Tuesday, September 24, 2013

The other day it turned fallish


 Fall is in the air.
The last few times we have gone to walk it has been so cool that I am pulling on a sweatshirt and happy to have it.
We are still making a round at the zoo when we get the chance.
Last week things were tight for us with tree trimming and all so we made some walking time closer to home.

We have a great walk that we can do just out
 the front door.
We did that twice last week and then made one day out to our local park.
We have found tha the park has a bit too much red mud for us and it all tends to hang on to the bottom of our shoes.
The walk here is better, quicker and less mess.

The sassafras trees are starting to turn this week. The red of the leaves is so pretty.
Inside many of those leaves I am still finding some  caterpillars of the Spicebush butterfly.

 I check them everyday hoping that I can see one in the pupa stage.
No luck.
You can see that the one on the leaf below is changing from green to a yellow.
The more yellow it becomes, the more ready it is for the next stage.
This one has been hanging out for a few days. I  hope that it will hang around somewhere close and let me watch it become a butterfly.

I know you all think I have lost my brain to bugs.
I am thinking the same.
Then I listen to a program on the sense of wonder.
It talked about how we should never give up the wonders that are around us everyday. The flowers, trees, bugs and anything that makes us think.
Maybe the bugs are my sense of wonder.

A friend gave me a butterfly book today and I have been looking through it off and on. I am looking at the butterflies that I have not spotted here.
And, I am looking up some new ones that I have spotted and did not know who they were.
Knowledge and a sense of wonder.


I really thought I would hang these wall vases up together and take their picture, but it just did not happen.
With the morning walks back in place I am finding that it is replacing some of the time I was using for other things.
Not that this is a bad thing, since making pottery can keep a person in one place for a long period of time.
We all have our stress points with our jobs.
I find that the more I move the better off I am.



About these wall vases.
Mark put this finial on as a way to finish off the ends .
I thought at first that this was just a tad over the top, but now that they are fired I find it does finish off the piece very nicely.
Below is a smaller vase with just a close base.
What do you think?
Do you think it makes a difference one way or the other?



Time to get ready to get horizontal .
Cheers,
M


14 comments:

Linda Starr said...

I like the finials, those vases turned out beautifully and I could see all three in a grouping on wall would be perfect. yes I love and am sometimes obsessed with nature and all it can and does provide.

cookingwithgas said...

good to know that I am not alone here with my wonder.
The 3 of them, if the customer likes them, will be used between windows in a sun room. I hope they work but if not we can do something else.

Dennis Allen said...

Nice both ways but the finial adds at least $15.

Judy Shreve said...

Love the wall vases and the finial adds just the right finish!
Reading your blog is making me notice all the caterpillars and butterflies -- so thanks for that!

Tracey Broome said...

Production value, yep add some $$ to those vases, haha!
The walking has been so nice this week, glad you and Mark are taking some time for yourselves.

smartcat said...

The finials give a extra touch of elegance. Are you going to make them a part of your regular inventory?

Sassafras up here is a weedy invasive tree that has little other than their scent to recommend them.

In the fall the woods seem to wake up in preparation for winter.

Michèle Hastings said...

Have you seen the documentary "Microcosmos"? It came out in the 90's. A beautiful film about bugs. I have a VHS copy, if you haven't seen it, and still have a VCR, I would be happy to let you borrow it.

As for the finials... they look great both ways. I think it would just be a matter of do you want them fancy or plain.

Anna M. Branner said...

I too love the finials. :)

And I found my FIRST red leaf yesterday. And of course it sits here next to my computer. My books are FULL of pressed leaves from years gone by....

Laurie said...

I like both pockets, but agree the finials add a special touch, a bit of elegance. I looked for my carrot caterpillar last night, but didn't find it. Need to look closer today.

cookingwithgas said...

ah- the finials are a hit. I have to admit they do add something when they are up on the wall.
Michelle- no VHS anymore but I will look for that.
Smartcat- check those weed trees for caterpillars. That is where I am finding the Spicbush ones. Look for folded over leaves. Amazing.

If I can Mark to do it I think we need to add these to the list.
Thank you all for comments and yes to keeping those leaves.

Gary's third pottery blog said...

oh, there is NO way I could live without the finial :)

Gail said...

I love the finials, but I like plain too. I'd like to see one a bit skinnier. But I love the glaze! Hope you have some left when I get there.

cookingwithgas said...

thanks Gary!
Gail- come on!

Lori Buff said...

I think the finial has a very classic look where the one without looks more contemporary. Just keep making both styles and let your customers decide.