are glued together, then are turned on the lathe.

The finished bowl.