It's like watching glue dry

Rebuilding the mudbox is slow work. All the details have to come together.
We build to last! Unless there is a fire- then we rebuild to last!
The metal is now covered with plywood and then a sheet of plastic is cut to fit. This in now glued to the plywood....and we wait.







Meanwhile- I am working on the wedding tiles that came out of today's kiln. One more kiln to fire and I will have the rest glued by the end of next week.
Why the end of next week?
I have to order the right size magnets.
I ordered one size too small and they need to be "just right."

I am watching this beauty open new flowers each day. I counted 10 as I walked across the yard.

So pretty!

A long day-

Yesterday was a busy one for us- after unloading what was a great kiln load of pots we headed down to Starworks to help throw flowerpots.
I am heading back there today to attend a workshop on growing mushrooms.
So enjoy the pictures and for more information go to Starworks Ceramics
or Bulldog for the skinny on the flowerpots.

David Stuempfle

Micheal Mahan- from the ground up

Hitomi

Anne- Starworks gardens-

Happy Valentine's Day-

Every year we look for the daffodils to start opening up. Mark brought these to me the other day. It is a yearly contest to see who can find them first- he wins again- he is better about looking out for them and I get the joy of finding them all set up for me in the kitchen. You have to love a man who brings you flowers!

We have many daffodils all over the farm. They were planted by my grandmother who had a green arm and could grow anything!

We also enjoy the variety of camellia bushes around the house, which as long as the weather is above the teens bloom all winter. I can look out the kitchen window and see a nice big cherry red one.

Mark has a nice pink one outside his bathroom window.

It is delicate and more the shape of a rose. While the others can be big and bold.

We moved one a few years back when we were cutting out a place to add the kitchen. We babied it and check it. It took 3 years , but it has put down roots and started blooming last year.

The other day when we were having high winds a tree came down on the basement side of the house. I was down here working and Mark comes in and asks me when the tree went down- now you would have thought I would have heard it- but no I didn't- but of all the things my grandmother planted the thing that haunts me most is the Boston Ivy. I fight the Boston Ivy and if had my choice would have it banned as a nuisance plant! If grows everywhere and on everything- Love the flowers- hate the ivy!

Christmas count down continues and "am I blue"

This is for you Charlie Brown-
I don't put up a tree any more. At least not a big one. I use to love having the tree and just sitting in the night and watching the lights. Taking in all the decorations and thinking of Christmas past and things to come.
I am not sure at what point I quit putting up a tree, but once there are no kids at home it does not seem to be the same.
I also decided to make my life more simple by not decorating the house.
But - last year I spotted this little guy -with 3 decorations- at the store. He called me and I took him home. He has grown since last year so he now has more decorations on him.
The Santa was from my youth- he says Merry Xmas-
I added a train made for my son and a gingerbread man made by my daughter, a little clay pot and some beads. It might need more beads. Oh and he is in a little David Stuempfle pot and I added a bow- I know it's not a great bow- but it is all me. Plus I figure if Mark puts anything under this tree it would have to be small and very expensive!
He wants a tree big enough to hold a motorcycle- good luck buddy!
The count down continues.....

I know I promised you a peek at the blue paint-
After having the fire we need color in our lives. we are painting everything.Yep- if you stand still long enough I will pull out a brush and paint you!
I am one of those people who makes others cringe when I paint. I get it every where. Clothes, hair, elbow- hands. I should have taken a picture of my hands today because I looked like papa smurf. I was blue today.

All I can think of is "am I blue...." I know there's a song in there somewhere- hum a bit with me.......

After Halloween but before Thanksgiving Cactus

I left these out all summer to get plenty of the late day sun. I brought them in when we had a cold snap about two weeks ago. I have been watching the tips to see if I they were going to bloom.

They just started in the last few days.

I am trying to decide, or maybe they are, if they are late for Halloween or early for Thanksgiving.

Note the tile made by friend Carol Gentithes .

BUT-- pay no attention to the dust and spider webs!

In my family we are dust bunny protectors and spider web collectors.

Beside you never have dust or webs in your house unless company is coming.

I believe they bring them with them.

I mean, did you see them before they came?

And a little preview of Paint- we are glazing now in the unfinished room and taking in the curried rice or pumpkin soup paint, depending on the time of the day, it goes well with the adobe trim and camouflage green door.......

Behind that door is a building attached to the rebuilt building, which did not burn thanks to our fire department. We need to replace the glass since it did not make it-some elbow grease and paint covered the smoke damage. I see promise here!