New great-nephew!

Here's the newest addition to my extended family, born on Sunday! His brother is the little boy with the balloons a few posts ago. What a precious grandma my sister makes!

First crocus of the year!

Last year the first crocus bloomed on February 23rd.

Trying something different with glazes

Anyone tired of my couch yet? I still like it.

Fun with balloons

This is my great-nephew. Isn't he cute?

Lent 'Zine

If you're not a part of Wheatland, click here

to check out Melanie's 'Zine on Lent. She did a great job!

Valentine gifts

Gifts I am thankful for...

--My amaryllis is making seeds.

--The signs of spring to come, my favorite season!









--Brunch on the deck (at 60 degrees in the sun).

--A big fluffy frog from my sister-in-law and cards delivered early!


--Gifts from my most favorite person in the world towards the front!




Today I could wear one of those weird buttons that Helzberg Diamonds gives out saying "I am loved".

Hoping you feel loved today!

More sgraffito!

I love saying the word "sgraffito" almost as much as I love the doing the technique. Again, it means "scratched" in Italian. My husband calls this my genie bottle. One of my instructors mentioned a veil when looking at this piece. I put more details about it on my flickr site if anyone is interested...what type of glaze, etc.

Last night I was back at pottery class and glazed at least 5 things. Will have to miss pottery on Saturday due to an important engagement ;o( so will also be missing all my friends there and my circular therapy.

I miss my favorite graphic artist and will bring her "500 Cups" book back soon.

Back home

Still, still with Thee, when purple morning breaketh,
When the bird waketh and the shadows flee;
Fairer than morning, lovelier than daylight,
Dawns the sweet consciousness I am with Thee.

Alone with Thee, amid the mystic shadows,
The solemn hush of nature newly born;
Alone with Thee in breathless adoration,
In the calm dew and freshness of the morn.

Still, still to Thee, as to each new-born morning,
A fresh and solemn splendor still is giv'n,
So does this blessed consciousness awaking,
Breathe each day nearness unto Thee and heav'n.

So shall it be at last in that bright morning,
When the soul waketh, and life's shadows flee;
O in that hour, fairer than daylight dawning,
Shall rise the glorious thought I am with Thee.

--Harriet Beecher Stowe

Made it back home yesterday after many airport delays. Took this picture on January 28th. Found this poem in the book "Streams in the Desert".

Hope to post more later.

The rest

Made up the symbol on this mug just to practice this technique. It doesn't mean anything. Did this during the Christmas break as well.

Tried a combination of three glazes on these last two, and was so happy how they turned out I brought the goblet to church and showed my friends..I'm such a dork.

Is it just me?

This video has wandered its way back into my life. Here's just 6 minutes, but if you watch 1 minute you will probably get the point. Here's. the full 20-minute version.




I think there are important points in it, but also think it bashes our government. Is it just me? I know our government hasn't done everything right, but this bothers me.

Have been pondering a lot in the last month about how we are supposed to be good citizens and help stimulate the economy and spend money, yet give generously and save (some say at least three month’s salary) for a rainy day.

I usually try to keep this blog all fluffy with no politics or anything, but I just can't stop myself and am wondering about your views or if I'm taking this all the wrong way.

One more

Guess I'm into squiggle swirlies. Started this in November, carved on it in December, and then the kilns weren't running regularly so it took this long to acheive the finished piece. Pottery requires much patience.

Before and after

Here are pictures of some pieces before and after firing to demonstrate what the glaze looks like before it melts together.

This vase is actually my second piece my instructor put in the case of student work. He must've liked it.

Was going for a paisley look on this last one. Guess I need more surface area in order to do a more ornate design.

Clay conversation

Here and here are the links I promised my favorite graphic artist I would post for her. The links are for a book called "From Mud to Music" which is pretty pricey and an ensemble that plays clay instruments. I just figured out that a guy in the band wrote the book (which Mary, an instructor, got for Christmas) and didn't even know they were related until now. The book comes with a CD, but not the Terra Cotta CD. Think it's on itunes.

Should be bringing some finished pots home soon since last Wednesday I glazed about eight things.

Happy MLK Day!

20-CMB-08

A couple Saturdays ago, chalk was handed out at church. Paul told us to write 20--CMB--08 on our neighbors' front steps which stands for something in latin and basically means "Bless This House in 2008"

Guess our neighbors and their dog gave us a blessing in their own language instead of latin.

"Good Morning Mushy" Thanks Penny!

"1-800-Da-Bomb lives here"
"I 'heart' my neighbors"

Does this mean you love us or we love you? Oh well, we love you anyways!

p.s. Yeah, I know these photos aren't very good, but it's raining ice pellets and they'll be gone soon.

Dress Up Your Pet Day Part 2

Did you remember that today is Dress Up Your Pet Day?

Sheri, my niece, sent me a picture of Mya which I had to post.


Here's a picture of my dog after she had a bath. Yes, I know it's not a costume, but her appearance is altered.

Things on my nightstand

Since Paul tagged me by email to post about books, I'm just going to totally change the tag game which is somewhat related to books to "Things on my nightstand".

Before I start the list, I would like to share that I usually have a few books going at a time and read different types. I need at least one storybook going and at least one educational/informational one, and if a book comes along that I am anxious to read then I add that one to the rotation.

--Bibles including the Archoelogical Study Bible (which is too big to read in bed), the Message (which is also not very comfortable to read when in a horizontal position), and a King James little leather one that was my dad's and brings back memories when I scratch and sniff it.

--Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond.

--The Secret Things of God by Dr. Henry Cloud (loved it and am reading it again).

--The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence.

--The Merriam-Webster Dictionary (so I can look up those strange new words such as sinter and deflocculate).

--Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (am still at the beginning and am loving it so far).

--Three by Annie Dillard: Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, An American Childhood, and The Writing Life(finished Pilgrim and am on An American Childhood).

--The Great Stink by Clare Clark.

--The New Breed: Stories of the U.S. Marines in Korea by Andrew Geer (My daddy was a Marine during this war).

--The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron (I'll admit I haven't opened this one in awhile).

--The Purpose Driven Life Journal (because I got it for a buck at a garage sale and it's leather).

--The Emporor's Children by Claire Messud (haven't started yet, but will after I'm done with Three Cups of Tea).

--Promise Not to Tell by Jennifer McMahon (haven't started yet).

--A prayer journal that I hand-made a few years ago.

--A scroll that Melanie brought me back from the Hong Kong Museum of Art that contains the painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival".

--Some prayer beads my Kansas Mom gave me this fall.

--A box of Kleenex.

--A lamp.

--A flashlight (for when I have insomnia and want to read in bed).

Hmmm...Maybe I should put a bookshelf where my nightstand is. Oh yeah, and my husband has about four things on his nightstand...I drive him crazy so that we have one more thing in common--both crazy.

Wonderful Saturday

Had a wonderful day at pottery class yesterday! I was so happy to be doing better and to be advancing. However, one of my INSTRUCTORS actually had a hard time yesterday. That's kind of how it goes. Some days you can "throw like a dream" and other days it's hard to concentrate and the clay seems to have a mind of its own.

I was very nervous when my pastor asked me to do a communion set for our church, but yesterday helped me feel like I might actually be able to do it with God's help. Yes, I did think of Philipians 4:13. Just kicking around some ideas about the design. Would like to do some type of carving.

p.s. The first picture is upsidedown because I threw the stem parts of the goblets today (which are done upsidedown). Here's a Simon Leach video about goblets if anyone's interested.

p.p.s. Hey, I sent Simon Leach an email this morning, and he just sent me one back from Spain! Cool!

Dress Up Your Pet Day

In honor of Monday being Dress Up Your Pet Day, I'm posting the only way my pet has ever let me change her physical appearance besides trimming her paws, and I can respect that. She is donning a tie-dyed bandana. This was after we went to "Woofstock", an event to raise money for the humane socieity, a few years ago.



On another note, the kilns should be firing regularly now that the winter pottery classes have officially started, so should have a few pieces to post soon. I did go in over the break while classes weren't in session when I needed a "break from the break". Am trying goblets now.

Things found while doing yard work on Sunday

Insect eggs

Baby lily bulbs

A paper wasp nest in the middle of my dead clematis vines. That's why I got stung a few months ago while trying to take it down! Was stung just proximal to my nailbed on my index finger. Did have gloves on, but they were cloth which didn't help.

Christmas finale

If you're interested in seeing the pictures from the Christmas open house, you may click here to go to my flickr account.

Played a great game of "Hot Potato" on Christmas Eve at Uncle Bob's and Aunt Janice's. We also ended up with a Rubik's cube and 20-questions from the gift exchange. My Kansas Mom made a birthday cake for Jesus. What was the best part of all? It wasn't at our house!!! I wasn't up to hosting this year.

We had our traditional Christmas burritos and chili on Christmas Day at my brother's-in-law (this proper spelling/grammar looks weird to me). Don't have many pictures of Christmas Day, as I didn't feel very good and what pictures I took didn't turn out very well. Could it have possibly been due to a combination of a sinus/cold bug, Christmas stress, and having stuffed myself with sweets the night before? I think so! But...I was just being polite, tasting all the different kinds of cookies, and I think Jesus would want me to eat a piece of his birthday cake!

My new year's resolution is...

...to be able to do this with my tongue by the end of the year.

For Greta

Have been viewing some videos that Simon Leach, a potter, has put on youtube. In this video, he hurts his finger towards the end. Poor guy! So now when I watch all the other videos I look at his hands to see if it was filmed BHF (before hurt finger) or AHF (after hurt finger).

What were you doing last Friday night?

I went to a Festivus party, I mean Christmas Open House! Am finally getting around to posting the pictures. Instead of the "Airing of the grievances", the kids "played" piano. Stay tuned tomorrow (or the next day) for the pictures from the "Feats of Strength".

Merry Christmas!

Magazine cover

Am still playing with the Big Huge Labs' flickr toys. Go there to upload your picture and make your own magazine cover.

So you think you know carols?

Have you seen the So you think you know carols quiz from the Chicago Tribune yet? Aunt Janice sent me the link, and thought it was so good I would post it. It does take a little bit of time, as there are 25 questions.

I posted a picture above from their "Tacky Sweaters" gallery and will admit that I used to own one of them. It's okay if you still have one, especially if you're a school teacher. Are they implying that all Christmas sweaters are tacky?

And here's a weird Christmas video for you:

Had to look this guy up after reading this review on the Amazon blog for worst Christmas albums ever:

This year’s clear winner for me. Upon first listening to this album I was literally stunned.At once festive and intensely creepy, Dan Foley wordlessly interprets Christmas favorites as you might imagine them performed by a sleeping guy, a troll living under your bed, a serial killer, your computer or your drunk uncle after he’s already half passed out. Christmas has never been weirder. Ever.

And for a random challenge, try to say "specificity" really fast five times in a row. Can you do it?

Cookie post #3--Frosting dispensers

These are the best pictures from the cookie decorating party. Karmen referred to the cookie decorators "frosting dispensers" which I think is appropriate for some. If anyone has a problem with me posting pictures of your "frosting dispensers", please tell me.