2016-12-14 - Wednesday - Tiny leaf

While leaving the house Wednesday, I noticed this tiny leave caught in a spider web next to the back door. It's really tiny and so perfectly trapped in the web that it barely moves when I blow on it. The scale and simplicity of it caught me and I had to document it. I have been through that door several times today and stopped to ponder that leaf often.

It's trapped there on its way to the ground. Unless something frees it, it will never fulfill its destiny of becoming compost. It's frozen indefinitely in time and space.

It's the (truly) little things.

Tiny leaf.

Really tiny compared to the bricks next to it.

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2016-12-13 - Tuesday - Food and bisque

While I've recently been cutting back to lose weight, I sometimes still eat a large breakfast. Most days I skip lunch or have a small supper, so splurging once in a while at breakfast is not such a big deal. Today was migas with spinach and cheese, half an avocado, leftover baked beans, and an English muffin --a truly international breakfast. This was followed by a skipped lunch and a small supper. Currently down 15 pounds over two months with a ways more to go.

I unloaded the bisque kiln on Tuesday evening. It was full of mine, Judith's, Ju-Ian's, and student work. It's nice to share.

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2016-12-11 - Sunday - Fungus, mold, and bisque

Sunday I was clearing some leaves in the flower bed and thought I saw a bunch of acorn caps, but it turned out to be a type of birds nest fungus. It's all over the flower beds growing in the wood chip mulch. It's pretty darn cool. The mycelium, the part that grows under the ground attaches all of them together like a mat. I had to really work to break one off for closer examination.

I believe this to be a slime mold in another part of the flower bed --or it might just be mold, but it's awfully defined and contained to be a regular mold. I'll let the experts decide. Do you know any mold experts?

Sunday afternoon I helped load a bisque kiln.

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2016-12-10 - Saturday - Holiday Sale

Saturday was the Goneaway Pottery Holiday Sale. Becky, Ju-Ian, Judith, and Elaine joined me for a chilly day in the garage. When we started, it was 24 F and only went up to 44 F for the high. We ran the propane heater, but it couldn't warm up the whole garage, so we spent some time gathered around the heater.

We had a steady stream of customers all day and good fellowship, snacks, and music.

My setup.

Ju-Ian, Judith, and Elaine.

The ever-popular snack table.

My friend Edson took this photo of me.

While we were having the sale, Stephanie was doing the Girls on the Run 5k with kids from her school. She's a coach for the program this year and we're very proud of her. Karen went with her and snapped this photo.

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2016-12-08 - Thursday - Bricks and eggs

Thursday we had some work done on the brick veneer of our house. We had several cracks and some mortar was missing from the side door step.

This corner was the worst, with the veneer separating on both sides of the corner (I forgot to take 'before' photos) and leaning out about 3/8". When it was opened up there was a bunch of mortar that fell down between the wall and the bricks during installation and no tie-backs anywhere. That has been remedied and things look a lot better now.

Gregory Allen did the work and he did a great job.

Removing bricks and mortar and straightening the wall.

Adding tie-backs and tie-ins.

Fixing cracked mortar.

Thursday night we had breakfast for supper and I noticed that either these eggs looked really unhappy or they were the energy creature from Johnny Quest.

2016-12-05 - Monday - Signage and phones

Monday I put my pottery sale sign out on Park Road for the upcoming sale.

Later, in the evening we went to BJ's and upgraded Stephanie's phone to the new Google Pixel. It's a very nice phone (and she's a very nice daughter).

While I was taking a photograph of my pottery sign for social media, a woman suddenly appeared in the frame. I had no idea she was going past until she appeared in the camera, so I just kept on snapping. At the time it was quite startling, but made me laugh at the absurdity of being startled by someone running away from you.

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2016-12-03 - Saturday - Sale, footprints, and old friends

Saturday was the second day of the Clayworks sale so I spent the day there. I left for a while to attend Greg's father's funeral (been to too many lately) and came back to break down the sale. In the evening we went to dinner with some old friends who were visiting from the west coast.

It was an emotionally complex day: Pride and joy showing my pottery and discussing it, grief for a friend's loss, and the warm joy of seeing John and Pat Lewis after many years. Sometimes a single day is like a tapestry.

Everyone could tell a potter
attended the funeral.

Me, John, Karen, and Pat.

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2016-12-02 - Friday - Clayworks Holiday Sale & Open House

Friday was the first night of the Clayworks Holiday Sale & Open House. I set my display up on Friday morning and came back for the sale that evening. We had a good turnout and lots of pots went to new homes.

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2016-11-27 - Sunday - Of mice and leaves

Sunday I pulled out my LeafHog vacuum to mulch up some leaves. It's a handy piece of equipment as it has a drawstring hood that fits over a trashcan and the mulched leaves go into the can. I got a surprise when I pulled it out this year. A mouse apparently enjoyed the hood by chewing a major hole in it.

I made a duct tape patch on the inside and outside of the hood and it's holding for the time being, but I will order another kit and keep it in a plastic bin when not using it.

I think the mice are better off with natural materials instead of polyester anyway.


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2016-11-24 - Thursday - Thanksgiving

We went to Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving and Brett came too. While this year's family gathering was bittersweet with the loss of Karen's dad earlier in the month, it was nice to all be together for the holiday.

Stephanie and Brett made pumpkin cookies and were very proud of them.

Later, at the table, I caught them clowning around. Good kids.

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2016-11-19 - Saturday - Morning glories, Muddy Fun, and pots

Saturday I was teaching the Muddy Fun class at Clayworks. On the way into the building I noticed these morning glories quietly growing by the back stairs. I probably would have missed them, but I do try to pay attention.

Muddy Fun was only supposed to have three students registered, so I didn't ask for any help. Six people showed up, but we made it work.

After lunch, I was playing with some textured pots and they evolved like this. Sometimes you just have to go with the rhythm of the day.

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2016-11-18 - Friday - Bisque kiln and autumn

Friday afternoon I helped Susan Meadows load a bisque kiln we were sharing. We had some of her faces, some of mine, and several other pieces in there.

This bush in the courtyard was draped in it's autumn best. I didn't realize the photo was a bit blurry, but I think it is still worth including. Beautiful color change.

2016-11-17 - Thursday - Faces and fish

Thursday I worked on the faces a bit more. They make me smile.

I also "crash-dried" the raku fish so I could bisque fire them. They make me giggle.

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2016-11-16 - Wednesday - New face with history

Wednesday I finished another face pot. I put a lot of history into this one by adding some more lines on the skin.

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2016-11-15 - Tuesday - New fish

Tuesday I made more raku fish. They are still making me giggle so I'll probably make some more.

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2016--11-14 - Monday - Food in bowl

Monday I made pork chops with potatoes and green beans and served the veggies in my Kevin Crowe bowl. I really like this bowl. I also really like potatoes and green beans.

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2016-11-12 - Saturday - Potters of the Piedmont and Earth & Fire

Saturday was the fall Potters of the Piedmont sale in Greensboro. It was well-attended and as always, I enjoyed talking to, joking with, and explaining my process to the attendees. The day flew by and then I had to jump in the car and get back to Charlotte for the end of An Evening of Earth & Fire, Clayworks' annual fundraiser at Elder Gallery.

Not only were all the usual friends there, but Dave Timm was in from Michigan, and Rich Meredith came from Florida.

Dave is a long-time friend (notice I didn't say old!) from the infancy of Clayworks who is also one of my mentors. He always pushed me to try something new, to stretch, to reach. It was easy when watching him do it. He made it look easy, like, "why not try this?". I miss him, and his guidance and prodding. I also miss grabbing a plate of nachos with him at Lupie's on occasion.

Rich was a studio artist at Clayworks for a while when he was working in our area long-term. He is a great friend to many of us and of the studio. He's another one who makes it look easy and challenges you to follow him.


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2016-11-11 - Friday - Setting up the gallery

Friday I had the honor to help Herb and Vince set up Elder Gallery for An Evening of Earth & Fire, Clayworks' annual fundraiser.

Larry Elder graciously donates his wonderful space to us for our gala. It's always a great night filled with lots of beautiful art. Unfortunately I won't be able to attend since I'll be in Greensboro on Saturday at the Potters of the Piedmont show. I will return late and hope to catch supper with the Clayworks crew.

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2016-11-07 - Monday - Squash with William Baker

Monday I roasted a butternut squash as side dish and served it in my William Baker bowl. I really like this bowl and it has become a "go to" for me for most of my sides. I love it's great shape, clean lines, color, and it holds just the right amount of too much.

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2016-11-06 - Sunday - Autumn day

Sunday was the day we headed back home after the funeral. While it was a sad time for all of us, the extraordinary beauty of the day reminded us that while our hearts are broken, there is still a lot of beauty and good in the world around us.

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