Wednesday, November 19, 2014

2014-11-18 - Tuesday - MAJOR Catch-up Part 4

More catch-up...

November 3 - Binkley's trip to the vet.

He's fine, just wanted to check on his hip problems and get some advice.  At thirteen he's doing very well with a lot of energy but has some hip problems.  He loves to put his nose out the window for the 2.5 mile trip.



November 5 - Pots from the church.

On November 2 I threw pots at the Light of Christ United Methodist Church during the service.  My friend Roger asked me to fill in for him since he was not feeling well.  It was a great experience since it took me out of my comfort zone and the folks at the church were wonderful.  On November 5 I trimmed the pots.




November 6 - Fired pots.

I got my pots back from the recent firing.

Fired pots


November 8 - Indian Trail Cultural Arts Center sale.

I participated again in the second year of the sale and had a really nice time and a good day.

My booth.

Hey, there's a single red leaf.

Yup, it is the only one.

Sunset on the ITCAC.

More impressionism across the street.

Sunset a few moments later.  Nice.


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Monday, November 17, 2014

2014-11-17 - Monday - MAJOR Catch-up Part 3

October 22 we left the Grand Bohemian Hotel and I took a few photos before we left.

Breakfast water carafe with ice
grid in the neck.

The lobby fireplace.

Some carved chairs.

Another view of the fireplace.

Chairs with the flash.

Chairs without the flash. (Liked both effects.)


October 23 - new garlic pots.




October 24 - Ballantyne Village - added shelves.




October 26 - Glazing



It always takes three times longer than I think to glaze my pots.


October 27 - Front yard

Front of the house in Autumn.

This shot looks like an impressionist painting.

October 29 - Stuff

I have three American Hazelnuts in the back yard courtesy of my friend Nick.  I call them Manny, Moe, and Jack for no apparent reason other than there are three of them.  Every autumn they turn in a wave, starting with Manny and every year I find that interesting.

Binkley with Manny, Moe, and Jack.

Sunset at Harris Teeter.
I love sunsets, but if you've been reading this blog for any length of time you knew that.


October 31 - More autumn sights.

Nice color on a tree I noticed at a traffic light.

Sunset anyone?




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Sunday, November 16, 2014

2014-11-16 - Sunday - MAJOR Catch-up BREAK

This is a break in the catch-up proceedings.

On October 21 after lunch, Greg and I took a walk to take photos at a church near the hotel.  It was a great church and I took way too many photos.  I am going to post what I consider the best of the bunch.














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Saturday, November 15, 2014

2014-11-14 - Friday - MAJOR Catch-up Part 2

More speed-blogging to catch up to the present.



Spider housing

On October 10 I grabbed this video of a really nice spider web on the front porch.

Here's another favorite photo:



On October 19 Karen and I went to Asheville for a couple of days.  She had a planning retreat for work and I was her plus one.  We enjoyed our stay at the Grand Bohemian Hotel and Greg (another plus one) and I went out to see the sights.

Before we left I saw this shadow of
a steel sculpture we have in the back yard.

Geometry.

Turns out it was from the floor lamp
Karen was using in the hotel room.
I try to be receptive of light and shadows that I might otherwise miss.


October 20

View out the hotel room window at 7:45 am.

Greg and I went to visit Akira Satake to pick up his donated piece for Clayworks annual fundraiser, An Evening of Earth & Fire.  It's always fun to talk to Akira about his art and it was amazing to see so much of his work in one place.  I was so overwhelmed I forgot to take a photo of the other 75% of the room which was filled with his work.

An Evening of Earth & Fire postcard on Akira's refrigerator.

Greg and Akira discussing one of his latest pieces.


October 21 trip to the park

Sculpture in the hotel courtyard.

Autumn stream.

Anglers in the catch and release section.

Autumn.

Country path.

Greg and I took a drive out to the North Mills River Campground to get some autumn photos.

We had just arrived at the park and were standing on a bridge when a volunteer fireman drove up in a pickup truck and asked if we called 911.  We said no, he got on his radio, and drove up one of the roads.

Not two minutes later another volunteer drove up and asked if we knew where the sick person was. We said, "No, but another guy went up that road there."  He said, "Ok, I'll go up this other road."

About three minutes after that an ambulance pulled up and asked where to go.  We told them where the first and second guy went and they chose a third road to go searching.

Five minutes later a sheriff's officer pulled up and we told him where everyone had gone.  He thanked us and drove away the way the ambulance went.

I guess it was good timing that we were there to let everyone know where everyone else was going.

We took more photos and soon it was time to head back to the hotel for lunch.  As we were driving out of the park we heard the helicopter coming in.  Someone was having some major problems and I hope they got the help they needed.





After lunch we took a walk around the hotel and took many photos of a nearby church.  I have so many favorites that I am going to have to make a separate post for them.

Next, it was on to the Biltmore Winery for a tour, wine tasting, and then dinner.  Good stuff.


Shadow on the ceiling of the
hotel room through the plantation shutters.
Reminds me of an apartment building.

After the winery tour but before dinner.
Did I mention it was a beautiful autumn day?




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Thursday, November 13, 2014

2014-11-13 - Thursday - MAJOR catch-up Part 1

Once again, the months have sped by without me posting here.  I'm going to try the quickest update yet.  Hold on and don't blink.


August 27 raku
On August 27 we had a community raku firing.  Good stuff.


Yard Art Day
On Labor Day (September 1) I put pots in the yard and threw some to celebrate Yard Art Day.

Son of Glaze-a-thon II
On September 2 I glazed lots of pots.

Fired pots
On September 11 I helped unload the kiln and got my pots back.

Salt firing
On September 16 we fired the salt/soda kiln.

Wet pots
On September 17 I made more pots.

Unloading salt kiln
On September 18 we unloaded the salt/soda kiln.




During this time I made pots, took photos of sunsets, made more pots, installed a new dining room light, made still more pots, glazed some pots, and generally lived.




Carolina Clay Matters Fall 2014 Pottery Festival
(formerly known as the barn sale)
October 11 was the CCM pottery festival and much like the spring show, we got drenched at the end.






On October 15 I completed my first set of stacking bowls for my friend Stan to give as a wedding gift.  Stan and I attended high school together about a million years ago and we have reconnected on Facebook.  If you have a chance, check out Stan's website.  He's a very good photographer.





On October 18 I joined the 3H Market at Ballantyne Village.  It's a very nice group of people who do all kinds of crafts and food.

Watch for Part 2 of the catch-up.



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