The van is fixed!

Sun, 10 May 2026 02:20:17 GMT

It only cost $1237.20.

Replace faulty fuel injector, spark plugs and leads, distributor rotor and cap. Adjust and tune up everything. It's a good thing I've had good sales at Market the last month.

Boy, it runs sweet, though.

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Busily quiet

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:18:56 GMT

Saturday was another all things, all at once day. To begin with, Saturday Market was celebrating Earth Day, which meant closed streets and special activity booths on Oak and 8th streets. In observance, I chose rain-forest buddies for my theme of the day: three-toed sloth from tropical rain forest, and the Northern spotted owl from our temperate zone.

It was also Eugene Marathon weekend. The race wasn't until Sunday, but there were a lot of lean, athletic-type folks walking around with their registration/goody bags.

A surprising number of them came from out-of-town. I talked to several from California, but also from Indiana and Maryland. Most were traveling light, no room in their carry-on bags for pottery, but I gave away a lot of business cards and told them I ship.

Lastly, it was Spring Game Day for Oregon football. I'm not sure it was a game as much as a scrimmage--they divided the squad into two teams, pitted against each other--but I understand 46,000 Duck fans came out for the spectacle. Didn't have a great effect on us, beyond the fighter jet flyover, which was noisy, but thankfully brief.

With the streets closed, the only traffic I saw was musicians pulling in to load instruments and equipment until about about 1 pm, when a vintage Chevy Impala drove up, V-8 rumbling, going the wrong way on Park Street and parking in front of my booth. They must have come in the wrong way through one of the alleys. Silver came out from the Info Booth to talk to them, got them to pull into the angled spots across the street and put a pink ticket under the passenger's side wiper. Was going to see what it said, but got distracted by customers, and the next time I thought of it, they were gone.

Sales were light, whether from distracting events or just not being able to park close in. I sold a couple of baking dishes and a pie plate, but it was mostly mugs and stew mugs--at one point I noticed I'd sold five painted mugs in a row. Had already turned my check for booth fee and commission when a last-minute sale took me over $700--slowest day of the year, but still good. Made a note to add the 10% to next week's check, and packed up.

My van has been fussing, of late, coughing and choking when starting, idling very rough, and having no power until the problem clears up and it runs smooth again. I'd gotten a bottle of STP fuel treatment/injector cleaner, and hoped that would solve the problem, and it started just fine when I drove in. But the problem was back when I went to park, barely made it up the ramp into the parking structure, though it seemed to be evening out as I parked. Was concerned I'd not be able to make it run at load-out, but it started just fine, leaving the garage, and again when it was time for home. Drove it to and from the studio on Monday to fire the kiln so I'm cautiously optimistic the problem may be sorting itself out. Time will tell.

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Slightly Off Center

The van is fixed!

Busily quiet