HERE WE GO AGAIN

Here we go for the next 6 months. This morning we woke up to a good 4" of fresh new snow. Not too much shovelling thought as the ground's still too warm.

The back porch (above)...the view from the kitchen below.

But looking north off the back porch, it's really beautiful (in a masochistic way).

The jeep and plow are ready....the tractor isn't.

The pond has almost gone dry this fall with the lack of rain, but strangely there's still a lot of corn in the fields. Farmers are trying to get it to dry naturally rather than by using gas dryers.

MINERAL POINT

HIDDEN ART GEM UNCOVERED!!! Travels with Tom & Betsy

On our way to Chicago for the Frankfort Fall Fest, we uncovered a hidden gem this year...Mineral Point, WI. It was an old mining town that had been pretty near shuttered in the 1950's and 60's. The a few artists discovered it and began to build studios. Shops followed. Now it's an amazing array of galleries and artist studios.

Down towrds the bottom of the main street hill we were attracted by something on the 'balcony' of one shop. (You're going to have to click on this to figure it out).

It's the home of Howdle Gallery and Bruce Howdle. Bruce is most famous for his large ceramic wall sculptures (here he is working on one), but one of his fascinations is pigs.

He has done wonderful sculptures, mugs, wall pieces, you name it, with pig themes. Ask him how he came to have this old building and out comes the picture album. He's done much of the work himself over more than 20 years. The character of the building is wonderful. We'd strongly recommend Clyde and Carolyn stop in....you too!

Mineral Pt. is about 1-1/2 hours SW of Madison...a bit out of the way, but well worth the trip. Look at their website for special celebrations during the year. For Chicagoans it's an easy day trip. If you're headed north or south along I-94, plan a few extra hours.

The Final Show

I've gotten a little behind here with fall production and development of a new line of pots for you.

The last shows were Frankfort (IL) over Labor Day weekend and our local Hutchinson show 2 weeks later.
Frankfort is a blast. It's the first show we ever did back in 1992. Amazingly, we still have some customers who saw us at that first show come by. Since both Betsy and I worked right near by old neighbors stop by, too (well they're not any older than we are).

And last year we came across a photo taken the next summer. This is what we looked like back then. A lot of pots, a lot of good friends and customers. We really do appreciate your support over the years.

Seems like we spent half the summer in rain....setting up or tearing down. At Edina we had the big hailstorm, Highland half a day rain, Evanston set up, Duluth set up, and finally Hutchinson. The first day was perfect, then came the second day....

Packing up wet is no fun. But all in all it was a great year. Thank you!

FOREST CITY STOCKADE

THE FOREST CITY STOCKADE

Every year for the last 10 or so, we (Betsy and Tom) head for a weekend at the Forest City Stockade. This is a recreation of the 1860's Stockade built near Forest City, MN, during the Sioux uprising of 1862. The Stockade was rebuilt in 1976 and has been added to over the years until now it contains a main cabin and trading post inside the fort, and nearly a whole town outside.

Above is the front door of the main cabin during this years' stockade on August 16 & 17. Each year we make a commemorative piece of pottery for collectors and supporters. Below is the side porch with Tom's favorite thing...homemade ice cream in the largest hand-cranked freezer you'll ever see.

The Stockade is staffed for the two day summer and one day winter events by many volunteers serving food, giving demonstrations of 1860's crafts and skills. The key people are Bob and Betty Hermann (immediately below), Chuck and Ann Fuller (further down) and Dale and Mary Root and lots of volunteers. Paul White (of Paul and Pam fame) is shown with his bees and some visitors who get to try fresh honey from the comb.

Chuck and Dale direct and do most of the building at the stockade and, to me, one of the most amazing pieces is a handbuilt watertower and windmill that Chuck built. Clik on this one to take a closer look.

A few scenes around the stockade outside in the village show wagons, a new chapel where Greg Matthews gives a talk on the history that led to the stockade. Chuck and Dale add a building or two (or 3) each year, many of the rebuilt from log cabins that area folks donate (the unfinished one below will be the largest operating newspaper print shop in Minnesota.)

Tom does his little pottery thing on a foot powered Leach Treadle wheel throwing bowls, plates, pitchers, whickey jugs, mugs and other items that might have been used on the frontier. While this wheel itself is only about 50 years old, the treadle wheel concept goes back into the 1800's in Germany. They were brought into the US in production potteries in North Carolina.

Outside the stockade to the east is a full-blown rendezvous gathering you can also wander.

The Stockade makes a fabulous day for kids as well as adults. Plenty of food, interesting exhibits and demonstrations, history, music and family fun.

It's always the 3rd weekend of August and the first Saturday of December (the 6th in 2008).

Forest City Stockade

IT AIN'T ALL IT'S CRACKED UP TO BE

OK, click on this picture, cover up the snow fence in the foreground and tell me where this is!

Nope....it's Lake Michigan at Evanston IL, last weekend (Aug 2-3) The water was turquoise, the weather 80 deg with a nice breeze. Couldn't have been better, and people paid us money for being there!

Tom was, of course, working (above) while Betsy helped, (below).

This one was kind of like art shows should be. Interested patrons, a beautiful setting, good music...way to go Evanston!

But, we thought you might like to have a peek at what goes into one of these shows from the artists viewpoint....

A PEEK BEHIND THE SCENES

This year at Edina, our friends Don and Paul came ahead of time and helped us set up....and then, after inviting us to stay at their house and treating us like royalty, came and helped us tear down. It was an education for them....to say nothing of being way above and beyond the call. Here's a bit of what they saw....'course it was raining there.

Here's a bit of the setup at Evanston.

At Evanston we set up the tent Friday night and schlepped the boxes of pots, display and tents across about a block of rough grass. Total of over 20 trips each with two-wheelers. Starting at about 5:30, it was dark before we got the tents up, and display racks assembled. Then we crashed. Next morning at 6 am the scene we were greeted by was the above...a booth, 40 boxes of pots and all the extra stuff. An hour and a half later we looked like this....ready to start unloading pots.

Almost done! The last load of empties is about to be schlepped back to the trailer over that same block of grass.

Set up and ready to go at 3-1/2 hours (not counting the 3 hours the night before)....pretty good for us with a double booth.

After the show it typically takes us about 3-1/2 hours again to pack it all up, tear down the tents and schlepp it back to the trailer. It's much lighter if everyone who comes by buys a pot or two and helps with the schlepping.

We're not complaining, understand, and very grateful to be able to do this for a living and for you. Great customers who enjoy and use the work, and come back with their stories are what make it all worth it.

Thanks to ALL of You!

THE 6th ANNUAL SUMMER PICNIC

An annual event at Clay Coyote has become the summer picnic and Art Show. We invite 4 or 5 guest artists and our customers to a casual 'out on the lawn' good time.

This year Madam Lorna (Lorna Meyer and husband Steve) were peddling potions and lotions for your body. Jennifer Ionta had her beautiful hand made (by her) glass beads

Claire Swanson from granite Falls brought her marvelous handwoven baskets...

and Rob Glieden, who is just starting out doing large format Black and White photography. Intriguing pictures of familiar subjects seen through Rob's eyes and processed like old time pictures...quality you just don't get anymore.

Steve, who is allowed a small corner of Madam Lorna's booth, has discovered a most unique idea, mirrors and picture frames on which you can write nifty sayings which are poermanent until you wipe them off with a special stuff....Then write again. Most fun!

This time of the year, the prairie restoration is just starting to peak....yellows, blues, purples amid the waving grasses. Things change when you're out there....the hustle and bustle just evaporates. Hi Mary!

Chuck Goranowski was a first timer....with his wonderful blown glass. First time we've had a glass blower. His goblets and mugs were a big hit. Bet he brings more next time!

Claire and Steve and Lorna catch up! The picnic was a bit quiet this year with the economy, gas prices and just about every highway coming to Hutch and the Gallery torn up. If you're planning a trip to the Clay coyote, please check the 'Directions' section of the website for the latest update.

4th OF JULY WITH A BANG AND A BUMP

4th OF JULY...The Way it Used To Be!

Every 4th of July, friends Bob & Betty Hermann put on a classic traditional 4th Farm picnic. Let it be known, that no one....NO ONE...has ever left here hungry. Not only do you get lunch/dinner, but 4 hours later, you are going to have to eat lunch again! What could be prettier. This year Bob even lucked out on the weather....80 deg and sunny

And after lunch/dinner, you need dessert....even though you've had 5 kinds of chocolate and pie with lunch/dinner! So Bob and Betty team up to dish out strawberry sundaes! Amazing that such a lovely woman as Betty should have teamed up with as ornery a cuss as Bob! Betty looks especially happy as she had retired the day before this!

HERE'S THE BANG!

The big tradition every year is that Bob gets to shoot off his big........cannon. Made in Tennesee the cannon is the real thing. Instead of cannon balls, Bob just loads 'er with grass, tamps it down, adds powder and with a mighty whump....feeds the cows. Next for the tradition is the ride out into the pasture along the North Fork of the Crow River where next year's hamburger is grazing. The handmade wagon is pulled by the world's oldest working (other than Bob) Jeep. As of today, if this was taken, you wouldn't see the wagon as the corn would be 10 feet high!Now if you were a cow...isn't this where you'd want to spend your days? That's why they're called Hermann's Happy Herefords.

Blow this shot up, and you'll Chuck Roast and Ham Burger wandering out there.

Tttttthaaat;s All Fffffolkkkks!

SHOW TIME

Higland Park Art Fest

Our second show this year was Highland Park in St Paul. What was a good smaller show in past years has now had the addition of almost as many commercial booths as artist booths. One customer described this as making it feel like going to the State Fair rather than an art fair. Entertainment rather than an art fair. We're seeing this at more and more fairs and when it happens, sales for artists go down.

I finally caught Betsy loafing!
Like so many shows this year, Highland had it's shot of weather. About 5:30 on Saturday the skies opened up and scared the customers away. 15 minutes later...blue skies.

Ahhh, well.

Evanston (IL), Frankfort (IL) and Hutchinson to go. Lots of pots to make.

WAY TO GO, PAULA

We were very proud of our friend Paula Wolfert for her accomplishment. She has been a source of inspiration (and challenge) to us in developing pots that work with the exactness of the recipes she researches and writes about. If you haven't read any of her wonderful books, try ''Couscous and Other Good Food from Morocco' or 'The Cooking of SW France'. They are as much histories and travelogues as cookbooks.
Sun Jun 8, 10:53 PM ET

Chef Jacques Pepin, left, congratulates Paula Wolfert, author of 'Couscous and Other Good Food from Morocco,' for being entered into the Cookbook Hall of Fame at the 2008 James Beard Foundation Awards, Sunday, June 8, 2008 at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York. The awards recognize culinary professionals for excellence and achievement in their field.(AP Photo/Diane Bondareff)

(Story by AP)

I LOVE A PARADE!

We've had geese on the pond ever since the ponds were put in by Fish & Wildlife as part of the Wildlife Refuge Program, funded by Ducks Unlimited. Normally geese pick out a site as first yearlings, defend it for a year, and then come back the next year to nest. The year we seem to have 2 pair, one on the north pond, one on the south. On May 20th, a pair seemed to be nesting on the dike between the ponds.
Then on May 23rd we spotted the first goslings....first in the water then on the dike.

Then today, June 3rd, what should appear but a full bore goose parade. Once the goslings are born, the adults lose their flight feathers and are earthbound. Guess like all parents they might sometimes like to get away, but nature won't allow it. Now the danger starts. Snapping turtles, fox and coyote, raccoons, hawks and eagles....all looking for these tasty morsels. We count every time we see them to see how they're doing.

Note how much these little beggars have grown just in a couple of weeks. Soon they'll start to molt into their juvenile plummage. The parents have to walk them everywhere. From the ponds to the main lake a thousand feet away. Those little feet get a lot of exercise.

CUSTOM TABLEWARE

2008 ASID SHOWCASE HOME

"Features" Clay Coyote Custom Tableware

We were really flattered a few months ago, when Sara Goodrich of Gabbert's Design in the Galleria in Edina, MN, approached us about making a custom set of casual dining tableware for the 2008 ASID Showcase Home. We really didn't realize what a 'big deal' this was. Click on the top headline for a link to the Star-Tribune's coverage and professional photos of this beautiful home.

Betsy and Sarah viewing the table in the Great Room

Sarah is a designer for Gabbert's (sgoodrich@gabberts.com) and one of the 3 women who worked to design this casual, easy living room. We had the chance to tour the home last week at the 'resources' night. It was quite an experience! For those who don't know, we do many sets of tableware each year for customers looking for the unique for their table settings. We have 2 basic styles-European and Asian, and, as we did for the Showcase Home, also do completely custom work. Right now Tom just finished a set of custom plates with an off-center foot and a cantilevered rim where the glaze design will go. It should make for a spectacular presentation of food. Visit the Clay Coyote website for more information on custom tableware. From there you can cruise for various items. Many sets are done for wedding registries.

THREE WEEKS

Three weeks ago Morgan (Betsy's daughter) took this picture. April 26th.
Ten days later, May 6th, The colorful birds, who usually arrive about mid-May started showing up. Cardinal pair at the feeder, (not bare trees behind them)

And a bunch of gold finches and several Baltimore Orioles

And the lst few years we haven't had any Yellow-headed blackbirds....but this year, a whole bunch. Note that by their arrival, the crabapple was getting leaves.

And the geese were on their nests by May 10th.

Bluejays are here all year, but note that the crabapple has now got blooms...3 weeks from teh last snowfall. Everything's happen at the same time this year...leaves, blooms, tulips, lilacs, fruit trees blossoming. Nature wants the year back from the winter trolls!

And just this morning, I saw the first goslings swimming in the pond! Picture shortly.

IT'S OFFICIAL

This was the lake this morning....a small remnant of ice on the western shore. Sharp eyes will pick out a robin sitting on the post. On the right is the lake at 2:30 pm.....wide open! Believe it or not, for those of us who live 'up north' this is one of the bigger days of the year. I kow...'get a life'.

So Betsy 'chalks up another one' ....a new record since we moved here in 1994. Latest ice-out ever. No wonder we're crabby.

But the gallery's progressing nicely, the new web site is progressing but a huger job than we thought (huger is a word, trust me-I used to win at Scrabble all the time) the kiln is firing and Betsy just left to get a bunch of the food for the opoen house next weekend. Life is Good!

Well I'll Be Darned

COYOTES ARE TRAINABLE....sort of....

So here we are on Monday starting the process of learning to put photos and copy on the all new Clay Coyote website which is scheduled to go 'live' on April 25th. Above is, l to r, Michele, Betsy, Steven Palmer (designer extraorinaire) and the ever patient Luann Drazkowski who keeps us all moving mostly forward. (Herding coyotes is a lot like herding cats).

Added into this picture on the left is the shy one, Deanna Schwint who does all the programming magic and pulls us out when we, regularly, get stuck.

Vivid Image has been our webmaster since we started online in about '97 or '98. Very patient and talented people they are!!

APRIL FOOL!

I guess it happens 'most every year. The late spring snow storms...but this is our second 6 incher in a week. Above is the front walk about noon yesterday (Mar. 31). Only a couple of inches down.

And ever year the 2 geese who have owned our pond the last 4 or 5 years show up just in time to get dumped on. At least this year the pond was open water for their comfort.They were joined by a few ducks, too. This is one of the few pieces of open water around this year.

We seem to measure the seasons more by what's happening than by temperature out here. I suppose a philosopher would mumble something about the theater of seasons...I'll just mumble, thank you.
For the locals and Twin Cities readers, the Hutchinson Theatre Company is doing their production of Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap" this weekend (April 3-4-5 and next, April 10-11-12. Tickets are available on-line now at http://www.hutchtheatre.org/.