Rusty Rail Cars and Raku Kilns

ABC Wednesday is a word meme with participants from around the world. This fabulous meme was created and hosted by Mrs. Denise Nesbitt who hails from Great Britain. Over time, others have joined in to help host this wonderful and informative meme. We are now in our seventh round-some of the participants have been with this from the very first round; others have joined in along the way. Each week we are taken across the globe to see the varied and exciting contributions people have taken the time to discover and capture. We start with the letter, "A" and each week we post something in regards to the next letter of the alphabet. This week's letter is, "R".

RUSTY RAKU KILN

Raku fired ceramics are quite magical to me. Also, a risky proposition. I think the whole process of firing ceramics is risky because anything can go wrong during the firing process and, yes, you can loose that piece that you worked so hard on. But, listen to me! I sound like I do this all the time and I don't. I only tried ceramics a few times and I had to pull myself away since I already work in too many mediums. But, I love the whole notion of constructing your own raku kiln. And, I love raku ware. Lots of it on You Tube, so be sure to check it out! This one is particularly mesmerizing (but it's not a 'how to make a kiln' video)

RAVENESQUE RAVEN

This raven proved to be the 'poser'. Although I had no idea he was, when I first spotted him on a sign at an overlook at the Petrified Forest National Park. I thought I was being clever and sneaky and stealthily approached him with such caution, camera already snapping images away as I got closer and closer to him. Heck, I was just about leaning up on the sign as I took these! He even threw his head back and cawed for me! Such rapture! Such raucous!

RAINBOW

Cue Judy Garland singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"! Except, be sure to insert the word, 'double' in front of 'rainbow'! You know, in Hawaii, I don't think I've ever seen a double rainbow. But, here in New Mexico, when we do have them, they are often a double rainbow.
Although I've looked up what causes a double rainbow, I still have trouble applying that answer to how it works up there in the sky. Roger? Perhaps you can help here!! OK, and if you do tackle that, how about also explaining why I see them much more often here in NM than I would in Hawaii. Is it the curvature of the earth? Would a meteorologist please step forward?

RUST ABSTRACT 2

Nope. This is not a repeat of the rust abstract posted a few ABC rounds ago. However, it is the same side of a 'retired' rail car from the BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe). This rail car is in Magdalena, New Mexico. I just love the aged, peeling, patinaed layers of this rusty car. I really, really, really, like rusty surfaces!