Yes, we do stil make pots

Oh, yes, there are some pots being made in the studio.

This is a wee mug that some of my good customers have been asking for.
I always thought they were for those folks that just wanted a small cup of coffee.
I was informed and enlighten to the fact that they are the perfect mug for your after work, before dinner cocktail.
They are not too big, have a steady flat bottom and a handle if you need to hang on, and help keep your drink cold.
Hey, I'm in!

The wee coffeee cup is not just for coffee anymore.

More honey pots?
Well, yes.

I know that there are more folks interested in the goodness of local honey and they need a honey pot.
And, if not, it can also be filled with jam or sugar.
Like the coffee/cocktail mug, whatever you want to fill it with is up to you.
I am just the maker.

Mark, on the other hand is making beer/cider/hot chocolate/water/tea/cocktail mugs and pitchers/these also look fabulous holding a bunch of flowers .

You girls need some handles.
I know, I just feel so incomplete without them......
It's like going to a party without getting your hair done.










Today's pond picture should be called glass.
Look at how smooth this looks.
What a joy.
Back to those pots.
M

Gifts of Spring

The weather was to be gray, with a touch more gray and about 2 inches or rain Monday and Tuesday.
What a great gift to see the sun come out yesterday afternoon, and be here again this morning.

This morning, as I walked the drive, I was taken in by the way the sun was hitting the water.
It really did make me think that summer is coming up fast and I had better get out while the getting is good.

There was so much activity on my walk, and it made me think that maybe I need a tape recorder instead of a camera.
The birds were signing songs of pure joy.
I was also listening to the song of frogs as they are gaining their summer voices.

It has finally warmed enough for the flowers that climb on the building to start to open.
Last year this Clematis bloomed the 3rd week of April, here we are into May and the first bud has begun to open.

I have 2 of these and one seemed to have died. I was just a little sad to see it go. Then one day I was surprised to see that 3 vines have come up off the root. I don't think I will get blooms this year from those vines but, they are happy to be climbing up the building on some wire we put out for them.

These yellow flowers are growing along the drive. I don't know what they are but I love a little surprise on my walk.
I find out all they time that we have plenty of native plants here from honeysuckle to wild Azalea.
I wish I was that person who cultivated such things, then again, maybe they are best left alone to pop up where they are most happy.


 Can you stand one more picture of the pond?
Here she is in all her spring clothes.
This is one of my favorite views of the pond.

You will have to come and see this one day for yourself.
Oh, just do it.
Leave your cares behind you and take a drive.
I did on Sunday, but without my camera, so please go over and see the beautiful pictures Tracey took.

 Time for some potting.
M

A gray week

The other day as I walked up to the end of the drive there were a few geese who wanted to land on the pond.

They don't like it when I am walking and can not decided if I am friend or foe.
There have been times when they like to bully me by flapping their wings and making hissing sounds at me.
When they do this I remind them gently that this is my pond and they are guest.
Of course, I am picking up a large stick to help them understand.

They usually get the picture and flap their wings and fly away.

This has been my year for new birds, with the eagle coming in now and again to fish the pond, I have been keeping a close watch on visitors.

The other day flying low across a field I spotted an owl. He was white with gray tips on his wings.
I have seen owls before but I think I would have missed this one if I was not watching for the eagle.

Many moons ago Mark and I, and 10 of his closest male buddies,went camping in a Cypress Swamp outside of Norfolk.
I had to work late on Friday night, Mark and a friend picked me up and we drove through the night out to to the swamp.
As we were twisting and turning through the dirt roads our headlights hit a large white owl that was standing in the road. He turned his head, looked at us, opened his wings and flew away. It felt like slow motion to all of us. He was a rather big owl, and the first I had seen that close up. Think of the owl on the white owl cigars.

We had a chance this past week to share the pond with a painter, who I met at Tracey's house when we had that fun lunch a year ago Christmas. I have admired her work and thought that she might enjoy coming out to sit by the pond and draw some inspiration. I know how this place makes me feel and I wondered if a painters eye would see things somewhat the same or completely different. I can not wait to see if the pond comes out in her work.

Speaking of work....
Time to go at it.
M

This is not my August

What a week this past week has been with the best weather.
 These are not our dog days of August but we would like to thank who ever provided them for us.

We started out the day with a apple picking over at Jeff and Michèle's place, which is just around the corner from us. While they were sleeping we filled two 5 gallon buckets full of apples. The plan this year was to peel, core, slice and dry. We have some really great dried apples to munch on now.

On the drive over there we thought that today would also be a great day to float on the pond late in the afternoon.

We grabbed a beer and went out.
Mark grabbed 2 fishing poles and I grabbed the camera.
 

There were these nice clouds just following us around.

The great fisher man and that hat!
Sexy huh?

The water for the most part, when we were not moving it along, was so calm.
I really like the reflections in the water that the trees and clouds provide.

No real fish were caught on our outing, but we did catch some down time and just floating and relaxing.
It seems we do not get enough time to go out on this pond of ours.
We are either working or it is too hot this time of year.
Then fall we get to busy.

I think I will juts have to put in another day like this soon!
 It would be good for the soul.
Work is waiting that kiln will not glaze and fire its self.

Oh, just one more.....
M

I wish I had a glaze the color of fall.........

We live in a great spot, on a dirt driveway, with a big pond and lots of trees.
A few years back the person who owns the land behind us clear cut all their trees- ouch! We lost the whole top of the hill and the colors of fall that went with those trees.
We still have some trees back there, thanks to my sister who owns what was not cut.
So yesterday Mark said let's ride over to the zoo you have to see some of the trees they planted in the parking lot, the colors are wonderful.
So we did and he was right---- nice job for a parking lot don't you think!






We then headed into Asheboro for a beer and some food.
Beer- you have to remember it has only been a year since you could have a beer in Asheboro.
And if you are still reading... we have some family news.
Our daughter is going to make us grandparents.....
Cheers!

Sometimes....

you need some of this:

in order to go back to this.....

Be very, very quiet - there is a baby on the pond...

You have to look close to see the baby gosling running next to its parent.

We watched out the kitchen window as the parents kept a close watch over this one gosling.

It has been awhile since we had anything hatch and make it this far.

With ducks the turtles will snatch the babies one by one until they are gone.

I hope since this one is bigger "it" will make it.

Note the color is almost a grass yellow- maybe that helps keep other predators away.

Watching it run was too much fun!

Today we watched as they all swam across the pond.

Now that they have hit the water let's hope the turtles are all full.

Kiln opening and the one that did not get away

Tomorrow is the big day. The cookies are baked the pots are priced and ready.
Bill and Di will be here with meat and eggs we are ready for the kiln opening- well maybe we need a bag of ice.....
I was cleaning up from the last of the cookie baking and watching Mark fish down at the pond.
I thought, "he has something..." Then I saw it jump! Wow! he really does have something!
I watched him pull in the big brother of the one caught a couple of weeks ago.
What a brute!
So you fishermen and fisher women take a look at what came out of the pond.



And know that no fish were harmed. We took his picture and put him back.
He was a little over 8 pounds- 24 inches long and at least 6 1/2 inches at his widest point.
A nice fish if I say so myself.

See you tomorrow in Whynot!

The first fish of the season

Mark always says the fish are biting when we are working, but we have been watching quite a bit of activity around the edge of the pond near the house.
He "says" he hooked one the other day- I never saw the proof of that one.
But as I looked out the kitchen window just before dusk I noticed Mark had a fish on his line.
I watched as he pulled this one out of the pond.
A real beauty.
Of course we put him /her back. ( how can you tell?)
We like them to make more fish and get bigger- in hopes we can catch them again.

Tasty fingers!
Okay- put me back now!

Down to the water----

A fish who lives to swim another day.....

Ah-Life.....

and when I went back upstairs who should I see....

You eat while I watch-



Spotted! Let's get out of here!

What's out your window?

I spend a fair amount of time looking out of the variety of windows here on the farm, either in the house or the studio.
My favorite is the kitchen window facing the pond.
The last few weeks have brought the birds back in full force.
I don't put feeders out, but I do rely on all the natural things which seems to sustain each other.
In other words- the woodpeckers are all coming to have a bite at a tree which is going dead between the kitchen window and the pond. They fly in knock and eat- We have seen at least several varieties.
Yesterday, we had the company of the small Downy Woodpecker who is Black and White with a small pointed black bill..
We also have seen the Hairy woodpecker, the wonderful Pileated woodpecker and the flicker.

The pond has been busing with activity of its own.
The Osprey are back like they have been every year for about 20 years.
They hang out in a pine tree off the driveway and fish the pond. It is great fun to watch them circle and then dive, hit the water and come up with a tasty treat.
We are also enjoying mallards, wood ducks and geese.

This does not even count the amount of golden finches, chickadees, indigo buntings and the red winged blackbirds.
Then to top things off we spotted 3 big does out in the back pasture. They had come out to graze. We were able to watch them for a bit before they headed back in the woods.

Next up will be the snakes who will also be out for a tasty treat - time to start watching where we are walking. We have several who like to hang out around the studio. Mark talks to them about not coming inside or getting in the way. When they don't listen he picks them up and takes them off for a walk. I think they like it because they come back when he is not looking.
I use a rake to move them- not being one of those pepole who likes to pick them up.

How about you snakes, birds, lizzards, what keeps you company?

The Pond below the house and pottery

I have been watching the changes out the window as I am working. This time of year when the light is just right outside you get such a great reflection of the trees against the water. I love the double image of the trees in the water. When I was a kid here and still now- I would imagine the world beneath the water. In my mind there is a parallel universe under there- just waiting to be discovered. Of course- I know it is just fish and mud but this time of year it is magic.