Will Winter NEVER Leave?

The weather is so very strange these days - AC to cool one day, back to the furnace the next - June 2, and I'm wearing a sweatshirt. Wouldn't it be nice if whoever got Mother Nature so angry would apologize???

But, be that as it may, yesterday, I did enjoy my weekly trip to the Saturday morning Farmers' Markets in our fair town - fresh eggs, bread, homemade noodles, asparagus and handmade soap. My favorite cheese maker has decided not to come back this year, but it's simply because it was getting too much for them. At least I know which stores carry those luscious cheeses of theirs!

Lime Rock Brown Swiss Cheese is one of the creamiest, tastiest cheese I've ever had, and they do have an online store - www.limerockbrownswiss.com - our favorite is the Brick. Absolutely wonderful with some crusty bread, a few slices of sausage, and a bit of fresh fruit alongside. The perfect meal!

I've been a bit slow about getting back to the studio - instead, concentrating on some handwork. I've listed a few of my simple knitting patterns on www.Craftsy.com - the ones I mentioned in my last post. I have a few more in the works, plus a sewing table full of buckwheat hull neck pillows, sachets and project bags to be finished up, and fibers to spin and finish. Those should be ready to show off in a few more days - well, maybe a week or so.

I think, though, that it's time I got back to clay. I have a couple ideas for some cheese molds due to a recent discovery of a simple cheese-making process that I'd love to try - www.eatingrules.com/2011/10/make-a-simple-cheese - incorporate some fresh chives from my garden, or fresh, coursely ground pepper, leave it plain and top it with some newly-made strawberry-rhubarb preserves..... I think I might use lemon juice - or, maybe cider vinegar - but, I will leave out the salt. I don't need it hardened, and that's pretty much what the salt does, as far as I can figure.



Doesn't this look good?

And, why am I contemplating making my own cheese, you ask? Well, because I can! But, mainly because of some information I found when doing family research and translating documents from Norwegian to English. Apparently, one of my great-great (not sure how many greats) Norwegian grandmothers was highly regarded for her cheese-making skills! I don't fashion myself an expert, but I'm just curious enough that it looks like fun! And, because I want/need to know what's in the food we consume - it's as simple as that. Having to be careful of a loved one's diet (and, my own) means that we explore every avenue to keep that person healthy.

So, now that I seem to have a little more enthusiasm for getting back to work - a bit more ambition that's been seriously lacking of late - it's off to the studio to see what I can accomplish in the way of good pots!

Shop News!

My goodness - has it really been that long since I've updated this? Well, I've never claimed to be very good at keeping this updated.

BUT, I've been trying to figure out just where I'm going, what direction I've been headed, and given the latest debacle on Etsy, I'm pretty sure I need to spread my wings and start using all those other 'baskets' I've laid claim to over the years.

So, with that in mind, I invite you to take a look at this website - www.handmadeartists.com - I've had an account over there for a few years (I always at least save my shop name in a new venue, just in case...), but have recently been adding inventory. You can see it here - https://handmadeartists.com/shop/Claydancer - not a lot yet, and it will be a slow transition, but ultimately, I will have this one in addition to the three shops I now occupy on Etsy. Don't worry, I'll add everything to my profile - all the links will be on my Facebook page, too.

When I'm not covered in clay, I find other creative endeavors to keep me occupied. You know I have a thing for spinning fibers - and, knitting - but, did you know that I also enjoy working up my own patterns? Nothing real difficult, but I'm quite please with them.

Small, Reusable Produce Bags with several design options -

'Onion' Bags -

And, SPA Sets! All three patterns include a washcloth, facial scrubbies, bath scrubbies and a bath puffie!



All the above patterns can be found on both www.MyGrandmasGarden.Etsy.com or https://handmadeartists.com/shop/Claydancer

That's all for today - the sun is shining, rain is holding off and it looks like I can do some work in the yard finally!

Be well everyone - here's your thought for today!

Test

This is a test - just to see if photos are uploading properly.

I threaded a needle today...

Yes, I did.


Now to most, this would sound a bit strange – you threaded a needle??? Well, isn’t that nice (in a very condescending tone).

15 years ago, I would have thought the same thing - maybe. But, for others like me whose eyesight is compromised – whose eyesight is not quite up to par (for any number of reasons), this is a major task on some days. It was about that time that I started to have trouble - the culprit was Glaucoma.

Glaucoma comes in several different varieties and results in elevated ocular pressure that, if not controlled, can cause irreversible damage to the optic nerves, resulting in loss of sight - blindness.

My own troublesome variety is called ‘Narrow Angle’ Glaucoma. It’s caused by trauma to the head (in my case, a car accident) and can sit, hidden away for years, only to be triggered by stress. Yes, stress. And, any type of stress can cause it to flare up without notice. There is no cure - only management.

After several surgeries, it was all good - the culprit was under control. However, at the first of this year, that control started to be an issue and is now a major concern. But, it will get better - I have good resources who will help me get things back on track.

So, yes, I threaded a needle – not one of those tapestry needles with a larger than life eye, but a real sewing needle - the tapestry needle, too, but the big accomplishment was the one to sew on buttons.


It started with this….





My daughter (of whom I am extremely proud – just ask me – I’ll tell ya!) is a very sensitive, caring and generous woman. A few weeks ago, her friend and coworker was diagnosed with breast cancer and subsequently had to have a double mastectomy.


My dearest one immediately went into action – she was, and still is, a woman on a mission. (Now, for you men who are unfamiliar with this type of action, it can be amazing to watch – and, not something you want to try and derail.)


She made meals, she started organizing fundraising (including a Facebook team page) – there has been no end to her specialness.


So, I decided to make her a little something of her very own to show her support – this little coffee cozy.





Which lead to this -





I just can’t seem to stop making them - they’re fun, easy and really quick. Not sure if I want to tackle any more charts, though. I like easy, and charts and I really never got along too well.

Yes, I threaded a needle - several times - and, will continue to do so while I can.

I'm working the clay this morning, for the first time in a few weeks - I'm ready! Knitting and spinning will have to take back seat for another day or so - I've got some catching up to do!


Be well, everyone -


Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect. It means you have decided to look beyond the imperfections.
--Unknown

Thought for the day, continued...

My post of last evening WAS a bit snarky - it really wasn't meant to be. It was just that kind of a day.

You see I'm from the tail end of a generation that still kept women in the home - we were still, more often than not, the ones who kept hearth and home. My parents, though, were very progressive for their time - they encouraged all of us kids (both boys and girls) to follow their dreams, no matter what and be happy doing what we did best. And, to think for ourselves - to be able to take care of ourselves no matter what the situation. The boys learned to cook and sew - the girls worked right along with Dad. We all know that hammers and screwdrivers are neither right or left-handed, but will work both ways.

When I was widowed at a young age and with a 5 1/2 month old baby girl, I was thrown into situations that made the point clear of the mindset that we were still thought of not as second class, but not really as capable as men.

One case was when I was waiting to take possession of a new home, but needed to make a couple of repairs in the current one. The bathroom faucet was leaking - I knew what I needed to fix it, but when I went to the local hardware and asked for help finding the correct faucet stem, the response to me was "Well, little lady, don't you have a man who can help you with that??"

After I walked out, the hardware store across town was where I got the help I needed without any attitude. You see, just because I'm a woman doesn't mean that my brain doesn't function as well as, or even better in some cases, than a man's. (Of course, my dad got a chuckle out of the story - with a huge smile on his face.)

My daughter is a good example of what women can do - she's wise, talented, capable, thoughtful and the best Mom I know. I'm very proud of her - not just because she's my daughter, but because of who and what she is - a great woman!

So, with that, I'll simply add a reminder to:

Be the kind of woman who when your feet hit the floor in the morning, the devil shouts " Oh, Crap! She's up!"

And, for everyone -

Thought for the day...

A quick 'drive by' - just for grins and giggles - anybody else have one of these days??

Snark Alert!!

A little bit of snarkiness today (don't say I didn't warn you!).

There are not too many things that get my dander up any more, because I've learned over the years how to choose my battles. But, there are still a few that just rankle me no matter how hard I attempt to overlook them.

The background - I've been trying to get my inventory up for the upcoming season - not only for the shops that carry my work, but for a hopeful new account, my own little online Etsy shop and some custom work that's woefully behind.

I have a TV in my work space to keep me company - nothing fancy and no cable, just something to give me some background noise. So, when, a couple weeks ago I heard a Christmas commercial, it made me cringe just a little bit. But then last week, when I heard another company pushing the season early, I cringed a little bit more. Yesterday, however - on the last day of OCTOBER - I start hearing and watching several more commercials from yet one more big company, and it just made me angry.

Now, I know that anyone creating work to sell needs to have the necessary supplies available to them as early as possible - that's what we see in the craft supply stores and catalogs. But, really - really?? Christmas commercials in October? Can we NOT just at least wait until November to start pushing goods? Wouldn't it be nice to simply give some honor and dignity to our holidays? Are these big, well-known companies so hard up that they need to increase the commercialization of one of the most beautiful holidays?

It makes me sad - and, I won't patronize those businesses for my holiday shopping.

So now, let's talk about the decline of 'nice'.

Since I don't have cable or satellite reception in my work shop, I depend on all the local channels - the auxiliary channels are filled with some of the most entertaining court programs. Among them is one that has been around for many years with an announcer that's very outspoken.

Outspoken is OK, but what has happened that we tolerate the decline of a few niceties in our day-to-day speech. Since when has it become OK to state that he'd be 'pissed off, too'? Or, that the defendant is 'pissed off'. Have we become so complacent that we no longer understand the meaning of words such as 'angry', or even attempt to use it instead of resorting to the more commonly used street talk?

I'm not a fan of Judge Judy's program. I am, however, a fan of what she tolerates, but more than that - what she DOESN'T. Have you noticed that she doesn't tolerate street talk? And, that she expects a question to be answered with 'Yes' or 'No' instead of 'yeah' or 'uh-uh'. And, that she has absolutely no qualms about dressing down someone who is not properly attired. No holey jeans for her - and, in at least one instance, has asked a woman where the rest of her outfit was. Yes, for her values, I greatly respect and admire Judge Judy. And, I seriously doubt that she would stand for the speech habits of the aforementioned announcer. Her values are high and she expects others to meet them as well. Nothing wrong with that.

And, since we're on the subject of language, can we at least teach people in commercials to pronounce and use words correctly?

Espresso is NOT expresso - jewelry is NOT joolery - we talk or discuss, NOT conversate. And, lastly - wouldn't it be nice if someone were to send a message instead of INBOXING???

Well, that was fun! And, I feel better for airing my views and thoughts, no matter how silly some may thank they are.

This photo might just apply to my current state of mind.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.....

For those who understand you, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't, none is possible.