Bipolar Vortex

[offcntr]

The forecast was more-or-less the same as last Saturday: Dry in the morning, showers possible at midday, cloudy in the afternoon. Last weekend, we had about three raindrops.

This time, we weren't so lucky.

Oh, I loaded in dry, sunny even. Most of the morning was actually pretty nice. We had our first hail storm around 11:30. But it cleared up again, thought we'd be fine.

We had five more discrete rain-and-hail storms blow through over the course of the afternoon; the last started just at closing, at 4 pm.

Since I'd rearranged my booth, I had more internal space to pack pots in, and it finally stopped raining for good about the time I got my van down from the parking garage, so aside from having to set out the booth to dry tomorrow, I actually managed my mantra--If I can load in dry and out dry, anything in between can be managed. But only just.

Because it was Easter weekend, I put out an extra dose of bunny pots--mugs, bowls, bakers, casseroles,pasta serving and dinner bowls, mixing crocks. I think I actually only sold three bunny pots, a dessert plate, covered casserole and painted mug, but I sold plenty of other things. Lots of soup bowls, this week, some painted and tall mugs, and a couple of pairs of pie plates and dinner pasta bowls. I really only braved the weather for a special order pick-up, but by the end of the day, hailstones notwithstanding, I was at nearly $800.

High points for the day:

1. A bald eagle flew over Delta Highway as I drove in, just about tree-top height. There was also another bird silhouetted much higher up with very large wings on a small body--maybe a crane?--but it was too far to make out.

2. The camas lilies behind my booth are opening! I keep trying to catch seed from them to see if we can grow some at home, but have yet to get the timing right.

3. I treated myself to Dana's Cheesecake--chocolate, of course; they're back at Market after a two-year hiatus. I also decided I'd earned a hot meal after about the fourth hailstorm (I generally pack a sandwich, fruit, and some cookies), so got a fried fish sandwich from Blazing Chef. So yum.

One of my students from the Craft Center, 25 or 30 years ago, stopped in. Recognized the face and voice, couldn't place the name until he told me, but remembered clearly afterward. Also got a visit from a couple of Book Group friends, one of whom brought her visiting niece and family to Market. Niece loved the work, wound up buying several pieces and getting on my mailing list for my Washington shows.