2018-01-20 - Saturday - Empty bowls gather no moss

I was out in the yard on Saturday and was struck once again by the beauty of the moss on our driveway. You can still see a little bit of snow on the part of the driveway that stays in the shade.

Later, I went to Clayworks and threw some more Empty Bowls.

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2018-01-19 - Friday - Not much snow

There wasn't much snow left on Friday. It goes away pretty quickly here.

I am always struck by the amount of lichen we have around the house and it really popped against the snow. Beautiful stuff, that nature.

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2018-01-17 - Wednesday - Snow

Wednesday we had some snow. Charlotte snows are nice because we get all the good things like the hush during the storm, the beauty of the whitewashed landscape, and a day off. We also go back to normal a day or two later, unlike living up north where the snow hangs around for weeks sometimes.

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2017-12-30 - Saturday - Snow

On Saturday it snowed in our part of PA and we enjoyed it quite a bit. It's been cold here. Saturday's high was 23 F and the low was 18 F. This snow was not sticky at all, it was powder.

It was fun watching it come down when we had nowhere to be. It was so quiet...

Video taken through the kitchen window.

My walk to Eva's house.

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2017-01-07 - Saturday - Snow, no show

While the meteorologists were calling for 4-7 inches of snow, we ended up with 1/4 inch of ice and 1/4 inch of snow. The best part was that the roads all melted by midday and everything was clear and dry.

I wonder what people are going to do with all that food they bought. I know the supermarkets' profits are off to a great start for 2017.

At least it was pretty.

No shoveling required.

I can't even break through the underlying ice.

Ice still clinging to the branches.

Snowy lichen.

Christmas Eve I stopped by Clayworks to drop off some supplies and found that someone had left me a small gift bag of Dove dark chocolate candies on my shelf. When we left for Pennsylvania on Monday I looped one of the handles over my gear shift to make it a handy snack during the drive. I still have one left.

Thank you whoever gave me the candy, it's been a great treat and I have savored each one.

Handy candy.

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2017-01-05 - Thursday - Oh no! Snow!

They are calling for snow on Friday night and beginning Wednesday the food stores were wiped out. People are apparently blowing their monthly food budget in a couple of days of frenzied buying. I'm used to everyone snapping up the milk and bread, but this time it was the produce section, the meat section, even the canned beans were gone. I've never seen it this bad and I've lived here for more than 36 years.

Why do people panic-buy food if a few inches of snow is predicted? Do they think we will be snowed in for days or weeks? What will they do with all this food if they lose power due to the storm? I don't get it.

When I worked in the deli department about 12 years ago I would have regular customers come in every week and buy 1/2 pound of ham and 1/2 pound of cheese. When snow was predicted the same people would buy 4 and 5 pounds of meat. For what? If they only ate 1/2 pound per week were they planning on being snowed in for 8 weeks? Did they think the food would last that long without spoiling?

Did I mention that I don't get it?

It's kind of scary. If this kind of melee happens when a few inches of snow are predicted, what would happen if something really scary was going on? I shudder to think about it.

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2016-02-15 - Monday - Ice

We're getting some freezing rain tonight. The meteorologists have been all wrong about this storm.

First, it was supposed to snow on Sunday night, change to freezing rain this morning, and then all rain after lunch, getting warmer as the afternoon wore on.

This morning was bone dry.

Next, we were told that the freezing rain would start at around 1:00 pm. At about 1:30 it started sprinkling regular rain on and off. It stopped for several hours and we were told not to worry because the temperature would rise in the evening. Instead, the freezing rain started just before sunset and is still continuing at a bit after 11:00 pm, still freezing.

We are seeing on the TV news that the interstates are a mess and we're wondering what the morning will be like.

At least it's warm and dry here. I hope you are too.

Icicles on the lamp post.

Ice in the trees.

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2016-02-12 - Friday - Snow showers

Friday morning we had intermittent snow showers so I went outside with Binkley and snapped some photos. We don't get too much snow here so it's kind of nice.

Lenten roses in the snow.

The phone doesn't pick it up too well, but it was actually heavy flurries.

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2016-01-23 - Saturday - More Winter and Food (and Pottery)

Saturday we awoke to more winter precipitation so we stayed home once again. It was quiet and cozy at home.

More accumulation.

Saturday night I broiled pork chops and served them on a John Vigeland serving dish from East Fork Pottery. I used some of that blooming rosemary.

Part of a hearty meal.

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2016-01-22 - Friday - Snow Day

Friday was a snow day with snow, freezing rain, and sleet. Since we were all stuck at home I made breakfast which today was a Dutch Baby. Good stuff.

Dutch Baby in it's natural habitat.

Served on a Ron Philbeck serving dish.

It snowed/sleeted/rained on and off for most of the day and into the night. It's always so pretty and quiet when it snows.

Snow/sleet/rain still falling.

I have some rosemary sprigs that I rooted from a plant that grows in the Clayworks courtyard. They have been in water for over a year and while they usually look pretty miserable, I noticed it blooming today. A nice surprise.

Rosemary blooming.

With supper I made roasted butternut squash and served it in a Will Baker bowl.

Squash in Will Baker bowl.

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2015-02-26 - Thursday - No snowman

All the snow predictions up to 6-10 inches were wrong. Shortly after it started snowing it changed to rain and sleet. We ended up with about 1-2 inches of very wet slush which is very hard to build a snowman with.

It appears Charlotte was right on the line as the north side of town got a lot more snow than we did, and just to the south it was all rain.

By sundown tonight there was hardly anything left near our house. How sad is that?

The grocery stores are the only ones that benefit from these non-storms as everyone runs out to buy milk, bread, and eggs.

I think of all the people in town that are eating all that french toast and still going to work.

Oh well.

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2015-02-25 - Wednesday - Snowing

We are having a big snowstorm (for Charlotte) tonight. Forecasters are calling for 6 to 10 inches tonight, tapering off around sunrise. That might not seem like a lot, but here in the south it can cripple the city for a day or two.

I made the mistake of going to the grocery store at about 4:00 pm and it was a madhouse. It was like Thanksgiving week, only more frantic. I generally only shop for a few days at a time and we needed some more supplies. Bad timing. I got the last package of organic chicken breasts and the last package of fresh mushrooms (a run on mushrooms? Really?) among other items that I needed to gather. Foodstuffs are in place. We're good for the next 48 hours and then some.

I don't know when it happened, but somewhere along the line age caught up with me. I used to be a big kid whenever it snowed, going from window to window checking the progress. When the kids came along I got to relive my childhood with theirs, taking them sledding and building snowmen. Coming in to make hot chocolate and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Good times.

Now the kids are gone and while I still check the windows periodically, there isn't the excitement it used to elicit. When did this happen? I don't remember tripping over some significant milestone marked 'getting old'. I don't like it.

I'm thinking about building a snowman in the morning for the heck of it. I don't have snow boots, but I do have a pair of wedgewood blue Chuck Taylors that will do for short periods.

The neighbors probably think I'm a bit of a whacko anyway, so what the heck.

Wish me luck.

2014-02-15 - Saturday - Last snow post

I forgot to post this video I made of the snow outside the window on Thursday.

It was nice to see the snow change the view for a day or so, but it will be gone quickly.

That's not a bad thing.

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2014-02-13 - Thursday - Snow break

It stopped snowing this afternoon and it immediately started melting.  Things were looking up until the meteorologists mentioned that it might snow again on Friday night with "little or no accumulation".

Call me a cynic, but I don't have much faith in meteorology.  In January 1988 we were told to expect flurries...
              ...we got more than a foot.

I know, science has advanced a lot since 1988, but they still get it wrong way too often for my peace of mind.

I like the snow, I like spending time at home, and I like spending time with my wife, but I've got the worst case of cabin fever I can remember.  I apparently would never survive someplace that gets snowed in routinely.

I'm ready to get out to the store.

                          I'm ready to change my scenery.

I'm really ready to get back to the studio and make some pots.  

Oh, and I'm ready to get mail again.

It's been two days with no mail.


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2014-02-12 - Wednesday - Snowed in

The weather can be pretty frustrating sometimes.

I'm sure I'm the first human to say that in all of history.

Tuesday it snowed consistently from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm and only managed to leave a couple of inches on the grass.  The roads were wet but clear all day.  What a waste.

Wednesday it started snowing at about 10:00 am and snowed pretty heavily until about 4:00 pm when it switched to sleet.  We got about 4-5 inches of snow (even on the roads).  Now it's been sleeting for several hours and there is talk of freezing rain tonight before getting more sleet, snow, and possibly more freezing rain before this all clears out of here by tomorrow afternoon --after it changes to just rain.

I am not from here and have done my share of driving in snow.  Snow does not bother me too much.  It's all this sleet and freezing rain that makes me crazy.  Why can't we ever seem to have just a snowfall without messing it up with ice.  I miss the days of just snow.

We were in PA during the holidays and while we were there it snowed.  The temperature was down to 12 degrees during the snowstorm and dipped to -4 the next night, but the snow stayed snow.  No ice, no sleet --snow.  As a matter of fact the weather was so cold and the snow was so dry that you couldn't make a snowball.  It just wouldn't stick together and that would have been a whole different frustration when I was a kid.  It squeaked when you walked on it, but it was snow.

By Friday this white stuff will be a dimming memory and the yard will be back to it's winter browns.  The daffodils are starting to poke up their heads and Spring is just around the corner.

In the meantime what do I do with all this bread and milk?

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2014-01-24 Major Catch-up Again

Here's a huge catch up since work has been hectic and everything else is crazy too.

Take a deep breath and hang on...

Binkley gets his Christmas present.
Christmas Day.

 Saturday after Christmas we went to PA to see the relatives.

Audrey's boyfriend, Ryan, Stephanie, and Meredith having breakfast in PA.
December 29, 2013

We had great meals as usual at Scott and Rich's house.

Scott and Rich set a great table.
December 29, 2013

The kids love to spend time together.

Justin, Ryan, Stephanie, and Meredith
clowning around.
December 29, 2013

REALLY clowning around.
December 29, 2013

 My brother David and I went to see The Hobbit:  The Desolation of Smaug in Imax 3D.  Amazing.


We dropped Meredith off at college.

Dropping Meredith off at college after the Christmas Break.
(Karen, Stephanie, Eva, Meredith)
1/2/2014

We had a fairly big snowfall.  The weather was so cold the snowflakes were like a mist and the snow never really melted, it just squeaked when you walked on it.  It reminded me of being on a mountain at a ski resort.

Big snow, really cold.
1/3/2014

That night.
1/3/2014

Blown snow patterns.
1/4/2014

The next night --REALLY cold.
1/4/2014

Zoom zoom, back home again.  Back to making pots.

Back in town, making pots.
1/8/2014

First batch of Empty Bowls.
1/11/2014

More Empty Bowls.
1/14/2014

Yup, you guessed it...
1/15/2014

Glazing first batch of Empty Bowls
1/16/2014

Redsky gallery is closing and the last opening Kellie had was Peter Rubino and Greg Scott's work.  I am sorry to see the gallery close because it really is a magical place.

Peter Rubino at Redsky gallery.
1/17/2014

Rob and Peter.
1/17/2014

Greg at Redsky.
1/17/2014

Peter and Greg.
1/17/2014

There.  Phew!  Now back to our regularly scheduled blog.


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