Greetings from sunny southern California! This post is coming to you from Death Valley National Park, hottest, driest, and lowest. I've been in the park exactly one week today and it's been good to be back and see familiar faces. It's also been fun to run at negative elevation and feel like I could go forever. (Fun until I try to run anywhere else and can't breath that is...)
The government re-opened, I worked three days, and was done with my season at Carlsbad Caverns. I had a very brief stint in Houston, where I was able to spend a day at Washington on the Brazos during a weekend of living history demonstrations. My friend Mr. B's brother works as an interpreter there and I was game to check out their operation.
It had been a long time since I was at Washington on the Brazos. The t-shirt I got from my last visit is starting to get holes in it. It was a beautiful day.
Mr. B senior was one of the volunteer demonstrators. He'd set up his wheel and was throwing clay. It was really cool to watch him work. He is very talented. They also had a kiln set up on the property as well so he could fire his creations.
Mr. B and his sister-in-law raced their hoops across the yard of the main home.
I had to get in on the action and became fascinated with the brick making. I did not take my shoes off, but here is a gentleman, working the clay. (Small world, brick maker and I worked on the Outer Banks at the same time.)
When the consistency was just right, you then knead it much like you would bread dough. It was awesome to get my hands dirty.
Next, you coat the mold and the mound of clay in sand so the clay doesn't stick. You press down all the corners, and then, my favorite part, you scrape off the excess on the top.
Once that was done, I took the whole mold over to a piece of lumber to dry in the sun. A few shakes and out it fell, a brick! I put a thumb print in the two bricks I made that day. Awesome!
It was a lovely day and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Thanks to Mr. B for inviting me.
Stay tuned for more fun and exciting adventures as I start to work my way through my list of things to do and see this winter in Death Valley.
