Leaf peeping

 We seem to think of the Mountains as the only place to find trees full of fall color. Here, in the area we live in, there are many hardwood trees among the pines. We love to get out and ride the back roads and find a path to take a good walk.
Today we headed over to a walking trail out past the high school that our kids went to. This trail has been cleaned up in the past few years and is a good place to walk.
We set a 20 minute timer when we go to signal when we should turn around. We have found out that if we don't we could get deep in the woods and then the need of water, food, too far back to the car, bathroom, hits us all of the sudden.
The 20 minutes went too fast today before we had to turn around to head back to the car.
After our walk we went to run a few errands, making sure we drove past the NC Zoo on our way home. We remembered that some of our favorite fall trees are there sitting in the parking lot. We were not disappointed to find a blaze of color ready to greet us. We also know that the leaves can be here and then quickly be gone.

Mark wearing one of his favorite hats from Four Saints in Asheboro.
He has a new one now and I was thinking I needed to make a collage of him with all the spots he wears his hat.

Below are the trees at the NC Zoo, make a trip to the area, find Four Saints Beer, the NC Zoo and Whynot Pottery, It would make for a great day out in the Piedmont area. If you do come ask us for our favorite place to eat out, Bia's Hardware.

Enjoy this fall, winter is up next.

For the record books

 We are enjoying the most beautiful fall weather I can remember in many years. Then again, my memory can fail me as easily as the leaves float from the trees.
The past three weeks have brought out all the colors.
I always want to bring those colors into the pottery, the tones are so beautiful and rich.

October will fast give way to November, then we are all in a down hill slide to winter.
Get out and enjoy some of these days as they unfold.

More salt jars in the works.

We'll let you know what is up next.

Cheers,
M

Let's talk

I know, it's been awhile.
Life does that to a person, it just pops up and becomes something all on it's own that takes the days and the nights out of you.
My mother fell.
She is in her 80's and a broken bone is a broken bone.
So we went.
She is fine and recovering.
Time will tell.
Meanwhile it was back to school and pot making time.

And, the beauty of fall is all around us.
The drive to school and back is breath taking.
I take a route in the morning that winds through the back roads and as I round the curves and climb the foot hills there are some fabulous trees full of color.
The reds are here.
I love all the colors, but the reds just break my heart with their scream of color.
Every year we say, this is the best fall ever, well, maybe it is.
I'll check back in later.
Peace,
M

Some one makes pots around here.

 I came home to these sweet jars the other day. Mark has been busy making pots on the days I am working. I love a good round jar and these are pretty great.

We hope to get another firing in soon but it seems as always that there are a few obstacles to jump over to make that happen.

First I must stop gazing out of windows;  looking at the reflections in the pond.

Second, I need the prefect, warm days of sunshine, that keep calling me to walk out the door and explore the beauty around me to slowly, slowly fade away.......(not really)....

Then I need to be able to work 24/7 just to get done those things that need to be done,done.

Third....I need to not run off on my day off to see a great little play called, "Love Letters" directed by one of my students.
Fantastic job, I loved this play.

And, then there is that baby pinching that must be done.
It is in my job description.

My favorite student question this week, help me out.

Can I take this raku pot and put a cone 04 glaze on it and fire it again so it will hold water and be shinny?

I will take any and all answers.
Go.

where do you run to?

Or, walk as the case may be.

The other day was one of those magnificent fall days. The air was crisp and the colors were crazy beautiful. We did not realize that this would be one of the last days we could run away to the zoo for a walk.

 Today we went out there and found that they have closed the parking lots on this side of the zoo for the winter hour.

It looks like we will have to find another place to walk for awhile.
Then again with the forecast of some very cold weather coming in this week it might just make it harder to get out as early as we were, makes me wonder if we will become "mall" walkers?

Naw.....

The garlic jars are ready to be shipped tomorrow as soon as the post office is open. They turned out pretty nice, just big enough for 3 heads of garlic.
I forget that if you live in a city you can buy smaller quantities of food items. I have lived out here so long it is my tendency to buy in bulk.
I once picked up 25 pounds of fresh garlic to be split between a bunch of us.
I smelled like Gilroy California going down the road. 
Right now I am using garlic grown my my soap maker friend, Laurie.
The homegrown garlic is so much better.

I hear coffee in the making... Later, M

Fall travels

Leaving the farm in November would have been at one time completely unheard of, but last week we packed a bag and went to Virginia to clear up some family business.

The ride there and back was wonderful with all the fall colors.
Even Norfolk, sitting on the coast of Virginia, has some spectacular trees.

Norfolk has many older neighborhoods that are home to some beautiful trees.
We saw many yellows, reds and brilliant orange.
It was a feast for the eyes.

As we drove back yesterday there was one spectacular area after another.
Fall in all its blazing glory.
It gives me such a feeling a peace.
Fall is the dessert on my plate, to be lingered over, one bite at a time.

Now we are back and it is time to finish getting ready for the show.
We need to finish the booth and get to work on the tiles.
I think it would be good to set up my glazing station with the window that faces the view below.
I can stop and look at the pond as it shows off some color around it.

 This should be your view today, I will share it with you.

  Here are two of my favorite trees in the fall.
 They  play well together showing off their color.

It is a great time for fall color hop in the car and take a ride.

Pictures of tiles coming up next and maybe a pot or two??

M

The shape of things to come.

I am up late this morning so I really need to dash off and get some things done.
 Why am I sitting here?
 Well, I am not a good dasher as you can see.
 I have become a tad slower in my dashability.
Yes, I know that is not a word but seems we can add anything we want to the end of words these days. I know, I listen to NPR and they do it all the time.

Today is get some of the pine straw off the driveway day. As you have seem in past post the drive is a long one lined with tall pines trees and now is when they start to drop those lovely needles. Between those and the pine cones, that I call pot hole starters, things can get a bit messy out there.
Plus we want you to be able to get down the drive, or up the drive to find us. The best thing about being out there is it is a great view.

Mark- vases

Meredith- bottles

The past two days have been ultra chilly as the weather goes from late summer to fall.
I think I am ready for the crisp days and cool nights.
I just wish we did not have to close up the house and turn on the heat.
I really enjoyed the past few weeks of open windows and cool air.

The bonus to fall is fall colors.
Now that gets me excited.

Here is a preview of things to come.

This is from last year- but things will happen here soon.
Off to "help" Mark.
I am a good at cheering one on.
Lift that rake....go team.
M

It is never just about the pots.

I know, I know, you are getting tired of all these trees, but just think in about a week all this color will be gone and those leaves will just be something we have to get rid of. At least the ones that are right around the house.The treasures of today just become someones trash to deal with later. Hum- better not start down that road today.
This first tree is right out the kitchen window and as I was staring out the window taking in its intense beauty  Mark walks in and says, "I just don't ever remember a fall with colors like this one, just look at this tree." Good Lord after living together for 40 years he can pick up my thoughts through walls, scary right?!
But he was so right- beautiful...

Then he comes in with the camera and tells me he has caught a few fall moments.
This one is just a shot through the woods.
Tasty.....

And then we both know that this tree will be bare as bare can be in just a day or two. There is a cold front coming through with wind and that will just take all this goodness with it.

And now about those pots- the kiln load is glazed, the cone plaques are made, wadding ready, kiln post washed, shelves cleaned and washed, anything else?
It is all in wait for us tomorrow.
We just ran out of steam.
We started glazing Monday and were done by lunch today. We planned to start loading but I feel a need to take a stretch out on the floor and let my back muscles relax.
And the damp mood of the day seems to fit my mood.
I have had at least 3 dreams with my brother Jay in them the past week.
As I get ready for the festival next week end I have to face that Lee will not be there with me.
Although Leslie is coming to help me and that does brighten my mood, she is my rock.
So it is never just about the pots.
So wish us low winds for a good firing.
I will try to post some pottery related pictures soon,
M

It's Monday and it's August

Here we go jump aboard it is August and from here on out we are sliding down hill.
When August hits and fall is right behind us nipping at the back of our brains- reminding us that fall is coming soon.
Gary has posted some leaves turning in New York.
And while I was out walking I noted how many of the Poplar Trees had yellow leaves on them.
It is a sign to get in gear and really get some work done!
No more lazy days around here.
It is time to make the minutes count.
Now, really, how realistic do you really think this is?
I know as potters we strive to produce weekly.
Some weeks things get in the way.
For me it has been this fall- I knew when I hit the deck it was going to take longer then 24 hours to get past this and, of course, it has.
I am better each day and hope to be back to my old mean, rotten self soon.
Meanwhile I have to go back to how to work smarter if this is what I want to continue to do.
I find it easier to work on tiles right now since bending over to work on the wheel does not seem to be something my back likes yet.
So I did get this tile through the electric kiln last week and was pretty happy with it.
It is from the nightgown series.
I love when something comes out and I can't decide which way it should be hung.
The first shot is the way I had it when I laid it out.

Then I turned it over and though it could hang this way as well...
more decisions....

If you turn your monitor on its side it could go sideways as well..
Here's hoping you are ready for the week and making those decisions to carry you into fall.
I am still podering.
Cheers!
M

Two Potters, two kilns, too wet and too little time-Wednesday melt down.

Yesterday the painter came to spray primer in the rebuilt studio. This meant covering anything that did not need paint with plastic, and moving Mark in with me.

I was in the groove and enjoying the space and working along. Bam! We're back to sharing space. We share anyway, but this space gets crowed fast when two potters are throwing.

So- I had a melt down yesterday- totally ugly meltdown.

I think on the most part I- we both- have done well. Our studio was destroyed and our lives interrupted. But- we picked right up and went on. It's what you do- because we did not have the option of pulling the covers over our heads and saying let's just do nothing.

We have both been tripping along thinking we are fine.

Yesterday showed we are not fine all the time.

Heated words were exchanged- and some mud slinging was going on.

He's a good catch!

I put myself in "time out" ---I was dangerous- too many options to throw other things and we could not afford for me to be around.

So I put my dangerous self in the car and took a ride.

The thoughts were pinging through my head, but as I stopped fighting with the inner me and looked at the fall leaves things took a different outlook and we needed onions.

I had a mission as well.

I would ride the back roads to Wally World and buy onions. I could do that - I had a purpose and some control over my life.

Besides- at Wally World they don't care if you are emotionally a mess.

They just don't care- for the first time I thought Wally World has a purpose.

I did my shopping went home and we both laid ourselves out and worked out space.

Back to making pots- too little time - too little space- a show coming up- when will we run a bisque?

But, it will be fine.

Better get cracking.

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.