Beep Beep

Wiley Coyote cartoons introduced me to roadrunners, but I've never heard a roadrunner go "beep, beep" or seen a coyote open a box of Acme dynamite and read the instructions.

We often see roadrunners on our little acre of the Sonoran Desert. They seem friendly enough and not too afraid.

I suppose they don't confuse people with food or predators. Like hummingbirds, they don't get too concerned about our presence, although they are curious. They go about their business, which seems to involve constantly moving.

It's tough to have enough time to fetch a camera and take a snap, but yesterday, one of these fine looking, graceful birds decided to leisurely stroll through our backyard. That gave me time to grab the camera.

These snaps were taken through various back windows as the roadrunner took its exploratory stroll. It ended up by the goldfish pond, seemingly puzzled by the cinderblock walls that enclose our backyard. It explored the mineral garden by our ash reliquary.

It was curious about the water in the pond. It may have taken a drink. I don't know. I was running from bedroom to bedroom, poking the camera through window shutters.

The bird made no attempt at fishing. I suppose goldfish are not a part of its routine diet. Do roadrunners swim? Probably not.

Finally it took advantage of the African sumac tree behind the pond to scamper up to the top of the wall. A few minutes later, it had disappeared.

In life, roadrunners (and coyotes) are impressive and graceful creatures. To see such a being is like getting a warm smile from a stranger.

Clay

One of Shari's pieces, naturally formed.
It's bisqued and ready
to be glazed and fired.

It's good to have hobbies in one's dotage, to be creative in the gnarly years of old age retirement. Why not pottery?

It helps that our very good friend Roy Lizama is not only a master potter who helps run a studio, but also has the patience to instruct a complete wonker — your author.

The author, carefully brushing
a porcelain slip onto his
ashtray masterpiece.

I come to clay with only the childhood experience of playing with small tubes of colored plasticine.

Shari immediately went to the top of the class with a couple of stunning vases that copy a style we admire so much in Roy's work:  make a cylinder in dark clay, roll it in dry, powdered white porcelain, then stretch it so cracks appear. Simple? Try it.

My goal is more humble. I am working on an ash tray.

We've had four classes so far. Our works have been bisqued (the preliminary firing) and last week we played with glaze. Perhaps next Tuesday we will see the final results.

Stay tuned.