Five Questions Friday: That’s a lot of McMinnville’s

(Note: This was posted yesterday but WordPress had an issue and the site was down. So reposting again today for those who couldn’t view it. Other than viewing as an old layout, it should be all set now!)

What have you been doing during this Quarantine? 
Eric: I’m lucky that I have a shop at home so I can keep working every day. I’ve been preparing and building up a good inventory of materials. This also has given me time to finish some of my newer baskets that I haven’t gotten around to when preparing for conventions. My new McMinnville Collection is growing. I recently completed three more baskets to add to the McMinnville line… the McMinnville Market, the McMinnville Tote and the McMinnville Flower Baskets.
uhm… That’s a lot of McMinnville’s…

But overall, it has been a strange time in that it’s been about eighteen years since I haven’t taught a workshop for this long of a stretch—I am starting to get the itch. But I hear things will soon be in the works.

What is it like living in the shop?
Eric: You should probably explain why first, no?
Probably a good idea. I’ll write something up for another post. But what have you been up to?
Eric: It’s more like 24/7 in the shop. I am in the shop everyday to begin with but now I’ve been sleeping in the shop as well. The air mattress in the movie room is not that bad. Our shop cat CoCo sleeps with me just about every night. I have the kitchen and full bathroom so not too bad . But I’ve hardly been closer than six feet from you in two months now. However, since our county still has single digit number of cases, I think the restriction will be lifted soon.

Can I tell everyone that you cut your hair last month?
Eric: You just did. And no pictures btw.
(Dang.)

How’s it going with the new short hair?
Eric: First, I picked the wrong time to cut my hair. A few weeks later the whole state shut down.  Now, it’s going on about seven weeks and its not looking so good. Second, do you still not know why I cut my hair?
I have no idea why you cut your hair. I kept asking but you ignored me.
Eric: I wanted to see if you could figure it out. My license renewal was coming up. I didn’t want long hair for another eight years. Can you believe that you don’t have to renew for eight years? They just changed that from seven years. The ironic thing is they extended my license renewal until October because of the whole Corona issue so I could’ve waited until then. I knew I was going to cut my hair before it turned all gray so, I did it before my new license renewal picture.
You are weird.

Eric: In regards to how’s it going, when I wake up in the morning I have major bed head. I have to get water on it right away or I look like Ted Kaczynski. Then the other day I noticed the back of my neck was real hot. I kept touching it with my hand thinking dang this feels like a sunburn. I had been working in the yard all day and where my hair used to be, sure enough I got sunburned. But for the “good”…  I feel lighter!
Well, it looks really good on you. 

What aggravated you this week?
Eric: This one goes beyond a week. I’m ticked off at China. Let me get this straight, not the people but the government. First, let’s talk about their native emerald ash borer that made it to this country. It is killing all the ash trees including the black ash tree that I use for my basket making materials. So now my income for years will be affected by all the triple-time I’m spending away from my workshop, harvesting it way up North AND greatly impacted when the Black Ash is gone.

And now they send us the Coronavirus? If they would’ve contained it right away or let people know they needed help, my income wouldn’t have vanished from cancelled conventions (as well as thousands of other Americans) AND we wouldn’t be so worried about your health right now! So Please China, give me a break!

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