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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2015-04-21 - Tuesday - Many things

Tuesday was my father-in-law's birthday. He turned 86 and we all wish him the best and many more. I pulled this photo from my sister-in-law's Facebook post since they are in PA. We were there in spirit, anyway.

John Pellow on his 86th birthday.

The cankerworms have done a number on our maple trees. The leaves look like doilies and I hope the tree can recover. I've got to remember to band the trees in the fall.

I went to Clayworks and made a lidded pot.

I don't make lids too often, but when I do they go on top of the pot. :8^)

And that's all there is to say about that.

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2015-01-19 - Monday - Leaves, sprouts, and new forms

Monday I went outside late in the afternoon to get some more of the leaves up. It was 64 degrees and sunny. It was so warm I had to take off my denim shirt. When I hung it on the lantern arm it blew off twice in the breeze. I finally resorted to putting it over both lantern arms to keep it there and I was struck by the silliness of it.

It's the second half of January, so the daffodils are poking up, and barring any frozen weather, should be blooming by month's end.

I was playing with torqued cylinders tonight and was struck by how human they looked so I decided to add faces to them. They're blanks right now, but I hope to add more detail later.

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2014-12-01 - Monday - Val Cushing, Leaves, and pots

On Monday I went to the Mint Museum for a talk and video presentation from Herb Cohen about his friend, the late Val Cushing. It was a moving and informative session made better by Herb's personal recollections about his friend and classmate.

In the late afternoon I went outside to clean up some of the leaves that we are blessed with every autumn. For some reason the blower did not have the usual power. When I removed the tube I found a large chunk of something hard blocking the air flow. I removed it and when I flipped it over I found the whole ring around the impeller filled with the same substance. Since this blower also works as a vacuum I realized that the debris was composed of ground up leaves and mud. I took quite a bit of work to break it up and remove it and I realized this would have made a great building material for a mud hut.

I am happy to report that since removing the dried mud the blower is back to full strength.

While I like the patterns the leaves made on our
new concrete, I am going to clean it and seal it
in the spring.

More leaf patterns.

On Monday night a slid into Clayworks to get some work done. I am trying to branch out into new forms and processes so I made these.

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2014-05-14 - Wednesday - Deck removal, kiln closing, and new pot

Wednesday the deck was removed and the new materials arrived.  Underneath the deck there was at least 25 years worth of composted leaves topped with newer leaves.  There were also several tennis balls and half of a Nerf football.  (The previous owner had a large dog.)  Broken bricks, pieces of rotten wood, and shoe rounded out the mess.

Underneath all this was a complete concrete patio.

After the work crew left I had to remove the debris so they could continue the next day.  When I tried to remove the leaves I was surprised to find out that the closest maple tree had sent a one-inch diameter root onto the patio which had split into a vast network of hair roots in the compost.  I also discovered that the downspout emptied directly under the deck, so those roots had perfect growing conditions.

When I tried to remove the roots it was like one huge, wet rug made of roots and compost.  I had to use the shovel to chop it into several pieces to remove it.  I also filled four large bags with leaves and dumped four wheelbarrow loads of compost in the yard.

What a mess!

Binkley is inspecting.

Glad that's over with.

There was also a base of a planter and
some seating in one corner of the slab.

Later that evening I went to Clayworks for class and we bricked up the door of the salt kiln.  I thought it was very thoughtful of Will Baker to include beer holders in his design when he built our kiln.  :8^)

After the kiln door was closed I threw a two-piece pot and called it a night.

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2013-11-23 - Saturday - Yard, pots, home tour

Saturday I worked in the yard for a while cleaning up leaves.  I really like our maple trees in all seasons, but when they turn that flame orange/gold in Autumn they light up the yard.  It's a mess, but it's a beautiful mess.

Later I went to Clayworks to pick up my work from the latest firing.  I was pleased that it was good firing (it usually is).  Some of these pots will be for sale next month at my holiday sale.

Later Karen and I went to Home-A-Rama to walk through wonderful homes that we will never be able to afford, but it's still fun to take the tour.

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2013-11-10 - Sunday - Yard Stuff

Sunday I was working in the yard and noticed that the trees were changing.  We have three maples in our backyard and they are all different cultivars.  They all drop their leaves at different times which keeps life interesting.  You have to keep an eye on things or you'll miss the passing of the seasons.  I enjoy each one.

The lower tree goes first.

The upper tree goes next and
the silver maple (not pictured)
dribbles leaves for three months.

The moon was out when I finished.

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2010-11-18 Thursday - A Fine Mess

Thursday found a new development in the back yard.  Nature had repainted the yard while we slept.  It's beautiful to look at, but a lot of work to clean up.  We go through several of these leaf falls every Autumn.  No sooner do we get one cleared away then the next one comes down.  This cycle continues into January.

Color everywhere.

Yes, there is a deck under that new coating.

Of course there are WAY more left on the trees.

I love taking photos in different lighting.

The dappled sunlight.

More lighting fun.

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2010-09-22 Wednesday - Studio

Wednesday night I got some things back from the kilns and was very pleased with them.  I had some boxes I made in cone 5 little loafers, and an orangestone pot from the cone 10 gas kiln.  The cone 10 pot was the first one on which I tried making leaves and I was pleased with the effect.  I also started a new series of orangestone pots most of which I altered after throwing them.

New pots.

Look, they have lids.

Detail of the leaf.

New pots.

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2010-07-31 Saturday - Clayworks

Saturday I was at Clayworks working hard again.  I glazed a bunch of bisqueware and made a new pot.

I am having a lot of fun with the little loafers cone 5 stoneware.  It is a white clay and allows me to play with the translucent glazes we now have.  I am making mostly functional pieces and throwing lighter than I have in a while.  I would like to play with the little loafers some more, but the cone 10 kiln is calling to me like a siren.  I see more cone 10 work in the near future.

Oil lamps, boxes, mugs, yunomis, creamer trays, and a butter bell.

In an homage to Ju-Ian

(who left for Shanghai for an extended stay)

I added leaves to my pot.

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2009-11-21 Saturday - Pottery Sale

Saturday I had a home sale and spent Friday night cleaning the garage and setting up everything. I thought it looked pretty good as my home sales go. I also put out "seconds" tables and after some pondering about prices I came up with a handy-dandy chart. I really want to find some of these pots a good home. There are various defects and mistakes, but they are still functional --even if not for their original purposes. It was a pretty slow day so I think I will try to squeeze another in before Christmas. Stay tuned.

"Firsts".

"Seconds".

Handy-dandy chart.

Outside, the leaves were still piling up...

... and yet, I still have tomatoes ripening on the vine.

Pottery Sale 2008-12-13

I had a home sale on Saturday and forgot to send out emails and cards (duh!). I just put a sign out at the road and did pretty well. I am going to have another one this Saturday and have sent out my emails already. Cross your fingers.

I set up in the garage since it was pretty chilly, but my assistant (Meredith) was still having trouble keeping her hands warm. To remedy that I made her a cup of hot chocolate which I think helped. When it warmed up a bit we cleaned up some leaves in the back yard between customers. It was a pleasant way to spend a Saturday.

Well-stocked shelves.

Well-stocked table.

Just a nice shot in the afternoon sun
with the long rays of autumn.

Meredith taking a break with the skippy thing.
(I forget what it's called.)

Now back to work...