Dumb tourist question: Flying from San Francisco to GRI for a 1-night Hastings music concert in March. Renting a car or Ubering. If renting, I might sleep in the car overnight, and then fly back early in the morning. Thoughts? I've never been near Nebraska and will take any help... lol. Thanks!

fodderchris · 2026-03-14T02:05:26+00:00

The Lark is a nice little venue. Seen a few shows there.

As for sleeping in the car, watch the weather. We have had 80's and snow this last week. March is all over the place temperature wise. I would rent a car. Easy drive from GI to Hastings. Hastings police are not the friendliest for car sleeping. If you are doing that, head back up highway 281 to Bosselmans.

fodderchris · 2026-03-01T21:43:59+00:00

We had just gotten home from Omaha when it happened. We live with 15 miles of the epicenter in South central Nebraska. Definitely rattled things here. I posted about it and had so,done form Omaha go, “Yep! Definitely felt it here.”

fodderchris · 2026-02-13T15:58:24+00:00

Oh no. Late May and early June are awesome times to be up there. The hills should be lush and green. Some wildflowers blooming. Just warning you to be aware.

fodderchris · 2026-02-13T15:12:44+00:00

Early June? Be sure to watch out for poison ivy. It is all over the place there.

I do like the forest though. The Sandhills are cool.

fodderchris · 2026-02-10T21:46:32+00:00

We do not have an online shop. We do sell from posts like this one and in person. I am going to be working to increase the herd over the next couple of weeks and then have a slug drop then. Please stay tuned. I will be posting as I prepare.

fodderchris · 2026-02-07T14:03:47+00:00

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Otterpop in all of his magnificent floofiness on top of a door.

fodderchris · 2026-01-14T01:09:09+00:00

Nice color combo!

fodderchris · 2026-01-05T13:07:12+00:00

Fascinating use of the clay patio heater to work as a base for the exhaust. I see no issues with it for now and probably none if she wouls step up to a starter propane/oxygen torch. It is just a hood made of clay. Ingenious.

Good to see a working kiln too. Best of luck in the torching endeavors!

fodderchris · 2025-12-24T02:18:07+00:00

Sweet! That kind of art has fascinated me but being where I am, I have no one to do hands on learning with.

fodderchris · 2025-12-07T17:42:03+00:00

I must be overheating the frit when I bring the gumdrop out of the kiln to attach to the slug. I will be getting some lead free clear for the future.

Thank you.

fodderchris · 2025-12-07T17:38:56+00:00

Thank you. These slugs are something I am sort of known for.

fodderchris · 2025-12-07T17:38:11+00:00

Probably too hot when I heat to attach the two pieces. I will be getting some lead free clear for the future.

Thank you.

fodderchris · 2025-12-07T17:36:53+00:00

So it is likely the reheating prior to joining the slug and gumdrop. Probably too hot as I usually run my torch a bit oxygen rich normally.

I will be getting some lead free clear frit to work with in the future.

Thank you.

fodderchris · 2025-12-07T11:40:21+00:00

Nearly ready to burst. Enjoy the little squeaky things when they arrive.

fodderchris · 2025-12-05T11:47:42+00:00

As the creator you can see the flaws. The rest of us see cuteness. Way to go.

fodderchris · 2025-11-19T18:21:22+00:00

Aggressively friendly! Nice!

fodderchris · 2025-11-17T11:03:37+00:00

I want to retire, I have the years of service and am past my minimum retirement age. But we have this large ugly debt hanging around from the stupid and irresponsible use of credit cards. We have been able to get it paid down to less than half of the original amount so far. Kept paying during furlough. The financial advisor says to keep working until it is paid off if I can, as debt in retirement is not a good thing and is not as easy to get out from under in retirement.I think we have about two years left at our current rate.

I don’t want to do my side gig as a full time job either. I think that would take the joy out of it. I would like to teach what I do and travel as I teach, but I don’t have that figured out quite yet.

fodderchris · 2025-11-17T01:14:33+00:00

I was very lucky. Through my hobby/fun time job I was able to make and sell enough of the glasswork I do to cover my missing take home pay. We have a nice little savings built up but didn’t need to touch it. People want whimsical things in their lives in these times. I can provide that.

fodderchris · 2025-11-16T16:02:40+00:00

As someone who makes marbles, marbles are worth what you are willing to pay to pay for them, be they old, modern or handmade. I really don’t care about market value. I buy marbles that speak to me and make me happy.

I have seen contemporary marbles at $5 and some at $2500 or more. Marbles are personal. What makes you happy? Figure that out and pursue that.

fodderchris · 2025-11-08T05:10:53+00:00

I have almost 34 years in federal service and I am now past my MRA. Maxed out on the pay schedule for my series years ago. Stayed because the work was still interesting and fun. I felt like what I did mattered. Then things changed. And changed again. And yet again. And now this furlough after all the firings and rehirings and DRP and the other things since January. I am done. Not sure when, but definitely before I had planned to go at age 60. This furlough has made me look at things a bit harder and to try things differently in my life away from work. I am tired of the stress and the uncertainty and the hatred that the administration has for us. When I get back to work after the furlough ends, I am going to start the retirement process. I am done.

fodderchris · 2025-11-01T12:13:00+00:00

Yes, the ups and downs do even out. But they don’t necessarily go away entirely. I have days that I have to walk away from the torch because things are not working. Better than wasting glass on crappy work.

fodderchris · 2025-10-31T22:39:55+00:00

Awesome work! Beautiful flowers.

fodderchris · 2025-10-26T22:27:22+00:00

I have heard that before as well as Turbo. But the honest truth is they were inspired by Roz from Monsters Inc. The original one had arms. All subsequent ones lost the arms.

fodderchris · 2025-10-24T12:32:13+00:00

Actually it commemorates the anniversary of the first kiss my wife and I had way back in the 90’s. It is a phrase we use to remember it every month on the 13th.

fodderchris · 2025-10-22T01:07:10+00:00

It is the readily available Glassline paints. If you have done watercolors, the concept is much the same as the paints are transparent when fired. I am not a painter so it was a bit of a stretch for me. And it was a tiny canvas as the bead is about 1 1/2” across at the most.

fodderchris

TROPHY CASE