2010-05-20 Wednesday - Yard

I took a walk around the yard on Wednesday afternoon.  I'm happy to report that things are doing nice Springy things around here.

The hydrangea is blooming.

The elderberry bush.

The tomatoes are taking to their new home.

The elderberry flowers up close.

The mulberry.

The mulberry fruit.

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2010-05-16 Sunday - ClayMatters Meeting at Pottery Central

Sunday we had our ClayMatters meeting at Pottery Central.  It was a good meeting and Andrew did several demos.  We started outside and due to a downpour we were forced to reconvene inside the building.

In the parking lot.

Ju-Ian in the studio.

Ju-Ian and Sylvia in the gallery.

Demoing outside.

Demoing inside.

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2010-05-20 Thursday - Young's Garden Center Show

I will be showing my work this Saturday at the "Art in the Garden" event at Young's Garden Center on 521 in Fort Mill, SC.  You can pick up those spring plants and browse work by twenty local artists.  Please stop by if you get a chance.  You can map it here.

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2010-05-20 Thursday - Towel Day

There's only five more days until Towel Day.  If you are a fan of Douglas Adams' "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" series of books, you probably understand the idea behind Towel Day already.  Even if you don't, you can read more about it here.

Remember:  May 25th is Towel Day.  Fly your towel proudly.

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2010-05-15 Saturday - Adventures

Saturday was another busy day, running from one place and adventure to another.

First thing on the agenda was taking Shari to Lupie's since she had never been.  Lupie's is a great place with really good food at reasonable prices.  If you get a chance, go there (especially on Thursday for the best chicken and dumplings in town), but get there early if you're going for lunch.  Don't forget to get some peach kuchen for dessert --it's wonderful.

We went at 11:30 and found out they don't open until 12:00 on Saturdays.  Once inside, we ordered and took the food back to Clayworks for our feast.

Shari.

Lupie.

After lunch I got back to throwing pots and made a neck for my pot from Wednesday.  Unfortunately it got pushed off-center so I am altering it.  I will post it's progress.

Later in the afternoon, I went to Joe and Melissa's engagement party in Waxhaw.  It was a very nice time with more good food and a few beers.  I was having so much fun I stayed way longer than I had planned.  Thanks to Helen for a nice party in her beautiful home.

Joe and Melissa.

2010-05-14 Friday - Shelley's Gallery Opening

Friday night I stopped by for the opening of Shelley's new gallery.  We are all excited for her new opportunities and a lot of Clayworks people stopped by to see her and her work.  The venue is a great space and it was filled with wonderful artwork.  Some of the pieces were created at Clayworks and some weren't.  It was also the first time her Masters project was displayed as one installation.  They all looked great.

She will be opening during the gallery crawls and I'll keep you posted as it draws near.

I'll let the photos speak for themselves...

Shelley (right).

2010-05-12 Wednesday - "Oh Mickey, You're So Fine"

My friend Angela has a foster cat that needs adoption and she asked me to post it on the bloggo.  "Sure", I thought, and promptly forgot about it.  She reminded me the other night and I promised I would (again).  Sometimes I chase my thoughts like birds, but I finally remembered to do it.

Mickey looks like a fine Himalayan mix and would love a good home.  If you know of anyone that could provide that home for him (or maybe you), please use this link to access his contact information.  I thank you, Angela thanks you, and most of all, Mickey thanks you.

Mickey.

2010-05-12 Wednesday - Garage Lizard

A couple of weeks ago I found a lizard in a net pocket in my golf bag.  I caught him (no easy task) and put him out in the yard.  Wednesday he was back in the garage, this time on one of the kids' old over-sized sand pails.  I think he is a green anole, but I could be wrong.  He's nice to have around and I assume he is eating bugs.  Good for him.

It reminds me of the Dead Milkmen debut album from 1985 titled, "Big Lizard in My Backyard".

2010-05-11 Tuesday - Clayworks

Tuesday I got started working with some recycled clay and decided to make some larger shapes.  The recycled clay is a mixture of all the leftover clay used in the studio and tends to be a bit short (which means it's not as elastic as our usual clays).  It can't be pushed or stretched as far as the regular clays without separating and tearing so it makes it more of a challenge to throw larger items.  I was ready for a minor challenge on Tuesday night and made some pots.  We'll see whether they make it or not.

2010-05-15 Saturday - Big Day in Town

This weekend it may be hard to get anywhere in town.  Let's see, in no particular order we have:

• The Ultra Swim competition at the Aquatic Center.  Not only is this a large event, but Michael Phelps (yup, the one with all the jewelry) is going to be there.
• The NASCAR Hall of Fame opened this week and expects huge crowds this weekend with lots of drivers on hand.
• The NRA national convention is here with Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, and Chuck Norris (that's right, TV's "Walker, Texas Ranger").  Estimates say the NRA is drawing more than 70,000 people.

The thing you might not realize about all this is that it is taking place in about a six block area downtown (which Charlotte city government desperately wants us to call 'Uptown' for its more positive sound).

We have got it going on for a city the size of ours.  I am thankful that the people who are working diligently to bring these events to town are doing it for the revenue it brings to the area, but I don't have to like all the extra traffic.  I don't really mind the two times a year when we can't go out to eat because everything is full of race fans.  We can mark it on the calendar and make other plans.  Now Charlotte leaders are trying to lure the Democratic national convention.  If it happens I may have to take an Al Bundy vacation --one where I don't leave the couch for a week.

Since I'm not interested in any of this weekend's events I only have to worry which route I will take to try to wind my way to the studio today, which is just north of downtown.  Wish me luck.

2010-05-08 Saturday - Part 3: Home again, home again, jiggety jog

After my big Saturday I came home and checked on some of my plants (and pots).  I am trying to incorporate some of my pottery into the plantings in the yard.  I think they look good, and I like to be surrounded by it wherever I am around the house.

Remember this post about the final blow to the dogwood tree?  I said I remained hopeful, and it has apparently paid off for me.  There is tiny push of new growth on the maimed dogwood.  I remain guardedly hopeful.

Pots in the landscape.

The first attempt at a crackled pot.

(The bottom blew out in the bisque firing.)

Another pot that was rather heavy, but lovable.

More of those chartreuse hostas.

New ferns that look like they may or may not make it.

The witch hazel.

I really like these hostas.

Look at the form of it.

The injured dogwood.

But what's this on the top?

Yes! Nature strives to survive.