Mike and Fernando's Big Adventure

Our friend at CasaMar, Fernando is really the one who encouraged Mike to try his hand at clay. Whenever they are together they talk about clay, what has been done, what to try and often La Pila comes up, the town where most of the statue and figurines are made. Recently Fernando asked Mike if he would want to go to La Pila and see how they work? Are you kidding? He couldn't wait!! Well, Saturday Fernando came by to discuss the Art Event and they decided Sunday they would go. I begged out and stayed home to do laundry and putter, and knew the two of them would have a wonderful time.

Interesting statues in the town. Mike found out some very interesting stuff from Fernando as they wandered around talking. Fernando is from Quito, and speaks very good English, but Mike did say he understood much of what the Spanish speakers were saying, without needing Fernando to translate.

Looks like these things are hand made, where much of what he saw were made in molds. Here was one of Mike's favorite things...

The walk in Kiln! He took pictures of the gas line and hose configuration, he really wants one someday.

Fernando knew someone who had a workshop, and they recieved VIP treatment, because it was Sunday many of the artisans were not on premises, but it was fun to poke around. Mike learned the molds are made with Gesso, different from the clay he collects on the beach...but also readily available for purchase.

Mike learned that many of the statues they make are not one piece, but glued together...

Elephants awaiting their trunks. Here is a good place to say...elephants? In Ecuador? Porque? If the artisans would just make their own things, rather than churn out molded things that don't make sense...the name La Pila might be bigger on the map, who knows.

And Nubian ladies awaiting paint. So much to see, learn and think about. I know he's been processing all the information he gleaned, and making plans for future things.

I didn't get the whole story, but apparently La Pila is also known for its magical water. I'll have to ask Fernando. I'm sure it won't be the last adventure those two go on...Mike treated for lunch, bought a couple trinkets and they had some good time with the locals.  What a day! Thank you Fernando, Mike really enjoyed it!

We have info on the finalized dates of the Art Event, November 3-6 it falls on the holiday (day of the deceased) so should be a big tourist crowd in town. That means I need to get busy!!  So, with that, on with the day! Stay tuned, the adventure continues!!

When the power goes out...

When the power goes out we used to get frustrated, but since the earthquake and living without power for almost two weeks...a short power outage doesn't bother us. Monday night as we were watching tv before bed the power went out, then right back on, just out enough to have to reset the computer, and clocks (if we had any, haha). It did that three times, and we said, enough, and went to bed, some time in the night, I think before midnight the power went out again, and stayed off until the afternoon. 

Because the power being out doesn't affect cooking, I was able to make coffee and low tide is in the morning this week, so we took our second cup for a walk, when we got home and the power was still out, we just started puttering outside. The sun had come out while we walked, and the day was beautiful! Mike started in on clay, and I moved furniture around.

Beautiful blue skies

I added some more fabric to the fence, so the pups can't see every dog who walks by.

Made a new side table

Organized some driftwood boards

Organized some driftwood sticks

Played with some varnish, love it on these shells. Also varnished some of Mike's clay pieces, and got others ready for necklaces

We both puttered outside til after lunch, and all of a sudden I realized the porch light was on, it was 2:30 or so, and we accomplished so much! Oh, and my freezer got defrosted! Haha, bonus! (Which meant I had to mop the floor too, oh well nobody died from a clean floor!)

As heart breaking as the earthquake was, it really taught us a lot, we are much MUCH more flexible! And often don't "break" because we know how to bend...

We actually just came off three days without our water pump working, so this hiccup wasn't a big deal, but today the water pump is working, we have power, our cistern is filling with city water, my veggie gal just came by and I bought tomatoes and potatoes from my fence and life is good. We both have things we can do in front of the tv, and just may have a lazy day watching movies. So, as always, stay tuned...because the adventure continues!