Newsflash!!! Poor, Neglected Blog Adopts Pet!

adopt your own virtual pet!

Meet Winston - I'm not sure just how to get him to a sidebar, but once I do, that's where he'll live. Isn't he cute?

This poor blog has been so neglected for almost 2 months. I should be ashamed of myself - bad blogger!!! No excuses - I just need to do it!

I've been doing some more digging into my family's history and stumbled on a Yahoo! group for Norwegian Genealogy (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NorwegianGenealogy) - of course, I subscribed to it right away. I may actually be able to help one or two of the other members with some of MY family's information - we may even be distantly related.

FYI - For those family members reading this - I'm sending out invitations to a group I've set up for our own purposes - Steien_Adams at Yahoo! Watch for them in your inbox over the week-end.

We've become scattered and because there are so many of us, this seemed like a good way to keep in touch. You can use it as a bulletin board or to post information on family history you'd like to share with others. Memberships will need to be approved to keep out spammers, but to use it you'll need to subscribe to it.

OK, so I'm on a roll today. Got some Christmas shopping done and I'm actually getting work completed to put online (etsy.com) in the next few days. Now, I need to order some shipping materials from USPS - nice that most of what I need can be ordered online and delivered right to my door with no charge incurred. I can even print shipping labels and pay for postage and request them to be picked up at my door. A person could get spoiled!

I'll also be listing some of my pottery reference books on eBay soon - I have duplicates of a couple and most of the others, I really don't need, so they might just as well have new homes.

That's all for today, folks - gotta get some more work done. I'll send a link once I get all this stuff up online.

For now, stay warm - weather's changing and we're in for a winter storm watch tonight.

Take care,

Lori

It's Official! (yes, I'm trying this again...)

Yesterday was the first day of the month - the first of many yet to come - I received my first real pension check yesterday. It must be real - I must really - after all these months - be retired. I had no idea how good retirement would feel.

So, today after finishing another batch of apple butter (made really, really slow so it's a deep, rich brown, thick and just a little tart) and a small batch of salsa with the last of all those tomatoes I put in this year, I checked my email one last time so I could get on with evening commitments and found my long-awaited invitation to 'Ravelry' - www.ravelry.com - it's a forum for knitting-crochet-fiber people that is by invitation only. I had submitted my interest back in July - last week I was still down about 8,000 and some on the waiting list. Of course, I just had to get right to business and get my 'account' set up.

OK, so I get to checking out the groups and forums and discussions and everything else offered and what do I find, but this wonderful blog - http://www.goodyarnkarma.blogspot.com/ - well, wouldn't you know - I found some yarn that I could maybe trade for some of this sock yarn that seems to have found it's way into my stash.

Did you ever notice how you find one site that really appeals to you, then you click on a link to another and find something else that really interests you, but you see another link to click on and by the time you've spent a couple of hours clicking on those links, you have no idea what you were looking at or for in the first place. I'm retraining myself to NOT click on those extra links. So far, I'm flunking. I'm headed back to Ravelry now so I can finish setting up my account, which I started to do about an hour ago and haven't finished yet, because I've been clicking on those damn links and gotten everywhere but where I need to go. (Wait!! Did I just see a white rabbit hop by?)

It's late again - more tomorrow - there's another huge pot of apples on the stove that needs attention. The last of the apple butter for this year - and, no more salsa or tomato sauce!!!!!

Happiness doesn't come from having things, it comes from having things you can find! :)

I Am a Sunflower!!

I was looking for referrences to yarn winders, skeiners, yarn skeiners, swifts this afternoon. I know you've all seen or been exposed to those emails that ask "What ____ are You?" Well, when I saw this link at the side of one of the sites (the link that asked "What Kind of Flower are You?") I just had to click on it - it took me here - to this quiz:

I am a Sunflower What Flower Are You?

Being the curious sort that I am, I had to take the quiz - you just can't pass up the chance to learn more about yourself, now can you?

This is good - I really like sunflowers. Took some up to Mom the other day - some of my 'Velvet Queen' sunflowers that have a deep burgundy center with yellow tips on the petals. I think she liked them. I hope I can find those seeds again next year - they add a nice border in front of the mammoth ones that have the large heads and attract goldfinches.

OK, so I also had to find out about my "Free Sample Medicine Wheel: Native American Astrology" - it's always interesting to see what these things tell you. Here's me:

Sun in Rabbit Place = Ripe Corn Moon (Sun in Cancer)

The Tsalaki Moon of Early Summer, when you were born, is called Guyegwoni or Ripe Corn Moon. It corresponds to the South direction and to noon, as well as the Summer Solstice. At this time of year the corn really begins to produce and there is normally a lot of food for everyone. Early in this Moon, depending on the solunar calendar, the people finally have the Green Corn Dance, celebrating the first time that anyone is allowed to eat the corn that everyone has been awaiting. Then the stickball game season begins and sometimes games took place between whole tribes.

Ripe Corn Moon People are very social and emotional. They are possessive and competitive, yet they are patient and controlled. They are nurturing, domestic and they enjoy food and caring for others. They want to be there for others yet they are often unpredictable, volatile and unreliable. Often they try to give too much of themselves and then end up emotionally exhausted, so they learn to be very emotionally protective.

Kind of makes me sound like I'm a nurturing nitwit - I'll live with it, though. I'm not a danger to anyone so I think we're OK.

I am, once again, being bombarded with junk emails - and, many of my sent messages are doing a 180 and ending up in quarantine labeled as 'phishing'. I can't release them and send them on their merry way - they have to be deleted and resent, only to end up in quarantine again and deleted and resent, over and over and over until finally they get going to where they need to go.

So, because I don't know if you've received a message I've sent you, would you mind, please, OKing the return receipt? This way I'll know it got to it's intended destination. I'm having issues with the quarantine, I'm not sure what's happening and the suggestions from the technical staff make absolutely no sense to me (and, I understand these technical issues pretty OK). I have a sneaking suspicion that someone is just skimming the message I send or not reading it thoroughly. There is a bright spot with my ISP, though. One of the new techs is a student where I've recently retired from - he recognized my name on the latest tech support request and dealt with it. No drama, no underlying skepticism thinking I was a newbie to computers and the internet. It was truly gratifying to have someone really listen to what you were telling them.

OK, so right at this very moment, I'm trying to delete over 2300 spams from my webmail using the laptop while trying to keep myself occupied writing this post on the PC. I haven't been able to purge that junk for several days - I'm getting an average of 700-800 of these crappy things a day on the one address. Only about 100 or so on the 'clean' one.

It is interesting and amusing, sometimes, to see just what kind of things these people are trying to sell - and who's doing the selling - and from where! I tell ya, if I had a nickel for every lottery I've 'won' until today, I'd be in good shape!!

Russian brides, hernia patches, smoking patches, employment offers, financial aid and scholarship information, medicines - and other, uh, well, stuff..... Diets, government auctions, dating sites, surveys, gambling sites, insurance, loans, seized cars, properties for sale - the list just goes on and on and on. Looks like they really need to just 'GET A LIFE!'

Oops, sorry - I didn't mean to yell. So, I've gotten the spam count down to a little less than 1000 at this point and I think I'm going to call it a day with those guys - I don't want to be a nurse - I already have one in the family (and a fine one she is!) and becoming a police officer just doesn't appeal to me - I've worked with college students and faculty for the last how many years - law enforcement would be just way too tame after that. :o)

So, what kind of flower are YOU???

Later!!

Well, this is embarrassing.....

This is the second time I've written this post - it was originally titled -

"Officially Retired!"

I had it all written, comlete with a picture I wanted everyone to see - one of the reasons I enjoy rising early each morning. I had clicked on the picture to enlarge it and make sure it was the one I wanted to upload - I hadn't saved the draft, Blogger wasn't autosaving and when I hit the 'back' button to go back to my draft - yup, it was gone.....

So, now we're starting from scratch - I've got a pretty terrific memory, but some things just don't hang around in the brainbox - especially when you're writing from the heart.

I am now (as a friend once put it)

"Unemployed with dignity!"

I never realized just how hard it is to retire from a job one loves, how difficult it would be to leave behind those friends that you're so close to and have come to think of as family - how much I would look forward to getting up each morning and planning my day without having to actually plan it.....

I've not yet cleaned my studio, but I've at least gotten the top layer of dust off the furniture in the house. The kitchen hasn't been re-arranged yet, but the laundry is all done for the first time in ages instead of in bits and pieces, just getting by.

I really do need to find some kind of schedule I can live with from week to week - that studio needs to be put to rights first. The spinning and knitting and felting (oh, alright - FULLING) can be put aside for a while and the patterns I've been writing and working up are stored in a folder on the laptop for the time being.

So, here's one of the reasons I look forward to each morning - an example of what God's paintbrush can do:





It was wonderful, standng in the parking lot, pointing at the sky and just turning to catch the 'brushstrokes'.

You know, I've just deleted the last half of this post again - it was profound.....

So, since this message seems to be doomed, I'm outta here for now - more tomorrow.

Night all - be well!

Almost retired!

That's how I'm going to sign my emails at work until the end of this week - 3 days to go!!!!

If you're reading this Jenny, I'm almost ready to devote much of my time to what I enjoy the most - and what I think I do best - making!

I know it's been a good 2 months since I last posted - it's been a very busy, very traumatic time. Life takes it's toll - then it gives back. Sometimes in equal amounts, sometimes more, and rarely less than what it's taken.

In my few free moments I've tried to keep my hands busy. As you can see, I've had expert help from Clyde. He's a very tough critic.

I've come across some incredible fibers - I'm trading some of my llama/angora blend for a tiny bit of alpaca from a nurse friend. She's a very talented spinner and as you can see from the photo, I use spindles as well as the wheel found in my favorite fiber shop. Spindles do have their place, though, in my spinning repertoire - I can take them anywhere because they're quite portable. Right now, I'm concentrating on finding or building a slabroller for my clay work.

I seem to have a strange fascination for things that go round - a good friend and I were discussing that very briefly a couple of weeks ago - I'm not the only one with those tendencies. Fiber artists and potters seem to gravitate to pretty much the same things and interests, it seems.

Several potters on this huge discussion list I subscribe to are also avid knitters. Several of the spindlers on a couple of other lists are very involved in clay work.

I had a dream the other night that woke me with the best laugh I've had in ages - I was spinning yarn with my kickwheel. I can only imagine that it's a possibility - maybe I should try it - well, maybe not. It's an interesting concept, though, don't you think?

Here, let me show you a picture of what my kickwheel looks like -

Not the little electric wheel in the front, but one of those large, mega-weight fellas off the the right of it - that's what I have in my studio. I can't show you mine, because my studio needs a thorough cleaning - as does the wheel - and you wouldn't be able to see it for the clay caked all over it right now. Bad potter!!! Bad, bad potter!!!! Gotta get that studio cleaned!

Really, I don't normally keep my studio and work space in such a mess - time just hasn't been on my side much lately. But, SOON!!!!

For the record, the picture is of the pottery lab at the college - I can only dream of having that much space to work in.

Can you imagine spinning yarn on such a contraption? Can you understand just WHY I woke up laughing so hard? Yeah, I thought so.

Two of my friends asked me today what I was going to do this week-end since my hitch it up as of Friday - my reply was very simple. It's not the week-end that I'm going to start my so-called retirement - week-ends are week-ends! But, come Monday morning, the first thing I'm going to do is (drumroll, please) NOT go to work. THAT's what I'm going to do to start my 'retirement'.

I almost did that this week already. Monday morning, 7 a.m., sitting in the back yard with my coffee and enjoying the hummingbirds and chipmunks and the little shrew that competes with the chippies (and there's also a little bunny coming to visit now) - I suddenly realized that I still had to go to work. Bummer!

This is one of the little hummers that frequent the backyard (what a friend calls my 'sanctuary' - she's right).

I knew hummingbirds are territorial - very social, but very territorial. This little fella chases away the bees that hang around the feeder. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it. There are at least 3 hummingbirds that visit each day - each has his (or her) own favorite feeder, and heaven help another that tries to invade that territory! They are, however, so social with people that I can stand within a couple feet of them while feeding (the birds, not me).

I didn't realize how late it's getting to be - I need to be in good shape for tomorrow. I'm not sure just what the boss has planned, but there's been something brewing all week. Lots of smiles and snickers, but no clues. A very large cake appeared last Friday - it was great sharing with my friends and what has become my extended family - in some cases, very close family. But, I'm not sure I'm prepared for what ever is going to occur tomorrow. I'll be surprised no matter what happens - and grateful that the people I've spent so much time with these past years have become the close friends that they are.

Oh, how about a look at the cake? A full sheet - isn't it great?



Time to go - I'll do better about posting - really!!

Later!!

Lori

So, what's my secret???

It's time to let the cat out of the bag.

Come January, I'm going to be a Grandma - daughter and her husband are expecting their first child in mid-January.

Now, wasn't that a good secret? Am I excited?? YES!!!!!!! They'll make wonderful parents - I'll be a terrific Grandma. I can spoil them with the best. (Insert the biggest, wickedest, cheesiest grin here that you can imagine.)

I have some interesting pictures from yesterday's baby shower for 2 of our nieces - I don't think they'll go here, though. Way too many - my sister learned how to use a digital camera yesterday and just loved it. She ran out of film, so I let her use my Canon A80. She's already told Santa what she wants for Christmas.

Once I have a new photo gallery set up, I'll add a link to it. Yahoo! has decided to eliminate the photo album option, so am searching for a new venue. After a lot of research, Google's Picasa looks pretty good, so that's probably where they'll end up.

That's all for today, folks - things to do, places to go, butt's to kick (a la Maxine...).

Take care, all.

Grandma Lori (just trying it on for size - it fits!)

Another Month Gone By....

I've got a secret! I'll let you all in on it tomorrow - it's going to make retirement much more interesting.

In the meantime, you might be interested to know that I have a shop set up on Etsy.com. I haven't made it public yet, but will in the near future.

So, for tonight, I'm keeping this short - I'll be back tomorrow with news!!

Lori

I just got lost in thought - it was unfamiliar territory.

Important!

Due to the increasingly HUGE number of SPAM messages I've been receiving recently, my ISP's guardian has been set more aggressive and is blocking a very large number of them. When checking my quarantined mail, I'm finding that where there used to be just one or two every other month or so I am suddenly receiving hundreds on a daily basis.

Because there are so many and typically, there's maybe - MAYBE - one or two that aren't really SPAM, I've taken to just deleting all of them rather than spending a couple of hours (that I can't really spare) going through them.

So, if you've sent me a message recently and have not received a reply, it's not because I'm ignoring you, it's because I just zapped the whole lot. Resend any messages that didn't get a reply - please. Pass this on to anyone that you think may need to see this - please. Most of all, please, please, PLEASE, be careful how you word the subject line. If it looks like SPAM or if the email address looks suspicious, it will get quarantined.

That's it for today, folks! I'm off to Cambridge, Wisconsin for the annual Pottery Festival and US Pottery Games - www.cambridgepotteryfestival.org. I hope to see a couple of suppliers there, and of course touch bases with the exhibitors and drool over all the beautiful work from all over the country - and, of course have one of those huge hot dogs with all the trimmings. Cambridge is the home of Rowe Pottery and I generally take a stroll through the shop, but since the business was sold a couple years ago, it's just not the same.

Today is the day the exhibitors compete in the throwing contests - tomorrow, the high school students get to take over the stage. Hopefully, I'll be able to snag another poster - last year they decided to use picture post cards instead - it was a great disappointment. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they decided to go back to the posters - they contain photos of some incredible work. In any case, it's always fun - and I can usually get a preview of the studio tour here in our area held in October - www.twentydirtyhands.com - now THAT's a blast!

Have a good day, everyone!!

I just couldn't leave well enough alone.....

Sometimes, I have so much rattling around in my head that if I don't get it out somewhere (on paper, in a document, in a piece of handwork) I can't rest.

For instance, I plugged in the laptop to re-charge it and put it away - but, did I sit down to read? Or, put in a load of laundry? Or, work on something else? Well, did I?? Nope - did not! Because I just need to get those thoughts out somewhere.

I think it's because I'm frustrated - and disappointed. I mentioned earlier that I only have 2 1/2 months left before my retirement date - but, I feel as if I'm already gone. Or, at least that's the impression I get daily from others. It feels as if I'm being pushed out the door - that I'm no longer needed - invisible - and that doesn't give one a good feeling.

So, here I am bemoaning the fact that I'm a useless piece of flotsam, when I don't really think that at all. Nope, not really. I just need to remind myself that I DO have a lot to offer - and, that I am worth something.

OK - rant over. I'm putting away the soapbox.

Our summer session begins next week - it's something I look forward to each year. It's a great deal of work, but worth it. Especially the end of the summer when we fire outside - RAKU!!! What a rush! I'm sorry - it's a great deal of work for OTHERS - I have a blast! Looking forward already to the couple of quiet week-ends by myself firing bisque - the studio and those ill-tempered kilns all to myself.

How about a shot of some of the raku pieces before they get pulled from the kiln? OK - here's one. Remember, they've been bisqued and glazed - this step takes the place of another long, several day glaze-fire. We're talking maybe 20 minutes from start to finish once the kiln is past the first load.



Red hot!!! Pull them with special tongs and settle them into a bed of combustible material and let 'er burn!

And, if you work the flames just right, here's what you end up with.....

The orangish-reddish pot in the center front and the the little round guy on the left are both wearing copper-matte glaze. The tall guy in the back right is flaunting that famous 80/20 glaze that goes well with just about anything.

Copper matte is one of the most difficult glazes to control - to get to work. You can reduce it in leaves or sawdust or anything else all day long, but this particular glaze needs to work with the flame (or, is it the other way around?).

If you look close, the center pot sports all colors - that's the result of several years of trials and swearing and hair-pulling and almost giving up. But, after lots of reading and listening and speculating, it only seemed right to try just one more method. So, out came the fatwood sticks I use to light the fireplace - what a difference! The little, bluish one in back, even though it was the same glaze, just didn't muster up - we used sawdust and try as we might, that elusive copper matte remained elusive. Reducing with the fatwood sticks made a huge difference, don't you think? I just love it.

Ahhhh, renewal has set in. That's what happens when I can focus on something I'm passionate about. I can walk into the studio dog-tired, not able to put one foot in front of the other, and by the time a couple hours have gone by, I can't stop - I'm so jazzed that I could go all night long (almost).

NOW, it's time go put things to rest for the night. I've fed my obsession - typically, I just need to touch clay once a day to get through it. Looking at the pictures and at least telling you about it seems to do the same thing - renewal.

Thank you for letting me rant - and, for allowing me to show a little of my world - I'm afraid there's more to come, so look out!!

My Sunday Afternoon - a Travelog, Maybe??

Before you read any further, I need to warn you that I'm using my laptop to write this - I have a difficult time moving from the keyboard on the PC to the smaller version on this little wonder, so if you see any typos or weird punctuation, I apologize in advance. Between that and the fact that my brain seems to work faster than my fingers, it amounts to a double strike at times.

Yesterday, I spent a few hours at work, paid a visit to our neighbor girl's graduation party and then headed to my favorite fiber shop.

If you've never been to Fiber Wild in Galena, IL you've missed a very nice experience. Amy and her husband are parents to a lovely tabby named Scout who reigns over the whole place. Amy thinks everyone comes in to see the kitty - I'm just as guilty as the next one, but I really enjoy visiting with Amy. I think the reason I enjoy her company so much is that she and I are a lot alike - she's very direct and you always know where you stand with her, she's got a silly love of that which is slightly off-beat, has a ton of knowledge that she willingly shares and best of all, has the absolute best array of yarns, fibers, knitting/crochet/weaving/spinning equipment that I've ever seen or been exposed to. Much of her inventory is from local suppliers and fiber artists. It's so affordable, that the first time I visited, I thought it was a terrific sale - I was mistaken. - it's affordable all the time. I don't generally walk out of there empty-handed, but what I leave with gets used before anythng else. It doesn't end up in a stash, never to be seen or heard from again. OK, the best part is that I can stop on my way to Mom's or on my way home, because it's right on the way.

This sounds a bit like a commercail, doesn't it? Guess you'll have to take it for what its worth - it's nothng more than praise and admiration for someone who has it all together.

Another favorite spot on that particular drive is in Woodbine - a small gift shop right in the heart of this little hiccup in the road. Natural Treasures (I think that's the name of it - I've never really noticed the sign - I just look for the "OPEN" flag to be out front on my way by. The greatest soy candles you've ever smelled - and, of course, she has a kitty - another tabby. She also carries her own honey and products made with it, work by local artists (lampwork jewelry, pottery, paintings) and is - again - silly beyond belief.

I'd love to sit and visit some more, but my battery's down to about 50% and the light outside is starting to go. Although, the nighborhood strays are starting to show up and look for their evening snack, I think it's time to get my own battery re-charged along with that of the laptop.

By the way - I'm down to 10 weeks of work left - 2 1/2 months - I sure wish they'd post my job so I wouldn't feel so guilty leaving. Maybe this week - maybe??

Tomorrow's another day - g'night all... Pictures then.

Some of my work

I promised pictures - and until a couple days ago have not delivered. As you can see from my last post, I finally figured out how to get them here. Just haven't quite figured out how to wrap the type properly so there aren't those large gaps between text and images. I'm getting better, though.

Every knitter needs something to keep their tools in one place - I've used pitchers, quart jars, vases, a tall basket, jammed them into balls of yarn - you name it, we've all done it. I found some old sweaters at the Goodwill Store and just had to have them. What you see here is what happens when clay meets fabric......

To the left are some of my Knitting Needle Jars - they're handbuilt from earthenware clay slabs wrapped around a tube form to create a cylinder. The texture comes from old sweaters, worn out kitchen towels or any other type of fabric that just looks interesting. Vintage buttons are added, and Voila!!! Inside is a knitted and felted cushion to protect them from damage when the needles are just dropped (thrown) into the jar. I've done it myself in a fit of temper when having to frog back a piece. What's frogging? That's when, for some reason, you have to 'rip it, rip it, rip it'.




Let's see if I can get some more pictures here where you can see them better - I know they're not exactly gallery shots, but at least they're pictures. They'll get better.



An old, quilted placemat was used for this piece.




And, this was a beat-up, not-bad-enough-to-throw-away-but-not-good-enough-to-keep sweater I found at the Goodwill Store. It had a nice tight texture.




Remember those crocheted, rattan hot pads and placemats? They offer a nice, well-defined pattern that works well with the glaze.

And the larger jar using an old, woven kitchen towel.










By golly, I think I'm getting the hang of this blogging stuff!

I have more photos that I'd like to show you, but I think I'm going to quit for today (read - while I'm ahead). I'll see if I can get some raku pictures up tomorrow - or maybe my progress with the felt-work. Who knows? Tomorrow isn't here yet, so we'll figure it out when it is!!!!

Later!!

Life on the Wild Side!

Well, I DID warn you, didn't I?

I wasn't sure just how much time I was going to be able to put into this blog-thing, and the time passes so fast when you get up, go to work, go home, change clothes, go back to work (either in your own studio or back to the job because your desk looks like it threw up on itself or a herd of monkeys made a mad pass through your office), go home again, get some sleep and then do all over again the next day, and the next day, and the next..... Whew!!!!!

But, this last week (now that we're on summer hours - no Fridays!!), I've found myself actually finding time to do things like relaxing in the gazebo with a good book or some knitting or just watching the wild life in the back yard. Planting a container garden took most of the week-end because I had to find homes for each and everyone of the seeds that I started inside which had sprouted, and I wasn't about to send any one of those little gems into a compost heap. No sirree!!!! Not after they'd been watered and talked to and babied to make sure they didn't get too dry or too much sun too early - they were going into the GARDEN - somewhere.

As a result of all of these little seedlings/sprouts I'll probably be able to feed our whole neighborhood and some of the next one if everything grows and produces anything. Tomatoes anyone??? How about peppers or cucumbers, or - zucchini?????? Not the long, straight ones, mind you, but the small, roly-poly ones. Really, I've never been one to tend toward the ordinary - that should be obvious by now.

I got a chance to meet a new neighbor last evening - nice and quiet, no loud parties, but I'm afraid that if I bring a Lazy-Boy into the house, the new guy may stay longer than I'd like.



How cute is that? This is the house next door that's been vacant for some time. Apparently this little one moved into the chimney - nice and safe. At least for now.

I was sitting in the gazebo with a glass of juice and my book, glancing up now and then to watch a bird at one of the feeders or the chipmunks playing around the sunflower seeds that had been set out for them. I stood up for a bit to stretch and saw what appeared to be a frog head on top of the chimney and couldn't really figure out what it was - at least until the head started to emerge and turned into a raccoon!

This neighborhood is full of wild life - remember that I live in the middle of town. OK - not THE middle, but close enough. Last Friday morning - about 6 a.m. while I was having a cup of coffee in the back yard with the birds and a chipmunk - I saw deer strolling down the alley. Couldn't believe it - didn't have the camera handy - was afraid to tell anyone for fear they wouldn't believe me. Luckily, one of the neighbors saw her, too. I tell ya, I might as well be back living in the country.

Enough for now - more tomorrow. It's Friday tomorrow - no school - no work. I can catch up on things.

Oh, before I go, remember that flowering crab that was full of robins in February? Well, here it is just covered in it's spring finery.

You should have seen it full of robins! The blooms are gone now, but each one of them will become a berry to help feed the birds that will remain in the winter. And, those that return early.














I just couldn't resist this shot - I was standing under the tree, admiring the view above. I just pointed and clicked!


The bees love this tree when it's blooming - even though I'm allergic to bee stings and I try to keep my distance when they're around, my presence doesn't seem to bother them in the least.

Time to go - more tomorrow.














Have a good night everyone!

HAPPY EASTER!!!!

It's turning into a lovely Easter Sunday - the sun is out and the winds have finally started to die down. It's still not warm enough (at least for me) to work in the yard, though.

I'm hoping that we'll finally get some more warm weather - and afraid that my rhubarb and the flowers that were starting to bloom will not be able to revive themselves. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best.

Last week-end I worked outside in 60-70 degree weather - the first part of the week, Mother Nature threw is a curve ball and dropped the temperatures down into the 20's and 30's. Out came the winter coats again and gloves and heavy socks and layers of clothes.........

Keep warm everyone - be well.


"Life is a work of art, created by the one who lives it."

The Remedy...

It's been over a month since I last posted anything here - I mentioned then that I had found a 'remedy' for my lack of time and such - I do! Two weeks ago, I gave my boss notice of my 'retirement'. On August 9, 2007, I will no longer be a full-time employee at the college.

I felt as if 2 tons had been lifted off my shoulders - it's been very stressful in a different way, though. All of a sudden, I've become invisible by the other members of the department - the staff that I'm supposed to supervise. I have some very strong emotions about this, but it will work itself out. A couple of very dear friends have been reminding me non-stop that in 4 months and one week, it will no longer be my problem and that I need to remember this little prayer:

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Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

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Amazing how well it works - especially when you save it in small poster form and display it above your monitor as suggested.

That's it for today, folks - I'll be back later in the week.

Take care, everyone, and remember -

"Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs."

Seaweed! Peeeeeeuuuuw!!!!

I've never really had much to do with seaweed - swimming in the lakes around this area, it's a nuisance. I never really thought much about gathering it for any good reason, so just never thought much about it - until recently.

Because a couple of us from the college are preparing for a children's pottery workshop, I've been gathering 'stuff' to use for firing. Tools can be made from just about anything laying around, ice cream buckets make great storage and working containers, I have lots of newspapers for the tepee kilns and plenty of scrap clay to make slip to seal the newpapers, Denise has a source for wood to build the frames and for firing, a huge plastic container in my shop is filled with dried walnut and hickory husks and we'll no doubt have a good supply of used coffee grounds and orange peels and banana skins and all sorts of other 'stuff'. But, because seaweed can also produce some wonderful results (I'm told), I contacted a friend from the east coast. He graciously picked about 10 pounds of fresh Cape Cod Canal seaweed and sent it. It arrived in today's mail.

Are you with me so far??

Instead of drying this stuff, he sent it fresh - yep, I paid to ship water - but, because it hadn't been dried and traveled in plastic bags, when I opened it I almost fell over from the smell. Whoa!!!!!! EEEEUUUUW!! Blech!! Ptooey! Ack-ack-yuck. I should have known what to expect, because the box had a slight off odor to it - smelled like cooked peas gone bad. Each successive layer of plastic that I unwrapped allowed the stench to become stronger. Euw. Good thing I didn't open it in the house - the cats would never have forgiven me.

I guess the plan of attack is going to be to get a couple of the scrounged styrofoam produce flats down from the 'loft' in my shop and spread this stuff out in them (going to use rubber gloves for this part, I think) and set them outside where it will, hopefully, freeze dry enough that it won't cause a lot of stomach-churning when we add it to the combustibles while we're load the children's wares to the kilns.

If anyone has any better suggestions, send them on - I'm open to just about any solution at this point.

You see, we're trying to ENCOURAGE participation, not send them running home with stories of 'icky stuff'.

Wish me luck! I normally have a strong stomach, but this was an unexpected surprise. Whew!!

I think I've recovered enough from the surprise that I can get out there and get that seaweed taken care of - wish me luck!!

;-)

Robins???

The date is February 10th. I've been hearing reports of robin sightings all week long. I didn't expect to see the two trees in my back yard, however, filled with robins and starlings this morning.

I have two lovely flowering crab trees in the back - each spring, they wear heavy cloaks of white and deep pink that leave behind multitudes of berries. As the seasons progress from summer to fall to winter these small, red delicacies provide food for the birds and squirrels that have no choice but to remain in our frozen Midwest.

The best view of these trees is from my kitchen window - I was filling the coffee pot with water for a fresh carafe of my favorite brew and noticed a couple of robins picking what was left of the berries. Soon, a couple more robins arrived to join in the feast. Suddenly, the tree was invaded by so many birds that I couldn't keep count.

Activity from the back porch area scares them off, so I decided not to try and take a picture of them (I'm not the best photographer anyway, so it really isn't a great loss.)

It was wonderful watching my feathered friends after our intense cold spell! Gives me hope that warmer weather will be here soon.

The yellow kitty I took pity on went back outside this morning, too. Oh, I guess I didn't tell you about this lovely guy.

Since mid-summer this mature, yellow cat has been hanging around - very friendly, has a lot to say and is very affectionate. He's apparently familiar with indoor living, because he always tried to dart into the house whenever he was around. I have had no luck in finding his family. If you'll remember, the last couple of weeks, it's been dangerously cold. He showed up on Sunday evening, howling and crying and tearing at the screen on the outside door because he wanted in - imagine that!

So, I opened the door. I had been expecting this - had worried about what would happen to him in that weather, so borrowed a large cage from a friend and gotten it set up - just in case..... Around this house, he's known as Morris - looks just like the original. And, he's been sharing our house for the last week. Today, he decided he wanted to go outside - so, I let him out of the cage and he literally ran to the back door. I'm not sure where he went to after I let him out, but I would bet good money that he'll be back.

Yes, I'm a softie for little animals - can't stand to see these creatures hurt or hungry, so I provide for them whenever I can.

It's been a month since I posted last. I'm back to work, but got very spoiled while I was on leave. Things haven't changed at the college, and in fact, seem to be busier than before.

Because it's been so busy, I haven't really had much of a chance to just stop and think - a problem that I'm going to remedy soon. But, I'll tell you more about that remedy another time.

Stay warm - be well!

Later!!!

It's been a few days -

Bet y'all thought I'd fallen off the face of the earth didn't ya? No such luck... I've just been a little pre-occupied is all. Can't wait to be able to sit at my wheel or even just wedge some clay to work with.

In the meantime, I've rummaged around and found my nostepinne (Norwegian for 'nest stick') to wind some of the beautiful merino yarn I've acquired into balls to work with instead of those hard-to-deal-with hanks. It's been a while since I've used it and it shows. Instead of ending up with a center-pull ball of yarn, it more closely resembles a football - but, it works just the same! My next two looked a whole lot better!!!

The nicest yarn I've found so far is hand-painted and hand-spun by an Asian couple from (of all places) New Hampshire - it's so soft and the colors are consistent and lively. It's a chunkier weight than what I've worked with before, but it knits up beautifully and felts even better. Sorry, it FULLS even better. I've been corrected before about my use of these two terms. Felting is done with the fiber or roving - a finished knitted or crocheted piece is fulled - two different processes.

I'll try and get a couple of pictures up later today - felting is really kind of fun, but the preparation and testing is tedious. I enjoy testing clays and glazes for my pots, but knitting the test swatches for the different yarns is different, although a very important step in determining the shrink rate for the finished object - just like with clay.

I guess the difference in the process is that testing clays and glazes is more mind-bending - testing the yarns only takes a little bit of manual labor - over and over and over.

I've also been scouring the internet for sales venues - etsy.com, yessy.com, eBay - and am seeing some interesting work, both in fiber arts and pottery. I think I can pull off a few good sales. After seeing some of the work offered, I'm both impressed and curious, and in some cases, outraged and disappointed.

Impressed at the level of skill in some areas and that the work is offered at such a reasonable price. Curious about the techniques used and want to know more about the artist. Outraged and disapppointed at the offerings that are clearly the work of someone who needs more practice and a higher skill level. This work is offered for huge prices and it SELLS!!! And the buyers LOVE it. I just don't get it. I don't have to understand it, I guess - I just have to hope (make sure) that MY work doesn't fall into that last category.

Enough for now - gotta go take those pictures so I can show you my feeble attempts at a new direction in my life.

Take care y'all - catch ya on the flip-flop!!

Oh, forgot to tell you about my new, custom-made warping board so I can set up my loom again - pictures later after I get it mounted on the wall......

Too much time on my hands!!!!!

I've had many friends that have asked when I'm finally going to put a up a website. Since I'm at home for the duration of a medical leave, I thought maybe I'd try and do something productive and create this blog - not a website, but it'll do in the interim.

I'll get some pictures up someday - maybe sooner, maybe later - but for now, I've at least taken the first step.

This is my first attempt at blogging, so be patient - it'll probably go a bit slow for now.

Oh, just realized that a website was one of my New Year's resolutions a couple of years ago - well, it's a start.

Later!!