Today was the only day of the week that we came back to Terrapin. The main task was to finish covering the smaller dome that was to be fired. The clay today, however was pretty grainy and to separate the rocks from the soil was another task altogether. So till we got the fine wire mesh and sifted it properly and got the mix ready, it was way past lunch time. So it's easy to say that we were moving a bit slowly today.
While we were waiting, we honed our tool sharpening skills with Jackson.
Today in our mix however we used rise husk and the usual coconut fibers, so much so that the whole mud pile (and us)smelled of rice.
Finally we got around to covering the smaller structure using the techniques we learnt in BMS. Here however we covered the surface with wet newspaper before piling on the mud. This was so that it didn't fall into the gaps and we would get a uniform form without any faults as this would hinder the firing process and possibly make the structure crack. The rice husk is good for firing as it burns easily and leaves the structure compact. The inner bamboo skeleton also burns in the process leaving a smooth dome. As firing includes no plastering, whatever designs were too be made, had to be made today itself when the mud was still wet. So we created a pattern and an alcove for the entrance as well as some windows for our chicken friends.
We have to leave the structure to dry for at least two weeks before firing. So we shall work on the other aspects of this design, that is the basket and also the other design needs to be completed, put mud on and plastered. So lots needs to happen within a small span as we've already lost a lot of time. Need to put in that extra effort now. A few more weeks in Terrapin to come.
While we were waiting, we honed our tool sharpening skills with Jackson.
Today in our mix however we used rise husk and the usual coconut fibers, so much so that the whole mud pile (and us)smelled of rice.
Finally we got around to covering the smaller structure using the techniques we learnt in BMS. Here however we covered the surface with wet newspaper before piling on the mud. This was so that it didn't fall into the gaps and we would get a uniform form without any faults as this would hinder the firing process and possibly make the structure crack. The rice husk is good for firing as it burns easily and leaves the structure compact. The inner bamboo skeleton also burns in the process leaving a smooth dome. As firing includes no plastering, whatever designs were too be made, had to be made today itself when the mud was still wet. So we created a pattern and an alcove for the entrance as well as some windows for our chicken friends.
We have to leave the structure to dry for at least two weeks before firing. So we shall work on the other aspects of this design, that is the basket and also the other design needs to be completed, put mud on and plastered. So lots needs to happen within a small span as we've already lost a lot of time. Need to put in that extra effort now. A few more weeks in Terrapin to come.
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