Crying Wolf

If I hear one more person claiming that wolves have decimated (one came up with a ridiculous figure of 90 %) the deer population, I am going to ........become a vegatarian.

Just because a local hunter can't find anything to shoot at does not mean all the deer are dead. The Wolves forced them to move around. The numbers of Elk taken by mighty human hunters this year was actually a bit higher, but of course those crying wolf call the "government" stats a lie.

The wolf has always been a favorite scapegoat.

I myself, am personally cheering on the wolves. neener neener

Now a gov worker

My first job interview, and I was hired. I now work at a gov agency. It has been one week and I feel I have been there a long time. So far so good. I was told by a friend it was a good department to work for. I hope so. It took 3 months to get a job. At least I got the summer off and now that the kids are in school, it works out very nicely.

I find it amusing i am 1 of those evil gov workers my in-laws think deserved to be blown up. And the health care fight. Again, I saw it coming. My in-laws were hard core anti-clinton types and thought health care reform in the 90s was a bad idea. Now my mother in-law has cancer and no insurance. So, now they live in an old camper trailer in Nebraska with no running water and they are ok with that. So very sad. But, they never did have anything to lose in the first place. They have been living a nomadic life for some time, and I find it strange I knew one of them would get sick. We ALL get sick and die from something. Are they crazy, yes.

Berries

This has been a very berry summer. My raspberries did well this summer, picked huckleberries, went to the oregon coast and bought a bucket of blue berries and this weekend I picked chokecherries.
Thats ok, my apples were ruined by hail in July. And my neighbors crabapple tree also. So, no apple butter this year.

Occupied Japanese Teapots

My collection of Japanese Redware teapots began with my grandmother's teapot she picked up in Japan. My grandfather Ray Luoma was stationed there after the war and they must have bought the teapot then. I now have it, since Alice is in a nursing home until she passes away. (she has no memory)

So, I have started collecting these, found most at the second hand store in Helena, then one at a flea market in Lincoln this summer.

While I was at the Oregon coast, I found several at an antique store, I bought the smallest one.($12) To my surprize I found one large one that looks like a Japanese pot, but was English and 4 times more expensive ($54).

I got home yesterday, and today googled it. This is what I found out.



"Redware glazed brown Tea Pots from Japan were very popular in the 1940's. The Brown Glazed finish ranged from a lighter reddish brown to a deeper chocolate brown (like this teapot) and was often hand decorated in a relief painting style called Moriage. This teapot has a rounded "C" like handle, Moriage style painted flowers in relief, and gold trim and embellishments. The rounded body of the teapot is fluted and is in Excellent Condition. Japan is written in gold on the bottom. The unglazed foot shows the identifying red clay. The lid has a knob and a steam vent hole. A small flange or nub on the inside of the lid juts out to keep the lid in place when tipped to pour. This little nub on the inside of the lid exhibits the only chip found (see photos) and that is rather small, inconsequential, and certainly unseen most of the time. The teapot measures 6 1/2" from spout to handle, and 4 1/2" tall. It comfortably holds 12 ounces. Perfect for use or decor. ($18)

This teapot was made from the red clay discovered in the Staffordshire region of England over 200 years ago and enthusiastically used by the local potters ever since. Very popular in the 19th and early 20th century Staffordshire Redware as it became known was the ideal material for producing table-wares especially teapots due to its ruggedness and superior heat retaining qualities. No need for a tea cosy to keep the tea hot! This Redware chocolate glazed teapot is decorated in typical fashion with gold stenciled floral swagged trim and raised-enamel dots of blue, orange, turquoise and white. Condition is good, there is some rub to the gold trim due to age and use, some enameled dots have worn off and there are the usual manufacturing blips and spots. The lid is broken on the inside and missing the piece. This in no way affects the use or display of this teapot but it is priced accordingly. Size is 7" high and 9" across. There is no makers mark (possibly an unmarked Sadler) but this piece likely dates to the late Victorian, early Edwardian period judging by the decoration. ($53)








The English potter John Dwight made the first copies of China ”redware” pots in Fulham in 1684. His techniques were copied by the Elers brothers from Holland, who set up a factory in Staffordshire. They, in turn, were copied by John Astbury, who pretended to be a simpleton and worked in the Elers factory for 18 months, learning the tricks of the trade.

It must be remembered that the various English potteries were in their full glory. The Elers were working near Burslem, producing a red ware similar to Japanese pottery, salt-glaze and black ware"

I think I have an English pot, there is no marking on the bottom similar to the english pot listed above, but the bad news is, the lid is missing. Bummer.

First State Job Interview

I will be going to my first state job interview on the 18th. It's really not the job I want, probably won't get anyway. I am still hoping to get a job at the lottery. This will be good practice. We will see.

Go back to School?

I just sent an email inquiring about online Addiction Counseling courses at the U of M. I don't know if I will really do it. It depends if I get a job at the lottery within the next few months. If not, maybe this is a good time to change my career path.

Dear Sir,

I am interested in enrolling for some or all of the Addiction Counseling online courses offered this fall.

Recently I have been laid off from my job and found it is not easy finding a good paying job I may like in today's market. So, now I figured it would be a good time to go back to school and try something new. I am looking into becoming an Addiction Counselor because I see how many people are suffering out there in our community who need help. I have seen how destructive addiction is even within my own family. I would want to be able to help even one person regain control over their life.

If it helps, I earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Great Falls in Microcomputer Management in 1996. I also have two years of college credits from the University of Montana I picked up in the mid 1980's.

As an advisor, can you tell me what I need to do next to get the ball rolling if I get your permission to proceed?

Thank you,

My life today

Obviously I have not been posting much to this blog, my life seems on hold right now. Unable to continue to do much with my to do list on this page. Sad

I did manage to hold a garage sale. (not worth it) And, I have started to fish in our creek. Might still take fly fishing lessons this summer. Maybe.

Otherwise I am struggling to enjoy being laid off. Some days its great some days it is not.

There is plenty to do around the house, but getting motivated has been difficult. It's like working out, once I get started I'm good to go.

Today, I have spent most the morning online blogging and checking out a few of my social sites.

I need to stop now and do my weekly required job search. Wish me luck.